Case Study: Why Keepstream has Promise as a Curation Tool

Recently I've had the opportunity to explore various content curation (see NY Times article) tools such as Keepstream. One of the issues I've come across as I read, digest and assimilate content online is the dilemma of what to read and what to ignore. Increasingly, we're dependent on content curators (people we trust to tell us what to read) to direct us to where the good information is. As a New Media professional, I have a need for effective tools that perform this function across the interwebs. Keepstream is one such tool in development with that goal in mind.

The fundamental issues as perceived on my own and by peers I have spoken to are as follows:

1. As curators we want web tools to be as flexible as possible in terms of what portions of content to save. So far this is a goal to pursue and not a reality.
2. Search. Whatever tools we use need to have the ability to search for content across all platforms on the internet including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, blogs, news sites, streaming media, etc. The curation tools that best search and deliver relevant content will be at the top of my own list.
3. Customization. I want the ability to design the page of content I am presenting in a variety of formats akin to customizable templates in Blogger or Word Press.
4. Support. As long as a company has a timely response support team, I feel comfortable both using web tools and recommending them to others.
5. Longevity. I would really like to feel the tools I am committing to using for forward facing marketing projects will still be around in 5 years.

Jim England, Tim Gasper of Cleveland, OH and Austin, TX (as of this Summer) are leading the development team at Keepstream which is funded by Capital Factory, a tech startup incubator that has ushered along the project thus far. Apparently the project is up for review this coming week. I hope Capital Factory decides to continue to support Keepstream.

Keepstream is one of the tools I believe could end up delivering the level of flexibility desired in a content curation tool. Personally I'd love to see the guys from Cleveland get the opportunity to continue the project. Professionally I am urgently awaiting the type of web content curation tool that makes my life easier and my clients happy at the same time.

See a recent collection embedded below using Keepstream's auto-generated embed code below. Connect with Greg Ackerman here.

