Sit, discuss, engage. Future Camp is finally here, and as I sit listening to my classmates, one common theme is emerging...social media is much more powerful than any of us ever expected.
In January we all wanted to know what we could get out of social media, "why care?" we asked. Four months later and we've changed our tune...now we wonder how we can add value to the world of social media. Adding value, hopefully we've all done it at least once by now. I think I've learned how to "tweet responsibly" by connecting with fellow tweeters and providing an interesting article or link.
Also, adding value is much easier when you're being authentic. At first I was blogging about what I thought I should be blogging about. When I embraced blogging about what I actually wanted to blog about...I was hooked.
Because we’re at Future Camp I suppose I should share some of my future social media plans:
I’m going to really make an effort to connect with people. I know how to do it, but I haven’t gotten up the courage to actually put myself out there. After all I need to remember to always talk to strangers.
I've been crazy busy this past week. But as always, I'm never too busy to eat. So I've posted some pics taken at Miga, a Korean restaurant that my mom and I had dinner at tonight. I will definitely elaborate A.S.A.I.H.A.L.A.(As soon as I have a life again)!
Accompaniments served with traditional Korean meals (Includes: kim-chi, seaweed salad, corn "salad", potatoes in sweet sauce, cucumber salad, and bean sprout salad)
This is what my mom had...seafood with udon-type noodles
A classmate of mine raved about Nazareth on Bloor. I trust his opinion on such matters, so off I went. The restaurant is tiny. Three of us got there at 5:30 and got a table after only 4 minutes, but a group of 5 was waiting for quite a while. I don't know about others' experiences at Nazareth, but I suggest that you dine there only if you have a good chunk of time to spare. The service wasn't the fastest, but we weren't in any hurry. We ordered the beef tips and the assorted vegetables. So two orders for three people was more than enough. Each person at the table gets their own injera (Ethipian crepe-like bread) with which to eat. Beef tips on the left, veg on the right, salad in the middle. It was so good. The meat is cut up small enough that you don't have any trouble picking it up with your piece of bread. The beef was tender and well seasoned. The veg was good too, but the beef was definitely our favourite.
The three of us ate from that big platter and I really liked that idea. We were all eating the same thing and experiencing the same flavours. Of course we all had our opinions about everything on the plate, and it was fun to get other people's take on what you're eating. I've just had an idea...there should be a scale rating how social certain foods are...popcorn 8, popsicle -1.
The meal plus three non-alcoholic drinks came to $21.78. I will definately be returning to Nazareth.
I don't think I've ever been this busy in my life since school started in January. It has definitely taken a toll on my body as I'm always tired. The worst thing is that getting more than 10 hours of sleep over the weekends doesn't ease the fatigue anymore. So the last thing that I should be doing is eating and drinking crap. But that is exactly what I'm doing.
Because time is of the essence, I don't make the effort to go grocery shopping and make my own meals. I end up buying the most affordable things I find at the school's cafeteria. They usually consist of chocolate croissants, breakfast sandwiches, pasta and basically any other items that would surpass my calorie requirements for the entire day.
I've also been drinking a bottle of Diet Coke every day for the past two weeks. It's my breakfast because I usually have it before 10 a.m. It's basically my fuel. I get so much energy to the point where I become a different person once I have that caffeine. Giddy would be the word to describe me. That is until the sugar crash takes over. I would also be fidgety and antsy. My hands would shake like a mad man and my heart would beat so fast that I question whether it would implode.
I've lost weight. I'm convinced it's because I'm not getting enough proper nutrients, so I'm going to say it here and now that I will try to be healthy from now on. Kara can use these words against me if she ever sees me go near a chocolate croissant or a Diet Coke. Deal?
The Clean Train Student Coalition (CTSC) is an organization dedicated to making Toronto's transit clean. Make no mistake about it, we are not against public transit, we love clean public transit!
Blue 22 is the nickname that has been given to the air-rail line that will run from Union Station to the Pearson International Airport. The CTSC acknowledges the need for this service, but disagrees with the decision to expand on diesel technology.
