Pining for the days of static and snow
I was watching a show the other day in which a high-definition TV lost its signal and presented the classic and universally known black and white snow. Of course, anyone who has made the digital TV transition knows that this doesn’t happen anymore. Generally you get Black, Blue or, sometimes, a message on the screen.
So this got me thinking that static snow’s days are numbered. Static snow has become, over the years, an instantly recognizable indication that there’s a glitch in the system, but has the advantage of letting you know so much else – like the fact that the power is on and the picture tube is working. Things that a non-standard indicator (the varying black, blue, or message) is not going to universally convey.
Have we taken a step back in usability?
What happens when all our radio becomes digital and, flipping though the dial (uh, dial?) you get nothing but silence? Is it your stereo? Antenna? Speakers?
In: Observations
Free click, or do you charge them?
I am pretty regularly confronted with Google search results that include a paid ad for a site just one or two entries above the organic result for the same site. This presents me with a choice – a choice with actual (albeit small) Real Life Consequences. Now, in most cases, if I click on the paid ad, I’m costing the advertiser $0.10 to a couple of bucks and, at the same time, enriching Google a little more. Alternately, if I click on the organic link, I could be rewarding the site for spamming and link-farming their way up the search results.
I always think a moment before I click.
Usually, I end up clicking the organic search result if it’s really the one I want because, after all, that means the search was successful. Sometimes, though, if I have a grudge or issue or just general ill-will towards a company, or I think that their ad sucks, or if it’s obvious that their SEM is poorly optimized, then I click on the paid link.
It’s like a little spitwad I can shoot at the bully without him knowing.
In: Observations
Art (classified)
I’m working on a project for which I need a few images created. After checking with a few people who may know illustrators and coming up empty, I posted an advert on Craigslist. It’s certainly an effective way to get a lot of responses in a short amount of time. So far, I have had two dozen artists and designers contact me. It’s clear that some of these artists read the ad, made sure that they were at least roughly qualified for the work I needed, and then sent me a nice introductory email with links to their online portfolio. Others obviously did not read the ad, and did not send a nice/professional/intelligible introductory email.
Things that will get you a short “Thanks” email from me and nothing more:
- The entire body of your email is indented as in “I was once a reply to another email” and you didn’t even take the time to remove the indent, let alone customize even the salutation.
- Sounds on your website. There are exceptions. They are few. If you think the sound on your website is “cute” or “adds impact” then it’s just annoying.
- Addressing your email to Irene. I used to know an Irene, but that was years ago and she certainly is not working with me on this project.
- Tell me all about your great logo design and business identity package when I clearly, and in great detail, outlined the illustrations I need.
So, over the next few days I will be weeding through the submissions and choosing an artist – or 2 – for this little project. I’ll let you know how it goes.
In: Annoyances, Criticism
There are a lot of iPhone apps
But I have to say, wordpress has written one of the better ones.
In: Observations, Praise
The mystery of time
A couple of years ago, I helped to start a comics-centered publishing/creation venture called 11:11 creations. The name 11:11 came from a common affinity for the number. This is certainly not a unique or selective fondness. My particular attraction comes from the notion that digital clocks, when displaying 11:11, look somehow broken to me.
But, in the years both before and since the creation of this entity, I find myself regularly looking up at the clock at exactly 11:11 – multiple (well, 2) times a day. It happens to me several times a week.
Now, obviously one would be more inclined to notice times one is attuned to, in the same way that one who has just bought, say, a Ford Escape seems to notice that suddenly there are a large number of Ford Escapes on the road.
What I wonder is this: am I just noticing 11:11 more than any other time because I happen to look at the clock at this time and it registers with me, or is my (subconscious) internal clock somehow accurate enough to have me look up at the clock at exactly 11:11 unusually often?
Yes, 11:11 is a memorable time. But isn’t 10:10, 9:09, 1:01, 12:12, etc? I don’t notice seeing these others more than a handful of times here and there. 11:11 happens at least every couple of days, and regularly more often.
What’s up with that?
In: Me, Observations
Job hunting perils
So I just got an email, ostensibly from the CEO of JobFox.com. In this email, Mr. McGovern gives me a few tips (5) for crafting the best resumé I can on his job hunting service. [interlude: I signed up for the service months ago, and it has suggested exactly one interesting opportunity, for which I was not even remotely qualified...]
In this email, Mr. McGovern says, among other, potentially valid advice. that I should:
1) Design your resume so a computer can read it.
OK, so he’s trying to do people a favor here, but, really, if a computer is what is going to read my resume first, the thing that, based on totally arbitrary “YES HE HAS IT / NO HE DOES NOT” will pass me on up the line, then I PASS. As I said in an email response to Mr. McGovern, “If an employer cannot take time to treat me like a human before I am hired, I know that I will not be treated like a human after I am hired.” Being treated like a human is important to me. If it’s not to you, then, by all means, take his advice.
2) Don’t doing anything cute. Ever. [YES! SIC!!!]
You know, I don’t, actually, do[ing] anything cute on my resumé. However, I wouldn’t consider working for an employer who would hold the examples that Mr. McGovern cites against me: “We see resumes that use email addresses like hotlegs41@aol.com and include “ferrets,” “wine,” and “losing at golf” as personal interests.” OK, so the “hotlegs41″ might be a little on the non-professional side,(bet it probably gets you further than you think…) but really – if you are in to ferrets, wine, [WINE!!!] or golf [and not very good at it] then put the fucking thing on your resume. If an employer holds what is dear to you against you, then they are not the right employer for you.
I have spent many years not being myself at my job. It has taken a huge toll on me – though it’s one I am learning to move beyond. My last position was one with such good people that I began to actually be the same person in the office that I am at home. I understand and appreciate the separation of parts of a person’s life, but while some restraint is certainly understandable and called for in a professional setting, you cannot and should not be expected to be a different person for the sake of employment.
I forgive you if you find yourself in a position that seems to require this, but implore you to move on, as fast as possible, to something that, if not totally fulfilling, at least does not require you to be something that you are not for 9-12 hours a day. It’s not natural. It’s not healthy. It’s not worth what they are paying you to do it.
BTW, when it comes to gentlemen named “McGovern” I highly recommend the one called “Johnny“
In: Annoyances, Criticism