Creating Itchy

Photography and Video games colide.

2013-02-07T13:17:00.000-05:00

Fun and amazing photographs from +Christian Åslund as he transforms the streets of Hong Kong into video games. See more at the website Photography and Video games collide.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

2013-02-03T12:12:00.001-05:00

Shepherdstown = Home

2012-12-18T07:43:00.001-05:00

Here is a little video I put together to show off my great community of Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

The Red Elevator

2012-11-01T11:36:00.003-04:00

This is my latest piece. It is of the Trinity Episcopal church in Shepherdstown, WV.

If you die in an elevator, be sure to push the Up button.
- Sam Levenson

All hail our new leaders. Long live the droids.

2012-10-04T13:47:00.000-04:00

There is a huge transformation going on in our world. We are changing things so fast that soon we will not be able to even keep up with our own creations.

be a mensch

2012-10-04T13:44:00.001-04:00

Shepherdstown identified for pilot Entrepreneurs’ Cafe

2012-08-14T07:45:00.000-04:00

Shepherdstown identified for pilot Entrepreneurs’ Cafe

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Shepherdstown is one of five communities in West Virginia identified by economic and community development group, Vision Shared, to pilot a program called the Entrepreneurs' Café. The program aims to provide micro-funding awards to entrepreneurs at the local level. The program is designed to replicate a successful micro-funding program in Huntington, W.Va. called Café Huntington.

Vision Shared will co-host a café launch event at The Station in Shepherdstown on Thursday, September 6, 2012 beginning at 6 p.m. During the event local entrepreneurs are invited to "pitch" their idea or project for funding. Attendees pay $10 for a meal, the opportunity to hear small business development ideas and vote on their favorite project. The winning entrepreneur receives the proceeds from the purchase of meals and a special cash award provided by Vision Shared for the launch event.

“The success of Café Huntington and its organizers willingness to help Vision Shared develop a pilot program spurs our ability to facilitate these programs around the state,” said Rebecca McPhail Randolph, President of Vision Shared. “We are very excited to introduce this concept in the Eastern Panhandle and underscore the fact that sometimes a little funding makes a big difference for an entrepreneur.”

The Entrepreneurs’ Café program is part of a long-term plan to develop the entrepreneurial climate in West Virginia by Vision Shared. In May 2012 the organization released a white paper with recommendations for encouraging economic growth and development through entrepreneurial education and activity. The white paper is available at www.visionshared.com.

For more information about the event visit www.revWV.com or email David Rosen at
rosend@gmail.com.

New Commission Piece for Kate

2012-07-19T14:06:00.001-04:00

Here is my latest commission piece for Kate... It is of a church in Shepherdstown, WV.

Socialism, Capitalism, and the Terminator.

2012-05-07T10:43:00.000-04:00

This is a very strange blog post for me, but I wanted to put this out there to see what your response is to it. This weekend I watched this whole documentary about manufacturing in the U.S by PBS. It was called America Revealed. So this documentary had great stats they were throwing out there about America and manufacturing (U.S. is the largest manufacturer in the world by far. We manufacturer more now then we have ever in the history of America.) The images they kept playing on the TV were of people watching robots manufacture. How great is that! We can do a lot more now because of our innovation as a humans. I was so pumped after watching that show that it reaffirmed that we as Americans are Great! We are great! We are the leading innovators in the world.

So all weekend I was thinking about America Revealed and how manufacturing effects us. Then on the way to work this morning while listening to Morning Joe on MSNBC I began to worry. Who owns these robots? Who should own these robots? What if I could buy a robot to do my job? How do robots fit into a capitalist society in 2040, 2100, 2200? How do robots fit into a socialist society in 2040, 2100, 2200?

I consider myself a capitalist. I love competition, I love working hard and reaping the rewards. But, this whole thought process had me thinking. What if we as humans could have robots do most of our work, or all of our work for that matter? If they were owned by the people as a whole, and all of us could benefit and relax we could then work on more innovative ideas furthering human kind. Would we be better off that way? Or would we be better off having a few of us owning the robots, while the rest of us have no reason to exist other than to serve those that own the robots? If it is the second, would we tax the owners of the robots to try to give a minimum quality of life to the rest? What reason would those few owners have to further human kind at the point they have full power?

At some point when we can afford to provide a high quality of life for all, we must transition to a socialist type of system. I do not think this point is now. I think we can not afford to provide everyone a high quality of life. I think our government is there to to make sure that we progress towards that point as we as a society become more and more wealthy. OK, that is my completely random sci-fi/politics induced thought of the day. I would love to know your thoughts on this! Please post a comment and let me know how off base I am.

