You can read about WebSlices, accelerators, and search features all you want, but if you’re anything like me, they don’t really resonate until you see them in action.  I’m a visual person, and for me to really grasp a concept, I like to see first hand how things will work.  This is especially the case when trying out new software, addons, or anything else that requires me to change up my computer settings.  I’m a creature of habit, so I like to know exactly what I’m getting into.  (I’m still whining about the New Facebook design.)

Unless you’ve been living without power for the last month or so, you’ve probably heard at least a tid-bit about the release of IE8 Beta 2.  Now maybe you’re a Firefox person, or just unaware of some the cool features that come along with the release.  Now this is a shameless plug here, but at Me.dium, we’re pretty damn excited about being a part of this latest release.  We’ve got a lot of great features to share, so if you are that visual person check out this awesome demo video to see for yourself.

You don’t have to download anything, switch browsers, make any life altering decisions—just sacrafice 2 minutes and 25 seconds to see how Me.dium can enhance your surfing experience with IE8.

For more details, check out our https://me.dium.com/ie8 or this previous blog

Thoughts?

This is just too good to be true—I seriously hope that this is really the Hoff’s site, because it just doesn’t get any better than this.  Oh please oh please be legitimate.

Now you probably want to know how I stumbled upon this internet-gem.  No I did not do a search for the Hoff, instead I just innocently Googled “New Social Networks,” (I like to stay semi-current on these sort of things.)  On the first page of results, this link showed up, and since I was already there I will admit curiosity got the best of me.  As I read the quote, I had to check the homepage out for myself. 

David Hasselhoff does not just have a homepage.  David Hasselhoff has his very own social network.  (Found at DavidHasselhoff.com)  Now this may be old news to you, but I swear this is the first time I’d heard about Hoffspace.  At the welcome page of this site, you can find this glorious quote:

“In my travels round the world I have always been surprised that no matter where I go people recognize and know me, from Europe, Australia and India to the Philippines and the Zulu Nation in South Africa. This got me thinking… I realized that while two people from two entirely different countries and backgrounds may seem to have nothing in common, the only thing they might have in common is me… So I decided to start a network where people from across the world might come together and get a conversation started over me. Where it will lead, I don’t know but the world would be a better place if everyone talked a little more to each other…So here is HoffSpace.”

And the tragedy is that this site has 16,208 members.  That’s 16,200 more members than I would have guessed.  Part of me still thinks that this site is a joke, but the more I look at it, the bigger my doubts become.  Just another reason why I should base my search on what the crowds are surfing rather than sticking simply to keywords, (cause I can tell you now, as far as social networks are concerned this one should NOT be on the first page of results.)  If I stuck with Me.dium Search, I would have never have found Hoffspace, or lost my appetite for breakfast, and the world would be a better place.  (But now that I discovered have, it’s my duty to share it with you.)

So will you be the newest member of Hoffspace?  You too can make a difference in this world and help bring people closer together over one common denominator: The greatness that is the Hoff.

Determining who will become the next President of the United States is serious business.  Major national and international decisions will be made based on the election of one individual.  This campaign is very significant, and the future of how our government is run for the next four years will be determined at the voting booth.  The race for the 2008 presidency is no laughing matter…

However, there are some great “race for the presidency” websites that are indeed worthy of laughter– In fact, some of them are just plain hilarious!  Over the last few weeks, I’ve stumbled upon, been linked to, forwarded, and discovered on Me.dium Search, some very entertaining parody sites, and thought I would compile a list of some of my favorites.  Whether you support McCain or Obama, hopefully you can find some humor in this.  You may have seen them before, but I couldn’t resist. Take the elections seriously, but laugh at these videos.

