Facebook Has Competition? Part 3

It’s been a while since I blogged about something non-political, so I figured I should mix it up a bit, and cover something silly.  Last August, I blogged about new user-generated content sites, where the readers provide the material for the site. A great example of this is YouTube. My previous posts on this can be found here and here.

I recently discovered some great new sites that are worth sharing. Just a reminder, some of the sites may contain NSFW material. Enjoy.

—

That Will Buff Out is basically a collection of car fails. When you see things like this, you just have to ask, “How does that even happen?”

One of my favorite things about Google is its autocomplete function which kicks in when the user starts to type in the search box. Google suggests common search terms similar to what is being typed. Autocomplete Me is a collection of bizarre suggestions, including this one.

Shoes: women love them, men couldn’t care less. If Shoes Could Kill is a collection of pictures of random and bizarre shoes. Some are funny. Some are cute. Some are functional. Others are just plain ugly.

Parents are supposed to be role models for kids. Many children think their parents are perfect. Many, that is, except for the contributors to Crazy Things Parents Say, whose parents’ parenting skills leave something to be desired. This isn’t just something a crazy parent said, it’s a total parenting fail.

Who doesn’t think kids’ art projects are adorable? They usually are…except for this one, which is just disturbing. Check out more at Tots and Crafts.

Many little girls imagine a dream wedding. Many brides-to-be imagine a perfect wedding. We’ve seen shows like “Bridezillas” demonstrate the extreme swings in mood and behavior these women experience. These bridezillas should avoid Wedinator, a collection of wedding day fails. I have so many questions about this shower invitation. What is the difference between a household and a “bridle” shower? Is the bride-to-be so much of a diva that she needs to have two identical events with the different names? Registered at Walmart? Really? No white bathroom towels? Who said beggars can’t be choosers? You want household and “bridle” gifts wrapped separately? I guess that would technically mean you got more presents. You want the bride’s name put on the gift? Is there someone else being feted? Finally, by the phrase “bridle shower,” am I to assume that the bride is a horse enthusiast?

We’ve all seen it: the Facebook user who overshares, giving details no one needs to know. Two very similar, yet equally entertaining sites, Failbook and Lamebook, make me glad I do not have any Facebook friends like this. The sites are almost identical, but I prefer Lamebook solely because it has categories like “Photos,” “Personal Problems,” and “Parents/Family.” The first of these is a good reminder to be careful what you post online.

Let’s be honest: college students are not the brightest people in the world. (And I say this with the new-found wisdom of a recent college grad). Some are overly eager and some just have no common sense. Spotted: DC [Summer] Interns offers anecdotes of Capitol Hill interns, some of who are naive, others are just plain stupid. Take, for example, the intern who has no idea what appropriate dress is, or the intern who thought his position entitled him to automatic entry to the Justice Kagan hearings.

I think one would be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t love baby animals. I fully believe that a person like that either A) Has no heart and/or soul; B) Could have his or her mind changed if they would just glance at Daily Squee, a blog of cute baby animals. Aside from the usual kitten and puppy, it also features pictures of animals not normally thought of as cute, like this skunk, this baby bat, and these cuddling dolphins. Also, I must tell you how much I love inter-species cuddling.

Okay, I know this post wasn’t supposed to be political, but I couldn’t help myself. For those of you who are left-of-center, check out Look At This F***ing Teabagger, which offers the best of tea-bonics, or that special, illogical, and offensive language only teabaggers can use. Some will make you scratch your head. Some will make you angry. Some will make you laugh. Some will expose their hypocrisy. Just like in real life, no matter what the teabaggers make you do, there is no denying they are entertaining.

S*** My Kids Ruined bills itself as “the strongest visual birth control,” and I would have to agree. Seeing things like this and this make my biological clock slow down, although having a white sofa and children in the same house is just asking for this.

You might be hard-pressed to find a site with cuter content than Daily Squee, but Babies Making Faces sure gives it a run for its money. The site is pretty self-explanatory: cute kids making cute faces. Check out this bathing beauty or this messy eater.

Wal Mart sure is a great place to people-watch. If you’re too lazy to actually drive to a Wal Mart, but still want to people-watch, People of Wal Mart is just a click away. Take, for example, this woman who doesn’t know what types of clothes are appropriate for her body type, or this bearded lady.

