Continuing on our quest to bring you the best of the best of the countdowns saying bye-bye to the 00's, here is a look at the Top 10 Internet Moments of the past decade. We're a bit peeved that "the launch of SocialVibe.com" didn't make the list, but knowing it is #1 on your list (right?) is comforting enough.
The list is not ranked in order of importance, and includes both high-profile events and quieter happenings that would prove pivotal in the following years. David-Michel Davies, executive director of the Webby Awards, said the importance factor "depends on who you are and what you're interested in. The Internet is life in a way... what's the most important moment in the world is a broad question."
Enough talk, on with the show!
The Decade's Top 10 Internet Moments, according to The Webby Awards:
• Craigslist expands beyond San Francisco (2000): When the free classifieds site broadened its reach into nine more cities, it began a major shift away from newspaper classifieds, according to the Webbys. Craigslist now hosts listings in more than 500 cities in 50 countries.
• Google AdWords launches (2000): The Webbys say the launch of Google's self-service ad program opened up the online marketplace, allowed advertisers to better target their customers and, in short, "turned advertising on its head."
• Wikipedia launches (2001): The free, open-source encyclopedia now has more than 14 million articles in 271 languages with 20,000 of those coming in the first year. The Webbys credit Wikipedia with being an early example of strangers from around the world coming together to collaborate on projects.
• Napster shuts down (2001): Although the controversial file-sharing site bemoaned by many in the recording industry shut down in 2001, the Webbys note that it opened up the floodgates. Hulu, iTunes and other legal sites followed, as did downloading songs from less reputable sites and artists releasing their music exclusively online.
• Google's IPO (2004): One of the largest stock offerings in history put the search engine on the path to becoming what the Webbys call "the most dominant and influential company of the decade." Gmail, YouTube, Google Earth, Google Maps and Android would all follow.
• Online video revolution (2006): Faster bandwidth, cheaper camcorders and YouTube's use of Adobe's Flash 9 video player combine to make online video explode. "The trifecta led to a boom in homemade and professional content - the Diet Coke and Mentos guys, lonelygirl15, SNL's Lazy Sunday, and Sen. George Allen's "Macaca-gate" -- that has reshaped everything from pop culture to politics," the Webbys write.
• Facebook opens up, Twitter takes off (2006): In September, Facebook expands from only college students to anyone older than 13. Almost overnight, social networking went mainstream. Less than a month later, Twitter's owners acquire the company, paving the way for the service to take off the following year.
• The iPhone debuts (2007): It was released on June 29, 2007, and by the end of the weekend a half-million had been sold. The phone from Apple has inspired a slew of other smartphones and an app for just about every aspect of modern life.
• U.S. presidential campaign (2008): The Internet "altered presidential politicking in 2008 much as television had forty years earlier," according to the Webby list. "Obama Girl" and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's controversial sermons helped shape the debate, social networking helped mobilize volunteers and voters and online fundraising shattered records.
• Iranian election protests (2009): When Iran's power structure announced dubious results from its presidential election, the opposition took to social networking and the "Twitter Revolution" was born. The Web let protesters beam images from the chaotic country at a time when mainstream media outlets had been severely hampered. Twitter became so fundamental in spreading news of the protests that followed that the U.S. State Department asked the company to delay a planned shutdown for maintenance, the Webbys note.
Thoughts? What would you have liked to see added to the list?
Have you been trying to earn your Pink Ball but aren't having much luck? We've got something that might tide you over while you're earning those 2,000 points - Pink Ball stickers! And other cool stuff, too!
You can find Pink Ball stickers in the official SocialVibe Store, which you can find at store.socialvibe.com. The stickers are more than affordable at five for $1, and you'll be able to plaster them all over your car, notebook, locker, little brother, or wherever else you see fit.
Also available are t-shirts, hoodies, backpacks, water bottles, pens, and slap bracelets (hello 90s!). This is a great way to get the word out about SocialVibe, so be sure to add these items to your holiday wish list.
If you are truly broke (and honestly, who isn't in the current economic crunch), don't forget to join our Street Team, where you can complete orders for points that can be used in exchange for free SocialVibe swag. Check it out at socialvibe.fancorps.com.
We're not sure how we feel about this super-realistic-looking robot modeled to look and sound like Albert Einstein. On one hand, the technology is wildly awesome (and something the late scientist would probably be totally on board with), on the other hand... it's very creepy.
I mean, it's identical to him! The part where the robot starts spouting off "My name is Albert Einstein, I am a physicist." is eerie. What do you think?
Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it's time to set our sights on the most wonderful time of year - the holiday season. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or another holiday, chances are you will be buying a gift or two. Why not opt for charitable gifts that provide help for those in need?
Here is Part 1 of our 2009 Gifts That Give Back series!
- Lush Charity Pot Lotion ($20): Change the world, one pot at a time. This homemade and animal-friendly hand and body lotion made with organic almond oil smells like a fresh spring garden, plus, 100% of proceeds support environmental, humanitarian and animal rights charities.
