http://obviousity.posterous.com It sounded right in my head. posterous.com Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:11:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/mmiIAlEtJZI/how-to-write-bad-proposals-and-alienate-clien http://obviousity.posterous.com/how-to-write-bad-proposals-and-alienate-clien <p> <p><span style="font-size: x-small;">**NOTE: Read at your own risk - If you don't understand, appreciate, or are otherwise not keen on satire, please leave now ;) **</span></p> <p>Reviewing competing proposals is not uncommon in my day-to-day, especially with existing clients who are shopping for a new build after a number of years. I have to admit, I've been absolutely inspired by the quality of some work that has come across my desk in this regard. So inspired, in fact, I've almost felt a fear in me not to proceed with my counter-proposal.<p /> But, I'm a fighter.&nbsp; So instead of cowering under my desk as I've threatened to do so many times before, I took this is an opportunity to learn and apply some new techniques to my current work process.&nbsp; <p /> The following is a combined list of my observations and recommendations on <strong>how to write a proposal that's a guaranteed winner</strong>:<p /></p> <ol> <li><strong>Techy words are scary and sound self-important. Use them frequently, especially out of context. <br /> - </strong>Normal people love to feel lost in a sea of unfamiliar words and impersonal half-thoughts. They also love reading paragraph after paragraph about the inner workings of a build: plug-ins, taxonomies, you name it. Littering your proposals with jargon is guaranteed to flood your business with willing clients. </li> <li><strong>Spend at least 40% of your proposal saying bad things about the current build. <br />- </strong>Never mind the fact the client came to you with a list of current gripes. Maybe they were already aware that their site was old and doesn't do what they need any more. Don't waste your time getting the prospect excited about a new solution; just keep beating the dead horse. It works every time.</li> <li><strong>Spend another 20% filling pages with lofty buzz words and fluff.&nbsp; <br />- </strong>Tell them about how they need a "website 2.0+ redesign" built on "software that will be everything you want it to be" and how you're going to "set up a social network" as part of "providing a very powerful internet marketing experience." - <em>(note: the more you can write like a non-native speaker, the better)</em>&nbsp; <strong><br /> - </strong>Here's another great one that plays on #1 as well: "your software shouldn't be limited to itself. The user should also be able to pull in multiple API's, creating a whole new user experience and making the site totally user-driven"</li> <li><strong>Misinform as much as you can <br />-</strong> Clients love to be mislead, especially when they come to you because they trust your expertise. Not sure about a subject or if it even applies to what you're quoting? That's fine!! Just make it up as you go!!&nbsp; This is especially great as you will begin to discredit other developers in the process - as the prospect swallows down your false rhetoric, everyone else will begin to leave a bad taste. More work for you! Yay!</li> <li><strong>Don't let the client know why any of what you're saying is of value to them. <br />- </strong>Tying the first 4 points together, it's incredibly important that you produce bullet point after bullet point of semi-related facts and quasi-important observations without telling the client how it affects them.&nbsp; Don't ever mention helping attract new customers or using content to direct qualified users into the sales funnel. And never, EVER speak to them in terms they understand.&nbsp; Clients absolutely hate to be told how investing in a website is going to help their brand or their business, especially when you do it clearly and with purpose.</li> <li><strong>Whatever you do, don't encourage the client by speaking as if <span style="text-decoration: underline;">you</span> are the ones who will provide that value.</strong><strong><br /> - </strong>In case you do slip up and mention how your work is of value to the client, at least make sure not to give them the idea that YOUR work explicitly is the best fit. Use the third person and speak in a passive voice: "your developer would need to" "the website should" -- saying things like "we will do X to give you Y" or "we've had A results with related B, we are excited to C for you" is a terrible idea.&nbsp; Talking about the project like it's already yours is an even worse one.</li> </ol> <p>To sum it all up: talk out your ass and don't bother thinking about, much less addressing the client's needs. I mean, they came to YOU for work because they can't do it themselves anyway. Who cares if you give them a reason to stick around?</p> <p>It's not like there's others out there who are going to take the time to make that client understand and feel good about their investment. There's <strong>definitely</strong> no one out there ready to build a lasting relationship by taking a genuine interest in the prospect's ultimate success.</p> <p>...</p> <p>That said, let me leave you with what is one of <em>the greatest compliments</em> I've ever been paid, by what is one <em>the best clients</em> I will ever have:</p> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>"If I could meet some of these developers, I'd kick them in the teeth myself! ...<p /> ...not you, Casse. You actually know how to talk to PEOPLE."</p> </blockquote> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/how-to-write-bad-proposals-and-alienate-clien">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/how-to-write-bad-proposals-and-alienate-clien#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/mmiIAlEtJZI" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/how-to-write-bad-proposals-and-alienate-clien Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:02:21 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/5PiR7sCZLY0/name-that-pirate http://obviousity.posterous.com/name-that-pirate <p> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/5wxgZ3jkfd6H7vmDe3DAh4D3oyJuHquDsa88OPfixCySHxMn0kzZtZhaEunJ/pirate-wall.png"><img alt="Pirate-wall" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/k4Gd9WemyuK51eyJpODXULH0FNzZyH8wui3PCh6LD2tfrJoUURkiNHAjAZth/pirate-wall.png.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> <p>I&#39;d like interrupt your otherwise productive schedule to ask you one simple question:<p />What do you get when you combine two overworked code monkeys, a printer, and a bunch of post-it notes?<p />Why, <b>Name that Pirate!</b> of course!!<p /> This sad little display of just how close I am to losing it combines a number of unlabeled pirate images &amp; corresponding answers on sticky notes - it is a game, after all - We added a pirate every other day for a couple months until we ran out of ideas. Some of my &quot;more clever&quot; favorites include &quot;woman arrested for music pirating,&quot; and &quot;not a pirate. just a grouse.&quot;  Clever grouse lives just above the shoulder of my great-great-great-grand-something-in-law Jean Lafitte (real pirate. true story. look it up :) ...