I guess now there’s a Google Bible.
Pilgrim Notes
Reflections along the way.
Page 56 of 72
NY Times reports on David L. Wagner’s passion for caterpillars today.
“When somebody tips back a glass of wine, they should be thanking caterpillars,” Dr. Wagner said. “You should be raising a toast.”
The elm spanworm by David L. Wagner.
Lifehacker offers helpful tips on searching for blogs in Technorati.
The development of social networks for older Americans continues. In addition to the memories sites I mentioned the other day, there is now an adult version on MySpace.
US News and World Report presents an interesting introduction to Eons, a 50+ social networking community for baby boomers and above. This is a total lifestyle community that provides information on health, money, relationships, goals and even obituaries. It also gives the member an opportunity to build a lifemap of memories and pictures. Plus it has an interesting search feature, cRANKy returns top four pages based on Eons member rankings.
Thanks to e-Fluentials for the tip.
Update: The more I think about these online community/social networking sites, I see the natural development for some of these sites is to mashup with sites like meetup, so that you have a hybrid between online and offline community. The interesting thing about sites like eons or ourstory or families is that people can create photo albums and story journals. This is very similar to the scrapbooking phenomenon that is so big in the nation. Scrapbooking combines preserving memories with community, so that people gather in small groups to talk, tell stories and put their scrapbooks together. I see the same potential for some of these sites focused on memory sharing and connecting.
It seems there are more and more Eleanor Rigbys sitting by the door. Just a few weeks ago I linked to several articles about the growing sense of isolation in America. Now MSNBC has picked up as AP story on the theme. It is a growing problem that even threatens the health of many Americans:
In its most pronounced forms, loneliness is considered a serious, even life-threatening condition, heightening the risks of heart disease and depression. A sense of isolation can strike at almost any age, in any demographic sector — parents struggling to adjust to empty-nest status, divorcees unable to rebuild a social life, even seemingly self-confident college students.
In one disturbing line, they point out that some students opt out of chances to meet people to talk online instead.
John Powell, a psychologist at the University of Illinois counseling center, says it’s common for incoming freshmen to stay in their rooms, chatting by computer with high school friends rather than venturing out to get-acquainted activities on campus.
When I was first exposed to the Internet in 1992, I was concerned about the possible ramifications this might have for isolation and loss of the ability to enter into genuine face to face dialogue. When I read lines like that, it seems like for some that fear is coming true. There is value ot online conversation, but we as humans are more than just word producers. And we cannot ignore the dynamics, rewards, and challenges of face to face encounters. Avoiding the challenges, some may lost a vital link that protects them from isolationism.
There is much on this topic and maybe I’ll write sometime about community and why I believe relationship is an essential part of being human.
Whereas MySpace focuses on the youth culture, now there multiple layers of social networking sites focusing on various niches. E-fluentials pointed me to a group of sites now emerging directed at connecting families and giving families a place to tell their story (OurStory, Families, Jotspot). I think this could take off. My dad wanted to write a memoir and then said he rather create an interactive website about his life. Something like these could facilitate that.
While I am fascinated by online communities, I am more interested in face-to-face lived communities. While there is an ache in many hearts for actual community and intimate relationships, we live in ways that counteract such desires. But some people are trying to change the coldness of dead city space into lived places.
Thomas Merton once said “”A city is something you do with space. A city is made up of rooms, buildings, streets. It is a crowd of occupied spaces. The character of the city is set by the way the rooms are lived in, the way the buildings are lived in, and what goes on in the streets. The street can be inhabited if the people on it begin to make their life credible by changing their environment. Living is more than submission; it is creation. We can begin now to change this street and this city. We will begin to discover our power to transform our world.”
The Project for Public Places sent out an interesting article today about some Zealous Nuts who are transforming their public places. Knoxville has a few folks who have been visioning a new South Waterfront. The city recently got on board and it looks like some exciting things may happen there.
Just finished reading Tony Blair’s speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council delivered last Tuesday. Interesting read. Help me to understand his position on Iraq and the Middle East. Gave me some food for thought.
Business Week Online is all abuzz about Burt Bees. This homegrown, eco-friendly company has been selling their simple all natural products for years. Staying true to their brand, the trends eventually caught up with them. Now Burt Bees has shifted from selling at craft fairs and speciality markets to mainstream. Their website still projects a homegrown feel while still offering cool interactive features.
Several trends have converged in the new Tribewanted timeshare. Appealing to the strong drive for social connecting this timeshare is about joining a tribe, a community. At the same time, this offers an eco-friendly vacation, and there’s opportunity for public service. Looks interesting, similar in some ways to the popularity of mission trips for adults. In many churches adults forgo the yearly vacation to go to some remote region and help build a school, houses, and/or set up medical clinics. (Some adult missions include The Bridge, Experience Mission, Missions to Mexico)
If you want to join the tribe, you better sign up! Only 5,000 slots. Thanks to Iconoculture for the Tribewanted tip.
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