My friend Katie and I spent Monday night baking up a storm for our CTSC bake sale. We used baked goods to encourage traffic to our petition signing table. Nothing gets people's attention like affordable baked treats. We merely borrowed a tried and true strategy.
The CTSC bake sale team: Mike, Catherine and Casey
We got a lot of signatures that day which is great because our main goal was spreading awareness about the cause.
I don't know what it is that makes in-n-out so damn good. The combination of fresh beef, buns and processed cheese perhaps?
When you walk into an in-n-out you'll see very few items on their menu. The "secret menu" that you just have to know about includes treats like: animal fries, 4X4 burgers, an the dump truck. Your burger isn't made until you order it, so your burger is always fresh. But perfection takes time, so bring patience along with your appetite.
If you're ever going to be on the West Coast, you must find a location and drive directly there from the airport. Nothing cures a little jet lag better than a double-double. Oh and never get a single patty...the meat to bun ration is just wrong if it's not at least a double-double. I'm no burger fanatic, but I love me some in-n-out.
In my family Easter is always spent at my aunt's house. This year, she thought that it would be fun to have the older kids (19-24) do the egg hunt as well.
Like any worthwhile occasion celebrated by my family (Christmas, Thanksgiving, a Saturday) Easter involves a lot of good food. Easter isn't as formal as the big two....Christmas and Thanksgiving, but we still have turkey. Food really does bring people together... if it weren't for the food at our family gatherings, we'd all be in different parts of the house doing different things.
This video was shot at the "kids table" during Easter dinner. My cousin tried and succeeded in distracting me with his obscene chewing (the vid is cut off on the right for some reason). Good times.
On my plate: homemade bun, lasagna, caesar salad, mashed potato well with gravy inside, cauliflower, squash, spanakopita
Moist Easter turkey
Smoked salmon is always a favourite
Spanakopita is another family fave...I could eat that whole pan
I'm normally not a huge fan of cauliflower, but I'd eat just about anything smothered in cheese sauce and brown sugar
Really good lasagna
I know what you're thinking...wow that's quite a random hodge podge of dishes. And you'd be right, but hey...we give the people what they want.
Happy Easter everyone! I hope you had as much fun with family as I did. I think 30 is a good cut off age for egg hunting. Yea egg hunting at 30 would just be ridiculous... 24 is fine.
Last weekend I left the city behind for some real skiing. We stayed at the Ermitage du Lac in the Mt. Tremblant village. I didn't have too many a foodie adventure, because as everything else in that touristy village, food was ridiculously overpriced. Our first night there no one was in the mood to cook up a storm in the condo, so we ventured out for a quick bite to eat. A small slice of pizza and a pint came to $14.00. Madness. Luckily we did our grocery shopping in town before heading up to the village. On Saturday after a full day of skiing Sean prepared chicken teriyaki for everyone.
It was really good, especially after a long day out on the slopes!
At sometime during that weekend, poutine was brought back to the condo...bad poutine. 1.5 out of the 3 essential elements were present...cheese curds and o.k gravy, but the fries were your standard frozen variety. Ew. Plus the poutine was from a chain restaurant (Casey's).
I know good poutine, and this just wasn't it.
Pretty much right where you get off the lower gondola there is a store selling all things maple and maple taffy. Of course I had to have a go. The nice man who poured the syrup onto the snow told me to wait for forty five seconds.
I think I only waited 20 before I got too excited. This would explain why my taffy, instead of being a taffy-like consistency was way too gooey. Whatever, it still tasted good.
I had a great mini-vacation! Not too much to report on the foodie-front, but still I had a great time! Next year's mission in Tremblant....find some decent poutine.
This will be short and oh-so-sweet. Food-related weakness #2: Cold Stone Cake Batter ice cream with cookie dough.
There is just something about that artificial cake flavour that brings me back to my spatula licking days as a kid. And obviously I would add cookie dough. Duh.
Buyer beware…if you can’t take really sweet dessert, don’t even attempt to try this combo.
