I've been busy. Then again, I really want to show you why you should hire me:
Friday, April 23, 2010
New Website Design
I first got thinking about a one page web design after viewing this article on impressive, creative personal portfolios.
But this was right after I launched my own portfolio website, and I didn't want to spend another day working out another design in Flash. So I let it be.
And then I saw this website devoted to One Page Love.
While I don't think anything I could do would be in that league of awesomeness, it got me thinking again about how I want to redo my website.
It just felt too clunky, and, really, one page is all you need. All of my work is scattered across the web and/or on various social media sites, and so it's but the work of a minute (don't you just love that phrase?) to set a bunch of buttons linking to my online excellence.
So that's what I did.
Last night, instead of working on my Flash movie for class, I "procrastinated" and redesigned my website. Even in taking time off from work I can't help but be a nerd.
View it here.
PS - I know I should care about web optimization and all that biz, but that's what I do in the real world. In my personal world, I don't so much. As Taylor from Kid Nation would say, "Deal with it."
But this was right after I launched my own portfolio website, and I didn't want to spend another day working out another design in Flash. So I let it be.
And then I saw this website devoted to One Page Love.
While I don't think anything I could do would be in that league of awesomeness, it got me thinking again about how I want to redo my website.
It just felt too clunky, and, really, one page is all you need. All of my work is scattered across the web and/or on various social media sites, and so it's but the work of a minute (don't you just love that phrase?) to set a bunch of buttons linking to my online excellence.
So that's what I did.
Last night, instead of working on my Flash movie for class, I "procrastinated" and redesigned my website. Even in taking time off from work I can't help but be a nerd.
View it here.
PS - I know I should care about web optimization and all that biz, but that's what I do in the real world. In my personal world, I don't so much. As Taylor from Kid Nation would say, "Deal with it."
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Driving in Milwaukee
Today a woman following me in traffic was putting on her makeup while she was driving. At 1 p.m. (I won't go into my theory about why she needed to refresh her makeup after her mid-afternoon delight...er, lunch break).
I was going 27 miles per hour in a school zone (no kiddies were present, don't worry), and stopped at all of the stop signs.
Every time I stopped she gave me the finger.
Yes, I was looking in my rearview from time to time. It's common knowledge that people who are putting on freakin' makeup while they are driving are not the most attentive drivers. I was paying attention for her in case her front end got scarily close to my rear end.
It's called defensive driving.
And as I was the one obeying traffic laws, I'm not sure what the finger was all about.
She gave it to me, again, when we were on the ramp to the highway. I couldn't accelerate very quickly because there was a garbage truck in my grill.
Well, not in my grill, but at least 10 feet in front of me. My acceleration was dictated by his ability to shift gears.
She then sped up and pulled in the lane in front of me.
Just to show me she could.
Then she realized she was in the wrong lane for her exit and veered across the highway.
Seems mascara is distracting.
I was going 27 miles per hour in a school zone (no kiddies were present, don't worry), and stopped at all of the stop signs.
Every time I stopped she gave me the finger.
Yes, I was looking in my rearview from time to time. It's common knowledge that people who are putting on freakin' makeup while they are driving are not the most attentive drivers. I was paying attention for her in case her front end got scarily close to my rear end.
It's called defensive driving.
And as I was the one obeying traffic laws, I'm not sure what the finger was all about.
She gave it to me, again, when we were on the ramp to the highway. I couldn't accelerate very quickly because there was a garbage truck in my grill.
Well, not in my grill, but at least 10 feet in front of me. My acceleration was dictated by his ability to shift gears.
She then sped up and pulled in the lane in front of me.
Just to show me she could.
Then she realized she was in the wrong lane for her exit and veered across the highway.
Seems mascara is distracting.
Why you want to hire me.
Why do you want me on your team? View this Prezi to find out. Take notes, enjoy, and don't be shy. I'd love to tell you all about it in person.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Inappropriate Crisis Communication
Today I was reading this story about an Australian publisher forced to recall a cookbook due to a textual error.
You can read more about the error by clicking the link and reading the story, but my post has more to do with the resulting communication from the company's head of publishing.
In an interview after the story broke, he said it was a silly mistake and "why anyone would be offended, we don't know."
Because confusing black pepper for black people is not an offensive mistake by any means.
