Now, I’m a strong advocate for feeding the world’s hungry people – so obviously I’m fairly pro-genetic engineering if it’s going to stop people from dying in Africa.

But in this case my rage is not directed at the knee-jerk environmentalism that’s opposed to feeding the world’s starving children over concerns of “what will happen if we let people actually eat those fish” (hint: they won’t die of starvation), and “what if they escape into the wild?” (answer: they’re sterile.) Rather it’s directed at a misuse of a reference.

I’m referring to the use of the term Frankensalmon. More specifically, the blatantly incorrect use of the term.

In addition to being a guy who loves having too much food and the movement to make sure that everyone else on Earth can enjoy that same problem, I’m also a fan of horror literature.

Unsurprisingly, that means I’ve actually read Mary Shelley’s classic Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.

First off: Frankenstein isn’t the monster. Frankenstein is the scientist who invented the monster. Victor Frankenstein is our villain protagonist. So referring to these fish as Frankensalmon is totally wrong.

If anything they should be called Salmonsters. Or at the very least Frankenstein’s Salmon.

Secondly, there’s the issue with the creation of the monster. Frankenstein built his creature out of the stitched together remnants of human (and, as is strongly implied, animal) corpses. The creature is then animated with the awesome energy of a lightning bolt, infusing its body with the electrical spark that powers his existence.

So unless these fish have been brought back from the dead then they are not, in fact, Frankenanything.

And, for the record, I would be against eating something that was brought back from the dead. The issues surrounding food spoilage, especially in fish, are pretty serious.

But seeing as these fish were grown in controlled farm conditions, which makes them larger and healthier than wild salmon (and, presumably means they contain less deadly, deadly mercury,) I’d say they’re not abominations against the laws of God and man.

Or at least, for abominations they sure look plump and yummy!

What I’m getting at is this; if you’re going to draw an analogy, draw the right analogy, assholes.

These are Salmonculi. Let’s try to keep some perspective on what’s important here.

For those of you new to the party, I’ll explain. foursquare is an online game that takes place in your city. You get points every time you check in somewhere. Add a new place, you get bonus points. Go somewhere new, you get bonus points. If you check in at a place more frequently, there’s a chance you may be named the Mayor of the location.

Well, it turns out that it now has an additional usefulness: deals.

Starbucks has just unveiled a new North American discount on Frappuccino drinks for Mayors of their foursquare locations through June 28th. Anyone who is the Mayor of a Starbucks location (and, I presume, has their phone there to prove it) gets $1 off their Frappuccino.

Okay, yeah, that’s not exactly something free, but a discount for being a frequent customer is not a bad deal. Plus, Starbucks has indicated it will be exploring new deals for their foursquare Mayors going forward – a plan to, again, reward frequent customers.

This is actually a good way for Starbucks draw in the social media crowd, who are the main users of foursquare, and it’ll heat up use and competition on foursquare. It’s absolutely win-win for both sides of the equation. And I think there are plenty of other businesses that could – indeed, should – get in on this.

In fact, here you go corporate world – a dozen great suggestions for how you can draw in foursquare users. Things you can offer the Mayors of your locations, and I’m giving them away for free:
- A half-price regular or small sized Blizzard at DQ
- Free side with the purchase of any burger at Wendy’s
- Free regular pop-corn and drink with movie ticket purchase at Cineplex
- 10% discount on used games at EB Games
- $0.03 discount on gas at Safeway gas bar
- Rent 1 movie, get 1 movie free at Blockbuster
- 1 free mixin’ in your ice cream at Marble Slab
- $5 off any purchase of $40 or higher at HMV
- Free curly fries with the purchase of a sandwich at Arby’s
- Free donut with the purchase of a coffee at Tim Hortons
- Buy 1 Mama Burger, get 1 Mama Burger free at A&W
- Free cookie with the purchase of a sub or combo at Subway

Look how easy that is. This stuff would cost these companies pennies. Why? Because they’re only offering the deal to one person per location. And they’ll have people scrambling over each other to turn up frequently enough to earn the mayorship and get the deal, so there’s an increase in business to balance out any loss.

Anyway, I need to get in on this Starbucks deal – so all I can say is Jay M… I’m coming for you.

Then I look around at the devastation exacted upon the planet and human beings by other human beings, and that future seems pretty far off. Except in the world of media.

