First of all Last Night on Bill Maher during new rules he did a great job of comparing baseball to the NFL it was about how the NFL is Socialist in how it divides up the money among all the teams and it was very good.

Second of all I have been meaning to write something about the NFL since the playoffs started a bit late I admit.......

So this weekend is the pro bowl and I have a few issues with it.. Yes being voted in is an honor. Once selected they call you a 2 time or how many ever times all pro. But that being said the game its self seems to be have been more about the trip to Hawaii. Now the current commissioner has tried to change that and make the game the week prior to the Super Bowl. Since it is a week before the Super Bowl no one on either team is going to play they have rest and practice and won't take the chance of injury... But that brings up something else if you are in the playoffs you don't want to play in the probowl cause that means your team lost... So it is kinda like for anyone in the playoffs like a slap in the face or at least a reminder that you didn't get to where you want to be... Of course for teams not in the playoffs it is a different story.... My other issue is that the voting starts way to early.... If you miss the first 4 games you won't get any votes but can go on to have a great season... The reverse is also true you can have a great half season get lots of votes then tank.... I say no votes untill week 12.

Will there be a pro bowl next year who knows there might not even be a season... College kids stay in school what happens if next season is scabs or there isn't one don't take that chance...

Logic would tell you that the owners and players will work something out... I hope that is what will happen... Maybe they will learn from baseball how much no season or from that other strike year how much that hurts both sides... People will stop watching.... But what would hurt more is the perception that people aren't watching ....

I can Admit that I don't know or understand all the money issues. But what I do get is that every so often the net works bid on the rights to the NFL ... That is why Monday night football is now on Cable and NBC gets Sunday Night Football. It used to be that when you took all the TV money each team got 1 million dollars more then the Salary cap. Now the reason that the net works pay that money is because people are watching the games. The amount of people who watch the games determines how much they can charge form advertisers. So if you lose viewers companies will pay less so the net works pay less so the NFL makes less and that is just TV. Not to mention things like who makes the shoes and the Jerseys and ads in the stadium. So loss of viewers hurts everyone pretty hard....

Now what may back fire on the NFL and when I say NFL I don't only mean the league I also mean the players and owners in this case is the international viewers. If there is no season you may lose them or if the play isn't at the level it should be you may lose them as well.

Before the NFL went international they had The World League Of American Football. That was a great league they would try things before the NFL would like helmet cams and things like that. Yes teams did have players that belonged to NFL teams but not sure if the NFL had any ownership or not but it did get interest over seas.... What was cool was that they had American teams as well. I can't imagine what traveling to Europe to play a game and vice versa would have been like.. Later on they took a year off and it became NFL Europe. At that point it became all about spreading the game over there and getting more fans for football and the NFL.

What I don't know is if the NFL figures hey if we out source we can get the same quality players at a cheaper cost... Hey the more players the less value each player has.....

Recently the NFL has continued this push with having every team play an international game. The plus side to this is you get more fans for the sport. But the downside is if those fans get into the game and then there is no season then you risk losing those fans to other sports and they will never come back and they will tell all their friends hey this Greedy American Shit doesn't happen in Soccer or Rugby....

I think that the NFL is trying to expand into other parts of the world and may add teams. I don't know what the best way to do this is though. Say they add a London Team is it fair to travel all the way to London for a game and the other way around.

The other issue I have is all the divisions are currently even so how do you add teams maybe an international team to each Division. Maybe add one each year till all have 5 teams instead of 4? Then maybe add one more Wild Card Team? If London won the Division would Americans Watch?

Or maybe the thing you do is ad another Division to both the NFC and AFC. The fact is that the NFL wants to make more Regular season games and less preseason games so since you play more games it makes sense that you would have more teams...

I have no idea what is going to happen to be honest. I think Toronto wants a team, They want their own team not the Buffalo Bills. There needs to be an LA team for sure. But if you go international who should get teams. I say go look at the CFL and where they have good crowds go there. I would say Toronto, Montreal , London England not Ontario, Not sure where else in Canada but How about a couple Teams from Mexico.