<p /> <i>Anyway, I&#39;m not just rambling.  There&#39;s a point to all this.:<p /></i><b>Sometimes you have to remind yourself to relax and just smile. </b>We become consumed with work so often we forget to just. chill. out - Name That Pirate reminds us to slow down and remember to breathe. (Seriously. Pirates of Penzance? How could you *not* smile at that?!!)<p /> How do you keep yourself smiling, even on the worst FML days?<p /><p /></p> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/name-that-pirate">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/name-that-pirate#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/5PiR7sCZLY0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/name-that-pirate Mon, 17 May 2010 12:03:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/JQ3xYs8Pa9U/5-reasons-to-embrace-shorthand-code-today http://obviousity.posterous.com/5-reasons-to-embrace-shorthand-code-today <p> <p>The more efficiently you can work, the better.  An important part of staying efficient is always improving your technique.  One (pretty easy) way to boost your efficiency and code smarts at the same time is to learn to seriously less than three shorthand coding techniques.</p> <p>Syntax and usage of shorthand varies across languages, but that's all details for another post. No matter your development vernacular: <em><strong>here’s 5 reasons not to be afraid to learn, and make habit, the proper shorthand methods for your particular discipline</strong></em>:</p> <ol> <li> <strong>It makes you look smart </strong>- or, should I say, it shows you pay attention and practice clean coding skills. It looks scary at first, but getting the hang of and applying shorthand appropriately shows you’ve advanced beyond the basics. It also opens you up to improving yourself as a hacker and changer-upper of all things pre-existing: you understand the syntax when you see it someone <em>else's</em> work, and you know how to move ahead with your customizations without doubling back into research mode -or worse- doing whats already done for you simply because you didn't recognize it was <em>already there.</em> </li> <li> <strong>It makes your code cleaner – </strong>I’m standing next to the anti-code-bloat soap box on this one. Shorthand means less breaking up the line-by-line flow of things – If you're a PHP type, consider one line of ternary operators vs an essay of curly brackets...  Which do you think is nicer to look at, much less follow?</li> <li> <strong>It creates less bloat – </strong>This goes hand in hand with the clean remark.  The cleaner you code, the less bloated you code.  The less bloated you code, the quicker it loads! (Yes, young grasshopper – all those tiny bytes add up to a BIG difference!) For the design-heads, would you rather a margin declaration on 4 separate lines, or in one short, smart statement? </li> <li> <strong>It Saves you Time – </strong>No matter how good you are, <em>you can only type so many keystrokes in an hour</em>. So, why not type less and get done faster? How’s that for a novel idea?!</li> <li> <strong>Saving time saves you money – </strong>Shorthand makes you more productive. That means you get the same work done in less time. A secondary side effect to all this is that, typing less also decreases your chance of mistyping/ coding an error - which also decreases your dev time, which makes you more productive; which makes you make more in less ... you get the point.</li> </ol> <p>So, yes. Shorthand is an awesome idea, and you should start with it today - but whatever you do <strong>remember to start out slow. </strong></p> <p>Rushing into this, as with anything new, will cause more heartache than its worth.  Developing for the front end? Get in the habit of <a href="http://codex.wordpress.org/CSS_Shorthand">writing margins/padding in one statement instead of four</a> – Work your way up to colors, and borders and grouping selectors …it's not so bad once you get the hang of it</p> <p>Dynamic code more your thing? Then don’t put yourself in a nesting nightmare up front – <a href="http://davidwalsh.name/php-shorthand-if-else-ternary-operators">get friendly with ternary operators</a> in easy places – like switching the site welcome message whether or not the user is logged in.</p> <p>I'm working on a deeper post centered on this topic - including examples and references for more learning.</p> <p><strong>My question for you right now is</strong>: are you using shorthand in your day to day coding? If you are, how has it made your life easier? If you aren't, why not?</p> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/5-reasons-to-embrace-shorthand-code-today">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/5-reasons-to-embrace-shorthand-code-today#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/JQ3xYs8Pa9U" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/5-reasons-to-embrace-shorthand-code-today Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:16:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/B3Nkg75isaY/blueprints-and-the-truth-of-whats-obvious http://obviousity.posterous.com/blueprints-and-the-truth-of-whats-obvious <p> <p>Listen. <p />An architect doesn't ASSUME there will be a door on the building; <em style="color: #000000;"><strong>She draws it in the blueprint</strong></em>.<p />Why?<p />Two reasons:<p /><strong>NUMBER ONE: </strong> <strong>Drawing on the blueprint gives her control of the vision.</strong><p /> Not only does she say "I need a door." But, by drawing it into the spec - she says "I need a door, and I want it here - and I want it to look like this"<p />And so then maybe the client says, "Nice door, but I was thinking we could change it this way" - and it's ok because she can change that spec before they build.  Or maybe the client says, "Actually, I don't really want a door. I want a secret tunnel from the back yard. You know, like the pyramids...?"<p />Any way it goes, the point is she took control and lead the discussion. <p /><strong>NUMBER TWO:"Obvious" is subjective.</strong><p />Builders don't build what isn't on the blueprint, and they don't ASSUME to build it anyway because "it's obvious."<p />It also makes the architect look like a real winner (READ: idiot!) to the client when she "assumes a door is obvious" and leaves it off the spec.<p /> ...<br /> <p /><em><strong>So, what the hell do doors and blueprints have to do with web development?<p /></strong></em><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">only EVERYTHING<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">An architect wouldn't assume a door because it's "obvious," so why would you make assumptions in a project scope?</span><p /> <span style="font-size: small;">Seriously. </span><p /><span style="font-size: small;">We take for granted the simple things in <em>our little web world.  </em>The things that are <em>obvious to us. </em>User login functions, site maps, Twitter buttons - What. Ever.</span><p /><span style="font-size: small;">...If you think "it's obvious" - you're wrong. </span><p /> <span style="font-size: small;">...If you assume "well yeah, of course" - <span style="text-decoration: underline;">write it down anyway<p /></span>...If you're not quite sure - <strong>ask the question. CONTROL THE DISCUSSION.