Bookish Disposition

Social Media - 1, UnHub - 1, Records Management - 0

The good news:  I attended a great Web seminar today on social media in government.  I learned a lot.

The bad news:  When asked about what his social media program is doing to comply with records management and records rules, the presenter confessed that it wasn't his area and added that he knew there has been much discussion in the social media world of how to get rid of outdated policies like those records rules.  Our records community needs to take note that this big, brave new social media world views them as an outdated obstacle to be eliminated, not a tool that helps protect them and protect history.  It doesn't have to be that way.

Back to the good news:  

The presenter shared all his own social media links using a nifty little tool called UnHub.  I am in love with UnHub's simple, streamlined sharing.  Go to unhub.com, choose your user name, and tell it the URLs for your various profiles and pages.  When another user goes to your UnHub link, they are shown your blog, Twitter feed, or another "main" page of your choosing, topped by a toolbar with links to all your various social media profiles and pages.  It unites your various lives in one spot and gives viewers one easy place to connect to you.  I set mine up in about two minutes.  

Here's a snapshot, but it's easier to go to unhub.com/RobinRiat for the real thing.

The Disposition Blues

Last year, I wrote a series of songs (and I use that term lightly) to celebrate the upcoming ARMA International Conference.  This year, I can't join you at ARMA, and I'm singing the blues.

The Disposition Blues

My baby posts on Facebook

I follow every tweet

But he's creatin' records

That I cannot delete

I got the blues

I got the disposition blues

My baby, he buys storage

By the terabyte

He says they'll last forever

But you know that just ain't right

I got the blues

I got them disposition blues

The server's in Kansas City

Not one paper file at home

Now my baby's down on Beale Street

Doin' work from his iPhone

I got the blues

Got them disposition blues

I built my world on paper

I know I was too proud

And now my baby left me

Stores his data in the cloud

I got the blues

I got them disposition blues

My baby wanted freedom

I laughed at what he said

I locked down the network

Now he's with Google Docs instead

And I got the blues

Got them disposition blues

My baby don't read no file plans

He says they're out of date

He deleted files in Memphis

Now the judge say he spoliate

I got the blues

I got the disposition blues

I can drown my sorrows with whiskey

You know that ain't just talk

But I can't keep printin' e-mail 

And waking up in a Hollinger box

I got the blues

Got the disposition blues

Sister, hear my warning

Pay attention to Web 2.0

Before her siren song takes your baby

And you got no more place to go

I got the blues

I got them disposition blues

Don't you be singin' the disposition blues, y'all.  Learn lots at ARMA, and let your brothers and sisters in file joints across the country keep up with you on Twitter.  We'll be watching for you.  (What's the official ARMA 2009 hashtag?  Anyone know?)