Mind-boggled by Social Media?

Social media sites are becoming a fact of life. Just like the use of computers, cell phones and video gaming devices, they’re here to stay and are setting out to make an impact. The question is not of when the sites will die out, but rather, when will you give in?

I have been a Facebook user for some time now; probably over a year. I can navigate it pretty well, create fan pages, send status updates, tag pictures and the like. And although Facebook is a high-powered medium, I feel that I will not get the full benefit of a social media experience unless I finally break down and acquaint myself with Twitter.

Walking through OfficeMax the other night, I saw a self help book that familiarizes people with Twitter. It was even equipped with screen shots so that people could be walked through the process of setting up an account and a navigating it. I thought twice about buying the book, but eventually rested it back on the shelf. I am just not ready to make that kind of commitment (with my busy schedule and all).

The next day at work, one of my wonderful co-workers who seems to be a computer genius, told me about a site that I thought I needed to share with all of you interested in learning about Twitter as a marketing tool for not only you, but for a business as well. The site is www.mashable.com. It is also updated frequently, probably more so than my potential book purchase.

On this Web site you can learn all about Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Google and YouTube through personalized guidebooks. Now, I have to admit that I have yet to undertake that feat, but I plan to. I am going to need some support from you, I’m sure, to get me started.

Another interesting site for those of you involved with social media or looking to get involved is http://seesmic.com/seesmic_desktop/. This site leads you to a desktop download that is completely free! The download will allow you to manage MULTIPLE Facebook accounts and Twitter accounts (and I am sure even more) at THE SAME TIME! Now, this is not as huge for individuals as it is for companies, but I mean, this is officially the best site ever! Now you don’t have to log out of one account to check another. Everything pops up at once. You can even search on a menu bar for something and the search will cover all of your accounts until it finds the information you are seeking. This is definitely going to be a powerful tool for anyone in the public relations, advertising or journalism field.

On a side note, I have been doing quite a bit of research on how to track Web sites. I use the Web site below to help me find the number of visitors or clicks on a particular site. This is very helpful for me at work, but think of ways this could benefit you. What if you are researching one car insurance over the other? One restaurant over the other? One potential job site over the other? Hey, hey now, popularity isn’t everything, but I am sure you can find a way to make this site useful to you.

http://www.compete.com/

And, if you are wondering what the heck SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is, I will explain that too. The concept of SEO is based on the belief that some Web sites get more “hits” or “clicks” if the certain words appear on their page. This is why when you search for specific things on Google, you can usually find them on the first or second page-they have done this intentionally. Figuring out how to optimize your page used to be a long and involved process, but now, it is simple. Check out: http://www.google.com/insights/search/. Type in a specific word and see how many people are searching for that phrases including that particular word. This can help you word things better on your Web site in order to generate more interest.

Ok, now that I have covered social media tips and tips for Web sites, I think I’ll head to bed. This is a late post for me.

Goodnight all, I hope I have helped you in some significant way through this posting.

-Jen2010

[Via http://jen2010.wordpress.com]

Community

I know someone who has aspergers (mild form of autism) who in person is difficult to talk to, sometimes awkward and has the ability to ignore you for days on end.  In all fairness, sometimes that is just the person.  Here, thanks to wikipedia (not a general primary source but hey this isn’t a college paper) is a quick description:

Asperger syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder, and people with it therefore show significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation oflinguistic and cognitive development. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported.[1][2]

Now what I noticed about this person, was their ability to communicate via facebook.  I love facebook but I am aware that it creates a false sense of a community and intimacy.  However, I have read more from this person than I probably have ever heard out of their mouth.  Amazing.  Facebook helps this person interact with a world that they would generally have no interest in.  It breaks a barrier.

So for those of us who do not have some sort of medical term to define our social interactions, why are we so heavily reliant on Facebook, tweets, texts, email, etc.  Have we lost our ability to be with people.  Is community something to strive for but never attain.  I’m the last person that wants to be hugged but it does feel good to let people in.

I was watching NCIS online tonight.  (lover of cop shows) I know that most shows now have boards that you can post to but it is called Community.  The word is getting as overused as LOVE.

A definition.. as taken from dictionary.com

–noun, plural -ties. 1. a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. 2. a locality inhabited by such a group. 3. a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists (usually prec. by the): the business community; the community of scholars. 4. a group of associated nations sharing common interests or a common heritage: the community of Western Europe. 5. Ecclesiastical. a group of men or women leading a common life according to a rule. 6. Ecology. an assemblage of interacting populations occupying a given area. 7. joint possession, enjoyment, liability, etc.: community of property. 8. similar character; agreement; identity: community of interests.

They all involve interaction.  Common.  Interests.  Living.  I think community is the idea that we have things to share.  But the more we do it away from each other, we loose connection to who we are and who we are communicating to.  We start to loose a little of ourselves, no matter how many of our favorite books and movies we type in.

So will I get rid of my facebook, probably not.  I like an easy way to contact people.  It just won’t be a replacement for actually seeing them or spending long distance time on the phone.  After all, I did just move 2.5 hours away- there are a lot of people to miss.  I like tweeting– probably because I like instant gratification.  And I like texting.  But I must strive to have community with people in real time, perhaps at Starbucks, sounds good right now.

I’m looking forward to getting to know the people at Grace, the people that work at my local coffee shop, the people in my neighborhood, the people at the gym.  I’m looking forward to summer farmer’s markets and dog parks and everything in between.  Sometimes you have to look a little for community but it is worth it.  We were not created to do this life alone or sitting behind a computer screen.

[Via http://gwynethinprogress.wordpress.com]

(Social) Networking and the Freelancer

When I first got started in freelance writing, I got so tired of people talking about “networking.” By networking I don’t mean computer networks, which as a geek I find interesting, and without which we wouldn’t have lovely vehicles like the Internet with which to find, deliver, show off our work. I mean the kind where you imagine standing around in stuffy clothes and uncomfortable shoes, talking to people you don’t know and trying to find out what they can do for you while they try to find out what you can do for them. Sounds about as appetizing as the rubber chicken you’ll probably be eating at the dinner later.

You can learn networking skills many places. The first place I formally did so was at a local Society for Technical Communication chapter meeting. We were taught conversation starters, things to keep in mind (kind of like talking points), and generally how to work a room without feeling or looking like some kind of self-absorbed robot. I highly recommend that anyone take advantage of a chance to learn networking skills through their professional organizations or any other place they can, as they’re invaluable in countless walks of life outside of politics and high finance. Whenever you need to find some new clients, a full-time job, a trustworthy contractor to build your deck, a babysitter, or even just the best place in town to spend a day with the kids, having a network is invaluable.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that today’s click-and-friend social networking craze takes the place of real networking. If the only way you know a person was from clicking Yes to a friend request and slightly reading their profile, you really have little reason to help them, and they have little reason to help you. Networking requires genuine human interaction. You might even make some actual friends. Who knows? I know I have.

Now, once you have met and managed real conversations with people, social networking tools can be an invaluable way to keep in touch. You have to know your particular peers and where they spend their time to know which places to focus on. Personally, I’m not interested in existing on every site people send me invitations to join. I don’t have the patience, time, or focus to check a dozen sites on a regular basis. Instead, I have my lovely blog that you’re reading right now–which doesn’t really count as social networking I suppose unless you’re on the same service and we’ve added each other to our respective Neighborhoods–along with a presence on Facebook and LinkedIn. There are also some professional email discussion lists I belong to (I know, how quaint, but I like them) around topics like technology journalists and computer book writers.

I suppose I should say here that I’m not necessarily the poster girl for social awareness and m@d s0cial skillz. That said, I do try, and apparently I manage to fool people that I have a clue on a semi-regular basis.

Anyway, along with knowing where your peers are hanging out, it’s important to understand the dynamics of each place. Facebook, for example, I treat somewhat loosely. I don’t really friend people that I don’t know at all, but I’ll friend people I know from personal settings, work settings, or even fairly vaguely. Facebook I consider kind of a big casual party with general chatter. I don’t censor myself particularly much–though I am aware that people I know through work are reading. I take the opportunity to interact with people there that I don’t necessarily get to talk to otherwise. On LinkedIn, however, LinkedIn is more like a corporate or professional organization gathering. I keep it professional. I don’t ask people to link to me that I don’t know. I keep it up to date, and consider my LinkedIn profile to be essentially an online business card. If you’re going to be self-employed, or really even career-minded, you have to at some level be able to think of your business self not so much as a brand as many people like to push, but at the very least as business.

Now, with all of this talk about who can help whom, the last thing I want to advocate is being fake. At a networking event, everyone knows why they’re there, you don’t need any real pretext to ask them what they do and whatnot. Even there, though, it’s possible to go overboard into the arena of crass self-absorbed nut. Ultimately all networking is a conversation, and like any conversation, there’s a give and take, and making a real connection as human beings is the true goal online or in person. Not only will they remember you better and be more likely to call you if they have something interesting, but you might come out of there feeling a bit better about yourself and genuinely wanting to call a few people you met just for lunch. No business chat or rubber chicken required.

