Net Work

The Internet is the most incredible resource for work. This is obviously not some kind of new, genius idea I have; it's been said over and over again, but now that I'm working full-time, I'm amazed at how much it rings true.

The main thing I marvel at is networking among people in your field. I belong to a list-serv where people email each other questions and then people freely and happily share answers. I think I've helped some people out a few times with questions, and people have definitely helped me out. I basically developed a project out of answers I got from others to my questions. It's amazing... and I mean, people have always been doing it, but the Internet makes it so fast and easy and... international.

Oh the things we're able to do.....

Notent Notables

Spaghetti - you were SO delicious just now. Why isn't there more of you?

So, tomorrow marks the end of the reading challenge. The challenge was to read 8 books by August 31st. I believe the challenge will end with 7 books read - 2 of them by J.K. Rowling, which had already been read by me before... Boooo. Not exactly the point of the challenge, but I must say I got a little complacent near the end and was far too interested in re-reading the Harry Potter series than anything else. Ho hum, oh well... Still, 5/8 is not so bad when you're a working gal, and the whole point was to get myself reading, not to be too particular about what exactly it was I read. Plus, Harry Potter is a great gateway back into the Fiction world, which was another thing I needed. Although it's not officially over, I call the Reading Challenge a great success!!! [I'll do an official reading challenge post on September 1st to report a little more specifically on my thoughts, books read, achievements, etc.]

Sporcle - stop being so fun!!!

In other news, I have no other news.

"What we do with the connections we make online after we close our laptops and turn off our smart phones"

I've talked about these two a bunch of times. I've been following them basically every step of the way - both in the literal and Twitteral sense - and I'm always excited to hear about their adventures, discoveries, and revelations. Here's a particular revelation that really stood out for me.

It is obvious to me now as I collect real-life relationships like souvenirs along the course of my travels, that the potential of social media lies in what we do with the connections we make online after we close our laptops and turn off our smart phones.

Isn't that beautiful? And it is the truth. I'm not a pessimist about social media. I don't think it makes true friendship fall apart. In fact, it keeps us more able to connect, and easier. Rather than moving somewhere leading to losses in friendships, it means I can always see what my friends are up to, and vice versa. It has changed things, sure, but I don't think in a negative way.

Anyway, check out Alex and Luke. They're great!

DIY

Before discussing today's topic, I shall update you on the Reading Challenge.

• Currently reading: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Sex Drugs & Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman

• Completed: The Outsiders

• Next on the list?: The Time Traveler's Wife? Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas? What do you think???

Anyway... on to today's topic, which is DIY, a.k.a. Do It Yourself. This term is associated with books or TV shows on how to make your own bird houses or book shelves. You know what I'm talking about. However, there's a new kind of DIY, and that's what I want to discuss. It's the kind of DIY that happened to me yesterday. I wanted/needed a webcam and so my Mom gave me this old Logitech one she has. Old model, but it should still work. Here's the thing - she didn't have the installation CD. I decided to wing it! And so began my search. I googled, I figured out the webcam's model name, I looked around for torrents, I read through forums, and before I knew it, my webcam was working!!!

My point is - the Internet is empowering. You don't need to know lingo or understand the inside of your computer to make magic happen - you just need to commit yourself to the task at hand. With each thing that you google, you start to get an idea of what it is you need to do, download, or search further. I love it! I feel like a genius.

Reunited & it feels SO gooood!

EPIC! Why have I only just found this?

Funny or Die's Presidential Reunion from Will Ferrell

President's Reunion Behind the Scenes - watch more funny videos

Empire State of Bus

I am on the Megabus. TO to NYC. WiFi connection. Doesn't get much better than that.

I'm in Buffalo right now. Crossed the border without any issue. NYC in just over 5 hours.

LML.

Social Media + Marketing = Mind-Blowing

Before I say anything else, check this out: This is the official YouTube blog. I checked it out for the first time today and yesterday they posted a great entry. It segues pretty well into my topic today:

Social Media and the concept of "Accidental Spokespeople".

I'm reading this great book right now that my boss lent me. It's called *Personality Not Included and it's written by Rohit Bhargava. I haven't read many (if any) marketing books, and I'm feeling like this book is a great intro. I'm only 60 or so pages into it, but here's what I figure it's about - "why brands need personality in this day and age to be successful". Bhargava talks about social media and the birth of the "accidental spokesperson". This person is someone inside or outside of a company that discusses the company just because they want to, and presumably are enthusiastic and passionate about it. Examples he uses are Intel employees who keep blogs about research, updates, and news regarding the company, Jared from Subway, and this guy named Armand who LOVES Moleskine notebooks. In fact, Armand loves the notebooks SO much that he keeps a blog called Moleskinerie where he discusses all the great things you can do with a Moleskine. Just a sidenote: I have a Moleskine notebook, too. They are the best.

Anyway, what Bhargava is saying is that all these people keeping blogs are amazing assets to the companies they belong to or are enthusiastic about. In this day and age, we rarely look to TV ads (if we even watch TV), newspaper ads, or flyers when we're thinking about buying a product, WE LOOK TO PEOPLE. We ask our friends, we check comment boards online, we ask a Yahoo! question and get a Yahoo! answer... We make it our status on Facebook, we tweet about it to our tweeple... You get what I (and everybody else) am saying. The world is changing, and these bloggers/tweeple/Facebookers are now our authorities.

How cool is that? We have so much power. If I write that I love Diet Pepsi SO MUCH (which I do... I was just drinking it while reading this book), and you read my blog and have never tried it but figure if I love it SO MUCH that maybe you will too, then maybe you'll drink it. I'm not saying you will for sure, but my blog might actually inspire that action. It's a really cool thing.

Social media is something I'm really starting to get into. Not in the sense that I'm registering for all the sites (because I mostly have already... at least all the popular ones), but I'm starting to reflect on its power more than ever. These aren't just sites that we waste our time on anymore. They are legitimate and powerful tools that we utilize to learn, help make our decisions, and keep in touch.

My mind is officially blown. Is yours?