Chp 355. Social Media - A word of Caution

Yes, sometimes people tweet stupid things or bitch about their boss on their facebook profiles, eventually leading to serious consequences. But what about those who carelessly use an official account by mistake, thinking it is their personal account?

Yesterday, a well renowned PR agency lost its biggest account after a very unwise tweet from its official account -

PR agency loses biggest account with a single tweet

The PR Agency, Redner Group, was immediately fired by the client, popular game publisher 2K (of Duke Nukem Forever, Civilization V and BioShock fame).

We have also seen the recent case with Chrysler, when an employee from their social media agency on record, New Media Strategies, tweeted from the official Chrysler account by mistake instead of his personal account, "I find it ironic that Detroit is known as the #motorcity and yet no one here knows how to fucking drive." Again, the employee was immediately fired, and Chrysler severed all ties with the media agency.

Chrysler Dumps Social Media Firm After Twitter Obscenity

Red Cross too has committed such mistakes, when an employee with access to their official twitter account, used that account by mistake instead of his own personal account and tweeted something not very "Red Cross-y" :)

Red Cross Twitter Faux Pas

And remember the U.S. Secret Service agent who tweeted, "Had to monitor Fox for a story. Can't. Deal. With. The. Blathering." and then realized he tweeted using the official Secret Service twitter id @SecretService and not his personal id, but by then, it was too late... lolz. Was he fired? Nobody knows, after all, it is the Secret Service. But I can bet my ass he was definitely transferred to Alaska. :D

If you guys have noticed yesterday too, there was a very strange tweet (lksdfghdfkg) from Hindustan Times twitter account @HTTweets. Of course they apologized and deleted the tweet immediately but people noticed it and it went viral like crazy. People tweeted:

Shahid Kapoor: Today's guest editor for Hindustan Times. RT @htTweets lksdfghdfkg

BREAKING: Sharad Pawar to Hindustan Times RT @htTweets: lksdfghdfkg

People at Hindustan Times are having sex on the keyboard. RT @htTweets lksdfghdfkg

We don't let our clients embarrass themselves like this RT @htTweets lksdfghdfkg

Things like this do happen a lot.

Even some time ago when GupShup was popular, I used to maintain a gupshup account courtesy a Mizo community site I run, with almost 1000 Mizos subscribed to our site’s news+posts updates. Once I sent a very embarrassing update by mistake while I was replying to another GupShup account... I didn't put the @ properly at the beginning of my reply, and so that sms instead went to the mobile phones of all those who were subscribed to our site's gupshup updates!

VERY embarrassing, especially since the gupshup account I was trying to reply to was sex related... ahem... and some of the honorary members and visitors of our site include the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Pastors, IAS officers, professors etc.. :(

What I'm trying to say is... in today's age of social media, many of us have access to twitter and facebook accounts of our clients, where the face of their company is actually represented by somebody who's not even a part of that company.

A few seconds of careless or hasty tweet can lead to a lifetime of regret, so we need to be extra careful when using our twitter and facebook accounts. Always check that it is YOUR personal account you are currently using, and not the brand's official account.

This is especially important for those of us who love trying out new apps and twitter/facebook clients on our mobile phones. Take extra caution as you may not be familiar with the settings of the new app, and end up using a client's account by mistake.

Posting stupid tweets on your account that can get you into trouble later (like Congressman Wiener) - well, that is your problem. But mistaking corporate accounts for your personal account - that can indeed be avoided if you're careful enough.

Cheers.

Chp 354. End of a Season

Create a TV show and end the last episode of the season abruptly with a lot of suspense and drama – that is the age-old formula film-makers use to guarantee that viewers look forward to the next upcoming season.

Most of the popular TV shows have completed their one-year season last month and are currently taking a break. The new seasons usually start around July/Aug/Sept. A few shows are still currently running, like Game Of Thrones, which is like THE BEST TV SHOW EVER MADE so far. Ned Stark rocks. Khal Drogo rocks. Everybody in that freaking show rocks.



Ok, coming back to this topic now, the last episode of many TV shows this season saw a lot of the usual suspense and “must-definitely-watch-next-season to-find-out-what-happened-next” experience. Here are some of my favorite shows and how the season ended.

Warning: SPOILERS ALERT!




NCIS – Season 8.

Starting off with Naval Crime Investigative Service, one of my favorite TV shows that has been around for eight years now! Remember how season 2 ended with a shocker – Kate was killed, and then season 5 ended with an even bigger shocker – Director Shepherd was killed. Well, after that, the ending of season 6 (Ziva was held captive by a terrorist cell in Somalia) and season 7 (Gibbs was held captive by a drug cartel heiress in Mexico) could not be shocking enough.

