I was trying to explain to a friend about social media and it got me thinking.  How do you explain social media?  It’s such a wide and open definition that it’s almost impossible to explain and grasp all at once.  Social media itself is very dynamic; the mean of it keeps on changing each day.  What social media was 3 years ago is not necessarily what social media is now.  More importantly, social media has a different definition to each person.

How can we explain it and grasp its full meaning?  Any social media person can go on forever about social media.  It’s because we’re excited about it.  We have embraced it.  It’s part of our daily lives.  And most importantly, it’s something that we’re passionate about.  But how can we best explain to someone who don’t understand it?  And how can we keep our definition simple enough that will get others intrigue by it?  Instead of a long winded explanation, why not limit ourselves to our social media constraints.  But instead of 140 characters, let’s make it one word.

And so I asked.  What better way to ask than tweet out the question on Twitter?

Here are the answers that I have received:

My answer?  I have to agree w/ @doniree and say “community.”

How would you explain social media in one word?

Just recently Twitter rolled out their “lists” feature to everyone.  As people started to use it, I wasn’t surprised when I noticed that I was being grouped into the Chicago, bloggers and 20SB categories.  However, one list that I’m a part of really caught me off guard.  Heck, it made me laugh.

One of my followers threw me into the group “People I will never meet”.  Now I can understand that I’m in Chicago and that person is somewhere else in the world.  But let’s not forget, the world is a lot smaller than it use to be.  Additionally, if this person is a blogger (not yet confirmed), there still is a chance I can meet this person at a future meet up.

With all that being said, what made this list so hilarious was who I was grouped among.  I was put in the company of celebrities and movie stars.  Yes folks, I’m in the same class as John Stamos, Lance Armstrong, the Jonas Brothers and Ellen Degeneres.  Don’t believe me?  Here’s a screenshot:

That’s right folks, apparently I’m a celebrity.  Anyone want my autograph?

Not all artists on Unknown Music Tuesday are real.  Even fictional artists can surely turn heads and crack a smile like this “Ode to Joy” version by no other than Beaker of the Muppets.

Previous Unknown Music Tuesday:  Nataly Dawn – Do What You Want (OK Go Cover)

Now just because I’m Asian, doesn’t mean that I can’t grow facial hair because I can!  It may take me a little longer, but I can grow facial and I sure can grow a beard.  (That’s right Asians, I can grow a full beard.  Be jealous!)  Now granted, it took me four years to connect my sideburns to my chin hair, but I managed to do it.  It took four more years to connect my mustache to my chin hair, but I think this is the year that I won’t have a C-shaped goatee.  Either way, I’m doing it folks and there’s no looking back.  See you in 30 days!

Both Erini & Rachel paid tribute to an awesome friend of ours who will be leaving her beloved Chi-Town to head west for stardom work.  Today, it’s my turn to honor our dearly beloved friend.

::cues cheesy music::

The many awesome faces of FreeandFlawed…

“Ooo…”

“Gotcha!”

“Om Nom Nom”

“Who swapped my iPhone w/ this piece of crap?”

“Alcy”

“Om Nom Nom II”

“I am no Jenn.  Who is this Jenn you’re talking about?”

“Comic book Jenn”

I’m going to miss this girl.

Jenn, we’re going to miss you.  Just remember, not all Asians are alike.  Take care, write on glass & best wishes.  You’re going to be missed.

P.S.  Sorry for Facebook stalking you.

For this Unknown Music Tuesday, I’m going to share with you a wonderful OK Go cover by Nataly Dawn.  You may remember her from Pomplamoose Music, but for this occasion, she is on her own and using the video song technique that Pomplamoose is known for.

Artist: Nataly Dawn

Album: N/A

Label: Unsigned.

Previous Unknown Music Tuesday:  Meeting of Important People – Britney Lane Don’t Care

This is Micaela from Five Blondes guest blogging for Phampants. When I read his hilariously written guest post, I thought it was rather fitting because I, too, am a teacher. Well, I’m qualified to be one but it isn’t that easy here in Ontario! Right now I’m working as a barista (bane of my existence, really) but will hopefully have my own little classroom, or at least a supply teaching job soon enough.

In any case, I spent much of last year in teacher’s college in various schools for weeks at a time practice teaching. One grade seven class I was placed in had an especially difficult student. This boy would find out what annoyed you and then do it constantly. If you asked him a question in class he’d purposely give the wrong answer. If you used the overhead machine he’d always have his hands up blocking the words from view. So annoying, but he was actually very smart and did a lot of really funny things too, which my teaching partner and I had to do our best not to laugh at (which never worked.) Here’s one example.

Billy (name changed, of course): Look, I drew a picture of the devil.
Me: It looks more like a cat.
Billy (adds to the drawing): Would a cat have horns?
Me: That looks like the cat’s ears.
Billy (adds to the drawing): Would a cat have fire around him?
Me: That looks like the cat’s house.
Billy (adds to the drawing): Would a cat be saying “DIE!!!”?
Me: Hmm… no.

