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15
Apr

NAB in the rearview mirror

The last week has been an exhausting sprint, beginning with the arrival of the LiveU box on my doorstep last Friday and ending with the Pixel Corps Q&A stream this evening. Along the way, both LiveU and uStream have been very supportive partners in the process. The “live” team is off for a little R&R (sort of) early tomorrow morning, then I get some down time with my family before the long drive to San Francisco next Tuesday or Wednesday. Everyone at the Pixel Corps has been most gracious and welcoming to the newest noob on the block! Thanks!

The fun starts next Thursday in earnest. I cannot say much more because not everything has been confirmed just yet, but if everything comes together as planned, you might here a little fanboy squeal from me late next week all the way from San Francisco. Those who know me well know just how hard it is to get such a reaction from me. So, you know it has to be something awesome. And, then on Sunday the 25th, I step on to my first feature film set.

I’ve learned so much is just these last few days, that I know my future projects would be 100% better if the PXC plug was somehow pulled tomorrow. So, I can only imagine how much my mind is going to be blown over the next 2 months.

Now, I am off to bed. First call is 6:45AM tomorrow. There are large engines involved. So, I need my shut eye.

Peace,

Doug

14
Apr

Behind the scenes at NAB

As we have been covering the floor at NAB 2010, Neil has been shooting us. Here are a few of his photos.

Folks have been asking about the rig we are shooting with. Here it is, top to bottom.

Peace,

Doug

13
Apr

Comfortable shoes and a few other quick lessons

We wrapped Day 2 of NAB shooting and I thought I’d share some lessons already learned from the experience. These are presented in no particular order.

  1. Redundancy is your friend. Always assume some important part of your kit will fail. Have a back up ready to go. We did not experience any major problems that prompted this lesson. It just seems to be a core principle of the PXC ethos and it lines up with my own POV well.
  2. Three things your kit must include:
    1. A small toolkit with a flathead & phillips screwdriver, needlenose pliers and a quarter.
    2. Extra batteries of all shapes and sizes.
    3. A knife of some sort.
  3. Gaffer’s tape is an amazingly useful tool; even better than duct tape.
  4. When storing gear for a long time between uses, remove all batteries. A corroded battery probably cost me a good set of Bose headphones.
  5. Speaking of headphones, always keep at least three sets of iPod earbuds on hand. Don’t use the iPhone earbuds with the mic as an audio monitor.
  6. My Beachtek needs a slightly longer screw to connect to the Canon HF10.
  7. The Zoom R16 is one sexy little mixer.
  8. When you have a wide shot of a group, do not pan between the speakers. It causes artifacts when streaming and is visually distracting. Cutting from speaker to speaker is really the job of a 2- camera shoot with a producer calling the camera changes to be managed by a video switcher.
  9. There is no such thing as having too many SD cards on hand.
  10. Tapeless workflow is where it at!
  11. The iPad is going to be a really big deal. I already knew that, but NAB has only confirmed this for me.
  12. I learned how to properly wrangle cable.
  13. Always have and use a pre-roll checklist.
  14. While I have a few minor quibbles, the LiveU unit is a pretty amazing piece of gear.
  15. Even at a show filled with broadcast and film pros, some people don’t recognize the camera and walk through your shots … no matter how hard you try to stop them.
  16. 3D is really here … if we do not kill it with ill-concieved conversions.
  17. Always have a spare tape/SD card in your pocket.
  18. My wife is a saint.
  19. The iPhone is an invaluable note-taking tool, especially with the video camera.
  20. Learning how something works needn’t stifle one’s sense of wonder about the fact that it does.
  21. There is no such thing as “too old”; so long as your mind remains open to new knowledge.
  22. I am woefully out of shape, but the aches and pains tell me I am making progress on that front.
  23. Running a camera is hard work, particularly when moving all around the show floor.
  24. Thanks goodness for comfortable shoes. Think of good shoes as an investment in your mental and physical health.

So, that is it for now. I’ll have more cogent thoughts when I have more time to write.