</strong> </span><p /><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>The Moral of all this? Never. Assume. Anything. </strong><p /> Using "obvious" as a crutch leads to mistakes, ugly builds, and heartache down the line. Leaving "obvious" out of the spec is one of two things: Careless or stupid.</span><p /><span style="font-size: small;">In the end you either lose control of the vision, or you look like an ass for forgetting. Or both.</span><p /> </span></span></p> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/blueprints-and-the-truth-of-whats-obvious">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/blueprints-and-the-truth-of-whats-obvious#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/B3Nkg75isaY" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/blueprints-and-the-truth-of-whats-obvious Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:02:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/jA0piSiwtVw/sixpacktogoorg-ramps-up-the-campaign-to-free http://obviousity.posterous.com/sixpacktogoorg-ramps-up-the-campaign-to-free <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="" src="https://www.sixpacktogo.org/images/change-pa-beer-law.gif" /> </div> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="https://www.sixpacktogo.org/splash.da">sixpacktogo.org</a></div> <p>I got an update in the old inbox earlier. Looks like the fight for not-so-silly beer laws in PA is picking up speed *and* support!!</p> <p>I also noticed <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/join-the-fight-today-liberate-beer-sales-in-p">my original post on the topic</a> has 1,100+ views as of this writing. I can only hope some of those browsing eyes have converted to acting hands.</p> <p>I hope. I hope. I hope.</p> <p>Our beer laws are double dipping dumb ... and kinda old-fashioned, to boot.</p> <p>But forget this one rambling girl, go check out <a href="http://www.sixpacktogo.org">sixpacktogo.org</a> for yourself (and sorry about the music, I didn't do it :) ...and be sure to follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/sixpacktogo_org">@sixpacktogo_org</a> on the Twitter if it's half as dear to your heart as it is to mine.</p> <p>C'mon. FREE (OUR) BEER already!</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/sixpacktogoorg-ramps-up-the-campaign-to-free">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/sixpacktogoorg-ramps-up-the-campaign-to-free#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/jA0piSiwtVw" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/sixpacktogoorg-ramps-up-the-campaign-to-free Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:58:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/fhwYk7Sk7Hk/wtf-friday-when-bad-ads-and-badder-news-colli http://obviousity.posterous.com/wtf-friday-when-bad-ads-and-badder-news-colli <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/2wnJbFHjO9KS6D2z2cuvCpOYWVj1QpNlvoGHqL73Iy9t0VkFnj8uXVhtcJSK/wtf-ydr.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Wtf-ydr" height="392" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/Tdlefa5bK1feU0pBDsKNnz2WJ0qfympcZ2CKQgOOgB0qOPPkt7IQBoyALkZs/wtf-ydr.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p>I think I would have posted this anyway, but the fact that I finally found the ClassesUSA ad with "the constipated man" sealed the deal on this big giant WTF. I've been looking for that ad since I was inspired by one <a href="http://www.thechrista.com/dear-classesusa-please-fire-your-marketing-director/">Christa Watson's WTF Friday</a> post a couple weeks back.<p /> Anyway.<p />I have no problem with this news agent in particular - I imagine YDR didn't purposefully put all these awesome elements under my nose at once on purpose - It's just the combination of stolen tortoises; "popular" links about drugs and statutory rape; and really, REALLY, bad ads seemed a random collision in the WTF universe I just couldn't pass up.<p />Like a bad car accident, I can't stop looking at it - and scratching my head in WTF bewilderment.<p />Happy Friday!</p> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/wtf-friday-when-bad-ads-and-badder-news-colli">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/wtf-friday-when-bad-ads-and-badder-news-colli#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/fhwYk7Sk7Hk" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/wtf-friday-when-bad-ads-and-badder-news-colli Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:33:10 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/W6mZKm9H0EE/if-you-can-only-be-one-of-2-people-be-too-laz http://obviousity.posterous.com/if-you-can-only-be-one-of-2-people-be-too-laz <p> <p>You have two basic choices in life:</p> <ol> <li><strong>You can be a "people pleaser"</strong>, giving everyone everything (they think) they want and hoping you don't get your stories mixed up or called out in process (which is bound to happen)</li> <li><strong>You can be </strong><strong>"take-me-as-I-am"</strong> honest, rolling with the punches and accepting that not everyone is meant to be your fan (which is also bound to happen)</li> </ol> <p>Either way, you're going to get into the shit from time to time.</p> <p>Either way, you're going to find out things weren't what you anticipated/hoped/were told they were.</p> <p>Either way, what's meant to be will be - no matter how hard you try to change it. I don't mean you can't influence your path in life. I mean some things are beyond your control.&nbsp; The quicker you can accept that truth; the quicker you can really appreciate what you have and push forward.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Me? I'm too lazy to lie.</strong></span></p> <p>Keeping track of the stories takes too much. If I'm honest, and that's what I said or did - then, well, I guess that's what I meant. I'm willing to accept the rewards or consequences of my actions, admit my mistakes as they come, and move on with it.</p> <p>Oh, and by not being a "people pleaser," I'm not advocating selfish disregard for your neighbor.&nbsp; Humility, grace, and doing for others are all important. I'm just saying don't be someone else's doormat for the sake of feeling like you "belong."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>The honest path is harder, but the rewards are awesomer, too.</strong></span></p> <p>It's the path to real friendship and success. It's the way learn to face failure &amp; uncertainty head on and GROW FROM IT. And it gets (a little) easier every day you put your heart and soul into it.</p> <p>The best opportunities. The best Love. The best warm fuzzy happy bunny feeling...</p> <p>The best everythings in Life come when you push on and stay true.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/if-you-can-only-be-one-of-2-people-be-too-laz">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/if-you-can-only-be-one-of-2-people-be-too-laz#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/W6mZKm9H0EE" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/if-you-can-only-be-one-of-2-people-be-too-laz Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:21:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/gWjbrrvfSFw/am-i-the-only-one-seeing-the-new-google http://obviousity.posterous.com/am-i-the-only-one-seeing-the-new-google <p> <p>Google must be testing *another* new layout, because no one I've asked this morning, including my co-worker who sits 10 feet away from me, claims to see it... then I realize if I'm signed in under Account A or signed OUT of Google - I see it.