MEME of Shepherdstown

2012-02-16T13:50:00.001-05:00

Just so we all understand all the perspectives of Shepherdstown are. :)

What nobody tells people who are beginners

2012-02-14T09:48:00.001-05:00

I have spoken with younger and older artists about creative humps and the frustration that it brings. I have always asked them how they deal with it and how they surge past it. I am a digital photographer but I love painting and drawing but struggle to accomplish what I can accomplish with my photography. I feel Ira Glass truly sums it up here. I want to thank Josh Stella for posting it this morning. :)

From Ira Glass . . .

“What nobody tells people who are beginners — and I really wish someone had told this to me . . . is that all of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, and it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase. They quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know it’s normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

——————–

Ira Glass is the host and producer of This American Life. Click here for the full original video (runtime 5:20).

The Optimist Creed

2012-01-02T18:10:00.001-05:00

Words to live by:

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself ...

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Shepherdstown,United States

18 things I learned by 30.

2011-12-16T11:26:00.001-05:00

So I spotted this at my coffee spot this morning and I had to share this with you.

18 things I learned by 30:

Love never feels the same twice. Each time you love someone, it will feel completely different from anything you have ever felt.
Art Degree's are useless
It's perfectly ok to not answer the phone, the door, the emails for a while. All the info will be waiting when you return.
Treat your lungs well. When you decide to exercise/ run from the police, the lungs will decide how well you perform.
Dont comment on things you know nothing about. It always back fires.
Parents are people too.
Everyone has bad days.
Smile. Even if you don't feel like it.
Today may suck. Tomorrow May Suck... Eventually, things suck less.
Change your oil every 3k miles. It makes a huge difference in the long run.
Have a savings account. Dont withdraw from it. Ever.
Moisturize
You will always have 2nd thoughts, doubt, ect. Thats ok.
Dont Drink and Drive EVER. Its just not worth it!
Surround yourself with people who's values you admire.
Always tip more than needed. If they didn't need the money they wouldn't be doing the job.
Don't watch the news. It'll just make you sad.
Read EVERYTHING!

Anonymous in the Lost Dog in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

My New Years Resolution for 2012! Follow the Optimists Creed.

2011-12-12T06:58:00.000-05:00

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself ...

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

found my inspiration

2011-12-07T07:27:00.001-05:00

I am very excited about finally finding some new inspiration with my photography. Here is one of my latest photographs that I plan on developing a series around.

Foreclosed by David Rosen

Evolution of Search

2011-11-29T11:48:00.001-05:00

Great understanding on how search/google has evolved through time and why it is successful.

5 rules for social media use for small businesses

2011-11-09T15:51:00.002-05:00

So one of the first things I tell new clients about social media is that there some rules to follow or at least guidelines. Here are the top 5 things I would stay away from when using social media as a small business.

Not develop your strategy.

So many businesses jump into social media with no idea what they are doing and why their goals are for social media. It is important to understand the tools and networks you are becoming part of. Develop your plan and set your goals.

Be real.

People connect with people not a no name corporations. You will find more success when you are yourself and interact as a real person and offer your expertise. Also be sure to use your manners and thank others.

Do Not Spam!

The quickest way to destroy your relationship is by constantly barraging them with sales pitches. One of the biggest mistakes I see from businesses is just using social media as a way to blast the Internet with useless unsolicited sales attempts.

Be Friendly.

Do not attack people or other businesses online it is very offensive to potential customers. Stay professional and avoid the temptation to constantly vent.

Do Not Self Promote All the Time.

Promote your partners, customers, friends and followers. They will be more receptive to you and more likely promote you which is the end goal.

If you would like to know more contact me at Contact@shiftthrive.com or @shiftthrive

Social Media Plan - Preparing your business for social media

2011-10-25T10:06:00.001-04:00

Here is a great presentation on Social Media Planning for Business.
Social media plan

View more presentations from Shift Thrive

Incredible spiral illustration of the Mona Lisa

2011-10-18T07:38:00.000-04:00

Ok this is out of control. I love when they speed up the video clip.

Incredible spiral illustration of the Mona Lisa

The Content Shift: How your business can lead.

2011-10-11T07:52:00.000-04:00

We have seen over the past couple of years the decline of the newspaper industry. The internet has made information easily available and quickly decreased the need for a paper. We have seen the death of many newspapers and over 15,000 jobs have been lost due to the downsizing of our newspapers. The overall newsroom workforce has declined about 11%. Although it is sad to see this sudden change in the news market I believe we are seeing a shift that presents a huge opportunity for business.

The shift is from news media being the provider of information to the experts in the field becoming accessible. The shift is from writers working for large newspapers to working for businesses creating content. We are seeing our industry thought leaders now providing us with the information straight from the source. If I want to find out the latest information about a specific topic I can now use social media and find that information on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or YouTube.

