Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sales Hit New Records

Online Shopping for Black Friday once again broke all previous records with sales of $816 million, up 26% compared to 2010. Even Thanksgiving Day (November 24th) which traditionally is a low sales day, saw a 18% increase in sales to $479 million.

Cyber Monday is estimated to have produced $1.25 billion dollars in sales (according to ComScore), up 22% from Cyber Monday 2010 which also was a record at the time. Last year we were stunned as Cyber Monday exceeded 1 Billion. However the sales continue to roll in. Other surveys conducted by IBM and eBay found even greater increases of 33% and 25% respectively. It’s final. Americans are spending more and more each year. Doesn’t matter if the economy is down, people will buy what they want.

Black Friday Sales Statistics at $816 Million

Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target & Apple Leads the Way

Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and Apple were the top 5 most visited retailer properties during Black Friday. 50 million Americans were out and about, visiting retail stores to search for the best Black Friday deals. These visitors accounted for a 35% increase in visits versus 2010.

A source from Apple Retail has shared that Apple’s forecast for Black Friday was 4X the normal sales levels. However, by 7PM, Apple had already blown past those forecasts fueled through big ticket items like the iPad and MacBook Air sales.

Other Black Friday Sales & Visit Statistics

• Mobile devices accounted for 14.3% of all online Black Friday traffic, up 5.6% and responsible for 9.8% of online sales.
• Ecommerce sales were up 59% compared to last year.
• Black Friday mentions on Facebook & Twitter was up 110%.

Cyber Monday Sales Statistics – Tops $1.25 Billion!

On Cyber Monday, the average American consumer spent $198.26, up 2.6% from 2010. That’s nearly $200 dollars a person folks. More than 1 in 10 people used a mobile device to do research while about 6.6% of sales took place on the mobile device itself. This is 3X compared to 2010.

Mind Boggling Numbers: What do you think?

• Any of these statistics surprise you? Disturb you?
•  Were you able to find anything good on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

Related posts:

1. Black Friday 2011: What’s the Buzz (in Social Media) [Infographic]
2. Bias of American Media – Influence of Media Money

Benefits of CommentLuv Premium: SEO & Community

First of all, I thank every one of you for visiting Clean Cut Media and double thanks to those who contribute to the discussion through commments! You are what makes this blog go and keeps me motivated to continue.

We are now testing out a new commenting system called CommentLuv Premium. It’s called CommentLuv because it shows “love” to those who leave comments by allowing them to leave a link back to one of their own blog entries. In theory (and through the testimony of many prominent bloggers), over time this should increase blog traffic as well as increase engagement on the site. It gives incentive for the “LURKERS” (people who read but never contribute) to actually leave a response. It also attracts bloggers from other blogs to come leave a comment. It also gives visitors incentive to “like” our facebook page or “+1″ our content. (Go Like our facebook page!!)

CommentLuv Premium is an EXCELLENT piece of plugin. If you are a blogger, go to the link below and check it out. It’s on sale for a limited time!

LINK TO COMMENTLUV PREMIUM WEBSITE

The CONS of CommentLuv Premium Plugin

The only downside is that many visitors will now come simply to try to add their links, try to draw in visitors but most of all to get “link juice.” A link what? In the world of SEO (search engine optimization), a link to your site in essence gives your site a vote of confidence in the eyes of the search engines. It gives your site more credibility. When super simplified, Google assumes that if people are linking to your content, it is because they like it. Thus the more links you got, the better. The more links you have from STRONG sites with high “pagerank” (a score determined by Google), the better. Our site at the moment is a solid PR 4, so I expect a lot of spam from those seeking to get links to their site. Luckily CommentLuv has a great spam filter built in.

But because of this, some house rules that were always in place but thought I’d share…

Commentluv Comment House Rules

1) MODERATION: Every comment here is moderated. When you Comment, it’s put into moderation to be reviewed before going live.
2) NAME: You must leave a LEGITIMATE name. If you put in names of your products or particular keywords you want to stuff in there, it will not be approved. (ex. Brian = Good, Internet Games Online = Not Good)
3) URL: It must be a good, clean site. Get rich sites, inappropriate sites, arbitrage sites, or any site that I wouldn’t want any of our users to visit will be removed.
4) COMMENT: Hey SEO guys, it’s really easy to spot spammers. More than 1 URL link? Disapproved. Nonsensical Comment? Disapproved. Comments clearly written by some outsourced company who does not speak english? Disapproved. Keyword stuffing into comment? Disapproved. Any links to pharmacy products or get rich schemes? Disapproved. Comments that say absolutely nothing but “Good Post” “Informative post” coupled with a keyword stuffed URL? Disapproved.

