Guide to pants off living
November 2004
Socialize
Monday, 29 November 2004
Okay, so now I'm really interested. Social Software huh; while scanning the newest meme collection on the block. I stumbled over the Two Pieces That Social Software Must Have.
This is a pretty thoughful consideration of the different ingredients that combine to make social software work.
For me it's another summation of the power of the Wiki. I wonder what would happen if some of the sites I have worked on this year were handed over, even partially, to the communities / audiences, they are built to serve.
What would they look like? What kind of direction would they take? What kind of discussions would take place there?
It would take a lot of courage to hand even one of those websites over to their audience. I'm so curious though, what kinda' monster would it become.
Posted by travo at 9:15:20 PM | Comments (1)
43 Things
Thursday, 25 November 2004
So check it out, this is a really neat social experiment - 43 Things. You can create and save a list of 43 things you want to do with your life. If you keep hittin' the old refresh button you can see the list as compiled by other visitors.
It's kinda neat in that those things which are included on other peoples list are larger than other items in the list. In fact there seems to be some kinda sizing ratio which is determined by the items popularity among the lists. Cool. Does that make sense?
I'm really diggin' these kinda clever little social experiments. If you know of other nifty little sampling type thingies - let me know.
Posted by travo at 3:53:27 PM
Konfabulate This
Monday, 22 November 2004
Considering what Adam Greenfield had to say about the wonders of Konfabulator - it won't come as a surprise to me if in in 6-12 months time, the people I work for won't be screaming for something like this of their own that they can ram down peoples throats.
At the moment I am very "meh" about these kinds of things too. As a geek I'm more excited about things like Gallery, but I guess not everyone has their own domain and website as I do, he says boasting like a twit. Gallery is a great piece of software, with many great features, but unless you're enarmoured with a few clues you're going to head to places like Flickr to upload and share your photo's. It makes sense. In time, Flickr may become a trusted brand like Google. Maybe.
It's easy to see how people gravitate to these kinds of places. To my mind it also illustrates word of mouth on the internet. If the people say it's good, then it must be good. Mustn't it? 500,000 users can't be wrong. Can they?
Still, I just don't get Konfabulator. It's just a little too gimmicky. Most of the useful stuff that I can see that it does, I can do with my browser. Weather; "Meh". Dictionary; "Meh". Lookup Movies; "Meh". Should I remind you? - Firefox rocks. Keywords people, keywords.
Posted by travo at 10:15:54 PM
The Navigation Paradox
Saturday, 20 November 2004
This is not about men or women. It's about living within the square or living with your ideological pants off.
Today, I had to drive to a street in Clifton Hill which I hadn't been before. I had been to Clifton Hill before. In fact I had even been in that part of Clifton Hill. But I hadn't been to that street.
I expected that once I kinda got us near Clifton Hill my navigator would be able to pick up on what was going on and get us to our destination. I was being pants off. I knew that we'd get there, just not exactly in the most direct and efficient way. Being the weekend, I was in an especially pants off mood.
Unfortunately, this aggravated my navigator. She was frustrated that I'd decided to even consider the map. She wasn't prepared to remove her pants. There were harsh words spoken.
Being pants off embraces all that is casual, relaxed, free and easy. It is about improvisation, adaptability and overcoming obstacles. Thinking outside of conventional paradigms. What I neglected was that they key to being pants off, is ensuring that ones companions are as relaxed and stupidly happy as you are.
Therein lies the challenge.
When people aren't prepared to remove their pants, you must be prepared to at least help to ease them into something more comfortable.
Happy days.
Posted by travo at 7:01:00 PM
Talkback gene now mature
Friday, 19 November 2004
I'm now quite happily into my thirties. Great. Gradually though, I have been developing (and finding it harder to resist) a desire to call in to talk back radio.
Believe me I've always enjoyed listening to radio. Mind you though, it's only been in the last few years that I've been happy to listen to full-on talk back radio. I mean seriously, only the nerdiest of kids listen to John Faine.
What's up with this? I'm finding it hard to control the urge to pick up the phone and call the radio station. Am I lonely? Do I just want someone to talk to?
No.
Am I senile, crazed, delusional; do I just want to have a rant?
No. I now have a weblog for that. Yay.
I guess it's only a few more years before the Bingo gene kicks in and I'll be down at the local town hall, cigarette in hand, half a lamington stuck to my face, pants soiled, waiting for my numbers to line up.
Posted by travo at 9:31:02 AM | Comments (1)
Welcome, would all attendees please remove their pants
Thursday, 18 November 2004
Welcome, this is my 'blog. In time the true message will reveal itself to be nothing but the ravings of a deluded young man. In the mean time, sit back and enjoy the chaos that will be the guide to pants off living.
Posted by travo at 9:27:48 PM | Comments (1)