So what does this shift mean? It means that rather than industry experts spending money on advertising in the business sections of their local paper, they are either are spending that time or money on developing the content themselves. They are becoming the provider of content because the shift has removed the middle man and now has us looking right at the experts for the answers. The proof is in the pudding. My wife watches dateline and tweets with Josh Makiewicz (@JoshMankiewicz). We follow stars on twitter but we also follow businesses who we see as leaders in the industry we are interested in. Our television is reporting on trending topics on twitter. People open up facebook in the morning with coffee rather than their newspaper.

What does this mean for business? So the shift has just begun and you have a major opportunity here. Whether you are a small, medium, or large business your have the ability to lead in your industry by providing content and building trust and engaging with the readers. Now only if I was a good writer. :)

12x12 Art show at plum in Shepherdstown

2011-09-26T10:19:00.001-04:00

So I am currently working on putting together an art show at plum. The shows only contraint is that all of the art must be 12x12. I have spoke with a few local artists and I think at this point I will have close to 10 people submitting. I hope this project will evolve to begin with themed shows. Possibly shows with polical messages. I personally am struggling with my piece because I am trying to do something different. I hope to have my piece dont by this Friday. If you are at all interested in participating let me know.

The major lesson I have learned in my first two years in local politics

2011-08-30T07:31:00.002-04:00

So it has been almost two years since I began my time on the Shepherdstown Planning Commission and Town Council. I can sum up the lessons I have learned in one small saying. "Those who show up run things." So if you do not like what is going on in your community or with our government and you truly care... Show up.

I am amazed at the power of the residents in town who take the time to attend meetings and voice their concern or opinion or even email the commissioners and council men and women. Their opinion is the only feedback the governing body receives other then that of their vocal neighbors who drop by to provide their opinion. One of the major pieces I see as broken in government and why I feel our system is broken is that people most of the time only show up when they are in opposition to an issue. This is why government is so slow. Anytime we as a society want to move forward with improvement and need a public hearing only those who are against it show up.

Lately I have been talking to my fellow residents and putting the bug in their ear that they need to participate. We need your opinion. We need Americans as a whole to get involved especially when they support something. Yes you blast your opinion and your perspective on social media but that is not enough.

Get involved and show up. Show up at your town meetings. Show up at your county meetings. Write your Representatives if you support something (this morning I wrote every government person that represents us in WV about our parking issue.) Vote or run for office. Volunteer!

I can honestly tell you from my time as a town councilman that it truly does make a difference especially at the local level. And we all know the local level is where change begins.

Brand I am most loyal to

2011-08-23T10:32:00.000-04:00

So today the discussion question in my class was what Brand are you most loyal to.

The Brand I have been most loyal to is of course Apple. I have not spent a dollar on another brand of computers since my first apple 14 years ago. I believe Apple still has pride in its products and I have not found a product that they work hard to make their products “User Friendly.” Here is the way I feel Apple demonstrates this to me:

Logo – They have a very clean simple logo that is one color and usually found in white or black maybe with a slight gradient. It is not very detailed but it doesn’t require its logotype to identify it.

Packaging- Even their packaging is easy to use. I am sure you all have dealt with gifts that require blow torches and machetes to open. Once you open those gifts the parts go everywhere and then comes to fun part… trying to figure out how to put that thing together. If you ever had the opportunity to open an apple product you will know that it is fun. The boxes slide open easily. The products pull out easily and are presented as if they are in a jewelry box.

The Product – Apple products look great! Hands down they are some of the best looking products in the market. Their products might not be the biggest or smallest (some cases they are) But they do it right. They do not feel cheap, they have great plastics and use metal when need be. The iphone 4 is all glass and feels like something from the future. The new imac looks like a monitor but the whole computer is built in. The apple mouse is touch enabled without using track balls or rollers that collect dust.

The Advertising – Simple ads where someone explains why you should get a mac in a clear and concise way to clearly define the product advantage. The music ads use cutting edge music that any song they use in an ad sky rockets in sales.

The user interface – whether it is their website or itunes. Apple makes it very easy to buy products from them.

All around Apple has great designers involved in every aspect of their business. Not only that but they are constantly evolving their designs for the better.

The product line I have no loyalty to at all is chewing gum. I am not even tied to a certain flavor. I just grab a pack that looks good at that moment and chew away. There are some brands which I will not buy again due to lack of taste but for the most part I like change when it comes to gum. I like new packaging ideas. I like new flavors. I really don’t care who makes it. It is gum. :)

Sleep!

2011-05-19T13:42:00.001-04:00

just a funny thought of mine. :)

We Are One - Candlelight vigil - Shepherdstown, WV April 4th

2011-04-04T10:08:00.003-04:00

Shepherdstown, WV April 4, 2011 08:00PM to 08:45PM Hosted by Rod Snyder Event Description: The Jefferson County Young Democrats, Shepherd University Young Democrats and Jefferson County NAACP will hold a candlelight vigil to honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to emphasize the ongoing struggle for civil rights and worker rights. Location: McMurran Hall at Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WV 25443