Basically, leave a real name, a good comment and there is nothing to worry about.

Examples of Bad Comments

Might as well have our readers learn a little about commenting! Here are some examples of bad spam comments that is supposed to be “sneaky” but then on a second look is obviously random.

POST: Siri Humor 
- Comment: “insightful, made me think a lot…”
- Response: this is not a thought provoking article.. it’s a bunch of screenshots of hilarious siri responses to funny questions. This comment is obviously a canned answers pasted through automated bots or by cheap SEO services using cheap tricks to put up links.

POST: Sept 11, 2001 – Remembering 9/11
- Comment: “You certainly understand how to keep a readers amused. Between your wit as well as your videos, I was nearly moved to start my own blog (well, almostHaHa!) Congrats. I truly loved what you needed to state, and more than that, the way you offered it. Too awesome!”
- Response: First of all, this comment is so poorly written. This is written by someone outside of the country. Secondly this post was about 9/11, it was a very SERIOUS post. This comment is utterly inappropriate, but it makes sense because no one had read the article. Again just bot or a mindless comment eager to get a link.

More Fun Fake Blog Comments

Lot of these remind me of those non-sense sentences written in asian stationaries . I left small commentaries on each one. Enjoy!

“No matter the ending is perfect or not, you cannot disappear from my world.”
- Yes… so true.. I think

“Hello, I just wanted to tell you, I disagree. Your post doesn’t make any sense.”
- So what did you disagree? You don’t make any sense…

“Very energetic post, I liked that bit. Will there be a part 2?”
- Energetic post.. nice

“Incredible quest there. What occurred after? Take care!”
- One quest is enough for me.

“This video post is really great, the echo quality and the picture feature of this video post is in fact amazing.”
- Especially when there is no videos in the post. Echo quality?

“Hurrah, that’s what I was exploring for, what a information! present here at this weblog, thanks admin of this web page.”
- “what a information”… what?! “weblog”… who says weblog?

“Hello, every time i used to check webpage posts here in the early hours in the break of day, for the reason that i enjoy to gain knowledge of more and more.”
- sounds like a bad parable..

“Hello to all, for the reason that I am genuinely eager of reading this web site’s post to be updated daily. It includes pleasant material.”
- omg

“I every time emailed this website post page to all my friends, for the reason that if like to read it next my contacts will too.”
- I every time think.. I understand, so I read it and so my contacts will understand and think a posting.

“Hi there, I want to subscribe for this blog to obtain most up-to-date updates, so where can i do it please assist.”
- This one is very sneaky!!! but it’s not legitimate.

“Hi there, after reading this awesome post i am too cheerful to share my familiarity here with friends.”
- Too cheerful to share your familiarity? Oh COME ON!

• Anyone else has hilarious examples of comments left in your spam folder? Share below! (please remove all links and no inappropriate words)
• How has your experience been with CommentLuv?

For bloggers interested in CommentLuv, Click the Image on Right.

iPhone Siri Questions

• How do you feel about a machine talking to you?
• Is this the beginning of the end?
• Terminator or Matrix mean anything to you?

Siri the Humble Personal Assistant is Born

Apple recently released the iPhone 4S packed with a new Dual-core A5 chip, an excellent all new 8MP camera, an assistant named Siri, IOS5, iCloud, and… wait a what?!

Siri is your “humble personal assistant” as it or she… will tell you. It has been created to take in your commands as you would normally say it, and it supposedly adapts to your commands the longer you use it. So you could say something like “Tell my wife I’m running late” or “Remind me to call my doctor” or “Any good Korean restaurants around here?” and the it… she will tell you what you need to know, or do whatever you’d like. It’s pretty awesome and scary.

I am Siri, your Humble Personal, Killing, Assistant!

I am Siri, your Humble Personal, Killing, Assistant!

Just don’t use your phone to pass secrets, bank account numbers, social security numbers, and by all means don’t give it your twitter login. Who knows what that crazy Siri might do that may ruin your life (or the world) forever.

Siri does have a sense of humor though… I just hope it never starts to giggle… in the middle of the night.

