As one set of delegates prepares to fly out of Denver and another set prepares to fly into Minneapolis we saw history made this week. America has embraced a historic first – the first major motion picture based on a social media site. Yes, Facebook : The Movie is expected to friend screens at a theatre near you sometime next year. Aaron Sorkin, the man responsible for A few Good Men, The American President, TV’s The West Wing and Sports Night and a portion of Bolivia’s gross national product there for a while, will be scripting. No word yet on a cameo from former President Bartlett.
Google Makes Life Interesting for Search Marketers
Two big non-food changes from Google this week: First are the changes they are rolling out through AdWords including elimination of fixed minimum bids and the introduction of “real time” Quality Score calculation. Right now most campaigns are unaffected by this so despite much commenting it will be hard to know what concrete effect much of this will have until we see it on the ground. Stay tuned.
Second is the roll-out to all Google users of Google Suggest in which the search engine helpfully murmurs in the users ear what they might really want to be looking for. Actually it gives you a list of related sites with traffic volume numbers.
Is that Church Tongue?
I naturally figured that CNN’s story about computer tonguing would be about kosher delis at best, or (sigh) porn – again. What a relief to discover it’s about a Georgia Tech program that seeks to turn your mouth into a computer (rather than a party): “Georgia Tech researchers believe a magnetic, tongue-powered system could transform a disabled person’s mouth into a virtual computer, teeth into a keyboard — and tongue into the key that manipulates it all.” On a serious note this could be a boon to disabled people who can’t manipulate a standard keyboard and mouse.
Judge Tosses Veoh Porn Suit
Don’t worry folks, this week’s roundup is not entirely porn free. YouTube was pleased by a judges decision to reject a lawsuit filed against vid sharing site Veoh by a company that makes videos that show what grownups do when they are in love. The production company’s line of videos, which does not include a film based on Facebook, were uploaded to Veoh by third-party users. YouTube, which is being sued by Viacom, feels that their suit should be rejected on the same merits.
Your Laptop Stinks
Taiwanese computer company Asus has just introduced its new line of scented laptops. Yes, scented laptops.
Chinese Democracy Will Not Be Tolerated – Advocates Will Be Arrested
No it’s not more news about this year’s Olympics host country. Some dumb guy uploaded the entirety of Guns N’ Roses newish (back in 1998) yet to be released album Chinese Democracy online. In return, he’s been arrested for violating copyright law.
I Hate Kids
Not all kids. Those Obama girls are pretty cute but then they didn’t just turn around and sell their super cheap-o start up website for $ 62,000. It may sound paltry compared to the millions paid for lolCats but the dude used free bulletin board software to basically start a Zune discussion group. “It is so easy to make money on the Internet…,” he says. I still say you should keep off my lawn if you know what’s good for you.
Steve Jobs Joins the Undead
Finally, Reprise Media’s Senior Account Director Chase Wells let me know that his zombie alert went off this week. It seems that Steve Jobs died, and then was resurrected by the Mayor of New York? I may have this story mixed up…
Enjoy Labor Day weekend! Have a strawberry lemonade and think of us…
