How to Manufacture a Meme

First what is an internet Meme?

A meme (pronounced /ˈmiːm/, rhyming with "cream"^[1]) is a postulated unit of cultural ideas, symbols or practices, which can be transmitted from one mind to another through speech, gestures, rituals or other imitable phenomena. (The etymology of the term relates to the Greek word μιμητισμός (pronounced /mɪmetɪsmos/) for "something imitated".)^[2] Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes, in that they self-replicate and respond to selective pressures.^[3]

So it's viral content that encourages participation. It tells a very brief but revealing story. I recently came across an example that used om nom nom (which was apparently lifted from Sesame Street's Cookie Monster) to explain what a meme is. But when I started thinking about it I found it interesting that meme's aren't manufactured, they just occur; so what I'm wondering how easy it is to go about creating one.

Hypothesis for creating a Meme:

1. Learn how to be both funny and insightful.
2. choose one of the following:
a. select a pop culture event that resonates with a large audience immediately following a highly publicized occurrence; ie. Kanye slams Taylor Swift on the MTV music awards, Christian Bale loses his cool and spews profanity at a set hand.
b. choose a niche on the long tail that harbors a group followers who are passionate about something obscure or interesting; ie. LOL cats, Om nom nom creatures

3. Create an overlay that calls out something insightful or recognizes the essence or true nature of whatever topic you have chosen.

4. Make it easy and enjoyable for others to get creative and manufacture their own overlays that allow them to express their creativity and take part on what might be called "the inside joke."

Free the Net

I've been working with a startup called Meraki over the past few weeks to set up a repeater in my house in North Beach. I've joined the cause and I'm trying to help them with an initiative that aims to spread the love with free internet service in the city of San Francisco. The success of the project will be dependent on volunteers around SF to install a free wireless device that will grow the network. I've been following the story for a while now but it looks like they are finally ramping up and preparing to bring all their planning to life.

It seems like a great project and I'm interested to see how it will work. Will it provide a fast and reliable connection? Will it be better than my current Comcast connection? And if Meraki is a business, how will they make money to stay afloat?

Here is a recent article CNN did on Meraki. They indicate that they'll need between 10,000 & 15,000 volunteers to install repeaters to get the network up and running.

Want to get a repeater and help the cause, check them out here.