WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Canadian researchers have uncovered a vast electronic spying operation that infiltrated computers and stole documents from government and private offices around the world, including those of the Dalai Lama, The New York Times reported on Saturday.
In a report provided to the newspaper, a team from the Munk Center for International Studies in Toronto said at least 1,295 computers in 103 countries had been breached in less than two years by the spy system, which it dubbed GhostNet.
Embassies, foreign ministries, government offices and the Dalai Lama's Tibetan exile centers in India, Brussels, London and New York were among those infiltrated, said the researchers, who have detected computer espionage in the past.
read more | digg story
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
News of the Day: British scientists to create 'synthetic' blood, unlimited supply for transfusions
Scientists in Britain plan to become the first in the world to produce unlimited amounts of synthetic human blood from embryonic stem cells for emergency infection-free transfusions.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Club XS - Coming Soon to Toronto!! (Youtube Teaser)
Republik was one of North America's top entertainment venues. In April, it'll be reborn - welcome to Club XS.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
News of the Day: Sri Lanka and its long war told through photos
The Sri Lankan Civil War, waged between separatist Tamil rebels and the government of Sri Lanka - a conflict which has run hot and cold over 26 years, and has cost over 70,000 lives - may now be approaching its end.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Blackstreet - "No Diggity" Lyrics
You know what
I like the playettes
No diggity, no doubt
Play on playette
Play on playette
Yo Dre, drop the verse
[Dr. Dre]
It's going down, fade to Blackstreet
The homies got RB, collab' creations
Bump like Acne, no doubt
I put it down, never slouch
As long as my credit can vouch
A dog couldn't catch me ass out
Tell me who can stop when Dre making moves
Attracting honeys like a magnet
Giving em eargasms with my mellow accent
Still moving this flavour
With the homies Blackstreet and Teddy
The original rump shakers
Shorty in down, good Lord
Baby got em up open all over town
Strictly biz, she don't play around
Cover much ground, got game by the pound
Getting paid is a forte
Each and every day, true player way
I can't get her out of my mind
(what)
I think about the girl all the time
East side to the west side
Pushing phat rides, it's no surprise
She got tricks in the stash
Stacking up the cash
Fast when it comes to the gas
By no means average
As long as she's got to have it
Baby, you're a perfect ten, I wanna get in
Can I get down, so I can win
[1] - I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up, bag it up
[Repeat 1 (3x)]
She's got class and style
Street knowledge by the pound,
Baby never act wild
Very low key on the profile
Catching catchin' feelings is a no,
Let me tell you how it goes
Curve's the words, spins the verbs
Lovers it curves so freak what you heard
Rollin' with the phatness
You don't even know what the half is
You gotta pay to play
Just for shorty, bang-bang, to look your way
I like the way you work it
Trumped tight, all day, every day
You're blowing my mind, maybe in time
Baby, I can get you in my ride
[Repeat 1 (4x)]
[2] - Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo
Hey yo, that girl looks good
Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo
Play on, play on playette
Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo
You're my kind of girl, no diggity
Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo
Hey
[Queen Pen]
Cause thats my peeps and we row G
Flying first class from New York City to Blackstreet
What you know about me, not a motherf.. thing
Cartier wooded frames sported by my shortie
As for me, icy gleaming pinky diamond ring
We be's the baddest clique up on the scene
Ain't you getting bored with these fake ass broads
I shows and proves, no doubt, I be taking you, so
Please excuse, if I come across rude
That's just me and that's how the playettes got to be
Stay kicking game with a capital G
Axe the peoples on my block, I'm as real as can be
Word is bond, faking jacks never been my flavor
So, Teddy, pass the word to your n*gga Chauncy
I be sitting in car, let's say around 3:30
Queen Pen and Blackstreet, it's no diggity
[Repeat 1 (4x)]
[Repeat 2]
I like the playettes
No diggity, no doubt
Play on playette
Play on playette
Yo Dre, drop the verse
[Dr. Dre]
It's going down, fade to Blackstreet
The homies got RB, collab' creations
Bump like Acne, no doubt
I put it down, never slouch
As long as my credit can vouch
A dog couldn't catch me ass out
Tell me who can stop when Dre making moves
Attracting honeys like a magnet
Giving em eargasms with my mellow accent
Still moving this flavour
With the homies Blackstreet and Teddy
The original rump shakers
Shorty in down, good Lord
