Ok, I’m ready now.

I guess it’s a good thing, but I have been so busy with new clients that posting has fallen to the wayside. Now, it’s all engines a-go!

I’m working on a lot of really interesting projects right now; everything from Social Media Account Management for an eco-friendly clothing line to web development and re-branding for a construction company, to building a website for a Judge in San Diego, to training a company to more effectively represent themselves in the social space.

Not to mention managing -or trying to manage- my own blog, as well as a side blog called We Travel and Eat. Jordan and I are currently rebuilding the site to focus more on providing others with useful travel and food tips in all the places we visit.  So while it’s a work-in-progress, it’s coming along quite nicely if I do say so myself. Check out our Facebook page!

We’re also establishing an Llc; a creative studio for all things web development. It’s a pretty exciting process and I can’t wait to be a partner in something that already has projects in progress, checks post-dated for its first legal appearance, and doesn’t even have a Tax ID number yet. Soon enough though. By the first week of February, we’ll be able to charge credit cards, bill through Paypal, and invoice straight through our project management tool.

So, while it looks like (from the frequency of blogs posted) I’ve fallen off the face of the Earth, I’ve actually hand my hands in a little bit of everything. Secretly, I think I adore being overwhelmed.

What are you working on these days? Would love for you to keep me updated!

1. My iPhone response time was, well, quite unresponsive.
2. My monthly bills, no matter how often a representative and I “reevaluated my current usage” were $100 or more (which did not include unlimited anything).
3. Even paying that much, I had limited service in all my most frequented locations and almost every one of my calls ended up dropping at some point during the conversation.
4. After almost a year of having the phone, and jail-breaking it to make it more useful, I just got sick of it. Apple doesn’t make it easy to customize anything and when you jailbreak it in order to personalize your iPhone, it makes it complicated to maintain apple software updates.
5. Now that the Evo has come out and been on the market enough to drop in price significantly, I figured it was time to get my money’s worth in regards to product offerings and reliable service.
6. And to boot, when my EVO screen breaks, I won’t have to break my warranty just because I’d rather have a 3rd party repair shop fix it than have Apple charge me 5x as much. Just sayin’.

I must say, it is sad seeing my iPhone sit on my desk, lonely and unused, but when rationality kicks in again- my EVO does everything (and much, much more) than my iPhone ever could have (Thanks Steve Jobs). It was getting on my nerves that Apple was limiting the capabilities of my iPhone so that they could constantly release new versions of the same phone, as a result, my new EVO phone has better functionality and can do more than the current iPhone 4.

It is safe to say that my $60-a-month, 1400-minutes, unlimited data, unlimited text messaging *and* 4G, is far better (and cheaper) of an investment. I am no longer following the footsteps of the mindless consumers that believe iPhone rules all.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my iPad and my new MacBookPro, but when it comes to phone service, I want what I pay for- and the iPhone just wasn’t meeting those expectations.

:: Six Months Later:

Hey All! I’m updating this post six months into my contract with Sprint and 6 months into using the less trendy but far more efficient HTC Evo phone. So far, it’s been smooth sailing. The phone, when plugged in to my computer, acts like any other USB storage device and I can simply drag and drop music, files, photos etc. onto the phone without using iTunes and without waiting an hour for the whole process to be completed. My phone service and reception have been great thus far. I really can’t complain about it. The 4G has worked great where 4G is available, the Apps in the Droid Market are seemingly unlimited and offer nearly every app that the iPhone does.

To be honest, I’ve been seeing a LOT more Droid phones out there, and everyone seems to be loving theirs just as much. Success!

If you’re thinking about changing from an iPhone to an Adroid- supported phone, feel free to ask me questions here. I’d love to help!

-Mia

Senioritis: a sickness of which is a result of rejecting adaptations to technological advances of the current day. Also referred to as Senioritis of the 21st Century.

My grandfather’s old, true, but when it comes to high-functioning Seniors, he’s a prime example of one that does it all. He runs a newspaper for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division Veterans, owns a Commercial Real Estate company, drives up to his cabin an hour away each weekend and even shovels the cabin driveway of multiple feet of snow each Winter. So when he complains about the technological advances being “beyond [his] comprehension,” I reassure him that he’s more capable than he thinks.

