life is grand.

On the road to a better Berger.

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:05:00 -0400

“If it scares you…it might just be ~~a good~~ the best thing to try.“

Seth Godin’s comment about work and life applies to all of us. I’ve decided to edit it though, because good isn’t good enough, BEST is.

I’ve spent the last 3 + years working to learn the journalism, publishing, and digital media world At the same time, it feels like my technical literacy has grown exponentially. It has been an incredible adventure. I made Forbes 30 Under 30 in Media this year, which proverbially blew me away. I’m thankful to my employers, colleagues, and friends and family who have supported me, who took a risk on me and who coached me up, around, down, and through the last few exciting and energizing years.

This past week was my last at Storyful. I believe in and adore this company as it literally is changing the way journalism works and the way journalists think, everyday. It’s been a wild ride (and I love wild rides), and I’ll be continuing my relationship with them as a strategic advisor.

Now, it’s time to take a little time to think strategically (like I do everyday in my work), but this time, about my life. I’ve been going at 70 miles per hour (which is legal in the state of California). Now, I’m aiming to pace myself at an even 35 mph for March and April and maybe even part of May while I evaluate what’s next.

Some of my favorite magazines, startups, and agencies have offered me fantastic positions. Before I take the time to decide which of these offers is best, I’m slowing down to take a few months to evaluate MY OWN projects. If you know me, you’ve seen my newsletters (2462miles and 3460miles), my volunteer organization (volunTech), and the disaster relief project which won a hackathon (responsibuild). None of these passion projects have had enough of my attention in the last 6 months because I’ve been so heads down and heartstrong for Storyful.

During the remainder of March, April and some of May, I’ll be working and exploring my own projects, evaluating carefully whether or not any of them warrant my full-time attention. If you’re keen to learn more, please get in touch. I’m at my happiest when talking and strategizing with the best people around me in this world. I’m hitting the road to a better Berger. It’s time to scare myself into my personal best.

In the meantime, you can watch for me writing more again while I embark on this journey. Thank you for your continued support and digital eyeballs. Stay tuned!

Ciao for now,

Erica @GoodBerger

I already loved (guilty pleasure loved) Paulo Nutini, but I...

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:21:56 -0500

I already loved (guilty pleasure loved) Paulo Nutini, but I REALLY love what Miss Popova has done with this—pairing it with a quote that makes the song even more meaningful. I’m now listening AND reading the song.

literaryjukebox:

Maturity is first the shedding of what you are not, and then the balancing of what you are in relation to the human being you love, and allowing the selves of that person which are not related to you to exist independently, outside of the relationship.

Anaïs Nin in Diary of Anaïs Nin Volume 5 1947-1955: Vol. 5

Song: “Growing Up Beside You” by Paolo Nutini

iTunes :: Amazon :: Back to Brain Pickings

Lindsay Kaplan and I just went to Jacques Torres for a...

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:15:57 -0500

Lindsay Kaplan and I just went to Jacques Torres for a Valentines Day treat, and we met the man himself! Happy Valentines Day people.

Also, in making the world a better place, I’m stoked on the #1billionrising campaign, turning V day from Hallmark and corporate America day into a day to combat violence against women and girls around the world (and into a dance party of course).

Change The Ratio: Forbes 30 Under 30 2012: Ratio, Changing

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 13:28:21 -0500

Change The Ratio: Forbes 30 Under 30 2012: Ratio, Changing:

Thanks for the shout out Rachel! So humbled to be on this list.

changetheratio:

Forbes published its annual 30 Under 30 package this week and we were pleased to see the trend of including and recognizing fantastic women is continuing and, dare we say, on the rise. We can all quibble with these lists (and I can think of a list of amazing women as long as my arm who were not…

What do you do when Google goes down?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:24:15 -0500

Let me know! I write…mostly in a real life paper notebook. Otherwise, I get too anxious refreshing windows.

"I am Schmidt: a refined and enlightened pescatarian."

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 23:19:57 -0500

““I am Schmidt: a refined and enlightened pescatarian.””

- Mother of television gods, New Girl wins my heart yet again. Hit minute 13 and listen.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/427033#i0,p4,s2,d0

YES. Thanks to Bonobos for reminding me when Hannukkah is this...

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:56:30 -0500

YES. Thanks to Bonobos for reminding me when Hannukkah is this year, and for giving me inspiration as to whole I’ll be looking for next time I’m out in a bar this holiday season.

H/T @lolololori

bonobos:

Hanukkah’s just over a week away, people.

“I can play your girlfriend like an upright...

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:15:31 -0500

“I can play your girlfriend like an upright bass.”

“You’re like the death star, and we’re like an army of Luke Skywalkers.”

Not only is this video in support of Gay marriage amazing, but the quotes are fantastic. I love my gay friends, and this is awesome. So impressed College Humor, so impressed.

Enlightened States of America Manifesto

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:06:34 -0500

Found this hilarious (but sobering) post on Facebook in regards to blue versus red states. Do yourself a favor (no matter your politics) and read through it—it’s economically minded. It was first posted on About.com.

Dear Red States:

We’re ticked off at your Neanderthal attitudes and politics and we’ve decided we’re leaving.

We in New York and California intend to form our own country and we’re taking the other Blue States with us.

In case you aren’t aware that includes Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and the rest of the Northeast.

We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation and especially to the people of the new country of The Enlightened States of America (E.S.A).

To sum up briefly:

You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states.

We get stem cell research and the best beaches.

We get Andrew Cuomo and Elizabeth Warren. You get Bobby Jindal and Todd Akin.

We get the Statue of Liberty. You get OpryLand.

We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.

We get Harvard. You get Ole’ Miss.

We get 85 percent of America’s venture capital and entrepreneurs.

You get Alabama.