I admit that sometime the NFL is the No Fun League. I like when players get pumped and do dances but they need to do it for them selves not to put it in the other guys face. I wish they did the helmet cam thing for all the players. I know that would make it to hard to do replays but maybe put the helmet cams with a stream on line so people who want to watch the game that way can on featured games at least.......

I hope that the greedy owners, greedy league and Greedy players come up with what is best for the game and players in the future so that they don't destroy the game I like to watch every Sunday we shall see...........

So Last night I watched this show called Winter Wipeout. It is a new take on the show wipeout.... It is people who do an obstacle course but it is also funny... Last night someone had a shirt on that Said Fruit Cake and it got some jokes he meant the food....

I know Fruit Cake gets a bad rap. Lets face it some of it can be pretty bad and dry and not taste right.... The Other problem is that some people get it as a gift and then pass it along.....

I find people not liking it odd. I mean bread with fruit everyone loves and most people put Jam or Jelly on bread so.....

My Father used to make really good fruitcake... I know I never could. I think the big key to it being good is how it is made. He did some thing that I don't remember where the cake part just sits in the booze forever.... That is key because it keeps it wet and it stays moist and all the fruit stays moist. Then there was some trick with wrapping it in a cloth and again that was moist and then that went into aluminum foil... You could have it for over a month open it up and it was still soft.... So I say if you don't like fruit cake it is because you haven't found the good stuff yet.... Not saying it is worth it to try all the bad stuff to find the good but maybe there is some good fruit cake.... Oh yeah bye the way time wise this was before I had even heard of (e:strip)......

So These Sunrise Pictures where taken Near work on New Years Eve. To me the sky didn't look like this it looked more dramatic... Now on the camera screen it didn't look like the sky but these pictures at least on facebook look more like the sky then they did on the camera Screen?????
























Later that next night ok really the next morning I crashed at the (e:PMT) New Years Party..... My Plan was just to go home I went and sat on the couch for a second and next thing I knew I was woke up and no one was around...... Well here are a few pictures from my trip home......

Now the first thing I'm Noticing (using Chrome sorry have no idea what number I assume the newest with standard install and nothing added on).. Is that the button Position and look on the blog controls looks different and are in different spots......

2nd thing: Thanks (e:PMT) for being great hosts. I didn't mean to pass out on a couch just went there to sit and next thing I knew where is everyone?

3rd: Sorry my taking Photo style and my Knowledge of whom everyone is doesn't allow me to like put up a tag line of whom this is in the pictures..... That being said if anyone sees them selves or someone else they know and wants to do that with some pictures feel free. Or You want that picture for Myspace, Facebook, Ok Cupid, Fubar, Adult Friend Finder, Alt, Am I hot or some other rating site (yes at one time many years ago think I was on all of these someplace), or live Journal or Friendster or what ever site you are on feel free to use those pictures of you or your friend......

4th I had a good time I hope everyone else did as well.....

5th ok I'm shutting up here are the Pictures......













































































































Now to Be Honest I'm not sure if I have More Pictures Or Not! But that is all I'm posting for now. Somehow when they got downloaded they got out of order... The Program I used Yesterday the pictures came up but can't find them for some reason using that, I have a feeling it has something to do with that since they where downloaded it was taking the pictures right of the Camera but not sure about that.... In any event hope everyone had a great time............

Well I'm doing part of this as a test to see what happens with list I don't see it listed so I assume that when I type it will just kinda happen we shall see.

