where the SmartPower generation connects

www.nypost.com

Tue, 12/04/2012 - 10:01pm

My how time flies! And the comment-sphere just shows how we take all this for granted and in stride now.  Funny how it's seen as a diminished form of communication or something that is contributing to the diminishment of communication.  A scholarly author released a book not long ago which traced the introduction of new media into societies and how the reaction was typically negative, initially.  When writing was first introduced, it is said that people were concerned about oral tradition being kept.  Looks like we made it through that and many more changes okay, and will continue to do so.  Can you hear me now?

So the first text message ever sent was on Dec. 3rd in 1992! That was 20 years ago this week. According to CNN, in this day and age, 6 billion text messages are sent every day in the U.S. That's over 2.2 trillion a year and that amount quadruples when we're talking about the whole world's texting habits. Although the industry has seen a steady increase of use over the years, this birthday may mark the peak of texting. With the increase of people using third-party messaging services such as Facebook and other apps on their smart phones , this could signify the slowing down of traditional SMS...What does the gabby world have to abbreviate on this one...

Tags:
exting
text messaging
text
SMS
20 years
birthday
happy birthday
digital
cell phones
Smart Phones
innovation

What Others Are Saying...

... Those of us in the "greying" generation have children / grandchildren who do not remember life without mobile communication. Will the next two decades be equally innovative? It's difficult to perceive that advances will change our lives so dramatically, but ..... somewhere out there in a garage or loft, some kid is inventing something we didn't know we needed.

Source:
www.techradar.com

... we're saying less, but the same messages are being conveyed, soon we'll be down to beeps and grunts :)

Source:
www.cnn.com

...Seriously? I think people have been avoiding actual converations with one another like the plague for a lot longer than just 20 years....

Source:
www.nypost.com

Sat, 11/10/2012 - 7:52pm

A mixed bag on this one but more toward the side of thinking that this just might not rank up there with rare archaeological finds.  This is all noteworthy because in an era of constant and open sharing, we do not, perhaps, see the value in such "intimacy" revealed as we would have 20 or 30 years ago.  This coupled with the fact that celebrity is consistently being re-defined in terms of importance and hierarchy makes for a new way for people to interact with each other.  The comment arena shows such sentiment dead-on. Now, will these letters fetch a nice price? For sure.  We're not saying the old has died out completely.  We're just saying, keep your eye on this one because what we value is fast changing.  What is valued is not solely what the media and organizations tell us is valued.

Sotheby's auction house has decided to auction off Rolling Stones' frontman Mick Jagger's love letters to former lover Marsha Hunt in London next month. Hunt was the inspiration behind "Brown Sugar," and was the mother of Jagger's first child. Hunt said the letters encompassed topics relating to John Lennon, the moon landing, Yoko Ono, and of course passionate and amorous stories and ideas. These delicate letters are expected to bring in between $111,300 and $159,000, as they also uncover Jagger's hidden person.  But what do fans think about this latest move?

Tags:
celebrity
Mick Jagger
Marsha Hunt
Love letters
Sotheby's
Auction
Rolling Stones

What Others Are Saying...

Yawn...what reputable collector would turn up the opportunity to have these missives alongside Picassos, Van Goghs, Fabregé eggs, Da Vinci sketches.....

Source:
www.nypost.com

I'm looking forward to reading them. I finished Keith Richards' autobiography and it was quite a revelation about many things!...Should be intriguing...

Source:
www.newser.com

If I was Sir Mick Jagger, not revealing it to another soul, I would help Marsha Hunt with her personal problems, because we are all human and need money to repair the house, and take care of ourselves...She shouldn't rely on these letters...

Source:
www.spin.com

Mon, 09/17/2012 - 4:20pm

Nicki continues to come under fire by non-fans, and the comment-sphere on this one is definitely true to that vibe.  In the era of change, many don't like that one can become celebrated just for being themselves.  In sociologist Karen Sternheimer's book, " Celebrity Culture and the American Dream" this idea is deeply explored.   She calls it the "ultimate reinforcement of upward mobility."  If this is the case, given the widening class divide in America, is the comment-sphere working out how this it does or does not support this?  Perhaps.  But one thing is certain, Nicki predicted this when she challenged J-Lo from the stage earlier this spring. All we can say is, what is Nicki's agent's phone number!?!

