A Web 2.0 find...

So, while surfing around the Web trying to find some bookmarks for our project, I found this e-book.  The e-book is completely free and it is on iCrossing.  It is called "What is Social Media?" by Antony Mayfield.

This is a really cool e-book, which I started reading, and it includes information about blogging, wikis, forums, microblogging, Second Life and other social medias.  I think it is a great e-book to use in class because it is easy to read. Mayfield updates his e-book, so his recent versions are also found on iCrossing.

I really like some of the quotes he uses in the book.  From the Forrester Research, Social Computing, "Social computing is not a fad.  Nor is it something that will pass you or your company by.  Gradually, social computing will impact almost every role, at every kind of company, in all parts of the world."  It is really cool how true this is.  Social media has affected every role in the company, especially the public relations sector.

I hope you guys read this, it is really interesting.  Maybe you could use this for next semester's class Dr. Weisgerber!

A web video reality

Our class assignment was to make our first web video!  It was a fun assignment and I must admit I had a mini meltdown.  We had to choose a social issue and make a 30-60 second web video/PSA about your topic.  We could use humor if it were appropriate, so I chose to take a funny route.  My web video is about the dangers of reality dating shows.  I used Jumpcut to make this video, which worked really well with everything I had to do.  I was using a different application but found it very difficult at the end, hence my meltdown, and decided to try Jumpcut instead.  It was a perfect match!

I hope you guys like my web video!

Want some Pork and Beans?

I don't know how many Weezer fans we have in the blogosphere, but their song "Pork and Beans" is AWESOME!  This week we have been talking a lot about "viral videos" and I think Weezer's "Pork and Beans" fits our discussions greatly!

According to Wikipedia, Rivers Cuomo wrote this song in response to Geffen's request to make Weezer's music more commercial. He was so angry, he was inspired to write this hit song.  The lyrics reflected this discontent with the "commercial" request:

I'ma do the things that I want to do

I ain't got no

thing to prove to you.

I'll eat my candy with the pork and beans

Excuse my manners if I make a scene.

I ain't gonna wear the clothes that you like

I'm fine and dandy with the me inside.

One look in the mirror and I'm tickled pink

I don't give a hoot about what you think.

To match the request of record  executives, the music video captivated this "commercialness".  The video features countless "YouTube celebrities".  Many of the viral videos you have seen have made it into this video to represent the concept of being "commercial".  It really goes to show that people to pay attention to viral videos, even Weezer.  Enjoy watching Chris Crocker, Gary Brolsma, Matt McAllister, Caitlin Upton,  Eepy Bird's Mento and Diet Coke Experiment and the Dancing Banana from Peanut Butter Jelly Time. 

Enjoy!