Siri’s Humorous Responses

You Don't Love Me - Siri

You Need Help Buddy - Siri

Meaning of Life? Why Ask Me? - Siri

Who is on First - That's Right! - Siri

Temperature? It does't Matter - Siri

Let's just be Friends - Siri

I found you God - Siri

Meaning of Life - Easy! - Siri

Meaning of Life. App for That - Siri

Can't Marry You. No Seriously - Siri

More Siri Freakiness to Come

Have many more where those came from. We will post more later.
For now enjoy! Vote in our Poll, and Comment below which one is your favorite!

Mobile Marketing Statistics

As a professional who has been in the online marketing world since it’s birth, “mobile marketing” was the “next big thing” touted in every marketing conference for the past 6 years. I was always skeptical because, mobile was ALWAYS mentioned as the next big frontier, but I saw no medium in which the marketing ads could be delivered. There was no evidence or the numbers to back that claim.

Then came the iPhone, which changed everything. (RIP Steve Jobs).

Apple iPhone (Steve Jobs) Ushers in the New Age of Mobile Marketing

Those who are just now reading articles about how Steve Jobs was a great visionary may not realize how much he really revolutionized every industry he touched. He isn’t just the CEO who introduced the iPod or the bringer of the iPhone. He literally led the way in creating products and ecosystems that created brand new industries and as a result thousands and thousands of jobs. Numerous companies out there can give some credit to their existence and growth to much of what Steve Jobs contributed to the technology sector. Think about the 100s of companies centered around building apps, or building games for the phone, apple product accessories, geo-location marketing companies, or mobile marketing service agencies. Think of all those companies centered around some product or service related to the digital music / mp3 market which not that long ago was owned by big media, then by organizations like Napster. Think about whole divisions created to tap into and create applications on tablets or all the cool little startups utilizing the social mobility of smartphones. Think about all the executives out there, innovators in their own right, sharing how Steve Jobs helped them conceptualize and grow their own companies. Apple products drove the strategy and goals of other competitors from big music labels, computer makers to phone carriers. The list goes on and on. There is a reason why Steve Job’s death has had led to such huge ripples across the nation. RIP Steve Jobs. Thanks so much for everything.

Just one of such industries that changed forever, is the mobile market.

How did the Apple iPhone change the mobile landscape?

Smartphone Becomes the Norm:
To put it simply, the iPhone made having a smartphone the norm. Only a few years back, very few had smartphones. Smartphones were reserved for the executives of big companies, mainly in the form of the blackberry. No one thought about using it as a “personal” device. It was too expensive, too hefty, seemed a bit complex. It was seen as a “professional” device. Everyone had flip phones and were content.

Then the iPhone became the “apple” of everyone’s attention. (oh no you didn’t!)

Simple. Affordable. Snazzy. Hip. Apple said, hey you want it. You need it. You can get cool apps on it. You can play games on it. You need a calendar. You need to access email instantly. You need it to watch videos. You need it to text with a bigger screen. All of syncs with your computer really easily so it’s easy to use. It was cool, it was hip, the iPhone.

Steve Jobs drove Apple to create a product that is simple and affordable for the public. Just like the iPod, iPhones took the basics of what mass consumers use (surfing the net, watching videos, taking pictures, texting), and created a product that did those things well and made it easy to use. While most of the technology world was still competing over adding more and more complex features, Apple focused on the core-uses of the consumer and made it simple and easy. Suddenly smartphones became a personal device that everyone must have. As everyone started to buy iPhones, other mobile phone competitors jumped on the bandwagon, recognizing the shift in the market. Now everyone and their mother, and their teenager daughter has an iPhone. I’ve seen kids still in middle school with the iTouch giving them free access to the internet. Which I have problems with, but that is another story.

Easier to Browse the Internet
The iPhone has also made it much easier to browse the web. Once checking the internet on your phone was so painful, that often it was just not worth it. You would have to click 24 times just to get to the article you wanted. It would be hard to read, the links were the infamous blue, taking up half the screen. Clicking on it was impossible unless you had petite fingers. Not to mention the tiny screens where web formats would break or a unfriendly page of blue links dominated the user experience. It wasn’t worth it. Don’t even get started on the ads.

The iPhone suddenly made surfing the internet, easy and simple. It was just like browsing on the computer, just on a smaller screen. Full browser, full experience (minus the flash! save the complaints!). No more nasty mobile ad formats and spammy links or 14 clicks to get back to the homepage. Surfing the net on the mobile phone became a reality.

