YouTube: Introducing Channels

Madonna, Jay-Z, Amy Poehler, Rainn Wilson, Shaquille O’Neal, Sofia Vergara, Tony Hawk and Ashton Kutcher. What do they have in common? Fame, wealth, good looks and now, YouTube content creators.

YouTube announced about 100 original content channels will be coming to YouTube soon. This new programming will be available globally, which is a big deal considering the plethora of licensing limitations geographically that hinder digital content and distribution deals currently. Viewers can subscribe to the channels that they are interested in such as topics like sports, music, pop culture, health/fitness, animals and other popular categories. They can also be organized by age and ethnicity. 

Why is YouTube doing this? Not just for kicks. Surely advertisers will be biting and the bit for the opportunity to be apart of the channels.

Robert Kyncl, global head of Content Partnerships, wrote his thoughts on the company blog.

“Our goal with this channels expansion … is to bring an even broader range of entertainment to YouTube, giving you more reasons to keep coming back again and again,” Kyncl wrote. “And for advertisers, these channels will represent a new way to engage and reach their global consumers.”

So, stepping back from the facts, do you think YouTube is kind of selling out? Do you think channels will work out? Are you going to go to YouTube channels more than your TV ones?

For a sneak peak at the future channels: http://www.youtube.com/creators/original-channels.html

DIY Project: Paint Samples (The Beginning)

I went to Lowes today and was very creepy. I ended up getting about 50 paint samples.

Then, after hurrying out, I made a stop at Hobby Lobby to look for a frame for my paint samples wall art. Now, you could purchase almost any frame for this project, but at the moment I am on somewhat of a budget and stuck with an 11x14 wooden wall frame that was about $6. When I do another paint sample project I will buy a larger frame for an intense masterpiece.

This is my update! So far this project has only cost $6!

DIY Projects: What to expect

For those who don't know me, I have an utter addiction to HGTV and in consequence DIY projects. Young House Love is a site I visit frequently (and you should too!) and they inspired me, along with Pinterest, to start up on some projects that I've been wanting to try.

For this next month expect my own version of these:

These are paint samples! You can make awesome wall art for practically free (buy the pins or glue depending on where you put them) and you can let them free stand or have them framed!

So pretty and so easy! Used or new you can make these decorations no problem! 

Don't throw away those bags of unused color pencils! Make a design out of them! Frame them!

Easy to make, easy to decorate yet beautiful!

Don't throw away your used crayons either! This is an awesome idea for a canvas with a big splash of color. New or used crayons would work!

So those are the things I will be doing while business is still keeping me really busy. Once everything settles down I will go bigger! I'll keep you updated on my hopefully successful attempts!

If I could use my mind to explode things...

...it would be this line of code: <ul class="sub" style="width:185px;">

I can only work for one of my clients after 10 p.m. (this is the only time their schedule allows it) and so when everyone starts dropping off to bed I'm still awake and just getting into the swing of things. Tonight (rather LAST night) I started working on their website in Wordpress.

Now, I have the biggest love/hate relationship with Wordpress. It can produce some of the most beautiful and efficient websites and yet it is as temperamental as a hormonal teenager--you say/type one wrong thing and it's game over.

But half of my clients are Wordpressers so I suck it up and make it work.
However, tonight I about had a meltdown. Around 2 a.m. I decided to call it quits and turn in, so I went ahead and made my back ups but then started to do one last thing.

I should have walked away!

I was editing some html when my computer crashed! Initially I wasn't upset, just annoyed. I had made backups and hadn't saved the edited code yet. However, I was wrong! Somehow my computer refused to save my back up (yes, I'm passing the blame on to the computer) and DID save the code. The code that uncompleted was wrong! At this point I was nervous but wrote the rest of the code anyways, but once completed it still wasn't working!

So from around 2:30 a.m. to 4:10 a.m. I edited, deleted, rewrote and created so many different forms of html to solve my problem. Finally, tucked away in the back of my brain, I pulled <ul class="sub" style="width:185px;"> after realizing that it was missing. Problem = Fixed.