In its own weird way, social media echos those often-socialist utopia tenets of Star Trek. All for one and one for all. Services like Twitter, and most recently Hulu, have proven to be tremendously useful to connect people, and allow them to share and consume culture, among other things. They aren’t only useful, but they’re tremendously successful in nearly every single way… except when it comes to generating any kind of significant revenue.

So much of what we’re seeing as change in our society is, at least in some major or minor form, data driven. That data can be statistical in nature, or it can be a collection of “friends” you have on Facebook, or it could be a count of how many Twitter users in Edmonton invoke the #yeg hashtag. But there’s data out there and socially-minded developers are finding ways to free this information and let the masses consume it — quite often without demanding any pay for it, at least not right off the bat. Knowledge is power and some of the individuals with the keys to unlocking this knowledge using a variety of tools or apps, ostensibly arming at least some cross-section of the population with power, are content to just put the information and tools out there gratis, secure in the knowledge that this will increase their social capital. I hate to use the term (since I thought the movie was utter drivel), but these individuals are paying it forward.

And guess what? It works.

These people — many of the ones I know are in Edmonton, including guys like Sean Healy, Joel Jackson and their @etsinfo Twitter app, and Mack Male with ShareEdmonton.ca — are giving us these tools for free and just sort of waiting to see what happens.

Now I’m not suggesting that one of them’s going to create a food replicator and decide not to monetize it… the fledgling capitalist in me thinks that would be downright stupid!

But the idealist in me hopes that we’re witnessing the seeds of that strange, alien-yet-human society created by Gene Roddenberry back in the 1960s at Desilu Studios. One where we aren’t concerned with the acquisition of wealth so much as the advancement of all society. A true reflection of the idea that no child, no human being, be left behind.

To me, that’s a place I think we need to boldly go. And while I don’t expect we’ll get there in my lifetime, I’m hopeful that it’s something that a least some people will continue to work toward.

At the time, I hadn’t played Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, which was discussed in the final segment of the show. This is a game where all of the UCC guys agreed: the story line is incredibly engaging, and the whole thing basically plays like a movie. This was a major topic of discussion, as most of us agreed that one of the most revolutionary leaps forward in gaming recently is a very deliberate attention to detail on storyline.

If you’re into games, I highly recommend you subscribe to UserCreatedContent — Edmonton’s only video game podcast… And not just because I’m on it either. These guys are the future of citizen-video-game journalism and a great addition to the Edmonton Podcasting Scape.

Here’s what my tweeps had to say about it:

1. alainsaffel: disruption
2. Meeners: 99% of the time I mute it!
3. mspixieriot: Only on a site for a music act, and even then no auto-play… you have to press the play button yourself. Otherwise bad.
4. thecolinium: unless there is video, disruption
5. grempel: hate it.. if u must provide music.. make it quiet.. and clearly display where to turn it off
6. stormbrew: annoying as fuck unless opt-in. (I use the swear to really clearly state how much I despise websites with music, and not lightly at all)
7. buck75: make sure a person has the ability to turn it off. i don’t like it.
8. evolvingblue: as I have music going pretty much 24-7, the first thing I look for when browsing a site with audio is where to shut it off.
9. hilarydarrah: Most of the time I’m already listening to music, so definitely a disruption.
10. chigaze: Autoplay music/sound on a website is one of the ultimate evils. I will close the window! A button to turn on sound is alright.
11. TheTowelBoy: music on websites is annoying….and SOooooo 2005.
12. stygldpnyby: badbadbadbadbad
13. paulney: It can be done well. But VERY rarely is. http://www.jeshderox.com/ as an example of stunningly beautiful UX (including music).
14. steenyweeny: I’m with everyone else. Hate hate hate it.
15. ChrisInEdmonton: I have no words to describe how much I loathe music on websites.
16. MarkCluett: hate hate HATE music on websites. distraction/interrupts other tasks/programs
17. marshaboyd: Annoying….music on websites are distracting and usually bad. Turn it off!!
18. bevurlee: I don’t like it. Especially if it’s auto play!
19. Hunnyfreak: Music that automatically plays when you log on to a website is EVIL! EVIL!!!
20. GuitarKat: Hate it. Only if there’s a play button. No auto play. I listen to music all the time so I will find where to turn it off and such
21. edmsymphony: A lot of symphony websites used to have auto-play music, but lately the trend has been to remove it (thankfully)

The thing to note here isn’t just that people find it irritating; it’s that they absolutely HATE it. And I agree with people. It’s intrusive and disruptive.

