Facebook first infected our brains in 2004, with what I would call the Facebook virus. Taking over how we communicate and even transforming the English language. Our kids won`t know the difference; they have been sucked into this digital age. They will never know that poking someone use to get you in trouble with mom, or that news use to come from paper. It is odd to know that I admit to being bitten by Facebook and now carry the virus myself, spreading “Are you on Facebook?” or “Friend me on Facebook!”, as if it is the same thing as grabbing a cup of coffee sometime. It’s not.

It is almost creepy how we have initiated the possibilities of stalkers and relinquished our privacy so we can poke around in people’s lives, yes the same people we haven’t spoken to since high school, but it is always  great to know that they just got a new dog or that their relationship status fluctuates like heart palpitations. Look, I am not in denial on how dependent we have become on technology and the sources that keep us attached to our mobile phones, laptops and tablet. I am being realistic here. We are simply a shell of our former selves with a virus that has taken over our brains or at the very least, turned us into talking heads, since 2004. I am not the only one.

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(via: viruscomix)

Volkswagen seems to be upping their advertising ante with commercials that instantly go viral. You may recall their commercial where a little boy dresses up like Darth Vader and uses the Force to turn the car on. This year, Volkswagen stays with the same theme, Star Wars, yet uses dogs to sell their cars. How? By having them bark the Star Wars theme song, genius right? This is exactly what the automotive industry needs to do to attract new customers and Volkswagen is staying with what has worked for them in the past and remaining outside the box at the same time. This commercial is clearly available on YouTube but will be coming to the big tube on Super Bowl Weekend. May this inspire others within the Automotive Industry to get creative with their promotions and marketing campaigns, it goes to show that it grabs attention which creates word of mouth and that turns into selling cars. May the creative force be with you!

Look, we all have someone that we just cannot seem to shake in real life or online. That someone who pokes the fun out of poking, shows up at your favorite restaurant or won’t get the hint that you are in fact clicking the ignore button on purpose.

Love songs always seem to make their way to the top of the music charts, even when the words they spew are not always true (ha, that rhymed!). The fact is, truthful songs like this parody of the popular Katy Perry song, “The One That Got Away”, is probably more accurate to the real world, not the Disney fairytale we all dream about. Especially since we are in the age of Technology and have opened ourselves up to even more people, people we don’t really know, but they think they know us and just won’t simply go away.

Art can be found everywhere online, but to find art that makes your jaw drop to the floor is hard to discover. Especially when pop culture figures are turned into epic art pieces, yes, the kind you want to frame and hang on your walls. These sketches drawn by Jose Vega are that of a talented hand and needs a little extra notoriety since each piece makes you want to say, yep.

Samurai Vader

Yep.

Yep.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Pirate

Yep. Yep and Yep.

(via: CGHub)

Robots are becoming more advanced and soon we will most likely have something close to Rosie (Jetsons) invading our homes as common as computers. The more we see their capabilities the stranger it will seem incorporating them within our lives. This video of  a Japanese robot with life-like movements that most humans can not do, such as slick dance and aerobatic moves only intensifies the yearning for wanting one. Until they are available for mass production all we can do is watch with envy.

IMHO The one thing that is missing from this video is a dubstep soundtrack.

Every year, people pour into Arcadia, CA, the day after Christmas to be part of one of the most exciting days in horse racing: Opening Day at Santa Anita Park. This year, the 75th winter season opens to an added bonus that fits perfectly with the times. In an era when smartphones are able to do just about anything we want, they will be gaining a new attribute at Santa Anita – the ability to place wagers from the seats.

Visitors connected to the Santa Anita Park WiFi will be able to research races and place bets without waiting in line as the park is launching their new mobile app. The sheer convenience alone is enticing, but there is more to it. Horse wagering is serious business; there’s always luck involved, but having the information in hand and the time to put it all together adds to the allure of the app.

Things move very quickly at the track as anyone who has ever been knows all too well. Horses scratch. Jockeys change. Odds move. Picking winners is both an art and a science.

Santa Anita Park’s mobile app puts everything in one place – researching and wagering can all be done without leaving your seat. This is particularly appealing for last-second wagerers as the pressure associated with waiting in line and placing bets quickly can often be the difference between making a good choice and a bad one.

I’ll be there to check it out, but not just because of the app:

*** There’s a Winner’s Circle Party with champagne, h’ors d’euvres, music, and a crowd dressed in all of their fancies.

*** Red Bull will be skydiving into the center of the track.

*** Fascinators & Fedoras Competition – best dressed competition, Steampunk era (YES, STEAMPUNK!).

*** Those who know me are aware of my penchant for cigars – there are cigar rollers on site.

See you on Monday!

Few would disagree that Van Halen is one of the most important and talented rock bands of all time. They’ve rocked for 3 decades and have held legendary status for their music, their partying, and even their political opinions. They also have another element that has become a thing of lore: their highly-demanding concert rider in the glory days of the 1980s.

This graphic depicts what they wanted, and by golly, they were going to get it. Click to enlarge.