Thursday, March 26, 2009

Waiting for June

I scored some pretty decent tickets to the Nine Inch Nails show in Columbia, Maryland on June 9th. It's a birthday present to myself.

And now, for your entertainment. Trent Reznor on Tamborine:



(I think it's hilarious that this video is called "Sexy Tamborine Action". I think it's just plain hilarious and it makes me smile foolishly.)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

3 Random Things

Top Gear
If you've never seen this BBC program I highly recommend it. It suppose, technically, it's a car show. But you should know I have no particular interest or understanding of cars and yet I still unapologetically love this show.
The reason? One very obvious and girlish reason is The Stig. This is Top Gear's Tame Race Car Driver. The fact that The Stig is a racecar driver is purely incidental, really - it's the mystique around him that makes him truly excellent. You NEVER SEE HIS FACE. Everytime he is introduced there is an entertaining bit of mythology. And then he drives cars very quickly around a track, usually listening to something hilarious on the radio.
Another reason is the dynamic between the three cohosts: Jeremy, Richard and James. They all have distinct and endearing personalities. You can tell they honestly have a great time together. Plus, they're very silly and say tremendously silly (and terrifically british) things.
And finally - the car segments are entertaining. Their camera men are gods, I think, as they take some very artsy and brilliantly shot scenes. Apart from this they do some great things with cars. My all-time favorite is the soccer match between Little Cars.

Terminator Salvation, Third Trailer
I wouldn't say I'm a crazy fan of the Terminator Series in particular. I am generally a fan of Sci-Fi but not nearly to the degree some people are. But, I am looking forward to this latest installment because (and predictably) because it has my other boyfriend in it: Christian Bale. As if I needed more to be excited about, I've now watched the third trailer for this movie that has... oh yes.. Nine Inch Nails with the trailer music. If it had one more awesome thing in it, my head would have exploded, I'm pretty sure.

Neckface
During one of our trips to New York, Sam and I caught sight of this graffitti tag everywhere: NECKFACE. We weren't quite sure what it was about. After all, the tag seemed to be on its own and looked kind of neanderthal/childish/scribblely. It was pretty hilarious. We thought maybe someone tagged NECKFACE by other good graffitti in a way to kind of "steal" it but that might have been coincidental. When we left New York we tried to find any other evidence of NECKFACE but failed. NECKFACE became kind of an inside joke - to be shouted during appropriate times. What the heck is a Neckface, anyway?
Imagine my delight when Sam found this website. Apparently Neckface is an artist. It's pretty crazy stuff and reminds me of some art that inmates would do. Neckface does not disappoint.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Best Google Ever

I am sick.
But this made me happy. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Best Google Ever:

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

I <3 the NTC

I feel very lucky to have found a professional niche that I really enjoy. I can actually remember the revelation that This Was It - it was at my first Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC). This is an annual event put on by the good folks and the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN).

Last year the NTC was in New Orleans. The year before that it was in our own Washington, DC. THIS year it will be in San Francisco - an old stomping ground. Part of the fun of the NTC is the different cities it shows up in and getting a sense of the nonprofit community (and rampant nerdity) there.

Basically, the NTC is an opportunity for a bunch of nerds who work with nonprofit to learn and network. There's the Science Fair which is basically a room full of vendors that you can visit, harrass and get swag from. Working at Antharia, this was the purpose for going. You'd chat up people looking for solutions to various web intiaitives for the organizations. It was fun! Now that I am one of those people looking for ways to optimize my nonprofit's presence on the web I'm looking forward to getting into all of the breakout sessions. There are three breakout session per day (it's a 3 day event) and you can choose from a ZILLION intensely interesting topics.

Some goodies for this year:
Gobs and Gobs of Data: Strategies for Visualizing, Mapping, and Sharing Policy Content
When you want your buttons pushed: How to optimize your site with multivariate testing
Trends in Constituent Satisfaction with Nonprofit Websites: Building Membership, Donations and Loyalty Through the Web Channel
DIY Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

I love the NTC. And, I have to admit, I was sad thinking that leaving Antharia meant never going to the NTC ever again. But! There is hope, friends. I've been lobbying at work - extolling the fantastic usefulness of this event. And it turns out that our budget might have some wiggle room to accommodate it. I'll keep you posted. FINGERS CROSSED !!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Snow Day! Part 2

As usual, I've been ridiculously busy with classwork. However! It snowed this weekend, delaying work this morning so we went on an extra long walk with Locksley this morning.

Enjoy!