Real Simple? Not if you don't understand it.

Saw this post over at lifehacker.com:

A new report shows use of RSS feeds growing from two to 11 percent in the past three years. The key finding, though, is only 17 percent of the 89 percent who don't use RSS are interested in learning how, indicating a possible peak. What do you see as RSS' main barrier to popularity, and how could it be fixed (or replaced)?

The premise is actually something I've been thinking about for some time now. In a world of too much information, how can you make things both digestible and relevant? RSS should be the answer. Personally, I use Google Reader. It provides an easy way to get all 40 of the blogs and sites I read in one place where I can zip through and pull out what's relevant. Everything from Influx Insights to BBC Americas.

So what's holding 89% of people back? Is it the joy of surfing the web and going through your preferred blogs one by one? Doubtful. In my mind (and it seems Forrester's mind) people just don't get how it works. Which is ridiculous because for the most part actually setting up a feed stream is ridiculously easy. My thought is that people aren't willing to push other available technology to allow consumers to get the information that brands desire to push. Why not create a video on how to set up Google Reader? You'd not only be helping people adopt a software-less platform that will show them the future of computing, but you'll be providing them with MARKETING AS SERVICE and endearing yourself to the people you want to talk to.

As Cialdini's work shows us: one of the most powerful influencers is reciprocity. If I give you something you feel indebted to me. And what better than the gift of information?

I AM AN INDIVIDUAL

One of our clients in an online printing shop. You know, personalized business cards, letterhead, all that jazz. The idea is to create things that represent who you are. But what if you could actually make things your own?

Now you can thanks to this site I came across. Just plug in some basic info, badda-bing, you've got a barcode that represents you as an individual. Basically an ID you could keep anywhere and on anything you own.

Here's mine.

Anonymous Secritude

Thanks to a friend's desire for Dunn Brothers coffee this morning, I made my first trip to the Minneapolis Central Public Library today. A Cesar Pelli architectural project, the building itself is a masterpiece. Clean. Focused on the books. Plenty of natural light. It's a calm and inviting space.

But what really stood out was an exhibit entitled Post Secret. The basic premise is that people send postcards with their deepest secrets on them anonymously and they are posted to a blog. Some of the better ones (better being relative, I found some darkly humorous, some disturbing and some beautifully cathartic) are showcased in the exhibit. I highly recommend it to anyone in the area.





I was overwhelmed by the general misery that came through the notes. It seems that 75% of them were concerened with horrible things that happened like rape, drug abuse, self-inflicted damage, etc. But the channel that Post Secret provides for release certainly helps those sending in such damning thoughts. It brought to mind another article that my friend had sent me regarding what we have lost in the 21st century. Especially the ability to connect. It was horrible to see that many people felt the need to reveal these secrets in the only way they knew how: anonymously and to no one in particular. I left considering just how much better off we would be if we could simply talk to each other with no fear of repurcussion or judgement. We all have secrets and things we aren't proud of. Getting them off our chests to a confidant would certainly help mitigate the need for anti-depressants and heavy medication.

Post your own. See how it feels.

Throwback

I was never one of those rich kids who had things like Mario Paint. I guess I came from the kind of family where if I wanted to paint I would get some paint and paint.

But I now regret that all (kind of). Turns out a plethora of skilled artists have been using the Mario Paint Composer program to compose contemporary and old songs. The selection is truly across the board with everything from Darude - "Sandstorm" to War - "Lowrider."

My choice to introduce you to it, Snoop - "Drop it Like It's Hot."

I think the idea behind this is really interesting. When most of us had access to Mario Paint, we didn't have the patience or ability to think of using it in ways like this. But with the proliferation of the slasher I'm good at everything culture we've all become accustomed to Garage Band, Final Cut Pro and Photoshop. Mario Paint was just a beta version of all of these things. Which begs the question, what else from our past will become cool in our present? Popsicle stick sculpture?

It speaks for itself

The image is the link.
The link is the image.

BADM

That stands for Bloggers Against Drunk Mailing. And it's what I would have named my organization had I been the one to come up with the genius idea of creating a challenge type program that creates mental hurdles for you to jump before you can log into Gmail and send those late night messages we all regret.

The premise is simple, do some math problems, prove you're not drunk, send email. Fail some math problems, prove you are intoxicated, don't send email.

Customizable so it only activates at prime drunk-mailing time, Mail Goggles (yes, it is a brilliant name) works with your wacky, Bacchanal schedule.

Check it out here at the official Gmail Blog.

Blast from the past, doncha know?

Remember Garbage Pail Kids? Remember the giant presidential election happening right now?

What if you mixed the two together? You'd probably get something like this.

Sweet.