Peace,

Doug

11
Apr

Off to the Pixel Corps

I remember the first time I became aware of Alex Lindsay. It was somewhere between 2000-2001 when TechTV was still going strong. Alex was a frequent guest on The Screen Savers (TSS) with Leo LaPorte and Patrick Norton. I found Alex’s segments intriguing because they usually touched on the tech of film-making. Having worked at ILM, he spoke with great authority on the subject.

Back then, I had just returned to the world of technical writing and web design & development after taking time off to write and direct a short documentary. Making that documentary was the single most fun and engaging professional experience I’d ever had and I wanted more. TSS was just the right mix of technical and creative content to scratch that itch. The show was the first thing I recorded on my first TIVO.

A lot can change in 10 years.

For starters, TSS and TechTV are both gone. Kevin Rose, once a regular contributor on TSS, is now the Founder and CEO of DIGG. Leo LaPorte launched TWiT.tv and forged a new path away from broadcast/cable television and onto the interwebs. And, starting yesterday, I began working as an intern for Alex Lindsay and the Pixel Corps (PXC).

The story of how that happened is a fun and interesting one, at least for me. At some point, I’ll share it here. But, first call is 9AM tomorrow, so I need to keep this short.

This week, we are covering NAB for Pixel Corps and TWiT.tv. I am excited about the plan for the week and the new tech we’ll be bending to our will. ;^D After wrapping NAB on Thursday, I’ll take a few days with my family before I move to San Francisco for two months to complete the rest of my internship, the first 10 days of which will be on the set of a feature film.

Yep. I am pretty darn excited.

Over the next 10-12 weeks, I’ll be blogging and, eventually video blogging, about my experiences at PXC. By documenting this experience, I hope to be of help to both PXC and future interns who are considering taking the leap. So, stay tuned.

In closing, I’d like to offer a few words of thanks.

First and foremost, thanks to my wife Kelly, my son Finn and his little brother who is on the way. While the timing of this opportunity could be better for our family, it would only be harder to do down the road. So, thanks for letting me go on this adventure and supporting me along the way. I’ll miss you when I am gone and look forward to our daily Skype sessions. I love you!

Next, thanks to all of my family and friends in Vegas … Dad, Mom, Vince, Olivia, Consuelo, Byron, Bennie & Rose … who will be helping Kelly and Finn in my absence. Thanks also to Team Neoncon (Steve, the Mikes & Will), who will keep the ship moving forward until I return.

Last, but certainly not least, thanks to Alex Lindsay for giving me this opportunity. Its unique value is not lost on me. And, to my current and future colleagues and mentors at the Pixel Corps, thanks in advance for the lessons I am sure to learn from each of you. I’ll do my best to learn quickly and not slow you down.

Peace,

Doug

PS: Thanks to Gary Gannon. Were it not for you, I may not have rediscovered Alex by way of the Pixel Corps in the first place.

7
Apr

NAB for the Foodie

As I live in Las Vegas and enjoy a good meal, I’ve offered to field questions about local eateries for incoming NAB attendees. I am taking questions in Twitter, but 140 characters is problematic for describing why a place is great. So, I’ll keep this post updated with my responses and point folks here in Twitter.

Breakfast

  1. Hash House-a-Go-Go inside of the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace has, frankly, seen better days. Which makes the Hash House a real gem on the strip. The restaurant features gourmet takes on diner and farm food classics. Calling the portions enormous may be the understatement of the year.
  2. Brunch at Le Village Buffet at Paris! – Hands down the best breakfast buffet in town. Long lines can be a hassle though.

Steakhouses

  1. Craftsteak, by Tom Colicchio from Top Chef. Craftsteak is in the MGM Grand. About three years ago, I went to an event after party there and had the best steak I’ve ever eaten. I found Top Chef through Tom Colicchio, not the other way around.
  2. The Golden Steer. Just a bit off-strip on Sahara, it looks like hole-in-the-wall, but looks can be deceiving. Once you are inside, it is a slice of old-school, Las Vegas. The Steer has served Sinatra, Elvis and more than a few mobsters in it’s day. Why do they all come? The steaks and sides are absolutely top notch. Their prime rib is outstanding.
  3. Rum Jungle at Mandalay Bay. The Brazilian BBQ/Steakhouse food is good, but not spectacular. Rum Jungle is on the list for the experience. All you can eat meat, carved in big hunks. And, if you make your reservations from 8-9 PM on a weekend night, you’ll already be inside when it turns into a fun, unique dance club for the evening, so no waiting in lines. Think Go-Go dancers and drink runners all dressed in white, working in black light from suspended dance cages and a two-story bar.

