What are your Pet Peeves?

It's a simple but fascinating question that stimulates interesting responses. I posted the simple question "What are your Pet Peeves?" on Twitter this morning. Here are some of the responses:


People that don't "Move Back"on ttc buses/streetcars

ppl who don't clean the toothpaste tops of the tubes and leave them gunky....yuck lol

Nosy people and cops giving tickets just to fill their quotas

my pet peeve is that they don't have cheese for street meat anymore

PETS. People should care for "homeless people" instead... Feed, wash, pamper them...

my pet peeve is when the ttc buses take forever to come, and when it does finally, there are 3 of them coming your way. grrr

hot dog vendors that scratch back with tongs

my pet peeve is that #peeves isn't trending... #shouldbetrending

hmmmmmmmmmm....... know it alls.

My pet peeve in general? DJs who play pop music and do not even try to mix their tunes.

I have tons.. lines... taxis that don't take the best route.. slow walkers.. hypothetical situations.. Ben Mulroney.. u?

1 of mine is ppl that dont get pedestrian traffic: keep right unless passing!

People who whistle. I effing hate when people whistle. #petpeeves

People who walk OUT of the elevator and then stop right there in front of the doors & block it.

when you are in line to buy something and the person in front is doing an exchange/refund/override that takes forever!

Another one of my pet peeve are brown nosing rats

These are all funny and interesting Pet Peeves. I'm sure there are more but at least we can enjoy and laugh at these comments. It's a light hearted Friday. Enjoy the weekend all and enjoy the list.

Use #Twintro in Tweeter.

If you have read my blog in the past, I’m an avid user of Twitter. When friends or family ask me “What is Twitter?”, It’s a difficult question to answer most times. Twitter can be easily explained as a simple “Status Update” similar to Facebook Updates but I tend to disagree. I think it really boils down on how the person using Twitter uses it. There are some users who only use it sparingly to update the question asked by Twitter “What are you doing?” and responding by “I’m having peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch”. Other users may use it to promote their business/blog or events with direct links to a site. I definitely use it to network with like-minded individuals who share similar interest as me. It’s great if you are for example a photographer and would like to learn more about various techniques or tricks with photography. All you have to do is a search on the term “Photography” and it will list a whole bunch of users who mention photography in their tweets(Updates). You can then decide if you would like to follow certain people depending on the content or if you feel they have something of value to you. This brings me to the idea that I will introduce and hopefully takes off with this blog post. I had mentioned about using “Search” in Twitter for the use of listing specific “topics” or “terms”. The use of hashtags symbol “#” is a more specific way to do a search on a particular or obscure subject. If you notice on a any particular Twitter users(s) stream they may have a tweet like #iphone or #SXSW. The important thing to note is that the “#” is in front of the word. This is a way of tagging a tweet so that people can track a conversation or specific topic. Events and important topics usually receive a hashtag. This allows various user(s) to reply or participate in the conversation. It’s a good way to find out who is in a particular conversation. It shows who shares similar interest. It’s a fun way to meet people.

It is very true that it is easy to meet people just using Twitter for professional and non-professsional situation. I’m a social person and like to use the acronym “ICE” . ICE to me stands for Interact, Communicate and Engage. I just thought of this and it sounds pretty simple right. I believe the interaction and relationships you create online via Twitter will give more value to you if you are actively engaging or communicating via your tweets. This is where I will introduce a hashtag called #Twintro . #Twintro is a Twitter Introduction. I could have used a #twintroduction but we only have 140 characters to use and keeping the message short is key. Anyone can use this hashtag to introduce two different Twitter users that may have similar interest or might benefit from each other via virtually or in reality. The spontaneous engagement can snowball into anything which can lead to lasting relationships or a greater network. I’m not a social media expert but the simplicity of this evolved when I introduced two people who had a similar interest in Fashion. The instant surprise and interaction between both members was quite liberating for both including myself for the introduction. So I’m hoping you start using the #twintro in your tweets!
You heard it here first! So give it a try! I will update you and see how this goes.

Social Networking in Toronto

If you noticed I have not blogged in several weeks. I have shown a key interest in Social Networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. I have tried to cut my time on these particular sites to truly interact, engage and communicate with various individuals I meet via Twitter or non-internet users in real life. Being able to balance your relationships online and in real-life is quite easy for me. Taking your online relationships to create everlasting relationships is very beneficial. It enables you to put a face to the person you speak with online. You are able to expand on ideas that maybe limiting due to site limitations such as Twitter. The most important thing is that you are truly being social. It also builds community among your local interaction with individuals.

Ever since I held my last event at http://www.tweetngreet.ca their has been an abundance of events specifically in the Toronto area. It is great to meet various people in various disciplines but find the events redundant. I’m looking to hold another event in the future if interest persist and want it to have a unique feature to differentiate it from the rest. If you have ideas , let me know. I have had many people over time asking me when the next event will be...Only time will tell and timing is the key. Please follow me at @clickflickca or @tweetngreetca to keep posted on future happenings in Toronto. Your feedback via Twitter/Facebook is highly anticipated. What event would you like to see in you area? Our 1st event was “Word of Mouth” which started from scratch. It was a combination of friends and family meeting up to create a social networking event. It was the 1st event for all of us and we felt it was sucessful considering the limited time and effort to organize the event. If we devote more time to such an event we can definitely continue this on an annual basis or monthly basis. Let me know what your thoughts are and suggestions by commenting below or by visiting me on Twitter. Thanks for reading. I will look to update more frequently soon.

Facebook and Twitter Integration

First off, It has been awhile since I have posted an update. I have found it very difficult to find time to just blog or post updates due to a busy schedule, especially during the summer. To be honest Twitter has taken much of my time for blogging or micro-blogging as others have called it. I will try to update daily as much as I can. If I don't update everyday it will be at least 2-3 times a week. If you like you can always follow me on Twitter at "@clickflickca".

As I peruse the tweets on Twitter I have found an interesting link/video on the Integration of Twitter/Facebook while watching television simultaneously. I must admit that my workflow consist of Tweeting from my desktop to viewing my television across the living room on the other side. I will often "Tweet" about a show while it's on "Live" all done on my desktop computer. Now Verizon has introduced a way to integrate Social Media and Television all in one. It's called Verizon Fios. I personally think this will gain popularity with social media junkies and television viewers. It allows you to post updates and tweets while watching tv at the same time. You can also post tweets related to the current showing you are watching. This is great for viewer feedback and taking the experience to a whole other level. What do you guys think of this technology? Here's a video clip with an explanation.

AppsFire for the Iphone

This is a new application that is in "Beta". It should be interesting to note if this will become popular. It will enable you to share your apps that are downloaded on one Iphone to another users Iphone to share.

Twitter Etiquette

As I continue to use Twitter, I'm continually changing the way I use this internet tool. When I first began to use Twitter I used it similarly to Facebook updates. Now it has evolved to interesting tidbits or links of information. Unfortunately there are many etiquette faux pas that I probably should correct as I continually to learn how to use Twitter. I don't confess to making these mistakes on Twitter but no one is perfect and I'm sure we all done it once or twice.

