Writing
Notes, essays, and field reports.
A home for longer pieces published here. Micron/Substack entries can join this archive once the feed is wired up.
Recent Writing
- My Storytelling Degree Presentation in 20 Slides
After over a decade and a half of college, I finally graduated at the age of 34. I got a Bachelor of Arts in Storytelling from Metro State University in Denv...
- Your Brother is Dead: The Phone Call That Changed My Life Forever
Three years ago, to this day, I got a call that changed my life forever. On Friday, September 25th, 2020, I was playing with my kids outside in front of our...
- Solving The World's Problems While Running
I like running. I'm a running maniac. And by that, I don't mean I run a tremendous distance every time I run because I don't. I'm not like some of those craz...
- I’m Not Okay, and That Needs To Be Okay
I'm not okay. Today, I turned 38, and it's been a really tough day. I have a lot on my mind right now, and a lot of complicated things are weighing me down....
- The Uber Eats “$25 Off” Promo Proves There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch
I ended up paying $7.57 out of pocket and didn't even get what I ordered The older I get, the more annoyed I get with what seems like the endless number of c...
Full Archive
- My Storytelling Degree Presentation in 20 Slides
After over a decade and a half of college, I finally graduated at the age of 34. I got a Bachelor of Arts in Storytelling from Metro State University in Denv...
- Your Brother is Dead: The Phone Call That Changed My Life Forever
Three years ago, to this day, I got a call that changed my life forever. On Friday, September 25th, 2020, I was playing with my kids outside in front of our...
- Solving The World's Problems While Running
I like running. I'm a running maniac. And by that, I don't mean I run a tremendous distance every time I run because I don't. I'm not like some of those craz...
- I’m Not Okay, and That Needs To Be Okay
I'm not okay. Today, I turned 38, and it's been a really tough day. I have a lot on my mind right now, and a lot of complicated things are weighing me down....
- The Uber Eats “$25 Off” Promo Proves There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch
I ended up paying $7.57 out of pocket and didn't even get what I ordered The older I get, the more annoyed I get with what seems like the endless number of c...
- What Ever Happened to Blogs?
Remember blogs? Many years ago, I remember doing searches on “my favorite search engine” (usually Yahoo or Ask.com back then) for various things like song ly...
- It’s Time For Me To Get Deadly Serious
How My Wake-Up Call In an Emergency Room Is Changing Me Sometimes a trip to the Emergency Room puts things into perspective Last year, a few days before...
- Come Follow Me on Medium
Back in 2016, I created an account on medium.com just like (seemingly) everyone else on the internet. But I wasn't sure what to do with it. I even started by...
- I'm In Tucson Now
I've been blogging on and off (mostly off) since 2010. Aside from having an interesting place to store my inner musings publicly, almost nothing has ever com...
- A Warning to New Facebook Page Users
There are some potential issues that brands that are new to Facebook Pages aren't thinking about. These include issues regarding security, privacy, moderation, and etiquette. Here are a few thoughts and observations I've made over the past few weeks.
- Thoughts On Zoom
There are some big, scary headlines floating around in the news about Zoom. Some are worth paying attention to, and some aren’t that big a deal. Here are some basic thoughts on the topic.
- My Presentation on Web Accessibility at the Boulder WordPress Meetup
Here's a presentation I gave at the Boulder WordPress Meetup last week. It was right when COVID first hit, so I was (I think) the first person ever to give a...
- "Pops" Williams, Who Lives On The Streets
By Ron Stauffer LONGMONT, COLORADO - When Russ Williams' family moved from Montana to Colorado in 1958, his first few days here were a shocking surprise. He...
- Column: Names Changes and Stonewalling in Yosemite National Park
By Ron Stauffer YOSEMITE, Calif. — In January 2016, Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher announced that a new organization had been hired to r...
- Yosemite National Park Draws Professionals and Volunteers
By Ron Stauffer YOSEMITE, Calif. — Judy Craig retired from teaching 18 years ago. But she's spent a month each summer for the past eight years volunteering a...
- After Three Years and a $40 Million Renovation, Yosemite's Mariposa Grove Reopens
By Ron Stauffer YOSEMITE, Calif. — Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park has reopened to the public after a renovation project that lasted three years and...
- The Annual Bison Roundup at Tallgrass
By Ron Stauffer TULSA, Okla. — It's a cold and foggy morning at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, where cowboys work for the second day in a row in their week-...
