Since Vox doesn't offer an explicit "blogroll" section (or more likely -- that I haven't found this yet) I decided to write about the blogs that I actually read (not the ones that I would say I read if I want to appear really intelligent and concerned with important, groundbreaking issues). Therefore, I will list off the fashion-themed blogs that I enjoy reading since superficial material that doesn't require much thinking is what I enjoy most after thinking all day at school. And these fashion blogs DO IT RIGHT. Yes, there is a wrong way which I'll show later.
- Go Fug Yourself - Absolutely amazing. I wish this were my job because I critique what other people wear for free all day in my head. (don't worry if I like you my inner thoughts are pretty nice to you). One common denominator of all people is their desire to make fun of gorgeous people and an easy way to do that since you can't say they're ugly is if they wear something hideous.
- I Am Fashion - offers lots of pictures of runway shows and a good look at the coming trends (if you take the designer look and tone it down by like 20 notches. Comments are definitely a little more friendly shall we say than go fug yourself.
But how can you get it wrong might you ask? The material is not so much the issue but if you look at Washington Post's Fashion Blog, the pictures are teeeeeny. I can't see the outfit!! and I'm wayyy too LAZY to click to see it larger. Fashion is visual--no one is interested in reading your lengthy commentary on an outfit seen in a thumbnail size picture no matter how good it is. For example, I buy Vogue but have yet to read the entirity of one of the articles that jumps to the back the magazine it's so long. You look at the fashion spreads and the pictures with the little briefs. period.
So, Washington Post if you need a new fashion blogger/layout designer you know who to call.
Is the era of Microsoft Word and other word processors coming to an end? Well, I wouldn't say quite yet but there are clues that it could be pushed out by new some promising new technology. My sister told me about an online word processor and I decided to try it out since I often email documents to myself in order to print them on campus.
Writely.com, recently acquired by Google, offers a unique online word processor ideal for collaborative writing efforts. A user can upload an already existing document or write it directly online. Then, you can save it, tag it for organizational purposes, post it to a blog, or invite others to view or edit your document.
I recently used this program for a group project I am working on for another class and it was actually pretty great. However, we did find that some of the formatting that the online word processor did to be a bit weird/troublesome (i.e. - we had trouble controlling the bullets function from going crazy and doing what it wanted haha). It's probably better at this point to upload a document and use it that way. However, it was really cool because we were all able to type in the same document at the same time without having to email the document to one another after every revision.
As of now, people can sign in using their Google ID's. I will be interested to see if they incorporate some kind of social networking aspect (like every other site these days). But there's not "profile" or "about me" section--YET.
The program is still in beta so like I said it still needs some more work. However, with Google's backing (financially and otherwise), it will certainly improve and best of all it's FREE! :)
Nielsen Ratings of Social Networking Sites PDF
Blogging sites took 3 of the top 10 spots which is somewhat shocking to me but then again I am new to the whole blogging thing so I wouldn't know alot of people that do it in the first place.
I was also surprised to see Classmates online in the list since by the sheer number of ads that they have online I always assumed they were struggling to get people to join...obviously that was wrong haha.
Surprisingly absent is Facebook, which seems so prevalent in the University setting but then again there is a world outside of UNC (shocking, I know). It will be interesting to see if Facebook climbs this list after it opens to the public as a competition to MySpace.
It is also interesting to note that many in the Top 10 also appear to have the best retention rates of users. Facebook is in this list as well which isn't surprising since I know that if I left my friends would be mad that they had to call or IM me to get in touch with me (it's a lot more effort).
Either way, this is an interesting survey of what everyone is looking at online and which sorts of sites prevail in the end in tallying the most users.
ThisNext Launches Social Shopping
Now, what is shopcasting might you ask? (since, I was kinda like um..?)
Shopcasting - "a way for a person to tell a bunch of people about things they love. “Shopcast” is a mashed up word that combines shopping and broadcasting. What “podcasting” did for MP3s is what we’re doing for shopping: bringing to your computer information about things in which you, the shopper, are interested. The information here is the product of a tremendous collaborative effort by tons of people you don’t personally know who have interesting opinions they want to share. Where a “podcast” might be a playlist featuring songs, a shopcast is a product playlist."
I was always wondering when this would start but I'm glad it did. As a total confessed shop-a-holic, I think that a lot of the features are good. This will not help me wasting my time shopping online (which is surprisingly low, though when I do get a chance I do it shamelessly)
However, I think that there will be some difficulty in getting people to join the site where this is the only real draw but for someone like me and some of my friends it is definitely useful. I think it's only a matter of time before another social networking site with an established number of members adds this feature to their options which will swallow up this website but for now, I'm a member. :)
My ThisNext Account
Lawmakers take aim at social-networking sites
A proposed federal law, Deleting Online Predators Act, or DOPA, would soon make many social networking sites such as Myspace, Blogger, and others from being accessible on library and public school computers for minors. This is not the most disturbing part, as there are other programs that would be blocked under this legislation including AOL and Yahoo Instant Messenger.
As always, the idea behind this proposal is that it would protect children from online predators. Ah, yes because online predators unlike those in real life can reach out and grab your children and kidnap them. OH WAIT, the child has to provide personal information and in most cases establish contact with the predator? Hm.
In the talk I saw from danah boyd last Thursday, she discussed how online predators aren't nearly as mysterious and rampant as we might think. Most of the time, the girls that get into trouble with these creepos are fully aware before they meet their "online friend" of their age difference (and through this revelation would be able to ask themselves - "Why would a 40 year old want to hang out with a 15 year old?") and choose to meet them anyhow.
