Beyond all of the usual modern techno-marvels that we’ve become accustomed to when watching the nightly news, the more recent advent of Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have revolutionized the electronic media. Because rather than use these as tools to help provide better coverage, the media moguls at the major cable stations have chosen instead to use these instant audience inputs as a vehicle by which to superficially tailor their coverage, and the behavior of their reporters. So instead of richer content and context, we get what could almost pass for a soap opera. More →

Some people want a hug, I just want a link.

Many major media organizations are stingy when it comes to link love. I’ve had the good fortune of getting several of my blogs mentioned in the mainstream press. However, it is a rare day when they actually link to my Website. And boy does that piss me off. More →

Ever meet someone with the same name and get that warm fuzzy feeling? That doesn’t happen to me. In fact, I have the opposite reaction: I get pissed. More →

If you dig deep enough, you can uncover embarrassing dirt on anyone. But I would like to respectfully disagree with Techcrunch founder Michael Arrington’s assertion that “reputation is dead.”

Do I think that a picture of a bong-wielding 17-year-old should jeopardize his/her livelihood when they’re 30? Absolutely not. But I would also like to submit the fact that there are plenty of 17 year olds who do not inhale…or are at least smart enough to not get photographed.

A quick Google search of a recent hire at my full-time gig revealed an ugly message board posting from several years back. The guy who is now my coworker posted on a sports Website that the fan of another team was a “f*g” who should “go suck a d*ick.”

Now while Michael Arrington might forgive the public message, and apparently my HR department does too, I would not. Maybe I’m not a nice person. Or maybe I am looking for the cream of the crop – the people who understand that a censor is necessary to live a good and noble life. If you were working for me, I would want you to rely on this “filter” when making business decisions.

The more of these transgressions you have, the more you limit yourself from future options. Why risk excluding anyone? I argue that individuals must change the way they think to assume that everything they do and say (maybe even think!) will end up as part of the public record.

I’m not thumping a bible or suggesting you live a vanilla life. I’m just warning today’s generation that they should not assume society will evolve towards a mentality of forgiveness. We’ve never done it before, so why would we start now?

The day I decided that I want a Nexus One and to stick with Verizon as my wireless service provider, is the day I set my expectations too high and will inevitably be let down.

I am a research whore. Crunching numbers, organizing charts and comparison grids come with the turf. So when looking for a phone to replace my embarrassingly lame LG Dare, I knew the decision wouldn’t be easy. More →

All of the cars downtown come to a synchronized stop. Doors swing open, drivers emerge and people scramble to get into a different car. It’s like a game of musical chairs taking place on busy city streets.

That’s the scene from a new car commercial that boasts something along the lines of, “We want you to love the car you have.” The ad grabs your attention and does a nice job conveying a message about car ownership.

But I do have a serious issue with this ad, and just about every other ad that involves a real-life breathing human being. More →

It could be the greatest comeback of all time. A “Where Are They Now” 80′s star grabs headlines by vanishing into thin air on Valentine’s Day.

While the Olympics-spotlight shines down on Vancouver, former Growing Pains cast member Andrew Koenig, aka “Boner,” has found a way to snag some of the North American headlines.

If Boner is alive and kicking, he could once again become a household name. His face has been plastered all over the press. Toss in the mystery of why his parents walked off Larry King Live last night, and the plot thickens.

Stories of an anti-depressant-use stoppage and a frighteningly sparse IMDB page for the new century, and you can’t help but think the worst. Apparently Andrew cleared out the contents of his apartment and left a brand new pair of running shoes on the front doorstep with a note that read, “These will make a world of difference.”

We’re either going to be terribly sad when this dude turns up stiff or pretty ticked off that he was filming a solo reality show that puts him back on the celebrity map. Let’s hope it’s the latter. And if it is, he should be saluted – not chastised.

Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene took the heat for wasting law enforcement’s time, but isn’t there something commendable about duping the modern media? For a society that gets off on prison breaks and mafia TV shows, we sure get self-righteous when it comes to a real-life con. Perhaps it’s because we become emotionally vested and get angry that we were duped.

Here’s hoping that Boner returns.

UPDATE: Andrew Koenig has been found dead. What a shame.

We live in a noisy world, and it’s getting louder by the day. In an attempt to cut through the clutter, we are surrounded by society’s increasing reliance on icons. Adored by Website creators, television Chyron producers and newspaper editors, these graphical representations are designed to catch the eye and quickly help us file information into categories.

I know you’re busy. I’m busy! But have we really become so time-challenged that the majority of information out there must be represented by penny-sized images? More →

I’ve always loved fireplaces. There’s something about the smell of burning wood permeating the cold winter air. A plume of smoke ascends towards the bright white stars and cozy visions of warmth heat our hearts.

When looking to buy a house, a fireplace was one of the intangibles that went into the decision-making process. My dream was recognized when I proudly lit my own fireplace (after several failed attempts). That was last year. Do you know how many times I’ve used my fireplace in 2010? More →

I feel no pride when my country wins an Olympic medal. In fact, it makes me kind of sad. For every gold medal you show me, I’ll show you some kid who was bullied by his parents to practice a ridiculous sport rather than do something productive for society.

If I were from Estonia I might feel differently. But being a spoiled brat from America, ‘big victories’ come along along with big marketing campaigns. People who were formerly unknown, will become tomorrow’s pitchmen and reality show has-beens. They will be forced down our throats until we can’t take any more. And if they’re good looking too? Fugheddabouit! Total media saturation. More →