JENi ON THE RUN

Question to Google: If Wonder is Gone, What's Left to Discover?

2012-01-12T20:53:00.000-08:00

Steve Fett, a pretty famous architecture friend of mine, recently told me that Google has forever removed the ability to wonder from our human experience. I laughed then but now I have had time to reflect. A part of me is saddened by the revelation that our daughters and their daughters will no longer be able to marvel at the wonder of it all; that instead, they will simply "Google It," and move on.

But then another part of me, the part I like to call "Pollyanna," decided that just because Google banished the art of wonder from our boring little lives, it also makes life ~~better~~ more convenient through modern technology. These real truths cannot be ignored but instead need to be embraced in order to put some real wondering back into our daily lives. Which made me wonder, "If wonder is gone, what's left to discover?"

Wanelo.

This quirky site lets you wonder in a very visually organized fashion. Check it out. Discover a unique product or store that you've never heard of and dive right in. Some of the site functionality may seem rudimentary, but content is king in this court and the flavor is pretty yummy and fresh.

Pinterest.

Growing in popularity, you may have already heard of Pinterest. Maybe it was because you always wondered how to make homemade ding dongs. Maybe not. Either way, this is probably the most robustly built out experience when it comes to the new mode of discovery and wonder in the digital age.

Svpply.

Lets you find the products you love from the brands you find interesting. Also finding products you want through people you like. Hmmmm. An interesting take on some heavy marketing data initiatives packaged like tiny store modules; all based on a users social graph. Also interesting to note that consumer rating options include Buy, Want and I Own This; similar to the verb announcement from Facebook last September.

FFFFOUND!

A bookmarking site that serves to inspire and connect and possibly save the world with design, this offers the most adult-rated content of all the discovery sites I've listed out today. Things could change tomorrow, but that's okay. I like FFFFOUND! for the funky fresh content and its quick set up from one tumblr account to publish.

This is just a start, I hope, of a journey back into the ability to wonder and delight. Thanks to all things social -- both digital and REALLY, REALLY social of the social nature (you get my point) we may be able to claw ourselves to a place where we can see all the proper marketing messages from businesses and brands yet also retain a sense of autonomy and choice in the whole choreographed process of wondering about something and stumbling upon something sublime. Google didn't derail us entirely and I don't think Google removed our ability to wonder. I just think it elevated the challenge for all parties involved. That's a good thing, me thinks, and I look forward to wondering what will happen next.

Do I Have A Treat For YOU

2011-12-13T09:52:00.000-08:00

Yeah...you. You heart bacon. What's left to discuss? Everyone knows my thoughts on pork belly and the such. Enter the "Bacon Smack." Discuss.

New Beginnings

2011-11-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

New beginnings are a normal part of anything. Fact is, we start dying the day we are born. Quite literally, life is nothing more than the search for new beginnings. Over and over again.

Which is the reason why I am so intrigued by this Craig's Lister. Here is a dude who posts a call for a "Holiday Girlfriend." That's it. A girlfriend for the holidays. Nothing more and certainly nothing less. Sharing in the festivities, dressing up, stuffing yourself with dressing and all the other crap in between. Kinda cute but moreso interesting from a social perspective. Is the ~~dating~~ world ready for so much honesty? I wonder.

A Dear John Letter to Jordan Bastean, Our Traveling Soldier

2011-10-25T22:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Jordan,

I'm so sorry to inform you that it is over. I'm so sorry to tell you that you will never grow up to become the great man you were meant to be. You will not be able to give your mom grandbabies and you will not be able to show up your dad when it comes to beating his best time in the Chicago Marathon.Your life has been cut short and that's a fact.

But I want to tell you how proud we are of you. Like everyone else, I want to hug you one last time and let that crooked smile burn a permanent memory into my mind's eye. If only I had known the last time I saw you was going to be the last time I saw you alive. I know this is the most unfortunate news because you had so many plans, so many goals and so much to accomplish in this shitty world. The funny thing is, you were so damn positive that no one wanted to stand in your way. We couldn't bear to tell you to be more careful and we didn't dare to try and dissuade you from joining the military even during a time of such global unrest. We knew from the time that you were little that you were made for greatness and we knew better than to question your pure intentions to make life better for those who needed it most.

