349) Beauty in Data 3:03 PM

(Beautiful nonsense infographics from Datavisualization.ch)

I was just writing something when I stopped to google "collaboration synonym" in order to find an alternate word. Then a data idea hit me - what if we could see the frequency of words that were searched in junction with the word "synonym" over time? Not only would this be a reflection of how much certain words were used in a given year, but also which ones we wanted to replace. (My top 2 - interesting and fascinating.)

The imagined end result would be this gorgeously designed graph of word popularity over time (a jargon map, perhaps?), as well as connections between these words and their most popular replacements. The outer layer would be this rich data set of synonyms.

(Clearly) I've become such a data nerd. It's mixing wonderfully with my word nerdom.

348) Lick, Lick, Lick 5:53 PM

First, play the video and do what it says.

The viral gods are abuzz over this Skittles ad that has been making the rounds online for the past couple of days. There's something to be said about reframing the idea of interactive video, of simply taking a step back and putting an analog spin on it, and thereby separating oneself from the clutter. There's a small, delightful sense of satisfaction in being a part of the video in that way (I challenge anyone not to smile while a fuzzy cat licks your finger).

Brava, Skittles.

347) Don't Forget the Humans 7:23 PM

(Image from PSFK.)

Sci-fi headlines like this one - "Mind Scanning Gadget Enables Emotional Browsing Of Flickr" - have been popping up more frequently on my feeds lately. My first response is to always look for the preserved humanity (if any) in these high tech, futuristic innovations. As we move toward a world where computers and algorithms can beat us in Jeopardy and provide us with emotional comfort as virtual girlfriends, I think the brands that can maintain an element of real humanity will continue to bubble to the top.


(Seems like it would just be easier to navigate Flickr the traditional way...*shakes head, blinks furiously*)

(Mini aside - I'm not sure if it's knowing I only have 18 more posts to go, or that my mind's been elsewhere, but I'm finding it difficult to write these days. Pushing myself to finish strong. Thanks for sticking it out.)

346) Pieces of Posts Past 5:29 PM

I have massive writer's block tonight, so I'm stealing a few excerpts from an old online journal I used to keep. It's still very much public, but I keep it under wraps because 75% of it is embarrassingly emo and mostly about boys. But I can't bring myself to delete it. It's a nice record of the way things were, how I thought, and how I wrote back then.

A few random excerpts, and some retrospective commentary. The first one is a little heavy, apologies.

March 1, 2005
Today as I was walking to French class, a horribly cruel dream that I had last night came rushing back to me. I don't know if I've ever had such an emotional dream, and it hurt so badly to remember it. I dreampt that he was alive, that it was all a joke. I was walking down a sunny sidewalk with random friends and all of a sudden I see him walking toward us. Just him, smiling, there, with short buzzed hair like he had in jr. high. My heart seizes up because it's as if I've seen a ghost, but he's there in front of me. I fall on my knees on the sidewalk and start gasping and sobbing, while at the same time I've never felt so incredibly glad in my life. I remember vaguely hearing one random friend say, "Oh yeah, Natalie didn't know..." like I was the only one who hadn't heard yet that it wasn't true. I got up and gave him the biggest hug ever, sobbing incredulously, babbling about how hard it had been to deal. He smelled like he did at dances, when he used his special cologne. He showed me a large scar on the back of his head, but shrugged it off as if it was nothing. I was so incredibly relieved.

But it was all a dream. It's so cruel the way memory comes back and attacks when you least expect it. I don't want to forget his memory, but it hurts to be teased like that.

(Thankfully never had another dream like that again. This was the one white squall in an otherwise calm-sea childhood. I still wonder where he'd be and what he'd be doing.)


December 9, 2004
Oh my goodness.

