CyberMinions.net

Header Hell musings of a Google Whore...

Have you ever taken 30 minutes to create a header only to sit for two hours trying to get them to load?  The 502 gateway does not like me today. My motorcycle loaded quite nicely for my C Tann-Starr outside blog, however, CyberMinions.net and ClubChaosAgents.com wont cooperate. I am desperate for them to cooperate. It's a matter of branding... 

Images get indexed by search engines...  Every opportunity to be discovered counts. I have 10 submissions that need to be published across five sites today; however, my lack of headers continue to be a distraction.

Being a shameless Google Whore, I want my images for Club Chaos back on page one with their corresponding links where they belong. Being anal retentive means I will be sitting here repeatedly trying to upload the images while the wee people and I eat our lunch.

Oooo... we appear to be making progress. Now I am getting a 500 internal server error code. That's new (LOL).

960 x 134 Headers

Today's distraction concerns me placing my banners back on my outside blogs. I kept thinking they would return on their own but that doesn't seem to be happening so I guess I will have to make new ones (LOL). There is a link that says "left head image" and when I click on it it doesn't do anything. I'm sure those images are somewhere on the server, I just don't know why they are not loading.

I like my motorcycle and want it back...

I also like my gal pal minion writers...

I miss Brad's palm trees welcoming people to the club...

I kinda don't want to make new headers but if they don't turn up soon and if people keep telling me they are clicking broken links I shall be forced to do so.

Might even be fun... I have lots of eye candy and love playing in Photoshop. :-)

Lena Horne passed away on Sunday...

I was trying to secure an AP photograph but it didn't work out so I decided to use one of Noah's at the digital day job instead. I have bitter sweet childhood memories of Lena Horne and the wonderful music she produced. She was an awesome entertainer who will be missed. Here is the link to Thinking about Lena Horne.

Too bad I couldn't get that AP photograph...  That would have been really nice. :-)

Yes... I admit it. I kiss the digital ground they walk on (LOL)

Do you know what the best part of being a Rainer is? The community. I am on a lot of platforms but this is the only one I call my digital home. The people living in my computer that I love are all in my virtual house Club Chaos. I freak out when I can't reach out and touch them when ever I want. Social media is about being social. If you are going to make friends then you should really be a friend to the ones you make and not waste or squander your relationships. The people living in my computer matter to me. Yes... I admit it. I kiss the digital ground they walk on (LOL).

I have a lot of acquaintances but very few true friends. I love this place because ActiveRain has introduced me to some of the best loves of my life...

Seriously....

You have no idea just how much fun we do have with each other in the background.

So many road trips, so little blogs about them (LOL).

[Yeah... I know. I'm missing a picture... (sigh) ]

I've got this gal pal who is a fabulous photographer...

I've got this gal pal who is a fabulous photographer... We've been friends for a very long time and she was talking to both my kids when they were still in my belly. She gave me two simm cards with 849 photographs of everything her Nikon has ever captured. We are going to be doing some photography and writing together. I hope to recruit a few more of my very talented friends to join me on a new team blog project for a corporate girlfriend of mine who is expanding her business brand into cyberland. I am creating multiple websites while destroying a few of my own to re-build (what a scary thought - LOL).

Yes. It's true. There are a lot of businesses who are not on the Internet. I am looking to change that with my loved ones because branding yourself on-line makes good sense (and I like marketing stuff because exploring other people's mindsets fascinate me to no end - LOL). The best clients to take on are the ones who are passionate about what they do. Passionate people always have something to talk about. :-)

I got another gal pal who went to school for journalism. Oooooo... lovely surprise that was. I had absolutely no idea because the conversation never went there before. See? Friends can surprise you if you ask them relevant questions and actually listen to them when they decide to answer you back.

It was a very cool and useful thing to discover because I need a journalism keeper. She may be babysitting us both because we could definitely use some digital supervision from someone who actually trained seriously for this. The more raw talent in the blog pot the better. It's the best way to cook up a stellar team blog (and to keep the virtual whip cracking in case I get distracted chasing the little minions - LOL). 

Think I'll submit to my stunning professional friends with intellectually drop dead gorgeous minds when they say jump? People are always wondering about that when it comes to my digital mouth because we all know my blog posts go just about anywhere (LOL). Will I answer the submit question? Did I digress? Um... er... kinda... somewhat... maybe (LOL).

Now they (my girlfreinds) are wondering if that was a tactical retreat because they suddenly realize I have given them power over me (LMAO). If you missed that little detail: Yes... yes I did.

