As the video’s description states, we should actually not make fun of Bryant and Katie. The Internet was so new to all of us at the time. In 1994, I had just started using email, and probably didn’t visit a website until late 1995 or 1996? Anyway, enjoy this previously unaired Today Show blast from the past.

“What is the Internet, anyway?”

As reported on ESPN, the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) have made sports league and social media history with a cool jersey enhancement. Each player replaced the name on the back of their jersey with their Twitter handle. I think this is awesome.

ESPN reports that the team did get approval from the NLL before making the jersey change. Here’s the NLL’s story on the game, which didn’t mention the jersey change much save for the opening line. Here’s a better story from the Toronto Star. Looks like the jerseys were auctioned off for the American Cancer Society, raising over $13,000.

I wish this had been my idea!

Gary Vaynerchuk tweeted and Facebooked about his first live appearance on Spreecast, a social video platform similar to Ustream. He used to hold Ustream chats and was excited to reconnect with fans. During the live Spreecast, he said that he’s been advising the firm, and this became obvious as he struggled to get the service to work. Spreecast hustled.

When I first jumped on, I couldn’t log in, couldn’t hear Gary, and couldn’t type anything in the chat window. Apparently no one had sound. At 7pm EST, Spreecast called Gary’s mobile to help him work out the problem. With their help, he got it working and almost 200 people joined the get-together.

Gary then brought me on to chat, and we were experiencing echoes. We weren’t sure how to fix it, and Spreecast again called (pic below). After they told him that I needed headphones to make the audio work, he gave me the royal boot. I made a sad face.

Once the technology was worked out, it was a pretty cool platform. It is possible that they would not (be able to) provide the same personal customer service to lesser-known users, but I was nonetheless impressed. Not long after the Spreecast ended, I received an email that said “This Spreecast has been archived and is ready for viewing.” I was then able to not only embed it below, but grab the screenshots you see above (I wasn’t fast enough when we were on live.)

I look forward to holding my own Spreecast sometime soon.

I know there are various versions of this floating around the web. I like this one because:

1. It involves donuts.
2. It includes newer sites like Pinterest and Instagram
3. The G+ one is funny and unfortunately true (I’m still rooting for you Google+!)

Source: Three Ships Media. I originally received it via a Falk Harrison coworker’s email.

It’s your 21st century education.

Fact: You guys collectively make me smarter. You’re my crazy think tank / insights generator. So… thank you.

— Olivier Blanchard (@thebrandbuilder) January 27, 2012

Playing the role of Internet DJ, here are four great blog posts worth reading.

1.) Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg says that social media is a bright spot in the challenged world economy. “This is about growth, jobs and empowering people.” App makers, advertisers, small businesses and civic groups are all using Facebook to promote their work and connect with people. And Facebook is the number two driver of web traffic (guess who’s #1).

2.) Author and friend John Morgan offers 10 reasons we won’t support your business. So much of it seems like common sense, but alas, it is not. See numbers 2, 7 and 10.

3.) Mitch Joel is thinking smarter. He asks us to think about where our learning is taking place. The digital generation (which I just barely squeaked into!) is learning on their iPhones and iPads. As Joel writes, “Every day, new content comes online that can and will make you smarter.” For example, if you want to know how to start a t-shirt company, you can ask me “How did you start your t-shirt company?” Or you can thoroughly research the subject via Google and ask me the very specific left-over questions you have. Technology has made it possible to “set your own curriculum,” Joel says. Do that!

4.) Chris Brogan gives a fantastic list: 97 Ideas for Building a Valuable Platform. I read this from a personal branding perspective. Your personal brand is being more heavily weighted by employers every day. There will come a day (we’re close) when CPA firms will hire junior auditors and consider their social graph when doing so. If I’m hiring, I want to know about your valuable platform and how you plan on using it to help me advance my business agenda. It’s less about being a clock-watching cog in the wheel and more about being a team member. For me, this piece is another “Beethoven’s 9th Symphony” post from Brogan. Read it twice.