POCKiTZINE Consumables

Social Networking... Why It's Bad For Business
-- Most businesses should resist the migration to social networking sites for several reasons: First, the format is too restrictive for communicating a company's unique attributes -- it may actually do more (image) damage than good; Second, there is no differentiation between companies, product lines, scope of service, etc. -- one size fits all -- benefiting the inferior and even the charlatans; Third, sites like Facebook and Twitter are attempting to create a self-contained 'internet within the internet.' Claims that they are a substitute and panacea for marketing practically everything are false and unwarranted. Fourth, there is an assumption that by merely 'tweeting' or posting to your wall, your message will reach everyone in the 'network;' when in reality, you may only reach a handful of people -- assuming that your 'feed' is visible to the right people, at the right time (or anyone at all). And, the bigger the network grows, the likelihood of your company being seen is greatly reduced.
- Last (and worse) the idea that "you're either in or you're out" will only become a self-fulfilling prophecy if everyone falls for it.
-- The fact is, very few businesses are any better off 'social networking' than they would be from having a standard, run-of-the-mill website. Billions of dollars have been spent to develop the internet as a business tool. Basically, internet search has become the modern day phone book, and your website is your company's brochure.
--Simply put, social networking serves a niche market -- people who (for the time being) desire contact and approval from other people -- be they current acquaintances, old classmates and/or people craving the same from other people. Whether or not this phenomenon or the human need for expression will continue to be satisfied by impersonal abbreviated text on a screen, is uncertain. What is certain, is that history shows that trends and behavoiral patterns are usually short-lived. It is therefore unwise for a business to put too much value in something that has more potential negatives than benefits.

Some Examples of Businesses That Social Networking WON'T Help

Mining
Manufacturing
Banking
& Finance
Healthcare
Defense
Contractors
Printing
Builders & Developers

Architects & Engineers
Plumbers
Electricians
Lawyers
Retail Stores
Car Rentals
and many others who have more to say than 140 characters...

INTERNET SPEED UNKNOWN
A recent FCC survey has found that 4 out of 5 Americans don't know their own broadband speed. The FCC is seeking 10,000 volunteers to participate in a study to measure actual speeds. You can sign up at TestMyISP.com

Broke is Beautiful
In the recent book, Broke Is Beautiful: Living and Loving the Cash-Strapped Life, author Laura Lee (whom, at age 40, still buys ramen noodles) advises "define yourself as an artist and you give yourself permission to be 'starving. This can be a great liberation." Lee aims to take away the stigma of financial struggle and remind readers there are more people than they think in the same leaky boat. Lee says "If you feel as though you've been running just to stand still, you should know that this does not mean you're a loser, it means you're normal."
Computer Dating by Numbers...
About a third of Americans are over age 45; and nearly half of them are single. Another third of the country is between the ages of 19 and 45; and about half of them are single. A growing number of all of these people are using online dating services. In fact, industry studies, along with anecdotal evidence, show that anywhere from 20 to 50% of marriages are between people who met online. For better or worse, this is another example of how the internet is becoming a powerful force in the way people live their lives. (see F.U.B.A.R. below).

The Perfect Mojito
1 Part Bacardi Rum
3 Parts Club Soda
12 Mint Leaves
1/2 Lime
1/2 Part Sugar

Place 12 mint leaves, 1/2 part sugar and 1/2 lime in a glass. Muddle well with a pestle. Add Bacardi, top off with club soda. Stir well and garnish with sprigs of mint or a lime wheel.
MoMA in a Minute (actually in two minutes and 5): No time for culture? Unable to spend a Day at the Museum? here's a YouTube video that claims to document every painting on display at the Museum of Modern Art (shot in April).
Home Genetic Test Kits... Drugstores will soon be selling home DNA test kits to assess (future) risks of developing diseases. If accurate, they'll either give you a false sense of well being, or depress the crap out of you. You also gotta wonder what they're going to do with the database...?
Synthetic Life... Scientists have developed a new microbe that contains a DNA sequence. Their hope is that it be able to perform functions such as producing medicines and fuels. Opponents say it could well usher in our extinction if let loose in the world.
Dumping Cable for Webcasts... If an ailing economy and ever-rising rates are tempting you to join the 600,000 subscribers who dumped their cable and satellite subscriptions last year, visit Blarchive.com's TV and Video section for an extensive sampling of programming available on the internet. Filed under the News and Views, also at Blarchive, is a link to CSPAN's site which streams live programming, including Washington Journal. You can also augment your Netflix subscription by visiting your local library for (free!) DVDs.
iPad Accessorize... iSmashphone predicts, among other things, a slew of fashionable ways to tote your new iPad. There's also video of a California car audio guy installing one in the dash of an SUV.
Tormentia...Our whole existence may be a computer simulation, or dream state; or, maybe the known universe is really just a 'micro-verse' in a petri dish; or worse -- religions may be true -- and we're like pets, and we'll have to bow down and worship some dictatorial diety for all eternity. Tormentia.com

F.U.B.A.R.
Facebook Youngster Now Officially 'In Charge' of the Internet
--Facebook (and Twitter) have now become a separate internet within the internet. No longer do domain names matter, instead companies are just putting, "Find us on Facebook" on their ads. There is so much traffic and time spent on (and within) the social networking sites, that web statistics -- across the board -- have shown a dramatic decrease in visits to all other websites.
-- This constitutes nothing short of a paradigm shift in our business and social structure -- which is scary enough -- but on top of that -- leading us into this 'brave new world' is a mere 26 year old, Mark Zuckerberg.
-- What do we really know about the guy who is overseeing the communications of nearly half a billion people a month? What kind of scrutiny is being giving to this young man in charge of our personal and business information? And does he have any idea of the burden and responsibilities that rest on his inexperienced shoulders?
-- Time was, Facebook was just a college kid's website. But now that it has become the [defacto] way people communicate, market, meet and spend most of their time on; it might be time to step back and question whether we want to surrender that much control over our lives to a guy who's just starting out in life; and basically, just 'playing' around with a website -- trying this, and trying that...

'Coupla linx: Facebook Sucks } Sickfacebook

Buck a Bottle Water
The average price for 'tap' water in the U.S. is $2.50 per 1,000 gallons. Most bottled water comes from municipal taps. Think about it... They are paying a fraction of a fraction of a cent for the water they sell us in bottles for over $1.00 each.

Not-So-Free Credit Reports... Even if they were, all they do is tell you how bad your credit is. You're better off to save the $19.95 a month fee they charge and apply it to your bills (or order a pizza). Besides, if you are able to repair or improve your credit score (without a lawyer), it will only end up getting lowered again, so the banks can charge you a higher interest rate, or deny you a loan all together... Tip: If you need to borrow, don't. Bank Over-Charge Fees... It is legal for a bank to charge a $37 fee for being a $1 overdrawn. However, a loan shark can go to jail for charging less (see usury). By the way, you know what Congress's solution is? Banks can keep on charging the exorbitant (usury) fees, but they have to give you the option to drop check protection. Yeah, that really solves the problem...