Created an App Ecosystem

The iPhone also did a fantastic job courting developers and creating a whole “app” centered world. All kinds of creative apps were developed, as well as numerous ways to connect with the consumer. There are so many interesting and creative geo-centered applications, interest based apps, productivity apps, and all of these apps became an avenue in which marketers can use to engage the users.

Mobile Marketing becomes Legit

What Steve Jobs and Apple did was legitimize ads on mobile phones. With the iPhone, it put smartphones in the hands on the consumer, it provided a good browsing experience like nothing before, and created an world of applications which opened up even more avenues to reach the consumer.

For the last year and a half, mobile marketing has become a huge play in the online marketing world. In fact in most industries, Mobile Marketing paid traffic you can find on Google alone will be greater than all of the traffic from Yahoo / Bing Paid Search combined. The quality has dramatically improved because users can actually read, click and engage the companies that serve the ads.

So for all you working in some field related to mobile marketing, give a little thanks to the innovations of Apple.

Mobile Marketing Statistics

Enjoy the mobile marketing statistics info graphic below.

Some of the highlights:

• 4 Billion Mobile Phones in Use
• 1.08 Billion Smartphones in Use
• 3.05 Billion are SMS enabled phones.

• By 2014, mobile internet should take over desktop internet usage.
• 50% of all local searches are performed on mobile devices.
• 86% of mobile internet users are using their devices while watching TV
• 200 Million Youtube Views occur on mobile devices

Average American spends 2.7 hours per day on their mobile device – socializing.

• 61% of users use their mobile phones for Games
• 55% to check the Weather
• 50% for Maps and Direction search
• 49% for Social Networking
• 42% for Music
• 36% for News
• 33% for Entertainment
• 25% for Dining
• 21% for Video

Take our poll below and tell us how YOU use your mobile device!

Mobile Marketing Infographic Statistics

Related posts:

1. YouTube Statistics – Growing like a Man Child [Infographic]
2. Most Followed Twitter Users & Brands [Infographic]
3. Top 10 Fastest Rising Google Searches in 2011

9/11 September 11 Statistics Infographic

Let’s not forget the fateful day of 9 11. September 11, 2001.
Below is a Statistic Infographic of the World Trade Center events of 9/11.

• Some Key Statistics of 9/11
• 4 Planes, 19 Terrorist
• 3 Major Attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the Crash at Stonycreek Township which is believed to have targed the US Capitol Building / White House.
• 18,000 Small Businesses were Destoryed or Displaced
• The Collapse of the World Trade Center reached speeds of 120 miles per hour
• 1,506,124 Tons of Debris removed from site
• 2,000 First Responders Injured in the attacks
• 36,000 units of Blood Donated at the New York Blood Center
• 99 Days Fires Burned after the Attack

• 3,051 Number of Children who lost parents
• 343 Firefighters & Paramedics who died
• 125 People who died at the Pentagon
• 92 People killed on Flight 11
• 64 People died on Flight 175
• 64 People died on Flight 77
• 44 People died in Flight 93
• 23 NYPD Officers lost in the attack

“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting september the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children,”
- President George W. Bush, November 11, 2001

“Now, we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It’s a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning. But not only of loss and mourning. It’s also a memory of bravery and self-sacrifice, and the love that lays down its life for a friend- even a friend whose name it never knew.”
- President George W. Bush, December 11, 2001

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear even though the earth be removed, though the mountains carried into the midst of the sea, though its waters roil and be troubled, though mountains shake with its swelling,”
– US President Barack Obama at the Ground Zero ceremony, reading Psalm 46.

• Please share any thoughts below.
• Also appreciate any more statistics or good quotes you’ve heard.

Facebook Success Summit 2011 [Conference]

For the Social Media Marketers and those who are interested in the growth of Facebook and how businesses are using it, I wanted to highlight a conference called the “Facebook Success Summit 2011″. It is a conference that is completely online thus doesn’t require you to travel.

19 social media experts will hold various web seminars to discuss what they’ve learned and the successful strategies they use. They are basically answer the question:

“What do experienced marketers and business owners know and do with Facebook that makes them so successful?”

Facebook Success Summit Review

I personally attended the Facebook Success Summit last year and found it to be pretty helpful. For 90% of the people out there who do not have an extensive background in Facebook, they would find this conference super helpful as it really does cover a lot of different aspects of Facebook marketing and Facebook uses. For the other 10% who have a decent working knowledge of Facebook, you will still find it useful.

