Enjoy this internet meme. Did you know Albert Einstein’s Birthday is March, 14th? 3/14
I don’t always eat Pi But when I do its on my birthday
FDA says walnuts are illegal drugs
Heres the read on it “Your walnut products are drugs” — and “new drugs” at that — and, therefore, “they may not legally be marketed … in the United States without an approved new drug application.” The agency even threatened Diamond with “seizure” if it failed to comply.
I made a pointless meme
K-State Salina Library PSA – Planning #1
During the course of this semester, The Digital Media Project class is doing a few video projects. Our current project is a PSA, which is limited to 30 seconds.
My chosen topic is Library Services. I thought it would be something I should do because I work for the K-State Salina Library. When I did my initial brainstorming, my first thought was “Lets do a Flash Mob” and started creating my vision, but soon enough I realized that jamming a Flash Mob into a 30 second clip would be pointless.
Why would it be pointless?
1.) Some folks don’t understand what a flash mob is
2.) Create chaos in an environment where people do homework would be inconvenient to them
3.) Planning to bring the masses to a Flash Mob would not be realist
Anyways, I started looking at youtube videos to understand what a PSA was and how to create one. I like this short video that help explain the basics of a PSA video, and before you laugh at me, I think the Girl Scouts do a great job on this video.
So, the main compound in a great PSA, is it’s content!
Create a Powerful Message through a story
so, I have came up with a story line.
K-State Salina Library is here to help you!
I want to capture the power of serving others, similar to a smile from a customer whom has given great Customer Service. I think we desire great customer service and respect. As you all know, Customer Service now days have gone down the drain. I want to bring that message, Customer Service feels good. So, How do I do that? I only get 30 seconds.
Looking at other PSA, I have noticed a strong element used: Nailing the emotional core. Transpiring that emotional element I think is manageable!
I first, want to use a logo that represents the Professional level. and right into the emotional. Have a Library Staff person helping a patron. While, focusing on the human facial expression of happiness.
Add “Quote Facts” with a Deep/Warm voice.
Contacted Lisa Craft for official Logo
Plan this week to draft shots/Find Actor as a patron.
Working Digitally: Pro-Bloggers (Draft Video)
As a Final Project in Digital Media II, We are ask to create a draft/working start on the video project.
Stay Tuned for the Final Completed Video!
Five good reasons why blogging is important
Attention customers, our store is closing in ten minutes.
Have you ever gotten that intercom message during your weekday trip to the store while grabbing milk and bread? Some people still don’t have 24/7 service, and it’s a typical thing in smaller towns – 7pm or 10pm – its quiting time. So how does this mambo-jumbo talk relates to our first reason why blogging is important?
Reason #1: Inform
Blogging is the same as blowing the horn, screaming, yapping, talking, informing, etc. Blogging may come in different forms, but mostly it is a journal of some sorts. People tend to jeer away when someone says “You should start a blog”. The first thought that comes in mind is “Getting personal and I don’t want to share a picture of me half-naked during summer camping”. But, people forget what blogging can be used for. Blogging is important because it can be useful at informing readers about a cause, event, business, or just “whining about nothin’”.
Reason #2: A Digital Playground
Blogging can be a writer’s playground. It is true, what better way is to keep your writing thoughts and snagbits on a blog for future uses. Are you working on that magical novel that will blow Steven King out of the water? Don’t worry, you can actually keep a blog post private or password-protect them. Especially if you only want your family or your writing buddies to see it, but not the internet zombies!
Reason #3: Self-Expression
If you are creative like me, I tend to use words to expression whatever I am trying to get at – The old adage states “A picture is worth a thousand words”, I agree with it, but a picture sometimes cannot be put into words, and vice-versa. Words are also powerful, if you write about something, and another person relates to it, you practically make a connection with your reader. Self-expression is important in blogging, it helps your reader find that “personable approach”, and it can offer the blogger an escape from life’s burdens. I did not mention that blogging can take on other forms, such as Vlogging (Video Blogging ) and Photo blogging.
Reason #4: Good Mental Heath
Have you ever been depressed? I have found that blogging can help with depression. I mean, blogging allows me to “think out” about my feelings and sort them out. Yes, I know – it might sound corny but getting your emotions out will help you. Then again, you don’t have to make your thoughts public, you can make your blog post private.
