bad banana blog

Twitter Explained

I know a lot of people just don't get Twitter. If that includes you, perhaps this Commoncraft video will help explain what Twitter is and why it appeals to some of us. Personally, I value Twitter for a variety of reasons, some of which are explained in the video. But here's a professional reason. Oftentimes, when I'm percolating on an idea or two, I'll jump into my Twitter stream and just see what happens. While my subconscious continues to chug along, I scan various tweets, click through to links, see what other people are doing and thinking about, and then WHAM! A word, a phrase, a thought spins my brain into a totally new direction. Over the past year, I can think of quite a few ideas directly generated or made better through this use of Twitter. I'm talking client work, not just creative play. As a person who must create on deadline, one of my jobs is to keep my radar up for any source of inspiration. Right now, Twitter is one of my favorite tools for doing so.
    Of course, if you're going to take from Twitter, you better be prepared to add something. I find that aspect of Twitter creatively stimulating, as well. Already on Twitter? Please feel free to add me.

Video via Greg Verdino.

Facebooked

This past week, Facebook began allowing brands to create their own pages. (Previously, you had to be a real live human being to have a Facebook page.) So if you just happen to be a real, live human being on Facebook, here's your chance to show the world that you're a fan of Pepsi or Starbucks or, dare I say, even this humble blog. In the case of Pepsi or Starbucks, you'll be providing Facebook with marketing information that will be used to sell you even more Pepsi soda or Starbucks coffee. In the case of this blog, however, there is nothing to sell and no money to be made for Facebook (or anyone else, for that matter). So signing up as a fan is not only a symbolic show of support for this blog, it could even be construed as sticking it to those money-hungry, privacy invading Facebook folks. Right?

Talk About Viral

At last, science has developed a way to graphically show you how much sex you missed out on in high school.
    The above map, published in Discover, was created by researchers at the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy at Columbia University. It represents eighteen months of hookups at a typical high school.
    Yeah, I'm not entirely sure what the visual means exactly. I assume the blue dots are football players and the pink dots are cheerleaders. And that giant white empty spot in the middle are high school kids who blog.
    Here's why I think this is interesting.
    The world is a lot more connected than most people realize. The researchers in this project were surprised to discover that more than a quarter of the school's students were sexually connected to each other. The online world, while much larger, is no doubt surprisingly connected in a similar, although slightly less stimulating, manner. If you created a map of social media, the lines would represent online conversations. The dots would represent bloggers, consumers, and businesses smart enough to join the fray.
    Ironically, the white space in the middle would represent the people too busy to go online because they're having so much sex.

An Open Source Short Story?

Editing film not your thing? Then collaborate with others to write a short story on Ficlets. Write your own little story, then let others add new beginnings and endings. Or add your own twist to someone else's story. Should make for a lot of semi-sensical plot twists and unnecessarily abrupt turns. Hey, maybe this is how Lost is being written.

An Open Source Film?

Open source is the future, I guess. Even in the world of advertising and entertainment. Someday soon, Coke will provide us with raw footage and ask us to cut our own commercials for them. Maybe the next Friday the 13th movie will be made by fans from parts of other Friday the 13th movies. It might be pretty good, too (or just as bad, depending on how you look at it).
    So get your editing skills in shape by participating in Stray Cinema's open source film project. Download the raw film footage. Craft your own narrative. Then edit to your heart's content (links to free editing software can be found on the site). You upload a two-minute sample of your film, people vote on their favorites, and in true open source fashion, the best ideas win. Three winners will get to edit their complete film and present it at a London screening.
    You have until June 21 to submit your film sample.
    When it comes to creativity, limits can be very liberating. Check out the films already submitted. It's amazing how many different ideas can come from the same pool of footage.

Via Thoughtspurs.

Kids Love the Twitter

I must say, I'm strangely addicted to Twitter. Check it out for yourself. It's so simple it really stands out in the world of social media. Feel free to compare your life to mine. It will make you feel really good about yourself.