matt weighs in

[Each week, usually on Monday, I'll weigh in on a topic that I feel is worth your time and might introduce you to something new. It might not always be something you have been interested in before, but hopefully what I write might convince you to take a closer look on your own.]

I was probably pretty late to the game, but I started reading Mashable in early 2009. Mashable is a blog that dubs itself a “Social Media Guide,” as you will see in their heading if you visit their web site, but they do so much more. They are one of the leading blogs on the web discussing social media, new web sites and services, and keeping readers updated on what is going on on the internet and other technologies at any given time.

I have been using Twitter and Facebook more and more over the last couple months, and whenever something doesn’t look right on either site, whether updates aren’t coming through properly or I get the dreaded “Fail Whale,” Mashable is usually my first stop to see if anything is wrong. Their writers, including founder Peter Cashmore, seem to have the ear e-mail of the top people around the web, and will let you know where things stand. They were right on top of the story earlier in November when T-Mobile’s cell phone service was out for a few hours.

One of my favorite features of the site is the “News Channel” listed right at the top of their pages. It is kind of like a pre-filled search box, in that it lists popular categories for people who might visit their site looking for information. There’s Twitter, Google, Facebook, YouTube iPhone, and more. Click on one, and it takes you to a page that displays all the stories posted on Mashable related to that topic. The Mashable team stays on top of them all, so you know you’re getting the latest information if you go searching for answers on how to use a particular service.

Other features I find useful are their “Top 5 Social Media Stories of the Week” links, their weekly guide to social media conferences or webinars, their “How To” guides for people who might just be starting out using different social media services, and since we are a Wordpress blog, I check out their List for Wordpress for information on what we might want to use on CatNamedPig. Also, since Mashable has done so well in their four years, they love to inform us of others in the online community who are doing innovative things. They do this through their weekly Spark of Genius series, where they introduce a software company who is doing things a little bit different and a little bit better than their competition. The cool thing is that the companies they spotlight are fairly new with little revenue up to that point of recognition, so Mashable gives them a big boost by mentioning them.

The last thing I will mention about Mashable that I am impressed by is their annual Open Web Awards, which just finished weeks of voting at midnight Sunday night. The awards allow internet users from around the world to vote online for their favorite innovations in web technology and, this year in particular, social media. At last count, the 50 categories we could vote in had over 408,000 nominations by over 76,000 individuals. Results should be out soon, so I’ll be waiting with baited breath to see if I won Twitter User of the Year or Best TwitPic.

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Mashable on Twitter
Mashable fan page on Facebook
Another resource to keep informed of the changing social media landscape is Sociable Blog.

I should mention that the weekly “Spark of Genius” series on Mashable is sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark, a program that gives startups access to Microsoft tools at no cost to help them build their business. I just think this is a really cool way for Microsoft to spend their billions of dollars.

Finally, just to be safe, since the (FTC) Federal Trade Commission recently passed new rules regarding disclosure of freebies or financial interests by bloggers, I should mention that I and Mashable have no relationship, and I received nothing for writing about them in this Weekly Weight. If, however, Mashable would like to have a relationship in the future, I have people they can talk to.

[Update: After a day of thought, I changed the name of this weekly post to Weekly Weight, instead of Weekly Rave. Why, you ask? Because I'm going to try to do a Daily Rave. We'll see how that goes.]

This is the first ever weekly rave, where I will write about something I am really enjoying at the moment. If nothing else, it will get me to sit down in front of the computer to actually write more than a couple times per month. I have an easy topic this week: the Minnesota Vikings.

Even though the Vikings didn’t play, due to their bye, they extended their lead in the NFC North division, since all three other teams lost. The Packers…hahaha…ummm…give me a second…uhh, the Packers…heeheehee. Oh my, let’s try again. The Packers lost to the Buccaneers, who had previously not won a game this year. The Bears were destroyed at home by Arizona, 21-41 and were actually down 7-31 at the half. And the Lions were the Lions. Up early in their game at Seattle, but ultimately blew it and lost by 12.

