MySpace has announced users can now automatically sync their status updates with Twitter. Is having the ability to create a "Global Social Status" (yes, you can use that ... I just made it up) really such a good thing?

Not long ago I ran across an application in Facebook that would pull in my Twitter updates and automagically update my Facebook status. I quickly learned that this was not exactly the best idea in the world (and I'll tell you why in a moment), so I'm not so certain the efforts of MySpace are going to bring about any kind of improvements in the social media communities.

Let's think about this for a minute ... if you're a friend of mine on Facebook (or MySpace) AND you follow me on Twitter ... do you really want to read my status updates everywhere you go? For serious, does it make sense to "shotgun" your updates to every single social community you belong to? I think not.

Sure, there are rare occasions that you might want to do this ... but I say resist the temptation! I've found that for the most part, people I follow on Twitter are a completely different group of people than I have on Facebook. Sure, there is some overlap and that's to be expected, but the vast majority of people I know of Facebook (or MySpace) are people I've actually met, am friends with, family with, grew up with, you get the picture. Many of the people (and/or companies) I follow on Twitter are people I've never personally met (although many I hope to meet someday) but we share some commonalities ... maybe it's programming, maybe it's music, maybe it's geography. You know?

Where I'm going with this is that something I might "tweet" about may not necessarily be something I want to update my "Global Social Status" with. The audiences are completely different and often warrant their own unique message, even if the messages are very similar.

The flip side to this is if you like to Twitter ... and you know who you are ... you have the potential of overwhelming your family and friends with updates like "RT @stevewithington CF9 is the bees knees ... I have ORM, do you?" or "This site rocks: http://tinyurl.com/nv62na #muracms #mura #coldfusion #sql"

Heck, I don't know about you, but I already get a little irritated having to scroll through things like "Help Me on Mafia Wars" or the ever popular "Steve Withington took the 'What Kind of Car Are You?' quiz and got the result: You're a 1969 Bitchin' Camaro. Read more ..."

So if you're goal in life is to annoy the crap out of people in your social communities, then go right ahead and applaud the efforts of MySpace and others in their quest to become THE place to go to update your Global Social Status. In the mean time, I'll continue along, grumbling and complaining about silly things like this.

My 2-Year Old's Version of "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz from stevewithington on Vimeo.

Now, I normally don't write about my faith. For whatever reason though, I felt compelled to share my story.

This morning began like most each morning does for me: wake up, shower, make breakfast for the kids, drop my son off at school, drive to work ... and this is where my morning took an unexpected turn.

My fuel tank was nearly empty, so I decided early on in my trip that I would stop off at my usual gas station to fill up. As I was approaching the gas station, I had to go around a vehicle which was moving very slowly with their hazard lights blinking. I didn't think much about it, and to be honest, I usually don't give these sort of things a second thought. So I pulled in and began to fill up.

As I was listening to the sound of the fuel pump do its work, I began to drift off in thought. Then, I could hear what sounded like one ginormous piece of duct tape continuously being pulled off of the road ... it was the slow moving car with the hazard lights on, now obviously because of a flat tire. As the driver pulled into the gas station and up to the air hose, I then began to fight a sudden feeling of wanting to help this person.

"No," I thought. "I've got to get to work ... I've just got too much to do, and I don't have time for this." Each time the thought came back to help, I battled back with some new, unfounded thought. "Someone else will help, I'm sure." I glanced back to watch as people merely walked past the person in distress and wouldn't even look their way. "This is crazy, I'm not from this neighborhood. She's obviously from this part of town, someone's sure to know this person and offer help." The fuel pump was finished doing its work, but my brain was still doing its thing. "Dude, how many times have you heard the Parable of the Good Samaritan?"

It was then that I began recalling the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, versus 25-37. In the beginning of the parable, there is some dialog between a lawyer and Jesus:

25And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

So what did Jesus do? What did He say? Well, if you are or have ever been Christian and attended Sunday School, you probably know the rest of the story. As Jesus normally does throughout the New Testament, instead of giving the lawyer a simple answer, he shares a story to illustrate His answer.

