Anyone who lives in the Midwest knows the weather here is completely unpredictable. Take for example the weather we had this weekend: 6 inches of snow on Saturday, 60 degrees 50 degrees and sunny on Sunday!

I took 2 photos on my street at exactly the same time, 24-hours apart, in roughly the same area, just to prove how crazy Kansas City weather is. This kind weather sure doesn’t make for a boring life here in KC — ammirite?

For anyone who is a Twitter user — it’s worth your time to watch this hilarious animated sketch (you can follow me on Twitter).  What’s so brilliant about it? I think it’s great because it is:

• Punchy and funny
• Clever
• Fast moving
• …they make some fairly well thought-out intellectual observations

Watch it and tell me what you think!

Facebook is claiming the latest redesign is both an advancement in regards to both the features and the interface. While there is a backlash to this major change (much like when the original NewsFeed was released), my own personal opinion is that the enhancement is the right decision for Facebook in socializing /forcing the concept of “real-time” usage of Facebook. In theory, this should increase the amount of traffic and dependence people have to Facebook daily since data moves so quickly now through the NewsFeed.  However, I also believe the new advanced interface is likely not fully utilized by the majority of users because it’s too hard to understand.  The interface and instructions not plain simple for people like my little sister or my dad to undersatnd (who both are on Facebook)

You might remember that the previous version asked users to define content they wanted by usage of “slider” controls. Now, users click filters called Friend Lists and Application filters to define the content they want.

How do you take advantage of these new features? What do I suggest? I’ve got a two things you should understand and utilize on the “new” Facebook. I also made a quick video blog illustrating it as well.

1.) CREATE FRIENDLISTS
The Newsfeed becomes exponentially easier to manage when you create multiple Friend Lists. A Friend List is simple — its a customized list in which you choose how to sort and customize. For example here are friends lists I’ve personally setup on my Facebook account:

People I Work With

Friends from College

High School Friends

Fraternity Friends

Kansas City Friends

Clients/Business Networking

“Circle of Trust” (my best friends and family)

Once you setup these lists, you’re able to quickly digest a TON of information in a few minutes about specific types of friends just by clicking the filters on the left. Remember, once you set these friend lists up, drag them above the grey line to make them permanent and then sequence them in the order you’d like.

2.) SEQUENCE & ORGANIZE APPLICATION FILTERS
Below the Friend List on the left side of your NewsFeed are filters that allow you to see updates from your friends about specific applications. I suggest moving the following filters to the top of their application filter list:

Photos

Video

Notes

Links

Events

From there, it’s up to you in regards to what Facebook applications you use that you should drag above the grey line to filter your Newsfeed. If you set the basic filters which I’ve suggested, when you click these you’ll all the basic FB content features (e.g. photos, video and links — like the prior NewsFeed) of all your friends. What’s unfortunate about the redesign is you can’t apply BOTH filters. For example, I can’t say I want to see Friends from College + Photos. You’re only allowed to use one Friend Lists filter or one Application filter. I should also note that the Application filter drop-down list isn’t picked by you, it’s picked by Facebook, and it’s seemingly random. For example, I’ve got the Twitter app and 2009 Bracket in my drop-down list of options.  But I’m not able to add or remove these. FB claims, “…the applications that users and their friends frequently use and have multiple stories available for a user to view are most likely to appear in this list.”

I threw together short and dirty video blog to show you a visual example of example how I’m using the new Facebook. I’m curious, what are your thoughts, do you like it? Do you think it’s more efficient? Does it provide a more personal experience since it’s real-time and has several filters?
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This week I’ve been traveling — I spent the last two days at Timberland shoes HQ working on EarthKeepers, a website project I’m managing due to launch later this year. It’s actually been really fun learning about Timberland and the environmental focus they’ve taken.

FYI: the term “EarthKeeper” just means someone who cares about the environment. Earthkeepers are people doing small things, like recycling, biking instead of driving and using energy-efficient light bulbs. And it also describes people who do BIG super cool things like replanting eroded areas or retrofitting their engines to run on bio fuel.

Timberland certainly doesn’t have all the answers– they know this. But they realize it’s important share stories of how others are helping the planet and how you can too. Timberland has some great stories of its own.

I really am excited in the coming months to share with you the website (once it launches) that will be the destination for EarthKeepers (p.s. I’ve learned a ton regarding the environment, more than I’d ever imagine I’d be interested in) …so stay tuned!
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I’m in Boston this week (visiting a client) and I came across a great quote in a magazine:

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
-Winston Churchill

I think this quote can take on several meanings. I don’t think it just refers to charitable giving, but it also applies to the act of “creating” as well. Short and powerful. I love it.

While I was at an event tonight, a friend of mine asked a great question. A question that was based on her own observation, one I feel is interesting to rationalize, although I’m not sure if anyone can give a 100% correct answer.

Why is Twitter getting more attention and now gaining in popularity?

I believe the recent source of Twitter’s popularity is because of a combined segment of effects: one potential source being the surge of already big thought influencers, large companies and celebrities who have started using Twitter (e.g. Shaq, Obama, CNN, Lance Armstrong, John Mayer). Significant attention is being given to Twitter because that these people ALREADY have a large following. These people have a humongous number of existing fans — and those fans are joining the Twit bandwagon in hopes of getting that ‘humanized’ interaction directly with the celebrity. If I had to guess (and this is just a guess), I would say this is a large source of it’s recent popularity.

Twitter.com was launched in 2006. It’s nothing new.