Recently, we’ve convinced him to abandon the use of his archaic iMac desktop computer and to invest in a “portable, lightweight laptop,” to which he replied…”I like my old thing just fine, It works doesn’t it?”

Luckily, he grew rational when his old crapper kicked the bucket. I think my Grandmother getting an iPad made him realize that he should “get with the times.”

Well, my grandfather, knowing my allegiance to ever-improving technologies, forwarded me his email reply (Yeah, see? He knows how to do that) when another “Senior” friend of his sent him an “Invitation to Join Facebook.” I about died.

Take a look:

]]> http://miataylor.com/2010/08/07/senior-itis-of-the-21st-century/feed/ 0 http://miataylor.com/2010/06/02/rinse-and-repeat/ http://miataylor.com/2010/06/02/rinse-and-repeat/#comments Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:49:06 +0000 mtaylor http://miataylor.com/?p=872 Work has been picking up, and while I am most certaintly NOT complaining in the least- especially “in this economy”- it has left me with little time to myself. I finally published a blogpost- after nearly a month!- which feels pretty nice, and am making time to be a bit more social and meet new, exciting people.

My schedule, although chaotic, has not changed. I get up at 6:30AM, head to class, head home to change for work , leave at noon and head into the office, where I stay until about 6, to get home at about 7, to eat, then do homework, then shower and hit the hay. Yes, I do realize that was one VERY long run-on, but I also found it appropriate for the theme of the post, no?

Look forward to the days when my schedule isn’t so…y’know…rinse and repeat.

I met risky drivers, high-fallers, fire specialists and fighting doubles within moments of walking in. It wasn’t long before someone approached me asking “So, what stunts have you done?” and with an outright “HAA!” I stated, point to myself shamelessly, “this girl doesn’t even do roller-coasters, nonetheless jump from the 5th story to land on the windshield of a vehicle!”

The night concluded with the awards ceremony for awards like “Best High Work,” “Hardest Hit,” “Best Stunt with Fire,”  and “Best Work with a Vehicle.” All of which I was extremely impressed by. Although there are stunt-pads and much coordination involved, the bodies hitting shards of glass from 80 ft in the air or the woman hanging from the ledge of a tall building, are all real people risking their safety for the enjoyment of people like you and me. Unless you’re one of them, wherefore you are owed a round of applause. ::claps::

Journalism isn’t dying, it is merely taking on a new shape; adapting to the ever-changing environment that we have created.

The Internet.

The first of two major issues in the industry is that with the emergence of limitless internet connection, blossoming social networks and an affinity for instant gratification among nearly every demographic, micro-blogging sites like Twitter, photo hosting sites like Flickr and Twitpic and hosts like WordPress are giving everyday citizens the ability to become citizen journalists.

Citizen Journalism is creating a new temperature for the industry; information is unbiased and honest, but the quality cannot be controlled. Because information is more readily available, and consumers are finding it to be convenient and unbiased, our traditional news sources are losing the following they once had.

The second major issue is we see today is that more and more people are finding their news on the Internet, but most of the papers are making money from their print advertisements. This, being completely ineffective, means the print newspapers will have to adapt to online endeavors and subsequently charge a fee for their offerings as well as make money from direct-targeted online advertisements. In order for it to be effective and efficient, however, each of the newspapers would have to implement this business model simultaneously and without wavering from the newly-set standard.

Just as technology gains momentum and adapts to our needs,

professions and skills must also adapt.

While picking up a bulky 4-section newspaper may not be completely convenient in our fast-paced lifestyles, it is the duty of learned Journalists to make moves to adapt to the needs of their readers.

Patrick Thornton, blog writer of The Future of Journalism, states very wisely that If you’re not willing to work on the Web, do more than write, get your hands dirty with code, blog, be a social media pro, etc, than journalism isn’t for you. Those currently working for publications should be hyper focused on making the same content available online as it happens in order to adapt to the changes in modern Journalism.

