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Happy Birthday Hypertext Girl

March 20, 2007 – 10:09 pm | View Comments

Have you kept your New Years Resolution?

iJustineIt’s mid March already, and most of us have ignored the fact that our taxes are due in less than a month, let alone keeping a resolution that we fail to keep every other year.

I recently met someone who has kept that promise to herself, and is sharing it with the world.

Her name is Justine Ezarik, and she “is the Internet”.

Sure, every college-aged student has a Facebook, or a MySpace profile nowadays, but Ezarik (pronounced “uh-zarik”) takes it to the next level. I have never seen a more diverse online silhouette, with more connectivity than a trusty, blue Ethernet cable.

“It’s pretty hard to trust anyone on the Internet, but it’s really not much easier in real life,” said the 23-year-old birthday girl from Carnegie, Pa.

Ezarik’s New Years Resolution was simple: update her blog everyday.

http://www.tastyblogsnack.com hasn’t missed a beat.

The site, whose main snack is cumulative food for thought, has a welcoming interface with at least one post per day since January 1, 2007.

“I started the site a few years ago as a place to post mobile photos and never publicized it. This January, I realized I’ve never had a ‘New Years Resolution’, so I made one to blog everyday,” she said. “I deleted everything and started over.”

Ezarik has exposed me to a few cool websites that I would have never found if it weren’t for her blog.

Instead of YouTube, she uses Jumpcut, a creative community which allows users to “remix” videos from other users, and edit videos right in the browser.

AOL IM away messages are retro compared to her updates.

And, she can keep track of her general location over time with her Groovr page.

Ezarik and her best friend Desiree have also put together mommypackmylunch.com, a site featuring various videoblogging adventures.

Her videos are simple, silly and random, but they are guaranteed to produce at least one smile. The fact that she actually spends time “interneting” for herself is reason enough to keep up with her. Her blog’s comments went from an average of maybe one comment a day at the beginning of the year, to at least five or six a day right now.

Desiree and Justine

The list goes on and on, and if you Google her alias, “ijustine”, over 65,000 results appear. I will guarentee you that 99.9% of those relate to her online identity. But new media is still exactly that…too fresh to formulate. Luckily, I had a brief chance to interview this Internet acrobat, and her answers just set off more bombs in my head about the future of this wide open world wide web.

Andrew: When did you get your first computer with internet access? What got you hooked on the web?

Justine: When I was in 5th grade my family got a PowerMac 6100/60 and at some point in that year, I believe was when we first got the Internet! As for what got me hooked on the web, I’m not really sure if was just one certain thing… I had always loved technology and gaming growing up so this was just an entirely new avenue. My first website was nintendo.com!

What about the Internet is so interesting to you?

There are so many people in this world that I never would have met if it wasn’t for the internet.

How has the mobile phone revolutionized social media?

I believe It’s still in the process of being revolutionized. Everyone has a cell phone, if not two, on them at all times so it’s only natural to incorporate mobile accessibility to social networking sites.

For example, Twitter is a unique website based on text updates. With a single message, you have the ability to reach a large amount of people, who can choose to receive your update via, IM, web or text. Groovr is a location-based social networking site that allows you to update your current location (club, concert venue, restaurant), send photos or videos and will be instantly updated online. You can also “broadcast” to your friends within a certain mile radius, or “shout” to send directly to your entire friend list.

Facebook mobile is great example of how text messages change the way people use their service. You’ll receive pokes, wall updates, friend requests and with a simple text message, you have the ability to respond to every action without ever having to login. And to think this is only the beginning…

Google Socks

There is such a huge generational gap when it comes to understanding methods of interpersonal communication today. Do you believe our generation has mastered online identity?

It seems that every band, actor, or comedian (regardless of age) has a Myspace profile / online persona / website and use it as a marketing tool. I don’t feel it’s just limited to the younger generation; they’ve just been exposed to it more than we ever were.

Do you hate television? Is videoblogging the future?

I don’t necessarily hate television, I just hate watching it on a TV. I’d prefer an episode showing up in my feed reader, inbox, or via an iTunes subscription. Actually, I don’t even mind paying the occasional $1.99 to download episodes of a shows I really like. I love that abc.com has started streaming their past episodes online for free.

As far as video blogging goes, for me it’s just an alternative to writing. Our other videos which are a little more scripted, I wouldn’t necessarily classify in the video blogging category.

