Send your own ElfYourself eCards
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
K.I.S.S.
Here's me being a NMDB again.
You know the old acronym KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid.
When it comes to digital holiday cards, Keep It Short Stupid.
Here's one for those of us making cute little digital Christmas cards, this from the University of Maryland. It's clearly well organized and highly produced, but it's almost 4 minutes long.
Ditto with this Holiday card from Eckerd.
4 minutes might as well be an hour for me in the Interwebs time. Granted I have no emotional connection to either of these schools having attended neither. Maybe I'm a Grinch, but if I want to watch for minutes of lame acting, I'll watch Grey's Anatomy clip.
I don't want Brad's head to get too big, but he did a really nice job with the Butler University version. Right around a minute. Perfect.
These things are meant to be fun and put a smile on people's faces. I understand that. It just annoys me that you spent a s- load of time producing this thing and I'm bored after 1:30 and stop watching. Make better use of your time and Keep It Short Stupid!
You know the old acronym KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid.
When it comes to digital holiday cards, Keep It Short Stupid.
Here's one for those of us making cute little digital Christmas cards, this from the University of Maryland. It's clearly well organized and highly produced, but it's almost 4 minutes long.
Ditto with this Holiday card from Eckerd.
4 minutes might as well be an hour for me in the Interwebs time. Granted I have no emotional connection to either of these schools having attended neither. Maybe I'm a Grinch, but if I want to watch for minutes of lame acting, I'll watch Grey's Anatomy clip.
I don't want Brad's head to get too big, but he did a really nice job with the Butler University version. Right around a minute. Perfect.
These things are meant to be fun and put a smile on people's faces. I understand that. It just annoys me that you spent a s- load of time producing this thing and I'm bored after 1:30 and stop watching. Make better use of your time and Keep It Short Stupid!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
You know you're a tool when..
You have a WIRED magazine hat, and wear it.
No sweater vest today though. I'm making progress.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Powerful photos
Continued love for boston.com/bigpiture. This week is a powerful series from Afghanistan: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/11/afghanistans_korengal_valley.html
Monday, November 10, 2008
Online Communities and the Back Channel
A whole bunch of my Twitter friends were at the Stamats conference in Tampa, FL. I tired to follow right along with them as they listened to presentation, and I really enjoyed their back channel discussions. I also joined in on the drinks and discussions streamed live on UStream. Well, I actually I wasn't able to stay up that late, but I made sure to catch up with them the next morning while having my first couple of cups of coffee in the office.
Pretty incredible.
What really intrigues me though is that I don’t really know any of them, but I'm learning from them all of the time. Brad’s the only Twitter friend (I’ve got about 50) that I’ve ever met. Even then it was only a quick introduction. Still, I do feel like these are real relationships. Not to be blown off as just some people I talk to on Twitter. I don’t think others in my office understand that. Wife gets it, mostly because I asked one of my Twitter buddies to help me score an interview.
Any way, back on track, my goal is to get through all of the information on Stamats that all my Twitter friends distributed during the conference. A bunch of them are writing reflection pieces on what they learned at Stamats08. I’m going to write about what I learned while not at Stamats08.
You may work at an institution with limited resources or a culture that doesn’t necessarily see the value of professional development. If that’s the case, creating relationships on tools like FB, Twitter and reading blogs of experts in the field are a great resource for you. I’ll get to work compiling everything and then will write my post. I’ll avoid the “what I Learned at Stamats08” posts and see how similar my experience sitting on my butt in Vermont was to those who were in sunny Tampa, FL.
Pretty incredible.
What really intrigues me though is that I don’t really know any of them, but I'm learning from them all of the time. Brad’s the only Twitter friend (I’ve got about 50) that I’ve ever met. Even then it was only a quick introduction. Still, I do feel like these are real relationships. Not to be blown off as just some people I talk to on Twitter. I don’t think others in my office understand that. Wife gets it, mostly because I asked one of my Twitter buddies to help me score an interview.
Any way, back on track, my goal is to get through all of the information on Stamats that all my Twitter friends distributed during the conference. A bunch of them are writing reflection pieces on what they learned at Stamats08. I’m going to write about what I learned while not at Stamats08.
You may work at an institution with limited resources or a culture that doesn’t necessarily see the value of professional development. If that’s the case, creating relationships on tools like FB, Twitter and reading blogs of experts in the field are a great resource for you. I’ll get to work compiling everything and then will write my post. I’ll avoid the “what I Learned at Stamats08” posts and see how similar my experience sitting on my butt in Vermont was to those who were in sunny Tampa, FL.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
GD
The battle with writer's block continues. Perhaps it's the 5 weeks of hotels, rental cars, and airplanes that is inhibiting my creativity? Whatever it is, I've got some content to create for some admission office emails and need to get the juices flowing. Blog, please help me out.
I'm driving around in a Prius for the next two weeks. I feel very pretentious and am enjoying looking down on all those people who are killing the environment with their traditional cars. For a car that is so revolutionary adn marketed, the interior sucks. There's an obnoxious beep that turns on when you put it into reverse. The radio controls are on a touch screen which is cool, except there's an area on the dashboard that looks like a radio should be there. In fact it is there, it's just covered up by a tinited piece of plastic. Forget the touch screen, just put the radio controls where they belong. My only other complaint is that the seat is killing my back. It's like having a seat with lumbor support and having that lumbar support cranked all the way up. Maybe some people don't mind that, but my back is feeling it and it's only been two days.
Just found out that F. Scott Fitzgerald is buried in Rockville, MD, not far from here. He's one of my favorite authors and I definitely plan on visiting and paying homage when I get some down time (i.e. tomorrow).
Microbrew in a can. Nice. Way to go Oskar Blues Brewing.
Bought Weezer's Red Album. Awesome.
Everytime I've worn either a Red Sox or Patirots article of clothing durring one of their respective games, they've lost. No more. Sox and Pats stuff is in the closet till the off season.
I do want to talk about some work stuff though as I've got some things that I need to work out in my head. One of them is femine vs. masculine influences in marketing. This is something that I've been thinking about for a while now. Mostly because the male:female ratio in my office is 1:5. For a year or so I was the only male on our marketing committee of seven. Now there are two and the committee's up to eight.
I sometimes don't think I'm serious when I say that the color purple (our school color) is a big issue for the teenage male. I know it sounds stupid, but it is. It was a hang up for me, and I watched a father and son walk out of our office on Monday, dad saying "too bad about the color" as his son was trying to drag him out. Now the dad was saying that to me, but it was clearly a situation where the kids says, "No way dad. Purple is gay. I'm not going to this school"
They're teenagers and by definitiion, irrational. Throw in the testosterone, and they're completely insane.
It's my contention that it is also an issue when you put a photo of a bunch of lame looking students on a piece. I know it's not a nice thing to say, but I think for the competative male coming from the competative academic environment, it's an issue. We're pretty close to 50:50 now so it's clearly working at attracting the students that we have on campus, but I wonder sometimes how much my opinion is either a. understood, or b. valued. I'm sure it's valued, but in such a minority, your confidence can be shaken. It certainly could be that I'm not presenting myself well. I'm not the best verbal communicator. (That's why this is such therapy for me)
This mostly came up because my newest coworker (happens to be female) commented that our campus doesn't seem to have an in your face feminist movement on campus. We seem to be pretty balanced. I definitely agree with her and wholeheartedly. The entire idea of a campus being different seemed completely foreign to me. I do wonder how long we can maintain that balance though. I think that the declining rate at which men pursue and succesfully complete college education is going to be a growing issue. As a country, our young men are getting lost in the school system. They're not being engaged, and I don't hear much about it - a little, but not nearly enough as the situtation warrants.
This post is way longer than I intended. Guess that writer's block has cleared up.
----------------
Now playing: Weezer - Troublemaker
via FoxyTunes
I'm driving around in a Prius for the next two weeks. I feel very pretentious and am enjoying looking down on all those people who are killing the environment with their traditional cars. For a car that is so revolutionary adn marketed, the interior sucks. There's an obnoxious beep that turns on when you put it into reverse. The radio controls are on a touch screen which is cool, except there's an area on the dashboard that looks like a radio should be there. In fact it is there, it's just covered up by a tinited piece of plastic. Forget the touch screen, just put the radio controls where they belong. My only other complaint is that the seat is killing my back. It's like having a seat with lumbor support and having that lumbar support cranked all the way up. Maybe some people don't mind that, but my back is feeling it and it's only been two days.
Just found out that F. Scott Fitzgerald is buried in Rockville, MD, not far from here. He's one of my favorite authors and I definitely plan on visiting and paying homage when I get some down time (i.e. tomorrow).
Microbrew in a can. Nice. Way to go Oskar Blues Brewing.
Bought Weezer's Red Album. Awesome.
Everytime I've worn either a Red Sox or Patirots article of clothing durring one of their respective games, they've lost. No more. Sox and Pats stuff is in the closet till the off season.
I do want to talk about some work stuff though as I've got some things that I need to work out in my head. One of them is femine vs. masculine influences in marketing. This is something that I've been thinking about for a while now. Mostly because the male:female ratio in my office is 1:5. For a year or so I was the only male on our marketing committee of seven. Now there are two and the committee's up to eight.
I sometimes don't think I'm serious when I say that the color purple (our school color) is a big issue for the teenage male. I know it sounds stupid, but it is. It was a hang up for me, and I watched a father and son walk out of our office on Monday, dad saying "too bad about the color" as his son was trying to drag him out. Now the dad was saying that to me, but it was clearly a situation where the kids says, "No way dad. Purple is gay. I'm not going to this school"
They're teenagers and by definitiion, irrational. Throw in the testosterone, and they're completely insane.
It's my contention that it is also an issue when you put a photo of a bunch of lame looking students on a piece. I know it's not a nice thing to say, but I think for the competative male coming from the competative academic environment, it's an issue. We're pretty close to 50:50 now so it's clearly working at attracting the students that we have on campus, but I wonder sometimes how much my opinion is either a. understood, or b. valued. I'm sure it's valued, but in such a minority, your confidence can be shaken. It certainly could be that I'm not presenting myself well. I'm not the best verbal communicator. (That's why this is such therapy for me)
This mostly came up because my newest coworker (happens to be female) commented that our campus doesn't seem to have an in your face feminist movement on campus. We seem to be pretty balanced. I definitely agree with her and wholeheartedly. The entire idea of a campus being different seemed completely foreign to me. I do wonder how long we can maintain that balance though. I think that the declining rate at which men pursue and succesfully complete college education is going to be a growing issue. As a country, our young men are getting lost in the school system. They're not being engaged, and I don't hear much about it - a little, but not nearly enough as the situtation warrants.
This post is way longer than I intended. Guess that writer's block has cleared up.
----------------
Now playing: Weezer - Troublemaker
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Within a mile from home
We're into week four of travels with Drew. I've got a few things on my mind that I've been meaning to blog about but I just haven't had either the time or energy to get on it. It's time to suck it up and write before I go nutty. Here's some random brain dumps, and I'll try to write something more interesting soon. This is total therapy.
----------------
Now playing: Flogging Molly - Within a Mile of Home
via FoxyTunes
- I saw a book today in Barnes and Noble titled something similar to, "3 Ways to Tell You're in a Lousy Job." Seriously? This guy has an entire series of books like this. This is the next career for me. Writing books on how to let people who are in miserable working environments know that they are in a miserable working environment.
- If this ass can write a book, anyone can. I was once again hanging out in B&N and picked up his book, I Hope There's Beer In Hell. I thought it was an interesting title and skimmed a couple of chapters. What crap.
- Vermont needs a Chipotle.
- Yes I am a dork. I went out and bought Iron Man as soon as it came out. I'm also completely stoked about the new Star Trek movie and the prospects of a Green Lantern movie. Comic book dweeb.
- I, like everyone else, have been paying attention to the financial mess and Congress's attempt to fix it. I really got annoyed today when I heard some Senator say that the common American doesn't understand commercial paper and the need for banks to borrow from each other and that's why we were outraged by a 700 billion dollar buyout. Please. It's not that hard to figure out. We were outraged b/c Wall Street screwed us. and made a ton of money and now are trying to screw us again and make us pay for their mistakes and greed. I obviously don't have an answer or a solution, but I don't have much sympathy for CEO's with multi-million dollar buyouts. You've helped out the top for eight years now. Let's help out the middle class.
- I'm beginning to feel bad for Sarah Palin.
- So far, TBS is doing a great job with the MLB playoffs. Much less annoying than FOX. I'm really enjoying not hearing Joe Buck and Tim, I'm such a NY Yankees homer, McCarver.