Regretsy is a spoof of Etsy, sort of an online flea market. I think of it as Amazon, Craigslist, and a flea market all rolled into one. If you need something done or made, you can hire someone to do it for you, and vice versa for the artistic…or just people who think they’re artistic, like this person who made this delightful…thing. There is, however, a lot of talent, like this user who fulfilled this ridiculous request. For those who are wondering, my birthday is in November, and I’d like someone to buy me this.

Which site is your favorite? Do you know of any great sites I forgot?

My Summer Reading List

So, it’s the summer and I’m (temporarily, I hope) unemployed. Might as well get some serious reading done, right? I’m sort of sentimental when it comes to books. When my mom finishes reading a book, she usually passes it on to someone else. Me? Unless the book is really bad, I form some sort of emotional attachment to it and refuse to part with it. Because of the craziness of senior year, I have totally neglected reading lately, although I did tear through The Audacity to Win (written by David Plouffe, President Obama’s campaign manager, this is a must-read for all Obama supporters) and wrote a book report on Ted Kennedy’s True Compass (again, a must-read for Democrats and history buffs), on which on I got an “A.”

Here is a list of books I hope to read this summer. Ambitious, I know, but given the job market, I should have plenty of time to finish at least a few, especially if I read them simultaneously. I hope to write brief reviews for all that I read, but it all depends on my employment situation.

• The Best Liberal Quotes Ever: Why the Left is Right: by William Martin: I’ve already started this book, and it is amazing. I think its title is pretty self-explanatory: all it contains are brilliant quotes by liberals (and a section on disturbing right-wing quotes), so it’s a quick read. It includes such great quotes as: “Democrats don’t need to add the word compassionate to further define what they are: the notion is already built in to the philosophy” (Alan Colmes) and “Liberals inhabit a world painted a thousand shades of gray. Conservatives live in a black and white world” (David Morris).
  • This book is required reading for: Anyone left-of-center.
• The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama: I don’t think an explanation is needed for this choice.
  • This book is required reading for: Any supporter of President Obama.
• Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America by John Avlon: The first book published by The Daily Beast, this book covers both ends of the spectrum, from Keith Olbermann (who, I would argue, is not a wingnut) to Michelle Malkin. Recently published, it includes birthers and teabaggers. It includes a glossary of wingnut-related terms including “birthers” and “hatriots,” and its chapters cover everything from Sarah Palin to town halls.
  • This book is required reading for: Any member of the Coffee Party, and anyone who recognizes there are crazies in both parties and an utter lack of civility in politics.
• The Worst Person in the World: and 202 Strong Contenders by Keith Olbermann. I have recently discovered Keith Olbermann and now a faithful viewer. Anyone who enjoys the exposure of the lies of the Republicans, teabaggers, and Fox News should watch his show. This book, a spin-off of his “World Person of the World”segment, was published in 2006 and covers the same type of material as his show. I really hope he does a second volume, as the book is not recent enough to include Glenn Beck or Sarah Palin.
  • This book is required reading for: Keith Olbermann fans or anyone left-of-center.
• Over the Cliff: How Obama’s Election Drove the American Right Insane by John Amato & David Neiwert: This book covers Republicans’ fall from power and into a tailspin after the 2008 election. One of the longest chapters covers Fox News, not surprisingly.
  • This book is required reading for: Anyone left-of-center or disdainful of the teabaggers
• The Kennedy Women by Laurence Leamer: Ever since the 2008 election, I have needed a new fixation. Ever since I picked up a copy of the late Senator Ted Kennedy’s book, True Compass, that fixation has been on the Kennedy family. Sure, they have had their fair share of tragedies and self-inflicted scandals, but they are a key part of American history. The entire family was dedicated public servants, and four of them even gave their lives to help the country. This tome chronicles the women behind the Kennedy men, from immigration of Bridget Murphy, President Kennedy’s great-grandmother, to the burial of Jackie Kennedy Onassis.
  • This book is required reading for: Anyone (of any party) who admires and respects the Kennedys, and acknowledges their hard work for this country.
• The Kennedy Men 1901-1963 by Laurence Leamer: This is similar to the aforementioned book (written by the same author), except it covers the better-known members of the Kennedy family–the men—from Joseph Kennedy, the father of President Kennedy, to JFK’s assassination.
  • This book is required reading for: Anyone (of any party) who admires and respects the Kennedys, and acknowledges their hard work for this country.
• 200 Notable Days: Senate Stories, 1782 to 2002 by Richard Baker: Okay, this choice is solely because I’m a nerd and a history buff. Whether it’s the 1856 fight between Representative Preston Brooks and Senator Charles Sumner, or Senator Al Franken’s interrupting of Senator Joe Lieberman, I enjoy funny Senate stories. I look forward to reading similar stories, including those that are not well known.
  • This book is required reading for: History buffs and Senate nerds like me.

