It’s the Social Media Roundup!  The only roundup that can be seen from space.*

*viewability dependent on access to internet connection, computer, and space shuttle. Exclusivity not guaranteed.

Alright, just squint a bit at around the 1:53 mark in this week’s fantastically retro kickoff video, and you might be able to see our offices, at least.

Powers of Time
Jakob Nielsen has an analysis of the Powers of Ten in User Experience that deserves a read.  It’s a bit hefty, but provides great insight on a number of levels.  Considering Google’s recent announcement that it is considering adding load time to the PageRank algorithm, this is some timely discussion.

From the Alanis Morissette Files
Twitter’s rollout of its new retweet functionality has met with resistance…which is being broadcast by retweet…on its new retweet function.  Isn’t it ironic?  However, the new, improved retweet has the effect of dulling the tweetstorm by collapsing the echo into single tweets.  User outrage just got a bit quieter.

And Now For Something Completely Different…
Hot off the press at Smashing Magazine comes an insightful look at how some designers have chosen to differentiate their blogs from the templated norm by taking the magazine approach.  Certainly not an approach for everyone, but I’ll admit the extensive article held my attention longer that it would have with a more traditional layout, so that’s something.

Oh, Canada: Frank, Firm, and Always Most Courteous.
The CBC understands the importance of honest, direct, and open engagement.  Proof?  The quote below appeared in the CBC staff magazine…

Our relations with the public and with those with whom we deal in business must be frank and firm on all occasions but they must also be always most courteous. We are in a rather vulnerable position because the public expect much of us. This, in a sense, is a compliment. The confidence which we enjoy places a heavy responsibility on all of us. It is not proper anywhere to ignore the complaints of even the remarks of individuals, friendly or otherwise. In our case it is disastrous.

…in 1944. It’s clearly this strong historical footing that moved Facebook to adopt the Canadian government’s privacy changes this week.  That and the actions of the Privacy Commissioner on behalf of the 12 million Canadians on Facebook … and fear of a poutine embargo.

Are You Sure You Want to Unfriend Oxford Dictionary?
Drum roll, please?  The New Oxford American Dictionary (as opposed to Ye Olde Oxford Colonial, presumably) word of the year is…Unfriend.  The definition, I believe, is “What one does to those who chat/tweet/facebook overly often about last year’s word: hypermiling“