St. Paddy’s day 2010! I spent this year’s St. Paddy’s at the Brazen Head in Liberty Village (TO). Besides an ill-timed decision to move onto the patio as the warm sun was about to set (it’s still freezing), I had a great time with friends.
As always, eating was my priority. In true Irish fashion I ordered the only corned beef item on the menu (I'm actually 1/4 Irish <3 Nana <3). I love love love corned beef, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that this Canadian pub variety was actually quite good. Unfortunately I do not have pictures for you as I was too excited and devoured it all in 4.5 minutes. Much later that day my friend Carmen and I ventured out to Sushi & Bento on King St. W (King W & Portland) for more authentically Irish fare…sushi. Sometimes I just need spicy salmon rolls (not want, need). Carmen had a sushi bento box. I, still full of Harp was in more of a snacking mood.
Carmen's meal
My spicy salmon rolls a.k.a "Kara's kryptonite"
My veggie tempura tower
I really liked what I had. My spicy salmon rolls were actually kind of spicy, and my tempura was good too (though how you could go wrong with fried anything is beyond me). Normally I don’t EVER venture into a sushi place without it having first been recommended to me by someone. Good sushi is good, bad sushi is inedible. I was relieved to find that their fish was fresh and their service was friendly. Our waitress even asked us why everyone was wearing green and drinking so early on a Wednesday.
Carmen did find her bento box a tad bit pricey though (around $15 if I remember correctly). I however did not find that, but hey, I ordered my "snacky" things. I would definitely return to Sushi & Bento.
At the beginning of the newest season of American Idol (I think we’re on the 139th now), the show’s producers added daytime talk show phenom Ellen DeGeneres to the judge’s table. From what I hear on the street (O.K. fine…from what my mom tells me), the comedienne has breathed new life into the FOX show. Though Idol still holds the top ratings spot, in recent seasons numbers have been consistently lower and lower. As someone who hadn’t watched Idol since Kelly Clarkson’s valiant triumph in 2002, Ellen’s addition to the show wasn’t exactly earth shattering. I like Ellen, she’s like Oprah (sans the depressing subject matter and preachyness), but her quirky personality alone wasn’t enough to get me watching Idol again.
I really like Ellen. I follow her on Twitter and Facebook and I also watch clips of her show on StumbleUpon and YouTube. I, like most Gen-Yers, watch much of my TV via short clips posted on social media sites. She is all over social media. Since the beginning of January she has tweeted non-stop about Idol, and anyone who watches her talk show has heard her lament about her rigorous taping schedule. When the producers at Idol signed Ellen, it seems they also gained access to her legions of loyal online followers. Through her online activity I was constantly hearing about her Idol experiences and upcoming must-see moments. I wanted to be in on this conversation and thus was motivated to start watching Idol again.
Long before her foray into the world of reality television, Ellen had already cultivated a following online by engaging with her fans. No previous Idol judge has been as active or as successful in the online world. Ratings are up this season, and there is little doubt that Ellen and her loyal followers have a lot to do with the hike.
Check out these awesome posts by Carmen, Zoya, Sayuri, Caitlin and Katie for more on Idol's social media efforts!
I've blogged about the importance of writing your online story before someone else does... so here is how I plan to take control. This slide show details my plan to craft an authentic online identity that is uniquely me.
Feedback welcomed! If you're still in the planning stages like me, what stumbling blocks have you run into? If you've successfully implemented your plan, what advice do you have for the rest of us?
In the months approaching the games in Vancouver, we Canadians did something very un- Canadian. We asserted ourselves as to-be owners of the podium. Own the Podium, a government-sponsored initiative promised Canadians that their Olympic athletes would stand out as a force to be reckoned with come 2010.
As of today, we hold 4th place on the medal standings. We’re hardly owning the podium. These games have been filled with countless disappointments for Canadian citizens and their athletes.
I’ve however developed a hypothesis:
If Canada wins gold in men’s hockey, all ills will be forgiven and forgotten.
