History

Sep
23

The Story of the Very First PodCamp (or, See How Far Social Media Has Come?)

Justin on September 23rd, 2010

As PodCamp Boston 5 gears up this weekend, I thought I’d look back in time a few years — specifically, back to September of 2006, when a few geeks from Boston changed the way we use computers. That summer, a no-name blogger named Chris Brogan had become friends with some of Boston’s social media crowd.  [...]

Continue reading about The Story of the Very First PodCamp (or, See How Far Social Media Has Come?)

Armchair Sociology, My Social Media POV 15 Comments »
Sep
3

Remember Where You Come From

Justin on September 3rd, 2010

Last weekend, I drove home to Erie, PA, where I was born and raised for most of my first 20 years.  And what began as my annual pilgrimage to eat The Best Pierogi in the World turned into a reconsideration of why these moments matter. Every August, Erie’s Holy Trinity parish hosts a citywide Polish [...]

Continue reading about Remember Where You Come From

Armchair Sociology 21 Comments »
Jun
21

The Popularity Paradox: Why Do We Hate Pop Culture?

Justin on June 21st, 2010

I don’t know anybody who loves pop radio. I know people who listen to it ironically, as though they’re not comfortable admitting they don’t entirely hate Lady Gaga.  And I know people who admit to liking just Lady Gaga, or just Usher, but still insist they “hate the radio.” But why do we (claim to) [...]

Continue reading about The Popularity Paradox: Why Do We Hate Pop Culture?

Armchair Sociology, My Social Media POV 34 Comments »
Jun
7

The Secret to Media Success: Making the Audience Care

Justin on June 7th, 2010

I just finished the first book I’ve devoured in more than a decade. Mark Harris’s Pictures at a Revolution details the making of the 5 Best Picture nominees at the 1968 Academy Awards, from their initial concepts through their critical and public reception.  Two of those films, In the Heat of the Night and Guess [...]

Continue reading about The Secret to Media Success: Making the Audience Care

Armchair Sociology, My Social Media POV 4 Comments »
Feb
8

What Are You So Afraid Of?

Justin on February 8th, 2010

As you may have heard, the Mid-Atlantic US (in which I currently live) got hammered by a massive snowstorm this weekend.  Weather reports had been sensationalizing the potentially apocalyptic effects of the storm for days, warning that we could see a record snowfall and complete paralysis of city functions.  And if you doubt that people [...]

Continue reading about What Are You So Afraid Of?

Armchair Sociology 15 Comments »