A somewhat goofy mini-collection of stuff I’ve been reading, stuff I’ve been thinking about and oh, some completely random crap.
Basically the stuff that never gets mentioned here because I’m not the kind of person who can just make some teeny little point. Not into the whole brevity thing, as the Dude would say.
Actually, I’m under the strict compulsion to write ten pages about anything on my mind. So this is me. Practicing brevity.
Oh boy. Lots of stuff to read.
Item! Post No. 16 in a semi-ongoing series that may never have a point but will still continue because I can’t stop reading stuff and then writing about it.
Item! Say it now or blurt it out later!
Oh, the Communicatrix and her wonderful ways!
Seriously. I love Colleen. I like her style. I’d eat biscuits with her again and that’s not even a euphemism.
“Of course, life being the perverse sumbitch she is and the Universe having a mighty hearty sense of humor for an inanimate object or an interwoven collection of collectively-animated objects, the time when it’s most important to talk about something is when there’s a lot at stake.”
The post is called Say it now or blurt it out later! I guess I’m more of a just-blurt-it-now, so I’m probably doing it wrong. You should still read it.
*She’s @Communicatrix on Twitter.
Item! Listen to Chris Zydel!
Man. This post would have been a timely reminder for me even if all it consisted of was the title.
It’s called THE WISDOM OF NO MISTAKES: DRIPS CAN BE FUN (or at least not total torture) and oh, it’s full of fabulousness. And yes, wisdom.
Because Chris is very wise. She’s also a hardcore goofball, and I say that in a tone full of admiration.
This stuff is great for anyone who does anything creative, but it doesn’t apply just to art, of course.
“According to The Church Of Mistakes it is possible to do something wrong and mess it up to the point where you may as well just give up and forget about the whole thing.”
Also, if you’re anywhere near the Bay Area, you should definitely be taking one of her intuitive painting workshops. It’s seriously deep self-work, but the kind where you’re totally allowed to have fun.
She’s @wildheartqueen on Twitter.
Item! The Yiddischer Charleston!
I love Twitter. Can you tell?
It supplies me with no end of fascinating stuff to read, most of which I don’t. But it doesn’t matter because it’s just a stream and you drink from it when you’re thirsty.
But enough about that. The important point here is that Twitter is where I met Sally aka the Practical Archivist and she’s totally great.
And Sally sent me to this Tracing the Tribe post with the Yiddischer Charleston. Excellent.
Sally is @sally_j on Twitter and you can also follow @TracingTheTribe if you like too.
Item! My chicken is your chicken!
I’ve lost track of all the weekly check-ins that have started in response to my Friday Chicken posts.
Now Rohan Mitchell is doing one too. You should take a look.
Also, while we’re doing the round of weekly chickens, nice one from Chas this week. Intense. Good stuff.
Rohan is @RohanM on Twitter and Chas is @HarveyParadox.
Item! The truth about ducks!
Well, not the truth. A truth.
But definitely about ducks.
A fine essay. And one that’s indirectly connected to how I ended up living with Selma.
Item! Uplevel should not be a verb!
Or, really, any other sort of word either.
Someone seriously told me this week that I needed [something or other] to “uplevel my business”.
Yes, still annoyed. As far as I’m concerned, the whole point of working from home is not having to hear bullshit words (or Bolshevik words, if you’re Stu, my voice-to-text software) from someone’s marketing department.
Uplevel? I was already getting hives just from “take it to the next level”. What am I going to do with uplevel?
Item! This is the most fascinating post I’ve read all week!
It’s called called Mental Images and it’s at Lucy’s Respect the Sparkle blog and you should read it.
“I have a related impression that I am mind-numbingly dull. I’m not 100% sure this is accurate.”
It’s thoughtful and well-written and there are some really great concepts in here. Plus did I mention that the blog is called Respect the Sparkle? Because that is a pretty great concept too.
I definitely don’t respect the sparkle enough. But I’m going to pay attention to it more.
EDIT: She’s @lucyviret on Twitter. My mistake!
Item! I’m friends with a User Experience hero!
Nathan Bowers is one of my all-time favorite Twitter friends. He was also one of my first Twitter friends. And he’s the one who talked me into going to SXSW.
And he’s the one who gave me an insane amount of feedback and advice when I first launched this blog. And he’s a sweetheart.
He’s also a superhero. Not even kidding. And his new User Experience hero blog is kicking all kinds of ass.
I’m especially loving the Screenshots of Doom bit. Screenshots of Doom! YES!
And, of course, he’s @NathanBowers on Twitter.
That is all.
Happy reading.
And happy Blustery Windsday. See you tomorrow.
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“Uplevel” is one of those words in my “Fight Club list of words you shall never say”, along with using “action” as a verb and “action item list”.
Joely Blacks last blog post..Amnar Structure 10: The Order of Dancers
great list…so excited to get my taxes done and have a go-round with your link-lovers! and honored to be on the list…my friday afternoon updates have been a lifeline for me this past six months…so thanks again for getting that ball rolling.
chass last blog post..monday morning motivator! 20, it’s what’s inside that counts
Noooo … noOOOOOOO!!!! “Uplevel” is heinous. And I completely agree with Joely–“Action” as a verb makes me shudder.