[Via http://freelancesurvivor.wordpress.com]

The President and Rick Astley

Facebook has a funny way of putting you back on memory lane. The fact is when I see all those people that I know but no longer in touch with.  It validates that  I really don’t have anything in common with them. They used to know me, I used to know them but other than that, I feel that they were lucky enough to be around me. I’m having a bit of a vain moment… just let me be

I was watching MSNBC at the gym a few hours ago and there was this really interesting question to the president. A lot of it actually was more like statements or assumptions that this current administration had increased the unemployment rate from the last year. The president had responded in a very comprehensive way.  I’m not really big on politics, but if you’re going to ask a question, make sure you don’t embarrass yourself on national television.  I have also been tweeting a lot about this whole Democrat Republican business. I personally think they should just all get along and solve this ridiculous crisis.  Enough with the … well your stimulus plan didn’t work so try ours. Really? I thought you guys were all smarter than a bag of chips.

So I did mention I got some tapes from Goodwill and I picked up a Rick Astley album. Why do people dislike him? I don’t think his songs were that bad hahaha. I remember it was such a big hit when I was in 6th grade, or maybe 5th. I always sing along when I hear this song.

[Via http://jesuismrvampland.wordpress.com]

Auf Wiedersehen

So recently, I decided to “clear” my facebook.  I would ask the question:

1) Do I know you?

2) Do I talk to you?

3) do I care about you?

If I answered “no” to all, I would hit the “x” and call it a day.

After reducing my list by 100+ people, I began getting “refriended” by those people that I determined that I DID NOT KNOW.

So my question is…when you have the balls to request me as a friend again why do you bother putting “I thought we were connected….hope things are going well with you “

LISTEN GIRL, we aren’t connected.  I BROKE THE CONNECTION.

P.S. Breaking the connection on facebook also means you shouldn’t stalk me on LinkedIn and “connect to my network” because you ain’t in this network.  Thanks.

Freckles. BB

[Via http://wangali08.wordpress.com]

Turning Points

I was just reading my friend’s blog today and having a lengthy (oh… let’s say… 3 hour?) conversation with her. I was telling her how great it was that she experienced a “turning point” in her life… experiences that has changed how she viewed the world. All of us at one point has to change and we are forever changing with every experience or moment that passes. Whether something is big or small, it impacts our lives so ever-little that we barely notice until it accumulates to a noticeable point. Given that she just recently started her new blog, I was quite impressed with the articles she has put up already.

Katie’s entry was all about friendship, something that although readily available in our daily lives, we should take the time to evaluate ourselves and our friends on a daily basis. I don’t mean “evaluate” as in testing them or seeing if they’re “worthy” – but more-or-less, whether they really are friends or just ‘friends’. The most prominent scenario of this are social networking sites, especially Facebook. For most people, I would say there are many individuals who show up on Facebook as “friends” who really aren’t someone you’d “call upon” on a regular basis. Not withstanding, I am definitely guilty of having people on my list who I would never talk to or really associate with… perhaps I just knew them from “somewhere” or either returned the favour of adding them. I have 10 categories on my Facebook, all separated with different areas of access and being an I.T guy, my permissions are set extremely granular based on which groups are assigned to a specific user.

With that said, back on topic, is the fact many of us KNOW many people who we may or may have at one point, considered our friend. However, I would dare say that many of us are likely to have many friends… we may “know a lot of people” – acquaintances, your hang-out group, or whatever, but how many of them truly have your back when the going gets tough? Growing up, I’ve always been very accepting of the fact that I knew a lot of people, but only a select-few I’d really give them the label as “friends.” I do have a very high expectation of friends, because they are my inner-circle, the people who I can trust and KNOW I can rely on no matter the situation. I can go to them when I need good advice or a chest that I can punch until my anger is vented out. With the world of Facebook nowdays, it is very common for people to “outdo” each other… “Hey, look, I have 500 friends!” … “Ya well, guess what? I have 600!” I wonder how many of those people that person truly talks to or really knows well. It is so common to meet someone in a restaurant these days and then end up on each others Facebook.

I have this really bad habit about going on a tangent, haha.. anyways, so the point is that throughout my life, I’ve experienced a lot of turning points like Katie has. I remember acutely going through another similar “friendship reevaluation” just this summer. This summer, someone I knew from high school sent me a request on Facebook (known as FB herein) which I accepted. I thought it was rather weird since we’d never really talk to each other with the odd exception when we needed to do a project. A few days later, he sent me a message asking me to go for lunch. I’m a pretty social person so I said sure and we set a date/time. I expected perhaps that he’d duck-out last minute, but sure enough, we met each other punctually at that location, date and time we initially planned – very cool! We talked as if we were “long lost friends” covering almost all major topics within our short 1 1/2 hour lunch, but it was great. This guy, who I barely talked to in high school would take the initiative and bothered to meet up and have a very casual meet-up. It was a great feeling seeing how much people have changed in high school. On that note though, I recall feeling at one point that it was almost like, “The people who I knew well in high school, talked to daily, hung out with seem to be ‘worse’ than the ones who were more distant then, but ‘closer’ now” I commented to my mom one day with a similar notion about how friends that I used to not get along with seem even more friendly now but those who I knew “well” seem to not recognize our previous friendship… worse was the fact some people who I was very close with even ignored my FB-friend request. My mom with her worldly experience said, “Son, it is because as people grow up, they mature and learn to treat people right.” and with that, it shocked me into a whole new world!

Daily, I grow and mature a bit more and gain insight into humanity and the world based on experiences I endure. My cousin who I care for deeply came to me and apologized for the past 4 years that she’s been in Canada and hasn’t really bothered connecting with me. For the past 4 years, I would often check up on her, help her move, do paperwork for her, etc. and she has always kept her distance. In the past year, she experienced great changes and eye-opening experiences in her life which changed the values of which she held family and friends alike. It was very very touching to see my cousin change like that. It wasn’t an apology which made everything right, it was the fact she expressed to me that she realized what she did was inconsiderate and she took time to appreciate the people around her. I was ecstatic and very proud of her! Likewise, I went through and still go through these life-changing things and I hope the people around me take time to reevaluate their lives, take time to reconsider and appreciate the true friends who are around you.

I think it is true we tend to be ignorant of our friends who actually mean a lot to us. Perhaps we consider them to be such good friends to us that we don’t feel an obligation. However, I’m a believer that with ANY relationship, whether just regular friends, best friends or even an intimate one takes time to nurture and upkeep – nothing is free in this world! I hope everyone after reading this takes a bit of time to think about how their friends have changed over their lifetime and how many times in our lives have we had to reevaluate who/what we considered as friendships. I understand this is something that comes with age and experience because a conversation with my god-sister just this evening made me furious. Alas, I cannot expect a 16 year-old to understand concepts such as these because they just haven’t experienced enough to FEEL these things deep in the heart. Changes can’t simply be “forced” … sometimes they will simply happy in time!

[Via http://meninmenstruation.wordpress.com]

Demographic Measurement in Mobile Media

As mobile devices continue to advance  technologically, so do the marketing opportunities for audiences that use them. A quick internet search produced a long list of organizations specializing in the term, “Online demographic measurement and design solutions.”

Founded in 1999, Comscore began by measuring trends in e-commerce.  The company expanded by launching a U.S. database in 2000 followed by the company’s commercial launch in 2001.  Today their website lists dozens of products and services ranging from Cross Media Measurement and Technology Tracking . They also provide products like Mobilens an informational tool on mobile trends and user behavior.  Comscore supports industry specific databases ranging from consumer-packaged goods to gaming.

Another company that is not new to digital research is eMarketer .  Founded in 1996, eMarketer provides business information services such as data aggregation, filtering and organization.  eMarketer gathers research data from more than 4,000 sources worldwide.

A quick review of the resource list revealed the popular social media sites Facebook and YouTube. Search engines Google and Yahoo!  also made the list.

eMarketer ‘s approach to research  is to put together  content from many different resources and then evaluate  the information.  This research is compiled into blogs, reports and research articles.  eMarketer’s  provides clients market estimates and projections  from segments like mobile internet users to digital TV.

Why is all of the information about research important to understand?  If you get annoyed with the requests for your age, gender etc… on entering a new site,  remember  this data tells businesses like Amazon  what kinds of books you like so they can continue personalizing the ads directly for you.

[Via http://anitamedia.wordpress.com]

Penguin Place Now On Facebook

As if you didn’t have enough penguins in your life, now you can sign up to be a fan of Penguin Place on our new Facebook page.  Well, it’s not actually a new page as we set it up in the Fall, but we ( I ) never really got around to making anything of it since the launch.  Been too busy packing my kids school lunches, blogging, ice fishing and taking care of other important penguin related activities to get around to the  Penguin Place Facebook Fan Page.  But, there’s nothing like a real rainy January day to motivate you to catch up on things you’ve ( I’ve ) been meaning to do, and this was one of them.  So, go sign up so I can see what you look like and perhaps what witty penguin comments you have to make.

