INFORMATION UPDATE September 2005 Number 66 Welcome to INFORMATION UPDATE, a monthly resource for information seekers and users. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ IN THIS ISSUE ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ => Do It Yourself - Searching for Blogs => Did You Know? - Company Background => Notes, News and Announcements => Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information ************************************************************ DO IT YOURSELF - Searching for Blogs ************************************************************ What is a blog, you may well ask. If you did, you wouldn't be alone. According to a January 2005 publication of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 62% of Americans at the time did not know what a blog was. That number is no doubt lower as we approach the end of 2005. According to the Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog, "a weblog (now more commonly known as a blog) is a web-based publication consisting primarily of periodic articles (normally in reverse chronological order)." People who create and contribute to blogs are usually called "bloggers" and the "blogosphere" incorporates blog creators and blog readers. Theoretically anyone can create and contribute to a blog. Thus, as with any information source, it's a good idea to understand who has created the blog, who makes postings to it, and whether or not the posters have an agenda or bias. The Wikipedia categorizes blogs into about 25 types including political, media, advice, entrepreneurial, religious, medical, legal, and travel. The Yahoo directory lists 32 blogs related to Hurricane Katrina. Bloggers include the Times- Picayune, National Public Radio, and the BBC. There is even a Blogger's Blog reviewing bloggers coverage of Katrina. For more on blogging I recommend the Wikipedia article referenced above. To identify a few blogs that may be of interest to you, try one of the following: http://www.blogsearchengine.com/ Searches blog postings http://www.bloguniverse.com/ Directory of blogs by subject http://www.technorati.com/ Searches for blogs http://blogs.clusty.com/ Federated search and clustering http://blogsearch.google.com/ Beta product from Google ************************************************************ DID YOU KNOW? - Company Background ************************************************************ Joint ventures, strategic alliances, partnerships, and out- sourcing brings more and more companies together for collaboration and mutual benefit. This practice is growing in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. As companies define needs and identify potential partners, management undertakes discussions with the representatives of the other company. Before any joint venture arrangement is finalized, each side will complete the important and exhaustive due diligence that provides reassurance to all concerned. But the homework should begin long before that point is reached. Before beginning those initial discussions, savvy managers should gather background information on the company in question. A visit to the company Web site and a general Internet search are definitely in order. Remember, however, that for the most part these sources will only tell you what the company wants you to know. In order to get a more objective look, you will need to go beyond these free and open sources. A company background report will include details of mission, vision, strategic plans, financials, key personnel, company history, intellectual property, plants and facilities, products and services, suppliers, customers, market share, and more. A comprehensive company profile can be compiled through access to trade journals, news sources, analysts' reports, corporate filings, credit reports, patent filings, legal actions, and management style. This kind of background document will prepare the manager to discuss possible business alternatives in an informed way and can put the holder at a decided advantage. For more information, contact Shamel Information Services, 858-673-4673 or mailto:cshamel@shamelinfo.com ************************************************************* Notes, News, and Announcements ************************************************************* >>Internet Librarian, Monterey California, USA, October 24-26 http://www.infotoday.com/il2005/default.shtml >>Information Seekers may now subscribe to Information Update using the web form at http://shamelinfo.com. If someone has forwarded this newsletter to you, why not register for your own free copy? Use the form on the Shamel Information Services web site at http://shamelinfo.com. ************************************************************** Shamel Information Services Web Site ************************************************************** The Shamel Information Services web site at http://shamelinfo.com contains Information Update archives. Just click on "Newsletters" and check for any issues you might have missed. Cynthia L. Shamel, editor Shamel Information Services Telephone: 858-673-4673 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Subscriptions to INFORMATION UPDATE are free. Copyright 2005 Shamel Information Services Please feel free to forward this issue to colleagues, in its entirety. Other uses without permission may violate copyright. Online archives at http://shamelinfo.com/newsletter.htm ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^