&nbsp; If I sign in under Account B - it's business as usual. So, yeah, either they're testing something, or I've officially lost it.<p /> I noticed the change right away this morning - looks like a Bing clone sans background image... text is smaller, and now there's that extra "helpful" menu on the left plus a kind reminder of my location in the top right corner (in case I forget). Google.com still looks the same, though.<p /> I don't know if I like it... What do you think? Are you seeing it, too?<p /> I wish they'd stop fixing things that aren't broken.</p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/oAOxmZmQgbOZpBWIWf558YaN5wanMaGr2pfTeRirhgaOYiBoatwbKpdffJJG/dammit-google.jpg"><img alt="Dammit-google" height="324" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/Ush8GlciJQAVC6fZdSFj36xbXW9SHmvwzMQf76OXlO1Sw3TwVKpGz1WiLaDO/dammit-google.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/giLVwbeoCDTjBtqj4M741a2zsGrLnmyTBjFNJXC4OgaFM9sFBtu31aGkarQ1/dammit-google-ads.jpg"><img alt="Dammit-google-ads" height="323" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/EPuo4wdYj6eW6fPEl6n01GpbLco62fMn9g274JGVXXWOxL12nAnWgkQ6fTA0/dammit-google-ads.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/kkqdws1tgu68hcaUZjdFM1Gl3dZamxczw6wMeCsSt6cLkgSDkc0wqlrrTSIS/google-bing.jpg"><img alt="Google-bing" height="322" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/XvFJt4S3do5eFn60MHQ5GLMO0twoPNpG3G4vBVwC4HbtzsiA8L5i6qP3o6Li/google-bing.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/am-i-the-only-one-seeing-the-new-google">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/am-i-the-only-one-seeing-the-new-google">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/am-i-the-only-one-seeing-the-new-google#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/gWjbrrvfSFw" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/am-i-the-only-one-seeing-the-new-google Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:33:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/ObPbUkpA_i0/photoshop-turns-20-and-throws-a-party http://obviousity.posterous.com/photoshop-turns-20-and-throws-a-party <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpcdnmashable_rvsic" height="228" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/yifqsJswfjJddJhdfFpCuugBuCAveFclwsvJmbhrcnmCdzznofEClwkwncik/media_httpcdnmashable_rvsiC.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="484" /> </div> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://mashable.com/2010/02/18/photoshop-turns-20/">mashable.com</a></div> <p>This *is* pretty momentous.</p> <p>It ALSO makes me feel pretty old, as I peruse the article and realize I've been using The Photochop for about 75% of its total life (15 years for you non-math types). Which is roughly 60% of<strong> my</strong> total life (you can do <em>that math</em> yourself) ... *yikes*</p> <p>Go ahead and read the original article - if only for the screenshots and video of older versions. Oh, and if you've been invited to "the Party" ... I don't want to hear about it (READ: I'm beyond jealous :)</p> <p>So, here's to 20 more years of the design software that has become a noun, a verb, an adjective, and an Institution. Happy Birthday, Photoshop!</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/photoshop-turns-20-and-throws-a-party">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/photoshop-turns-20-and-throws-a-party#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/ObPbUkpA_i0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/photoshop-turns-20-and-throws-a-party Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:12:35 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/yNoerKIudX0/best-resume-ever-now-with-pictures http://obviousity.posterous.com/best-resume-ever-now-with-pictures <p> I can&#39;t make this up.<p />Our VP just walked in, claiming <a href="http://www.webking.com/" target="_blank">WebKing</a> must have an illegitimate son, and that we just received this ... uhm... work of portfolio genius?<p /> I&#39;m half tempted to contact the kid myself, on the DL. Take him under my wing as a charity case. I don&#39;t know. I haven&#39;t seen something like this since I co-produced the Burrito-Nightly-Monthly on my AOL homepage 12 years ago. (Hey, we all start somewhere - let it go.)<p /><b>Sweetheart, 1994 Called. They Want their MSPaint Masterpiece Back. No Questions Asked. Just. Give. It. Back.</b><p /> ... I don&#39;t know.  The mean part of me can&#39;t stop laughing (I didn&#39;t actually believe we *actually* just received this, just now. Like. <i>In 2010</i>) And the mothering part of me can&#39;t help feeling really. really. really. Bad.<p /> Really.<p />And the mean part is winning.<p />But enough of the rambling.<p />Here it is. The Best Resume Ever: <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/6I6k6DUQnXboxMh7jD0hVXIlXWMdqHszXFch5X2IJ3slSHKzAxXW7qwDlREo/resume.jpg"><img alt="Resume" height="682" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/UqHJ9Yiz7vxh5gR1Npv9BNtJJC4wpwcm5GEGt7frcR7YbPrvxDkTNOXGQ08R/resume.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/8pN8FZzMFlPecXmHX14SYHPaopUUW8vCSD5WUK0tpRPwv6zNy6ZW4LWwrZyn/resume2.jpg"><img alt="Resume2" height="671" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/nPXoKliGsaIuao9gcalNnThNgFe2NgRMMkFNvOu0bC1iSObMbcSdfIwFv995/resume2.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/best-resume-ever-now-with-pictures">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/best-resume-ever-now-with-pictures">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/best-resume-ever-now-with-pictures#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/yNoerKIudX0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/best-resume-ever-now-with-pictures Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:40:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/L8LsaF0_bJ8/custom-thesis-page-and-post-navigation-filthy http://obviousity.posterous.com/custom-thesis-page-and-post-navigation-filthy <p> <p><em>WARNING: This post assumes you have a working knowledge of php, HTML, CSS, and Wordpress/ Thesis functions and hooks. The following contains as-is code you are free to use AT YOUR OWN RISK. While I can assure you it works where I've used it, I make no disclaimer, warranty, or guarantee of its viability in your installation.</em></p> <p>I'm currently finishing up a heavily modded Thesis Wordpress site for a client. Can't wait to release the link, but in the meanwhile, I want to share a little hack I wrote to change the default "Previous" "Next" archive/ post/ etc links that come loaded by default. In the process, my client also wants the single post pages to navigate between other posts <strong>in the same category ONLY</strong>, and for both sets of navigation to read the same (by default one uses post titles while the other simply "previous" and "next" text)</p> <p>I looked around for solutions but what I found was either too much or too little of what I needed. So, naturally, I set out to write this myself ...