Belly Button Window

Facebook Welcomes Wayan Vota to World's Largest Social Network

2009-12-01T07:20:29Z

Washington, D.C. -- December 1, 2009 -- Facebook today announced that Wayan Vota, the last social networking expert without an active Facebook account, has finally acquiesced to the need to be "friended" by those known and unknown to him through the world's largest social networking site.

See Wayan Vota's Facebook here.

"We are honored that Wayan Vota got off his high horse and accepted the reality that Facebook is driving adoption in Africa. To continue to lead an exploration at the intersection of technology and international development, he needed to have a presence with us," said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.* "We've worked hard to bring more than 200 million people - 70 percent outside of the U.S. - onto Facebook to share with friends, family and co-workers. Wayan Vota represents the pinnacle of that effort."

Wayan Vota concours, "It was time that I entered the Facebook. I am excited to expand its ability to connect and share with thought leaders in both the information and communication technology (ICT) industry and the international development community. This will be a wonderful voyage of discovery for both initiatives."

Wayan Vota will continue his work with Inveneo - a social enterprise that puts the tools of ICT (like Facebook) in the hands of those who need it most in the developing world. In fact, he's already developed the ICTworks presence on Facebook to empower Inveneo's Certified ICT Partners in 21 countries across Africa and South Asia.

About Wayan Vota
Wayan Vota starting blogging from before it was a word and now publishes seven different websites and commands LinkedIn, Flickr, YouTube, and Twitter from his world headquarters in Washington DC.

About Facebook
Founded in February 2004, Facebook's mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. Anyone can sign up for Facebook and interact with the people they know in a trusted environment. Facebook is a privately held company and is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif.

*To the best of Wayan's knowledge, Mark Zuckerberg has no clue who Wayan Vota is, but he should.

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Meet me in Nairobi, Abjua, or Accra

2009-07-22T13:23:03Z

I'm headed to Africa soon for three weeks of meetings and trainings in Nairobi, Abuja, and Accra for Inveneo. I'll be in each city about a week, and would love to meet up with loyal Belly Button Window readers if you're around.

See, while I am a fanatic proponent of web-based discourse - I'm publishing at least six different blogs right now - I'm convinced that online discourse is an amplification of offline, in-person connections. In fact, I believe that online conversations are not possible without some level of face-to-face discussions between participants.

Or as a friend once said "meatspace has the highest bit rate" And I haven't connected with that many Belly Button readers in a while.

I'll be traveling through Africa in accordance with this general itinerary:

Nairobi the week of July 27th
Abuja the week of August 3
Accra the week of August 10

If you're in any of those cities when I am there, or know someone I should meet, then please let me know. And if you'd like to follow along on this adventure, be sure to subscribe to Belly Button Window in one of three ways:

in real time on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wayan_vota
hourly by RSS: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/BellyButtonWindow
daily by Email: http://tinyurl.com/bbw-by-email

As always, I'll be recording this adventure for your enjoyment here.

Thanks for listening to Wayan Vota's "Belly Button Window - an American experience" at http://www.bellybuttonwindow.com

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Follow Wayan across the Web!

2009-06-10T21:33:16Z

I've updated Belly Button Window with crazy-exciting content, like a Vehicular Tree Slaughter in Grant Circle and Dog Taxi Tackling Rock Creek Ripples, but how would you know that without an email like this one or going to http://bbwindow.com

Next time, don't wait for these infrequent emails. Don't wonder what I am up to. Don't spend another sleepless night thinking about what Wayan could be doing - subscribe to my feeds today!

Follow me in real time on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wayan_vota
Follow me hourly by RSS: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/BellyButtonWindow
Follow me daily by Email: http://tinyurl.com/bbw-by-email

And if you want to get all stalker-like, you can be my contact on Flickr and print off damn-cute images of Hanalei and I like this one: http://tinyurl.com/hanalei-photo

Thanks for listening to Wayan Vota's "Belly Button Window - an American experience" at http://www.bellybuttonwindow.com

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Hanalei Speaks & I Shaved My Head!

2009-04-01T07:51:48Z

Before you think this some April Fools joke, I really did it - I shaved my head!

As a young man, I enjoyed long hair. Midway down my back in a long pony-tail, my hair signified my membership in the surfer tribe. clipped to get my first job and kept short thereafter for ease as much as employment. In Russia, I started spiking my hair up, but by this century I started to loose my hair. I went from a widow's peak to receding hair at my temples. And my frustration with my hair increased as its coverage decreased.

