Friday, March 27, 2015

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXXIV: Sweet Survival To Advance To Sixteen, Plus Rick Goes All “Falling Down” On TWD



‘Nova looked past State’s team
Pack made them a has-been
March has a feeling of hope
Without a beer I can hardly cope
State flies into the Sweet Sixteen

We’re all 13 years older
But never forgot Scully and Mulder
Returning after all these years
To bring the eerie and the fears
X-Files, the expectations you’ll shoulder

The last two-way star of old
Chuck Bednarik broke the mold
They called him Concrete Charlie
His hits were pretty gnarly
He’ll live on in tall tales told

Doug’s life in shards
The Underwoods put up their guards
The White House of intrigue
Who’s against and in league?
Here’s to the return of “House of Cards”

A high-intensity TWD
Our heroes deal with PTSD
Michonne knocks out Rick
Because he’s being kind of a dick
Season finale should be a sight to see



Monday, March 23, 2015

“The Elements of Content Strategy” Argues For Dramatically Expanded View Of The Role of Web Writers




"Content strategy is to copywriting as information architecture is to design." ~Rachel Lovinger

Using a sharp, no-nonsense style, Erin Kissane delves into the burgeoning role of content strategy and how it can apply to organizations at various stages of the process of content creation and/or redesign in “The Elements of Content Strategy.” Most poignantly, she advocates for the redefinition of content within the parameters of how useful it is to the reader and how it can help the audience meet its own goals.

Kissane delivers some solid tools to apply and offers a number of memorable analogies, as well as some really useful tables and figures. In espousing the importance of user-centered design and content, she takes aim at the corporate practice of “designing a site map to mirror an org chart,” which permeates organizations of all kinds.

In a point which should hit home with companies of any size, the book discusses ridding content of self-absorption, internal jargon and clashing mission statements—which is essential to engaging with the reader. Instead of harping on your capabilities, show your value through case studies, demonstrations and results; as Kissane writes, “give the puffery a rest.”

"One of the great challenges of content strategy -- and especially of content production -- is getting ideas from the heads of experts into the heads of content producers."

Kissane also notes that most companies struggle with “publishing everything we can” vs. “publishing everything we’ve learned that our users really need,” resulting in pages of interminable length and making everything harder to find. According to the author, balancing the needs of the client and the needs of the user is of utmost importance; they need to complement, not conflict.

In the same vein, the internal perspective is usually based on informal assumptions, aged stereotypes and limited understanding of their audience. This approach can be useful in guiding messaging, but it must be supplemented by actual analytics and user research. She reiterated that defining success measurements is imperative, which can be tricky in an area that has historically been difficult to measure.

In part to stem these issues, she points up the essential role of ruthless attentive editors, while also emphasizing the corresponding importance of editorial processes and workflows in managing content and applying strategy to it—all while keeping resource constraints in mind.

"Editors worth their salt work not for writers or publishers, but for readers."

Kissane touched on the role of writers as well. By acting as “advocates for content,” she said that content strategists can take client ideas and make consultative recommendations that are based in sound principles and realistic best practices. She also talked about the beneficial impact that content specialists can have on design decisions.

The ending got a bit dense, but …Let’s face it, we’re all suckers for bathroom humor, even in the midst of a nonfiction tome about content strategy.

"In short, we should strive to create and present content in ways that respect the fact that even when they're using the web, people need to pee."

So the real message of “The Elements of Content Strategy” is that it takes due diligence and vigilant attention to keep your content from going to shit.


Friday, March 20, 2015

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXXIII: Late Rally Keeps Pack Dancing, Plus Every Walker Hates Noah On TWD



That’s the Cardiac Pack
With an epic LSU comeback
In the words of Kenny Bania,
“That’s gold!,” Bee Jay Anya
Survive and advance, that’s a fact

HBO gave it modest billing
But “The Jinx” has been more than chilling
Producers caught Robert Durst
Showing his murder thirst
Scarier than TWD and more thrilling

Spring training has just begun
The air of hope for everyone
Then the Mets lost another star
When Wheeler’s elbow went too far
Before it starts, another season undone

What do the ides of March mean?
You had better wear green
St. Patrick’s Day once more
Celebrate all the Irish lore
One big springtime festive scene

Alexandria’s dark current scene
An idyll that’s not quite so serene
Another loss on Walking Dead
As Noah’s ripped to shreds
Honeymoon’s over for Rick’s team



Friday, March 13, 2015

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXXII: Prepare For Suh-per Many Puns, Plus Apocalyptic Cocktail Parties



Needed an identity, true
Needed to fill seats, too
So they landed the big prize
Intensity and great size
But please behave, Mr. Suh

For some March Madness
Really means sadness
Syracuse turned wins into defeats
Because of Boeheim and his cheats
What’s coming for UNC’s badness?

Agents bobbin’ and weavin’
Lotsa dude’s leavin’
Free agency is here
To mark the NFL’s new year
In the ‘Fins, I ain’t believin’

Pack got on a roll
Maybe their heads got swoll
Then Duke pounded ‘em with ease
State fell down on their knees
Can they recover from this deep hole?
 
Daryl gettin’ bicurious
Carol was scarily furious
Rick goin’ full Neandrathal
Coveting Jessie and all
Wondering if Alexandria is spurious



Thursday, March 12, 2015

No-Talent Ass Clown Reprises Role As No-Talent Ass Clown



You're a good sport, Michael Bolton. Thanks for making my day.

Friday, March 06, 2015

Limerick Friday LXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXXI: Must-See TV, The Jekyll-And-Pack & ‘Fins Ponder Suh-Per Bold Move


Of course, it’s funny and all
But nuanced to enthrall
Had tempered expectations
But it’s a sensation
Go watch “Better Call Saul”

After they pounded the cheats
Took the most embarrassing of defeats
Knock off big names
And trip up vs. lames
State’s story rinses and repeats

Little bro turnin’ 40
Has me thinkin’ “lordy”
The calendar does spin
The gray keeps creepin’ in
Life’s anything but bored-y

Going all out for Suh
Gonna cost a hundred mil or two
Might as well try
A dirty-playin’ guy
Nothing else has worked, ‘tis true

Alexandria opens its arms
To protect our crew from harms
But determining the threat
The biggest challenge yet
Can they resist Deanna’s charms?

Last time

Tuesday, March 03, 2015

Buy One, Bro One



Brilliant execution.