Community Archives - Page 98 of 143

7.5 Cat’s BIG IDEA

August 13, 2006 by Liz

Where to from Here?

And now that IÃ¢â¬â¢m getting to the point of retirement, IÃ¢â¬â¢m getting away from the actual work of design and am now spending most of my time on pro bono work. Hence NO!SPEC, Creative Latitude and Proscodi. And one more on the way … Cat Morely said.

But her life hardly seems to be slowing, in fact it seems to be gearing up. Before we left her or looked too far down the road, I wanted to know what Cat sees now.

Cat, what do you think most designers get wrong?

Depends what you are talking about. Wrong about choosing freelance over
inhouse before they have enough skills? Not enough education and experience before striking out on their own? Working on spec? Being gullible? Not being professional? I guess I answered your question …

What could Successful Blog do to support designers more?

Successful Blog has its own style. It caters to a range of professions
with diverse interests. If you were to attract designers, in my opinion
youÃ¢â¬â¢d have to teach them something they do not know. Something they
need to know. Something you know. Writing. A large number of designers
are crap at grammar and sentence structure. IÃ¢â¬â¢m one.

In order for this to work, youÃ¢â¬â¢ll need to first get their attention,
then get them to understand that they need to keep paying attention.

Cat, What is your BIG IDEA? When people think of Cat Morley, what’s the first thing you want them to think of?

First thing I WANT them to think?

Hmmm…. tall, slim, young, brilliant?

[deep sigh] not the truth, just wishful thinking.

The truth is IÃ¢â¬â¢m passionate about the industry of design. IÃ¢â¬â¢m demanding of myself much more than I am of others. I am very good at organising but IÃ¢â¬â¢m not perfect. I have a quick, fiery hot temper. I no longer shy from it as IÃ¢â¬â¢ve lived with it for way too long and know itÃ¢â¬â¢s not going away. No more than I am. IÃ¢â¬â¢m loyal to my friends and not adverse to attempting to see the point of view of those who IÃ¢â¬â¢ve disagreed with hotly. IÃ¢â¬â¢m not one to say I have Ã¢â¬Åno time for foolsÃ¢â¬Â as IÃ¢â¬â¢ve been a fool myself once too often. Live and learn, then live some more.

I tried to talk Cat into convincing one of her clients that she needed to call me in on one of her jobs. But once she explained the economics, we both decided it was wishful thinking.

Wishes are good things and one day I will meet her.

That Cat Morley is just too interesting to time run out without finding an afternoon to spend together talking about life and other stuff.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Time Out Chicago Agrees about VOX

August 13, 2006 by Liz

Something to Celebrate Every Day

Just a quick note to say that I have a new pile of VOX invitations if you missed out on the last bunch and to say that Time Out Magazine Chicago agrees that VOX is a really upbeat way for families and friends to connect online.

To check out their review, click the title.

It’s hard not to smile when you’re in a VOX neighborhood. So if you’re not the smiling sort, be warned. You might want to move on to the next post. 🙂

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles
VOX: As Fun as Grandmas and Grandpas!

Net Neutrality 8-13-2006

August 13, 2006 by Liz

Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

It’s Our Net — A New Site Announced by Six Apart

. . . . Scientific American published a pretty fair editorial on the topic, which reaches a clear conclusion:

A system for prioritizing data traffic might well be necessary someday, yet one might hope that it would be based on the needs of the transmissions rather than the deal making and caprices of the cable owners. Moreover, personal blogs and other Web pages are increasingly patchworks of media components from various sources. Tiered service would stultify that trend.

That seems like a reasonable analysis, so the natural next step for any Internet-related cause is to get a good website going to help with advocacy. Enter ItÃ¢â¬â¢s Our Net, supported by everyone from Adobe to Yahoo, and sponsored by Amazon, eBay, Google, InterActiveCorp, Microsoft, and Yahoo! . ItÃ¢â¬â¢s a simple, effective site combining the latest news, information about how the proposed change would affect the web, and tools to contact your elected officials. . . .

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Great Find: Programmer Meet Designer

August 12, 2006 by Liz

Sharing Skill Sets

This morning Cat Morley started my email day with a lovely link that I have to share with you. If lack of a skill or two is holding you back from getting something done. You simply have to check this one out.

Great Find: Programmer Meet Designer

Permalink: http://programmermeetdesigner.com/index.php

Audience/Topic: Programmers, Designers, Writers, Entrepreneurs

Content: Programmer Meet Designer (PMD) was started because the folks behind it understand that no one person has the complete set of skills needed to do all of the things that it takes to run a business online.

PMD helps programmers and designers partner up to make websites and web applications that look and work great. It also lets entrepreneurs and writers find people to work with.

The search engine asks for my job role, the job role I’m looking for, whether the job is paid or unpaid, and the approximate length of the work.

As you might guess by the title, there are more listings for programmers and designers. However, the site has opened itself to writers and entrepreneurs. I found listings for them, but not nearly as many. To check out Programmer Meet Designer, click the logo below.

It never hurts to take a look at what’s out there.

Thanks again, Cat, for sharing your resources.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Net Neutrality 8-12-2006

August 12, 2006 by Liz

Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Common Cause: Stop It With the Astro-Turfing

Common Cause has released a report on the incredible amount of astro-turfing that surrounds telecom reform legislation. Entitled Ã¢â¬ÅWolves in SheepÃ¢â¬â¢s Clothing,Ã¢â¬Â the report is a follow-up to an earlier attack on these phoney Ã¢â¬Åpublic interestÃ¢â¬Â groups, which are, in reality, industry-financed fronts designed to mess with peopleÃ¢â¬â¢s minds.

The report eviscerates five groups: Hands Off The Internet, TV4US, netcompetition.org, The FutureÃ¢â¬Â¦Faster and Video Access Alliance. Common Cause reserves its worst criticism for Hands Off The Internet and netcompetition.org.

If there were an award for Astroturf lobby campaigns, Hands Off the Internet (HOTI) would win hands down. . . .

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

SOB Business Cafe 08-11-2006

August 11, 2006 by Liz

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the title shots to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

Bloggers Blog gives the complete rundown on who said what about the terrible possibilities that could have occurred in the air yesterday.

Jamdo offers a unique look at names and search engine traffic.

The Blogging Times introduces us to the Blogmobile, which somehow blogged its way here from the 60s.

Clear Your Mind wants us to do just that.

The Blog Herald gives us a CLUE about the election last Tuesday.

Related ala carte selections include

The Business of America is Business hosts an International Carnival of spectacular proportions, showing that capitalists still believe that bigger is best. 🙂

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like.
No tips required. Comments appreciated.

Have a great weekend!

–ME “Liz” Strauss