	Greg Ackerman Sep 6, 2010 at 2:28am The English Beat US feat. Dave Wakeling
	wpsdude Sep 5, 2010 at 3:57pm Sooner or later, something hit's the ground #80's #mumbling #thebeat #notheotherbeat #theenglishbeat #itunes
	sylviaaaa Sep 1, 2010 at 6:28pm #theenglishbeat
	rudenacid Sep 4, 2010 at 7:29pm Gonna havta miss #theenglishbeat tonight...:/
	AudioNeedle Sep 5, 2010 at 2:36pm FREE-FOR-ALL SUNDAY: The English Beat - "Save it For Later" This tune has been bouncing around my brain since I... http://fb.me/u8cr0EKT
	germanfrancie Sep 5, 2010 at 2:11pm Wow, my old Ladies from the 80s Barbie doll slideshow is 4th top slideshow on Examiner Austin right now and English Beat is #1!
	bullmccabesatx Sep 1, 2010 at 8:53pm The official Bad Manners and English Beat after party is here at Bull Mc Cabes after the thursday night Emos... http://fb.me/GHLTtTpx
	sheeshoo Aug 31, 2010 at 8:59am @leebert oh rock on - you're coming too? I'll be there until I leave to see The English Beat at Emos.
	dsenyard Sep 5, 2010 at 8:38am RT @g_ack: Check the great pics @germanfrancie posted w/ "English Beat and Bad Manners play at Emo's in Austin, TX" http://exm.nr/8XO3I ...
	MikeDatx Sep 5, 2010 at 8:21am RT @g_ack: Check the great pics @germanfrancie posted w/ "English Beat and Bad Manners play at Emo's in Austin, TX" http://exm.nr/8XO3Ir
	I_love_guitars Sep 4, 2010 at 11:26pm English Beat plays at Emo's in Austin, Dave Wakeling chats with Examiner http://bit.ly/cqhD7n
	GuitarPlaynPat Sep 4, 2010 at 9:16pm English Beat plays at Emo's in Austin, Dave Wakeling chats with Examiner: The current English Beat US lineup featu... http://bit.ly/bDpONy
	greatmusic24 Sep 4, 2010 at 7:40pm (Dont) Save it for Later: The English Beat's Dave Wakeling, Interviewed: You had songs like "End of the Party," wh... http://bit.ly/dnfbYV
	myhiredhelper Sep 4, 2010 at 7:35pm http://bit.ly/rvguY English Beat plays at Emo's in Austin, Dave Wakeling chats with Examiner http://bit.ly/cR6O19
	jamdowndigital Sep 4, 2010 at 7:06pm (Dont) Save it for Later: The English Beat's Dave Wakeling, Interviewed: The movement became known as the second w... http://bit.ly/abuW2f
	musicmakn Sep 4, 2010 at 7:01pm (Dont) Save it for Later: The English Beat's Dave Wakeling, Interviewed: With some water under the bridge, you hav... http://bit.ly/9ZRn8C
	JohnEricAlanis Sep 4, 2010 at 6:43pm English Beat plays at Emo's in Austin, Dave Wakeling chats with Examiner: The English Beat played on Thursday, Sep... http://bit.ly/9ozpT0
	g_ack Sep 4, 2010 at 5:58pm @jenkcunningham LOL! It's ok. Dave Wakeling comes to Austin fairly often. He'll be back in ATX sooner than you think. cc: @germanfrancie
	germanfrancie Sep 4, 2010 at 2:09pm Here's my Examiner article about the English Beat and my interview with Dave Wakeling! http://exm.nr/beatinaustin http://fb.me/H6XPrEKk
	germanfrancie Sep 4, 2010 at 1:35pm This is a classic interview with Dave Wakeling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFpqZMKZ4YI
	germanfrancie Sep 3, 2010 at 9:30am Greg took this awesome pic of Dave Wakeling and I http://twitpic.com/2kv6jn
	germanfrancie Sep 2, 2010 at 5:49pm At Emo's. Just left Dave Wakeling's tour bus and now I'm hanging out on the bleachers.
	g_ack Sep 2, 2010 at 6:06pm @mikesnavely Yup. Just ate dinner with Dave Wakeling. Great guy. #TheEnglishBeat
	mikesnavely Sep 2, 2010 at 6:04pm @g_ack as in "mirror in the bathroom" and "save it for later" English Beat?
	g_ack Sep 2, 2010 at 4:06pm Dinner w/ @germanfrancie and Dave Wakeling (@ Habana Restaurant & Bar) http://4sq.com/91bA4f
	g_ack Sep 2, 2010 at 3:09pm Photo: Dave Wakeling and the English Beat ~ Soundcheck — at Emo's http://gowal.la/c/2qkuu?139
	germanfrancie Sep 2, 2010 at 11:03am #nowplaying General Public with Dave Wakeling & Ranking Roger - Tenderness http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmoHQ2DC3zo
	emosaustin Sep 2, 2010 at 10:31am RT @DumbingAmerica: Check out our interview with Dave Wakeling from The English Beat who are appearing @emosaustin tonight! http://bit.l ...
	DumbingAmerica Sep 2, 2010 at 9:06am Check out our interview with Dave Wakeling from The English Beat who are appearing @emosaustin tonight! http://bit.ly/6YDyc6

Peachie Pastry

Two weeks ago I met Lilly Boone and Jessica Alexander of Peachie Pastry at my friend Megan Summerville's launch party for her Pop-Up Store near Moonshine. I recall it being particularly warm and sultry outside. Johnny, the bartender in the back garden was good naturedly dealing with the heat while taking care of guests. Inside the building where Megan's shop is located for at least another month was an eight-foot table covered with some delicious looking desserts created by Jessica who baked for a locally, successful Austin food-business before joining Ms. Boone in this current venture.

Lily Boone is an ex-sous chef who left that profession and worked in the world of architectural drafting for nine years before being laid-off recently. The timing was perfect as the long time friends talked about their desire to enter the food business together. Lily's father was an owner of a venerable Austin restaurant called the The Raw Deal which you can read about in the September 1997 issue of Texas Monthly. Lily feels this new venture is sort of like getting back to her roots and she's happy about it.