And how did season 8 end? Utter disappointment! After all the buildup about the mysterious P2P (Port-to-Port) killer and how they were always one step behind him, the way he was finally (and easily) killed in the last episode of season 8 was such a letdown and disappointment it actually made me nauseous. Seriously?

And in the closing scene, when the new SECNAV secretary Senator somebody assigned Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo a secret task to spy on an NCIS agent who’s a traitor, it was obvious who they were talking about – Special Agent E.J.Barrett of course! Duh, what was that tiny capsule she extracted from her dead team member’s hand in the morgue? They didn’t have to show that morgue scene if they wanted to build more suspense around who this traitor could be. Dayymmmm…




NCIS Los Angeles – Season 2.

This is one of the few spinoffs I enjoy, unlike the many spinoffs of Law & Order and CSI. NCIS LA is completely different from the original NCIS in terms of characters, methodology, humor and plotlines. And there’s also the occasional crossover of characters such as Director Vance and Abby from NCIS who appear regularly in NCIS LA. I love NCIS LA mainly because of the two main characters – LL Cool J and Chris O’Donnell.

The end of season 1 was about Callen, where he was about to discover more information about his obscure past, and maybe even a long lost sister. Well, the end of this season was also about, surprise surprise – the true identity of Callen again. But one shocker that took me by surprise at the closing scene was - Hetty turned out to be a member of the dreaded Comescu crime family! Whoah!




The Big Bang Theory – Season 4.

My FAVORITE comedy show that is currently running – oh how I LOVEEE this show! I can relate so much to the characters of this show as they are all extreme nerds and technogeeks. As fittingly described by Priya, sister of Rajesh and girlfriend of Leonard – they are nothing but boys trapped in the bodies of men. Lolzzz.

The last episodes of Season 1, 2 and 3 didn’t shock me that much – I mean, comon, we all saw what was coming up, that Penny and Leonard would eventually hook up. But the ending of season 4? Boy oh boy, I can’t wait for season 5 to start – Howard felt insecure because of Bernadette’s Ph.D, Leonard and Priya could be breaking up after Priya’s conservative Indian family in Delhi learnt about their relationship, AND – Penny and Rajesh ended up in bed together!!!! This is the shitz!




Criminal Minds – Season 8.

MY ALL TIME FAVORITE SHOW till now, across every genre. I WORSHIP this show. For six years, I haven’t missed a single episode. This TV show was what made me stop watching CSI and Law & Order: SVU. There was even a time when I actually used to analyze all my friends too, profiling them… lolz.

When Season 2 ended four years ago with Gideon leaving the BAU, I was as devastated as Dr. Spencer Reid was. Now season 8 just got over, and on its last episode, Hotchner called a team meeting early in the morning. The last time this happened was when Gideon left. However, I don’t think anybody’s leaving the show and the last episode ended normally with no suspense at all, except the last gunfight scene, I honestly thought Rossi was going to get shot by that psycho bitch because of the dramatic background music etc, but good ol Derek saved him just in time.

And oh, JJ’s coming back to the BAU! Wooohoooo!!!




Two and a Half Men – Season 9.

I love Uncle Charlie Harper. Sometimes I wish I was him. After eight years, Jake is definitely not the cute little “half man” anymore, but the show hasn’t lost its appeal. But then Uncle Charlie has certainly lost it. Much as I admire Charlie Sheen and support him on twitter with the hashtags #winning and #tigerblood, it sucks to say farewell to such a great run just because of… you know…

Bye bye, Two and a Half Men. I hear they are still going to shoot the new season, and Ashton Kutcher (it was almost Hugh Grant) is going to replace Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper. Whoever it may be, trust me, the show will never be the same without good ol drunken and womanizing don’t-give-a-shit Charlie Sheen. I don’t think Ashton will ever be able to fill those shoes… tsk tsk…




House MD – Season 7.

All I can say is WTFFFFF! I just heard from Tarana, who is our Vice President of New Initiatives division, and a hardcore House fan like me, that Lisa Edelstein (Dr. Lisa Cuddy) has left the show and will not be returning for Season 8. Damn!!!!

Apparently, FOX has asked three of the senior doctors (Wilson, Cuddy and Eric) to take a paycut. Robert Sean Leonard (Dr. Wilson) and Omar Epps (Dr. Eric Foreman) signed the new contract but Lisa refused and walked out. I can’t imagine how the show will be without her. She had been there right from the very beginning, being taunted, irritated and wooed by Dr. House every step of the way. Damn, another great loss… :(




The Walking Dead – Season 1.

AWESOME show! I am a huge fan of Zombies [Zombie Movie marathon], especially the slow moving ones in many George Romero zombie flicks. I hate the fast moving superhuman zombie types... very lame! And so when a TV show about slow zombies with a huge budget, a renowned director and star-studded casts was released, nothing could make me happier.