We get two-thirds of the tax revenue. You get to make the red states pay their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition’s, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms.

With the Blue States in hand we will have firm control of 80% of the country’s fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92% of the nation’s fresh fruit, 95% of America’s quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners) 90% of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the US low sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.

With the Red States you will have to cope with 88% of all obese Americans and their projected health care costs, 92% of all US mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99% of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.

We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.

38% of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless we’re discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44% say that evolution is only a theory, 53% that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.

We’re taking the good weed too. You can have that crap they grow in Mexico.

Sincerely,

Citizen of the Enlightened States of America

Wow—check out the hyperlocal economic impact of Hurricane...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:03:36 -0500

Wow—check out the hyperlocal economic impact of Hurricane Sandy on NYC businesses (that is businesses frequented by Foursquare users checking in while frequenting them).

smarterplanet:

New Foursquare graphic tells the story of Sandy’s devastation of Lower Manhattan

Here’s what I really wanted to say on that morning...

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 03:54:00 -0400

Here’s what I really wanted to say on that morning show…in other words, a more comprehensive take on NYC’s preparation and management of Hurricane Sandy. If you’ve got a little under 10 minutes, it’s worth a listen. It’s the qualitative (human) side of the story.

Hat tips go to @lolololori and @jesswhatshesaid for having the real talk with me before the interview.

My interview on TV3 Ireland (the morning news show), talking...

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 03:44:00 -0400

My interview on TV3 Ireland (the morning news show), talking about NYC’s recovery from Hurricane Sandy.

Fantastic viz of various events in October, and ending on the...

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:46:04 -0400

Fantastic viz of various events in October, and ending on the most relevant note possible…everyone should vote!

storyboard:

This Month In Charts: October

Coming to you from New York City, safe and with power in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, I Love Charts brings you the month of October, charted.

Red Bull Gives You Wings

October’s most exciting moment was Felix Baumgartner’s record-setting skydive. The stunt was sponsored by Red Bull, previously known mostly for making the energy drink we like to mix with vodka.

Read More

Reactions to the debates on facebook.

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:04:55 -0400

Tonight, I’ve seen a lot of my facebook friends post a warning to their friends updating their statuses in response to the debates that they will “hide” their updates if they continue doing such a thing.

All I have to say is…GET A GRIP, and appreciate that your friends and fellow citizens actually give a shit.

Voting matters. Staying informed about the issues matters. And sharing with friends and creating a conversation and debate with people you actually know about voting and about the issues matters.

Be happy and get over yourself if you are annoyed with other folks for sharing their political opinions on a social network (in which you are by choice participating). America cares! (or my friends on Facebook do at least). And most importantly, vote on November 6th.

My dream man, holding the perfect array of pastels.

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:43:34 -0400

My dream man, holding the perfect array of pastels.

Content, community, call to action--Hunter Walk on Social Innovation at YouTube

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:47:52 -0400

Content, community, call to action--Hunter Walk on Social Innovation at YouTube

Online-->Offline (aka why the web is awesome)

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:07:57 -0400

Yesterday, Jack Dorsey (the founder of Twitter and of Square) retweeted a seemingly arbitrary tweet of mine:

It was a beautiful day in New York, one of those days that remind you of why Fall is probably the best season of the year, brimming with sunshine, a cool and crisp breeze rustling the remaining colorful leaves on the trees, and light clouds abundant throughout the clear blue sky.

I had a wonderful lunch with a friend and a coffee with another friend visiting town (both of whom I met through work), and was strolling down the street on my way home from my office, when I felt the need to let the internet know how beautiful it happened to be around 3 pm. I figured that if anyone saw the tweet who happened to be in NYC, it might inspire them to take a coffee break sooner than later and walk out of their office. It was a mindless but hopeful action.

Once Jack retweeted it to his over 2 million followers—I of course had more retweets, many more favorites, some new followers, some spammy interactions—the normal behavior you might expect when someone famous shares your content on the social web.

What I didn’t expect was a text about 2 hours later from a friend who I had only seen once since high school, saying thank you for tweeting about the beautiful day. He said he had seen Jack retweet me, and that it had inspired him to go for a walk around the block and leave his desk for 15 minutes.

This is the essence of why the web is amazing—my offline moment inspired my online comment which then inspired another person to have a beautiful offline moment…

Happy Fall!

Thanks for this gem on Roald Dahl day...

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 10:07:06 -0400

Thanks for this gem on Roald Dahl day Maria!

literaryjukebox:

And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.

Roald Dahl in The Minpins

Song: “Magical World” by Minnie Riperton + Rotary Connection

iTunes :: Amazon

When Facebook added new engaged notifications to the newsfeed

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 19:43:30 -0400

myfriendsaremarried:

The oddest online dating note I've received.

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:54:48 -0400

I received this on OkCupid tonight. Thoughts welcome.

“Hey. Look. I’ll admit it, I got a bit excited because it looks like you have some kind of properly balanced feminine energy going on there.

I mean, don’t get me wrong — it’s not like I am some sort of hobbit out on a quest to find the ONE girliest girl to rule them all…. I would say I’m more like Goldilocks in the story with the three bears, stealing porridge from these terribly vicious animals in a pompous and high-maintenance manner; complaining that NOTHING is acceptable to me except the one that is JUST right. Not extravagantly girly and not too tomboyish. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I am essentially a small girl with blonde hair that plunders vile, porridge-eating bears and then has the audacity to complain about things being hot or not hot enough. Attractive right?

Anyway, where are my manners? My name’s Tim, and if smart, funny, stylish, cute, and overall just frankly awesome guys are your thing, then don’t send me a message. Oh wait, I messed up. I mean DO send me a message. I get confused sometimes :)”

WTF SOMEONE TELL ME THIS IS FROM A BOOK OR MOVIE???