I’m going to use this info the next time a client says they want their website to have music. Thanks for your input, everyone!

What do you think? Should Google have ignored Bing entirely, or were they right to co-opt this functionality to stay competitive?

Our paths didn’t cross so much between then and now, but Scott and I managed to meet up a few times to discuss launching a podcast. We didn’t know what we were going to call it, we didn’t know what it was going to be about, but we knew we were going to do it. If it killed us or drained us financially (I doubt it will do either, but what’s a good yarn without poverty and death?).

Scott and I met twice over the period of a few weeks to hammer out the details. We decided the focus of the show should be, well, not very focused at all. We would discuss issues relevant to where we live (Edmonton), but that could mean just about anything. That’s the way we want it… a talk-show, with guests, that we find interesting. Our hope is that others will find it interesting as well. That remains to be seen.

Coming up with a name for our baby wasn’t easy. And now I think I know what it’s like to be a parent, minus the 3am feedings, shitty diapers, minimum 18 years of vigilance and discipline… OK I clearly have no idea what I’m talking about if I’m bringing parenting into this.

Still, in order to name our PodBaby (which, now that I think of it, would have been a hilarious name for the show), we enlisted the help of brainstormer extraordinaire, Mr Daryl Hooke. Among the list about about 20 ideas Daryl had, Scott and I really glommed onto “The Unknown Studio.”

So that’s what it’s called. We recorded our first episode at the iNews880 studios (where Scott) works over the weekend, and we’ll produce more, expecting to do one show every two weeks. It was a blast — huge thanks to Brittney Le Blanc, a web editor from iNews, for being our very first guest.

Scott and I are trying to line up more guests, and we have a ton of show ideas… But we could always use more. So if you have an idea for a show, drop some science in the comments section.

And before you leave, make sure you download our first episode!

Working for Ignition Media‘s been really exciting and extremely eye-opening. I started in January with the title Account Manager. However, it’s a small shop — only five employees plus the owner — so we all sort of wind up doing a bit of everyone. I’ve been trying to carve out my niche in new business and social media.

We’re trying to find innovative new ways to increase brand impressions for current clients, as we cultivate new ones. Of course, this has meant a lot of research into using Twitter, Facebook, and online games to try and increase traffic and enhance the overall user experience for client websites. We’re looking into the creation of interactive microsites for some clients, and just additional features on current sites for others.

I’ve been paying close attention to online games. Here are some that I find compelling, fun or just weird.

• My Brute: I talked about this site in a previous post. I’ve been playing it as often as possible and am trying to sort out a way to leverage the engine for monetization. I’ve leveled up high enough so that I started my own clan. The thing I really dig about this site is that it’s pretty simple, doesn’t require a lot of effort to play, and it provides incentives for the user to return every day by limiting the amount of times your character can fight in a 24-hour period.
• Spymaster: This showed up on Twitter last Friday, and although it can be a spammy (I’ve lost a few followers because of the updates it posts to my timeline), the amount of information you broadcast is completely up to you. Spymaster was created by the people at iList, and appears to just be a fun side project. However, I can see a lot of potential for this kind of mini role-playing game that leverages Twitter to promote itself and recruit players.
• Night Hunger: There’s a chain of restaurants in the States called Buffalo Wild Wings. They have a pretty hilarious flash website, and a series of awesome games as well. One of those games is a choose your own adventure style with hilarious animations and dialogues. You have to fight off scary beasts in your quest to find delicious hot wings. It’s pretty funny how clueless the character is. I’m not very good at this game because it gets really difficult after the third level, but I play it fairly often because it makes me laugh.
• Wing Wednesday Blazing Challenge: Buffalo Wild Wings was a bit of an inspiration for Ignition. We decided to develop a game concept for Hudsons Canadian Taphouse. You’re at a table of some stereotypically Canadian characters, and you’re attempting to steal their hot wings from them. The game launched last Friday. Now the key is to get people playing it, talking about it and sharing it with their friends.

We’re hoping that the creation of this game leads to more opportunities to create this sort of content. It’s fun, it adds layers of interest to a website & brand and, if successful, it could turn into more customers patronizing clients’ businesses. I’m interested to hear any ideas people have (or better yet, examples of) for online games that help promote a brand, a product or a service. Provide links and commentary!

