6 Word Story Contest

Tweeters were challenged yesterday to write a story using 6 words a la Hemingway: "For Sale: Baby shoes, never used."

@editweapon won a @zappos contest where the prizes were a Van Halen towel and a $100 gift certificate to zappos.com. @editweapon decided to pass on some of his spoils by presenting the $100 gift certificate as the reward for the best 6 word story.

Here is my submission: Parents dial 011-86 to call home.

I don't know who won or if they have chosen a winner yet. But I loved the opportunity to flex my creative writing muscle.

Posted at 08:32AM May 07, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[0]

Zappos is the Neighborhood Shoe (and more) Store

I was really excited as more retailers went online to hawk their wares. It allows folks like me, over-scheduled while trying to maintain a family life, to purchase what I need at anytime of day or night, all without having to leave my desk.

One thing I lamented was the loss of the shopping experience (looks cute on hanger, try it on, not so cute on me). But now, retailers offer free shipping and returns so you can try things on and, usually, keep more than you intended.

The other thing I lamented was the loss of person-to-person contact. It was bad enough with the big box stores, gone were the friendly chats with the proprietor of the neighborhood store; it is worse with online retailers.

Well, Zappos.com has found a way to be an online retailer AND a neighborhood store by using online social networking.

Tony Hsieh, CEO, and Alfred Lin, CFO/COO both blog and tweet. They update us with who they are meeting, what they are doing and conduct contests, among other things. Zappos also has a Facebook profile.

It's brilliant that they leverage online networks to build relationships with their customers and constituents. I can honestly say that I am more inclinded to shop at Zappos.com because I know that @zappos loves Red Bull with Slim Jims but not pretzels. I am buying from friends, not just some faceless, soul-less corporation.

Posted at 09:28AM Apr 30, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[1]

My New Blackberry

I just got a Blackberry Curve from AT&T to tie me over until the 3G iPhone comes out. $25 for the phone if I sign up for at least a $40 plan.

I don't know how I survived so long without carrying the internet in my pocket. But it's awesome. Kid in Little Gym? Check my email, follow up on tweeters, expand my mind with NPR news...

As I was sitting there, catching up on the Sun blogs, I realized that as I was connecting to the world, I was disconnecting from the people around me. I typically strike up a conversation with the Little Gym parents, usually about our kids or apologizing for my kid running over their kid. But today, I was glued to my Blackberry.

So, I don't know if having the internet in my pocket is such a great thing. I love the fact that I can connect when and where I want. I guess I have to temper the wanting (i.e. not at the dinner table). As they say, Blackberries don't alienate people, people alienate people.

Posted at 01:18PM Apr 12, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[1]

Welcome, Marc!

My friend and colleague, Marc Dierens, recently started his own Sun blog. He is avid in virtual social networking and just gave our staff a briefing on Second Life and Facebook and how Sun utilizes them to build and strengthen networks internal and external to Sun.

Posted at 09:48AM Apr 07, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[1]

America's Best Dance Crew

Kaba Modern was robbed and subsequently, we, the audience, are robbed. Kaba Modern and Jabbawockees should have been the two finalists. Already voted for Jabbawockees 23 times to help ensure there is no "close margin."

Posted at 01:25PM Mar 24, 2008 by nonstick in General  | 

Cans of Soup Should Come with a Calculator

I have been trying to watch my caloric intake, thanks to @ThinGuy. The easiest thing is for me to reduce variety for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast is oatmeal and a latte. Lunch is soup.

I try to figure out which cans of soup to get based on the calories per serving. Not all soups are created equal. Chicken and dumplings, 110 cal/serving. Mexican fiesta? 240cal/serving.

So I am trying to figure out how many calories are in a whole can:

Serving Size = 1 cup or 240ml

120 cal/serving

1 can is 18.8 oz or 533 grams

The can says there are about 2 servings/can. So I pull out my trusty TI-85 (relic from undergrad), dust it off and do some math.

Notice how you only have the weight/mass for the total can, but volume for serving size. How the heck am I to figure out how many calories are in the whole can? Food industry is making it hard for me to maintain a waistline.

Posted at 11:14AM Mar 10, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[6]

Rental Cars

I am on travel again. I find it really easy to find my rental car in parking lots. It's the one that no one actually buys. But I can't find it in the parking lot at the W. They all look the same.

Posted at 06:54PM Mar 05, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[2]

Meetings 101

I am leading 12 2-hour meetings this week on the FY09 Top Account MRP process. The content is the same for all of them. We set up that many so that no one could say the time or date didn't work for them. We are using Webex and conference calling and this is what I learned so far:

Remember that as presenter, everyone can see your desktop. Remove all traces of your secret life.

Webex broadcasts your video by default. Put some clothes on. (Unless you are really hot. Then it's optional.)

Do not use jokes to check whether your audience is still on line. a) You may not be as funny as you think and b) Your jokes may not translate outside US.

Two hour conference calls are marathons. Pace yourself and sip your wine.

I will update as the week progresses.

Posted at 10:52AM Mar 04, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[1]

WTF, Utah?