- The Humble Beginnings of Stockton's Own Billionaire, Alex Spanos
STOCKTON, Calif. — Ask anybody who has lived in California's Central Valley over the past few decades if they're familiar with the name Alex Spanos, and you'...
- We Must Change the Way We Talk and Report About Suicide
"Died unexpectedly, at the age of 35," my friend's obituary began. Reading the whole entry, I might have come to the conclusion that he was an unfortunate vi...
- Profile on Butterfly Pavilion CEO, Patrick Tennyson
WESTMINSTER, Colo. — From the very beginning, Patrick Tennyson, Butterfly Pavilion's president and CEO, knew he wanted to work with animals. As early as the...
- Time to Testify at the State Capitol
Today I went to the Colorado State Capitol and testified to the House Education Committee for one bill and against another bill. It was a fascinating experie...
- Net Neutrality is Dead. What Comes Next?
The Federal Communications Commission finally released the long-awaited new rules for regulating the internet, following its 3-2 vote in December to repeal n...
- Video: Why Use Online Video For Your Business?
This is a video I created a few years ago with a videographer to showcase the most powerful medium for communication we have in the 21st Century: video. I co...
- Video: What is Twitter And Should You Use It?
This is a video I created a few years ago with a videographer to be able to explain to my friends and clients exactly what Twitter is. I created the concept,...
- Local Historian Brings “Forgotten” WWI History to Life at Longmont Museum
LONGMONT, Colo. — A small crowd came to the Longmont Museum Thursday to hear a lecture on the human element of World War I that featured humor and antique we...
- Social Injustice at Ink Coffee in Denver
DENVER — In November of 2017, ink! Coffee, a locally-owned coffee shop with multiple locations in Denver found themselves in hot water after unveiling a mark...
- Music At Every Stage of Life
Last night, I went to a company party for the Christmas Caroling group I'm a member of. Since the company's season is during Christmas, the team gets togethe...
- Three Giants Breaking Up The Healthcare Monopoly
Earlier this week, the world was shocked by the announcement that Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JP Morgan are going to partner to create a new of healthcar...
- My Earliest Radio Memory
Growing up, my exposure to music on the radio was minimal. I wasn't allowed to play the radio on my own, but a lot of my young memories involve watching my d...
- Discovering The City that Care Forgot: New Orleans, Louisiana
About ten years ago, I was working at home one early summer day, sitting at my kitchen table listening to one of those early Internet radio stations (RealPla...
- Video: Why Learn UX Design at CodeCraft School?
This is the second of two videos I helped create with the talented folks at CodeCraft School of Technology in Boulder, CO. I wrote the questions, prepared an...
- Video: What Is User Experience Design, and Why Does it Matter?
This is a video I helped create with the talented folks at CodeCraft School of Technology in Boulder, CO. I wrote the questions, prepared and interviewed the...
- Introducing CodeCraft School's Newest Web Development Instructor - Raphael Serota
Raphael Serota is one of CodeCraft’s newest employees, and we’re excited to have him join our team as the lead instructor for our Full-Time Full-Stack Web De...
- Understanding Ride Share Insurance for Uber and Lyft Drivers
Note: This is a Q&A I created for an insurance agent who provides special insurance policies for Uber & Lyft drivers. This was one of a series of several art...
- Insurance For ATVs, Four-Wheelers, and Off-Road Vehicles
Note: This is a Q&A I created for an insurance agent who provides special insurance policies for four-wheelers and other off-road vehicles. This was one of a...
- Drop the Bat; Run to First (Lessons From a T-Ball Coach)
A few years ago, I wanted to introduce my oldest son to sports. He was probably four at the time, and after playing catch with him in the backyard during the...
- Understanding Umbrella Insurance
Note: This is a Q&A I created for an insurance agent who provides special insurance policies such as umbrella policies. This was one of a series of several a...
- On Silly Job Titles
I've always been amazed at the creative titles some people use to describe what they do. Job titles are a frustrating thing; some employers make a huge deal...
- Insurance for Boats and Marine Vehicles
Note: This is a Q&A I created for an insurance agent who provides special insurance policies for boats and marine vehicles like Ski-Doos and Wave Runners. Th...
- Classic Car & Antique Car Insurance
Note: This is a Q&A I created for an insurance agent who provides special insurance policies for classic cars and antique cars. This was part of a series of...
