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Archive for September, 2012

TV time unscathed by mobile usage: Distilling data from the London Olympic’s 50,000 viewers

by kaley
Friday, September 28th, 2012

Calling all data geeks! NBC Universal’s “Billion Dollar Research Lab” just revealed a trove of over 50,000 London Olympic viewers’ data in The New York Times, giving us a glimpse into the future of media consumption. We’ve expelled the most interesting findings:

1. Live streaming on the Internet is significantly on the rise. The number of people streaming women’s soccer and women’s gymnastics in 2012 was more than the total number of people that streamed anything during the 2010 winter Olympics.

2. NBC reported that 99% of all Olympics related tweets were from 7pm-Midnight, the time-delayed primetime. Though it seems like they are just trying to justify their decision for the delayed broadcast.

3. NBC claims that research led to the decision to live stream the closing ceremonies- not online backlash. But we’re calling BS on that!

4. Mobile/internet usage does not take away from TV time. Here’s the evidence, “People who tuned in using four devices — a TV, tablet, personal computer and smartphone — spent more time each day watching the Games, a total of five hours and 34 minutes, than viewers who watched only on TV, who logged three hours and 12 minutes.”

While the findings are certainly informative perhaps the most intriguing aspect is that the “Billion Dollar Research Lab” doesn’t even have a billion dollar budget- causing us to wonder why it was bequeathed that name.

Fitness Finds – Links from the Blogads Network

by Paige Wilcox
Thursday, September 27th, 2012

In light of the fact that the Blogads HQ is partaking in a gluttonous “Just Desserts” potluck today, I thought it would be a great cruel idea to highlight some of the inspiring fitness features from around the Blogads network:

What Should We Call Me illustrates the downside of working out with others:

No one likes a smug show-off, especially when you feel like a walrus.

Your Life After 25 lists the medical benefits of swimming:

When you feel weightless in the water, that means the workout’s done, right?

Fit Bottomed Girls’ Erin divulges her fitness confessions:

I feel validated in thinking that showers are kind of overrated now.

Healthkicker shares helpful info on fitting in exercise at the office:

A post-Blogads potluck must!

Betches Love This know the importance of expensive workout clothes:

If you can’t be athletic, at least you can dress like you are.

photo by flickr user Ulf Liljankoski

Barometer: Emmy’s, Romney, Voter Registration and more

by kaley
Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

Welcome to the sixth post in our Barometer series, helping you gauge the atmosphere in the political blogosphere 6 weeks before the election.

Think Progress – Why Homeland Deserved to Dominate the Emmy’s
The political drama beat out heavyweights like Mad Men, Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones.

Outside the Beltway – Was Mitt Romney the Best Candidate the GOP had this Year?
Recent Romney gaffes have many conservatives re-thinking Bachmann, Cain, Huntsman, and other hopefuls.

Electablog – National Voter Registration Day: Amplify Your Vote
Haven’t gotten around to updating your address? Have friends dragging their feet? C’mon, register today!

Right Wing News – 7 Incredible Personal Stories About Mitt Romney That You May Not Know
Think you have Mitt Romney pegged? These anecdotes might sway your perception.

Photos from: itupictures, Austen Hufford, Vox Efx

Lamebook Makes TIME’s “50 Best Websites 2012″ List

by Paige Wilcox
Monday, September 24th, 2012

TIME curated a list of the top 50 Web sites that the “editors find to be useful, entertaining, innovative or just plain addictive,”  with Blogads’ partner Lamebook making the cut!

Lamebook.com is a popular and consistently hilarious resource to view the latest ridiculous and lame posts that people find worth sharing on Facebook. TIME described Lamebook as being “less about Facebook and more about human nature — whether you’re into social networking or not, there’s something for everyone here.”

We here at Blogads are thrilled for Lamebook’s recognition, and we highly suggest for anyone interested in the absurdity of human nature to check it out. Make sure to also check out the other sites that TIME highlights here.

Om Nom Nom- Links from the Blogads Network

by Paige Wilcox
Thursday, September 20th, 2012

I’ve gotten in the habit of bringing my lunch to work and then promptly eating it by 10:30 a.m. In light of this, here are some food-related posts from around the Blogads network to help torture fellow self-saboteurs:

Immaculate Infatuation’s busboy guest reviewers give their take on Rosemary’s:

In the second installment of the Busboy Review series, this video documents the restaurant review of Rosemary’s in the West Village from two lovable busboys, David and Charlie. Some favorite quotes from this review include:

  • “Yo, dude- you just got us purple drank…”- Charlie on how David embarrassingly ordered red wine when everyone else was clearly drinking white
  • “It’s basically a thunder dome, you know, of, like, fresh people trying to eat stuff.”- Charlie on Rosemary’s layout

Extra Fancy also gets some love from the busboy guest reviewers on Immaculate Infatuation:
So after the watching the review for Rosemary’s (above), I had to go back and watch the first installment in the Busboy Review series (two makes it a “series,” right?). David and Charlie review Extra Fancy in Willaimsburg, where they both work/have worked. Favorite quotes:

  • “He puts the food down like you want to have sex with him. You know? It’s, like, amazing. You like the meal before you get the meal.”- David on Charlie’s food running technique
  • “If you’re under 25, go for the shrimp roll. Like, you don’t have to be ashamed to go for the shrimp roll. It’s OK, you know? Over 25, like, pump it up a bit: go clam bake, go steak, ya know? Mix it up. Under 25, shrimp roll.”- David’s menu recommendations

The Purple Foodie has found a new-found love for avocados and gives the recipe for Avocado Toast:
WANT. I like any recipe that only requires assembly. Also, I consider the avocado the butter of the fruit world. And before you look it up–yes, I double-checked that avocados are in the fruit food group.

A Foodie Stays Fit provides the recipe for  Sweet Potato Waffles:
Anything with sweet potatoes is alright in my book, and I’m pretty sure they’re considered a super food because of their vitamins, so…let’s do this.

Cutest Food always gives adorable lunch ideas, like this Three Little Cats Bento:
Well, this puts my PB&J to shame, but I feel like replicating this would really cut into my morning snooze schedule. One day, though. One day.

photo by flickr user billaday

Friends with benefits: how some faces can amplify a Facebook ad

by kaley
Thursday, September 20th, 2012

Can a few friends move an election?

Yes, according to a recent study by James Fowler of the University of California, San Diego. During the Congressional Election of 2010, Fowler’s study split 61 million Facebook users into three groups: 98% saw an ad saying “I voted” along with pictures of friends who had clicked the “I Voted” button, 1% saw the ad with no pictures of friends, and the final 1% weren’t shown the ad at all.

20% of those who saw pictures of friends responded to the ad, compared to 18% of the “friendless” users who responded. The study also discovered that the first group was 0.39% more likely to vote than the others.

Not much, say you? In total, out of 61 million users to see the ad, approximately 238,000 extra votes were cast, estimates Fowler. Considering Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio (swing states in 2008) were all won by a margin of less than 300,000 votes, that number could mean the difference between winning and losing a Presidential election.

The real-world impact is undeniable, and according to NPR’s Shankar Vedantam, campaigns are already using followers and subscribers to impact the 2012 elections:

“…[E]very time you get a message on Facebook from the Obama or Romney campaigns, or every time you get a tweet from them, saying please like this message or please retweet this, what they’re doing is taking advantage of the fact that when you amplify a message from the campaign, it’s much more effective than the campaign sending out messages directly.”

Maybe General Motors, which caused a stir back in May by pulling its entire Facebook ad budget due to a “lack of impact on consumers,” should take this as a friendly hint to reconsider.

Photo by Flickr user Justin Grimes

Barometer: Rahm, Occupy, Google and more

by kaley
Monday, September 17th, 2012

Welcome to the fifth post in our Barometer series, helping you gauge the atmosphere in the political blogosphere 7 weeks before the election.

Althouse – Why Do So Many More Americans Think Obama Will Win Than Want Him to Win?
A peek at election psychology.

Taylor Marsh – News Desk: Teachers Stay Out, Rahm Seeks Injunction
Chicago mayor calls extended strike illegal- will it get teachers back in the classroom?

Outside the Beltway – One Year Later, The Failure of Occupy Wall Street is Apparent
A reflection on the movement’s anniversary.