JustineWhat have you done with Jumpcut? Did you get to goto San Francisco recently?

I did go to San Francisco recently and I went on a date with Jumpcut (see video). As far as what I was REALLY doing there… maybe that information will be released soon.

I personally think that MySpace is on the decline, and cooler sites will start to grab the attention of young people because they allow for more creativity and flexability. What do you think about MySpace?

It’s only a matter of time before people begin finding other websites to migrate to. One of the most difficult things for alot of people switching from Myspace to another service will be rebuilding their network. Myspace has made it so easy to “collect friends” over the years, that moving a large amount people from your network to another is almost impossible to do overnight. Change is difficult for alot of people. Even offline it’s easy to get stuck in routine if you’re comfortable with something. That doesn’t always make it the right choice.

What do you know about net neutrality? Is the Internet gonna be restricted pretty soon?

Net Neutrality is basically that we, as users, have a right to be in control of what we view online. As far as when or if it will be restricted, that’s hard to say. If you are paying for a service to be connected to the internet, within legal reason, you shouldn’t be restricted to what you can or can’t view. That’s what makes the internet so powerful.

What are some of the better social networking sites out there?

virb.com is one of my new favorites. It’s beautifully designed and it’s everything that Myspace will never be. I’m also an avid user of twitter, groovr, and jumpcut.

Mac or PC? Why?

I’ve always been a Mac user. Why? Because they are amazing.

Good answers, but I still have more questions for the hypertext queen.

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Advice to Young Men from an Old Man

March 16, 2007 – 5:13 pm | View Comments

This is from the Best of Craigslist:

1. Don’t pick on the weak. It’s immoral. Don’t antagonize the strong without cause, its stupid.

2. Don’t hate women. It’s a waste of time

3. Invest in yourself. Material things come to those that have self actualized.

4. Get in a fistfight, even if you are going to lose.

5. As a former Marine, take it from me. Don’t join the military, unless you want to risk getting your balls blown off to secure other people’s economic or political interests.

6. If something has a direct benefit to an individual or a class of people, and a theoretical, abstract, or amorphous benefit to everybody else, realize that the proponent’s intentions are to benefit the former, not the latter, no matter what bullshit they try to feed you.

7. Don’t be a Republican. They are self-dealing crooks with no sense of honor or patriotism to their fellow citizens. If you must be a Republican, don’t be a “conservative.” They are whining, bitching, complaining, simple-minded self-righteous idiots who think they’re perpetual victims. Listen to talk radio for a while, you’ll see what I mean.

8. Don’t take proffered advice without a critical analysis. 90% of all advice is intended to benefit the proponent, not the recipient. Actually, the number is probably closer to 97%, but I don’t want to come off as cynical.

9. You’ll spend your entire life listening to people tell you how much you owe them. You don’t owe the vast majority of people shit.

10. Don’t undermine your fellow young men. Mentor the young men that come after you. Society recognizes that you have the potential to be the most power force in society. It scares them. Society does not find young men sympathetic. They are afraid of you, both individually and collectively. Law enforcement’s primary purpose is to suppress you.

11. As a young man, you’re on your own. Society divides and conquers. Unlike women who have advocates looking out for them (NOW, Women’s Study Departments, government, non-profit organizations, political advocacy groups) almost no one is looking out for you.

12. Young men provide the genius and muscle by which our society thrives. Look at the Silicone Valley. By in large, it was not old men or women that created the revolution we live. Realize that society steals your contributions, secures it with our intellectual property laws, and then takes credit and the rewards where none is due.

13. Know that few people have your best interests at heart. Your mother does. Your father probably does (if he stuck around). Your siblings are on your side. Everybody else worries about themselves.

14. Don’t be afraid to tell people to “Fuck off” when need be. It is an important skill to acquire. As they say, speak your piece, even if your voice shakes.

15. Acquire empathy, good interpersonal skills, and confidence. Learn to read body language and non-verbal communication. Don’t just concentrate on your vocational or technical skills, or you’ll find your wife fucking somebody else.

16. Keep fit.

17. Don’t speak ill of your wife/girlfriend. Back her up against the world, even if she’s wrong. She should know that you have her back. When she needs your help, give it. She should know that you’ll take her part.

18. Don’t cheat on your wife/girlfriend. If you must cheat, don’t humiliate her. Don’t risk having your transgressions come back to her or her friends. Don’t do it where you live. Don’t do it with people in your social circle. Don’t shit in your own back yard.