- Townhome & Condo Insurance For HOAs
Note: This is a Q&A I created for an insurance agent who provides special insurance policies for townhomes and condos. This was one of a series of several ar...
- We're Moving: Boulder or Bust!
Big news in the Stauffer family: we're moving! Later this month, I will be uprooting my family of seven and heading north to Boulder, Colorado. I haven't mad...
- Lessons From the Darkroom
I like photography a lot, and always have. I've always appreciated a well-done photograph and have devoted a few years of my life to learning how to compose,...
- The Colorado Springs Police Department's Citizen's Academy
A few years ago, I signed up to attend the Citizen's Academy that's put on by the Colorado Springs Police Department. It's an 11 week class that gives you, a...
- Don't Track Me, Bro! (The Delicate Balance of Free Content vs "Do Not Track")
We live in an age when just about everybody, everywhere, is getting online and becoming more and more connected each year. Social networks keep adding huge n...
- Hang Gliding at 3,000 Feet in Lake County, Florida
I recently took a trip to visit family in Florida to do some SCUBA diving, snorkeling, swimming, and other fun beach-type activities. What I didn't know, tho...
- Wow, I Didn't Know You Sang!
I'm a pretty private person. People who know me might be aware of this, but I don't think they have a clue just how private I am. You could say I'm "guarded,...
- My Policy On Blog Comments
One of the most interesting aspects I've found about blogging (and the Internet in general) is the fact that people will comment on a particular blog post or...
- When I Met Astronaut Charlie Duke
Today, I went to a luncheon and got to hear from General Charlie Duke, a former NASA Astronaut. He spent 71 hours on the surface of the moon with Apollo 16,...
- The Easiest Way To Make A Million Dollars
Of all the financial advice I've ever gotten in my life, one particular quote about money stands out more than any other. It wasn't advice from a financial p...
- Random Thoughts / A New Approach
I've used this blog over the past couple years to write down random thoughts from time to time, as well as much more involved, bigger pieces. I usually spend...
- When I Met Brian Dennehy
Earlier this week, the actor Brian Dennehy came to Colorado Springs (UCCS, more specifically, where I'm a student on a very part-time basis). I signed up for...
- Watching Apple's Groundhog Day (The Apple Watch Announced)
Last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook took the stage to announce a few new products and demo videos of the company's latest technology. The presentation, though offe...
- Read My Posts at the Colorado Springs Independent
I have some happy news to share—if you haven't seen many blog posts here recently, there's a reason. I'm now a featured blogger at the Colorado Springs Indep...
- It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a... Drone?
When I first heard the media stir about drones a couple of years ago, my mind recalled the male bees that live in a hive and do nothing but eat, sleep and br...
- The Dancing Fox Lodge in Woodland Park
Stauffer & Sons Construction built a custom home for Neil and Barbara Bruce in Woodland Park, Colo., back in 2011. It's been about five years since we built...
- Waldo Canyon Fire Survivors: Ken & Kris Rose
Ken & Kris Rose have lived in the Parkside neighborhood in Colorado Springs since 1986 when the subdivision was still brand new. Ken remembers what the neigh...
- Waldo Canyon Fire Survivors: Jerry & Tina Pati
Jerry & Tina Pati lived in the Parkside neighborhood in Colorado Springs for over 26 years when the tragic Waldo Canyon fire destroyed their home in June of...
- Steve Wozniak in Colorado Springs
Earlier this week, I went to go see Steve Wozniak speak right here in Colorado Springs. He came to an event put on by the Business Journal called "Celebrate...
- Should I Join a Toastmasters Club?
I'm a big fan of conquering my weaknesses and fears. I like to identify what they are, finding out why I'm afraid of them, and then do whatever it takes to o...
- Analyzing Website Visitor Behavior: Mobile vs. Desktop Users
Note: this is a guest blog post I was asked to write by the owner of a digital marketing agency in California. I'd never met him, but he contacted me saying...
- Using QR Codes - It's As Easy As 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
QR Codes are the best thing that's ever happened to the Internet, if you believe the hype. What do I think of them? Just check out this side-by-side comparis...
- Guest Post: What Baseball Means to Me
[This is a guest post from my Uncle Mike. He's a great man, a great Uncle, a retired Marine, and a huge fan of Baseball. He's also the man I know as "Uncle F...
- SEO Test For Employers Hiring Internet Marketers
When I left my position as the Marketing Director for Infront Webworks earlier this year, I was asked to help hire my replacement. I was happy to do so, beca...
