Goodbye Trusted Friend

Today I said goodbye to a long-time trusted friend. This has been coming for a while, and  yet still it was hard to let go and say goodbye.

After months of agony, I finally let go of my “old school” Rolodex. It is official, all of my contacts are now stored digitally (in a cloud somewhere).

I’ve resisted, but slowly have been converting everyone over to the “new school” Rolodex, or ‘contacts,’ if you will. Today the last group (U-Z) were made digital and I no longer had a need for the clunky, yet nostalgic, physical Rolodex, filled with scribbled-over paper contact cards.

Everyday I’m tumblin’

Well, maybe not every day, but I am on tumblr.

 

Christmas Cheer: Twas the Night Before Christmas

 

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

Here’s an interesting take on this classic.

Christmas Cheer: Deck the Halls

Who doesn’t love a good Christmas flash mob?

The students over at the University of Minnesota’s School of Music certainly do.

Nearly 300 students joined a saxophonist for a flash mob holiday surprise at the Carlson School of Management in November. 

Sticky Song Saturday: Thriller

Despite the winter weather, it is fall and Halloween is right around the corner. This week I’ve been obsessed with this Halloween light show. Thriller is one of many that he ‘produced’ last year, and he has even more this year, all available on his YouTube channel. He’s gotten a lot of attention this year for his Party Rock Anthem light show.

See Also: Extravagant Halloween light show in Riverside goes viral on YouTube

Sharing: If You’re Happy and You Know It, Must I Know, Too?

A New York Times article ponders the growing use of emoticons in professional communications communications from professionals. ;)

Graphic from New York Times

Students of digital communication see the emerging acceptance of whimsical signifiers as inevitable, if not always desirable. “They’re part of the degradation of writing skills — grammar, syntax, sentence structure, even penmanship — that come with digital technology,” said Bill Lancaster, a lecturer in communications at Northeastern University in Boston. “Certainly I understand the need for clarity. But language, used properly, is clear on its own.”

Are smiley faces creeping into your work emails and text messages to colleagues? :?

Ms. DiNardo joins the ranks of professionals who have found themselves on the receiving end of smileys, winks and LOL’s, as the emoticon has rather suddenly migrated from the e-mails and texts of teenagers (and perhaps the more frothy adults) to the correspondence of business people who pride themselves on their gravitas.

Read the full story: If You’re Happy and You Know It, Must I Know, Too?

BRB POTUS

Avid texter pauses briefly to shake Obama's hand

“Randy Jackson”: Yo dog, Obama is here, about to meet him!

Texting Friend: Really?! Where u at?

“Randy Jackson”: I’m in Hampton dog!

Texting Friend: Serious yo?

“Randy Jackson”: No joke Barack is a few feet away.

Texting Friend: You really gonna meet him?

“Randy Jackson”: BRB prez is waiting, actin like he can’t wait for me to finish this text dog.

Watch the video here (CBS News)

Point/Counterpoint: Tennessee

Point:

Counterpoint:

Maybe those parents want to take this guy with them to Disney?

Follow Up: Ninja Skills at Home

The other week I shared my experience about becoming an email ninja at work. That is still going swell. I’m also integrating my follow ups in my calendar, trying to set aside the proper time to, well, follow up on those action items. Having a clutter free email inbox at work, and easy to follow follow up and pending folders really has helped my productivity IMHO.

Sticky Song Saturday: Super Bass

It is Saturday and this week the song that has been stuck in my head comes from Nicki Minaj, Super Bass.

My repetition obsession with the song this week probably has something to do with this little tutu princess (Sophia Grace Brownlee) and recent YouTube sensation:

Super Bass