I just came back from my last Intro to Communications lecture. The subject of today's lecture was advertising. I've figured it out: I LOVE advertising. THIS IS WHAT I WAS MEANT TO DO. The whole lecture I was sitting up, leaning forward in my chair without even trying, and every five minutes I thought, "wow, this is so interesting". Now I'm so anxious - with so many talented people in the world, how can I make my mark in the advertising world? But I want want want to do it. I want to flip through a magazine and be able to say, "I created that". I'll never forget the advertising project I did sophomore year in Mr. B-something's (my memory is failing me) Communications class at Gunn. We made a black and white commercial filmed at Juana Briones for a made up perfume/cologne. It was basically Tupy and I running around but it was so good and so much fun. I want to do that for a living - not be in commercials but make them. Definitely switching to a Communications Studies major. I still want to study literature too though...and French....hmm can I double minor? It's so crazy how excited I am. I can't explain how good it feels to actually be so interested in something and want to do it so badly.

(It's nice to have career affirmation from my 19-year-old self.)


July 2, 2004
It has finally hit me that hey, no more high school, it's time to move on to college. God, it seems like only yesterday (yep, I sound like an old fogie) I was wondering if that day would ever come, if I was ever going to be old/smart/cool enough to be a college girl.

(And now I'm 25. Holy hell. Sometimes I still feel like I'm just playing adult.)


(Carefree in college.)

345) Relics or Resources 2:39 PM

(Image from TIME.)

"Robotic Clouds Will Provide Shade During Qatar World Cup."

We see it every time there's an international event. The host city will bust out some crazy technology or build complete infrastructures seemingly out of thin air in order to put their best face forward. Money is never an object (where does that phrase come from?), and no timeline is too quick.

These robot clouds ("...essentially massive blimps, filled with helium, and will be floated above stadiums. Four onboard solar-powered engines will allow the clouds to be controlled from the ground, shifting along with the sun's zenith, serving as a huge umbrella in the sky to shade spectators and athletes.") come in at $500,000 each, which is "pocket change" for the Middle East nation.

While I understand the the investment made for these events is meant to come back to the host country through tourism revenue, I can't help feeling like there's something wrong with pulling out the stops only when the world is watching, especially if the cost is chump change. The other half of this is the integration and use of said infrastructures after the world has gone home. Are they woven into the fabric of the city (ex - the swimming facility built for the '92 summer Olympics in Barcelona is now a public pool)? Or do they stand as separate tourist relics, too big for community use (see: Beijing Bird's Nest - an interesting case study to watch. Unclear what it will become.)?

I love the idea of these infrastructures being repurposed to benefit the local community. TBD what will happen to these robotic clouds after the World Cup champion is crowned. Will they be relics or resources?

PS - Not to go all doomsday, but does floating giant robotic cloud blimps over millions of spectators/athletes sound like a disaster waiting to happen to anyone else?

344) That Changes Everything 6:29 PM

Around the world in 2000 pictures from alex profit on Vimeo.

“We travel because we need to, because distance and difference are the secret tonic of creativity. When we get home, home is still the same. But something in our mind has been changed, and that changes everything.”

- Jonah Lehrer, The Guardian

It's back. The travel bug. Three things happened. First, I talked with one of my best friends who is living in Colombia for a month via video chat. Second, I was sent a series of achingly gorgeous images from faraway cities by a friend who is much better-traveled than me. Lastly, I was sifting (digitally) through my photos from Barcelona, which have the uncanny ability to make me a little emotional. Bitten.

I posted this quote almost a year ago in a post about traveling, expanding horizons, etc (before Spain, before Asia). What amazes me this time around is how important life in New York can feel - how all-consuming the city is as one's whole world. But all it takes is a few photos from a couple Google image searches, and the sheer amount of unseen begins to overwhelm.

Can we ever shake the urge to travel? I've had friends talk about, "getting it out their system" before life's commitments become jet-set preventative. Truth be told, I was a late bloomer when it came to the want/need to travel. As much as I enjoyed family vacations to exotic corners (my parents were good about exposing us to different parts of the world), I didn't have the urge to strike out on my own until, well, last year I suppose.

If our biological instincts tell us to reproduce and raise offspring (implying a state of settlement), then the urge to travel is something wrought of...what? Our human curiosity? The want to expose ourselves to as much unknown as possible in order to be culturally and intellectually fit?

Bottomline: Need to start formulating travel plans for 2011.