The moral of the story? Back it up! And CHECK to make sure it is!

Pros & Cons: Starting Your Own Business

I knew starting my own business would most likely be stressful and time consuming. Being the only worker AND owner gives me, not only a full plate, but two filled plates with a desert platter in tow. I may not have to wake up at 6 a.m. and wear work appropriate clothes, but the pressure most people stop feeling when they leave work never completely leaves me.

So far the pros & cons of starting your own business:
I'm starting with cons first because I like to end on a good note!

Cons

• I am constantly running around. When something needs to be done I can't contract out to someone else or ask my employee to handle it--it's my baby and I have to take care of it on my own. If multiple problems arise at once then I have to make a priorities list and work my way through the muddle.
• Time management is a tricky one with my specific business. I am knee-deep in social media sites all day and into the night plus creating/editing client websites. I can't just work an 8-5 and be done with it. Social media and the people who love it don't go to sleep after 5 so either do I. I have been on my computer so much that I start to get headaches from staring at the screen. The more clients I have, the more time consuming it becomes and if I don't manage my time correctly I end up hurting myself rather than helping the clients to the full of my potential. 
• Second opinions are hard to come by when it's only little ole me working. In college and my jobs since I have had another pair of eyes and ears to be able to bounce ideas off of when I hit the occasional brain freeze and innovative rut. Now, I have to just walk away for a bit then come back and use myself as the second opinion. (Not to say my first opinion is always crappy!)
• I don't need to really spell out the fact that I pay for everything I need to use. It's not exactly a con more like a necessary evil.

Pros

• It's my baby. All the cons in the world can't take that one glorious fact away from me. At the beginning and end of the day, all the work I've done is the work I love and the work I decided to make into a career. No one is above me, dictating the direction to go in. It's just me, working my butt off to succeed. When I hear friends and families complain about not liking their jobs, I know that even if I have a few cons to rant about that underneath it all I am in love with my business. 

I suppose this is a bit unbalanced but, even as I was sitting here trying to think of more pros and more cons, I am confident I made the correct choice in saying "Screw you job market!" and pursuing something I love. 

For all of those business owners out there, let me take a moment to pat you on the back! You've realized a need in society and are answering it in your own way. Keeping kicking ass!

(Note: The next post will be about my personal workday schedule of MADNESS!)

McDonalds gets its own channel: McTV

Do you love McDonalds? Do you often go there to eat off of the dollar menu or grab one of their amazing sweet teas? Do you find yourself pining for its greasy goodness when you're stuck eating vegetables or fruit? Have you ever been awake in bed and thought "Man, I wish I could have me some McDonalds?"

Well now your dreams have been realized.

Soon you will be able to get your McDonalds' fill by watching its very own TV channel called McTV.

"The intention is to catch and engage the customer, and then enhance their experience," says an executive behind the project. And let me tell you, I will watch it at least once to see what's going on.

McDonalds' exclusive channel will have corporate-approved content like entertainment news, advertising and spots on local moms and athletes. Does anyone else find this strange?

McTV has been testing in Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas so far and it is estimated to reach 18 million to 20 million viewers there. This channel will be in about 800 California restaurants and could become a nationwide gig. 

So if you love you some McDonalds, fret not-- McTV could be coming to a TV near you.

Social Media Flow Chart

Last year I made an flow chart on my views of what made something trending even more popular. 

The before (sharpie ftw!):

The after (Illustrator):

Let's Get Geeky: MLG in Orlando

I love video games. I always have and I always will. My Playstation/Wii/Xbox will be hidden from my future kids and spouse and I will get my daily fill of gaming unperturbed.

So it should be no surprise to the people that know me, that I will be attending Orlando's MLG (Major League Gaming) this weekend with Chad.

Originally when Chad asked me to go, I agreed only because it was his birthday. I wasn't as thrilled to watch Starcraft 2 because its one game I haven't cared to tackle. It reminds me of Diablo 2 and the only thing I loved about that game were the Baal runs. Chad, however, is going solely to watch the SC competition so when he first asked I was kind of bummed.

