The Growth of Photo Sharing and Other Fascinating News on the Web

Pew Report on Photo Sharing

Over the weekend, some friends were kind enough to break out their stash of movie-grade cosmetics and turn the members of my family into zombies for a Halloween party.  Before the makeup had even been fully applied, photos of our faces were shared on Twitter and Facebook. That probably doesn’t surprise you. The constant capturing and sharing of life’s moments is the new normal. The increasingly urgent need to transfer experiences online has become a reflex. According to the latest numbers from Pew, 54% of adult Internet users post original photos or videos online. Eighteen percent of cell phone owners use Instagram, and nearly 10% use Snapchat.

+ From Wired’s Mat Honan: Can’t get away from it all? The problem isn’t technology — it’s you. (And in the 80s, cocaine wasn’t your problem. It was your nostril.)

+ “Next time you’re implicitly required to alter your path to avoid colliding with an oblivious phone user …  just don’t, and see what happens.” Together we can fight the scourge of texting while walking.

+ “The instant my son looked at the image, his imagination-driven perception of himself was replaced by a digital reproduction of the moment he had just experienced.” Here’s my article on the snap, crackle and pop of the digital photography era: This is You On Smiles.

Job Satisfaction Is Up

“Not happy with your job? Just wait.” A recent study showed that older workers are much more satisfied with their jobs.  At some point, it’s just pretty satisfying to be alive.

H2No

The good news: Americans are drinking less soda. The bad news: They seem to be replacing that drinking habit with the ever-increasing consumption of bottled water. If pure Coca Cola ran freely from your tap, would you run out to the store to buy a frequently inferior version of Coca Cola that also included a plastic bottle? If our bottled water buying patterns are any indication, the answer is yes.

+  Is your commute killing you?

+ MoJo: Which 9 household items will make your hormones go haywire?

The NSA Sessions

Spain is the latest country to learn of, and be alarmed by, the extent to which its phone calls, texts and emails were collected by the NSA. Is all this friendly spying that unusual? Sort of. From NPR, here are four things to know about spying on allies.

+ In many of these cases, the White House was unaware of the NSA spying until well after it started.

Everyone’s a Math Person

“The truth is, you probably are a math person, and by thinking otherwise, you are possibly hamstringing your own career.” A couple of finance and econ professors try to convince you that you are in fact a math person.

Hacker Gets Hacked

“I’m being hacked — and only have myself to blame.” In Pando Daily, Adam Penenberg describes what happened when he challenged hackers to investigate him.

+ A guy in Quebec pled guilty to hacking police and government websites and causing tens of thousands in damage. His actions were not politically motivated. Oh, and he’s twelve.

Remembering Lou Reed

“The measure of his influence and importance dwarfs the news item, the obituary, the tribute. He is everywhere.” The New Yorker’s Sasha Frere-Jones on Lou Reed who died over the weekend.

+ “You do this because you like it, you think what you’re making is beautiful. And if you think it’s beautiful, maybe they think it’s beautiful.” From the NYT: An outsider whose dark, lyrical vision helped shape Rock ’n’ Roll.

Some Like it Hot

“His throat began to swell. He struggled to breathe, and his nose, mouth, and lungs “felt as though they were on fire.” He called for an ambulance, moaning, and was taken to the hospital.” People go to incredible lengths to make the hottest chilis even hotter.

Pay Per View

Ever wonder how much advertisers are willing to pay for a 30-second spot during your favorite television shows? Here’s a list of the top 91 shows (and what they’re worth). Get ready for some football.

The Bottom of the News

Dolphins are jerks. Sea otters are horrible. And don’t even get me started on penguins. Slate’s Brian Switek breaks down the reasons why some of the cutest animals are actually major a-holes. (But don’t worry. Humans are still the worst…)

+ Heinz just hired the former CEO of Burger King. So McDonald’s is dropping Heinz.

+ 2:16pm. According to some researchers, that’s the exact best time for you to drink your coffee.

+ Twenty songs you might not know were covers.

+ From XKCD: 20th Century headlines written to get more clicks. (Or 14 Phrases That Will Blow Your Head Clean Off!)