The Smirking Chimp – Google Rightfully Rejects White House Request to Yank Innocence of Muslims from YouTube
Google stands firm on first amendment freedoms regarding the controversial clip.

Photos from: sdpurtill, PaulSteinJC, warrantedarrest

Featured Blogger: Sonja Foust of Pintester

by Paige Wilcox
Friday, September 14th, 2012
Sonja Foust is on a mission to test all of the good, the bad and the ugly that Pinterest has to offer. Her hilarious attempts (and failures) testing out DIY Pinterest how-tos and recipes on Pintester.com has garnered her a strong and loyal following. In addition to her site, keep up with Sonja on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

Pintester's Sonja Foust

Q: When did you start blogging?

 

A: I started Pintester.com in December of 2011, but I’ve been blogging in some form (starting on Xanga– remember that?) ever since blogging was even a thing– so, like, 2001 or something. That OLD old stuff isn’t online anymore, but quite a lot of my old-ish stuff is still online at sonjafoust.com.

 

Q: What originally got you interested in blogging?

 

A: Umm, vanity, probably. I was enamored of the idea that someone could read what I’d written and then immediately comment on it. Having an instant audience was a pretty heady feeling and I never quite got over it.

 

I started Pintester.com specifically because I wanted a blog with a little tighter theme than just “the life of Sonja,” and I’d started a little bit of humor writing on my “the life of Sonja” blog and it had gone over pretty well. So Pintester.com was a chance for me to exercise my humor writing, and also a way to make something out of the stuff that I was already failing at. Yes, I was a Pinterest failure even before the blog.

 

Q: What are your favorite types of DIY pins to test?

 

A: Well I think I started out with mostly recipes because, hey, a girl’s gotta eat. But the beauty pins seem to be the most popular. People love it when I slather questionable things on my face. I’ve never been crafty, so I have to push myself to try the craft-stuff, but when I do, it usually fails hilariously, so I guess it’s worth it. My favorites are still the recipes, though, because even if they fail, there’s food involved.
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Design Inspiration – Links from the Blogads Network

by Paige Wilcox
Thursday, September 13th, 2012

If you’re in a design rut and looking for some ideas for your office, home or crafts, we’ve got you covered.  Take notes from some of the aesthetically-gifted trendsetters from around the Blogads network:

InhabitatCinderella-Inspired Pumpkin Room Transforms edg Creatives into Fairytale Brainstormers
I don’t remember Cinderella necessarily doing her best thinking in the pumpkin carriage (ie- should have planned a better exit strategy for later that evening), but creative office rooms seem like a great way to invigorate creative thinking!

The Graphics Fairy – Vintage Clip Art: Marvelous Pocket Watch
Consistently serving up different clip art ideas for your next craft or project, here’s one of the latest features inspired by steampunk.

Curbly – How To: Cheater Chalkboard Art
If you want to jazz up your walls and love artsy chalkboard typography, this is a great cheat-sheet for how to get it.

Design-Seeds – Color Sprig
Having trouble deciding which colors go best together? This a beautiful and soothing color palette.

Mr. Kate – DIY Whiteboard Wall
Terrific idea for an office space or kids’ room! Just add a moon-bounce floor, and we’re in business.

photo by flickr user Rilind Hoxha

Barometer: Teacher Strike, Mike Rowe, Organic Food

by kaley
Tuesday, September 11th, 2012

Welcome to the fourth post in our Barometer series, helping you gauge the post-convention atmosphere in the political blogosphere.

Truthdig – Chicago Teachers Strike After Union Talks Break Down
The nation’s 3rd largest school district is without 25,000 teachers.

Legal Insurrection – Mike Rowe’s Letter Strikes a Chord with Mitt Romney
The “Dirty Jobs” host calls for a renewed appreciation of skilled labor.

Balloon Juice – Good Food, “Organic Food,” and Fixing the Gap Between the Farmer’s and the Hypermarket
An analysis of Stanford’s “debunking organic produce” study.

Patterico’s Pontifications – Newt: Clinton Speech Made Obama Look Bad
Did Clinton’s DNC speech have anti-Obama subtext?

Photos from: br5ad, lwpkommunikacio, various brennemans


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