My business – and that of many of my friends, colleagues and tweeps – quite often involves responding to requests for proposals (RFPs). It’s a necessary process for getting new work, new clients and tackling new challenges. And it can be a fairly arduous process. It takes time to craft a response that’s detailed enough, but not so detailed that you actually find you’re already a quarter of the way through a project you haven’t even been awarded yet.

Over the last month, I’ve put together myriad proposals – some large and some small. And while most RFPs carefully spell out the requirements of a project, there are many out there that are so poorly written (or so obviously boilerplate with little thought given to the exact requirements of the particular project they’re meant to address) as to be nearly impossible to properly respond to. It is the poorly-written or unclear RFPs I want to discuss in this post.

I’m fortunate that the places I work aren’t bereft of new and continuing projects. The state of the economy hasn’t knocked projects off our docket. We might be the exception to the rule, and for that I’m truly grateful. But that doesn’t mean we can just rest on our laurels with our current roster of clients and lazily coast through the times. We still need to develop new business, grow, take on new projects and challenges so we can stay on top of industry trends and hone our craft (in this case, I’m talking web design and software development). In some cases, this means making pitches to current client to try new things, change their images, add some functionality to a website.

However, in other cases, we go out hunting for new clients, and lately this has meant responding to RFPs. Some of these RFPs are wonderful, in that they clearly communicate project requirements, timelines and client expectations.The really excellent RFPs make us excited to bid on a project.

Other RFPs, though, are absolutely abysmal. They read as hastily assembled, over-jargoned and needlessly bureaucratic messes. At best they contradict themselves. At worst, they fail to engage potential clients, and generate excitement for what might otherwise be an exciting project.

Firms putting out RFPs need to consider not just what they’ll be getting back, but what they’re putting out into the world. Bidders may pass on your proposal if it’s reads like a disaster.

Now I understand that most RFPs provide for time for bidders to ask questions and have them answered. However, an RFP should be written in such a way as to mitigate a raft of questions. Bidders should be able to ascertain fairly precise parameters for a project based on that initial document.

An organization’s RFP might just be the first introduction some firms get to a company. They should reflect the image organizations are trying to convey not just for their project, but for their reputation as well. This doesn’t mean they have to be incredibly visually designed documents. But they should be coherent and clear.

I’m in the business of communications, and the projects I bid on at work are for communications-related projects. If the first point of contact is already muddled, both parties will wind up wasting time seeking and providing clarification. Some bidders might just pass on a project.

Either way, if you’re in the business of crafting RFPs, remember that document templates provide the framework, not the meat of the proposal. Carefully review your RFPs before you send them out into the world. Make sure your expectations, requirements and desired timelines are communicated with no ambiguity. Do this and I will happily bid on each and every one of your projects.

Most everything I say, tweet, or write is designed to elicit a specific reaction from people — often shock or laughter. I’m usually quite satisfied. But sometimes I’ll say something without thinking (OK, oftentimes) and the results exceed my expectations or go off in an entirely different direction. That’s what happened this morning on Twitter when I suggested #yeg tweeps create an Edmonton Twitter Boys Calendar for 2010. Yeah, that one went of the rails pretty quickly as people grabbed on to the idea. Before I knew what happened, I was placed in charge of producing the thing.

And now that I think it’s a good idea, I want to do it. But I need your help with some suggestions for how this should work, so please provide me with comments below. We may decide this isn’t feasible. We may decide it is, and just produce PDF copies. Maybe in subsequent years, we can get a company to sponsor us to supplement the money needed to print it. In any event, read on…

We’re going to do a 12-month, 30-box calendar which may or may not get printed. Photographers’ and models’ time will all be donated and the #yeg twitter community will decide where the proceeds should go. I would suggest we print these calendars out, if we can find a good rate someplace from a company who recognizes that crowd-sourced semi-nude, semi-sexy calendars are Always A Good Idea™.

Each month will include one (or possibly more, depending on the response we get) active Tweeps from Edmonton.

Other considerations: who to select as models, how many per month, how to select the models for each month, etc.

Let’s discuss this in the comments below. This is a huge brainstorm at this point so any zany idea goes. And if you’re going to tweet about it, we’re using #yegtwitterboyscalendar as a hashtag. Please broadcast this link far and wide and let’s generate some good discussion!

