Things that are Awesome: G+ GIF

If you upload 5 or more photos to G+ in a row, it automatically stitches it into an animated GIF (read more here).  The product is actually called Auto Awesome.

I also realized that I take lots of photos of elephants

Things that are Awesome: Crash Course

I'll admit it -- I like a good YouTube cat video, but I'm also glad that content is getting better.

There's 100 hours of video uploaded EVERY MINUTE on YouTube, and there's not enough cat tricks in the world to fill that amount of time.

One of my favorites channels right now is Crash Course, starring a pair of quirky and/or hilarious brothers that teach 10 minute animated lessons on history, literature, chemistry, ecology & biology.  It's great for adults & kids.

If they were my high school teachers, I probably would have fallen asleep in class less.

Travel Now & Then

In 2004, I traveled abroad for the first time.  I spent the fall of my junior year in London.

My previous "international" trips consisted of a 2 week family road trip across Canada in a rented camper van (let's just say I'd appreciate it more now) and a mission trip to Juarez (i.e., the Mexico-side of El Paso) where we magically tried to convert people using broken Spanglish.

That being said, I consider London to be my first "real" travel experience.

Mindful emailing

(Source: Kyle Peirson)

I have a love / hate relationship with email.  

Have we created a monster?

(Source: Me - Marina Bay Sands)

I like technology.  It really can do amazing things.  But, I don't think we've properly adapted to it.  

Yes, we use technology in incredible ways -- to connect with families across continents, to accomplish more in a day than we previously could in weeks or months & to access the world's information at our fingertips.  

We also use it to indulge our bad habits -- to gossip, to stalk, to compare, to mindlessly entertain, to show-off & to ignore (for more, see my posts on Facebook & Pinterest).

Today, I photographed people outside of Marina Bay Sands.  You to judge how they use technology.

Sending Money, Re-imagined

(Source: Google Commerce)

Sending money just got a lot easier.  In the US, you can now attach money in gmail with a click of the button.

Tell grandma to skip the card this year and send the $20 via gmail (with a youtube video attached).

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Why I work at Google

(Source: Thinkr)

Google's great.  Awesome perks.  Smart people.  Futuristic products.

But, management consulting also was good to me.  International travel.  Tons of frequent flier miles.  Smart people.

Why did I want to come to Google?

It's mission: "Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful"

Basically, I want more Kelvins in the world.

Google street view (without the streets)

(Source: Google Street View; Everest)

Google's taken Street View to the next level -- places without streets.

Ingesting Content

(Source: Dino Tomic)

I've been off of Facebook for 2 years.  I don't miss it.

I'm on other social networks - Twitter & Google+

So, what's the difference?  Why does it matter if I substituted one social network for another?

Geek Event of the Year

(Source: Google I/O site)

Google I/O is coming!  Google I/O is coming!

For all of the non-techies out there, Google I/O is the equivalent of the Superbowl Halftime show, except instead of Beyonce, it's Google Engineers showing off their moves.

Engineering Toys for Chicks: Goldieblox

(Source: Goldieblox)

Want to inspire a little girl on her next birthday?  Then, checkout this kickstarter project!

I don't trust Taboola

I just clicked on the article "Millennials: The Next Generation" from my G+ feed, and the sidebar widget by Taboola recommended the above articles for me.

I don't watch much Sci-fi, especially underrated Sci-fi movies
I'll know if I'm watching a Spielberg movie by the opening credits
I'm 29 and childless -- not sure animated movies are in my wheelhouse
I know Polygamy exists.  It seems like a strange lifestyle choice.  That's all I need to know.

Is this really what Time Magazine has to offer me? Good thing I subscribe to The Economist

Need a car? Print it.

(Source: Michael Eden)

The Financial Times believes 3D printing could be bigger than the internet.

The Economist said 3D printing would transform manufacturing (and that was 2011).

Staples is the first US retailer to sell 3D printers (the Cube) at scale for $1.3K

We are on to a revolution.  

My Problem with Pinterest

(Source: Gwen Stefani)

My boyfriend's father visited us last week.  He's in the fashion industry and mentioned that Pinterest is the new fashion pinboard with one major exception -- Pinterest is shared & the pinboard was confidential.

Explore the Best Art Collections in the World

(Source: Google Art Project)

Art is meant to be shared.  Few people will ever be lucky enough to visit every museum or view every piece of art they are interested in.  Luckily, that's were Google comes in.  

Regardless of your location or income, the Google Art Project gives everyone with an internet connection the ability to see the best art collections in the world.

How Search Works (or cute puppies)

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the highest), how much of a geek are you?

If you're on the high side, proceed here.  If not, go here instead.  It's like the matrix.

Quick to Judge

(Source: Google.com)

I'm biased.  I think Google Glass is pretty fucking amazing.

On twitter, I saw this:

1. What verdict is in?  Google Glass is still not publicly released
2. Why be so quick to make an absolute judgement?

And, it started with "Me at the Zoo"

(Source: MOMA Ad Agency)

I'm continually astounded at how technology is fundamentally changing how we interact with the world (and, I work in technology, so assumed it would become more normal by now).

Carbon footprint guilt

Compared to most people in developed countries, I have a relatively low carbon footprint.  

How do you become "innovative"?

(Source: Kimball Chen)

I love this "moonshots" video by Google, but it also made me think "how can I be innovative in my everyday life, if I'm not say flying a solar power plane across the US or putting the internet on everyone's faces"