We’re speaking today with Len Hause, Internetologist and founder of MashBrain where he consults on Internet marketing and technology strategies. Today we’re talking about the Transformation of the Grid. I’ve known Len since the early 1990’s where we worked in IT at Motorola. Len and I where involved in dozens of Intranet and Internet-based projects during the early days of the enterprise learning how to use the Internet.

There’s been quite a bit of discussion lately about the nation’s electrical grid, from aging components, demand exceeding output, discontinuity from sector to sector to potential for terrorist attacks against it.  So, I thought a conversation with Len would be helpful to get the bigger picture of how the lessons learned in building the Internet could be applied to a new generation power grid for the nation.

1. - How has the the transformation and maturity of the Internet affected other sectors? What analogies can we draw between the Internet and the electrical grid?
2. – What are the driving forces and technologies?
3. – Who are the players?
4. – What are some of the initial changes we will see?
5. – What is the scope of the transformation?
6. -What role will open source, or internet standards-based technologies play?
7. – What new markets will emerge?
8. – What role will Social Media play in this transformation?

Now that showbizzle has launched and traffic is rising along with interest, we’re seeing more and more questions like ‘What exactly IS showbizzle?’

Here’s an explanation from the hands of Lindsey Rosin, co-creator and producer of showbizzle.

Showbizzle’s FAQs

Who is Janey?
Scroll down below this FAQ and let Janey tell you who she is and what she is all about in her own words. But in the meantime…

Okay, but is Janey a real person?
Depends on the power of your imagination. Haha. Kidding. In all seriousness: NO. Janey is a fictional character. But if she were real, she could be you. Or your best friend. Or that girl with the laptop you always see camped out at your local coffee shop.

So Janey’s the girl that everyone is talking to?
Yes, and she has a lot of friends.

Are they real people? Or are they actors?
All of the people appearing in Janey’s guestbook are actors.

Are the stories that they’re telling real?
No. For the most part, the stories are completely made up. But some of them are very loosely based on true stories and real-life experiences– we’re all twentysomethings hanging out and working (or trying to work) in Hollywood. Good stories are not hard to come by.

Do all the characters know each other?
Yes and no. Lots of the characters know each other. Some are sleeping together. Some are working together. Some hate each other. Some spend a lot of time talking about each other. What’s the one thing they all have in common? Janey. They are all friends with Janey. And they’re all telling their stories to Janey. And then Janey is sharing their stories with you (and everyone else on the world wide web).

Alright… I think I’m starting to get it.
Good.

How many new videos do you put up every week?
At most six. At least three. And on the weekends we’ll be putting up a weekly recap – a condensed version of everything that’s happened throughout the course of the week.

Wow. That’s a lot of videos. What if I can’t keep up?
All of our videos were designed to work independently AND as part of a larger world of three-dimensional storytelling. All of the videos can stand alone, but they are also pieces of a larger picture. As you watch the videos and read the blog, you will get to know the characters. Their storylines intertwine not only through the videos but on the blog as well. It’ll all become clear and everything will be really awesome. Okay?

So there’s no pressure to watch them in a certain order?
Definitely not. We are releasing them on our website in the order in which they happen in Janey’s world. Once a story is released on www.showbizzle.com, it is given a number. You can start at #1 and work your way forward. That would mean that you’re watching in chronological order.

Is that what I’m supposed to do?
You’re not “supposed’ to do anything. They’re no right or wrong way to watch. But by watching in order and reading the blog you’ll get the full impact of what three-dimensional storytelling really is. But feel free to choose your own adventure… you can also watch the videos by character.

Watch them by character? What does that mean?
Each of Janey’s friends has a character profile. On that profile are all of the videos that pertain to that character. If you like a certain character, check out their profile and watch their story from beginning to end.

How will I know when a character has new a new story?
You can tag a character you like in the RSS feed, and when a new video is released you will be notified through your RSS reader. But the best way to stay up to date is to come back to the site and watch the latest and greatest. There will always be someone new talking about something new.

Is there anything else I should know?
We have lots of things in store for our members. The best way to stay current is to make a profile and tell us your story. Either as you – the real you – or as a new showbizzle character you’ve created.
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Now go back and have some fun at the site: http://showbizzle.com