Google+ Communities is an exciting new feature that I look forward to exploring!
Show some support for Google’s contributions to social media and log in to your account. Forget what you’ve heard about it being a ghost town; Wired reported significant recent user growth on Google+.
After all, Google+ is a place for foodies, film buffs, and whatever you’re into.
The setlist at Chantal Kreviazuk’s show Friday night at Centennial Hall made it seem like fans were privy to a unique live performance of soundtracks from popular films of the 90s and early 2000s. When she wooed everyone by playing popular hits like “Time,” this brought back memories of watching MuchMoreMusic before the channel’s re-branding, not to mention climactic melodramatic scenes from Dawson’s Creek.
Her career may have peaked in the 90s, but Kreviazuk’s commentary between songs was definitely timely for a concert in 2012. While introducing “Feels Like Home,” she shared that many couples gush about it being their wedding song, and then emphasized how divorces and multiple marriages have changed how people feel about it. Her anecdotes can be summarized by the themes of remarriage, rowdiness and rock stars’ lifestyles. Evidently an Apple customer, Kreviazuk also spoke about how much she loves FaceTime, especially when either she or her husband, Raine Maida from Our Lady Peace, are touring.
Early on, Kreviazuk made self-deprecating remarks about forgetting lyrics 12 times, joking that she needed a teleprompter, even though such errors weren’t noticeable. What was more frustrating, however, was how Kreviazuk repeatedly faced the orchestra rather than the paying ticketholders. Although she was understandably impressed by the orchestra’s seamless collaboration, it would have been nice to see more of her facial expressions while singing emotionally-driven lyrics, no matter how “honoured” she was to play with them. Apparently she assumed everyone was a major Orchestra London supporter, but the weak applause when she acknowledged them indicated otherwise.
The Backstreet Boys are back, making their small screen debut in Old Navy commercials prior to their upcoming reunion tour with Kevin Richardson reuniting with the boy band. An Old Navy staffer has explained that their “target customer grew up in the ’90s, and that time period conjures an emotional connection, so [they’ve] worked with a number of actors and musicians who remind her of that nostalgic decade.” (Source: Bloomberg)
In case that doesn’t satisfy your longing to see your favourite stars of the past, Old Navy has followed up with newer commercials featuring Joan Rivers (notably a hilarious woman on Twitter too) and Sex and the City star Mario Cantone. I’d love to meet the Fashion Police co-host, but so far I’ve had to settle for posing with Joan’s wax figure at Madame Tussauds’ Las Vegas location. What’s more, Old Navy has jumped at the opportunity to make interactive YouTube videos, enabling fans to watch different clips of Mario and Joan at faux fashion shows online.
When Margaret Trudeau visited Western today, she was introduced through a video narrated by George Stroumboulopoulos, an equally well-liked Canadian cultural icon. Margaret, a mental health advocate, was invited to Western for the Faculty of Health Sciences’ Distinguished Lecture series to talk about her experiences with bipolar disorder, which she discusses in her book Changing My Mind (2010).
Margaret began by saying that she acted like a “drama queen” as a child, who was “quick to cry, quick to laugh.” She first experienced minor bouts of depression when she moved out of her parents’ home during university, noting that she missed the balance once she began living on her own in a basement apartment.
Albeit briefly, Margaret mentioned that the pressure of being a public figure didn’t help her feel better because as the Prime Minister’s wife, she was always expected to be graceful and look good. “There’s nothing more humiliating than being locked up in a psych ward, especially when people who don’t even know you look up to you,” she said. Her position as Canada’s First Lady also contributed to her mood swings, as sometimes her social calendar was filled with fancy events, whereas other times she felt more isolated in Ottawa.
Name: Emily Liebert
Best Known For: Facebook Fairytales (2010)
Education: B.A. English Language & Literature, Smith College
Current Employment and Projects: Author & TV Personality. Working on second book (first novel) and third book (second novel) set to publish by Penguin in September 2013 and September 2014 respectively. “Type A Mommy” Parenting Expert for GalTime.
Favorite Facebook feature: News Feed—including status updates and photos—I’m a total voyeur.
Professional role model: Jennifer Weiner—brilliant writer with a wicked sense of humor, who speaks her mind on behalf of Women’s Fiction authors (and she live tweets The Bachelor!)
What do you think motivates someone to share a positive story with Facebook? Gratitude
Describe how Facebook has changed your social life in 140 characters or less: It’s a blessing to be able to feel like I’m part of everyone’s lives even though we may not have time to chat on the phone or go to dinner.
How has Facebook helped you professionally? Facebook has been an invaluable asset. I’ve made countless connections which have translated into business achievements. And, through my Facebook fan page, I can share links to articles written about me, articles I write, significant videos, and important news.
Facebook Fairytales begins with an interview with none other than Mark Zuckerberg. How was that arranged?
I was very fortunate in the fact that Facebook agreed to support my book by sharing amazing stories that had been sent in to them by users and by granting me the interview with Mark for the foreword. I could spend a lifetime picking Mark’s brain, but—as you might imagine—he’s a busy guy. So it’s the kind of interview where you need to get in and get out quickly with the information you really need.