Every few months, the Internet is obligated to provide us with a new way to be narcissistic.
Until recently, one of the most popular self-involved services was Formspring, which allowed users to take questions from their online audience. "Ask me anything!" was the promise of Formspring, but the person being asked had the opportunity to decide whether they would answer the question, making it the world's worst truth-or-dare game by removing the threat of a dare.
For 2011, however, we have Threewords.me, to which you'll probably see links on Facebook soon (if you haven't already). The premise is amazingly simple: You set up a profile; you send the link to people; and they anonymously provide three words that they feel describe you.
It's a great idea in its simplicity, but should anyone want to know what people think about them when the shield of politeness is removed? Sure, there's the possibility that a friend might login to describe you as "dreamy," "smart" and "amazing" in an effort to offer a wild boost to your ego ... but based on our online comment culture, it seems likely that "asshat" is going to come up more than "genius."
Then again, maybe those are just my friends.
It can't wait until a company thinks it's clever enough to try out Threewords.me ... and the anonymous mob takes over by sullying their carefully maintained brand.
At the Tucson Weekly, we think there are already enough places for you to tell us that we suck.
THE WEEK ON THE RANGE
We followed the ongoing—and thus far unsuccessful—efforts of GOP legislative leaders to get different nominees for the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission; covered our local snowpocalyspe; and warned you that Tucson police will once again be targeting pedestrians and bicyclists.
We noted that Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly suggested that calling people who enter the country illegally "undocumented" is like calling a rapist a "non-consensual sex partner"; looked at the relative popularity of President Barack Obama and reality-TV star Sarah Palin; and warned you that chupacabras might be loose in Kentucky.
We looked at Salon's Top 10 list of best scenes in 2010 movies; shared a YouTube mashup of the Top 25 pop hits of the year; looked ahead to the top tech trends in 2011; and brought you photos from a snowy Flagstaff and a far-off Mars, as well as cute snapshots of baby cheetahs.
We began surveying Tucson's food trucks, including Molcas Mexican Grill and El Chivo de Oro; suggested you find a copy of Eat Mesquite!, a new cookbook from Desert Harvesters; tried the new tiramisu and mango flavors at the UA-area Allegro: Il Gelato Naturale; told you that Acacia was relocating to Skyline Drive and Campbell Avenue, while Sur Real was shutting its doors; and let you know that Sushi Cortaro is now open in Marana.
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
"Great movie for 12-year-olds or those with 12-year-old mentalities. ... BTW, it's OK to make movies that are 'fun.' All cinema doesn't have to be measured by Shakespeare, etc.! But really, just go to the Loft for 'real' movies of substance!"
—TucsonWeekly.com commenter gs85739 disagrees with Bob Grimm's take on Little Fockers ("An Embarrassment," Cinema, Dec. 30).
BEST OF WWW
While Adam Borowitz isn't going to be around the Tucson Weekly offices as City Week listings chief after this week, he will keep his Noshing Around duties and contribute content to the Weekly on what's happening in the food biz here in town. As part of that, we've seen a few posts already on The Range in our series The Food Truck Diaries, the Weekly's attempt to tell the stories of as many of the city's food trucks as possible. On Tucson Weekly TV, Adam discusses the motivation behind the project.
Also, our Secrets of Tucson Bartenders series continues with Kristian of Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails showing us what they make with a habañero infused vodka.