So last night the party was great and it was a fun time

• (e:Tinypliny) Made it
• (e:Heidi) was there and her dress was amazing
• I brought the pink stuff
• snooki showed up
• Even though they where with other there where a few cute ladies there
• Ball Drop was Fun
• The Mixed Drinks Where good
• There was a couch that worked as a bed not that it was my Intention just went to sit and that was it
• (e:PMT) where great hosts
• That Heater Was great
• Walt and Lee being there
• A good time was had by all as I could here laughing I couldn't see

Ok Part one worked it made the Bulletin things Now to start uploading I mean dragging over the pictures lets see how this works.......







































































Well Looks like I'll get through the ball drop Photos





















Well Time Wise that is about it for PART 1

Slight Edited a few things removed Part 2 sunday I hope

Yes I know this seems like something from Facebook or MySpace but I took the idea from (e:ladycroft) and guessing this will be dull for me but maybe others will do this as well


As The New Year Rings In

On the eve of each New Year we often reflect on our lives. As we say good-bye to 2010 and hello to 2011, I wish you joy that never ends and happiness with all your family and friends.

Where were you when 2010 began?
At the (e:PMT) Party.

Who were you with?
A bunch of (e:peeps) having a great time.....

Where will you be when 2010 ends?
At (e:PMT)'s hopefully with a bottle in one hand camera in the other with my arms around people and with others hoisting my legs, kidding about that I'll be taking pictures of the ball drop and what ever is going on .

Whom will you be with when 2010 ends?
Can't say for sure since I don't know who will be at the party

Was 2010 a good year for you?
Yes .

What was your favorite moment of the year?
How Does one chose one (e:tinypliny) drinking on New Years day was great, My Niece's 2nd Birthday Party was Great, St. Patrick's day was a blast oh Yeah and Paying for part of "The Girl show" at Gary's stag was a blast to.................................................


What was your least favorite moment of the year?
I don't Like calling him "A RAT" cause sometimes people do need to be told on and it is an insult to rats and my Birthyear is the year of the rat, but when that rat ass pussy got a friend of mine and my boss fired and changed how we work, and he is back again argh........ .

Did you keep your New Year resolutions of 2010?
I don't do The resolutions thing. I didn't really have any goals other then to have fun and I over did it with pictures a bit as I'm so behind......

Do you have any New Year resolutions for 2011?
Well Not really I'm allways trying to expand my mind some but that doesn't mean I could implement things.....
I would like to travel and get my passport or = documentation
doubt I'll get to Vegas but a trip to NYC just to explore and then maybe more trips would be fun (I won't hold my breath).....
Do Want and try to get more Organised!

Did you fall in love in 2010?

Other then with my self or Camera then NO, HA, Seriously no

What was your favorite month of 2010?
Sept. ? Music Is Art not sure some summer month with lots of stuff going on.....................................

Did you travel outside of the US in 2010?
no

How many different states did you travel to in 2010?
New York so that would be 0

Did you lose anybody close to you in 2010?
no.

What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2010?
So Many Great One.... Alice In Wonderland?

What was your favorite song in 2010?
I Never know when a song reall came out so .... Bad Rommance By Lady GaGa hey my heavy bands didn't put out any music......

What was your favorite album in 2010?
Again Not sure of what is considered what year The Tron Soundtrack is pretty good.................

What was your most exciting moment of 2010?
I get pretty excited during sports stuff but I don't think this is what the question Means! I'll say Happy New Year to 2010

What was your proudest moment of 2010?
Pride 2010 and the Stripteasers, HA. I don't think they mean that. It is really more then one but that I buy Buffalo Art.... This is a thanks to (e:Heidi) she had photos at 464 so I went to check them out and through there I found Sean Madden who has some amazing art and also bought some local stuff at Allentown and Music Is Art (same guy for some of it)...

What was your most embarrassing moment of 2010?
I Really have nothing to be embarased about..........

If you could go back in time to any moment of 2010 and change something, what would it be?

My Birthday at fat bobs was Nice. What wasn't though is how I'm on the computer and the lights go off as I'm in the middle and people don't even ask or talk and a cake comes in that wasn't cool.

I also some how kept running out of time to go see Tru Grit....