- Seriously Enterprise? Two cars in a row without cruise control. At least this one has power windows and locks.
- I was telling someone about some of my job responsibilities and got, "Really? You don't have an intern to do that?" Sweet.
- I know I'm not supposed to like Starbucks, but I do. Tripple grande skinny latte please.
- Had my first Five Guys experience. Awesome.
- Been enjoying Flogging Molly and the Lightning Seeds on my iPod.
- Also really enjoying Netflix's Watch Instantly feature. So far have watched Hogan's Heroes and The Dirty Dozen. I'm expecting a long day in the airport tomorrow and have Guns of Navarone queued up. hulu.com also rocks.
----------------
Now playing: Flogging Molly - Within a Mile of Home
via FoxyTunes
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Presenting your 2008 Burlington Blues
We had an end of the season gathering last weekend at our house for the team. It was a lot of fun and great to see people off of the softball field.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Dr. Reiss, R.I.P.
Some may have heard, but Dr. John Reiss was accidentally shot and killed in his home. Dave also posted about Dr. Reiss today.
I had Dr. Reiss for American Literature I my senior year at SMC. I loved that class. It wasn't only the material that we covered, but it was Dr. Reiss's dry wit that I appreciated.
I'll never forget the day that Dr. Reiss called me after one class. He recognized my enthusiasm for literature and said that he had recommended me for an Honors Irish Literature class. He said he knew I wasn't in the Honors Program at the time, but I was talented enough and had displayed such a love of literature that he thought I would enjoy it.
That Irish Lit. class was the best class I had at Saint Michael's. I loved every single class. It's one that I honestly looked forward to going to every single day.
I never thanked Dr. Reiss for that. I should have, but he retired that semester, and I would occasionally see him in the hallway from a distance, but for some reason, I just never took the time to say, "thank you."
Dr. Reiss, thank you.
I had Dr. Reiss for American Literature I my senior year at SMC. I loved that class. It wasn't only the material that we covered, but it was Dr. Reiss's dry wit that I appreciated.
I'll never forget the day that Dr. Reiss called me after one class. He recognized my enthusiasm for literature and said that he had recommended me for an Honors Irish Literature class. He said he knew I wasn't in the Honors Program at the time, but I was talented enough and had displayed such a love of literature that he thought I would enjoy it.
That Irish Lit. class was the best class I had at Saint Michael's. I loved every single class. It's one that I honestly looked forward to going to every single day.
I never thanked Dr. Reiss for that. I should have, but he retired that semester, and I would occasionally see him in the hallway from a distance, but for some reason, I just never took the time to say, "thank you."
Dr. Reiss, thank you.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
1612 Kensington Dr 036
Finally got this to look right int he blog. Here's the 'rents new digs in Washing, IL.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Choose Responsibility
John McCardell was on our campus yesterday. http://burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080918/NEWS/80918002&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
To the Road Warriors
It's day four of my fifth travel season in the recruiting cycle of a college admission office. The tricks of the previous four seasons have been coming forth and I thought it might be helpful for my fellow road warriors.
For those of you unfamiliar with the college admission recruitment season, most of us spend 6 to 8 weeks one the road visiting 3 or 4 high schools a day with a college fair in the evening here and there.
My self, I travel to PA, MD, VA, DC, and Worcester, MA. I'm able to make it home most weekends, but there are a couple where I'm gone for more than a week.
That's a lot of alone time. It's a lot of dinners by yourself and a lot of down time. Over the years, I've found that there a a few things that help me get through it.
1. Prepare before you go. Make sure you are organized before you leave. Take care of any projects that you have open. You may think that you'll get to it on the road, but once you're out there it's very difficult to motivate.
2. Develop a routine. My wife thinks I'm a complete freak when we travel together. When I check into my room, I unpack everything. I hate living out of a suitcase because it makes me feel unsettled. I have to unpack everything and put it away before I feel somewhat settled.
3. Eat 3 meals. This one's a hard one for me because I'm not a big eater and I sometimes have to force myself to eat on time. When I don't eat on time or skip a meal, I start feeling down and lethargic. Extend this over the travel season, and it can really wear on you.
4. Eat well. Wife and I love our food, but the food we (who am I kidding, she) makes at home is very different from what you find on restaurant menus. Restaurant portions are usually huge and sauces rich. Even salads are usually drenched in salad dressing turning a healthy meal into a high calorie high sodium meal.
How do you get around this? Some restaurants will offer petite portions. This may sound completely lame and unmanly, but I often find that the petite portions is the perfect size. When you order a salad, ask for the dressing on the side. Limit apps and deserts.
5. Exercise. This is huge for me. If I don't exercise, I suffer. Just getting to the hotel gym and riding the bike for 30 minutes really helps my frame of mind. It also helps to keep the weight off from the travel season. Last year was the first year that I didn't put 5 to 10 pounds on and it was because I watched what I ate and worked out almost every day.
That's it for today, but I've got a bunch more. Look for part two soon.
For those of you unfamiliar with the college admission recruitment season, most of us spend 6 to 8 weeks one the road visiting 3 or 4 high schools a day with a college fair in the evening here and there.
My self, I travel to PA, MD, VA, DC, and Worcester, MA. I'm able to make it home most weekends, but there are a couple where I'm gone for more than a week.
That's a lot of alone time. It's a lot of dinners by yourself and a lot of down time. Over the years, I've found that there a a few things that help me get through it.
1. Prepare before you go. Make sure you are organized before you leave. Take care of any projects that you have open. You may think that you'll get to it on the road, but once you're out there it's very difficult to motivate.
2. Develop a routine. My wife thinks I'm a complete freak when we travel together. When I check into my room, I unpack everything. I hate living out of a suitcase because it makes me feel unsettled. I have to unpack everything and put it away before I feel somewhat settled.
3. Eat 3 meals. This one's a hard one for me because I'm not a big eater and I sometimes have to force myself to eat on time. When I don't eat on time or skip a meal, I start feeling down and lethargic. Extend this over the travel season, and it can really wear on you.
4. Eat well. Wife and I love our food, but the food we (who am I kidding, she) makes at home is very different from what you find on restaurant menus. Restaurant portions are usually huge and sauces rich. Even salads are usually drenched in salad dressing turning a healthy meal into a high calorie high sodium meal.
How do you get around this? Some restaurants will offer petite portions. This may sound completely lame and unmanly, but I often find that the petite portions is the perfect size. When you order a salad, ask for the dressing on the side. Limit apps and deserts.
5. Exercise. This is huge for me. If I don't exercise, I suffer. Just getting to the hotel gym and riding the bike for 30 minutes really helps my frame of mind. It also helps to keep the weight off from the travel season. Last year was the first year that I didn't put 5 to 10 pounds on and it was because I watched what I ate and worked out almost every day.
That's it for today, but I've got a bunch more. Look for part two soon.
Mechanical Bull vs. Wife
Wife went to Colorado last week and rode a mechanical bull in a bar. Totally jealous.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Proof Read, Proof Read, Proof Read!
Okay, I have to admit that when I posted that my high school sent me about an alumni weekend I had what I thought was a pretty glaring error in mind. It turns out that there were two other errors that were pretty big.
1. The brochure that was promised to be one click away, was in fact, nowhere to be found.
2. The event that begins at 12am and goes until 4pm. I'm 99% certain they meant 12pm to 4pm.
3. There's no date. I've got no idea when this weekend is. This is what caught my eye at first. I probably won't go, but it'd be nice to know when it is.
1. The brochure that was promised to be one click away, was in fact, nowhere to be found.
2. The event that begins at 12am and goes until 4pm. I'm 99% certain they meant 12pm to 4pm.
3. There's no date. I've got no idea when this weekend is. This is what caught my eye at first. I probably won't go, but it'd be nice to know when it is.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Whoops
I hate to do this because it's the high school I graduated from, but what's wrong with this email I received today. (I've taken out the contact and name so as not to embarrass them too much.)
There I go again being a new media douche bag. Our alumni office did the same thing last year with our homecoming weekend so they shouldn't feel too bad.
P.S. I had a hard time with the formatting, so it's not that.
Dear Andrew, Homecoming / Pioneerfest is quickly approaching and we are busy preparing to make this Homecoming a truly special one! Below are some highlights of our day, with a link to our brochure: 9:00 a.m. Football Mass Football alumni are invited for a Mass in the Coaches Pavilion (gym) followed by breakfast. You will receive a ticket to the mass/breakfast and to the football game. 10:00 a.m. Alumni Soccer Game* Dust off your cleats and join us for a soccer game on Pioneer Field with your fellow alumni. Each participant will receive a commemorative shirt and all of the glory of participating in this alumni sporting event! 10:00 a.m. Alumni Crew Race* Join us at the Donahue Rowing Center on Lake Quinsigamond for a great time reconnecting with former rowers. Each participant will receive a commemorative shirt! 11:00 a.m. Class Agent Meeting* Class agents will meet in Remillard Hall to discuss participation in upcoming alumni events and activities. Pioneerfest / Homecoming! 12:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (click on the link below) Join us for this special family fun day on Pioneer field featuring live entertainment, amusements and events for children of all ages! Stop by the Alumni Office table to say hello! *Participants in Alumni Soccer and Crew are required to register with the Alumni Office. Please call (508) or email events@. Click this link to download the Homecoming/PioneerFest brochure for more information.
We are looking forward to seeing you and your families this weekend! Sincerely,
|
P.S. I had a hard time with the formatting, so it's not that.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Fall
It's coming. I've been thinking about this post that I wrote a couple of years back. Although it's no longer August, it still seems too early to be fall.
Looking at the calendar, I'm realizing that this it the first weekend that I've been in my house since the beginning of May. I'm not complaining at all. We've had a couple of trips, a couple of weddings and the rest have been spent upta camp with my family. In fact, if I thought I could convince Wife, I'd be up there this weekend. But being away has left a number of projects that need to get done.
The roof was looking pretty rough and Wife and I decided that we did not want to risk a Vermont winter and thaw with an iffy roof. The roofers have been working since Monday. They're doing good work, but I'm definitely sick of the banging and commotion. It hasn't been the quiet weekend I was hoping.
The windows sills are looking pretty rough and all need to be primed and painted. The garden needs to be pulled up. And there's a bit of touch up work here and there that need to get done. All this and I need to hit the road in a week.
This week coming up will be a challenge no doubt. It's the last week before I hit the road. I've got a huge to do list on my desk and I've thought of a half dozen other things I need to add to it when I get to work on Monday. Not that I'm stressed about it though.
This travel thing is getting old. I'm almost 30. I don't see how I can be on the road for 5 or 6 weeks when I have a family. What I need to do is propose that our office create a e-communications position like others have. It will mean that I need to step it up as well and produce on the ideas that I have and am rolling out this year.
I also don't doubt for a second that it's the changing seasons that's getting me in this mood. I've had a great summer here in Vermont and don't want to see it go.
Looking at the calendar, I'm realizing that this it the first weekend that I've been in my house since the beginning of May. I'm not complaining at all. We've had a couple of trips, a couple of weddings and the rest have been spent upta camp with my family. In fact, if I thought I could convince Wife, I'd be up there this weekend. But being away has left a number of projects that need to get done.
The roof was looking pretty rough and Wife and I decided that we did not want to risk a Vermont winter and thaw with an iffy roof. The roofers have been working since Monday. They're doing good work, but I'm definitely sick of the banging and commotion. It hasn't been the quiet weekend I was hoping.
The windows sills are looking pretty rough and all need to be primed and painted. The garden needs to be pulled up. And there's a bit of touch up work here and there that need to get done. All this and I need to hit the road in a week.
This week coming up will be a challenge no doubt. It's the last week before I hit the road. I've got a huge to do list on my desk and I've thought of a half dozen other things I need to add to it when I get to work on Monday. Not that I'm stressed about it though.
This travel thing is getting old. I'm almost 30. I don't see how I can be on the road for 5 or 6 weeks when I have a family. What I need to do is propose that our office create a e-communications position like others have. It will mean that I need to step it up as well and produce on the ideas that I have and am rolling out this year.
I also don't doubt for a second that it's the changing seasons that's getting me in this mood. I've had a great summer here in Vermont and don't want to see it go.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Seven months in. Almost eight.
Wow.
I am actually surprised that I've kept this up for as long as I have. Over seven months. Not bad. Longer if you count when I was posting once every six months (see 6 posts in 2006 vs. 81 in , but I'm not. It was that Integrating Technology into the Classroom class with Greg Thweatt that inspired me to get this thing going and keep this going.
