WordPress Deleted My Post – All I Got is Mr. Zelda Pimp

The title pretty much says it all…I’m beyond frustrated right now, considering that I just wasted an hour putting together a blog post that I don’t have time to re-write. Grrrrr!!! Mr. Zelda Pimp has nothing to do with my original post, but he is all I’ve got to offer at the moment.

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Plane Crashes in Hudson River – Photo of the Day!

You’ve probably already heardabout the US Airways plane that took off from Laguardia airport in New York City earlier today and crashed into the Hudson River after colliding with a flock of geese (yes, a flock of geese).

Reuters has a good photo slideshow of the rescue efforts. Less professional looking than the Reuters pix, the above photo was taken by Janis Krums, some guy from Sarasota, FL, who now has close to 2,000 followers on Twitter.com. I guess he was standing on a commuter ferry when he took the photo. Daniel Terdiman of CNET.com blogged about the Twitter application that Janis used to get the photo out on the web, TwitPic, which actually crashed (pun intended) after thousands of people tried to view the photo overloading the site’s servers.

In addition to the photo, check out this video from CNN – an interview with one of the passengers (passenger 22A, to be exact). These reporters are all over him! Also, I think I hear him say “it was cool” at the :49 mark. Seriously?

Thank goodness no people were hurt, but I wonder how many geese casualties there were? Poor guys – probably didn’t even see it coming (although…planes are rather large and loud). Survival of the fittest, I guess.

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New iTunes Pricing and DRM Policy

Apple just announced some significant changes for iTunes’ pricing and DRM protection policy. Here are the highlights:

• The majority of songs will drop to 69 cents beginning in April, while the biggest hits and newest songs will go for $1.29. Others that are moderately popular will remain at 99 cents.
• Beginning this week, Sony, Universal and Warner will join EMI in selling music through iTunes without digital rights management software, or D.R.M., which controls the copying and use of digital files.
• With the copying restrictions removed, people will be able to freely shift the songs they buy on iTunes among computers, phones and other digital devices.
• And, customers will be able to pay a one-time fee to strip copying restrictions from music they have already bought on iTunes, at 30 cents a song or 30 percent of the album price.

Finally – in the music industry’s latest attempt prevent further slowing of digital music sales - we will get to own the music we buy free and clear.

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Buzz Worthy Links

Here are a few links that I’ve come across over the past day or so that I’ve found amusing, informative or interesting and wanted to share

• Middle-school student gets his head stuck in a chair (check out the photo on BuzzFeed.com) - Boys will be boys, I guess. This moment will most likely rank as one of the most embarrassing for this kid, but will also be a story that he’ll laugh about with friends for years to come.
• 10 ways social media improved lives in 2008 (check out the post at TheSocialPath.com)- Social media such as blogs, micromedia sites like Twitter, and social networks like Facebook, are often used to benefit charities and other great causes. David Griner compiled 10 ways social media has been used to improve lives in 2008  including the example of The Domestic Diva , a blogger who through the help of other bloggers spread the word about her daughter’s need for a kidney transplant. Just this week her daughter underwent the life-saving transplant. Unbelievable.
• The joy of video games on Christmas morning - Kids go crazy for Wii (check out the videos at Kotaku.com) - These videos of kids opening their Nintendo Wiis on Christmas morning are great. Slightly annoying, but great. The first kid is INSANE!
• Video games meet conquering, dominating, and annihilating needs of men (check out the news post on CNET) - A study from Stanford has proved that video games “stimulate the parts of men that so many other activities just cannot reach: the need to conquer, stomp on, dominate, crush, destroy, maim, annihilate, and turn to ashes and dust.” Makes sense.
• Photos worth a peek (check out the most viewed photos of 2008 on NationalGeographic.com) - Not necessarily the most beautiful photos I’ve seen, but this slideshow features some eye-catching and interesting images, for sure.

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Happy New Year! Favorite Posts of 2008

I can’t believe 2008 is already over! It was another crazy, but great, year. Work has been as busy as ever for us. Family and friends were getting married left and right and having babies. Our apartment almost burnt to the ground (well, sort of). I got ambushed and made over on a moving train (still waiting for it to air on TLC!). Then, of course, there were all the extracurricular activities (a trip to Texas, 2 seasons of kickball, etc.).

All of this and so much more sometimes made it difficult to find time to blog, but I’m so glad we did and, to wrap up 2008, I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite posts from the year. It was quite difficult to narrow a list down, but here it is:

• Video game related post: Nintendo Wii - Cha Ching! (Fit Launches, Calls UK Girl Fat?)
• Photography related post: Famous Photos (of the LEGO Variety)
• YouTube/ online video post: Christian the Lion = YouTube Star
• Work related post: Gamers Bill of Rights – PR to Buzz About
• Personal stories: Eaves Dropping on the Train – Boston Marathon Stories
• “List” post (you know I love lists!): Webby Awards – Buzz’ Best Bets 
• Dan Buzz post: Critter (with Au Bon Pain in the Ass finishing a close second) Editor’s Note: Booooo to Dan Buzz posts about the economy and politics! We (meaning I, Elicia, and the Dan Buzz fan club) encourage more posts in 2009 about sports, food, music, and humorous stories.