What I would have done Go to the Sabres game that night and eat there... Then maybe stop off at Club Diablo for a few drinks (christmas party on the 23rd) [had no idea about that till a couple days before so planning that would have been tough] or Just go to Roxy's (yes the lesbain or is it a girl friendly bar what every youwant to call it) and go see the Stripteasers (and skip wrestling)... Again one would have to have planned this and if I'm not apporached find the back of art voice [Not that I ever had] and see if I can find some fun kinky fun would be better.... {of course for all this I would need funds that I might not have}



What are your plans for 2010?

Kinda said this in another question but here goes
-Passport and Travel I would love to go to Montreal but Toronto would be good enoug
- Buy lots of storage stuff and get my place under control
- Need a computer with Internet
-Need an HD TV
[have them hooked up in same room so if I want I can use Pandora and net flix on the DVD player if I can ever figure that out]
- As Much as the long hair is who I am would like to donate some of it to locks of love
- wish I could take the pain of a Tattoo there are a couple I would like to get if they can be done
-During the Summer and Fall go out to bars more, this isn't about getting fucked up or finding a lovely couple to go home with, it is more about being out and enjoying the weather and being me, if I could find a metal night someplace that would be great
-I All ways think I'm going to try all these places to eat and I never do
-Most of the places on "The Strip" don't sell stuff that is me but get up there more just to be out and about
- Try to be a better person what ever that means.....

I'm sure I've left stuff out but that is really all I can think of........

First of all to (e:Heidi) not sure if you saw me or not I saw yeah and was like is that Heidi then yes it is and Smiled but started to slip and that became #1 to stay up. Hope what ever you saw was good!

I went to see Tru Grit today. I've been meaning to go see it last week and then eat for free at Moe's (Birthday thing) but ran out of time all the time last week o-well saw it today...

This Is A Bit of a Spoiler perhaps for anyone reading this.......

I liked the movie. That being Said there was a lot of talking and story more then there was Killing... Not saying that is a bad thing there was still shooting.... This is a Coen Brothers movie and not a Micheal Bay lets blow up everyone watching it and take out the next theater also.. I read from a post on facebook that someone went and thought the movie was funny and was taken back like what are they talking about... But there where parts that really where funny.... Now it is a different kind of funny they say a comedy movie your not going to fall out of your seat and roll down the isle as the usher removes you from the movie but some of the duologue is funny.

Now some might say yeah but it is a remake so it will suck (yes a John Wayne movie I never saw don't think I ever have seen a John Wayne Movie). Now I have no idea if the story lines up at all with the original or how the casting would fit compared to the original. That Brings up one point though. Matt Damon (I'm sure some people say he can't act or don't like him) was pretty good in this movie. That being said There was a part of me all through the movie that thought Heath Ledger would be perfect for this part (yes I know he is dead and assume this was filmed after this but for some reason thought he would fit in this part). Also the guy who plays Jax from Sons of Anarchy reminds me of him and at first I thought Heath would have been great on that show as well.... But the point I want to make about remakes is that what makes them a good remake is if they go back to the Source Material.... At the end of the movie it says that Tru Grit is based on the book of the same name. So I think the Coen's went back and came up with a movie off the book and not the John Wayne movie.. If you are going to make a movie that has been done before that is the way to do it... This leads to a point of why getting kids to read and write early is so important... Well not just so they can do good in school but sometimes us Movie and TV lovers forget that most movies are based of something written and even the ones that aren't still have a screen play... Some People might look to these big action movies and say no but most of them are based of a graphic novel or comic book or maybe even a show based off one of those......

I think the movie was $8 or was that the food. In any event it costs money to go to the movies and movie place has to make money to. It was odd to see so many kids out , is there no school this week? In any event Then there is money to made how ever it is done after the movie leaves and goes to DVD. Stores sell them Nex Flix and Blockbuster and Cable PPV are ways to pay for seeing them. Some People like me get pay channels to see them. So how ever the money works the movie companies make more money for people who didn't see the movie and want to or whom want it again and that leads into my next point kinda...

