06.28.08
Photo effects
Looking to add some “bling” to your photos? Try BlingEasy.com. According to ShoeMoney, the “site lets you add some really fun and cool effects to your pictures very easily.”
I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s going on my list.
06.20.08
web news & links
Are at-work text messages private?
The Los Angeles Times reports1 on a recent federal ruling effectively making at-work text messages private. “An employer has no right to read an employee’s text messages without the worker’s knowledge and consent, and federal law bars service providers from turning over the contents of the messages to the employer who pays for the service, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.”
Staying out of trouble with e-mail, or because of it
NPR has an series of stories on e-mail, covering several topics. A few to check out:
- E-Mail at Work: Tips to Keep You Out of Trouble
- E-Mail, the Workplace and the Electronic Paper Trail
Basically, if you want to stay out of trouble, don’t put it in an e-mail.
iPhone tip
Do you have an iPhone? BNET tells us how to turn it into a Portable Hard Drive with a program called DiskAid. I don’t have an iPhone yet, but am bookmarking this for when I do.
A good policy to have, comments
Performancing has Tips On How To Create Good Comment Policies. I need to read this, make notes, and actually create a commenting policy. Right now my policy is very straightforward, if I think you’re being offensive I delete the comment.
Footnotes:
1 = Story found on the Houston Chronicle. Article may expire in a few weeks.
06.17.08
Greenopolis.com
From the Houston Business Journal:
Waste Management Inc. has launched a new Web site.Greenopolis.com is designed as an online meeting place for the environmentally conscious and includes features commonly found on social networking sites, such as the ability for members to create profiles or keep track of peers.
[snip]
06.05.08
Borders says “bye bye” to Amazon
Borders returns to Web retailing after 7 years
– Houston Chronicle2
Borders Group is jumping back into online retailing with a Web site designed to evoke the feeling of browsing at a neighborhood bookstore, down to the popular shelves of staff picks that are familiar to its customers nationwide.But after seven years paired with Amazon.com, analysts say it will be a challenge for the new Borders.com to step out of the shadow of the Web retailing giant.
[snip]
Footnotes
2 = article may expire in a few weeks.
05.15.08
U-Verse for small businesses
AT&T unveils U-Verse Internet for businesses
– Houston Business Journal
AT&T Inc. is rolling out a business version of U-verse in Houston that will offer high-speed Internet access to small businesses.
The company’s new AT&T business edition U-verse provides download speeds up to 10 Megabits per second. The service will also allow businesses to serve up to 32 Internet access connections over existing telephone wiring.
Small business subscribers to this service also will have free unlimited access to AT&T’s Wi-Fi network. This will give small business executives the ability to log into to the Internet at more than 17,000 hot spots nationwide, including more than 7,000 Starbucks stores.
[snip]
05.02.08
I want a new toy
I know the signs. I keep magazine tear-outs in my tote. I bookmark product pages I don’t share with anyone. I mentally start running numbers in my head to see what I can afford when.
I am lusting after a new toy.
And I haven’t chosen the toy yet.
I want a cross between a Smartphone and a UMPC. Something that will run more than Windows Mobile, but will fit in my tote comfortably, won’t take forever to boot, can run several things at once, and will allow me to be functional on the go.
I want it to play games, music, have a webcam, Skype, memory, access to the Internet (anywhere, would be nice). I want it to be affordable.
Where do I find a toy like that?
I keep reading the reviews of the Asus eee pc, the new HP, the Fujitsu (which is still out of my price range). I read about the new crop of cell phones expected to come out this year, many of which sound really really nice.
But I am the woman who resisted the urge to buy an iPhone, despite wanting it more than any other toy that entire year. I still haven’t bought one.
I don’t just go out and spend money on expensive toys. I do my homework. I work my budget. I think about it. I think about it. I think about it.
Then, maybe, I buy something.
I want a new toy. Something to replace the Palm Treo+portable Targus keyboard I use to write these blog posts. Something with a battery that will last more than two hours. Something that won’t require that I learn an entirely new language to use.
I want a new toy, but know, absolutely know, that I’m not getting one. I’m just too practical.
04.20.08
personal
One of the benefits of blogging, even with the highly erratic blogging schedule that I keep, is the outlet for things about which I want to vent. There are things I don’t want to talk about, things I don’t want to be questioned about, that still need to be aired.
Sometimes things happen that I know I need to share, that for mental health I need to share. But I don’t really want to engage in conversation, not real face-to-face discussions with people I know. I don’t want the daily questions and follow-ups and well-intentioned support.
For these issues, weaknesses, awkward confessions, I need the anonymous support network of the two or three readers I have. Just getting the words out and knowing that someone, somewhere, is reading them… Well, that’s enough for me.
My weight loss is one of these topics. I appreciate the words of encouragement I get from friends and coworkers, but I hate answering questions about my diet.
What do you do? What do you eat? How are you maintaining your commitment? Aren’t you tempted?
The same questions over and over abiout how I can resist temptation and the daily challenges of staying on track. The truly intrusive tell me about their own weight loss failures and give me their best wishes that I have better luck (with some adding that my kind of weight loss is always followed by weight gain).
My brother being in a warzone is another topic. What’s the adequate response to someone asking you “aren’t you worried about him?” Am I supposed to show tears each time I talk about him? I try and stay upbeat, positive, but that’s not good enough for the masses.
On my blog, via Twitter or whatever other tool I happen to be using, I can just ignore the responses I don’t want to deal with, and embrace those I do. What a wonderful thing.
03.04.08
an offline teen business
Not a Web item, I know, but I just had to share. These Texas teens have figured out a way to capitalize on other people’s laziness/busy-ness by holding garage sales for them. It’s a neat little business and the kind of ingenuity that’s making young entrepreneurs success online and off.
02.27.08
“how to” network with bloggers
For anyone who needs help, of thinks they need help, ProBlogger has compiled “The Ultimate Guide To Networking With Bloggers” to point you in the right direction.
02.23.08
how to make friends online
Tiffany Monhollon has a good post with 7 tips on making friends with bloggers, etc.:
The short list:
- Leave insightful comments on their blog.
- Write great content and link to them.
- Befriend them in their social networks.
- Communicate with them personally.
- Nominate them for awards (and tell them about it).
- Offer to work or write for them for free.
- Follow their advice (especially on relationship building.)
For details and more information, read the post.