The Walking Dead is like any other zombie movie – it takes place during a zombie apocalypse. The difference is, it is a TV serial. There are only 6 episodes in season 1, and season 2 will start in October this year. Season 1 didn’t end in any suspense or surprise, and the survivors kept looking for more survivors in the closing scene after they managed to escape just in time from the self-destructing lab. But I am dying to see season 2. Zombies rock!!!




Sons of Anarchy – Season 3.

SoA FTW!!! Except for the fact that the main hero Jax (Charlie Hunnman) sometimes seem to be a bit out of place with the rest of the motorcycle gang, it is still one of the best shows around. The endings of both Season 1 and 2 had an immense “pull factor” that make you long for the next season to come out. First there was the murder of Donna by Tigs when Clay thought Opie was selling them out, and then Jax’s son was kidnapped by the IRA.

However, season 3 had a very “happy ending” with no suspense, except for the last scene when Tara found John Teller’s letters in Jax’s bag and read them, in which JT claimed that he would soon be killed by Clay and Gemma. But then, we have always known that this show was based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet so it’s no surprise that Clay and Gemma killed Jax’s old man.




Spartacus – Season 1.

Yeah BLOODY EFFF! We all loved ROME a few years ago, but unfortunately it was a limited serial. Spartacus too is quite like that TV show – lots of blood, gore and sex. This is the story of Spartacus, the gladiator-slave who rebelled against Rome and led a bloody revolution.

Season 1 (Blood and Sand) ended with the gladiators finally rebelling against their master Batiatus, slaughtering him and all his guests and guards in the last episode. However, season 2 could not be shot because the main hero Andy Whitfield was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer. While waiting for his medical result, the producers made a short 6 episodes serial called Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, which is a prequel to Season 1. However, Andy’s cancer intensified so they are now shooting season 2 without him. He has been replaced by Liam McIntyre. I wonder how good season 2 will be with this new Spartacus.




Modern Family – Season 2.

Ah, nothing much to say. This isn’t one of those TV shows that need to have a dramatic season ending. Every episode is hilarious as hell, and I am completely addicted to this show. In the last episode of Season 2, DO NOT MISS Luke’s “edit” of the tape they have made for Jay’s birthday - It’s awesomely hilarious (and cute). I’m so looking forward to season 3.




Castle – Season 3.

Everybody loves Richard Castle… or at least every wannabe writer loves Richard Castle. He’s silly yet adorable, charming, respected by his “homies”, and follows around a kickass hot detective. The endings of Season 1 and 2 were quite lame, and it was always about the on-off chemistry between Castle and Beckett.

But the ending of Season 3? Oh boy oh boy oh boy… The best ending so far! I read that some time ago that a main character will die in the last episode, and I always thought it would be either Ryan or Esposito. Man I was so wrong. What a twist! Captain Montgomery turned out to be the mysterious third dirty cop indirectly responsible for the murder of Beckett’s mom many years ago! And then the captain died while saving Beckett and atoning for his sins of past. In the closing scene, during the captain’s funeral service, as Beckett was delivering her eulogy, *bang* a sniper gets her! As she lay in Castle’s arms dying, Castle finally says the words – I love you. Scene fades out, season ends. Mannnn I can’t wait for season 4 to begin!




Covert Affairs – Season 1.

Ok this is one of those oddly timed TV shows because season 1 got over last September unlike most shows whose seasons got over last month. Season 2 has just started but I haven’t seen any episode yet. I like this show because it’s about espionage and CIA, and Piper Perabo is the main character.

Season 1 ended with Anne Walker’s mysterious boyfriend, rogue CIA agent Ben Mercer, getting shot at the back during an operation in Sri Lanka with Anne and Jai. Did he survive? I don’t know.

The show is star-studded, with not just Piper Perabo (Coyote Ugly) but a whole bunch of famous TV actors like Kari Matchel (ER), Anne Dudek (Mad Men, House), Peter Gallagher (The OC, Californication), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Heroes), Christopher Gorham (Ugly Betty), Emmanuelle Vaugier (Two and a Half men, Smallville) and Eion Bailey (Band of Brothers). Don’t miss this show, if not for the story, then at least for the cast :)




Mad Men – Season 4.

Ah the GOD of TV shows, because it is about my profession - Advertising. Don Draper rocks. Everybody in the ad industry wants to be Don Draper. When faced with a tough brief, we ask ourselves, “What would Don Draper do?”

