Okay, so here’s the thing. We live in an uncannily advanced, technological world. Innovation never ceases. Regardless of whether we truly need or even want something new and improved, we’ll get it.

And that’s fine and all, so long as the various technologies are used efficiently, responsibly, and sustainably, serving some purpose that’s helpful or, in the least, entertaining to some. But we know that’s not always the case.

There’s often a sort of obsession, if you will, with certain technologies. I’m talking about video games, social media outlets, phones, gadgets and the like. And this techno-mania can lead us into situations where we throw caution to the wind.

Three recent cases in point:

1) Undercover investigators went into a drug dealer’s residence in Polk County, Florida. Some, naturally, searched for drugs, money and paraphernalia while some took the opportunity to play multiple rounds of Wii Bowling. Yes, numerous fist pumps and high-fives ensued. And all of this was caught on the dealer’s home security camera. Too far, guys… and wildly unprofessional. I mean couldn’t you have resisted the urge? Like you don’t have one waiting at home, anyway. Full story here.

2) Two girls, aged 10 and 12, somehow found themselves lost in a drain in the suburbs of Adelaide, Australia. Fearing for their lives, they decided to try and get help. So they picked up their phones and UPDATED THEIR FACEBOOK STATUS’ WITH THEIR DILLEMA. Wow… just wow. The clincher of this one is the fact that the girls had working cells and could have easily just dialed emergency, but still somehow felt, even in a matter of life and death, that Facebook was the way to go. Sorry, girls, but it’s not. Can we get back to real life now? Full story here.

3) This story is the one that really does me in. A 17-year old girl - who, I think it’s safe to say, should have known better - died from electrocution this past summer in Romania. Why, you ask? She was Tweeting from her bathtub. Apparently, the electrocution occurred when she reached a wet hand out to plug the computer in. Yikes. As a human, I absolutely feel for her and her family, of course. But as a critic, I can only wonder “What the f**k was she thinking?” Full story here.

Ever find yourself cursing Facebook as you stumble across a friend’s page that’s complete with 28 applications, 13 upcoming events, some stupid thing about Mafia Wars and a laundry-list of responses to a mindless status update? Chances are you do. On the reg.

So for you, and me, and whoever else wishes Facebook would stop excessively adding applications like an Italian adds toppings to a pizza, there’s the newly launched preview for Facebook Lite, accessible now by logging in at www.lite.facebook.com.

The Lite version boasts a simpler, cleaner design, reminscient of Facebook’s early design stages. It’s main premise is that it’s much faster loading and thus a better option for those browsing Facebook from computers with slower internet connections. As of now, Facebook Lite is only available to those in the US and India.

Some people are already viewing the revamping as an effort on Facebook’s part to be a bit more like Twitter, focusing on real-time updates and messaging. Along the same lines, Facebook has also recently announced they will be supporting @mentions in status updates, which they dub ‘tagging’, enabling users to references friends, groups and events directly.

Facebook Lite has a simpler top toolbar, one-click buttons for status updates and media uploads, and eradicates most of the “bells and whistles” you previously felt bogged down by on your profile. The most noticeable change is the drastic decrease in third-party applications. You get the wall, info, friends, photos and media.

And that’s it. Touche.

Bo here-I went to SEABA (South End Arts + Business Association) to check out the cool happenings in social media today led by local top media gurus and to drink beer.

The speakers presented their insights about blogging, video production, twitter, and social media integration. Most of the people that attended were novices at using social media to increase their business. This workshop perhaps was very helpful to them. Twenty minutes to hear each speaker was great for an introduction, but for someone like me I would need a couple hours of in-depth analysis to reach all my goals in life.

There was also a silent auction on “Top Flight” Flamingos (if you didn’t go you missed out big time!! ).

http://www.facebook.com/arthop

Here are a few things I took away from the event:

• If you want to be successful in social media you need to have concrete numerical goals for your company, and use your resources to accomplish them.
• When using twitter, use the 15/1 ratio. Tweet 15x more about other people than you tweet about yourself.
• Use videos in your blog to talk about your product because videos rock!
• Updating your blog with cool icons and pictures makes your blog popular which will lead to more visits.

So get on board with this social media stuff. Learn it all (it’s the future man!)