EM ESS EN

I would guess that the high school experience these days is very often shaped by Facebook. Making plans, spreading gossip, complaining about homework, flirting, etc., etc. I'm so glad my high school experience did not involve Facebook in any way -- it was hard enough surviving the most self-conscious years of my life as it was, never mind what it would've been like trying to find a somewhat decent profile picture.

However, we didn't experience high school in the absence of technology, because there was a mode of communication that, for me at least, did shape my high school years.

MSN

I'm thinking about this because my Gmail chat just cut out for what seemed like 3 minutes, but was probably 1.5. When it happened, I was reminded of what my reaction was when this happened on MSN in grade 11. My anxiety would kick in, I would click click click... restart the computer... the sweat would start pouring... I would think about what the person I was chatting with might think... would they still be online? OMG OMG OMG!!!

Ahhhhh... sweet relief as the little green man spun around and then your friends were displayed once again.

How many serious conversations did you have on MSN? How many transcripts of conversations did you re-read? Did you ever print a conversation out?

I haven't used MSN in ages, but it really did define some pivotal parts of my adolescence.
Food for thought, I guess.

Newz

I haven't blogged in a bit, so here's a morning quickie before I hop in the shower.

The iPhone has changed my life... I'm more organized, more connected, and all around loving my new gadget. I haven't been reading as much, it's true, but I figure the novelty will wear off soon enough, and until then, I'm forcing myself to read at least twice a day, even if it's for short periods of time. Unfortunately I still won't finish the last 3 Harry Potters before Friday (the opening day of the first part of the 7th movie), but that's no matter... I'll finish them eventually. I'm about 50 pages from being done the 5th book, so I'll just push through and hopefully finish the other 2 this year.

Some of the many perks of the iPhone are the news apps - I have Thomson Reuters, New York Times (thanks to the GF), Globe & Mail, and Huffington Post all at my fingertips. I read the top articles every morning with my coffee. It's not the same as holding the papers in your hand at your breakfast table, but it's a fantastic alternative. Plus, I get MORE news, and if I like an article or want to share it, it couldn't be simpler to link to Facebook, Twitter, etc. I love it. I feel more informed, which is always a good thing! Ok - shower time!

FB.

I could go on and on about how fascinating Facebook is and how it's changed our world and the way we socialize, communicate, etc., etc., etc., but I won't. We all live it and know it and there won't be anything unique about the way I articulate it, so I'll avoid self-indulgence & pretension for once.

I'll just make a few small comments about the movie "The Social Network":

• I thought the writing was fabulous. It makes me want to get into "The West Wing" again.
• I thought the acting was really good, too. Justin Timberlake isn't a great actor, maybe, but they picked a good character for him to play... although as a sidenote, I heard (read in Vanity Fair) that Sean Parker isn't really that much like the character in the movie. That may or may not be true.
• I had no idea that Sean Parker (one of the guys behind Napster) was involved in the beginnings of Facebook. Was that news to anyone else?
• My parents really enjoyed the movie, too, but my dad said it took him a while to get into. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that they don't have Facebook.
• Overall, definitely worth watching!

Tweet / Poke

I think Twitter & Facebook are meant for different sentiments. You know what I mean?

Ark Aid Fye Her

My favourite band has always been The Beatles, and it still is. Their talent, influence, consistency, personality, story, and music in general is unparalleled. It's not as if there aren't bands who rival them, because there are, but the impact The Beatles had... you just can't compare.

That said, I don't listen to The Beatles on a daily basis. In fact, I can't remember the last time I put on a Beatles song on purpose. Lately, I don't listen to one artist... I don't listen to albums... I don't obsess over one band... I guess I've started approaching my music with the way I approach a lot of things now - in bite-sized amounts. A move to listen to just one song by one artist, and then another song by another artist, is akin to my move to write things in 140 characters or less.

Anyway, however it's happened, it's sort of a bummer... oh well...

The point of this musing is to mention that because it's been held in such high esteem since its release, I'm listening to the entirety (in order - that's important) of Arcade Fire's new album: "The Suburbs". I was really into "Neon Bible" a couple of summers ago, and I like Arcade Fire, so I'm pumped to be experiencing them in a new way again.

Verdict after 2.5 songs? I've GOT to listen to the rest. This album is effing amazing!!!

"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!

The Days of Yore

I nearly forgot about this ol' webpage. I remember it was going around in email FWDs back in the day. Remember that? When information travelled in email FWDs?!?! Damn, those was some slow days. You had to wait to log in to your Hotmail before you knew what was hot and fresh and current. Hilarious.

All work and no play makes Gravy crazy

Ugh... 24 hours until I'm writing the last exam of my undergrad. I cannot find the motivation.

Distractions include:
(1) Chuck Klosterman's Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs
(2) Season 6 of Entourage - I'm re-watching the series in prep for 7th season
(3) Alex & Luke - their charm is still too much for me!
(4) Anything but studying

PENS!

With an essay due today, and an exam at 6:30, how do you think I'm spending my time?



Watching White House videos, naturally. I love Obama, and I love pens, so here we are! I got a fountain pen recently. Best present ever. Looks as though Barack is using ballpoints though.