Please know that we all take solace in that; the fact that you were so technically prepared as an expert marksman and soldier and you were so humble and caring at the same time. You were meant to be the person you were way before you made the decision to go into the Marines and now we must all tell ourselves that you are in a good place. A better place.

I'm not going to lie. Telling ourselves that you are in a better place is a rather bitter pill to swallow. We are still in shock and may be for some time. Forgive us if we convince ourselves that you are merely off traveling as part of your tour of duty instead of grappling with the reality that you are gone. You were way too young to die and way too good for us to let go. Our collective hearts break for your mom and your dad; both who lived lives dedicated to their only son. I don't mean to layer on the pressure, but you were the apple of their eyes, you were the sun in their solar systems. With your departure, it's like the plug has been pulled and they are struggling for air. I can say that because I happen to love your dad like a brother. And I won't let myself think about what it feels like to be a parent of a fallen soldier. I'm tough, but I'm no Marine. It's something I'm not prepared to face. What I am prepared to do is stand by your mom and your dad and be as strong as they need for as long as they need. You will be my muse, dear Jordan, and I will ask that you guide us down this road of healing as only you can. I will ask that you allow us to quickly get to a place where we can remember your stellar qualities more than we focus on the extraordinary life that was so tragically cut short.

So I send you this note, dear Jordan, because we love you and miss you dearly. I send you this note because you need to know that we will look out for each other during this terrible time and we will remember your goofy ways, your honest eyes, your genuine and strong handshake and your soul that will forever inspire us to do better, to look for the good in people and to fight for the right to live a fair and honest life as you had for the tender 19 years that your presence graced this planet.

Rest in peace, J.

We love you.

Sincerely,

Your family and all others who will forever wait for their traveling soldier to come back home again

Steve Jobs Delighted the World Through Discovery

2011-10-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

It was Jobs' job, indeed, to thine own self be true. But what about the customer? Steve wanted that job too and he certainly did a helluva job. Mr. Jobs’s own research and intuition, not focus groups, were his guide, said a recent NYT article. When asked what market research went into the iPad, Mr. Jobs replied: “None. It’s not the consumers’ job to know what they want.”

Which is somewhat funny, considering he created products that people tend to hold more dear than most personal relationship. Ask anyone who claims to be an Apple advocate; would you rather lose your [iPhone, Mac, iPad, etc] for a day or not talk to your [mom, dog, child, etc.] and a fair percentage would opt to stay connected to a Jobs' labor of love over their own.

The New York Times article that details the life and times of Steve Jobs may be considered an official obituary, but it's way more than that. It's a tribute to the very idea of innovation and connectivity that is such a critical component to overall human growth. It has a link to Steve Jobs' patents. It has a section for reader submissions to invite people to contribute their thoughts on how he touched their life. It offers page after page of fine detail of a life well lived. A baby born out of adoption, a child with electronic genius, a Cupertino high school dude and his Wozniak best friend and all the adventures that became so worldly known; a date with Joan Baez, a crush on Bob Dylan perhaps (who could blame him for that?!?!) a birthday party with Ella Fitzgerald, a personal corporate jet, a little LSD here and a little that there, a handful of children to adore and a few decent patents.

It's inspiring, this curtailed life. Makes you think that there should be more and at the same time, reminds us to smile about the fact that it happened at all.

Not at all an exaggeration, Steve Jobs quipped more than once that Mark Twain was inevitably correct in his 1897 New York Times article detailing an illness and an exaggerated death. This time around, Jobs' own New York Times obituary ends with,

If he had a motto, it may have come from “The Whole Earth Catalog,” which he said had deeply influenced him as a young man. The book, he said in his commencement address at Stanford in 2005, ends with the admonition “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.”

“I have always wished that for myself,” he said.

Discovery vs Search. Need Your Opinion.

2011-09-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

I'm a little bit obsessed with this idea of discovery versus search. In technology and in life, it's so much more delightful to discover something than to search out exactly what we were looking for. Why? Because we are pesky human beings. We come with these wonderful, evil things called emotions. These terrible brilliant emotions drive us to do and say strange and perfect things.