&nbsp; A little swearing, voodoo magic, and some heated digging about the interwebs allowed me to kill all strange birds with one nimble stone. I'll explain more after I hand over the ugly...</p> <p><span style="font-size: large;">Here's What You Do:</span></p> <p>Drop this into your custom_functions.php &amp; change <span style="color: #ff0000;">the function parameters in red</span> to how you'd like your links to read.&nbsp; If you're not sure what to do about those parameters, then refer to <a href="http://digwp.com/2009/08/wordpress-page-navigation/" title="Wordpress Navigation" target="_blank">this post on Wordpress navigation</a> for starters:<a href="http://digwp.com/2009/08/wordpress-page-navigation/" title="Wordpress Navigation" target="_blank"><br /></a></p> <p><code> </code></p> <blockquote><span style="color: #333399;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; //BEGIN CUSTOM POST &amp; PAGE NAV<p />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; remove_action('thesis_hook_after_content', 'thesis_prev_next_posts');<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; remove_action('thesis_hook_after_content', 'thesis_post_navigation');<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; add_action('thesis_hook_after_content', 'nav_posty');<p /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; function nav_posty(){<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ?&gt;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &lt;div class="prev_next post_nav"&gt;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &lt;?php if(is_single()){ <br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ?&gt;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &lt;p class="previous"&gt;&lt;?php previous_post_link('<span style="color: #ff0000;">&amp;larr; %link'</span>, '<span style="color: #ff0000;">Read More</span>', <span style="color: #ff0000;">TRUE</span>); ?&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &lt;p class="next"&gt;&lt;?php next_post_link('<span style="color: #ff0000;">%link &amp;rarr;</span>', '<span style="color: #ff0000;">Go Back</span>',<span style="color: #ff0000;">TRUE</span>); ?&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &lt;?php<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; }else{<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ?&gt;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &lt;p class="previous"&gt;&lt;?php next_posts_link('<span style="color: #ff0000;">&amp;larr; Read More</span>'); ?&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &lt;p class="next"&gt;&lt;?php previous_posts_link('<span style="color: #ff0000;">Go Back &amp;rarr;</span>'); ?&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &lt;?php<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; }<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;?&gt;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&lt;?php<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; }<p />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; //END CUSTOM POST &amp; PAGE NAV</span></blockquote> <p><span style="font-size: large;">This is Why it Works (The Abridged Version):</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">First things first. 2 remove_action() calls remove the default single post and archive/index nav from </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">the<span style="color: #000000;"> hook </span></span></span><span style="color: #000000;">thesis_hook_after_content</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #000000;">.</span> The following add_action() places nav_posty() into the hook where those original functions used to be.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">When it needs to, nav_posty() determines with a simple conditional statement whether or not the page in question is a single post or part of an index/archive and "does different stuff" depending on what it finds. It then uses HTML + built-in wordpress nav functions to output the proper links. For this particular exercise, I retained the default containers and classes so I didn't have to completely rework my formatting on the links ...</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">OK, Now Go Break Stuff</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I mean. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Have fun trying out my filthy awesome code!<br /></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hope you get as good use from it as I know I will. Bust it up, add images or blinking kittens, I don't mind!&nbsp; At the very least, I hope it helps you along your path to custom Thesis navigation enlightenment.<br /></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/custom-thesis-page-and-post-navigation-filthy">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/custom-thesis-page-and-post-navigation-filthy#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/L8LsaF0_bJ8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/custom-thesis-page-and-post-navigation-filthy Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:38:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/3dE4Dmjcwxk/join-the-fight-today-liberate-beer-sales-in-p http://obviousity.posterous.com/join-the-fight-today-liberate-beer-sales-in-p <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpfreemybeercomimagesfreemybeerlogogif_mgseeiojyjeqvih" height="163" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/mBhGuuIpoJhBEszHndHwBbhoAouAdiIHCnwdEdrIknqetasskyymjcpHxAxn/media_httpfreemybeercomimagesfreemybeerlogogif_mGsEeiojyJeqvih.gif.scaled500.gif" width="414" /> </div> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://freemybeer.com/">freemybeer.com</a></div> <p>You may not be aware, but Pennsylvania is blessed with some of the awesomest (READ: bass-ackwards government-double-dippingest) beer &amp; liquor laws in all our fine nifty Fifty.</p> <p>I've just been made aware that there's some "Free My Beer" campaign to end this nonsense. And, it's being sponsored by our very own Sheetz, a not-so-small chain of monster gas/convenient/cafe stops along our high-and by-ways from here into the South.</p> <p>Why does the sponsor matter, you ask?</p> <p>It matters because Sheets gotz cash. It's not just me standing on a street corner with a clipboard and empty pockets. It's someone with a vested interest reaching out to get the rest of us involved.</p> <p>That means we might actually have a chance to get our beer in a more convenient, MODERN fashion.</p> <p>I don't think that's too much to ask. Do you?</p> <p>So, PA people or not, please stop reading my babble and get on to help<a href="http://www.freemybeer.com">FREE OUR BEER</a> already!</p> <p>All my love :-)</p> <p>~*~Casse No-I</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/join-the-fight-today-liberate-beer-sales-in-p">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/join-the-fight-today-liberate-beer-sales-in-p#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/3dE4Dmjcwxk" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/join-the-fight-today-liberate-beer-sales-in-p Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:46:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/NBsYJfjeil0/thankful-four-veterans-my-sailor-came-home http://obviousity.posterous.com/thankful-four-veterans-my-sailor-came-home <p> <p>This week I'm climbing on my soapbox to remind us all to be thankful for our dedicated Servicepeople, active, veteran, and otherwise. Those who we've lost, those who aren't found, those who have come home safe, and those who are alive but struggle with new challenges.