This champion of crisis communication also stated that anyone who complained about the mistake was small-minded, but the company would grudgingly, I mean "happily," give them a refund for the book.
I may be off my rocker, but I don't think these comments were the wisest way to handle the issue.
Afterall, we're not talking about a mistake in which a recipe mistakes cumin for coriander. We're talking about a mistake that includes "ground black people" as an ingredient for tagliatelle.
Claiming you don't understand the uproar and think that people who are upset about the mistake are small-minded is probably the wrong tack to take, even if that's how you feel.
Perhaps taking a more humble approach - even if it's pretend ('fake it 'til you make it' is my favorite adage) - might just win you more kudos and customer loyalty.
Especially in an age where brand loyalty is low and competition is fierce.
You can read more about the error by clicking the link and reading the story, but my post has more to do with the resulting communication from the company's head of publishing.
In an interview after the story broke, he said it was a silly mistake and "why anyone would be offended, we don't know."
Because confusing black pepper for black people is not an offensive mistake by any means.
This champion of crisis communication also stated that anyone who complained about the mistake was small-minded, but the company would grudgingly, I mean "happily," give them a refund for the book.
I may be off my rocker, but I don't think these comments were the wisest way to handle the issue.
Afterall, we're not talking about a mistake in which a recipe mistakes cumin for coriander. We're talking about a mistake that includes "ground black people" as an ingredient for tagliatelle.
Claiming you don't understand the uproar and think that people who are upset about the mistake are small-minded is probably the wrong tack to take, even if that's how you feel.
Perhaps taking a more humble approach - even if it's pretend ('fake it 'til you make it' is my favorite adage) - might just win you more kudos and customer loyalty.
Especially in an age where brand loyalty is low and competition is fierce.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Festa della Repubblica - Cagli, Italy
The time when I am bored is usually the time I start thinking about all of the things I wanted to share with you and just never got up the gumption.
So here's the latest from my digital storytelling course - a photo essay of a child's perspective of Festa della Repubblica in Cagli, Italy.
So here's the latest from my digital storytelling course - a photo essay of a child's perspective of Festa della Repubblica in Cagli, Italy.
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
A Love Letter to Crab Fishing
Every year I write a love letter to the makers of Deadliest Catch, the addictive documentary television show on Alaskan crab fishing. You can view past issues here: 2008, 2009.
Season 6 begins with the usual captain's meeting and blessing of the fleet that ends with the crews heading to the crab grounds. This season, however, packs a punch, so to speak, as the captain's meeting ends with Jonathan throwing down on Keith.
Literally.
Throwing him down to the ground.
And then Captain Phil of the Cornelia Marie and Captain Sig of the Northwestern trade Jakes for the season.
This is gonna get interesting.
I used to apologize for my love of this show. I'm an educated, middle class gal who sits behind a desk all day. Surely it's odd that I'm so entranced by this blue collar reality TV.
Not so anymore.
Considering it shows in over 150 countries and is one of cable's most top-rated shows, then I am through with apologies.
I love this show.
You can view Discovery Channel's promo video here. I guarantee you'll love it too.
Season 6 begins with the usual captain's meeting and blessing of the fleet that ends with the crews heading to the crab grounds. This season, however, packs a punch, so to speak, as the captain's meeting ends with Jonathan throwing down on Keith.
Literally.
Throwing him down to the ground.
And then Captain Phil of the Cornelia Marie and Captain Sig of the Northwestern trade Jakes for the season.
This is gonna get interesting.
I used to apologize for my love of this show. I'm an educated, middle class gal who sits behind a desk all day. Surely it's odd that I'm so entranced by this blue collar reality TV.
Not so anymore.
Considering it shows in over 150 countries and is one of cable's most top-rated shows, then I am through with apologies.
I love this show.
You can view Discovery Channel's promo video here. I guarantee you'll love it too.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Incidentally, did you know...
Today I am taking my comprehensive exam for graduate school - a 7 hour marathon of writing that had me up at 5:30 A.M.
I woke up.
I hit the snooze.
I woke up.
I went to the bathroom.
I got in the shower.
Just as I closed the shower door I saw something fly across the bathroom.
I got clean.
I saw said UFO buzzing near the ceiling light.