It's totally therapeutic for me to put my thoughts down on paper. Um, I mean the Internet. I always thought that it was the action of putting ink to paper that I loved (I even wrote that here).
Nah, it's just the act of getting thoughts out of my head onto something I can read and reflect upon.
Has this blog changed since January? Yes.
It's changed names three times at least.
The photo and crap on the sides has changed quite a bit.
Topics have changed from class, to work, to personal.
Pivotal moments/posts:
Florida Training Trip 2008 - I wrote a blog post about the new communication plan that I came up with because I was unsatisfied with our current e-com plan.
Integrating Technology into Curriculum - Got it started and built momentum. Loved that class. Greg Thweatt is an incredible teacher. This was my best post. I love that analogy that I made up all by myself!
Jay Peak realized that I'm often more creative outside the office than in it.
New Media Douchebag: When I decided not to be a douchebag.
www.alittlespunk.com: Yeah I get the sexual inuendo. It's my dad's nickname. It's on his business card. I swear. You should try calling him Spunk in a pub in England. That's when it gets really awkward. And p.s. despite what my wife says, I'm totally bringing the nicknames back when we have kids.
EduWeb: Sitting in front of Brad J. Ward. Since eduweb, I've had some serious traffic to this site. For me, considering what I write about, I'm psyched that I have about 15 or so visits a day. 20 plus when I post. Thanks, Brad.
Other people started reading, and I started advertising. My url is on my gmail signature now. So what does that mean? Well, self imposed censurship. I know some people that I work with read this (Conor, get off your blackberry and stop trying to get me fired). I think webguy might. Others may too.
So say I didn't want to work at SMC anymore. Say I wanted to get a development job at Dartmouth. I couldn't announce that in my blog. I also can't rant about change anymore like I did here or our support staff like I did here.
In someways I really miss that anonymity that I had before, but I also like the positive encouragement I get from people from time to time. So what to do?
Hang it all out there and hope I don't get bit?
Or self censure? It takes me away from the original purpose of this blog. Vent and reflect.
I am actually surprised that I've kept this up for as long as I have. Over seven months. Not bad. Longer if you count when I was posting once every six months (see 6 posts in 2006 vs. 81 in , but I'm not. It was that Integrating Technology into the Classroom class with Greg Thweatt that inspired me to get this thing going and keep this going.
It's totally therapeutic for me to put my thoughts down on paper. Um, I mean the Internet. I always thought that it was the action of putting ink to paper that I loved (I even wrote that here).
Nah, it's just the act of getting thoughts out of my head onto something I can read and reflect upon.
Has this blog changed since January? Yes.
It's changed names three times at least.
The photo and crap on the sides has changed quite a bit.
Topics have changed from class, to work, to personal.
Pivotal moments/posts:
Florida Training Trip 2008 - I wrote a blog post about the new communication plan that I came up with because I was unsatisfied with our current e-com plan.
Integrating Technology into Curriculum - Got it started and built momentum. Loved that class. Greg Thweatt is an incredible teacher. This was my best post. I love that analogy that I made up all by myself!
Jay Peak realized that I'm often more creative outside the office than in it.
New Media Douchebag: When I decided not to be a douchebag.
www.alittlespunk.com: Yeah I get the sexual inuendo. It's my dad's nickname. It's on his business card. I swear. You should try calling him Spunk in a pub in England. That's when it gets really awkward. And p.s. despite what my wife says, I'm totally bringing the nicknames back when we have kids.
EduWeb: Sitting in front of Brad J. Ward. Since eduweb, I've had some serious traffic to this site. For me, considering what I write about, I'm psyched that I have about 15 or so visits a day. 20 plus when I post. Thanks, Brad.
Other people started reading, and I started advertising. My url is on my gmail signature now. So what does that mean? Well, self imposed censurship. I know some people that I work with read this (Conor, get off your blackberry and stop trying to get me fired). I think webguy might. Others may too.
So say I didn't want to work at SMC anymore. Say I wanted to get a development job at Dartmouth. I couldn't announce that in my blog. I also can't rant about change anymore like I did here or our support staff like I did here.
In someways I really miss that anonymity that I had before, but I also like the positive encouragement I get from people from time to time. So what to do?
Hang it all out there and hope I don't get bit?
Or self censure? It takes me away from the original purpose of this blog. Vent and reflect.
Move In Day
Poor, poor neglected blog....
Yes readers, I've been neglecting you. Many apologies for that.
Today was move in day at Saint Michael's. One of my favorite days of the year. This is when all of those students you met last September as seniors (sometimes as juniors or even sophomores) in high school show up on campus with carloads of clothes, dorm furniture and other tons of other stuff. Some parents get teary-eyed, some are beaming with pride, and I'm sure that many are wishing they were the ones about to embark on the four best years of their lives.
For me, as an alum of Saint Michael's (2001), it also brings back many a memory. I'll never forget pulling up to the traffic light on Route 15 and being mortified as my mother honked and waved at strange people wearing smelly, sweat laden t-shirts, blowing whistles and holding up signs that read "Welcome Home", "You Brought Too Much Stuff", and "Thanks for the $$$$$$".
As soon as we pulled into the Ryan Hall parking lot we were swarmed by those same strange people in those sweaty shirts. They grabbed all of my stuff and only asked, "What room?" Freshmen, savor this. It is the only time that you will have your stuff unpacked for you.
Yes there are many fond memories from those first two days on Saint Michael's campus. One of the first people I met on campus is still one of my best friends and I still keep in touch with many of those that I met during orientation week. There will be friendships forged in these next weeks (and next four years) that will last a lifetime.
Yes readers, I've been neglecting you. Many apologies for that.
Today was move in day at Saint Michael's. One of my favorite days of the year. This is when all of those students you met last September as seniors (sometimes as juniors or even sophomores) in high school show up on campus with carloads of clothes, dorm furniture and other tons of other stuff. Some parents get teary-eyed, some are beaming with pride, and I'm sure that many are wishing they were the ones about to embark on the four best years of their lives.
For me, as an alum of Saint Michael's (2001), it also brings back many a memory. I'll never forget pulling up to the traffic light on Route 15 and being mortified as my mother honked and waved at strange people wearing smelly, sweat laden t-shirts, blowing whistles and holding up signs that read "Welcome Home", "You Brought Too Much Stuff", and "Thanks for the $$$$$$".
As soon as we pulled into the Ryan Hall parking lot we were swarmed by those same strange people in those sweaty shirts. They grabbed all of my stuff and only asked, "What room?" Freshmen, savor this. It is the only time that you will have your stuff unpacked for you.
Yes there are many fond memories from those first two days on Saint Michael's campus. One of the first people I met on campus is still one of my best friends and I still keep in touch with many of those that I met during orientation week. There will be friendships forged in these next weeks (and next four years) that will last a lifetime.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Stop it!
Dear U.S. Media,
Please stop comparing Usain Bolt to Michael Phelps. They are not the same.
Please stop saying that what Usain has done is more impressive than what Michael Phelps did. It's not. It is impressive, but it's not as impressive as what Michael Phelps accomplished.
Please don't forget what Phelps did or diminish it by comparing it to 2 events in track and field.
Here's why:
1. Usain Bolt raced in two races (not including qualifiers over) three days. He dominated both races, showboating through the finish of the 100m. He set two world records while doing so.
Michael Phelps raced in 8 finals (as many races as Bolt raced in total) over one week. He set world records in 7 of his 8 finals. He dominated in most. He did so with class and without showboating.
Advantage: Phelps
2. Bolt ran the 100m and the 200m.
Michael Phelps raced in the 100 fly, 200 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 free, 4x100 free relay, 4x200 free relay, and 4x100 medley relay.
This is the equivilent of running the 100m, the 100m hurdles, the 200m, the 200m hurdles, the 800m, the 1500m, the 4x100m relay and the 4x400 relay.
Advantage: Phelps
3. The 100-200 double.
Bolt became the first person since Carl Lewis to win both events in the same Olympics. Okay, that's been a long time. I get it. But what they are telling you is that Bolt is the ninth person to acheive this feat. Here's the list.
Phelps is the only person to ever have won 8 medals in one Olympics. He's the only athlete ever to win 14 gold medals. Here's the list: Michael Phelps.
4. Everybody runs. Not everybody does the butterfly.
I saw this argument in an article posted on somebody's bulletin board. Really? That's why Bolt's accomplishment is more impressive? Because everybody can run? Seriously?
I ran in high school. I was slow.
I swam in college. I was slow.
What the hell do either of my athletic talents have to do with Bolt's? Nothing. They're both better.
Now in the interest of full disclosure, I'm a former swimmer and a college swim coach. I'm a fan of swimming and watched every race. I haven't really watched anything since. (Okay, I admit it I watched the women's beach volley ball, but I swear it was for the sport.)
I really don't see how you can honestly compare the two accomplishments. What Bolt has done in his two races is incredible, but I bet we'll see it again. Phelps? We may see that again too, but we'll see another 100-200 before we see 8 golds in one Olympics and before we see anyone overtake Phelps' career total.
Please stop comparing Usain Bolt to Michael Phelps. They are not the same.
Please stop saying that what Usain has done is more impressive than what Michael Phelps did. It's not. It is impressive, but it's not as impressive as what Michael Phelps accomplished.
Please don't forget what Phelps did or diminish it by comparing it to 2 events in track and field.
Here's why:
1. Usain Bolt raced in two races (not including qualifiers over) three days. He dominated both races, showboating through the finish of the 100m. He set two world records while doing so.
Michael Phelps raced in 8 finals (as many races as Bolt raced in total) over one week. He set world records in 7 of his 8 finals. He dominated in most. He did so with class and without showboating.
Advantage: Phelps
2. Bolt ran the 100m and the 200m.
Michael Phelps raced in the 100 fly, 200 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 free, 4x100 free relay, 4x200 free relay, and 4x100 medley relay.
This is the equivilent of running the 100m, the 100m hurdles, the 200m, the 200m hurdles, the 800m, the 1500m, the 4x100m relay and the 4x400 relay.
Advantage: Phelps
3. The 100-200 double.
Bolt became the first person since Carl Lewis to win both events in the same Olympics. Okay, that's been a long time. I get it. But what they are telling you is that Bolt is the ninth person to acheive this feat. Here's the list.
Phelps is the only person to ever have won 8 medals in one Olympics. He's the only athlete ever to win 14 gold medals. Here's the list: Michael Phelps.
4. Everybody runs. Not everybody does the butterfly.
I saw this argument in an article posted on somebody's bulletin board. Really? That's why Bolt's accomplishment is more impressive? Because everybody can run? Seriously?
I ran in high school. I was slow.
I swam in college. I was slow.
What the hell do either of my athletic talents have to do with Bolt's? Nothing. They're both better.
Now in the interest of full disclosure, I'm a former swimmer and a college swim coach. I'm a fan of swimming and watched every race. I haven't really watched anything since. (Okay, I admit it I watched the women's beach volley ball, but I swear it was for the sport.)
I really don't see how you can honestly compare the two accomplishments. What Bolt has done in his two races is incredible, but I bet we'll see it again. Phelps? We may see that again too, but we'll see another 100-200 before we see 8 golds in one Olympics and before we see anyone overtake Phelps' career total.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Choose Responsibility
John McCardell (former Middlebury College Pres.)and his movement to lower the drinking age to 18 continues to get press. The latest on CNN.
I do think MADD has done a lot of good. The entire designated driver idea was created by them. They've saved thousands of live at least with that concept. I completely disagree with them on the 21 drinking age though. It's clear that it hasn't stopped underage drinking at all. It's only made it unhealthier by pushing it underground.
From the article:
Research has found more than 40 percent of college students reported at least one symptom of alcohol abuse or dependence. One study has estimated more than 500,000 full-time students at four-year colleges suffer injuries each year related in some way to drinking, and about 1,700 die in such accidents.
Check out McCardell's website at www.chooseresponsibility.org.
I do think MADD has done a lot of good. The entire designated driver idea was created by them. They've saved thousands of live at least with that concept. I completely disagree with them on the 21 drinking age though. It's clear that it hasn't stopped underage drinking at all. It's only made it unhealthier by pushing it underground.
From the article:
Research has found more than 40 percent of college students reported at least one symptom of alcohol abuse or dependence. One study has estimated more than 500,000 full-time students at four-year colleges suffer injuries each year related in some way to drinking, and about 1,700 die in such accidents.