Burgers

  1. Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay. The Burger Bar is the brain child of Chef Hubert Keller, most recently seen on Top Chef Masters. Absolutely amazing. If you only eat one burger in Vegas, make it from the Burger Bar!
  2. In-n-Out Burgers – No big surprise here for West Coast folks. But if you are coming from anywhere else, you owe it to yourself to go to the In-n-Out Burger on Tropicana & Dean Martin. If you are already a fan, this location is also a company store where you can pick up hats, shirts and other gear. Without question, they have the best fast food fries in the city. Each batch is made from fresh potatoes.
  3. Le Burger Brasserie Sports Grille in the Paris! – Home of the $777 hamburger! The rest of their menu outstanding as well. All high-concept burgers done well. I think they may have the best fries in Vegas.

Buffets

  1. Cravings at the Mirage – I am admittedly biased because I used to eat there a couple of times a week when I worked for the company. Disclaimer aside, it is the best value for a high-end buffet on the strip. Everything is outstanding. Vegetarians will love the salad bar where you pick the ingredients and they build a huge, hand-tossed salad. Service is high touch, which is not so common in a buffet.
  2. Le Village Buffet at Paris! – Lunch and Dinner are great as well, but they really shine for breakfast/brunch.
7
Jan

2009 – The year I became a father and not just a parent.

2009 was a good year; full of change, growth and opportunity — most of which began and ended with family.  While Kelly and I welcomed our son Finn the year before, 2009 was when he moved from being a cute, new baby into being a little person with a big personality and stubbornly independent streak. When he began walking, everything changed.  Biologically, we became parents when he was born.  I think that we began parenting, with a capital P, when he began to walk.  Everything moved from spit-up and poopy diapers to the hard, but infinitely rewarding, work of teaching our little man the lessons he would need to one day take his place in the world.

As one might imagine, this raises all sorts of questions in one’s mind, not the least of which is “How do I want my son to view me?”  Equally important is the dual realization that “I don’t know everything.” and “I will probably fail more often than I would like.” Put it all together and you have all the makings of a cocktail of self-doubt chased by an antacid shooter.

But a funny thing happened on the way to insanity, the world slowed down and a Zen-like calm descended.  Accepting that I would not bat 1.000 as a parent removed that unattainable goal from my list and allowed me to focus my efforts on batting .333 and peppering it with doubles, triples and the occasional home run.  Any baseball fan will tell you that .333 is pretty darn good. Actually, a real baseball fan will tell you that .333 is still a pretty lofty goal, but it is attainable, with the right combination of discipline and hard work; mixed with a little luck and talent.

From within my new found Zen state, I took time for a little reflection and introspection.  Being a parent will do that to you. Coming down from my intellectual mountain, I came to a couple of realizations which were meaningful, at least to me.

1. I won’t live forever.

Most of us realize this in our early thirties. I’ve known this in a more or less concrete way since I was in my early twenties and had a gun in play during a home visit back in my days as investigator for Children’s Services. Ever since, I’ve lived my life with measured … not reckless … abandon. I’ve dreamed big and achieved critical, if not commercial, success in several business and personal endeavors.  I’ve taken chances with my career that friends have considered unreasonably risky.  And, on a couple of occasions, I’ve done some things that were flat buck wild and I am fortunate to live to tell the tale.

I regret little to none of this. As the saying goes, it made me who I am today and independent reports tell me that I am a decent guy with an interesting life. So, I’ll own my mistakes if the result is where I am today.  But, I now understand why parents may choose to edit the stories of their life when conveying it to their children.  My mistakes are mine, but I’d really rather they don’t become my son’s.  And, now that I know firmly that life is finite, it makes me rethink my old decision-making process and retool it with my wife and current and future children firmly in mind.  Every other realization that follows is derived from the fact that I am not immortal, at least not in body.

