I just finished reading I Am Not Myself These Days by Josh Kilmer-Purcell and I loved every second of it. I am actually quite upset that it is over. Legit, I cannot stop thinking about how great the book was and how much I enjoyed his writing style.

Of course, I had to let him know. How else would I communicate with him? Twitter! Did you even have to think?

Here is his response that made my life:

Onto his next book!

As an avid foursquare user (13 mayorships including Penn Station and 27 badges) and lover (check-in 95% of the places I go) I am overcome with joy when I receive a new badge. There is no feeling within the social media world like receiving a new badge; you feel accomplished as though you have proved your worthiness within the location-based social media world. However, there is one badge I do not want: the GYT badge.

No, it is not a Gym-Yoga-Tan badge. The GYT badge is part of MTV’s “GYT: Get Yourself Tested” campaign. Foursquare users can go to their health care provider and shout “GYT” to receive the badge. MTV says the idea is to remove the stigma attached to getting checked out for STDs. The theory is that once your friends start shouting “GYT,” you will want to get the badge and get tested too.

Will that actually happen? I do not believe so.

First, I still have to explain Foursquare to new people everyday. I love Foursquare and am happy to spread the love, but people have no clue what I am talking about. Clearly, the word about the campaign will not circulate. If it does, people might focus more on understanding Foursquare than the campaign to get tested.

Second, who wants to broadcast his/her medical history? If you get the badge, people know you got tested. Noisy people might want to know your results. It is just an uncomfortable situation that no one would want to put themselves through–especially if your results were not what you expected (then again, you did get tested so you could get the medical attention needed).

Although it is plausible that MTV attempts to use social media to increase awareness and urge action about getting tested, I do not see this plan flourishing. It will most likely get overlooked. I am curious to see what happens, but I am assuming nothing.

**This post was created based off many conversations with friends’ about their internship experience combined with research I have done. The intention is to create conversation about the role of an intern.**

When you choose to take part in an internship, you would assume that you would learn about the internship’s field, understand what it takes to become part of the field and feel comfortable in your surroundings to ask questions and soak in everything thrown your way. However, some “internships” do not meet those assumed standards.

No one should be above running errands, organizing the workplace and completing office work, but when those details were not discussed before the start of the “internship,” those are the only tasks you complete for the company and the company does not give compensation, your employers call you an “intern” so they do not have to pay for an assistant.

What I do not understand: how can some companies see this experience as helping your career? You do not learn anything about your future career. When you talk about the internship on interviews, you will not impress a potential employer. Sure you will make contacts for the future, but when you have no new knowledge or real experience, you have nothing to bring to the table.

If your employers at your “internship” cease to explain what the company does, show the work their position consists of and want you to actively participate in the work, you do not have a great internship. Internships should prepare you for your career. You should not have to put all your effort and time into something that will give nothing in return.

When you have your first job and have your own interns, remember what it is like and help them get the most out of their experience. You will only help your company because you will create competent interns that can take on harder projects. Plus, you help the interns become fully prepared to enter the work force.

Find out what internships offer the best the experience at internshipratings.com. Share your experience and help future interns.

During my taping of my points of departure, I taped this with BU! (Hence, why I am wearing the same thing. Which everyone can rest assure, I threw out the shirt. It is gone!)

I have had my Blackberry Torch for 3 days now. I will admit that I love it. I was a little skeptical because I really like my Blackberry Tour and did not know if the Torch could live up to my standards. However, the Torch has surpassed my imagination and I am so torn between my two Blackberry phones. I wish I could switch to the Torch fully during the three months I have the free contract with AT&T, but that means I would need to communicate a temporary number with everyone in my phone book. (That does not seem plausible.)

What do I love about the Torch?

• The new OS: The design is clean and practical. It makes using everything (including applications) easy because it is intuitive.
• The touch screen and the QWERTY keypad: I have attempted to use the touch screen to write texts and I am not a fan. However, there is the exact same QWERTY keyboard as my Tour. I am so thankful for that. It makes typing very simple.
• The big screen: The screen is about double the size of my Tour. Viewing websites, text conversations and BBMs is clean and clear.
• The ability to rotate the screen: Watching videos and taking photos looks better in a horizontal screen than a vertical skinny screen.

Clearly, I like the Torch but there are some things I want to change.

• The fact you have to press the buttons on the front screen instead of just tapping them like the touch screen.
• If the screen is not locked, you still cannot touch it for it to turn on. It is annoying to have to press one of the buttons to turn on the screen.
• I wish it had Verizon service.
• Sometimes pressing a link or button on the touch screen actually presses a different button on the screen. It is really annoying to have to return to a page in the browser or return to the menu when the wrong application opened.

I still have a ton more of exploring and I will of course update everyone on my adventure.

FTC Disclosure Statement: As the owner of this blog, it is my duty and intention  to be compliant with the Federal Trade Commission policies about the use of testimonials and endorsements in advertising and marketing. The BlackBerry Torch discussed above was provided to me by RIM.

It comes as no surprise that Lady Gaga is actually taking over the world. Everyone enjoys her talent, individuality and passion.

As you may know, Lady Gaga has recently become the Twitter Queen (Tween) by surpassing Britney Spears in followers. With over 5.7 million followers, she could possibly be the most influential tweeter out there. Different sources calculate one’s influence on Twitter through a number of factors and do not rank Lady Gaga as having high influence; I am sure if Lady Gaga tweeted to take some kind of action, her monsters would obey.

A few months back when she took over the leading person “liked” on Facebook, I knew Twitter was soon to follow. One of Lady Gaga’s recent posts had over 62,000 likes and over 11,000 comments. Some companies cannot even get 62,000 likes on their page, let alone on one post. Brands dream they could receive 11,000 comments total on their page. Clearly, Lady Gaga has a ton of influence.

The Monster Ball, Lady Gaga’s first major tour, has raked in over $200 million. In order to keep up with the demand for her performance, she had to extend her tour to include a second US leg after the international part of her tour. Obviously, the world cannot get enough of the mother monster.

My heart beats of excitement to see how social media is changing the world and our view of it. We measure people’s influence through social media. We show our support for people and brands through social media. We are on our way to do everything through social media.

I hope Lady Gaga’s next stop is Foursquare. Look out Dennis Crowley!

Twitter has infiltrated just about every aspect of my life/the world. You know Twitter is not just a fad when there is mention to Twitter everywhere you look. The fact that a hashtag is part of a “step and repeat” on a red carpet proves that Twitter is not just a fad, it is the present and future.

Although Facebook came first, if someone mentions social media, the word association sparks Twitter to mind. I believe Twitter really kicked started the use of web 2.0 as a business module and personal branding vehicle. It makes sense since it relates one person to many with just a click of button. The short posts allow us to relay concise information.

Clearly, the hashtag used on the red carpet was to generate a conversation in the Twitterverse. This conversation would allow the brand (Comedy Central) to communicate and respond to the feedback. Brands really do check and review tweets. I know for a fact being a social media intern AND because two different brands have contacted me for two different opportunities (will announce when I am allowed).

Basically, what I am trying to say: Twitter is the way of the future. Everyone needs to embrace it and use it to its full advantage. I have and look at everything that has happened to me!

My teenage dream has come true–I have now seen Something Corporate in concert. Although I have seen Jack’s Mannequin in concert three times, seeing Andrew McMahon slam the keys of his piano on stage to a much older set of songs, elicited a different feeling. I felt nostalgic.

The songs reminded me of people and events from the past. I felt as though I was back in high school; I was ready to roam the halls during passing time and open my locker to fetch my books for the next class.

I am not someone who enjoys reliving the high school days or even dare to live in the past, but I welcomed that feeling. It was a secure feeling. It reminded me of where I came from and only nudged me to move forward.

As Something Corporate played a bunch of my favorite songs, I was overcome with happiness.

@notbrendan posted this. I seriously died of laughter. Possibly the best Google map directions ever.

Usually, I am not into acoustic versions of songs, however this just has the guitar in the background. I am enjoying the combination. According to @gagadaily, this is the version playing in France.