Chris Dessi - Vice President zanox, Inc

Something occurred to me today (after connecting with yet another high school classmate).

The best thing about Facebook is reconnecting with old friends. Facebook has been adopted by such a broad audience, and it accomplishes what sites like Reunion.com and classmates.com fail to do. Instead of reaching out to your old High School classmates via classmates.com - we run into them because Facebook.com provides such an engaging platform. I've been able to reconnect with more people from Mahopac High School in the past 3 months than in the years since I graduated (1993).
Facebook, Myspace, and other social networks have changed the game. Instead of luring a user in by the prospect of one specific thing (reconnecting with classmates), these social platforms offer you an opportunity to interact on such a more engaging - fun way - who knows if we even need classmates.com, or reunion.com anymore? How many of us tried to sign up on one of these sites, excited by the idea of reconnecting, only to be turned off after getting only so far in the process before we had to pony up some cash to continue.

Take note classmates, and reunion.com - your days are numbered.

Bummed to hear that Paul Newman passed away.

Recently saw a bio on Paul Newman and it struck me that this guy did things on his own terms, and followed his passion.

Top Newman films (in my opinion)

Cool Hand Luke
Butch Cassidy
The Color of Money
Slapshot
Road to Perdition

What a loss.

Side note - Newsmans Own has donated a total of $250 million to charities worldwide.

Last week while at the Web 2.0 Expo at the Javits Center I was lucky enough to see the tornado of energy and passion called Gary Vaynerchuk speak. I had been feverishly taking notes throughout the entire Keynote address because all of the speakers were amazing, but then Gary came out and I stopped writing. I was locked in.

Tonight I had my parents over for dinner, and gathered the family around the dining room table to share the power of Gary's message. It's taken a few more times for me to review the video of his presentation to truly grasp just how amazing this guy is. Jesus - I wanted to stand up and say F*CK YEAH.

This guy is pure content. Pure passion. Pure money. Pure hustle. Pure values. Pure work. Pure love about what he does.

F*ck....yeah.

I'm in.

I'm picking up with Gary Vaynerchuk is putting down. (Credit Alex Baydin)

Check out the video of what I saw below - you wont' regret it.

Hey - as I'm writing I was thinking to myself - I would love to interview Gary or someone who is just as passionate about what they do. If anyone has a suggestion about someone just as passionate about life, and their business, please let me know. I'd love to talk to them. Thanks!