Influence is a two edged sword so use it wisely chickas (LOL). ;-)

Do I ever really truly behave? Do you really need a reminder? Was I actually gone that long? Seriously... (LOL)

It will be a lot of fun playing in cyberland with my brick and mortars. I've been dragging them in one by one and slowly turning them into tentative bloggers. They are mad fun in real life so I don't see any reason why they shouldn't be running amok in my digital life as well. We frequently run amok together so I bet you guys are going to love them. I absolutely do. We will be providing some behind the scene looks into how we create some of the things most readers take for granted. I get a lot of e-mails asking me how I get so much stuff done. I guess it is time to answer some of them. Besides, it's nice to click a link and receive some eye candy.

I am sooooo into eye candy...

My Localism blog needs an infusion of work. So does my New York blog. The weather is lovely so I am going back to blogging and jogging with my friends. Our first digital film as a team collaboration is going to be a presentation of three photographers showing off details of New York City.

Part One will be the Visual Musings of Emelia E Knox.

Part Two the Autistic Photographs of Noah E Starr.

Part three? Club Chaos Eye Candy of course (LOL). It's been a while since I did one of those. I think I am way over due and I've got lots of eye candy too.

Went to Manhattan yesterday and got rained on. It was fabulous because while everyone was running out of Central Park I was walking circles around my fave statue taking lots of pictures. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to shoot at the Alice In Wonderland Pavilion? Kids are always climbing on that statue (LOL). Mine included (LMAO).

Time to feed the shorties. Will be back in a few... They are fighting over the pie. My kids love pie. So do I. If I don't step away from the laptop there will be pumpkin pie everywhere. Food fights are a frequent event in my household. My fabulous four year old usually starts them (LOL).

Psst... He frequently wins. We run from him a lot. Seriously... :-)

[Pretend there is a picture... ]

Breakfast With My Blogging Buddies (And Other Social Media Addictions)

I have been sitting in my underwear for 37 minutes trying to upload a picture and film. What the heck am I going to do with this film? I WANNA LOAD MY FILM! I want to load pictures!

Fix the server, fix the server, fix the server, fix the server! I am begging in public (LOL).

I have been working on this film since May 1st with my gal pal Emelia's help and I have to say the idea that I can't load it over here is making me a wee bit crazy. I miss you guys. I am in proxy error hell. I never know which post is going to make it past the bad gateways and hit the server so I have been writing all kinds of stuff on just about anything because I don't want to not try and reach you and I do it almost like a dare to see which one makes it (LMAO).

Awwww come on, you know how easily amused I am. The server challenge makes it twice the fun and kinda helps me deal with the frustration of not being able to post when I want to. :-)

Like the blog addict I am I still log on, start writing, then hit submit button with baited breath waiting to exhale upon receiving the hit or miss notification. I have missed several attempts at postings because I seem to have lost my blogging keys that allows me entrance to the dashboard of my fave websites (LOL).

I have really suffered through this server migration in very interesting ways (e.g. I got a call from Korea telling me to fix my links) but must admit it has made me realize just how near and dear my virtual family is (and how global complaints can be when people routinely embed you on their digital business web pages).

Social Media Divas live to be social. I'm feeling kinda deprived here... We write because it's what we do: share stuff. I am used to my drafts auto-saving (and me being able to deliberately save a draft) but instead my off the cuff blogging habits have been suffering moments of poof begone so I am in serious culture shock.

I shall leave you with this thought while I have breakfast with my brick and mortar blogging buddies: I WILL BE BACK and have lots of fun returning (LOL).

(1) Because I really love you guys and (2) I really want to link back to some of my fave writers at my digital day job over here:

http://ww.examiner.com/x-46486-NY-Working-Moms-Examiner

I am holding articles because my links are broken so fix the server, fix the server, fix the server... Please? ;-)

uberMental: Jessica Klein (The Sketchbook Chronicles)

If you don't have an intellectually drop dead gorgeous girlfriend you should get one... A few would be nice and several definitely better... Being an equal opportunity kinda gal, intelligent guy pals are just as important; however, if you don't like having interesting conversations then never mind. After all, witty banter is not for everyone and gender wont matter in the end if all people do is aggravate you.

The fun part of being an artist is getting to high-jack your friends for your gallery and writing projects. This illustration is going to be used for my freelance writing assignment. I'm still working on the article and will probably use some of Noah's photographs as well. The site I will be publishing on gets approximately 17 million viewers per month. Wordy C as a photo journalist will be mad fun (LOL). Just think - I'll get to link back to you guys as source material and quote you... (Oh my word - what posts will she be picking? Feel free to send me some links in the comment section people. I'm always open for new victims to tease - LOL)

I have a photoshoot scheduled for Sunday with my gorgeous gal pal and will be picking her brain later today while I write my article. I have to submit it for review by tomorrow.

