Social Networking with the Big G

I got into social networking, after really making an effort to avoid the whole shebang.

I have to say, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. As much as I enjoy getting to meet and reconnect with friends, sometimes it just ain't worth it.

Friends are worth it, do not misconstrue that. Family and friends first. But for all the enticing little extras that await you in the realm known as Facebook, I'm about past that. Really.

Google's powerhouse of apps and add-ons (I love me some Google Chrome Extensions). Google Wave and Voice kick ass. Period. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your view), many of my friends don't use Gmail. Yet. And these are basically my up close and personal friends. Not some schmo off the block who "wants to be friends".

Tomorrow, Google's announcing something big regarding the whole social networking hullabaloo. Keep your ears perked, come 10:00 AM PST.

As for now, I thought I'd go ahead and include a few articles, including this one and this one. Downloadsquad.com reported this first, I believe, but PC World has a more in-depth write up. You decide.

[09 February 2010] Follow-up: So it was announced today. Google Buzz is the latest Google tool to pop out and be integrated within the Gmail application/website. Personally, I like the idea of having something like this within my primary email account. I've read many gripes about just having a regular ol' email account and I understand that. My thought on that is, "Turn it off". Don't utilize it if you don't want it. Easier than easy, but hey: the email account is free, so what's the problem? Not wanting to rant, I'll be checking this out in the coming week, so I'll let you know more afterwards!

Shazam!

Playing the Shill: AndreaMosaic

Okay, I'll do my part in the name of freeware.

Anyone who knows my knows that I love video and photography. I've never had fancy equipment until I bought my camcorder this year.

I digress.

It hit me today and I did a quick search and came across a how-to of sorts for photomosaics. This how-to suggested a few, and I clicked on the first one: AndreaMosaic.

Basically, I'm still learning the software, but anyone on my facebook saw my photo I posted. It's quite easy to get going, but probably takes a bit of practice to really master the finer points.

It's apparently named after an Andrea, but I don't know yet who she is. She simply asks that end users give her the props. There is a more bells & whistles version, the Professional, but I went with the basic.

To Andrea, thanks for what is thus far a great product. My son loves his picture (so does Mommy!).

Again, if you are considering doing something with that huge collection of digital prints on the hard drive, this is a great idea and a possible gift for Dad in the next few weeks.

Cheers!

Final Quote: "Photography is the beauty of life, captured. " - Tara Chisholm

Interesting Question #1: Clothing Brands

I am always amazed where my lovely muse may strike...

If you've done any facebooking, you know about the various applications that come up.  And with that, comes hopefully a regular Sunday light writing:  Interesting Questions.  No brain busters, nothing that you're gonna regret in the morning (not those kind of questions!), but something simple and hopefully will inspire you to just consider the small things that make up our wonderful and complicated lives.

So, I get this update that says "Your Pick5 of the Day:..." and it lists a few lists that I could generate.  I click on the one that says "Favourite Clothing Brand" (guilty pleasure: I love "ou" spellings on certain words...dunno why...just do...back to the topic) and begin to peruse some of the latest entries.

It appears that American Eagle, Under Armor, Hollister, and Ambercrombie & Fitch are among the top ones, but there are others as well.  Seeing these and thinking about what many of my students where, I had to stop and wonder:  Why do we wear (let's just stick with clothing here...)the brands that we do?  

I'l get into my choices later, but for now, I guess we'd have to evaluate the purpose of clothes.  Obviously, they clothe us.  Most of us wouldn't want to go around naked or be around naked people at the work place, right?  While some may derive a really weird pleasure from it, for the most part, keep that stuff at home or the occasional hotel room, right?  This would also pertain to those that require certain attire for maintaining religious beliefs.  

Clothes also allow us a certain look.  We've all heard the phrase "Sunday best", "casual Friday", and "business casual".  We've professional obligations to maintain, even if we don't always agree with them.  Personally, I'd love to wear cargos to work every day, but I can't.  Jeans suffice two days a week for me.

But the third one is tricky.  Clothes allow for a bit of prestige.  Wear something nice and you get noticed.  But what makes that t-shirt nice?  Is it the splatter logo mosaic of a bird's silouhette on it that makes it cool?  Point is, that little check mark (makes a woosh-like sound...) is pretty cool and turns that regular run of the mill shirt into a $30 t-shirt.  Like that broken in jeans?  Spend $60 on a pair of "worn in" jeans that could possible tear on you in about a month for that more "broken in super cool" look. 

