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Category >> Current Affairs
On Fridays I write about (almost) whatever I want. Because it's fun.
Like everyone else on earth, I've been hearing lots about 'chat roulette'. I give my friend Ogy credit for 'breaking' the story because right after he mentioned it, all of a sudden everyone was talking about it... to the point where Jon Stewart had to create a parody. For those of you who also don't spend way too much time on the internet, here's what it is: You go to www.chatroulette.com, enter your birthday for age verification, and you get to a simple interface. You can turn your webcam and microphone on or off. Random strangers show up in the other video camera window. If you want to talk to someone else, click 'next'. That's it.
So you hear about all these terrible or weird things you are going to see. And I'm not telling you I didn't see anything inappropriate but I didn't see nearly as much bad stuff as I was expecting. A few observations.
Chatroulette is like that chatrooms of way back, except now better looking people have an advantage. It's oddly insulting when someone takes one look at you and clicks the 'next' button. That said, it's nice when a hot girl tells you you're 'sexi'. By actually seeing the person, there is a bit more of feeling like you at least know a bit about who you are talking to.
Aren't good looking are are afraid people won't talk to you? Try to be memorable. Wear a mask, plan an instrument, be a puppet listening to people's emotional problems (all have apparently happened). Take a cue from the Chinese who are having much more zany fun with this than the average American like myself.
Other people seem to also be investigating. I won't say I didn't run across a few naked people but I ended up having nice conversations with an Egypian business student and a New York book publisher, two people I would have never otherwise talked to.
Every Monday, the Breaking Even blog looks at a individual, business, or website promoting itself in interesting ways online. Have an idea? Do tell! Most years, I try to make it to my hometown of Fort Kent Maine for the annual Can-Am International Dog Sled Race. It's been happening for seventeen years and the total purse is up to $40,000. Usually taking place the first weekend of March, Main Street is covered with snow and racers tackling the 30 mile, 60 mile, or 250 races all start off with cheering crowds around them. The 250 mile race qualifies races for the Iditarod, and a few say this race is even tougher than that.
The event is well organized and well staffed with volunteers, and I think thanks at least in part to social media, this year's crowd was among the largest ever.
The YouTube video clip from a documentary film flew around YouTube.
The race website is very up-to-date with content. My friend Sarah's father is one of the people who maintains the Can-Am website. While the design is very basic, throughout the weekend it was updated multiple times an hour with times, places, and other information about all three races. There is even a map where each individual musher's location was tracked through time. (To see the dots on the map, click this link and then the 'Track!' button. You can click on different dots to see a headshot of the racer and track their individual progress in relation to other mushers.)
Yes, I know the BE blog is on break, but I was reading this old post that I wrote on my old personal blog after my father died two years ago. I thought it might be appropriate to rework it and post now. I put my dog down last night, and for those of you who struggle to find words to comfort someone who is grieving, here is a little advice that may be helpful. Thank you to those who have wrote or commented; your kindness is appreciated. I've learned a lot these past two years about losing someone important, first suddenly with my father two years ago, then rather slowly with my dog with her finally passing yesterday. More than anything during these times, I've noticed how many important people touch your life and reach out when you need them. People have said some pretty comforting things to me but also a few odd things. I thought I'd pen a blog sharing these ideas because I find people often don't know what to say.
Friend and blogger Craig started a weekly personal finance chat on Twitter with BudgetPulse last week. He was looking for cohosts and since I like Craig and talking about money, I offered to be a part of it. Each week, the topic is different with the undercurrent of money (sound familiar?). Tonight on the Weekly Personal Finance Chat, we're talking about dating. What does personal finance have to do with dating. More than you'd think: Who pays? Is it more expensive to be single or in a relationship? Basically all things love and money will be all over Twitter tonight, and if you have a Twitter account, you can be a part of it!
| Marketing Monday: The Juice 2.0 Conference |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Monday, November 16, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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If you want to organize a good conference, take a lead from the Juice 2.0 folks! Meanwhile, if you think your business should be profiled as part of Marketing Monday, do contact me. What I Learned Losing The Juice 2.0 Conference Pitch ContestIn my world, no news is bad news. If I have something good to say, I'll change my status update of Facebook, tweet, write a blog, or call my mother (or all four).
It is no coincidence that I was pretty quiet online Friday and Saturday, in part because I didn't even make round one of the pitch session. (And in part because there was no working internet connection at this conference!).
I will say that the conference was a worthwhile one to attend and that I will go back when they have the follow-up version two years from now. Here are some general observations from my two days at Juice 2.0 Conference:
| Why Your Friend Is Online All The Time |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Thursday, October 29, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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An Explanation From A Socially Needy Person
Every time I hear someone complaining about those people who change their Facebook status multiple times a day, I smile to myself. I smile because I have become that person.
Contrary to popular belief, I don't do this because I am bored or have no friends. I have a full life and real life friends. Really!
I would like to shed light on those people in your life who, like me, seem to reach out an awful lot online. Yes there are actual reasons for this behavior which I will from now on call 'socially needy'.
| 9/11 Eight Years Later |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Friday, September 11, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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I was going to write about something else until I read my friend Mark's blog post today about 9/11. Why ignore something I, and probably a lot of other people, are thinking about? I can't believe it happened eight years ago. What a different time it was, and what a different person I was. The first major incident of the day happened while I was trying to stay awake in an early morning Structural Geology class. (Note to geology professors everywhere: if the class is before 10 am, please keep the showing of rock photo slides in a dark room to a minimum...otherwise even nerds like me drift off.) I got out of class and that particular day, my parents were stopping by my college on their way to some sort of business conference. Since I grew up about five hours drive away, this was not a regular occurence.
| My First Billionaire |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Sunday, July 19, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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This weekend, I was out to lunch with some friends of mine (T and B), who happen to be a couple around my parents' age. The three of us were at a casual little restaurant in Downeast Maine. Think $6 sandwiches with chips and a pickle and baked goods the size of your head. At the next table over, my friends recognized a local billionaire. Nope, not million, billion. He was wearing some non-descript clothes: boat shoes, light wash jeans, and a polo shirt. He had a baseball cap and kind of slouched. He looked like a regular dude. T smirked. He had a previous, eye rolling interaction with Mr. Billionaire.
The peonies bushes outside my window have finally bloomed. Of course, I didn't have the forsight to take photos of them while it was light out but I am enjoying their fragrance wafting in while I sit at my desk. It is important to stop and smell those flowers, isn't it? Here are some fun things I've stopped to read recently: (Author's Note: This post was way longer but then my computer timed out and I lost most of it. A reminder to save often, fellow online writers!)
| Why I Live In Maine |
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Posted by: nouellette
on Sunday, May 24, 2009 Tagged in: Untagged
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So Kristy at Master Your Card commented on my business post about my bed and desk being really close together. Truth is, I couldn't put them any further away unless I'd be working on my porch. Girl plus dog in 220 square feet is not much, but in Bar Harbor, this is what affordable looks like. It is reasons like this tiny apartment that I sometimes ask myself why I live here.
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