Here are some quick examples of proper Etiquette on Twitter when leaving a message/Tweet(Source: Socialmediaunraveled.com)

1-Obscenities-The use of bad words. Freedom of Speech is great on Twitter but you will lose followers if you continue to use foul language.

2-Tweeting to Frequently-Too much Tweeting will result in followers also Unfollowing you.

3-Tweeting about your job-Don't do it! You can get fired for releasing confidential information about your company.

4-Using CAPS LOCK- WHEN SPEAKING IT CAPS MEANS YOU ARE YELLING something. Use sparingly for emphasis only.

These are just a few of the etiquette's that should be followed when using Twitter. Please view the site mentioned above for a more detailed listings. Remember to tweet with responsibility! Happy Tweeting everyone. You can follow me at @clickflickca.

Networking Tips

I'm organizing an event with a bunch of friends tomorrow. You can RSVP here on this site or at TweetnGreetThis info might be able to help you in your career journey.


12 Dos And Don'ts Of Successful Networking
Networking is easy and fun! Just bear in mind the following tips to make the most of your networking sessions:

DOs


DO Adopt The Right Attitude About Networking
It is about meeting people and finding out how you can help them or they can help you. It is NOT just about how you alone can benefit.

DO Your Homework
Prepare ahead by asking yourself: who do you want to meet and what you would like to achieve from the networking event?

DO Listen And Learn
Many people love to talk about what they do, so take the opportunity to listen and learn. You might just find out how you can work together with them.

DO Think Before You Speak
Present your thoughts and ideas clearly.

DO Follow Up
Make the effort to follow up promptly after meeting the person you want to get to know. Drop him a note or an email within the same day, if possible, to make a first impression that lasts.

DO Show Gratitude
Thank the person who gave you a referral. A little gesture goes a long way.
DON'Ts


DON'T Choose A Networking Group By Its Size
It is not the quantity, but the quality of contacts that the group can offer you.

DON'T Dish Out Your Business Card To People Before A Conversation Occurs
Get to know them first, and vice versa, before giving them your card.

DON'T Offer Unsolicited Opinions
Before you know the other party’s opinions, stay within neutral territory with yours, so as not to put yourself in a potentially awkward situation.

DON'T Be Shy
Don't turn aside compliments – that insults the giver. Acknowledge the person by saying "Thank you".

DON'T Expect Instant Results From Your Contacts
Be patient. It usually takes a while before people are comfortable enough to offer you a referral.

DON'T Ask For More Than What People Can Give
People generally avoid takers.

Google Chrome

Yesterday, Google announced that they will be introducing their own OS. It will be called the Google Chrome OS. This will easily add a new competitor against Microsoft and Apple. Google mentioned some of the features of the OS

•Open Source and therefore will be free

•Google is partnering with Adobe, HP, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments

• 80% of the OS will deal with Google Applications

It looks like Google is slowing making the whole web integration a much easier way to use which will make this popular.
I'm a diehard apple fan but have been thoroughly impressed with Google so far. Maybe we can see a joint venture with Apple and Google in the future? right now I think this will affect Microsoft the most. It will be interesting to see how they react.

On a side note, with the recent passing of Michael Jackson he has broken so many records. He has the #1 album of all time.
He has been on the number 1 charts for 37 straight weeks which is a record. Now he can add $1 million downloads from the internet in one week. No other artist has been able to do this in this interenet age.

MJ Tribute in Toronto

Just wanted to say, Happy 4th of July to all my friends in the USA. Now in keeping with the theme of Michael Jackson
I had to post some videos that shows how much love there is for MJ. This was an event created by MANIFESTO in basically 1 day of viral advertising on the news and internet such as Twitter. Approximately 5,000 plus withstood for several hours listening and dancing to Michael tunes. I can't wait to view the live special of MJ's Tribute at the Staples Centre in LA. That should prove to be an interesting time for the internet during that time. I must admit Torontonians are a very friendly bunch at least this evening they came together young and old.

Air New Zealand Funny video

Here is a funny video on Air New Zealand Airlines. They have created a passenger safety video in which the flight staff are all painted in their uniforms. It's a unique way to make a presentation that's for sure. The video has gone viral on the internet.

How do you use Twitter?

I have always been asked this following question. What is Twitter? Isn't it just a status update site similar to Facebook. My answer is YES and NO. It all depends on how you want to use Twitter. I think it all depends on how the user want to use it. I utilize it for the purpose of networking ( Hence,Social Networking ). It is a great way to connect with people who have a similar interest in you. For example if you have an interest in photography, I would follow photographers. I can even narrow it down to photographers in my local area by using the "Search" feature on Twitter. Other folks may use Twitter just to update what they had for lunch. There is nothing wrong with doing that, again it all comes down to the user. Another positive use of Twitter is being able to get information even before newsfeeds. To get live tweets from people in the middle of any situation is instantaneous. Great example was the Iran Election with firsthand accounts of the heinous murders during the election. Also the breaking news of Michael Jackson and his untimely death was tweeted moment by moment for the world to see via Twitter. Overall Twitter can be used as a tool in various ways. I hope you sign up and enjoy and start using Twitter so we can communicate and Tweet. Happy Tweeting!

Do you text too much?

Do you text too much? I do. You might not want to admit it but the majority of us are texting. Does this mean we less inclined to communicate face to face if we are texting more. It brings up an interesting topic that can be debated. It can be cheaper to text than to make a phone call in some parts of the world. Texting is a new way to communicate in a more informal way. It's popularity is brought on the fact that you can send a text instantaneously. Etiquette of text messaging is a whole other topic that can be discussed. It is also noted that the Philippines is known to be the #1 country that sends/receives text messages. Here's a quick video on the fastest text message.

Freedom Fridays

Yesterday, Michael Jackson passed away from cardiac arrest. The whole world is in shock and disbelief that the Pop icon and legend is no longer among us. This has nothing to do with technology but he transcends so much influence in our daily lives growing up to his music. It was more evident on the internet. The number one search and talk on the net is all about Michael Jackson. Youtube has disallowed the embedding of videos because it would be overwhelming to the system. Michael Jackson was the main topic on Twitter propogating the information through different tweets. Folks are not sure if the information of his death was truth or false. It proves that communication of Michael Jackson death through the internet spread like a wildfire. It would be interesting to note who would have been the first to announce this on the internet. RIP Michael Jackson.

Macbook Transformers

As a kid I would watch Transformers and enjoy how they can change right in front of your eyes from a vehicle to a robot. You don't have to understand the french but I thought this was a cool video. This would be neat if it was true.

Twitter Rap

I thought I'd post a funny video that makes fun of Twitter in a hip hop style. Enjoy!

Quick Updates via Twitter

We all know by now that Twitter has been a great social networking tool used to promote your brand, websites and blogs. It's also a great way to network and share info. Twitter's influence was never more evident this past weekend with the world news headlines. The video footage of a female named "Neda" has been viewed millions of times through Twitter galvanizing the true issues in Iran. Also locally in Toronto, the Much Music Video Awards was held yesterday with several after parties. Apparently Perez Hilton a celebrity blogger was attacked after one of these parties. He quickly tweeted that he was attacked and that the police later finally arrived to rescue him. Twitter is now the best instant tool to get the message out to many viewers. Large issues such as Iran elections or minor issues such as Perez Hilton incident show you how quickly your message can be relayed through the means of Twitter.