- Understanding a URL Structure (With Query Parameters)
Have you ever been on a website before, and noticed in the address bar that the simple little www.example.com you've typed in turned into something very long...
- My Speech on SEO at Revenue North Colorado Springs
I recently gave a speech at a business summit in town called "Revenue North," which is a small conference of sorts for local business owners, all with the ma...
- It's Pronounced "Stauffer" -- "Au" as in "Faucet"
What are the more annoying things I've experienced in my lifetime is the fact that people just can't seem to pronounce my last name correctly. Really? Is it...
- Leadership Pikes Peak Alumni Stories - Police Chief Pete Carey
Note: This is an interview I conducted with Colorado Springs Police Chief Pete Carey, who is an alumnus of Leadership Pikes Peak's Signature Program. Since 1...
- My First Experience Pitching A Business Idea
I love business. I love coming up with a new idea for a business; the process of building a business; marketing a business; and running a business. It's a to...
- When I Met General Martin Dempsey
In my spare time, I am a volunteer with a little marketing group in town called COSthink. We meet twice a month take on marketing projects for local organiza...
- A Father's Perspective on Homebirth
If you know me well, you probably know my family is a home birth family. Which means, of course, that we choose to give birth to our children at home with a...
- Steve Jobs Forecasts the Future of the Web
I recently watched a video called " Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview ," which has some never-before-seen footage of an interview with Steve Jobs from 1995. I m...
- Guest Post: Parkour is Not a Crime
[Note: This is a guest post, from my little brother, Ryan Stauffer. He's 17, and lives outside Pueblo, Colorado. As you will see, he clearly has a passion fo...
- 15 Questions with Amanda Obringer, Senior Web Designer
Amanda Obringer is a Senior Web Designer and has worked at Infront Webworks for over three years. Today we decided to ask her a few questions about the web d...
- Free Parking in Downtown Colorado Springs
Did you know there's a free parking lot right in Downtown Colorado Springs? There actually two areas right in the heart of Downtown that most people don't kn...
- My Experience Going Back To School, 10 Years Later
I was recently asked on Quora to answer a question relating to entrepreneurship and school: "Given the diverse and unique challenges faced by a startup, is i...
- "Would You Like To Drive Home In A Ford Today?"
About seven years ago, right after my wife and I were married, we went on our very first shopping trip as a married couple, to furnish our brand new apartmen...
- 2013 Colorado Springs Business Journal Rising Stars
"The Colorado Springs Business Journal Rising Stars are those in the local community 40 and younger who have made significant strides in their careers and wh...
- The Best Ad of Super Bowl 2013
Ok, I confess: I didn't watch the Superbowl on Sunday. Actually, I haven't watched a Super Bowl in several years—the last one I actually watched all the way...
- I'm a Sucker for Print Magazines
I'm a digital guy. I'm part of the digital generation that grew up with computers and cell phones. Technology is my friend! When I want to read the news, I g...
- Rackspace Cloud U Certification
I recently took an exam about Cloud Computing from Rackspace, to test my knowledge in how Cloud Computing works, who the big players are, what the benefits a...
- My Trip in a Hot Air Balloon: A Modern Trip In An Ancient Vehicle
This past Labor Day weekend, a big event took place in Colorado Springs that drew hundreds of people from all over the country, and even a few people from ou...
- Business Lessons from TV's "Shark Tank"
I just discovered the TV show "Shark Tank" a few weeks ago and have been eagerly devouring each episode. Sure, I'd heard about the show a few years ago, but...
- Communication: The Pinnacle of Human Achievement
I'm a huge fan of writing. I love to see the written word on a page. Whether it's a printed page or an electronic page doesn't much matter to me; I love it a...
- Google AdWords Certification
I recently took two Google Exams: 1) Google Advertising Fundamentals and 2) Google Search Advertising Advanced Exam, and boy were they a doozy! (And by that...
- Is Google Evil?
This week, The Guardian put out a scathing report on Google's business practices, called " Google's problem is that it now believes itself above others – eve...
- Interview With City Councilman Tim Leigh - Faces of Downtown
Q: What first brought you to the Downtown Colorado Springs area? When was that? A: I was stationed here at Fort Carson in 1975, and at the same time was a Cl...
- Parking Problems in Downtown Colorado Springs
[Note: since I wrote this post, I've also written a post about a few places for free parking in Downtown Colorado Springs here. You may want to check that ou...
