Shooting this montage was no hard task. No task at all. You mean, you want me to go and soak up of the essence of Las Vegas culture, peak into the souls of artists and musicians and then edit it on Final Cut? I have absolutely no problem with that. One of my favorite things to do is to have the opportunity to be exposed to someone in an intimate and personal way. I love the unfamiliarity that accompanies the interactions with strangers. To interface with someone and see their reactions, their dispositions. There is something so sweet about each individual disposition. My best memories are with people, their first name unbeknownst to me, who are mirror opposites as myself. Growing, I feel myself. My heart literally hurts and breaks each time I think about the depth in each persons life because I admire it so much. This would explain my attraction to the arts. The liaison between the art (product) and the artist (person) is always up for interpretation. The artist sometimes explains their work in a way that you can’t perceive. Things don’t always need an explanation, friends.
Have you ever been to a First Friday in your city? A bit of advice for you if you have yet to indulge in this milestone. Prepare to be inspired. No where else in Las Vegas can you stroll around and glimpse into the myriad of arts that exist in the world. Everything you need to slowly unravel the quarrelsome ways of living in such a fast-paced city lives and breathes here. I know that I need this place at least once a month to remind myself of these fundamentals to happiness.
I prefer my solidarity, especially when I am working on projects. I prefer to be alone at times because it allows me to challenge my thoughts, form a structure without the overshadowing of the skyscrapers around me. An even more efficient way for these thoughts to marinade and gain form throughout my life is to document them. I am sure that you know (if you’ve read other blog posts of mine) that the importance of documentation cannot be expressed without the adjectives “essential, incredible, mind-blowing” and should never be forgotten.
These artists were willing to advertise themselves to some small, blonde chick with a camcorder (me). They didn’t know that what I was doing was actually quite selfish. I was gaining years of quality and unwavering inspiration from their stories. Maybe it’s not exactly selfishness and more a pure and deep admiration for them, but I realized the whole time I sit and listen to these stories my stomach turns and the enthusiasm I birth begins to steep out of my very being.
Go to First Friday and experience a taste, a morsel of what I am trying to show you here. Go there and reflect or maybe just go there to be there without any deeper gain. Do me a favor, though. Continue to appreciate humans, arts and expression everyday. Press on with any desire you may have to embrace all art forms (I will argue forever that all aesthetics are art). Don’t forget the beauty in awkward first impressions and a smile that curls. Compliment the hands you see that over extend and look torn and unloved.
Flickr is amazing. I just realized it by doing an assignment for my Interactive Media Design class. Creating galleries, sharing your photos with those who appreciate your style, creating niches in image viewing. It’s all possible through Flickr. Also, not every person on Flickr makes incredible art through photography. There are people who include candids of their everyday life, not so thought-provoking but enjoyable none the less. My approach with this blog post was to be myself and let my new Canon Rebel t1i do most of the work. But as I discovered, the camera is just the vehicle for a great photo. The person messing with the aperture, ISO and focus is what stirs the pot of brilliance.
I love to document exciting events but most of my thoughts and activities are hardly associated with the typical Vegas lifestyle. I don’t go to clubs, I stay away from bars and the majority of my outings include my Russian grandmother and my journal. Not exactly hot spots or situations that people will rush home to read after a long day at the office. But hey I sure know how to eat good food and the navigate the quickest, most gas efficient way of getting there. I have never been a “breakfast person.” I prefer ethnic bits of heavenly goodness, not eggs, english muffins or bacon. I have been searching for a breakfast place that would turn me into a more breakfast-seeking
restauranteur.
