"A father passing by his son's bedroom, was astonished to see the bed
was nicely made, and that everything was picked up and tidy.
Then, he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow. It was addressed,
'Dad.'" - Alejandro S. via Bookmarklet
have a hald a mind to get my good friends kid (whose 17yrs) to write this note and leave for his Dad.. and then video dad read the note ..hilarious :)- - Peter Dawson
"We’ve compiled a list of some of the craziest, bizarre and most aesthetically-pleasing potties you’ll encounter." - Alejandro S. via Bookmarklet
The particular one shown above is pretty gross. No way I could use it unless it was night and no one was around. I hate having others around me when... - Raoul Pop
It's another balmy weekend on the beach in Naples. By the rocks, a couple soak up the southern Italian sun. A few metres away, their feet poking from under beach towels that cover their faces and bodies, lie two drowned Roma children. - Alejandro S.
"Cloud Gate is a public sculpture by Anish Kapoor in Millennium Park, Chicago. The sculpture is shaped like an ellipse, and its legume-like appearance has caused it to be nicknamed “The Bean”. It is made of 168 highly polished stainless steel plates, and stands at 33 feet high, 66 feet long, and 42 feet wide, weighing 110 tons." - Alejandro S. via Bookmarklet
Liked the piece Steven. I think there's more mainstream potential than you do. Commented on the blog. - Hutch Carpenter
Steven!!! Funny, I just did a Qik video about comment duplication and Kevin Fox stuff and it hits on this big time. FriendFeed needs a new UI. I keep trying to spread it and I keep getting pushback I never got with Twitter. The people who run FriendFeed aren't delivering noise-reducing tools, either, and insist that the noise is good (duplication from one micro-node of friends to another). I don't think they've done research with real users. - Robert Scoble
FF should steal some ideas from Digg on commenting. It should also steal some of Digg's recommendation features. I think an interesting addition would be to have most popular threads and discussions for the global FF network, among other types of recommendations. - Charles Ju
Fragmentation and duplication are serious ills of FF - oh how I wish we could tag a conversation so we could have unified conversations around a topic; but just think how LONG the comment thread would be...wow. Rich convo but too long?! - Susan Beebe
Robert, you "don't think" Kevin's done user research, or you asked him and he told you he didn't? Kevin, what do you say? - Jason Wehmhoener
I agree with Robert, Friendfeed needs a new UI if it wants to go mainstream. Maybe some sort of homepage like the new facebook profile. More noise-reductions tool would be good too. - Alejandro S.
Well, considering most people I talk to still wont use a feed reader, you may be right. I think part of the mainstream problem is that there are so many different services out there and friendfeed can potentially pull all of it together for them. For me, I want to be able to read blog posts, shared google reader items, digg articles, etc right here, I mean heck - there's an awful lot of screen real estate there to the right-hand side....let's have some AJAX-y fetching going on of the actual content. - Rob Neville
I think you're incorrect, Robert: mainstream people are not as interconnected as people are in early adopter communities. I think Kevin's got a point: let's say you remove the early adopter audience. Do you think one person's friends really cares what you, or me, or potentially 50 to 100 strangers think about something? They care about what they're friends are doing. Just look to real world examples: not every social event is open to any stranger coming in off the street. So why would you expect that's wanted online? When you approach people outside of people like us, to try to stay connectd with 100, 500, 1000, or 10,000 people is absurd: how could you possibly interact with that many people substantively on a regular basis? It's dangerous to try to extrapolate user testing out of how we use it. We're abnormal. - Mark Trapp
To my point, I really don't care that 500 other strangers shared a story, or that there were 80 comments with people I don't know talking about it. I care about the people I'm following. I want to have a discussion with people I care about, not strangers. I think the reshare and fragmentation facilitates that. If say, James Ferguson shared a story, I'm interested in that, because it tells me more about him. Even if Mashable or you or whomever picked it up first: that's not interesting in and of itself. The fact that it's a piece of content AND my friend shared it comprises the total value of it. I think what'd be more useful for people is what was talked about a few months ago: prioritization or friend groups, so you can focus on different types of people. You touched a little on that in your Qik video, Robert. - Mark Trapp
well then we need a feature that locks out superconnectors who have, say, more than 50 friends. Or at least locks them out for, say, a day so that a micronode conversation can happen first. - Robert Scoble
I was watching Michael Arington's Stanford Startup School presentation and I think a good point he made was that after your site gets to critical mass, the comments start to become trolly and the community loses its close connection. I can foresee this being a huge problem for FF as it grows. - Charles Ju