2. I am what I eat.

We all heard this in health class in grade school. And, back when I was a college athlete and martial arts instructor, I practiced it with relatively serious discipline. But in 2001, that all changed when I shut down my dojo and turned my attention to a new career in the sparkly wonderland that was the dotcom boom. Regular workouts and dietary discipline were soon replaced with 90 hour weeks and greasy diner and pizza joint fare. You don’t need to be a mentalist to guess where that took me. Put it together with a body long abused by contact sports and you have perfect storm for serious health risks when crossing the Rubicon into my 40s; just as I became a father for the first time.

So, this is where my son has probably saved my life. It took me the first 18 months of his life to get it through my thick skull that I had bad habits that needed to change. It took another 4 months for me to start to take serious action to correct the problem. Now, when I stumble (and I surely will) I think about seeing him graduate from college when I am 62. My dad did it when he was 46. So, 2010 is the year of exercise and eating right … not eating well.

3. Life is too dang short for drama. (See realization #1).

I have always been the guy with two or three active projects and two or three more in the pipeline. That all adds up to a lot of work. Most importantly, it adds up to a lot of time and that is time away from my family. This is made worse when the work is not something about which I am passionate and fully engaged. This realization actually happened in 2008, shortly before Finn’s arrival, but the positive pressure of parenthood turned that lump of coal into a shining diamond in 2009.

What I discovered is that I procrastinate more, and therefore use my time less efficiently, when working with skills I do not cherish on projects that light no fires in me. As a parent, there is no greater gift I can give my family than that of my time and full attention. Work that fulfills me is done with full attention and efficiency. Work that bores me is a time & energy vampire. So, 2010 is also the year I focus on the skills & abilities that make me jump out of bed itching to get to work. In theory, I’ll use my work day more efficiently and see less late nights and long weekends of work.

Almost as if on cue, early 2010 has put one or two really cool opportunities in my lap very early in the game. I cannot elaborate at the moment, but I’ll do so as plans firm up and the year progresses. I’ll tease you with this … 2009 is the year I embraced my role/nature as a storyteller. Funny how kids make you see your true nature — complete with warts and insecurities revealed. The beautiful thing is a child’s sense of wonder is a great salve for healing old wounds, forgetting old insecurities and embracing the promise that is life.

To close, I’ll let you know that blogging here (and elsewhere) is a major 2010 goal. By sharing a bit about my growth as a parent, person and professional (more or less in that order) , I hope to connect with others on a similar journey and share what wisdom we each have along the way.

Make 2010 Great!

Doug

1
Aug

WordPress Shortcode for File Inclusion

I have a project that requires a lot of complex, yet static Pages in WordPress … think lots of tabular data with heavy CSS styling. This sort of content is best written in an external editor like Zend IDE or Dreamweaver and then dropped into WordPress.

However, if you’ve ever done this, testing the page as you develop it is a huge pain in the backside. It involves cutting and pasting from the editor to WP … saving and refreshing … make changes in the external editor … rinse and repeat.

Not fun. Not efficient.

The solution is fairly straightforward — keep these files static HTML and simply include them somehow in the page. I researched the available plugins and they all seemed like overkill which added overhead. Then, in WP IRC, Fris suggested writing a custom shortcode to do the heavy lifting. 90 minutes later, I have precisely what I need and a renewed respect for WordPress and the community supporting it.

For those interested, here is the code:

< ?php

// SHORTCODE FOR STATIC FILE INCLUDE
function sc_static_html ($atts) {

	// Extract Shortcode Parameters/Attributes
    extract( shortcode_atts( array(
    'subdir' => NULL,
    'file' => NULL
    ), $atts ) );

    // Set file path
    $path_base = ABSPATH."wp-content/inc_static/";
    $path_file = ($subdir == NULL) ? $path_base.$file : $path_base.$subdir."/".$file;

    // Load file or, if absent. throw error
    if (file_exists($path_file)) {
        $file_content = file_get_contents($path_file);
        return $file_content;
    }
    else {
        trigger_error("'$path_file' file not found", E_USER_WARNING);
        return "FILE NOT FOUND: ".$path_file."SUBDIR = ".$subdir."FILE = ".$file."

