After the jump, check out my favorite memes from 2011!

Did I miss any memes which would be on your own list? Feel free to leave a comment and share your favorites from 2011. Until then, here’s looking forward to more memes and creative media shared online in 2012!

• Application – Instagram. Instagram has become my preferred way to share photos on Twitter, Facebook, and to make posts on my photo blog Speaking in Megapixels. It’s fun and easy using it to turn cameraphone pics into memorable photos. I find myself increasingly posting Instagram in place of Twitpic to share instant memories over the internet.
• Blog – Geekosystem. Imagine a blog that brings together the best links from Reddit + Tech blogs + general geeky ideas in a single source.
• Colleague – Jake Brus. I worked with Jake as a student at American University, and was impressed by his knowledge of branding and creative writing style. A midwesterner educated in DC, Jake is a pragmatic problem solver and great collaborator of projects in the classroom. And since graduating he’s started writing a blog about Place Branding which is recommended reading for anyone who wants to learn about the subject.
• Music – Harry Nilsson. Probably the best pop musician in the 1960s-70s since forgotten, whose soaring harmonies I can’t help but sing along to myself.  He’s the consummate musicians-musician, and his exploits have since made him the subject of the documentary “Who is Harry Nilsson (and why is everybody talking about him)?”  After watching the film, it’s easy to understand why.
• Social Network – Empire Avenue. The stock exchange game lets you buy and sell stocks of individuals on social networks, increasing their values based on social media activity. While it’s not meant to act as an social currency like competing influence ratings metrics (Klout comes to mind), it makes for addictive gameplay that effectively functions as a social network in its own right, complete with personal profiles and public comments.
• Television – The Office. This season we wished farewell to Michael Scott, wrapping up years of plot lines into satisfying conclusion. Nostalgia for the “World’s Best Boss” was hi, and even Ricky Gervais couldn’t resist making a cameo for the character he made famous. No one knows who will play the next boss at Dunder Mufflin, but I’ll be watching along with everyone else.
• Word Game: Words with Friends. Yes it’s just Scrabble, but by opening up to my network of friends through my iPhone changes they way we can play. Just look up “matthurst” if you want to play a game with me!

Extra credit after the jump:

• Comic: XKCD. Like thousands of other geeks, I’ve been a reader for years. Lately XKCD has become better known for another reason; creating infographics that help visualize complex subjects like the impact of radiation following the disaster in Japan.  In other words, reading XKCD won’t only help you be a better geek, but also a little smarter as a person.
• Location: Brooklyn, NY. Constantly the subject of hipster jokes and perhaps overhyped, but always underestimated.  It’s residents are often it’s own biggest critics, but Brooklyn is in the midst of a renaisance of culture and redevelopment years in the making.  Also, I’m proud to call Brooklyn my home.
• Charity: City Harvest.  City harvest brings fresh food and ecological education to school kids in the urban environment of New York City.  I participated in their Skip Lunch Fight Hunger drive this May 11th, in which $10 will help buy lunch to 43 school kids during the summer months (when school in out).
• Website: Grooveshark.  A great music service doesn’t need to be a cloud music locker or subscription service, only to let you listen and share songs with friends.  Grooveshark makes both extradonarily easily, and may yet help you discover new tracks at the same time.

I started 2011 fresh by listing the things I could live without from 2010, but have found many more worthwhile ideas to share over the last month.

Application – IntoNow. I’ve been trying a half-dozen TV check-in apps, to share the shows I’m watching with friends and to chat with other viewers, but they’re all are kind of the same. This app stands out by becoming the Shazaam for TV and Movies, recording an audio-fingerprint which instantly recognizes the show I’m watching with a single push of the button (even if it’s a live broadcast!). So it fits into the lean-back experience of TV viewing, almost like you’re not using an app at all.

Blog – The Atlantic. As a long-time reader of the magazine, I’m surprised I hadn’t been reading their blogs earlier, especially since their editors seem to have fully embraced the medium. My favorites include Alexis Madrigal for literary tech analysis (rather than reporting/punditry) and a handful of contributors behind their Culture blog.