Robert, maybe even if there was a way for the content producer to say "Do not allow friend of friend on this post." So, it becomes sorta like an on-demand private feed. You can still see it, but your like and your comment doesn't expose it to 15,000 other people. And of course, there'd be some visual indicator: could even use the lock icon like it does for full private feeds. - Mark Trapp
Mark: point taken...I suppose what I was getting at, although not articulating quite well now that I read it again is that I think the key for taking FF beyond us abnormal folks is to make it a one-stop-shop to remove the confusion of so many social interactivity services and feed readers, etc. I think FF has the capacity to do that with some tweaks. - Rob Neville
I agree with you Robert Neville; I apologize, my response was directed towards Robert Scoble. There's a few assumptions that I think we take for granted that's lost on most people: 1) privacy is an illusion, 2) we're all interconnected, 3) we spend an acceptably large amount of time online. No matter how true those sound to us, for most people, there's a lot of pushback. Which is why, when Facebook goes crazy with the privacy restrictions, we go "what the hell" when the rest of the world goes "thank god." So I think anything that appeals to privacy, close networks, and saving a person's time online is going to go over hugely with mainstream people. I think to ignore one for the sake of another is the wrong way to approach it. - Mark Trapp
I think Kevin (and FF as a whole) is correct in realizing the value of fragmented conversations. The issue here is that super-connectors with 20K subscribers are bound to expose those fragmented conversations (that otherwise would go unnoticed by the masses, as intended) quite often - all they need to do is 'Like' whatever random item that shows up in their feed. Not only that - super-connectors also appear to be mega-likers, which contributes to the "problem". And of course, it doesn't help that new users are being presented with such super-connectors immediately upon sign-up - I don't think it's good in the long-run. - Aviv
Best two lines in this conversation: "We're abnormal" [Mark Trapp] & "we need a feature that locks out superconnectors" [Robert Scoble]. The rest is just noise. :P - Brian Daniel Eisenberg
a more compelling UI would truly elevate FF...but then, that could be said about many Web apps - .LAG
on the contrary, i would much rather have a service that is up and running all the time than a fancy prettified site that is virtually useless. the past few days, facebook has crashed my browser SO many times, the only time i go on is via phone. myspace? every since their overhaul i NEVER go there anymore - Mona N
I actually like the FF interface in its current form. It's lightning fast ( damn facebook is getting irritatingly slower these days ) and its UI is simple much more Googlesque. It's quite unique that its social graph is not bi-directional (like many other social networks), and it gives me tons of useful links and is gradually becoming where i come for personalized information discovery. I agree it needs some UI improvements, for eg; one of my pet peeves is that i cannot restrictively post/comment so that only my friends or Fof can view my posts. That said I see FF going past facebook within a year :) and becoming the most useful social network out there. - Krishna Gade
Friendfeed will go mainstream when the applications that fuel it go mainstream (which might be a while). Whoever mentioned that people don't even get feed readers was right. Even among tech-savvy types (non-web), concepts like RSS and Social Bookmarking are still completely foreign. - Steve Spalding
*sigh* niche tools are so important both digitally and in meatspace - why does everything need to become mainstream to be viewed as a success - the majority of businesses and products in the world would be considered niche and in aggregate far out weight the aggregate of what would be considered mainstream - no disrespect to you steve for writing this post but anytime i see "this will never be mainstream" sentiments i can't help but think that its a myopic view - mike "glemak" dunn
FF depends on a whole lot of users using open services like Twitter Flickr etc. I know no one outside of tech who uses them. Most people are locked into the privacy world view and wouldn't dream of openly sharing their stuff. FF is SV/tech niche only. Sadly......... - Sean Kelly
The well rounded website is the weakest specialist. Why try to be all things to all people with mediocre success? - Geoff Schultz
I feel really stupid because I cannot figure out this picture. I've been staring at it for a full 2 or 3 minutes and FINALLY got it. DUH. - Trish Robinson
No matter what they say, No it ain't that way, Ain't nobody humpin' around... - John Worthington
There's something not right about that picture. :) - David Risley
Mona, nope. I'm POSITIVE either Naor or Orli said that you can only get to Toys R Us by camel in Israel. Which is too bad, since camels do NOT smell pretty. And they spit, IIRC from my one camel ride. - Cyndy
Are you serious?! I'm going to ask them to blog about STAT. Man I love the internet!! - Mona N
Joel and Ian Gold, brothers and psychiatrists from Montreal, believe they have discovered a signature mental illness of the YouTube era: patients who claim they are subjects of their own reality TV shows. - Alejandro S.
