Call in a post with Jott.com

Posted on May 9, 2008 by Pete Fecteau

Filed Under Pete Fecteau, self-publishing, technology, web 2.0, writing | 9 Comments

So as of late, I’ve been finding a lot of little tricks for WordPress. The latest trick really impressed me and will be very handy when I’m away from the computer, say, disc golfing or something.

Here’s the concept, call a 1 866 number, tell the automated voice system you want to post to WordPress, and then start talking, clearly. In about two minutes it’ll show up as a post under your author name on your blog with a link for users to listen to your post. It’s that slick. Total setup time is about 15 minutes and there are some things you can do to set it up further. Don’t like texting into twitter all the time? It can update your twitter account too as well as a host of other online utilities.

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Magazines Feature Green Issues

Posted on May 9, 2008 by Lisa Pawlowski

Filed Under Lisa Pawlowski, environment, news / media | Leave a Comment

Green StatisticsMy fellow Culture Feast blogger, Michael Callaway, has commented in this space on the many ways television celebrated “Green Week”. But television isn’t the only media that has sworn to raise your consciousness on what an evil polluter you are and how we’re all going to die from drowning in the melted ice caps. In honor of Earth Day (actually, month), several magazines have also launched green issues and as is often the case when it comes to the media and the environment, hypocrisy abounds.

It seems like every magazine must have a “green” or Earth Day issue these days. My favorite story on this subject is about the New York Times Magazine which just published its first “green issue”. It called itself a “low-carbon catalog” and dispersed bon mots for living an environmentally conscious life. The only thing is, according to foliomag.com, the magazine wasn’t printed on recycled paper. The magazine’s editor, Gerald Marzorati was quoted as saying, “Our printing is a very particular method, and these machines use a very old, not terribly good paper stock. It just wasn’t feasible…”   

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What is an RSS Feed?

Posted on May 9, 2008 by Daniel Dessinger

Filed Under Daniel Dessinger, web 2.0 | Leave a Comment

RSS ButtonHave you ever wondered what an RSS feed is? Sounds interesting, maybe even relevant, but not enough to take the time to do some research and figure it out for yourself?

CultureFeast has done the research for you and found two excellent and easy-to-understand resources for you:

RSSDay.org is an excellent place to fill in your background and foundational knowledge on the subject. Would you rather just subscribe to some RSS feeds and figure out the what, where, and why on your own? Visit this Men with Pens post for simple step by step How To instructions on subscribing to feeds with Google Reader.

As always, you can ask us questions in the comment section below. We're sold on the value of getting to know our readers, and if we can help in the process, that's even better!

Confessions of an Office Slacker

Posted on May 9, 2008 by Chastidy Craig

Filed Under Chastidy Craig, career | 5 Comments

Slacker I work at a small office. A very small, very boring office where we do menial work that would be done far more efficiently by a computer or a zombie. Honestly, a computer could do my job far more efficiently and I live in fear for the day that my employer realizes this and puts a computer in my place. The computer also wouldn’t crunch loudly on sunflower seeds, text, twitter, or take frequent restroom breaks because she’s fidgety and can’t sit still for five seconds. The computer wouldn’t cost twenty grand a year and also would never, ever complain about it being too cold. Ever.

A variety of people are employed at my place of business, but most of them tend to be anti-social eccentrics who keep to themselves. They laugh at inappropriate times and have no clue what to say to you in the elevator. They live alone and don’t really talk to people and tend to be in their late 40’s. Being in my mid-twenties and fairly social, I tend to stand out.

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I Believe in the Dallas Stars

Posted on May 8, 2008 by Jessica Fritsche

Filed Under Jessica Fritsche, sports | 6 Comments

Dallas StarsThe Dallas Stars have changed a lot since the last time their name and roster were inscribed onto the Stanley Cup.

I had a more difficult time than I anticipated getting back into hockey after the lockout.  The few seasons before that had been hard—the Cup had been snatched from our collective grasp by the New Jersey Devils, and the team never seemed to really recover after that.  The Stars racked up a few more division championships, but just couldn’t get past the conference semi-finals and go all the way. 

When the lockout happened and the season got canceled, I was so disappointed with the NHL in general I almost gave up.  But when the new season dawned, I just couldn’t help myself.  I couldn’t turn away from my team. 

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Top 10 Rules of Success for a Young Writer (Part 3 of 3)

Posted on May 8, 2008 by Ugur Akinci

Filed Under Ugur Akinci, writing | 1 Comment

Rules 7 - 10

7) Repeat after Kenny Rogers: “You got to know when to hold’em; know when to fold’em…”

Sometimes we all get stuck on a track that leads to nowhere but for some reason we keep banging our heads on the same wall.