Photo by Courtney Milko
Glory! I finally discovered the most reliable, cheap and morning-altering breakfast in Las Vegas.The Egg and I has been putting smiles on faces since 1987. Priding itself on never using any “non-egg” products or egg alternatives, gourmet coffee and a slew of organic, fresh ingredients, you can’t go wrong with a $9 breakfast at this joint. Located on Sahara and Decatur, one can enjoy its nice homey atmosphere and the cute chubby egg man smiling at you as you eat (I’m referring to the logo). I grabbed my camera and headed for breakfast at the Egg and I. Probably not the most riveting piece of photo journalism I have ever done but I enjoyed doing it and filling my belly with their “Kay’s Special.” PHENOMENAL! (pictured below)
Photo by Courtney Milko
I hope you enjoyed this Flickr stream and were able to grasp the essence of this sweet little restaurant on the West side of the Las Vegas Valley. In fact, I enjoyed doing this so much that I think my next venture is lunch in Las Vegas with the change from your car’s center console. Hot dogs stands? Lunch at Grandma’s? Taquitos from 7-eleven? No no no. I promise I won’t let you down. Stay tuned.
We have come a long way since the horror of mid-90’s Web design. You know exactly what I am speaking of. The kind of Web pages that make you feel that one wrong click will repaint your hard-drive with troublesome colors and give birth to a jagged-toothed and irreversible computer virus. I feel it necessary to personify the undeniable realness of the troubles that originate from the Web. When you make the conscious decision to click on the cheezy graphic of your Web browser of choice, you’re essentially welcoming the world to come into your office/home/living room etc. It’s like big brother but you’ve sent him a well thought out and perfumed invitation to gallop into your life.
Now that the mystery guest is seated comfortably on your overpriced sofa, you try to become acquainted with one another. Clicking, highlighting, dragging, right lick, double-click?, edit, undo, redo. All you wanted was to learn a simple piece of information but instead you have been manipulated into a Web site that offers you nothing but a throbbing migraine.
I get a kick out of poorly designed Web pages only when I know that the information I am searching for can be found on a easily-navigated and clean alternate Web site. Poorly designed Web sites can make your head spin and may even be turn you into a jaded Web surfer.
Unfortunately, there is more to bad Web design than just an unwavering headache. When you are the business or mission behind that choppy Web site than you should acknowledge that a change must be made (especially for fiscal prosperity). The internet is not new anymore and people are becoming desensitized to extremely advanced and aesthetically pleasing design. We are accustomed to it. We expect it.
These are a few examples of Web designs that make me want to gnaw my fingers off and never open my Macbook again. Take a good look young journalists. Just do everything the exact opposite of these sites and you should be just fine.
To begin, these two Web sites have one common denominator- too much going on. They are both different Web sites but they are designed so poorly that they look like one big glob of color, graphics, font, numbers, words and lines. If you are designing a Web page and there is overlapping text. Fix it. If you can’t fix it- delete it.
Graphics are important. If your graphics look like they were patched together in a paint program on your Windows 95 computer, get rid of them. You are better off taking a disposable camera and using original images even if they are grainy.
Journalist’s, friends, bloggers, teachers, CEO’s, soccer moms and cat owner’s please listen up. If you want to develop a successful Web page the things you must avoid are congestion and the abuse of color. Use the tools available to you that guide you into a free-flowing stream of attraction in Web design. If you cannot capture the Web browser (audience) within 4 seconds of them viewing your page, you need to trim the edgings and save the fat for another time- kind of like a turkey.
You’ve visited the Web sites fmylife.com, failblog.org, and peopleofwalmart.comand marinated in a myriad of awkward situations between people and the real world. But what if you had to face awkward situations in your professional life? Have you ever thought about what happens to the people that are designing the Web sites that serve as vehicles for public humiliation? Oh yes, the people that make your Web site perusing possible also have a slew of mountains to climb when dealing with trying to please their customers.
One wrong tap on the spacebar or allowing your pinkie to slip on the return key can result in an illegible code that resembles in a page of new-age hieroglyphics. Or if your software isn’t fully updated then formating holes could alter the appearance of your final product. It’s confusing. After just barely skimming the surface of the HTML world I feel an immense appreciation for those who make a living off of creating HTML codes and Web pages. You mean, there isn’t really a difference between HTML and HTM? What in the world is a CSS? If you are not a fan of tongue-tying acronyms or intricate and detailed methods then becoming an HTML expert can be tossed in your trash bin of career possibilities. This stuff is not easy and making mistakes can totally alter the appearance and effect of the Web page. Mistakes are inevitable in HTML coding.
