1. The “new” News Feed
2. Like
3. Events (including the ability to RSVP)
4. Notes
5. Pages
6. Create new photo albums
7. Upload photos to any album
8. Zoom into photos
9. Easier photo tagging
10. Profile Pictures albums
11. A new home screen for easy access to all your stuff, search, and notifications
12. Add your favorite profiles and pages to the home screen
13. Better Notifications (they link to the comments so you can reply)
14. Quickly call or text people right from the Friends page
15. Messages you are typing will be restored if you quit or are interrupted by a phone call
I’ve been told at several points in my life that I have a good reading/speaking voice when I “turn it on”. It also probably helps that I have a face for radio as well!
In Intermediate school, I was picked from the entire 4th grade to open “colonial day” by running up and down the halls yelling that the day had started. I also was the town crier who read the news on the corner.
In high school, I continued with announcements by being selected to be the “announcements guy”, where I read the morning and afternoon announcements over the school intercom.
I also worked for the city owned radio station WFOS where I DJed for several hours a week. I got compliments on my voice through phone calls on several occasions.
Even in college, I remember having a professor compliment my reading voice after I read a passage. I think his quote was “sorry I got wrapped up in hearing you read there for a minute”, which would be creepy, but was meant in a kind way.
Of course, those of you who know me are thinking- really? that guy’s voice is awful. But I kind of have my “reading” voice. I can turn it on and concentrate on my diction and tone.
I was reminded of all this because at work today, a coworker told me I didn’t sound like I was from VA, I didn’t have what he would think was a typical southern accent. I’ve taken an accent test before, the results of which stated I have a regional accent free voice. A plus in voice work. So, I guess I could just say I grew up anywhere if it came down to it.
I wonder if I could somehow turn this into some kind of work. Perhaps some voiceover work or something. Anyone have a contact?
What struck me more than anything else is how little progress we have made in the FORTY years since we landed on the moon. Seriously, that is President Kennedy speaking about the space race in the ad. I don’t think we even have the capability to get back to the moon now if we wanted to.
Sure, there are probably more important things to devote resources to right now (the environment comes to mind), but I bet the scientists who worked on that moon mission would have thought that in 4 decades we would have been to Mars by now. What’s the holdup? Are we lazier now? Has space lost its luster?
There is a line in the commercial where JFK says we chose to do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. I am concerned that my generation, and society in general now, seeks the easy path now, instead of taking up the challenges “because they are hard”.
I’ve spent just over a week in LA now. To be honest, I haven’t gotten around too much because I just got my car 4 days ago, and have been working at my internship for most hours anyway.
However, I have gotten a taste of the city. One can’t help but draw a comparison to New York. For one, they are the two big coastal cities. Secondly, they are the entertainment capitals of the country, and I will probably end up in one or the other if I continue this career path.
New York, when I visited earlier this year was fantastic. Most of the sterotypes held true. There was always something happening. The city felt alive. At first this was overwhelming, but once you embrace it and realize the potential that comes with the situation it is thrilling. Strangely, I also liked not having to drive anywhere. It was nice just using the subway and avoiding the stress of parking, etc.
Los Angeles certainly has better weather. So far it has been between 72 and 80, and gloriously sunny every day. I have yet to see more than a mist of precipitation. Definitely glad I have my car here, as getting around without it is far more difficult than in NY.
Both cities are full of beautiful people, and contrary to popular belief, I run into generally friendly and happy people in both cities. The reputation of a “hard” NY or “snobby” LA are blown way out of proportion. I think no matter where I end up, I will be happy, but I am definitely glad I finally got over here to the west coast to see it first hand.
Today was Apple’s WWDC. Everyone is mostly paying attention to the new iPhone announcement.
However, people are overlooking the potential for something really exciting. Apple announced they have moved the traditional 13 inch aluminum macbook into the macbook pro lineup. This leaves only the plastic body 13 inch macbook as the sole computer in the plane macbook lineup.
What does this mean? Well, netbooks are one of the greatest growing segments of laptops now. Apple could have purposefully left open some spots in the macbook lineup for a Apple branded netbook. Further, they could potentially unveil a tablet laptop, as has been speculated to be in development for some time now.
