Trevor Filter works in branding, media and modern culture as an analyst at Siegel+Gale (disclaimer). He lives in New York City. This is his personal tumblelog, which is mostly a conduit for exploring the proper way to use sarcasm on the internet.

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foursquaresocialmedia

Foursquare’s next challenge

A friend of mine checked in at JFK on Foursquare a bit ago and I noticed something interesting: forty-six others were already there with him! (Which is just four people away from the once-elusive Swarm badge.)

I think there’s something here: in fact, I think that Foursquare is reaching a turning point. Meaning, if certain large venues are granting Swarm badges to new users on a regular basis, then Foursquare’s popularity is becoming increasingly relevant and worthwhile. And furthermore, it’s revealing a fantastic opportunity to facilitate interactions between people who have checked in at a public space.

To be sure, this is a delicate task for Foursquare: supplement the check-in and capitalize on the community at a particular place without derailing users’ privacy or interrupting their natural experience. But with Facebook soon to be in on the game (thx Adam), I wouldn’t be surprised if Foursquare has something already in the works.

kanyewestnewyorkercelebritymemestwitter
Kanye West’s tweets as New Yorker cartoons So, so clever and funny… In fact, I think what I like most about this collection of cartoons is how they make something unique and intellectual out of something else so curious, normal and ostensibly mundane as Kanye’s Twitter feed. Seriously, how many celebrities have joined Twitter now? Aren’t we used to this? Clearly, Kanye’s celebrity is a little bit different and I love that about all of this.

Kanye West’s tweets as New Yorker cartoons

So, so clever and funny… In fact, I think what I like most about this collection of cartoons is how they make something unique and intellectual out of something else so curious, normal and ostensibly mundane as Kanye’s Twitter feed. Seriously, how many celebrities have joined Twitter now? Aren’t we used to this? Clearly, Kanye’s celebrity is a little bit different and I love that about all of this.

socialmedia

What the f*ck is my social media strategy?

Single-serving site? Internet & social media? Meme, jargon, satire?
Check, check, check, check, check.

foodlegalesenycridiculous
We don’t know that the government can compel you to post a sign that expresses an opinion about your business that you do not share.

— Robert Bookman, counsel for the New York State Restaurant Association, in response to the city’s plans to introduce an A/B/C grading scale of restaurant inspection results and a new website collecting and displaying up-to-date information.

internetux
Bookshelf porn (SFW) Unfortunate side effect of Safari’s attempt at descriptive tab names combined with the identical page titles of this great Tumblr called Bookshelf Porn (via Khoi Vinh). Apparently, I have fifteen tabs of “porn” open right now (or rather, of some very nice bookshelves). So excited for the awesome new SEO I’ll get out of this.

Bookshelf porn (SFW)

Unfortunate side effect of Safari’s attempt at descriptive tab names combined with the identical page titles of this great Tumblr called Bookshelf Porn (via Khoi Vinh). Apparently, I have fifteen tabs of “porn” open right now (or rather, of some very nice bookshelves).

So excited for the awesome new SEO I’ll get out of this.

madmenollymosstv
The fourth season of Mad Men premieres tonight, and if you didn’t already contract Olly Moss for your party poster, it’s too late. Otherwise, the Times has a good introduction to the new season, Paste has a Mad Men–themed list of home bar essentials, and then there’s the Footnotes of Mad Men blog for everything in-between. 10p/9p CDT on AMC. If you’re in New York, they’re premiering the show in Times Square at 9 p.m. Good luck.

The fourth season of Mad Men premieres tonight, and if you didn’t already contract Olly Moss for your party poster, it’s too late.

Otherwise, the Times has a good introduction to the new season, Paste has a Mad Men–themed list of home bar essentials, and then there’s the Footnotes of Mad Men blog for everything in-between.

10p/9p CDT on AMC. If you’re in New York, they’re premiering the show in Times Square at 9 p.m. Good luck.

catsmemesinternet
A History of Lolcats Presented at once in both English and lolspeak; brought to you by OnlineEducation.org.

A History of Lolcats

Presented at once in both English and lolspeak; brought to you by OnlineEducation.org.

Reblogged from laughingsquid

film

35mm, by Sarah Biermann, Torsten Strer, Felix Meyer, Pascal Monaco

This 2-minute video includes subtle minimalist references to thirty-five classic films (keep an eye peeled for Fight Club).

appleiphonepackaging
This graphic from AnandTech demonstrates just how much truer Apple’s iPhone signal strength calculation is with the latest iOS update [4.1 on bottom]; and as a result, how much more accurate the consumer-facing representation of reception will be (the “bars”). Despite this improvement, customer reaction should be very interesting—as AnandTech alludes to in the final section of their report. I’m reminded of Malcolm Gladwell’s account of 7 Up drinkers in Blink, who were convinced that the soda’s flavor had changed when 7 Up added more yellow to the packaging (unfortunately, the reaction from iPhone users will probably be worse, because of the apparent decline in phone quality according to the new “packaging” of the signal display). I really can’t imagine this situation shaking out in any sort of positive light for Apple, but Jobs has made miracles before. Looking forward to seeing what happens tomorrow…

This graphic from AnandTech demonstrates just how much truer Apple’s iPhone signal strength calculation is with the latest iOS update [4.1 on bottom]; and as a result, how much more accurate the consumer-facing representation of reception will be (the “bars”). Despite this improvement, customer reaction should be very interesting—as AnandTech alludes to in the final section of their report. I’m reminded of Malcolm Gladwell’s account of 7 Up drinkers in Blink, who were convinced that the soda’s flavor had changed when 7 Up added more yellow to the packaging (unfortunately, the reaction from iPhone users will probably be worse, because of the apparent decline in phone quality according to the new “packaging” of the signal display). I really can’t imagine this situation shaking out in any sort of positive light for Apple, but Jobs has made miracles before. Looking forward to seeing what happens tomorrow…

atulgawandehealthcarespeeches

"The Velluvial Matrix": Atul Gawande to the 2010 graduates of the Stanford School of Medicine

Gawande has been writing on the state of American health care in the New Yorker for the past few years, and all of his essays are fascinating. Some are also disheartening. This was the first time I was upbeat about the future of medicine despite the facts—exactly what a commencement address to a school of medicine should accomplish. Well worth the read.