Starting a year ago I kicked around the idea of shaving my head. Getting rid of all my hair out of annoyance as well as acquiescence to advancing age. So with spring in the air and change in the wind, it was time to take thought into practice with a mid-afternoon shearing: http://bbwindow.com/2009/america/time_foraspring_haircut.html

Now my beautiful Hanali took the shaving in stride, she still recognized me, and now that the beard is gone as well, stopped crying when I kissed her. She also started talking. Yes, she is speaking at 3 months old - a record for any of our families. While she's not quite saying whole sentences, if you listen to her video, you can tell she's making sense.

As her father, I'm so proud that she's talking, its kinda hard for me to admit that I don't always agree with what she says. She sounds much more conservative than her father. But stop reading my opinion - listen to her learned commentary directly: http://bbwindow.com/2009/america/hanalei_first_words.html

Wayan

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Back from East Africa for Fatherhood

2008-12-07T14:37:39Z

While I was roaming around East Africa for work, I was often asked why my visit was so short, only two weeks. When I explained that my wife was nine months pregnant and due any day, everyone understood. And told me to hurry.

I felt a bit closer to home when I crossed into the northern hemisphere in western Kenya: http://www.bbwindow.com/2008/kenya/
In Uganda, the topics of children lead me to a great discussion on wedding customs: http://www.bbwindow.com/2008/uganda/
The round of Bottle Cap Golf in Rwanda helped calm my nerves for the big day: http://www.bbwindow.com/2008/rwanda/

The big day came right on time, two weeks after my return. Amy's water broke on Friday night and by Saturday morning, Amy blessed me with the greatest gift, fatherhood. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a little one to take care of. You can enjoy more of the event here: http://www.bbwindow.com/2008/america/hanalei_stockard_vota.html

Wayan

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I'm Going to Biggest Obama Party - Kenya

2008-11-05T11:24:17Z

Last night in a Seattle airport bar, I learned we would have the son of an immigrant as our next president. I have never slept better on a redeye flight. While I dozed in happiness on the way home to DC, joy and relief passed through the hearts of the world.

We just proved the American Dream is alive - anyone can be President.

And even though I missed the epic Election Day parties here in DC, I'm headed to the biggest Barak Obama party ever - Kenya.

The country is in a fit of ecstatic delight. The son of a Kenyan, President of America. I am crying as I type this, overwhelmed with pride in my country. I cannot even imagine what a beacon of hope Obama brings to Kenya.

I do know that tomorrow, Thursday, was already declared a national holiday and I bet that by the time I arrive on Sunday, the country will still be in the midst of the party. A party similar to the first time I went to Kenya: http://www.bbwindow.com/2003/kenya/

In January 2003, Kenya had just elected Mwai Kibaki after decades of Daniel arap Moi, and the country could not contain its joy. Then too change was the order of the day. Bribes, lawlessness, and governmental dysfunction we all out. A new wave of social change and business growth followed, creating an East African powerhouse that led the continent.

Then, in January of this year, that miracle became a nightmare with ethnic bloodshed after the disputed Kibaki/Odinga elections. With racial tensions still raw in Kenya, America offers yet another American Dream.

An election, fought hard, yet won and lost with honor, leading to a peaceful governmental transition. This whole other American Dream is just as powerful as the dream that any child can be President. This dream makes me cry yet again.

No matter our party or our vote, we are all red, white, and blue the day after - Americans true and through.

Thank you America.

Thanks for listening to Wayan Vota's "Belly Button Window - an American experience" at http://www.bellybuttonwindow.com

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Finally Finished with Nigeria

2008-10-25T14:55:02Z

They say that 1/8 of all Africans are Nigerians and I sure feel like I've experienced Nigeria!

From bad Nigerian beer to crazy scooterists to evangelical Christians, I've finally updated Belly Button Window with all my Nigerian escapades: http://www.bbwindow.com/2008/nigeria/

Rather than waiting for me to tell you when I publish my Italian adventures, why not subscribe to Belly Button Window directly?

You have two easy choices:
1. You can subscribe by email: http://tinyurl.com/6f6yk5 2. You can subscribe by feed reader: http://tinyurl.com/6g5dqj

Either way, you'll know when I start on the next batch of traveling tales of Amy and I taking on Lake Como, Rome, and the Vatican. Better yet, you'll be the first to know when Ziggy rocks our world.

Thanks for listening to Wayan Vota's "Belly Button Window - an American experience" at http://www.bellybuttonwindow.com

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How to be African Happy today

2008-09-30T10:42:34Z

Are you seeing stock market headlines that make you worry? Are you feeling stressed about bailouts? Do you even know what a credit default swap is?