Freedom Fridays

Here's a quick clip of a wall of Apple monitors showcasing every App being downloaded from Itunes at the past WWDC.
Today is also the first day you can purchase the new Iphone 3Gs. I'm sure true diehard Mac addicts are salivating and playing with the new Iphones thye've bought. See you guys Monday.

Iphone 3.0 is ready to download.

Apple released the anticipated new Iphone operating system 3.0 update yesterday. I did not download the update yet because I knew there would be an overwhelming demand on the servers for updates. This actually contributed to some users experiencing some problems with the updates. Hopefully later today I should be able to test out the new software. Some of the new features are Cut, Copy & Paste, landscape keyboard,MMS,Search features, voice memos and an improved calendar. There are also Tethering which allows for using your iphone as a modem for your laptop. I'm looking forward to PUSH notifications. Starting June 19 which is tomorrow you'll be able to order the Iphone 3Gs as well.

TweetDeck for Iphone

TweetDeck is the best desktop application for Twitter. It's interface is very pleasing and organizes your "Replies" and "Friends" in a column format. The ability to create certain groups and to post directly to Facebook makes this the tool of choice for Twitter.
Interestingly enough, TweetDeck has introduced an iphone version. Now for all the users who need another reason why they should switch to an Iphone, this is one main reason you should. If you are a social maven, then download it on the iphone and enjoy!

Iran Election

Twitter and other social networking sites are having a big influence in the Iran Election. All the controversy with voting has been tweeted in real time to millions of people. This is another example of how Twitter is spreading the current affairs faster than the actual news outlets. How will this change the way Journalism is brought to the masses. I have this feeling that news agencies that have not adopted or incorporated some aspect of social networking will be left in the dark! On a side note Twitter was to go through downtime for some site maintenance but due to the relevance of Iran elections it was postponed until later this evening.
This give you an indication of the power of Twitter and the current affairs of the world.

Technology and exercise.

Hope you all had a great weekend! Today with the staggering growth of the internet more people are now web surfing. Does that mean that people are less incline to do physical activity? The extra time spent in front of a computer or tv can be used for physical exercise. This may affect younger kids more because they are exposed to video games and technology in school at a younger age. Instead of playing street hockey or sports, kids especially young adults are probably playing video games for hours and hours. It should be interesting to note that child obesity has been on the rise in the past 10 years according to medical organizations. The introduction of healthy food menus and banning of pop machines and junk food are signs of schools and governments trying to rectify this child obesity. Technology has played a big role in people spending less time doing things active. Hopefully people find a good balance of technology and exercise. Go out for a walk or a run! I'm sure it'll make you feel better.

Freedom Fridays

Hope you enjoy the weekend. Here's a quick stop motion video that has gone viral. It utilizes alot of "Post Notes".
See you folks on Monday. Keep checking for updates for our planned Tweetngreet #partio.

Demise of the Bookstore?

More people are spending time in front of their monitors with the increase use of the internet. This does not bode well for the future of bookstores and magazines. We have seen how the music industry had to make a drastic changes to this effect. Remember the days when buying cd's and dvd's was a normal way to buy music. These days ever since Napster 10 years ago, music can just be downloaded from sites such as Limewire and Rapishare for free. Revenues from music have decreased taking the industry into a tailspin. Will bookstores such as Chapters/Indigo be able to survive? Books and magazines can be downloaded in pdf format on various websites. The introduction of digital readers such as the "Kindle" will reduce the actual purchase of books. It will also help the environment with less use of paper production and making production cost cheaper. I wonder if technology will affect this industry in a negative way? Will bookstores continue to exist in the future?

Partio Update

Here's just a little sneek peak of a possible Partio. A group of Twitter individuals want to celebrate and meet some of the Toronto Twitter community. So come out and enjoy a fun afternoon with like minded individuals. Follow up for more details at Tweetngreet.ca

Light Me up!

I was surfing the interwebs this morning and came across this interesting video. It seems that these students were able to create a synchronized lighting effect with the use of light switches. Now this is something I have never seen before! Amazing stuff!

Iphone 3GS released.

Yesterday, it was announced that Apple has made several anticipated releases. They have announced a new line of Macbook Pros as well as the new Iphone 3GS. The launch of the Apple products are priced at lower prices which makes it more affordable for consumers. The new operating system called Snow Leopard will sell for only $29.99 which is a steal for this OS. They have also introduced Safari 4 which is a new and improved web browser. I've just installed it and will give you a review later this week on its functionality. The Iphone 3GS will be released on June 17 in most countries. The new iphone will be quicker, have a longer lasting battery and have a larger storage capacity. I'm happy to know they have added a better camera and video recording capabilities.
Voice recognition and Copy and Paste have been added as well. If you would like to see the new features for the Iphone visit

Iphone Guided Tour

Toronto Partio Update

Planning has started for our First Partio event for the Toronto Twitter community. I can't say much about the event at this point but more information should come out in the following weeks. I can tell you that we are looking to mid-July for the Partio.
If you are looking for more information or would like to help volunteer or give us your ideas you can visit the Twitter handle of @Tweetngreetca and direct mail us. Here you will be able to keep updated with information. Also follow @crystalgibson and visit her blog for the actual definition of "Partio" here Crystal Gibson. Look out for more info to come! Toronto get ready!!

WWDC09 is today!

The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference is the premier technical event for developers and IT professionals innovating with Apple platforms. For consumers this gives us a sneek peak at some of the developments and possible products we can look forward to this summer. The one everyone is anticipating and has been rumoured all over the internet is the new Iphone. There have speculations it will have an increased capacity and longer battery life. The addition of a better camera and the option to record video are some of the highlights that I look forward too.Let's hope all the rumours are put to rest today. I've had every Iphone from the 1st generation to 2nd generation  and want to know if it will be worth switching to the new Iphone video. Competition from Google Android and the Palm Pre means a better selection for comsumers in the smartphone category. This smartphone competiton will only heat up and hopefully Apple rises to the top!! You can watch the WWDC conference LIVE on
USTREAMTV

Freedom Fridays

It's another Freedom Friday. Here's a new commercial for Bing.

It's the new search engine introduced by Microsoft.

Have a great weekend!

What I want on the iphone.

I have owned several different phones over the years but truly the Iphone is my favourite. I'm a mac addict so the user interface is very simple for me. One of my favoured features of the iphone is the ability to download applications from the phone itself via WIFI or 3G. The applications can vary from Social Networking Apps to games and entertainment. Other carriers such as BlackBerry and Google Android are playing "Catch Up" to the Iphone and Apple Itunes App Store. Not all things are perfect but the Iphone comes close to that idea. What do you think the Iphone is missing or lacking? Here is my list of things I would like to see on future iphone software upgrades:

1. Copy and Paste
2. Larger selection of Ringtones
3. Video Calling
4. Better Camera/Flash lighting
5. Capability to record video
6. Use of Flash
7. Live Streaming
8. Real-time text email
9. Memory expansion
10. Use of different browsers

Most of these options are available on a jailbroken Iphone. I don't want to go through the process of having problems again in the future which I experienced previously with my 1st generation Iphone.  I'm hoping some of these options will be available with the new software and Iphone releases coming this month. What features would you guys want on your Iphone?

