Monday, January 16, 2012

Everleigh Hope Hudson is here!


She is 3 weeks old today! Thats how long it took me to find the time to finish this video and get it uploaded. Watch the video to see some of her first moments, and April's changes during pregnancy.



Click the YouTube logo above to watch on the YouTube website.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Video Project from The Roanoke Times.

So I got to work on a new project at work. The Roanoke Times is looking to hire someone for a specialized position, Digital Product Manager. Traditional means of advertising weren't working.
The type of person they are looking for would be a little harder to target.

I worked with a group at work where we brainstormed and came up with a viral video to try to grab the attention of people that may be interested and have the right skill set for this job. I worked mostly on the editing of the video. Take a look at what we did and let me know your thoughts on it.

Watch it here!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Proper cell phone etiquette

Ok, I've got to talk about cell phones for a minute. Why does everyone act like an idiot when they have their cellphone up to their face? Here are a few examples from the past few weeks.

1. The "Talk way to loud" person. 
Believe it or not, as technology gets better, it reduces the need to speak loudly into your mobile device. Surprising right? So we are in a restaurant and someone clear across the room answers their phone. I first noticed how loud and obnoxious her ringtone was. Come to find out, it matched the user quite well. I could hear her entire conversation, not to mention she is at a table with four other people. Why do people feel the need to speak 5 levels higher than their normal voice? It isn't going to help the person on the other end hear you any better. The funniest part, she didn't even know the name of the restaurant she was in!

2. The "Answer my phone in the theater" person. 
So this incredibly rude person had already annoyed me by talking through the first 30 minutes of this movie. Then her phone rings, I think my jaw it the nasty sticky popcorn covered floor when I heard her answer it. She tells the person she is in a movie. So surely she is going to tell this person she has to go, as to not bother the other 100 people in the theater. NOPE, she continues to have a conversation. My blood was boiling and right before I said something, the guy in front of me yells, "GET OFF THE PHONE!". 
She gasps back and quickly gets off the phone, then replies to the man "You didn't have to be so F#(@ing rude about it!" 
I lost it. I turn to her and say, "You have been talking the whole movie!" 
She says, "I have not." 
The only thing I could say next was bull#(*%! 
So then she says "Well go get a manager then." 
I calmly said, "No, then I would miss MORE of the movie." Well that finally shut her up.

3. The "I'm on the phone so I don't look like I'm alone all the time" person. 
I see so many people at the mall, or grocery store, alone, chatting on the phone. Can people not do any simple chores without blabbing to someone else about what a great deal on canned corn they just found? If the person on the other end cared so much, maybe they should be there with you. I even so a woman so busy on the phone she stopped in the middle of the parking lot saying, "I don't even know where I parked…"
Gee, maybe if you weren't on the phone while driving and parking when you got there, you might remember where you parked.

Well I'm sure that is enough rambling for now. Please share some of your most annoying cell phone faux pas. You may inspire me to continue this thread!

Monday, October 31, 2011

New Portfolio Website!

So I've been busy with baby stuff and updating my website. Check it out!  

Now that I'm done, I'm ready to design a new one. Whenever time permits.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Bad Design Elements

Graphic design programs like Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign have become readily available to the masses. Now anyone with the software thinks they are a graphic designer. The ad below has some of the my favorite bad design elements. A large gradient background, magically floating items, and just boring. But there is one more thing I didn't mention, do you see it?

Most people didn't really see the biggest thing with this ad. Most graphically inclined people saw it right away. HIS FREAKIN' HEAD IS MISSING! I understand the most likely what you to focus on the product and not the model, but this isn't a department store manikin, it is a real person. This could have been solved a little more creatively. Here is what I would have done.

I faded the edge a little. Still not a great solution.

I put the products into boxes. I think this works best.
It just looks ridiculous, an all around bad ad in my opinion. Anyone else agree or am I just being picky? Because it seriously looks like the Bride from Kill Bill swooped in and clipped his head off.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Staind Self-Titled Album Review


I think I just stepped into a time machine. Back to 1999 when I first heard Mudshovel and proceeded to buy Staind's album Dysfunction. This is their best outing since then. Not that some of the stuff they have been putting out hasn't been good, but honestly most of it was too soft, or radio friendly for me. I'll never forget the first time I heard Staind on the local hit station K92. It blew me away.

Anyway, lets talk about something good, the new self titled album is awesome! It is heavy, but still has melody. The guitars are tuned super low and the distortion is good and crunchy. The bass his heavy and fat. Aaron Lewis brings back the screaming, did he even do that on the last record? Not that I listen to hard rock for screaming, but Aaron has a great singing voice and a great growl that fits perfectly with the heavier parts of songs.

I'll warn you now, there is a song named Wannabe "featuring" Snoop Dogg, I know, sounds like it doesn't belong. It is actually a really good fast track It follows a slow "Alice in Chains"-ie song, and picks up the flow of the album. I think Snoop has like 2 lines, it actually fits well in the overall flow.

It contains 9 heavy songs and a ballad at the end, much like Dysfunction from 1999. I can't really pick any top tracks, they are all so good. But I will say The Bottom is one of the heaviest, you may have already heard this one, it was featured on the Transformers 3 soundtrack.

Bottom line, buy it.

5 Stars.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Spicy Burger Review


I haven't been to Red Robin much, I have a hard time paying 8 to 9 bucks for a burger, but they taste great! I got the Burnin' Love Burger, it has fried jalapenos, tangy salsa and spicy pepper jack cheese on a cayenne-seasoned burger. I know that sounds like spicy overkill, but it was a great balance of flavor and heat. I don't feel that I had many jalapenos on mine, but I'm sure that varies. I'm glad they wrap these burgers in that paper, because it is kind of a mess, but most things this good are. It isn't low on the calories or fat either, so if you are dieting, plan to blow your points/calories on this one. It is worth saving for all week. If you enjoy spice, get this burger. I give it a 3 out of 5 on a heat scale. 

Calories: 930; Fat: 60g; Carbs: 54g; Protein: 45g

Heat Level


Taste