So, while most think Journalism is “dying,” I challenge you to explore the idea that yes, there are significant differences in the way we dole out news, but the change is both necessary and exciting. We need to take the future of journalism into consideration and initiate a renaissance of sorts. A rebirth of Journalism.

Apparently, at some point last night the auxiliary battery died- causing the heat to shut off. Even after reading the owner’s manual, the cause of my glacial awakening goes unknown.

It is now nearly 1pm and I have refused to get up from bed for anything but to brush my teeth and grab a bowl of cereal. Oh, and to turn the heat back on. The radio is on Jill Fm, the “diva on the dial” playing everything from Backstreet Boys to the Moody Blues. Can’t figure out exactly what this “diva” is thinking with such a compilation.

Maybe this afternoon I’ll let the awning out, I can throw down a blanket outside, and grill some habanero and chicken bratwurst while taking in some sun. The campground we’re stay at- the O’Neill Regional Park- has horse trails, bike paths and hiking trails along the river and make for great ambiance.

I’ll also be nursing my bruised rib back to health…youch!

Until next time,

Mia

For the past 3 years I have spent the holiday season (usually December 27th- January 3rd) on some sort of road trip or travel and have found it to be a great time to get away from all things comfortable and see things from a different perspective upon my return.

Road trips before the new year give you time to reflect on all that has happened in the last year and mentally prepare to return home with a new perspective. This year’s holiday road trip was spent in the U.S. for once, visiting Yuma, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson, Arizona. The vast deserts and multicolored sunsets have provided me with the respite that I had been needing in order to sum up the events of 2009.

It’s also nice to get out of your element. We are, by nature, creatures of habit and by stepping away from all that is normal in our lives, we are allowed to see more clearly the things we seek to change or improve in our lives.

Now, I may be biased- seeing as there is obviously a direct connection with travel and my career- but I truly believe that  returning to your home creates a nice segue into the new year.

With the new design comes a few changes in my life as well. I’m moving, for one, so that my daily commute is nearly 1/3 of what it is now, and have also picked up a couple new projects. One of the  more recent developments, is my guest-authoring a blog that aims to help people design their dream lifestyle- Lifescaping, to put it simply.

In addition to writing, studying and travel, I’ve become quite an avid Twitter-er and have even met some really interesting people in the realm of travel and blogging.

Along with picking up some fun projects and tweeting, I’ve been planning another trip. I’ll be heading out of town on an 11-day RV road trip with very little planned ahead of time- just the way it should be! It is a much needed vacation from the daily grind. I’ll be leaving Los Angeles on the 23rd en route to various locations in Arizona including, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tuscon. If you have recommendations of things to do or see, I welcome your comments here!

On that note, it’s time for me to start making my list of things to pack!

All my bags are packed and I’m on the go
I’m Tweeting here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye.
But new topics are trending, it’s early morn’
The taxi is waiting, he’s tweeting porn
Already I’m so lonesome, I could cry

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4hsC0nRvZM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6]

So tweet me and cybersmile at me
Tell me that you’ll link to me,
“List” me like you’ll never un-folloowww

I’m leaving on a jetplane, Can’t tweet til we take off again
Oh Twitt, I hate to go000,
There is so many times that I’ve left town
So many times I’ve @replied around
I tell you now those twits don’t mean a thing.

Every place I go I’ll tweet with you
Every song I sing, I blip it to you.
When I come back I’ll wear your wedding-ring

So tweet me and smile for me
Tell me that you’ll tweet @ me,
Tweet me like you’ll never un-folloowww

Cuz I’m tweeting, on a Jetplane.
Can’t tweet til we take off again.
Oh Twitt-love I hate to go,

Now the time has come to leave you
We must take off, let me tweet you.

Close your phone, I’ll be on my way
Dream about the days to come, I wont have to shut my phone
and I won’t have to say…

So tweet me and cybersmile at me
Tell me that you’ll link to me,
“List” me like you’ll never un-folloowww

Tweet it. Here’s a shorter link for all you twits. http://nzod.com/tweeting