Toronto Social Event

Social networking has opened so many opportunities for people to connect. Different charities and organizations have benefitted. Individuals have used it to promote their business or ideas. I'm hoping to create an event with fellow like minded individuals very soon. I don't have much details on this event at the moment but I look forward to generating the buzz through Social networking sites. I'm sorry to keep you folks in the dark but something should be in the works by next week. Keep visiting this blog for more updates. If you really want to know more you can follow me on Twitter at @clickflickca. Follow these peeps as well for more info and hints @crystalgibson @aldrichsilva @Da187Suspect.More details to come. It's hard keeping a secret!

E3 and Xbox 360 Live news.

Right now in my favourite town of Los Angeles, E3 is being held at the L.A. convention center. E3 stands for Electronic Entertainment Expo. It's the world's largest trade show for computer and video games and related products. The big announcement just announced was that Xbox 360 Live will integrate Netflix in which they can view movies through the Xbox Live. The integration of Facebook and Twitter is also a big announcement. This is truly making the Xbox the new social gadget of choice for users and game players. It's interesting to see if Playstation 3 will soon make some noise as well. In other news, rumours abound about new iphones coming out this month in June. If it is announced in June they will not be release until July. If you are planning to buy a new iphone you may want to wait until July. Today, Google Android phones are released in Canada so the smartphone competition should start to heat up! Go iphone go!! Here's a clip from E3 website on the announced news of the new features for Xbox 360 Live.

Partnershipwalk and the internet.

Over the weekend, I was able to join a group of engaged individuals all fighting for the important cause of world poverty . Individuals from music, tech and social media got involved. The group had a website at SuperHeroes in which you can make an online donation. The group created a campaign via Facebook and Twitter. I was happy to make a small contribution to this group by creating one of the logos.
Every little effort put in helps eradicate poverty. Monetary donations or volunteering your services helps the community.
It has been reported that the group has collected over $2,000 in donations. Great job! Great cause! Here's another example of Social networking effectively working.

Freedom Fridays

It's the end of the work week and another Freedom Friday has arrived. Every Friday I will showcase a video clip involving something funny or something involving Technology. The talk today is all about the new "Bing" search engine by Microsoft that I posted about yesterday. They have launched a preview video which should be fully functional by June. Interestingly, Google has also launched Google Wave which has taken the wind out of Bing's launch. Google Wave is suppose to be email,twitter-like, Msn combination all in one interface in real-time. I'll make a post about that as soon as it's functional. Have a great weekend!




Here's a little clip on Google "Wave".

Will Bing replace Google?

Microsoft is going to launch something very similar or even better than Google in the next couple of days. It will be a new search engine called Bing. Microsoft has put over $100 million dollars to promote this site. Funny thing is I have not really heard much about this site for the exception on the internet. Microsoft has stated it will at least be 10 times better than Google. I find this very difficult to believe but I must admit it makes me interested in what they have to offer. Bing must have something that is totally unique from Google. So we will have to wait until they launch. If you go to the site now it is a blank url screen. Some have already created an acronym for BING-"But It's Not Google". I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Iphone 32gig Coming!

If you are trying to decide on what phone to get this summer you may want to wait until June or July. It has been leaked on an Austria website that a 32gig iphone will be coming out. This cannot be confirmed but the image above should speak volumes.
In Canada, Boy Genius has stated that Rogers should be coming out with 2 Iphone models. A 16GB and 32GB model withthe addition of new Ipod Nanos. The rumours are beginning to heat up as the summer nears especially with the Worldwide Develpers Conference coming. Will you buy the new iphone or will you try out the new Palm Pre or Google Android phones?

Twitter Tv

There have been talks lately that Twitter will have it's own tv show. We have heard so much of reality tv but this information is very interesting. It's the first time a website is going in the direction of television. The question on everyones mind is how would they integrate Twitter. At first when I heard this I thought it would be about using Twitter and having viewers interact with celebrities on tv. According to Twitter, they would allow rights for different television networks to use Twitter in whatever format appropriate for the shows. This would bring more exposure for Twitter which is a good thing. Right now the only way I see Twitter being used on tv is through viewer response through newscast. It's usually based on a top new stories for that particular day in which callers respond with their own views via Tweets. It will be interesting to see if this method of integrating tv with a website will work.

Share videos on Twitter

There's a heated battle going between two websites which allow you to update your tweets with a video link straight from clicking on the video on to the two similar sites. The two new websites are:

Twitvid.io

Twitvid


These are two sites that are competing with each other to gain users that allow you to upload videos. The popularity of video uploading sites such as youtube, Vimeo, and Smugmug make video uploading a major trend on the internet usage right now. Adding the popularity of Twitter and to be able to post videos with one click will even make these two websites more popular. Twitvid is now live and working and Twitvid.io should set to launch by end of week.

Freedom Fridays

Here's a video summary on Twitter. It's always difficult to explain what Twitter is to those that are new to it. My simplest answer is that it can really be what you want it to be. It can be for status updates or it can even be used as a toll for networking. The best way tp find out is to sign up for an account and try it for yourself firsthand.

Transformer USB

My cousin in the states had just sent me a link to BUY IT HERE. I grew up watching the Transformers so this was an interesting find. It's such a geek gadget that I thought I would post this. Enjoy.

WolframAlpha

What is WolframAlpha? WolframAlpha is a new way on the internet to search results and find answers to a more narrow selection of results compared to Google. It's basically Google, Wikipedia and a calculator all in one. It's basically an online service that computes answers to factual questions. It has been released to public just recently but results have been mixed. Can this be a Google "killer"? It is interesting because it's a new way to narrow down thousands of searches on the internet. Only time will tell if this site will be sucessful. Here is the link: WolframAlpha

Interview with Biz Stone-Co-creator of Twitter

Since it's a short week due to the holiday here in Canada that would mean a short week.
Here's a short video interview with Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. He speaks about the originaton of Twitter and its brand.

New Iphone 3G

I'm waiting with anticipation until June when Apple will hopefully make a new release with the iphone. I was able to find some pictures of a possible new iphone which cannot be confirmed but I must admit it looks very sexy! Check it out on this link from Inside Apple:
Apple Iphone

Human BeatBOX

Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend on this Victoria Day. I thought I would post some interesting video on two Beatboxers who simply are amazing. This footage was taken at the "Google" offices in Europe. The video is about 18 min.long but it quite simply cool how the sounds are all just created with just their mouth and a mic.

Freedom Fridays

Hope you all have a great long weekend. Here's a quick and funny video on a real life skit on Twitter. Since there have been negatives news about the recent "@replies" on Twitter and Google Gmail being down I thought this was a funny video to end the work week. Enjoy!

Technology at a baseball game.