All speculations have ended. Nicki Minaj is the fourth confirmed judge on American Idol. She joins pop icon Mariah Carey, country singer Keith Urban and Randy Jackson, who is the only original member left on the panel. After Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul left in 2008, who is going to the on the other side of the stage has made more news than anything about the contenders on the show. Similarly, Minaj is more famously known for her neon wigs and wardrobe choices rather than her singing talent. 

Tags:
Nicki Minaj
American Idol
AI Judges
Mariah Carey
Randy Jackson
Keith Urban
celebrity
Entertainment

What Others Are Saying...

What a pathetic television program AI is. This is a ridiculous addition ... AI is NOT what authentic music and talent are about ... Nicki Maraj is NOT a true musician. She is nothing more than a loud-mouthed, self-aggrandizing clown.

Source:
www.mtv.com

Nicki is a good choice. ... Mariah doesn't even have a career anymore; i'ts washed up. She's just jealous [because] Nicki has a career and younger fan base ...

Source:
www.perezhilton.com

Ever since this purported "role model" showed her a** at the BET awards ... I don't think she should be allowed to judge someone else in any venue. She is what they used to call a "guttersnipe". ...

Source:
www.nypost.com

Wed, 09/05/2012 - 5:04pm

Ah, so many different feelings about former President Bill Clinton.  But one of the most striking things to note from the comment-sphere is that the sentiment seems to pertain more to his actual past policy decisions and current positions -whether one is for or against it - rather than his appearance or class or some other additional elements, for the most part.  How'd he do that?  Clinton may be called many things in the comment-sphere, but rarely out of touch or unintelligent or above it all (no matter how his wealth continues to climb).  Fascinating to think about and observe.  He has the Oprah-like quality, before she fell.  Polarizing, perhaps, but an uncanny ability to articulate a message in a touching way and keep the focus on the message.  Forget Dale Carnegie's old stand by tips, we want Bill Clinton's. Now!

Former President Bill Clinton will take the stage after 10 p.m. on the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Many analysts say he is the best surrogate for the Obama campaign because he has a lot of what President Barack Obama lacks -- the human touch. According to reports, Clinton has written his own speech, and the Obama team has not seen it. Many reports stress on the difficult relationship Obama and Clinton have had over the years noting that Obama finally approached Clinton in 2011 when he was planning his re-election campaign because Clinton is still the most popular Democrat in the country. Clinton will be speaking during  a time-slot usually reserved for the vice president.

Tags:
Bill Clinton
Barack Obama
DNC
Democratic National Convention
Speech
Democratic Party
2012 election
presidential elections
politics

What Others Are Saying...

It was Clinton who weakened the Democratic Party by promoting centrism ... Because of Clinton, the Democratic Party stands as "me-too" organization of militarism, corporate welfare, war, targeted assassinations. It weakly offers up gay marriage and abortion rights in place of real strong liberalism ...

Source:
www.scpr.org

I can understand why Clinton hates Obama. Hillary spent her entire political career preparing to be the first woman president. She had it in the bag ... Then Obama came out of nowhere, the media went stupid-crazy over him ... And now his disastrous tenure as president has done so much damage to the Democrat party that we probably won't see another Democrat in the White House for a generation ... Can you blame ol' Bill for being bitter and resentful?

Source:
www.nypost.com

... Olde Bill is entertaining and [I] actually respect how he will not tow the Obama Admin line. And they are not foolish enough to make any attempt to take Bill to the woodshed. ... Bill deviated for good cause, raising taxes during a week economy is dumb and private equity is not a bad thing. Bill Clinton was actually a good President. ...

Source:
www.mediaite.com

Thu, 08/30/2012 - 11:53am

Sociologist C. Wright Mills wrote in "The Power Elite" back in the 40's the celebrity class, political and business elite had just started to merge at that time replacing the original esteemed level of established American wealthy families.  He said that around this time, the value Americans place on not only competition but being the best within one's arena was part of the factor which brought these types of people together.  And as they did so, the light from one - especially the actor - helped the other to shine more brightly.  Seems like nothing has changed in these past four decades, huh?  Seems like most of the comment-sphere reflects this sentiment even if it is subsconscious.  And it goes without saying that those who write "i don't care", obviously do if they can take the time to write "I don't care."  LOL.  Happy watching tonight, Everyone.

