It just so happens none of this actually happened *on* Google Buzz (mostly because not much of *anything* happens on Google Buzz) but rather this all occurred for me because my high hopes for Google Buzz were my inspiration for disabling my Facebook account.

I would not describe myself as a social media junkie (some friends may disagree, shut up) but I was a frequent user. I felt Social Meida was a new frontier. I was on the cusp of the paradigm shift. Endless opportunities abounded. Exciting times indeed.

As the promise of Buzz beckoned I became emboldened. I deactivated my Facebook account and struck out as a new pioneer on the Buzz Frontier and then…nothing…happened. By nothing, I mean silence. In that social media void I began to reach out via traditional methods. You know, with telephones or emails. Real conversations. With people. Using spoken words or paragraphs >140 characters. Gone were the quick quips, comments, LOLs, confusing timelines, useless email notifications about lame Facebook updates and endless Mafia Wars invites.

I enjoyed this new space. I didn’t miss Social Media. The paradigm was shifting, or not, and I didn’t care.

I still have several Twitter accounts. I still have Google Buzz. I have not, and do not plan to, reactivate Facebook.

When it comes down to it, I’d prefer to have the right conversations with the right people than to share my every thought with the masses. I wish the masses felt the same way.

Inspired by this blog post about How to read a book a week in 2010 I’ve decided to take the challenge. I’ll track my progress in this blog post.

Duct Tape Marketing

Review:

Great book on building a marketing plan. Just like it says, very practical and effective. Marketing always has a certain pop psychology aspect. This book delves into that gray area only when necessary. Instead the book focuses on actionable steps for any sized business. I enjoyed this book very much.

Rating: 4.5 of 5

Trust Agents

Review:

Love or hate Social Media this is the book to read. It’s not strictly a Social Media book. I’d say it’s effective business communication in a new world covering how dynamics have changed. Even if you are part of the Twitter generation this book is so well written it’s like having a long conversation with two guys (the authors) who really know their stuff.

Rating: 4 of 5

Posted via email from stuarthall’s posterous

Posted via email from stuarthall’s posterous

Lately I have really been enjoying RSS feeds via Google Reader. The ability to share favorite articles and view your friend’s recommendations has finally made RSS a worthwhile application on my taskbar.  Still, as I look at my Google Reader, I am reminded of PointCast from circa 1996.  PointCast was WAY ahead of it’s time. PointCast used push technology to send stories direct to your computer. I remember thinking at the time that PointCast was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. Remeber, we’re talking about the equivalent of RSS back in the Windows 95 days!  In 1996 you honestly could surf the entire Internet. And I did. At work, all day long, thanks to PointCast.

Looking foward, I can’t remember a technology I’m more excited about than Google Wave. I signed up for the beta and will hopefully receive my login in September. If you haven’t signed up, head over here and reserve yourself a spot!

Here’s to looking back at RSS in a few years with fond memories.

Each app has it’s own advantages/disadvantages. For instance, Plex does a better job of browsing movies while Boxee does better with music.

I recently upgraded to the latest version of Boxee and I’m digging a few of the new features. Pandora on Plex is just plain ugly. Check out Pandora on Boxee (it’s damn sexee!):

Pandora on Boxee

I’ll probably continue to alternate back and forth. Now that Boxee’s Hulu is working again Boxee has a slight edge because of the superior way Boxee handles music, which is what I do most on my computer/TV etc.

Either way, I’ll be keeping both Boxee and Plex updated and check on them regularly. Much thanks and appreciation to the work of both teams. Great job!

Now that the good stuff is out of the way…wow did that movie fucking suck. Rotten Tomatoes gave it 95% fresh? That seriously dampens my faith in Rotten Tomatoes. Every sequence of events was cliche or partially borrowed from another movie. I’m going to highlight just a few areas because I don’t have the time to detail the level of pure crap that this movie put on the screen for two hours. Spoilers galore, you’ve been warned.

-In the future, Vulcan and Earth have zero defense. Drop a tethered planet core mining drill from space in the midde of San Francisco because we have no way to stop it. Awesome.
-When sending three people to blow up the mine, we’re going to give the only explosives to Ensign Olson. Guess what happens to Ensign Olson.
-Romulons have Red Matter which grants them the ability to create blackholes. Guess where they keep it! On an unguarded spaceship that can be flown right off their own ship in minutes.
-Hey, let’s do this Star Wars thing with a monster chasing Kirk only to get eaten by a bigger monster because we can’t write an original scene to save our lives. Also, lots of bouncy cameras.
-Old Spock has just seen his planet blown up but he’s going to deceive Kirk because he wants Young Spock and Kirk to be BFF. OK! That sounds super logical.
-Check it out, we’re gonna beam only our Capt and First Officer aboard the enemy ship because that’s how they did it in the ’60’s and we are gonna rock it ol’ skool!
-Kirk in bed with a hot green chick, because we can’t stop ourselves from recycling tired ideas.

To sum it up Star Trek is a good looking movie. Excellent casting. Purely horrible story. I can’t believe it’s getting great reviews. Society as a whole is braindead.

Many of the people I follow on FAVRD have a Tumblr and their Tumblr’s are hysterical. I felt like I was missing out on some jokes and, since I have an overpowering need to be accepted by the cool kids to stem my insecurities have accounts on most social sites, I figured I’d give it a try.

I love Wordpress (which runs this site) but I see the potential of Tumblr for someone who just wants to post random funny stuff as easily as possible.

Terminator: TSSC, which is based on the Terminator movie series, has had it’s ups and downs. Tonight’s season finale (and the previous two episodes) were FANTASTIC. I hope that Fox will realize that there is value in keeping good TV on TV and not be solely driven by revenue. One can dream! No one needs another reality show pukefest on television. Terminator has potential to run a long time, if Fox can keep the faith.

Terminator has taken chances. If you’re a fan of the show, you know what I mean. If you’re not but curious, check out how they kill one of the main characters (MAJOR SPOILER). You have never seen a main character die this way. Shocking, but completely in line with how Terminators roll. Makes the show even more awesome!

I’m doing my part. You can vote to keep the show on television. Go there, vote early, vote often.

Three final reasons this show deserves to stay on-air: Shirley Manson (yes, from Garbage), Summer Glau and Lena Heady. These ladies kick ass on this show and I feel their characters are just now hitting their full stride.

So yeah, I’m lonely bored right now.