I’m not a total language tightass (I’m not I’m not I’m not) but these are completely ridiculous. My Inner English Teacher is writhing. Seething and writhing.
Anna-Lizas last blog post..Pollyanna Is a Responsible Consumer
Those who use “uplevel” – especially as a verb – are the sort of garbage you hear from someone who believes McDonald’s and Starbucks are the pinnacle of success. Icky. Gross.
Where’s my Moose?
Oh blah… I edited that sentence and forgot to fix the rest of the thing to make sense. That’s what I get for operating on 5 hours of sleep. Let’s try….
Those who use “uplevel” – especially as a verb – are the sort of slimeballs who believe McDonald’s and Starbucks are the pinnacle of business success. Icky. Gross.
I’ve clearly misplaced my Moose.
I wonder if there’s a way to make assault on the English language a misdemeanor offense. “Uplevel” sounds like something you’d do with a matchbook and a table leg, not a business.
Chris Zydel’s post was seriously great. I gently asked my daughter to read it last week as she was revving up to screech about all the “flaws” in her art class assignment.
Hey Darling,
Thanks, as always, for the shout out. You are the best! It makes me blush to be called wise but I can TOTALLY get behind the hardcore goofball moniker! I think that’s one of those things I would want emblazoned on my headstone….. well, if I even HAVE a headstone…. oh, never mind!
And of course…. it takes one to know one! You are one of the most unrepentant, completely fabulous, hardcore goofballs that I have ever had the pleasure and privilege to meet. Which is why I adore you so!!!
And uplevel???? Someone had the audacity to approach you with a suggestion to UPLEVEL?????
Now that is a SERIOUS case of someone who is just not paying attention! I hope you were able to take a nice long bath or something after that bit of weirdness.
Love you biggest bunches, as always,
Chris
chris zydels last blog post..THE WISDOM OF NO MISTAKES: DRIPS CAN BE FUN ( or at least not total torture)
If you liked “uplevel” you’ll love this one: “upsell”. I just saw this today.
Ick!!!
Barbara J Carters last blog post..New dot painting: “Square, Red”
“Uplevel”
*shudders*
Kates last blog post..Brida
I had no idea (though probably should have) that so many people were with me on the “upleveling” or, rather, why that is a horrid, horrid word.
@Chris – hooray for goofball marketing!
@Brandon – where IS your moose? I have been wondering about that as well.
@Joely – oooh, “action item list”. Bleargh. Awesome.
First of all – thank you for recommending my blog post! I am all a-flail with happiness!
But um, I’m @lucyviret on Twitter these days… changed my name a couple of weeks back to reflect the writing name thing. Then again, you’re the second person in the space of 24 hours to mistake the name, so maybe I should change back…
And thank you for all the rest of the links! I am failing at work this week (though I got the newsletter articles in – *phew*) so have lots of time to work through them! 🙂
randomlings last blog post..Mental images.
Oh, dear. Has anyone uploaded Merlin Mann’s 2008 presentation at SXSW? B/c if you loves mocking you some douchespeak, you will laugh until you cry watching his take on douchey bids for VC funding. Hi-larious.
Thank you, dearest Havi, for your kind words and for being such a good and CHEERY curator. I’d either forgotten or never knew that we were mutual admirers of Miz Sally Jacobs. Talk about your curatrices! On steroids, even!
communicatrixs last blog post..Everyone’s got her basket
@randomling – Whoops! Sorry, Lucy. My mistake! I edited the post to correct your twitter ID. Sorry about that … I totally didn’t remember that it had changed. Argh.
@communicatrix – whoah, I did *not* know that. Smallest. World. Ever. That’s very cool.
Havi, it’s really okay – I’m randomling everywhere else, even I get confused! (It took me a while to even notice, heh – then I was like, that link doesn’t go to my profile… Oh.)
And thank you thank you thank you for linking! Eee! 😀
In fact… let me start commenting here under the writing name too. Just to avoid confusion. Or heap it on in piles. Whichever!
Lucy Viret (aka randomling)s last blog post..Pain! Fear! Guilt! And all that fun stuff.
Havi, you are also one of my all time favorite Twitter friends. We Twittervolk miss you, hope your carpal situation gets better soon.
Maybe you could get a service monkey to take Twitter dictation or something? Bonus comedy points if the monkey wears a diaper.
Nathan Bowerss last blog post..How to keep mobile Safari from adding gloss to home screen bookmark icons
Hey, Havi – thanks for the pointer to Tracing the Tribe. Sally is a great person!
Schelly Talalay Dardashtis last blog post..JewishGen: Jewish cemetery database
Havi, in two simple sentences you’ve released me from all the guilt/pressure/perfectionism I was bringing to every single Twitter session:
“It supplies me with no end of fascinating stuff to read, most of which I don’t. But it doesn’t matter because it’s just a stream and you drink from it when you’re thirsty.”
You mean I can just enjoy it when I want? Ahhh, relief! It feels so good! Thanking you muchly.
Kirstin Butlers last blog post..apr 20 | turns out…