Attention Age?

I read a blog article a while back that was talking about the 'information age' and how we are no longer that, but we are now the 'attention age'.

The attention age was explained as where we try to bring attention to ourselves. I agree with that statement. I especially see that on Twitter where it seems everyone is trying to drive traffic to their blog. I've even been (and am) a part of that. It then said that we are no longer the information age. Now wait a minute, no longer using the Internet for information? Ya right! That's one thing I love about the Internet is all the information there is out there. I love Twitter and rss because I can easily get information in an orderly fashion that deals only with topics I want to hear about.

But is that the case with everyone? I started to pay attention on Facebook and I came to this conslusion. We are the attention age. All these kids (even though they may be just as old, or just a little older then me) are only posting things that try to grab attention. Even adults were doing the same thing. My blog posts got a very low click rate, usually 10 or 11. Three of thise are from my family. I have over 400 friends, so that means 1 out of 40 people actually will take time to read something.

There are a couple of people, that are still in the information age. I would also consider myself to be one of those. Those people that I consider to still be part of the information age all seem to have one thing in common. They are all intelegent and seem to have a desire to learn. It seems that teens these days don't really have a desire to learn. School seems boring and useless to them. I believe information is power and we are looking at a future generation of bums. Now I may sound aragant right now, but I'm not trying to be.

Facebook has started to irritate me. Everyone is seeming to post stuff and not really interacting with other people. I mean, it's called social networking, but it seems people aren't bring social. That's why I like Twitter, it seems to be more social and the information age is still string over there.

That's another one of my rants. But I really want people to come back to the information age and become more social.

-Matthew Loberg

Guitar Hero

My brother and best friend really like this game. I, however, really don't like it. It may be fun to play, but it does not teach you to play guitar at all. I can play guitar, and I suck at this game. So skills don't transfer. Expert mode, I think, is actually harder then real guitar. Why not take that time you waste on the game and actually try to learn guitar. It's more useful too.

That's my rant. What are your thoughts?

-Matthew Loberg

One Simple Trick to Make You Sound Professional/Smart on Facebook/Twitter Part 2

Another really easy way, have a picture of YOU as your profile picture. Not a Pokemon, cash, or anything else. Have a picture of you. This not only makes you look professional, but doesn't keep your friends guessing who you are. You should also have you take up the majority of the scene, not just a little part.

One Simple Trick to Make You Sound Professional/Smart on Facebook/Twitter

Spell things correctly and make sense.

Saying things like "hu thinks i should get my hair dyed?" or "you shud put up sum pics from...". It makes you sound dumb.

Why I Think Facebook Fan Pages are Dumb (and Useful)

Let me clarify, I don't think all fan pages and groups are dumb, just the ones with no point. There are  points why I don't like them.

1. They are pointless
Do I really care that you have to press the lids from fast food restaurants? No. Why do I need to know that you called it Duck tape, not Duct tape? It makes you sound dumb. Now there are fan pages that I am completely fine with, like ones for companies that you like or products you like.

2. It clogs up your news feed.
I am one of those people that has to read everything on Facebook. I have to know what everyone is up to. Now you may think that as a little "stalker-ish", and maybe it is a little bit, but why do people post stuff? To let people know what they are thinking or doing. They aren't doing it for themselves. If they didn't want something to be on Facebook, they don't need to post it.
I am on Facebook probably way to much. It gets really annoying when you see the same fan page like 10 different times.

3. It's not the original use of Fan Pages
Fan pages were meant for companies and products. It's a way for companies to give information to people over Facebook. Example: I am a fan of WordPress. It is the platform that I use for my other blogs, and I love it. It is very actively developed, so there is a lot of news on new versions, bugs, etc. It does display that stuff on the blog's dashboard, but I don't always see that. On Facebook, it appears in my new feed, so I know when a new version is out or if there are bugs.

Fan pages are a way to get news out to people. What news does "Unless it's due tomorrow, I don't care" have to bring you? Nothing. So what do they post? A lot of the ones I have looked at, advertise items that usually have nothing to do with the fan page. Which isn't a bad idea if your trying to make some money, but that's really immature.

4. How often do people actually interact with the page after joining it?
Not at all. People just join it and then never look back. They don't use it for anything, besides the fact that it's fun or funny.

Even though I don't like pointless fan pages, there is one reason why I do like them. It provides a lot of information about a person.
Ok, so maybe I am a stalker, but I like knowing. Maybe it's one of the reasons why I like social media so much, because so much information is transfered. Knowing a lot, for me, makes me feel powerful. Knowing a lot about a person, makes me feel like I have power over them. I also like creeping people out (it's fun seeing the reaction). Example: One popular group is "I look down at my cell phone to avoid a person walking by". Probably everyone has done this, but if you tell me that you do it, then I am going to use that against you. If I am walking by and you look down at your cell phone, I am going to go over and talk to you, just because I know your avoiding me. Another group I like is "Continuing to argue, even though your wrong". I know people don't like to be wrong, but if your in that group, and I am arguing with you, I am going to use that against you to win the argument.

So what do you think of Fan Pages? Do you join a lot of Fan Pages?

What I am up to

This week was finals week for me, and I was incrediably busy. Even though I'm done with school for a couple weeks, I will be just as busy with some projects.