A Rare Photo Of Young Penguins Ice Fishing In Western Mass

[Via http://penguinplacepost.wordpress.com]

Stop Looking Back and Start Getting Stronger

So I’ve thought a lot lately about how much life changes you.  It’s obvious, we all know that we’re going to grow and move on.  I was looking back on old relationships (friends, lovers, etc) and laughed.  I found an ex-boyfriend and friended him on Facebook.  Eeek.  Yes I did the horrible deed.  What happened surprised me though.  Instead of the normal nostalgia of past love, I was disgusted.  Here this person I spent years loving, taking care of, encouraging, nurturing, crying over is a jerk.  I mean, a really big jerk.  He’s all cocky now, and he has NOTHING to be proud of.  He’s exactly the person I would never ever dream of being with.  He still thinks it is cool to have lame jobs, goes to shows, plays his music, but ::gasp:: he now thinks he is cooler than everyone else.  He enjoys putting other people down,  making fun of those who are not in his circle, and is vegetarian.  If you knew the context, you’d be shocked.  After two years of dating he had his first salad after me pestering him.  He only at chicken fingers!  Now he’s so into himself and his life, he actually appears to be obsessed with…himself.  This is not the type of self-love we ladies like to encourage and strive to have.  We’re talking about an all out love-fest for being an ass.  Eww.  I wasted that much time on him?  Yet I felt some satisfaction, I admit, at realizing I was too good for him and ending that relationship was one of the most brilliant moves on my part.  Where would I be if I was still with Jerkface?  That’s a scary thought.

Already my life is a complete change.  I began to think about how much further I am to reaching my goals than many other people I have moved past.  Although I’m still a mess (you really don’t want to see my bedroom), not able to do everything on my own (hey, I cook…the boyfriend should have to clean right?  I mean, I have the right to be lazy on that front!), I do take care of myself and others well (I think).  I make ends meet, and I’m moving towards a healthy life.  I have the most amazing family, boyfriend, dog, and even my work is pretty great. 

So why is it that we fall for these guys when we are young and really believe that our love is going to change them?  That they will suddenly just realize out of the blue that they want the same life as you, have the same goals, will want to make you happy until the day you die, can keep up a home, marry you and bring you the children you’ve always dreamed of?  Are we trying to fail ourselves?  Maybe.  I really believe we are all pretty idealistic, hoping for something that we might not ever get.  The point is, we all have a male in our past that we can look back and say ‘What the hell was that all about?’ and whether we can laugh about it does not matter.  We got ourselves out and we feel encouraged to move forward with what will truly fulfill us.

I believe that this makes us women strong.  Not the kind of strength that most men would consider important or even, possibly, call a strength.  We have the ability to really look back and absorb the truths of our life.  We might make mistakes like meeting that random dude from online at a coffee shop who looks about 100lbs heavier than in his photo and after realizing it was indeed him, deciding to be the nice person and sit and talk to him just to have him take one look at your body and tell you “You’re not my type.  I like my girls thinner.” while you almost choke on your Venti Caramel Macchiato.  Yes, Mr. 400lb Man just told me, a curvy girl who had an honest picture up and at least has a pretty face and a strong mind, that I was not good enough for him because apparently I’m fat!  At any rate a woman’s strength is knowing where to put her love and energy.  We are gifted with a lot of intuition.  We instinctively know what we need and want in life, and as long as we can keep on the path with the least amount of detours we get stronger in our beliefs.  Whether that be our goals, or our real values, we become a lot more mindful of our decisions.  We stick up for them and believe in them.

The book that may change everything.

I got a recommendation for a book called Strength’s Finder 2.0 which you can purchase at Amazon for $10.  Instead of talking about what we’re not good at, and what we struggle to do, this book tells you what you are actually good at.  As a woman, I think way too much about what I should be doing, could be doing, wish I was better at, etc.  It’s really not helpful.  I mean, I’m never going to like washing dishes.  I’m never going to be an athlete.  I’m really bad about procrastinating even things I like to do.  I get stressed out about things that make absolutely no sense.  You probably don’t want me to be the one making decisions about what is worth keeping when sorting through the house.  I will be the one saying ‘oh but that’s so cute’ and not thinking about how functional it is to keep cards from my 4th grade.  Do we get further by worrying and obsessing about a life we don’t have?  Not really.  It generally just makes miserable – not a very strong point for woman-kind.  What this book does is explain that instead of working on ourselves constantly to be better at things we are not that great at, we should be looking at our strengths and improving them.  If we spent more time thinking about all the positives in life, we would certainly be more content!  Why wouldn’t we want to learn what makes us special and helpful to the world?  We should!  We should make what we’re good at great!  If we worked on what our strong points are, we could improve our lifestyles monetarily, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Tonight I’m going to take the test.  Oh yes, it has a test.  Nice thing is we can’t get a bad grade!  There are 5 things that our strengths in this book, and I’m going to find out what exactly mine are.  This is my step towards becoming an even stronger female.  I encourage you to do the same!  $10 to make me realize a better way to deal with life, give me a pick up that is not java induced (speaking of which, this is only costing me 2 of my Starbucks drinks), and maybe teach me on how to improve those…well that’s totally worth it.

[Via http://lessonsinladylalaland.wordpress.com]

Enhance Your Facebook Fan Page

Facebook fan pages are a great way to jump in on the social networks. You can create a profile for your brand and your employees, customers and friends can become fans of your brand. When you have a new product, an event or any announcement you can use your Facebook fan page to send an alert to all your fans. Beyond the normal features that come with a fan page, there are a variety of applications you can add to the fan page to make it more fun and more search-engine friendly.

Facebook pages are now being given SEO friendly URL’s which means fan pages are being indexed by Google more frequently. If you put a link to your main site from your Facebook fan page, that link is “nofollow”. However, if you add the RSS feed application to your page and start pulling in posts from your blog and press releases, those links will provide a kickback. The keywords from the RSS feed will start enhancing your fan page’s searchability and subsequently give you more exposure. Other great Facebook applications include quizzes, photostreams, video applications and more. Have fun and add value to your page, and your visitors will follow.

www.industrialsearchenginemarketing.com

[Via http://mindmapsza.wordpress.com]

Welcome to Wordpress MBC

We live in what is called the Information Age.  Just one generation ago, Americans found out about what happened in the world around them by tuning in to a 30 minute televised news broadcast at 6:30 each evening.  Walter Cronkite, who only recently passed away, was the very first news anchor.  Today, with broadband mobile devices and public access to high speed Internet, we are never more than a few seconds removed from breaking news that happens anywhere on the globe.  There are of course those people that Tweet each individual item they put into their shopping cart, resulting in what the kids call TMI (too much information). 

The point is that any data can be accessed instantaneously, and to overlook the potential to share the Gospel would be foolish.  I wish to welcome Manchester Baptist Church  in Manchester, KY to WordPress.  They tried a website a year or two ago, but I am now pleased to see them here.  Earlier this evening, The Master’s Table saw it’s 100,000th visitor since it’s inception in May of 2008.  While most readers are somewhere in the United States, even I have been surprised to see some of the countries that show up on the visitor map.  I may never visit New Zealand, but I’ve had nine readers from there in the past ten days.  This is a vehicle to transmit any piece of information across the street or around the world.  A sermon I preached last Easter may be read by someone seeking Christ tomorrow.  As an increasing number of people are connected to blogs, Facebook and Twitter, it would be an epic failure of the Great Commission to not put the Word of God out there using those tools.

MBC will most likely use their posts to convey announcements, schedule changes, list prayer requests and remind us to attend Sunday School.  But sooner or later someone will write an e-mail from some place like India, or a former Soviet state, to say that they listened to Bro. Ken’s Sunday sermon and got saved.  The promise of scripture holds true: the Word will not return void.

[Via http://themasterstable.wordpress.com]

The Ongoing Price of Internet Scams

The response to our first blog post on Internet Scams was overwhelmingly positive. The post is popping up all over the net and is being forwarded like crazy! What this means is that people are protecting others who may be vulnerable to a scammer’s finely polished con game.

With all the contact MIDNIGHT IN CHICAGO has with Federal, Provincial and municipal government employees, representatives, and policy makers in both the US and Canada, as well as ties to autism and disability organizations worldwide, one of our main objectives it to continue to provide useful and factually correct information to those who follow us online be it on our blog, via social networks or elsewhere on the Internet.

As we said in our previous blog entry, we have quite a bit to say about internet scams and the high price people pay when they do not perform the DUE DILLIGENCE necessary regarding the causes to which they donate. This post will provide supplementary information on a very important subject, the basics of which were covered in our first post.

Again we remind you that people on the Autism spectrum are particularly vulnerable to internet scams, internet bullying, threats, and intimidation.  We’ve even heard of cases where people on the spectrum were threatened with blackmail by individuals involved in fundraising if the Spectrumite continued to ask questions and investigate the cause and the persons and/or organizations in charge of the fundraising.

In such circumstances, we recommend contacting your own legal representative to see if it warrants discussing the matter further with law enforcement officials with the intent of filing charges.

Now getting back to the main topic …

We believe it was important to tell our readers a little bit more about what the Federal Trade Commission says about Charitable Scams, and we will continue to use the Haiti disaster as an example since so many Internet scams have sprung up since the horrible tragedy occured earlier this month.

We’ll begin by saying that the people in Haiti are hurting very badly and they absolutely need as much assistance as can be provided to them. In our last blog post, we listed out three of the many ways that people can donate safely to the cause, knowing that, in all good conscience, the money is definitely going to help the Haitians in their time of great need. There are certainly other safe ways to donate than the ones we listed and we encourage people to conduct Due Diligence once they have found an organization that fits with your beliefs.