How about you? What books are you reading this summer? Are there any books you’d recommend?

Facebook, Privacy, and Job Hunting

After I wrote an article about the outcry following Facebook’s addition of “Mini Feed” and “News Feed,” the Editor-in-Chief of The Wood Word asked me to write a follow-up article about how employers are now using Facebook to do background checks on job applicants.  Since I published the original article on here, I feel obligated to post this one as well. Keep in mind that since this was written in 2006, some of the statistics may no longer be accurate.

This is very timely, given the controversy over Facebook’s privacy settings, and the company’s giving of user information to other websites. I have found this helpful in some circumstances. For example, it makes it easier for me to share Huffington Post articles. However, I once went on CNN.com and over in the right-hand column was a picture of my friend and a list of articles he’d posted on Facebook. Enough people are irritated that a mass quitting of Facebook has been scheduled for May 31. In addition, I can’t tell you how many articles I’ve seen shared on Twitter about X-number of ways to protect your Facebook account, to increase your privacy, etc.

What makes this even more important at this time is the poor job market. Many employers do Internet background checks on job applicants. It basically is a dog-eat-dog situation, so keg-stand pictures are risky now more than ever.

—

Last month’s issue of Wood Word communicated the recent controversy surrounding Facebook’s new features. One topic the article didn’t cover, however, was how a user’s Facebook profile can hurt his or her chances of attaining their dream job.

If an applicant has controversial or inappropriate things in his or her Facebook profile, it may ruin their chances of being hired for a job, even if they had already made it through the interviewing process. “We know of several examples of large corporations who hired students during the summer, interns for example, from a college, and their job all summer is to go through Facebook and look at the sites of students they offered jobs to” says Dr. Raymond Heath, Marywood’s Vice President for Student Life.

Is this a good thing?

“I think in the employment world, there’s a separate set of criteria that are used in evaluating the potential contribution of the employee,” says Dr. Heath. “So for prospective employers, investing a substantial amount of money in the training of these persons and so on, strikes me as a good human resources practice.”

While it may help the employers evaluate the applicant’s character, it may not be too helpful for the student. “We’re aware of at least one (case) that was really sad, where students were going out student teaching and parents of students they were working with went on and saw things that they felt were very objectionable for a person to be in a classroom” says Dr. Heath. “Upon reporting that to the school district, the superintendent insisted that the students no longer student teach there.”

Does this mean students seeking jobs shouldn’t use Facebook? “In the practical world, I think a student who is an applicant for positions has no reason not to participate in Facebook, it’s what is involved in Facebook,” Dr. Heath weighs in. “The stories I’ve read are particularly very compromising pictures for poor judgment.”

Is this an invasion of privacy or the results of poor judgment on the student’s behalf? On Stanford University’s The Stanford Daily website, several students raise concerns they have for this practice. One student believes that this practice puts an unnecessary responsibility on students to watch their language while another feels it’s an invasion of privacy and that employers have no right to be on a student-oriented website. One student even de-tags herself from pictures posted by others.

So what is reasonable to expect of students monitoring their sites?

“I believe they should effectively monitor the content of their sites, become more aware of privacy policies of such sites, and place only information on the Internet that they would be comfortable sharing with a potential employer” says Dr. Carol Gustitus, Director of Marywood’s Career Services.

So why do employers check Facebook? Dr. Gustitus says that according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, it is a quick, convenient way to do a background check on the candidates because it is getting harder and harder to find sufficient references for candidates. The NACE also reports that 11.5% of the 64 companies participating in the Purdue job fairs use Facebook as a background check.

Some universities check their students’ Facebook sites during investigations or when questionable pages have been reported. Don’t worry, Marywood students, University administrators do not make routine checks of students’ Facebook profiles. ”We do not intentionally, or consciously, in any repeated way unless we were in the investgation of a serious incident” says Dr. Heath.

“I’d hate to see someone who’s labored for X-number of years to get into medical school, or someone who’s trying to get certified to be a school teacher and the university’s often the one who has to testify to the person’s moral qualification,” he adds.  “I just wouldn’t want to see something on Facebook handicap them.”

Violence in the Media: How Far is Too Far?