";
    }
}

add_shortcode('static_html', 'sc_static_html');

?>

USE CASE

[static_html subdir="testdir" file="dirtest.html"]
26
Jun

Complete bbPress Integration for BuddyPress

Last Updated June 25th, 2009

This document expands on the the original tutorial written by Trent Adams and posted here:

http://buddypress.org/forums/topic.php?id=471

It clarifies a few spots in Trent’s work with more explicit instructions and adds specific tests for success. Ideally, it should prove the definitive “how-to” … for the moment. ;^D

Integration Assumptions

Here are the various versions of the applications used in this tutorial.

  • WordPresMU – Version 2.7.1 (from Download)
    http://mu.wordpress.org/download/
  • BuddyPress – Version 1.02+ (from SVN)
    svn co http://svn.buddypress.org/trunk/
  • bbPress – Version 1.0-RC+ (from SVN)
    svn co http://svn.automattic.com/bbpress/trunk/

While techincally development releases, the SVN versions of BP & BB are both pretty stable and include ongoing fixes to both applications.

Acronyms/Shorthand

WPMU = WordPressMU
BP = BuddyPress
BB = bbPress

SHELL: Indicates you are working in the SHELL or, worst case scenario, your FTP client.
BROWSER: Indicate you are working in your BROWSER.

BPROOT The root directory of WPMU/BP Installation, not your server ROOT.
http://yourdomain.com/ The web domain of your WPMU/BP installation.

CLI(LOCATION) Short for Commad Line Interface, CLI is the actual linux command used. Text in () is the location from which the command is executed.

WPMU & BP Installation

This tutorial assumes you already have a working WPMU/BP install. If not, use the following tutorials to get up and running.

  1. Install WPMU:
    http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WPMU
  2. Install BP:
    http://codex.buddypress.org/getting-started/installing-buddypress/

1. bbPress Installation & Configuration (for BP)

  1. SHELL: Within BPROOT, create a new folder called bbpress
    CLI (BPROOT): mkdir bbpress
  2. SHELL: Check out the SVN copy of BB.
    CLI (BPROOT): svn co http://svn.automattic.com/bbpress/trunk/. bbpress/.
  3. BROWSER: In your browser, visit http://yourdomain.com/bbpress and complete the BB installation.
  4. BROWSER: Once BB is installed, login into BB as the “admin” user. When asked, be sure to select the following options:
    “Add integration settings”
    “Add user database integration settings”
  5. BROWSER: Create a new user in BB called “admin-bp” and grant them “adminstrator” rights. NOTE: This account can be named anything you like, but “admin-bp” will be used for this tutorial.
  6. SHELL: Copy the “buddypress-enable.php” from the BP to BB.
    SOURCE: BPROOT/wp-contents/plugins/buddypress/bb-plugins/buddypress-enable.php
    DESTINATION: BPROOT/bbpress/my-plugins/buddypress-enable.php
    CLI (BPROOT): cp wp-contents/plugins/buddypress/bb-plugins/buddypress-enable.php bbpress/my-plugins/buddypress-enable.php

    NOTE: Do not install this plugin in BPROOT/bbpress/bb-plugins.

  7. BROWSER: From the BB admin, click “Plugins” on the left-hand menu. Then, find “BuddyPress Support Plugin” in the plugins list and click the “Activate” link for it.
  8. BROWSER: From the BB admin, click “Settings” on the left-hand menu. From the Settings submenu, select “Writing”. At the bottom of this page, click the checkbox next to “XML-RPC” and then click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the page.
  9. BROWSER: From the Settings submenu, select “Discussions”. At the top of this page, click the checkbox next to “Enable Pingbacks” and then click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the page.
  10. SHELL: Using the text editor of your choice, open BPROOT/bbpress/bb-config.php in the shell. At the bottom of the file, just before the close of PHP … ?> … add the following line then save the file.

