I’ve taken a bit of a hiatus from blogging in recent months but have still been actively following news in the social media and technology space. Below are a few of the stories that I enjoyed reading the most over the past seven days.
Archive for category Tips
Personal Update
May 2
Hi Everyone!
As you may have notice, I haven’t been updating my blog lately and part of that has to do with the awesome changes happening in my life over the past few weeks.
My first big changes is that I recently left my position at FutureWorks for a new (and awesome) position with Allison & Partners. Although I love my time at FutureWorks, it was time for a change and I’m so excited to be the latest addition to the Technology team there. I will still be rocking the public relations world, just at a slightly different location. The best part is being able to work in downtown San Francisco and work with a group of amazing people who are dedicated to being great PR people. I’ve been there a weeks now so the past month or so has been dedicated to interviewing, transitioning and now working at my new job. I am so excited!
The other big thing going on is that I’m trying with all my might to learn to cook, even just a few good dishes. I am not a great cook and it’s so important to be able to create healthy and delicious food which keeps you away from all the junky food that it’s so easy to be drawn to. It’s been a challenge and I’ve been relying heavily on the new Jamie Oliver cookbook, Food Revolution. My favorite is the homemade granola but I wanted to include a few photos of what I’ve created over the past few weeks.
That’s it for now, will do my best to share tech related news in the very near future.
Originally published on bub.blicio.us
Brizzly.com, a reader that works with Twitter and Facebook, officially launched to the public today (previously available by invitation). The site pulls in the information from each social networking account, which is relatively straight forward. Beyond simple aggregation, Brizzly adds additional features that make the site attractive to users of both social networking sites. The two streams are accessed with tabs at the top of the page and at first glance, it seems like a simple site that brings Twitter and Facebook onto one page but the additional features are what make this reader useful.
One of the additional features that stands out is the “why?” button next to the Twitter trending topics. For example, Oprah Winfrey is trending and you may be curious why. Click the “why?” button and you see this simple blurb “Oprah is ending her talk show in late 2011 when her contract expires. She will then launch her Oprah network in partnership with Discovery Networks” Brizzly allows users to get that extra trending information not available in the web based version of Twitter.
Also, the ability to save searches is included in Brizzly so you can easily track conversations that interest you without having to do a unique Twitter Search every time. Brizzly will also translate a tweet from one language to the accounts default language.
The Facebook tab does not offer much in addition to the existing streams in Facebook. The ease of quickly clicking between Facebook and Twitter is one of the features that makes Brizzly useful when accessing Facebook information. There aren’t many perks for the Facebook only user.
Brizzly did officially launch today so additional features will likely be added in the near future. The site offers a simple and clean user interface, making it an attractive option for staying on top of your social networks. There’s also an adorable bear mascot, who wouldn’t love that?
My post from bub.blicio.us
When I heard that Cushing Academy had decided to remove their school library in order to move into the digital age, my heart broke a little bit. The Boston Globe piece shares that what used to be a library on campus will now be a learning center with everything from e-readers and big screens for data viewing to a $12,000 cappuccino machine.
I have never been to Cushing Academy but I am an avid reader who values the feel and weight of a book in my hands. Of course I say this only a few hours after I started to seriously think about purchasing the Amazon Kindle. The problem with being an avid reader is that I have stacks and stacks of books since my bookcases are filled to capacity. The stacks are getting a little overwhelming so I am looking for a solution.
There are so many advantages to the use of an e-reader. Cutting back on printing and shipping are good for the environment and drive down the cost of the text that is transmitted to the device. It’s a great way to cut down on the pain and strain of carrying a heavy book or two in a purse or backpack. I also love the idea of downloading the book instantly instead of going to the bookstore or ordering from an online vendor.
The convenience is also a double-edged sword. As I’ve learned from iTunes, easy access can lead to impulse purchases (yep, I admit it, you’ll find a little Miley Cyrus in my music collection). There’s also something to be said for the ability to write in your book and make notes and highlight passages you want to come back and read again. I’ve also mentioned how much I love the weight of a book in my hands and after a full day in front of a computer screen, it’s nice to enjoy something that isn’t digital.
