The top 10 things I do when I can’t sleep

Number 10: Play Ruzzle. I am completely addicted to that game. (Leave a comment if you want to play)

Number 9: Watch episodes of Scandal. That show is everything. If you don’t watch you pretty much suck at life.

Number 8: Clean. Two, three or 4 am, doesn’t matter.

Number 7: Read Dumbest Tweets. When I think I’ve hit a roadblock I read that blog I’m not doing as bad as I think.

Number 6: Share a ridiculous amount of content on Facebook because I have nothing better to do.

Number 5: Practice my acoustic guitar. I’ve had it for over ten years and still haven’t learned how to play anything.

Number 4: Read old notes that I wrote as a kid. You ever want to know why you ended up the way you did? Read your old journals.

Number 3: Listen to my Spotify playlists and radio.

Number 2: Think about how good sleeping would feel if I could actually do it.

Number 1: Get lost in YouTube. I have spent hours making my way through the plethora of crap that YouTube has to offer. It never fails to pull me in and it takes all of the strength I can muster to get out.

CIS 3810 Post 3

Question #3: If you are to launch a new social platform on the market, would you want it to have same-side exchange benefits or cross-side exchange benefits? What is more beneficial for you as a platform owner?

When launching a new social platform I think cross-side exchange benefits are those that should be wanted. The ability to have your platform grow in its user base and developer base are the goal and with cross-side exchange benefits you get just that. The problem with cross-side exchange is that you need a substantial user base to be able to bring in developers. In the case of a social network like that of Facebook, third party developers, like those who creates games like Farmville, are not going to be there in the beginning stages because there isn’t a big enough user base and there is not benefit from developing games or apps because of the lack of users of the social platform. This is a problem that has a solution of same-side exchange benefits. Same-side exchange exclusively builds your user base which can bring in developers if the numbers are substantial enough. There would be no growth without both sets of benefits but I believe that same-side exchange nudges cross-side exchange in importance because lack of users equals lack of developers.

Subway/Sidewalk Etiquette

This post will highlight a few subway/sidewalk rules that EVERYONE should heed. Here goes…

Rule #1: When you’re walking down/up the sidewalk keep to the right. Why is it a rule and who made it up? I don’t know but I always (when I can) adhere to it. Keep the foot traffic moving.

Rule #2: Your group of 2+ should not block the entire sidewalk so you can chat it up. No one wants to do the slow walk behind you and the loudmouths you affiliate with.

Rule #3: MOVE! When you’re on your cell phone doing God-knows-what, move; Simple. Stopping dead in your tracks is a surefire way to get pushed.

Rule #4: Do not block the subway doors. I’m guilty of blocking the doors on a crowded train sometimes. Please, move in so the rest of us can crowd onto the disgusting smelling train with you.

Rule #5: Stay to the right on the escalator. This is exactly the sidewalk rule. Stay to the right so others who want to pass can do so on the left.

Rule #6: Don’t stop to take photos. I know NYC is a massive tourist attraction but don’t do it. Getting pushed out of the way isn’t the way you want to remember your trip/vacation.

These are just a few rules that I could quickly think of. Any suggestions? If so leave it in the comments!

CIS 3810 Post 2

Investigate blogs online and share your list of favorites. Why do you like the blogs on your list? Are there blogs that are particularly useful for students of this course? Which ones?

My list includes some very well-known blogs and some not so well-known.  

http://bleacherreport.com 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com 
http://deadspin.com 
http://www.engadget.com 
http://www.awesomelyluvvie.com 
http://www.buzzfeed.com


When I read content on the web I want to do one (or more) of three things:   
1. become informed quickly
2. learn about something that interests me
3. laugh

All of the aforementioned blogs do at least of the three things. I like sports but hate reading about the same story so I go to Bleacher Report and Deadspin (you get pop culture here as well) for stories that aren’t getting national press or the ESPN treatment. Engadget, specifically their mobile section, has been a favorite of mine because I like reading about gadgets. The Huffington Post has become a sort of go-to for quick information about what is going on in the world. Buzzfeed and Awesomely Luvvie are mostly just for laughs. They both give me a pick-me-up if needed.

The Huffington Post could be useful for students because it is mostly news but there are many branches that may be helpful such as education, business and technology. The very fact that it has become the top blog (according to Technorati) is useful for a social media class.

CIS 3810 Post 1

There is only one thing at which I can claim expert status; Procrastination. It’s the one thing I do extremely well. What is procrastination? Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines procrastination: “to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done” and “to put off intentionally and habitually.” This has become a way of life for me. I’ve come to the conclusion that I work best under the gun. Class assignments are left to the last minute some of the time and personal projects almost never get done.

Though this seems like a horrible way to do things (which it is) there are benefits. One of which is the ability to multitask. I can juggle multiple things at once. The problem is all of them are at risk of never getting completed. I found a video that sums it up much better than I can at the moment:

Procrastination from Johnny Kelly on Vimeo.

Here's an article from The New Yorker by James Surowiecki on procrastination for good measure: What does procrastination tell us about ourselves?

Going forward my blog will most likely be a hodgepodge of random thoughts, rants about everyday experiences and any other nonsensical things that I’d like to embarrass myself by sharing with you all; and by you all I mean the five friends I’ve begged to read and comment on the blog.