- NFC Payments are a Dumb, Dumb Idea
Among the many fledgling technologies creating buzz in 2012, I personally think that NFC (Near Field Communication) is the worst. Though all NFC technically...
- Video: Things I Learned At My First Video Shoot
I recently worked with a videographer to make two videos for a new video marketing service I wanted to start. I'd never really stood in front of a camera bef...
- How Not to Connect on LinkedIn
Recently I've gotten several requests from people to connect on LinkedIn. Which is normally fine. But what I find annoying is when somebody I don't know—at a...
- City Councilman Tim Leigh
Nearly everybody in Colorado Springs has, at one time or another, heard of Tim Leigh. And if you've heard of Tim Leigh, it wasn't just once. You've heard abo...
- Customer Quote: The Cloud
"Hey Ron, am I on the cloud?" -Quote from an Awesome Customer
- Lessons From a Customer
A few years ago, I met with a customer who was an older gentleman in the roadbase and paving industry. I was asking him my standard questions before coming u...
- Ron's Rants: Copyright Notices
Ok, rant time. You know how sometimes you're searching for something online, or looking through a photo album for an event, and you find a great photo, but i...
- Never Sit in the Same Chair
I like taking classes. Especially classes outside of a traditional school environment, and when I don't have to do homework. So I take lots of them. I take e...
- Should I Join a BNI Chapter?
I'm a guy who's into networking, meeting other business people, and making relationships, and doing business. So, naturally, when I found out about BNI (Busi...
- Video: Why Use Online Video?
It's video time again! This time around, I made an online video to tell you all about... online video! Why? Well, I could explain everything by writing parag...
- My Email with Hugh Syme
Earlier this week, I was sorting through some emails from years past (way back in early 2009, to be precise), and stumbled across this one from when I first...
- How To Upload A Video On Youtube
Due to the fact that Google is constantly changing the layout on YouTube, I've gotten many requests from people asking about how to upload videos to their Yo...
- Video: What is Twitter?
What is Twitter? This is easily the question I've heard the most since I started working in Internet Marketing. A lot of people just don't get Twitter, and t...
- How Many Golf Balls Can Fit in a School Bus?
Have you ever heard that question before? If you have, it's probably because you've read somewhere that it's one of the questions that Google asks prospectiv...
- Apple Certified Associate
Last week, I took an exam to prove to Apple that I understand their products and know how to use them. And I passed! So now it's official: I'm an Apple Certi...
- The Limits of Technology: When eHarmony Failed
True story: I once signed up for eHarmony. Well, let me clarify—I never "dated" using eHarmony, but I did create an account. But I had a good reason. Once, n...
- You Are What You Wear
Everybody knows you are what you eat. But did you know it's also true that you are what you wear? The reality, though unfair, is that whether you believe thi...
- The CAN-SPAM Act in Plain English
Email marketing and digital marketing are fantastic ways for businesses to boost their sales and keep their customers up to date on what they're doing. It's...
- Why Have a Website?
[About two years ago, I gave a presentation to a business group about websites and their effectiveness as a marketing tool. I've had this sitting in my "draf...
- The Most Important Word A Business Owner Can Learn
A few years ago, I heard a radio ad while driving down the road where the whole premise was " We Do That ." The ad went like this: you listen in to a phone c...
- Adding Windows Media to a Mac
So you've just bought a Mac and you're really excited about all the fun new features that come built in... and then while you're transferring old files from...
- How To Take A Picture Of A Text Message On An iPhone
One of the coolest features on an iPhone is it's ability to take pictures (screenshots) of the screen. I find myself wanting to do this frequently, especiall...
- Utterly Useless Marketing Terms
Marketing is a strange industry. It's both an art and a science. When a marketing campaign is done right, it can be downright electrifying. And when it's don...
- My Favorite T-Shirt: Free Tibet!*
A few years ago, right when I first ventured into the scary waters of self-employment, I went to Kohl's and bought several pairs of slacks and button-up shir...
- Why NOT To Use A .CO Domain
A while ago, I received an email from a friend asking if he should get a .CO domain for his website. I thought for a while, and gave him my answer. "No." He...
- What is "Dogfooding"?
So there's an important concept in the tech world that has a very strange name... I tell clients about the concept frequently, and usually get laughter when...
- Don't Buy the Cheap Pens!
I have nothing against promotional products. I like promotional products. I like the people that sell them, and I like the amazing kinds of products that are...