The following information comes directly from the United States Federal Trade Commission website. The FTC is the American consumer protection agency for those who are unfamiliar with the organization. Unless otherwise noted by MIDNIGHT IN CHICAGO, all of the information excerpted herein is strictly that of the FTC.

When you are considering donating your money, services or products to a charity or a cause, the most obvious warning signs include, but are not limited to, the following:

1)  the organization or individual refuses to provide written information about its identity, its mission, its costs, and how the donation will be used;

2)  the organization or individual will not provide proof that a contribution is tax deductible;

3)  the organization or individual uses a name that closely resembles that of a better-known, reputable organization;

4)  the organization or individual thanks a potential donor for a pledge the person doesn’t remember making;

5)  the organization or individual asks a potential contributor for bank account or credit card information before the person has reviewed the organization’s information and agreed to contribute;

6)  the organization or individual uses high-pressure tactics to secure a donation before the potential donor has had a chance to make an informed decision about giving;

7)  the organization or individual asks for donations in cash;

8)  the organization or individual offers to send a courier or overnight delivery service to collect the donation immediately; and/or

9)  the organization or individual guarantees sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a contribution.

MIDNIGHT IN CHICAGO adds that if you observe people representing a cause or a charitable organization try to obscure, obliterate, or spam off the net, etc., any questions or complaints about the cause or the organizers’ tactics, the charity itself or the cause ought to be regarded with suspicion. For instance, in reviewing blogs, message boards, et al associated with a cause, look for deleted posts about the charity or cause while glowing comments from the people working towards the success of the fundraiser still stand.

To continue with what the FTC says on the subject:

All reputable charitable organizations and organizers of fundraisers are known for what is termed ”good practices.” Whether you are contacted by telephone, mail, online, via social networks, or in person, the employees — be they volunteers or professional fundraisers — will answer any and all of your questions to your satisfaction or they will put you in contact with someone within the organization or cause who can provide you with the correct and factual information.

While current events and disasters make a compelling case for soliciting your money, be wary of organizers that seem to come up out of nowhere. While some may be reputable, it’s doubtful that they have the infrastructure to get the donations to the affected area or people. Still others are defintely disreputable, and they will disappear as quickly with your money as they appeared on the scene when the current event or disaster occurred.

Always ask for physical contact information including the name of the contact person, physical address, and telephone number where any and all questions can be answered to your satisfaction.

Check to see if the charity or fundraiser must be registered in your area by contacting the office that regulates charitable organizations and charitable solicitations. If so, check to see if the company you’re talking to is registered. For a list of state offices, visit the National Association of State Charity Officials at www.nasconet.org/agencies.

Your state office also can verify how much of your donation goes to the charity, and how much goes to fund raising and management expenses. You also can check out charities with the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance  and GuideStar.

Don’t be shy about asking who wants your money. Some charities hire professional fundraisers for large-scale mailings, telephone drives, and other solicitations, rather than their own staff or volunteers. They use a portion of the donations to pay the fundraiser’s fees.

If you’re solicited for a donation, ask if the caller is a paid fundraiser, who they work for, and the percentage of your donation that will go to the charity and to the fundraiser. If you don’t get a clear answer -— or if you don’t like the answer you get -— strongly consider donating to a different organization.

Contact the organization or research — via reputable newspaper articles – any individual who is to benefit from your donation. Confirm that the recipient is aware of the solicitation and, in the case of an organization, that it has authorized the use of its name when soliciting funds. If not, you may be dealing with a scam artist.

Watch out for similar sounding names. Some phony charities use names that sound a lot like those of legitimate, reputable organizations. For example, if you are contacted by someone claiming to be raising funds for the “Red Crosses” rather than the “Red Cross” there is intent to mislead on the part of the fundraiser. If you notice a small difference from the name of the charity you intend to deal with, call the organization and alert them to this problem. They have legal representatives who can, and will, take on the phony charity.

Make a note on your desk or wall calendar when you donate. That way, if and when a fundraiser contacts you again, you have easy access to the date of your last donation. If you recently donated to an organization, and you are being asked to donate again, use common sense to determine if this is merely a mix up in contact lists or if you are being scammed by a con artist alleging to work on behalf of the organization.

Additionally, sometimes callers may try to trick you by thanking you for a pledge you didn’t make. If you don’t remember making the donation or don’t have a record of your pledge, resist the pressure to give.

Be cautious of promises of guaranteed sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a contribution or payment of a “fee” to cover legal expenses, taxes, or any other associated costs. According to U.S. and Canadian law, you never have to give a donation nor do you have to pay a “fee” in order to be eligible to collect your sweepstakes winnings.

Be wary of charities offering to send a courier or overnight delivery service to collect your donation immediately.

For those who tend to be naive, discuss the donation being considered with a trusted family member or friend before committing the funds. The time to talk about it is BEFORE you donate. If, however, you have been duped, talking with a trusted family member or friend means you may be able to recoup your money by involving the local authorities.

Know the difference between “tax exempt” and “tax deductible.” Tax exempt means the organization doesn’t have to pay taxes. Tax deductible means you can deduct your contribution on your federal income tax return.

Do not send or give cash donations. Cash can be lost or stolen. If you are being scammed, a cash donation cannot be accounted for or traced. If it cannot be accounted for or traced, it also cannot be recovered. For security and tax record purposes, it’s always best to pay by check and for the check to be made payable to the charity ONLY.

Unless you have a long standing business relationship with the organization, it is best to keep your credit card in your wallet. Once you have given out your credit card number to a scammer, you may find a number of unexpected purchases and cash advances charged to your account.

Take your time. Resist the urge to “act now.” Most any offer that is good today will be good tomorrow. If you miss out on an offer because it truly is only good today, accept that this offer — as with all offers — will be offered again at a later date.

Rate the risks. Every potentially high-profit investment is a high-risk investment. That means you could lose your investment — all of it.

Read the small print. Get all promises in writing and read all paperwork before making any payments or signing any contracts. Pay special attention to the small print.

“Free” means free. Throw out any offer that says you have to pay to get a gift or a “free” gift. If something is free or a gift, you don’t have to pay for it. Period.

Report fraud. If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, report it. It’s one way to get even with a scam artist who cheated you. By reporting your complaint to 1-877-FTC-HELP or ftc.gov, you are providing important information to help law enforcement officials track down scam artists and stop them!

And finally, we would like to thank the many people who have supported us by forwarding “The Price of Internet Scams” via Twitter, Blogger, WordPress, MySpace, Facebook, and other reputable social networks as well as via websites such as The Netted Web, Tap Canada Blog, Alimustikasari, and the U.S. Major League Soccer website.

If you believe an organization may not be operating for charitable purposes, or is making misleading solicitations, contact your state Attorney General or your local consumer protection agency. You can get the phone numbers for these organizations in your phone book, through directory assistance, or through Web directories.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them.

To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

We have been told by many that it is indeed in the interest of people on the spectrum to pass this information along in order to put as many people as possible in the know about Internet Scams. Many people on the autism spectrum fall prey to these scams because of a natural inability to successfully navigate the social maze; their own naivete and honesty creates a mindset where it is virtually impossible for these spectrumites to ferret out duplicity when it presents itself.

MIDNIGHT IN CHICAGO therefore invites bloggers and website owners to re-post any of our blog entries provided that MIDNIGHT IN CHICAGO, Thomas Taylor, and Elyse Bruce are credited with the authorship along with a link back to the original blog entry. If you read a blog written by someone on the spectrum, be sure to ask them to copy and paste this blog entry as well as “The Price of Internet Scams.”

We would like to thank WrongPlanet.net for spearheading the way in this endeavor. MIDNIGHT IN CHICAGO was pleased when we discovered that WrongPlanet.net twittered The Price of Internet Scams. When we last checked, WrongPlanet.net had over 30,000 subscribers.

MIDNIGHT IN CHICAGO adds that if people try to compel you to share with them your password to e-mail accounts, bank accounts, or other personal accounts, these people are not acting in your best interest and may be involved in unscrupulous practices. Some of them will do so under the guise of being your ‘friend’ in order to gain your trust so they can achieve their goal of securing your private and confidential personal information. Refuse to co-operatie and be sure to report them to the authorities.

There is a significant amount of crime on the internet. Be wary, and surf safely. The price of unscrupulous internet solicitations is high.

Pass it on!

[Via http://midnightinchicago.wordpress.com]

Haiti from my living room

The amount of information, detail and horror is astounding. In just a few clicks I can watch video interviews with Haitian people who survived the earthquake and are now living among rotting corpses, with no food and unsanitary living conditions. And thanks to new media, I can see the devastation in high definition – instantly.

As off-putting as watching all of this makes me feel, the changes in media have made so many good things possible. People are tweeting updates, posting information about missing and found loved ones, and donating money to relief efforts by dialing a few numbers on their cell phones.

So here I sit in my living room, scanning through photos posted five days ago – only a few days after the earthquake. The photos showed dead bodies covered in cloth, people crying, destroyed buildings. But perhaps the most gruesome image I saw was the image of a dump truck pouring bodies into a mass grave. It leaves me wondering how people like me are supposed to feel knowing that we have the ability and comfort to watch this tragedy happen while so many suffer.