343) The Sharing Economy 7:33 PM

Another SXSW recap for you tonight. I sat in on a panel called, "The New Sharing Economy." (We're talking physical sharing, not information sharing.) While sharing practices aren't new (movie rentals, the library), the internet has enabled an economy of sharing (Netflix, Airbnb, Rideshare, etc.). Motivated by altruistic (good for society, the environment) and selfish (saves money) benefits, this co-consumerism has the opportunity to increase the value of and the meaning behind objects.

Buying something from a retailer is individualistic. It's a one time transaction. Sharing, on the other hand is communal. It changes the commerce model to a more cyclical system, as objects are transferred among people. The opportunity lies in retailers/brands adopting the same cyclical model for traditional retail,which not only helps builds community among customers, but also extends the value of each item.

The second piece is the meaning within objects that are shared. Often, our attachment to things has to do with our experiences with them, not the physical properties themselves. One panelist was the founder of Itizen, a platform that allows users to create barcodes that are attached to shared objects. The barcode tells the story behind the objects as they are passed along.

Hand cramping. Last day of non-internet existence - tomorrow I can get back to laptop posts with pictures.

342) The Virtual Date 7:17 PM

My Airbnb host in Austin has a fiance that lives in Cambridge for grad school. I asked if that was difficult - being apart for what sounded like an indeterminate amount of time. Because to me, that sounds like a nightmare.

In his adorable French-native-speaking-English accent, he told me that it was hard, but that they found ways to be together without being together. He told me that just last week, they tried watching the same movie on Netflix at the same time, while connecting via Skype. Both were skeptical about this "virtual" movie date, but in the end, it was a lot of fun. No matter that they were individually sitting alone in their respective rooms - for a couple hours they felt like they were together (cue collective aww).

Huge duh that technology and the internet allow us to be better connected, but I love the idea of these platforms creatively packaging and positioning themselves as tools for those who can't physically be together (ex. Netflix simulcasts to linked accounts with Skype widget built in). Not just long distance gf/bfs, but also faraway friends and family.

341) Racism in Anonymity 3:56 PM

One of the panels I attended at SXSW was called "E-Race: Avatars, Anonymity & the Visualization of Identity." It looked at how racism plays out online, particularly in relation to avatars. A few notes from the talk which I found really (insert word other than interesting here).

1) Visible Racial Profiling. A study was conducted on Craigslist, in which ads selling an iPod were posted. In the ads, the photo of the product showed just the iPod and the hand holding it. One ad featured a white hand, one a black hand, and one a tattooed hand. Not only did the ad with the black hand receive 32% less offers than the white hand, but people tried to bargain more, offered lower prices, and even tried to barter objects.

2) Voice Activated Racism. Female gamers on Xbox Live are profiled by the sound of their voice. On that note, the panelist mentioned a blog called Fat, Ugly or Slutty, which allows female gamers to chronicle all the sexist comments they receive while playing. Definitely worth a look.

3) Racism Against Avatars. The whole point of avatars are to mask your true identity. But studies are consistently finding that a decision to choose a minority avatar exposes you to more hate. Even usernames that sound like minority names are targeted.

We think of online gaming as largely anonymous, yet these themes of racism still find their way in. On the flip side, the fact that perpetrators are also anonymous creates disinhibition, and an exacerbation of the problem.

340) The Bruised Ego 7:13 PM

I didn't get a chance to post at work today, and seeing as I don't have internet set up at my new place (and no open connections from unsavvy neighbors - torture!), I'm forced to cell post tonight. At least I'm home cozied up on my bed and not in the middle of a bar typing away.

True story. About half an hour ago, I was walking home, when I caught my heel on some uneven pavement and went down in the middle of a crosswalk. It was one of those slow motion falls, where you try to catch yourself halfway, but the momentum causes you to go ahead and fall anyway.

It hurt. But not physically (yet). My face flushed and I tried, despite my increasingly throbbing knee to keep walking at a brisk pace, like it didn't happen. I didn't look back, afraid of the looks of pity and/or amusement behind me. The embarrassment, and the need to save face was so overwhelming as a first response. No matter that my left knee, which caught the brunt of it, had been scraped hard enough to draw blood (which I discovered only after I got home. It's not pretty.)