Check out McCardell's website at www.chooseresponsibility.org.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Video Blogging
It was a beautiful day yesterday so I decided to cruise down to Burlington and shoot some video. This little three minute video was teh result of 15 minutes of video and about 3 hours of work. From what I've been told, it seems to be about right - One hour of work per minute. I used Windows Movie Maker and had to restart my computer 4 times. I'm beginning to think that asking my bloggers to do any quality video isn't going to work.
And I should never work without a script.
And I should never work without a script.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Mass Meida vs. the Personal Experience
I'm thinking about our e-comm plan here at SMC.
Our site allows students to "personalize their experience." They are able to check off areas of academic, athletic, and student activities that they are interested in. I can then send information and news specific to those interests.
The more I think about it, the more I wonder if this really is a good thing. I'm beginning to think that I'd be better off letting students filter on their own.
Thinking back to my experience (and I may not be typical) I applied to 3 schools with 3 different majors. I was just clueless.
I also wonder if getting news on a variety of different programs speaks to the academic quality of the institution overall? If I see that psych students and history students are getting grant money to do research, than it must be a pretty decent place academically, right?
The volume of messages isn't overwhelming ( less than ten a month probably). Does narrowcasting make sense and how would I measure that?
I'm leaning towards no. Send it all out and let the students decide.
I'd appreciate any opinions out there.
Our site allows students to "personalize their experience." They are able to check off areas of academic, athletic, and student activities that they are interested in. I can then send information and news specific to those interests.
The more I think about it, the more I wonder if this really is a good thing. I'm beginning to think that I'd be better off letting students filter on their own.
Thinking back to my experience (and I may not be typical) I applied to 3 schools with 3 different majors. I was just clueless.
I also wonder if getting news on a variety of different programs speaks to the academic quality of the institution overall? If I see that psych students and history students are getting grant money to do research, than it must be a pretty decent place academically, right?
The volume of messages isn't overwhelming ( less than ten a month probably). Does narrowcasting make sense and how would I measure that?
I'm leaning towards no. Send it all out and let the students decide.
I'd appreciate any opinions out there.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Laptop free weekend
I'm sick of looking at this thing. At the end of the day today, I'm going to shut this thing down and not open it until Monday.
Going big time!
ALS is going big time. As you can probably tell, I've totally committed to the new blog title. It took me a couple of week to test drive it, and now www.alittlespunk.com is official.
A couple of other random bits:
A couple of other random bits:
- That little screen clip of Twitter below is proof that this tablet is useless.Wish we had Macs.
- I can't decide what to do re: Flickr. My pro account expires next month. I've gone back and forth b/n Flickr and Google's Picasa. I just can't decide which one I like better. Here are a couple of albums of my two stupid dogs. You decide which you like better and let me know.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
media overload
I need to take a little break from social media for a bit. Just one little post though. This was probably my favorite tweet of the week:
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
#eduweb2008 Closing Speaker
Here we go! Last one! Good thing too, my brain is full.
Karine Joly, editor of www.collegewebeditor.com.
Twitter is the star of eduweb2008 for sure.
"The Medium is the Message." Marshall McLuhan second time i've seen this quote in the last two weeks.
"The conversation is killing the messenger, the message and the recipient." Karine Joly
You can't catch up, keep up so stop trying.
The big question is, "What is important?" This goes back to what Mark Greenfield said: "aggregate and filter."
Conversations are the best relationship builders, but here are a lot of conversation s out there trying to build relationships.
Groundswell at least the second time this book has come up. Definite must read. (here are the damn italic gremlins again)
7 things to think about: (I forget what the title is but there are 7 of them)
Club Red @ U of Nebraska. Brad Ward says it's sexy!
Last word:
www.collegewebeditor/secret
Karine Joly, editor of www.collegewebeditor.com.
Twitter is the star of eduweb2008 for sure.
"The Medium is the Message." Marshall McLuhan second time i've seen this quote in the last two weeks.
"The conversation is killing the messenger, the message and the recipient." Karine Joly
You can't catch up, keep up so stop trying.
The big question is, "What is important?" This goes back to what Mark Greenfield said: "aggregate and filter."
Conversations are the best relationship builders, but here are a lot of conversation s out there trying to build relationships.
Groundswell at least the second time this book has come up. Definite must read. (here are the damn italic gremlins again)
7 things to think about: (I forget what the title is but there are 7 of them)
- What can you do for them!!!!! YES!!!! This is so true and often overlooked by non-natives!!!!!!!!!!!
- What do you want? (GD Italcs)
- If you build it they will they will come. NOT TRUE! If you build it WITH them, they will come
- Exclusive content starters
- Listen, Identify, Empower - once the most active community members have been identified, they should be empowered.
- Call them back on their terms
- Meet you new bosses - The community is your new boss
Club Red @ U of Nebraska. Brad Ward says it's sexy!
Last word:
www.collegewebeditor/secret
#eduweb2008 New Media
Nicely done. Quick intro into what Datamark does, and then onto the presentation.
I'm liking this!
Rule #1 Ask for forgiveness after the fact!
I'm right on with this. Do it an deal with the consequences after the fact.
I continue to hate Blogger's Italics issues in Firefox.
The admission staff should be on Facebook. I have mixed feelings about this and whether or not we should be totally on there. I think it depends on age. It would freak me out to see my director and/or my VP on there. I don't think it's worthwhile to have them on there. Just more work and no value. Young admission officers, yes. They definitely should be there.
I also feel strongly that people who are making marketing decisions regarding new media and Facebook should be on there and embedded into the culture. Otherwise they're making decisions on a technology that they don't understand. Blind leading the blind sort of situation. If you don't have a Facebook profile, you don't get a vote. There I go getting all worked up again.
I really need to blow up that useless Office of Admission Facebook page. I need to talk with ACP about creating a general page.
Yup! You can't market on these things! I wonder how he recommends directing traffic to these things?
I'm liking this!
Rule #1 Ask for forgiveness after the fact!
I'm right on with this. Do it an deal with the consequences after the fact.
I continue to hate Blogger's Italics issues in Firefox.
The admission staff should be on Facebook. I have mixed feelings about this and whether or not we should be totally on there. I think it depends on age. It would freak me out to see my director and/or my VP on there. I don't think it's worthwhile to have them on there. Just more work and no value. Young admission officers, yes. They definitely should be there.
I also feel strongly that people who are making marketing decisions regarding new media and Facebook should be on there and embedded into the culture. Otherwise they're making decisions on a technology that they don't understand. Blind leading the blind sort of situation. If you don't have a Facebook profile, you don't get a vote. There I go getting all worked up again.
I really need to blow up that useless Office of Admission Facebook page. I need to talk with ACP about creating a general page.
Yup! You can't market on these things! I wonder how he recommends directing traffic to these things?
#eduweb2008 Can't please everyone!
No kidding.
Webpagesthatsuck.com I like it.
Usability testing is important. usability.gov
Another mobile reference. I really think we're going to have to test this. I disagree with Brian in that I think this will be big
waybackmachine Here's where SMC has been in since 1997. That's me in the orange and blue shirt walking in front of our library in 2000.
Webpagesthatsuck.com I like it.
Usability testing is important. usability.gov
Another mobile reference. I really think we're going to have to test this. I disagree with Brian in that I think this will be big
waybackmachine Here's where SMC has been in since 1997. That's me in the orange and blue shirt walking in front of our library in 2000.
Pannel discussion #eduweb2008
Good morning!
Well....This is a very we developer heavy. Might be over my head.
Holy Sh**! Eric just responded to a question about video, and I thin I passed out after the first 3 words. Waaaayyyyy over my head.
Section 508. Had no idea what it was. According to Mark G. There hasn't bee a lot case law re: this issue. This might be something to keep an eye on.....
The commercialization of higher education and higher ed marketing. Good or bad? Both I think. Not all marketing is evil.
Aggregate and filter! There are a ton of tools out there but which ones are valuable?
Totally agree. In order to understand the tech, you have to be on it playing with it. I find this hard to do sometimes when people walk by my office and see me on Facebook and Twitter, etc. they don't get that it's part of the job.
Well....This is a very we developer heavy. Might be over my head.
Holy Sh**! Eric just responded to a question about video, and I thin I passed out after the first 3 words. Waaaayyyyy over my head.
Section 508. Had no idea what it was. According to Mark G. There hasn't bee a lot case law re: this issue. This might be something to keep an eye on.....
The commercialization of higher education and higher ed marketing. Good or bad? Both I think. Not all marketing is evil.
Aggregate and filter! There are a ton of tools out there but which ones are valuable?
Totally agree. In order to understand the tech, you have to be on it playing with it. I find this hard to do sometimes when people walk by my office and see me on Facebook and Twitter, etc. they don't get that it's part of the job.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
#eduweb2008 Admission Life Cycle
Christopher Ferguson, Dir. of Admission at Wilmington University.
Interesting. He went to a real estate company for the virtual tour.
Ning, interesting that they have it open to anyone not only accepted students. I'm not sure about how I feel about this. Get a kid who applies and then is denied...
What is Blogger's problem with Italics? It won't shut them off. Starting to get annoyed by it.
It's been a long day of live blogging. Clearly, this post has not been very enlightening. Sorry, I'm fried. (::DAMN ITALCS!!!::)
Interesting. He went to a real estate company for the virtual tour.
Ning, interesting that they have it open to anyone not only accepted students. I'm not sure about how I feel about this. Get a kid who applies and then is denied...
What is Blogger's problem with Italics? It won't shut them off. Starting to get annoyed by it.
It's been a long day of live blogging. Clearly, this post has not been very enlightening. Sorry, I'm fried. (::DAMN ITALCS!!!::)
#eduweb2008 High School Students Tell All
Presented by Bill Royall and Pam Kiecker
The Wealth of Stealth: the stealth market place. Website and other internet resources (think first contact application) -from the Lawlor Group
A few of the top most important information resources for students:
Heavy traffic time winter break of their Sophomore and Junior years!!!!
They are searching for:
I'm also surprised to see such a high the numbers were for those accepting of colleges on Facebook. I wonder if the students really understood what they were being asked. I also wonder about what kids picture when they're asked about colleges being on Facebook.
More insights:
The Wealth of Stealth: the stealth market place. Website and other internet resources (think first contact application) -from the Lawlor Group
A few of the top most important information resources for students:
- Admission website
- Virtual tour
- Student blogs
- Online chats
- Instant messaging
- Personalization of website
- College websites are used for information not entertainment
- Functionality: must be easy to use
- Two click rule - it's even more important now that there
- Websites
- Other students/peers
- Letters from colleges
- Email messages from specific colleges
Heavy traffic time winter break of their Sophomore and Junior years!!!!
They are searching for:
- Can I get in?
- Major?
- Can I afford it? (GD financial aid again)
- Make an informed decission on where to apply
- Develop a strong application
- Make the FINAL choice
I'm also surprised to see such a high the numbers were for those accepting of colleges on Facebook. I wonder if the students really understood what they were being asked. I also wonder about what kids picture when they're asked about colleges being on Facebook.
More insights:
- Website is important.
- Connect with current students
- Despite what you may think, students want more information not less. Email sin't as dead as you've heard. This makes sense especially when considering how much Royall uses email and the incredible response rates they get in direct mail.
- Students are saying, let me have it all and then I'll sort through it and get what I want
#eduweb2008 E-Mail Marketing for Higher Ed
Kyle James, webmaster @ Wofford College
Consistency is key. branding should be similar to the over all branding of your site.
Wish we had a dog for a mascot.
What to send?
Content
http://bronto.com
I'm a little grossed out by the feet on our website.
Consistency is key. branding should be similar to the over all branding of your site.
Wish we had a dog for a mascot.
What to send?
- New releases (check)
- Weekly newsletter i.e. athletics
- Data mining blog posts
- Promoting Website features
Content
- Subject line (a must have)
- Small bite sized chunks
- link back to site
- multiple content options
- Pictures should ad to content but not dominate
http://bronto.com
I'm a little grossed out by the feet on our website.
#eduweb Brian Niles, "Recruiting 2.1"
Lot's of talk about population trends and the economy. Scary stuff. He did mention wasteful travel.
Stay away from fads. i.e. Second life and crappy facebook applications
Where's the big picture? Are we doing this just to do it or is there a plan in place?
Email: What we use to talk to old people
IM/SMS: What we use to talk to our friends
(YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
64% believe that advertising is dishonest or unrealistic. Taglines. The marketing speak.
>25% of first contacts are at the point of application. >13% start searching at the 8th grade.
