Initially I chose a social networking site called “MediaSite.” It is for professionals in the marketing/advertising sphere, and I thought it would complement my other class’s work nicely and help keep me abreast of what is going on in the online marketing world. The site offers articles on various online marketing subjects. As soon as I signed up, I got inundated with update emails from different topics, but most of them were just the articles that were already available on the homepage (I quickly turned off the email option in my account). Then I read one of the blogs/articles written by a member of the site, and not only was it completely unprofessional, but it had nothing to do with marketing. The comments that were written below it included personal attacks. I have decided not to return to the site unless it is to withdraw my membership.
The next site that I signed up for was much better: BooksConnect (http://www.countrybookshop.co.uk/booksconnect/). It is made for writing professionals to connect with each other. It offers events by location as well as material by new authors. The site sells books as well. I checked out their “Horror and ghost stories” link and the offerings were slim, as they usually are for a genre that is not taken seriously (even by its own authors much of the time). The site could be a good place for me to get my name out, as that is a crucial part of the writing world (there is a place to post blogs and articles as well as an inquiries for submissions to publish link), but unfortunately, the site is based out of the UK and most users will probably be based in the wrong location for me to actually get much out of it. I did appreciate that the site did not ask for my picture when setting up my profile – it shouldn’t matter what I look like on a professional networking site. As far as what I want the site to say about me, it would be a good place to showcase some of my writing and possibly advertise my editing services. It would be for my personal professional use as opposed to my job professional use, if that makes sense.
The site is clean and easy to use. I like the search engine better than Amazon.com’s, and Amazon has so many ads and links on its pages that I get overwhelmed and annoyed pretty quickly. I probably won’t use this site much, but it gives me hope to keep looking for something similar based out of the U.S.
4.20.2010
4.12.2010
My Second Tool Choice
Hi all.
My second choice was "Content." Initially I looked into Smak.ly, a site to increase traffic to one's blog, but after repeated attempts to watch the instructional video not working, and a page of the workers suspiciously (maybe it was meant to be humorously) showing 8 pictures of the same man with the the same title, I decided not to give personal information.
So I actually wound up working with Yudu.com. It's a site that allows free downloads and uploads of printed materials. It seems as though it winds up being a file-sharing site, as I'm not certain that everything that people are uploading are their own original material (although I could be wrong and it could be in the public domain). I chose this site because it has a direct correlation to my E Commerce idea (my other class - I know some of you are in there, too). The site is fairly easy to use with crisp graphics and a nice-looking instructional video. It was pretty self-explanatory. The e-books were displayed in Adobe Flash, which was nice for me since I already know how to interface with that software, but the site would be unusable for someone with a low bandwidth (too much downloading).
I could see possibly using it professionally, as I like to keep track of chances for students to find materials free (eg. there was some Dickens and Shakespeare available on there), but I don't think I will continue to use it on my own. I have very strong views on Intellectual Property rights, and it really seems as though there is abuse happening on the site (which Yudu probably regularly goes in and cleans up, but still).
The site is free, but it promotes its (very reasonably priced) upgrade subscriptions all over the place. I understand that businesses are there to make money, and I don't know that I wouldn't do the same thing in their place, but I really dislike feeling like I'm being upsold. That is the other reason that I likely will not return to the site.
My second choice was "Content." Initially I looked into Smak.ly, a site to increase traffic to one's blog, but after repeated attempts to watch the instructional video not working, and a page of the workers suspiciously (maybe it was meant to be humorously) showing 8 pictures of the same man with the the same title, I decided not to give personal information.
So I actually wound up working with Yudu.com. It's a site that allows free downloads and uploads of printed materials. It seems as though it winds up being a file-sharing site, as I'm not certain that everything that people are uploading are their own original material (although I could be wrong and it could be in the public domain). I chose this site because it has a direct correlation to my E Commerce idea (my other class - I know some of you are in there, too). The site is fairly easy to use with crisp graphics and a nice-looking instructional video. It was pretty self-explanatory. The e-books were displayed in Adobe Flash, which was nice for me since I already know how to interface with that software, but the site would be unusable for someone with a low bandwidth (too much downloading).
I could see possibly using it professionally, as I like to keep track of chances for students to find materials free (eg. there was some Dickens and Shakespeare available on there), but I don't think I will continue to use it on my own. I have very strong views on Intellectual Property rights, and it really seems as though there is abuse happening on the site (which Yudu probably regularly goes in and cleans up, but still).
The site is free, but it promotes its (very reasonably priced) upgrade subscriptions all over the place. I understand that businesses are there to make money, and I don't know that I wouldn't do the same thing in their place, but I really dislike feeling like I'm being upsold. That is the other reason that I likely will not return to the site.