Baby got em up open all over town
Strictly biz, she don't play around
Cover much ground, got game by the pound
Getting paid is a forte
Each and every day, true player way
I can't get her out of my mind
(what)
I think about the girl all the time
East side to the west side
Pushing phat rides, it's no surprise
She got tricks in the stash
Stacking up the cash
Fast when it comes to the gas
By no means average
As long as she's got to have it
Baby, you're a perfect ten, I wanna get in
Can I get down, so I can win
[1] - I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up, bag it up
[Repeat 1 (3x)]
She's got class and style
Street knowledge by the pound,
Baby never act wild
Very low key on the profile
Catching catchin' feelings is a no,
Let me tell you how it goes
Curve's the words, spins the verbs
Lovers it curves so freak what you heard
Rollin' with the phatness
You don't even know what the half is
You gotta pay to play
Just for shorty, bang-bang, to look your way
I like the way you work it
Trumped tight, all day, every day
You're blowing my mind, maybe in time
Baby, I can get you in my ride
[Repeat 1 (4x)]
[2] - Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo
Hey yo, that girl looks good
Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo
Play on, play on playette
Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo
You're my kind of girl, no diggity
Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo
Hey
[Queen Pen]
Cause thats my peeps and we row G
Flying first class from New York City to Blackstreet
What you know about me, not a motherf.. thing
Cartier wooded frames sported by my shortie
As for me, icy gleaming pinky diamond ring
We be's the baddest clique up on the scene
Ain't you getting bored with these fake ass broads
I shows and proves, no doubt, I be taking you, so
Please excuse, if I come across rude
That's just me and that's how the playettes got to be
Stay kicking game with a capital G
Axe the peoples on my block, I'm as real as can be
Word is bond, faking jacks never been my flavor
So, Teddy, pass the word to your n*gga Chauncy
I be sitting in car, let's say around 3:30
Queen Pen and Blackstreet, it's no diggity
[Repeat 1 (4x)]
[Repeat 2]
News of the Day: Apple and Google to replace GM and Citigroup on Dow Jones?
There is talk around the ol’ internet water cooler that General Motors and Citigroup are about to be kicked off the Dow Jones Industrial Average due to their lackluster performance and long term outlook.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Saturday, March 7, 2009
News of the Day: Baby Olympian? DNA Test Screens Athletic Ability
It is drawing fire from scattered coaches, therapists and genetic experts who worry some parents will misuse the data and that the young science will inject even more pressure and politics into childhood games.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
James Morrison - "Please Don't Stop The Rain" Lyrics
James Morrison - "Please Don't Stop The Rain" Lyrics
I don't know where I crossed the line
Was it something that I said
Or didn't say this time
And I don't know if it's me or you
But I can see the skies are changing
In all the shades of blue
And I don't know which way it's gonna go
If it's gonna be a rainy day
There's nothing we can do to make it change
We can pray for sunny weather
But that won't stop the rain
Feeling like you got no place to run
I can be your shelter 'til it's done
We can make this last forever
So please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Please don't stop the rain
I thought that time was on our side
I've put in far too many years
To let this pass us by
You see life is a crazy thing
There'll be good time and there'll be bad times
And everything in between
And I don't know which way it's gonna go
If it's gonna be a rainy day
There's nothing we can do to make it change
We can pray for sunny weather
But that won't stop the rain
Feeling like you got no place to run
I can be your shelter 'til it's done
We can make this last forever
So please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Please don't stop the rain
Oh we're a little closer now
And finding what life's all about
Yeah I know you just can't stand it
When things don't go your way
But we've got no control over what happens anyway
If it's gonna be a rainy day
There's nothing we can do to make it change
We can pray for sunny weather
But that won't stop the rain
Feeling like you got no place to run
I can be your shelter 'til it's done
We can make this last forever
So please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Can't stop it no, you can't stop it, just can't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Let it fall, please don't stop the rain
Was it something that I said
Or didn't say this time
And I don't know if it's me or you
But I can see the skies are changing
In all the shades of blue
And I don't know which way it's gonna go
If it's gonna be a rainy day
There's nothing we can do to make it change
We can pray for sunny weather
