September 2 2007
Now, make no mistake, this Web 2.0 stuff isn’t new to me, nor a revelation. I realize community exists all over the Internet. Occasionally, though, you still bump into things that are so novel and simple as to be really interesting.
No, I’m not talking about Facebook.com, though I did sign myself up, set-up a profile and join several groups this past week.
Instead, I’m talking about the vagabond traveling brother of Facebook--Couchsurfing.com.
Couchsurfing, essentially, is a community-oriented social network for accommodations with people around the globe. Think “hostel” except your spare bedroom acts as a complicit flophouse for a cadre of domestic and world travelers.
From their web site:
“CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance, and facilitate cultural understanding.”
As a community we strive to do our individual and collective parts to make the world a better place, and we believe that the surfing of couches is a means to accomplish this goal. CouchSurfing isn’t about the furniture- it’s not just about finding free accommodations around the world- it’s about participating in creating a better world. We strive to make a better world by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives. We open our minds and welcome the knowledge that cultural exchange makes available. We create deep and meaningful connections that cross oceans, continents and cultures. CouchSurfing wants to change not only the way we travel, but how we relate to the world!
How is this related to wine? Well, some wineries are missing the boat in terms of creating a social networking sales opportunity with couchsurfing.com. Why? What’s the lingua franca of housewarming gifts the world over? Yes, wine. Who will seize the agenda to become the “Official” Wine of Couch Surfers everywhere?
Speaking of wine and the world, the good folks at Grapethinking are hosting the World Cup of Wine in September. Tying into the World Cup of Rugby, they’ll be pitting wine from various countries against each other analogous to the actual World Cup. Check out this link for all of the details.
In other news, Gary V. from Winelibrary TV released his long anticipated announcement on Thursday, August 30th. It turns out that it’s a partnership with Crushpad for a communal winemaking project in which the Vayniacs can participate and buy some wine on futures.
This will be a fun project to keep an eye on (I signed up for the Crushnet Group). I have a couple of wine-related fetishes and Winelibrary.tv, and Crushpad happen to be two individual fetishes coming together.
I’m also happy for Alan Baker, the Cellar Rat. The Vayniac group will be administered by Crushnet, his community project at Crushpad, and some tremendous momentum couldn’t happen to a more genuine, good guy. Plus, I’m a part of Alan’s Anderson Valley “Rat Pack” pinot noir project which is getting bottled this weekend, so I’m simultaneously sending good karma towards my case in the form of this brief mention in a blog post. The barrel samples I tasted were outstanding. This should be a dynamite Pinot.
I’ve been reading Dr. Vino’s pro-environmental stances and his personal ban on bottled water for 30 days (and likely ongoing where possible) with enthusiasm. Every time I approach a public trash can and see it filled to the brim with plastic bottles of all sorts my stomach turns a little bit.
If you want to see why this ethos against bottled water is a good thing and if you likewise want to see mass American consumption through the lense of startling art, check out www.chrisjordan.com. Wine bottles are a consideration, as well. They need to be recycled, too.
Finally, if you’re a wine investor, not the “buy the old bottle” kind of investor, but a stock-buying investor, then you already know your investment options are pretty slim.
Another one almost bit the dust when it was announced that 360 Wine Company has been having a hard time filing their financial result requirements and were on the verge of being delisted from the “Over the Counter” exchange. Over The Counter stocks are more frequently known by their jargon name—“penny stocks.” You’ve likely received SPAM email about penny stocks that were sure to soar making the investor a TON of money. Rare is that circumstance, but I do note that 360 must’ve appealed their delisting because they are still trading beyond the August 30th deadline.
You frequently read about Hedge Fund Managers buying up outstanding shares of an embattled company’s stock and then driving leverage through the form of presence on the Board of Directors, company sale, etc.
With 8.2M shares outstanding for 360 Wine Company this seems like a real opportunity for some social networking. Who wants to start an investment club and buy into a wine company? With shares trading for a buck, the ante in isn’t all that great.
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