4.11.2010
Web Tool Choice One
I dug around on the database site provided for our easy research and found one under Organization that I liked called Nirvana - an online one-stop personal organizing site. I took the tour and decided that it would be something that I could see myself using, and when I went to make an account, it turned out that it's not taking new accounts right now. I could put myself on their waiting list and in one to two weeks they'd probably get back to me about an account. I was pretty sure that would make my assignment late, so I kept looking... and found Stixy.com.
It's pretty easy to use. You make an account and you get a virtual corkboard. You can drag sticky notes, pics, to-do notes (like the sticky notes but with time and date, and the site offers reminders on those items), or even documents onto the board. Instead of telling you how to arrange your data like most organization tools, the user gets to place things however s/he wants. The sticky's can be made different sizes or colors depending on the user's organizing whims. There are a couple of things I haven't been able to figure out yet, such as how to make a title for my board (Stixy allows multiple boards) and I can't find a tour or how-to link on the site, but I can work around that.
As of writing this, I have not seen any other students' blogs saying that they've used this site. The example the website uses is of planning a bike trip. I see myself as using this personally - I chose it because I organize well with lists and sticky notes, and since this is on the web, I can sign in from wherever and add something to my board (which is great since I can't remember to bring a calendar anywhere nor update it with my plans when I get back to it). The board that I created so far is a general task list - I have the homework assignments written on it as well as reminders to change the laundry, complete my census form, etc. I look forward to creating a board to organize the personal shower I'm throwing for my sister next month - I can track recipes, costs, invitations, RSVP's, or whatever on there. It also has a collaboration element to it in that I can invite other people to sign in to the account (customizable by each board, so someone on my shower board isn't necessarily given access to my son's birthday party board, for example). My sister could jump on there and add something if she wanted, which is pretty neat, since we don't have very many chances to talk in person and most of our communication is digital.
I don't see myself using this professionally since we've got Outlook at work with similar functions, and I tend to use real sticky notes posted along the sides of my computer to remember random things throughout the day.
One other thing I learned: it's hard to try out online collaboration tools when I am not collaborating with anyone on something; thus, the organization tool was chosen after wasting a lot of time looking at the collaboration tools.
It's pretty easy to use. You make an account and you get a virtual corkboard. You can drag sticky notes, pics, to-do notes (like the sticky notes but with time and date, and the site offers reminders on those items), or even documents onto the board. Instead of telling you how to arrange your data like most organization tools, the user gets to place things however s/he wants. The sticky's can be made different sizes or colors depending on the user's organizing whims. There are a couple of things I haven't been able to figure out yet, such as how to make a title for my board (Stixy allows multiple boards) and I can't find a tour or how-to link on the site, but I can work around that.
As of writing this, I have not seen any other students' blogs saying that they've used this site. The example the website uses is of planning a bike trip. I see myself as using this personally - I chose it because I organize well with lists and sticky notes, and since this is on the web, I can sign in from wherever and add something to my board (which is great since I can't remember to bring a calendar anywhere nor update it with my plans when I get back to it). The board that I created so far is a general task list - I have the homework assignments written on it as well as reminders to change the laundry, complete my census form, etc. I look forward to creating a board to organize the personal shower I'm throwing for my sister next month - I can track recipes, costs, invitations, RSVP's, or whatever on there. It also has a collaboration element to it in that I can invite other people to sign in to the account (customizable by each board, so someone on my shower board isn't necessarily given access to my son's birthday party board, for example). My sister could jump on there and add something if she wanted, which is pretty neat, since we don't have very many chances to talk in person and most of our communication is digital.
I don't see myself using this professionally since we've got Outlook at work with similar functions, and I tend to use real sticky notes posted along the sides of my computer to remember random things throughout the day.
One other thing I learned: it's hard to try out online collaboration tools when I am not collaborating with anyone on something; thus, the organization tool was chosen after wasting a lot of time looking at the collaboration tools.
4.10.2010
E Portfolios
Ah, the E Portfolio. To be honest, I hate them. I find that they lack a real customization to be able to really get across who you are. They also make me very nervous, as the only ones I've used to date have been job search related. I had to create one to apply for my job at NHCC (I imagine this was through the efolio link that was available since that was through MnSCU).
Today I signed up for a portfolio through Visual CV. It was ok in terms of usability. I liked that I could import my LinkedIn profile, which made it pretty painless to populate my history. I don't expect that I will ever return to the site unless for an assignment in this class.
