John what I've been telling my fmialy and friends every year!!!!! I want to change the way we celebrate Christmas, but everyone is so entrenched in "the way it's always been." Maybe change will happen slowly, but messages like this are a good step in the right direction. Thank you for posting it, my friend!!!!

Ronalda The Discipline of Market Leaders' in pre-Internet days suggested 3 winnnig business models innovator, operationally efficient, customer intimate. A company could not be successful over time if trying to be more than 1 of these things. Social media is allowing for companies to be customer innovators'. That's the first change.Second change: yes, companies will still be making money. There's a new breed of for profit social enterprises who innovate to solve wicked problems. These tend to be small firms using profit as a mechanism for market feedback.Third change: ability to disrupt traditional go-to-market strategies. One example is that companies once had to tap into partner ecosystems to distribute products globally. And, there was often difficulty adapting products for the unique needs in countries or regions. Social media helps companies to listen to customer experiences.An interesting example. I made a comment on twitter yesterday about how I liked the Salesforce Chatter iPad app, but not Chatter within the Salesforce app. I got a question from a Salesforce product manager. He's tapping into the insight of another product manager-me.

Jamal Find out the company that the creidt cards go through, first. ours where I work is citibank and is VERY difficult to get. A lot of the time jewelry stores (I work for one) will give a limit, say $400, where you have to put 20% down on any purchase. That is to help you build creidt up. But it is not good to pay it all off at once, creidt companies want to show consistancy in paying, not buying. Make the minimum (or a little more) payments each month, but don't pay it completely off right away. Show them that you are responsible to make payments on a schedule. That will slowly build your creidt up. I am in the process now of building mine up. I used to work for macy's and got screwed big time creidt wise and it crushed mine.

Roller Welcome home

kato Knew you would enjoy USA! You always liked to speak with an American accent when you were a pipsqueak kid so I hope you got an accent in somewhere! Can't wait to see you on Sunday - safe journey home both. Lots and lots of love xxxxxxx

Mark, Roller, CP and Delia Unable to get to a computer tomorrow so just a final note to say have a safe journey back to dear old blighty and hope to see you Thursday. Hope you have enjoyed the USA leg of the trip. Can't wait to hear all the details and look through the pics.

fellow traveller Millie, Cant believe how quick your trips gone, got to admit ours is flying by, already in our second month! Guess we will have plenty to catch up on when i return, if you havent gone to uni by then. Hope the remainder of your trip goes well and i shall ee you in a few months. xx

Roller Just going for a sit down having read the NZ blog. Did you sleep??? Read your message on MASH 2008. Don't be too upset. Theirs seems to be flying by. Let's just say it has not been cleaned since Mike left 5 weeks ago.. And i've been working there as well which hasn't helped. Have fun in the USA.

Johnb Damn! Up at 7 to find email from Millie, and forgot to look at website! Taking Bob and Poppy (who is 60) to airport in a mo then picking H up from station, so no lazing about in bed for me!!!!! Love the blog, look out America xxxx

Laurel Its so good to be back in touch again! I'm very impressed you've provided us with blogs at this stage in your journey. Thank you! It sounds wonderful in every part of your travels. What a fantastic adventure! You probably won't be counting down the days, hours, and minutes until the 12th as we are. Enjoy your camping trip - something different yet again! Keep taking those super photos and we can all catch up with them on your return. with heaps and heaps of love Mum xxxxoooo Surely not having another lie -in John? Sorry to beat you but it is 7:20!