The pair work well together because, as Lily stated, "We're close enough friends to be open and honest together. Jessica and I are very comfortable being right up front with each other." They also compliment each other business-wise. Lily is outgoing and forward in public which serves her well in her role of developing a sales strategy for Peachie Pastry and executing it. Jessica is, "great at coming up with the wonderful, magical recipes she does...This opportunity has given her the chance to explore new recipe ideas and is less...limiting than working for a restaurant," said Ms Boone.

Lily bragged to me about Jessica's Ancho-chile, Dark Chocolate cupcakes, "that are more like mini cakes" that apparently have an orgasmic quality to them. That's placing the bar high, but believable after trying some of Peachie Pastry's delicacies at Megan's party. I can confirm as the event winded down, there were not many desserts left to try. I enjoyed the assorted tartlets that were on the dessert table. I found myself wandering back over there fairly often as the party progressed.

My share of desserts were eaten, that's for sure (they taste great with tea/vodka cocktails as well). This naturally led me to suggest Lily and Jessica participate in the Examiner Happy Hour I planned for Tuesday, August 31st (tomorrow). They were enthusiastic about being a part of the Examiner event (and meeting some local Austin writers). Considering their desserts pair well with cocktails, the idea practically presented itself.

Below is Peachie Pastry's Facebook information page which contains more details about the company. They currently take orders via phone or email here. Katherine Kemp (Examiner's local sales representative) and I thrilled Lily and Jessica have become the August sponsor for Examiner Happy Hour. If you decide attend, my intuition says you'll soon find yourself ordering more tartlets after trying some at Opal Divine's Penn Field. Hope to see y'all there.

Founded:

August 1, 2010

Detailed Info

Website:

http://www.peachiepastry.com

Company Overview:

Peachie Pastry is the vision of Jessica Alexander and Lily Boone...two different women with two different talents. Jessica is the woman with the magic touch. Her baking skills are above and beyond amazing! Her desserts are creative, delicate and rich all at the same time...truly inspiring to the other half, Lily. Lily Boone is the woman with the desire to fill whatever your need is, whether you have 50 people to serve or 800. She will do whatever it takes to make sure that everyone leaves your event totally blown away and overjoyed!
We are available to service all your dessert needs. If you want something specail for an event, party, or buisness reception, we will be there! (read less)

Mission:

To create divinely delicious and beautiful pastries from scratch using only high quality, fresh ingredients.

Products:

A variety of elegant individual sized desserts such as tartlets, mini cheesecakes, cupcakes and dessert bars

Connect with Greg Ackerman here

Austin heavy metal band, The Sword performed Monday at Waterloo Records parking lot in downtown Austin. The show was produced to launch their new album, Warp Riders released yesterday. The album was available Monday evening only at Waterloo Records. Fans lined up after the show to have their purchases signed by the band.

Here's what the Waterloo site had to say prior to the show:

"THE SWORD is a colossal, high-energy powerhouse. Utilizing a potent combination of intense songwriting chemistry, eye-opening creativity and talent and a distinctly unique vision, THE SWORD is, without question, one of heavy music’s most electrifying new bands. The Sword’s legacy in the metal world has been rapidly growing since they formed. Their recent stints opening for legends such as Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, and Motorhead have helped them garner praise from fans both young and old. Now on the heels of releasing of “Tres Brujas,” the first single from their forthcoming new album, The Sword have set their sights on their next move, a headlining world tour in support of Warp Riders."

The new album, Warp Riders represents a change of direction for the band. It's a concept album that perhaps indicates a maturing of the creative process for a band who's style has been described as " Stoner Metal" or "Doom Metal". The Sword toured Europe in 2008 in support of Metallica. As far as Examiner is concerned, they are a welcome change from the usual indie-rock flooding 6th Street. More like a blast from the past. Or a face melt.

We've included a few pictures and a short video below. Connect with Greg Ackerman ~ Austin Concerts Examiner on Facebook, Twitter and more here.

Here's Ian Greenleigh of Bazaarvoice after enjoying the performance:

The Soldier Thread "In Spades" album release - The Parish, Austin , TX (Batch #1)