I have revised my opinion on why Millennials are so obsessed with travel

Millennials' passion for travel is well documented. Research will tell you that to them, "experiences matter more than things." But I always had a tiny, terrifying suspicion Instagram Culture had convinced a whole generation it's more rewarding to photograph life than live it.

I've recently discarded that theory, too. (Or last least downgraded it to Interesting But Unprovable Cocktail Conversation Fodder.) My new theory is Millennials are obsessed with travel because technology makes it easy as hell.

Don't want to figure out exchange rates? No worries, your credit card now works worldwide. Ditto your cash card, which means no more hunting for safe spots to buy local currency.

Google Translate makes it easy to get around without knowing a single word of the local language. (No more spending your pre-trip months memorizing a list of key phrases like, "Where's the bathroom?")

And you can junk your transit schedules and your maps. Just type in the monument you're searching for and Google will provide real-time directions. Unless you're Gen X or older you have no conception of how seismic this change is. I can't emphasize it enough. I have vivid memories of standing on street corners with paper maps unfolded wide, spinning in a circle looking for something, anything that might give me any clue where the hell I was. I remember the stress of having to keep one hand on my wallet and one hand on my backpack while I craned my neck up at a spinning list of bus departures written in a foreign language. All those worries are just... not worries anymore.

No wonder every Millennial I know spends their vacations overseas. Travel is awesome and beautiful and educational. And these days, it's as simple as ordering pizza.

You don't need a flashlight if you're a lighthouse

Social media analysts like to buzz about how important it is to join the conversation. To search it for verbatims. To monitor and measure and react to it. All that is not unimportant. But I don't think it's the main thing, either.

Our job is not to control consumers' conversations, but to capture their imaginations. And the best way to do that isn't by spinning in the comments or linking on the forums. It is to create content worthy of being passed around.

I had a personal experience with viral content recently. On Aug. 24, 2010 I published this post named "Patton Must Have Worked in Advertising." It was subsequently picked up by The Denver Egotist. Then by The Orlando Egotist, The Des Moines Egotist, The San Francisco Egotist, The St. Louis Egotist and Design Taxi. It was named post of the month on Only Dead Fish. Quoted on waxmuseum. And linked on Twitter here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And here. And then my eyes glazed over and I broke Google.

I'm not saying my little essay was the equal of Arcade Fire's devastating multiscreen music video. (Linked at PSFK, The Denver Egotist and Contagious Magazine. Go watch it now.) I'm just sharing it because it is a personal story. And the lesson I have learned is this. "Join the conversation if you must. Create it if you can."

To the shores of Tripoli

My Aug. 24 post "Patton Must Have Worked in Advertising" was picked up by The Denver Egotist, where it sparked a good amount of conversation. From there, it went on to The Orlando Egotist, The Des Moines Egotist, The San Francisco Egotist and The St. Louis Egotist. Then it was published in Design Taxi, along with some photography from Christopher Clor.

UPDATE: I was just informed that someone named Jeff nominated "Patton Must Have Worked in Advertising" for post of the month at Only Dead Fish. If you're so inclined, please go vote for it now.

UPDATE: "Patton Must Have Worked in Advertising" wins. What do you know?

[Ed. note - Title reference, just in case.]

One of these days I am going to visit London

What would The Strokes sound like with Ian Curtis behind the mic? Not as cool as you'd think. Nevermind. Editors' campaign for their new album mashes up Google Street View and music to create an amazingly engaging digital experience. Check it out.

[Ed. - h/t Contagious]