    $bb->bb_xmlrpc_allow_user_switching = true;

2. BuddyPress Configuration

  1. BROWSER: Login to the main blog of your WPMU/BP installation as the “Administrator”.
  2. BROWSER: From the menus in the left side of the Admin UI, select “BuddyPress”. Then, select the “Component Setup” sub-menu and make sure the “bbPress Forums” component is enabled. If it isn’t click the “Enabled” radio button and then “Save Settings” at the bottom of the page.
  3. BROWSER: From the “BuddyPress” submenu, select “Forums Setup” and enter the following information then click “Save Settings” at the bottom of the page.
    bbPress URL: http://yourdomain.com/bbpress/
    bbPress Username: admin-bp (or whatever name you gave in Step 1e.)
    bbPress Password: Password for admin-bp

    NOTE 1: Make sure you have the ending slash “bbPress URL”.
    NOTE 2: Some users report a bug where, at random, the password is not saved. I did not see this behavior, but if you have issues with your install, you may want to try entering the password again to see ifthat reolves the problem.

3. Reset Existing Groups and Test Forums

At this point, BB should be fully integrated into the groups of your WPMU/BP installation. To make sure, complete the following checks. If your WPMU/BP installation does nothave pre-existing groups, skip to 3b.

  1. BROWSER: If you have pre-existing Groups, you need to reset the Forums “switch” now. Complete the following steps for each pre-existing Group.
    1. Go to the pre-existing Group and select “Admin”, then “Group Settings”.
    2. In “Group Settings”, uncheck the box next to “Enable discussion forum” and click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the page.
    3. Staying within “Group Settings”, recheck the box next to “Enable discussion forum” and click “Save Changes”.
    4. Visit http://yourdomain.com/bbpress/ and see if a subforum was created for the Group in the non-integrated BB interface. If so, repeat this process for all pre-existing Groups. If not, see “FAILED TEST” below.
  2. BROWSER: Complete the following steps to create a new Group and enable Forums.
    1. From the BuddyPress Bar at the top of the page, select “My Account >> Groups >> Create a Group”.
    2. Give the Group a Name and Description, then click “Create Group and Continue”.
    3. In “Group Settings”, check the box next to “Enable discussion forum”.
    4. Select any additional Group options and complete the Group creation wizard.
    5. Visit http://yourdomain.com/bbpress/ and see if a subforum was created for the Group in the non-integrated BB interface. If so, everything is working correctly. If not, see “FAILED TEST” below.
  3. BROWSER: If you have made it this far, it will work, but I like to create the first post in the new forum on the bbPress side and then see if it shows up in the buddypress group forum. Old habit, but for odd circumstance, it seems to work best for me. If it works, try creating a new topic on the group you have working.

FAILED TEST

If you do not have the Group as a new sub-forum in the non-integrated BB, something went wrong. Check your work by reviewing all of the previous steps to see if you missed something.

DEEP INTEGRATION :: Embedded Forums Page

To achieve the integrated home forum found here …

http://buddypress.org/forums/

… one must pursue “deep integration” which is not fully documented yet. I will attempt it shortly and document the process if I get it working. If you care to look into it yourself, this is a good place to start:

http://bbpress.org/forums/topic/bbpress-integration-plugin-for-wpmu

Trent’s Notes

  1. The refresh bug noted in Step 2 – Note 2 killed it a couple of times and I made sure I saved it at least 2 times.
  2. Forgetting the line in bb-config.php killed it for me a couple of times as well.
  3. In one install I had to change the bbPress “user” with administration rights password and on the bbPress side and then completing step 7 again.
  4. I also found that through “previous testing” I had some bp_groupmeta entries that were screwing things up with duplicates for the same forum in the database. Shouldn’t happen to anyone else, but that screwed some things up for me as well.
  5. In terms of having buddypress and bbPress working together, I am sure it works with buddypress on one server and bbPress on another since it works through the xmlrpc module which makes it very powerful.
18
Feb

LVMG – February Meeting

Thirteen members attended last night’s meeting. After introductions, we dove into the meat of the evening. Details below. Please email me if you are interested in presenting a Profile (3-8 minute overview of your skills, services, etc.) or Session (20-30 minute professional development presentation) at the March meeting.

7:30-8:00 PM- Presentation 1 :: Using the Internet as a promotion tool
Doug Daulton (Kansha Media)

In an interactive session, I discussed the pros and cons of the following online tools for promoting yourself as an artist/creative.

