If having a personal blog was pointless before the advent of Twitter, Google+ and Facebook…what is it now that we have all those things?

a) The ultimate public display of narcissism
b) Last-ditch procrastination tool
c) [140 character answer] #fail

The news reached me this morning at my office in Barcelona (just as I was firing up my iMac). Not via Twitter, Facebook, or Google Reader, but in casual conversation with a coworker. Regardless of the medium, the message was unavoidable: the world has lost Steve Jobs.

I’ve always thought of Steve Jobs as a real-life Willy Wonka. He was able to create products that literally “surprised and delighted” us; he seemed mysterious and lived privately, but when it was time to take center stage, his energy and passion transformed him and his audience. And while Jobs’ wardrobe was more austere than Wonka’s, both men had creations available in bizarre flavors such as tangerine and snozberry.

Like Wonka’s chocolate factory, Apple will carry on under new management. I hope their product recipes will always include a big splash of Steve Jobs’ spirit.

Even if you’re already obituaried-out, I recommend taking a moment to read Michael Fienen’s reflections on the life and death of Steve Jobs. He helped me understand why I was moved almost to tears when I heard about Jobs’ passing.

Excellent example of an interactive graphic in journalism from the Wall Street Journal. Shows you what user information is collected during visits to the top 50 websites in the US (plus WSJ).

The more you play with this thing, the more interesting details you will find. The only criticism I have is that on my standard laptop monitor, I have to scroll to find all the interesting information below the chart (and there’s lots of it). Check it out!