Colleague – Alhan Keser. I worked with Alhan at Blue Fountain Media, and he impressed me immediately not only for his understaning of SEO and social media (what he hired me for), but for his insight into a consumer’s behavior as they use the web. He effortlessly combines thoughtful web design with online marketing tactics, to create successful websites that build business for his clients. It’s a rare talent in the business to wear both hats. Fortunately Alhan is more than a talented co-worker, but he’s also a nice guy that I’m glad to count among friends.

Film – Black Swan. This film benefits from the visual magic, strong symbolism, and cathartic plotlines we’ve come to expect in Darren Aronofsky’s films. As a recovering film student who has written about the director before, I can assure long-time fans like myself would not be disapointed by this early favorite for the Academy Awards.

Event – Social Media Week. As social media starts to become synonymous with the rest of the internet, this year’s series takes place in cities across the world. At last year’s Social Media Week I was nominated for an award (albiet minus social media), and this year i’ll keep learning and connecting with other like minded professionals in New York City.

Music – Arcade Fire. The band that I’ve loved since I was still coming of age continues to grow up with me, releasing an album many others also consider the best of the last year. They’re also one of the last great rock music bands that make use the lost art of the album, and in these winter months they’ve re-entered my rotation.

Social Network – Hashable. At networking events during Social Media Week, we’re all looking for a replacement to the traditional business card. While there are lots of apps to trade contact information, Hashable is a first of its kind network that meets the actual goal of building networks through the exchange of information. Connecting with your Twitter account is just the first step of using this network to connect with other people.

TV show – King of the Hill. I’ll tell you what… this show is a brilliant sitcom of post-Reagan suburban America. My friend Gabe Bullard as a better summary of why this series makes us laugh, which is also why I’ve run a marathon through 8 or 9 seasons over the past couple months.

It’s that time of year again, when we put into perspective our goals over the last year and look forward to renewing our efforts in the year ahead. While some media outlets and blogs might be content to share lists of top ideas and their favorites things (something my blog does each month), this year I feel compelled to share my hopes for the year ahead by reviewing trends from 2010 I would look forward to leaving behind. Here are the 7 Trends I won’t miss in 2011:

1. Oversharing
   We all have a friend who uses every opportunity to promote themselves, seemingly with no limit to the minutia of their everyday life (I may be guilty of this more than once). But while you may think that your minor inconvenience is an outrage whose solution is only a Twitter-rant away, the rest of us see it as crying over spilled milk. Oversharing was at its end in 2009, so I hope this comes to an close in 2011.
2. Food Trucks
   Sure they bring much needed affordable options and variety to an otherwise staid lunch scene in NYC, but mobile food vendors carry some strong negatives as well. Many trucks try to occupy the same spots each day and are about as mobile as a trailer home, which detracts local competition while crowding the sidewalks. Meanwhile their constant use turns would-be vendors into portable smokestacks contributing their greenhouse gases in return for any savings on food.
3. Tea Partiers
   2009′s insurgent protectors turned into the populist political organizers that dominated the news by turning over control of congress in the 2010 elections. In 2011 these conservative ideologues will have put put their protests into actionable legislative efforts, which will undoubtedly involve negotiation and compromise on core principles, although I have my own doubts their party will continue much longer after the elections.
4. Privacy scare-tactics
   While the steady erosion of privacy has been going on for the better part of the last decade, sometimes we forget that what we share online is usually a consumer’s choice. The same critics who often lament about the social networks benefit from their key utility to make the internet more open and tailored to our interests. At least all those targeted-ads are usually what makes the internet Free, a trend I’d like to see continue in 2011.
5. Lebron James
   This athlete’s consistently aloof free-agency period, culminating in his own ESPN special to announce his decision, kept Basketball fans on edge as their home teams courted this all-star player. With his decision to join other all-stars in Miami, he will have to prove he can lead a team to the finals this year and live up to his own hype.
6. Apple overhype
   As one of the best respected brands in the world I expect Apple to stay in the news with their innovative software and designs. The year Began with the introduction of the iPad, perpetually keeping Apple in the news during Gizmodo’s iPhone journo-theft, continued with Antenna-gate, an concluded in record profit. With their famous secrecy motivating the media to go greater lengths to analyze the company’s every move, I just hope it’s a promise they can expect to live up to in the year.
7. Premature calls about the “Death of the Web”
   Yes, mobile Internet usage is increasing (as expected) and application-based use like Netflix streaming is exploding in the US, but innovation hasn’t ended for the browser. I look forward to more great ideas in 2011!