19. If your girlfriend doesn’t make you feel good about yourself and bring joy to your life, fire her. That’s what girlfriends are for.

20. Don’t bother with “emotional affairs.” They are just a vehicle for women to flirt and have someone make them feel good about themselves. That’s the part of a relationship they want. For you it is a lot of work and investment in time. If they are having an emotional affair with you, they’re probably fucking someone else.

21. Becoming a woman’s friend and confidant is not going to get you into an intimate relationship. If you haven’t gotten the girl within a reasonably short period of time, chances are you won’t ever get her. She’ll end up confiding to you about the sexual adventures she’s having with someone else.

22. Have and nurture friendships with women.

23. Realize that love is a numbers game. Guys fall in love easily. You’re going to see some girl and feel like you’ll die if you don’t get her. If she rejects you, move on to the next one. It’s her loss.

24. Don’t be an internet troll. Got out and live life. There is not a cadre of beautiful women advertising on Craigslist to have NSA sex with you. Beautiful women don’t need to advertise. The websites that advertise with attractive women’s photos and claims of loneliness are baloney. All they want is your money and your personal information so that they can market to you. The posts on Craigslist by young “women” seeking NSA sex, and asking for a picture are just a bunch of gay troll pic collectors. This is especially true if the post uses common gay lexicon like “hole” as in “fuck my hole” or seeks “masculine” men, or uses the word cock (except in the context of “Don’t send a cock shot.”) There are women on Craigslist. They are easily recognizable by their 2-5 paragraph postings. Most are in their 30′s or older.

25. When you become a man in full, know that people will get in your way. People who are attracted to you will somehow manage to step in your path. Gay guys will give you “the look.” Old people will somehow stumble in front of you at the worst time. Don’t get frustrated. Just step aside and go about your business. Know that these are passive aggressive methods to get you to acknowledge their existence.

26. Don’t gay bash. Don’t mentally or physically abuse people because of who they are, or how they present themselves. It’s none of your business to try to intimidate people into conformity.

27. If you’re gay, admit it to yourself, your parents, your friends and society at large. Be prepared to get harassed. See rule 14. If someone threatens you or assaults you, call the cops. Have them arrested. You have no obligation to self sacrifice because of who you are. As a gay person, you’ll have more social freedom than straight men. Use it to protect yourself. Be prepared to get out of Dodge if your orientation makes your life unbearable. Move to San Francisco, New York, Atlanta, or New Orleans. You’ll find a welcoming community there.

28. Don’t be a poser. Avoid being one of those dudes who puts a surfboard on top of their car, but never surfs, or a dude with a powder coated fixed gear bike and a messenger bag, but was never a messenger. Live the life. Earn your bona fides.

29. Don’t believe the crap about the patriarchy. More women are accepted and attend college. More degrees are awarded to women than men. Women outlive men. More men commit suicide. Men are twice as likely to be victims of violence, including murder. If you consider sexual assaults in prisons, twice as many men are raped as women (society thinks prison rape is funny). The streets are littered with homeless men, sprinkled with a few homeless women. Statically, women are happier than men. The myth that girls are being cheated by are educational system is belied by the fact that schools are bastions of femininity, mostly run by and taught by women. Girls outperform boys in school. It is the boys in school getting fucked over, and prescribed ritalin for being boys. Real wages for men are falling, while real wages for women are rising. Just because someone says something enough times, doesn’t make it true. You have nothing to feel guilty about.

30. Remember, 97% of all advice is worthless. Take what you can use, and trash the rest.

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Five Useful Twittering Tips

March 15, 2007 – 6:22 pm | View Comments

is a growing network of real-time away messages which asks the simple question, “What are you doing?”

Here are five suggestions that I dreamed up to make your experience more fun:

  1. Be Creative.

    Try to write favorites. A lot of users recieve updates via text message or SMS. Don’t use phrases like, “I am doing [this]” or “Eating dinner”. Don’t waste precious network resources on a bland “sleepy time” message to all of your followers.

    Don’t follow everybody that you friend either. Once you add someone, you automatically “follow” them. That is, you will receive all of their updates. To remain friends with someone, and not receive their updates, login to their page and click "Leave" username. It will save you a lot of money if you don’t have an unlimited data plan on your mobile device.

