Month: May 2010

Posted on

Confessions of a Public Speaker

Confessions of a Public Speaker

author: Scott Berkun
name: Elaine
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2010/05/22
date added: 2010/05/24
shelves: business, non-fiction, self-help, autobiography, wishlist
review:
Not your typical public speaking handbook — in the same way that Making Things Happen (aka The Art of Project Management) is not your typical project management handbook. Berkun is smart, weird, and funny. He writes about public speaking in such an honest and energetic way that I almost want to try it more myself…which is a huge thing for me. Lots of factoids, big-picture advice, and some little fiddly tips, but mostly, it’s storytelling about speaking in public, and using those stories to point to bigger concepts. If you ever have to present to any sort of group, read this! I’d buy a copy, for sure.

(BTW, I’ve seen him speak, and he’s pretty good.)

Posted on

Confessions of a Public Speaker

Confessions of a Public Speaker

author: Scott Berkun
name: Elaine
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2010/05/22
date added: 2010/05/24
shelves: autobiography, business, non-fiction, self-help, wishlist
review:
Not your typical public speaking handbook — in the same way that Making Things Happen (aka The Art of Project Management) is not your typical project management handbook. Berkun is smart, weird, and funny. He writes about public speaking in such an honest and energetic way that I almost want to try it more myself…which is a huge thing for me. Lots of factoids, big-picture advice, and some little fiddly tips, but mostly, it’s storytelling about speaking in public, and using those stories to point to bigger concepts. If you ever have to present to any sort of group, read this! I’d buy a copy, for sure.

(BTW, I’ve seen him speak, and he’s pretty good.)

Posted on

For The Win

For The Win

author: Cory Doctorow
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2010/05/20
date added: 2010/05/24
shelves: kid-lit, fiction, sci-fi
review:
I read this one entirely online. (Yay for the Readability bookmarklet.) Found it immediately engrossing, loved the characters — like Little Brother, technologically-savvy but not always particularly aware teens for the most part. This one adds a couple of adults as secondary POV characters. There are a couple of lumps of info sections, mostly about economics, but I actually learned something reading them. (I swear, I actually understand inflation better now.) The politics are bracing in their forthrightness. But it also acknowledges, to some extent, the ambiguity of reality. Enjoyed a great deal, may buy a donation copy for a school.

Posted on

For The Win

For The Win

author: Cory Doctorow
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2010/05/20
date added: 2010/05/24
shelves: fiction, kid-lit, sci-fi
review:
I read this one entirely online. (Yay for the Readability bookmarklet.) Found it immediately engrossing, loved the characters — like Little Brother, technologically-savvy but not always particularly aware teens for the most part. This one adds a couple of adults as secondary POV characters. There are a couple of lumps of info sections, mostly about economics, but I actually learned something reading them. (I swear, I actually understand inflation better now.) The politics are bracing in their forthrightness. But it also acknowledges, to some extent, the ambiguity of reality. Enjoyed a great deal, may buy a donation copy for a school.

Posted on

Twitter Digest for 2010-05-22

Powered by Twitter Tools

Posted on

notes for tiny orgs: when your “web person” goes away

It seems like I’ve had quite a few experiences with small organizations who have lost their “web person.” (I fear that I also may have been that person once or twice. 🙁 ) Herewith, then, some thoughts on what kind of info you need when that happens, in order to get the new “web person” up to speed.

Who is your web host? This is the company with the computer(s) that hold the files that are your website.

Who is your domain registrar? Your site name has to be renewed annually. This company may or may not be the same as the host. (These days it’s likely to be the same, but not always.)

Who is the account holder at these companies? (I’ve yet to have an experience where there wasn’t someone still around who was a person of record. I gather that’s a PITA.)

What are the usernames & passwords? There are likely to be at least two or three, depending.

  • The web host will have a “control panel,” which is a web-based interface for managing a bunch of stuff about the site, with at least one associated username and password.
  • There will also be an FTP password — this is used when uploading files to the site. This username/password may be the same as the control panel, but not necessarily.
  • Other usernames may exist for one or more email accounts, or for a Content Management System (CMS), which is used to update the website without having to upload files.

What else is there? I can’t think of anything else right at the moment; other folks who have worked with small orgs: what other issues come up in bringing in a new “web person”?

Posted on

Twitter Digest for 2010-05-21

  • @rshevlin I dunno…I think in a HH that's all cell, more than 1 person usually has a cell line. (we've been just cell for a while now.) in reply to rshevlin #
  • I can haz spring back plz? #
  • @einmaleins I know! coming back from lunch we could just see it coming up behind us. then: boom. curtain of rain. in reply to einmaleins #
  • @russ668 who's the speaker? (am totally jealous, btw.) in reply to russ668 #
  • @einmaleins catchy, alas. I actually do ok with journalistic, but creative…. 80% of my poetry is "untitled" as is my nanowrimo novel! in reply to einmaleins #
  • @einmaleins trying to come up with a subject line for an email newsletter. I suck at titles, headlines, etc. #
  • @poptopvw ages ago a friend w/dental anxiety introduced me to her dentist, who had tv in the ceiling. a truly brilliant innovation. in reply to poptopvw #
  • watching daily show on tv-in-ceiling at the dentist is kinda awesome. a bit awkward, but still awesome. #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Posted on

Today’s Links 5/20/2010

Digest powered by RSS Digest

Posted on

Twitter Digest for 2010-05-20

  • got a quick walk in during break in the rain…started pouring about a block away from the office. on the way *back* thankfully. #
  • @olyhillary bummer. 🙁 in reply to olyhillary #
  • @Oakwright I don't ever *open* them! more like a string of beads, really. in reply to Oakwright #
  • doodad (safety pins) has been located. now I can stop fidgeting with everything else on my desk. :\ #
  • @Oakwright it's a bunch of safety pins strung together. also, u inspired me to go look over by donuts…there it was! yay! in reply to Oakwright #
  • the doodad I keep on my desk specifically to channel my fidgeting is gone. 🙁 WTF? #
  • @jbertrand yep. saw raindrops on the windows here in Lacey. in reply to jbertrand #
  • I really, really, really wish they would change the name of all this "Bike to Work" stuff to "Bike to Anywhere" or something. #
  • RT @wsdot: Cliff says the latest photos show the impending storm is stronger than originally thought http://bit.ly/3FEjbZ #MayStorm #
  • @Oakwright oh, so very good. I dunno, maybe I should call a meeting over here? 😉 in reply to Oakwright #
  • we're having bike to work day 2 days early here. I brought donuts from Twister (nomnomnom) – thank goodness for the #xtracycle #

Powered by Twitter Tools