Posts Tagged ‘blog’

  • 20 May

    Posted by
    mizidy


    Category

    500 and counting

    3

    We have a milestone, this is the 500th post for My Tungsten Marktopia.  I have spent the last couple of days trying to think of something meaningful or clever to write for it.  I realized that those things didn't happen for about 75% of the previous 499 posts, so why start now.

    I will reflect that this blog has gone through many changes technology and design-wise.  It started as a Blogger site, then to Movable Type and finally to Wordpress.  Blogger lasted about 6 months, Movable Type about 6 as well, and Wordpress has been going strong for about 4 years now.  There was an experiment with Drupal for about 3 months in there, however it was not able to import from Wordpress and I could not export from it either, so those have been washed from memory.

    I don't have an exact list of the number of designs the site has gone through, but I would estimate around 30 or so.  I like making designs and with some books I have read recently, a new one is in the works again.  Every time I make a design, about 3/4 of the way through I start to get new ideas that I cannot implement, but I will say it again, I hope the new design will stick around for awhile.

    So almost 5 years after I started, we are at 500.  I hope it doesn't take another 5 to get to 1000, but who knows.  For all of you that read this, thanks for your support!

  • 05 Dec

    Posted by
    mizidy


    Category

    Blog Editor Chosen

    3

    In a recent post, I asked for opinions about a blog editor program. After a little research and a post on Lifehacker, I have decided to go with Journler. In addition to being a good blog editor, I am also going to try and use it as a general note taking program. I have been carrying around my portfolio to meetings lately instead of my laptop since I havn't found a great note taking program, so hopefully this will meet my needs.

  • 13 Aug

    Posted by
    mizidy


    Category

    Windows Live Writer

    0

    Today Microsoft released a beta of a free blog writing program, Windows Live Writer.? It appears to be similar in features to w.blogger and ecto, but without Parallels still, I cannot test it tonight.? The one thing that WLW touts is the ability to add new categories to Wordpress blogs, something that I have not found in other blog writing programs.? In any case, Microsoft did open up an SDK for the program so maybe this will be a win for Microsoft in the Web 2.0 word.

    One other thing that intrigues me with this is the possibility of using it as a support model for University departmental web sites.? Instead of tinkering with licenses for Macromedia Contribute, the University might be able to use this and some sort of content management software for departments to keep up their site.? Who knows, but in any case it is an interesting development for blogs tonight.

  • 22 Mar

    Posted by
    mizidy


    Category

    Travel Blog – Nashville – 3/22/2006

    0

    10:00 AM - I went to my final session of the conference just now. It was one I was really looking forward to, Developing Student Staff to Become Savvy Support Specialists. Unfortunately this wasn't really what I was expecting as it covered a lot of the stuff we are already doing or working towards at the Help Desk. It was nice to hear we are on the right track, I was just hoping for a little bit more from it.

    On that note, I must check out soon and will not have Internet access until I get home. I have no idea if this was interesting to anyone else, however looking back on it, this is going to be quite useful for me as a reference to go back to when I get back to work, so now I sign off until Coralville.

    12:10 PM Thursday - As you have probably guessed, I am back in Iowa and back at work.? The flights were a bit hectic as I had to run from one terminal to another at O'Hare to catch my flight to CR.? Luckily I made it back safe and sound and my luggage did to.? This wraps up the Nashville Travel Blog, I now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.

  • 21 Mar

    Posted by
    mizidy


    Category

    Travel Blog – Nashville – 3/21/2006

    0

    12:20 PM - Another keynote and two sessions again this morning. The keynote was very good, done by Marcus Buckingham. He was entertaining and actually provided some decent motivational managerial stuff without sounding cheezy, so it was something I might actually take to heart.

    Unfortunately the next two sessions were not too good at all. The first was Metrics 101, which really was very basic. The conclusion I got out of it was that metrics are good and make sure that you analyse the numbers you get. The next one was supposed to be about moving on from password resets for customer self service, at least that is what I read. It ended up being about moving a company forward with user management, very similiar to what the Hawk ID system is. I got to hear a lot of stuff that the University already did or stuff that doesn't affect us at all. So with those behidn me, I have a hope that this afternoon will be better and that I find a more comfortable chair.

    6:20 PM - I have just enjoyed a wonderful fish and chips dinner highlighted by some fresh made salt and vinegar chips with a curry dipping sauce.? Before dinner, I did have another session and keynote I attended.? The session was much better than the morning ones, a lot smaller audience and closer to home with stuff the Help Desk is doing.? It was about how to manage different entry points at the Help Desk, such as e-mail, phones, chat, etc, and how to do so in a changing business environment.? I also asked the presenter if there were any quick tips for rolling out a new service, such as chat, and how to get the word out.? He said that adding something to the phone tree really works in an environment where most people already know the phone number.? Pretty good stuff all around in the session.

    The keynote was also very good, although I am noticing a trend with the keynote speakers.? They are all good and have different ideas, but when you go to the different sessions, they don't really agree with what we are being told there.? This leads me to think that all of this stuff needs to be thought about more before going forward with anything.? I know at a number of points throughout the conference I have thought of things that sound great for the Help Desk, but I have to temper my euthisiasm a bit and wait to get back and really talk and think things out.

    Tomorrow I have a session then a keynote with checking out in between.? I found out Nashville airport does not have free Internet, so I hope to be able to write after the session and then when I am back home I may have time for a final update.