I recently went to a Blue Jays baseball game. We lost this game but we are still first overall as of today. It was interesting to note that the moment you stood foot into the stadium technology was in use. Just outside the stadium, touch screens that sell Jays ticket are available. Ticketakers at the gates are using Palm Pilot style scanners as you enter the stadium. As we take our seats, it's interesting to note the large video display and ribbon boards which are basically displaying advertising on the facade of different levels in the dome in a digital format. It's neat to see a game promotion on the ribbon boards stating if you text a short code "5555" you have a chance to win a prize. This has taken to watching baseball into a more interactive way. As a couple of innings pass I noticed that beside the large scoreboard their "Pitch speed display". This showcases the pitchers pitching speed in kilometres per hour in real time. On the outfield the walls have now become video screens advertising players stats and general advertising too. Technology has influenced the way we watch baseball games live and I must admit I found it very enjoyable; unfortunately our team did not win this night!(Photo:Sean Currie)

Where does creativity come from?

Where does creativity come from? It's a simple question but a difficult one to answer.
It all depends on your personality and your life experiences, personally. If you are a person that is an introvert, in most cases your creativity maybe held within. If you are extroverted then you are more willing to express and share your feelings. I recently had to create different projects for friends and family and found that the thought process of creating an idea was difficult. The more you get experience at doing something the better you will get. Practice makes perfect. One source of creativity for me was to view the exhibits of graduating students at OCAD. To visually see what the future designers have to offer was a perfect collection of ideas to get my creative juices flowing. One way to keep abreast of the trends and styles that are upcoming was to collect different business cards of all the students at the exhibit. It gave me ideas
on creative thinking, design elements, use of colour and their methods of expression.What better way to express your creativity then your own business cards. Designers and thinkers alike have had that time were they have a creative or mental block. To see things visually at an exhibit gave me the ability to think creatively again. I'll end this blog with a question for all to ponder. How do you keep being creative?

Graphic Design Students of the Future.

Over the weekend my cousin who is a student at Ontario College of Art and Design told me they had a graduating student exhibit in multiple disciplines including photography, design and advertising. It is always inspiring to view student pieces because they are usually creating excellent work on a certain topic or theme. It is always interesting to see the different interpretations of a particular subject. Visiting this exhibit also got my creative juices going which is always a good thing to get me motivated in general.

The biggest thing I've noticed in the exhibits; more specifically in the Graphic Design area is that "Technology" has taken over by the influence of various vector arts and typography manipulations. Back when I went to school it was all about creating it from scratch with a T-square and Tria-markers. Students today have a distinct advantage in creating mock-ups and designs with the compliment of computers and worklabs. At my graduation I was only using a Power Mac 7200 with just floppy disk and 500Mb hard drive.
Today students now have more juice power than they'll ever need. I must admit that the art pieces and designs are truly amazing and inspiring. Good Work!

Toronto's First Significant Twitter Event.

I hope all of you enjoyed the weekend and Mothers Day last night. Yesterday in Toronto it was a very crazy evening with regards to the news. Tamil protesters have been protesting for several days in a peaceful manner exercising their rights to protest.
Actions by the Tamils became desperate when they congregated unto a major highway artery in downtown Toronto. This was a dangerous situation because they had children and women in the front line of the police in riot gear in a very dangerous and limited area of the highway. News broke through Twitter with local Twitterers in the surrounding area. Lots of footage were posted unto Twitter as the event happened. We had video, photo and even sound clips being broadcast right as the moments occurred. It was interesting because we able to get information before the actual media can broadcast. We also found the information that the protest will end peacefully through Twitter to avoid any issues for today's morning rush hour. I personally think this was the first significant news event for Toronto via Twitter. It's interesting to see how media outlets will embrace Twitter and how news will be shared. Here is a link to some of the protest last night:

TheStar


BLOGTO

Freedom Fridays

I was tweeting last night with @lrobertsglobal who is the news anchor for the 11pm Global news in Toronto. He had mentioned he would have one of the final contestants from the "Best Job In the World" contest in which users submit videos and compete to be selected for the job in the Great Barrier Reef. Here's a link to the site Islandfreejob

Unfortunately Mitch Moffit was not selected with this submission, but he did submit a follow up video:




I just thought his submissions were creative and very professional looking. These videos have also gone viral lately on the internet. Here's wishing him "Good Luck" on his future job search. Happy Freedom Friday everyone.

TicketLeap

I was on Twitter yesterday and noticed a Tweet from one of my followers. It showcased a website called "TicketLeap.com". This website enables you to sell tickets to your own event. It allows you to set your own seating charts and pricing. It allows you to control your gate access by the use of barcode scanner that TicketLeap would provide. This is an interesting piece of software
because Ticketmaster has been the main player in ticket sales. There are also smaller companies like Ticketmaster that sell tickets as well for small to large events. TicketLeap is different in that it is totally web based and customizable. So if your a small business and looking for a cheap method to create your event this could be an option for you. Anyone now can be the ticket seller and this bridges the gap between you and the larger companies like Ticketmaster. All you need is a WIFI or internet access and laptop.
For more information check the link at TICKETLEAP

Do you believe in percentages and numbers??

Did you know that there are 131 Cdns. infected with H1N1(Swine Flu). Did you know if you drink coffee everyday it will lower your risk for cancer to only 30%. Did you also know that 65% of Canadians own a cellphone. The point I'm trying to get across is that we hear so much about percentages/numbers in the news that we actually believe what they say. Have you ever questioned how they come to these results or how they were polled? Sometimes it's all about marketing and what marketers want you to think. If a dentist promotes a toothpaste by stating "1 in 4 dentist recommend this toothpaste", it will persuade you to use it right? But we still have no proof these comments are "True". The news and media report like this everyday. A good example is the recent news of Swine flu. Every media report has a different tally on reported cases. In Toronto news, one outlet reports 120 cases of Swine flu, while another media outlet will state a different number. Who do you believe? Sometimes you really need to be careful and aware of the facts and figures that are promoted. A recent poll or statistics can only be use as an analytics or a way to see trends or patterns. Hopefully people can understand this and make proper judgements on their own because I know for a fact that I'm 85% correct most of the time!

Twitter is the darling of Social Media right now.

As I begin to type this blog post this morning I noticed that "Google got shutdown" is trending on Twitter. I type in the google url and everything seems to be fine. I did a search of the phrase on Twitter and it was more about Google being shutdown or blocked from purchasing Twitter. Apparently Twitter does not at this point want to be sold to Google. There are also speculations that Apple has put in an offer for Twitter as well. These are interesting rumours that seem to be picking up steam on the Internet lately. This might explain why Apple's website was down for a couple of hours this past week. We'll keep you posted on this info.

On another note it was just announced that Rogers (Canadian Wireless provider) with Fido will allow for Twitter via SMS. If you already subscribe to a text messaging plan you will be able to tweet at not extra cost. you will be able to select who you receive and get messages from. So that's the early Tuesday morning scoop. Let's see if more buzz awaits in the coming weeks.

Twitter delivers the news quicker

Have you ever had to watch the news at 6pm to find out what happened earlier in the day? Maybe you are watching those 24 hr news shows for your updates on current affairs. This is fine and dandy if you are located by a television or screen to watch. Twitter can deliver you the news much quicker and faster from anywhere. If you are in a shopping mall, or even just walking on the streets; you can receive updates more instantaneously as it happens. I recently noticed that California had some recent earthquakes that were not even broadcast by the news until later that day. I was also able to ask a friend in California if they experienced the tremors. Twitter is quick and so fast! The timing of information being relayed can help companies in various ways.