In the world of technology, this is a happenstance that can and should and will and is being exploited. Did I say the word exploit? Ooops. What I meant was, technology is starting to understand the human need to search and discover better in order to make our online, digital and social experiences more fulfilling. Why? Because so much of what we do is digital, social and online. Why not make it delightful instead of just another task to accomplish or another box to check off.

Without giving away too much of my own opinion, tell me what you think. Do you prefer to stumble upon something and then be the first to share it to everyone who will listen or do you prefer to find exactly what you set out looking for and don't want to try something new when you already know what works?

I Don't Think So

2011-08-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

In my entire professional career, this is the best email that I have ever opened.

And it's not even an email. It's an auto-response.

My response? Damn. I need more people with personality in my life. I don't need drama and I don't want more conflict. I want creativity, innovation, passion and love. I will take all the challenges that come with those requirements and I will call them opportunity. Opportunity to create, innovate, be passionate about and fall in love with. Is that too much to ask for from corporate America?

I don't think so.

A recipe and I don't even cook

2011-08-22T23:09:00.000-07:00

A recipe for turkey burgers and fancy toppings. All for you. From me. Enjoy.

Today my company had a little meeting to talk about recent job cuts and expected growth plans and the bad economy and brand awareness and all that jazz.

They also sent us a recipe from a certain trashy-talking bad-ass culinary expert of sorts. He's got his own show, but now I've got his recipe for little turkey burgers. I'm just saying.

TURKEY & PORCINI SLIDERS WITH CRANBERRY & GOAT CHEESE

Makes 8 sliders

INGREDIENTS

16 oz ground turkey meat, preferably dark meat
.5 oz dried porcini mushrooms, rehydrated in white wine or water
1-2 Tbsp cooking oil, preferably canola or grapeseed
1 large shallot, small dice
2 cloves garlic, finely diced
1 ½ Tbsp fresh sage leaves, about 10-15 finely chopped leaves
1 tsp sweet paprika
2 Tbsp olive oil
½ tsp fine sea salt
fresh cracked pepper, to taste

To finish:
8 mini-burger buns, brioche or seeded
8 small leaves of butter leaf lettuce
Crumbled goat cheese
Prepared Cranberry sauce
Whole Grain Mustard (optional)
Mayonnaise (optional)

METHOD

Soak porcini mushrooms in room temperature white wine or warm water until tender, about 20 minutes. Remove mushrooms, squeeze out excess moisture and chop into small bits.

Preheat a small frying pan over medium low heat. Add cooking oil to heat through. Sauté shallots until tender and translucent. Add chopped up porcini mushrooms and sauté about 3 minutes. Add garlic, sage & paprika and sauté about one minute more. In a medium mixing bowl, combine mushroom mixture with turkey meat. Season with salt and pepper and moisten with the olive oil. Continue to stir until well combined.

Divide slider mixture into 8 even portions, form a small ball and press into a pattie. Lay slider patties evenly apart in sauté pan or grill and cook for 4-5 minutes with a touch of olive oil. Open buns and lightly toast in the oven or under a broiler.

To finish: if desired, spread the bottom buns with small dollops of mustard and/or mayonnaise. Lay a lettuce leaf on the bottom slices. Place warm sliders over lettuce and top with about a teaspoon of cranberry sauce and sprinkle with about a tablespoon of crumbled goat cheese. Lay top bun over & serve.

Too Busy to Ever Really Get Anything Done

2011-07-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

There are 5 stages of grief. Eight stages of listening. 12 steps in a recovery process.

There are 1,860 steps to the top of the Empire State Building.

There are over 5,100 stone steps in the Great Wall Marathon that takes place every year.

Australia's Highway 1 is the longest national roadway spanning over 12,000 miles.
Across the globe, there are varying levels of complication and political tyranny; including our own levels of government.

There are multiple stages of declaring bankruptcy and layers upon layers of documentation for adoption, divorce, marriage, birth, death and imprisonment.