UNTIL

I found out Black Ops and Halo Reach would be there! Now, I love Halo Reach if only because it's a Tribes rip-off and that's a game I don't mind playing every night, but Black Ops has to be my favorite multiplayer game. My dad and I play it every time I'm home.

I kick butt at Headquarters but I love Ground War.
I use a Famas but Enfields are nice too.
Frag grenades and Willy Petes.
Lightweight pro, marathon pro, sleight of hand.
Favorite maps: Stadium, Silo, Drive-in, Hangar 18, Convoy, Grid

The multiplayer isn't what sold me on the game originally or is what started my love. I PWN at zombies.
One time at work I drew the entire Kino De Toton map on a whiteboard. When I saw PWN, I should actually say I'm a wonderful strategist at each map. I mean, I've played them countless times. However, the SPAZ in me makes me freak out sometimes while playing so I tend to get killed easier than most. But, a wonderful guide I am.
With the latest map pack you actually get every zombie map made, which is nice but sad because there will be no more created in the future.

Favorite map: Hands down Kino De Toton!
Hardest map: Five
Coolest map: Call of the Dead, Moon
Coolest perk: Dead shot Daiquiri (auto aims for the head)
Coolest monster: The Director on Call of the Dead and The Mad Scientist on Five
Coolest weapons on a map: Call of the Dead
(Fun fact: When I first met Chad he was playing Zombies and I started talking about the map. He said that was when he thought I was awesome.)

So, just to let you know, I will be stuck to Black Ops at MLG with the occasional pop over to Halo.

Here's the schedule:

Call of Duty: Black Ops - Event Schedule

Friday

10:30 AM - 1:30 PM Early Check-In
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM Problem Check-In / Registration
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM Check-In / Warm-Up
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM Welcome
5:30 PM - 6:45 PM Pools B & C
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Open Winners Round 1
6:45 PM - 8:00 PM Pools A & D
8:00 PM - 9:15 PM Pools B & C
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM Open Winners Round 2
9:15 PM - 10:30 PM Pools A & D
10:00 PM - 10:45 PM Open Winners Round 3
10:30 PM - 11:45 PM Main Stage Pool Play Match
10:45 PM - 11:30 PM Open Winners Round 4
11:30 PM - 12:15 AM Open Winners Round 5

Saturday
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Warm-Up
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM Pools A-D - Open Team vs. Friday 4th Place
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Open Losers Round 1
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM Pools A-D - Open Team vs. Friday 3rd Place
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Open Losers Round 2
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM Open Losers Round 3
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM Pools A-D
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM Open Losers Round 4
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM Open Losers Round 5
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Open Losers Round 6
5:00 PM - 6:15 PM Championship Losers Round 1
6:15 PM - 7:30 PM Championship Losers Round 2
7:30 PM - 8:45 PM Championship Winners Semifinals A / Losers Round 3
8:45 PM - 10:00 PM Championship Winners Semifinals B / Losers Round 4
10:00 PM - 11:15 PM Championship Losers Round 5

Sunday
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Warm-Up
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM Championship Losers Round 6
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM Championship Losers Round 7
12:30 PM - 1:45 PM Championship Losers Round 8
1:45 PM - 3:00 PM Championship Losers Round 9
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM Championship Winners Finals
3:15 PM - 4:30 PM Championship Losers Finals
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM Championship Finals

I will be taking tons of pictures and tweeting as I go along!

New Orleans: What Really Happened [video]

This is an update to my earlier vlog: New Orleans Bachelorette Party Weekend!

New Orleans--Bachelorette Party Weekend

This was supposed to go up on Friday but the Internet went out, so here it is and there's going to be a follow up tomorrow!

YouTube slight fail: Translations/Captions

Oh YouTube, you have made my afternoon. The last post was my first vlog that I originally posted here. Now after a dear friend of mine watched the video he mentioned it was hilarious with the YouTube's captions option turned on because it was no where near correct. Of course I immediately went and re-watched the video with their nifty help and took an ample amount of screenshots of some of my favorite "things I said."