Hey blogosphere!  It’s the 20SB Blog Swap Day!  I’m Shop Girl*, and I’m stealing Phampants blog for the day! You can find him over at my blog, I Heart My Shoes.  We discovered that we are both teachers, so for this swap day, we’re going to treat you with our hilarious teaching stories!  Once you finish reading mine, go check out Phampant’s post on my blog!

Teaching is hard. Anyone who tries to tell you differently is either a) entirely too optimistic; or b) lying. Thankfully it’s also wonderfully rewarding and our students provide us with a little comic entertainment from time to time with their interesting antics. (Some people just aren’t that bright. *sigh*)

When I was practice teaching I chaperoned my first high school dance. It was… magical. (Magical is my word for when there are no words. It just seems appropriate. haha)

A friend of mine was actually at the same school that I was for placement, although she was in the high school division and I was working in intermediate. She was asked to chaperone the dance and I volunteered to as well. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect… when I was in high school in northern Ontario many moons ago, everyone went to dances. There wasn’t much else to do in the community, (not to mention it was an opportunity to go to other schools and stalk hot boys), so, for the most part, dances were well attended. When we moved south, no one went to dances at the high school I attended. It was sad… as I loved going.

So it was my first time seeing a dance from a teacher’s perspective. As we were not assigned specific duties, we were able to float around and get a feel for all the responsibilities of running a dance smoothly and safely… AND I got my first oppourtunity to be a big, bad teacher.

When we first arrived we were asked to stand near the entrance to the gym and prevent students from entering if they had any food, drinks or spiked heels. (boring)

The came the fun part. The VP (who loves me) strolled over and asked if I’d like a turn standing at the doors checking bags and coats for any items that should not be present at a school dance. (Heck yes!) So, I put on my best “I am a serious teacher face” (which I’m sure was more of a “I’m gonna bust some kiiiiiiids” face) and got to work hunting for booze. The first few bags and coats were boring… but SO many kids brought backpacks to the dance! Most of them had almost nothing in them–maybe a book, some pencils, etc. Why do you bring a backpack to a dance?!?!? (I’m boggled.)

So as I’m standing there chatting with another lovely teacher I had just met, a girl walked over and I asked to see her coat and bag. Without any hesitation, she handed me her things. (I REALLY wish I had watched her face more closely at this point) I patted her coat down–nothing. I opened up her backpack, and took a quick look, and I found… binders, pens, and pj pants. (terribly disappointing) I was just about to zip it up when I thought, “Hey, what the heck. Let’s give the pants a squeeze”. I reached in, poked at the pants and felt something cold. Without letting my face give anything away (she couldn’t see what I was looking at) I unwrapped a bottle of Smirnoff that had been hidden in the pants. I gave her my best “You are an idiot” face and signaled for another teacher and the VP to come over. All of a sudden it was not her backpack–she had borrowed it from a friend without looking at the contents.

riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

She got a lengthy lecture from the VP, and I suddenly felt like super cop–saving high school dances one backpack at a time. (*insert theme song here*) I’m pretty sure I had the only bust of the evening, which is a really good thing–no puking, YAY!

After all my front table excitement we moved into the gym to watch the dance. It was an interesting set-up–they had a DJ and a live band made up of kids that had graduated from the school a year or so ago. They switched back and forth every 4 songs. I’ll admit, I was a little leery about the band, but other than being too loud they were so good!! They played songs from MY high school dance days!!!!!!!! They did covers of Journey, AC/DC, and best of all, BACKSTREET BOYS!! (♥) It SO made me want to go out dancing… I haven’t been in so long!

And then there was the slow dancing… I am pleased to report that high school boys still try and put their hands on girls’ bums while dancing. Nothing has changed. haha

The whole thing made me so nostalgic for my high school days… that feeling of being SO excited to get dressed up and find out if the boy you like will be there… and then waiting to see who he asks to dance and whether or not he’ll ask you. The feeling of hearing your favourite song come on and dancing like crazy with your girlfriends on the middle of the dance floor. I miss it. (not high school, just the dances. haha)

I thought I’d leave you with a clip from one of my all-time favourite movies, Can’t Buy Me Love. While there was no African Anteater Rituals performed last night, some of the dancing was equally bad. haha!! (and yes, that is a very young McDreamy in the clip!)

It was lovely “meeting” you!

Shop Girl*

- I would not have traveled as much.

- I would not have a blog/youtube channel that I consider an extension of myself

- I would not have made awesome friends

- I would be more shy on the phone

- I would be more shy in person

- I would not have been adventurous

This installment of Unknown Music Tuesday is completely unknown to me.  I never heard of them before but I do enjoy them for their sound and their creative use of cardboard for their music video.

Artist: Meeting of Important People

Album: Meeting of Important People

Label: Authenik Artists

Previous Unknown Music Tuesday:  Chameleon Circuit – An Awful Lot of Running