Digitally Green or Just Digital?
So, big surprise - I had to pay a bill today. And I mean I had to pay it today, because it’s due tomorrow. Why did I wait until the last minute to address this? Because I got this bill in the mail, and physical mail and I don’t exactly jive.
Any chance I get, I sign up to pay bills online and opt out of any paper mailings. You may be thinking, oh that’s great she cares about the environment. But honestly? I don’t really think about the trees so much. To me, paper mail is like spam - I probably won’t open it, I don’t like it, I usually throw it away.
I’m sure I’m not alone as a young person who would choose inbox over mailbox, but I’m curious about the reasoning behind it. Are my cohorts more concerned about making green choices, or have we just grown up and grown accustomed to digesting information on a screen rather than on paper?
Maria, Repcor, Alexa, Julia, Yianni, Sandy, Tibbon, Ben, Pam, Giannii, what do you think? More mature people, feel free to chime in too.
10 Things I Thought About Today
1. Why does it have to feel oh, so cozy under the covers when you need to get up in the morning?
2. We all need to be more grateful to the people who help us.
3. The Real Housewives of Atlanta are kind of horrid but still addictive.
4. We’re more fragile than we think.
5. I appreciate my parents’ support more than I could ever truly convey.
6. Beaks get a party going.
7. I have weird dreams.
8. Greg is the cutest, and I’m a very lucky girl. Gremanda rules.
9. Sometimes I miss having blond hair.
10. Checking things off my to-do list makes me feel powerful.
Back to College I Go…
Tomorrow evening, I have the distinct honor of being a guest speaker in my friend Michael Dowding’s class at Boston University’s College of Communication. I was thinking today that it’s been almost a year since I finished school, so it’ll be interesting to walk through the COM building as an alum. I’ve learned a bunch since I graduated, and I’m excited to share some tidbits tomorrow.
Dowding’s lucky students are in for a discussion about the importance of good writing as it pertains to public relations and communication in a 2.0 world. And of course, we’ll be talking about first jobs and what life is like on the entry level as we start and build our professional careers.
Should be a good time–here’s hopin’ we all learn something new.
Shining a Spotlight on “Net Geners”
Tonight I read the first of a BusinessWeek eight-part series Don Tapscott is authoring about my super stimulated, very digital generation.
With tomorrow’s election as the backdrop, Don brings up some good points about how we as a generation tend to behave and think. He’s right–we multi-task like crazy and we prefer to learn through collaboration rather than lectures. And in my own experience, young people definitely have a tremendous ability and affinity for uniting in groups online, whether it’s around a common interest, political event or social community.
Musing about how my generation organizes online, I can’t help but think of my friend Jessica. In late August, one of my best childhood friends was in a horrific car crash. Within what felt like minutes, a Facebook group was created, where hundreds of Jessica’s friends joined together to receive updates on her condition, upload photos, and leave messages of strength and love. When Jess passed away a few days later, the group transformed into an active tribute, and the page filled with memories and I miss yous. This sort of digital community grieving has never existed before. And this type of organization online extends to all kinds of human interaction, from conversation, education, and celebration.
One thing I guess I find strange is the idea that this generation spans ages 11-31. I think with the way social, information and entertainment technology are evolving at the speed of light, generations might need to be separated more. Within the Net Generation, there are probably three or more sub-generations that have grown up and experience mobile and the Web differently from each other.
Let’s keep talking about Facebook. For instance, my class year in school was the first to start college with Facebook. Facebook was a huge defining part of my college experience, start to finish. Someone who is 31 has probably only used the site as a professional and most likely has a different experience with it. And then someone who is 11 technically can’t use Facebook yet, and who knows what his or her experience will be. Maybe for these kids, Facebook will be a central element to their adolescence, or maybe by that time, this site and sites like it will be too saturated with “old people” and Facebook will take on a different meaning for this age group. I understand there are differences within every traditional generation, but I think the reality today is generations are getting smaller as technology and society move faster.
In any case, I’m really looking forward to reading the forthcoming seven articles in Don’s series. Give this one a read and let’s talk about it.
Amanda’s Vay-Stay-Cay in a Tag Cloud
I was on vay-stay-cay for the past week, and it was just lovely and perfect and sweet. Thanks for asking.
Because you’re so darn cute, I’m going to cut you a break. In lieu of blogging about every little thing that happened last week, I’ll just share a Wordle tag cloud that highlights what went down from 10/25 - 11/2. If you need more though, and you’re my friend on Facebook or one of Greg’s contacts on Flickr, you can check out our photos–I’d say they’re worth a click or two. Even if it’s just for the dopey captions.
Back to reality, folks.
Update: Also, LOVE.
Saturday in Amandaland, 10/11/08
Fact: I like to move my feet around a lot.
So, what are you doing during this gorgeous weekend? Do tell.
The Opening Lines of My New Book…
Jeanette Winterson is my favorite. Her books are totally gorgeous. I just started reading Gut Symmetries, and the way it starts is so awesome:
November 10 1493. Einsiedeln, Switzerland. Sun in Scorpio.
First there is the forest and inside the forest the clearing and inside the clearing the cabin and inside the cabin the mother and inside the mother the child and inside the child the mountain.
Sarah Palinks, Gettin’ All Mavericky
If I could wink at you, America, I would. Check out the linky goodness below.
Sen. Biden and Gov. Palin go head to head: SNL nailed it
SM4SC Song Winner: @AaronWhite w/ DoInk.com: Rebecca Corliss sings for a cause
Report: New MacBook to be Cut from Brick of Aluminum: Sounds pretty sleek; DailyTech says so
Spotted on the R Train - A WALKMAN!: Maria Garcia shows ASL readers the cassette-playing maverick she spotted on the subway
Today’s Honey: October 1, 2008
It’s been a while since we’ve had some good honey. I love this dance and song, so I wanted to share it with y’all. Emily Shock and Applause Studios are an inspiration–every routine tells a story in the most beautiful, intricate way. I’m Amanda Gravel, and this is what I like.
Song: Near to You by A Fine Frenzy
Car of the Future, or Car We’ve Already Had?
The Chrysler GEM Peapod might be the car of the future, or it could be just the grown-up version of the coolest toddler toy evah. They look like they’re about the same size, anyway…
You be the judge:
Chrysler
Little Tikes