Season 4 ended well for all those who love Don and hate his ex wife Betty (it’s funny how we label Betty as the bad guy when in fact it was Don who was doing all the cheating while they were married!) – Betty’s marriage with Henry isn’t going too well, and Don proposes to his secretary Megan and later breaks up with Faye. Faye quits. Joan is pregnant with Roger’s child, and doesn’t know how to tell her husband who is stationed in Korea (or is it Vietnam?). Meanwhile, it looks like Peggy is planning to quit the company too! I hope not. I love her. And overall, Don’s Anti-tobacco campaign seems to be going quite well.

Let’s see what new challenges and drama the new season will bring. Apparently it is running late and we’ll have to wait for some more time before the first episode season 5 rolls out. Hurry up please!


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That’s all for now. How many of these shows are you crazy about too?

There are still quite a number of TV shows whose final episodes I haven’t watched yet, like Nikita, Fringe, Dexter, etc. Comon, I don’t spend all my time watching TV shows. I have a life too, you know.

Chp 353. The June Pledge

Hello June! Today is my cousin Dr. Mash’s birthday. Tomorrow is my sister’s birthday. Day after tomorrow, I have a Facebook wedding invitation from a Facebook friend I’ve never seen before in my life. Life is indeed full of events.

This June, I too have my own special event.

Before I say anything further, let me just say it was the CEO of my company who inspired me to do this. He, along with our VP of Technology swore to get in shape and pose in their underwear by December 31, 2011. The name of their site is called Underwear model or bust. Great initiative. Go check it out.

So coming back to this post, this June, I have decided not to touch a single drop of alcohol. That means “drink” for all you smartasses out there. I call this The June Pledge.



Studies have shown that in today’s world where people are connected with different strangers and share even the most intimate or frivolous details about their personal lives, it is indeed easier to fulfill a promise when announced online, like this.

What is so special about The June Pledge, you may ask. Nothing. In fact I made it up.

I can come up with reasons like, hey, its June Pledge because June was named after the Roman Goddess Juno, and we all know how much the Romans like to drink from Asterix & Obelix comics. But then sometimes, not having a reason can be the greatest reason to do something too.

Cutting down on alcohol is something I’ve been meaning to do for a long time. But with such a hectic life in the ad industry, I find the sweet beckoning of an Old Monk rum at the end of a tiring day too tempting to pass. If you’ve seen Mad Men, then you’ll know what I’m talking about.

But of course, that’s no excuse for my vice.

Even though alcohol has never interfered with my work or social life, at the end of the day, it is my health that takes a hammering, especially when I’m pushing past the 30 year boundary. So, this June, yes this ENTIRE month, I’ll be abstaining from anything that leads to the slightest intoxication. And please feel free to join me in this quest by taking the same pledge.

If you have the habit of drinking every night, then do take this pledge. If you want to make a change in your life, take this pledge. If you want to break away from the bondage of alcohol and stop being a slave to it, take this pledge. If you are a social drinker, then this pledge may not be for you. But you’re always welcome to join me nevertheless. The more the merrier.

I’m not being preachy or trying to act as if I’m better than anyone. I’m so not. And I’m not even asking you to quit drinking for good. All I’m saying is, give this one month dry period a shot. See if you can last one month without alcohol, beer included. After that, it’s up to you. But trust me, this one month will make a lot of difference in your life.

I will not bore any of you regarding this Pledge on my blog again. If you want to join me or read my “private journal” for the next one month about this, do catch me at mizohican.posterous.com


If you want to join me in this pledge, please enter your name below or in the comment section:




Being the techno-geek that I am, my phone is filled with alcohol related apps. You can find them easily on the android market.

App name: Drinking Games - Has a huge database of simple, silly and yet extremely fun drinking game list. I’ve done a lot of them with friends in our most inebriated state, and it will make you ROFL throughout the night.

App name: DrunkBlocker - You can set a time duration using this app when you start drinking, and once you’re drunk and the app is activated, you cannot make any calls or send smses during that duration. Very useful *grin*

App name: Drunk Tracker - It tracks and records your movement via gps, so that the next morning you can see where all you’ve been the previous night during your drunken stupor. Lolz a very useful app, but drains battery life due to gps.

App name: AlcoMeter - Based on your weight and sex, it calculates your blood alcohol level. All you have to do is enter the drink you’re having and how frequent you are drinking.

App name: AlcoDroid - Similar to the app mentioned above, but I prefer this one. Better interface, and it records your entire history from the time you’ve installed this app. Also has a huge list of different types of alcohol with their alcohol content (% vol.)

App name: Today’s Reason to Drink - lolz this is my favorite. It has 365 reasons why you should drink (so you don’t feel guilty about drinking every day, haha!) Like, today, June 1 – The reason why you should drink is because today is National Go Barefoot Day! lolz. It also has a link telling you more about this event, and also a recipe for a cocktail called “Barefoot on the Beach”.


I guess these are the five apps I will not be using this month.

Alright – 30 days dry period, here I come! And do join me!