A stock trader can use Twitter as another tool in their arsenal to research companies in real-time. They are able to find obscure information about a particular company that other users might have who share similar interest in the company. This is another way for a company or organization to get the word out. For example with the recent Swine Flu pandemic the WHO organization wanted the general public to be more informed of H1N1. They had created a website with information on the disease. This website was broadcast through Twitter which had an international reach which would help educated people on the affects and prevention tips. Overall, Twitter has enabled users to share information very quickly and timely to a mass audience. The only thing to be wary about such information is the validity in such information. I guess it's like buyers beware. Make sure to know the facts and confirm before taking action in any information being provided over the internet

Freedom Fridays

It's another Freedom Friday! Here's a funny video to view on this May Day! Have a Great weekend all!

Twitter and the News!

Social Media and Social Networking sites seem to be the buzz lately everywhere you go. From Facebook, MySpace and even Twitter. It's interesting to see how media outlets are using it to get information to report news or info that maybe important to you. A good example is a local popular morning show here in Toronto called "BreakFast Television". They invite you to Tweet or email your stories to them to broadcast to other viewers. It's an excellent idea to get "Breaking News" as it happens. Another great example is to get quick "Traffic Updates" in your area. This shows how technology adds a new way to interact and influence are media which is very powerful and effective way of communicating and being social at the same time.

Apple Mediapad

Apple is rumoured to be creating a device that is noted as a "MediaPad". It would be similar to the now famous pc versions of netbooks. Netbooks look like laptops but are much smaller and are meant to be used for basic email/web browsing. These units are also usually cheaper and less than $400. Apple's version has been rumoured to be something similar to an ipod touch but obviously larger. It quite obviously can also replace the "Kindle" that Amazon created. Kindle is a single application unit that reads e-books and basically replaces actual books you read and buy from any bookstore. Apple's MediaPad will probably replace the Kindle because it will be able to run more things and be more functional. Apple's MediaPad is rumoured to be able to use multiple apps. It will also be in colour view as opposed to Kindle monochromatic screens. So if you are looking to purchase the Kindle which is only available in the states at this time, you might want to postpone this purchase and wait for the rumoured Apple "MediaPad".

How much do you make?

It's quite a simple question right? How much do you make a year? What is your salary at work? Are you paid hourly? Is it better to be paid hourly or to be salaried. These are numerous questions that most employees do not like to divulge to their cohorts. Why, you ask? Maybe they are embarassed to state how little or how much they make? Maybe we psychologically think differently of the person depending on how much money they make. If they make less money we think less of them as a person and if you make lots of money it's vice versa. No matter what the reasons are we can all agree we don't think we make enough for the exception of a few, mainly athletes and celebrities. Do you think advertising the salaries of a company would be beneficial to a company and it's employees? These are interesting questions that can surely be debated for time and time again. Here is a couple of websites that showcase salaries of various companies in the US for free. These are inputted by employees themselves. I wonder if they have a canadian version of this site.

Glassdoor


Salary

Iphone Apps you can use.

I own an iphone and I must admit that I enjoy this phone more than any of the others that I have owned in the past. Previously owning hunky old cellphones or flip phones are nice phones at the time but it is truly the iphone that has revolutionize the way we communicate and interact. It is more advantageous if you own a data plan with your provider. To be able to check multiple emails accounts is just awesome. To surf the Internet from anywhere is also another benefit of this phone. I basically don't have downtime anymore. If I'm waiting in line at a restaurant, I can surf the restaurant's website for a menu. Just a big time saver in my opinion. I haven't even talked about all the applications you can download right from your phone. From different applications such as games and entertainment to even having a GPS navigation application. I look forward to the upgrades that Apple has mentioned with the new 3.0 software release. Until then I have included a link that should keep you happy with Iphone apps for the time being Iphone Apps Enjoy!

13 Mac apps that make your lives easier.

Welcome back to another week here at ClickFlick.ca. I hope you all had a great weekend. This past weekend here in Toronto was a little bit crazy with sunshine mixed with thunderstorms. Go figure! Anyways, I just want to explain a little bit about this blog/site if you are a new viewer. This site is about everything Technology and how it can make our lives easier. There are several ways for you to interact as well. After every blog post you have the opportunity to leave a "Comment". I always like to hear what you have to say. It could be good or bad comments, I take all comments with constructive criticism and use it better to shape my upcoming blogs and ideas. If you are someone that does not like to type in a comment you can also leave a voice record by just entering your email and start voicing your comments which can be heard by others that view this site. The 3rd way you can interact with me is if you follow me on Twitter. My Twitter handle is @clickflickca and I post regularly on the site about anything techonlogy-wise or just things in general. You can follow my Tweets right from my site on the right hand coloumn. I have also added the Ustream LIVE feed. If you scroll all the way to the bottom of this site you will able to see me the odd time broadcast LIVE. So I hope you continue to follow my blog. Here is a link from "SmashingApps" that showcases several Mac Apps that can make your life or workflow easier. I personally like Carbon Clone because it duplicates your computer hard drive in the event your computer fails. This particular program is also free and works similar to Time Machine on the mac. Thanks for visiting and hope to hear from my readers in the near future. For those that have left comments, I appreciate the feedback as I received them directly via email. Here is the link to the apps; SMASHINGAPPS

Freedom Fridays

Winding down to another work week and an exciting warm weekend ahead it's the tradtional Freedom Friday video. Blogging every week can be time consuming at times and it's sometimes easier to just watch a simple video to understand things. This week I've chosen a video on how to properly maintain your computer. We have all gone through that phase in which we need to upgrade our computers. I'm sure some of you are still using really old computers and want to upgrade. I highly suggest you do since prices have dropped with this economy. Let's this blog be one more reason to push you to take action and buy a new one.

As for maintaining a computer, it's so important to properly have a workflow and backup system because you store so much info such as photos and music on the computer. A can of compressed air is probably one of the best cheap purchases for maintaining the life of your computer. Until Monday, take care and enjoy the weekend!

Lifestraw

Lifestraw is an amazing piece of technology that can literally save lives, especially those that live in areas where clean water is not readily available. More than one sixth of the world's population are without access to safe water supply(source: gizmag.com). The Lifestraw has been referred to one of the top 10 things that will change the way we live. In keeping with the Earth theme this week this is extremely important especially for those without clean water. The lifestraw is different in a sense that it has no moving parts. It does not need to be plugged in or have to be charged. It's a device that is basically a filter with two chambers. In a basic explanation without going into too much detail is that the bacteria in the water is filtered with a mesh and also kills bacteria with iodine inside the contraption. This is created when a person sucks water just like a straw into the water.