At Target I bought 4 movies (wish they had Spartacus there and saw some other ones like 24 all 8 seasons for $199 say 200). Now in this case they where movies I had seen all ready. On Blu-ray I got Inglorious Bastards for the extras I want to see that Germen Movie that is in the movie I think they show the entire thing and they list something about the original movie I hope they have all of it maybe just a recap and clips we shall see. Darknight was on sale but for a few more I opted for the Blu Ray should be good. The A Team that was a good movie and it is an extended cut (not sure by how much more really) hoping for good extras... Non Blue Ray I had to Pick up the New Star Trek movie if that has been On cable I've never seen it. It is a pretty big movie to not be on any of the pay stations or maybe I missed it somehow. Now some of these Blu Ray Movies are insane in the prices $29 you have to be kidding me. Yeah I get you get a non blu ray and a digital copy for what ever device you use but still. So That is why I'm not sure if this format will stay around... Why Pay that much if you can pay $15 a month and stream all the movies you want... But see my Blu Ray (don't have internet over there) you can use for Pandora (somehow) and Netflix (somehow) so at least the DVD player companies will be making money.....

Granted going to the movies in Person is Different then watching them at home. Some Prefer to go out and interact with the screen and have the group laugh or to Boo When Darth Maul get killed.... Or even for the Movies we went to with IMK2 people dress up. Some people though will stay home and pause the movie and do all the kind of at home stuff only and not take the chance of a holiday night fist fight. But if you take that away for a minute there is a cost thing. One person and sneak in your own candy not so bad vs. Buying a DVD but a group or with kids and they have to eat somewhere and all of a Sudden that DVD is looking pretty good price wise.... But there is a Hidden Cost The TV, The DVD Player and cords and all that stuff....

Now On top of that Movies are starting to go 3D. Not sure as I like this.. Sorry to me 3D means when an ax is used it looks like it is coming at me past the screen a bit and or maybe the blood slapter (hey here is an idea ad a sound so it sounds like the blood hit me! yes me the viewer)... That being said now not only do you Have HD TV (need to get a small one) and HD 3D but you are getting players and some movies and the prices are so high.... I don't think DVDs are going away some people can't spend money like that and you also have independent movies and can they really shoot in 3D? But what I think may happen is that down the line (assuming 2012 doesn't happen or some other movie like end of the world thing) is that Blu - rays and 3D movies start to take over... Everything won't be in 3D (does anyone really want to see Porn that way, I doubt it)... But what will happen is that everything will stay very costly to buy. What this will do is make people not buy movies that are ify. Do you really want to buy a movie that is going to suck or not worth the money. I think in turn this will make it so Hollywood has to make better movies that also look really good so people buy them again. ****Again though what is good***** I really like Kevin Smith but he is way to raunchy for a lot of people. What about Zombie Movies they had kinda been log Budget all the time. Maybe instead of 3D they could hire people to walk out from behind the screen you know how many people would stain their pants seeing that or better yet coming from the back and walking down the isles.... My Point is some people love shoot outs and some love romantic comedies (no reason for those to be in 3D) and then gross outs like American Pie (not sure how 3D would work sounds kinda scary in fact)... But we shall see...............

So Last Week I had my Birthday off well kinda since I needed my check I had to go get it from work.. So I thought lets go see what stores are at the Mall Downtown.... Before the Galleria and before the young Black High School Kids scared away all the Adults at that out of school time that was a great mall. There where multiple clothing stores and Jewlery places and a Toy store and Record stores. A book store and two news places you could also get Porno Mags.....

What has kept the building going is that Food Court.... I kinda just went through it and didn't look to see what is there... The other thing is that there is walk way to AM&A's (well not used anymore) and there is a walk way to The RAth Building and some other building through the Food Court........

This is an Important Building.... Now there are still a few shops left but not many.... Don't get me wrong there was a very pretty Christmas tree in front of a bank with Security infront thought that might not be a good thing to take a picture of and the mall was decked out but it got me thinking about something...... Why Aren't there more shops there?!

Wait there are supposed to be all these Loft Places some high end and some for students and you have ECC down there. Now above the mall you have that big building not sure what kind of offices are up there...

