Email Surveillance

So I'm in the final stages of my capstone course (yay!) and that means I need to take action on the issue I chose to write about. My topic was email surveillance in the workplace and whether is should be legal or not and considering I just learned how to create a web video I thought I'd post it up here and see what kind of responses I could get...

Email surveillance has demonstrated to be both beneficial and effective for companiess, yet studies have also shown employees develop a sense of fear, distrust, and stress while working under such monitoring activities. So I developed a solution for companies to consider: TALK TO YOUR EMPLOYEES! EXPLAIN WHY YOU NEED TO MONITOR THEM!

Local Bloggers Unite!

Austin Bloggers ATTENTION!!!


There will be a local meeting for local bloggers Today, Nov 19th @ 7pm @ the Clementine Coffee Bar. So if you're a blogger, attend tonight's meeting. Have some coffee, share a few laughs, and blog away!

Clementine Coffee Bar is located 2200 Manor Rd.Austin TX 78722
p: 512.472.9900
email: mail@clementinecoffeebar.com


"The Austin Bloggers get together monthly. If you are a blogger, blogger groupie, or just want to find out what this blogging thing is about, you are welcome to join us. Our meetings are informal gatherings where people interested in blogging can meet and exchange ideas. We meet the third Wednesday of every month at varying locations around town. We like to pick places where it's nice to sit and chat. When possible, we steer toward locations that offer free wireless access."

Google Mobile App for iPhone

Starting today, Monday, Nov. 17th, 2008, a new application for the iPhone will be available. The new application Google Mobile is a voice-recognition search app for the iPhone, which Google has been working on for some time. They've launched an instructional video with their own, Mike LeBeau to learn about the cool tricks that come with this application.



The application appears to be great, fun, and easy. Makes me wish I had an iPhone. :)

Web Video Project: Love is...

For our last project, our professor asked us to create a web video to raise awareness on a social issue of our choice. After thinking about it I decided to create a web video on same sex marriages. Always the controversial topic, my stance has always been for same sex marriages. I support love, equal rights, and gay rights.
To make my video I used Jumpcut, a cool website that makes web videos fun and easy.

So make your voice heard!

Personal branding & Donald Trump

This past class we were asked by our professor to conduct a Social Media Scavenger Hunt in which the topic of personal branding came up. I remember when we spoke about personal branding and so I decided to do a little more research on it.
According to Wikipedia, personal branding is is the process whereby people and their careers are marked as brands.
Their example of personal branding was Donald Trump, a celebrity mogul who is a perfect example of what personal branding is. Donald Trump has used his last name extensively on his buildings and on the products he endorses, which are universally recognized.
Since Wikipedia had Donald Trump as their example, I googled him and came across some very interesting information.
For one thing: his website: Trump University, has everything from information on instructional courses of Real Estate Investing, Entrepreneurship, investing, training workshops, to his own personal blog: The Trump Blog.

He's also got:

1. a clothing line sold at Macy's
2. His own cologne: Donald Trump, the fragrance
   
3. A NBC show: The Apprentice
4. Real Estate Company, where he's chairmen and CEO, The Trump Organization,

among other things.

I kept researching and was able to find some advantages of personal branding:

• Establish yourself as an expert in your chosen field.
• Build a solid reputation within your industry.
• Increase your notoriety and improve your perceived value in the marketplace.

Donald Trump has really embraced the idea of personal branding, using his name to establish a brand.

"Unleash Your Inner Rockstar"

Guitar Hero has launched a new commercial with Heidi Klum as their latest celebrity "rockstar." It's the same concept, a recreation of the famous Tom Cruise scene in Risky Business, however, Heidi's rendition is a little more exposed.
She's a beautiful woman with an extraordinary body but having her jump around in her bra and panties shows that Guitar Hero is obviously going for the SEX SALES option.
Sure, A-Rod, Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps, and Tony Hawk were running around in their underwear, but even THAT wasn't as exposed as Heidi. She's got kids. I certainly don't believe that's how she plays Guitar Hero at home.
The first commercial was tastefully done, this one...I'm not sure.
I'm sure men men will love this commercial.

The commercial concept is great, it grabs the audience attention while still relating to the product BUT
Heidi should've left her SHIRT ON!

Let's remember the original scene....with Tom Cruise


Tony Hawk, Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez, and Michael Phelp's Rendition:

Heidi Klum's Unsensored:


They all left their shirts on!


I had already posted this blog when I was watching TV and noticed the Heidi Klum commercial come on. It wasn't the same one I had seen before, apparently Heidi keeps her shirt on! Good Job Guitar Hero! :) That's more like it. If you're rating this game T (Teenager Approved), then keep it a little more conservative.

Here's the video that comes on now:

Because I'm a PC

So I wanted to know a little more about the new "Upload Yourself" campaign that Microsoft just launched. I visited the Windows website and was amazed at just how this campaign has changed the company. It seems like PC wants to incorporate the users a lot more. They want to see like a friendly, relate-able company, who cares about their customers. Their mission statement alone was very encouraging for a PC user. Here's what is says:

IMAGINE A LIFE WITHOUT WALLS.

Where you connect to a global community of more than a billion people and nothing comes between you and a world of ideas and opportunities. With Windows on your mobile phone, PC, or the Web, walls begin to disappear—at home, at the office, and anywhere in between. You can balance work and life as well as fun and functionality. And with a wide range of software, services, and devices to choose from, your technology can be as unique as you are. That's
Windows. Life without walls.

I kept surfing their website and found their PC gallery where all those that have uploaded their videos are placed. The gallery has a whole lot of videos with different people. It almost seems infinite.Videos aren't the only thing that you can upload, a person can also upload photos.
Since I can't do a video, I decided to upload a photo of myself. The website asks for age and for me to fill in the famous line of "I'm a PC and I..."

I did as I was required and uploaded my picture. So you can find me there if you decide to upload yourself as well.
Here's an ad that's currently airing on TV:


Watch the rest on the Windows website.
Click on the SEE the PCs and watch what others have said.