In a few weeks I’ll be in a small village in Colombia trying to impress my girlfriend’s grandparents. And as impressive as Twitter, Facebook, social media and advertising might be, I think learning Spanish is a far more effective way to go here. So I’ve covered my apartment with Spanish phrases and words, and my friend Karlenis hand selected the phrases (i.e., appliance tagging). I’ve also downloaded a few Spanish books on audible. So as long as they ask me one of 50 or so phrases, I’ll be just fine. Hasta manana.

The smell of brick, spring flowers and Fenway-

He sits peacefully in the sun, an old man selling plastic birds.
As a young man, did he sell papers on same corner?
I ask him if I could take a picture.
He nods yes.

I do not want a plastic bird.
I want a photo.

“I would like a green one,” I say.
He passes it to me as if bestowing a secret
“You have to fill it with water,” he says filling it with water.

I blow.
Nothing happens.

“You have to pucker your lips,” he says.
I pucker my lips and blow again.
From the plastic bird emerges a beautiful song that floats above the traffic

How many Bostonians own one of his birds?
And if they played at the same time what magic would fill the streets:
Cars would stop
Women would leave their salons, nails wet, to watch
Cats chasing after the sound of his plastic birds

My friends started a website called Nkd Guru. They are finalist in a competition, and the winner receives a cool million dollars in venture funding. Check out their stuff, and if you like it, vote for them. Even if you don’t like it, their accent and the video is cool enough to earn the vote. And if you love the idea, as I do, help spread the word.

How to vote:
1. Click on this link – http://youbethevc.com/finalists
2. Click the “Join” tab
3. Fill out your info
4. Click the “Finalists” tab
5. And Click 5 GREEN STARS under the nkdguru logo

(NOTE: There is no confirmation per se, the indication is in the form of 5 stars changing color from “white” to “green”)

More than thirty attended the third Rubber Chicken Social Club dinner at Chang Sho restaurant in Cambridge. We shared great food and conversation. In order to facilitate this, everyone at the dinner received a note card with an assignment. The names of three different people at the dinner and questions to ask them were written on each card. The questions were conversation starters based on people’s areas of expertise or interest.

For example, one question read: “Ask Bob how he uses Second Life in his business.” and another “Ask David what the difference is between filming for the web and filming for TV.”

After each course the ten people at each of the three tables switched places. From what I could tell everyone had the opportunity to get to know each other.

My favorite moment of the evening happened when I looked around the table to see everyone happily eating Chinese food and discussing social media, politics, PR, the Cambridge geek scene, investing and mobile user interface design. It felt like one of those movie moments when the soundtrack kicks in.

Thanks for making the Rubber Chicken Social Club a success. If you’d like at attend the next dinner, email me, or send me a tweet (quiverandquill). Bring a healthy appetite and your sense of humor.