With that in mind, I provide you with a couple of examples or rather “horror stories” of professional HTML coders and the situations that happened with their clients to exemplify the reality of Web faults.
“One time, I was writing a webpage and I put in the colors in the CSS. But I left off the final letter in my hex code. So when I thought I was putting up a gorgeous blue site ended up being baby-puke green. AAACK!”
“This is just 5 months ago: a client of mine was complaining about the look of his new site.
I had to find out his old mac was still running OS9 and he uses Netscape 4.5….”
HTML coders and those involved with Web coding should be recognized as the kings and queens of the Web. Although programs like Dreamweaver and CofeeCup make the process much easier for us newbies, there is still a science behind the way one approaches the perfectly arranged numbers and figures that creates something as grand and accessible as the Web. It’s an art. The abjection I often feel when thinking of typing in the figures for HTML are turned into positive emotions because I remember that the final product, after endless tweaks and critiques, will serve as an avenue for information to the world. The value of understanding HTML is clear. I will forever be in awe of those who can eloquently design with HTML and pull together their creativity for something that impacts lives and perpetrates the advancements of the Web.
Before you read this blog post, go ahead and check out Nicole’s blog post at http://tinyurl.com/ykjqb7g.
I think it’s rather clear why I chose to discuss my friend Nicole’s blog this week. I am a documentary fein. Anything that documents things in general hooks me and reels me in like a great white whale. I am fascinated with my camcorder and my slew of cameras that capture moments and express them in a way that words never could. The best part of documenting life is the way they appear in the playback mode. They seem so full of movement and expression that you hardly even remember being in the presence of something so great. I often times playback a clip of something on my camcorder just minutes after it was shot and marvel at the people and scenery as if it weren’t right in front of me. Here is the beauty of documentation.
Nicole’s blog was an overview of her favorite documentary, “Letting Go.” It uncovers the struggles, successes and personality of professional surfer Kelly Slater and his journey of trying to win his sixth World Champion Tour (WTC). Nicole peeks into the essence of the documentary by writing how the interviews and footage affected her. Throughout the blog you see the excitement in the diction that Nicole uses, expressing, releasing, documenting. Her words are gleaming with feelings and sensations all due to a simple look into the life of a surfer.
I love this. I live for this. I want to take a leap away from the content of Nicole’s blog and hone in more specifically and accurately on the way it affected her. I will say for certain that a look into the most intimate moments of someone else’s mind imparts vigor and transcends understanding about the world. I probably mustered up more useful information from my documentary-watching binges than a year at an accredited University. I promise you this blog readers that hedging open the door of documentation will shed light on an otherwise dark and gray area. Nicole exemplifies a typical situation that starts with a passion for something (surfing) and gets reaffirmed by opening up her mind and inviting in the thoughts of someone else’s. Watching documentaries or peering into the playback mode is communication. It’s communicating relying on the most important part- listening. We (as the audience) are forced to sit and listen to every word, not able to interrupt the flow of thought.
“All the great novels, all the great films, all the great dramas are fictions that actually tell us the truth about us or about human nature or about human situations without being tied into the minutia of documentary events. Otherwise we might as well just make documentaries.” – Jeremy Northam
There is nothing more enrapturing than a good documentary. Thanks to NetFlix and its limitless documentary-watching capabilities offered to members, I have been able to view hundreds of brilliantly conducted and award-winning documentaries. Heavy Metal in Baghdad is a feature film documentary that follows the journey of Acrassicauda, a heavy metal band from Iraq. It’s touching, humbling, sad, adrenaline-spiking, funny and extremely real.
