NBC Sucks

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NBC sucks. The worst thing they could have done is send YouTube a C&D letter. Viral marketing can be defined as: Marketing phenomenon that facilitates and encourages people to pass along a marketing message. Without that marketing it wouldn’t have become popular. Which meant it wouldn’t be on iTunes. Does anyone else realize the material from Lonely Island (the guys who came up with it) was created under a Creative Commons license? I thought that was what made them so neat in the first place. NBC, you used to be cool…

The Ease of Blogging

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I was doing some quality thinking in the shower (my best ideas originate while soaking in hot water). I was reflecting on my blogging experience. Why do I do it? Why do other people do it? Is there an easy way to explain it? I think I figured out the answer to most of these questions. It’s really quite simple. I submit to you the underlying principles of blogging which I like to call The Ease (E’s) of Blogging:

  • Educate
  • Entertain
  • Emote
  • Engage
  • Earn

Blogging is as simple as the aforementioned activities. For example, Robert Scoble is great at doing all of the above: he blogs as an evangelist (earning his paycheck); Robert educates his readers about Microsoft and technology; in addition he uses his blog to express his opinions which quickly lead to engaging conversations.

Blogs like Engadget are dedicated to educating and entertaining their readers.

People like Bryan Veloso are great at entertaining readers.

Individuals like Paul Stamatiou are great at educating readers with both news and tutorial-style posts.

Other personal bloggers, such as myself, frequently emote (MySpace sucks, Yahoo has no clue, etc) and try to engage their readers. I don’t try to earn a living like some educators (Darren Rowse) but I do try to earn respect and recognition. I’m also trying to earn the companionship and readership of some of the brightest people on the internet.

The Ease of Blogging explains why you see thousands of new blogs every day with thousands of posts every second, it’s just so easy…

…but what seperates the best bloggers from the rest? We’re all doing the same things aren’t we?

[tags]blogging, blogs, bloggers[/tags]

Horizons Day

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I did nothing Valentines-y yesterday. It seems like the biggest non-holiday ever celebrated. Why just one day to dedicate to a sweetheart? Make every day special! Anyway, a friend of mine sent me this, in which I participated:

Horizons Day began as the vision of two high school friends who sought not to retaliate against Feb. 14, but instead to take that day to reflect inwardly, to indulge and celebrate the individual, and to embrace the love of those you choose to keep close around you. In an era wherein awkward encounters have replaced bad hair days, and Facebook has replaced and redefined human to human contact, we could all use a little day to indulge and to broaden our horizons. Thus the second function of Horizons Day. It is a celebration of media, of communication; that information alone can enrich our lives and sharing it is as easy as dropping a name. Finding a new favorite band, a new favorite brand of soap, a spunky insightful news source, a life-altering book, all presents to pass on from your personal vault and to receive in return. All in an attempt to grow just a little more on this day, to have optimism and happiness instilled in you, even a little bit, even just today.

This 3am entry was brought to you by: biphasic sleeping.

[tags]valentine’s day, horizons day, love, personal[/tags]

Is college worth it?

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Ben asked and answered the question, Chris added his two cents, now it’s my turn: Is college really necessary?

Let me be blunt: categorically yes.

Despite the complaining I couldn’t be happier with the college experience. Everyone should do it. The dorms on the other hand… that’s another story. Ben says he loves college becuase he’s met some very smart and capable people. I, too, would cite that as a good reason to go to college: networking.

When you’re in college, odds are you’re not entirely responsible for your own finances. This means you have some freedom as to what you do during this time. Personally, I’ve taken on three (simultanious) jobs, a business fraternity, and a few of my own side projects. If I ever screw any of these things up, that’s okay, I’ll learn from it; I won’t get fired. Well, I might get fired, but my well-being certainly isn’t at stake. Additionally, I don’t have anyone (a family) relying on my actions. As Chris put it, “life will hit you square in the face“, and you’ll (hopefully) figure things out pretty quickly.

Keep in mind though, you only get out of college the energy you put in. People will not bump into you and introduce themselves; you have to get out and get involved. Join organizations and find people who share similar interests. High school forced you into the same classes with the same people. Friendship was merely by association. In college you’re forced to make decisions: you decide who you are, what classes you’ll take, who you’ll associate with, who you’ll trust, who you’ll emulate, etc. Again, the people play a big role in college.

Sure, you learn a lot but just about anyone can pick up a book and absorb the same information. Heck, you could get a job and gain all the experience you could ever need. But, as I mentioned, college provides that time for you to slow down and make some conscious decisions. For those of you in college I pose the following question:

What is it that you’re best at? What is the one thing you can do better than anyone else on your campus?

College is a perfect time to apply the hedgehog concept. You have 3, 4, maybe even 8 years to find the answer. I suggest, as Chris has so brilliantly demonstrated through GTA and Blind Date, that you spend that time wisely. You’ll never get it back…

[tags]personal, education, college, networking[/tags]

Sunday Fun

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Monday is near. I found this video and it reminded me that college isn’t so bad. You get to find some real talent. Anyway, you’ll probably enjoy the video. Deep down I, too, am a white kid with a guitar singing a collection of rap songs. Personally, I would’ve thrown some Sean Paul in…

Live vs Google Domains

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Scoble is upset because people are talking more about Google than Microsoft. Nathan is also expressing his concern.

Guys, the reasoning behind all of this is pretty clear. Yes, MSN has a much larger user base than GMail. But, all the popular nerds with blogs, all those guys ‘buzzing’ about Google Domains: they love Google. The people who know what an MX record is don’t really want their domain on MSN Live Messenger nor MSN Live Mail. They want to use the weapon-of-choice for nerds everywhere: GMail. I’ve used both, I express the same sentiment. I’m a Live beta tester, I use the new MSN, I use the new email… I like GMail better.

Oh, and why would people have ever said ‘MSN goes after Outlook’? I’ve used a product called the “MSN Outlook Connector“. Hey, when/if Google comes out with a calendar are we going to get upset because we didn’t mention MSN has one, too?

Put simply, MSN jumped into the email game far too late. I think we all can agree on that. GMail changed the way many people do email and it will always attract the related ‘buzz’.

Okay, guys, for once somebody copied Microsoft. ;-)