How to reach these kids? Where are they getting there information?
In 2004 75% of students researched colleges online. Really old study. Must be way higher now.
Damn Financial Aid Estimators again. 90% of parents want one. We continue to get killed by that one.
Funny, I don't see those IM #'s. I never get IM's from kids.
Quality: Define it! How is your program different! Think of the question, 'how is your english program?"
Graduate student blogs. The whole damn website needs to be blown up and focus on recruiting students.
Biola for parent programs. It's a great page and hits on a lot of stuff we've been talking about in our communications meetings.
Transforming a College George Keller
I've got a lot of reading to do. http://linkbun.ch/hh0
WVU roommate assignments in February(!!!). The ability to connect with your future roommate can help make the sale!
Travel, where are we going and why? I don't think we've cut it enough in our office...
Book list:
The Overacheivers
Beyond Disruption
X Saves the World
How to Drive your Competition Crazy
Fast Company ( I need to subscribe to this for the office)
Don't Make Me Think
Presentation available at knowledgecenter.targetx.com
Stay away from fads. i.e. Second life and crappy facebook applications
Where's the big picture? Are we doing this just to do it or is there a plan in place?
Email: What we use to talk to old people
IM/SMS: What we use to talk to our friends
(YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
64% believe that advertising is dishonest or unrealistic. Taglines. The marketing speak.
>25% of first contacts are at the point of application. >13% start searching at the 8th grade.
How to reach these kids? Where are they getting there information?
In 2004 75% of students researched colleges online. Really old study. Must be way higher now.
Damn Financial Aid Estimators again. 90% of parents want one. We continue to get killed by that one.
Funny, I don't see those IM #'s. I never get IM's from kids.
Quality: Define it! How is your program different! Think of the question, 'how is your english program?"
Graduate student blogs. The whole damn website needs to be blown up and focus on recruiting students.
Biola for parent programs. It's a great page and hits on a lot of stuff we've been talking about in our communications meetings.
Transforming a College George Keller
I've got a lot of reading to do. http://linkbun.ch/hh0
WVU roommate assignments in February(!!!). The ability to connect with your future roommate can help make the sale!
Travel, where are we going and why? I don't think we've cut it enough in our office...
Book list:
The Overacheivers
Beyond Disruption
X Saves the World
How to Drive your Competition Crazy
Fast Company ( I need to subscribe to this for the office)
Don't Make Me Think
Presentation available at knowledgecenter.targetx.com
#eduweb2008 Buzz, Brands, and Babes
Sexy title.
Sean Carton, CSO from idfive. sean.carton@idfive.com
6 trends of change
Memes - a unit of cultural information. Richard Dawkings The Selfish Gene
Malcolm Gladwell, the Tipping Point- You just need to reach the ten people who will be the ones to make it grow and then it will be viral.
Duncan Watts One-to-one - disagrees with Gladwell.
******Honesty***********************
I was talking about this yesterday. I really think that this web 2.0 movement will force conversation from the marketing speak to honest conversations.
Keep it honest
Multiple channels
Frequent updates
This is more to the point that you can't always control your message and sometimes you have to let it ride. More passive Marketing.
Sean Carton, CSO from idfive. sean.carton@idfive.com
6 trends of change
- The consumer is in the driver's seat
- Everything is digital
- Real time now = when I wnat it
- Bye, bye centralization
- The future is always on (wireless)
- Peace out desktop
Memes - a unit of cultural information. Richard Dawkings The Selfish Gene
Malcolm Gladwell, the Tipping Point- You just need to reach the ten people who will be the ones to make it grow and then it will be viral.
Duncan Watts One-to-one - disagrees with Gladwell.
******Honesty***********************
I was talking about this yesterday. I really think that this web 2.0 movement will force conversation from the marketing speak to honest conversations.
Keep it honest
Multiple channels
Frequent updates
This is more to the point that you can't always control your message and sometimes you have to let it ride. More passive Marketing.
Helicopter Parents
Presenter: Stephanie Geyer - Noel-Levitz
Parents say the darnedest things. Stephanie had us read various quotes from parents about their involvement in their kid's college search.
I don't think this will shock anyone out there: Parents fill out forms for their students and pose as students when they can. I know we see parents on the student chats @ SMC.
Here's an important piece, "The more parent information the better."
Some quick numbers:
90% either have or would chat online one on one with a counselor.
87% would or have email a counselor.
Virtual Tour is huge!
Social Networking:
I wonder how many parents are on facebook, etc. I wonder if a Parent social networking site would be useful if it was directed solely at parents.
Recommendations for colleges:
More detail into curriculum requirements
Financial costs/financial aid/percentage of students receiving aid
Application status
Not surprised here. 2 of the top five web content priorities for parents are financial aid related. I worry about this and our site.
Email is not dead for parents!!!! It's in fact the number one way to connect with parents. That's a real bad thing for us and our CMS.
Millennials go to College, must read.
To me, parents aren't going away. Colleges should accept that. You can't bite the hand that feed you.
Parents say the darnedest things. Stephanie had us read various quotes from parents about their involvement in their kid's college search.
I don't think this will shock anyone out there: Parents fill out forms for their students and pose as students when they can. I know we see parents on the student chats @ SMC.
Here's an important piece, "The more parent information the better."
Some quick numbers:
90% either have or would chat online one on one with a counselor.
87% would or have email a counselor.
Virtual Tour is huge!
Social Networking:
I wonder how many parents are on facebook, etc. I wonder if a Parent social networking site would be useful if it was directed solely at parents.
Recommendations for colleges:
More detail into curriculum requirements
Financial costs/financial aid/percentage of students receiving aid
Application status
Not surprised here. 2 of the top five web content priorities for parents are financial aid related. I worry about this and our site.
Email is not dead for parents!!!! It's in fact the number one way to connect with parents. That's a real bad thing for us and our CMS.
Millennials go to College, must read.
To me, parents aren't going away. Colleges should accept that. You can't bite the hand that feed you.
First day a geek camp
Run down of last night's events:
After the second session, a quick beer at the cocktail hour and up to the room to cleanup and recharge.
I stopped by the Bloghighered.org meet up. Chatted with Brad Ward and Mark G. for a bit.
Hit the Deck for a quick bite to eat and then played craps in the casino for a couple of hours. First time for me and ended up $70. It was tough to find a good table but just as I was about to call it a night down $20, I decided to try a table where a guy was on a roll.
Looking forward to today. So often at these things, you only get one or two sessions a day that sound interesting. In fact, I can't decide which 5 o'clock session to go to. I guess I've got plenty of time to figure it out.
After the second session, a quick beer at the cocktail hour and up to the room to cleanup and recharge.
I stopped by the Bloghighered.org meet up. Chatted with Brad Ward and Mark G. for a bit.
Hit the Deck for a quick bite to eat and then played craps in the casino for a couple of hours. First time for me and ended up $70. It was tough to find a good table but just as I was about to call it a night down $20, I decided to try a table where a guy was on a roll.
Looking forward to today. So often at these things, you only get one or two sessions a day that sound interesting. In fact, I can't decide which 5 o'clock session to go to. I guess I've got plenty of time to figure it out.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Faculty Marketers by Dr. Greg Williams
It makes sense for both sides, administration and faculty. He's presenting from the point of view of a graduate administrator/faculty needing to grow enrollment. I can see a lot of some parallels b/n his program and ours.
aside: (this may be a stretch for me, but I might be able to pass some of this along to our Dir. grad programs)
Going back to Mark Greenfield's presentation: Forget about the technology. Go over your goals and answer the question: what are you looking to accomplish?
LOL!!! He's talking about Open Houses for a Graduate Program and he's got a huge chocolate chip cookie on the screen. This totally reminds of our Open Houses. He has a great point. What's in it for me? Besides the free cookies.
another aside: This will be a real test for me and my understanding of Twitter. I just downloaded TwitKit (or something like that). I can see how it can be a great tool here, but I agree with Mark G. that h.s. kids are using it. I can see them not getting the point. Loopt on the other hand....
It sounds like they totally blew up their old program, changing course titles, changing curriculum, inquiry management and put a lot of their services on line. I have no idea how he got all of this done in one year...
I really need to blow up the grad site. It's awful. There's too much stuff and it's all buried.
Google Adwords is number one referrer. It sounds like it has a lot of useful data that you can extract from it.
iTunes University: This would work for both the undergrad and graduate schools. I wonder if h.s. kids would look it up? I think adults might. Guess we could link it to the website, but that's just more clutter.
YouTube: YES! Such an easy technology and ads another dimension to the website. That silly little YouTube account (SMCBloggers) has had over 1500 views in 3 months.
Ahhh, I see. It took him four years to go through this redesign. I wonder how much it cost.
Definitely focused on the career opportunities that would come out of the degree. It's be really easy to do that with the Education program since VT pay schedule is based on education level.
All done. Foooood.....
aside: (this may be a stretch for me, but I might be able to pass some of this along to our Dir. grad programs)
Going back to Mark Greenfield's presentation: Forget about the technology. Go over your goals and answer the question: what are you looking to accomplish?
LOL!!! He's talking about Open Houses for a Graduate Program and he's got a huge chocolate chip cookie on the screen. This totally reminds of our Open Houses. He has a great point. What's in it for me? Besides the free cookies.
another aside: This will be a real test for me and my understanding of Twitter. I just downloaded TwitKit (or something like that). I can see how it can be a great tool here, but I agree with Mark G. that h.s. kids are using it. I can see them not getting the point. Loopt on the other hand....
It sounds like they totally blew up their old program, changing course titles, changing curriculum, inquiry management and put a lot of their services on line. I have no idea how he got all of this done in one year...
I really need to blow up the grad site. It's awful. There's too much stuff and it's all buried.
Google Adwords is number one referrer. It sounds like it has a lot of useful data that you can extract from it.
iTunes University: This would work for both the undergrad and graduate schools. I wonder if h.s. kids would look it up? I think adults might. Guess we could link it to the website, but that's just more clutter.
YouTube: YES! Such an easy technology and ads another dimension to the website. That silly little YouTube account (SMCBloggers) has had over 1500 views in 3 months.
Ahhh, I see. It took him four years to go through this redesign. I wonder how much it cost.
Definitely focused on the career opportunities that would come out of the degree. It's be really easy to do that with the Education program since VT pay schedule is based on education level.
All done. Foooood.....
Live from eduweb2008
So it's begun.
I'm at the third annual eduweb conference in Atlantic City, NJ. I'm going to try to post here as much as I can through out the week.
Right now, I'm in the opening speaker's presentation: Mark Greenfield from the University of Buffalo. This is the second time I've heard him speak. The man loves his Slingbox and his Sabres.
Mark's top 10 Web Trends:
10. The end of print - see Kindle
9. World network (web3.0) Loopt - a social compass that the new iphone has. There's not much that Vermont is missing, but the fact that Vermont doesn't have the iphone is ridiculous.
8. Virtual Reality - Club penguin, webkins, second life, second life teen. Not sure about this one.
7. Email is dead. I totally by into this. Email is ridiculous. Completely annoying and people don't know how to use it appropriately. Facebook is becoming this way too.
6. Read/write web. I like his idea of striking out the word "audience" and using "community" when talking about for whom content is directed.
5. Information overload. Too many people out there and it hard to separate the chafe from shaft. (I think that's the saying)
4. Redefining Time. Stuff has to happen much quicker than before. Qik.com going to have to check that site out. Live video streaming through your cell phone.
3. The end of the walled garden. The conversation has left the blogosphere. I was talking about this in my final presentation last Friday. Blogs have become one-way conversations. This is why we need to use all of the different social networking media out there. (Flickr, YoutTube, etc.) Ping.fm (need to check this out as well)
2. Cluetrain Manifesto! Must read according to Mark. Chris Andersen (wrote The Long Tail) says that social networking sites should be a component not a destination. In otherwords, he's an advocate for niche social networking. I this has some value. We certainly use it with accepted students. I wonder about this though. I wonder though.... Who has the time? (cuwebd.ning.com)
1. Mobile. This is where we get killed in Vermont!!!!! Push the damn AT&T deal through!!!!!
Strategies to deadl with these trends:
Focus on the relationships, not the technology. Yes, exactly!!! What is our goal? Why do we want to have a presence in a place like Facebook?
Read Groundswell, The Revolution Will not be Televised
1. Be first.
2. Refresh. Keep it moving. Update daily.
3. Be authentic.
4. Be honest. Love the marketing jargon.
5. Community!!! Build it.
6. You can't control it. You must cede control. Understand that if you let them in, they'll poke around in places you don't want them. (see what happened when I got off of the Facebook group)
7. The world is flat. Connections can be made that wouldn't otherwise be possible. There's a lot of wonder that can happen, but there's a lot to be skeptic.