Wait, did I say buzzing?
That's right, just as I got naked and vulnerable, I noticed one of these angry little bastards in the small confines of my safe place.
I contemplated how to get out of the shower, get a towel, and escape the bathroom with as little movement or threat to the tiny, menacing, death machine as possible.
I made it happen, quickly slamming the door in a false sense of security.
Then realized that everything I needed was still in the bathroom with that blight of creation.
What to do?
If I try to smash the minature Mephistopheles with a book, I might miss and it will get me.
Plus I don't want to get my book full of juice.
I looked under my sink for any chemical with aerosol capabilities. Surely a 10-12 inch spray range would keep me safe as I sent that bugger back to the flames of hell.
Incidentally, did you know that wasps can be killed with a shot of Resolve carpet spray?
Spot magic indeed.
I woke up.
I hit the snooze.
I woke up.
I went to the bathroom.
I got in the shower.
Just as I closed the shower door I saw something fly across the bathroom.
I got clean.
I saw said UFO buzzing near the ceiling light.
Wait, did I say buzzing?
That's right, just as I got naked and vulnerable, I noticed one of these angry little bastards in the small confines of my safe place.
I contemplated how to get out of the shower, get a towel, and escape the bathroom with as little movement or threat to the tiny, menacing, death machine as possible.
I made it happen, quickly slamming the door in a false sense of security.
Then realized that everything I needed was still in the bathroom with that blight of creation.
What to do?
If I try to smash the minature Mephistopheles with a book, I might miss and it will get me.
Plus I don't want to get my book full of juice.
I looked under my sink for any chemical with aerosol capabilities. Surely a 10-12 inch spray range would keep me safe as I sent that bugger back to the flames of hell.
Incidentally, did you know that wasps can be killed with a shot of Resolve carpet spray?
Spot magic indeed.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Experimentation
The great thing about graduate school - and academia in general - is the ability it provides for experimentation.
Currently, I am hard at work experimenting with a bevy of new skills and websites for my professional project.
Just last week I joined Issuu, an online publishing site where it's easy to upload a PDF file and create an eBook. I'm writing a children's book with a classmate and surely this will be a great place to publish it for download.
Speaking of which, I've never written a children's book before, nor tried my hand at illustration. So these are new skills for me, and while I'm a bit afraid of the challenge, I'm excited to stretch myself and see what I can do.
My professional project entails telling stories in written and multimedia formats. Weebly, an online web design site, helped me build my site. Since my focus is on the content and not the design, I figured why spend my time in Dreamweaver when I can simply drag and drop?
Speaking of content, so far I'm working on stories that will utilize a variety of skills that I am excited to develop...again, stretching myself through the fear of a challenge.
I'm thinking of producing a story in public radio's This American Life format, and might check out Transom for tips and feedback. I'm beginning to enjoy radio more and more as I get older (read: mature), and Jay Allison has some insight as to why that may be.
Another discovery I've made is Prezi, which is a new software developed in Hungary that is taking presentation to a new level. I've found it's fantastic for the interactive teaching of dull, dry research models. I'm definitely looking forward to experimenting more with it's possibilities.
One other site I've discovered is Ning. It's a place to create your own social network online. While I haven't yet begun to explore this possibility to its fullest, I'm hoping it will take my project to a whole new level. That, or it will be a shameful, empty space and a black mark on my Master's project.
*gulp*
Let's hope not.
The web has much to offer and many hidden treasures to discover. This is what I love about my future career - though keeping abreast of the latest trends takes a bit of work, I love the possibilities for growth and education.
Currently, I am hard at work experimenting with a bevy of new skills and websites for my professional project.
Just last week I joined Issuu, an online publishing site where it's easy to upload a PDF file and create an eBook. I'm writing a children's book with a classmate and surely this will be a great place to publish it for download.
Speaking of which, I've never written a children's book before, nor tried my hand at illustration. So these are new skills for me, and while I'm a bit afraid of the challenge, I'm excited to stretch myself and see what I can do.
My professional project entails telling stories in written and multimedia formats. Weebly, an online web design site, helped me build my site. Since my focus is on the content and not the design, I figured why spend my time in Dreamweaver when I can simply drag and drop?