If pain is meant to alert us to harmful things to our bodies, then what does it mean when a bruised ego hurts most?

Ow.

339) Offline Privacy 7:59 PM

(Photo from art.com.)

I spent my first night in my new apartment last night. It's coming together piece by piece, but the one element I do not have yet is curtains. My bed is situated right by a window, and given that I live in a studio, I've been feeling rather exposed lately. It's made me realize how much we think about virtual privacy these days, but how little we worry about who can see us without our knowing in real life.

Granted, I'm on the other side of creepy too, and have done my fair share of window watching. Voyeurism in the real world! Again, I love appreciating the off and online versions of things.

(Quick post, as I'm still at work. Living the dream.)

338) The Power of Spoken Word 7:24 AM

Watch the video. Do it.

A friend posted this to their Facebook wall the other day, and it was too powerful to keep to myself. The power of read words on a page (paper or virtual) is undeniable. The very thought of moving someone with static words that can be interpreted and inflected in someone's head any which way is every writer's dream.

But something is added to poetry when it's spoken aloud. The intent is there behind their voice. You can hear the passion in Sarah Kay's voice in her execution - it sounds like her words are so excited to get out, they tumble over one another, crowding to escape and be heard, leaving her almost breathless.

I also love the ending of "Hiroshima".

337) History: Time vs. Space 8:16 PM

(Mini aside - I feel brain dead and frazzled, two things I do not like feeling. Moving is such a pain in the ass. That's all I'll say, no more whining. Stealing a post from the blog I kept during SXSW.)



I heard a really fascinating talk at SXSW on telling visual stories using time and space, the mapping of which is typically mutually exclusive.

One of the panelists discussed events as a third way to represent historical data. While space and time are abstract concepts, events are real. They are the products of the stories we tell.

A recent example is the Egyptian revolution. If we think about it (especially remotely), there are as many Egyptian revolutions as there are individual stories about the revolution. The large event is made up of singular representations.

The speaker’s point was that the Internet allows us access to richer data models for events. Essentially, we are able to move from a shared experience to a more nuanced history made up of the aggregation/visualization of individual itineraries (via tweets, uploaded photos, etc.).

336) For the Love of Seasons 7:30 PM

(Photo by Andrew Prokos. Enlarge this puppy. Can't wait for the cherry blossoms!)

Today, I was finally able to appreciate what it means to have seasons. After a seemingly endless string of consecutive bone-chilling days, gray skies, sometimes rain, sometimes snow, at the worst times wind, it felt like spring. Not only was it a comfy 70 degrees out, but you could feel the energy change in New Yorkers as a collective. Everyone emerged from curling into themselves within their big coats and scarves, and this new exposure lifted and projected everyone's spirits.

I walked the 11 or so blocks home from my new place to my old place tonight, and was filled with this balmy happiness. And while I've probably experienced thousands of similar days in California, it never felt as special as this one. It's the juxtaposition of seasons, the hard endurance through the winter that had everyone smiling today.

(Mini aside - Long night of packing in front of me. Yearly pilgrimage to IKEA tomorrow, movers tomorrow night. Pumping myself up for a jeans-and-old-tshirt-and-backwards-cap day of productivity and manual labor.

Also - a little less than a month left of The Plan! Madness.)

335) Fake Money, Real Good 6:53 PM

Here's a thought I had today. With the millions of online and social media gamers, there must be a massive amount of virtual currency out there. What if we could turn that virtual currency into real aid for Japan? Could Farmville, Cityville, World of Warcraft, Sims, Neopets, and any other online game in which currency must be earned (in the case of some, people actually exchange real money for this virtual money) allow their players to donate their online dough to fund a real world donation?

This would serve as a nod to their own success, a comment on the power of online worlds affecting the real one, and of course, an altruistic gesture. I love the idea of taking something that already exists online, something of "dormant" value, and pushing it into the real world for good.

EDIT: I should really research, before I write. Check out efforts by Zynga and Ngmoco.

(Mini aside - Getting ready for a night of packing up my life into suitcases, yet again. Moving on Saturday. Helloooo, East Village.)