Lifestraw has drawn some criticism because of the cost to make the units. It has been stated that Lifestraw cost are up to $2-$5 per unit. The makers of this product have decided to make it in China to keep cost as low as possible. Unfortunately the problem with the unit is that the people using the Lifestraw do not live close to clean water. In India it is usually takes 1 to 2 days to get access to water but by the time they get to the water and purify it, it's too late before they are already sickened with diarahea or disease. So accessibility to clean water makes using the Lifestraw difficult especially when most of the water usually has to be carried from long distances to a location. The cost per unit and the time to collect the water is not feasible according to UK's WATERAID With income at $1 per day the cost of the unit being $2-$5 is not cost effective. They are obviously working on solutions and education to help these people and others around the world. To read more info on the Lifestraw check it here at LIFESTRAW

Earth Day and Greentuity

Every April 22, millions of people around the world celebrate Earth Day. Through various events, activities and environmental initiatives participants promote awareness of environmental issues. It seems to be the topic on most minds lately, which is the health of our own Earth. "GREENTuity" is an EarthWeek event which has already started on April 18 and goes through until April 26 to raise money and awareness for the Toronto Green Community. It was started with 6 local volunteers who met through social networking sites such as Twitter.

The name of GREENtuity was a play on word with "gratuity" and in this case, GREENtuity is a tip to the environment. How does the GREENtuity event work? When you go to a particpating locations, you can add a one dollar donation to your bill. All the money raised will go to the Toronto Green Community. Ultimately our goal is to help bring awareness and to help local green initiatives in Toronto. Toronto Green community was chosen because it is a local non-profit grass-roots organization. The money raised will go to future green iniatives. Some examples of their current programs are community gardens and summer camps for kids. Another example is the Apartment Greening Initiative which aims to divert up to 50% of waste in high-rise buildings.

This is the 1st year of this event and hopefully becomes an annual event that can hopefully make a difference even if it's a small change for the better. A small start can lead to bigger things. Just remember that Earth day began with just a few scientists and environmentalists that became increasingly concerned that pesticides and sewage were poisioning our air and water. Now it has become a world wide event that is so important today. The members of Greentuity is smaller in scale but can eventually affect change one step at a time. The group has also taken the initiative through the internet and social networking sites. One way for you to even help out today is to change your avatar on Twitter to " I Support Greentuity" avatar and you have a chance to win a $100 prize. Effectively this will help bring awareness to GREENtuity and their initiatives. If you would like to help the environment from the seat of your computer right now just go to AVATAR and "right click" and download and place into your Twitter photo. This will give you a chance at winning a prize that will be randomly selected on the last day of Earthweek. For more details about GREENtuity and how you can help support check the website at GREENtuity. If you do not live in the Toronto area and would like to support the cause donations can be made on the website.

What is the most important Technology to you?

Have you ever asked yourself that question? What is the most important technology to you? Probably not. Technology is everywhere around us. We can see technology phyiscally or it can also be invisible. The best way to answer this question would also depend on the individual. Everyone uses technology in a different way. I for one like to express my ideas through this blog using a computer or laptop. A driver going to work would say that his vehicle is the most important technology. Depending on how you use technology, the answers will vary. However one important thing that is common with all the technology is that it should make our lives easier in some way. Some will beg to differ but for the most part it' true. My idea of technology is that it allows us to communicate/interact with people more easily. The driver in the vehicle(car) can visit someone across the country. The person on the internet can communicate a message throughout the world wide web. This brings us back to the initial question. What is the most important technology to you? For me, I would have to say that the computer is the most important technology easily followed by the cellphone. These are two of the most basic forms of technology in my opinion.

Social Media and Celebrities.

Twitter has been the talk everywhere lately. It has been mentioned in the newspapers, talk shows but mostly through celebrities.
It seems that celebrities have jumped the bandwagon in using this social site to power influence or change. Oprah Winfrey has been one of the newest tweeps.The most popular celebrity and King of Twitter would be Ashton Kutcher-@aplusk. Ashton has over a million followers which is greater than anyone else at the moment. Twitter gives the celebrities a chance to engage with their fans in a more natural way. It shows they live normal lives like any other human being. It enables celebrities to cut out the middle man. Celebs can control their images in a way that paparazzi cannot control. A classic example is "PDiddy" the hip hop star and multi talented artist. He is frequently on Twitter creating powerful Tweets or messages of motivation. He is also broadcasting live in most cases which give you a glimpse into his lifestyle without no commercials or PR media person controlling his actions. He can express himself in any way. He can swear and use profanities. He can broadcast as long as he wants. He is basically using the medium of the Internet to use his freedom of speech. It also showcases the power of influence. One person on Twitter can affect change which is a very powerful tool. For example earlier this past week, Ashton Kutcher challenged CNN News that he can hit more than 1 million users before CNN. During this contest Ashton actually won and also used the contest as a platform to promote Malaria. He told everyone that if he won he would donate 10,000 Mosquito nets. With this donation other celebs and even CNN matched the offer all to help this worthy cause to eradicate Malaria.
This is another example showing how social media and the internet can affect change for the better and good of the people.
Please read previous post for more details on the KUTCHER vs CNN popularity contest.

Freedom Fridays

Here is a video and link to the "David and Goliath" competition between Ashton Kutcher(the person) vs. CNN (the empire). Ashton Kutcher had made a call out on Twitter by stating that he can reach one million followers before CNN News. This was basically like a popularity contest on the internet. Ashton came out the winner by surpassing 1 million followers around 2am this morning.
With this contest it showcases how one person can have as much or more of the power to influence than CNN the conglomerate.
Throughout the week Ashton has been trying to get followers by using his celebrity status and his celebrity friends such as PDiddy and Britney Spears. CNN chose to use Larry King and frequent updates on the newscast. Ashton also promised to ring the doorbell of Ted Turner(previous owner of CNN) and leave, which is undetermined if he will at this point. Ashton did state that he will donate 10,000 mosquito bed nets to charity if he won which he did. CNN said they would also match the offer. Overall the winner in this popularity contest are the folks at World Malaria Day

Here is link to Ashton's victory video: ASHTON VIDEO

In a footnote to this event, Ashton Kutcher will be on Oprah today to discuss the recent win over CNN News. It should be interesting because Oprah Winfrey has recently opened a Twitter account so it should be interesting to see what the next challenge or competition that will happen online. On a side note, if there is a person to follow on Twitter right now for #followfriday it would be "@nextdaypair". This person will attempt to wear a different pair of sneakers for the whole year starting April 24, 2009 until April 24, 2010. Should be interesting! Thanks again for reading and enjoy the weekend and I'll see you guys back here on Monday!

Keeping up with Technology

There is one thing I'm learning from maintaining a blog on technology. Do you know what it is? But before I get to that answer I want to explain the reason I began this blog. This blog was to compliment my actual website which is still being worked on as of today. Maintaining a day job and part time job and having normal activities outside of work makes it very difficult to manage. It's all about time management. The only problem is their is only 24 hours in a day. Adding sports and volunteer work just adds to more time being required.

The point here is that technology is suppose to make your life easier, but in fact in can make it more frustrating. Technology is everywhere you look. Just take a look around you right now. You are probably at work or at your home office reading this blog.
You have your usb stick, cellphone, laptop/pc, remote control, printer all things technology. The one thing I've learned from maintaining this blog is that you can never keep up to date with Technology. Technology is always in a continuous mode of change. If it's fast now, it will only get even faster. Remember 1.44Mb floppy disk and all that storage space? Now we are 1 Terabyte and beyond. Technology will continue to make our lives easier but will it really help all of us? Automation is costing jobs for most workers. All the technology has to be created; so this has to influence the environment in a negative way. Cars are a perfect example of technology that may have a detrimental impact to the environment. Improvements are being made with more fuel efficient models. So where does this leave us with technology? Let's hope someone has the answer because it's just getting overwhelming to keep up with technology when it's always changing. I feel like a dog trying to chase it's own tail, it's neverending.