But I’ll take a step back and examine the good things that new media has done to help us in the wake of such a tragedy. New media and the numerous capabilities of the internet have allowed us to do many things to help those who are suffering. The donations via text messaging is just one form. After the earthquake wreaked havoc on so many families in Haiti, websites sprung up for people to sponsor Haitian children. These websites allow people to donate to specific types of relief such as funding for clean water and food.

Though technology was advanced enough that I was able to watch the 9/11 terrorist attack live in 2001, new media was still in beginning stages. One of the main differences that we see today is how new technology has taken us into the moment from the perspectives of people who experienced both the before and after. When journalists went in after the 9/11 attacks, we saw a lot of the tragedy from the perspective of journalists and news media. The situation with Hurricane Katrina was very similar in that sense. Yes, we were able to get journalists in the area to report on what was important to the people who experienced the tragedy. The difference now is that those people who are experiencing the tragedy in Haiti are sharing that experience more directly with the online and mobile audience. Because of the new media abilities, we are receiving information from people without the interference of a middleman.

I first learned about the earthquake from the NPR application on my iPod Touch the same day it happened. To have instant access to information in the palm of my hand – literally – is an enormous turnaround in the way that we send and receive information. Now that we have this ability, it might be a good time to consider pulling traditional journalists out of Haiti so that they aren’t using what few resources are available. We’ll still get coverage about what’s going on without adding to the problem. There will be room for more traditional journalism coverage later.

[Via http://sabrinarblack.wordpress.com]

Facebook Get's a TON of Eyeballs!

by Lance Rios

@beinglatino

http://www.facebook.com/beinglatino

After a minor upgrade to Facebook’s insight application for Fan pages, Facebook now can show the administrator of fan pages total impressions by post. For those that do not live in the media marketing/advertising world, impressions show how many people actually are seeing whatever content that is put out there… often referred to as “total eyeballs”. This may not seem like a big deal for some, but for others, this can offer a HUGE opportunity to be more creative with their company and/or other companies to show a reach to a niche audience.

Facebook’s newly implemented “Impressions” are factored by total clicks, comments and also include likes. Major move up for fan pages on Facebook to differentiate themselves from other social networking tools that can reach the masses.

Being Latino is in a great place! And Zuckerberg —  you’re a friggin’ genius!

[Via http://lancerios.wordpress.com]

Facebook - Better Than Twitter for Marketing?

By Amy Porterfield

Published January 18, 2010

The team at Social Media Examiner recently received a real gold mine of social media insight.  It’s a mega report recently released by MarketingProfs called, “The State of Social Media Marketing.”  This massive report highlights social media usage, strategy and predictions for 2010.  And this article will bring you a small look at some of the findings from this content-rich report.

By the way, MarketingProfs used a three-tiered approach to craft this study, including consulting with a panel of social media experts, surveying more than 5,000 MarketingProfs readers and asking comScore to mine its panel data.  This approach adds greater integrity and scope to the overall results.

#1: What’s “Normal” in Social Media Usage?

How often are marketers posting on some of the most popular social sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn?  Here’s a snapshot of the frequency of posts:  … read more on the Social Media Examiner blog;

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/new-study-reveals-facebook-better-than-twitter-for-marketers/

[Via http://karinconway.wordpress.com]

Afro-Squad Fans on Facebook???

The Afro-Squad Army is pretty large.  We have members out in Texas, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, and even Europe.  In fact, we seem to have members that we don’t even know.  (I once heard of a Yukon Afro-Squad, led by a much colder SnowMan.) 

As an example of a member that we don’t know, somebody started an Afro-Squad Facebook page.  We are not sure who started it, but good for them. 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=48518595678&ref=search&sid=1169912232.808606722..1

I don’t know if they plan to update the page, but hopefully they will proliferate the funky beat for which the Afro-Squad Army marches to. 

The SnowMan

PS – That page is not necessarily approved by the Afro-Squad.

[Via http://afrosquad.wordpress.com]

Tweakin' out...

I don’t know what day it is, but I’m starting to have some urges. I have controlled them, but I find myself unconsciously thinking of status updates that I can post, people whose pictures I want to see, etc etc.

I’ve started to run into complications with birthdays too, as in my ex-roommate’s (not one of the three crazy bitches, obvs) birthday is tomorrow and I didn’t know, and ANOTHER ex-roommate’s (I lived in her breakfast nook – I guess I should get writing about that someday) birthday was the week before. I feel bad for not knowing, but it does expose how much of a crutch facebook had turned into for me. I have resolved to collect the birthdays of those in my contact lists (god help me if I kill this blackberry like I did the last one) to make sure I’m not such a jackass friend being like “oh hai, I know your bday is soon, but I’m not quite sure when… happy birthday!?”.

Replying to events is getting trickier too. A friend of mine is having a dinner for his birthday next week and I’m going, but I’m not on facebook so he’s desperate for me to respond to him either by RSVP’ing to the event or sending him a message. On facebook. My S.O. is going, and he’s RSVP’d, so I just told him to count us as two instead of one.

I think I might have to login soon just to make sure I haven’t missed any birthdays. Don’t want to though. We’ll see how long I can last! So far I’ve just replaced FB with Jezebel (& TV) and have made no headway on reading more or going through my recipe books. Perhaps that can be my project for a lazy Sunday tomorrow.

[Via http://runningwithavagina.wordpress.com]

Let's Talk About Social Media Sites

Social media sites are becoming more and more popular each year. Don’t believe me……then read along.

The journey on social media started late 1990s and early 2000s but in the last few years, it has really caught up. Let’s check a few stats that would make it interesting. In in 2008 ( informations do not include December 2008). The most popular social media video site was Blogger (222 million), Facebook (200 million), MySpace (126 million), WordPress (114 million).

End of 2009, Facebook has more than 350 million active users, 50% of our active users log on to Facebook in any given day, more than 35 million users update their status each day.

Popularity of Twitter is also growing.

In 2008 there were  6 million (3.8% of all adult internet users), in 2009 : 18 million (11.1%), and for the year 2010 it’s predicted that there will be 26 million (15.5%) users.

Then there is YouTube which had 13 % of increase in views of videos to year 2007.It definitely dominated the market in the number of videos and number of visitors. In November 2009, 128.1 million viewers watched more than 12 billion videos on YouTube.com (94.3 videos per viewer).

 The best month for video industry was December 2008, when, according to the research done by ComScore, videos were watched by over 30milion users, clips were watched by 4 billion times.

 In November 2009 -

Google Sites had 129 million unique viewers , 

Yahoo Sites were on the second place with more than 55 million viewers (8.5 videos per viewer),  

Fox Interactive Media with 50 million viewers (8.9 videos per viewer)),

Viacom Digital,Microsoft Sites, Time Warner-Excl AOL, AOL LLC, Disney Online, ESPN and CBS Corporation.

From video ad networks, in November 2009,Tremor Media,.took the first place  with a potential reach of 85 million viewers,  (49.8 percent of the total viewing audience). Advertising.com Video Network was on the  second place with a potential reach of 80 million viewers (47.1 percent ), third is YuMe Video Network with 73 million viewers (43.0 percent).Other notable findings from November 2009 include:

Here are some more statistical informations from ComScore for November 2009:.

The average online video viewer watched 12.2 hours of video.

• 38.6 million viewers watched 333.4 million videos on MySpace.com (8.6 videos per viewer).
• The average Hulu viewer watched 21.1 videos, totaling 2.1 hours of videos per viewer.
• The duration of the average online video was 4.0 minutes.

 

So, as statistics shows ,  importance of social media and their popularity, not just for entertainment but also for business purposes, is constantly growing and this tendency will inevitably continue.

So, what are you thinking  join the bandwagon.

[Via http://sociallycharged.wordpress.com]

Aid to Haiti

As death rates rise and aid continues to pour into Haiti post earthquake, it cannot come fast enough.  There are no words to adequately describe this tragedy, and my thoughts are with those suffering and toiling.   This post will outline resources available to donate to nonprofits working there.

The International Red Cross  is a White House recommended organization. Donations are made here and fund medical aid and efforts to reunite families separated by this tragedy.  Donations of $10 can also be made and charged to your cell phone bill by texting “HAITI” to 90999.

UNICEF has issued a call for $120 million to support relief efforts through its post in Port-Au-Prince.  Donations support the children affected by this disaster and are made here.

CARE, mentioned in the Worldly Nonprofit here, is looking for donations to address the immediate needs of people affected by the earthquake, especially women and children.  Donations are made here.

The sustainable development nonprofit in Cap Haitien, Konbit Sante, mentioned in an earlier post has set up an earthquake response fund to address the immediate needs of the country.  Already contributing $25,000 from its reserves,  monies contributed will go to the now air-lifted  patients of Justinian hospital. Donations are made here.

Mercy Corps, a Portland, OR-based nonprofit mentioned here and here in the Worldly Nonprofit, is aggressively seeking donations to offer immediate humanitarian aid as well as offer psychological support and job infrastructure long-term.  Donations are made here and by starting a fundraising page.

Doctors Without Borders is currently hoping to expand their surgical capacity and seek donations for their Emergency Relief Fund.  Donations are made here.

Informationally,  The American Red Cross has a good update-style blog.  The White House blog contains timely informations about US efforts in Haiti.  Included in the blog is a link for the Center for International Disaster Information.  Mark Turner, former Financial Times journalist, writes from within Haiti in his Blog, Dispatches From a Fragile Island.  The Charity Water website has a great blog with information photos and links to their partner organizations, Partners in Health and Concern Worldwide.  Finally, the Facebook page, Global Disaster Relief is a tool for donation, connection and news updates.

