Looks Like a Job For RSSContact Man

My post on RSSCalendar pulled a note from Chris Jordan about his new venture RSSContact. I'm a bit skeptical but Chris is going to feed me the skinny so I'll wait till I get educated a bit more.

But there is definitely a case for networked contact information tools, as this post on Brewed Fresh Daily shows. Contacting Ed Morrison

My termination from Weatherhead was abrupt, and I do not have any of the addresses from my address book or other REI lists on my computer. I do not want to ask anyone at REI to help me here, since they have been directed by the school not to communicate with me.

This tactic, used by lots of organizations, is incredibly insidious. In a networked world, or a knowledge economy, or whatever you call a post-industrial, post-service economy, being without your contact list is worse then being unemployed. I's like adding insult to injury. Not only do you not have a job, but your incommunicado.

Last time I left a company, it took my six weeks to re-establish my email and phone number with everyone who had it. Which is one of the reasons I got an OnlyOne number shortly after that. So, just as a precaution, make sure you keep a copy of your contact list - emails and phone numbers - handy in case your put into a similar situation.

I sympathise, although I'm useless at managing all this stuff. I find it hard to categorise people and relationships, I don't run any kind of PIM; the best I do is a pile of business cards littered on the desk that get scooped up, wrapped in a rubber band and lugged wherever I go.

I guess the tech hasn't caught up with me yet, but I'm open to suggestions, as long as they don't include fat fingering the data.

But the freshly Brewed piece is worth visiting for another reason, some very cogent postings on the intellectual property rights of your employer in the information about the relationships and contacts you build up in their employ and your right to use them afterwards.