Category — General

Linux conferences for 2003. Can't go to many conferences this year? Just go to a couple good ones. [Linux Journal]

i'm proabably not going to any of these, though i wish i could…

Jobs autograph ignites bidding frenzy. A magazine autographed by Apple CEO Steve Jobs is up for auction on eBay–and it's drawing bids comparable to prices paid for John D. Rockefeller or George Washington signatures. [CNET News.com]

can we say hero worship… this seems to be a function of our era…

Weird and wonderful top web list. Punk kittens, Wallace and Gromit and dead celebrities all feature in the top 12 sites of 2002, as chosen by search engine Yahoo. [BBC News | Technology | UK Edition]

the singing kittens rule

Another boxy monster. Lots of reader comments today, this one to point out the also-horribly-boxy 2003 Honda Element. Maybe I'm just not the target demographic — these things are awful! [megnut]
I like the element much better than the toyota or whatever it is. i mean the element is perfect for a bachelor, spill your soda across yoru stainproof slacks and it eventually makes it way out the drain. no fuss. i mean come on… this is great stuff.

We're Off to See the Wizard (of Oz).

If you live in Chicago or will be visiting before March 2, you can go to the new Sing-a-Long Wizard of Oz at the Oriental Theatre!

“Sing-a-long with the classic Oscar-winning film. Includes a master-of-ceremonies to lead comical audience participation. Costumes encouraged.

Jan. 4 – Mar. 2
Sundays, 2 p.m.
Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.

Price: $15-$35. Includes sing-a-long fun pack.”

As noted in this Chicago Tribune article about it (free registration required), I don't know how much actual “singing along” there will be since there are only two big, well-known musical numbers, but I love the idea of follow-ups for Grease and Singin' in the Rain (imagine Donald O'Connor's “Make 'Em Laugh” number!).

[The Shifted Librarian]

who wants to invite me to chicago for a singa along, I'm game.

tonight i had an epiphany as i was walking after work. i realized how to backup a wagon with a tractor, this is no small feat for most people. actually most people have serious problems with backing up a cart, but me, for some reason, this popped into my head, i was a farm kid for a long time, and this was one of those skills i just didn't see. i think it is because i have a slightly stubborn streak on occasion. nonetheless tonight i suddently, uncaused, seemed to just realize how it was to be done. has anyone else suddently known such things?

Job hunting tips or, Why unemployment is so high. I've got a new theory, based on the responses I've received to my Craig's List posting for a software/hardware engineer: It's no wonder we're seeing an increase in unemployment, people seem to have no idea how to apply for a job these days.

Here are some of the things I've received to date in response to my posting (note: posting says attachments will not be read, application requires an essay, company consists of two people):

• Blank emails with Microsoft Word resumes attached
• A cover letter beginning, “Dear Richard”
• Letters beginning, “Dear Sir/Madam”
• Another saying, “Dear Human Resource Manager”
• and a response to my, “advertisement…for the UI Developer”

Of the more than 30 responses I've gotten so far, less than 1/3 have even followed the directions to apply. (Those that have though look really great and I'm looking forward to talking with them.) So here's my other theory: if you're currently looking for a job, you have a tremendous advantage over other people out there if you just do a few simple things:

Address your cover letter to the person who will read it
This is an easy one and should only require a bit of your time. Simply call the company and find out the name of the person who's responsible for handling applications for the position for which you're applying. Often the receptionist will be able to give you a name. It shows you've made a little effort and care about the job.

Write a cover letter
Writing a cover letter is the easiest way to distinguish yourself from another applicant. If you've got a standard letter you like to use, spend some time and enhance it for each application you're submitting so the person who's reading it can see, again, that you care about the position and have some knowledge and qualifications for it.

Quality is much more important than quantity
Rather than whip off thirty generic emails to any job listing that might be right for you, take the time to craft five quality responses for the five best listings you've found. Write those cover letters, address them to real people, triple-check your message before you send it (so you don't apply “for the UI position” or call a woman “Richard”).

And most importantly,

Follow the directions to apply for a position
I know this sounds harsh but honestly, if you can't follow directions to apply for a job, what makes the hiring manager think you can follow directions if you get the job?

No matter what the job market, just following these simple guidelines should increase your chances of landing an interview, and distinguishing yourself within the applicant pool. Surely if this is something you plan to do for the next X months or years, it's worth taking the time to do it right.

And one more thing, once you do have that interview, don't forget to send a follow-up thank you letter. While these were traditionally done on paper, nowadays if you're applying for a technical position, I think you can get away with email. It doesn't have to be anything fancy: simply thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you, ask any follow-up questions you may have, and reiterate your qualifications for the position. [megnut]

Now if people would only stop being sent to me for jobs, i hate getting the knock on the door and seeing someone plainly needing a job proceed to ask me for a job, resume and all, without any prior notice that there is a job opening, which there hardly ever is.

ah so

right now, i'm thinking a lot about blogs. blogs, blogs, blogs. blogs all the time around here. currently, i'm co-producing, with technophile Beverly Tang, a panel on blogging that will take place on February 1st at Miltos Manetas' Electronic Orphanage under the Rhizome banner. cyberfille Xeni Jardin will be moderating. the current line-up thus far features the likes of Mark Frauenfelder, Doc Searls, and myself. two other panelists are still being virtually hunted down like e-dogs in the cyberstreet at this time.

 

i would like to find someone who is alternoblogging. vlogging. audioblogging. moblogging. blogging-as-art [link?]. photoblogging with no words whatsoever ever. blogging in a newish way that pushes at the boundaries of the medium. and, they have to be in LA on 2/1. do you know of anyone? it was nice to hear from Jeff Jarvis, Howard Rheingold, and Joi Ito. but, i would like to hear about an alternoblogger too.

generally, it seems, people are blogging rather conservatively. i would like to become a vlogger. but, i am a little 'scairt too. Mr. Buzz makes it sounds so easy, though. and cheap. i like the idea of cutting out the middleman. the network, that is. i wrote about all this in an email to Xeni a little while ago. i think i was on crack at the time. or maybe just manic.

5) what i would really like to do is A) combine three-modes of blogging: i) links, ii) journal, and iii) theory, with B) a multimedia approach: i) text, ii) audio, iii) visual, while C) attempting to manifest the idea of blogging as: i) a post-post modern medium, (i.e. “ [the reverse cowgirl's blog]