Here is Obama’s statement yesterday after his call with President Preval of Haiti:

[Via http://sarahkassel.com]

New Media, Day 1

Tuesday is New Media day.

The first day of any class is always interesting. Tuesday’s first day of new media was actually really interesting. Not like I was expecting a crappy class or anything, but the topics covered were essentially on the forefront of what is going on in the ad world. So what did we talk about? Social Media – Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Social Media is what it’s all about. Don’t believe me? Well, you most likely used some version of Social Media to get here. Arguably, this is essentially Social Media as it is.

Don’t believe that Facebook is important in business?  Check this out: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/11-mind-blowing-reasons-your-business-needs-facebook/

Highlights include “Average Facebook User Spends 55 Minutes PER DAY on Facebook”. 55 minutes?!?  Literally, almost an hour. Reflecting on that stat, I realize that it’s pretty dang true.

The great thing to see is that it really doesn’t matter if you “just have a page”. You need to INVOLVE your people. Involving fans of your brand is key. They are the zealots, let them spread your word. Example? Burger King’s de-friend campaign. Essentially, Burger King said if you de-friend 10 friends, they’d give you a free cheeseburger. Sacrificing your friends for food? Yeah why not. It’s effect? Facebook essentially gave them a “stop it now ’cause we want people to have friends here” letter.

The big three currently? Facebook (leader in socializing among friends, family and random hook-ups), Twitter (leader in attempts to create successful one-liners in 140 characters or less), and LinkedIn (leader in attempting to legitimize socializing for work purposes and getting a new job that’s better than your current one). Some will argue MySpace. During class, we discussed how yes, MySpace has a place, but at the same time it’s a more closed in terms of its audience.

Is your business on The Big Three? It should be, but only if you know what you’re up to. Don’t waste your time if you aren’t ready to fully dive into the world of Social Media. Your fans will know if you’re just there to be there – have a purpose so they continue to care.

[Via http://thebraincokid.wordpress.com]

Social Media To The Rescue

Dear Reader,

Chaos. Panic. Helpless. Everyone in the world experienced one of these feelings today.

The day after the new decade’s first catastrophe has been buzzing with action to say the least. Phone calls from relief agencies, government officials, and concerned family members and friends, the excessive click-clack of keyboards and phone buttons providing real-time updates of the situation in Haiti worldwide, the New-Age ticker (tweets) incessantly updating itself every half-second, and the broadcast of pictures and raw videos from the scene in Haiti–all of this demonstrated the evolution of social media and its impact on real-time information distribution, journalism, relief efforts, and overall support.

Today was a test for social media’s significance in our society, and it passed with flying colors.

The New York Times reported earlier today that a campaign to collect donations for relief efforts in Haiti–spearheaded by the company mGive and the State Department–in brought in $1.2 million. Yes that’s right. Thanks to the text-to-donate initiative or “mobile giving,” as Tony Aiello, chief executive of mGive calls it the public rallied in what could be the swiftest, most efficient way to collect funds for a cause. Read more about the mGive and the initiative HERE .

In other media outlets, social networking sites Twitter and Facebook gave the world a view of the devastation in Haiti–in real-time. Facebook groups such as “Pray for Haiti” were growing in membership by the hour, while Twitter churned out hundreds of tweets before the blink of an eye. Organizations such as the Red Cross, the UN, and government agencies took to online social media to mobilize. ABC reports on the use of social media throughout the day HERE.

Though this is only the beginning, I can say for sure that today’s technology has helped tremendously. I replay the magnitude of support that was obtained from those outside of Haiti today in mind over and over again; and it is almost unfathomable to think of the speed in which it came.

But it is far from over. Pray for Haiti

[Via http://npintern.wordpress.com]

Too Much Information?

Facebook has been recently been under fire after making changes to their privacy settings. This change made some user info public and some claim that Facebook is trying to bank on making that content the public. Also, founder Mark Zuckerburg, claims that he knows what consumers want – and it’s NOT privacy.

I came across another article that made me question Facebook’s policies. Basically, in their vast databases, Facebook is keeping track of who you “stalk”. Scary or expected? And it is accessible through a “master” password? Wonder if this is fact or fiction…

Speaking of things to expect (or not expect), I was just browsing Mashable and I was NOT logged into my Facebook/Mashable account.  I found myself on their little badge. Not sure how it happened but scary nonetheless.

[Via http://amindfullofblanks.wordpress.com]

NEW HOME TRENDS: Towel Warmer Rack Radiator - ladder style radiators Bosporus by Aeon

A towel warmer rack is definitely up there on our list of bathroom luxuries. The Bosporus ladder style radiators by Aeon wrap you in a toasty towel after your shower of bath, so cozy comfort is always within reach. This minimalist radiator design by Saffet Kalender is as lovely to look at as it is to touch. The modern, stainless steel towel warmer radiator boasts a five-rung design that increases in depth from the base to the top, forming an airing shelf with plenty storage for a stack of rolled or folded towels. At the base, a pair of rails offers easy access and extra storage. Cranking up the heat a notch or two, the Bosporus Z is an enhanced design with a rear radiator for added warmth. The Bosporus has a heat output of 630W, and the Bosporus Z gives off 1272W. Check out these towel warmer racks at Aeon.

[Via http://erniearrizza.wordpress.com]

dose of OMGs...

deep fried cupcakes?!

this is why you don’t add your parents, aunts and uncles as your fb friends! with the exception of me why? because i am cool like that!

obviously the techies behind google are male chauvinist and maniacs!

hahahha! FAIL!

[Via http://villavilla.wordpress.com]

Some man is stumbling down the street outside yelling something incomprehensible at the top of his lungs over and over. It makes me wonder how people get that crazy. And it makes me happy, that after all of the looney stuff I have been through I am still in one piece. I’m not the smartest, most beautiful, most eccentric, most talented, and charming person in the world. But I’m not too bad. I’m pretty damn good actually.

I still spend most of my time alone. Maybe this is what really irked me when J took me off of facebook, because I’m normally the one to do something so paranoid and unsociable. I’m used to drawing away and hiding in a corner, being pulled out to play, and communicate. But this I suppose is changing as I find my niche, and feel less bad about dropping the people and things that have in the past misunderstood and misused me. Tomorrow I have the day off. I will be walking around in a zone listening to my ipod, stretching my legs, imagining what possibilities await me in the future. Life really is not bad. I hope Aunt D won’t be too offended or too aware of the fact I exed her from my Facebook. I thought, oh what the hell, I’m going to just take a load of people off. J thought I was too nosy maybe. Well maybe I am. My dad got paid to be undercover and nosy. I just do it for free. All the time. I naturally snoop. That’s why I suppose I don’t mind other people’s snoopiness, I just may take you off my page if you leave me a billion mundane comments about the weather, and misspelled too.

Tomorrow I have to finish the Solitaire Mystery. And maybe I’ll take myself to see Avatar. Or maybe I’ll just wander like I said, like a nomad, like a viking, like a pirate…

If only AH were here to help me steal ketchup from the university cafeteria. Lol, we we’re completely out of our minds and it was perfectly normal and fine =)

I miss it.

I wish certain people would move to Pandora with me, I already know I would prefer it.

[Via http://blueeyecloud.wordpress.com]

Morning adventures

I have this strange routine that I follow each morning. When I get out of bed the first thing I do is pick up my iPhone to check my face book. I follow this by opening the blinds and staring at the world for good 5 minutes. I don’t know why I do the latter; without this routine I feel like I am missing something. It’s like I mentally prepare myself to tackle the obstacles the day might have for me; or something like that. This routine is usually very uninteresting. All I see is snow, neighbors leaving for work, cars skidding and sliding on the street – you know the usual stuff.

However, this morning I came across something very “new.” I was taking in the view when suddenly a man on skis entered the frame. Yes you heard me; I asked myself is this real? That guy actually skiing on the street? Na, this has to be a dream. He skied down the street and waved at my neighbor. The “WTF” look on my neighbor’s face confirmed the realness and weirdness of this situation. For the next few minutes I sat there, trying to figure out what had really happened.

Also, I regret I couldn’t capture this moment on film.

I am KudiPunjaban and I..oh whatever man..that dude was really skiing on the street. Share similar stories if you have any.

[Via http://kudipunjaban.wordpress.com]

Youtube - Has Internet Killed Television?

I have to say that over the past year or so Youtube has become a part of my daily internet experience.

I find that I am watching more and more content online rather than on Television.

The way that a lot of “Youtubers” (people that upload videos to Youtube) are keeping audiences varies.

Although the one main tactic is consistency and social networking and interaction.(ie. Twitter, Facebook, Personal Webpages)

Yes the Youtubers are getting paid by Google to upload videos, they are “Partners” and share in revenue from advertisements

The below is stolen straight from Youtube:

As a YouTube partner, you will be able to share in revenue-generating opportunities.

* Share revenue from relevant InVideo ads overlaid on your videos and banner ads running next to your videos to earn money

* Participate in co-marketing & branded entertainment opportunities with top brand advertisers.

* Utilize your own sales to sell your own ads.

So clearly the incentive to upload videos is there but really, how many videos can someone make before they run out of things to talk about?