I know I sound jaded, but in the end, clothes are just clothes.  They shouldn't define you, but so often we see that it does.  Maybe that's okay, but I would hope that people could eventually grow out of that.  I'm trying not to judge, because I'm quite guilty of this.  One of my favorite shirts is that black Nike shirt.  The only thing on it is an embroidered swoosh.  Why do I like it?  It fits me like no other and it's been washed so many times that it's nearly ashy, but velvety soft.

So, in short, I do have five brands that I like, but it goes beyond the brand.  Many of these lack the obligatory highly visible logo.  They don't need them.  But then again...

1. ecco Shoes - My first pair of "good" golf shoes, I love them.  Nothing fancy in the design at all, black and white.  I got a super deal on them...four years ago.  They work just as well as the pair I just got three months ago.  
2. Old Navy - The clothes fit me, the shirts damn near perfect.  The jeans hold up (I still have my second pair, they are perfectly ripped up, circa 1999/2000) .  Prices are nice, but sales are the best.  What more is there to say?
3. adidas - I don't care much for the adidas brand (too much hype), but I do have to say that much of their apparel is really nice.  They've had some really nice golf team shirts and I can't say enough about their shorts.  Whether it be soccer, golf or basketball, adidas seems to put out some really nice stuff.  I've got a pair of adidas heavy workout shorts (I lost the matching top!) that are circa 1998.  They are my favorite.
4. Hanes - Honesly, this is only because I've had so many custom shirts made in the last five years.  The shirts were true-sized, a nice weight, and didn't shrink too much.  
5. dockers - Honestly, I usually don't care about the brand of my khakis.  I have so many and go through them like water, it's not a big deal.  Dockers tend to be expensive (even during sales) but they do hold up better than other brands...just barely.  Even then, it's number five.

That' s it.  My list.  Nothing fancy.  But the clothes fit physically and monetarily.  And my wife likes them on me.  Maybe that's the most important thing.  So, now, you get you leave your comments.  Go ahead; share with us.  Disagree?  Question me for buying foreign brands?  Want to know more about those foreign brands?  Leave a comment.

Final quote: If most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture, let us be more ashamed of shabby  ideas and shoddy philosophies...It would be a sad situation if the wrapper were better thant eh meat wrapped inside it. - Albert Einstein

Immediacy: Read this Now!

I've had this blog going for close to four years.  Why? Probably not so much to change the world, but more so to really develop my writing voice and perhaps meet others with like minds.  

Recently, I established my facebook account.  I didn't do it because it was the cool thing, but more along the lines of connecting with a few old buddies.  I've been using it late as a platform to hopefully expand my readership (along with obtaining some new sources of reading as well).  

But what of the status quo?  What of those that must do this, must blog/tweet/FB/mySpace/social network in whatever en vogue forum you visit?

I don't have any other accounts.  I must admit, for the longest time, when my students would ask about it, I would state that I have friends that I actually socialize with.  A flippant statement, considering that I didn't participate in them.  Looking back, my ideas about it were shallow and archaic.  I know that they are various tools for communicating with friends of distance and yore.  But this doesn't address my question on the status quo.

Anyone around typical teenagers will be annoyed by the typical remark when for a rationale for something.  "Because...you know..." is quite standard among many of my students.  While not a specific answer, it is indicative that teens (among a great many of our populous) don't really know why they do the things that they do.  "Dude, did you see Sewand Sew's mySpace/ facebook/blah blah blah?"  The plastering of photos (many of which are quite lewd and crass) which show fun times has lead to suspensions of students more than just once.  Status quo? Look at me. Now.  NOW!

Don't believe me?  How much reality TV do you watch?  How much does society in general watch?  Apparently a lot.  USAToday wrote about this yesterday and makes a great point about reality TV: That's not a call for more reality shows. It's a plea for a return to shows...that make an effor to connect to life as we live it.  TV has basically proven that many consumers are interested in the current fad of immediacy.

My friend Kris wrote about this and it prompted me to voice my own little opinion.  I promise you, it's worth what you're paying for it.  Social networks are simply pretty cool.  Sure, you can find out how cold your friends are in Alaska (hey Alan!), see pictures of loved ones from afar, and even get your blog out to new viewers.  But, as many people do, much of the social networking that goes on is about immediacy.  "Look at me, I just took this quiz.  See if your smarter than me!".

Before you stop reading, let's be honest.  Much of it is pretty harmless fun.  Sure, some of it is stupid.  Sure, you can easily hit delete or ignore and be done with it. I admit, I did it my first few weeks, as I thought it was the cool thing to do.  In the end, I can't control what you post, how you post it, nor why you post it.  But then, in an attempt to get me to "Look at me.  Now.  Now!", you probably drove me away to begin with.

Final quote: Don't wanna wait for tomorrow/Why put it off another day/One by one, little problems/build up and stand in our way - Van Halen, "Right Now"