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that violence in the media is on the rise. Researchers have long been doing studies trying to link violent video games with an uptick in crime, especially since the advent of such games as Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt.

But that’s not the type of violence I’m talking about. I’m talking about the media accompanying news stories with graphic videos. One example is the story of Neda, an Iranian woman killed in the violence following last summer’s election. Someone captured on their cell phone the last bloody moments of her life. The video then went viral, even airing on CNN, albeit an edited version (you can find the unedited version online). In the video, you can see Neda lying on the ground, with several people administering first aid. Within a few seconds, she is shot again, and the unedited version shows blood streaming all over her body.

Last September, Chicago honors student Derrion Albert was also killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Caught walking between two feuding gangs, Albert was beaten to death while people stood and watched. It was recorded and, like Neda, made the news. Unlike the Neda video, it does not show any blood, but it does show the repeated hits and kicks that fatally injured Albert.

During a practice run at the Vancouver Olympics, a Georgian luger crashed and died, his death captured on film by NBC, which was rightfully criticized for airing the accident. It was aired during the opening ceremonies and mentioned throughout the rest of the Games.

Twitter has also been used, to a less-detailed but more-live action degree, to document such events as the Iranian protests and Captain Sully’s miracle landing on the Hudson (the first recorded picture of the plane on the water was posted on Twitter), but unless a user posts a link to a video or picture, is much less graphic.

I get that the videos do a better job of showing the horror than any newscaster could describe it. But is it really necessary? What happens when a 7-year-old is channel surfing or an elderly woman tunes into CNN and they see one of these videos? What if they were relatives of the victims? If one of my relatives was murdered, I would not want people seeing it, especially in an age where everything online can be archived and viewed by my children years in the future.

Technology is no doubt an asset to broadcasting, but I think it’s turning into a situation of “too much of a good thing.” Do we really need to see someone die to understand the seriousness of the story? No, I don’t think so. It’s better to leave some things to the imagination, and I think violence is one of those things.

Old People, New Media

Ever since Facebook’s creator, Mark Zuckerberg, opened the network up to users of all ages, people have been complaining about their parents joining the site, but it was not until spring break a few weeks ago that I experienced this anguish first hand. I knew my mother had joined a few months before, and had flat-out told her I would not be adding her as a friend. “That okay,” she said. “I don’t want you as my friend either.”

I was home on spring break and we were playing Wii Fit when all of a sudden, she yells, “My avocados! I have to harvest my avocados!” Most people would be confused, but in this day of too many Facebook applications, I knew exactly what she was talking about: FarmVille. I was also distressed to learn she also played FishVille and PetVille, not because she’s on Facebook, but because….come on, FarmVille?! (Disclaimer: Mom is an avid gardener and knows everything about every plant and flower, and is a certified Penn State Master Gardener. She says she started playing during the winter because she couldn’t farm outside, but I think she’s still playing, so you tell me).

A lot of people were angered by Facebook being opened up to non-college students, but despite my refusal to friend my mother, I see it as a good thing. It works out well for companies and businesses trying to advertise. It certainly has worked out well for politicians trying to build a grassroots base of supporters. It’s a great way to connect with relatives, as I have done. And, as many of us know, it’s a great way to let our friends know we’ve lost or ruined our cell phones, and need their phone numbers.

According to Inside Facebook, college-aged users continue to dominate the site, but during the month of March, women aged 45-54 had the second-highest amount of growth, and users 55-65 had the highest growth rate. (Note: These stats are all in the U.S.).

The non-traditional Facebook crowd is also branching out to other forms of social media. My mom, for example, loved FAIL Blog when I showed it to her, and now reads FMyLife on a daily basis. Twitter is becoming increasingly popular, and Classmates.com, the granddaddy of social networking, is an easy way for people to reconnect with their high school classmates. Launched in 1995, it now boasts 50 million members, over 3 million of which pay for premium accounts.

Of course, the more people you friend on Facebook means you have to be even more careful about what you post, as evidenced by Failbook and Lamebook. Do you really want people to know the dirty details of your divorce, or that you’re cheating on your girlfriend?

The idea that “older” people don’t know how to use technology is a myth. Lots of them are using social media, and with great success. It might just be a matter of time before senior citizens end up with a social networking site of their own.

A “Glee”-ful New Show

The following is a review I wrote for my school newspaper last semester. I was planning on posting it on here anyway, but when I had this article brought to my attention, I knew I’d have to post it with a bit of commentary. Please enjoy my comments, followed by my original review. Or, if we don’t agree politically, please feel free to skip straight to the review, which is in pink font.