My Resolution this year is to measure daily activity in my own life, and to use this data to identify opportunities to make improvements (including the token resolution to lose weight). In the year ahead I promise to use this website to share insights about online communication which are more immediately applicable, without resorting to merely bloging about the latest trends. I look forward to new height of professional challenges and to many more new ideas I hope to share with you in 2011!

It’s better to give than to receive, so each month I share a list of 7 worthwhile ideas currently influencing my perspective as my gift to you. As 2010 comes to a close, I’m reflecting on the year that was with a certain nostalgia, so I’m checking my list twice to find out which ideas are especially nice, or at least 12 worth sharing this December:

Blog: Gizmodo.  In addition to being my favorite geeky outlet for tech news over the past few years, Gizmodo is probably the best blog to read when picking out your gifts this holiday season.  And since we know that consumers are willing to spend more on electronics and tech this year, Gizmodo’s sharp analysis (and new rating system) are more important than ever.

Colleague: Ishmael Vasquez.  As a co-worker of mine at Blue Fountain Media earlier this year, I was able to experience first-hand Ishmael’s creativity and ability to use social media strategically as an online marketing professional.  He’s also a productivity master who is a pleasure to work together with, in addition to being able to put work and life into their propper perspective.  Personally I’m proud to call Ishmael a good friend of mine, especially since he’s one of the nicest people I’ve met in NYC (and fortunately, he’s pretty humble to boot).

Game: Angry Birds.  If you’ve played you know already, but for the uninitiated Angry Birds is an instant classic on par with Pac Man for the smartphone generation. The original is already on its way to becoming one of the best selling games of all time, spurring Halloween Costumes and fan Meetups alike in the process, and already has season sequels that are best sellers in the iOS and Android markets.  I think it’s an addictively fun game that will be around for awhile longer.

Group: Movember. Participating alongside my co-workers and mustachioed peers I was able to raise over $130 toward mens health issues while raising awareness about testicular and prostate cancer.  My mustache was a regular source of curiousity and discussion in my workplace, and an interview on Anthony’s blog as well as a point of pride for this folliclely-challenged young man.

Social Network: Facebook.  500 million strong and growing, in spite of numerous threats to leave the site due to privacy concerns.  The company continues to make smart acquisitions that build talent and leverage their position as the largest network to create innovative software that improves how we interact with our friends online and IRL.

Theory: Cord-cutting. Since moving to NYC in 2009 I’ve lived without cable TV, on a media diet of Netflix, Hulu, and over-the-air DTV via rabbit-ears antenna. Anecdotally I know lots more techies interested in changing their media consumption habits, mostly for cost cutting reasons, although despite what you read in the news it’s yet to become a widespread phenomenon.

Company/Agency: Blue Fountain Media.  This online marketing agency and website design company is a leader in creating results-driven websites that build businesses online.  This time last year BFM was willing to take a chance on me, and helped develop my skills as a social media manager into a full fledged SEO specialist. I was proud to call them my employer in 2010, and would easily refer them as the best in the business.

Meme: Horrible Logos. To raise beer money, the entrepreneur draws bad cocktail napkin style logos for your website.  I’ve asked them to draw logos for Brew Noob and this site already, and have yet to be disapointed by their results.

Film: LENNONYC. Retracing John Lennon’s residency in New York City following his post-Beatles music career, this documentary celebrates both the singer-songwriter himself and the city in the 1970s.  Even if you’re not a fan of the musician, his story is interesting in remembrance of his untimely death on December 1980.

Music: Kanye West’s “My Dark, Twisted Fantasy“. Only a year-ago I would have characterized Kanye West as a talented artist whose time in the spotlight had already passed, especially in the shadow of his memorable crash in front of MTV’s Video Music Awards.  A year later Kanye is back on top, with one of the most eagerly anticipated records of the year, and it lives up to the hype.  To top it off, Kanye has finally evolved his introspection beyond his previously self-involved rhymes to take on darker more universal themes that still manage to get the party off to the right start.

Charity: Wikipedia.  If you’ve visited Wikipedia anytime in the past month, you’ve seen their appeal to the community they’ve built to help fund the site.  It’s easy to overlook, but Wikipedia is an incredible resource that has changed how we organize information online.  In this season of giving, please consider making a contribution.