Given the proliferation of wireless devices — iPhones, iPods, wi-fi-enabled smartphones, and of course laptops — it still floors me when I go into a service-based business like a restaurant or coffee shop and there either isn’t a wireless signal at all, or there’s a locked signal, or — and this is the worst — you’re expected to pay for wireless access.

Really? Pay for wireless?

Let’s talk about competitive advantages. I know of at least a dozen individuals who choose where they’re going to eat or drink based on whether or not there is free wi-fi, particularly @SirThinks and @out_inc. And I can’t say I blame them. Awhile back, @ChrisLaBossiere said that charging individuals for use of a wireless connection would be like adding a line item to their tab that says “Lighting,” or “Heating.” Wireless connections have, whether you like it or not, become so ubiquitous — and indeed for some people, so necessary — that business owners who charge for it are pricing themselves out of getting more customers through their doors.

I often meet clients in bars or restaurants. I often have to do something with my computer — either show them a website that we’ve created or point them to an image or film clip. Why do this in a restaurant? Because some meetings are better run when people are relaxed, feeling a little casual, and putting some food in their bellies. It isn’t necessary to starch a shirt and sit all glassy-eyed in a boardroom. At least, it shouldn’t be.

But it’s not just about meetings. Data network connections for mobile devices are still pretty pricey (at least in Canada), and free wireless allows people to use their devices without worrying about over-using their accounts’ data limits.

I mentioned competitive advantages… By way of example, consider the fact that a lot of people on Twitter are connectors. Giving these people access to the tools to connect to their social nets freely could be a boon to business: it could put more butts in seats, more warm bodies in your business and mean more money in your cash register. It’s crowdsourced free advertising, and it’s achieved by giving your customers free internet access.

However you feel about the debate on free access to information is irrelevant. If you want my business, open up your wi-fi connection, or I’ll happily eat and drink someplace else.

Fortunately, in Edmonton, there are some really excellent people trying to promote this notion. Check out the Free WiFi project for more details.

It’s been challenging, and will continue to be, to shift my focus from working in a staid, bland office-drone position to working in a vibrant, chaotic creative services firm. I’m up for it, it was the right choice, it was about time and all that good stuff… But It’s still tough to shift gears so suddenly, when I was so used to being bound by process and policy.

Fortunately, there’s always levity. So given that I’m working with scientists to market their new line of products, I thought I’d drop some sort-of pseudo-science on your asses. That is, after all, the misspelled name of this blog.

Thanks to @ink_slinger on Twitter for sending out this inspirational link.

I use Twitter, currently, on two fronts: for myself as an individual (@bingofuel; also, see the right-hand sidebar for my most recent tweets) and for OilersNation.com (@OilersNation). I’ve found it to be quite a lark for personal stuff, and a really excellent way to find like-minded, interesting people. I’m actually looking forward to the next Edmonton Tweetup (@edmontontweetup), as I felt I was too much of a newbie to attend the last one.

As a personal tool, Twitter connects you with people. People around you, people far away from you. It allows you to filter through broadcasts and read and respond to the things that you deem most relevant. It forces the users to be concise in their messaging (you’re only allowed 140 characters per tweet). I can see its utility as a tool for personal communications and connection to others. As a tool for businesses though—and I’m speaking strictly about my very limited experiences with it for OilersNation.com—I’m not really sure where to begin (and yes, I’ve read Caroline Middlebrook’s Big Juicy Twitter Guide). I’ve used it to broadcast new posts on the Nation’s website that I deem interesting. I’ve used it to broadcast information on contests and such. I’ve even done some very minor live-tweeting of Oilers games. But the key to using Twitter for business, I think, isn’t just sending out promotional information. It’s doing things like what @ComCastCares does: showing the human side of your company or organization. Here’s one of the key things I took from the Big Juicy Twitter Guide:

“[...] if you are approaching this from a purely business perspective then you need to have something to offer your customers. What I mean is, if you use your Twitter account to just pitch, pitch, pitch, you will not get many followers. Twitter is not something that can be effectively used as a direct selling medium without adding extra benefits [...]“

Businesses using Twitter should be doing so to try and start or continue one-on-one discussions with their clients. Twitter brings organizations into the fray of communicating with users who might have an interest in their brand or product. It’s really neat how people and businesses are finding new ways to use the system to get the message out — or, in @ComCastCares’ case, bring the message in and do something about it.

I <3 Twitter. And I know I’ll have a hell of a lot more to say about it as I convince a few clients to start using it to get the word out.

