Oh JCPenney...

Can't seem to start this post in the right way. There are too many negative things I want to say and not enough ways to say them. I'll start from the beginning.

JCPenney thinks it's a totes neat idea to give people a QR code, sorry, 'Santa Tag' with every gift they buy this holiday season. You can then use the Santa Tag to record a message, which is then played back when the recipient scans it. You know the deal.

The FAQs don't say how long the message can be, and I'm presuming not very long, which is a shame as in my mind leaving long, stupid messages is the only half-decent fun that could possibly come out of this. Anyway, watch the video, look at the FAQs - does anyone want to go through so much bloody effort to 'make' their Santa Tag? Never mind that, when you get a gift, would you rather glance at a handwritten card or take out your phone, scan the sodding Santa Tag, and sit their and listen to what's probably a very short message? Anyone? 

Pardon the rant. QR codes can really rub me up the wrong way. Everyone watch this, it's really very educational.

The Next GE Instagrapher

Taking social media jobs to another level, GE are on the look out for an 'instagrapher'. See what they did there? Those crazy folks. Yes, you could be flying over to the UK (or jumping on a bus if you're already there, presumably) to take hipster-retro photos of a world-class GE jet engine facility.

To enter, all you have to do is shoot some photos inspired by the four ways GE works (moving, curing, powering, and building - as if you didn't already know), and give them the hashtag #GEinspireme. They'll be entered into a gallery on Facebook where they will be voted on by the masses.

It sounds like a pretty cool gig, and I love that they're really maxing out Instagram, and combining it with Facebook (which, let's face it, is pretty much mainstream and a given now, but it's still cool). Good for you GE.

Social Life Audit

I failed the Social Life Audit, which is a little embarrassing, but also not.

Ultimat Vodka is behind this offline social life audit which uses your Facebook data to rate how social you are through your check-ins, facial recognition (mood), and your friends info (i.e. gender). It then spews these all back out at you and tells you how social you are. There's clearly some kind of pass rate seeing as I 'failed' but I'm not sure what is. 

I'd like to point out that I have never checked in using Facebook, and check-ins seem to count for rather a lot here. Please do, however, note my high Good Times score. I might not get out much, but boy...when I do... 

So what have I learnt? I must drink more vodka.