One of the things I'm noticing more and more in my new gov't 9-5er, besides the fact that I sleep much better (and no, not at my desk) and haven't taken anything to or from work other than a lunch bag and a purse for...well, since I started, is that gov't is behind the times when it comes to embracing technology and communications. For some reason, more and more, I'm being asked by my manager and starting to be seen by the limited number of people who will talk to me...le outsider...as something of a social media guru.
*insert record scratch*
Ha WAH?
I'll admit. I know some stuff. I have a good network of solid comms folks that we feed off each other and regularly throw (mostly online) learning resources each other's way. And I can see the linkages for opportunities between traditional and social media and how we need to stand up and pay attention because it ain't goin' away.
Today, in my (used to be and should return to) weekly visit to Casa de Elliott, we got into a discussion of brand loyalty, social media and the changing way in which our comms jobs are headed...or not, as the case may be.
J then pulled up this video for me. Watch it. It's worth the time. Then watch the one after it and I'll continue ranting after that ;o)
And interestingly, when I took the How Millenial Are You? test and scored highest amongst my former work place colleagues at a whopping 91% (BTW, I took the test twice, over two months apart each time and scored the same score each time if you're looking for quality control). It's an interesting test to take. What it means though, in terms that some of you may find shocking can be reflected in the way I absorb technology/use. Here's an Albertasauras did you know list:
-I haven't watched a television show at the time it aired in longer than I can remember. All 3 shows that I watch I watch online within a week of them airing because I can't be bothered to have to be home for a prescribed time nor sit through commercials. If my tenant ever moves out, I will cancel cable and go solely to online viewing.
-I haven't watched a news program on TV since I lived in my apartment...almost 3 years ago.
-I read 6+ media monitoring reports daily for work...and I what I do has nothing directly related to what's in those reports.
-I visit more than 3 news organizations websites daily for specific news. It's never consistent which sites I visit (CNN, CBC, Globe and Mail, NY Times, BBC, etc.) because I search for my news by what I want to learn about that day based on trends on Twitter, Facebook, National Geographic, and conversations at work/with my peers.
-From March 17-April 16, I sent 777 text messages and received 914. I received 17 pictures and browsed the web 28 times. It was an average month.
-My phone is never off, is never without charge and is rarely more than 5 feet from me for longer than 30 minutes at a time. I sleep with it and more easily wake up to it's vibrating than to my alarm clock - regardless of if it's on radio or annoying beep.
-I used to listen to the radio (bubble gum pop station that shall remain nameless) on my drive to and from work. I can't even get 2 km from my house before I'm annoyed by commercials and switch to my iPod. Forget listening to any kind of news talk radio where again, the agenda is prescribed as to what I will listen to. CBC is programmed into my car preset stations simply to be able to say it is. I couldn't tell you what the frequency actually is because I've never listened to it. (Yes, I open myself up to ridicule by all you comms peeps.)
-My required equipment to leave the house used to be 'wallet, phone, keys'. It's now 'wallet, phone, keys, ipod, headset to be able to talk and drive'.
-I don't remember the last time I read a newspaper on purpose, much less bought one. Newspapers have a finite amount of information. The Internet does not. I want to be able to read something online and do more research instantly using my trusty Google search bar. And I do...all....the...time.
-I have 7 email accounts: 4 Gmail, 1 Hotmail, 1 Rogers, and 1 work account. I have an outdated MySpace account, Facebook account, Twitter account (that I use more to follow than to tweet) and a blog.
-I am on my laptop every night in bed before I go to sleep.I close the lid, put it on the floor beside my bed and turn off my light. The first thing I do each morning is open it up and log in.
-I am seriously considering selling my soul for an iPhone or an android phone. My current phone, just over a year old, isn't smart enough to surf the web as websites become more and more sophisticated to be browsed on hand held devices. Telus doesn't even sell my phone anymore.
-I read 30+ blogs weekly and 4 daily.
What does this all mean? Not much. But here's the thing. I'm not on top of all the new media and technology out there. I've got a good handle on things, but I'm not by any means savvy enough,
IMHO, for my job. But more than anything, the shock of seeing all those stats above in those videos and seeing how it relates to my life has turned into something else for me this evening. Fear. Fear of not becoming outdated.
And with that, I close the lid, put my laptop on the floor, turn off the lite and make sure my phone's on vibrate.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Damn you, Hollywood
I went and saw a chick flick yesterday, on Holiday Monday, at the theatre with ShellBell, Baby Yu and Gback. Okay, Gback's not a chick but he's a sucker for anything outta Hollywood it would seem so I can see why he was there.
Anyways, as I did my best to patiently watch...
Wait. First let me publicly go on the record for apologizing to le Ex. I know, you're probably wondering what the hell an apology is stuck here for but I have to apologize. He always bitched and moaned about the fact that I talk too much in a movie. And I probably do. I make maybe 2 comments during a movie. But it is NO WHERE NEAR the ongoing play-by-play I was getting at the theatre yesterday from the row above, behind or even to the side of me not to mention the squeals and ohs and ahs when Taylor Lautner came on the screen (gag). It's like women NEVER SHUT THE FUCK UP. No wonder men don't say much. THEY DON'T NEED TO. So, for the simple fact that I know I'm no where even close to as chatty in a theatre (let's be realistic, people, I said theatre for a reason) as the gaggle of women who were there yesterday, I now know how fucking annoying that is. So, le Ex, whatever special place in purgatory you're at, I apologize. ;o)
But I digress...
Anyhoot, I'm sitting there listening to awwwwws and sniffles as women tear up at the sad bits and literally cheers and claps when the boy kisses the girl (Wtf? As if we didn't see THAT coming a mile away so you feel the need to get all worked up about it?) and it got me thinking. Hollywood is screwing us over. Men and women alike. They build up these fantasies of how love should be and how men should act and how women should look and then we're all inevitably disappointed in each other when it doesn't work out that way. And then we just become bitter and jaded and turn on each other. For once, just once, can the guy NOT get the girl? Like in 500 Days of Summer, which, by the way, I just ruined the ending for you if you've not seen it. And for once, just once, can the girl look normal? Like she had the fries instead of the salad at one point. And that perhaps not all of the best qualities of her parents genetic makeup were passed on but that's okay because she fell in love too cause women like that fall in love too? You know, a la My Big Fat Greek Wedding?
Damn you, Hollywood. Damn you.
Anyways, as I did my best to patiently watch...
Wait. First let me publicly go on the record for apologizing to le Ex. I know, you're probably wondering what the hell an apology is stuck here for but I have to apologize. He always bitched and moaned about the fact that I talk too much in a movie. And I probably do. I make maybe 2 comments during a movie. But it is NO WHERE NEAR the ongoing play-by-play I was getting at the theatre yesterday from the row above, behind or even to the side of me not to mention the squeals and ohs and ahs when Taylor Lautner came on the screen (gag). It's like women NEVER SHUT THE FUCK UP. No wonder men don't say much. THEY DON'T NEED TO. So, for the simple fact that I know I'm no where even close to as chatty in a theatre (let's be realistic, people, I said theatre for a reason) as the gaggle of women who were there yesterday, I now know how fucking annoying that is. So, le Ex, whatever special place in purgatory you're at, I apologize. ;o)
But I digress...
Anyhoot, I'm sitting there listening to awwwwws and sniffles as women tear up at the sad bits and literally cheers and claps when the boy kisses the girl (Wtf? As if we didn't see THAT coming a mile away so you feel the need to get all worked up about it?) and it got me thinking. Hollywood is screwing us over. Men and women alike. They build up these fantasies of how love should be and how men should act and how women should look and then we're all inevitably disappointed in each other when it doesn't work out that way. And then we just become bitter and jaded and turn on each other. For once, just once, can the guy NOT get the girl? Like in 500 Days of Summer, which, by the way, I just ruined the ending for you if you've not seen it. And for once, just once, can the girl look normal? Like she had the fries instead of the salad at one point. And that perhaps not all of the best qualities of her parents genetic makeup were passed on but that's okay because she fell in love too cause women like that fall in love too? You know, a la My Big Fat Greek Wedding?
Damn you, Hollywood. Damn you.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Long overdue
Lovelies, it's been some time since I regaled you with all the minutae that is my life. For that, I apologize. I'm going to try and summarize all that I've done in the last few weeks while you've been waiting patiently and promise, yet again to blog more often.
Let's start with work. I had a golden opportunity land in my lap mid-March with a position in the gov't. I've been here going on my 3rd week now but after almost 4 years at my previous job, and being horribly bad at record keeping I've discovered, it was a long and painful transition trying to get it all out of my head. I left work exhausted and burnt out and getting started with the new job has been equally taxing. I'll tell you more about my life lessons from working as a public servant shortly.
Personally, it's been a busy time as well. Not so much socializing with friends as I've had a new beau enter my little bubble. I know, I know, I'm just as surprised as you are, believe me. And I will tell you more, in due time. For now, let's leave it at things are good and he continually surprises me - in good ways. He's quite the Charming Good Guy (CGG).
And wait...that's it. Yup, my life in a nutshell. CGG and work. And sleep. And procrastination. I haven't kept up in my reading of my blogs. I'm off the online dating world. I haven't done my taxes. I seem to always have more loads of laundry than time. And I don't know where my time goes. But more to come...I promise.
So again, thanks for your patience. It will have been worth it. I promise.
Let's start with work. I had a golden opportunity land in my lap mid-March with a position in the gov't. I've been here going on my 3rd week now but after almost 4 years at my previous job, and being horribly bad at record keeping I've discovered, it was a long and painful transition trying to get it all out of my head. I left work exhausted and burnt out and getting started with the new job has been equally taxing. I'll tell you more about my life lessons from working as a public servant shortly.
Personally, it's been a busy time as well. Not so much socializing with friends as I've had a new beau enter my little bubble. I know, I know, I'm just as surprised as you are, believe me. And I will tell you more, in due time. For now, let's leave it at things are good and he continually surprises me - in good ways. He's quite the Charming Good Guy (CGG).
And wait...that's it. Yup, my life in a nutshell. CGG and work. And sleep. And procrastination. I haven't kept up in my reading of my blogs. I'm off the online dating world. I haven't done my taxes. I seem to always have more loads of laundry than time. And I don't know where my time goes. But more to come...I promise.
So again, thanks for your patience. It will have been worth it. I promise.
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