Having been back on the social network for under a week, I’m finding myself far less motivated to participate as much as I had before. Facebook is a communications tool for me. It’s not an ERP that will help launch my career, organize my life, or do my dishes. Nor is it a gaming platform, or a place for me to publish my interests to the masses. That’s what this blog is for, and I have much more control over how Pseudo Psyence behaves. Thus I will treat Facebook as a diversion.

I realize that when I disabled and zapped my account, Facebook likely kept all my demographic information, so really there’s nothing to hide from. But I won’t provide the network with more fodder so I can be advertised to. The irony is that I’m working with partners right now to develop a software application that will serve ads based upon users’ personal information. I will happily use this system, because it provides significantly more value than Facebook, and we’re designing it so it will never spam anyone ever.

Like, ever.

So welcome back to Facebook, me. You swore you’d never return, but you realized after a fashion that it’s better to be a part of the system and to analyze its failings from within than to not participate at all. Sounds like an excuse, doesn’t it?

Then colour me excused.

If you have a second, peep Paulcasts.com.

My discovery of Paul’s new website was prompted by something I’ll be writing about later on today or tomorrow: I’m back on Facebook. Stay turned for a list of reasons and excuses.

[Yesterday's] release of Bully: Scholarship Edition on the Wii and Xbox 360 has a group of teachers up in arms over developer Rockstar Games’ attempts to market violence.

While all Rockstar releases generate some amount of controversy, this latest spat is most notable for the fact that the title already generated almost identical controversy when it was initially released on the PlayStation 2 in Oct. 2006.

Now, we all agree that bullying sucks. But these groups getting up in arms over a videogame will do nothing except maybe get a bit of publicity.

These groups MUST focus their energy on attacking root causes to solve bullying problems in schools. They will never be able to prevent Rockstar from making violent videogames, nor should they. It’s up to parents to monitor what kinds of vids their kids are playing, TV shows they’re watching, ill shit they’re getting involved in, all to ensure that the little douches don’t turn into complete assholes.

We’ve known each other for about three months now, and I think it’s safe to say that we’re pretty good friends. You connect me to people, remind me I have things to do, and you even finish my sentences for me.

But there’s something you really ought to realize by now: I almost never use the word “duck” in my day-to-day conversations. More often than not (actually, let’s just say “all the time”), when I’m SMSing or writing an email, and I press 4-3-7-6 I’m typing something entirely different.

You’ve consistently failed to pick up on this, though, and it results in the loss of precious seconds as I furrow my brow and briefly consider finding out what it would sound like if you hit the nearby wall at an impressive velocity.

So, please, if you’re thinking of getting me anything for Christmas, just rewrite that small bit of your program that keeps ducking everything up.

Staniaszek said he signed up with Bell Mobility to pay $10 a month to use a mobile browser on his cellphone. “I thought it was the same thing when I plugged it into the computer and used it as a modem – I guess not,” he said yesterday.

Honestly, ten years ago, I might have thought this guy deserved a break. But everyone knows the mobile telcos are going to hose you on data charges. That might all change is anyone can ever convince one of the Big Three in Canada that they need to offer a truly unlimited data plan.

I don’t really understand how this guy could be charged so much, though. I’ve browsed the net on my phone, and it looks like absolutely dog’s ass. It’s pointless to even bother with it. Unless you have an iPhone. Then it’s preeeeeeeeetty!

But, like Andy said, it won’t be easy. Read/WriteWeb agrees:

There is a myth floating around that contextual advertising is going to help Facebook justify its $15 billion valuation. The myth goes something like this: because Facebook knows everything about us, it will always be able to serve perfect ads. However, the reality is more like the following:

• Facebook does not know much about us
• The data that Facebook has is not structured
• People are not coming to Facebook to click ads

Like the author says, monetizing the beast isn’t impossible, and there’s certainly a team of bright folks running the FB show. The next few years will be very interesting on the social networking tip.

I, personally, am a sucker for gadgets. I know some girls who like purses. Some people like shoes. I like watches. And anything made by the wizards at Apple. But that’s not the point. I also really dig watches. I own three, and I want more. My latest acquisition was the Biohazard Watch from Tokyoflash. It was only about CAD $150, and even though you need to do math to decode the time, it’s an incredible conversation piece:

This thing made it to me, direct from Japan, in five business days. Which is really unreal. The Japanese know how to do online commerce. Nineteen shopping days before Christmas. Maybe you know someone who needs a really awesome watch?

