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Those of you who aren’t tech geeks like me might not know of this. Google is spearheading a platform named OpenSocial, to challenge Facebook. Essentially it is the same thing as Facebook’s developer platform, except that the applications are developed using standard languages like HTML and Javascript (as opposed to Facebook’s proprietary languages) and can be run in any network which supports OpenSocial (as opposed to just running on Facebook).

The official announcement was made today (over the night in Singapore). Google have got the support of networks such as Friendster, LinkedIn, Plaxo, Ning, Hi5. And application makers such as Slide, RockYou, iLike and Flixster.

The latest, and biggest, news (a few hours ago): MySpace has joined OpenSocial. I think this is a really huge announcement. MySpace, the biggest network, has teamed up with Google on this. I really hope it will be a success.

What does this mean? Developers only need to create one application, for use everywhere (or maybe a second one for Facebook). End users will now have more applications available. Networks get more exposure.

Opening up the platform can only be good for everyone (other than Facebook, probably).

Been in America this past week, and will be until 1 November, so that’s why there hasn’t been updates. And there won’t be many updates until I get back as well. In the meantime, for updates on what I’m doing, you can follow me on Twitter. It’s been really awesome!

More news after I get back. Remember to check back on 1 November.

So from now on, every weekend, it will be Your Turn. Your turn to share your thoughts. And besides, it will give me a bit of time off, which will hopefully help me write better posts on the weekdays.

Today’s topic: Culture. What is culture to you? How important is culture? Should it be permanent, or evolve with time? If the latter, how can we go about changing or improving the culture we’re in?

Remember, the comment section is YOURS. So if you want to write about other things, feel free to. The topic is just something to get you thinking, in case you don’t have any ideas what to write about. It’s not meant to restrict what you write. And make full use of the threaded replies and subscription features that the Intense Debate comment system provides, to make this conversation as meaningful as possible.

I’ll start of with the main template. I just find it quite interesting, and unique. I like the play of colors, it’s bright and striking, but still professional and clean.

Now, the widgets. The orange section is more focused on community. “About Me” is pretty obvious. I think for you guys to know more about me. I might change it into a more complete page soon (after I get back from Boston, probably).

The “Contact Me” and “Reach My Mobile” sections are there to make it easy for you to connect with me. I believe it’s useful because a blog is all about community. And for that same reason, I have the “My Communities” section. A list of places where I’m on, where you can find more about me, and reach me. And it’s also as much about you, the readers, which is the reason behind the MyBlogLog widget.

“Help Spread My Blog” is quite straightforward. It’s to make it easy for you to share and promote this blog, if you like it. The links are to appreciate and promote the people who’ve inspired and helped me and this blog.

As for BlogRush, it’s a new system that’s generating a lot of talk among bloggers, so I’m trying it out to see how/what value it adds to this blog.

As for the blue bar, most of it is more focused on this blog. Search is to make it easier for you guys to browse the blog. Subscription and Mobile are there to basically make it as easy as possible for you guys to access this blog. Donations are quite self explanatory.

“What’s on My Mind” is basically to share little snippets that I think about, but might not have that much to write about (as I explained here).

My recommended books are there not as much to earn money (though that would be a nice side bonus) but to share with you the books that have made an impact on my life. And I think these books would be good for you as well.

Awards and Technorati is partly for my ego (well, I am human). But also partly to appreciate and promote the people who have recognized this blog, through the awards or through links. And the archive is self explanatory.

A long list, I know. But just thought I’d give a little insight behind the scenes as to why I chose these.

And now, it’s your turn. I want YOUR feedback.Which of my reasons do you agree or disagree with? Which of the widgets do you find useful, and which do you think I should take out?

As he mentioned at the start of his talk, it applies to individuals as well. You might just be one person. You might be “small” in the larger scheme of things, just an individual among a huge community, one out of 7 billion people in the world. But you too can be big. You can make a difference.

Small is the new big.

How do you take notice of the small, to make a big impact?

The crazy ones are the ones who change the world. Are you crazy? I would love to be (and I hope I’m on the right track).

Thanks to The Thinking Blog for pointing out the video.

Update: Just saw another take on the same thing (same audio and message, different visuals). You can watch it here.

I’ll be using it to post various short thoughts or ideas. Or links which I don’t have much to add to, but I think are interesting reads.

If you guys are on Twitter, you can follow me. Or let me know, because I’d be interested in following you. It’s always nice to know what my readers are up to, and what gets you thinking.

From the article:

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales described the online encyclopedia as being “like a sausage: you might like the taste of it, but you don’t necessarily want to see how it’s made.” In a Nature magazine blog accompanying the study mentioned above, Timo Hannay said that “frankly, I still can’t get over the fact that it works at all.” Indeed, the problem most people have with Wikipedia’s quality and accuracy seems to have more to do with their knowledge of how it is made, rather than any observed problem with the end results.

It’s a good read. And I think it’s something we all should think about. Are your perceptions pre-formed because of how it is made? Or is it an actual problem that you have noticed?

Link via Slashdot: Evolution and the ‘Wisdom of Crowds’