- Getting the Job, Part 1: Resume Best Practices
[ This is post one in a series of three called “ Getting the Job: Tips from a Hiring Manager ." ] Have you ever noticed how a job search is like a marketing...
- Music, Multitasking and Me
I'm a strange guy when it comes to multitasking. Some tasks, such as web page development (writing PHP and HTML) are kind of mindless tasks for me so I can w...
- What Marketing Is NOT
Every once in a while I'll hear somebody make comments about how the essence of marketing is to " throw stuff out there and see what sticks ." Normally I don...
- Help! I moved a window off my screen!
If you've accidentally moved a window off screen on you mac, don't panic. It's happened to me before as well. This usually happens when you've recently been...
- Ashley Photography
I know a lot of photographers. So many, in fact, that I think I know more photographers than I do Realtors, and that's really saying something. However; ther...
- Blank Canvas Syndrome
Something I've noticed over the years is that being creative isn't necessarily difficult for me, but starting a creative project is. It's the hardest part. T...
- The Drive That Gets Lost
A few years ago, when I was in the construction industry, at one point, the company I worked for had over twenty field employees. We were constantly hiring,...
- My Best (and Worst) Marketing Story Ever
Here's a true story about a little company that had one of the most brilliant campaigns I've ever personally responded to. Background: I used to work in the...
- Your Internet Speed Explained: Megabits vs. Megabytes
I called my ISP the other day (Qwest) to ask for an upgrade on the speed of my DSL line at home. When I did, I learned something very interesting: Qwest empl...
- Definition Of A "Content Farm"
One of the hottest topics in search quality discussions so far in 2011 has been "Content Farms," and I think it's none too soon. I despise them. They give al...
- Inbound Marketing Certified Professional
I just recently took the "Inbound Marketing University" training course and exam. I guess I should smile… because I can now say that I am an " Inbound Market...
- Business Lessons From The Godfather
For those of you who've seen it, it's almost not even worth mentioning that The Godfather is one of the best movies ever made. Yes, it's a gangster movie. Ye...
- Keyboard Shortcut For "Don't Save"
Here's an annoying little bug: when using most programs on a Mac, if you close (CMD+W) or quit the program (CMD+Q), you'll get a message asking " Do you want...
- iCal Can't Verify The Identity Of The Server
So there's an incredibly annoying error message that pops up when you try to connect iCal to a CalDAV account. It goes like this: iCal can't verify the ident...
- Square Card Reader
Here's a pretty cool video I found that talks about the Square card reader . (I've got one of these, by the way, and it's totally awesome). Here, the Wall St...
- The Most Important Parts Of An eCommerce Website
Photography It’s shocking to me how hard it is to get merchants to actually spend money on photography, when the only thing that will allow a potential custo...
- Google Wave - The Email Killer (Not)
I've found the recent commentary on Google's decision to shut down Google Wave rather entertaining, and sometimes annoying. For several reasons. Here are a f...
- Video: Interview With 37signals' Jason Fried
I like studying. I like listening to audiobooks, reading books and watching interviews. I especially like getting the input of a select few brilliant minds i...
- Looking Back: One Year As A Business Owner
It's been just over a full year since I took my web design company full-time. As I was driving home from a customer's office tonight, I had a few thoughts ab...
- Does Anybody Use Tag Clouds?
Recently I've really been trying to view websites through the eyes of users, and not as a web designer. As much as possible, I always try to ask myself " wou...
- 2010 Mac Gems
Ok, the end of the year is nearing, and so I think it's time that I share my votes for the best Mac Gems of 2010. Of course, I give full credit to the best m...
- Things That Bug Me About Apple Products
Sometimes, people (usually those who are sold on Microsoft Windows) like to say that Apple users are "fanboys." This is a pejorative term of sorts, and what...
- A Font In My Own Handwriting
I just found the coolest service online: a way to turn my own handwriting into a font for my computer and, (as evidenced here), my own website. If you're pre...
- Don't Judge A Car By Its Cover
I have a friend who repairs/restores cars for fun. He has several of them stashed in various places all over town at any given time (barns, garages, carports...
- My Dad Has Joined The Mac Cult
I helped my Dad buy an iMac today. That means he has now officially joined the club. I dropped it off, and he asked me “Great, so how do I set it up? …wait,...
- Video: 1970s Fig Newton Commercial
I like TV commercials. I especially like a TV commercial that inspires me to actually want to buy a product. When I see a good ad, I cheer. When I see a bad...
