Laura's Winning Ideas

I’ve been noodling about the features of the xhtml code that runs blogs.

You see, this entire blog is run without static html pages. Every screen is made on-the-fly from entries in a MySQL database (which runs from behind a firewall).

I’ve been wondering whether I could produce a proposal in this medium, and what the advantages would be:

• format control – no weird glitches from one page to another because every page is fresh from the style sheet.
• data presentation in multiple sections – for example, descriptions of projects could be presented both in the Experience section and again in the Resumes of the project team.

The sidebar would contain the table of contents, so that each section could be reviewed as in a traditional proposal. Also in the sidebar, another directory could focus on your key benefits, discriminators or issues. (Read on ...)

I’ve been doing proposals so long, I know when to use two spaces and when to use one space after the period.

One space after the period is the correct typographic answer for typeface fonts (where www takes up more space than iii).

Two spaces became the standard when typewriters came into use. This is because typewriters cannot perform the delicate operation of providing varying spaces for letters. With each letter equally spaced from another, two spaces greatly enhanced readability of typewritten pages.

If you happen to use a font that emulates typewritten copy, you should use two spaces after the period. (Courier is one example of this type of font. Email is the only place I occasionally see these fonts used). With all fonts that moderate spacing (www takes up more space than iii) you should use one space after the period.

Today I’m reading through postings at two very different blogs.

One is the blog of an artist, Susan Reynolds. Looking in an Artist’s mind is like opening someone else’s junk drawer, finding an odd assortment of objects, twine and string, all too precious to leave behind, and many with a story to tell. Susan’s Blog is a peek in her junkdrawer. Her website and biography are neatly organized and cross linked. Her blog is more relaxed, a place to tuck away tidbits that don’t yet belong in the gallery because they haven’t yet been transformed into public art.
I found her recommendation of a Folk Singer/Song Writer, Carrie Newcomer. I’ve heard Carrie in concert and played her albums for months afterwards. One of her songs, “My Father’s Only Son” is a favorite of mine.

Susan would enjoy another artist I’m hoping to have appear here in June, Tom Prasado Rao, who performs with his bride, Cary Cooper as The Dreamsicles. I’ll send her an invitation, even though she lives on the east coast and isn’t likely to be near Wisconsin in June. You just never know. (Read on ...)

Guy Kawasaki spoke here recently, but I was most impressed with how they got him to agree to speak in Milwaukee.

Innovative Thinking: He’d been lured here by a donation of tickets to the Frozen Four Men’s College Hockey Playoffs being held in Milwaukee. A good deal for eInnovate, whose corporate sponsors (particularly WE energies) supplied the tickets in lieu of Guy’s usual speaking fee. Two players cooked up this scheme, Candy Renwall of Technology Business Partners, and Barbara Elliott Eaves of Iniglobal.

The mood was more festive than most innovation/high tech events. It was a great turnout from throughout the state, and everyone enjoyed hearing about the special treatment offered to Guy.

Guy Kawasaki is a hockey nut. So the organizers scouted out resources and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. In addition to the game tickets, Guy spent the morning with his two sons and a rag-tag collection of folks playing hockey at the Petit Olympic skating facility. Bonnie Blair (former Olympic speed skater) helped arrange the event. Her husband and children participated in the pickup game, along with some hockey celebrities.

A key to making things happen is to USE ALL YOUR RESOURCES. Money is only sometimes a constraint. Our fear, and lack of confidence, self-esteem or chutzpah are more often the bigger constraint. (Read on ...)