I totally agree with the view Rose has taken. I can't even begin to describe how annoyed I get when people get on a soap box about how social media is ruining communication. My life has been so incredibly enriched by my participation in facebook, twitter, and blogs. Especially here lately with sharing the life changing event of the birth of my daughter with friends who would probably not get to be a part of that if I didn't connect with them regularly on facebook. I've also been able to network with my peers and colleagues through my current job and in my master's program. Those connections are valuable.
Sure, social media can be used inappropriately but so can regular communication.

Oh, and don't stop laughing at duty or pianist either. Funny is just funny, no matter how much grown-up responsibility you have! :)

Scott! This made me cry this morning too! Although, my own recent adventure into parenthood has made me a bit weepy here lately so I'm not a good judge of what is actually touching anymore. I'm pretty sure this is though!
It's amazing how our journey's into parenthood are so similar and so different at the same time. I totally relate with all you wrote in this post, but my experience couldn't have been more different than yours. I can imagine how scary that 10 to 15 seconds were when she didn't cry because of having the same gut wrenching feeling when they told me she was coming and I knew it was too early. But when she got here she cried instantly and I was like, "Oh, someone's baby is crying...Wait, that's my baby!"
They are gifts from God! Can't wait to meet Ayla and introduce you to Effie someday!

Good post, Rach! I read that article around the same time I read another on the topic in Christianity Today found here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/septembe...
It was interesting to me that this was news all of a sudden. Like you said, this particular movement can be chronicled back pretty far for it to just now be considered news. And forget this particular movement, you had a great point when you said that this behavior isn't new. People of all different types of groups within the church do this to others all the time. It doesn't matter if they are a group of people who like obscure music, message tees and the just got out of bed look or if it's people who dress uber conservatively, don't support establishments that are open on Sundays, and seem to think the phrase "in the world not of the world" means that Christians go out into the world to tell everyone why they're going to hell

I first saw those Old Spice viral videos the "old fashioned" way in commercial form on the ole' television. Since then the guy has been a recurring guest on a show I like to watch and the other day he mentioned that he was signed by a TV company and that they might make a show out of the character from the commercials. The bit is funny, but I'm not sure they could build a show off of it.