Reason #5: Better Writing
Some people think that a good writing is a natural born talent, but sorry to burst your bubbles, good writing ability come from practice and lots of it! You won’t believe this, but 7 or 8 years ago, I wrote at a very low level writing. I mean, I wrote a 3rd grade writing level, and I knew my writing was horrible. The good news is that writing on a daily basis or (every other day) can really help with your writing structure, thought, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. If you don’t believe me, then Google it. So if you got kids, get them started on a blog – and of course (Keep an eye on it) While, you can blog as well.
Can you give me a few good reasons to blog? So, you already have a blog, but its not self-hosted? When you self-host your own blog you can control everything that goes on with your blog. Need some hosting and domain service to get that dream started? You can click here to get started. Bluehost is my provider, if you decide to signup – I will get a small percentage of the sale. Just to let you know. Every little thing helps and I appreciate it!
Heartwarming experience at State of NOW #SmallTown2012 reflects as a speaker and attendee
The human element in IRL social networking surpasses all electronic communications -Brian Allen-
Last week, I attended the State of Now SmallTown2012 conference and all I can say at this point is overwhelming.
Last year, I attend this and loved how I was able to interact with many people with different walks of life, but this year I was accepted to be a speaker. My topic was “Social Media to Kill the Cultural Stigma.” The current class, “Digital Media II”, attended as a whole, helped film the all day event. I can say that my experience would probably different than my classmates, but I will explain my experience.
As I prepared for my talk, I thought hard about how I would present – it has been long time since I am been on stage in front people I admire. Can anyone say nerves?
Anyways, my journey was started the night before, staying a hotel, and meeting with my mother for dinner in Hutchinson, Kansas. I was freaking out – my pinstripe suit was wrinkled – so as anything I do – Google to the rescue. I was able to dewrinkle my suit by filling my hotel bathroom with steam vapors for 45 minutes, then my sweet mother “pressed it” with an iron. I enjoyed the night for some Chinese food and cheap wine in a papercup, then reviewed my “talk” before going to bed.
I woke up and got ready to go – I arrived earlier than I needed to do, so I scouted out my seat. I spoke with other speakers, and I felt part of the club 
Each speaker on stage spoke with passion, I was deeply touched by Carrie Mess’ talk “How one tweet turned into hope during the drought” she talk about how the power of social media aided her as dairy farmer during the current drought , people around the world sent hay for her Cows, when hard times are pressing. her twitter tag is @DairyCarrie
Another speaker, Internet Celeb Greg Peterson (@gregpeterson33), aka “I’m farmer and I grow it” speaks about the power of Social Media, his advice was to go out and do something that is passionate to your cause. He is down to earth and loves God.
When it came to my talk – My nerves popped out but was excited. I want to share a meme with you that describe my experience at first
I lost my words, and stage fright kicked in. Then, the audience calmed me, and was very forgiving. I was able to say somethings that inspired others in the audience. Basically, I want to say that social media is allowing me to interact with others that I would not necessarily meet in IRL due to place, culture, and disability.
Before the quick 10 min ran out, I started to relax, and speak from the heart. People there were not there for my mistakes, but there for support and open heart for the human element.
The day was long – Met many people with open hearts. For Lunch time, I was able to interview various people who blog for a living. It was great experience for me, Becky McCray a co-host for the event, even gave me kudos for interviewing her and fellow bloggers. We wrapped the day by going to Applebees to debrief. I miss my fellow State of NOW family members. Hope to attend next years.
Interviewing Questions for people who work digitally as a Pro Blogger #DigitalMedia
For the Digital Media II course, I am asked to create a outline/draft for my digital media video that relates to “Working Digitally”. If you have questions that I should include, leave a comment that could help me!
Things I thought about using/may use
• Recorded interview with Becky McCray (she co-published a book Small Town Rules and currently a blogger, and as of many things digitally)
• E-mail response/Interview with Chris Spooner (Pro Blogger about Graphic Design for Blog.spoongraphics, tried for a video interview but he really busy )
• Will use uplifting/electro music
• Other interview from State of NOW SmallTown2012 (I was a speaker, then interviewed others)
Outline Proposed
I. What do Pro Bloggers do?
II. How did you get into blogging?
III. Can you make money by blogging?
IV. What are some tips for people want to work digitally?
The Passion for Social Media and the Truth about Networking #SmallTown2012 #140conf
Dear Friends,
Inside of this blog and the bits of my social media world, lies only the tip of the iceberg of Who I am. While I prepare for the State of NOW conference, I am in constant passion about social media.
What is social media mean to you?