* NOTE: I added a few resources not mentioned last night.

8:00-8:30 PM – Presentation 2 :: Professional Networking in Las Vegas
Sonia Petkewich (Phoenix Staff)

Sonia held a great, participatory session which modeled strong networking skills. She then went on to discuss specific dos and don’ts for networking. Along the way, she expanded on the prudent use of some of the tools outlined in my presentation. The central theme of Sonia’s presentation was … when networking, it is important that the relationships are reciprocal. If you only take, don’t expect to get much.

If you are looking for long or short-term contract or a formal contract, make a point of contacting Sonia.

Sonia Petkewich
Business Development Specialist
Phoenix Staff, Inc
6255 McLeod Drive, Suite 26
Las Vegas, NV 89120
702.566.3694 office
702.891.9754 fax
www.phoenixstaff.com


Sonia discusses professional networking techniques


Sonia discusses professional networking techniques

6
Feb

Set Phasers to Nebulize …

My family and I have been fighting some sort of bug … off and on … since our return from Puerto Rico about a month ago. Through last week, Kelly had the worst of it as she has been pretty much out of commission all month. Last Friday, Finn started in and by Monday, he had a rattle in his breathing which became more pronounced through the week. Yesterday, the Doc prescribed a nebulizer and Albuterol for the little man.

Poor guy. It breaks our hearts to give Finn the treatment. He does not like the sound of the compressor and screams bloody murder when he sees the mask. But, it is helping so what is a parent to do? Still it is amazing how resilient/elastic the mental state of children is. When the mask is on, you are 100% certain he will either kill me in my sleep or stick me with a huge therapy bill in twenty years. But, as soon as the mask is off, he is calm, smiling and even laughing. We are truly blessed to have such a trooper for a son.

Today, I finally succumbed to the infinitesimal demons that are this damn illness. The tickle in my throat started last night and was a full-blown rasp by mid-day. Conversations in our house sound like Kathleen Turner, Edward James Olmos and a tiny Sam Elliot arguing after a four day bender on meth and cheap cigars. It ain’t pretty … but it is my family! And, I love it!

31
Jan

Tell Me Your WordPress 2.7 Must Haves, Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Dear WordPress Nation,

I need your help. I pour through the WP Themes and WP Plugins listings looking for the best of breed, but there is something missing … opinion based on informed experience. In other words, you.

So, based solely on your own experience, add a comment to this thread which includes the following:

  1. Name of your #1 must-have plugin.
  2. Link to said plugin.
  3. In a nod to Twitter (sort of) tell me why you cannot live without the aforementioned plugin in 140 WORDS (not characters, hence the “sort of”) or less.

This contest will run through February 15th at midnight. By February 22nd, I will select one winner who will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Easy-peezy, no?

A few parameters for you …

  1. I know and use many of the most common and popular plugins for SEO, Twitter and the like. So, I am really looking for something out-of-the-ordinary. If it makes me go “Hmmm, I never thought I’d want that on my blog, but now I MUST have it!” … you have a good chance of winning.
  2. You cannot be the author of the plugin. No SPAM or shills please.
  3. Themes will be considered as well, but they better be pretty special to win.
  4. All Plugins or Themes must currently work with WordPress 2.7.
  5. You can only list one plugin/theme in one comment. Multiple entries in any form will be disqualified.
  6. Be sure to provide your email in the comment so I can contact you if you win. I promise not to SPAM you.

So there you have it. Knock my socks off, if not my pants (though no one really wants to see the latter but my wife). ;^D

Peace,

Doug

30
Jan

PhotoSafariNoobs – Expedition Update

PhotoSafariNoobs.com, my project with John Hawkins, Todd Huish and Andrew Minerd, is coming along swimmingly. For additional details, check out my latest post over at the official expedition blog. Based on early feedback, our route has slightly changed to include Ouray, CO; often called the “Switzerland of America” for its majestic alpine beauty. Incidentally, it is also the home of the FJ Summit every summer! As I intend to go to the Summit in 2009, this will be a great, snowy, if not totally dry, run. Our updated route can be seen below.

Peace,

Doug

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