Archives
You are looking at the Web Snark archive
Ben Brown on Content Distribution
Ben Brown’s long post on YouTube, Google and content distribution contains this gem of a line:
All of a sudden, the hammer is demanding part ownership of the birdhouse I used it to build.
Ben’s been on fire lately. His post about Facebook and the stupidity of crowds is worth a read as well.
Written by Mike Monteiro on January 11, 2008 | 
Facebook, you owe me one Christmas Present.
Last Saturday I went to the movies with friends. I purchased my tickets on Fandango. That last sentence is important, or rather; the fact that I’ve decided to tell you that is important. Because where I spend my money is my business, and what I spend my money on is also my business. Unless of course, I choose to tell you.
That’s a really important distinction.
As I was wrapping up my transaction a pane popped up and made some mention of Facebook and tickets and Beowulf. I didn’t pay much attention as I was running out the door.
But today I decided to buy a video game for my son. For Christmas. You know—a secret gift kinda thing. Again, I get the pane pop up from Facebook.
At no point did either Fandango or Gamefly notify me that they’d be sharing this info with any other site. I was informed after the information had been passed.
So then I go to Facebook and my transactions are listed out for everyone to see. Without my permission. This is what I see:
I click on the privacy settings and find nothing except too many bizarre sliders. Reading around I discover that the only way to turn this off is at the site of origin. Once again; you only find out the site of origin is using this AFTER your information has been passed.
There are things I’m fine sharing with you lovely people and things I’m not. I need to be able to choose what those things are.
Some people would consider this ‘conversational marketing’. It’s not. If Mrs. Kravitz is peeking at me from across the streets through the blinds and then running to her neighbor to give her an update that doesn’t mean Mrs. Kravits and I are having a conversation. It means she’s eavesdropping on my business.
And Facebook, you owe my son a Christmas present.
Written by Mike Monteiro on November 20, 2007 with 15 comments |
The Record and The Bet
Six years ago Jeff Veen and I made a bet on whether Barry Bonds would break Hank Aaron’s home run record. The loser of the bet had to attend a Giants’ game in a dress. Jeff lost.
To his utmost credit; he is a man of his word! And for this we applaud and honor him. We also want him to look his best that evening. I know NOTHING about dresses so please help me out and suggest something nice for him to wear.
Feel free to add your helpful suggestions to this group.
Oh hey! I made a paper doll to be EXTRA helpful! You’re welcome, Jeff.
Written by Mike Monteiro on August 8, 2007 with 3 comments |
Signal To Noise
There used to be too few places on the internet that pointed to many good things; now there are too many places all pointing to the same few things.
(Thanks to Pownce for the insight.)
Written by Mike Monteiro on July 27, 2007 with 0 comments |
Let's make fun of things...
One of these magazines is real, one of them is not. Both of them are funny. One is funny, “ha ha”, the other is funny like “smell this milk.”
And a hint about magazine design: I’m sure that the Robert Scoble story about how a pudgy white male (full disclosure: I am a pudgy white male) made good even as all the odds were stacked against him is incredibly uplifting, but try not to bury your subjects at the bottom of the page. Especially when they’re looking a little creepy and holding cameras. See how the guy on the right is in a nice inspirational pose? He looks hot, right? People buy magazines because they’re aspirational.
Oh, also… when you refer to white guys as “conquering” stuff; yeah, don’t do that.
Written by Mike Monteiro on April 25, 2007 with 1 comments |
The internet is built by boys
If you’ve ever doubted that the internet was built by 12 year-old boys (and I haven’t) take a look at Sizeasy, where you can compare the size of any two things side by side.
The potential for abuse here is off-the-charts fun.
Here’s the Apple iPhone compared to the Lego Ultimate Collector Millenium Falcon. Both $499. (Thanks Eric.)
… and a Brown Zune compared to an average baseball bat.
… and Andre Torrez compared to a Beard Papa cream puff .
Written by Mike Monteiro on February 12, 2007 with 3 comments |
Given today's iPhone announcement...
...it seems like the Zune was not just badly executed; it was sadly devised. I expect that our children will someday tell stories of a rumored landfill where all the brown Zunes were tossed.
Written by Mike Monteiro on January 9, 2007 with 1 comments |
Christmas Is Coming
It starts with Black Friday. It's followed by a tidal wave of news reports on how we're doing as a nation, and as a people based on our retail consumption over the next month. It continues with pans of people in line to buy Wii's and PS3's, and the trampling over of each other as the store doors open.
And then there's Leslie Harpold.
For the past 6 years Leslie has lovingly hand-crafted her Advent Calendar. Every year it's special and every year it manages to be the spark that reignites the hope for a happy holiday season by reminding us of the decency we are capable of as human beings.
Thanks for doing it again, Leslie.
And by the way; if you have a special holiday story to tell Leslie wants them.
Written by Mike Monteiro on December 1, 2006 |
Techno, Trucks, and Tubes
Bold Headed remixes my senator, Ted Stevens. DJ TED! (mp3)
(via Battelle via Gibson via AlterNet:PEEK)
Written by David McCreath on July 13, 2006 |
The Internet Is Not a Truck
It's a series of tubes.
I love this.
Written by Mike Monteiro on July 3, 2006 with 2 comments |