Mac Community Mourns Loss of Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computer, died one week ago today at age 56.  He left us too young, a victim of a rare form of pancreatic cancer and the complications from its treatment over the last seven years.  Those in the Mac user community have been hard hit by the news, and people all around the world have found creative ways to express their sense of loss.  Outside Apple Retail Stores everywhere, people have set up makeshift shrines to the late visionary, complete with votive candles, small technological displays, flowers, cards, and sticky notes.  When any community loses someone it perceives as central to its cohesiveness, it can be consoling to find ways to…

Facebook and Google+ Duke It Out

Just today, Facebook rolled out new features that, as always, most of its users detest.  In fact, the cramped looking Facebook interface has become so congested now, it’s hard to read anything that you really want to on your own page.  The sad thing is, most of the latest features were designed to compete with those of new and powerful rival, Google+, which seems to have the better feel for how people want to social network.  We all know that social networks are agents of strong communities, and anytime you are building a community, you have to make some choices about what social media tools to use, and why.  Yesterday Google+ opened it’s invite-only social…

Does Facebook Do Anything for Your Community?

Just in case you were wondering whether Facebook really makes a difference in your community, or community building efforts, here is an infographic that lets you into the mind of chronic Facebook users, so that you can better get a feel for how important it is to them.  When you are enjoying checking out NFL Sunday Ticket on satellite TV this fall, a lot of the fantasy sports leagues are using Facebook Groups to get everybody together, check in at bars and pubs (or people’s homes) for special game night parties, and all kinds of other great things.  

What Does “Community” Mean to You?

There are numerous types of communities.  The actual place or area where we live is one.  Think about it though, there are online communities, community organizations, and much more.  The word community is used quite often to discribe a group of people with like minded views, interests, opinions, or feelings.  What does the word community really mean though?  Have you taken the time to think about it?  In the world that we are living in today, community is a very important thing, but are we living like it is?  Is you community a place that you love and care about, and do you show others how much your care?  I took some time to ask…

Music Brings People Together

Community involvement and functions seem to be on the rise.  Many people are trying to help create a strong community in the areas that they live.  The community events that people are planning are not necessarily to raise money either, there is more to a community than just fundraising together.  There is a big need for communities to get together on occasion and celebrate where they are from and where they are going.  The ties that are formed and built upon during community events means a lot to the residents of a community.  One of the best events that a community can plan is an event that involves local musicians. Local musicians all need the…