334) Global Problem, Local Action 11:59 AM

Seth Priebatsch from SCVNGR gave one of the key note speeches at SXSW on the Game Layer, and how the next decade will be the Decade of Games. The finale was a game that involved the thousand listeners in the room. Each person was given a random colored card (yellow, blue or green) when they sat down. In three minutes, each row had to organize themselves into one color by trading their cards with the people immediately around them. If they could accomplish this, SCVNGR would donate $10,000 to charity.

The success of the game (it took less than 180 seconds) illustrated the power of communal gameplay in solving a tricky problem with local action. All the elements of a global problem, such as global warming, were there:

1) lack of communication
2) different trading patterns
3) different “countries” i.e. rows
4) different wealth (some people had more than one card to trade)
5) restricted movement
6) decentralized leadership
7) countdown
8) joint goal

A powerful demonstration. Priesbatch pointed out that the countdown, as well as the joint goal of getting the money to the charity, infused the "game" with epic meaning, making the players "blissfully productive".

(Mini aside - Flying back to NY tonight. SXSW felt like spring break, and the trip makes me want to travel to more places I've never been. Though, I have missed the NY hustle. Up next - moving this weekend!)

333) What is Web 3.0 5:28 PM

(Mini aside - I'm staying at my friend's hotel room for my last couple nights in Austin. Instead of eating out tonight, I opted to come back and spend some time with my laptop and room service. SXSW has been great beyond words, but I am so exhausted. The Interactive part of the festival ended today, so tomorrow will be my chill out in downtown Austin day. Hoping to find and snap some street art, and other Austin oddities.)


6th St., Downtown Austin.

Quick note: If you want a peek at what I've been up to in Austin, you can visit my other blog, nataliefoundit.

I heard a really interesting (worst. word. ever.) talk by Reid Hoffman, the CEO of LinkedIn. He discussed Web 3.0, and his vision of what it will be. A couple points that stuck:

1) We are inventing and creating the future. Back in the 50's and 60's, we envisioned a Jetsons future - flying cars, robot servants. But just because we don't have either of those doesn't mean we're not in "the future." Instead of flying cars and robots, we entered into an information future.

2) Web 1.0 was about searching files anonymously. Web 2.0 incorporated our real identity and relationships. As a result, we started generating massive amounts of explicit (profile info), implicit (I signed onto Facebook X times today) and analytic (trending) data. Hoffman believes that Web 3.0 will answer the question - what are we inventing out of that data?

3) One of the barriers to Web 3.0 is privacy. But instead of an Orwellian dystopia, Hoffman is more wary of a Huxlian Brave New World. Because we're generating all this information, it becomes harder to discern truth from falseness, harder to quality control. And there's a ton of it. The fear is that due to information overload, we will be reduced to just holding onto our own opinions.
This was really powerful to me - I'd never thought about it that way.

332) Social Media Managers 6:48 PM

The official SXSW trade show opened today. What struck me the most was the number of social media management companies there were. So many (but not all) of the social media experts out there are just glorified regulars who have Facebook and Twitter profiles, and capitalize on the older generations who own the brands and companies that need to be on social media.

When the younger, grew-up-with-it generation starts to take control of these brands/companies, will these social media management companies become irrelevant?

Written in line. My trip was extended by a couple of days, so I'll be in Austin a little longer! Having a lot of fun.

331) This Is My Friend 1:33 PM

I thought my posts here at SXSW would be more tech/social media/digital focused, but I keep having to do cell posts since I'm out sans laptop all day. Which is not at all conducive of complex and deep topics. I have a little break right now so I'm sitting at the PepsiCo lounge typing away with one finger.

Last night I was out at The Blind Pig on 6th St., the third stop of a long night (not cut out for marathon parties. So sleepy today, zzzzzz). I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Hi, I'm Andy," says the tapper. I introduce myself back.

"This is my friend, Josh." He pulls forward a sheepish-looking pal.

STRIKE ONE. Fellas, if your friend has to introduce you, it's an instant red flag. You've essentially been set up to look like a chump by your extroverted, gregarious friend. I get that some people are shy, but your friend really isn't doing you any favors by opening for you.