PINK SLIP PARTIES

Recession is the key word this past year and we are all affected by this economic slowdown. The fall of the economy has given rise to the popularity of Pink Slip parties. These Pink Slip parties are basically an event in which culminates with a majority of people who have been recently laid off or are looking for jobs. These parties usually have recruiters or just the odd person who happens to be at the bar the night the event is happening. These are great opportunities for networking, to re-establish some leads for possible job openings and to exchange business cards. These events can also be targeted for specific industries such as banking, design or medical. Here is a clip of an example of a party in New York. Visit the site at PINK SLIP

Police use Twitter

Twitter has been around for approximately 3 years now but it has only hit mainstream in the past year. It use to be a small group of tech savvy users and now has blossomed to millions of new users. Companies have jumped the bandwagon realizing the potential to interact with customers in a more personal and quick responsive way. It was only a matter of time but even the police are now using Twitter. Milwaukee police wanted to get word of a shooting out quickly, they did it in 113 characters on Twitter.

Milwaukee's department is one of a growing number of police agencies using social networks to relay important information the public might want to know. The only problem with this type of engagement is that false information can be mentioned in a tweet.
Anyone can also go on Twitter and claim they are the cops. Credibility can still be an issue with using social media this way. In Toronto, the police department has utilized youtube to post reenactments or descriptions of criminals which can reach a vast audience that goes past border and boundaries. The FBI is also now on Twitter too. They are using it more to dispel the way they are portrayed on television. It is being used more as an educational way to represent the FBI and to report sucessful operations. The FBI twitter handle is @FBIPressOffice.

One way I see Twitter being helpful is in the use of traffic control. Numerous news agencies will now tweet that there is an accident in a particular area which helps drivers manoeuvre their routes. The police have also used this to relay traffic delays especially when there are major events in a city. This replaces or substitutes the regular fax of traffic warnings from police to local business because Twitter is more instant. In a recent local news story, a girl went missing but their was no "Amber Alert" mentioned by police in which timing is in the essence for this type of crime; instead word got out through Twitter quicker than some news desk were able to report to general public.

Overall, Twitter can be used as an additional tool for the Police and other public agencies to engage with there constituents and residents. Only time can tell how the future use of social media will be used in solving criminal activities and reporting.

Stalkdaily.com worm

I hope you all enjoyed your chocolate eggs over the long weekend. Over this past weekend some other interesting happenings occurred on the Internet. A site called http://www.stalkdaily.com which looked and had the feel of a Twitter-style site created havoc amongst many users. StalkDaily was a site that stated you would also be able to incorporate adding video and photos to your tweets. So you can imagine the popularity of this website. This site basically had the same look and feel as Twitter but offered more.

Unfortunately as soon as you sign-up at this site, you are spreading a worm.
So if you signed up at StalkDaily.com and then visit a users profile on Twitter you were infected. It would automatically tweet "Dude, www.stalkdaily.com is awesome.What's the fuss?". This was created all by a 17 year old by the name of Mikey Mooney. Mike codes in XSS which is the programming language used in this apps. Mike later admitted to spreading this worm. He reason being was that he was bored and he enjoyed looking for vulnerabilities within websites. It's interesting to see how one 17 year old can affect and entire nation of "Tweeters". The worm has been rectified and patched by the Twitter folks and you can now use Twitter safely again. At least for now before the next computer hacker creates something new to amuse us all. I'm pretty sure this 17 year old kid will have a nice job after all the dust settles. If you want more info on this virus/worm just do a search on #stalkdaily on Twitter.

Freedom Fridays

I hope you have great long weekend. It's always good to take a break from the computer and enjoy the finer things in life.LOL
So here's just a little funny video to start your weekend. This video just pokes fun about Twitter. Here is also a link that tells you if you are a Twitter addict.Are you hooked on Twitter?

Websites and Links.

The upcoming Easter weekend means a long weekend of rest for most people. This is a good time to catch up on some reading or browse some interesting things on the internet. So today's blog post is more about links that may inspire or get your creative juices going. Hope you enjoy these links:




RedFlagDeals

NYTimes

DDOI

PreQuel

StanleyTang

Photoshop Disasters

Layers




These are just a few of the links that I enjoy viewing at this time. I will post my DELICIOUS bookmarks with more detailed links in the future. If you have a link you would like to share, just post a comment or if you already started your long weekend and are too lazy to type a comment you can just post a voice message on the right sidebar and leave your comments or links you like to visit. Speak your mind and if you want to rant something off, feel free. No sign up required, just your email is needed. Enjoy browsing the links above and see you tomorrow.

Seesmic Desktop

If you frequently use Facebook and Twitter you may find yourself toggling between both applications frequently on your desktop.
Fortunately a new application SEESMIC can help DE-clutter your desktop. If you have used "TweetDeck" this program is very similar and can do much more. The first thing you will notice is that the interface is more "Twitter-like" than the interface of Tweetdeck. Seesmic will allow you to update your Facebook and Twitter status. You can create particular groups of people and also track particular hashtag items for specific searches. All of this activity is now conveniently all on one window. The cool thing I like about this application is that you can maintain multiple accounts.
This application is still in Beta but can be downloaded for free at their site mentioned above. Here is a short clip and explanation of the new Seesmic Desktop.

Technology for the road.

Most of our lives is spent travelling. Think about this for a second. We travel everyday from home to work or school. The most important technology created besides the computer can be also said of the car. Without the car people would not be able to travel far distances. Back in the days it was the horse and carriage. In today's society the car is the backbone to most countries economic development. Lately in the news, it's all about how car companies require a bailout during this recession.

Today, I want to talk about several more positive aspects of cars and technology. The first one is a company called "Proxpro.com", they offer very detailed routing that is better than most GPS systems. The system is called "Prompt" which is used with Blackberry phones. If you have a planned meeting at a location it will map out the best route but also give you an estimated time of reaching your destination. It will also notify you if there is upcoming construction or accidents on your route.

Link: Prompt


Another similar type of software is called "Traffic". Download the software at the site and use it with your phone and you can receive email alerts, text messages or a phone call telling you when there's a traffic jam coming on your route. If you know your route in advance it can give you notice of any delays prior to your trip.

Link: Traffic


If you are a person that is always "on the go" then this could make your life easier. It is called "Ilane". It enables you to listen to your emails while driving. A computer voice will read your emails out and you can respond back with short often used phrases which would be translated back to an actual typed email. All of this interacts via bluetooth and works through voice commands.
Here is a quick video and explanation of the technology:

Link: iLane




One final technology to make your driving experience more pleasant is the ability to control and start your car from an Ipod Touch/Iphone. This following technology may not be as simple as donwloading software as the previous three ideas. This technology takes a little more tinkering. This is just exciting to know it exist as it is just watching this video. See for yourself here:
GPS
Link: GEEKmyRIDE