Again, hard to pick out just a few, but it is New Year’s Eve and, honestly, I’m eager to get off this damn computer, so think it is best to wrap it up for the night We’ll have to wait to see what is in store for us in 2009 – and I’m looking forward to blogging about it.

New Year's Eve Ball, 1978, New York Times

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Flickr Photo of the Day “Totally Engrossed”

Towards the end of last week our Internet was “down” at the office for a few hours. My hands were tied. I felt crippled and cut off from the world. It was incredibly frustrating not being able to deliver on the list of tasks outlined on the various colored post-its scattered across my desk.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge advocate of “disconnecting,” but on a normal day I spend 90% of my time on the computer and at least 50% on the Internet. Without the web, I’m lost.

When I saw this photo from PamelaSu on Flickr I was reminded of my experience (or lack there of) with the Internet last week. I chuckled because sometimes, at the end of a busy day, my hair sticks up (and may even appear green) and my eyes take on an Anime-like appearance from staring at my monitor, just like this little girl.

So, what is in her hand anyways?

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More Blogs to Buzz About

To follow-up on my previous post from a couple weeks ago, I wanted to share with you some MORE blogs that I find enjoyable and hope you will too

Neatorama – A blog about “neat” stuff. I get the newsletter. Posts cover everything from advertising news, architecture, gadgets, travel, and more. There is a wacky twist to all posts, no matter the topic. Here are some PacMan cookies – mmmm.

Indexed – A blog from Jessica Hagy that uses Venn-diagrams and other figures (via index cards) to comment on….life.

Post Secret – This blog is “an ongoing community mail art project in which people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.” The entries are often shocking, depressing, uplifting, and/or odd, but always very interesting. The project became so popular, it was even turned into a book. You can’t view the archives, unfortunately, but the blog is updated with 20 new entries once a week.

Man Babies – Exactly how it sounds…hilarious pictures of men and babies (with their heads switched). You have to scroll through these yourself!

Sorry I Missed Your Party – Along the same lines as the Man Babies blog, this one also features funny photos – photos from “other people’s parties,” to be exact. Some of these are hilarious.

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Blogs to Buzz About

There are millions of blogs on the web. They can come in a variety of forms and can cover a variety of different topics. Among these millions are many blogs focused solely on entertaining and intriguing their readers. I wanted to share a handful of blogs that I’ve come across in recent months that I hope will be as entertaining to you as they have been to me.

I have a bunch of additions to this list, but I lost my patience for blogging today (the Internet has been going painfully slow!). I’ll plan on a follow-up post in the near future…

Cute Overload - A blog filled with photos and videos of cute animals. Surely this blog will put a smile on your face any day.

Fail Blog - A blog from the “Cheezburger Network.” Every post includes a random photo or video of how something (or someone) failed. You’d be surprised at the things on this blog – funny stuff!

Passive Aggressive Notes – VERY popular blog surrounding everyday notes. In their words…”painfully polite and hilariously hostile writings from shared spaces the world over.” For example…

I Am Neurotic - A recommendation from Dan (appropriately), this blog compiles reader submissions detailing a variety of explanations and examples of why they feel they “are neurotic.” A recent example - ”every time i pee, i have to pinch myself to make sure i’m not dreaming, as i’m afraid i’m actually about to wet the bed.”

Fanny Pack Antics – Blog with funny tourist photos – unfashionable travelers with fanny packs and ugly clothing, tourists in awkward positions, and more.  Surprisingly entertaining.

Urban Prankster - a new blog that “covers pranks, hacks, participatory art, flash mobs, and other creative endeavors that take place in public places in cities across the world.” Check out some of the videos!

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Picture of the Day – Wired World

These days many of us feel the need to be constantly connected. Being surrounded by technology in today’s “wired” world makes living in this uber-productive and connected state easy as pie. The downside? Well, we don’t watch where we are going and tend to walk into things on the sidewalk.

This photo was taken on a London street (credit: FNC), which is already experimenting with padded lampposts to prevent texting-while-walking injuries. Hilarious!