CMO
Chief Marketing Officer. Now we need a Chief Community Officer. Someone to advocate for the Community first and the Organization second. This is a tough one for educational institutions I'm sure. It goes back to #6. I've been thinking about this the last couple of weeks. It's almost like passive marketing. I want to explore this more in the future. I think there's a lot there.
I'm at the third annual eduweb conference in Atlantic City, NJ. I'm going to try to post here as much as I can through out the week.
Right now, I'm in the opening speaker's presentation: Mark Greenfield from the University of Buffalo. This is the second time I've heard him speak. The man loves his Slingbox and his Sabres.
Mark's top 10 Web Trends:
10. The end of print - see Kindle
9. World network (web3.0) Loopt - a social compass that the new iphone has. There's not much that Vermont is missing, but the fact that Vermont doesn't have the iphone is ridiculous.
8. Virtual Reality - Club penguin, webkins, second life, second life teen. Not sure about this one.
7. Email is dead. I totally by into this. Email is ridiculous. Completely annoying and people don't know how to use it appropriately. Facebook is becoming this way too.
6. Read/write web. I like his idea of striking out the word "audience" and using "community" when talking about for whom content is directed.
5. Information overload. Too many people out there and it hard to separate the chafe from shaft. (I think that's the saying)
4. Redefining Time. Stuff has to happen much quicker than before. Qik.com going to have to check that site out. Live video streaming through your cell phone.
3. The end of the walled garden. The conversation has left the blogosphere. I was talking about this in my final presentation last Friday. Blogs have become one-way conversations. This is why we need to use all of the different social networking media out there. (Flickr, YoutTube, etc.) Ping.fm (need to check this out as well)
2. Cluetrain Manifesto! Must read according to Mark. Chris Andersen (wrote The Long Tail) says that social networking sites should be a component not a destination. In otherwords, he's an advocate for niche social networking. I this has some value. We certainly use it with accepted students. I wonder about this though. I wonder though.... Who has the time? (cuwebd.ning.com)
1. Mobile. This is where we get killed in Vermont!!!!! Push the damn AT&T deal through!!!!!
Strategies to deadl with these trends:
Focus on the relationships, not the technology. Yes, exactly!!! What is our goal? Why do we want to have a presence in a place like Facebook?
Read Groundswell, The Revolution Will not be Televised
1. Be first.
2. Refresh. Keep it moving. Update daily.
3. Be authentic.
4. Be honest. Love the marketing jargon.
5. Community!!! Build it.
6. You can't control it. You must cede control. Understand that if you let them in, they'll poke around in places you don't want them. (see what happened when I got off of the Facebook group)
7. The world is flat. Connections can be made that wouldn't otherwise be possible. There's a lot of wonder that can happen, but there's a lot to be skeptic.
CMO
Chief Marketing Officer. Now we need a Chief Community Officer. Someone to advocate for the Community first and the Organization second. This is a tough one for educational institutions I'm sure. It goes back to #6. I've been thinking about this the last couple of weeks. It's almost like passive marketing. I want to explore this more in the future. I think there's a lot there.
Friday, July 18, 2008
2008 Tour de France - The Big Picture - Boston.com
2008 Tour de France - The Big Picture - Boston.com
I love this blog. The photos are incredible. This one for instance. You almost feel like you in motion moving with the cyclist.
I love this blog. The photos are incredible. This one for instance. You almost feel like you in motion moving with the cyclist.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
SMC Bloggers
Rolling right along with the new SMC Bloggers page. I've spent the last two days in CMS hell during this redesign, but I'm almost satisfied with how it's coming.
Why Rebuild?
1. Because our blogs are good. They're better than good. They're great. They averaged over 2,000 hits a piece last year.
2. Because our other efforts are bad. Real bad.
We (the Office of Admission) rolled out a Facebook group specifically dedicated to high school prospects interested in SMC. It bombed. It has 35 members, 4 are SMC Class of 2012. The rest are alums and current students.
Our online photo albums are weak. Not a lot of photos, and not easily accessible. I’m not even sure where it is on our website.
We were in what I call the "Old Marketing Approach" when we built these things originally. They were all done before Facebook really took off and we didn't have a good understanding of it. We thought that all we had to do was build it and they would come.
That's clearly not how it works.
I have this article that was sent around my department posted on the wall in my office: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/06/03/facebook as a reminder of that old mentality. It's an article in a higher education marketing magazine praising this new, revolutionary, initiative on Facebook.
Number of users: 0.
Again it is that old we'll build it, you come mentality. It's gimmicky and the kids who are on Facebook see right through it.
What I hope this rebuild will do is cut through the marketing junk. The only "marketing" that will be going on are honest conversations with our students, faculty and staff. And the blogs will help to initiate that conversation.
Introduction: Blogs; Building the relationship: Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter, and more(?)...
Regular blog readers begin to develop an emotional relationship with the writer wether they realize it or not. You can't help but not to. These students are giving prospective student and families and glimpse into life at SMC. Extending the glimpse into other social media will help to strengthen these experiences.
Blog relationships tend to be one sided however. That really is the nature of the format. Certainly there is the ability to post comments, but it isn't a fluid conversation.
Adding Web 2.0 applications like Flickr, will give the blog readers a wider view of the bloggers experience at SMC and that of a typical SMC student by providing visual evidence of these experiences. The benefit of Flickr over other e-web albums is the social aspect. Users can post comments on the photos and discuss and share with others.
YouTube is much the same except in video format.
The tricky one here really is Facebook. The new Facebook page will be centered around the SMC Bloggers. It's all about them. I don't want the Admission Office to be there first association when they visit the group. I want it to be a means for them to connect with the bloggers and continue to grow that relationship. No admission marketing speak. Honest conversations are more valuable.
My hope with this new webpage is that prospective students and their families will have access to all of these social media through one site. They’ll be able to read the read the blogs, connect with the writers on Facebook, see their photos and videos, and get up to date info on what their doing through Twitter.
Implementation
Building these things are easy enough, but how I'm going to teach the bloggers how to use these tools?
Teach really isn't the right word because I think they already know how to use the technology or it at least won't take them long to figure out. I need more of a guided exploration experience. So how to do this?
1. Summer homework
I have started by asking them to upload some photos of "Summer Fun." I gave them a lot of freedom to go out and get photos (appropriate for our audience) and upload them into our Flickr account (SMCBloggers).
I will also ask them to take video of their first week on campus. Moving in, seeing friends for the first time, first night of homework, first day of practice, that sort of stuff.
2. Geek Session on campus
We'll probably have a meeting during the second week of school to which I'll have them bring their laptops so we can have a real geek session (hopefully we'll have wireless by then).
They all have Facebook accounts, but I will have them all set up accounts in Blogger. This way they can customize them, giving them a feeling that it really is their blog.
I will also have everyone surf around each other's photos on Flickr and post comments to them.
I will also work with them to upload the videos they made of their first week back on campus to YouTube.
From then on it is up to them to keep blogging, uploading, posting, etc.
Why Rebuild?
1. Because our blogs are good. They're better than good. They're great. They averaged over 2,000 hits a piece last year.
2. Because our other efforts are bad. Real bad.
We (the Office of Admission) rolled out a Facebook group specifically dedicated to high school prospects interested in SMC. It bombed. It has 35 members, 4 are SMC Class of 2012. The rest are alums and current students.
Our online photo albums are weak. Not a lot of photos, and not easily accessible. I’m not even sure where it is on our website.
We were in what I call the "Old Marketing Approach" when we built these things originally. They were all done before Facebook really took off and we didn't have a good understanding of it. We thought that all we had to do was build it and they would come.
That's clearly not how it works.
I have this article that was sent around my department posted on the wall in my office: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/06/03/facebook as a reminder of that old mentality. It's an article in a higher education marketing magazine praising this new, revolutionary, initiative on Facebook.
Number of users: 0.
Again it is that old we'll build it, you come mentality. It's gimmicky and the kids who are on Facebook see right through it.
What I hope this rebuild will do is cut through the marketing junk. The only "marketing" that will be going on are honest conversations with our students, faculty and staff. And the blogs will help to initiate that conversation.
Introduction: Blogs; Building the relationship: Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter, and more(?)...
Regular blog readers begin to develop an emotional relationship with the writer wether they realize it or not. You can't help but not to. These students are giving prospective student and families and glimpse into life at SMC. Extending the glimpse into other social media will help to strengthen these experiences.
Blog relationships tend to be one sided however. That really is the nature of the format. Certainly there is the ability to post comments, but it isn't a fluid conversation.
Adding Web 2.0 applications like Flickr, will give the blog readers a wider view of the bloggers experience at SMC and that of a typical SMC student by providing visual evidence of these experiences. The benefit of Flickr over other e-web albums is the social aspect. Users can post comments on the photos and discuss and share with others.
YouTube is much the same except in video format.
The tricky one here really is Facebook. The new Facebook page will be centered around the SMC Bloggers. It's all about them. I don't want the Admission Office to be there first association when they visit the group. I want it to be a means for them to connect with the bloggers and continue to grow that relationship. No admission marketing speak. Honest conversations are more valuable.
My hope with this new webpage is that prospective students and their families will have access to all of these social media through one site. They’ll be able to read the read the blogs, connect with the writers on Facebook, see their photos and videos, and get up to date info on what their doing through Twitter.
Implementation
Building these things are easy enough, but how I'm going to teach the bloggers how to use these tools?
Teach really isn't the right word because I think they already know how to use the technology or it at least won't take them long to figure out. I need more of a guided exploration experience. So how to do this?
1. Summer homework
I have started by asking them to upload some photos of "Summer Fun." I gave them a lot of freedom to go out and get photos (appropriate for our audience) and upload them into our Flickr account (SMCBloggers).
I will also ask them to take video of their first week on campus. Moving in, seeing friends for the first time, first night of homework, first day of practice, that sort of stuff.
2. Geek Session on campus
We'll probably have a meeting during the second week of school to which I'll have them bring their laptops so we can have a real geek session (hopefully we'll have wireless by then).
They all have Facebook accounts, but I will have them all set up accounts in Blogger. This way they can customize them, giving them a feeling that it really is their blog.
I will also have everyone surf around each other's photos on Flickr and post comments to them.
I will also work with them to upload the videos they made of their first week back on campus to YouTube.
From then on it is up to them to keep blogging, uploading, posting, etc.
Twitter feed test
I'm testing out www.twitterfeed.com. It's supposed to feed my blog to my Twitter account.
----------------
Now playing: The Black Crowes - Jealous Again
via FoxyTunes
----------------
Now playing: The Black Crowes - Jealous Again
via FoxyTunes
Top Ten Things I learned in Media Literacy
10 Things I learned in Media Literacy:
1. Just because they tell you it's true, doesn't mean that it is true. This class has definitely reminded me that I have to be a skeptic when looking at any type of media.
2.Lunz scares me. He seemed okay with what he was doing. He didn't appear to believe that he was misrepresenting information by changing the words politicians use.
3.I was watching the news this morning and saw a clip on U.S. Air. It's pilots were filing grievances saying that the airline was pressuring them to take on less fuel. The news clip seemed to be very much on the side of the pilots complete with Experts and Plain Clothes interviews. It didn't quite seem to fit in the local broadcast. I wondered if it was put out by the pilot's union. Before this class, I wasn't aware that news broadcasters would do this.
4. How enormous companies like AOL/TimeWarner, Disney, Viacom are. I know they were big, but I wasn't aware of how diverse their holdings are.
5. Yaks are raised for fiber and meat.
6. The 7 Basic Principles of Media Education and the 29 Persuasive Techniques. Super valuable.
7. The Feed. It's there and I'm plugged into it to some extent. What does that mean and can I resist the Feed? Should I resist the Feed? These are some new questions that came with this renewed realization that the Feed is all around us.
8. This is big business, man. I can't find the name of the French consultant that said, "American cheese is dead!" but I was blown away at how much companies will pay to consult with him. I'm very curious to see what his formula is.
9. Political ads are evil. They just prey on emotions. The Bush ads in particular were total fear mongering. How did the dems not beat them?
10. Awareness. It's important to be aware of the Feed. It's there. One should always look at whats presented with a critical eye.
Remaining questions?
Is resistance futile? Can you fight the feed? Or, like V's dad, will we all succumb?