The Point is during the week you have a lot of people downtown why aren't there a lot of shops and places in that mall.... Well other then the Food Court?

I think there are 2 no make that 3 wait might be 4 not sure issues......

1. People who work downtown and even live downtown would rather shop at the Galleria or what ever mall or Plaza is by there house.. I admit it I lived in Kenmore I would go to tops and target and places over there and not downtown...... Some Of that is what they know. I would rather go where there are a ton of places.... I love the Galleria mall.......

2. To People who live in the city The Elmwood stirp and Waterfront Area are different parts of the city. But to people out side the city or maybe who just work here Elmwood is thought of part of Downtown. So because of that Elmwood Development = Downtown Development hence nothing new in the Mall shopping wise.......

3. Even with all the uncertianity of what will happen with the Waterfront I'f I'm going to open a store I would much rather have it down by the water where you get people in this new, cool, pretty and hip shopping area then a mall that Working people walk through........

4. Don't get me wrong 464 Gallery and Blink over on Amherst and a few new places are great. There are a couple new places on Grant St. There is a movement to get Grant up to the Elmwood Strip... But yet there are Vacant places that may never get rented on elmwood (sweet tooth) or some spots where over the years places can't stay open for the long haul. The Ugly truth is right now there aren't enough people to support all the shops and all the places in Buffalo. To do that you need more people or less shops.....

So at some point I think it is going to lead to the Waterfront Vs. The Mall... I would love to see the mall be aimed at people who live and work downtown and sell clothes or what ever they want to buy after work or maybe even after a play or something...... Then You have places on the waterfront for people who visit Buffalo during the summer for the boating and a beach and the waterpark and the Stadium on the water with the Only NFL team that Plays in the state of NY.

What I figure is this. If someone moves downtown and what they want to buy or do isn't there then they travel someplace to get what they want, once that Habit kicks in they won't buy downtown..... I think that what this means is that with the small amount of $ and small Population of Buffalo soon it will be a battle between the mall and the waterfront for good shops and the Mall will lose and it will be a shame , Hope I'm wrong though...............


A Few Pictues.....

So I admit I do like Christmas Music...... Yes it is so very pleasant. Not only that but most of it isn't about going out on Black Friday to save $300. Most of it is about the good side of the holiday.... Well that is how I feel it isn't like I take a song listen to every single word and then figure out the meaning like one might do with say a Poem.

Family Channel or some Station Every Year has on Christmas Specials on all December..... I admit I never check into what they are.... I'm sure they have some of the Classics and Movies as well.... Movies about Christmas are great and have some message and can be really good. Rudolf is great. Now I did post something over on facebook from Cracked about how it has all these bad Messages. But you know what I like that special because it shows how flawed things are Love the island of the Misfit Toys. Not sure where but recently some places you could buy all the misfits... I think that anyone who has never fit in really likes that movie or at least that part of the movie.....

I also Have to admit I love the lights. It is amazing how much work some people put in. Yes I like the Cheesy Blow up Animals as well. Some people really go hog out or what ever the saying is and I think that is pretty cool. I have heard of some Famous house in Buffalo where they have Santa sometimes those that Have seen it in years past know what I mean......

But Christmas Itself not so found of. See Christmas is a Holiday for kids... The entire thing is about getting Kids Gifts. Now there is nothing wrong with that per say.... But see what it does do is teach kids that it is only about the gifts. I don't care how much family is over and about how many times you go to church and if you get to see a live manger with real live animals.... to Kids they still get the idea of gifts and toys and fun. Well what I think that does is it makes it so that as we get older that is all we care about. My Proof = Black Friday.... That is All I have to Say!!!

But See for me What do I want. I got it CDs of Bands I like..... Wait I don't have time to Listen to the ones I have now.. Wait there are all these great movies and great Blu Ray combo Packs and Yes I would love that Giant Wizard of Oz gift set and all kinds of things that come with shirts and toys and have special animated cartoons that you only get to see on blu
ray... But Again I have DVD's from 2 Years ago I'm guessing I haven't had time to watch..... I also think that when you grow up you now have your own money. So if there is something you really want you go get it. Yes there are things you don't have the money for but that is the exception I think.......

