I’d like to find out if people choose to add their work colleagues to Facebook.
If you could spare five seconds to vote in my poll below, I’d be very happy!
Archives for April 2010
Twitter Romeo & Juliet 'not cut it?'I disagree.
April 28, 2010 by
Last night I read a very cynical article on The Guardian’s Arts Diary about the Royal Shakespeare Company’s latest Twitter project, ‘Such Tweet Sorrow.’ 
The article reads:
It is possible that I am just too old for this kind of thing. But for a start, Twitter’s public, right? So it somewhat stretches credibility to think that Romeo and Juliet would use it to conduct their secret love affair. Second – the whole thing’s interminable. It’s been going for a fortnight, and we’ve only just had Romeo and Juliet falling for each other. And third, didn’t the original have something to do with poetry? Does a tweet like “Goooooooooood morningggggg :):):):):):) It happened….. with THE most beautiful boy alive…. IT happened :):):):):)” really cut it?
Source: a plague on the Twitter Romeo and Juliet
I think the above article, penned by Charlotte Higgins, fails to see the potential of the RSC’s Twitter project. Personally, I’m pleased that the RSC are putting something out there that makes Romeo and Juliet (and indeed Shakespearean literature) accessible to youngsters. No, not people in their twenties or even late teens, I’m talking about the 12, 13, 14 year olds who DO talk in this way and who DO conduct most of their relationships over social networking sites in public. OK, perhaps not secret relationships like Romeo and Juliet, but at least the story becomes more relevant and more interesting to this age group.
A quick look at some of my younger connections’ Facebook profiles and I find the the writing style of Romeo and Juliet isn’t too far off the mark. Plus, who cares if ‘the whole thing’s interminable, it’s been going on for a fortnight?’ The Tweets will be archived, and in a year or so, kids will be able to go through the website and read them all like a book. I’d even encourage the RSC to get their project printed up into book!
What’s your opinion?
Are you still at school? Would you rather read the RSC’s account of Romeo and Juliet on Twitter or do you prefer a bit of Shakespeare? Do you think it’s easier to understand? Or is it a bit lame? Let me know what you think!
Google April Fools' Day Jokes 2010
April 1, 2010 by
I have to admit Google gets all my points for April fools’ day jokes this year!
Google Translate for Animals:
The ‘Translate for Animals‘ application for the Android phone is my personal favourite, though I knew right away it was an April Fools’ Day joke!
If you’ve not yet seen the video, watch it below.
I wish it was real; it would really help me understand if Archie is happy, whether he’d like MORE walks and if he really likes eating kibbles.
Sadly, it’s a fake. Were you convinced by it?
Google Street View 3D:
My second favourite April Fools’ prank was Google’s Street View 3D:
Whoa! That bus is coming right at me!
See it for yourself by entering Street View and clicking the man in the 3D glasses on the left.
I’ve not put on my 3D glasses yet, but I’m pretty certain it won’t actually work. Have you tried? Does it work?
Also, I’m not sure how useful Street View 3D would be in real life – though it would be pretty cool to play with after a couple of beers!
And finally…
A few more notable Google gags included using the power of Dr Wave’s ‘waving’ to notify you of new ‘Waves‘ and Google renaming itself Topeka.
Plus, today Google has been showing strange units of time, regarding its speed returning queries:
Results 1 – 10 of about 1,830,000,000 for Google. (0.16 centibeats)
I’ve also been getting speedy results in ‘warps’ and ‘jiffies.’
Those crazy Googlers have farrr too much time on their hands!
So, tell me:
What was your favourite April Fools’ joke this year? Did you fall for any jokes? Did you create any genius jokes that fooled lots of people?