If we don’t win however, Vancouver 2010 will forever be known to Canadians as the Olympic games we lost at home. I don’t envy the Men’s hockey team…they have the hopes and dreams of a nation to look after.
Our luck has really picked up these past few days but still, a gold in men’s hockey is the only way to ensure that Canadians look back fondly on these games.
Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, LinkedIn, Four Square, Ning, Word Press—if you’re a member of any of these social media sites, or the countless others out there, you’ve already begun telling your story.
Your story shapes your online personality.
Bob Pickard, CEO of Burson-Marsteller Asia-Pacific emphasizes the value of ‘the story’ to the corporate world,“The story is the most important thing a company needs to tell its target audience.” Whether you’re a company or an independent blogger, your story will tell your audience what to think about you.
Now that I’ve survived immersion into the world of social media, I have a new mission: To develop an online personality that is true to who I am and how I’d like others to view me. Write your own story. If not, someone or some search engine will write it for you.
Last night Mitch Joel (CEO of TwistImage and author of Six Pixels of Separation) addressed a sold-out crowd at the Berkley Church in Toronto. In my opinion, the major take-away from his keynote speech was the necessity for an “internal conversation”. In order to properly represent yourself online, you must find out who you are. Sound simple? Nope, this is the hardest and most crucial type of conversation. “It’s about who you are” Bhupesh Shah on personal branding
Once you’ve done some major soul-searching (I exaggerate slightly), you can move on to figuring out what it is about you that would makes others want to get to know you. After all, Would you want to sit next to you at dinner?
I love fat. These three simple words will horrify dietitians and health nuts. In fact, if you listen very carefully, you'll probably hear them planning my intervention. The simple fact is that fat makes food taste wonderful.
My favourite fat-filled foods: • Beef stew • Indian butter chicken • Fettuccine Alfredo
Why has a loving declaration such as the one I’ve made above translate as blasphemy in the ears of so many? We’ve become afraid of food.
Fat has taken the brunt of criticism in our food and diet obsessed culture. I consider myself a defender of fat. Where do I get my inspiration? French fare is laced with fatty, rich ingredients and yet as a population, the French maintain very healthy body weights. This article points to small portion sizes and satisfaction as the key to the French secret. Alternatives
The offenders: margarine, low-fat packaged foods, turkey bacon
I can believe it’s not butter. We’ve all had to suffer through meals prepared with low-fat alternatives. Bite after agonizing bite we find ourselves longing for authentic flavour. Many of the self-touted low-fat alternatives are packed with other less healthy, unnatural ingredients such as large amounts of sodium. Let us not compromise our standards!
I am not suggesting that we overindulge in fatty foods. Balance is the key. Though I must admit that it is refreshing to see this Paula Dean video.
On a more serious note, just because I enjoy fat it doesn’t mean that I shun exercise. In fact, like many I believe that portion size, a balanced diet and regular exercise are a must. I choose to eat fat and be fit!
Be radical! Express your love for real, flavourful, satisfying, foods!
There was much speculation as to whether current TTC Chair, Adam Giambrone would be running in this year’s mayoral election. After viewing the following Youtube video (which I was linked to by a classmate’s re-Tweet) I set any uncertainty aside.
This video, out for not even a week, has received quite a bit of attention from the media. They assert that Giambrone is not a serious candidate. I think he’s in it to win it.
Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Giambrone is an active member of each. He even has his own blog. All of these outlets are new resources available to every politician, and Giambrone isn’t the first to harness their power.
In the past, a like-candidate probably would not have received the exposure Giambrone enjoys today. Luckily, social media tools make it harder for the status quo to cast him aside and silence his supporters. After all, the online world is arguably the most democratic forum around. It is a place for the masses to gather and even voice their opinion should they choose to do so (and many do, often). The masses are on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and thousands of other social media sites. Giambrone has used his cheesy, undeniably low-budget video to reach his electorate and beyond.
In my opinion, examining Giambrone’s tactics reveals much about his target audience. Youth are extremely comfortable with Youtube and actively seek out new videos-gone-viral. Toronto youth, just like youth around the world, are all over the Internet. We love its immediacy, its accessibility but most of all, its ability to connect us with others. It seems older generations still can’t recognize the power of this stuff, how else could they confuse Giambrone’s presence in social media with anything other than legitimacy?