–

It is scary that people actually think this way. Here is a list of the most mind-boggling quotes, and my thoughts on them:

*“…from premature ejaculation to explicit homosexual experimentation.” Yeah, that’s what I like in a TV show.

*“Sports are essential for keeping…attractive.” So that should be parents’ main concern in life, making sure their children are attractive?

*“…a dead-end, Glee-based lifestyle?” What does that even mean?

*“…maximized liberties…” I thought that’s what Republicans wanted?

*“…and stem-cell party drugs.” What…?

*“Kurt Hummel…perverse intellectual terrorist?” Kurt Hummel is a terrorist? Only if his WMDs are soprano solos and fabulous clothing.

*{Referring to Kurt’s father} “I find the hugging with his son unseemly.” What is this, the 1950′s, when fathers were just lived in the same house as their children, and didn’t interact with them or show them affection? I find this insulting to the millions of involved and engaged fathers around the world. This comment, in particular, blows my mind.

I love how they assume there are no enthusiastic, caring teachers anywhere in America. Clearly they’ve never met my high school Spanish teacher. “No high school kids can put on these sorts of shows?” Way to have faith in the future of our country.

These “Christians” should love this show for the sole fact that it’s so diverse. The last time I checked, God loved everyone. I can’t believe how condescending this article is. This is everything that’s wrong with right-wing Christians. Not that they have religion, but how they dismiss the outcasts–the very people Jesus embraced.

Also, yes, it does address teen pregnancy, but at no time does Quinn discuss abortion. Shouldn’t that make them happy?

—

The original article:

Given the popularity of High School Musical, it is no surprise that Fox’s new musical comedy, “Glee,” has also become a hit. Over 7 million people tuned in to watch its September 9 premiere, causing it to win its time slot in the key 18-49 demographic. While “America’s Got Talent” bested it for total number of viewers, “Glee” had more young adult viewers. Moreover, it gave Fox its highest scripted premiere rating in two years.

But “Glee” is not as upbeat as High School Musical, touching on serious topics such as drug abuse and teen pregnancy. In several episodes, drugs are used to manipulate Finn into joining Glee, to make students more productive, and to make bake sale cupcakes more appealing.

The story takes place at McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio, where Spanish teacher Will Schuester wants to resurrect the Glee club. He holds auditions, which attract Rachel, an aspiring starlet; Mercedes, a diva; Tina, who has a stuttering problem; and Kurt, who comes out of the closet a few episodes later. The initial group is rounded out by Artie, an electric guitar-playing paraplegic.

In order to get more members, Will has to recruit more members. He tricks quarterback Finn into joining after framing him for marijuana possession. Other popular students join as well, including Puck, Finn’s best friend and football teammate, and Quinn, Finn’s girlfriend and captain of the cheerleading squad, who joins only to keep an eye on Finn.

Finn then finds out Quinn, the head of the Celibacy Club, is pregnant. Unknown to him, the baby’s father is Puck, not him.

Will’s personal life is no picnic, either. When his airhead wife, Terri, finds out she is not actually pregnant, she fakes a pregnancy, blackmailing her OB/GYN into assisting her. In addition, Will is fighting romantic feelings for the obsessive-compulsive guidance counselor, Emma. When she realizes she doesn’t have a chance with Will, she reluctantly agrees to marry Ken, the repulsive football coach. Rounding out the staff are the abrasive and inconsiderate cheerleader coach Sue, and the easily manipulated Principal Figgins.

My favorite part of the show is not the plot, but the music. The musical selections are neatly woven into the story line, such as when the students sing “Keep Holding On” after pregnant Quinn is kicked off the cheerleading team. In addition, there is no lack of talent, especially from Lea Michele (Rachel), who belts out a powerful rendition of “On My Own” from Les Miserables and Chris Colfer (Kurt) who is very impressive in singing “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, a part reserved for a woman.

On top of the solo pieces, the harmonizing in songs like Queen’s “Somebody to Love” and Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me” is astounding. Range of music is no issue either, as they have covered songs in every genre from Sisqo’s “Thong Song” and Kanye West’s “Gold Digger” to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” and ”Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. This makes the show appeal to Baby Boomers and college students alike.