Well that is where the Vlog (video blog) comes in.

I know of two Youtubers/Partners that utilize the vlog for their YouTube channels – CharlesTrippy and ShayCarl

They both video their everyday lives EVERYDAY.

Charles Trippy and Ali Speed do a daily Vlog, they include nearly every aspect of their lives for the Youtube viewers.

From weddings, engagements and international travel to a LOT of rollercoasters they record it all.

They same goes for Youtuber ShayCarl and the ShayTards – he also records his daily life, I have to say he is quite entertaining.

Charles, Alli and Shay must be doing something right – the daily videos normally clock well over the 100,000 views per day.

Besides the daily Vlogs there are also music channels, comedy and skit channels and a huge amount of unsigned or undiscovered talent hanging around on YouTube.

Taking some time and trawling through the videos will certainly cement in your mind that over at Youtube, someone is doing something right.

Let me know in the comments who your favorite Youtube uploaders or “stars” are!

[Via http://nzblogger.wordpress.com]

Social Networking Redux

Social networking evolution has been swift and is accelerating, with no end immediately in sight. It is merging with messaging and collaboration on the one hand, as well as becoming increasingly international and developing into niche areas. Defining what falls into this range is becoming increasingly difficult as new sites reach out into peripheral areas. The development pattern has been based around community creation first, then meeting the social and communications needs of those communities through site features and apps.

Over the past two years, there have been a number of important changes in social networking applications, some of which are of particular importance to business. Among these are increasing development of mobile social networks and links to mobile social networks; integration of content and access between networking sites, as between Facebook, WordPress and Twitter; and greater use of social networks by advertising and marketing.

Consolidation has been particularly important. Social networking sites are now linked to wikis, blogs, and instant messaging, effectively making older applications that simply provided these collaborative features somewhat redundant. Microsoft’s Sharepoint application remains strong in the enterprise space, but it is being used for document management and limited document-oriented collaboration rather than for more flexible social networking.

Concepts are still being defined, and social networking heavily overlaps with enterprise collaboration, Web 2.0 and Enterprise 2.0. Many of the same facilities are on offer, though branded differently aimed at different audiences. Different ways to present material are also being explored.  Social networking sites are used to build community, to interact with associates, and to share material of interest that can be placed in digital form. They permit people to expand personal networks through broadcast messages (personal status, public comments, shared material, etc.) that provide personal social information in between direct contacts.

Social Networking is creating fundamental new ways of communication. While the providers struggle with ways to make it profitable, it is important to consider the impact on business. Changing the way people communicate has enormous implications both for how people work and for what products can be sold to consumers.

This is the subject of a recent Executive Update that I wrote for Cutter Consortium. It  can be found at http://cutter.com.

[Via http://bjdooley.wordpress.com]

Our New Website Finally Has Content!

Hi Everyone!

Great news =-) Our new website -http://www.justthegoods.net – finally has some content on it! Whooo!

What makes it different than our Etsy Shop?

Well, for starters, we’re offering a few different products ranging from items that are too awkward to ship (i.e. vegan oil immersed salt and sugar scrubs in canning jars) or are sooooooooo affordable we wanna treat our local friends and fans, first (i.e. lip balms/tints and vegan aromatic bath salts).

But, besides wanting to offer a few different products locally, we also wanted to help local shoppers navigate through the admitted maze that is our shop, blog, Flikr page, Twitter account, Facebook Fan Page, etc. etc. etc.

Say you just want to know which lip balms are available in Winnipeg, how much they cost and where you can pick them up? http://www.justthegoods.net will be your one-stop destination.

Easy? Easy!

So, click on by n’ check it out!

Oh! And, um, yeah… we know our site is lightweight as far as 21st century new media stuff goes. How lucky are we that we’re focused on Just the Goods? Seriously, I think this non-branding branding thing gets to be more useful for us every day   And look at it this way, if we had to hire an awesome web designer, our stuff would probably have to cost more… and that wouldn’t be much fun, would it?  Ha ha ha!!

Thanks so much for supporting us, everyone! You’re ALL awesome!!

See you again soon!

[Via http://justthegoods.wordpress.com]

I don't care about...

Shashi Tharoor’s Tweets

Controversy over 3 idiots

Who is willing what in reality shows

anything that Shabana Azmi has to say

whether trains are crowded or not. If anyone has such an aversion to crowds they have no business being in Mumbai

what hollywood is upto.

What bollywood is upto. Except maybe click a picture if i spot them at a mall.

If a place is too far away, if its worth it.

not having a bike and losing 10-20% more girls that I could have pataoed just coz I have a bike.

Arundhati Roy

Telangana

TV reviews or any reviews on Indian channels. The one about gadgets on an NDTV channel is hilarious. We sit and have a great laugh at how they invite celebrities and have them give reviews like “Mere line main aisa hain ki i have to take pics and blah blah blah….. and company sponsored inserts and copy pasted tech specs”

Whether the social fabric/culture/tradition of our country will be destroyed/insulted/damaged by Richard Kissing Shilpa, 3 idiots highlighting suicides, Defaming public figures, item girls’ pelvic thrusts (worried that KUA ma gir jaungi), someone kissing someone “on the lips”, someone backless

The Khans, The Roshans or The Bachchans (well except Amitabh maybe) and what they eat, do, when they sleep, who are there in their family tree, who they slept with, who they didnt sleep with, how much they charged for weddings, how they exercise, how they poop spit and basically exist on this planet.

Who gatecrashed at the while house party? Who was a bonafide invitee to the party? The party itself.

Orkut. Facebook will soon be deleted soon.

[Via http://mywriterkeeda.wordpress.com]

A weally weally creative blog

Okay, in light of the last (lengthy) post I subjected you to, I will keep this one brief and totally to the point.

Just go check out http://krishashok.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/facebook-mahabharatha/

Love how creative this is! And if you have more than a few minutes to spare, do spend some time hanging around this blog – you’re sure to find interesting gems of wit & good humor. I know I did.

Just for the record, I am not being paid to do this. But I deserve to be, don’t you agree?

[Via http://thoughtshopindia.wordpress.com]

Facebook

What do you think of Facebook?

Facebook is raw material, like iron, it’s neither inherently good or bad.

Iron, huh?

Sure. Like it can be a tank that runs over you and destroys others or a skyscraper opening up new vistas.

Which is it for you?

Was. It was a bear trap that snapped shut around my ankle and kept me tethered to one spot, slowly bleeding out.

But you’re here now.

I am.

How did you get free?

I hacked off my foot and that iron trap with the blunt force of my clear thinking.

Does it still hurt?

Not anymore. But the limp reminds me that it ain’t no skyscraper for me. And it makes me wonder how many more are out there, bloody and walking in circles.

[Via http://mistergrizz.wordpress.com]

Trading Terrorist Rights for American Lives

OBAMA’S TERROR FRIENDLY ADMINISTRATION IS A “SYSTEMATIC FAILURE”

The Post & E-Mail

News Summary & Analysis by JB Williams

(Jan. 2, 2010) — On Christmas Day, 2009, the first of many terror chickens to come, came home to roost when a Nigerian member of Al Qaeda climbed aboard a US commercial flight headed from Amsterdam to Detroit and attempted to set off a chemical bomb mid-flight.

Once again, civilians found themselves in the position of having to provide for their own safety and security as the folks whose primary purpose is to provide for the common defense of the people, came up sorely lacking.

Had it not been for a handful of brave patriots willing to take matters into their own hands, Flight 253 could have ended the futures of everyone on board.

This is what we should expect in a nation that puts its soldiers on trial for taking their oath seriously in the war on terror abroad, while the Obama administration offers known enemy combatants civil rights in criminal courts, by no means designed to handle the complexities of war.

In fact, when the administration sees patriotic American citizens and former military personnel as “potential domestic terrorists” – and known terrorists as mere “criminals,” this is the best outcome we can hope for…

Predictably, Obama was quick on the trigger when taking aim at the agencies responsible for securing commercial flights. As Jim Meyers reports at Newsmax, Obama told reporters: “A systemic failure has occurred, and I consider that totally unacceptable.”

Referring to the early signals, he said: “Had this critical information been shared, it could have been compiled with other intelligence and a fuller, clearer picture of the suspect would have emerged. The warning signs would have triggered red flags, and the suspect would have never been allowed to board that plane for America.”

Obama is the “systemic failure.” He and his terror-friendly administration, including US Attorney General Eric Holder, who was engaged in the legal defense on known terrorists before being named the head of the US Justice system by Barack Obama, have great difficulty separating “acts of war” from “criminal behaviors” – and – terrorists from US soldiers or even average American citizens for that matter.

As Meyers points out in his Newsmax report based upon a story in the liberal New York Times, “two federal officials told the paper that U.S. intelligence was aware that a Nigerian Muslim was preparing an attack, yet officials did nothing to give warning of such an attack.”

The paper reported Wednesday: “Two officials said the government had intelligence from Yemen before Friday that leaders of a branch of Al Qaeda were talking about ‘a Nigerian’ being prepared for a terrorist attack.” – “But despite those signals, the administration never raised a terror alert, and would-be bomber Abdulmutallab was allowed to board a plane bound for the United States.”