The Republican National Convention has planned a mystery guest for their finale, and absolutely no one - including the Romney's - know who it is. The 'To Be Announced' speaker has been squeezed between a performance by singer Taylor Hicks, and a speech by Florida GOP Senator Marco Rubio. Nevertheless, one Republican source has assured FoxNews.com that the speaker will be Clint Eastwood, the Academy Award winner and former mayor of Carmel. Let us see whether followers think he will be well received, or whether he could get a mixed reaction due to this Hollywood-leery crowd. (posted originally at noonET 8/30. Since then, it has been confirmed)

Tags:
celebrity
politics
Clint Eastwood
RNC
Romney
Republican
Election

What Others Are Saying...

I think Clint Eastwood has been his own man and marched to his own drummer. I have never seen him as a Hollywood "sheep". My impression of him is that he could be my neighbor....he acts like a regular guy. I like him....

Source:
www.nypost.com

Not sure this is a good choice. For every righty actor we can bring, they have ten times more. Cary Grant said it best: "Who cares what I have to say? I'm an actor"...and yet, we had Reagan...

Source:
www.townhall.com

Couldn’t care less about the guy’s politics, the man is a true legend and has had one of the all-time great Hollywood careers. I’ll watch just about anything that has his name on it... and I'm a democrat.

Source:
www.deadline.com

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 9:09pm

(click "View" above for more) Teflon, a question of race or something else altogether.  Given that Congress has most recently had a 13% approval rating, have people just decided to give up voting in favor of working in collectives and via movements?  Whatever the case, the comments are thumbs down, yet Rangel looks like he's on his way to Disneyworld yet again.  Like Bravo says, let's "watch what happens" during this time around.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), fought off four primary opponents in a district that is now more than half Hispanic. Rangel, 82, is now likely to win a 22nd term, according to USA Today. Between 2007 and 2011, Rangel was the first black chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Rangel overcame bad publicity after ethics violations were an issue when in 2010 he was found to have evaded tax on income from a rental in the Dominican Republic. Comments, however, are still negative.

Tags:
Charles Rangel
Cemocrat
Congress
election
politics

What Others Are Saying...

 The untouchable. The tax evader. … Once a crook always. Rangel has strengths of his own, though. …Rangel’s four-decade career in Congress has engendered abiding loyalty among many blacks and a large swath of Democratic voters in the area. … And why is America in so much trouble??? … America is over as we knew it. I don’t see the U.S. coming back. Peoples’ eyes are blank. No brightness for the future.

Source:
www.thegatewaypundit.com

Rangel has had decades to attempt to improve the lives of his Harlem constituents, yet their lives have never improved. They vote for him because he is black.  This is the issue with most black voters. … Presumably, they do this because they think the black politicians will fight for them, but they don't. … It happens all the time -- regardless of the crime, scandal. Look at Marion Barry! … They reelected the same person who disgraced the office he still holds and who has become an ineffective leader.

Source:
www.thehill.com

 How pathetic. He is censored by congress and should be in jail, but yet wins a primary to get his seat back. And we all wonder why this country is in the position it's in. … Amazing that Rangel gets another chance at keeping his seat. He is a typical politician. In other words, a liar and a crook. However, this guy is a known crook. … The bar is lowered yet again!

Source:
www.nypost.com

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 6:34pm

Funny how almost all comments unanimously reflect the same sentiment.  In a time where self-determination is a particular focus, the trend in thought seems to be that every person is truly responsible for his/her own actions. This is the vibe of today.

Media prepares for Bobby Brown's first interview since Whitney Houston's Death.  The "Today Show" snags an exclusive, and leaks a sentence or two to lure interest for the upcoming Wednedsay and Thursday interview. Brown says finger-pointing should not include him.

Tags:
Bobby Brown
Whitney Houston
Drug Addicition
celebrity

What Others Are Saying...

Whitney was a straight-up Newark crack sista. Why should BB be blamed for her drug addiction? No one forces anyone to take drugs. We all know the dangers. It's drilled into our heads from childhood. Why can't people accept the fact that this woman, with an angelic voice (20 years ago), was her own worst enemy?...

Source:
www.nypost.com

Don't get me wrong I loved Whitney Houston... As did many people. But I sure do not blame Bobby Brown for her death, He did not force her to do the drugs or continue to do the drugs after they broke up...

Source:
www.thehollywoodgossip.com

I believe him..no one can MAKE an adult do anything they don't choose to do (barring physical force) I think Whitney just had a wild streak... 

Source:
www.usmagazine.com

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