I will be attending again this year.
Just so you know this isn’t just hollow words. I work at a small firm, we are highly selective of what we attend and highly sensitive to price. It’s worth it.

Here are what I consider the biggest benefits of Facebook Summit:

• No travel – All Online Webinars
• Session Recordings – Miss a seminar? watch the recording.
• Ask Questions – Ask lot of those pesky social media questions that you can’t find answers on the web from actual people who’ve done social media. Social media is growing rapidly, there is no true “expert” in this growing field, but there are those with a lot more experience. This summit will have many of those speaking about their experience.
• Network & Private Forum – There is a private Linkedin group you can join. This was the most useful as a huge FAQ discussion starts to form in there where everyone asks all the questions they ever had and others who are in the know chime in and discuss the answers. I found this to a great resource.
• Cheap & Money Back Guarantee – As this conference is online, it’s considerably cheaper than those $2,500-3,500 conference which also involve hotel costs, travel costs and so on. If you sign up before SEPT 15th, it’s only $297 (50% off). I was not a math major, but price will probably double that after that date. Also after the first 2 days, you can cancel for a full refund if you think it’s not for you.
• UPDATE: It is now $397 – 34% off ($200 off original price). This sale ends Sept 20th.

Facebook Success Summit Seminars Samples [FSSSS!]

Below are some Seminar Samples:

• 5 Steps to a Successful Facebook Marketing Strategy
• 7 Proven Strategies to Grow and Engage Your Facebook Fans
• How to Build and Manage a Thriving Facebook Community
• Gain Insight and Sales with Facebook Commerce
• How to Successfully Measure Facebook Marketing Campaigns
• Don’t Sell on Facebook! Make it Easy & Compelling to Buy: How & Why
• How to Build a Loyal Fan Base Using Facebook
• How Big Consumer Brands are Using Facebook
• Facebook Application Development for Dummies
• 10 Ways to Bring the Power of Facebook to Your Website

I always like the more hands-on, practical seminars which this summit provides. On top of this you’ll get 16 free bonus webinars (I assume from past events and blog seminars they’ve had…)

Link to Facebook Success Summit Information Page / Sign up Page

Who should attend this Facebook Conference?

Straight from their site:
The Small Business Owner: You’re looking for a boost—likely a consultant, coach, local business owner, writer, agent, blogger, artist or general “gun for hire”—and see the potential of Facebook marketing, but want to speed your path to success with the least effort and the greatest return.

The Corporate Marketer: You work for a corporation and have been tasked to manage the company’s Facebook initiative. You likely face internal battles to convey how Facebook could help the company, but you know there’s real potential.

The Experienced Social Media User: You’ve been using Facebook for a while, but want better results. You’re ready to take your business to a whole new level by following the proven tactics of the pros and leveraging the latest techniques. Better response. Less work. More profitability.

LET US KNOW IN COMMENTS IF YOU ARE ATTENDING and WHO YOU ARE!
It’s $297 up until Sept 15th (early bird). Then price doubles.

UPDATE: It is now $397 – 34% off ($200 off original price). This sale ends Sept 20th.
Link to Facebook Success Summit Information Page / Sign up Page

Some More Facebook Statistics

• 92% of Marketers use Facebook
• 75% of Marketers plan to increase their use of Facebook in 2011
• 44% of North America companies see Facebook as important or critical to their marketing plans.
• 750 million active Facebook users
• 31% of Facebook users are on the site multiple times a day (Pew Internet & American Life)
• 1 of 6 minutes online are spent on Social Networking sites (ComScore)
• 24% of consumers consult Facebook friends before making a purchase (Edison Research)
• 53% of Facebook users would recommend brands to friends.

Related posts:

1. News: Delete Facebook Page Original Admin
2. Does Social Media Work for Small Business?
3. Facebook vs. MySpace Statistics

Just a discussion starter. So share your your thoughts below…

What are your thoughts on the fact that three R Rated, raunchy comedies earned multiple nominations at the TEEN choice awards?

Sneaking into the Minds of Unaware Teens

R-Rated Nominees – The Hangover Part II, Bridesmaids, Bad Teacher

The three R rated movie in question are “The Hangover Part II”, “Bridesmaids” and “Bad Teacher”. The Hangover Part II earned a six nominations, while Bridesmaid and Bad teacher were nominated for best comedy. Remember this is the TEEN choice awards for 13-19 year-olds voting for what they consider the best movies, shows, and music of the year. Anyone under 17 must still be accompanied by an adult to watch these movies due to their content. The Hangover Part II and Bridesmaid have been one of the more popular movies of this summer. The Hangover centers around a Drunken Bachelor party romp where the characters can’t remember what happened.