Social media means many things to me. Social media is the connection to other cultures, my education, my freedom of self-expression, and it is my start of working digitally. I find comfort knowing that I am connected to people that I would not necessarily meet on a daily basis in real life. I have passion towards social media because I know it works. People around the world share and teach me things, and as the same token, I share and teach others. As a process, I allow myself to reflect the growth in my professionalism and academia . Not in the sense of Twitter or Facebook connection numbers, but how I develop digitally. I try to harness what I learn, and of course, I want to share what I learn. As I look back, I notice that I have changed the way I think about social media, and I know it is a good thing.
I used to use the term as I knew what it meant. Like a child using big words without knowing what the meaning was. You see – My thoughts using social media is like engaging in a classroom, except there is no primary teacher. Each person in the room helps bring the ideas to the front of the class, and with the power of internet packets, a beautiful mess is created. I am talking about an engaging environment that fosters growth of shared ideas. And with those charmed ideas, like-minded people can CREATE new things for others to enjoy. It is screaming innovation, a change in what people do.
I remember being in high school, and the career counselor harping about the important of networking with people. He would says, ” You never know who you will meet, and you might be the next Bill Gates.” The ringing thoughts running in my head, my former employer continually said, “It is not WHAT you know, But WHO you know.” These fine men in my life were right on the money, you need someone to teach you. Yes – You can teach yourself new tricks, but where does some of that aspiration come from? Your mentor – your messiah -your mother – or Madonna? Each person that I know – Had someone believe in them – I hope you have made the connection that each person that engages in conversation feeds that model – and many cases, the use of social networks.
At any rate, social media has helped me shape into who I am, and the future will only tell where social media will take me. My firm principle stands, network with whom you desire, find your mentor, and engage in the environment you love. Trust me, you will be surprised how far it will take you.
So, I invite you to share, “What does Social Media mean to you?”
- Brian Allen, Digital Media Expert in Training
Social Media Conference #140conf State of Now is more than a Conference. #SmallTown2012
As next week rolls in, I will be in Hutchinson, Kansas. Hutch will be a hosting town for the worldwide known conference – State of NOW . Twitterspherly known as the #140 Conference. The State of NOW conferences are held throughout many parts of American cities, and parts of other countries, such as Tel Aviv, London, and Barcelona. Hutchinson compared to the rest of the hosted conferences is uniquely small. Therefore, we have #SmallTown2012.
Last year – I was a volunteer with my Digital Media class. I was excited – But not certain to expect. I just opened up my twitter account a few months before. And I thought, How can I make this work? I was a social media noob, even though I am a pioneer in this field. I mean – I had a facebook account when it first came around like wildbrush on fire, but What about this twitter thing? I said – What in the hell would you need micro-blogging, when you got blogging services up to the sky, and All you needed back then was Facebook to get your social media wheels rolling. Then I realized a crucial part about twitter compared to Facebook — Facebook is based on the notion that you already know someone in real life, then search and connect. On the contrary, twitter has created a platform that will encourage new-connections based on similar content. That is the power of twitter and success of a working social network. Once I understood this – I began finding ways to “play” and be part of the engaging conversation. This part was simple, but I was scarred of being shut-out from those who had high twitter followers. With my mentor pushing me forward, he gave me the “ok” to spread my wings and soar. I truly soaked in the power of social media – I began tweeting to high-powered people such as Kathy Ireland, Scott Kelby, or Jeff Pulver. And guess What – They responded back, and at the same time I was gaining twitter followers. The reason why – people follow me is because I SHARE, and that connects people together.
So how can The State of Now conference be related to a social network?
The State of NOW is not just some conference, When I went last year, I became overloaded with passion of people and Lots of talking. But what I did not see is the powerhouse speakers, the powerhouse speakers were in the transparent twitter-infused audience, who killed the wifi connection. The speakers who were on stage SHARED a piece of their passion on any related topic of living in a small town. That is what connected us together in the same room. Each story that was given mattered, and touch someone…someway. I was particularly touched by Laura Girty, her honest emotions as a mother whose son was affected by TBI, She used social media to reach out to other mothers, and kept key notes for friends and family for strength and support. I connected with her story the moment she opened her mouth because I am a survivor of a traumatic brain injury. The conference was less than a conference but more like a true human experience. Before I have soaked in as much as a human can – I reflected in my heart, and in my mind. I knew that I want to SHARE my story. So, This year I am attending as a speaker – My chosen topic is “Social Media to Kill the Cultural Stigma”. Those who are attending, make sure to bring tissues, and a open heart.
I think I should stopping babbling about now.