But that won't stop the rain
Feeling like you got no place to run
I can be your shelter 'til it's done
We can make this last forever
So please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Please don't stop the rain
I thought that time was on our side
I've put in far too many years
To let this pass us by
You see life is a crazy thing
There'll be good time and there'll be bad times
And everything in between
And I don't know which way it's gonna go
If it's gonna be a rainy day
There's nothing we can do to make it change
We can pray for sunny weather
But that won't stop the rain
Feeling like you got no place to run
I can be your shelter 'til it's done
We can make this last forever
So please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Please don't stop the rain
Oh we're a little closer now
And finding what life's all about
Yeah I know you just can't stand it
When things don't go your way
But we've got no control over what happens anyway
If it's gonna be a rainy day
There's nothing we can do to make it change
We can pray for sunny weather
But that won't stop the rain
Feeling like you got no place to run
I can be your shelter 'til it's done
We can make this last forever
So please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Please don't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Can't stop it no, you can't stop it, just can't stop the rain
(Let it fall, let it fall, let it fall)
Let it fall, please don't stop the rain
News of the Day: Bruce Lee Like Strength Without Ever Going to a Gym
Bruce Lee was a paragon of cool and an icon of the ultimate bad-ass. Not only were his martial arts skills incredible, but he had such an impressive physique that even bodybuilders in the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger admired him.What’s more impressive is that Bruce trained his body without ever stepping into a gym and with very little use of weights or machines.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Infiniti Essence Concept: The Spirit Of Breathtaking
The Infiniti Essence Concept made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show recently, and while i'll be the first to admit i'm not usually one to keep up with these kinds of things, this car caught my eye when i saw these pictures.. from some angles, it looks a tad too feminine for my tastes, but who am i kidding? this is still an unbelievably sexy car.. thoughts? (original post)
Friday, March 6, 2009
News of the Day: Interview With Twitter Co-Founder Biz Stone
The Twitter co-founder talks about Obama's social media savvy, what makes someone popular on Twitter, and how people are like birds.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Jamie Foxx ft Teairra Mari, T-Pain - "Blame It (Remix)" Lyrics
came across something on Twitter (yesss!) at 6am today, and it's been on repeat since.. i love the original track w/ Jamie Foxx & T-Pain, but this track's all about TEAIRRA MARI (damn, even her name is sexy) - she gets TWO pictures with this entry plus a mini-writeup, meaning you'll want to remember her name as well as her silky smooth vocals.. first club dj to spin this remix at an event i work at gets major props.
Jamie Foxx ft Teairra Mari, T-Pain - "Blame It (Remix)" Lyrics
Blame it on the Goose (goose)
Got you feeling loose (loose)
Blame it on Petron ('tron)
Got you in the zone (zone)
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the alcohol (fade)
(Verse 1 - Teairra Mari)
i can give it to you hood,
but that ain't the way i look
hold a lemon drop and mix it up with some vodka
i'm for real
thats the team that i drink with
clothes that i tap, worth more than your pink slip
Rose bottles, Petron and the Ace gon follow
love gon regret this tomorrow,
i need a designated driver, i'm lookin for my ride
coz i-i-i-i-i-i-i'm so tipsy,
blame it on the lime green apple martini,
the sippin got me trippin walkin around in my bikini
hot off the shots of Thirteen, boy i'm on the gasoline,
so don't make me make cause a scene, i've been here
i'm all about the Louis, and i ain't talkin bags,
they try take me down, pourin rounds in my glass,
you could see me on the fluid,
got a room and wanna show me to it,
nope, i ain't drunk enough to do it..
(Chorus)
Blame it on the Goose (goose)
Got you feeling loose (loose)
Blame it on Petron ('tron)
Got you in the zone (zone)
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the Vodka
Blame it on the Henny
Blame it on the Blue Tap
Gotcha feeling dizzy
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the alcohol
(Verse 2 - Jamie Foxx)
Oooh, see?
She spilled some drink on me
And now I'm knowing she's tipsy
She put her body on me
And she keep staring me right in my eyes
No telling what I'm gone do
Baby, I would rather show you
What you been missing in your life
When I get inside
(Chorus)
Girl, What ya drinking
Gone let it sink in
Here for the weekend
Thinking, we can
See what we can be if we press fast foward
Just one more round
If you're down, I'm for it
Fill another cup up
Feeling on your butt-What?