I wonder what critics thought of advertisement back in the 20's and 30's. Sure it was factual based, and very different from it is now. All those facts couldn't be true though. Did Crest really give you the brightest smile? Just a made up example there, but I wonder if people thought critically at those ads.
Where do we go from here? I'm cynical I guess. When Money gets involved with something it immediately becomes corruptible and it's hard to put right. Clouds TM, school TM, etc. Are these inevitable?
Drew, bring food and project next Friday.
1. Just because they tell you it's true, doesn't mean that it is true. This class has definitely reminded me that I have to be a skeptic when looking at any type of media.
2.Lunz scares me. He seemed okay with what he was doing. He didn't appear to believe that he was misrepresenting information by changing the words politicians use.
3.I was watching the news this morning and saw a clip on U.S. Air. It's pilots were filing grievances saying that the airline was pressuring them to take on less fuel. The news clip seemed to be very much on the side of the pilots complete with Experts and Plain Clothes interviews. It didn't quite seem to fit in the local broadcast. I wondered if it was put out by the pilot's union. Before this class, I wasn't aware that news broadcasters would do this.
4. How enormous companies like AOL/TimeWarner, Disney, Viacom are. I know they were big, but I wasn't aware of how diverse their holdings are.
5. Yaks are raised for fiber and meat.
6. The 7 Basic Principles of Media Education and the 29 Persuasive Techniques. Super valuable.
7. The Feed. It's there and I'm plugged into it to some extent. What does that mean and can I resist the Feed? Should I resist the Feed? These are some new questions that came with this renewed realization that the Feed is all around us.
8. This is big business, man. I can't find the name of the French consultant that said, "American cheese is dead!" but I was blown away at how much companies will pay to consult with him. I'm very curious to see what his formula is.
9. Political ads are evil. They just prey on emotions. The Bush ads in particular were total fear mongering. How did the dems not beat them?
10. Awareness. It's important to be aware of the Feed. It's there. One should always look at whats presented with a critical eye.
Remaining questions?
Is resistance futile? Can you fight the feed? Or, like V's dad, will we all succumb?
I wonder what critics thought of advertisement back in the 20's and 30's. Sure it was factual based, and very different from it is now. All those facts couldn't be true though. Did Crest really give you the brightest smile? Just a made up example there, but I wonder if people thought critically at those ads.
Where do we go from here? I'm cynical I guess. When Money gets involved with something it immediately becomes corruptible and it's hard to put right. Clouds TM, school TM, etc. Are these inevitable?
Drew, bring food and project next Friday.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Well, the wait is over. Maria is finally on Facebook.
It's funny that it happened this weekend because we were talking about it in class on Friday. Somebody asked me why she was holding out, and I told them that it was because she had no interest in it. I didn't think she'd ever sign up.
What happened?
Her friend and college roommate sat down with her and set it up.
We had a couple of long distance friends (Mike from Chicago and Donnie from San Diego) at our house this weekend. They were both on Facebook and talking about how great it was when keeping in touch with everyone. Donnie convinced her that it was time to give in and sign up.
It's new and she seemed to like it, but I wonder how long she'll really stay with it. This will be like a little experiment.
It's funny that it happened this weekend because we were talking about it in class on Friday. Somebody asked me why she was holding out, and I told them that it was because she had no interest in it. I didn't think she'd ever sign up.
What happened?
Her friend and college roommate sat down with her and set it up.
We had a couple of long distance friends (Mike from Chicago and Donnie from San Diego) at our house this weekend. They were both on Facebook and talking about how great it was when keeping in touch with everyone. Donnie convinced her that it was time to give in and sign up.
It's new and she seemed to like it, but I wonder how long she'll really stay with it. This will be like a little experiment.
Friday, July 11, 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jan/14/facebook
Hodkinson's article here is interesting. Clearly anti-Facebook, he looks into the money behind Facebook.
His strongest two arguments against Facebook are that all that data is being mined and sold to advertisers, and all the data available makes it much easy for orgs. like the CIA.
He really weakens his argument, by going after Thiel so hard. He clearly disagrees strongly with the guys politics and spends a ton of time in the article attacking him. He also really over simplifies the abilities of Facebook.
Sure Facebook connects people who work and live around each other, but it also connects people of great distances as well. I like to give the example that my brother lives in San Francisco, my sister in Maine, and we're all playing a game of Scrabble on Facebook.
He seems to argue that bringing people together globally is a bad thing, but I don't agree with him.
Hodgkinson does make the reader think by writing about the money behind Facebook, but he just comes off a little too strong for me.
Hodkinson's article here is interesting. Clearly anti-Facebook, he looks into the money behind Facebook.
His strongest two arguments against Facebook are that all that data is being mined and sold to advertisers, and all the data available makes it much easy for orgs. like the CIA.
He really weakens his argument, by going after Thiel so hard. He clearly disagrees strongly with the guys politics and spends a ton of time in the article attacking him. He also really over simplifies the abilities of Facebook.
Sure Facebook connects people who work and live around each other, but it also connects people of great distances as well. I like to give the example that my brother lives in San Francisco, my sister in Maine, and we're all playing a game of Scrabble on Facebook.
He seems to argue that bringing people together globally is a bad thing, but I don't agree with him.
Hodgkinson does make the reader think by writing about the money behind Facebook, but he just comes off a little too strong for me.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Chapter 7
I can't remember which part I'm supposed to read, so I'll read this one too.
- Everything is political. That's what I grab from the bulk of this. If a show chooses to address a political issue then it's obviously going to be political. If it chooses not to address a political issue, then it is being political as well. in fact, the book says, "the most non-political programs may be making the strong political statements of all."(p 254)
- Viewers will interpret ambiguous political message in their own way.
- Music can have political influence as well. However, it can fade away too. Dylan used to be the anti-establishment. Now he's selling cd's in Starbucks. It's proof that the music industry is interested less in the message and more in the money.
- Cultural Imperialism - Western culture is distributed around the world, especially developing countries. Western culture can be influenced in the reverse order, but it happens on a smaller scale. Think Beatles going to India, Paul Simon going to South Africa and Tiananmen Square
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
What in the hell?
So I just bought an iPod Shuffle. Well, my wife bought it for the charger that came with it as she seems to have misplaced hers. The charger by itself costs $30. A brand new Shuffle costs less than $50. (You're shocked by this I'm sure) My old iPod died a while back so she just went ahead and bought a whole new one and now we're sharing chargers and have two Shuffles.
Anyway, I'm getting of track. I'm sitting here at our dining room table, reading for class and listening to this neat little gadget. I've been here for an hour or so and at least three times I've said to myself, "What the hell is this and where did it come from?"
Is this a sign that I have too much music?
Is my taste in music really this bad?
That's what fun about these little shuffles, and completely annoying at the same time. If you allow it to add music randomly, you'll never know what is coming next. Of course, if you in the mood for that one particular song, good luck finding.
Now playing, some song by Weezer off of some album.
Anyway, I'm getting of track. I'm sitting here at our dining room table, reading for class and listening to this neat little gadget. I've been here for an hour or so and at least three times I've said to myself, "What the hell is this and where did it come from?"
Is this a sign that I have too much music?
Is my taste in music really this bad?
That's what fun about these little shuffles, and completely annoying at the same time. If you allow it to add music randomly, you'll never know what is coming next. Of course, if you in the mood for that one particular song, good luck finding.
Now playing, some song by Weezer off of some album.
Chapter 7 and "Project Harmony"
I read the "Project Harmony" article first, and it is such a cool idea. Not only is it important for American students to understand the American media, but it is also important for them to learn about foreign media as well. I'm sure it was also eye opening to hear their opinions on American media and culture.
This is also why Web 2.0 stuff is such a great teaching and learning opportunity. I'm sure the students were able to communicate well using email, blogs, youtube, etc.
Onto the last two sections of Chapter 7:
Whoops, should be reading chapter 8 not 7:
This is also why Web 2.0 stuff is such a great teaching and learning opportunity. I'm sure the students were able to communicate well using email, blogs, youtube, etc.
Onto the last two sections of Chapter 7:
Whoops, should be reading chapter 8 not 7:
- "Interpretive Resistance" in other words is essentially the idea that people have preconceived notions and it's hard to break those down. It happens when people read messages that are in direct opposition to their preconceived notions.
The authors use Ms. as an example to illustrate that audiences will see what they want to see and may miss the larger message in doing so. - I like the "Semiotic Robin Hoodism" term for those who remake billboards or ads to poke fun at the original.
- Pleasure in media - This is the reason it is so popular. I bet that most media is used as an escape to distract for other areas (and perhaps more important) of life. the authors talk about fantasy and how it can be empowering and pleasurable and liberating to escape reality into a fantasy world.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Chapter 4 & "Making Media That Matters....In Minutes"
Really glad we decided to split up the readings. It makes it much more manageable and it makes the wife happier that we can spend time together.
So I'm going to try to read and blog at the same time again. Didn't really work as well as I had hoped last time, but here goes:
Chapter IV:
Making Media That Matters...In Minutes
So I'm going to try to read and blog at the same time again. Didn't really work as well as I had hoped last time, but here goes:
Chapter IV:
- Right off the bat, that adapted quote from Marx on pg 121 is an important one. The past plays an important role in everything, the media included.
- There's a great thesis topic, "The educational value derived from 'the Flintstones' and 'the Jetsons': Past v. Future". That's pretty funny that networks were able to pass those two shows off as educational in order to satisfied the 1990 Children's Television Act.
- I wonder if journalists get bored. I wonder if they get stuck in a rut, doing the same thing over and over again. That's what I didn't like about journalistic writing. It was like a math formula. I hated the funnel format because I didn't feel like it gave me enough room to be creative.
- The Clayman study is intersting. I expected that editors would fight for one of their writer's stories to hit the front page. That they tend to midly support the stories was suprising.
- Bennett's 6 Key Practices (p 133) are very valuable!
- All of those spin offs of Survivor are lame. Is imitation really more successful than the alternative? Or are they just easier?
- It's just occurred to me that they've spent a lot of time talking about newspapers here and only a page or two about the Internet. I guess that is because of the age of this text, and we've talked about that in class. If newspaper readership is really dwindling, then what structured forms of news media is taking its place?
- The star is the key. Look at Katie Couric and how the CBS Evening news is doing.
Making Media That Matters...In Minutes
- A great way to teach kids about media literacy - through hands on experience.
- I'm sure they love doing these little films.
- The movie awards nights must be a hit
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've been trying to figure out how to add a Title Field for months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's been driving me nuts!
As you can see, I found it. It is under settings and formatting.
It's been driving me nuts!
As you can see, I found it. It is under settings and formatting.
Choose Responsibility
I got going on the beer topic and kinda left it hangin' (thanks Rob for reminding me).
A day or so after writing that post, I received a mailing from ChooseResponsibility.org
It's an organization founded by former Middlebury College President, John McCardell. Their mission is to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18. They have some unique ideas like a "learner's permit" for consuming alcohol.
I really believe in this cause and think our entire approach to alcohol is misguided. I really recommend checking out their site. www.chooseresponsibility.org
Old enough to serve (go to war), but not enough to get served (a beer).
How does that make sense?
A day or so after writing that post, I received a mailing from ChooseResponsibility.org
It's an organization founded by former Middlebury College President, John McCardell. Their mission is to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18. They have some unique ideas like a "learner's permit" for consuming alcohol.
I really believe in this cause and think our entire approach to alcohol is misguided. I really recommend checking out their site. www.chooseresponsibility.org
Old enough to serve (go to war), but not enough to get served (a beer).
How does that make sense?
The Fourth of July
Upta camp!
Had a great weekend on this July4th weekend. Dan, Kim, Maria and I went up to Lake Willoughby and then went to my family camp on Lake Seymour. Here are some photos (I'm a little annoyed that you can't add tags to photos in Web Picasa):
Had a great weekend on this July4th weekend. Dan, Kim, Maria and I went up to Lake Willoughby and then went to my family camp on Lake Seymour. Here are some photos (I'm a little annoyed that you can't add tags to photos in Web Picasa):
 |
| Seymour Lake, Willoughby Camping |
Monday, July 7, 2008
I'm going to post and read all at the same time.
I'm into Part II of the Media Society book. I knew that there was consolidation going on in the media industry, but I have to say that I didn't realize how huge these companies are until I saw the flow charts on pp 41- 43. The section on Integration and Self-Promotion is also eyeopening when describing the release of the Harry Potter movies.
