My so-called online life, twitter, and SXSW

I try to be very careful about my ‘online identity’ (i.e. Google vanity search). I prefer to find only profession/professional type entries when I vanity search my full name. This is especially important because I have a very unique last name and any entries associated with it would definitely be me. So, I want any potential employer, client, creditor, whatever to be able to find only most positive and professional information about me.

I discovered several weeks back that doing a vanity searched revealed a) I produce a podcast and b) a link to my last.fm profile. I found this out because a vendor I was meeting with (to potentially purchase their product) had done his homework and started asking me about the podcast. The podcast isn’t so bad because it’s tech-related, but I still don’t want my current employer to connect the two. I wouldn’t want them to worry I’m going to say anything I shouldn’t. Not only that, but my employer doesn’t need a list of music I listen to. I want to share my music with my friends, not with my employer.

I’ve heard too many stories of things people said online (myspace, blog, forum, mailing list, etc) coming back to haunt them. Granted, I’m not all that controversial of a guy, but it still makes me nervous. What if I said I disliked something Google did and they offered me a job tomorrow? Ooops!

A couple of years back, I stupidly used my work e-mail address in a mailing list posting. The e-mail had my full name as well. That mailing was archived on the web by at least 12 different sites and all of them were indexed by Google. Shortly after they were indexed by Google, my boss was doing searches about the company and came up with my mailing list posting. He thought it would be funny to play it off as if I was in trouble for posting the message (which was work related). He’s got quite a sense of humor, but who’s to if my next boss will?

Slightly related topic, but not really. Twitter. I don’t know what to say about it other than Leo Laporte does twitter so why not? I set up my twitter feed up on my the sidebar, but I haven’t found a way to put it on my Vox blog yet. Maybe it’s not even possible.

I’ve actually taken some time off work to head down to my parent’s place just north of San Antonio and give my dad a hand with moving his business from one location to another. We’re talking 30+ pieces of large equipment such as backhoes and Bobcats to be moved about a mile and a half. Should be fun.. takes me back to the days of the Tonka Trucks.

Actually I’m lying, that’s just the story I told my wife. What I’m really doing is going down to SXSW which is happening in Austin during the same time. I mean, Austin is only 45 minutes from my parent’s place. Why not?

I’ll just keeep telling myself that..