• McCain gets Rickroll’d….or as they call it, BarackRoll’d.  The beginning is funny, but it just gets better and better as the video goes on.
• Jay Leno interviews Sarah Palin Jay and Sarah have a staring contest: “They must not blink”
• Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton on SNL Yes you’ve probably seen it, but it is too good not to share.  Tina Fey with her “Palin up-do” and accent, along with Poehler make a hilarious duo as the two address sexism and various other issues within politics.
• Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator What would your name be if your mother was Sarah Palin?  With kids named Trig, Bristol, Track, Willow, and Piper, the possibilities are endless.  Just type in your own name to have it “Palin-ized” Simple, but entertaining.
• Time for Some Campaigning I posted this video a few blogs back, but it got a great response.  Watch as computer-animated Clinton, Obama, and McCain sing and dance their way to the White House.  (Also doubles as an E-Card you can send friends and family, and customize with a personal picture.)
• Democrats+ High School Musical Ok, this is so lame, I can’t believe I’m including this…although I admit I did chuckle a bit.  What do you get when you mix Disney Cash-Cow High School Musical and Obama…well…here you go.  (Also watch it starring Palin and McCain)
• McCain Approves this Message Another great skit from SNL

Hopefully you got a laugh or two out of these.  Anyone else have some funny political videos to share?

The other day I was reading an article from Mashable about the new website “Student of Fortune.”  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the site, it is self described as being “Like Ebay for homework.”  What does that mean exactly?  Well if you have a question you can’t seem to answer for a homework assignment, final, or term paper, you can post your assignment online along with a dollar amount you are willing to pay for the answer.  If someone comes along and accepts your price, you swap money for knowledge and that’s that, the student get’s their answer and the “tutor” gets some cash. Student of Fortune takes a percentage of the transaction as well, (in order to keep the site  up and running.)

Mashable posed some really great questions.  Is it really cheating, or is it an example of American ingenuity?  Does paying for an answer actually help the student gain knowledge opposed to flunking a class?  Is this site a perfect example of economics?  I thought more about this and decided to go to SOF’s website to take a look around for myself.

The FAQ section addresses concerns by flat out asking “Is this cheating?’ to which the response is:  “We don’t think so! We’ve built Student of Fortune so that people, be they students or professionals, can ask their colleagues for help on difficult problems. Whether you’ve got a hard math homework assignment or a PhD dissertation you need someone to look over, Student of Fortune is there for you. We don’t put any limitations on the kinds of questions you ask the community, we are just going to assume that you’ll do it in a moral way. That’s what choice is all about…we believe that Student of Fortune is a teaching and research tool, not a tool for cheating. But it’s up to you how you use it. We’re not going to judge you. We’re just here to help.”

Last time I checked, “helping” wasn’t straight out giving an answer to a question, and ” a PhD dissertation you want someone to look over?”  Hmm sounds fishy…if you were having someone look over YOUR WORK you wouldn’t be BUYING someones answer, right?  (And if you’re cheating your way to a PhD, shame on you!)  Additionally, their homepage lists these 3 steps:

• Post your entire homework question
• Get answers to your question
• Buy answers, ace your classes

Hmmm, looks like cheating to me.  SOF shows you 20% of the answers “tutors” have submitted before you buy one so you can get a sample before you pull out your credit card.  A question that I had was is there any guarantee that the answer you’re buying is indeed correct?  Sure, a person who answers can claim that their solution is the right one, but by the time the student submits it to their professor, the transaction has already been made.  Yes there is a ranking system (like Ebay,) but that surely doesn’t guarantee anything.

So what do you think?  Will you give Student of Fortune a shot?  The internet is a wonderful tool for students, but in this case is it a step backwards or forwards?  Will you answer questions to make a few bucks?  (And more importantly, after Mom and Dad pay for tuition, how will they feel about you using someone elses’ answers?)

Is it more important to get the “A” or complete the work yourself?  Thoughts?

The East Coast is buzzing with the presence of the Web2.0 Expo going on now in New York!

Web2.0 is a global annual gathering of technical, design, marketing, and business professionals who are building the next generation web.  The expo features the most innovative and successful Internet industry figures and companies providing attendees with examples of business models, development paradigms, and design strategies to enable mainstream businesses and new arrivals to the Web 2.0 world to take advantage of this new generation of services and opportunities (http://en.oreilly.com).

A crew from Me.dium just got back from San Diego’s DEMO conference last week, and headed to the opposite coast to take part in this years Web2.0 conference.  The Expo kicks off today, so if you’re interested in checking out Expo photos, or keeping up with all the activity, you can follow all the news coverage by clicking here.  If Twittering is your style, you can also stay up-to-date by following w2e_NY08.

Well things just got started, so we’ll try to keep you posted with updates over the next few days as we get them!  There’s a ton going on, so stay tuned!