This Is What It's Like to Actually Use Google+, Google's New Social Network

Looks like Google is (again) throwing their hat into the social networking ring.

First there was the twitter-like Google Buzz, and now there's the facebook-like Google+.

In my opinion, much like Buzz to Twitter, I don't think this is going to be a threat to facebook.

The problem I see is that while anyone can use the various Google services, they cater mostly to dedicated Google/Gmail users. And while the number of Google/Gmail/Android users is surely growing, it is still not a big enough demo to compete with...well...everyone. Perhaps if EVERYONE who uses Gmail completely abandoned facebook in favor of Google+, then maybe it would have a chance at a hostile takeover. But I don't see that happening. If Google Groups (remember them?) didn't even become a blip on the screen of Yahoo Groups' radar, what chance does Google+ have against a behemoth like facebook?

Personally, I hope I'm wrong, as I happen to be one who is all in with Google. I frequently use gmail, google calendar, picasa, youtube, an android phone, google maps, google voice, and of course blogger. I would welcome a facebook-like interface that is seamlessly integrated with the rest of my e-life.

Time will tell.

Anyway, check it out:

This Is What It's Like to Actually Use Google+, Google's New Social Network

Restoring a positive mental attitude

Due to the fact that I recently got out of a situation where I was often berated and belittled, I've decided to leave the past behind me and focus on practicing a very positive outlook in my everyday life rather than let negative feelings consume me. Those of you who know me on facebook and twitter have surely noticed my posts of positive thoughts and just a general PMA. I've since noticed positive changes in myself as well as my surroundings. Things don't bother me like they once did. I see the good in people and the world again. I've even become a very calm and tolerant driver (those who know me know that this is huge). I've restored a self-confidence that a recently-removed-from-my-life individual constantly tried to demolish. In fact, after some reading and a lot of reflection, I now know that it is the person that does the berating and belittling that is the one that is sadly insecure. Positive and confident people do not put down others; it just doesn't happen. It is for that very reason that I choose to not waste energy on grudges and ill feelings. In fact, quite the opposite. I actually feel bad for this individual and hope that they can find inner peace. I have nothing but love and positive memories of them.

Anyway, I've been receiving emails from positive life coaches, and this is one I received today that I wanted to share because I feel it is very poignant and very simple.

Things better, people worse

There is this puzzle in most Western (and some Eastern) societies
that is really confusing. See if you can figure it out - we'll use the
United States as an example.

40 years ago...

• The average house was 1000 sq feet, now it's 2422 sq feet
• A McDonald's cheeseburger cost 30 min of wages, now it costs 3 min
• There was 1 car for every 2 households, now there are 2 for every 1 household
• Life expectancy has since gone up by an average of 8 years
• GDP has since tripled or gone up 8.9 trillion dollars

So we live in bigger homes, make more money, and have longer lives.
If that is the case, how can we explain that in the last 40 years:

• The divorce rate has doubled
• Teen suicide has tripled
• Recorded violent crime has quadrupled
• And Depression has increased 10x - that's right ten times.

If things are getting better, why are people getting worse? There isn't a
one line answer to this paradox, but I'm going to offer a two part theory:
(1) We have been focusing on the wrong things to make us happy; and
(2) When something is wrong (anxiety, panic, depression) we only practice
reducing the negative feelings - we ignore increasing the positive.

Guess what? Happiness doesn't come from just reducing negative feelings.
In other words, if everything "bad" in your life were wiped away, you would
not automatically be incredibly happy. To live a joyous, fulfilled, and
meaningful life, you need to practice positivity. Yes, happiness takes practice.

One simple practice you can start with is called savoring. If you rush around
all day long from the moment you get up to the moment you hit the pillow, you
are probably not taking time to savor. Slow down and savor the good stuff.
Savoring has been scientifically researched to increase your well-being. Try
the exercise below.

Exercise: According to researcher, Fred Bryant, there are 4 effective
ways to savor:

Basking: Receiving praise and congratulations
Thanksgiving: Experiencing and expressing gratitude
Marveling: Losing yourself in the wonder of the experience
Luxuriating: Engaging in the senses fully

My request of you is that you pick one of these 4 techniques and sit
down to savor right now. Sit down for 5 minutes (if you're busy,
even 2 minutes will do). Think about one pleasant thing that happened
today (smell, touch, sight, sound, experience) and close your eyes and
enjoy it. Reminisce about what you loved about it.

As humans we are great at doing and moving and pushing through to
the next goal; but we need to also focus on enjoying, savoring, and
just "being". Remember, happiness takes practice, so make it part of
your day.

Love & Light,

Amelie Chance
Certified Coach of Positive Psychology

An unknown (?) feature for AT&T wireless customers

A few weeks ago I was checking out my AT&T wireless account online, and I noticed a new feature that I had never seen before, and one that AT&T certainly did not email me to tell me about, and one that was not automatically enabled. I had to enable it.
Like most people, I have unlimited messaging ($20 for most people on the big two networks I believe), and what was newly listed right above this feature was "Unlimited messaging with Mobile to ANY Mobile calling."
The price? $20. That's right. Basically throwing in mobile to ANY mobile minutes for free.
Now, I figured there had to be a catch. I mean, why wouldn't AT&T advertise this? Wouldn't they want to boast something that their arch rival does not offer (to my knowledge VZW does not yet offer this)? VZW still offers unlimited data (though not for long I suspect) whereas AT&T does not. So it would seem that AT&T would want to have something unique to their service to brag about. At the very least enable the feature automatically and let their existing subscribers know about it. Sort of a "Hey, look what we gave you...aren't we awesome?"
Well, I'm here to tell you that there is no catch. Since changing that feature, my bill has not changed, and no mobile minutes whatsoever are counting towards my peak minutes. Between this feature and my A-List (Friends & Family on VZW), I'm barely using any minutes at all every month.
Okay, well maybe there is a "catch" of sorts (if you want to call it that). I have the 900 minute plan, and that is the minimum you need in order to have the option of the A-list (VZW has the same requirement for F&F). I'm not sure if the same holds true for the Mobile to ANY Mobile feature, but it wouldn't surprise me if it does.

Anyway, if you're on AT&T wireless, I would suggest you go check out your account online and grab this feature if it's available to you. If you're like me, you know a lot of people on Verizon that you'll now be able to talk to unlimited. Even if you already have a couple of VZW customers on your A-list, you'll now be able to remove them and free up some of those 5 slots for more landline numbers. :-)