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Webby Awards – Buzz’ Best Bets

Last week the winners of the 12th Annual Webby Awards were announced. The Webby Awards pick the best of the best on the Internet in over 100 categories. Most entries fall into four main buckets -”Websites,” “Interactive Advertising,” “Online Film and Video,” or ”Mobile.” Some of the sites are quite entertaining! So you didn’t have to, I dug through them all and here are my favorites:

• Here Comes Another Bubble - A catchy (and funny) music video about the state of Web 2.0 and the Internet business set to Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”
• Tony vs. Paul - A tale of two friends torn apart via stop motion video. The video was shot in a bunch of different towns in Massachusetts – including Upton. Wicked pissah!
• Coke’s Happiness Factory – An animated movie from Coca Cola. So great!
• National Geographic – Your Shot - NG posts readers’ photos. Love looking at these.
• Post Secret Blog - People anonymously submit their “secrets” to the editor, who posts them. Simple and successful concept.  (I’ll be posting later with my list of other great amusing blogs….stay tuned)
• Milk Get the Glass - Got Milk? Well, you might after playing this visually impressive and fun online board game.
• Atom Films - Tons of great online video.
• Toyota Tacoma World of Warcraft Ad - This guy is the “lawgiver.” Hilarious ad – you may have seen this on TV, but I believe it started on the web.
• Bud Light Swear Jar - Put a quarter in the jar….its for the good of the office!
• Starz Bunny Theatre – Popular movies cut to 30-seconds and re-enacted by animated bunnies. Huh? Exactly.
• Wired.com - Website for Wired Magazine. Cool beans!
• HowStuffWorks.com - Self explanatory. 

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Elicia Buzz on The Today Show (well, sort of)

About a month ago I attended the BlogHer Business Conference in NYC (check out my work post on the 360PR Days blog). At the conference, I had the chance to meet a handful of women bloggers like Miriam Kamin who writes/contributes to about 7 blogs – wow! – including Woulda Coulda Shoulda , and Vera Sweeny who writes the very popular celebrity blog I’m Not Obsessed .

While at the conference, I heard that a bunch of the women were actually at The Today Show studio that morning for interviews – they were working on a segment about moms who blog. So, now that a month has passed, the segment aired just this morning and guess whose head happened to get about three seconds of camera time? Yours truly!

Check out the segment here or click on the picture below. Soon after the 2 minute mark, you’ll see me typing away on a laptop during one of the BlogHer sessions! (Side Rant: I can’t stand Kathy Lee Gifford – you’ll see what I mean after watching the clip!)

I wouldn’t exactly call this my “15 minutes of fame.” That debate-ably special moment will come sometime this summer when, thanks to my 360PR co-workers, I’ll be the subject of a new makeover show on The Learning Channel (TLC). More on that later…

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Off to ‘BlogHer Business’ in New York!

 

Tomorrow morning, along with a couple of my colleagues, I’m leaving good ol’ Boston for New York City to attend the BlogHer Business conference - an event bringing the world’s leading bloggers together with businesses interested in social media.  

I’m really looking forward to the event. I’m getting the sense that there will be a very interesting mix of both PR professionals and bloggers in attendance – as we all know, there are definitely those out there that fall into both these categories (like me)! I’m also curious to see how many men we run into at a women’s blog conference. They’ll probably be at least a few

We just posted our first entry on the brand new 360PR Blog and we’ll also be posting about BlogHer over the course of the next few days, so check it out if you get a chance!

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YouTube.com – 2007 Video Awards

Every once and awhile you’ll stumble across a brilliant video on YouTube. Sometimes an ambitious director devised some wonderful visual concept and then carried it out in an elaborate production. Other times some shocking or hilarious person or event was captured on video by chance. 

The winners of the YouTube.com 2007 video awards are a mixture of both produced and spontaneous videos. A few of my favorites include:

For the Harry Potter Fans (“Comedy” category winner)…

You can’t go wrong with a hysterically laughing baby (“Adorable” category winner)…

Lions, buffalo, and crocodiles – oh my! (“Eyewitness” category winner)…

For those familiar with massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), you’ll like “The Guild” series (“Series” category winner)…

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When Hawks Attack!

A popular toy is under attack. The victim – the FlyTech Dragonfly (a remote controlled flying insect made by WowWee). The perpetrator – hawks (you know…non-robotic flying birds of prey).

I found this story to be pretty unbelievable and actually WowWee happens to be a client of 360PR, where I work. One Long Island newspaper recently published an article about a fifth-grader named Danny McGorry whose dragonfly play session was cut short by the talons of a hawk when it snatched the toy right out of the air. WowWee’s customer service department has received 45 different calls over the past 2 months about hawks and other birds of prey swooping down and snatching the FlyTech Dragonfly out of the air. The story has received tons of buzz online including on popular blogs such as SlipperyBrick, CrunchGear, Engadget, and Gizmodo.

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“The RIGHT Way” – Road Trip Video Contest

Corporate-sponsored contests are all over YouTube! The formula is simple – company pays YouTube lots of money to secure a prime spot for their company on YouTube, thousands of aspiring online video stars submit videos with content meeting the contest criteria, prizes (often big prizes) are awarded to the best video/s.

A new contest called “Sketchies 2″ is sponsored by Toyota to promote the new Corolla. The grand prize is $25K and $15K in video equipment – pretty sweet! My brother Eric and his Brooklyn roomie threw together a great video. Check it out below. Good luck Eric!

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Star Wars According to a 3 Year Old

Saw a link to this video on the Micro Persuasion blog. This little girl is incredibly cute and so well-spoken Check it out…

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