That’s my dilemma, am I ready to go that digital. Withe so many enthusiasts on both sides of the debate, I mentioned my interest in purchasing the device on Twitter. Bub.blicio.us contributor, Michelle Lentz, had the best tip on how to enjoy the best of both worlds*:
*Yes, that was an intentional Miley Cyrus reference
My post from bub.blicio.us
Turning on the computer to find 100’s of emails in various email accounts, 1000+ new posts in Google Reader and countless missed Tweets is not a great way to start a Monday morning after a week long vacation. Add to that the sluggish feeling after skipping the gym and eating vacation food (think rich and fatty) and its time for a mini-digital intervention.
Here are a few tools that can help prevent some of the digital pain and get your digital world back on track following a period of being disconnected.
Aggregate Information
Streamy: This is a great tool for aggregating the many social media tools (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) as well as IM and blogs. Rather than logging into each individual site, you can check your Streamy site. The only thing I would improve is having the option to update multiple statuses at once rather than click between the different streams. This type of site allows you to use your limited internet time more efficiently.
Food
Lose It!: A great tool for getting your eating back on track. Even if there is no weight loss goal associated with tracking food, it’s a convenient way to know what you’re eating and get your diet back on track. It’s simple, just enter what you eat each day into the application and you’ll get a calorie count as well as a snapshot of your food intake. It’s easy to set weight loss goal and keep track of your progress. The biggest challenge is being honest with the tool.
Fun/Fitness
Wii Active: Unlike the Lose It! Application, there is no way to lie to the Wii. If you aren’t doing the lunges properly or following along with the movements, the system knows and calls you out on it. This “game” really makes you sweat and gets your heart rate up. If you need to increase your activity level but prefer the comfort of your own home, this is a great place to start.
This is where I need your help. I couldn’t find any useful social media solutions for managing email. Do you know of any? If so, leave a comment or send me a quick note.
Networking saved my life! Literally… without the copious amounts of networking I did in 2008, I would be jobless and unable to pay my bills by now. There are different types of networking based on the reason you do it so I’m going to focus my energies on “how to” in a job hunting situation. Here are my top six tips and one little don’t:
1. Be Prepared! This means having a 30 second/elevator pitch prepared at all times. Just a quick yet eloquent who you are and what you do. Networking isn’t confined to events, you can easily bump into your next boss on the bus.
2. Network often, even when you don’t “need” to! I’m a people person so networking came easy to me after a few tries. I became addicted and made it a habit to hit up events almost every week. I’m not saying you should to that but you should make a point of attending an event with the goal of networking at least once a month. I’m not saying that it’s easy but it is important. You want to get ahead of the curve and you may not be looking for a job right now but you may be doing so in the very near future.
3. Follow Up! No matter how important you think someone is, keep them in your network. A very random relationship from a networking event may lead to a great job opportunity. Be sure to keep in touch with the people you meet. Send them a note if you have the time but with Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter and the next Web 2.0 technology, there really is no excuse to be silent.
4. Be Proactive! If you want it, go out and get it. You want to work at a particular company, contact the HR rep and set up an informal interview before there is a job opening. It may cost you $3 to treat someone to coffee but when you line up the perfect job, you will know it was worth it. Getting ahead of the curve allows the HR rep to know who you are and what job will be perfect for you.
5. Smile and Be Friendly! Regardless of your goal when you’re networking, you may very well make a new friend or two so just enjoy it. Ultimately, it’s about building your network and developing your brand so get out there be friendly and have fun.
6. Watch your alcohol! This means watch how much you consume. You don’t want to be the girl/guy that’s talked about the next day for dancing on the tables or falling over drunk. That’s not the type of buzz that will get you the dream job (unless of course that dream includes dancing on tables, then go for it)!
ONE LITTLE DON’T: Don’t flip out around celebrities! I’ve had a few random run ins with celebrities during networking events and such… try to be calm. I’m bad at that, just ask MC Hammer! I’m a celebrity lover so I may never recover from my silliness around celebrities but try and keep it in check when you’re at an event with the goal of networking.