Directors Eddy Moretti and Suroosh Alvi ventured to Iraq in 2003 to start a documentary about the only known heavy metal band in Iraq. Acrassicauda, latin for “black scorpion” was originally made up of Firas (bass), Tony (lead guitar), Marwan (drums), Faisal (rhythm guitar), and Waleed (lead vocals), playing music influenced by Western undertones. The band is constantly under Muslim scrutiny and has to conduct daily life carefully and selectively, not to offend their country and to avoid the reputation of “satan-worshippers.” In order to avoid any conflicts with their lyricism, they have to fabricate and coverup the harshness of their music with words that will please the nation of Iraq (upholding Saddam Hussein in a worthy light). They got past a few security checkpoints and army men, they created a small fan base in their hometown, they even recorded a few songs to distribute, but they never earned the respect of being a conducive part of Iraq’s prosperity.
As the band began to take shape, so did the seriousness of the war. Iraq was no longer a warm place that these men could call home, but more like a ticking bomb that would ultimately destroy the comforts and familiarities they grew up with. This group of young Iraqi men all had dreams of becoming something, but were forced to flee from their country to in order to sustain life and remain alive. The band suffered greatly. They lost their lead singer, they lost the hope of becoming an influential and well-respected heavy metal band, and most significantly they lost the instruments they used to make the their music. The instruments were used to pay the rent of a one bedroom apartment in an Iraqi refugee ghetto in Syria.
One particular scene rattled my emotions. The directors allowed the members of Acrissicauda to view a roughly-edited version of the documentary they had shot thus far. Watching these young, talented, hard-working men look at themselves talk about their struggles surfaced much anger, sadness, regret, hopelessness and defeat. Essentially, these men were looking at their lives from a bird-eye view, wondering how their kismet’s became so grave. Penniless and shivering in a cold Syrian apartment, this group of young Iraqi men saw their stories become an inspiration to the world. The unwavering pride in their country and ability to boldly share the most intimate details of their lives proved to be the most admirable traits of Acrassicauda.
In efforts to keep their music alive, Acrassicauda moved to Turkey. Although life in Turkey proved to be rocky, the band was still creating sounds that touched lives and introduced new forms of expression to varying cultures. The spirit of Acrassicauda is that of respect, strength of character, and willpower.
This year, the band managed to move to the United States for a more safe and stable future. They live in a modest apartment in Elizabeth, N.J. with one corner piled high with guitars. Truly, this band will always play their music regardless of their location on a map. The ever-glowing flame held up high by these men to ward off the obstacles that come along with living in the middle of an extremely oppressed and dangerous nation continues to roar.
I am an extremely picky person when it comes to design. When I am browsing professional Web sites it has to be extremely impressive for me to stay on that page and actually invest time into it. The most complicated part is that the designs that impress me are not exactly the pinnacle of Web design. I’ve browsed many professional journalists’ Web sites and thought the overall look was weak. The style of professional Web portfolio’s that draws me in the most are those that belong to photographers. I suppose this statement highlights the truth that images and layout create the very essence of a Web page. To further support my findings, I found one journalist’s portfolio that caught my eye but then realized after reading her “about” section she is a part-time photographer. Truly, photographers have a special attribute about them that suck me in like water.
I think this is pretty self-explanatory. Arnold has displayed his achievements in a Web portfolio that is clear and legible. Although this Web page has more color than I’m usually attracted to, it flows well together and make for an aesthetically pleasing Web page.
This Web portfolio is genius. It’s so simple that there is hardly enough details for me to discuss. I was not confused. I didn’t need to silence an auto-play music feed. I was able to find out exactly what the author does, did and will do. I did not get a headache from the clutter or graphics. Above all, the page is clean, concise and to the point.
I was so enraptured by this Web portfolio. Although it looks super simple, I assure you that this is dense in quality work. I think I must belong to a small subculture of people that are drawn to everything black and white in Web design. Call it boring and unoriginal but I find black and white to be the most professional and respectable. I admit, it is a bit intimidating trying to figure out for certain the kismet of my Web page. I am trying to itemize a list of things that attracts me to certain Web pages, mix it up, make it my own, throw my name on it and be able to still stand out in a heavily growing world of fierce journalists. It seems impossible. The only thing that I can do is make the dive into the digital sea, hoping that at least one person out there will appreciate the the approach I took.
