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February 11, 2008

Has Social Networking Finally (or Already) Peaked?

bw_150x54.jpgWell, according to this article in BusinessWeek, the answer apparently is: yes.

Here are some telling numbers from the article:

The MySpace generation may be getting annoyed with ads and a bit bored with profile pages. The average amount of time each user spends on social networking sites has fallen by 14% over the last four months, according to market researcher ComScore. MySpace, the largest social network, has slipped from a peak of 72 million users in October to 68.9 million in December, ComScore says. The total number of people on such sites is still increasing at an 11.5% rate, but that's down sharply from past growth rates. "What you have with social networks is the most overhyped scenario in online advertising," says Tim Vanderhook, CEO of Specific Media, which places ads for customers on a variety of Web sites.

It seems that the more ads there are on these pages, the fewer eyeballs there are reading them, and the fewer fingers clicking on all those mice out there in the non-virtual world.

Posted by Edd at 9:37 AM | | Comments (0)

February 9, 2008

The Ballooning World of Fashion

twisted-ballons-350.jpgNot often (well not ever until now, actually) that fashion makes an entry into HigherPortal, but this seems a worthy precedent. The dresses on this site all have one thing in common - they are made of balloons. And evidently they are made in China.

Very cool.

Pop in here to see more of these remarkable fashion statements.

Posted by Edd at 11:07 PM | | Comments (0)

Rabbi Boteach and Christopher Hitchens Debate: Does God Exist?

Bizarro.gifWhile also a sure cure for insomnia, this debate actually did offer a few delightful exchanges between these two luminosinaries at the 92nd St Y. Hitchens stuck to his oft-repeated history of religions - with all the sordid details. The good rabbi had a difficult time staying on topic. And they had a devil of a time ending on time.

It is doubtful that either debater swayed anyone in the audience, but the conversation was, if not spiritual, at least spirited. Excellent to watch while multi-tasking - you know checking that bank balance for the fourth time today to see if it has changed any...

HERE is the link.


Posted by Edd at 1:19 PM | | Comments (0)

February 4, 2008

It's New York, It's Very Cool... Frozen, Actually

Thumbnail image for Frozen.jpgImprov Everywhere caused another "scene" in New York City. More than two hundred "undercover (improv) agents" went into Grand Central Station and then they all "froze in place" at the exact same time for five minutes. Amazingly, Homeland Security wasn't called in.The scene really was grand, actually.

Here it is on YouTube.


Posted by Edd at 4:04 PM | | Comments (0)

February 1, 2008

Lit Crimes and Misdemeanors

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A young writer, Marianne Mckinnon Moore (remember that name...one day you will be in a book signing queue holding her latest work, or you may be holding a Kindle waiting for her e-signature, but either way, you'll be there) but we digress...

Well, she has a new entry here on her blog, Dig for Fire, that we suspect will be the last word on the literary crimes committed by J K Rowling. Perhaps after reading this post the authorities in the UK will give Rowling probation and house castle arrest.

Also check out some of her other writing here.

We link, you decide.


Posted by Edd at 2:32 PM | | Comments (0)