Even the recording industry is getting into the show, with some artists like Rhianna and Billy Joel offering their songs for free or reduced rates. Madonna has even donated rights to her entire catalog, and an upcoming episode will feature only her songs.

Another great part of the show is how realistic it is. When Rachel consistently gets the solos, Mercedes turns into a diva, yelling at Will to give her the part. Given the level of hormones in most high schools, this would be more likely to happen than if Mercedes were to just accept her lack of leading lady roles. Instead of sugarcoating her reaction like a cheesy Disney movie, the writers wrote the show like it would happen.

In addition, there is no lack of diversity. The show’s cast is a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, as well as a character who stutters and another who is wheelchair-bound. The diversity feels natural and not forced, as in many other television shows and movies where tokenism is obvious.

The show has a heavy web presence, with Facebook and Twitter pages for the main cast members and the characters themselves. Several times a week, the fan page is updated with behind-the-scene sneak peeks and episode previews. Every song featured on the show is even posted on iTunes for download, available as singles or as a soundtrack. (Volume 1, featuring 17 songs, was released on November 3. Volume 2, scheduled for a December 8 release is now available for pre-order). The music is getting so popular that the soundtrack has consistently been in the Top Albums list on iTunes.

Another unique marketing concept was the spring airing of the show’s pilot. The first episode was aired May 19, and two singles were released over the summer to generate buzz for the show. This got viewers talking about and excited for the show before it even officially premiered.

Between the innovative marketing techniques, the enthralling singing, and the funny yet dramatic plot lines, “Glee” will get even non-musical fans singing and dancing.

Dinner Party

I’m sure most people have played the “dinner party” game, where one names and explains his or her ideal guests for a dinner party. I recently saw a version of this on the LivingSocial Facebook application and thought about doing it on there, but I would rather do it in a forum where I can explain my choices. Plus, most of my choices aren’t on LivingSocial. So, I have two scenarios, one that includes my family and one that does not. I think both would provide interesting conversation. Here we go:

 

My Ideal Dinner Party (Family Included):

1. My mom. If you don’t know my mom, you’re missing out. Get to know her, but without stalking her, please. After all, Vice President Biden did once refer to her as “Mom.”

2. My dad. Do I really have to explain this one?

3. My Uncle Marty. For those of you that know us, this may not seem like a traditional, logical, or smart choice, but I’d kill to see and hear Dad yell at him again. “Aughhh, that Marty!”

4. President Obama. Besides the obvious reasons, my father was not a fan of the President. I’m pretty sure he started the “socialist” rumors and would love to see the two of them debate.

5. Vice President Biden. I might as well invite him, given that I’ve already invited three Scranton natives. Plus, he’s awesome, super nice, and has already met my mom.

6. Dwight K. Schrute. Okay, I understand that Dwight isn’t real, but this is my dinner party. If you have a problem with it, make your own dinner party. Mom hates him, Dad loved him. Dad would talk to him about dead animals, Mom would be repulsed. 

 

—-

 

My Ideal Dinner Party (Family Not Included):

1. President Obama – There are a number of things I’d like to thank him for, especially getting my generation involved in politics.

2. Secretary of State Clinton – I think she’s awesome and is doing a great job as Secretary of State. I would also urge her to run again in 2016.

3. Senate Majority Leader Reid – I would really like to encourage him to keep the public option in the Senate bill.

4. President Franklin Roosevelt – He is, by far, my favorite president. He did a great job of turning the country around during the Great Depression and keeping the country together during World War II.

5. Eleanor Roosevelt – I’ve always been fascinated by her. I really admire her for how much she did for our country when her husband was unable to travel, not to mention the fact she did this when most women didn’t leave the kitchen, much less the country.

6. Rachel Carson - She is also someone I admire for advocating for the environment before it was “cool” to do so.

 

Facebook Has Competition? Part 2

Continued from yesterday’s post, here is Part 2 of my post on my favorite new user-generated content sites. WARNING: SOME CONTAIN NSFW MATERIAL.

 

•#7. GraphJam: Music and Pop Culture in Charts and Graphs. This is more visual than most of the websites on this list, but just as funny. Users upload graphs and charts to represent statements about pop culture. The site does feature a few ads and lists of popular tags and graphs, but the layout is a bit cluttered and could use some work. I agree wholeheartedly with this. 

