Google+ versus Facebook

 If only there's a way to import my Facebook contacts to Google+ I'd have it done in a blink of an eye. As it turned out, Facebook do not allow that process at the moment.

I had my first exploration of the newest social network just this week. At first hand, i was impressed. The UI is  so much more intuitive than Facebook. This isn't a review per se, but of all the things i want to share regarding this  overnight success of the big G, is my hands down applause of how the social network is revolutionizing across the cyberspace. It's too early to compare and judge between Google+ and Facebook, yet the non-startling question is inevitable, "would Google+ surpass Facebook's success?". And along the line, will the loyalty of social network fanboys be with Facebook forever?

Reality check, to win over Facebook wouldn't be an overnight achievement, with their 750 million subscribers, i guess Zuckerberg coudn't help but sit still and relax. However, that was not the case, he had launched the Facebook+Skype partnership - the so called video calling on facebook, which until now, i haven't gone through, leaving me wondering if the app is a built-in or was it a thing to configure through the maze of facebook's settings. On the other hand, Google pLus' video calling is just a click away from one of the sidebars

Then again, i didn't mean to compare the two (but i really couldn't help), putting it side by side Google+ is a real threat for the dominative Facebook's current profile in the market.

Getting the feel of it, this new social network is a lot more privy than the others I've used to have like Friendster. I didn't actually look at the video and how-to-basics, instead, i head on immediately to set up my account as soon as i've had my invite, result?, it was flawlessly easy. Creating circles alone and the feature of drag and dropping the people suggested on the top bar made it simplier compared to adding the person as a friend.

On the downside, not many people have Gmail accounts. Having a Gmail is a pre-requisite so you can be able to sign-up. I think that this is  keeping  the "boom"  from getting it more explosive to consumers who are not that techy. In brink of this, Google is trying to upgrade and implyingly affecting the attitude of consumers towards higher wisdom when it comes to setting up new technologies and innovations.


If you haven't receive an invite yet. Drop me your email address at

macdosage@gmail.com


and begin exploring.




MAC

Coldplay in Glastonbury 2011

If you're a constant visitor on this blog, you would deduce that the author is a big (if there's an adjective for bigger than monstrous, then consider that) fan of Coldplay. Their latest album is shaping up to be as beautiful as the previous ones. But what i'm posting now are some excerpt of their live act from the recently concluded Glastonbury Music Festival 2011.

Imagine a multitude of music lovers and hitchers  packed together with a number ranging from 150,000 - 200,000, i couldn't measure how the euphoria would be and the elation seems unthinkable or too true to feel. The Glastonbury Festival is a British Music Festival originated back in the 1970s where the live acts are performed at Worthy Farm in Glastonbury Southwest England.

Coldplay is by far the ultimate best band alive surpassing U2s fame and successes. Being a headline on a Glastonbury Musicfest is indeed a great achievement and laurel on the cap of Coldplay. They have performed three times (back in 2002, 2005) and this year-2011 of which all  were headlines. They've led the opening in the infamous Pyramid stage last Saturday, June 25 2011 with MX/Hurts Like Heaven from their new album.

MX/Hurts Like Heaven

While i was glued on my screen watching these shared videos on Youtube, i can't help both being wistful and inspired. It's still one of my goals and one of my un-executed plans to be in a Coldplay's concert, yet.  i'm running out of time already. I'd truly enjoy seeing one of their acts while i'm still in the early adulthood, screaming out loud and singing with them their songs that were epitomized as an epic.

In My Place

This was their first single that I've seen on MTV back in the days. It has captivated me ever since. The magic is still there, whenever i play it on the iPod or just simply watching like this:

Yellow

Chris M. here never faltered to entertain, while Jonny Buckland is still the simple and profound lead guy on the guitars. Will Champion is so into it that the drutms are have no disconnect to the rhythm, & Guy Berryman, the bassist is unmatched.

Lost

Major Minus

I was thinking that this song was their encore, but as you can feel and see (esp if you've known this song for ages), it was almost heartbreaking. What more if you're watching it live and you're a part of the throng singing these magical lyrics. The audience seem can't get enough of it. I couldn't just imagine once again the high-spiritedness gathering slowly through the heart and mind as you indulge deeper in the meaning of this song.

The Scientist

MAC

of Made in China

I have nothing against China, infact  the name is kind of ubiquitous already. If you were like me who got caught off-guard once because i remarked "Made in China?", then hold your fire. We are not alone in the society.


I've asked my mentor once about the evolution of the derogatory Made in China thingee, he expounded that the history of it all came from the fact about being low-quality both in produce and service. I have reflected sometime that if this has been the case eversince i came to wit about all these fuss, and yet, the image has neither changed nor improved at the least, then somewhere along the line is at fault.

