Why I hate myself for being hooked on Twitter (but I still love Twitter)

Simplicity and brevity are two hallmark traits of nearly every beautiful thing in the world. Unfortunately, the world is much more complex than we’d like it to be. I recently tried an experiment, giving up Facebook for Lent, and found it to be a relatively easy exercise that rarely tested my willpower. That said, I’m…

In the age of social media, you can’t go off the grid

Have you ever fantasized about starting your life over, running away to a desert island and leaving the trappings of your environment for a brand new existence? You know, going “off the grid?” I’ve never met him and have no reason to believe that’s what Matt Hill wanted when he went missing this week. I…

Charlie Sheen: Stuck in a Moment and He Can’t Get Out Of It

The best thing I can say for Charlie Sheen after seeing his appearance in Boston? He’s still alive and definitely off the drugs. Unfortunately, the rest of us are all off the drug called Charlie Sheen. The high has worn off, and the hangover is setting in. And sadly, despite amassing a sizeable audience, Sheen…

I Will Follow: Social Media Lessons from U2

Seeking a few friends who wanted to join a band, Larry Mullen Jr. started U2 by posting a note on a message board in the Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin in the fall of 1976, almost 35 years ago. If that’s not old school social networking, I don’t know what is. Yet, had Mullen…

Why a Social Media Junkie Gave Up Facebook for Lent

A few months ago, I read a Facebook status update that said, “Twitter makes me like the people I don’t know more, and Facebook makes me like the people I do know less.” (Editor’s note: I have no idea how LinkedIn makes me feel. That’s probably another blog post by itself.) It’s an interesting take…