You don't even care now
I was unaware
How fine you was before my buzz set in
(My buzz set in)
Blame it on the Goose (goose)
Got you feeling loose (loose)
Blame it on Petron ('tron)
Got you in the zone (zone)
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the Vodka
Blame it on the Henny
Blame it on the Blue Tap
Gotcha feeling dizzy
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the alcohol (fades)
(T-Pain Verse)
Girl I know you feel good
Just like you look
Couple more shots
You open up like a book
I ain't tripping
(Cause I'mma read ya)
I ain't tripping
(I just wanna please ya)
I'mma take a shot of *Nuvo
Shawty didn't you know
It's going down
And we can go and kick it like Judo
You know what I mean
Shawty got drunk, thought it all was a dream
So I made her say, "Ah, Ah, Ah"
Now she got her hands on my legs
Got my seats all wet in my ride
All over my ride
She look me dead in the eye (eye, eye)
Then my pants got bigger
She already knew what the figure
Had her looking at her boyfriend
Like "Fuck that Nigga"
(T-Pain Chorus)
Blame it on the juice
Got you feeling loose
Blame it on Petron
Got you in the zone (zone)
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the Vodka
Blame it on the Henny
Blame it on the Blue Tap
Gotcha feeling dizzy
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the alcohol (fades)
Now to the Ballers popping bottles
With their Henny in they cups
Screaming "Money ain't a thing"
And if it ain't, throw it up
In the sky, Hold your drinks up high
And to the independent Ballers
Who can buy they own bottles
And if you looking like a model
When them broke fellas holla
Tell them bye
And hold ya drinks up high
You can...
Blame it on the Goose (goose)
Got you feeling loose (loose)
Blame it on Petron ('tron)
Got you in the zone (zone)
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the Vodka
Blame it on the Henny
Blame it on the Blue Tap
Gotcha feeling dizzy
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the alcohol (fades)
Got you feeling loose (loose)
Blame it on Petron ('tron)
Got you in the zone (zone)
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the alcohol (fade)
(Verse 1 - Teairra Mari)
i can give it to you hood,
but that ain't the way i look
hold a lemon drop and mix it up with some vodka
i'm for real
thats the team that i drink with
clothes that i tap, worth more than your pink slip
Rose bottles, Petron and the Ace gon follow
love gon regret this tomorrow,
i need a designated driver, i'm lookin for my ride
coz i-i-i-i-i-i-i'm so tipsy,
blame it on the lime green apple martini,
the sippin got me trippin walkin around in my bikini
hot off the shots of Thirteen, boy i'm on the gasoline,
so don't make me make cause a scene, i've been here
i'm all about the Louis, and i ain't talkin bags,
they try take me down, pourin rounds in my glass,
you could see me on the fluid,
got a room and wanna show me to it,
nope, i ain't drunk enough to do it..
(Chorus)
Blame it on the Goose (goose)
Got you feeling loose (loose)
Blame it on Petron ('tron)
Got you in the zone (zone)
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the Vodka
Blame it on the Henny
Blame it on the Blue Tap
Gotcha feeling dizzy
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the alcohol
(Verse 2 - Jamie Foxx)
Oooh, see?
She spilled some drink on me
And now I'm knowing she's tipsy
She put her body on me
And she keep staring me right in my eyes
No telling what I'm gone do
Baby, I would rather show you
What you been missing in your life
When I get inside
(Chorus)
Girl, What ya drinking
Gone let it sink in
Here for the weekend
Thinking, we can
See what we can be if we press fast foward
Just one more round
If you're down, I'm for it
Fill another cup up
Feeling on your butt-What?
You don't even care now
I was unaware
How fine you was before my buzz set in
(My buzz set in)
Blame it on the Goose (goose)
Got you feeling loose (loose)
Blame it on Petron ('tron)
Got you in the zone (zone)
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the Vodka
Blame it on the Henny
Blame it on the Blue Tap
Gotcha feeling dizzy
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the alcohol (fades)
(T-Pain Verse)
Girl I know you feel good
Just like you look
Couple more shots
You open up like a book
I ain't tripping
(Cause I'mma read ya)
I ain't tripping
(I just wanna please ya)
I'mma take a shot of *Nuvo
Shawty didn't you know
It's going down
And we can go and kick it like Judo
You know what I mean
Shawty got drunk, thought it all was a dream
So I made her say, "Ah, Ah, Ah"
Now she got her hands on my legs
Got my seats all wet in my ride
All over my ride
She look me dead in the eye (eye, eye)
Then my pants got bigger
She already knew what the figure
Had her looking at her boyfriend
Like "Fuck that Nigga"
(T-Pain Chorus)
Blame it on the juice
Got you feeling loose
Blame it on Petron
Got you in the zone (zone)
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the Vodka
Blame it on the Henny
Blame it on the Blue Tap
Gotcha feeling dizzy
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the alcohol (fades)
Now to the Ballers popping bottles
With their Henny in they cups
Screaming "Money ain't a thing"
And if it ain't, throw it up
In the sky, Hold your drinks up high
And to the independent Ballers
Who can buy they own bottles
And if you looking like a model
When them broke fellas holla
Tell them bye
And hold ya drinks up high
You can...