Yet research shows that one of the most physically fit groups in American culture is that of the Amish. According to a study, these stress-free folk cover an average of 18,000 steps a day. Something like averaging 6 hours of hardcore heavy physical exertion a week, 35+ hours of moderate activity and 6 miles of walking. No cell phones, computers, televisions, iPods, treadmills, microwaves, curling irons, Tomtoms, Blackberrys...

How is it that we have so much and yet we end up with so little? I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

Chumlee or Sylvie?

2011-05-31T21:11:00.000-07:00

No, really, vote for Sylvie. Who cares about upcoming political campaigns, anyway? So much muckraking, so little fun. And if you can't vote for something as precious as Sylvie or as entertaining as Chumlee, why bother showing up on election day?

Here is something fun to vote for: Jones Soda Sylvie.

Cupcakes for the Amish!

2011-05-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

I posted the following blog entry -- Too Busy to Ever Really Get Anything Done -- back in Dec 2009 originally. Funny thing is, it's still all true. Maybe even moreso with all the advances in handheld devices, geo-targeted marketing strategies and instant messages. We are crippled with the inability to create long-term goals because we are so busy dealing with short-term, reactionary issues that quite literally pop up repeatedly over the course of a normal business day. It's like microwave popcorn only not quite as tasty.

Which altogether makes me entirely too exhausted. And also leaves me for want of a simple afternoon filled with simple pleasures commonly disguised as inconveniences. Do you agree? Here's the article...

# # #

There are 5 stages of grief. Eight stages of listening. 12 steps in a recovery process.
There are 1,860 steps to the top of the Empire State Building.
There are over 5,100 stone steps in the Great Wall Marathon that takes place every year.
Australia's Highway 1 is the longest national roadway spanning over 12,000 miles.
Across the globe, there are varying levels of complication and political tyranny; including our own levels of government.

Cupcakes and Cocktails in Chicago

2011-05-18T05:38:00.000-07:00

So it's official. Cupcakes and cocktails should be a national holiday.

Don't believe me? Hop onto Twitter and just ask @heartbreakcuppy. It's a site dedicated to aiding the achy breaky hearted through devine sugary delight. Also see @cupcakeblog and @cupcakes for more cupcakery. And @sugarbabys in Houston, @myretrocupcakes for 50's inspired cakes and @simplycupcakes in Naples, too. @sascupcakes in N.C. ships to your door and @britishcupcakes sell cakes out of the U.K.

Or pop into any of the fine cupcakery establishments in the Chicago area. There is Swirlz cupcakes, with the fine tagline of "Cupcakes make people happy!" Who among us can disagree with that?

Then there is the Bleeding Heart bakery; offering up totally yummy local, sustainable punk rock pastry; minus tha bacon, of course.

Convinced? Vote for Cupcakes and Cocktails to make it official. After all, it should be a national holiday.

Cupcakes and Cocktails

2011-05-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

Cupcakes and cocktails. These are two things we need more of in this world. They are easily the answer to all the world's problems and frustrations. It's really that simple. Is there anything that a cupcake and a cocktail can't remedy? I don't think so.

That's why we are coining Friday, May 27 as the day of "Cupcakes and Cocktails."

If you find yourself in the central Illinois area, you are invited to drop in and join us for one; for a cupcake or a cocktail, or both.

If you can't join us, please celebrate on your own! Gather your friends and raise your glass in a toast while grabbing your nearest caked cup -- we deserve it!

If you agree with me, cast your vote here!

Facebook: What's Love Got to Do With It?

2011-05-09T13:15:00.000-07:00

I like perfume. I like gummy bears and diet soda. I also like running, beaches, books, painting and fashion. And with each of my likes, there are preferred brands that I can easily attach. Philosophy's Falling in Love smells pretty decent. Haribo bears and alphabet gummy letters rock. Diet Dr. Pepper is delicious. Asics and Adidas both have shoes that have helped me cross a marathon finish line or two.