I was interested in some of the other portfolio sites for artists, but since what I saw seemed to be for visual artists, I didn't know that they would be any more appropriate for me as an author than the other, more job oriented sites. I really feel that keeping a current blog and pointing people to a professional website about me is more appropriate for me as an author. I'm also not looking for a new job right now. Because of this, I made my portfolio private (available only to those with whom I share it).
I found it very curious that my name (3 different versions of it) had already been taken as a username. I have an uncommon name, and it's usually very easy for me to use it as a handle/username. I wound up having to use BFrykman.
I intend to look into this more and see what sort of electronic portfolios exist for authors/editors. I'm sure that they're out there.
As a side note, thanks for the positive feedback on my last (well, first) post. Myra, I look forward to answering your question in my next post. Because my original thought behind this blog was a chance to write about zombies, I'd like to have at least a little something about them, so here's another pic. I had the chance to be a zombie extra in a movie made independently last fall in St. Paul (I believe they are still trying to get the funds to finish shooting and unfortunately I have yet to see any footage). Here is me zombified by a professional. I know that it looks kind of cheesy, but I think with the lighting used it will end up looking right on film. It was never explained to me whether the black stippling was some sort of mold associated with the virus I was infected with or whether it was soot from the building on fire next door. Your guess is as good as mine. Further bummer: the huge gash on my forehead made with thick blood fell off before we filmed. The makeup artist said she'd reattach it but never did.
Today I signed up for a portfolio through Visual CV. It was ok in terms of usability. I liked that I could import my LinkedIn profile, which made it pretty painless to populate my history. I don't expect that I will ever return to the site unless for an assignment in this class.
I was interested in some of the other portfolio sites for artists, but since what I saw seemed to be for visual artists, I didn't know that they would be any more appropriate for me as an author than the other, more job oriented sites. I really feel that keeping a current blog and pointing people to a professional website about me is more appropriate for me as an author. I'm also not looking for a new job right now. Because of this, I made my portfolio private (available only to those with whom I share it).
I found it very curious that my name (3 different versions of it) had already been taken as a username. I have an uncommon name, and it's usually very easy for me to use it as a handle/username. I wound up having to use BFrykman.
I intend to look into this more and see what sort of electronic portfolios exist for authors/editors. I'm sure that they're out there.
As a side note, thanks for the positive feedback on my last (well, first) post. Myra, I look forward to answering your question in my next post. Because my original thought behind this blog was a chance to write about zombies, I'd like to have at least a little something about them, so here's another pic. I had the chance to be a zombie extra in a movie made independently last fall in St. Paul (I believe they are still trying to get the funds to finish shooting and unfortunately I have yet to see any footage). Here is me zombified by a professional. I know that it looks kind of cheesy, but I think with the lighting used it will end up looking right on film. It was never explained to me whether the black stippling was some sort of mold associated with the virus I was infected with or whether it was soot from the building on fire next door. Your guess is as good as mine. Further bummer: the huge gash on my forehead made with thick blood fell off before we filmed. The makeup artist said she'd reattach it but never did.
4.01.2010
Guess What My Interest Is
My interests in life are many. My obsessions (thankfully) are few. The zombie is easily my longest-standing, nightmare-inducing, cold sweat-making obsession. And I don't mean just any old zombie; I mean the concept of the walking dead as told by cheap-horror-movie great George Romero. Sure, zombies can be found in history - the word is credited by many as having roots in an African language (nzambi being the most commonly found variant in my experience), brought here by the victims of the slave trade and eventually made a part of the voudoun religion (a hybrid of many religions such as African tribal religions and, surprisingly to many who know nothing of what "voodoo" is, Catholicism). The Haitian voudoun zombie predates Hollywood by quite a bit, and there are documented records of persons who were dead and then brought back to "life" by a voudoun priest/ess. Mainly this was used to create a slave for the fields - a mindless laborer. There is also documentation which shows that voudoun priest/esses can utilize a powder somehow derived from a blowfish to make a drug which puts a person in a catatonic state with pulse and breathing so slowed that the victim is buried alive, later to be unearthed by the holy person or those who may have paid for the service.
But that's not my point.
My point is that I am obsessed with zombies in a more modern sense of the word; the mindless flesh-cravers wandering the earth in search of a good bite to eat. I don't care whether they were caused by a mutation, by toxic waste, by space dust, by a mysterious virus, or by some other half-explained means. I don't care whether they're fast or slow, and I don't care whether they retain partial memory of their former life. (Well I do, but I'm making a point and I'm trying not to get side-tracked with particulars.)
I'm just obsessed with zombies.
More soon.
Image from Romero's 1968 Night of the Living Dead.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