Well take a moment to transport yourself to a better place. Where life is casual and slow. Where beach living is the norm. And where I joined in a National Run to the Border Day. You'll have to see the video to believe it, but the entire city of Lome, Togo ran to the Ghana border and then to the beach on a random Sunday:

http://www.bellybuttonwindow.com/2008/togo/

I enjoyed such pleasantries on palm tree lined promenades in Ghana too. Between running for Obama and flying Citylink to Kumasi, I found a skate ramp in Accra. Better than any of the half-pipes I played on in my youth, the Cowbell Skate Ramp is actually ruled by a Rollerblader named "Smooth". Enjoy his aerial feats here:

http://www.bellybuttonwindow.com/2008/ghana/

Over the next two weeks, I'll be adding more experiences from Nigeria and then bring you into the developed world with tales from my StudCuz's wedding in Italy and a visit to the Vatican.

Maybe we can all hope for a divine financial intervention in the mean time.

Thanks for listening to Wayan Vota's "Belly Button Window - an American experience" at http://www.bellybuttonwindow.com

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Navigating Nigeria at Night

2008-08-28T12:34:30Z

I am walking down this dark lane in Lagos, happy. It?s the end of a long day of work meeting many different people here in Nigeria, the "Giant of Africa" and I am feeling good. Maybe it's the excitement of being back in Africa, her sounds, sights, and smells fresh in my mind. Maybe it?s the feeling of progress in meeting our local partners and doing work I love. Maybe its the thrill of updating Belly Button Window with travel tales. Or maybe its just the beer.

No matter, I am excited this night, and so I perform a small miracle. I call my pregnant wife half a world away on my cell phone. We do it so often now, we forget what a wonder it is. To hear her voice so easily, so clearly, as data packets zip through time at the speed of light. She is rubbing her belly, we are talking of Ziggy the Zygote, and I am happy, walking down this dark lane in Lagos.

May you be happy today too, no matter where you or your loved ones are.

Wayan

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Wayan Has 2 New Jobs - Celebrate in SF and DC!

2008-05-28T20:01:53Z

While it seems like I just left Geekcorps for Mercy Corps, I now have a yet another new job. Well actually two new jobs - both dream jobs for me:

First, I am consulting with infoDev at the World Bank to develop public discussion around education, technology, and the developing world. The current vision is a community of practice that engages educators and technologists to share their knowledge and experience with low-cost ICT devices in the education sector. Think OLPC News on a grand & professional scale - both in the level of discourse and the impact on decision makers: http://www.bbwindow.com/2008/switzerland/building_online_communities.html

Next, I'm now the Senior Director of Inveneo's ICIP program. Inveneo puts the tools of ICT into the hands of those who need it the most, people and organizations in the rural and remote areas of the developing world. I'm developing their Certified ICT Partner (ICIP) program to build a community of local technology practitioners to empower social change in over 1,000 underserved communities. This is what I always wanted Geekcorps to become - a scalable solution to the twin problems of technology in the developing world: technical and local ICT capacity http://www.bbwindow.com/2008/america/directing_inveneo_icip_program.html

Please join me in celebrating these two new jobs with two events on either side of this great nation, a happy hour in San Francisco on Friday and a BBQ in Washington DC on Sunday:

San Francisco Happy Hour
Friday, May 29, 6pm
21st Amendment
563 2nd St
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=563+2nd+St,+94107

Washington DC BBQ (please RSVP)
Sunday, June 1, 6pm
Wayan's Back Porch
4228 4th Street NW
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4228+4th+St+NW,+20011

Yes, I'm going to be bi-coastal now as the World Bank (and my wife!) are based in DC while the Inveneo team is in San Francisco. Just to add more time zones and travel to my life, the ICIP partners are spread across Africa. To frequent flyer madness I return.

Thanks for listening to Wayan Vota's "Belly Button Window - an American experience" at http://www.bellybuttonwindow.com

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Wayan's married life at four months in

2008-05-14T12:22:20Z

It's amazing to remember that Amy and I tied the knot only four short months ago. Maybe because the first thing I did, after the honeymoon, was run to Canada for a Vancouver brewpub tour. There, my friend Brett and I canvassed all the brewpubs of that Pacific jewel in a weekend of fine drinking http://www.bbwindow.com/2008/canada/

But don't take that as a verdict on marriage - I'm happy to report I've convinced others that wedded bliss is quite the experience. Recently, my good friend Tom walked the aisle with yours truly as his best man backup. Right after a damn good bachelor's party that featured a "Force Cup": http://www.bbwindow.com/2008/america/thomas_lee_bachelor_party.html

Back at home, Amy and I are nesting and bonding together. We're even proud to welcome a new bundle of furry joy into the world of Vota. Taxi, a young Sheppard mix adopted from the pound, is giving us a dose of parenthood that is sometimes overwhelming: http://www.bbwindow.com/2008/america/whole_other_kind_of_taxi.html

Soon, we'll have more tales to tell as changes are always in the wind - for us all.

Thanks for listening to Wayan Vota's "Belly Button Window - an American experience" at http://www.bellybuttonwindow.com

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