So what's wrong with "Liking" a brand on Facebook? Nothing, if you are like me and like a brand because, well, you really like a brand in the first place. The problem with "liking" any old brand for any old reason or for a specific reason in particular (say, in order to enter a contest or because you want to get a certain exclusive coupon) is that you are not really "liking" the brand. You are instead "liking" a behavior. So, in reality, you like coupons, not brands. Which means that you will likely never have a real relationship with a brand.

And why is that a problem? Because brands don't spend millions of dollars a year so that you can scratch your "coupon" need, but to gain your participation in a give and take consumer-brand relationship; they give you products you want and you give them your money. At the end of the day, it's about making a connection between your ad dollars and the register receipts. Which means that there needs to be a relationship between a person and a brand.

"Half the money I spent on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half," is not only a classic statement describing the state of advertising, but also totally true when applied to the digital sense (or cents). Credited to both John Wanamaker (1838-1922) and Lord Leverhulme (1851-1925) this famous quote rings true no matter how you apply the formula.

More recently I attended a panel discussion that featured mommy bloggers; giving them a voice to describe their patterns of behaviors and desires from brands when it comes to Facebook marketing, gaming and Twitter content. Seems they enjoy Facebook "liking" so much that -- according to the panel at least -- they often hit the cap of Facebook "Likes," meaning that for every new brand they like, they have to unlike one in order to make it happen. Hmmmmm. With a cap of 3,000 likes per consumer page, that means at any one time, a mommy panelist has 3,000 new status updates a day (if all pages post a new status every day.) At a minimum. I don't know about you, but I can't possibly "like" 3,000 things at any one time.

Which tells me that "Liking" a brand should not be a goal for Facebook marketing spend.

For more on this topic, please read B.L. Ochman's recent article, "Disturbing Trend: Big Brands Pimping Facebook Likes."

Don't get me started on how Facebook is now paying users to view ads. Just read about it hear and keep the comments to yourself. Ugh.

2011-04-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

What's the best advice you ever got? Was it from an extraordinary person with an extra ordinary life? Or was it from the place where normal people gain inspiration?

Lyrics.

That's what I'm talking about.

Not that there is anything wrong with it, but really. A book about extra ordinary people. From Katie Couric. Yawn. Maybe. Katie. You have lived an extra ordinary life, yourself. But most people die before getting the chance to meet Malcolm Gladwell, Meryl Streep or Kermit the Frog. Let alone greet.

So, instead of meeting and greeting and reading up all the wonderful details of life well lived by someone else living welll, instead let's focus on the real meat. And not bacon, this time either. (Even though God herself knows how much I friggin' heart bacon.) Lyrics. What lyrics have inspired you? Stayed in your head? Pop up often and random and somehow mean something.

Don't Worry. Be Happy.

2011-04-14T11:44:00.000-07:00

What Makes a Video Go Viral?

2011-04-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

What does A Hunter Shooting a Bear have to do with a pothead watching a rainbow have to do with a combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell have to do with anything that has to do with Lady Gaga?
They all possess the same thing that Charlie Sheen offers.

A break from our lonely, pathetic, boring lives. A break, that likely will result in us not thinking our lives are so pathetic, lonely and boring, after all.

Or, in another sense, they are all viral videos.

Check em out.

Taken directly from the last video, "What does this mean?"

Well, it could mean a few things, really.

1. We are easily entertained. As a group.
2. We are stupid. As a group. (Hum that to the tune of Mary Poppin's "Sister Suffrage.")
3. We are bored.
4. We are tired of being bored, stupid and merely entertained. We want more.

Wonder what this means for YouTube Live?

Bacn' and other Unnecessary Objects

2011-04-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

I avoid bacon at all costs. Just read my Twitter bio. It's who I ham. Please don't judge me and I'll try not to do the same to you. Unless you are Charlie Sheen. Then I will likely -- like the rest of the free world and even the majority of the shackled and confined inmates around the world -- freely judge and quickly come to the same conculsion. That you are unnecessary, Mr. Sheen. In all senses of the word. Totally unnecessary.

Alot like bacn'. And bacon (again...just MY opinion.) Know this much is true; if backed into a corner I would more likely devour a pound of bacon instead of backing into Charlie. I'm just saying.

I also said this about bacon when talking about how buyers' need to be aware.