He begins to tell the story of a man who was ultimately beaten up, robbed of everything he had and left for dead on the side of the road during one of his trips. Jesus goes on to talk about several people, including a priest, who just walked passed (and even around) this man lying there on the side of the road. Eventually, a "Samaritan" came along, showed compassion and helped this person. The Samaritan not only got him to safety and cared for him, but also paid for everything too! Now the best part is that Jesus finishes the story by telling the lawyer to "Go, and do thou likewise."

I've heard and read this story hundreds of times. This morning, I heard it again and asked myself the very same question the lawyer asked Jesus, "So, who is my neighbor?"

I knew then that this person who was in need is my neighbor. So I went, and did likewise.

I'm not sharing this in hopes that readers will "like" me more, or anything like that. I'm sharing this because I know that I normally don't do things like this. I'm sharing this because I know how hard it is to stop, and help a neighbor in need. I'm sharing this because I hope that when the time comes, I will go, and do likewise again.

Today one of my Twitter friends found something that made me wonder if there is or should be some type of "Blogger Code of Conduct." As you can see in the picture, Isaac (Ike) Dealey said "There's no easier way to blog than to plagiarize!" with a link to bringtheblog.com. (You can type, and I don't want to give them anymore link juice than they're already receiving.)

I had to check out what in the heck he was talking about. Sure enough, there it was ... a web site with promises of "making blogging easier than ever before!" It's hard to tell from the home page of their site, and it's actually not so clear once you "Take a Tour" either. However, once you read on in the FAQ section, it all becomes clear! Here's an excerpt from the very first line in the FAQ:

I don't get it. What is "Bring the Blog"?
We're like the Associated Press for blogs. Just like the New York Times uses wire services to complement their home-grown articles, we give you outside content to make your blog better and more effective.

Hmm, ok. The AP for blogs. I get it. So ... then you publish by lines and give credit where credit is due, right? The answer? Well, I couldn't find really anything in their demos or examples that told me the "blog author" did or did not write it themselves. Kind of strange, don't you think? Especially when they claim that a blog "is like a journal or running commentary."

If it's a "journal," then shouldn't I really be writing it myself? Apparently not. Here's another excerpt from their FAQ:

Who are the Bring the Blog writers?
For each industry, we hand-select a prominent blogger that is knowledgeable of the industry, has a strong command of the Engligh language, and truly enjoys writing. And then we pay them handsomely.

The above quote is taken verbatim ... notice anything funny? Umm, English isn't really spelled "Engligh," right? Makes one wonder, doesn't it? It just spirals downhill from there. In fact, here's my favorite FAQ of all:

How often should I add my own content to my blog?
There is no "right" answer to that question. You should post to your blog whenever you feel inspired. For some folks, that's everyday. For some, it's never! It's entirely up to you.

Never? Seriously? I understand there is definitely a marketplace for this type of thing, but come on. This, in my personal opinion, borders on some shaky ethical ground. In my opinion, if you're going to "borrow" someone else's content to beef up your own blog, then give credit where credit is due. There should really be a noticeable disclaimer that says "I Didn't Write This!" In fact, how can you call yourself a blogger if you're one of the people who never write any articles?

I believe this service should be called what it really is, an aggregator. It aggregates articles that you can share with other people that you probably didn't write to begin with.

Oh, by the way, they charge you an ongoing monthly fee for the service so they can "pay them [the actual blogger's] handsomely." So, if you really want to blog, there are so many options out there to pick from and most of them are absolutely free-of-charge. In fact, here's a couple of links to get you started:

• Blogger
• Movable Type
• TypePad
• WordPress.com

If you're a do-it-yourselfer and have a ColdFusion hosting account, you can always use what I use myself, the ever-popular BlogCFC courtesy of Raymond Camden.

Pssst, by the way ... if you want to pay me to write for your blog, just drop me a line.

I typically don't post "political" items on my blog, however, it's difficult to not have an opinion on the way our elected officials are attempting to deal with our economic uncertainty. I'm not necessarily bashing on just persons in Congress or the Senate, but also they way business leaders and we, as consumers, are handling our current "economic crises."

