http://www.astuteo.com/index.php You get what you pay for. en Matt Everson Copyright 2009 2009-01-02T22:19:20-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/10_unavoidable_reasons_to_begin_a_web_project/ http://astuteo.com/blog/10_unavoidable_reasons_to_begin_a_web_project/#When:22:19:20Z “Project meetings” are actually just hanging out at the coffee shop.Unlike the rest of your weekly meetings having to do with unreasonable deadlines and seemingly unnecessary deliverables, the most effective web project meetings usually involve kicking back with good coffee and pondering the incredible potential of it all. Let it be noted that these “meetings” can happen as often as you like, and on whatever days of the week you need to get the heck outta the office. Did I mention my office just happens to be above a pub and across the street from the best coffee in town?Spearheading a web project looks awesome on a resumé.If you’re in marketing, or any other field for that matter, spearheading the development of a new web application adds some serious punch to your resumé. Not only does it provide tangible evidence of your talent, it also shows that you’re a great project manager with an eye for developing efficiencies. It's not always easy to enhance your resumé once you're engrained in a position, but with a little initiative a simple web project can do exactly that. Articles, Online Marketing, Web Development 2009-01-02T22:19:20-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/competition_grade_coffee_cups/ http://astuteo.com/blog/competition_grade_coffee_cups/#When:02:21:15Z Who knew there were actually competition grade mugs for your coffee, espresso, and cappuccino? Stuff and More Stuff, Via! Via! 2008-11-26T02:21:15-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/the_jerk_store/ http://astuteo.com/blog/the_jerk_store/#When:00:47:28Z I stopped into Walgreen's yesterday to satisfy a craving for Red Vines. I prefer Red Vines to Twizzlers because the box has little drawings that kids have submitted printed on the bottom. The childrens' execution is never any good, but man alive if eight-year-olds don't have the most brilliant creative concepts. Anyway, I stepped into the checkout line behind five or six other customers and the clerk asked, "Did you see our weekly special," directing the guy who just needed AA batteries to the Diet Snapple Singles to Go Peach Tea packets sitting on the countertop. "Only $1.99 a box." "YeahIsawitthanks," the guy was forced to respond in order to successfully get the hell out of Walgreens and back into powering up whatever electronic device had just died and ruined his day. His tromping away cleared the counter for the next lady. "Did you see our weekly special," the clerk asked her, this time making a Vanna White-like gesture with his hands. "Only $1.99 a box." Articles, Outside The Office 2008-10-31T00:47:28-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/gin_and_titonic/ http://astuteo.com/blog/gin_and_titonic/#When:15:19:38Z Gin and tonic drinkers, rejoice! Just when you thought the drink couldn't get any better... Outside The Office, Stuff and More Stuff, Via! Via! 2008-10-15T15:19:38-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/old_tom_foolery_greeting_cards/ http://astuteo.com/blog/old_tom_foolery_greeting_cards/#When:17:11:20Z Brilliant little buggers. Why didn't I think of this idea? Design, Outside The Office, Stuff and More Stuff, Via! Via! 2008-10-04T17:11:20-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/no_www_class_b_validation/ http://astuteo.com/blog/no_www_class_b_validation/#When:02:17:08Z I used to think no-www.org was trivial, but it actually has major SEO implications. Via! Via!, Web Development 2008-10-04T02:17:08-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/how_to_sell_your_home_fast_in_a_slow_housing_market/ http://astuteo.com/blog/how_to_sell_your_home_fast_in_a_slow_housing_market/#When:20:12:49Z Today's housing market is intimidating. Inventories are high, sales are low, and a good many people are resigned to the fact they'll be staying where they are for awhile. I suppose my wife and I could have taken on that attitude earlier this year, being in the same situation (or worse) as condominium owners. But we needed a change, and surrender isn't really our style. At the time we listed our property, condos here in Madison, Wisconsin, were averaging over 110 days on the market. We sold ours in three and half weeks. While I can't guarantee you'll have similar luck today, I do know a few tricks for unloading your home fast. Here's hoping it gives you the edge you need. Articles, Outside The Office 2008-10-03T20:12:49-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/the_lake_wobegon_distribution/ http://astuteo.com/blog/the_lake_wobegon_distribution/#When:00:42:47Z An absolutely fascinating analysis of talent in professional baseball. Outside The Office, Via! Via! 2008-10-03T00:42:47-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/tv_killed_the_human_star/ http://astuteo.com/blog/tv_killed_the_human_star/#When:12:27:33Z This just in... papier mache TV head guy has been shot. I really loved that guy. Design, Via! Via! 2008-09-16T12:27:33-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/globally_recognized_avatars/ http://astuteo.com/blog/globally_recognized_avatars/#When:15:53:46Z Astuteo now supports globally recognized avatars, aka Gravatars, in our blog commenting. Via! Via!, Web Development 2008-08-20T15:53:46-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/adding_twitter_to_your_website/ http://astuteo.com/blog/adding_twitter_to_your_website/#When:01:08:59Z This helpful little script helped me pop Twitter into the footer of my blog. Via! Via!, Web Development 2008-08-19T01:08:59-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/loading_gif_generator/ http://astuteo.com/blog/loading_gif_generator/#When:15:44:11Z Free loading GIFs for your sites and web applications. Via! Via! 2008-08-18T15:44:11-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/inching_ever_closer/ http://astuteo.com/blog/inching_ever_closer/#When:02:04:12Z A rather interesting map of countries that still don't use the metric system. Via! Via! 2008-08-15T02:04:12-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/brett_favre_new_york_jets_jersey/ http://astuteo.com/blog/brett_favre_new_york_jets_jersey/#When:18:08:40Z Well, it's better than a Vikings jersey, but a sad day in Titletown nonetheless. Outside The Office, Stuff and More Stuff, Via! Via! 2008-08-09T18:08:40-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/the_cheese_rap/ http://astuteo.com/blog/the_cheese_rap/#When:18:50:28Z Believe it or not, you can actually find more than one rap about cheese on YouTube. This one's the best though. Outside The Office, Via! Via! 2008-08-08T18:50:28-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/ups_trucks_dont_make_left_turns/ http://astuteo.com/blog/ups_trucks_dont_make_left_turns/#When:17:18:15Z Talk about thinking outside the box. Building Your Business, Via! Via! 2008-06-20T17:18:15-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/patricknet/ http://astuteo.com/blog/patricknet/#When:17:15:03Z Your niche source for news on the housing bubble burst in America. Outside The Office, Via! Via! 2008-05-01T17:15:03-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/simplefit/ http://astuteo.com/blog/simplefit/#When:17:14:48Z SimpleFit is the ideal fitness solution for anyone with a sendentary job, little time, and a minimal budget. It's just so, well, simple. Outside The Office, Personal Development, Via! Via! 2008-04-29T17:14:48-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/death_and_taxes/ http://astuteo.com/blog/death_and_taxes/#When:17:11:01Z Death and Taxes is an essential poster for any responsible citizen, graphic designer, or information junkie. Design, Stuff and More Stuff, Via! Via! 2007-12-17T17:11:01-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/omnifocus_professional_task_management/ http://astuteo.com/blog/omnifocus_professional_task_management/#When:20:10:12Z OmniFocus is the ultimate application for stress-free task management and productivity. I worship this program. Personal Development, Via! Via! 2007-12-12T20:10:12-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/the_superest/ http://astuteo.com/blog/the_superest/#When:21:20:54Z One guy draws a superhero. Another guy draws a more powerful superhero. That's The Superest in a nutshell. Design, Via! Via! 2007-11-01T21:20:54-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/the_perfect_martini/ http://astuteo.com/blog/the_perfect_martini/#When:04:44:39Z Courtesy of Jim Coudal. Design, Outside The Office, Via! Via! 2007-09-15T04:44:39-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/how_to_learn_to_stop_worrying_and_love_your_job/ http://astuteo.com/blog/how_to_learn_to_stop_worrying_and_love_your_job/#When:01:59:36Z When I was a kid, I used to draw pictures of my shoes – nice profile shots of my Nike Air Max IIs – perfect to the stitch. After a while I got pretty comfortable with it, so I started making design modifications on the fly. Really innovative stuff the Nike engineers hadn't thought of yet, like cool metal saw teeth along the sides, or air pockets half-filled with water. Mind you, I was ten years old at the time, so I wasn't particularly concerned with the logistics involved in bringing my creations to market. I mention logistics because I had every intention of seeing these babies through to development. I mean, they were frickin’ awesome. I couldn't stand to think I might never open that orange cardboard box and drop my feet into a pair. It was beyond comprehension. So I did what any ten-year-old would do: I typed up a letter and mailed the designs off to One Bowerman Drive, Beaverton, Oregon – Nike's corporate headquarters. Articles, Career Advancement 2007-09-12T01:59:36-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/ideo_method_cards/ http://astuteo.com/blog/ideo_method_cards/#When:15:22:15Z Both designers and entrepreneurs will benefit from IDEO's Method Cards, a simple tool meant to inspire creativity, uncover new approaches, and drive innovation. Building Your Business, Design, Stuff and More Stuff, Via! Via! 2007-09-10T15:22:15-06:00 http://astuteo.com/blog/web_design_cheat_sheets/ http://astuteo.com/blog/web_design_cheat_sheets/#When:19:35:44Z Web design and development cheatsheets are a fantastic tool for beginners and experts alike. Via! Via!, Web Development 2007-09-07T19:35:44-06:00