Speaking of content, so far I'm working on stories that will utilize a variety of skills that I am excited to develop...again, stretching myself through the fear of a challenge.
I'm thinking of producing a story in public radio's This American Life format, and might check out Transom for tips and feedback. I'm beginning to enjoy radio more and more as I get older (read: mature), and Jay Allison has some insight as to why that may be.
Another discovery I've made is Prezi, which is a new software developed in Hungary that is taking presentation to a new level. I've found it's fantastic for the interactive teaching of dull, dry research models. I'm definitely looking forward to experimenting more with it's possibilities.
One other site I've discovered is Ning. It's a place to create your own social network online. While I haven't yet begun to explore this possibility to its fullest, I'm hoping it will take my project to a whole new level. That, or it will be a shameful, empty space and a black mark on my Master's project.
*gulp*
Let's hope not.
The web has much to offer and many hidden treasures to discover. This is what I love about my future career - though keeping abreast of the latest trends takes a bit of work, I love the possibilities for growth and education.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Lesson Learned too Late?
I, like many others in this economy, am searching for a job. This week I was caught making a major mistake in my job search that left me red-faced.
Even worse, since it happened I've been busy updating my resume and online portfolio and realize that several grammatical mistakes should have caught my eye but did not.
The Story
I usually lurk around Big Shoes Network for job postings, being the skilled marketing and communications professional that I am.
Humble, too.
I found a posting for a local Milwaukee organization that seems like the perfect fit for my mad social media and multimedia skillz, not to mention a perfect complement to my witty, recently overly sassy personality (more on this in a minute).
I applied immediately.
Can't be too on top of these things, after all.
The problem?
Apparently, this personal adage is not true.
In an attempt to get my foot in the door, I actually got a mouthful of black leather pump as I promoted a new website I'm building for my Master's professional project.
"What's so wrong with that?" you ask.
Go ahead, I'll wait.
I'm glad you asked, because, you see, said website was not yet published. To add insult to injury, I've lately been rather sassy and over-confident in my writing. This seems to be great fun for my classmates, but sometimes not such a good idea for job searching.
The tone I set which promoted this project, while true to my personality and in line with the company's feel, only added to the injury of me breaking the cardinal rule of web development. While I was busy confidently proclaiming my domination of social media, and harnessing it's power for good, I also likely frustrated a prospective employer by not delivering on said awesomeness.
As Homer Simpson would say, "D'Oh!"
The Lesson
I consider this a lesson learned and to be filed away for future reference when applying for jobs.
On a good note, I used the opportunity to publish the aforementioned site, update my resume to fix the tense and voice issues, as well as fix a broken link on my online portfolio.
In the end, not such a bad experience if it has such a motivating conclusion, no?
Even worse, since it happened I've been busy updating my resume and online portfolio and realize that several grammatical mistakes should have caught my eye but did not.
The Story
I usually lurk around Big Shoes Network for job postings, being the skilled marketing and communications professional that I am.
Humble, too.
I found a posting for a local Milwaukee organization that seems like the perfect fit for my mad social media and multimedia skillz, not to mention a perfect complement to my witty, recently overly sassy personality (more on this in a minute).
I applied immediately.
Can't be too on top of these things, after all.
The problem?
Apparently, this personal adage is not true.
In an attempt to get my foot in the door, I actually got a mouthful of black leather pump as I promoted a new website I'm building for my Master's professional project.
"What's so wrong with that?" you ask.
Go ahead, I'll wait.
I'm glad you asked, because, you see, said website was not yet published. To add insult to injury, I've lately been rather sassy and over-confident in my writing. This seems to be great fun for my classmates, but sometimes not such a good idea for job searching.
The tone I set which promoted this project, while true to my personality and in line with the company's feel, only added to the injury of me breaking the cardinal rule of web development. While I was busy confidently proclaiming my domination of social media, and harnessing it's power for good, I also likely frustrated a prospective employer by not delivering on said awesomeness.
As Homer Simpson would say, "D'Oh!"
The Lesson
I consider this a lesson learned and to be filed away for future reference when applying for jobs.
On a good note, I used the opportunity to publish the aforementioned site, update my resume to fix the tense and voice issues, as well as fix a broken link on my online portfolio.
In the end, not such a bad experience if it has such a motivating conclusion, no?
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