 

•#6. Awkward Family Photos. We all have family pictures that are now pretty embarrassing, but at the time they were taken, they were pretty darn cool. Remember your uncle’s huge round glasses and mini ‘stache from the ’80s? I do. How about your mom’s big hair and ugly sweaters from the ’90? True story. The only thing I don’t like about this site is that the categories are listed via drop-down menu halfway down the page on the right. (Although this is smart on the designer’s part because the user has to scroll past some ads to get to the menu). There is a wealth of categories as well as awkward stories. Because I used to work here, I have to direct your attention to this AFP.

 

•#5. FAIL Blog. Ah, FAIL Blog. I’m pretty sure this site and its creators are responsible for more sites on this list. This gem is your one-stop shop for all types of FAIL: ads, signs, graffiti, videos, etc. Under each FAIL are the options to email it or post it on popular social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, making sharing that much easier. Kudos to the creators, too, for bringing in what appears to be a pretty nice ad revenue. Looks like someone needs to go back to plumbing school. 

 

•#4. LOL Cats. Despite its name, this site is not just for cats or cat lovers. After all, who doesn’t love funny pictures of cats captioned with what they might be thinking at the moment? The layout is a bit rudimentary, and maybe a little disorganized, but it works. It’s a great way to preview the site and start looking at pictures. Plus, it’s easier than clicking on “Pictures” at the top of the page and having to sort through all 121 pages. I always wondered how my cat could sit with her arms and legs underneath her, but my all-time favorite LOL Cat answered that question for me. 

 

•#3. Ask a Urinal: Wisdom From Bathroom Graffiti. I discovered this after having a pretty lousy day. I literally LOL’d for 20 minutes straight. The owners post a picture of bathroom graffiti as if it was an answer, and ask readers what they think it might be an answer to. Each day, they post a picture and a question, as well as the next day’s photo. Take a look at this answer from Urinal. 

 

•#2. Texts From Last Night. This website asks the question, “Remember that text you shouldn’t have sent last night? We do.” This is basically identical to My Drunk Texts, the main difference being MDT has a list of most active area codes and TFLN has a Twitter feed. Ever since I discovered this site, I have visited it daily without seeing the same text twice. Someone in the NEPA area had a good night. 

 

•#1. FMyLife. Hands-down, my favorite user-generated content website right now is FMyLife, where people submit stories of really bad things that happen to them. (The “F” in FMyLife stands for f***). I think the layout is fantastic and well-organized. You can sort the stories, or FMLs, by category or by country. It appears as if FMyLife is making some money from ads, but my guess is that the bulk of their revenue is coming from their book F My Life: It’s Funny, It’s True, Except When It Happens to You. This guy must have learned his lesson about checking out his girlfriend while climbing stairs. 

Facebook Has Competition?

It seems like just about everybody is on Facebook these days, especially those you don’t want to see—former teachers, your boss, your parents. My own mother is on it, but I refuse to accept her friend request.

As for MySpace? So 2005. Despite Facebook’s dominance the amount of user-generated content sites is on the rise, and there are quite a few hidden gems out there.

So, wait. Facebook has competition? Sort of. For social networking purposes, Facebook is Miss America, with Twitter as Miss Congeniality. But in terms of allowing its users to be creative, Facebook is in trouble. Here are a few of my favorite up-and-coming sites.

Since this list turned out a bit longer than I planned, here are numbers 15-8. Stop by tomorrow for my favorite 7 sites! (WARNING: SOME CONTAIN NSFW MATERIAL).

•#15: Funny Sign. This site is pretty self-explanatory. There are only 126 funny signs, so conceivably, one very bored user could go through the site in one sitting. Some signs appear to be Photoshopped, but it is amazing to see how many signs are out there that could use a spell check or two.  Check out #90. 

•#14: Emails From Crazy People. From the people that bring you Fail Blog, also featured in this post, comes Emails From Crazy People. On the homepage, the site displays seemingly normal email exchanges. It’s not until the reader clicks on “Read more” that he or she discovers the crazy. Take, for example, Politics is Serious Business. My favorite part is that this is a true story. This site appears to be in beta mode, as I’ve found several spelling and grammatical errors, and the format could use some work, but is still funny nevertheless.

•#13: MotiFake. Ever see those motivational posters with a word or phrase on a black background with a relevant picture to illustrate it? Think they’re lame? You’ll like this site, which is all about mocking those posters in quite a macho way. Take a look at Here’s a Clue, Genius. At first glance, the site screams “testosterone,” but it’s funny seeing these posters from a male perspective. My only complain is that the layout is a little too basic. The designers should challenge themselves a bit, and maybe categorize the MotiFakes. 