Libraries, schools, and *gasp* parents could provide information about how to protect oneself from predators--both online and otherwise. Instead of blocking these websites and messaging services that are principally used for communication among already established friends (because parents won't let them go out because their baby needs to have 500 extra curriculars to get into ___ University...ok that's really beside the point but whatever.)
Blocking this social outlet for young people is not only destructive and extremely unneccessary. Being under 18 does not make one socially incompetent. Minors haven't forgotten the "dont' talk to strangers" policy and if one worries they have, all they need is a simple reminder.
http://www.dooce.com/ - "Having Dated Walking Red Flags"
My sister sent me this link (it's the September 15th entry I'm referring to btw) and it mentioned how a blog about relationship dealbreakers is a great way to spice up your material. Now, I won't go into detail about what mine are but this tip is absolutely dead-on (just look at the comments for evidence)
As I wrote before, knowing someone's dislikes are definitely a great way to get to know more about a person. What would be funny and interesting to see is a social networking sites that comes up with more creative categories in the 'about me' section outside of the typical 'interests'. I know I freeze when people just ask me what my 'hobbies' are but if they're like "What's your favorite reality show?" I can pop out my completely embarassing response, "Top Model" just like that.
Personally, I'd rather see "favorite meal of the day", "relationship dealbreakers", "favorite childhood tv show", etc. Those are really what make a person unique and lets face it, I'm so tired of people putting in their interests that the like 'having fun'. ("OMG. look! ___ is interested in having fun too?! God, finally someone who isn't interested 'having an absolutely miserable time'!")
And it'd be cool to meet another girl who also can't date a guy who wears gold chains.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=2422125 - Como What?!
I know I already did my generic facebook complaining post but seriously, why would they do that?! (By that, if you are too lazy to read the article they're going to open up facebook to people not in college or high school who receive invitations from current users)
Facebook's whole appeal is its exclusivity.
- Before (When only college students were on facebook): "Yay! I'm going to ___ College! OOh I'm gonna get a facebook now!"
- Later (When they introduced high school facebook): "Yay! I'm out of middle school! I'm so awesome that I'm getting a facebook and a myspace!"
- Now (Or atleast after they introduce this change): "Wow, this is so convenient! This site was made for stalkers like me! I get first names, last names, all online activity--vital tools necessary to keep up with my creepy lifestyle all in a convenient place!"
Ok maybe that's not always true but anyone with friends who are not in high school or college and are interested in being in a social networking site are already on myspace anyways.
It will be very interesting to see what the effects of all this are since Facebook profiles often contain a lot more personal information than on other sites (i.e. - residence hall, cell phone number, class schedule, etc.).
Either way, I probably won't be creeped out enough to change until I get a message that says "Hot pics" or an equally disturbing message from someone who I really don't even know or could possibly know. Not sure what a message would say that would creep college boys out...but I'm sure I'll hear about an instance of one after this debuts and it will be hilarious.
Let's compare and contrast the complaints shall we?
- http://www.petitiononline.com/faceb00k/petition.html -Facebook.com Users Against the "News Feed" and the "Mini Feed" Petition
Let's be honest, everyone's still talking about the facebook "Mini Feed" and "News Feed." It's getting almost as old as people saying they're "bringing sexy back."
(PS- you're not.)
I guess all this can make one sympathize with the celebrities who complain about the poparazzi. Add some pictures, expensive clothes, anorexia, and (maybe) talent and you've got the people.com home page.
If there's gonna be a news feed, I demand details and pictures of the parties at hand looking angry without makeup carrying a coffee and commentary on why that couple that I see everywhere suddenly broke up. If you're gonna provide stalker tools you gotta go all the way. Perhaps message boards where people can discuss the news feeds? or even better, how about we receive an Oscar (or more realistically a Teen Choice award) and millions of dollars from the deal?
My sister and I had a really funny conversation over dinner last night about how what you dislike really says more about you than what you supposedly 'like'. I mean, almost everyone likes choclate but I'd rather hear about the person that doesn't like it and why.
I googled 'i don't like' and I think it's one of my favorite search results ever.
- http://webfoot.com/advice/ECards.html - "Why I don't like Electronic Greeting Cards"- I have to agree with this one
- http://www.physorg.com/news76749905.html - Mice don't like cheese?! - WHOA.
- http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/fit/no_sports.html - What if I Don't Like Sports? (For Kids) - This article is worth reading solely for the bulleted list of alternatives kids can do and they suggest "Making a snowperson" - It was so PC that I was dying laughing.
So, here goes this is what I irrationally dislike:
- french pedicures - they look like little hands...gross.
- "The Notebook" - I've seen way too many away messages quoting this movie in pink swirly letters. And no, I still haven't seen it.
- How Toiletries for Men always have grips on them - I'm sure it comes in handy like "Thank GOD I have these grips on here so I can put on my deodorant while I'm XTREME skiing with my boys!!"
- Horse People - Sorry if you love horses but I don't...which leads to a big question: Why do people who ride horses have reallllyyyy long hair? It's just a little bit weird.
- Any sport that requires glitter hairspray - I say sport in a general sense because I really don't think that any sport should require tons of makeup which is later sweated off during physical activity. It's just impractical.
- Curly Hair With Straightened Bangs - popularized in the 80's. It was a bad idea then and now. Seriously, it just goes against nature and common sense.
There's always distinct reasons for disliking something whereas when you like something (i.e. - how i like Starbucks and polka dots) the best you can say really is, "I dunno, I just like it".