What is the Meaning of This? That's Evil! - Voldemort

“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” led the pack with twelve nominations including best sci-fi fantasy film. TV Musical “Glee” follows with nine including top TV Comedy. The Twilight Saga swept the awards last season, but expects to face stiff competition from “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1″, “X-Men: First Class”, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” and “Super 8.”

Something is Just not Right

So I pose the question again.

What are your thoughts on the fact that three R Rated, raunchy comedies earned multiple nominations at the TEEN choice awards?

I think, it’s a testament to how much our standards have fallen in terms of what is considered appropriate and not appropriate for our teen’s consumption, let alone public consumption as a whole (including adults!). I bet for most reader, this news doesn’t seem like big news at all. Is there anything that can be done or will our standards just fall lower and lower? Did you know the US Superior court overruled a law, saying it is ok for stores to sell Mature Rated video games to children? Also I remember just a mere 10 years ago, what passes as PG-13 today would cause a riot even though it was Rated R. It’s a slipper slope folks.

Related posts:

1. The Social Network – Business Ethics in Movies
2. Media’s Impact on Sexual Freedom

• Do you own a smartphone? A tablet? A eReader?
• When do you usually use it? While in Bed? While Driving? While on the Toilet?

11% of eReader owners claim they use it while driving. 20% of tablet owners.

Nielsen came out with some research on how and when people use their mobile devices, from smartphones to tablets. Some of the findings are not surprising, but it’s interesting nonetheless. They surveyed nearly 12,000 mobile device owners. Take a look below at the infographic.

Mobile Web Usage Infographic

Original Mobile Web Usage Chart from Nielson

Mobile Web Usage – Quick Hit Statistics

While Watching TV: 70% of Tablet & 68% of Smartphone Owners
Have you ever wondered why the math never seem to add up on these statistical studies on media usage? How can children consume 7.5 hours of media day? 7.5 hours really? Adults consume 2-3 Hours a day online, 3 hours a day on TV, exposed to hour of TV ads. Don’t even get me started on time spend on Youtube, Facebook among other social sites. How does everyone have so much time!? I barely have time to go running (ok so it might be a motivation factor too).

The Answer? Apparently because people are consuming it all at once! 70% watch TV while playing on their tablet. I personally never do such a thing! Mainly because I don’t own a tablet… donations welcome, research purposes of course.

While Lying in Bed: 57% of Tablet, 51% Smartphone, 61% eReader

This seems very reasonable. Reading a ebook in bed perhaps, or in my case, listening to an audiobook in bed until i fall asleep. What is the latest book you are reading? Do you read in bed as well? Seems realistic and understandable… at least way more than…

While Driving: 20% Tablet, 47% Smartphone, 11% eReader!

This is a seriously disturbing statistics. 11% of eReader owners, read their eReader WHILE driving? A free life tip: if you see someone reading a eReader while driving, I suggest you immediately drive away from them. Texting and Driving is bad enough (16% of all fatal crashes are due to texting and driving), but eReaders?!

“Oh I’ll never get into an accident doing this. It’ll never happen to me.” Stop and think. Did any of those people who crashed, perhaps died due to texting think they would do so? I bet NONE of them did, yet it happened.

While in the Bathroom: 25% Tablet, 28% Smartphone, 17% eReader

No Comment. I am never touching other people’s smartphones, tablets or eReaders again. Get that thing away from me.

• So where do you use your mobile devices the most?
• Confession Time?

Little Poll for the Weak. Comment for the Strong. Both for the Awesome.
Vote, Comment, Come back in a few days to see the poll numbers.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Related posts:

1. Emailing in Bed, when Sick & on Vacation

Summary of the Brokenness of our World

What has the world come to…

Kohler Numi Bidet Toilet

Don’t wait too long! You can’t sit on this forever! It’s a $6,400 toilet called “Numi”. It’s a “Smart Toilet” by Kohler that pretty much does everything and anything you never thought you wanted your toilet to do. I can do with a warm toilet seat, but different seat positions, water pressures, ambient lighting, foot warmer, air dryer, touch screen remote control, mp3 player? I ain’t touching that mp3 player.