•#12. That’s What She Said Stories & Jokes. This seems like something Michael Scott could have created, except that it actually makes sense. The site allows users to submit, rate, and share TWSS stories. The site’s layout is very basic and straightforward, but it works. The best part of the site is that the stories can be sorted by categories, including “risqué” and “size.” If you’re a fan of the show, look at “THE OFFICE” category, which lists jokes told on “The Office” and the episodes during which they can be found. 

•#11. Oh Crap. My Parents Joined Facebook. This site might make you feel less bad about yourself when you see things like this. Users submit pictures of cringe inducing quiz results, super revealing statuses, and humiliating wall posts as made public by their parents. If, after reading the site, you still feel the need for revenge, go ahead and submit your parent’s post. After all, they’ve been embarrassing you your entire life. When else can you return the favor?

•#10. Pwned on Camera.This site is also pretty self-explanatory; it shows people getting pwned on camera. And by “pwned,” I mean, “getting busted looking at women’s breasts or up their skirts.” Like MotiFake, this is a pretty male-oriented site, but I will admit it is funny seeing a bunch of perverted Japanese guys taking pictures or a girl taking a peek at the beach.

•#9. Pundit Kitchen. This is probably the longest it’s taken me in a blog post to talk politics. Pundit Kitchen is basically LOL Cats for the political crowd. Despite having a ton of tags, I think the site would be better-organized and easier to use if the list of tags weren’t halfway down the page. My favorite nonpartisan picture is the one with the German soldiers playing with a kitten. 

 

•#8. My Drunk Texts. I think the tagline explains it all: The drunk texts you shouldn’t have sent made infamous. This site posts users’ submitted drunk texts, complete with area code, and lets readers rate them as a “great night” or a “bad night” and comment on them. You can check out the best and worst nights, and see which texts got the most ratings today, this week, this month, and overall. You can also enter your area code and find out what people in your area are saying.  Someone in my area code submitted this. Appropriate, since 717 covers Lancaster County, aka “Amish Country.”

Michael Jackson and Neda

There’s no doubt it’s been a trying week in Hollywood. Three celebrities, each of varying degrees of fame, passed away.

 One was 1970′s pinup icon and “Charlie’s Angels” star Farrah Fawcett, who died after a battle with anal cancer. 

The second was music legend Michael Jackson, who has been cited by many performers as an influence. His professional life was legendary, his personal life bizarre.

The third was Billy Mays, television pitchman extraordinaire.

Now being that these three people were public figures, their deaths certainly are newsworthy. But there is one more notable death that we should be paying more attention to than the others: the death of Neda.

 So who is Neda, and why is her death more significant than that of the so-called “King of Pop?” 

Two weeks ago, at the height of the post-Iranian election backlash, Neda Agha-Soltan was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. CNN reports that she was observing the riots when she was struck in the chest by a single bullet. A bystander crudely filmed the gruesome scene on a cell phone, watching as a crowd surrounded her, trying to help, but it was too late.

The video can be seen here. WARNING: This video is graphic and NSFW. DO NOT watch if you are squeamish. Normally, I’m fine with blood. I can watch shows like “CSI” and movies like “Kill Bill” and be okay, but my stomach turned the first time I saw this video.

Although it is unclear who shot Neda, the assumption is it was either a government official (Iranian citizens are not permitted to own guns), a Basijj militiaman, or a pro-Ahmadinejad and Khamenei sniper. Remarkably, Ahmadinejad has called her death “suspicious” and has urged an investigation.

I’m surprised that he didn’t just flat out deny the involvement of his government or his allies, or just ignore the whole thing together. Neda has become the face of the revolution, the face of the turmoil. She humanizes it. It’s one thing to hear about struggles going on elsewhere in the world, but to put a face on it, to make it more relatable, is something else.

That’s what Neda has become in Iran’s troubles. CNN’s Jessica Ravitz compares her to images from the Kent State shooting, Tiananmen Square, and of Holocaust survivors: one single person symbolizes the tragedy of others.

That’s why it has bothered me so much to see the news dominated by these celebrities’ deaths, especially that of Jackson. They are news, but so are a lot of other things.Let’s get back to Iran and North Korea, major news outlets, and save celebrity funeral arrangements for TMZ. 

 So while we Americans are mourning the loss of Michael Jackson, let’s not forget one thing. He lived and died in America, a country that has freedom.  Neda died in Iran, a country that is fighting for it.