<p />Forget your politics.&nbsp; Fact is, these men and women put their noses on the line for all of us, signing away their souls to the mercy of powerful, richly suited men in distant conference rooms.&nbsp; They do it so the rest of us can continue to take our lives for all we can, even when we choose to use our lives speak against those very men and women that serve to protect the freedom that allows us that speech.<p /> Now forgive me, I must admit I'm a little partial to our fellow Americans in uniform.<p />You see, my husband wasn't here for 9-11.&nbsp; Having joined the Navy at 17 (yes. 17), he'd already been enlisted 3 years when that mess happened. He was on a ship in Japan.&nbsp; As the rest of us watched the horror unfold on our local TV news, his ship was mobilized to join a fleet of others in a race to the Gulf.&nbsp; If my counting the stars on his expeditionary medals is correct, he's been back at least four times since. It could have been one less, but my man did something extraordinary while we were stationed with the Seabees in sunny socal.<p /> See, the Seabees don't float around on ships like the rest of the Navy. They trade in their working whites and Dixie caps for camo, boots, and body armor, doing construction and civil work in countries all over the world.&nbsp; In our case, my husband <em>could have</em> gone to Spain.<p /> <strong>He could have gone to Spain, but he *volunteered* to go back to Iraq.</strong><p /> Not on a ship, remember. But on the sand in camo, boots, and body armor. <p />As a gunner in a convoy truck. <p />Sometimes he was a driver.<p />One time he and his friends even got to risk their lives moving sand across the desert.<p /> ...True story.<p />But as scared as I was.&nbsp; As much as longed for more of him than poorly connected, wee hour phone calls.&nbsp; Something more than overseas echoes speckled with the tapped sound of surveillance clicking in and out.&nbsp; Oh, and that one time I heard the distinct attack of machine guns in the background and he reassured, "don't worry babe, it's only outgoing fire." Yeah.&nbsp; That one was really bad.<p /> As much as I wished he hadn't <em>volunteered</em>, I am thankful that he did and that he came home safe.&nbsp; Changed.&nbsp; But alive to work through it together.&nbsp; And, I am thankful for my brother-in-law the super genius Air Force somekinda-Sergeant.&nbsp; I am thankful for our two best friends, both active Army.&nbsp; I am thankful for evey other friend of mine who still serves or has served. <p /> <strong></strong><strong>Not just today, but every day, I am thankful for my husband and every other person who has put on a uniform in service to our Country.&nbsp; I appreciate their strength, bravery, and dedication to ALL of us.&nbsp; No matter what their job description or branch of service.&nbsp; God </strong><strong>knows I could never do it myself.&nbsp; Hell, I'd guess many of you wouldn't, either.</strong><p /> So showing my support and thanks, I think, are the least I can do.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/thankful-four-veterans-my-sailor-came-home">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/thankful-four-veterans-my-sailor-came-home#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/NBsYJfjeil0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/thankful-four-veterans-my-sailor-came-home Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:27:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/5hay_SeCcyQ/silly-things-programmers-top-10-sentences http://obviousity.posterous.com/silly-things-programmers-top-10-sentences <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpwwwmakinggoodsoftwarecomwpcontentuploads200909wtfmjpg_wqrfjnviakyctvq" height="471" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/yEcoCJEviIcGFgrakocqbeyonlbxuqhkGJnEIcJIfhInsCeakDzywvfyxamD/media_httpwwwmakinggoodsoftwarecomwpcontentuploads200909wtfmjpg_wqrfjnviAkyctvq.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /> </div> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.makinggoodsoftware.com/2009/09/01/programmers-top-10-sentences/">makinggoodsoftware.com</a></div> <p>To add one of my personal mantras (#11 if you will):</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>I'm not breaking anything, I'm generating new errors</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/silly-things-programmers-top-10-sentences">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/silly-things-programmers-top-10-sentences#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/5hay_SeCcyQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/silly-things-programmers-top-10-sentences Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:41:22 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/3KxmHOoiYoQ/thankful-four-wednesday-sick-day-saviors http://obviousity.posterous.com/thankful-four-wednesday-sick-day-saviors <p> In honor of my barely-making-it-to-lunch-before-heading-home Monday, today I&#39;m rounding up some simple things I&#39;m *especially* thankful to have on sick days.  These days, I&#39;m not allowed to have the hard core sick drugs anyway (Thank you, sweet baby noname), so it makes the little &quot;cures&quot; all that more important:<p /> <b>Thankful Four: Sick Day Saviors<br /></b><ol><li><b>Lipton Extra Noodle Soup - </b>Mostly because it&#39;s so damn nutritious.  Also that blinding red box gets me every time.  Accept no substitutions.  It has to be Lipton.  And it HAS TO BE Extra Noodle.</li> <li><b>BBC America - </b>Actually, I don&#39;t have to be sick to love this channel.  But, the during-the-day marathons are the best.  I don&#39;t care what it is.  Top Gear. Cash in the Attic. The F Word. As long as it isn&#39;t news ...  Guilty TV pleasures FTW!</li> <li><b>The Couch that Fell From Heaven - </b>I&#39;m actually surprised I haven&#39;t mentioned my red leather couch more often.  I mean. It&#39;s been responsible for more evenings-cut-short-by-unexpected-dozing than I can count.  Seriously.  Ask anyone who&#39;s ever sat on it.  I mean, just thinking about the damn thinzzzzzzz....</li> <li><b>Actual Quiet - </b>About the only time I get time to myself is when I&#39;m home alone sick when I&#39;d otherwise be working.  If the reruns are too much, I can turn off the tv, curl up on #3 and enjoy a real nap in real quiet. Sure it only lasts a couple hours.  