As you all know my husband teaches at the University of Utah and he tipped me off to this article in the Salt Lake Tribune. The bill that just passed the legislative committee and is moving to the House says that those with concealed weapon permits may "openly carry" their weapons on any publicly owned property. Yes, folks, it includes the U where my husband is employed and where he regularly pisses off students.

Being able to carry a concealed weapon is bad enough. Now you can openly intimidate without ever uttering a word. I can't believe I pay the salaries of the idiots who think it is okay to allow people to openly carry there weapons anywhere, much less in the classroom. Do we not learn from the gun related tragedies on college campuses across the nation? Is my husband now supposed to ask to see their permit when a student thrusts his holster forward as he disputes the grade he received? How would these politicians feel if I openly carried a weapon into the capital? WTF, Utah?

Posted at 12:47PM Feb 26, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[7]

Met Some Twitter Buddies

Last week I was in MPK and BRM and got the chance to meet some of my Twitter buddies. I met @kevinchu and @davetong for lunch on Wednesday and @lskrocki for lunch on Friday.

The experience was weird. I am used to working with people for years and never meeting them in person. If I do, I already have the email and phone relationship as a foundation. With my Twitter buddies, the relationship is built on blog entries, one way communications; and tweets, brief quips that can be two way communications.

They say that words only communicate 7% of the message. As I had never even spoken to these folks, I was getting the additional 93% all at once. And it was quite an experience.

@kevinchu was a lot quieter than I imagined, but when he did say something, it was a gem, kind of like Silent Bob. @davetong was as I imagined, a garrulous and funny guy. @lskrocki was just as I imagined, too. I expect that if anyone witnessed @lskrocki and my lunch, they would describe it as jibber-jabber, jibber-jabber, cackle, cackle, cackle.

I have to wend my may to Las Vegas soon to meet @thinguy and @mrsthinguy.

Posted at 10:45AM Feb 25, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[4]

Need to Improve Vocabulary

I have lately noticed that my vocabulary is crap. I blame it on fatigue or brain farts, but really it's because I have not taken the time to build or maintain my vocabulary. I need to read more and write more. In writing, when I need a word, I can take the time to ponder. When speaking, I just sound "duh" as I search for the appropriate term.

Posted at 08:44AM Feb 19, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[2]

Becoming a Mac-o-phile

I got a new MacBook Pro about a month ago. It took a little getting used to as I was always a PC girl. Things are different just enough that you begin to suspect your sanity when something isn't working like it's supposed to.

It's been a month and I have to say that the bits I found annoying before, I no longer notice. I am finding other nits that I will eventually adjust to as well.

1) Every time I press "delete" the screen dims. Apparently, there is a light sensor or something in the speaker bay (I think that is the technical term). So when my hand waves over it as I press the delete button, the screen dims. (Don't understand the logic of dimming the screen when light is low, but probably just need to ponder on it more.)

2) Photobooth spooks me. To keep myself awake and away from email or Twitter while on a concall, I play with the Photobooth application. It has this cool feature where you can distort your face. But sometimes, I forget it's on and when I minimize or close a window, I am confronted by a distorted, yet oddly better looking version of myself.

Posted at 09:36AM Feb 14, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[1]

Studying to be an American

A friend and colleague just moved to the SF Bay Area from Spain. He told me that he studied South Park and Californication so he could fit in. Um. Probably not what I would have chosen. Any recommendations?

Posted at 10:18PM Jan 29, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[3]

Twitter Brings the Office Home

I am addicted to Twitter. Working from home and being an extrovert do not mix. When I first heard about Twitter over 6 months ago (or whenever it was launched and talked about on NPR), I thought hell no do I want to know all the mundane details of my life, much less anyone else's. So I passed.

Thanks to Skrocki, I have come to the light. Although you can tweet about what you are doing, most people tweet about what they are thinking. I get a glimpse into these people's neuroses, and they get a glimpse into mine.

It's like working in an office again. But here you get to choose your cube mates. Don't like John Doe 13 because he keeps talking about bacon? Don't follow him. Really like Earwig 57's sense of humor? Set it up so that his tweets come to your mobile.

When I tell my husband about my day, I always talk about how @ThinGuy said this and @lskrocki said that and how @kevinchu told me I don't want a Biel butt. And although I have never met these people, I call then friends. Because they make my days pass quicker and I feel like part of a community even though I WFH.

One word of caution. Do not read your tweets when you are on a concall, no matter how boring or little you have to contribute. Reason being that you will sometimes forget you are not on mute when you guffaw over the latest irreverent tweet.

Posted at 12:55PM Jan 09, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[4]

New Year Resolution

I was at Barnes and Noble this weekend. As I walked through the door, I was greeted by a display of books on diet and health with You on a Diet, front and center. As I waited in line to pay for my purchases, a Chinese cookbook for my neighbor who helped get the 300lb treadmill into our basement, another display for diet books. Hmmm. It must be resolution time.

Here it goes:

1) Be a better listener. One my challenges highlighted when I read this book.

2) Get 2-pack abs and a Jessica Biel butt. ThinGuy tells me it's all in the hamstring.

That's it.

Posted at 08:00PM Jan 07, 2008 by nonstick in General  |  Comments[2]