Archive for January, 2009
friday free for all »
Friday, January 23rd, 2009
… The Oscar noms have been announced. Here’s the list on ScreenCrave. I’ll have more on this later after I’ve cine-binged and have more to say on the topic. (Downey Jr.? Really?)
… Today, for me, is a half day. To say I’m looking forward to my trip to Sydney is an understatement. But so is saying I’m not excited about the travel. Here’s how I imagine the trip going:
- Depart to Chicago, 3.30p today. Finish one book because it’s written at a third-grade reading level (Left Behind series… heard of it?)
- Fly to San Francisco. Hustle desperately for connecting flight with only an hour betwixt.
- Fly to Sydney. Finish another book, pace incessantly, twitch uncontrollably, cry incrementally and murmur gibberish constantly.
- Arrive in Sydney, 8a Sunday. Wobble off the plane on atrophied legs, kiss the ground and start greeting everyone with “g’day mate!” in a terrible British accent.
Return trip:
- Repeat the above, in backward order, replacing SFO with LAX and doing it all within one day. End with crushing jet-lag.
… Because of the above, posts next week will be sparse or non-existent. No apologies, just like last time.
(unwarranted) recap of (unattended) MIMA event »
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
Last night I met up with some folk at Shaw’s for their homestyle ronnies. They were delicious, as always but they kept me from the Digital Reputation Management event. Thanks to Ustream and the posting of the recorded event, I was able to “attend.”
Basically, three representatives from early adopting companies talked about how they’re using social media to manage their company’s public image. The commentary is thoughtful and in-depth. If you’re at all interested in using SM to boost your company’s involvement, take a look (it’s over an hour, you’ll need some time; embedded below).
This, obviously, is not a discussion of how SM can boost sales or involvement. It’s not about how having a Twitter account will make you viral or how web 2.0 jolts your ROI. There’s no mention of a call-to-action. (Either is Facebook Connect. Let me pause for your disappointed sighs.)
Steve Bendt (Best Buy, Social Media Activist) brought up Spy (try it out; kind of fun), there was talk of Google Alerts and some examples of how they’ve used Twitter and the ilk to improve and monitor their image. (Lela Phommasouvanh and Tammy Lee Stanoch (of Delta, formerly Northwest) rounded out the three.)
I’m intrigued by some of the mentioned ideas and entertained by how far my office has to come. How do you explain to old-media-centric higher-ups that there’s a new way of doing things when you’ve only been around a few years? (Get fired and go somewhere more amiable to same ideas?)
The video:
proprietary pomposity »
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
Why is it I can’t resist the urge to alliterate? Ridiculous.
Microsoft is impressively stupid. Back in the day they were kicking ass and taking names. Everyone had to be on a MS platform to do anything. Then Apple started gaining market share and MS shat a few mouse trails. (Launched an error-laden OS; spent millions on un-aired ads.)
As I sling interweb code for a living (theoretically) my relations with MS have been more uncomfortable. Their browser (set as default and installed with their OSs) is terrible. It’s a one-legged, fat guy trying to keep up in a pick-up game of 3-on-3 with off-season NBA rookies.
More stretched analogies: It reads CSS like a cranky, dyslexic toddler with only one eye. It complies to standards like Jeffrey Dahmer complied to social norms (too soon?). It creates beautiful web pages like this creates great portraits.
MS is coming out with a new OS that’s supposed to fix their Vista problem. I’m sure it comes with a browser trying hard to be dismal. I’ve heard mixed reviews (read: bad) and then there’s a post from Ken Sipe.
Apparently, MS is making it difficult to download the beta version of Windows 7. Instead of trying to infiltrate other markets they seem to be trying to hold onto as many already-users as possible. (Which, I assume, is 93.75% businesses too terrified to ditch their Outlook and Office Suite.)
Interactives out there, do you still design/program for IE6? Why? Do you still use the 800×600 model? Reasons for doing so? Reasons to move past it?
I, personally, want to let IE6 die a slow, overdue death. @ECaron agrees. Like Wal-Mart using hybrid trucks, he considers Google paying people to leave IE6 to be a matter of corporate responsibility.
history just happened. two hours ago… »
Tuesday, January 20th, 2009
I’m sure almost all of you watched the coverage and speech as (most of us) welcomed a new President at 12p, EST. I don’t care. (I do, promise.) Did you see the real historic change?
Just before the speech, WhiteHouse.gov was redesigned. Take a minute, feel it out, then come on back. Or stay there. I can’t trust you people with anything. (President Obama’s proclamation is already there.)
The spacing, typography and colors are outstanding. I have to wonder how much they paid for this and why it wasn’t paid to me. The navigation is intuitive and in-depth. It’s subtle, smart and a perfect reflection of what we hope will come from this new administration.
Most importantly, there’s a little social media. According to @s4xton, the RSS feeds need a little work but I’m encouraged by a blog being there at all. In one of the first posts, there are some changes listed. (Quite awesome.)
The ideas are novel: communication, transparency and participation (and opposite the last eight years). I don’t know how close to the assertions they’ll stay as more traffic heads there and more changes come through but it’s a start. I imagine a controlled, precise and vague set of information but timely and informative.
Congrats to the new WhiteHouse.gov… and Mr. President.
see you at the finish »
Monday, January 19th, 2009
Saturday aft, I ran a mile (in person, you can hear my quadriceps sobbing). Granted, I wasn’t going for speed (read: lapped by pentagenarian) but I didn’t have to stop. Subsequently, I’ve decided to be in a triathlon. (No I haven’t.) As such, I’ve started my research.
My first search (“triathlete athletic handsome”) hits with mixed results. The second attempt (“triathlete magazine”) is far more successful. It leads me to TriathleteMag.com and, shortly, sweet, sweet victory.
Being an SMS (social media slut), I had to check Twitter to prove credibility. There I find @TriathleteMag and now have (if I were to follow) timely training tips. It’s a good use of SM to enhance the magazine’s reach.
Their site needs some typography work and their call-outs sort of sigh but it’s not terrible. Combine it with the tips and Triathlete Magazine seems to be a pretty solid resource. I can’t justify a subscription because of the cost. (read: too much pressure to actually race.)
Next steps: swim across Lake Nokomis after the thaw (north to south, ≈ 5000ft; not the pansy east to west) and bike to Chanhassen (≈ 20mi) for dinner and a show. I shouldn’t need to stretch or prepare for either.
But maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.
Unrelated: Paul Blart: Mall Cop beat out Gran Torino at the box office and the world cried.