Las Vegas native Lauren Byrge is a big fish in a big sea. In 2007 she earned a degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in Journalism and Media Studies with an emphasis in advertising. She has since worked in the media industry of Las Vegas in the areas of television, radio, and public relations. She currently works for Clear Channel Communications, the largest owner of AM, FM and shortwave radio stations.
I was privileged enough to have interviewed Ms. Byrge on varying topics involving media, advertising and the internet.
Courtney: How has working for Clear Channel changed your outlook on media and communication?
Lauren Byrge: Working at Clear Channel has changed my outlook on media and communication in that I never realized that this industry is advertisement-driven. It seems like a given, but it never occurred to me that every form of media; TV, radio, newspapers, Internet, magazines, billboards, are all driven by ad sales.
Courtney: In what way has radio managed to thrive in such a wavering economy?
Lauren Byrge: Just like any other business, radio has taken a hit from the economy. Local and national businesses alike are cutting their media spending budgets, and radio has not been exempt. The good part is that our sales teams have learned to be more creative and flexible to accommodate the needs of our clients. For example, we offer better spot rates, and more added value, which can be anything from an extra mentioning on one of our station’s morning shows, or a banner ad on our websites, or a few other options. When clients buy air time on our radio stations, they now get more “bang for their buck” and more penetration in the Las Vegas market through the Internet and events at their business if they choose that.
Courtney: What have you been involved with before your current position at Clear Channel?
Lauren Byrge: I got into radio as a Sales Assistant coming from the local PBS TV station as a Volunteer Coordinator Assistant. Running the volunteer program for PBS entailed many aspects of the media world that included planning station events, producing commercials, writing magazine advertisements, and station partner relations. It was also non-profit media so business was conducted in a different way than for-profit media. I saw the Sales Assistant position with Clear Channel as an opportunity to learn more about media sales and the business of taking clients’ needs and ideas and creating useful, successful campaigns for the market’s consumers.
Courtney: Aside from your work with Clear Channel and PBS what have you been involved with in the Las Vegas community?
Lauren Byrge: Having worked in local mediums like television and radio, I also had a weekend job of managing the PR for a local boxing gym and MMA events that the gym’s owner put on at Planet Hollywood and the Palms. I wrote press releases, managed VIP clientele and media for the events, and managed the ring card girls. This position greatly utilized my Journalism and Media Studies degree.
Courtney: How has the growth of the internet affected your work?
Lauren Byrge: The internet has become a new challenge for the media industry because the Internet audience is harder to capture than television or radio audiences. With radio for instance, listeners are dialed in to a certain kind of music, which creates a certain demographic. Clear Channel overcame this obstacle by offering its radio Website users a live-stream of their on-air programming.
Courtney: How does living in Las Vegas affect media sales in general? Do you feel that because of its rapid growth Las Vegas has provided Clear Channel more sales revenue?
Lauren Byrge: The rapid growth of Las Vegas definitely affects media sales revenue. I would say the rapid growth has provided more listeners to our radio stations, but because of the hard times, I don’t think it has helped revenue as a whole for Clear Channel. Of course the market grows as the city grows, but I think once consumers start stimulating the economy more, it will all pick up again and businesses will allow more advertising dollars in their budget.
As a Las Vegas native Ms. Byrge plans to continue her work in advertising and communications. She would ultimately like to become a full-time, hands-on media planner, creating advertising campaigns with different forms of media in congruency with her client’s needs. Her acquaintance with the Las Vegas community and ability to approach the evolving world of journalism make Byrge a standout candidate for planning and organizing large-scale events in the town that she loves and knows so well.
“Googability”- Top 5 ways to raise your ranking on Google
Yes, it’s true, I have Googled myself. Truthfully, about every fortnight as I am sitting on my laptop thinking of the next avenue of the internet I want to invade, I decide to do it. I google myself. C…O…U… my fingers tremble as I begin to think of the possible results my search engine adventures will arise.