- Provide a goat for a third world family ($120): Gifts that give back means sometimes not receiving anything for yourself at all. By purchasing a goat for a third-world family, you'll be providing both nutrition and income for people in need. Goats thrive in extreme climates and on poor, dry land and can still supply a family with several quarts of milk a day - a ton of milk a year. Extra milk can be sold or used to make cheese, butter or yogurt. The goat manure can also fertilize gardens.
- Build A Nest's 'better together' necklace ($62): This necklace features original artwork by Laurel Denise in a piece of translucent glass and by itself, makes a great gift. Paired with the fact that all proceeds go towards changing the lives of women in developing countries, it makes an AWESOME gift.
- Pangea Organics Gift Sets (price varies): Each gift set of organically delicious skincare products comes in a box made from 100% post-consumer newsprint without glues or dyes and is embedded with the seeds of a Spruce Tree. Soak the box, plant it in your garden, and soon you'll have a baby Spruce tree! How festive.
-St. Jude's Retro Green Scooter ($59 $49): On the surface, this is just another retro green scooter that the child on your list would adore. Behind the scooter, however, is one very happy child who will benefit from the donation to St. Jude's that comes from the purchase of each of these all-steel scooters bearing the St. Jude's logo.
Happy Thanksgiving from the SocialVibe family! We're sure you are busy basking in the sweet smell of stuffing and sneaking bites of pumpkin pie today, but In between helping your family prepare the annual feast and wrestling your brother for the remote control, please take a few minutes to provide meals for hungry people in need by playing SocialVibe's Thanksgiving Feast app on Facebook.
With over a billion hungry people in the world, we can't afford to ignore the dire need for food supplies. Each virtual food item you bring to your table or a friend's table will provide real meals for real people in need through the UN World Food Programme.
To get started, add the app here. Create your own table, choose the decor (traditional, contemporary or Hawaiian), decide which item you're bringing, and then start inviting your friends. You can also bring food to your friends' tables, providing even more meals!
Share your impact with your Facebook friends!
We're warning you - this is a very addicting game (but it's okay because it is for a good cause!) Once you see all your friends tables, you'll want to visit each and every one to bring green bean casserole, yams, or whatever Thanksgiving-type food they need to help them fill their table.
A loved one's homecoming is always an emotional moment, especially when that loved one is coming home from months or even years at war. Your first thought of a soldier's homecoming might be he his or her spouse, children and other family... but what about the family dog? Imagine having your master mysteriously vanish one day, to miraculously return many, many months later? Oh the joy!
Mentalfloss.com posted a list of ten videos of dogs welcoming their owners home from war will make you weep like a little girl. Don't ask me how I know this.
Gracie welcomes her Dad home from Afghanistan.
Buddy celebrates seven months without his owner coming to a close.
The sounds coming from these two Beagles more than express their enthusiasm.
A return after 14 months in Iraq. You haven't seen a tail wag this fast before.
Basset Reggie welcomes this family's youngest son home from Afghanistan.
This one-dog welcome committee shows his Dad just how much he was missed.
These puppies' proud papa was only gone for a month of training.
This Boxer wasn't quite sure how to react to his father coming home!
Two Dachshunds give a very vocal welcome home to Navy Dad who was off in Kuwait for eight months.
After a week away, these puppies can't handle the excitement!
Quick, someone get me a dog, I think I need one of those tail-wagging hugs!
Dogs don't do it for you? Check out this wonderful video from Inside Edition of children's reactions to their soldier father's homecomings.
We hope you're as proud as we are of the work SocialVibe is doing to make a positive impact in the world using social media. If so, please take a moment to nominate us for TechCrunch's 2009 Crunchie Awards, the third annual competition and ceremony recognizing and celebrating the most compelling startups, internet and technology innovations of the year.
The Crunchies are TechCrunch's third annual competition and award ceremony to recognize and celebrate the most compelling startups, internet and technology innovations of the year.
You can vote once per day per category, and we think SocialVibe is a perfect fit for the "Best Internet Application" and "Best Social Networking Application" categories.
You can also vote for us by clicking on the little badges below! Please bookmark this site and vote for us EVERYDAY through December 4 so we can make it to the finals!
Afterward, be sure to share your vote on Facebook and Twitter to help us get more votes!
Our hope is that by winning awards like these, we'll be able to expose even more people to the wonderful things we are doing here at SocialVibe., thus helping our causes even more.
A grain of salt might seem microscopically tiny to the human eye, but on the grand scale of things, it is actually a whole lot bigger than we think. The Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah has created a super cool interactive tool called Cell Size and Scale that allows you to see just how big (or rather, small) human cells are, compared to other items such as coffee beans and carbon atoms.
If you're a science geek or just want to be wow-ed, check it out. The concept of just how large our bodies are is astonishing when combined with the vast size of the seemingly everlasting and ever-expanding universe surrounding us. To be truly blown away by just how tiny we are, check out this vintage video from IBM created back in the 70s/80s called "The Power of 10."
Really makes you think, doesn't it? What a magnificently complex world we live in.
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