Productivity Archives - Page 18 of 20

Great FUN: IM the Encarta Robot on MSN Chat!

July 2, 2006 by Liz

For Research, Homework, Fun

Keith Dsouza could carry on an intelligent conversation with anyone. So when MSN made a robot toanswer questions based on the information in Encarta. Keith was the perfect guy to challenge the robot to a conversational test run.

He did it to make sure that children everywhere would get the right answers on their homework.

Great Find: Talking to a robot on MSN Chat

Permalink: http://techie-buzz.com/technology-buzz/talking-to-a-robot-on-msn-chat.html

Audience/Topic: Anyone with MSN Chat and questions to research or kids with homework

Content: It’s easy to tell that Keith had fun doing the research and writing this article. He also spent the time to see exactly how and how well a the robot interface works. You can follow his questions and see word for word what the exchange was. The value the robot offers for kids who want to learn more about their favorite subject is right in Keith’s post. I can only imagine what my son might have done with this had it been around when he was young.

At the end of the conversation, Keith explains the easy as 1,2,3 how-to that is working with MSN Instant Messenger encarta@conversagent.com. MSN has found a great way to take on the ubiquitous Gmail with this one.

Keith has a future in reporting for kids. He kept me spellbound. He also might have a budding friendship with the Encarta robot.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

SOB Business Cafe 06-16-2006

June 16, 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

Mike Sigers at Simplenomics shares a seven-day plan to build a brand and customer relationships, to improve the blogosphere, and to make the world a better place. This one I printed out, put over my desk, on my bathroom mirror, inside my front door, next to my bed, and on my kitchen cabinet.

Ariane Benefit at Neat Living explains how clearing the clutter from our workspace not only pays off in productivity, it makes room for important new business to enter our work days.

Ben Yoskovitz is holding a Father’s Day Special at IGotNewsforYou. This might be news for you and for your dad too.

Rob at Jamdo has a great post outlining four crucial steps to making our blogs more attractive to readers — stickier.

Related ala carte selections include

Sidharja Qhaum at Jamloceng offers gamers a treat called “Alky,” a tool that converts a Windows EXE to MacOS or GNU/Linux.

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

Ideas When I Get My Hair Cut

June 4, 2006 by Liz

Ideas Everywhere

Yesterday, I got a haircut. While I was waiting I looked through a magazine and took notes. I took notes on articles and on advertisements. When I was through one magazine, I had complete ideas for four blog posts — not counting this one — and 27 phrases that I thought might spark ideas later.

Not bad for just sitting around waiting my turn.

I hate actually reading those magazines in places where I get my hair cut, and there’s never time to get into a good book.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Friday Productivity Tip — Get Some Silence

June 2, 2006 by Liz

Quiet the Chatter

Today when you’re trying to get that last minute work done, and someone comes in to “shoot the breeze,” “talk your leg off,” “chatter like chimp,” or be a “bird in a box.” You might try this.

Look up from what you are working.
Slowly glance left and right, as if to be sure no one is watching you.
Quietly invite your visitor to come close to view your computer screen.
Then click this link and say, “Isn’t this the coolest thing you’ve ever seen?”

Then just stay silent and stare at the screen. As a bigger treat, you might offer your headphones so that your guest might listen even more silently.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Friday Productivity: The Monkey Rule
Perfect for Friday Productivity Checklist

Finding Fodder for Future Ideas

June 1, 2006 by Liz

Finding Fodder

Yesterday, Joe of Working at Home on the Internet reminded me of my days going to press runs, when he was talking about his experience as a printer.

Immediately my mind flashed to this story.

I was in the car with my friend KB on the way to a press run. We’d worked 12 weeks straight living in the Marriott New York East Side. Now we’d flown into Chicago and were driving into one of the suburbs. She was driving. I was looking out the window. I was taking in all of the signs of the restaurants and stores as we passed by them.

Then, suddenly out of the blue I heard, “Will you . . . .SHUT UP!”

It seems I had been reading every sign out loud.

“I don’t really need you to read me every sign we pass,” she said. “What was that?”

“Sorry,” I said. “Fodder.”

[Read more…]

ASAP — Here’s What It REALLY Means

May 29, 2006 by Liz

(Updated in 2020)

What Does It Mean?

You’re working on a deadline project. One large part is due at 10 a.m.; the rest goes at 3 p.m. Your day is “Goldilocks just right.” Well, just right if no monkeys come, and no alligators raise their ugly heads.

You get a call asking a favor ASAP. When will you do it?

ASAP is always later, usually LAST.

A real-time deadline always comes first. It has a win or lose line.

ASAP has an “out” of “possible is when I have time.”

ASAP to the speaker means “As Soon As you can Push it through.”

But to the listener it means, “As Soon As the Pressure’s off.”

Unless the person asking wields great power, ASAP will always lose.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Photo by Niklas Kickl on Unsplash