Don't Touch That! Very Expensive!

It’s a Fashion Statement for the Luxurious

David Kohler, president and COO of the Wisconsin-based Kohler company, says “the luxury market’s coming back in this country and (is) very strong in other parts of the world. This product is targeted at those consumers who want the best — they want the latest in design and technology (and) want a fashion statement in their home.”

Basically, we live in a country so wealthy, that dropping several thousand dollars down the toilet (oh yes puns very so intended) on a toilet seat for things you never thought you needed and still don’t need is actually realistic enough to build a business around. In the name of fashion? It’s so sad…

The Touchscreen I Never Want to Touch

Not only that, the feel of the commercial really tries to make the viewer feel like they luxury is good, something to be had and desired.

• Do we really need to spend more and more on ourselves just because it’s available to us?
• What is reasonable and when is it going to far?
• How do we know when it is too much?

If it breaks, I don’t know if I should call the plumber or the computer geek next door.

What is wrong with your toilet?
Maybe I am running out of memory?
Have you tried rebooting it?

I am waiting someone to say April Fools, but… it’s not coming. It’s just so.. wasteful.

• PLEASE SHARE – what is your thoughts on all this?

Related posts:

1. Selling Products or Selling Lifestyle?

Peter Jackson’s Hobbit Preview Video

Peter Jackson posted a 10-minutes production video with tons of behind-the-scenes footage for the Hobbit. In this video he revisits some of the locations of the footage as well as gives us a chance to see some of the cast members interacting with one another. See Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman and Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop in action. [That is Ian McKellen aka Gandalf in the picture above with Peter  Jackson]

The Lord of the Ring series, though contains a lot of violence, is a very clean set of movies with tons of great themes such as friendship, love, morality, and deeper themes of the human condition of pride, power, and greed.

Check it out Below! Let us know what you think in the comment section below! Anyone excited to see this?

Related posts:

1. The Hunger Games Trailer: Book to Movie

Best April Fools Day Jokes Online

It’s that time of the year again. April Fools Day. More and more, you can’t believe a single thing you read on the web. I love it. Last year we summarized the Best April Fools Jokes in History. The year before we actually posted a fake april fools post. This year we’ll just be adding a few more recent online april fool jokes of note. We only included the latest. See last year’s post to see a fuller list. Enjoy!

Starbucks Plenta and Micra Sizes

“Whether customers are looking for a large or small size, the Plenta and the Micra satisfy all U.S. and Canada customers’ needs for more and less coffee,” said Hugh Mungis, Starbucks VP of Volume. “Our size selection is now plentiful.”

Starbucks last year announced that in response to consumer requests for more sizes, that they would add two additional sizes. The Micra at 2 ounces and the Plenta at 128 ounces. The Plenta looks pretty much like a KFC Bucket. Awesome. This came after the announcement of the new size Trenta at 32 ounces which help give a bit of legitimacy. Check out the hilarious sizes below. April Fools!

Give me my KFC Bucket Latte

Google Chrome – Browse the Web with Sound

Now You can Experience the Sounds of the Web

Surfing the web when bored? Bored of surfing the web? Google Chrome last year differentiated itself by offering the latest plugin to add SOUNDS to your web browsing experience. It provides audio feedback depending on what you do and what you browse. April Fools!

The hilarious part is that the sounds are ridiculous and often really annoying. You can still find it here: Google Chrome Sounds – Try it out, let us know in comments what you think!

Google Translate for Animals

You think Google Translate is awesome? Did you know Google had come up with Google Translate for Animals?

This application recognizes and transcribes the voices of animals for most common species. Best part is all the fun videos. Below is an intro, and one of the fun additional videos. Enjoy. The actor in the second one is hilarious. April Fools!

Videonuze – In Unprecedented Deal, Google and Apple Team Up to Privatize the FCC

Videonuze came out with a hilarious post that Google and Apple has bought out the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). The FCC is the government agency that usually governs the media & broadband business sectors. It also helps controls the rules and regulation of business transactions. Here is an excerpt below. Funny piece. April Fools!

VideoNuze has learned that Google and Apple have teamed up to privatize the FCC in a transaction preliminarily valued at $42.5 billion. Though the U.S. government is already widely believed to be controlled by corporate interests, this is the first time that a formal deal to transfer ownership of a government agency has been contemplated. The deal has far-ranging implications for the media and technology industries, not to mention for American democracy. VideoNuze has gained exclusive access to the details.