Blame it on the Goose (goose)
Got you feeling loose (loose)
Blame it on Petron ('tron)
Got you in the zone (zone)
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the Vodka
Blame it on the Henny
Blame it on the Blue Tap
Gotcha feeling dizzy
Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the alcohol (fades)
News of the Day: 5 Ways That You'll Know the Recession is Over
The measurements of economic health reveal a patient that requires a stint in the I.C.U. and some time to heal. Luckily, the prognosis isn’t terminal. The American economy is resilient, and since the 1960’s economic growth phases have dwarfed periods of recessions.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Thursday, March 5, 2009
A Fine Frenzy - "Almost Lover" Lyrics
Your fingertips across my skin
The palm trees swaying in the wind
Images
You sang me Spanish lullabies
The sweetest sadness in your eyes
Clever trick
Well, I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me
[Chorus]
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
We walked along a crowded street
You took my hand and danced with me
Images
And when you left, you kissed my lips
You told me you would never, never forget
These images
Well, I'd never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me
[Chorus]
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
So you're gone and I'm haunted
And I bet you are just fine
Did I make it that
Easy to walk right in and out
Of my life?
[Chorus]
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should have known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
The palm trees swaying in the wind
Images
You sang me Spanish lullabies
The sweetest sadness in your eyes
Clever trick
Well, I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me
[Chorus]
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
We walked along a crowded street
You took my hand and danced with me
Images
And when you left, you kissed my lips
You told me you would never, never forget
These images
Well, I'd never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me
[Chorus]
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
So you're gone and I'm haunted
And I bet you are just fine
Did I make it that
Easy to walk right in and out
Of my life?
[Chorus]
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should have known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
Brad & Angelina - '60s Photoshoot by Steven Klein
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie collaborated with photographer Steven Klein to create this 1960’s editorial for W magazine, The shoot took place in Palm Springs while starring in Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
..guess which one's my favourite? lolNews of the Day: Sex party swingers riot over clothed guest at nudist colony
A TOURIST who refused to take his clothes off at a swinger sex party has been blamed for "a mini-riot" at a north Queensland nudist colony.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
The Twitter Experiment vs. the Digg Experience // 03.05.09 Update
i've been fascinated/obsessed with social web media for a few years now.. and it'd be easy to rationalize my involvement with sites like Myspace & Facebook simply as necessary internet marketing, but it goes a lot deeper than that.. more than anything, i love observing and hopefully being able to understand/predict trends with these sites.. i find that being a successful entrepreneur simply comes down to understanding people vs. situations, and understand how different demographics consume & utilize the internet is a huge part of that nowadays.
my best friend (who helps me with most of my endeavours) complained that lots of these new services confused the expletive out of her.. well, my response is that the complexicity of the current social web media matrix can only be matched by the increasing complexicity of our social networks.. take me for example, albeit probably a rather unsual one:
as a photographer, i promote & work at club events every weekend.. during the week, i do shoots for various clients and a whole slew of glamour models in various cities.. from time to time, i dabble with web design and small-business consultation when close friends ask for favours and refer me to select clients.. last but not least, i used to be heavily involved with music.. so as it stands, i have a pretty large network that ranges from 19-24 yr olds (mostly local students, some young professionals) who come out to our events, 16-50 yr old males & 14-24 yr old females all over Canada who follow my models & my photography work, a relatively small number of local business owners in drastically different industries, and then a relatively small but passionate group of supporters spread all over the world who've followed me since the days of PRIZM (from 2003-2005).. with that in mind, think about how i'd utilize the web as a publisher.
on a personal level, i'm extremely passionate about both basketball & music - i'm an avid listener of everything from Das Efx to Warren G to Nas to Lil Wayne and i've grown to love everything from Daft Punk to Radiohead to Jason Mraz to mstrkrft.. i've also developed an interest in personal well-being and general health of late..with this in mind, think about how i'd spent my time on the internet as a consumer.
you get the picture. everyone's different, yet as all of our lives become busier, we all still strive to connect with one another more than ever. as a medium, social web media can help publishers reach their respective audiences effectively while helping consumers find exactly what their looking for efficiently - THAT is the power of web 2.0.
at the forefront of the maelstrom that has become the global social web media scene are Twitter & Digg, two completely different services that i've grown particularly fond of..