I posted this tribute to the natal day of April last year; a bacon pr tribute of sorts.

And here is 16 lessons on social media (or 16 reasons why your social media isn't working) and a side of bacon. A classic, really.

But these are all things I've already said.

What I haven't dished about and what I am interested in tasting and that is a little more on the subject of bacn'. That's right. No "O," folks. Just B-A-C-N.

And I'm singing this tune because Google recently sent me a little diddy about some of the work they are doing in their gmail ad platform. If it's possible, Google is claiming that they are on their way of becoming evern more smarter. Check it out for yourself.

And remember, "You've got a friend in meat."

Job of the Day

2011-04-04T20:58:00.000-07:00

I can't decide. What is worse.

Swimming with whales or being a lame duck?

Sea World vs. Aflac.

You decide.

In other news, I can't decide the real value of this offer for snow shoes. Am I intrigued because it's essentially half off or because it's authentic and comes with a certificate to prove it? Or rather, because we are on the cusp of spring and you know how the saying goes.

The grass is always greener on the other side. Especially if you remove those big ass snow shoes that keep mucking up the grounds you tread upon.

Are we Engaged yet?

2011-04-01T12:20:00.000-07:00

Everybody is so pushy these days. Selling, telling, wheeling and dealing, deals, contests, sweeps, lotteries and more. "NOW. NOW. DO IT. DO IT NOW," screamed Dwight as he berated poor Andy into selling his Xterra. And you know what? I'm starting to feel the pressure.

First we were just (Facebook) friends. Then I had to be a fan. Then I had to tell the world I "Liked" you. Then you went around telling other people we were friends. Then you started following me on Twitter. Then apps came out that allowed people to see who I followed and where they existed and what they were doing and where they were located. I don't know about you, but sometimes I start to feel smoothered. Other times I am totally creeped out.

Now, it seems, Google wants us to tell the world we are each other's "Plus One." Very much in style with Carrie Bradshaw and all that I adore about "Sex and the City," I'm just not sure I want the world to know how connected I am. To anyone.

Maybe I'm not ready to be fully Engaged yet.
Does that mean that Plus One really is the loneliest number, after all?

Photo of the Day

2011-03-31T11:53:00.000-07:00

We bought these low-rider diapers at Baby Victoria's Secret. Almost purchased the baby diaper thong, butt resisted.

Being Authentic in Twitter and in Life

2011-03-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

I've had this conversation before. I've compared social media to the local meat market bar scene. You know the place. The bar where you go to meet new people and potentially land a date. In the case of social media, it's places like Facebook, FourSquare, Twitter and more.

For this topic, I'll focus on Twitter. Seems appropriate because comparatively speaking, you have about 140 characters to sell your story in both the Twitter channel and the bar scene. Think about it. It's true.

Walk into a bar. Hoist yourself up on a stool and scream out the following, "Who is going home with me tonite?"
And likely, you will go home with a consenting adult after the evening plays out. Maybe not at that bar, maybe not without paying, but the fact is, there is an increased chance of you going home just because you so obviously threw your hat in the ring. With social media, same thing. By engaging in the very least, you are participating. By participating, you have a place at the table.

Woody Allen once said that 90% of life is just showing up.

I believe in that methodology. But I also believe it can get a hell of a lot better if you 1. are authentic and 2. have a plan.

Take Twitter (because it's easier to give social media advice than dating advice at this point) for example. How can you tell if a person is authentic on Twitter? How can you trust a brand? What does it take for you to not only follow people or brands, but also look forward to reading what they post? What does it take for you to ruin your Twitter reputation?

Here are a few things I have noticed are signs that you may be dealing with a good guy, afterall.

1. They post relevant, original content at least twice a day for 5 out of the 7 days.
2. They post original content roughly 50% of the time. The other 50% of the time, they reTweet.
3. When they reTweet, they reTweet relevant content.
4. They follow relevant people.

Let's take a closer look and break this shit down. (Now we are going to talk about dating.)