There ARE alternatives in life, especially for writers. Remember that.

I was a newspaper reporter for four years in Washington DC. The first couple of years I thought my career was going somewhere.

During the last two years I realized, nope, it wasn’t really going to add up to anything. I was on a treadmill repeating the same old things for the same old results. No progress.

After looking around for six months, someone suggested “technical writing” – something I didn't even think before. I wasn’t even sure what tech writers exactly did. But I decided to take a calculated gamble anyways.

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Bring Your Dog to Work

Posted on May 7, 2008 by Jeff McCord

Filed Under Jeff McCord, career | 12 Comments

bring your dog to workAccording to a CNN/Money poll in 2006, 75% of all dog owners would work longer hours if they could bring their dog to work.  In this day of employers trying to create "work-life harmony" and adding more value to their employee's' benefits, bringing a dog to work sounds like a fantastic idea.  I'm here to tell you, it is!

As a recruiter for an advertising agency here in Dallas, I get to bring my dog, Deco, to work with me every single day.  I adopted Deco from the Animal Rescue of Texas back in June 2007 when he was just 3 months old. One of the important factors for me in getting a dog was the fact my employer allowed me to bring him to work. The last thing I personally wanted to do was leave a 3 month old puppy in a crate by itself in my apartment. 

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Movie Review: Iron Man

Posted on May 7, 2008 by Ashleigh Holmes

Filed Under Ashleigh Holmes, comic books, movies | 2 Comments

Iron Man, the movieAs previously mentioned in my Charlie Bartlett review, I love Robert Downey, Jr.  So when I first saw trailers for Iron Man and saw how good he looked, you can only imagine how excited I was for May 2nd to come around.  It also helps that even though the only comic books I’ve ever read are the Archie and Veronica kind, I really do enjoy the film adaptations of comic book stories.  And maybe it didn’t take a rocket scientist to decide to use Black Sabbath’s Iron Man in the trailers, but rockin’ out to that at the end of every trailer made me want to see the movie even more.

Since I’ve never read any of the classic comics, I can’t speak to the authenticity of Iron Man as an adaptation.  For that, you’ll have to ask Dr. Danger, a.k.a. Nicholas Johnson, resident Culture Feast comic blogger.  However, I can tell you, from a Regular Jane’s perspective as a movie lover, that Iron Man was an entertaining 2 hours. Read more of this story

Style A to Zoe: A Fashion Book Review

Posted on May 6, 2008 by Rachel Longo-Tosoian

Filed Under Rachel Longo-Tosoian, books, fashion | 1 Comment

Style A to Zoe by Rachel ZoeI have never thought of myself, by any means, as a fashionista. However, I do like to keep up with what the latest styles, trends and “it” whatevers are. I never identified with one style icon, but rather took aspects from different women in the fashion and entertainment world that stood out to me. As I have matured, so have my fashion and style sense. I know how to coordinate outfits, add accessories, match shoes and even offer my opinion to whoever will listen; but I am not a professional.

Rachel Zoe, the famous celebrity stylist is. I made a recent trip to my local library and stumbled across her book, Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty & Everything Glamour, purely by accident. The colour of the cover did not jump out at me, but the words “Style A to Zoe” did. I inquisitively picked up the book, leafed though the pages, and saw that it was more than just your regular picture book of celebrities.

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Exposing the Real “They”

Posted on May 6, 2008 by Michael Callaway

Filed Under Michael Callaway, culture | 2 Comments

Sealed EnvelopeThere are many people that like to believe that there is some super secret group that controls everything. Some people suspect Freemasons, some say the Jews, still others believe it is big business. I can tell you with confidence that none of these are the “they” that I speak of.

Before I revel who this all controlling group is, I want to tell you how powerful “they” are. In fact, it is with great fear that I write this, “they” do not like to be reveled. This group controls all levels of government, national, state and local. This group controls the board of directors of most companies, is high profile in Hollywood, and is active in the PTA. Read more of this story

Maturity Schmurity

Posted on May 5, 2008 by Brandy Harville

Filed Under Brandy Harville, personal growth | 6 Comments

silly girlSomeone told me the other day that I should act my age to which I responded "What does that even mean?" Honestly, how exactly is someone pushing 30 supposed to behave?Should I be reading the New York Timers, discussing the economy while checking stock trades on my iphone? Well I'm not, and frankly I'm okay with that.

I enjoy being an easily amused individual who doesn't "act her age". Not only do Ienjoy it, I embrace the level of maturity I lack in everyday life. What is so fun about being "mature" anyway? Mature people pay bills, have responsibility, hate their jobs, cuss in traffic and look forward to 5 o'clock; I do all of that because it's part of being an adult.

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