"Josh really needs to get laid. He's on the way to becoming the 40 year old virgin."

As if I wasn't already sold. STRIKE TWO. At this point, no one feels comfortable, except for Andy, who thinks he's hilarious.

"So, can he buy you a drink?"

Um, no. Because that was the worst opener ever. You just made Josh sound like the least desirable charity case in the world.

This was the worst one I've heard, though I've encountered the friend-intro before. Never say never, but it's never worked.

330) Check comment section of last post. Technical difficulties. 6:48 PM

329) Fountain of Youth 5:06 PM

(Taken earlier today. I cannot tell you how much I love this picture.)

Day 1 at SXSW!

I have never overheard so many people bragging about their check-ins before. While the success of Foursquare (especially at SXSW, where it was first announced) and Gowalla are no secret, to actually hear people articulate the fact that they checked in somewhere boggles my mind.

Think about it. In real life, check-ins would be like getting to your destination and announcing out loud, "I'm here! At the Starbucks on 17th St. and Union Square West!" It would be ridiculous. Because it is the audience that matters. In real life, we proclaim our current location to strangers in the vicinity. Online, it's a more selective group of friends, acquaintances, etc.

I understand that the purpose of these check-in platforms is to facilitate "serendipitous" meet ups in real life. And while that's an admirable purpose, I can't help but feel that most just check-in for the sake of checking in - that the frequency of actually meet-ups caused by coincidental geo-location is low.

We (or, many of the people I encountered today) place value on check-ins. ("I checked in to like four places just last night." No joke. Word for word.) This in itself feels lacking in meaning. It's self-validation, a waving of our arms, saying, "I'm here! I exist! I do things that matter!" This sentiment is often attributed to teens, as self-validation in their formative years is treated like crack. But clearly, this older demographic is enthusiastically following suit.

Granted, not all do. Aside from tech savvy, I'd love to see the psychology behind people who feel they need to check-in and the ones who don't. At a certain point, do we "grow out of it"? Is it like a late or extended adolescence? Perhaps we've found the newest way to remain young - like checking in to the fountain of youth.

328) The Unlearned Lesson 7:20 PM

I had a bunch of errands to run after work, and this weather was not helping. Seriously, eff the rain, it was so miserable. So ready to escape to Austin for a bit.

I still have to pack and finish up a couple things before bed tonight, so I'll make this quick. Ladies, tonight I re-learned a lesson that I can never seem to retain. Never pay someone to paint your nails. Sure, it looks great. But manicures are the most ephemeral things in life. No matter how long you sit under that little dryer thing or the UV light, they always get nicked and smudged before I get home. Just reaching into your bag to get your keys is a landmine waiting to go off. It's one of the most frustrating things.

Getting picked up at 4:30AM tomorrow morning. Sunshine, here I come!

327) Live the Language 8:12 PM

EF - Live The Language - Barcelona from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

I discovered this commercial for EF International Language Centers a little while ago, and it flooded me with warm memories of Barcelona. Their tagline, "Live the Language" is the perfect end to their collection of city-specific videos. It hits on the insight that there's the vocabulary that you learn in class, and there's the language you pick up on the streets, when you're out going through the daily life. You can watch the rest of the spots here (viewer beware - the travel bug will bite).

Getting excited about my next travel adventure! Yes, Austin counts. (Living the language - wearing cowboy boots and eating BBQ?) Heading to bed early again tonight.

326) Big News Bearer 6:04 PM

(Photo from Loveolio, by Max Wanger.)

Increasingly, we are receiving big news via social media.

Just this morning, I learned that a girl I went to elementary school with recently got married from the pictures of her dressed in white posted on Facebook. A few minutes ago, Twitter gently broke the news that Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr has died. And more soberingly close to home, in the past few years I've learned of two high school classmates' passings via Facebook memorial announcements.

Engagements, college acceptance, weddings, babies, deaths. Sure, we still do the in real life relay of good and bad news, but now we also broadcast it to our networks, including our weak ties. And while this keeps us more informed (I would have never known, had I not seen it on Facebook), it also feels somewhat misplaced amidst the stream of mundane details. Sometimes it feels like it dilutes the specialness of the message, which is contrary to the idea that the more people who know, the better.

