It has been months and months, and I'm finally returning to this series. Fortunately and not surprisingly, my tweeting was significantly less while writing the book, especially tweets with "useful" links. So you haven't really missed out on much … not that you would anyways.

I promise I won't make you wait so long next time, but this won't be returning to a weekly series. Maybe bi-monthly; likely monthly. It all depends on my Twitter behavior. But if you need your Emily fix sooner and more regularly, just follow me on Twitter.

Without further ado, here are my subjectively-useful links from the past several months.

July 19 – November 8, 2009

• sig.ma is an interesting data aggregation tool that generates live views of web data using microformats, RDF and RDFa.
• I do, indeed, have a MySpace page. But I really don't use the system. Too clunky, too crappy, too pedophiley for me. I'm not so much of a snob, though, that I can't appreciate what a big deal it is that MySpace is getting into the semantics game and integrating hCalendar and hReview microformats.
• I'm not a morning person, despite the fact I start each work day at 7am. Thankfully, I work from home, so none of my coworkers are subjected to my wonderful disposition during that particular time of day. But, if I were back in the office, I suspect this coffee cup would give folks fair warning.

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Published in: Finds

Tags: accessibility, books, bumper stickers, clocks, coffee cups, fonts, food, humor, lamps, mash-ups, microformats, Microformats Made Simple, music, Post-Its, screen readers, semantics, sexism, Snuggie, surveys, Twitter, typefaces, women in the web

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Earlier this month, Webuquerque hosted Introduction to Microformats, presented by Emily Lewis (that's me!).

We were back at Uptown Sports Bar & Grill, and had a decent turnout of about 21 people. If you weren't among that elite group (or maybe you just need a refresher) here's a recap, the slide deck, video and photos.

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Published in: Presentations

Tags: Adobe User Group, Albuquerque, community, Emily Lewis, microformats, microformats-2009-10-07, microformats-meetup, microformats-presentation, microformats-session, New Mexico, NMAUG, presentations, upcoming:event=4226407, web industry, Webuquerque

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Seven months ago, I posted the first article in this series, announcing that I had gotten a book deal. I was thrilled and excited for the new adventure. During the months of writing and editing, the thrill and excitement faded; replaced by stress, frustration and a growing realization that writing a book just isn't something that I would ever do again.

Now, about a month out from completing the book, my emotions have shifted yet again. The stress is slowly oozing from my body, the frustration is becoming just a memory and I'm starting to feel a small spark of excitement again as Microformats Made Simple is officially on sale!

And this blog series is officially at its conclusion. I have some final thoughts on my experience to share (and record for posterity and the needed reminder to myself to never do this again). But before I dive into all that, how about I give you an idea of what to expect … you know, in case you are on the fence about buying the book.

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Published in: Commentaries

Tags: book publishing, books, Emily Lewis, I'm Writing a Book series, microformats, Microformats Made Simple, Peachpit New Riders, writing

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Which means it is time to finish up this book writing series.

In the first three articles, I explained everything from how I got the opportunity to the proposal to the contract to the actual writing. Now it is time to dive into the editorial process. I'll also give you a sneak peak of the book design (you're welcome).

Without further ado …

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Published in: Commentaries

Tags: book publishing, books, Emily Lewis, I'm Writing a Book series, microformats, Microformats Made Simple, Peachpit New Riders, writing

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Two weeks ago, Webuquerque — along with our sister NMAUG organization Animotion NM — hosted Podcasting & Vodcasting 101, presented by local audio/video producer Vincent Ascoli.

We had a lovely turnout of over 35 people joining us at our new (to us) venue, the UNM ARTS Lab.

Weren't able to join us? We've got you covered with a recap, the slide deck, video and photos!

Webuquerque Survey

But before I dive into all that, let me first ask you to take a few minutes to complete Webuquerque's first user survey, Help Us Help You.

I know I sound like a broken record, but Webuquerque is about community (that means you). And we want to make sure we are delivering what the community (you) wants. So, let us know what you think!

All respondents will be eligible to win one of five $10 Amazon gift cards we are giving away as a thank you for taking the time to complete the survey.

Don't wait! The survey closes tomorrow, on September 18, 2009. Gift card winners will be notified the week of September 23.

Now, back to regularly scheduled programming …

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Published in: Presentations

Tags: Adobe User Group, Albuquerque, community, New Mexico, NMAUG, podcasting, vodcasting, web industry, Webuquerque

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Published in: Commentaries

Tags: Emily Lewis, ExpressionEngine, microformats, Microformats Made Simple, Oomph, RSS, shameless self promotion, SXSW

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Webuquerque's recently hosted The Battle of Development Frameworks & Libraries, presented by local developer Mark Casias. We had a nice turnout of about 20 people. If you weren't able to join us, we have everything you need to feel like you were (almost) there.

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Published in: Presentations

Tags: Adobe User Group, Albuquerque, CMS, community, frameworks, JavaScript, libaries, New Mexico, web development, web industry, Webuquerque

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But since I'm already two months late in posting this recap, a few more minutes won't kill you. Let me first tell you about the event during which I gave the aforementioned demo.

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Published in: Presentations

Tags: Albuquerque, CMS, community, demo, Emily Lewis, ExpressionEngine, New Mexico, NMTC

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I'm still busy as hell, but I'm also still committed to this series (for now). So, here are subjectively-useful links from the past several weeks of tweets. If you don't want to wait another month (or more), just follow me on Twitter.

June 21 – July 19, 2009

• I have spent more than my fair share of hours (upon days, upon weeks) developing HTML emails for my employer. This effort is torturous, filled with <font>s, redundant CSS and nested <table>s. But to get these emails to work across clients makes it even more painful, particularly when trying to get Outlook to cooperate. So when Microsoft announced Outlook 2010 would continue to use Word as its rendering engine, I felt even more convinced that killing those Microshit idiots would be justifiable homicide. Thankfully, smarter (and more rational) people started fixoutlook.org to try to get Microsoft to embrace email/web standards. Who knows if the effort will work (doubtful, since MS are douchebags), but the concept is great and the mosaic interface is nothing short of astounding.
• Thanks to years of therapy, the natural aging (and wizening process) and a growing realization that life is to short too sweat the small stuff (and most of the big stuff), I agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment.
• I'm not all that concerned about saving the Earth … mostly because I think those efforts are really about saving the human way of life. I believe in evolution and if that means we fucked up the planet to the point we can no longer survive, then so be it. It's not PC and it's not popular. But then I discovered these Martreeni glasses. Go ahead, call me a treehugger, as long as vodka and cool glassware is involved.

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Published in: Finds

Tags: beer, copyright, fonts, glassware, HTML5, humor, lamps, Microsoft Outlook, music mashups, profanity, tweets, Twitter, typefaces, useful tweets, videos, women in the web

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Two weeks ago, Webuquerque hosted Search Engine Optimization, presented by local online marketing expert Chris Kenworthy.

We had a record turnout of over 50 people, including folks who made the trip down from Santa Fe. If you weren't able to join us, we've got everything to make you feel like you were there.

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Published in: Presentations

Tags: Adobe User Group, Albuquerque, community, New Mexico, NMAUG, search, SEM, SEO, web industry, Webuquerque

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