social media giant done in by its users

Facebook hit a major faux-pas when it believed it could use its users' informations for revenue purposes. (See previous post here.)

The Star reports that after users got wind of the program, named Beacon, they signed an online petition that has changed Facebook's mind.

That was quick. And there is the power of social media.

playing catch-up

Global ran a broadcast either last night or the one before looking at data rates. The Globe ran one two weeks ago.

Good to see old media catching up to new media outrage. (I wrote about it Nov 6th. Ta!)

because you can never buy enough

From the Globe and Mail:

But Facebook had an even better idea. Whenever users make purchases at selected partner sites, such as Amazon.com, the plan is to give them the option of broadcasting this news to their entire group of friends via the Facebook's newswire of inanity. And while I haven't coerced this feature into action yet, my Facebook friends may soon discover that, “Ivor has purchased Natural Goat Care from Amazon.com.”

Are we getting to know too many useless details about our friends through Facebook? And are we getting too comfortable giving out so much information about our lives? At least now I can roll my eyes (even more) when my friends tell me they're broke. Ahem, now, I know exactly how come.

Ironically, I got this off my friend Robyn through Facebook. Apparently she reads the Globe.

who does it better?

gwen loves the toronto pout

Formula for Gwen's new videos: dour face + dramatic make-up = 0 creativity.

Check out her latest video for "Early Winter" and compare to "4 in the Snoring Morning." Gwen, stop selling HP crap and get some new ideas. Fergie's latest vid is killin' it. When did you become the primary Gwen clone? (Also, is she copying Mariah in this video? Ick.)





PS. Universal Music Group, why disallow video embedding? Youtube is video sharing, so share. Duh.

cheer up your friday

This song is glory, glory, glory. Pout begone!

you can't see me, but i'm pouting at you as i type.

Pout, pout, pout.

Taking the subway is an excellent way to see the Toronto pout. Not to be confused with the Commuter frown, the Toronto pout stems from a high amount of vanity, a pinch of contempt mixed with, well, being a robot.

The Toronto pout is different from the Montreal pout in that Montrealers seem amused by your presence, while Torontonians try to block your existence out completely. (Vancouverite pouts... wait, do Vancouverites pout? Maybe only when they're being compared to Toronto.)

I'm not sure where the pout sprouts from (excess viewing of America's Next Top Model?) but it, like advertising, has overrun the city. It's no wonder that people assume the city is unfriendly. Is it because everyone in the city is too busy? Occupied with thoughts of iPhones and Cavalli leopard print undies? Or maybe everyone's pouting because of the rent and cost of living in the city?

Whatever it is, to quote Heidi Klum, it's time for the Toronto pout to be auf. Save it for the runway, not the subway.

torontoist tells you about the rom scare

There's some very good, comprehensive posts on the ROM scare over at Torontoist. Even if it was just an art project, isn't it normal to make noise BEFORE the art project to drum up some buzz? It's not very arty to just scare the crap out of people. Who does he think he is? The WSIB?

rom under bomb threat

The ROM is under a bomb threat. Police are asking patrons at restaurants on Bloor to exit through the back. MORE

UPDATE: Situation well covered at Torontoist by David Topping.

toronto, i love you?

The Star reports that Toronto's answer to Paris, Je T'aime will arrive next year. The filmmakers of Toronto Stories hopes to complete the collection of shorts for TIFF '08. I'm interested in what they end up with. Toronto definitely has the multiculturalism and class mix for "segments" in the film, but what will make each story distinctly Torontonian? Also, Paris, Je T'aime had masters creating shorts and the results were mixed. Will homegrown talent work it better?

this hurts my brain

The Star is reporting that grade 7 and 8 students find homework too hard.

On one hand, the amount of homework being piled on students is ridiculous. Even grade 2s are facing hours in front of work. I'm not sure if this instills any more work ethic than a regular dish-washing and chores schedule. On the other hand, as we become more and more specialized and technical in our industries, there is a lot of background information that is required as a foundation for jobs.

Is our education system too old? Does it need to change it up? Or do students need to stop going on Facebook and do some work?

far coast closing

Far Coast, the experimental café owned by Coca-Cola is closing. A flagship store located near Bay and Bloor will shut down November 30th. No reason was given although the concept store was initially intend to promote Coca-Cola's coffee pod system. Coca-Cola hoped the system would catch on and expand its reach in beverages. The Far Coast products will still be served at the Varsity Cinema.

I wonder if lack of business killed the store. Torontonians won't even support an independent café backed by a giant corporation. How duo-gamous to the Bucks and the Cup.

No word on what will take Far Coast's place.

enchanted, well, enchanted

Enchanted took the weekend box office with $50M over 5 days. Even better news? Nikke Finke reports that a writer's strike deal might be in place. Now that really is Enchanted.

One question though: why is Enchanted only playing at the Rainbow Cinemas Market Square and the Paramount Scotiabank Theatre? I know, I know, the Carlton plays queer and quirky, off-centre films, the Cumberland plays foreign and critically acclaimed independent films and the Varsity plays the commercial award-winners and sobfests (read: August Rush), so that leaves the mainstream boombastic Scotiabank and Market Square.

I still think this one belongs at the Varsity. It's got singing and it's homo-riffic, shouldn't the theatre that showed Dreamgirls, Chicago and Hairspray be welcoming it with well-manicured hands?

victor's finds, part II

I hate/love telemarketers. Collectively, they are leeches that go from mild nuisances to annoying things that must be burnt off. Individually, though, they are just people trying to do their jobs. Still, I find more and more telemarketers are becoming defensive and hostile in response to the people hating them. That, alas, only makes us, the people, hate them more. Ah, the circle of life.

Victor passes on the best telemarketer crank call ever. Enjoy.