Gee… I wonder why an administration that sees average citizens as “potential terrorists” and actual terrorists as “common criminals” would hesitate to warn the people of the impending danger that lurks within a nation not at all serious about an enemy just as committed to death and destruction today as they were on September 11, 2001.

We are talking about the same folks who still refuse to admit that our nation is at war with extreme Islam around the globe – that we have numerous terror training facilities right here on American soil – or that the Jihadist in Ft. Hood was in fact an Al Qaeda operative in regular contact with known Al Qaeda cells in Yemen, up until he shouted “Allah Akbar” before killing a dozen unarmed soldiers at Ft. Hood.

Despite the fact that Americans in part, elected Obama on the false belief that Bush and Cheney made America “less safe” by their semi-aggressive “war on terror,” the Washington Times now reports that 85% of Americans now expect terrorist attacks to be successful on American soil in 2010. That’s a cheerful thought full of “hope” for the New Year, huh…

For a “change,” I agree with 85% of Americans…

Still, one is compelled to ask why those responsible for making certain that someone like Abdulmutallab is unable to climb aboard a US commercial flight, chose not to do so?

This is the real point isn’t it? Someone “in-the-know” chose NOT to share that information with people who could have and allegedly would have stopped Abdulmutallab from climbing aboard Flight 253. It was NOT an “intelligence failure” like 9/11/01… The guy’s own father reported his son MIA after making direct threats against the west.

He reported it to the US Embassy in Yemen, and there was plenty of time to react, had that information been shared with the appropriate agencies. Why wasn’t it?

While we’re at it, why is our federal government treating American soldiers like “enemy combatants” in military courts while offering civilians criminal courts and US Civil Rights to known enemy combatants captured on the battle field?

And here’s the biggest question of all – Why aren’t American citizens demanding answers to these and many more obvious questions?

As Democrat John F. Kennedy said so well – “A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.”

In October of 2008, I wrote a column titled Terrorists, Terrorism and Obama and nobody listened. Voters had been convinced by the leftist lame stream press that even a nobody with life-long ties to terrorists, communists and third world thugs, would be “better than Bush.”

I even asked in a column, Who is باراك حسين أوباما ? – Copy and paste this into your Google translator software. If you still don’t know who and what we elected, there may be no hope for you or the future of this once free and prosperous nation.

It didn’t take a Harvard grad to see it coming, but still, few listened. Obama’s entire past remains in hiding almost a year into his unconstitutional presidency.

A year and countless unconstitutional anti-American administrative decisions later, most Americans still aren’t listening and as a result, their future looks grim so long as they fail to ask the right questions and demand truthful answers.

Forget about where Obama may or may not have been born. This is a side show aimed at misdirecting public attention and allowing the global left to pass off all dissenters as nothing more than crackpot conspiracy theorists, while the real conspiracy continues to unfold right under our noses.

Obama is unconstitutional by bloodline. The issue of natural born Citizen is a statement of bloodline, under natural law, not birth place under common law. Obama’s father was at no time a citizen of the United States. Obama inherited his name, his religion and his citizenship from his father.

So ask again – Why are Obama & Co. friendlier towards known terrorists than towards average American citizens simply upset by the current destruction of their free republic?

If you understand that you are asking this question of an Arab-Muslim, not an African-Christian, then you can probably figure out the correct answer all on your own. Obama was born and raised Muslim, not Christian. His so-called “Christian church” in Chicago is actually a “Black Nationalist Church,” which explains the racist rants of his life-long pastor, Rev. Wright.

But if you still think you are dealing with some new age Marxist Messiah planning to unite the world with American assets, then I challenge you to come up with a single acceptable answer to the obvious questions posed in this column.

Only one more reasonable question remains… How insane does it have to get before the American people wake up, take note and take action?

Since 85% of Americans expect successful terror attacks on USA soil in 2010, it’s clear that 85% of Americans understand that we are indeed, still at war with international Islamic terror. So, why did they elect leaders hell-bent upon helping those terrorists succeed?

Now most Americans are able to see the anti-American Marxist “change” Obama had in mind for America. So, at what point do the people awake and arise in defense of this great nation?

I worry that JFK was right about something else – “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”

Cut off from legislators, ignored by the White House, denied access to the courts and mocked by the leftist press, all peaceful solutions are quickly vanishing. When all peaceful means of redress are exhausted, only violent remedies will remain. Those who have denied the people a peaceful solution will be responsible for the violent solution that follows. I don’t call for it, but anyone who knows Americans well could predict it.

85% of the people are right. We will see successful terror strikes on US soil in 2010 and that’s because the current leadership in Washington DC is committed to that end. Their reaction to the events of 12-25-09 was also predictable.

“It’s becoming clear that the system that has been in place for years now is not sufficiently up to date to take full advantage of the information we collect and the knowledge we have.” - Obama

No… the system Bush had in place prevented a second, third and fourth wave of terror attacks on US soil and took the fight to the enemy abroad. That system did indeed stop any further attacks on US soil for the seven years that followed 9/11/01.

It’s the new system of terror appeasements and support, both here and abroad, put in place by Obama, Holder and Napolitano which has made terror attacks on US soil inevitable again.

The attempted bombing on Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit has touched off partisan squabbling in Washington. Republicans were sharply critical of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano after she declared on Sunday that “the system worked,” even though the bombing was thwarted only when Abdulmutallab’s device failed to detonate. (from the Newsmax column)

The Napolitano system failed and citizens were left to defend themselves on Flight 253.

In the days following the Flight 253 event, Al Qaeda leaders warned of 300 more bombers coming and counter-terrorism experts around the globe have placed the risk of massive nuclear, biological or chemical attacks on US soil at a 100% certainty. Only the hour and level of devastation are unknown.

This is what the American people voted for in 2008. 52% were dead wrong in November 2008, but 85% are dead right now. It will get worse before it can get any better.

The policies that allowed Abdulmutallab to board Flight 253 will allow countless others to advance their attacks on the US. The Obama military “Rules of Engagement” will cost many more American soldiers their lives, senselessly. Eric Holder’s Civil Rights for Terrorists campaign will set many known enemies of our nation free to kill again… and Americans will die to learn this lesson the hard way.

At the end of the day, you can’t win a war by refusing to acknowledge its existence. You can’t defeat extreme Islam by aiding and abetting Jihadists, and you can’t end the war on terror by refusing to fight the war on terror. You can only get more innocent people killed with such policies.

This is what we can look forward to in 2010. 85% of Americans know it and thanks to the 15% who don’t, all Americans will pay a heavy price for the decision of the 52% who put these folks in unbridled power.

Is it all just an accident, or does it all serve a “greater good?” You decide how the evidence adds up, but decide soon. The clock is ticking…

[Via http://socialismisnottheanswer.wordpress.com]

Television Advertising With a FREE BONUS!!!

Television Advertising With a FREE BONUS!!!

Harness the power of Television and Internet video Advertising! On Your Budget!

Take advantage of this headache FREE opportunity!

Here are a few benefits:

Cost effective production

- we’ll give you 3 options of cost effective production for your budget. We’ll produce your 30-second commercial with your vision as the heart of production.

Absolute control

- you’ll choose the When & Where your commercials will air. Tell us your target audience. Details like this will be explored in our pre-production consultation.

Month-To–Month Cycle

- Our TV Ads run on a basis. We’ll run your ad based on your monthly budget. Simply pay as you go. No long term contract.

THE FREE BONUS

- we will post your commercial on 2 Internet video/social sites for FREE with All of our production packages. Why? So you wont have to!!! Friends/family and clients will be able to access the commercial as they wish. Great for the word of mouth exposure. ”Oh you didn’t catch the commercial on TV? Just go here…”

The combination of television advertising & Internet video marketing as a supplement (for free!) Will drive your ROI potential “off the charts”.

All Commercials undergo a free consultation. During which we will learn all about YOU and we’ll discuss which package best suits your needs! How about over lunch?

Here’s a sample of our economy package commercial

For More examples Click here

For More information please contact us

Here’s our youtube channel

- John Gaston President & CEO

Tampa Bay Multimedia Inc.

4705 Alt US 19

Palm Harbor, FL

Cell-727-480-0215

Studio-727-945-7577

JohnG@TampaBayMultimedia.com

www.TampaBayMultimedia.com

William Thompson, CEO

TV Inc.

4705 Alt US 19

Palm Harbor, FL

800-326-5661

bill@tvinc.com

www.tvinc.com

[Via http://tampabaymultimedia.wordpress.com]

Now Jukebox Heroines New URL!

Emily’s Vital Vinyl Records is now Jukebox Heroines!

The new web address is: http://www.jukeboxheroines.com as well as, http://www.jukeboxheroines.wordpress.com.

Also, I am on twitter and have a new facebook page for everything as well!

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jukeboxheroines

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jukebox-Heroines/230461188514

I’ll leave the old address working for a bit until everyone can update. Thanks so much! Rock on!

[Via http://emilysvitalvinylrecords.wordpress.com]

My photography page on Facebook!

While it’s not perfect, Facebook does have a pretty decent way to get your work out there to people you actually know! It’s (sadly) probably the best collection of my work yet, and I’m enjoying trying to “datamine” the “Insights” that they provide to page holders!

Please feel free to become a Fan, or just poke around in there!

PS-  Happy New Year!

[Via http://iamericanartist.wordpress.com]