http://tamharbert.com Award-winning journalist specialized in providing compelling, insightful content on technology, business and government Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:43:38 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I did an unusual thing the other day. I called my friend. It’s not that we have been out of touch, but I haven’t heard her voice in months. Instead, we have communicated through Facebook, e-mail and texting. At least this friend answers her phone. I have another friend who ... http://tamharbert.com/blog/whatever-happened-to-conversation/ Fortune magazine’s March 1 cover story, “The Future of Reading,”  is an interesting and well-written piece reviewing the quandary that magazine publishers have been in since the birth of the Internet. Author Josh Quittner argues that the new tablet computer from Apple could be the launch, uh, pad that magazines ... http://tamharbert.com/blog/magazines-search-for-a-digital-home/ For the first couple of years I was freelancing, I just signed on the dotted line when it came to contracts. I didn’t want to read the fine print because, frankly, I needed the money. It was depressing enough that virtually every contract granted copyrights to my work in any ... http://tamharbert.com/blog/watch-out-for-that-first-born-son-clause/ A story of mine in this week’s Electronic News reports on a trend that many in the U.S. high-tech industry find disturbing. The latest 10-year jobs forecast from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that U.S. semiconductor manufacturing is going to lose 146,000 jobs, or more than 30 percent ... http://tamharbert.com/blog/the-real-mobile-workforce/ One of the most enjoyable aspects of journalism is the opportunity to talk to a broad spectrum of people. Not only talk, but ask them questions. And hear them answer. Or not. It can be fascinating – and frustrating – when a source either can’t or won’t answer your questions. Rarely ... http://tamharbert.com/blog/word-games/ I have to admit that I haven’t been following the evolution of the health insurance reform legislation in Congress. That’s because it was making me sick. When I saw old people whipped into a frenzy by Republican extremists circulating misleading information about government death panels, I simply tuned out. It’s ... http://tamharbert.com/blog/health-insurance-a-challenge-for-freelancers/ At the start of a new year, I have high hopes about making regular visits to the gym, eating healthier, filing information as I receive it instead of letting it stack up on me. But one change I’m making is not one of hope, but rather resignation: I’m cancelling my ... http://tamharbert.com/blog/farewell-newsprint/ As we packed for our Thanksgiving trek to the family homestead last week, my son was stuffing his laptop into the suitcase when I pointed out that his aunt might not have WiFi access at her house. At first, he looked at me like I was speaking Russian. Then, as ... http://tamharbert.com/blog/ask-not-want-not/ I've written dozens of articles about business continuity and disaster recovery. Experts stress that every company should have a formal plan detailing how it would continue operating when a calamity strikes. They cite horror stories about companies that suffered serious consequences - from bad PR to going out of business ... http://tamharbert.com/blog/when-disaster-strikes-duck-and-cover/ Of all the technical challenges facing a freelancer, phone trouble has been my toughest. My Verizon voice land lines are usually reliable, and I’m thankful for that. However, whenever there is a problem, I brace myself for another adventure with Verizon’s novel approaches to customer service. Stretching the technology, and the ... http://tamharbert.com/blog/calling-for-help/