Jun 11th, 2009
Too personal?
Nani
Nani, after all, the No. 1 regular reader of KathlynClore.com. She’s known me since I was born and has the photos and embarrassing stories to prove it. She took me on a shopping day for my 13th birthday, attended my college graduation and once bought me neon plaid pants (it was a phase). We share a deep-seeded love of shoes, Nordstroms, handsome men and watching 24-hour news channels. She even came to visit me in the Netherlands earlier this year - making her first trip to Europe at 70 plus (I’m so proud!)
But could she tailor-make a newspaper magazine for me? Mine Magazine already does; I couldn’t help but sign up for a free trial subscription. But it often includes stories I’ve already read online. Plus, it tries to sell me Lexus. Nani only bothers me with news about my cousin Alexis. Advantage: Nani.
Now DailyMotion says it can best Mine Magazine. It says that all I have to do is tell it my name and it makes an up-to-the-moment newspaper for me. It also promises to suggest some books I should read.
Now, don’t go writing Nani off too quickly. In case you don’t know… Nani did work in journalism for a few years before “having her babies.” And it was a daily-Sunday! And she had to layout her own pages by hand! With a society page! She knows her stuff.
She’s even down with new media. She has her own Facebook page and everything!! She Googles. She creates personalized content herself. She tells me things to do and read all the time!! She even has made a series of lectures specifically for me and my siblings and cousins! Truly: Lecture No. 1 is (as we all know) “Don’t shoot yourself in the foot”. Lecture No. 5 is: Donald Pliner makes the best heels.
But much as I love my Nani, though, I have to say… I think she’s a bit busy keeping libraries across the Chicago area in business (she sells property and casualty insurance. She helps Girl Scouts, too! Some of her family members think she only continues to work so she can “happen to pass by a sale on her way from work.” But I am sure she works because she loves libraries and Girl Scouts.) to keep me updated the way DailyPerfect can.
It works pretty simply: If your name is recognizable enough, it can troll the Internet to see other things you like. Then it suggests news content based on this record.
I’m not unimpressed with what it gives me. And I like how easy it is to vote for or against various themes.
But I agree with Martin over at the Neiman Journalism Labs - it’s a little creepy! I don’t know if I want the Internet to know me as well as my grandma.
Here’s the books it says I should read:
