This Just In: Artists can use the Internet to Create, Publish Stuff

It's time to revolutionize the blog and social media. It's time to meld them to the desires of the creative. Just as the Industrial Revolution was initially intended to propel industry and commercialism, it also made it possible for words and paints and other creative tools and materials to be made faster, cheaper, easier, and reach further to far off places -- more people can find it, afford it, create using it. Google is having its midlife crisis and Facebook is getting ready for the prom. What's next? What toddler roams the ethers that will rule the world next? Some can guess, but none can know for sure. But what is absolutely certain: whatever the "new wave" is, it is guaranteed to be some form of social media and networking.

The idea of the HomeTree in Avatar is starting to seem less and less fictional, even down to the way it looks. Souls gathering around one central hub of nerves and receptors aglow with activity. People still refer to Facebook as "TimeSuck" and all sorts of other things, but look what's happening -- the whole world is on at the same time, on their laptops or their smartphones, or whatever. The constant updates and feedback, even when humorous or regarding your hatred of hairbands, all add something where once there was nothing.

We are now at the point in social media history where some monk was hundreds of years ago: HOLD THE PHONE GIDEON! WE CAN PRINT THE SAME PSALM 100 FUCKING TIMES WITHOUT A QUILL! Magic. How will we use it? Will we be too scared to be the same kind of artist on the virtual stage that we are in our journals or in the makeshift studio we built in our garages and basements? Now that the world can see into your bedroom window, will you still take your bra off for the cute boy next door? Social media and the insane viral power of networking through plugins will mean the best and the worst of you will be waving in the universal wind. Can you do it?

I say fuck it. For all I've lost, it will not be for nothing.

To all the creatives out there: GET NAKED and let social media rollercoaster your sweet ass across the universe so the rest of us can appreciate it.

R.I.P. Guru -- thanks for the wisdom and the music.