Extra Credit: Toothpick Swords.  The Brew Noob now has a sister blog about cocktail culture, written and edited by my frequent collaborator Gabe Bullard. Cheers!

Blog: Wonkette has been a guilty-pleasure of mine the past two election cycles, with its tongue planted firmly in cheek.  This former-Gawker blog whose irreverent, sarcastic humor has a decidedly inside-the-beltway appeal yet still makes me LOL.

Film: 500 days of Summer. At times this film is reminiscent of the best French New Wave, almost like a sequel to 400 Blows if the protagonist grows up and moves to Los Angeles.

Meme: Rent is 2 Damn High. Jimmy McMillan stole the show at the NY governor’s debate, riding a wave of memorable one-liners that introduced this candidate to voters in every state of the union. While the candidate may have lost his election bid with less than 1% of the vote, his single-minded focus brought attention to a serious issue (housing costs) in an election dominated by Tea Parties.

Music: Charlotte Gainsbourg. On top of being an accomplished artist already, Charlotte had the good sense to reach out to Beck to produce her second solo effort. The result is claustrophobic imagery and jangled beats that build the atmosphere around story of it’s titular IRM and illness. Consider this Beck channeling Nico and Velvet Underground, making it a strong contender for Album of the Year in my book.

Social Network: Twitter. Most of Twitter’s users might not call it a social network, but that began to change this last month with a redesign that gave users an immersive experience interacting on-site with their own social graph.  Or at least Twitter has given us a new reason to use their microblog by adding insights between friends, finally giving me a reason to use their service on Twitter.com rather than any number of external tools.

Theory: Measured Life. Without realizing it, I create a mountain of data everyday; from energy usage and water consumption to daily check-ins on Foursquare.  Even though my day job is very much about measurement, I’ve only begun to leverage the insight new tools have to improve my life.  Call it Better Living Through Measurement, and I’ll be writing more about this soon.

TV Show: Community. I’ve been a fan if Dan Harmon since his Channel 101 days, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to see his rapier wit on Network television.  For the uninitiated, this sitcom depicts a study group of misfits at a local college, who play out some common sitcom themes.  Needless to say, I LOL watching this show.

As a special bonus to those who just can’t get enough, or at least those connected to my RSS feed, here’s a few more ideas worth sharing:

App: Square. It’s a credit card reader you plug into your headphone jack, instantly helping you split that check or providing receipts  at your next garage sale.  And it might just change commerce for small transactions.  (Thanks Jack!)

Follow-up: Rally to Restore Sanity was the irreverent parody we all wanted it to be, and as much fun watching the crowd as those onstage.

Theme Party: Movember. I’m participating alongside my teammates/coworkers in Facial Attraction, to raise money and awareness for Men’s health issues.

In the last month I’ve begun new endeavors, publishing my first major Press Release and attending AdWeek as representative of my new employers. You could say I’m on a roll, so In celebration of 10.10.10 here are the Top 10 ideas shaping my life over the last month.

Blog: Mashable. I read Mashable every day because it is the best source of current news on social media and online marketing, period. When Facebook was down this month I looked to them for the first to explanation of what was happening and why. Ditto on Foursquare and Twitter. It’s become such an obsession of mine a friend recently asked “when did you become the Mashable promoter?”. Thanks to Pete Cashmore and company for giving me something to look forward to reading everyday.

Colleague: Sean Ludwig. I want to recommend Sean because he’s a talented journalist and writer with in-depth knowledge of technology (especially mobile) and experience using social media.

Film: The Social Network. As a Film Studies major and Communications grad, I think I’m qualified to say this film lives up to the hype. Audiences should already be aware that the film is not biographical, and I like it better that way; their writers created dramatic (if oversimplified) characters who would make this film enjoyable to anyone, even if they’ve never used Facebook (including Mr. Sorkin). In other words, Mark Zuckerberg is going to become the Bud Fox of this generation; see this movie and bring a Friend.

Meme: Rally to Restore Sanity. I plan on attending this satirical event, organized by the producers of The Daily Show and Colbert Report, at the end of this month. Establishing once again my own zealousness towards this radically irrelevant television program, I’m looking forward to renewing irony in DC. Hopefully with thousands of other friends of rational discussion.

