Which is closest in likeness?

It was like 4 pages, and not too far off from this. Check it:

Collide does more than just be relevant- the articles are authentic, because the people writing them are living it! If you haven’t checked out Collide yet- do it now. Well, maybe not now- but in a bit after you enter to win a one year subscription!

How to enter the hook-up opportunity after the jump!

Hook yourself up!
1. Click the green Twitter button at the top and RT this post.
2. Comment below on how being authentic is more important than being relevant and include a link to your Tweet.
3. Subscribe to this blog via RSS and then email me with “SendMeCOLLIDE” on the subject line.
4. Complete by Monday, February 15 @ Midnight (MTN).

Let’s do this!

More features after the jump!

One feature that I didn’t know about until I watched this video was the new Photos feature. It’s the highlight of the update, which is expected to be rolled out to Facebook’s more than 400 million users over the next week or so. And it’s packed with features to enable you to instantly see the latest photos, videos or mobile uploads among you and your friends. It’s queued by the latest uploads/updates, unlike the “Friends Online” feature that I highlighted here.

Kudos to Facebook for the design. It works.

1. New requests, messages, and notifications are grouped together by the logo (clicking on the logo will take you to the home page as well). If you’re wondering what I’m talking about- they’re the shadowed icons to the right of the logo.

2. News Feed: The News Feed now includes the ability to update your status, as well as Top News (the most popular happenings among your friends, be it comments, becoming a fan, or joining a group) and Most Recent (what’s happening now- the live update). Formerly these were were labeled View News Feed and View Live Feed respectively.

3. Account drop-down. This is where all the buttons that used to be on the top bar went to. Edit Friends, Account Settings, Privacy Settings, Application Settings, Credits Balance, Help Center, and Logout now live here.

4. Bookmarks. If you didn’t even know these existed before, don’t worry too much about it (they used to be on the bottom left, opposite the chat box).

5. Friends Online. This is a new feature. The friends that will show up here are the ones you interact with the most on Facebook- be it messages, chat or wall posts- the rest of your online friends are viewable in chat.

6. Chat. Almost the same as before- the drag and drop feature has been removed, so you’ll just have to add friends to lists by typing.

Like it, love it, hate it?

I wasn’t ready for it. I don’t think you’ll be either.

The site features the basic synopsis of those that have killed people due to being drunk while driving, and their video apology to (apparently) the family of those they are responsible for killing.

I was going to do a Shiny Friday post about the site, but honestly can’t find anything “shiny” about it. Don’t get me wrong- I think the site is a step in the right direction. Here are some features:

Need To Talk?

The “Need To Talk?” page includes The National Suicide Prevention Lifelines (yeah- I noticed the name change from “hotline” as well) and links to AA, NA and SADD (there’s been a name change for SADD as well- at least to me; I’d always thought it meant Students Against Drunk Driving, it is in fact Students Against Destructive Decisions- but I digress). “Need To Talk?” is useful because the content will be depressing on varying levels to each of us, and especially to anyone that has found themselves in that position. The videos are in your face (literally- they are set to be the full screen of your browser) and contain people attempting to come to grips with the fact that they have killed someone, often times people close to them.

B Safe Txtrs

The “B Safe Txtrs” page allows anyone to:

“Send your friend, or yourself, a txt message reminder to be safe. Then, time it so you get it when you need it most – when you’re thinking about how to get home.”

I like this feature, but think it falls short of the bigger issue; not to mention how easy it is to simply ignore the text or miss-time your intended time of exit. I believe it’s a step in the right direction though, especially today when mobile devices are becoming THE way to communicate.

Responsibility Randomizer

The “Responsibility Randomizer” is where I start to see the site veer off course. Stating that:

Someone has to be the responsible person that gets everyone home safely. But nobody wants to volunteer.
Not a problem.
Put in the names and numbers of yourself and up to four friends. Once you have submitted, the RR will spontaneously pick one of you and send a text message* to everyone in the group. You’ll all know who the Responsible Person is for the night. And who to thank the next day.
*There is no cost for the service. Your provider’s text messaging fees may apply.

I know- what’s wrong with that?

The issue I take here is that it puts “responsibility” on people that don’t want it. The “Randomizer” instructions even admit to this: “Someone has to be the responsible person… But nobody wants to…”. And it’s this modus operandi that has to change for there to be a change.

This “I don’t want to be held responsible” attitude is rampant. (Google Search: “McDonald’s HOT coffee lawsuit“, or “would be robber sues” and you’ll see what I’m talking about.) I could throw out all kinds of clichés here, but I won’t. The irony of the site is this: Promoting the taking of responsibility by those that have ended lives through their decision to drive drunk, while excusing the initiative to be responsible when faced with the probability of impairment.

What about you? What do you think about the site? Responsibility assigner or excuser?
~NickShoe

Yes.

Then why this new one?

I have my own business now- and I thought it was time to get my own real website- not just a decent blog.

And with that, NickShoe.org begins.

~NickShoe

Ok- so I’ve been busy!

On with the shininess!

Ode to WordPress
By NickShoe

WordPress, oh WordPress…
You push me to success.
I do not fear your code,
I embrace what others may loathe.

Easy as a button,
It’s almost like doin’ nothin’.
~Fin~

THAT’S RIGHT! WORDPRESS is being featured this week- why? BECAUSE IT’S MY FREAKIN’ BLOG, THAT’S WHY!

And because it’s so great! For example, check out my portfolio site that I put up BEFORE 10AM this morning! While it’s not even near finished, the basics are there- and that’s the important part.

WordPress truly is plug and play. And when teamed with Dreamhost things really get cooking.

There are TWO options when it comes to WordPress. WordPress.com is free, but there are limits to free. WordPress.org breaks the glass ceiling of blogging- something I really like!

Here’s the run-down:
What ➲ WordPress
Cost ➲ FREE! (for WordPress.com hosting; to sign up a site on WordPress.org’s platform, you need to get some hosting and domain registration. I recommend Dreamhost because I use it!)
Where to get it ➲ WordPress.com or WordPress.org
Shininess ➲ 4.75 out of 5
My Recommendation ➲ Absofreakinlutely!
Got a Shiny Object for SHiNY FRiDAY!? Let me know about it!!
~NickShoe