On his nationally syndicated radio show, Michael Savage claimed that autism is "[a] fraud, a racket. ... I'll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out. That's what autism is." - Alejandro S.
“Is there no one more interesting than Mike Arrington? FriendFeed tells me I find him most interesting. Louis Gray is still #2. Who is your most interesting FF'er according to FF stats?”
People I find interesting
Robert Scoble
Thomas Hawk
Steve Rubel
Scott Beale
Shey
Louis Gray
popurls
Leo Laporte
Kevin Rose
michael arrington - Andrew Smith
Says I find Chris Pirillo and Mona tied. It's definitely right, I am a big fan of Chris. - Michael Narciso via NoiseRiver
Louis Gray, You, T. Hawk, Queen of Spain, Hutch, Shey, Michael May, Technosailor, Tac Anderson and Michael Fruchter - although I have a feeling if Mona N keeps it up she may make the list soon - the expected camera phone pic of her in the emergency room with her fist in her mouth will probably be the tipping point ; ) - Marco
Louis is my #1, followed by Steven Hodson - Colin Walker
@steppek, @thomashawk, @scobleizer in that order. - Mike Wills
I'm not even following Mike Arrington ;) - Colin Walker
Mike is not in my list. Mine begins like Marco's: Louis Gray, Robert Scoble and T. Hawk. - Alejandro S.
Louis Gray, Robert Scoble, Dave Winer, Corvida, Caroline (Vixy), Steven Hodson, Bwana McCall, Andy C, Susan Reynolds, Erin Kotecki Vest (Queenofspain). - Ontario Emperor
I'm sorry to say this here, I swear I'm not showing off, but NoiseRiver tells you for real if someone may interest YOU! :) - directeur via NoiseRiver
I need web stats to tell me who's interesting? - Michael Markman
People you find interesting
Duncan Riley
Louis Gray
michael arrington
Robert Scoble
Charlie Anzman
Chris Baskind
MG Siegler
Paul Buchheit
Mark Trapp
Kevin Hessel - AJ Kohn
I have a close one but, Scoble wins for #1 spot today. My own boyfriend comes in second. Oh dear. - Candace Holly
Muhammad Saleem, you Mr. Scoble, Jeremiah Owyang, MG Siegler and Duncan are my most interesting. - Ben Parr
Numbers 1,2 and 3:Thomas Hawk, Scott Bourne and Robert Scoble but It's a close race. - Bob
Robert Scoble, Paul Buchheit, Steven Hodson, michael arrington, Duncan Riley, MG Siegler, April Buchheit, Benjamin Golub, Frederic, Bret Taylor - Louis Gray
Thomas Hawk by far, but Mona N. is catching up - Justin Korn
Louis is way ahead of the rest , Corvida, Steve Rubel and Scoble are fighting for being the second best - Dobromir Hadzhiev
Edythe, T Hawk, L Gray, Scoble, Emporer, Patton, Rubel, Covida, McCall and Arrington. - Russellreno
You, then Chris Pirillo, Duncan Riley, Louis Grey, and someone who has apparently blocked me -- the wretched bastard! ;-) - Chris Baskind
Louis Gray, Robert Scoble, l0ckergn0me, Steve Rubel, Steven Hodson, Dave Winer, Loic Le Meur, Charlie Anzman, Shey (although this list tends to change fairly frequently) - Duncan Riley
my top five, in order: edythe, Dave Winer, Scott Beale, Duncan Riley, Robert Scoble. Wow, edythe is my #1!! - Anthony Citrano
Michelle Miller, edythe, Mona N, Ryne Nelson, Erin Kotecki Vest - Roger Benningfield
Louis Gray, Robert Scoble, Steve Rubel, Brad Coy - Morgan
Edythe, Sacca, Paul Buchheit, hunter walk, Ginger Makela, RAPatton, Dick, Russellreno, Louis Gray, Mitchell Tsai. - Casey
Mine is (heh) Kevin Rose, then Alex Albrecht. Hmm? This doesn't surprise me whatsoever. - Lise
You are my most interesting person according to FF, but I'm a new member so that could change... - Brian Wilson
Mine are: Louis Gray, Paul Buchheit, Eric Eldon, Frederic, Robert Scoble, Scott Beale, Bret Taylor, Steve Rubel, Jess Lee, Steven Hodson - MG Siegler
Mine is an interesting mix of photography and tech. In order: Thomas Hawk, Louis Gray, JA Castillo, Brian Auer, Mathias Pastwa, Robert Scoble, Eric, Raoul Pop, directeur, Chris Nixon - Michael Hocter