- Canceling My Wells Fargo Account
Last week, I did what I’ve wanted to do for years: I closed my Wells Fargo account. It felt good. Wells Fargo is an extremely convenient place to bank at, be...
- Domain Checklist: 5 Questions To Ask About Your Domain
Does your company have a website? If so, you have a domain of some sort. Whether it ends in .com, .net, .us, or dot anything else, somebody at some point reg...
- Video: Steven Colbert Interviews Eric Schmidt
I don't watch Stephen Colbert. I don't think he's funny. Even more than that, I have no patience for senseless political banter. But in some strange way, in...
- Measuring Sound Quality
(Shh… don’t tell anyone.) When I was growing up, while my parents were gone and we were home alone, I would find LPs from the Swedish disco band ABBA in the...
- Video: Time-Lapse Video of Me at Work
For those of you who aren't exactly sure what a webmaster does all day long, I created a small time-lapse video of me at work. Until recently, I'd have sever...
- Yes, This Is an iPad. Now Leave Me Alone.
I love my iPad. I also hate my iPad. Here's why. When I need some quiet time to think, or relax, I’ll often go to my home away from home (Starbucks), pull ou...
- What I Mean When I Say "Cool"
Something I’ve recently caught myself doing is calling features and benefits “cool” when talking to friends and customers. For me, this is natural, and it’s...
- It's Time To Go Electronic (For Real)
I was talking to a client a while ago who happens to be my dad’s age. I told him that he needed to get an iPhone or Palm Pilot or some other electronic daily...
- The Burn In Listerine - A Brilliant Marketing Ploy
Are you a mouthwash person? If so, you’re like millions of others who value their oral hygiene. And like millions of others, you probably don’t know which mo...
- Take Me Off Your Text Message List!
A while ago, I was zipping down the interstate, listening to the radio (which I rarely do.) There was a contest to win tickets to see Kenny Chensey live, and...
- Remember Those Disposable DVDs?
Today's subject is the history of technology, and predictions we used to make about where we'd be today. So, if I really wanted to, I could go way back in ti...
- Kozmo.com - Overdue for Extinction
You know how there are some things in life that sound good on paper, but turn out to be not-so-great in real life? An idea where, when put into practice, you...
- Ace Hardware Is Awesome
I've noticed something in the past year or so: there are a lot of Ace Hardware stores popping up in Colorado Springs. Funny thing too—I thought Ace was on th...
- My Most Powerful Business Tool: The iPhone
Every once in a while, when I pull out my iPhone to put in a calendar item or check my email, someone standing next to me will strike up a conversation about...
- The Roadside Tamale Man
The other day I finally did it—I actually stopped at one of the little roadside stands with the tiny cardboard sign that says “ tamales 4 sale .” As soon as...
- Apple's iPhone 4 Press Conference
I'm a big fan of Apple. Almost everything about the company is noteworthy. Steve Jobs is the consummate CEO for a tech company. Their products are second to...
- Book Review: Purple Cow by Seth Godin
After hearing all about it for so long, I finally bought " Purple Cow: Transform Your Business By Being Remarkable " by Seth Godin. Seth is one of the few ma...
- Understanding Your Internet Bill
I got a letter in the mail from my internet service provider last week. Inside it was my bill. Also inside it was a tri-fold brochure called " Understanding...
- The Annoying Front Door Guy At Best Buy
I went to Best Buy last week, and walked in the door at my normal, slightly-brisk walking pace. I had some spring in my step, but I wasn't walking abnormally...
- Make My Website #1 In Google
Of all the questions I've heard in my few years in the business, there's one I hear far more often than any other. And I dread it every time I hear it: Can y...
- Tumblr in Under One Hour
Ok, I admit it. I'm a web developer and I'm using Tumblr. Sue me. :) In all honestly, I'm completely stunned by my very first try with the the world's suppos...
- MacWorld's Shortened URLs
It's no secret—I like URL shorteners. A lot. And as long as my mind's still stuck on the subject of technologies that were ahead of their time... I was leafi...
- Remember AOL Keywords?
How many of you remember watching TV about a decade ago, and seeing commercials for large, well-known companies (and I mean really large ones—say, for exampl...
- Moving To Colorado Springs, Colorado - A Strange Experience
My family moved to Colorado Springs from Northern California in 1998. We came here for many reasons: clean air, minimal pollution, very little traffic, low c...