But I find it interesting that after ditching Facebook, the three people who immediately took notice reacted rather bizarrely:

• Emma said: RIP facebook:)
• Melanie said: I saw you finally did it! Bravo! It takes a lot of courage to stay off
• Erin said: Emma mentioned you’ve broken free from facebook!  Congrats!!
  

People will always have a love-hate relationship with FB. Still… intriguing!

You remember the old story about the frog placed in a pot of water that was slowly heated up, until it was cooked? When I read the about Facebook’s reaction to the anti-Beacon protests, my first impression is that Facebook’s concessions are essentially along the lines of, “OK, we turned up the heat a bit too much on this one, so we’ll turn it back down a little bit–for now.” Are marketers counting on the fact that we’ll get used to the warm bath, then the hot tub, calibrating their fine-tuned ability to stop just short of the lobster pot?

Moreover, while the web allows a largely indiscriminate flow of information, which has benefitted millions, certainly, the door swings both ways. And what little information I’ve been able to glean and share about my friends and acquaintances (willingly or not) during my short stint on Facebook (about a year), I’m growing old and curmugeonly, and am far less interested in what some douche from grade school is up to these days than I might have been a few months ago.

Ultimately, I just don’t feel comfortable with the lack of transparency around what Facebook is up to. If they were just straight and honest with their users, I might stick around. But right now, the risk of having my personal info up there, surrounded by all the uncertainly with what’s happening with that info, is unsettling.

I’ll just stick to emailing my close friends, thanks.

A snippet:

Easy profits ended up blinding the industry to the threat of MP3s. Throughout the ’90s, a handful of insiders warned of the need to get out in front of digital music, but for the most part they were ignored. The big corporations that had snapped up record labels in the ’80s and ’90s continued to focus on short-term financial results, even as it become [sic] amply clear that the advantages of CDs — control, convenience, durability, flexibility — were even more pronounced with digital files. “There’s this mentality of always needing to make the numbers for the next quarter,” says Ted Cohen, a former exec at EMI and Warner Bros., now managing partner at the consulting firm TAG Strategic. “It kept me up at night. Some of us could see that something needed to be done, but no one wanted to do anything that wouldn’t maximize profit for that quarter.”

First Coca-Cola jumped ship (though it’s not really clear how the Coke deal would work; every time I buy a soda from a vending machine people on my newsfeed will know? And they’ll know I’m drinking—gasp!—vanilla coke? Sweet shit!). Then Overstock. Now it sounds like Travelocity is getting the fuck out of Dodge.

How could Zuckerberg not have seen this? Duh. He’s surrounded himself with a group of people hell-bent on monetizing a largely useless web service. Yes it brings people together and allows them to share photos and wall posts. Then what? Yeah, exactly. That’s what big Z and his cronies are struggling with right now. They sit in the Barad-dûr penthouse, right beneath the eye of Sauron, smack dab in the centre of Mordor, and wouldn’t you know it? They’ve completely lost touch with the most important part of the entire Facebook network: the user.

The concept of social networks, as codified in web 2.0 format, is fairly new. And it’s easy to lose sight of what Facebook was trying to do in the first place (connect people better than MySpace or Friendster ever could), especially when they have a team of billion-dollar investors demanding to know just how the hell Z-berg’s going to make money.

Meanwhile, you have a bunch of mouth-breathers willing to fork over the most mundane and questionable details about their piddly little lives, and it seems like it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to invade their privacy just a touch more. But Facebook isn’t a Legion of Idiots. Some deeply intelligent people use it as well. To play Scrabulous.
And stalk their girlfriends.

And we… uh, I mean, those people are worried about privacy. They use Facebook out of necessity. Because everyone else does. Just like everyone else uses the telephone. It’s not that these people love Facebook. Some of them eventually grow to resent it, and abandon their accounts. But those who don’t have taken it upon themselves to protect the aforementioned mouth-breathers from their own feeblemindedness.

That’s where groups like Moveon.org come in. These excellent people fought the good fight and called to task the creators of Beacon and their Facebook progenitors. They pointed out some of the fatal flaws inherent in the application, and companies like Coke and Overstock took notice.

At its most basic, this means that Facebook friends in your network won’t be able to find out what you got them for Christmas. And it’s more important, it means people’s privacy will be violated only if they want it to be.