I'm not all Anti Christmas... Sometimes I just don't get the point. Why buy someone something they might not like and they do the same for you.... Why Not just take the money and you each buy your self stuff and enjoy it and things that are the same you can enjoy together.

That Being said though Opening up gifts is fun so I'm not really a Grinch... Sometimes I just think (not that I'm going to do it)... That maybe in stead of giving people gifts go out and buy for each person then instead of wrapping them go to the good will or salvation army or toys for tots and just donate them all.... maybe keep track of all the stuff and have people open empty boxes. It would be great if you could some how get a picture of the people who got the winter coat and are warm out on the street instead of hiding in some building that isn't safe.....

All that being Said I hope everyone Has a Great Christmas or what ever other version of it you do.... If you don't celebrate anything then go help people who want your help (a Charity)..............

So I admit I wanted to post about this yesterday but with all the Zombie Pets playing, and setting up the Christmas Village and stuff and Catching up on here I didn't get to it.....



That is about if the Internet really connects us more..... I will say this before I copy the article. I think in some ways it does. Yes it is true that often times you connect online with people you all ready know.... But look at like how ever flash mobs work... I assume that some of those people wind up meating each other and also connecting off of the web. Some shows in some cities (bigger then Buffalo I assume) have viewing parties for TV shows.... Then there are things like (e:drew) has had Viewing parties (not just for Church People either) and that great Champagne Brunch... Oh and bye the way thanks to you and (e:Janelle) they have been a great time and I'm sure a lot of work for you two.... I guess the point I'm making is it isn't the Internet it is how we use it... Yeah you can watch porn all day untill it hurts and you have no fluid left and you can order food and never go out side... But you can also find people on dating sites and chat on video and keep connections tight and find new people online. At the least you can keep up with people who you don't have time to see or call ....................................


I admit I'm hoping for some Comments>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Does Web really connect us?
Many use Internet to unite with others like them, experts sayBy Stephen T. Watson

News Staff Reporter

Published:
December 20, 2010, 8:00 AM


Updated: December 20, 2010, 11:06 PM


The Internet promises to let us connect with a stranger in Tokyo, but in reality we're much more likely to talk to a friend in Tonawanda.

It was viewed as a potentially globalizing tool. But if you look at how users really spend their time online, they interact with people who are a lot like them -- sharing the same ethnicity, hometown or class status.

"I think in part that's just natural human behavior," said Gregory R. Wood, Canisius College associate professor of marketing, who studies how businesses use social media. "Our online behavior tends to reflect, in part, our offline behavior."

Millions of conversations take place on Twitter, Facebook, blogs and other websites every day, but most are segregated from the rest. Users talk near, but not with, others unlike them.

Local users say they notice the same pattern in their own online interactions, where they mainly chat with friends from school, or back home, about what's on their mind.

"Sometimes we talk about whatever the trending topic of the day is, or an event that happened," said Ricza Lopez, a media production major at Buffalo State College. "I like Twitter for the entertainment. A lot of people go on there and complain about their lives. It's funny."

Experts say this Internet isolation is a concern because, as the problems we face and the economy become more international in scale, we need to become more global in our outlook.

The way to resolve this issue is to translate more websites into other languages and to find the right guides to nudge us out of our online flocks, advocates say.

"These bridge figures, I'm pretty well convinced, are the future of how we try to make the world wider through using the Web," Ethan Zuckerman, a senior researcher at Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society, said at a recent Technology Entertainment and Design, or TED, conference.

From the beginning, theorists argued that the Internet had the potential to revolutionize how we communicate by opening up people to new perspectives from across the globe.

But social media drive so much of the online conversation, and the people we talk to through Facebook, LinkedIn and other sites are usually people we've met in our offline lives.