It will be something uberMental (LOL). ;-)  

In the meantime, I'm working on turning the sketch on the left into a beautiful portrait of a very lovely young lady who doesn't mind me placing her in Art News and The Gallery Guide. Will be bragging about her and the rest of my very talented friends that model for me as I share the pages from my sketchbook. She's a fabulous teacher. I bet you're gonna learn a lot from her when I publish the interview. :-)

ActiveRain Plus Blog Talk Radio Equals Paid Writing Assignment (LOL)

Who knew that this post:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1585631/momentum-after-the-tax-credit-expires-seriously-suffering-from-lookie-lou-itis-

Plus Co-Hosting with The Value Pages Group (and firing off a sample of my writing in a little text box) would get me a freelance writing job.

I love this place. Seriously...

You guys have no idea who is reading and auditing your blogs. I'm having mad fun at work making better use of LinkedIn and the rest of my social media accounts and will confess I was being facetious when I picked the Lookie-Lou-Itis link for them to sample (LOL).

God loves fools and little children. Based upon my work they seem to think I'd make a nice NY Working Moms writer. How cool is that? Very!

I sent them a 74 word wee people bio (LOL). I am soooo into the monetize your bog thing. Now I have to figure out how to be "informative and clever." They believe I have the clever part down pat (LOL). Is Wordy C informative? Hmm... I may have to act like a Paralegal over there, eh? Oh well... The link love will be interesting (LOL). ;-)

A Word Of Advice Regarding ActiveRain Community Guidelines

In June 2009 I chatted about the ActiveRain Community Guidelines and provided a short set of fave quotes. Now I am going to give you guys a word of advice that should also serve as a gentle warning.

1. When you comment on a writers blog and they have the setting checked off to receive e-mail notifications your comments are forwarded from the ActiveRain server.

2. If you edit your original comment and update it on a writer's blog, the server sends an e-mail notification that you commented and provides your edited comment, so there is still a record of the first comment and the exact moment the second comment replaced the first comment on a blog post.

3. When you act as if you didn't make the first comment, and stand by the second comment as if it is the first, the e-mails from the server impeach your statement. You can't pretend the edited comment is your original comment. (If readers print this out and fax it to a writer to complain that means other people have already captured your original comment. If the writer has already downloaded and saved the web page the writer already captured your original comment).

4. If you delete your comments because people call you on it, the record has already been established and you can't take it back.

5. There is a reason why the community rules say do not attack another member. The electronic paper trail doesn't go away no matter how much you wish it would.

I know when I owe someone an apology. Do you? Stop digging a hole for yourself. Play nice in the electronic sand box people. E-mails have headers that contain time stamps, code routes and confirm origination. I have better things to do than keep telling people I am done having a particular conversation. Sometimes, you have to know when to leave people alone when they ask you to.

Like all blogging moments, this too shall pass. The question is, do you want it to pass quietly or with a big bad bang?

I vote for the quiet passing. How about you?

Please feel free to read The ActiveRain Community Guidelines here. I think sometimes we forget ourselves while we wander about cyberspace making unsubstantiated statements as if speaking from a position of authority when that position has not been granted and does not exist. It is a grave thing to commit business torts. Never casual think you can interfere with someone else's business in a public forum with impunity. You never know when a competitor may decide to make an example of you because you've provided so much for their attorney to work with. It's even worse when attorneys you don't know read it and want to volunteer to make a case for you.

Play nice people. You have no idea who is following your blog on any given day.

As for me, my work is done. I'm going to meet Sana for a snack and make arrangements to go to MD to see Margaret Rome. I'm thinking a working three day mini-vacation. One of my buyers is interested in a Maryland investment. How cool is that? Very. :-)

Working With The Lights Off...

Ever hear that expression "The lights are off and nobody's home?" That would be me today (LOL). Besides the fact that I opted to work with the office lights off, I don't know how I did it but I managed to lock myself out of my Cisco Systems IP Phone (7940 Series). The computer keep telling me to call customer service... On a holiday weekend... Yet has the nerve not to give me the bloody number to call... WTF?

This is what happens when you have too many accounts that require unique passwords which demand to be updated every 90 days.

How the heck does one constantly create new passwords every 90 friggin' days? Don't get me wrong, I do remember them all, I just don't always remember which order I created them in for what accounts. Seriously... At least I didn't lock myself out of the WiFi (ROTFL). If I did that I couldn't blog live from the office (LOL).

Just popped in to get you guys to say hello to our newest Club Chaos bay-bay. Now that the group e-mail is out I have to get back to my clients. Consider this my example of how to blog in less than ten minutes when the people you are with have to take a potty break (LOL). ;-)

Hi Laura! :-D Wanna hint regarding my next post? RainCamp Bay-Bays (Aren't they cute?)

Laura Cerrano, Tom Re and Paddy Pizappi attending the RainCamp After-party

How cool was NYC's RainCamp? VERY!!! Going to DC? I am. Meetcha' there! ;-)