The first one are a couple site designs and redesigns. One that I have been at work on already, iswallinsstrawberryfarm.com. I've been the web master of this site for a couple of years and in the past I've used a couple of my designs, WordPress, and Joomla once. I want this site to be easily editable, so I have been forced to use a CMS. I am impressed with WordPress's ability to be an amazing CMS, but I can't find a good theme that goes with the site. So now I'm back to doing my own design. I am not a graphic designer, but I can put together a decent site. I tried designing it first in Photoshop, but I failed at it. I prefer png's and Fireworks. Anyway I got a pretty minimal design done. One thing I have been experimenting with in this site is the use of @font-face. It's not supported in all browsers (all the new ones have support for it), but because I it does not have a great design, I am focusing more of typography or fonts. So far it's turning out well and should be done in the next week.

Now I said that I need it to be easily editable, but how do you do that with HTML? It's called PageLime. It's a new tool that I found that let's people edit HTML documents like it's a CMS. Not be be geeky or anything, but all you have to do is sign up with them, know your FTP info, and insert class="editable" into where ever you want people to edit. It's pretty sweet. Backyard Studio partially uses it.

I am also redoing my site at www.mloberg.com. I don't know exactly what I'm doing with it, I've got like four ideas, but it should be up before the end of the year. I may move this blog over there, or I may keep it here. I don't know yet.

And I'm starting some new blogs. My last blog failed. My content and SEO sucked. But it was a great way for me to learn how to blog. The main blog I'm focusing on now is called Everyday Hacker. It's going to be a hacking/diy blog along with some general tech. I've also got other ideas, I just need some money to get the domain names I want. But here are some of the topics I'm looking at: Linux, blogging, music, photography, and more. I'm pretty excited about them. I hope to launch Everyday Hacker on January 1st or shortly after that. You can sign up for updates ateverdayhacker.com or if your on Twitter follow @everydayhacker.

I am also looking for people who would like to guest write. That is where you write a post for my blog. You get your name recognized and a link to anywhere you want. I am looking for articles on tech, music production/gear, and photography. If you are interested, please contact me. Email me, send me a message on Facebook, or a direct message on Twitter @mloberg.

The other big thing I'm working on is a film. I recently bought a Nikon D5000 after losing my video camera to a lake. Anyway, it is a DSLR, so it's an excellent photo camera, but it also has 720p HD video. I finally got to use it to make two entries for the Nikon Festival. I got some if my friends involved in one of them and they had a blast. In fact one of my friends suggested that we make a feature film. So we are. It is very loosely based off what we did for the Nikon Festival. We have a general script and we are working on script specifics and finding people to help with this film. Right now, I am the producer, writer, director, director of photography, lighting cheif, production designer, sound supervisor, composer, editor, special effects supervisor, and a lot more. I would like to get people involved, even if they know nothing about film. An amatuer film set would be the perfect place to learn. If you are interested please email casting at backyardstudio dot net. We will also be looking for actors, after we get the script finalized. Most of this will be filmed in Brainerd and the surronding area, but we are looking into doing some scenes in Minneapolis/St. Paul. More info will be coming soon. You can follow me and Backyard Studio on Twitter @backyard_studio, the Facebook fan page, or at Backyard's blog.

Procrastinating yet again

Hey friends. I am writing this post, while I should be working on my economics class. I really hate that class. And I'm really behind in it. It had no real due dates, but it had suggested due dates. When I found that out I completely put it off. Now I sit here having half of a semester to do in 24 hours, and I need to fit sleep and youth group in there somewhere.

Next semester, I won't procrastinate. I say that now, but I doubt that will happen.

I hope you are all having fun with your finals as well.

-Matt Loberg

P.S. I removed ads from this blog. This is meant for my friends and it was kind of rude of me to try to make money off you guys. I hope it provides a better reading for you.
I will also be trying to blog more. I have a ton of things I want to do, so it should keep me busy and give me content for this blog.

Finals Week...

It's finals week for me, well week and a half. Doing online your schedule isn't solid, so some classes have it this week some have it next. But I will be done with school this semester at 11:58PM this Wednesday.

I'm really not liking it. Some of my classes don't have a "deadline" for the work, so I have been able to procrastinate on it. Now I'm looking at what I have to get done, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. Yet I'm blogging, still procrastinating on it. Facebook isn't helping much either... I feel like I'm the master at procrastination. And as master I say that all procrastinators have a meeting... tomorrow. Sorry lame joke. But seriously. I need to be done and go do some work...

Christmas Season

It's officially the start of the Christmas season. That means Christmas music on the radio, rushing to get gifts, celebrating with family. It's one of my favorite times, but at the same time, it's my least favorite.

One of my favorite things is 'modern' versions of Christmas songs. I really like Family Force 5's new album. I also like, and this is surprising, Relient K's Christmas albums. My favorite take on a Christmas song is August Burns Red Carol Of The Bells. I like it so much that I am putting together a cover to play at my Church's Christmas program. I hope that old people don't freak out.

One thing I don't like is all the rush. Christmas is supposed to be a time of celebration becuase our salvation came down. But it has turned way to commercialized.

Our Church is having a Christmas program in two weeks. Usually it's the big huge play with songs in between the scenes, but this year is a series of short skits, and some Christmas songs. It doesn't feel as hectic as usual, so I think that's a good thing. I am also in the program doing August Burns Red's Carol Of The Bells. I'm pretty excited about it, and sounds pretty sweet.

I hope the point of Christmas gets across stronger this year. It seems like with Church programs, it kinda gets dumbed down. I mean, if it weren't for Jesus coming down, we would all be screwed. But that gets lost with all the rush, presents, celebrating, snow, etc. I think we should slow down and just focus on the reason for the season.

-Matt Loberg