Free Web Ad Courtesy of MySpace

Who would have thought the one class that my professor never taught would have been the most helpful class. My Introduction to New Media class my third semester of college. Yes New Media a.k.a. Web 2.0.

What I should have learned: CSS, Web Design, HTML and much much more. Where does this come into play, you ask? Welcome to my new job (I did reference this job in my last post). So what's the solution? Ask lots of questions, read lots of other people's code, and trial and error.

This brings us to my latest excursion in the world of Web 2.0. MySpace. What many people consider dying or dead is a way for a free one page web advertisement.

As much as I love free things, like we all do, the way of out smarting MySpace defeats the purpose it was set up for; Social Networking. There no longer is the interaction of brand with consumer. There is no way for us to respond to what consumers are saying on their forum.

But to get around the MySpace format here's what you need to do:

I used the original MySpace. Don't upgrade. From there create your CSS code. You will also need the code to block the MySpace applications (if you need this shoot me an email and I will get you some code, but this might need to be trial and error on your part too, or do a Google search for div overlays).

From there take your CSS and your MySpace div overlay code and paste it in the "About Me" section. Then you can write your content and paste it in you "General" section. And there you have it. Your customized full page free web advertisement courtesy of MySpace. Enjoy and let me know what you create!

Rock on,
~Lane J

January Check-In

It's been a while since I blogged. I know I know I need to do a better job at keeping up with this.

I've been quite busy the past few weeks. I've been learning CSS and more HTML coding, learning the ins and outs of MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Zinch and all my other choices for Social Media. Who would have known so much was out there?

But there's more going on still beside Social Media for me. There was the PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon where I helped my friend out. There is the amazing Arizona Cardinals who made it to the Super Bowl. There was my decision to train for the IMS Half Marathon on February 15th. I think that is about it.

I guess I will check in in about another 2 weeks. Hopefully sooner!

Rock on,
Lane J

Facebook Fiasco Turned Good

For the past month, I have been working with my university's Facebook (FB) account. Someone had set it up before I took over. I was trying to update the information and keep it updated.

Last Friday I sent an email to Facebook because I was trying to set up a Fan Page for the University and was having issues putting something together.

Monday night, the last email of the day was from Facebook. We had violated a term of service with the profile we had.

Per our Terms of Use, Facebook profiles must represent a single individual. Users are not permitted to maintain an account under an organization's name, or use personal accounts primarily to promote themselves professionally.

With this, our entire profile was locked and almost everything was lost. Before having lost our profile, I had started working on a Fan Page to be launch the same time our latest marketing pieces hit mailboxes.

By the generosity of Carly at Facebook, they were going to move the Fan Page to my personal account. We had also found a Fan Page that was unauthorized. No one from our university had set it up. Our outside marketing firm had no idea. Hoping my new friend Carly could help, I sent her a quick email seeing if she could take down the unauthorized page and transfer the fans to the new page I had created.

Fingers crossed and Wednesday afternoon, our fan page went from 16 fans to 206 in less than 5 seconds.

In sending an email the ended up closeing what I had worked on building for a month, we were able to condense everything into one page. My Facebook fiascon turned out to be great!

Thanks Carly at Facebook!!!

Rock on,
Lane J

Do nots of Text Messaging.

My family has never had texting. There was the occasional trial period when we signed new contracts but other than that no.

Since moving out on my own, I have had texting. Recently my family realized it and well now they have texting.

So this brings me to things you shouldn't do when you have text messaging:

• Text your daughter during your anniversary dinner
• Text your daughter while she is at a playoff game
• Text someone telling them you are texting the person across from you.
• Text a family member a time zone away to ask them if they are awake at 6am on a Saturday.

Four things I wish you will not do.

Rock on,
Lane J

Another thing I need for Christmas...

There are 2 things that I can cook, Chicken Enchilada Casserole and Chocolate Chip Cookies. However, both of them require my measuring cups. My 1/4 cup especially.

Yesterday I baked cookies and a Skookie. A few of my friends requested cookies last night before they were done. Sorry couldn't fly them to St. Louis. And for those of you here in Phoenix, you have to come and get them.

The Skookie

Well back to my measuring cup. I try to clean up as I cook. I put things in the dishwasher when I'm finished with them, and I put away ingredient as I go. When the cookies were in the oven, I put my measuring cups in the dishwasher. Put them on the top rack where I always do.

The cookies came out of the oven. I tried a couple. YUM!!!! Then as I was getting ready for bed I turned on the dishwasher.

I was having issues falling asleep last night. So I got up to get some water and noticed an unusual smell. I couldn't figure out what it was. Finally, I realized it had to be something in the dishwasher. It was. My 1/4 cup measuring cup had come loose from the top rack, fell through the bottom rack and landed on the heating element.

When you add a plastic cup to hot metal, you get this:

The Aftermath

If you are still looking to get me something for Christmas, I need a new measuring cup. Or, my friends, if you would like anymore cookies or Chicken Enchilada Casserole, I will need a new measuring cup.

~Lane J

Today's Path: Hope and friends...the only way

With the economic situation, several people are starting to doubt. Doubt the current. Doubt the future.

Just in case you didn't know...doubting will NOT help! Because when you think nothing can help, there's hope. I have told friends there's hope when it came to sports, family, jobs and much more. As Cicero said,

"While there's life, there's hope."

Hope and friends help us through life. They help us in good times and in bad. As Aristotle once said,

"Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods."

How true was he is saying this? This is why anytime a friend moves away or leaves, you feel sad. Remember true friends will never forget you. And if someone does forget you, you still have the impact they made on you.

Every person you meet helps in making you you. Whether it be they helped you or made you learn something. Even the bad people you meet, it reassures you you don't want to be like them.

Today take the time and call an old friend. Let them know you remember them and how they helped you or why they are important to you.

Even through the hardships in the economy today, take with you hope and friends.

One last quote for today:

"Many people walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints on your heart."

To all my friends, far and near,
~Lane J

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I decided at last minute to go home and surprise the fam for Thanksgiving. All went well. No one had a heart attack which is always a plus.

Yummy turkey. Occasionally for some reason my family will have ham and no turkey, but this year we had turkey. Mashed tatoes. No green bean casserole this year. =(

All day football. Life is good.