On Twitter, where people send status updates in 140 characters or less, users start out by following people they know.

They expand their Twitter base by following people who write about topics that interest them, while Twitter suggests others to follow based on a user's location or current connections.

New technologies such as Twitter "amplify and extend who we are and our existing tendencies," said Steve Macho, an assistant professor of technology education at Buffalo State.

At noontime one Friday earlier this month, the most-repeated phrases worldwide on Twitter were "firstkiss," which encouraged users to describe their first lip-lock; "ifihadsuperpowers," a more whimsical topic; and "Xiaobo," a reference to Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese dissident who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize that day.

If you dig down into those conversations, however, you'll see that the people engaging in them for the most part share a common denominator of race or geography or interest.

Zuckerman, in his lecture, said he was surprised to see how many African-Americans use Twitter, which recently did some research on its users.

The service believes 24 percent of American Twitter users are black, about twice their representation in the general population, Zuckerman said. White and black Twitter users aren't talking to each other, however.

Citing research performed by Martin Wattenberg and Fernanda Viegas, Zuckerman points out most popular topics on Twitter are exclusively posted by either white or black users. In May, for example, the term "cookout" was posted almost entirely by black users, while the term "oilspill" was almost uniformly white.

Mate Salekovics, a D'Youville College student from Hungary, said he goes online to call friends and family back home, check out news from Hungary and interact with others who study information technology.

He said he doesn't think there's much that would make him change his habits.

"I know many other things are going on online," Salekovics said. "I do what I like."

Digital segregation also occurs in online news.

Google Ad Planner found in June that 99.9 percent of Chinese users, 98 percent of Japanese users and 93.9 percent of American users get their online news from domestic sites.

"We occasionally stumble onto a page in Chinese, and we decide that we do, in fact, have the greatest technology ever built to connect us to the rest of the world, and we forget that most of the time we're checking Boston Red Sox scores," Zuckerman said in his lecture.

Beginning in 2008, researchers noticed a trend of users seeking out websites that have an explicit point of view, and one that reinforces their own views, Aaron W. Smith, a senior research specialist with the Pew Internet & American Life Project, told The Buffalo News.

Smith isn't convinced the Internet is totally to blame.

"Is this a symptom of the broader polarization we've seen in the political world?" he asked.

Others argue the Internet has changed how we consume news, making it more interactive, and the medium is filled with information that can challenge a belief system. Liberals can visit the Drudge Report, for example, and conservatives may stop by Huffington Post.

"The key point is, I have to want to do that. It is there," said Wood, the Canisius professor.

People employ different media -- TV, radio, print and online -- to get their news, and on the Internet they "forage broadly" and rely on friends to fill in what they missed, Smith said.

But these are people you already have something in common with, so they are sending you links to issues that you might already know about.

Jeffrey J. McConnell, a Canisius computer science professor, laments that we don't just stumble across things anymore because we're always directed exactly where to go.

The search engines powered by Google, Microsoft and other high-tech heavyweights don't encourage the kind of pleasant meandering that happens when we go to a library or look up a word in a dictionary.

Data showing the most popular search terms in a particular country or community shows how inwardly focused we are.

Buffalonians using Google over the 30 days ending Friday to look up news or current events most often searched for the terms "news," "buffalo news," "wgrz" and "wivb," with "channel 2" and "channel 4" also high on the list, according to Google's Insights for Search.

Is this insularity bad? "[The Internet] helps us to not feel isolated as individuals," McConnell said. "It can be bad because we don't get a chance to find out what's going on beyond our small world. It still is a very narrowly focused interaction."

Zuckerman suggests following well-placed, internationally oriented guides who can point Internet users to ideas and people and places they otherwise might never have found.

Lopez, the Buffalo State senior, is a music buff, and this is a popular topic among her friends on Twitter. "Not only do we talk about music that we are into, but also music from other regions that I am not from, such as Africa, Europe and the Caribbean," she said.

swatson@buffnews.comnull