Green Bay might be in a free fall, as I have read nothing positive in the last 24 hours since their loss. Sports writers are second-guessing the play calling, the offensive line schemes to protect Aaron Rodgers, and questioning the change to the 3-4 defense. Packers fans are howling worse, calling for Head Coach Mike McCarthy’s head, General Manager Ted Thompson’s head, or, in most cases, both. Chicago can not play good defense and score enough points in the same week (except against the Browns). Jay Cutler’s passing numbers weren’t bad in Sunday, but the defense couldn’t stop Arizona, giving up five passing touchdowns of their own. They seem to be lost right now, as well, with no clear answers in how to fix it soon enough to make a push to the playoffs. The Lions are who we thought they were. Terrible, and on their way to no more than two wins on the season.

Which brings us to the Vikings. They are sitting 7-1 and on top of the division by three games (Packers and Bears are both 4-4). And since the Vikings beat the Packers twice and hold the tie-breaker, really they are four games up on them. The Vikings and Bears usually split their season series, so Chicago will have a really hard time gaining any ground head-to-head. And since the Vikings have three very winnable home games in a row coming out of the bye, beginning with the Lions on Sunday, the chances of either Chicago or Green Bay coming from behind are very slim. Never say never, but I am saying never.

When Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress made the call to Brett Favre in mid-August, I am pretty sure this is where he was hoping the team would be sitting. Actually, this is probably even better. I thought they would be 6-2, at best, with at least one loss to the Packers and either the Ravens or Steelers. But they are even better. Favre has not looked the same as he did the last half of last year, when he was fighting a nagging pain in his throwing arm, or as he did for most of the last few seasons in Green Bay. He’s protecting the ball, making good reads, and putting the ball in his receivers hands where they can make plays. Sidney Rice, Visanthe Shiancoe, Bernard Berrian, and Percy Harvin are all sharing in the benefits of having Favre at quarterback. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is outstanding, and there are not many balls he is throwing that shouldn’t have been thrown in the first place.

People want to criticize the running game, because Adrian Peterson isn’t breaking off the long runs for touchdowns that we are accustomed to seeing. Not sure we should complain when he is still on pace for nearly 1,600 yards and 20 touchdowns. Those are MVP numbers. The offensive line has had trouble opening big holes consistently. Whether it is because there is a new center, 7-8 defensive players at the line, or they are just getting beat has not been a huge problem so far. Peterson has been able to break off at least one long run in almost every 2nd half, so I think they’ll be fine, and AP will run wild all day against some pretty bad teams left on the schedule.

The Vikings have had some outstanding, and exciting plays, in the first half of the season, as well. My favorites: Peterson’s long TD run versus the Browns in week one, where he shoved a defender out of bounds and accelerated to the end zone, Favre’s end-of-game TD throw to Greg Lewis to beat the 49ers with :02 left, Percy Harvin’s kickoff return TDs, Sidney Rice’s long catch versus the Ravens to set up the game-winning field goal, Peterson running over William Gay for a nice gain in the 2nd half versus the Steelers, and Favre’s seven TDs (0 interceptions) versus the Packers.

Overall, the Vikings are sitting very nicely going into their last eight games. I would argue that they should be 8-0, along with the Saints and Colts, because they have outplayed every team they have played so far, including in the Steelers loss. Right now, the only NFC teams I would be nervous about playing in the playoffs are the Saints, the Cowboys, and maybe the Eagles and Cardinals, who are both pretty inconsistent. This we most likely know: the Vikings shouldn’t have to play outdoors in the playoffs, as they should end up the #1 or #2 seed in the NFC.

Whether or not they make it all the way to the Super Bowl will be decided, but what team has played better and more consistent than the Vikings through eight games? Colts have squeaked by two mediocre teams the last two weeks at home, and the Saints have fallen behind in the first half of at least three games before rallying to win. The Vikings will keep the pressure on offensively and can definitely score enough points to win any game they play. I like their chances.