While the Internet is the great enabler that makes our lives easier, are there certain things that just shouldn't be delivered online? Marriage proposals via iChat? Eulogies as Facebook Notes? As everything continues to be digitized, are there some territories that, in order to maintain their essence, should stay offline?

(Mini aside - I'm chugging Emergen-c and heading to bed. Cannot get sick before SXSW. Body, COOPERATE.)

325) How the Mighty Have Fallen 8:05 PM

(Mini aside - When I first started The Plan, the daily posting used to stress me out like crazy. I'd stay late at work just to finish it for the night, or would spend hours before bed fretting and typing. It definitely took some getting used to.

Suffice to say that posting has now become routine. Case in point: it's 11:08PM in NY, I've just started writing, and I'm not freaking out. Also, this morning when I woke up, I momentarily couldn't remember whether I'd posted the previous day. A little sad to think that my entry was that forgettable, or that crafting each one has lost some of its specialness. But also a testament to what one can get used to, what habits we can pick up if we just keep at it.)

I've been thinking about our societal love of seeing those in power fall. Goliath taken down. A politician shamed by scandal. A CEO caught embezzling. The celebrity going bat shit crazy, put in rehab, or sent to jail. Oh, how the mighty have fallen, and how we enjoy watching it.

Like or loathe her, I think Gaga's theories on fame are pretty insightful. Start at 7:08.


"Everyone wants to see the decay of the superstar...isn't that the age we live in? We want to see people who have it all, lose it all."

And why is that, exactly? Is it simply comforting to know that those in power are at their core, just like us? By some weird transitive property, does their failure imply that we are able to achieve the same kind of greatness they did? (If we can fail the same way, does that mean we can succeed the same way?) In some quasi-sick, voyeuristic way, does the suffering of others bring us comfort about our own situation? Or do we believe that there's an unspoken sense of balance (karma?) that must be maintained?

324) Great Expectations 2:58 PM

(Totes unrelated, but neat nonetheless.)

I consider myself a rational person. Most of the time, I can separate emotion from the equation, and focus on the realities of the situation. But for some reason lately, there have been two things about which my irrational imagination has been running wild: first dates and apartments.

In both cases, I'll start thinking way too far into the future upon first meeting. Like, embarrassingly ridiculously far. And while my brain knows how ridiculous it is (I swear I'm not one of those girls who is raring to get married and pop out babies. It's actually quite the opposite), it can't help itself, at least momentarily, indulge in the most optimistic of vision of what could be.

The most recent example (and the reason for SO much stress lately): I've been apartment hunting, as my temporary sublet term is coming to an end. I've been at it for a couple weeks now, and finally saw one that pleased me in a killer location yesterday. I hadn't even submitted an application, when my brain started to mentally furnish every inch of it. I imagined what my house warming party would be like, what hosting NY visitors would be like. In my head, I'm growing old in an apartment that I don't even have yet. (CROSS YOUR FINGERS AND TOES FOR ME. SERIOUSLY.)

323) Train Anticipation 6:24 PM

My friend who is visiting from LA commented on people who lean over and peer down the subway track while waiting for the train. He said, "What do they think that will accomplish? It's not going to make it come any faster."

Just as the watched pot infamously never boils, the train never comes if you're eyes are glued to that dark tunnel in anticipation. My trick is to watch the tiles on the wall, to see any small changes in light reflection. As the train comes around bends to finally emerge in the station, its headlight dances, fades and eventually grows brighter on the wall. It's sort of like monitoring the lights in a movie theater when you're waiting for the previews to begin. I'm constantly wondering if the lights are actually dimming, or if it's just wishful thinking and I'm squinting my eyes to compensate.

Another trick to train anticipation is to stay very still and be conscious of the air flow in the station. When a train approaches, it pushes air in front of it. It starts as a faint breath and then builds, culminating in a whoosh of air as the train speeds by. When you feel the slightest of breezes start to push past you, the train is a minute away.

322) Close Your Eyes 5:32 PM

(Photo from Glasses Ocean.)