Came to the section about the BBC. It immediately brought to mind a NPR segment I heard this morning. Britons have to pay a TV tax if they own one. It amounts to about $260 pounds a year. in order to prevent people from skipping out on paying the tax, the BBC just released a really creepy Orwellian ad campaign. It essentially says that we know where you live. All of your information is in our database, and we will come get you. The article is here. I'm not sure how I feel about state run media. What's worse: state run media or conglomerated media?
Onto the article:
Have you ever ordered a burger that looked like it does in the photo? NO. You know, I hate that we have to look at this as skeptics. It seems like we should be able to take in and not have to worry about what messages advertisers are sending us. I find myself wanting to believe that a story is just a story, but I know better. Kids don't though. Media literacy education needs to happen. I'm not sure it will happen at home so it should happen in schools.
----------------
Now playing: Rustic Overtones - Rock Like War
via FoxyTunes
I'm into Part II of the Media Society book. I knew that there was consolidation going on in the media industry, but I have to say that I didn't realize how huge these companies are until I saw the flow charts on pp 41- 43. The section on Integration and Self-Promotion is also eyeopening when describing the release of the Harry Potter movies.
Came to the section about the BBC. It immediately brought to mind a NPR segment I heard this morning. Britons have to pay a TV tax if they own one. It amounts to about $260 pounds a year. in order to prevent people from skipping out on paying the tax, the BBC just released a really creepy Orwellian ad campaign. It essentially says that we know where you live. All of your information is in our database, and we will come get you. The article is here. I'm not sure how I feel about state run media. What's worse: state run media or conglomerated media?
Onto the article:
Have you ever ordered a burger that looked like it does in the photo? NO. You know, I hate that we have to look at this as skeptics. It seems like we should be able to take in and not have to worry about what messages advertisers are sending us. I find myself wanting to believe that a story is just a story, but I know better. Kids don't though. Media literacy education needs to happen. I'm not sure it will happen at home so it should happen in schools.
----------------
Now playing: Rustic Overtones - Rock Like War
via FoxyTunes
About Me
What's A Little Spunk ?
Well, when I started this thing I had planned on writing mostly about higher education and marketing, Web 2.0 and technology. My plan was to essentially be one of those New Media D--- (see this May post).
I discovered that I didn’t want to write about that stuff. I wanted to write about other topics – family vacations, neat things I found on the internet, making beer, and other stuff that just popped into my head.
So that’s why I decided to redesign. And toss out everything – url, title, etc. The only thing I’m saving is the layout (I like the simple design) and the photo of that special place of mine in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.
If you ever see a car with a NEK euro sticker, guaranteed they’re not originally from the Kingdom. They’re either from Connecticut or Massachusetts.
So why “A Little Spunk”?
Well, this blog idea has been through a couple of different redesigns. It has been Drew In VT, Millin’ in VT, Millie in VT, and in its latest installation, edu-Mill. Those were all pretty lame. I liked the edu-Mill the best out of all of them, but it stopped making sense when I stopped writing about higher ed.
So, I came upon "A Little Spunk".
My Dad's nickname is Spunk. He comes from a family where they were all given nicknames in addition to their Christian names. My mom, in her good sense, put an end to this with our generation.
My grandfather from time to time would call me Little Spunk or Spunky Jr., but otherwise, there were no quirky names for us.
So when pondering a quirky and witty title for his blog, I thought back to my grandfather calling me Little Spunk, and thought it would be a neat title. There's a nice play on words in there too.
Like: It will add a little spunk to your day.
Now there is some sexual innuendo there. We've learned not to call my dad "Spunk" in say, England where it means something inappropriate. But I'll live with it. Who knows, maybe it will drive more traffic to the site?
Now on to me.
I live in Northern Vermont outside Burlington where I work in the admission office in one of our many private colleges. My focus is mostly on social media and e-communications. I know a little html and css, but just enough really to get by, adjusting size, changing colors, etc.
My wife and I have two stupid pugs. You'll see photos of them from time to time. I love traveling, skiing, beer, and my family's camp in the NEK.
Writing for me is therapy. I write about what's on my mind. I'll try not to censure too much, but knowing who some of my readers are, I have to be smart. I clearly can't write something like, "I hate my job and am desperate to GET OUT!" That could get me in trouble.
I hope you enjoy this.
----------------
Now playing: Grateful Dead - Big River
via FoxyTunes
Well, when I started this thing I had planned on writing mostly about higher education and marketing, Web 2.0 and technology. My plan was to essentially be one of those New Media D--- (see this May post).
I discovered that I didn’t want to write about that stuff. I wanted to write about other topics – family vacations, neat things I found on the internet, making beer, and other stuff that just popped into my head.
So that’s why I decided to redesign. And toss out everything – url, title, etc. The only thing I’m saving is the layout (I like the simple design) and the photo of that special place of mine in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.
If you ever see a car with a NEK euro sticker, guaranteed they’re not originally from the Kingdom. They’re either from Connecticut or Massachusetts.
So why “A Little Spunk”?
Well, this blog idea has been through a couple of different redesigns. It has been Drew In VT, Millin’ in VT, Millie in VT, and in its latest installation, edu-Mill. Those were all pretty lame. I liked the edu-Mill the best out of all of them, but it stopped making sense when I stopped writing about higher ed.
So, I came upon "A Little Spunk".
My Dad's nickname is Spunk. He comes from a family where they were all given nicknames in addition to their Christian names. My mom, in her good sense, put an end to this with our generation.
My grandfather from time to time would call me Little Spunk or Spunky Jr., but otherwise, there were no quirky names for us.
So when pondering a quirky and witty title for his blog, I thought back to my grandfather calling me Little Spunk, and thought it would be a neat title. There's a nice play on words in there too.
Like: It will add a little spunk to your day.
Now there is some sexual innuendo there. We've learned not to call my dad "Spunk" in say, England where it means something inappropriate. But I'll live with it. Who knows, maybe it will drive more traffic to the site?
Now on to me.
I live in Northern Vermont outside Burlington where I work in the admission office in one of our many private colleges. My focus is mostly on social media and e-communications. I know a little html and css, but just enough really to get by, adjusting size, changing colors, etc.
My wife and I have two stupid pugs. You'll see photos of them from time to time. I love traveling, skiing, beer, and my family's camp in the NEK.
Writing for me is therapy. I write about what's on my mind. I'll try not to censure too much, but knowing who some of my readers are, I have to be smart. I clearly can't write something like, "I hate my job and am desperate to GET OUT!" That could get me in trouble.
I hope you enjoy this.
----------------
Now playing: Grateful Dead - Big River
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Is it me or is Facebook getting noisy?
Maybe it's because I've got more junk on my profile, but I'm starting to get annoyed by all of the notifications and the messages in my inbox. It's all junk that I can only blame myself for I guess.
I get a lot messages because I became of a fan of DJ Craig Mitchell. He's a SMC alum who owned a club here in Burlington. He's moved onto bigger things and is a regular on the techno scene in Boston and NYC. I became a "fan" because he's a really nice guy and I want him to be successful. I don't think I'll ever go to one of his shows in Boston or NYC so I find the notifications and updates more annoying then helpful.
A certain alumni office sends out notices often too. Especially when it's the end of the fiscal year and they are revving up their fund raising for one last push.
I took one of those movie compatibility tests. It's constantly telling me that someone else took that same test and I should check out how we match up. I'm trying to figure out why I care.
One of my friends from high school sends me a Lil' Green Patch thing every day. Maybe I'm too cynical, but I don't really believe that 1 acre of rain forest is saved each time I accept a Lil' Green Patch request.
So I guess my question is, is it me? Am I too much of a curmudgeon to appreciate these little notes? Should I care that someone matched me on the perfect match personality test?
Or is Facebook heading the way of the email? Too much spam and too much junk has turned a once efficient communication device into annoying time waster.
----------------
Now playing: Toots & The Maytals - Freedom Train
via FoxyTunes
Monday, June 30, 2008
Beer.
I love beer. I really love beer.
Now when you read that, what was your first reaction? Was it negative?
It's my belief that American culture towards alcohol is primarily a negative. When I say I love beer, I often wonder if I'm perceived as an alcoholic or a beer swilling frat boy.
I don't think I'm either. I just love beer.
I like the taste of beer. Sure it was an acquired taste at first, but now it's an appreciative taste. Depending greatly on my mood, I may thirst for a Labatt Blue, or a Budweiser. If I'm feeling eclectic, perhaps a PBR tall boy.
Hot summer day, something hoppy like a Magic Hat H.I.P.A. And nothing tastes better than a fresh Switchback after a day of skiing.
So what brings this up? Well, I was on a business trip with some colleagues last week. We had been delayed in Richmond, VA for a couple of hours and we were had a couple of drinks at a bar there. Finally we took off and landed in JFK (most disgusting airport I've ever been in) where we were delayed for another couple of hours. By then it was after nine o'clock and I was sick of being in an airport.
The others grabbed a table at a restaurant while I stayed outside to answer a phone call. I got back and they were all drinking waters. I ordered a Yuengling (they don't distribute to the VT so I try to order it hen I can) and maybe it was me, but I felt like I got looks from the group.
This could have been a total paranoid observation on my part, but I think it did spark something in my mind re: alcohol and it's perception in the U.S.
When I think of alcohol and it's effects, I think back to my high school French teacher and his description of the French devotion to wine. He said essentially that the French don't drink to get drunk, it is instead a side effect tot he experience of drinking alcohol. They drink wine in an appreciative way - appreciating the taste, fell and smell of the drink and conversations and experiences while drinking.
I've tried to think of drinking in that way too. I won't apologize for my love of beer. Like I said before, I love the taste of beer. I love tasting new and different varieties of beer and returning to old favorites as well. Beer varieties can be like tags for the memory. Certain beers will bring up specific memories.
I will always associate a recent trip out west with Fat Tire Ale. College: Labatt Blue, the first summer out of college: Harpoon Summer, a NEACAC conference in Boston: Samuel Adams Summer Ale, a trip to Paris: Heineken, St.Patrick's Day my freshman year of college: Magic Hat #9, and there are many more.
So where does the problem begin? At what point are we taught that alcohol is bad and people who enjoy alcohol (without taking it to excess) have a vice?
I need to think about a little more. This post is already much longer than I had anticipated.
I love beer. I really love beer.
Now when you read that, what was your first reaction? Was it negative?
It's my belief that American culture towards alcohol is primarily a negative. When I say I love beer, I often wonder if I'm perceived as an alcoholic or a beer swilling frat boy.
I don't think I'm either. I just love beer.
I like the taste of beer. Sure it was an acquired taste at first, but now it's an appreciative taste. Depending greatly on my mood, I may thirst for a Labatt Blue, or a Budweiser. If I'm feeling eclectic, perhaps a PBR tall boy.
Hot summer day, something hoppy like a Magic Hat H.I.P.A. And nothing tastes better than a fresh Switchback after a day of skiing.
So what brings this up? Well, I was on a business trip with some colleagues last week. We had been delayed in Richmond, VA for a couple of hours and we were had a couple of drinks at a bar there. Finally we took off and landed in JFK (most disgusting airport I've ever been in) where we were delayed for another couple of hours. By then it was after nine o'clock and I was sick of being in an airport.
The others grabbed a table at a restaurant while I stayed outside to answer a phone call. I got back and they were all drinking waters. I ordered a Yuengling (they don't distribute to the VT so I try to order it hen I can) and maybe it was me, but I felt like I got looks from the group.
This could have been a total paranoid observation on my part, but I think it did spark something in my mind re: alcohol and it's perception in the U.S.
When I think of alcohol and it's effects, I think back to my high school French teacher and his description of the French devotion to wine. He said essentially that the French don't drink to get drunk, it is instead a side effect tot he experience of drinking alcohol. They drink wine in an appreciative way - appreciating the taste, fell and smell of the drink and conversations and experiences while drinking.
I've tried to think of drinking in that way too. I won't apologize for my love of beer. Like I said before, I love the taste of beer. I love tasting new and different varieties of beer and returning to old favorites as well. Beer varieties can be like tags for the memory. Certain beers will bring up specific memories.
I will always associate a recent trip out west with Fat Tire Ale. College: Labatt Blue, the first summer out of college: Harpoon Summer, a NEACAC conference in Boston: Samuel Adams Summer Ale, a trip to Paris: Heineken, St.Patrick's Day my freshman year of college: Magic Hat #9, and there are many more.
So where does the problem begin? At what point are we taught that alcohol is bad and people who enjoy alcohol (without taking it to excess) have a vice?
I need to think about a little more. This post is already much longer than I had anticipated.
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