Twitter is a micro-blogging service that lets users stay connected with their friends through the exchange of quick 140-character-or-less answers to one simple question: what are you doing? i paraphrased that from their introductory statement, but i won't lie - when i first came across that, i thought Twitter would be pretty stupid. i mean, who really needs to know when someone has a ham sandwich, or is buying a newspaper at the convenience store? isn't Facebook bad enough with its onslaught of mundane status updates?! but, the more i read about Twitter, the more value i began to see in it, and then i decided to give it a chance.. like any service or tool, it's all about how you use it. Twitter forces the average user to listen as much as they talk to get the most out of it, which is a refreshing change. i have a fair bit of appreciation for it right now and i've genuinely liked it thus far - i just wish i'd kept my blackberry instead of stubbornly reverting back to my crappy phone coz i liked how small/invinceable it is.. lol.
as for Digg, it is "a place for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the web. From the biggest online destinations to the most obscure blog, Digg surfaces the best stuff as voted on by our users. You won’t find editors at Digg — we’re here to provide a place where people can collectively determine the value of content and we’re changing the way people consume information online." pretty refreshing idea, and even if it might not be the only service around that subscribes to that notion, i think Digg does the best job of it. with Digg, users are able to keep up with news, images and videos that are relevant to them, whatever their tastes.. for me, i like staying informed on issues i'm interested in while keeping my nose clear of the irrelevance that floods most news networks, so Digg's a perfect fit..
in conclusion - it's ALL about how you use social media to enrich your life. if you're stupid about it, yes - these sites become quite the timesuck and you probably won't get what you'd like out of either.. after all, when you're a hammer, everything you see becomes a nail ;)
8:09am, a day in the life..
you guessed it - this picture has nothing to do with the article. LOL
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
News of the Day: Facebook's Response To Twitter
Facebook made a number of announcements today about changes to its home page, profile pages, and activity streams. Taken together, these represent a concerted response to the rise of Twitter as a real-time message broadcasting system that goes beyond members’ personal circle of friends.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
P. Diddy ft Usher, Loon - "I Need a Girl (Pt I)" Lyrics
(Chorus: Usher)
I need a girl, to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl, to make my wife
I need a girl, who's mine, all mine
I need a girl, in my life
(P. Diddy)
Yo, I'm Internationally known, on the microphone
I got it all, but I really need a wife, at home
I don't really like the zone, never spend the night alone
I got a few, you would like to bone, but
chicks that romance me, don't tickle my fancy
boning, Tiffany, Nancy, that's not what my plans be
need a girl, that can 'stand me, raise me a family
go from trips to DeLancy, to trips to the Grammy's, cause
most of these girls, be confusing me, I don't know, if they really love me
or they using me, maybe it's the money, or maybe you ain't used to me
cause you was depressed, and now, you abusin' me
that's why, I need me a girl, that be true to me
know bout' the game, and know how it do to me
without a girl, on my side, sh*t'll ruin me
forget the world, girl it's you and me, now let's ride
(Chorus: Usher)
I need a girl, to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl, to make my wife
I need a girl, who's mine, all mine
I need a girl, in my life
I need a girl, to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl, to be my wife
nobody else, she's all mine
I need a girl, in my life
(Loon)
Yo, yo, I done met a lot of women, in my lifetime
but see, it's not a lot of women, that got the right mind
I done had pretty chicks, wit' all the right features
and hood-rat chicks, that only rock sneakers
cell-phones and beepers, and know how to treat ya'
you break her heart, she'll walk out, and leave ya'
I find a girl, Im a keep her, cause know I'm getting money
and the game getting deeper, yo' on some real sh*t
I need somebody, I can chill wit', I need somebody, I can build wit'
I need somebody, I can hold tight, wintertime, and the full-length's
snow-white, anytime, we together, feels so right
you the girl, I been looking for, my whole life
God blessed me, I'm glad I got the insight
because of you girl, now I understand life, I need a girl
(Chorus: Usher)
I need a girl, to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl, to make my wife
I need a girl, who's mine, all mine
I need a girl, in my life
I need a girl, to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl, to be my wife
