Sometimes I really wish having my pension plan under my pillow rather than invested in some “recommended & reliable” stock-mash-ups.
There are still 30+ years to go until my pension box opens, so better not read bad stock market news again. It’s just making me nervous…
A couple of local Viennese Flickr users are meeting up – right, only meeting up, even if it seems very trendy nowadays to call 2+ people walking around with cameras “photowalk” – however, there’s a meeting planned for next Saturday 11th August 4pm at Karlsplatz, subway exit Secession, and then later starting around 8pm at Rupps, Arbeitergasse 46.
Everyone enjoying photography and not scared by a bunch of photo-Flickr-addicts is very welcome to drop by!
Some more information has been posted at the forum threads:
The most exciting thing about those meet-ups is, it’s not about Web 2.0 evangelism. It’s about real people, users in flesh and blood meeting face to face. It’s about people who share a passion and socialized by the help of a Web 2.0 platform. Most of them don’t even know what Web 2.0 is, frankly, why should they, it’s only a marketing term. For me those meet-ups demonstrate what Web 2.0 really is about: the people who make the fancy buzzword successful.
Would you offer your hand to this robot?
Very tricky is the part where the fear, measured based on hand perspiration, is included to the knife stab accuracy: the less nervous the more accurate, the more nervous the … ZONK!
Seems like the revolutionary concept of the nineties finally came true 2007:
I must confess that I’m deeply impressed of how efficient multiple persons located in different places can simultaneously work on one document by using Skype in combination with Google Docs. Not even in intranet environments, while using standalone office applications, and where people share one room and talk to each other personally, editing the same document works as flawlessly as it does on Google Docs while talking over Skype.
Not surprising, participation in social networks strongly correlates with social origin. The following charts about a recent Facebook poll (clever polling btw, Facebook knows the basic information as age, gender, etc. of users who respond to polls) shows that Facebook is mainly a young white thing. Well, originally it was developed as and a good part of it still is a college student network.
Whereas in that case I’d rather say that white can be substituted with the term “(upper) middle class”. Without being aware of any detailed research, I suppose the overall picture about the Web 2.0 audience here in Europe wouldn’t differ a lot from this basic Facebook poll results.
So, the question popping into my mind was: are social networks increasing the Digital Divide instead of narrowing it? Are social networks an exclusive toy for (upper) middle class people?
One of the most compelling arguments for Web 2.0 are the low barriers of entry. So, where is everyone? Or maybe it’s because members of a family of six sharing a 50sqm apartment have other things to worry about than updating a blog.
However, I’m quite convinced that being familiar with social software (blogs, wikis, networks, etc.) will be a crucial requirement for future work environments. Just like as it’s now naturally to know how to perform a Google search or handle Email correctly. Thus I think it’s time for politicians to start a discussion about how to bring this knowledge to socially disadvantaged people. Students and other well-skilled people will learn this anyways over the next years…
Then watch Mr Christopher Walken roast a chicken, maybe you get some inspiration for dinner…
I just love the detail that the chicken is standing in the oven, put over an Eiffel-tower. [via affectionista]