But dammit, it&#39;s the beat cure for a crappy bug I can think of. <br /> </li></ol>What are the little things that get you through the worst of sick days? </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/thankful-four-wednesday-sick-day-saviors">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/thankful-four-wednesday-sick-day-saviors#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/3KxmHOoiYoQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/thankful-four-wednesday-sick-day-saviors Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:08:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/kBRiGUxLLFA/sanity-saturday-multiating-pumpkins-rain-or-s http://obviousity.posterous.com/sanity-saturday-multiating-pumpkins-rain-or-s <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpfarm4staticflickrcom32792978288177ab83045eefjpg_binrrpwegvgsvbj" height="332" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/lhrsbhDJhyklzlvmibghGgnmkhuxEDGoqGAJufyFzvJpspqbJxHiryfmdlfc/media_httpfarm4staticflickrcom32792978288177ab83045eefjpg_binrrpwEgvGsvBJ.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /> </div> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bccadd/2978288177/in/set-72157608339195371/">flickr.com</a></div> <p>I told you before we all need to step away from our computers and <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/step-away-from-the-computer-already-simply-sa">remember to breathe</a> sometimes.</p> <p>This week's Sanity Saturday is all about recreating childhood memories, no matter the weather.</p> <p>I mean. How can you not be fascinated at the prospect of taking some 250-lb gourd and hacking it into some artistic masterpiece?</p> <p>Frankly, I'm hoping DH is so inspired that we can actually participate next year. It is a lifelong dream of mine, you know. And he just "love[s] to make shit" (his words, not mine)... so ... why not, right?</p> <p>Anyway - if you're in/around Bucks County, namely Doylestown, today - and you don't mind the nasty weather. ... <a href="http://bccadd.org/pumpkinfest/">check out the Pumpkinfest</a> yourself!</p> <p>If the weather holds out enough - maybe we'll get to see the <a href="http://peddlersvillage.com/special_events/scarecrow_gallery09/scarecrow_competition_09.htm">scarecrows</a>, too!</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/sanity-saturday-multiating-pumpkins-rain-or-s">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/sanity-saturday-multiating-pumpkins-rain-or-s#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/kBRiGUxLLFA" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/sanity-saturday-multiating-pumpkins-rain-or-s Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:47:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/AxgcW8aVGXU/why-the-world-needs-more-people-like-this-bkm http://obviousity.posterous.com/why-the-world-needs-more-people-like-this-bkm <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote">In a nutshell, I have learned that I am FAR better off supporting and encouraging and even promoting other freelancers, designers, bloggers, and so on than I am trying to compete against them. I have gained new friends, new clients, new understandings, new education and on and on. It is my hope that I am also helping others to do the same. Together we can only marvel at how society is improved by our refusal to live in comparison and insecurity, and together we can encourage more people to do the same. It&rsquo;s an idealist pursuit, but why not? I think it&rsquo;s much better than the alternative. By comparison, anyway.</blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://bkmacdaddy.com/blog/designers-why-i-promote-and-support-you-rather-than-compete-against-you">bkmacdaddy.com</a></div> <p>1. I encourage you to click on through and read the whole article. I'd already been a fan of @bkmacdaddy on the Twitter for sometime - stumbled on this today and had to share.</p> <p>2. This about sums up my whole methodology &amp; outlook on life. My every pursuit centers on the prospect of strengthening that global symbiosis with like minded people. Honestly, the "alternative" seems a shallow mess of bad karma waiting to catch up with you. (Fine if that's your choice. I'm just saying it definitely isn't mine)</p> <p>3. I agree competition is healthy: why can't we focus on challenges to better ourselves rather than compete for business? There is PLENTY of work to go around. And you only get ONE go-around. So why not make the best good of it?</p> <p>4. I wish we could all apply the same principle to all aspects of life.</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/why-the-world-needs-more-people-like-this-bkm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/why-the-world-needs-more-people-like-this-bkm#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/AxgcW8aVGXU" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/why-the-world-needs-more-people-like-this-bkm Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:31:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/KP2olFHcMNc/thankful-four-wednesday-analog-things http://obviousity.posterous.com/thankful-four-wednesday-analog-things <p> <p>Because as much as I appreciate and often revel in today's ever advancing technology, I often reflect on how much I wouldn't mind throwing it all away for something much simpler. Something much less immediate and connected.&nbsp; It's sad how the disposable, fast paced nature of today's memes and lifestyles have a tendency to suck us in and make us forget where we come from. Make us sacrifice quality and individuality for the sake of quantity.&nbsp; Make us <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/step-away-from-the-computer-already-simply-sa">forget to breathe</a>.<p /> So today I am going to slow down a moment and be thankful for analog things that help me combat the trials and stresses of this uber-speedy digital world.&nbsp; Maybe it's their ingenuity.&nbsp; Maybe it's their quality.&nbsp; Maybe they're just plain cool.&nbsp; Whatever it is, these analog things make me slow down and just enjoy life for the sake of it.&nbsp; If only for the moment...<br /></p> <h2>Thankful Four: Analog Things</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ol> <li><strong>Camping - </strong>I have been known to pick a campground or park simply based on lack of cellphone reception. The world hasn't stopped once simply because I turn that devil brain destroyer off and leave it at the bottom of my bag.&nbsp; And if it did, how would I know the difference?&nbsp; I'm lost in the woods, now.&nbsp; What Zombie will bother looking for me all the way out here? </li> <li><strong>Vinyl - </strong>There is something about the sound of a needle on wax that just stops my soul wherever it stands.&nbsp; Old tracks, new mixes ... it doesn't matter.&nbsp; I married a DJ who was a vinyl purist until recently: while we've both come to embrace the benefits of the mp3 world, we both agree that nothing beats the depth of sound and the sublime nature of music spun off "that big black cd."&nbsp; It also lends itself well to my next analog love...</li> <li><strong>Yard Sales/ Junk Shops -&nbsp; </strong>Along with my loves of analog and otherwise vintage things, digging through garage &amp; estate sales, flea markets, and the like do a lot for me. It's not just the "stuff" - it's the experience. It's the breakfast peoplewatching at the local diner. The drives down random back roads. The family time. The odd and interesting we stumble across. The ideas and inspiration gleaned from the moments in between.</li> <li><strong>Film Cameras - </strong>Namely, the Ciroflex my late great-grandfather gave me &amp; Nikon 35mil I've been kicking around since high school.