edythe, ontario emperor, cecily walker, RAPatton, and Kyle Hebert. - Jason Toney
l0ckergn0me,ijustine, Veronica, and Robert Scoble are my main interests according to FriendFeed. :) - Daynah
I've realised I can't possibly do justice in a finite list, But; three people whose stuff I can't ignore: Karim, Edythe, Thomas Hawk. - Parth Awasthi
My top 5 (according to FF stats): Louis Gray, Steven Hodson, Robert Scoble, Colin Walker, and Jeremiah Owyang - Mark Dykeman
Steve Rubel, l0ckergn0me, Robert Scoble, Tad Donaghe, Duncan Riley - Richard Bradshaw
In order: Robert Scoble, Steve Rubel, Louis Gray, Jeremiah Owyang, Michael Arrington, edythe, mrsth, Michael Gartenberg, Dave Winer, Scott Beale - Thomas Hawk
My top 4: Robert Scoble
Louis Gray
michael arrington
Bret Taylor - Alex Hammer
(1) Robert Scoble (2) Louis Gray (3) Thomas Hawk (4) edythe (5) Corvida (6) Michael Arrington (7) Paul Buchheit (8) Hutch Carpenter - Mitchell Tsai
In what likely is the last big showdown between President Bush and congressional Democrats over the popular Medicare health care program, the U.S. Congress on Tuesday voted to override his veto of a bill to keep doctors' payments from being slashed. - Alejandro S.
"What would we do without memorable quotes to express our otherwise bottled up emotions? We might, for instance, have to actually ask for a raise rather than scream "Show me the money!" at our bosses. However, even though we use them so often, those movie quotes we hear repeated ad nauseum frequently aren't the real quotes at all. Years of repetition have turned them into easily recognizable, but inaccurate, misquotes. And none are more often mistaken than these 8 classics." - Alejandro S. via Bookmarklet
The outcome — a severe setback for the government of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner — was uncertain to the very end, when Vice President Julio Cobos cast a tie-breaking vote to end a 36-36 deadlock between opponents and supporters of the legislation. - Alejandro S.
@Raoul - my sleep habits were destroyed at an early age. For a long time I ran on 4-5 hours all the time and just got used to it. Lately, I hit the bed around 1am and am up for 6:30 or so and it's just right. If I go to bed at say, 10pm, I will toss and turn until 1am, so what's the use? ;-) - cmiper
6-8 usually right in the middle. I can go a few nights in a row with less, but I think I need about 6 or 7 consistently or I get inefficient in work. Basically, it's better for me to drop work (or whatever) and sleep then struggle thru it, i'm just plain gunna do it better (and faster) with sleep. 8 is a lucky night. - Kate Brodock via twhirl
Can't you find out just by checking each user's FriendFeed activity, between last activity of the previous night and first the next morning? :-) - Louis Gray
I think most people who are active in social media sleep less than the recommended amount, however, other factors may influence the numbers everyone is sharing - Julian Baldwin
3-6 hrs during the week, I try and catch up on Shabbos. I do like Dani's comment about trying to grab full rem cycles. - Mathew A. Koeneker
the 90 minute thing really works. I get pretty braindead on just 6 hours so I need a biggie to sort myself out. Like squeeze in a 12er on the weekend to defrag. - Toby Graham
Used to be 7 hours. Now days 5-6 hours because of working on the web app.. - Leon Ho
"This just goes to show that the idea that every person in the world has a twin out there also applies to furry things… well, sort of…" - Alejandro S. via Bookmarklet
for Google Maps there are plenty of places that are off-limits. Whether it’s due to government restrictions, personal-privacy lawsuits or mistakes, Google Maps has slapped a "Prohibited" sign on the following 51 places. - Alejandro S.
