Is it overly annoying to crow about such a little thing? Don't care.  Today was the first time I ranked as "Top Influencer" in the Microsoft Alumni and FTE LinkedIn group -- I've been experimenting a lot more this week with different types of social media tools, and ramping up how I use LinkedIn, and it's brought up some weird thoughts.One thing is that there are SO MANY social media apps, tools, platforms, etc. out there today, the past week has been sort of analogous to this scenario:  if I wanted a new CAR, I'd have to test drive virtually every type of car sold in the USA before I could make a decision.  Who has time for that?  I'd rather ignore 90% of what's available, and just go get a damn car that fits my needs well enough -- and if I happen to miss out on the perfect car because I didn't test drive every single model, no big whup.  I've got the wheels I need.  I think that's one of the reasons that for most types of product categories, there are one or two 800ob gorillas, and a slew of also-rans:  human brains love to categorize, and we definitely get sick of test-driving!  But I still think the Top Influencer thing on LinkedIn is cool, and I saved a screenshot of it.  Vanity, thy name is Laura, today!

RIP Zune.  I was sad to see the announcement that Microsoft is killing off the hardware, but at least their keeping the software going, for phones.  Which is a bit ironic to me because I virtually never used the Zune software if I could avoid it.  The ham-fisted attempt to get Zune owners to "Be Social!!!" with their Zune fell flat with me; it just seemed so forced. 

I am an audiobook junkie, and once I realized that when I borrowed audiobooks from my local library via Overdrive.com’s software and transferred the titles to my 120GB Zune, they never expired.  That was wonderful -- I have a library of dozens and dozens and dozens of books on my Zune.  (OK, I've also had an Audible.com subscription for many years, and so I've got that giant library, too.)

Now if only battery life will make some quantum leaps in the cell phone world -- I'd be happy to use my phone for everything.  It just slurps up the juice too fast at this point.