(This last one was when I said my name.)

Awkward Moments: Gas Pumps [video]

The beginning of my awkward moments for the "Spaz" portion of Social Spaz.

Rest in peace Steve Jobs

"Almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” - Steve Jobs

Childhood's End: Playing in the backyard

Facebook Timeline: How to get it now

There are many a blog out there that can step you through how to get the new Facebook Timeline without waiting for the next few weeks to join the masses. So I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and do one too.

Originally, I was going to wait like a good child for the Facebook change to come but caved after seeing a friend's profile with it. My conclusion on the change? I love it.

Let me step you through getting it early and you can see the digital beauty yourself.

1. Go to your search bar and type in "Facebook Developer" and click on the first result.

2. Click "Build Apps on Facebook."

3. You should get a Request for Permission for the Developer. Hit Allow. The App page will load and you need to click Create New App.

4. Name the App whatever you want (no uppercase letters) and check the box for accepting the Terms and Conditions. Facebook will ask you for a credit card number or your mobile number to make sure you are a human. I did the mobile number and they sent me a text lickity split with a code to confirm that I was human. Once you do this you should be able to create the app.

5. After this is done, go to the left sidebar and click Open Graph.

6. This is where Facebook shows you the whole new verb and noun abilities. Type in whatever you want. I did "People can 'read' a 'blog'" Then click get started. It will take you to some settings where you can change a few from default, but if you aren't really making an app for the app's sake this can be ignored.

7. Save the new app and then just go to your newsfeed. There should be an invitation to Get it Now. Then you have the new Timeline!

The first thing I did was play with the Cover on my profile. I'm not going to lie, it's weird!

Very easy but remember, only the people who have the new Facebook can see yours! So, go ahead and get yours today!

Ordinary things turned creepy

Icarus

This blog is going to highlight a great book called Icarus that is on sale as an e-book now.

Nina Scaletti, a wonderful writer, asked me to read Icarus so I could design the cover art and, let me say, I really enjoyed it. Great writing, intriguing plot, alluring characterization and detail that makes you feel like you're there kept me enthralled in this great read.

Description:
"Man versus machine. Anarchy versus order. Power versus love.

Centuries of war have ravaged the world. Those left are sheltered under domed cities -- like the decrepit city of Kennedy -- but they're not really protected. Class warfare wages. The lower classes are kept down by the upper class that strives to eventually replace them with easily-controlled artificial intelligence. The man who created this AI is Jerrid Fieger, the most powerful man in Kennedy.

Citizens by day and terrorists by night, the Project is the only force fighting against this takeover. Ayaku was once the principal dancer for the city ballet; Riley, an acrobat for the circus. Flake and Copse were computer programmers. They and the rest of the Project want the man who created synthetic robots to suffer for their losses. But an intense drug called called Clout hinders their revenge on him -- a drug so addictive, it causes them to continue using it long after their skin has turned green, and their insides have begun to turn to mush.

West is different, however. He doesn't fight for a lost career. He fights for the woman he loves."

So, if you enjoy reading and have any sense, purchase Icarus today. Go here.

The New Facebook: Another decision to make

Mashable.com posted an interesting article about the new Facebook Timeline recently that I want to touch on.
By now I'm assuming everyone knows about the Timeline and the fact that it can document your entire life.
Well, how is it going to do that?
Facebook was opened to students in 2004 then opened to the public 2006.
So will it document those years before its opening?
That's all up to the individual user. On the Timeline you will notice a gap from birth to the mid-2000s.
Facebook is giving us the option of filling in the time between our birth and the present.
I'm just wondering, out of all the people that read this blog, who will manually put in this information?

What will I do about this gap? Most likely I will leave it alone. I've made it this far without my social network seeing my baby pictures and knowing when I made honor roll. I think I can be more than satisfied with just filling in my present and future Facebook years.