  2. Use the Public Timeline.

    Trying to improve the quality of your messages? Find your Twitter voice by browsing the from time to time. It’s a running feed of everybody’s updates. Blink and forget to refresh the page, and you will have missed dozens of updates. By analyzing the tone and content of people’s messages, you can find your own unique dialect. You may even find someone interesting to follow.

    http://www.twitter.com/homersimpson

  3. Don’t Tweet and Run.

    Twitter allows you to easily contribute to your community. I always read a funny update on my cell phone, and I wanna immediately send that person a private message back. It’s easy, just type D + user name + your message. Tweeters also uses the (s) + message command to include friends in their updates.

    If one of your friends is slacking on their updating, send the command nudge + username to ask Twitter to send them a friendly reminder that it’s time to get on the ball again.

  4. Goto Sleep If You Want.

    Ever wake up in the morning and your phone is flooded with new Twitter messages? Simply text sleep, and it stops sending text messages to your phone. Type wake to start recieving messages again.

  5. Be accurate

    A wise woman once said, “Once you Twitter something, you can’t take it back." Once you make a promise, you gotta keep it.

    tastyblogsnack.com

    The more you use the service, the more you are building an authentic, personal scroll of your doings and thinkings. Five years down the road, wouldn’t you want to know exactly what you were rambling about on any given date? Imagine being able to look back at what you said about politicians, or sports teams. We have to hope that Twitter sticks around for all that work though :)

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Claim your online identity

March 14, 2007 – 7:13 pm | View Comments

The Internet is wide open. We have our bank accounts online, our passwords floating around everywhere, and not to mention .

There is a way to claim your online identity, and verify it with OpenID. The site is called ClaimID.

ClaimID

You can easily navigate this site, and claim that your websites and the content you provide to them is in fact yours.

My ClaimID Page

Here is a blurb from their site:

A claimID is essentially a profile. Some people have called it a “link resume.” It is a place for you to show the world the stuff about you – your hyperlinked identity. To get started, all you need to do is start saving the links that make up you online identity to claimID. Once you save the links, you will have a public claimID page that you can use as an OpenID, a homepage, or whatever else you might like.

I recommend signing up for it.

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What am I doing? Where am I? Ask my phone.

March 13, 2007 – 7:23 pm | View Comments

Two new mobile services just recently caught my eye. And I have to admit, I am addicted to them.

, a two-year-old social networking site, asks one simple question,

When I first came across this site, I signed up for an account, and sparingly updated my status. I never really got into it because it was a hassle to login to the site every time just to post a status.

But recently, I found out that you can text or IM your status to Twitter. This makes it really convenient to update it (especially if you spend a lot of time online, or plugging away on unlimited text messaging services).

But the best feature of Twitter is its community. You can view other people’s status and make friends. You can even choose to have all of your friend’s status sent to your mobile device.

Obtrusive? Your privacy is defined by you. Annoying? Sometimes, yea. Informative? Very.

I subscribe to about 10-12 status feeds, and most are . I also subscribe to , , and feeds. I have a feeling these might be fake, but I know for sure that John Edwards has Twitter. I never thought I would be this up-to-date on . Imagine if George Bush had Twitter!

It's really Leo Laporte

I get about 50 text messages a day from Twitter, but each quip has it’s own unique value. Jeffery Mickey once said, “Twitter isn’t the future, it’s the present.”

An article from today showcases “Six Ways to Improve Twitter”, and they uncover other ways of using the service. They already have Mac Widgets for Twitter.

Some will argue that Twitter is giving out too much information, but you can decide for yourself. As I look down to my cell phone, which is happily plugged into the charger, it displays, “5 New Messages”.

Another new product, pointed out to me by Justine Ezarik, is called Groovr. This service allows you to update your location via text messaging from your cell phone.

Use simple commands like “ 711″, and Groovr automatically adds your location to their database, with a Geocoder‘s best guess of your actual location.

You can then go online and add details about your place, add its real address, and mark it for the public to see.

Groovr

Groovr also allows you to upload photos and videos when you are “checked in” to a place. When you are visiting a place’s web page, you can see a of your spot.

I have been pretty religious about updating my status on both of these websites, and I can honestly say that I feel more connected to the world. It’s kinda cool to visualize yourself in an online space, and all you are doing is simply teaching the machine, and trying to provide accurate, and sometimes humorous information for the rest of the world to see.

Sure, there are negatives here, but for now, it’s all just an experiment. Only time will tell if this online world is legit.

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