Since I was exposed to a very similar theme across three different conversations today, I think I should comment on something that I see brewing.  It seems that the centralized internet as we know it is now objectionable.  Google can get you anything you want, all you need to do is ask.  YouTube can show you anything you want, just search (Oh, and if you didn’t know, YouTube is controlled by Google).  There is a massive advantage to having everything centralize…it is fast and accessible.  Of course the downside is that it is essentially monopolized data.

Three separate people who don’t know each other brought this up with me today, in three separate contexts.  All three expressed a desire to decentralize is some capacity, whether it be media, search or something different.

I’ve just installed the newest beta release of Tweetdeck version 0.24b, and the change from previous releases is perhaps the most significant since I started using this Adobe Air Twitter platform.  Tweetdeck now offers the ability to connect directly to your Facebook account and show your friends’ status updates. When I click on their Facebook update in Tweetdeck, it takes me directly to their Facebook profile page. Also, I can click on the status update within Tweetdeck and “retweet” it.  It shows up as “FB RT @username”…genius!

Always thinking ahead, Tweetdeck has also done something to ensure a broadening of their user base.  There are now two small check boxed next to the update bar at the top of the program, one for Twitter and one for Facebook.  I have tested both of these buttons, and I can now update to only Twitter, only Facebook or both!  I LOVE this…and I will immediately stop sending all of my Twitter updates over to Facebook.

I love Snow White (who doesn’t?) and I love Daft Punk..  What better than a mashup?  Enjoy this 2:26 video, sure to start your day off right.

I recently wrote a paper for a client called “Best Corporate Blogging Practices” as they are about to launch their first company blog.  There were more than a few questions about what do do and what to avoid when blogging for their organization, so I want to share my thoughts with you.

Corporate Blogging

This short guide should serve as a set of suggestions and ideas for corporate blogging.  Please do not think that these are hard and fast rules, because your blogging style should be unique to your organization.  As you get a little farther down the blogging road, you will naturally develop a voice and style that is true to your company, and that is what will keep people coming back for more.

I was thrilled to find a service that successfuly searches short URLs, Backtweets. Unlike many services for Twitter that are just fun or entertaining, this has real business application.

If you manage a brand online (hint: if you have a blog, website, company and/or service then this probably applies) you want to pay attention to what is being said or who links to it. This is valuable for responding to positive and negative feedback, and generally engaging your customers. With the explosive popularity of Twitter and other microblogging services this becomes challenging as people use URL shortening services to fit everything into their short posts.

***UPDATE***It seems the audio has already been pulled from this video, which kind of ruins the fun. So, if you still want to watch the video below, may I suggest hitting ‘play’ on your Watchmen soundtrack at the same time?

What could be more fitting for this viral Friday than something Watchmen related?  I was a huge fan on the graphic novel back in the day, I’m looking forward to seeing the movie, although I won’t be braving the crowds on opening weekend I don’t think.  This quick clip answers the question we all have, “what if The Incredibles were done Watchmen style?” Enjoy.

(RSS Subscribers, click through for embedded video. Honest, it’s worth it.)