JewNewsNet

A video of Anne Frank has been released into YouTube by The Anne Frank House. She’s captured leaning out of a second story balcony, watching a married couple exit the neighboring address. When her diary was publicized in the 1950’s, the couple recognized her, and gave her father, Otto Frank, a 5 second clip of her. Here’s the clip:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hvtXuO5GzU]

Apparently the video’s become quite viral. It was released on September 23rd, 2009 and already has almost 377,000 views! Then again, what else would you expect from such a powerful figure as Anne Frank?

Thanks, Jennifer Van Grove from Mashable, for the scoop!

As many of you know, I get my Mashable news intravenously by now.

I just got my daily dose of the Social Media drip, but lo! It was laced with Government.

Congressional House Republican New Media Caucus have been holding meetings with Silicon Valley giants Oracle, Apple, Google, and UStream in the efforts to better understand the intentions of these companies as they move into their respective next stages.

This is really interesting considering the dead unsexy face the Republican party took on during the past election. Not to mention the extremely sexy face the Democratic party took on. The Democrat use of social media to reach the people probably won them the election. That, and they made sense. Nevertheless – I think the Republican Party is taking a bold step into an area that may or may not rejuvenate their image.

It’s difficult to see the intentions of the Congressional House Republican New Media Caucus in these visits. Although they did ask a lot of questions, mere curiosity cannot possibly be the cause. When was the last time you sat in a meeting, brought up an idea that would raise a lot of attention, brought “’cause it’d be pretty awesome, you know?” as a reason for the action, and didn’t get chewed out?

Does the Republican Party want to make nice-nice with Social Media in order to gain support? In order to gain control of this media? In order to offer more $$$ for these companies – and buy their favoritism? Either one would be fine – and I’m not accusing. It’s political game-play either way. But which one is it?

Should government get involved in Social Media on the Gov-Co level at all?

What do you think?

A Jewish write-up in Mashable! Great stuff!

I am a huge Mashable fan. HUGE. And today I had the pleasure of seeing a friend featured on there! @TheKotel has been written up on by Mashable!

TheKotel is a service that allows you to tweet your prayers to @TheKotel and have your tweets placed in the Western Wall! It’s a fantastic service, and I’ve seen anything from “I hope I get the job I’m interviewing for” to “Please grant us world peace” written to the service.

As a former Jerusalemite, I can attest to the fact that having my prayer placed in the Western Wall is not just a way to get my word through to the almighty – but a way for my presence and wishes to walk through Jaffa Gate, down the Jerusalem stone-paved narrow corridors of The Old City, and out to the square where the cafes and Yeshiva kids play.

Down another long corridor and down the steep stairs that lead to a metal detector.

Through the metal detectors and into the wide-open plaza in front of the Kotel.

Into the mens section and up to the ancient wall.

My note placed in a crack in between two large stones that I’ve definitely leaned on and wept over before.

Beautiful.