Music: Plastic Beach by Gorillaz. Over six months of listening to their new album, and I’m still putting this record on repeat. Gorillaz’s subtle melancholy reminiscent of their prior efforts sing in unison glistening pop-hooks stick around in my head for days. Their current touring efforts have brought them to my mind this month, although they haven’t left my rotation since the album dropped.

Social Network: #newTwitter. If I haven’t covered my love of Twitter extensively enough already, Twitter gave me even more reasons to love them with their smart redesign. More importantly for Twitter, it gives social media marketing pros like myself reason to spend more time on their site (instead of any number of Twitter tools I’m using).

Television: Chuck. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of this show, which I only watch through Hulu. I discovered this show back in 2008 using Hulu, and I’ve been hooked ever since, albeit through my own time-shifted schedule. Perhaps I identify with the young, geeky protagonist who is thrust into world-shifting conflict each episode, all while trying to figure out his own identity. Or maybe I just like listening to indie tunes after kung-fu fights and explosions, alongside a smart and funny cats of well-developed supporting characters. Either way, I’ve been eating a lot more Subway sandwiches since the series was canceled and subsequently rebooted through an online campaign.

App: Chump Dump. I admit that I have a problem: too many friends and followers on Twitter to keep tabs on those who’s ideas I care about the most. This app should help me attain a better balance (or at least a lower ratio) by helping me loose random twitter followers, particularly those most prolific narcissists currently clogging up my Twitter stream.

Blog: Wonkette. With Election season in full swing, I’ve become a daily reader once again of this DC-based liberal rag with its tongue planted firmly in cheek. Sarcasm runs thickly through each post, pulling together the best (and most embarrassing) news clips from around the blogosphere to add their irreverent take on our nation’s partisan political dysfunction.

Film: Scott Pilgrim vs The World. Comic books, video games, rock and roll; what’s not to love in this romantic comedy? Of course it’s geeky, so I love it.

Meme: Check-in Fatigue. As an early adopter of location-based social media, I’ve been anticipating the growth and inevitable backlash against these platforms as they mature. It’s interesting to watch my friends walk through the same curiosity, excitement, and disappointment as these services start to become adopted by the mainstream, most recently Facebook.  What was first a fun, new way to connect with friends and meet people has grown into an all-consuming competition that frustrates new users with legitimate privacy issues.  Of course I’ll still be playing along, so don’t hate the players (hate the game).

Music: Plastic Ono Band by John Lennon. His solo effort has become the anthem of my summer, driven by irresistible hooks, existential uncertainty, and all the emotional power of a young man trying to plant his roots in the world. Lately I can identify with those themes.

Social Network: Glue. At first the name of this social recommendation engine is puzzling, until you realize it’s apps and extensions help it connect media and the net. The cousin of Facebook’s Liking system improves on their social graph parent, allowing you to add semantic status updates; telling your friends what you’re watching on TV, reading, or listening to.  With the impending closure of my prior favorite Hot Potato following their purchase by Facebook (congrats y’all), it’s refreshing to see former Facebookers go on to create innovative social media outside of the mothership.

Television: True Blood. Sure the series is trashy romp with thinly veiled allusions to sex, drugs, and southern hospitality meeting the occult. It’s also driven by nuanced characters living in the well-crafted universe by writers who keep me guessing at every twist and turn. I’m a fan.

Theory: Transparency. It’s what helped me become interested in becoming a PR pro, and now it’s part of my daily work. So in the interest of full disclosure, I want to acknowledge that I’ve begun working at The Nielsen Company as a Communications Analyst, specializing in Online insights on their Communications team. Otherwise you should consider the opinions I express here as my own ideas, and not necessarily those shared by my employer.

Application: Red Laser. I think of Sales as framing devices that convince me into buying things I don’t really need. Red Laser turns my smart phone camera into an barcode reader, from which it can search online for the best prices on each item. By adding much need price context to my shopping, I needn’t miss out on saving money on a good deal any longer.

Colleague:  Kristin Arena.  I met Kristin through mutual friends who (like her) studied broadcast journalism at Mizzou’s J-school (which is widely reputed to be the top school in the country).  I’ve come to know Kristin even better through Twitter and Social Media.  She is in the enviable position to take advantage of this convergence, having transitioned towards a career in PR. She would make a great addition to any organization interested in its future.