The most recent activity that truly made me look up from my "daily routines" has been the recent talks on Capital Hill with the big three automakers (and the UAW). Currently, the talks are moving toward a "$15 billion government rescue of the American automobile industry." Although I believe that should actually read "taxpayer rescue," but who's really paying attention anyway?

There are so many facets to this situation that it would be difficult for me to describe each lens I've attempted to look at this situation through. However, on the surface, I truly struggle with how our elected officials can justify pouring taxpayers hard-earned dollars onto a flaming, sinking ship thinking it will help keep it afloat.

Just for curiosity, I threw together a quick, one-question poll asking the question I used in the title of this article and posted the question via Twitter. As of the time I published this article, here are the results thus far:

As one of my Twitter friends said, "if anyone thinks that the answer to bailing out the auto industry can be put into a neat yes/no answer, you're dreaming." I agree with that statement, and yet also think that ultimately, the question begs a yes or no answer. Obviously, if the answer were yes, in any way, shape or form, then conditions must apply ... hence the ongoing talks and negotiations on Capital Hill.

Why is it that we just can't say "No?" What are we to do when other "American" industries begin marching onto Capital Hill? Where's the money going to come from? Heck, where's the money going to come from to bailout the auto industry in the first place? What about the other $700 billion for the financial industry?

I understand these are extremely complex issues and there is no "cure-all" for our economy. However, the current process truly concerns me ... especially when we're about to enter into a new administration that has already promised "more spending" on a wide array of programs.

Just in case you're wondering, for as long as I can remember, I have driven a Ford. I did so for a number of reason, but one of those reasons was because it was an "American" automobile. Sure they may have some foreign parts in them, but what doesn't these days? Recently, I traded in my Ford for a Toyota. I did so primarily because I wanted a more fuel-efficient vehicle and the only hybrid offering in Ford's lineup (or GM's or Chrysler's for that matter) were SUV's. Now, prior to owning a Ford Fusion, I owned 2 different Ford Expeditions, a Ford F-150 4x4, a Ford Bronco (the full sized one) and a Ford Mustang. So, please don't tell me I never did my part. I would have happily traded in my Fusion for a hybrid version ... if there were such a thing.

Again, I understand the issues that the big three automakers are dealing with today are much more complex than whether or not they offer hybrids which compete with Honda and Toyota, but it's also hard to ignore the fact that Honda and Toyota aren't on Capital Hill even though they employ thousands of Americans too. I found it ironic too that Honda was opening a plant the very same day as one of the meetings going on in Washington D.C. I also thought is was funny how Ford and GM said they would sell their corporate jets to save money, most likely because they were "criticized for flying to Washington for the last round of hearings on separate private jets."

I'm concerned about the tens of thousands of employees that have been and will be affected by this. I'm not just talking about the automobile manufacturers either. I know there are tens of thousands of jobs tied to and dependent upon the big three automotive companies. I'm also concerned about the families and children of these people. I'm concerned about my own family and whether or not my 401k will dwindle even further.

For now, I guess all I can do is pray for these employees and their families ... and voice my concerns.

After crunching the numbers, I finally pulled the trigger and bought a Toyota Prius this week. For the past two years, I've been driving a 4-cylinder 2006 Ford Fusion and have been fairly happy with it. Just to be clear, there was really nothing wrong my Fusion. However, I commute 30+ miles each way from my house to work and back each day.

I was achieving around 26 miles per gallon with the Fusion. Highway mileage was actually closer to 29/30 mpg, but the actual average came in lower. For the most part, I drive the posted speed limits (seriously). This means that my commute on the highway is mostly 65 miles per hour. I noticed a fairly significant difference in my mpg if I drove any faster ... i.e., at 70 (maybe a bit more) mph, my mpg would drop from 29/30 to around 24/25. I think the optimum speed for maximum mpg was in the neighborhood of 55 mph on my Fusion, which would bump my mpg to around 33/34. Not bad, but I do a lot of stop-and-go driving too in the city which, as most of us know, absolutely crush the overall mpg.

