Now this blog is powered by WordPress, WP hacks can tell from the very lightly modified default Kubrick page design. But one of the things I love about WP is that there is not only an abundant supply of themes, but also a HUGE zoo of plug-in to perform all manner of digital legerdemain. Since I have been manually posting notifications on FB about my Blog Posts here, I figured, with the rising popularity of Facebook, there was probably an app or plug-in that would allow Me to post notices to the page automatically. So after a bit of research, I’ve installed the  WordBook Plug-in on the blog. This was literally it’s test flight.

Alas was not to be. WoodBook does not work on Fan or Business FB Pages. See below for comments on keeping my personal and Pro/Biz bloggage separate. So I am trying another application, a bit more involved, but we’ll see if it works. It may have the virtue of earning the blog a little more exposure.

I am also looking at adding “Share on Facebook” functionality. Yes, there’s plug-in for that too. Which is probably the next thing I’ll be testing. If a “Share on Facebook” link turns up on my posts, I got it working. Of course there are equivalent tools for Twitter, but I am seriously dragging my feet about getting into that. I do have to spend some of my time actually working on client’s projects. Imagine that, so demanding. But the ability to buy groceries is a compelling argument for discipline.

The emergence of Social Media as an important Web trend for both individuals and businesses, due to it’s particular reach and ability to connect individuals TO businesses and organizations, means that Creative pros like myself have to pay increasing attention to an ever widening array of venues, and techniques for leveraging them. What makes this interesting is becoming a net.schizo. I have this blog for the Studio, where I can wax-on, wax-off on themes relating to my profession and related tech subjects. I have a personal Live journal since about 2003 or so… If you know it, you know who you are. My personal rantage. I’m on Facebook as me, but then have a Page for FRS. The twitter account… like 4 tweets (Ha!) is me, and I should make a separate one for the Studio… Keeping my personal and professional lives separate is an interesting exercise in information management. Not withstanding that as a self-employed creative pro, with a studio in my home, my professional life is pretty darn personal! But the overall approach is that I’ll refer to my professional live from my personal side, but I’ll be keeping the personal from the professional side.

That didn’t stop a client from trying to call Me at 7PM on a Friday, looking for a project and a quote. Not that I don’t work evenings and weekends, like many creatives and self-employed, that’s a choice, not an expectation. But seriously, WTF?

He can wait… till Monday.

Fantastic Realities Studio on Facebook
WordBook Plug-in
NetworkedBlogs

No Snow Days

This is going to be a pretty random post.

Deal with it. But I’ll try to say something of interest. In the interest of learning more about using the WordPress back end, I had to apply myself to digging under the hood in the tech realm of server file permissions. Look it up if you’re curious. The issue I had was getting the image upload feature to work properly. It errored out with folder permission problems. And all the more irritating, since another installation I did for a client was functioning perfectly. So… WTF?

A trip to the WordPress Codex and Docs and I got enough info to fire up my FTP app and massage the permissions on my web server and got it working. Hmmm… guess it should test it? What to upload?

So. The image above. Even though the “Snowmageddon” storm that clobbered the DC Area and Central Atlantic states spared the NYC Region and Hudson Valley, the “Snowpocalyse” storm and the record breaking “Snowricane” did catch up with us. Big Fun Deluxe. Clogged roads, Businesses closed, Events Canceled, and Snow Days at region schools. I, for one, am glad to see a little sun.

Relevant? Right. Right. Was getting to that. As a self-employed Creative Pro, my studio is in my home. So as long as I have power, heat, food, and a high speed internet connection. I can pretty much hole up and keep working. And I did. Also you can’t beat the commute. About 45 seconds from bedroom to the Studio downstairs. Maybe five minutes if I stop in the kitchen to get coffee. In nicer weather, about 30 paces to the pool. The Studio looks out the patio door, and when It’s nice I can open it up and let the breeze air this place out. Compare that to an hour and 45 min ride into the city when I was a corporate Art Director. If I had to stay late, the ride back was often longer.

Anyway, I had snapped a few clever images and tossed together a little “No Snow Days” Promo Card (maybe I’ll post a PDF for ya’s) that  I handed out  to one of my networking groups. So, brief flash of pro coolness.  Try THAT in Word.

So no complaints other than as a homeowner, I do see the energy bills and the downstairs gets colder then the upper floor were we get good sun. In a heat wave, that’s great, and a cooler environment in the summer is better for my machines. But in winter, not so much. Sweaters are good.

And uploading a shot about getting through the epic weather was probably more relevant than goofy stuff like this…

Go watch Caprica to see why this is funny.

Yeah, I’m a geek. But we creative sorts are allowed our eccentric vices. And I’ll be getting back under the hood of Bloogging, Facebook… and *cringe*… even Twitter. Mostly because my clients have an interest in the stampede to social media.

That’s it for this one, I do have billable work to do! Till next time!