1. They post relevant, original content at least twice a day for 5 out of 7 days. Which is another way of saying that they can carry on a conversation about interesting topics without being a douche. Furthermore, they can carry on interesting conversations without spouting one factoid or one celebrity quote after another. They actively engage in conversations that tell you a little about themselves and their passions, lifestyle, ambitions, insecurities, dreams and character. Imagine that. Meeting someone who is willing to show you a tiny piece of them in hopes you will want to see more. At a bar. From a brand. Good luck.

2. They post original content roughly 50% of the time. The other 50% of the time, they reTweet. Don't get me wrong. I love the facts. I love good quotes. I love meeting people who are hooked into the trending topics and know more about Snooki or Rachel Zoe than I do. And I really love learning new things from other people. So what I am saying here is exactly the same thing Dr. Oz would likely prescribe; that a healthy balance is good.

3. When they reTweet, they reTweet relevant content. Again, it's important to note the the assumption that they are engaging regularly and robustly is a given. Otherwise, why show up at the party at all? (In social media, these are called lurkers. In real life, these are called stalkers.) So when they do throw in some non-original content in the conversation, it should really be relevant. In Twitter and in life, it's odd when people throw in randoms all the time. Every once in a while, it's awesome. But if you are that guy that continually whizzes a good tumbling group conversation to a halt because you are throwing in tidbits of non-value just to hear yourself talk, it's time to re-evaluate your content strategy. Errr, your method for winning the ladies. Ladies, it seems, do not like to be creeped out.

4. They follow relevant people. This one I can't stress enough. I really expect big things from this area of content curation in the near future. As people really start to appreciate Twitter as a place to get engaged (figuratively and literally) my prediction is that they will start to really examine the Twitter environment and everything that makes a person or a brand "Follow-worthy." What I mean here is that we all need to take a closer look at the details. Who do you follow? Why? Is there a strategy to where you get your info, who you follow, who you hook your name up to? Do you have specific lists of people you follow so you can organize your info consumption in an efficient manner or do you lump everyone into one category just for the sake of showing the world that you are indeed, "Follow-worthy?" We all want to be loved and adored, but Twitter is not the place to win a popularity poll. These are important questions to ask yourself and anyone you are interested in welcoming into your world because what we are really talking about here is intentions. If your intention is to play the field and collect names and numbers for your little black book (or blog) then likely you will collect followers (or phone numbers) like Pez (or bottlecaps). But if you are farther along in the maturation process, perhaps you will employ a strategy to how you meet and greet and perhaps even you will be more choosy when it comes to bringing someone special home to meet mom.

Why Dating is Way Too Fulfilling

2011-03-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

Why dating is way too fulfilling is a lot like going to a buffet restaurant in Vegas when you are famished. Any way you slice it, the pie is set to disappoint.

Now, of course, I stop altogether at attributing this theory to something more than dating -- whatever that is -- so for now, let's suffice it to say that dating...is like...a buffet...in Vegas.

Smoke and mirrors, baby, smoke and mirrors. I can say that because I've been to Las Vegas quite a few times. And I've um...never...um..eaten at the buffet. Still, trust me when I say it. Dating sucks. So do buffets in Vegas.

Here is how I know; I have a friend (all good stories start with that doozie, don't they) who fell in love with the Tuesday night meatloaf. Problem was the meatloaf only appears on Tuesday night. So every other night she fuses over room temperature creamed corn, somehow-fried-yet-dry-and-limp chicken on the bone and mac and cheese without the pubic hair, please. And some Tuesday's meatloaf doesn't get served and instead my friend is left forging for her stainless steel squared dinner in full dismay. Add to that the fact that she fell in love with this meatloaf at approximately 2 a.m. after a perfect day in the sun, winnings in her pocket and 4 gin and tonics in her belly, and the picture slowly starts to become clear. The meatloaf, apparently, took my friend for an emotional ride up and down the peaks and valleys of ecstacy and remorse like no other. Meatloaf, that is.

So that's why I liken a Vegas buffet with dating. With love, really, but not really. Because as much as I remind my dear friend that her long lost love for this loaf of meat should remain a cherished memory in her head, the fact is that this loaflike heartache was mostly soy product and a whole helluva lot of crumby breadcrumbs.