The baffling stuff if you'd see the logic here is, the way it was able to maintain that trademark after all these years. Despite the bad publicity, not to mention it's spreading like wildfire. That Made in China philosphy is now a never-ending talk of the tongue when it comes to the attitude of buying applicable to almost all consumer goods available in the market. There is no denying that when a gadget falters, someone would blurt-out "is that Made in China?".

I could not resist myself asking the salesman one time when i was buying an angle grinder, he cautioned me immediately that the grinder i'm eyeing for is made in China, giving an implied effort in my subconscious to think twice before heading to the cashier. My 80/20 decision about taking the product which was made in china came spiriling downwards leaving me buying the Bosch which was made in Germany.

The same is true when i had a customer once raising his voice why the iPhone he bought got some Chinese characters scribed from the back of the phone, with the message "assembled in China".  It made me think that not only Filipinos have this mentality but accross continents, the Made in China pun seem like a disease that is so contagious.


Seriously, if you're reading this, you might be checking your watch, your gizmo, your laptop or even your clothing if it has this brand on it. You may feel awkward and sullen, with catastrophic worrying that sooner or later, the product would die on you suddenly without even reaching the product's warranty life.

It may seem sad and a full-frontal blow to China about the never-ending saga of these disparaging thoughts on their products, but the effect is totally positive when it comes to consumerism. How come, more and more people could not resist buying at all - these made in China stuff? Awesomely, when it comes to product availability, a lot is an understatement, actually, almost all stores nowadays compose their goods as made in China.

It's inexpensive! - this may be the magnetic banner why consumers feel at ease in resorting to China made materials. Or is it really? The "no choice" impediment could also be the reason, as i've said earlier, outlets nowadays are bombarded with China products, and these are widely available to the average consumer - and they are the ones who take a larger cut on the pie when it comes to consuming.

The trend is not going to stop, i suppose it's going to intensify, with the rise of China as the next superpower in the world. It's safe to say and it's not surprising for their "slowly but surely" way dominion in the trade. I'm wistful at the thought that in the future, the remark about Made in China would still linger, would still echo as a negative compliment to the minds and hearts of every individual consumerist.





MAC

Random Acts of Kindness (II)

My post before about random acts of kindness quite struck me level-headed with the scenario i've had in my mind - which i couldn't shrug-off lately. I was thinking if being kind is really a human-nature? Was it part of our nerve-producing attitudes ever since the beginning of time?

So, when's the last time you've practiced random acts of kindness? Or when's the last time you've unwillingly shared-out your innate skills or knowledge per se, without the tinge of remorse and regret upon knowing the impressive outcome from where you've extended the help. Sometimes, we barely notice that we are jealous already and yet, most of the time, this jealousy is overshadowed by the overwhelming effect of inspiration once we get to know the results of what we've done. In spite of the uber positive aftermath which could have been our very own crowning glory, the happiness tries to linger, soothing and extending through our senses, telling with satisfaction that we've done it, although the reward isn't directed verbally at us. There is no disconnect or whatsoever, but a feeling of euphoria where the only need to un break the questioning is the profound atonement of sharing your own knowledge and wisdom.

Maybe, it's what you call learning through sharing. You learn when you impart what you've known; the knowledge get enhanced as you try to deliver and share. The more application you do on that acquired knowledge will further you in the perfection of that skill. Maybe it's that effect that keeps us sharing, that keeps us generous and compassionate, no matter where we came from, no matter how our own cultures raised us, and no matter how we have arrived to what we are today in time.





MAC

Cone-ing / Coning / Whatever that is!

This post was inspired because of licking an ice-cream, seriously! In actuality, i saw this viral vid from Newser and CNN windows desktop app. If you've got a glimpse of planking viral videos before, and if uh!, you found it eye-popping, just out of curiosity's sake, then Cone-ing is definitely a must-see, or a must-experience thing to do.

Cone-ing, as the verb implies (sounds like sleazy thought), has something to do about cones, and speaking of cones, you'd imagine the twirls and soft coldly smoothie ice-creams from macDonalds or Jollibee. This in mind, cone-ing is eating the coned ice-cream starting from the bottom of the cone, instead of the old-fashion way -- licking the twirly creams on top. Or, so they say, in a manner where  you eat upside down.

Below's the vid from the originator of this viral trending craze which has started in Australia.

It would be a messy thing to do, rest assured no matter how many tissue papers you've got, cuz the ice cream is sticky and would only worsen when you wipe it with tissue, not to mention, super softy tissues.

For more videos of certified coners, hit the link below.

http://cone-ing.com/