Also, the White House website allows you to post videos right to Facebook. I love Obama!

TWEET!

Here's a weird 21st century concept:

When someone famous tweets @ you or RTs you, you feel famous.

True fact.

EDIT - I wasn't tweeted @ or RT'd by anyone famous, just FYI. I just know a few people who have been AND I know I would feel famous if it happened to me. So new gen.

Gravy LOVES: Alex & Luke

THEIR STORY :

In September of 2009, after a few unexpected life turns, we started planning this project. Restless with our current positions in our respective lives, we set out to see what would happen if we used the power of social media to enable an exploration of North America.

Without a route or any preconceived idea of what we will see and do, we are calling on the communities behind the most popular social media websites to act as our compass (pointing us where to go) and our guidebook (telling us what to see).

Equipped with a small car and a trunk load of equipment, our goal is to travel through every state, province and territory while documenting and sharing the experience through web videos and other internet content available at our website, alexandluke.com.

We will be exploring the gap between real-time relationships and online relationships and it is our hope that connections between these two realms will be made in interesting and unexpected ways. Every individual who participates and engages with alexandluke, both on and offline will play a role in our journey. Sometimes these relationships will be formed deliberately, and other times by pure happenstance.

The desire to explore has been with us for thousands of years. The geography of North America is relatively the same as it has been for centuries. The need to collect and share the travel experience with others is as old as is travel itself. But never before has exploration been so accessible and sharing been so easy.

Who we will meet, where we will sleep, what we will see, and even the most fundamental aspect – where we will go, are all unknown. The notion of directionless travel may not be a new one, but this wanderlust is both facilitated and shared through new social technologies in an internet-empowered world

We leave it in your hands to help us experience the North America that you think we should experience and you can do this in a number of ways. Regular polls will be held on the home page of our website, but you can also interact with us through Twitter (where you can vote and make suggestions), YouTube (where you can vote and watch our videos), Gowalla (where you can check in with our current location and visited destinations) and on our Facebook Fan Page (where you can interact with us and our other followers). Click on the Interact button on our home page to learn more.

We can’t wait to see how the story unfolds, and how your involvement will affect our journey.

Alex & Luke are innovative, fun, smart, cute, and totally plugged in all the time! CHECK THEM OUT!!!

Glee is Presidential

So good!

This is totally indicative of how perfect "Glee" is. The world was obviously waiting for a show like this. Never mind the fact that Glee has taken advantage of social media outlets, too, like Facebook. I'm impressed!

I'm pumped for next season/the 2nd half of first season? I'm not even sure, just bring on another ep.

Sir Richard Dancin

This is why Virgin is a cool company.

"Celebrity"

I've had a lot of conversations these days about the way the world is now. Conversations about how when I say, "What's up?" to my friend, he replies, "NM", and that's totally fine with me. Conversations about whether or not Internet dating sites are representative of the deterioration of social behaviour in this century. My instinct is to always support the time we live in. We live in the age of iPhones and Twitter and text messaging, and it's a great age to be a part of! Information moves faster than ever. Technology is changing more rapidly than I can mentally process. However, there are lines being crossed that I question.

I just listened to the audio of John Mayer breaking down onstage.
He says, "I quit the media game. I'm out. I'm done. [...] I just want to play my guitar."

With a world so obsessed with the idea of celebrity and real people becoming fictionalized... that must be a lot of pressure for celebrities. There are a lot of celebrities who became celebrities because they were passionate about their art - whether it be acting, or playing the guitar. However, because of us, they've become wrapped up in something they never signed on for.

That being said, I suppose it is what they signed on for. We all know that if you become a household name, that carries a lot of weight. Weight you might not want to take on.

Is there a choice? Can John Mayer really quit? I don't think so, because I found out about this on Twitter and then E! Online. I don't think you can escape it. It's just the way of the world... whether good or bad, it sells!

There's also those people that don't care about "their art" (if they even have one), because what they want is the celebrity. You don't have to have an art to be a celebrity now (see: Speidi), because we don't care what you do, we just care about which bar you were at, whether or not you flashed anyone, cheated on your boyfriend, or got in a cat fight with another "celeb".

I'm not bashing it though. I buy into it, too! I just find it fascinating.

Truthfully, there's no other age I'd want to grow up in.

Brill.

I have a feeling I'm gonna fall in love with these two people very quickly!

Too Much Hype

I love Hype Machine! I really don't pay attention to the individual blogs that have their posts aggregated on the site, but now I think I'll pay attention to one of them: Salacious Sound.

I read an amazing post on it today that responds to another blog entry posted on November 18th. You've gotta check them both out. Very definitive 2009.

Interior Crocodile Alligator

I watched "Say Anything" for the first time today. I liked it! Nothing spectacular, but it was a great flick to watch while eating breakfast.

It's funny how pop culture works. It was my first time seeing that movie, but I obviously already knew the scene with the boombox. How? It's so weird how we know that stuff already...

Speaking of which, here's a jokes remix/remake of that scene:



Also - here's a couple funny sites to check out:
http://yourscenesucks.com/
http://www.maxim.com/humor/stupid-fun/83547/hipster-douchebag-soundboard.html

ENJOY!

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?