That said, another reason I also believe that Twitter is getting attention because there are so many success stories circulating in regards to the power of Twitter. “I did this on Twitter and then this happened” or “I tried this on Twitter and it was amazing”. I personally can attest of its power since it has helped me with social networking, raising 7,000+ for a benefit party, personal branding and just my plain entertainment from the witty micro-blogging from friends.

There are also smaller external factors (+that add up) outside of Twitter’s control and effects that are capturing attention to the website as well. Things like; short attention span of digital natives and their desire to “media snack”, the economy (no really, I mean it) and the continual growth of the power of the “status update”.

What are your thoughts? Why do you think Twitter is gaining popularity and attention? Is it warranted? Are people seeing the value or just joining because everyone else seems to be doing it?
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After I took my first set of engagement photos with Scott and Allison — I was reviewing the composition of photos I had of them for one scene in particular, I came up with this idea to make a video flip book (annnnd I totally just made up that concept).

…so I put together this video short. I hope you like it.

The photos in this video are actually taken right on the walkway up to Scott and Allison’s house. I remember thinking the texture of the brick was too unique, I had to figure out a way to utilize it in my shots.

It is early March, yet I was lucky enough to get glimmer of sunlight and warmth here in Kansas City — perfect for some photo taking. Two people that I consider are my best friends; Scott and Allison recently got engaged. If you’ve seen my flickr photostream, you’ll notice I’ve really been diving into getting better at my photog skills. Now I’m FAR from being a professional, in fact I’m totally getting started in this whole thing. However, one thing that’s been reiterated by every person who’s been kind enough to give me advice: practice, practice, practice.

So that’s exactly what I’m doing.

I really enjoy capturing emotions of people in my photos. I find it both a challenge and a huge reward when I’m able to get that perfect shot: photography that not only looks great — but more importantly tells a story. So check out the entire slideshow of round 1 of the engagement photos I took of Scott and Allison (who, by the way, are gorgeous people to begin with!).

As a consultant at the web development Digital Evolution Group, I’m fortunate enough to lead some pretty exciting Projects I wanted to share an excerpt from a recent abstraction I put together with my team regarding the identification of persona to guide the design of a website (below). If you use demographics or target audiences to design a website — you are likely to find yourself short changing or leaving your visitors with an unfulfilled experience when they visit your site. By identifying persona you are able to take it a step further by understanding needs and context of the users visit. I should also note, persona is only one component of several steps that makeup our methodology of designing a website, it is vital to the process (You’re also free to download this whitepaper if you’d like).

A persona incorporates the demographic and psychographic attributes of a type of website end-user (“target audience”), as well as that end-user type’s context of visit, expectations, and business situation.

Every successful web project prioritizes the end-user experience above all else. As such, you must design the website from the end-user’s perspective. Therefore, it is important to understand the demographics, psychographics, emotional/practical needs, and expectations of the end-users for which the project is intended (collectively, the “personas”, a more expansive term than “target audiences”). In this way, features and content can be designed that meets the personas’ needs and achieves the project’s strategic objectives.

• + demographic info
  + psychographic info
  + context of visit
  + expectations
  equals= PERSONA

You might think of it this way:

Imagine you are a 24-year old Caucasian male who has just landed at an airport. You have been on the plane for three hours, and need to find the quickest method of getting downtown. You take an escalator down to the main platform where you are presented with three signs: Trains, Tickets, Toilets. In this case, the set of tasks or expectations you have when you get the airport have been addressed. Based on the design of the airport, the expectations you had when leaving the airplane have been met.

However, meeting baseline expectations is only the beginning. The quality and cleanliness of the bathroom, the clarity of the train maps and the length of the line to the ticket counter is also important. Each feature must be simple and effective to leave a positive impression.

In this example, the demographics of a white 24-year-old male are certainly nice to have, but not wholly sufficient to design the layout of the entire airport. The above scenario could also be valid for a 24 year old female. This single visitor type does not provide enough information regarding the aggregate number of tasks and expectations that need to be considered during a visit to the airport.

Demographics are certainly vital in regards to task execution. For example, if the architect knows both males and females may potentially visit the airport, the term “Toilets” will allow the visitor(s) to find the restrooms. However, additional directions to two different restrooms will eventually be needed. “Trains” will allow most users to find the train platform, but once there, the destination for each user will be different.
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So when I shot video on my trip I thought I was getting some pretty cool video takes with my flip. However, I realized when I got home and reviewed the footage — I didn’t like any of my commentary or audio in any of the shots it took! So instead, I cut something short and sweet with only music for the audio. As always, email or comment your critique; good or bad

VACA! This past weekend my friends and I traveled to the wonderful city of Breckenridge, Colorado. I haven’t taken a vacation in what feels like FOREVER, so it was great just setting out on a journey that didn’t have any agenda!

You’ll notice I snapped a TON of pictures on this trip. You can view, download or watch a slideshow of the full set of pictures from the trip on my Flickr account. The photos in this album are taken with my Canon 40D or Canon SD750. I’m still learning a lot in terms of basic photog skills, I’ve still got a lot of practice I need to do. Any critique is welcome (good or bad!).

I’ve been skiing ever since I was a little kid (thanks Mom & Dad!) — so I really enjoy it. I’m now at a crossroads, I’m good enough at skiing that I could take lessons to get really good at moguls and the really really hard stuff OR I could start from the beginning with snowboarding. I think next time I’m going to try snowboarding…