As for the numbers, when I looked over my credit card charges for the past several months, I found that I was spending anywhere between $300 to $400 per month on gas! To be fair, that's not just driving to work and back, but still ... those are hard-earned, real dollars going down the tank and out of the exhaust. Granted, it's much better than it would have been if I still had my old Ford Expedition. And yes, I realize that the price at the pump is over $1.00 less per gallon today than it was only a month or so ago, but who truly believes prices will continue falling or even remain flat?

So, I found out that Ruda Toyota in Monroe, WI had a few "slightly used" hybrids on their lot and decided to take a look. After test driving a Prius, I was actually quite surprised at how much I liked it.

The Prius has much more room inside than you might realize. In fact, it seems like the cabin area has more space than the Ford Fusion. The hatch/trunk area is a little smaller than the Ford Fusion, but I really didn't keep much back there anyway other than my baseball glove, some baseballs, a bat and some lawn chairs. If needed, the back seats fold flat which open the entire back of the vehicle giving plenty of room for transporting "stuff." However, with the whole family loaded up, I think we would have to pack carefully for any long trips/vacations.

The Prius rides very nice too. It takes a little getting used to though. For example, I push a button on the dash to start the vehicle and the only way to confirm it's actually "running" is the "Ready" light that appears on the dash. Also, while at a stop light, if the gas engine was running, you might feel/hear it just turn off. Now that's a weird feeling! The pre-hybrid driver in me wants to look for a key to twist and step on the gas pedal, but no fear ... the car is "Ready." When the light turns green, I simply step on the pedal and drive away. I've been told by another Prius driver that driving in the snow is a little different too, so I'll be sure to blog about my experiences as they arise ... which by most accounts could be very soon here in Northern Illinois.

Now when I bought the Prius, I thought I'd be completely satisfied with an average of 40 miles per gallon. I had been hearing people say they get 50 to as much as 60 miles per gallon, but we know how people like to exaggerate, eh? Needless to say, I didn't believe the numbers being thrown around and I needed to see it for myself.

As of my trip to work this morning, my average was 47.8 miles per gallon over the preceding 150 miles. That's over 20 miles per gallon better than I was getting with a 4-cylinder Ford Fusion! Actually, it's almost twice the amount I was used too. Before this morning's trip, I was over 48 miles per gallon, but it was a pretty windy and rainy day which seemed to negatively impact my mpg.

Regardless of the fuel-efficiency, I'm officially a fan of the Toyota Prius. Yes, it was the fuel-efficiency that initially drew me to the Prius, but it was the overall quality of the vehicle that sold me on it. To be sure, nearly cutting my monthly fuel bill in half doesn't hurt either.

Only two questions about global poverty have been asked in the history of modern presidential debates.

It's a shocking figure and in 2008, we need debate moderator Jim Lehrer to ask John McCain and Barack Obama "Just ONE question" on their plans to fight global poverty.

I just took action with the ONE Campaign and you can too, here:

http://www.one.org/debates/?rc=debatestaf

I have always been impressed with the work done by the folks over at JibJab®. I've been following them for quite some time and I'm sure many of you recall the "This Land!" video from 2004. And who could forget "Ahnuld for Governor?" The first one I remember seeing was "Founding Fathers" way back in 2000.

I've also been using their "Starring You!" application since its inception. I liked it so much I even paid a few bucks awhile back to be able to share a Snoop Dogg video starring my wife, a co-worker and myself via email and post it online for my family and friends to see (and laugh). If you've ever played around with the "Starring You!" application, then you know how much fun it is to see your friends and family as they dance, sing, talk and everything else.

Anyway, just in time for the release of the next High School Musical movie, they've thrown together a new music video for the "Starring You!" series. What an awesome way to promote the movie, don't ya think? I thought I would go ahead and share a personalized version starring my wife and your's truly. Enjoy!

It's always difficult gathering the family together to get pictures taken. However, Joanne Letson made the experience fun and easy. Joanne invited us to a campground and found some beautiful outdoor environments for us. She gave me permission to upload a few of the photos to my Flickr account for me to share with my friends and family. Enjoy!