Game: The Simpsons Arcade.  This is the arcade game you remember playing in your movie theater’s arcade, bumping elbows and all, lovingly recreated as a new solo adventure on your iPhone or iPod touch.  Easily the best licensed Simpson’s game I can remember and worth the few bucks it costs.

Nostalgia: the Gawker decade.  Because journalists love retrospectives, we’ve experience a deluge of nostalgia leading up to 2010.  I think Robot Chicken got it right; today’s rampant materialism and memes are just tomorrow’s sitcom fodder.  Sorry BoingBoing.

Social Network: Tumblr.  OK so maybe Tumblr is more like a blog than a social network, but the same might be said of Twitter.  Although it’s nothing new, I’ve only started to use Tumblr to it’s full potential recently.  Besides The Brew Noob, you can follow my status blog Retweet This or my photoblog Speaking in Megapixels.

User-generated thingie: Waze. This GPS enabled app for smartphones combines the usual map/routing capabilities with crowd-sourced traffic data.  There’s also a gaming element to Waze that has me hooked. Waze encourages me to use my iPhone while driving about as much as the TomTom app would, except I get to keep the $100.  Now if only I had a car…

Video: Simon the IT Dummy. Full Disclosure: I helped promote this video series as an intern with 2ChicksInc. I’m sharing it of my own volition now, because I LOL’d. And because Simon is a Geek Stud.

Every month I share a short list of ideas that I think deserve your attention, or at least commandeer my own.  This month I’ve included a few extra as an early holiday gift to readers.  I want to wish everyone a Happy Holidays, and hope to see you in the new year.

Blog: Framing Science. Matthew Nisbet will change how you understand science.  We take for granted that the facts should speak for themselves, but our understanding of these complex subjects are largely a matter of communication.  His blog covers so much of what I learned in his classroom, and it is recommended reading if you care about climate change, public policy, or evolution.

Colleague: Nina Keim.  I met Nina as a Graduate student at American University (maybe Classmate is a better title), and have always been impressed by her initiative.  Unlike some of my peers, Nina displays an endless curiosity; she seeks out new ideas in communication and isn’t afraid to try them out for herself, often before their value is readily apparent.  Rather than merely acting as an informer, Nina embodies the role of an opinion leader in her own right.

Meme: PR does not equal “Press Release”. Sure Press Releases still work, but the question is “should you send one?“  At #PRCamp we first realized that the words Press Release should never be used near anything Social Media.  PR practitioners build relationships and tell stories, and in today’s media landscape that cannot be limited to broadcast and print news releases.

Music: Bob Dylan’s “Christmas in the Heart”.  I’ve made many jokes over the past month about the music video, which I’m convinced will soon become another Rick Roll.  What convinced this unassailable icon to record his first Holiday album may have been a favorite charity, but I’m convinced it must’ve been Santa.

PR Agency: 2ChicksInc. Full Disclosure – I’ve been working (as an intern) with this start-up PR group over the last month.  Working with the women who are its namesake, I’ve learned how a boutique PR firm can use their expertise to innovate online campaigns.  And their generous part-time position has helped me continue my own career search (thanks again for the opportunity).

Shameless Plug: The Brew Noob. My side project has evolved from 140 charecter beer reviews on Twitter into a Tumblr blog of own right.  As usual, I’ll test the brews so that you can enjoy tasty beers.

Social Network: Hot Potato. Why use hashtags or checkins if you only want to talk about an event while it’s happening?  It’s not meant to replace Twitter or Foursquare, but its a new take on an old idea. Another revelation we made at #PRCamp was that not everyone will use Twitter (the brand), but that SMS/mobile messaging (the idea) were here to stay.  Try it.

Thanks for reading through; please consider these next ideas my holiday gift you, my loyal readers…

App: Tweetie. I’ve been loyal to Twitterific since I bought a Mac, and since I started using iPhone OS since it’s free. I wouldn’t usually pay for an App on a service that can update via SMS, but this app is worth it.

Charity: Water. You already know I care about People to People International and the Living Classrooms Foundation.  But please check this out; they bring a gift that is fundamental to all life, and they could really use your help.

Video(s): Besides the wig in a aforementioned video to Bob Dylan’s “Must Be Santa”, this  beard seems to be making the rounds. Also James Lipton wants you to Give It A Ponder before Sexting, using his beard and all.