…In a follow-up interview, Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs added further detail, “I was sitting in my office micro-managing the legal weenies on this HTC lawsuit aimed at gumming up the Nexus One’s rollout when my iPhone rings with Eric’s caller ID. Ordinarily I wouldn’t even answer that back-stabbing, lying sack of you-know-what’s call but I wanted to rub his nose in our big legal plans. So I nonchalantly answer the phone, ‘What’s up dirtbag, looking for some more of Apple’s product ideas to steal?’ And he’s like, ‘yeah, whatever, look, here’s why I’m calling.’ And then he proceeds to tell me about this cockamamie scheme that he and those two Doogie Howser co-founder dorks of his have come up with, to privatize the FCC.”

Full April Fools Article

Google – Official Australian Google Maps Version

Google announced the Australian Google Maps will not be customized to Australian speak. See the hilarious changes below. Yea it was April Fools.

Directions
“Chucka U-ey” – Execute a U-Turn
“Hang a Right” – Make a right turn
“Fang a Left” – Make a left turn
“Hit the frog and toad” – The road
“Hoof it” – Walk
“100 Clicks” – 100 kilometres
“Not within Cooee” – Not close by
“Down the road” – Unspecified term indicating distance

Driving Styles
“Hit the anchors” – Brake, now
“Flat chat” – Going very fast
“Hoon” – Fast, irresponsible driver
“Bingle” – Car accident (not Lara)
“Bogged” – Stuck
“All over the shop” – Veering across lanes
“Rough as guts” – Car needs a tune
“Bag em up” – Smoke the tires
“Drive like my Grandma” – Going too slow
“Amber Gambler” – Runs orange lights
“Sunday Driver” – Poor driver.

Try this on Your iPad...

The iPad Fit Series

Not all that funny, but the picture is hilarious so just for kicks.
Try this at home. (if you weight 30 pounds).

Google Gmail Motion by Google

A bonus April Fool’s Joke from this year! Since lot of people are enjoying this newest one from Google, check it out below. If you are confused whether this is real or not, no worries, Google did notoriously come out with Gmail on… you guessed it April Fools Day. I think Gmail still exists today…

Try out these various moves! It work's!

Want to see More April Fools Jokes?

Check out last year’s Best April Fool in History Post
The year before that we had our own April Fools Post Here.

• What are some other good April Fools Jokes you know?
• What is the best Aprils Fools Joke you’ve seen or done?
• Which one is your favorite?

Related posts:

1. Most Famous April’s Fools Day Jokes in History by the Media
2. Kids Consuming More Online Content

Find a Home for Japanese Tsunami Victims

Sparkrelief, a new non-profit that provides disaster relief released a special page where Japanese residence can offer up their homes as temporary shelters for those who affected by the recent Japan earthquake and tsunami. It is a very smart and clever idea worth sharing to the masses.

Providing More than Shelter, but Community

This page, put together in a matter of days, allows users to submit their homes with a short description so those seeking relief can for the time being find a place to go. The founder Eli Hayes says that providing a home goes far beyond simply offering shelter and food, but it provides a chance to experience community and care. “… you’ve lost a sense of community… What happens when you go into someone’s house and they take you in and start cooking you breakfast in the morning is that you have that community back again.”

Hayes and his brother understands this need as they were once displaced from their homes due to the Oakland fires. Without a place to stay or the means to stay at a hotel, they ended up sleeping in someone else’s home. When Colorado was hit by fires, Hayes found it difficult to find shelters for the disaster victims, grabbing from various bulletin boards as he found them. Thus he create a site to help consolidate the information which he carried over to the current situation. He hopes more groups can be involved and plans to add more features in the future.

Hayes isn’t making any money from Sparkrelief and says he is funding his staff of three out of pocket.

Personal Thoughts

I find this to site to be clever, and well-intentioned. It is one of those “why didn’t anyone think of this before” moments. There are obvious issues Hayes will have to deal with in terms of verifying the validity of the listings, partnering with local governments, getting the word out so people know to turn to this site for as a resource, and of course wondering how those displaced from their homes will ever be able to visit this site. The hope is that those who do have access and are servicing the needy can use this as a resource to find them some shelter.

We wanted to share this site, both as we always admire creativity and good intentions, but also to help get the word out and show a little love for their efforts

• Good idea. Don’t you think?