&nbsp; While I appreciate the immediacy and cost of digital for point-and-shoot purposes, nothing calms me better n I need to be alone than a drive to nowhere and an afternoon wander in search of some abandoned something-or-other ... framing all the right shots and getting into all the right mysterious places. I'd say my love of film and the abandoned places I capture on it is only surpassed by one analog thing... </li> <li><strong>(bonus!) My Sweetheart - </strong>No, not my husband. I mean. I love my husband. :D&nbsp; But I wanted to dedicate bonus #5 to the girl who's been by my side through it all.&nbsp; <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/my-sweetheart-1">My guitar</a> is my muse and my outlet. If I'm not driving around looking for somewhere to waste film, I've got songwriting on my free time analog agenda.&nbsp; The standing on stage thing is pretty exhilarating, too.&nbsp; Connecting in that moment with people - sans computers - sans pretense - sans assumption ... If it weren't for my music, I actually wouldn't be here right now.&nbsp; Seriously - story for another day - but true nonetheless.&nbsp;</li> </ol> <p>Part of my analog problem is I'd keep going on about it if I didn't stop myself now.&nbsp; I wonder what non-digital things or activities you have to be thankful four?</p> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/thankful-four-wednesday-analog-things">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/thankful-four-wednesday-analog-things#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/KP2olFHcMNc" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/thankful-four-wednesday-analog-things Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:18:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/JxxM1foVRLg/if-you-dont-have-anything-nice-to-say-dont-be http://obviousity.posterous.com/if-you-dont-have-anything-nice-to-say-dont-be <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/VOx8TotU4KE8Rmo3HskotOCe7jTFEKPRASoJDd4zT4Wv9KljliIDUCuiGV6m/fb-comments.jpg"><img alt="Fb-comments" height="279" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/obviousity/5dSweenBLcgqMp7dy55HgN4iN4w3vmhCb7ze3AFYy4wYA37aHgiomxECwPDX/fb-comments.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="gmail_quote">*WARNING* If you don't care what your audience thinks of you, are not concerned over lost readership due to your unfiltered rants, or are otherwise feeling combative: <em>stop reading this post.&nbsp; Now.</em><p /> Otherwise, I hope you'll humor me a minute while we discuss from this real life example how to lose subscribers quicker than you can say "brain-to-mouth filter."&nbsp; This one is more subtle than some I've seen and also happens to be the most recent.&nbsp; I just found it today, as a matter of fact.<p /> Looking at the picture, tell me: <em>Can you spot the problem?</em><p /><strong>Here's what I see:</strong><br /><ol> <li>Reader Alex enjoys the article and wants to share an idea on how it may be easy for him and maybe the other <strong>1,800+ RSS subscribers</strong> to enjoy site content without as much hassle regarding placement of the article thumbnail.&nbsp; </li> <li>There's a little back and forth over the fact that the thumbnail exists, but not where the reader suggests it might be best for all.</li> <li>Design Guy gets catty with his "think of how long it takes to write the tutorial" remark, instead of just saying "Thanks" or not responding all together. </li> </ol>Maybe our "Alex" is the only one to ever point this out.&nbsp; Maybe he isn't.&nbsp; But its a valid point at the very least, considering formatting differences in different reading mediums. And, at the most it's extremely valuable feedback from what <em>should be</em> your most valuable asset: YOUR LOYAL SUBSCRIBER.&nbsp; <p />But I digress.<p />My point is not whether this reader's idea should be implemented.&nbsp; My point is the site owner may have made a mistake in talking back to the commenter in a way that can easily be construed as "Yeah, ok, nice idea - but I'm not changing what I do, and how dare you tell me to."&nbsp; That can be especially problematic when you consider the reader in question is a <span style="text-decoration: underline;">loyal subscriber</span>, not just some fool passing through like I was. Again, not an end-of-the-world tragedy but an example of how you may not realize you're undermining your own reach by not thinking before you speak.<p /> And again, if you don't care about your readership, then by all means leave that filter off.&nbsp; If you do care, just remember what you say can (and will) be used against you in the user's perception.<p /> <br /></div> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/if-you-dont-have-anything-nice-to-say-dont-be">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/if-you-dont-have-anything-nice-to-say-dont-be#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/JxxM1foVRLg" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/if-you-dont-have-anything-nice-to-say-dont-be Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:01:55 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/obviousity/~3/XHh0dIXma2g/best-portable-game-system-ever-the-nesp http://obviousity.posterous.com/best-portable-game-system-ever-the-nesp <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <embed name="betamax" src="http://technology.todaysbigthing.com/betamax/betamax.internal.swf" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="360" flashvars="item_id=2326&amp;autostart=false&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;color=0x1a72cc&amp;server=technology.todaysbigthing.com" quality="best" width="480" style="" /><div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://technology.todaysbigthing.com/2009/10/12">technology.todaysbigthing.com</a></div> <p>Today's BIG Thing in Technology - OCT 12, 2009 ... is the nesP (portable NES) </p><p>I'm going to take a short morning detour from my usual Stupid Tuesday route to bring you AwesomeFlashbackCanIMakeTenNow Tuesday. </p><p>My 8-bit problem finishes at a very close second to my purely analog obsessions with classics like vinyl, old keyboards, and film cameras. So naturally I stumbled on this clip and thought, "My god. This. Thing. Is. Amazing." And immediately began to wonder if it was too late in life to start writing letters to Santa again. </p><p>If you feel daring enough - or are into serious tinkering, at the very least - check out the nesP creator's site at <a href="http://nesp.tighelory.com/">http://nesp.tighelory.com/</a> ... Available How-To comes complete with schematics, wiring diagrams, pictures, and even a faceplate image you can print and use in your own homemade version.</p></div> </p> <p><a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/best-portable-game-system-ever-the-nesp">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://obviousity.posterous.com/best-portable-game-system-ever-the-nesp#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/obviousity/~4/XHh0dIXma2g" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/478878/mays-square_bigger.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bmOkYuuCNe9 Casse No-i obviousity Casse No-i http://obviousity.posterous.com/best-portable-game-system-ever-the-nesp