nobody else, she's all mine
I need a girl, in my life
(P. Diddy)
I had a girl, that would a died for me (died for me)
Didn't appreciate her, so i made her cry for me (cry for me)
everynight, she had tears in her eyes for me (eyes for me)
caught a case, shorty took the whole ride for me (ride for me)
at first, we were friends, then became lovers
you was more than my girl, we was like brothers
all night, we would play fight, undercovers
now you gone (now it's gone, gone, gone, gone)
can't love you, like I really wanna
but everytime, I think about, your pretty smile
and how we used to drive, the whole city wild
damn, I wish you would've, had my child, a pretty little girl
wit' Diddy style
this sh*t is wild, all them days, that I reminisce
about the way, I used to kiss, them pretty lips
but as long as you happy
I'm a tell you this, I love you girl
and you're the one, that I will always miss
I love you, yeah (I need a girl)
(Chorus: Usher)
I need a girl, to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl, to make my wife
I need a girl, who's mine, all mine
I need a girl, in my life
(P. Diddy)
Yo, I'm Internationally known, on the microphone
I got it all, but I really need a wife, at home
I don't really like the zone, never spend the night alone
I got a few, you would like to bone, but
chicks that romance me, don't tickle my fancy
boning, Tiffany, Nancy, that's not what my plans be
need a girl, that can 'stand me, raise me a family
go from trips to DeLancy, to trips to the Grammy's, cause
most of these girls, be confusing me, I don't know, if they really love me
or they using me, maybe it's the money, or maybe you ain't used to me
cause you was depressed, and now, you abusin' me
that's why, I need me a girl, that be true to me
know bout' the game, and know how it do to me
without a girl, on my side, sh*t'll ruin me
forget the world, girl it's you and me, now let's ride
(Chorus: Usher)
I need a girl, to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl, to make my wife
I need a girl, who's mine, all mine
I need a girl, in my life
I need a girl, to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl, to be my wife
nobody else, she's all mine
I need a girl, in my life
(Loon)
Yo, yo, I done met a lot of women, in my lifetime
but see, it's not a lot of women, that got the right mind
I done had pretty chicks, wit' all the right features
and hood-rat chicks, that only rock sneakers
cell-phones and beepers, and know how to treat ya'
you break her heart, she'll walk out, and leave ya'
I find a girl, Im a keep her, cause know I'm getting money
and the game getting deeper, yo' on some real sh*t
I need somebody, I can chill wit', I need somebody, I can build wit'
I need somebody, I can hold tight, wintertime, and the full-length's
snow-white, anytime, we together, feels so right
you the girl, I been looking for, my whole life
God blessed me, I'm glad I got the insight
because of you girl, now I understand life, I need a girl
(Chorus: Usher)
I need a girl, to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl, to make my wife
I need a girl, who's mine, all mine
I need a girl, in my life
I need a girl, to ride, ride, ride
I need a girl, to be my wife
nobody else, she's all mine
I need a girl, in my life
(P. Diddy)
I had a girl, that would a died for me (died for me)
Didn't appreciate her, so i made her cry for me (cry for me)
everynight, she had tears in her eyes for me (eyes for me)
caught a case, shorty took the whole ride for me (ride for me)
at first, we were friends, then became lovers
you was more than my girl, we was like brothers
all night, we would play fight, undercovers
now you gone (now it's gone, gone, gone, gone)
can't love you, like I really wanna
but everytime, I think about, your pretty smile
and how we used to drive, the whole city wild
damn, I wish you would've, had my child, a pretty little girl
wit' Diddy style
this sh*t is wild, all them days, that I reminisce
about the way, I used to kiss, them pretty lips
but as long as you happy
I'm a tell you this, I love you girl
and you're the one, that I will always miss
I love you, yeah (I need a girl)
(Chorus: Usher)
News of the Day: Three MySpace Executives Departing To Start New Company
A leaked memo states three executives at MySpace are leaving the company to form their own startup, led by COO Amit Kapur. He will be joined by senior VP of technology Jim Benedetto and and senior VP of product strategy Steve Pearman.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
News of the Day: US Oil Demand Hits Lowest Point in Decade
US oil demand in December was revised down by 4.0 percent from an early estimate to a final number of 19.199 million barrels per day. US oil demand for 2008 was down 6.1 percent, or 1.261 million bpd lower, to 19.419 million bpd, compared with 2007, the lowest yearly demand level since 1998, the EIA said.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
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