Can we all agree that Will Ferrell has jumped the shark and has stopped being funny? I have said this since Anchorman, but while then I was mocked for saying so, it appears the rest of the world has finally caught up.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved Old School. I think however that the definition of what is “funny” is fluid and changes over time. Ben Stiller style comedy was funny in the late 90s – think Meet The Parents weird real world that could potentially happen to a normal guy comedy. Then Will Ferrell took over with Old School, and what I would call stupid, brazen, asshole comedy. That waned and Borat style “reality” comedy was big. Now it is Apatow and crew comedy where with the lovable loser and one liners (Knocked Up/40 year old virgin).
After Old School, came Anchorman. Even then, I felt it was more of the same. But most people loved it. Anchorman was followed up with Talladega Night: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Here most people had fallen off the bandwagon. The basic laughs were just rehashes. Nothing new or provocative.
Sure, he had his ups. I love “Stranger Than Fiction”, but even in reviews it was noted that this was not typical Will Ferrell fare. And who can forget Pearl the Landlord?
This was largely successful because it was shockingly different. It might have been Will Ferrell humor, but we were startled by a toddler saying the lines instead of a man-baby.
Ferrell then went back to what he knew. Semi-Pro, which was god awful, followed up quickly with Step Brothers, another terrible attempt.
This past weekend, Will tried again with the same tired routine. Land of the Lost opened this past weekend. It got terrible reviews. It did even worse in sales. It opened third behind “Up!” and “The Hangover”. Up! was in its second week, not even a debut weekend. The Hangover didn’t have any A-list celebrities but still beat out Ferrell’s film. (by the way, Hangover was really funny – go see it!). In fact, it didn’t even make half of what Hangover did.
Will needs to revamp his comedy. I know he is used to recurring characters on SNL, but we can’t laugh at the same material 8 times. His core audience of 12 year olds is growing up. He should grow with them.
The best part – they do it with Contact Lenses! AND stem cells.
The idea stemmed from the observation that stem cells from the cornea (the thin, transparent barrier at the front of the eye) stick to contact lenses. Employing three patients who were blind in one eye, the researchers obtained stem cells from their healthy eyes and cultured them in extended wear contact lenses for ten days. The surfaces of the patients’ corneas were cleaned and the contact lenses inserted. Within 10 to 14 days the stem cells began to recolonize and repair the cornea. Of the three patients, two were legally blind but can now read the big letters on an eye chart, while the third, who could previously read the top few rows of the chart, is now able to pass the vision test for a driver’s license. The research team isn’t getting over excited, still remaining unsure as to whether the correction will remain stable, but the fact that the three test patients have been enjoying restored sight for the last 18 months is definitely encouraging. The simplicity and low cost of the technique also means that it could be carried out in poorer countries.
This is awesome. My grandmother went blind later in her life, and one of my big fears (yes, I am one of those think way too far into the future and stress out about things out of my control) is that I will lose my vision in my old age. I am pretty scared about that. If this proves conclusive permanently, this could be quite the breakthrough. And perhaps it could have other applications. Could it translate to hearing? bones? Kidneys and other organs?
If I can also take a moment to rail against the conservatives. How long have we heard the right rail against stem cell research? Look at the potential cures we have found from stem cells in just this example? But, because of the conservatives limiting research, these cures are being discovered in foreign countries who are more advanced in these fields now. We are falling behind in this tech. Funny how the Conservatives who put America First are promoting policies that put us behind our foreign cometition.
On first thought- who cares, right? But the reason for the rule is important. You can’t smile because there is software that analyzes your photo to make sure your photo isn’t used on another license. And the software doesn’t recognize smiles well. The reason for the software? Less chance of identity theft. Which is good. But the state is going to keep an algorithm calculation of your photo.
Can tracking really be that far away? Soon when somoene is accused of committing a crime, they will theoretically be able to search photos for your specific face in surveilance cameras. Is it really too big of a step to see they will soon be able to track all your movement? Bye bye privacy. (Side note: Yes, I twitter, use facebook, etc etc. I have no problem giving up my privacy voluntarily. I do not like when you don’t have the option to stay anonymous.)
