Blog

01.02.2007 | Cut to the cheese

I have a love-hate relationship with the web. All my friends know that I can surf the web for hours, or spend half the night reading a weird, trainwreck-y blog about a 24-year old California kid who's a wannabe real estate investor, bought 8 houses in 4 states, couldn't keep servicing his $2.2 million debt load, and is now facing multiple foreclosures. There is sophisticated written as well as visual content out there, and I'll even enjoy it if it's none of the former — just plain goofy and fun.

On the other hand, time spent in front of a glowing LCD screen is not necessarily quality time. I get overstimulated by all the information coming at me, and open window upon window to not lose track of my tracks. That's when it's time to get off the digital drip, and engage in highly pleasurable analog activities such as playing a boardgame with friends and consuming bread, cheeses, meats, and cocktails.

But this is not an article about St. Marcellin or Appenzeller, although these may well be my all-time favourites. Rather, it's about social bookmarking to the rescue. Social bookmarking tools allow you to get a grip on the bewildering variety of online content, comment on it, share it with others, and also get recommendations and ratings. One such tool for Firefox is Stumble Upon, which learns your preferences for web content over time and throws up content that it thinks you might like — when you ask it to.

And now excuse me, I must go to my fridge. Wedge of Brie de Meaux, anyone? Or something from the emerging Canadian cheese meccas, such as Québec or Vancouver Island? And you must try it with a glass of the amazing, crisp, incredibly complex Valdespino Fino Inocente — sherry is my favourite complement to strong cheeses.