First of all, I know this post is totally subjective. The answer for each individual lies where their heart and musical ear is. In fact, I'm sure there are some who don't care for either Coldplay or Death Cab for Cutie. Since I've gotten that out of the way, I think I'll continue.

The reason for this post is because both Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends and Narrow Stairs were recently released in very close proximity to each other (date-wise that is) and I eagerly awaited each of their releases. In fact, Viva la Vida was just released in the U.S. yesterday, June 17, 2008. I've also given both albums a number of spins and ended up finding myself comparing them to each other and thought it might be worth sharing my thoughts on the matter.

Let's start with Death Cab for Cutie's Narrow Stairs. Narrow Stairs, the group's sixth full-length album (eight total albums), was released in the U.S. on May 13, 2008 and is the follow up album to their late-2005 album Plans. For those that don't know, Plans was Death Cab for Cutie's fifth full-length release, however it was their first major label album. This album is like a trek through a musical canyon. There seems to be a little something for everyone on here. While I am entranced by tracks such as I Will Possess Your Heart and The Ice Is Getting Thinner, I actually wake up and tap my toes on Long Division. Narrow Stairs won't disappoint you, it will inspire you to be more creative in whatever you're working on.

If you listen to Death Cab for Cutie for any length of time, you begin to realize they are constantly experimenting with sound. They proficiently use their voices as instruments, blending beautifully with the clean guitar picking and strumming, along with the modest drumming and occasional keyboards. Ben Gibbard, vocalist and guitarist, keeps you hanging on the end of each line waiting for the next word to drip from his lips into your ears. Their music has tended to be like layers of sheets and blankets on a bed, it wraps you up and keeps you warm and comfortable. If I had to pick only one word to describe Death Cab for Cutie, it might be "hypnotic." I don't think you'll find any mosh pits at a Death Cab concert, but I do think you'll find crowds of listeners gently bouncing their heads and swaying their bodies back and forth. I find myself reminiscing about New Order, Depeche Mode and other groups from my high school and college days.

Coldplay's fourth studio album is Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. Led by Chris Martin, Coldplay continues it's reign on the charts with this most recent release. Within the first three days in the UK, the album sold over 300,000 copies debuting at #1. I don't know the numbers for the U.S. yet. Coldplay thought they would get cute by "hiding" tracks within tracks this time around. The track Yes has a hidden track titled Chinese Sleep Chant (appropriately named by the way). The track Death and All His Friends also has a hidden track titled The Escapist. One of my personal favorite's is Lovers in Japan (Acoustic Version) which apparently was only available if you pre-ordered the album on iTunes. Another "bonus" track for iTunes customers included "Lost?" not to be confused with "Lost!" of course. Cute.

While I do hear the influence of Bono and U2 on Coldplay's music, I don't think it's fair to U2 to be compared to Coldplay. U2 has, in my amateur opinion, a much more diverse sound and have experimented and pushed their music to many different realms over the years. In fact, they've even been criticized for it in the past. Whereas Coldplay seems to continue down one road, the same road, the comfortable road, the don't push the envelope road. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy listening to Coldplay, but feel as though they are beginning to follow a more formulaic approach to creating their music, the play-it-safe methodology. To be fair, Coldplay's formula works and it's extremely effective. In fact, I find myself needing a shot of Coldplay at least once a day.

Each album successfully creates layers of sound that seem to wrap around me, pulling me into the depths of musical waters. Both albums start off from silence and crawl out of the darkness with their distinctive sounds. Death Cab for Cutie begins Narrow Stairs with Bixby Canyon Bridge which slowly fades in as layers of instruments and voices are added. Coldplay begins Viva la Vida with Life in Technicolor which also slowly fades in as layers of instruments and voices are added. This is where the albums begin to take their different roads. Coldplay continues with their safe and comfortable approach throughtout the album, whereas Death Cab for Cutie signals and turns, taking you down a different musical neighborhood with each track. Coldplay will undoubtedly have several hits from their album, while Death Cab for Cutie will simply continue to grow their fan base, one album at a time.

I completely enjoy both albums, but if someone told me I could pick only one, it would have to be Death Cab for Cutie's Narrow Stairs. Sorry Coldplay.

What about you?