Blog, I

Not that crap that’s piped in the way marketers want you ta take it! While SciFi.com has given geeks, nerds, dweebs, trekkers/trekkies, and other addicts their fix daily since it came online…it’s canned. Granted, there’s been a FEW decent things that came out, but for the most part storylines on ‘Made for SciFi’ shows/movies are rehashed, recanned, and restrung based on the prior works of others.

It’s nice, but it’s not original. It’s on the same line as Asimov monthly magazines, where you’d receive only tastes of a meal. Granted, some of them were excellent, but in the end a person was lost when trying to get that one newly created appetite fulfilled.

Go get some old school, please? The mind you save WILL be your own!

Last year when I was traipsing through Germany I planned on enjoying some Cuban cigars.  Having missed the opportunity I’ll settle for la gloria cubana, only because of legalities.

Eventually in time either Cuba will be able to trade in it’s riches to the United States, or people will continue to hope that others begin using the same practices original artisans were using long before they weren’t allowed to trade with the United States.

If you’re relocating and surfing for Calgary houses for rent, click the link. If you’re into site design, this is why you should check it out as well.

One of the things people hate when faced with life changing events is having to deal with top heavy sites. This is the case usually for anyone having to relocate, whether it be local or long distance movements of family. Too often site owners realize what ‘bounce’ is, the measurement how long someone stays focused on a site.

Most often people not getting results within 30 seconds of hitting a site generally leave. Any site developer not checking their hubris can cost businesses.

Today’s site is Rentcalgary.com I’m looking at. The shot to the right says it all. You can navigate to your interest graphically or by neighborhood name. Simple drill down logic that gets the ball rolling. They keep it clean, no distraction from sidebars, header, or footer. The one form of advertising on it’s header to Sears. No overkill. What people want.

Both map and text navigation takes people to what national rental sites should aspire to be like. Fast, simple, with drop down selectors that provide extremely quick page load. No wait, instant gratification…and I can’t understand WHY the national sites aren’t following this model.

Navigationally, it’s a dream. Visually the map work, layout, and colors used in the sparse graphics: less is more. If you want a good example of quick and nimble site work, do yourself a favor and check them out.

The only thing that can make this more iconic: they were able to snag the URL.  Great job!

In the last seven years of blogging I keep getting a chuckle whenever I listen to someone trying to cut corners.  I know a lot of people getting in to podcasting, and they’re making mistakes no different than amateurs trying to sell their garage bands.

When it comes to your trade, you’re only as good as the tools you use.  Beaten up guitars won’t cut it on stage, even if they sound good in the basement.  Microphones, it’s even more brutal…especially if you’re amplifiers are budget based. The most common name I’ve come across in mics are neumann microphones. Celine Dion chooses them specifically for Las Vegas performances.

Why?

Clarity, heavy enough to handle high end performance but not detract from it, and outstanding support from the manufacturer. These things are chosen by Grammy Award winners. Cost? Depends on what you mean by cost? These are tools. They’re for serious people needing serious capture of their sound. Their the stuff people choose when creating soundproofed rooms when they decide to go professional in their podcasting.

If you’re considering ‘REALLY’ going pro with your blogging and need decent sound equipment for capturing your oration…go beyond decent at least. Everyone else…they’re decent. Aren’t you better?