Have you ever been in a group setting - in class, at camp, in a focus group - and were told to close your eyes and imagine something? Have you ever felt slightly self-conscious doing so? And then squinted your eyes open so you could see everyone else with their eyes closed? (Which is why you felt self-conscious in the first place - the fear of someone doing just that!) Everyone looks so vulnerable with their eyes shut, imagining away.

Crunchy leaf? Or just me?

(Mini aside - Getting ready to go out with some friends from UCLA - mini Ad Team reunion, wheee. I need it after today, I felt like I was being pulled every which way.)

So eXcited SW 8:57 PM

Exciting news - I'm going to SXSW next week! Work is nice enough to send me for the interactive portion to soak up as much digital/tech/mobile goodness as my brain can handle. I've never been to Austin, or Texas for that matter, so I'm excited to explore. I'll also be traveling solo, so I'm sure I'll meet some interesting folks.

It'll be a lot of conferencing, a lot of networking (ew, hate that word), and not a lot of sleeping, but I can't wait to see what kind of posts come out of it. And hopefully I can sneak in some pictures and insightful tweets.

(Note - that has to be the worst post title ever, and it was actually the third anagram-esque version I came up with. My tired little brain couldn't come up with anything better.)

321) Data-Informed Behavior 7:44 PM

(Image from AdAge.)

I love archetypes, as a means of explaining behavior. Yesterday, Leo Burnett unveiled a new framework (wheel), a "data-informed way of organizing behavior" based on more than 10,000 behaviors. That an archetype chart like this is based on actual data instead of speculation/stereotype is not only impressive, but quite valuable to the planning community. Still trying to wrap my head around all the tensions displayed (while helping my friend Justin, who is staying with me for a couple nights, get ready to go out).

You can read more about the new tool here.

320) DIY Insights 7:36 PM

Thought of You from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

(A completely unrelated video that I thought was neat and wanted to share.)

I've had a lot on my mind and a lot going on recently, and as a result, I'm at a complete loss of what to write tonight. I've been posted up on my bed staring at the cursor.

[Blink...blink...blink...]

This Mashable article caught my attention a couple days ago. GutCheck, a do-it-yourself qualitative research company took home the People's Choice award at DEMO's spring conference. For those not in the biz, focus groups are generally pretty pricey, what with the recruiting, moderating and facility fees.

GutCheck customers draw from the service’s pool of five million participants for targeted questioning. Then they interview respondents in a traditional question-and-answer survey format, or something more free-form. Interview transcripts are stored and can be shared with co-workers.

Its low price point — $40 per qualified 30 minute interview — makes it affordable for even the smallest of businesses and startups.

I love that of all the emerging mobile app, social media and group communication companies out there, DEMO chose to recognize a company that makes learning about people and getting at those golden insights more accessible.

Zzzzz, brain is asleep. Exciting news about the next week or so, coming soon!

319) Crazy in Context 5:58 PM

One of my planner friends back in LA made this acute observation today on Facebook:

"Golden Voice, Charlie Sheen, Glenn Beck... America is currently obsessed with crackheads."

Of course she's referring to the homeless man with the radio-God voice who exploded on YouTube and then disappeared back into oblivion exactly fifteen minutes of fame later, Charlie Sheen's recent self-committing antics and interviews, and Glenn Beck being Glenn Beck.

While I'm not trying to legitimize any of the three's actions, it's interesting what context can lend to someone's seemingly crazy talk.

For example:

(Warning: vagina allusions.)

I'm not suggesting that Lady Gaga is crazy or a crackhead. But the fact that she can say,

"On G.O.A.T, a Government Owned Alien Territory in space, a birth of magnificent and magical proportions took place. But the birth was not finite, but infinite. As the wombs numbered, and the mitosis of the future began, it was perceived that this infamous moment in life is not temporal...it is eternal,"

...and not be labeled a kook says a lot about context. (Not just not labeled a kook - heralded as a visionary artist.)

(Side note - this might be a whole other post, but there seems to be a trend in music videos of the celebration of ugliness. That is, pretty singers making themselves look uglier for art's sake. The above is a good example, as is Britney Spears' latest, which also feels like one long commercial. Product placement abounds.)