After a lengthy conversation with my friends, we concluded that it's wonderful that politicians are on many of the sites we frequent. After all, the prospect of engaging with politicians online is far less horrifying than having a parent request your friendship on Facebook...awkward.
Specs Age: 32 Youtube Channel: adamgiambrone2010 Twitter handle:@adam_giambrone Current Occupation: City of Toronto Councillor: Ward 18 Davenport , TTC Chair Assumed Office: 2003, 2006 Party Affiliation: Served as national president of the New Democratic Party of Canada 2001 - 2006
UPDATE:
Wow. A lot has happened since I blogged about Giambrone's bid to become mayor. Here's the gist of it...he became embroiled in a political sex scandal involving multiple women and had little choice but to drop out of the mayoral race. He's also since announced that he will not be seeking re-election. My guess is that he's going to try his luck in the private sector, gain some experience and then eventually make a well-timed re-entry into politics. But we'll see.
I am on the executive of the Clean Train Student Coalition, and two weeks ago now, we had our "Info Blitz". One of the locations included in our blitz was Old City Hall at the corner of Queen and Bay. We really wanted to garner media attention so we knew that we had to recruit someone the media would want to see. Long story short... one of our CTSC members tweeted Giambrone about our cause and our blitz day and he actually responded! Giambrone was there, along with the CBC, CTV, CP24, CityTV and Global camera crews...and all because of social media. Without twitter, would we have gotten Giambrone's attention? I feel completely confident in saying absolutely not. This city councilor and chair of the TTC was accessible to us students only through social media. Result. Sign our petition in favour of cleaner transit.
To do my small part to help my readers sift through the endless stream of social media sites out there, I have provided a review of Uservoice. To say that the Internet is saturated with new (and yet still somehow improved) social media applications is a huge understatement.
Many of the other reviews I’ve come across refer to Uservoice as a focus group for those who can’t afford to run focus groups. Unfortunately I found myself not just wanting to, but having to look at outside sources for more information about Uservoice. Even after I signed up and gave the site a once-over, I still wasn’t entirely sure what Uservoice was. I found this article on appappeal.com to be very helpful.
Also, check out this video for a quick introduction
Much-stressed in the PR world is the importance of customer feedback. Uservoice is in the business of creating accessible forums and encourages customers to make suggestions or voice concerns. Customer satisfaction is key to this business and Uservoice provides an innovative way for organizations to connect with their publics. Uservoice is ideal for small to medium businesses that really value the opinions of their customers.
For a list of social media applications compatible with Uservoice, as well as a great video check out Robyn's blog!
Millions of us have discovered that sending and receiving tweets is an easy way to link us with friends, family, politicians and celebrities alike. What many may not know however, is Twitter's potential for linking them with other social media networks. Tweets can be forwarded to your Facebook and LinkedIn accounts with just one click, updating all networks simultaneously.
(For those of you who are new to the world of tweets, please click here for a brief but helpful tutorial on Twitter.)
Facebook is a space most often set aside for personal use, while LinkedIn is a tool used for professional organization and networking. Keeping the personal and professional separate is just as important in the online community as it is in the office. Selective tweeting is made simple in the following videos. This first video walks you through linking your Twitter account to your Facebook account.
Much like the first, this video offers step-by-step instructions for connecting Twitter to LinkedIn and is brief and to the point.
As the videos outline, once you have synced your applications, simply add hash tags to the ends of your posts on Twitter.Now you have the option of updating your status on Facebook and LinkedIn from Twitter by adding #fb or #in or both to the end of your tweet.
It stands to reason that you would not want the same information that is hanging on your fridge at home to be tacked up onto an office bulletin board.With selective tweeting you can update your networks with ease, and still retain the all-important separation between personal and professional.
Please have a look at Caitlin, Roshni and Caterina’s posts for more information on this subject.
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