First, I start with just typing in my full name and admire the little blue link that pops up to my Facebook. I scroll down the page a little and discover a bunch of websites that were created by other Courtney’s or milk product web sites. Courtney Milko. Not an extremely popular name but thanks to Courtney Love my first name is an icon of the 80’s grunge scene and not exactly a representation of a young Las Vegas journalist. After perusing and reflecting upon my Googability, an immense cloud of disappointment rained on my Google high and got me thinking “what must I do oh Google gods to create a real face on the internet and mold myself into a successful and impressive virtual queen?” Actually, I would be satisfied as being the humble servant to the virtual queen, just enough recognition to get by on.
I have used my eclectic knowledge of the internet to form the following 5 steps to achieve a Googable name, sans the headache.
You do not have to be a genius to create an original slang word. Once I submitted a couple phrases (in no way or form brilliant), I began to see the strings starting to align with people from all over the world.
2. Create a blog
A public blog will definitely get your name out there. Hone in on a specific tone or niche and people who appreciate your writing will get you the hits you need to gain some Google ground.
3. Comment blogs
Some blogs allow you to type a comment in as a guest. If you find an interesting blog and would like to create a connection take the opportunity to express your appreciation and also include a link to your own blog.
4. Create, tag and make relevant
Create a Google account immediately. It’s free, easy and also the object of your affection. Create accounts under your full name with companies that work with Google (i.e. YouTube, Myspace, Facebook). Next, with everything you write on the internet make sure that it is linked or tagged to another site. Too many things get lost on the internet because they have not been linked to related web sites. Lastly, everything you write on the internet should be relevant and congruent. No body has time to read your blog that lacks in good and interesting content.
It’s free and on the brink of overtaking any other social network. Your Twitter can act as your homepage and include links to your blog, Facebook, Myspace or professional profile.
Remember that your name on Google is extremely powerful. Your future employers have the power to know as many things about you as you allow. The most important thing to remember is keep everything as professional as possible. Those pictures from Suzy’s going away party last weekend probably won’t get you that job as a substitute teacher or store manager. Good luck.
Truly, a decent read. Not provoking in the sense that when doing domestic household tasks (i.e showering, brushing your teeth) prompt you to mimic the essence of the main character or that while driving down the street you begin to imagine life as a time traveler. Before I read this book, I still had the eeriness of the 1895 Science-fiction novel “The Time Machine” by H.G. Wells ringing in my ears. Both stories manipulating the progression of time, both touching on an activity that every human does to switch up on otherwise mundane lifestyle. Escapism.
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffeneggger introduces its main character as Henry, an involuntary time traveler who weaves throughout the life of Clare, his wife. In her life, she is introduced to Henry when she is a little girl and he a graying man, establishing a platonic friendship that grows into a romantic one. As times progresses, Clare finds herself waiting for his next return (from the future), never focusing on her youth or developing into her own person. I discovered early on in the book that Clare’s life is completely dependent upon Henry’s, wondering when he will come and when he will go. Henry, trying to adjust to his problem of never belonging in a proper time slot, is hindering his relationship with Clare by never looking reality and actuality in the face.
Henry escapes situations and is thrown into another, more challenging one. His life is shapeless, fish-tailing around all the corners without ever truly embracing the beauty of each moment. The married couple conceive a child, live happy moments and go through the motions of life, but trying to wrap your head around the relationship between Henry and Clare is capped when their lack of communication forms a dark gray cloud over how the entire story unfolds.
Time is such a relative thing, to some people it never stops and to others trying to get through an episode of 60 minutes seems an impossible feat. As I I started to figure out this unique relationship I discovered that their co-dependency, Clare hinging on Henry’s next return and Henry only remaining sane because of Clare, is exactly what kept these two alive. Clare’s reaction to her husband leaving in a poof for weeks at a time was that of support and selflessness. Henry returns to his wife not knowing all the details of that moment or the one preceding it but his dedication to his wife introduces a kind of love that most novels fail at illustrating.
Although their love can seem intangible to any jaded reader, Henry and Clare DeTamble truly provide you an inspiring example of living life unmeasured. Letting go of time and escaping the chains of a tedious schedule can revive a sense of freedom I think has been lost in “the daily grind.” I feel that trying to understand time would be to waste it. Love and life is timeless.
