ParaTecVA is born

The group of Virtual Assistant professionals who will come to your rescue when 'technology' issues are just a bit too tough for you to handle.

[paratecva-blog]

Never Look Down On Someone Unless It Is To Help Them Up

Unknown

[paratecva-blog]

Marcus Malone Band 

Swansea Jazzland

St James Crescent

Swansea

[paratecva-blog]

Marcus Malone Band at Swansea Jazzland, St James Crescent, Swansea

[paratecva-blog]

Strange Happenings

We recently obliged a business connection by delivering a presentation for their networking group.  It's a group our Boss attends from-time-to-time and so it was something she delighted in doing.  

I was given the task of preparing the presentation which took about 3 hours to finish, then I past it on to the Boss to add her own notes, run through, and practise the slide timings.

Boss reported it went well as far as delivery was concerned however there were many challenges she had to tackle before presenting.  (IT infrastructure barriers/poor event promotion/disadvantageous scheduling).  I'm glad it wasn't my job to deliver it, as it appeared the network leader left the side down as far as getting the event planned, organised, promoted and executed.

After all our efforts to fulfil the request to deliver a business presentation which would offer the attendees some cutting-edge tips for improving their business growth, it was only natural that the Boss would ask the organiser for a recommendation via LinkedIn.  This word of mouth recommendation for a job well done is something we always rely on and have been delighted in the past to receive some first class comments from our clients and associates.

The recommendation eventually arrived.  Imagine the Boss' dismay and disappointment when the writer had spent half the recommendation extolling the benefits of attending the business network, instead of broadcasting to the LinkedIn community the quality and professionalism of the business.  Yes, it turned out to be a plug for the networking event, with just one final short sentence actually recommending our services at PBS.  

Needlesstosay it wasn't accepted and published on our LinkedIn page.

The Boss was magnanimous in her reaction and graceful in her pain, but I can't help feeling resentful and just a bit furious! 

Some people just DON'T GET IT!

[paratecva-blog]

The New Twitter Heading Image

Just availed myself of the new Twitter heading space.

I wouldn't be surprised if all these social media platforms soon merged as far as interface is concerned. I'd rather they remained unique, but they are all competing for the same share of the market, and believe they need to make their features the same as the other players.

Anyway, it didn't take long at all to get something designed for the header so here are some quick tips for you if you're about to tackle it.

The Size Restrictions:    Maximum width 1252  and height  626

Body of the Header:      Twitter will lift the profile description and place it in the centre of the rectangle.  Your Profile Pic will appear at the top with the words centred below it.

There's plenty of space to the left and right if you'd like to fill in more detail about your services.

HERE'S WHAT WE'VE COME UP WITH

Made using GIMP

So, when uploaded to our Twitter account it looks like this:

Quite why Tumblr pushed out that tweet early I don't know, because at the time it was published I was still writing the post ... see it in the flesh here: ParaTecVa.

So, that's mine done, now on to the client accounts.

Have fun designing yours folks.

[paratecva-blog]

Dance is Art

[paratecva-blog]

Happy Summer days spent racing across the wide expanse of Swansea Bay. ~ Caro the Yorkie.

[paratecva-blog]

O! To Be Young Again And Able To Ski Like This!

I'm having withdrawal symptoms and it's hurting.

I didn't get to go on my annual skiing holiday this season and I'm sad.  It's such a wrench.  Anyone who has enjoyed the adrenaline surge will know what I'm talking about.  Nothing is as uplifting as skiing down the mountain in the early morning sunshine when the pistes are freshly bashed, or there's been heavy snowfall overnight.  

Even the ride on the chair up to the station is enthralling as you catch sight of, what can only be described as, an imaginary carpet of diamonds below you. It looks like someone has scattered billions upon billions of glistening gems over the milky white mountainside, as the sun blazes down from the azure sky.

Everywhere I go at home I'm reminded of my missed trip to the snowy Alps not least of all by the people who keep asking me "Why aren't you skiing on your birthday this year?"

It's my own fault.  I should have ditched the work ... outsourced it to someone else.  I should have taken control of the planning myself instead of leaving it to others.  I should have been prepared to go it alone, rather than risk the whole thing falling through, as it inevitably did.

This won't happen again, I have made myself a solid promise.

I'm catching up by watching videos of previous trips and by speaking to friends about how much they are enjoying themselves in the snow.  This will have to suffice this year ... because soon there won't be any snow left to lust over, it'll be total melt-down.

I thought you'd like to see just what it is I'm ranting on about ... just watch what Cody Townsend can do with a pair of skis! 

So what do you think, are you with me on this?

[paratecva-blog]

Thank a teacher today

I hope you are lucky enough to have met an inspiring teacher in your lifetime.

I have.

The first went to enormous lengths to help me make up for lost schooling. I knew at the time that that teacher was a special breed of teacher because it was evident that they actually loved children.

My childhood ill health meant weeks away from school, and, on a few occasions lengthy stays in hospital. It was that teacher too who organised to bring all my classmates to visit me at my hospital bedside to cheer me up.

Another teacher's kindness is also etched on my heart, she inspired my love of Art and Design. I hold her responsible for everything I have achieved in my life that is remotely connected to the creative arts. I even made a living for a short time as an Interior Designer thanks to the early inspiration she gave me.

Just two influential teachers in a school career spanning fifteen years, from the age of 3 to 18.

How many can you recollect?  

The thing is, they need to know that you loved and respected them, and so you should go out of your way to thank them for all they did for you.

Please promise me you will do this.

I can't begin to express how touched I was recently when I bumped into a young ex-student of mine, yes, I became a teacher too, and I loved every moment of the time I spent exploring the minds of my students.

We hadn't seen each other for over a decade but instantly recognised one another. She's now a very efficient and immaculate Retail Manager of a well-known High Street brand. Her face lit up when she spotted me at the pay-desk and we proceeded to reminisce about those days when she was learning all about 'good business practice'.

She stopped mid-sentence at one point to interject the conversation with a statement that made tears well in my eyes.  She quietened her voice and said, " I never told you how much I loved being in your class", adding, "I use everything you taught me every day in my work, and I can't thank you enough for helping me to succeed".

It was unexpected and it was emotional.

She knew that that was her chance to get it said.

I knew she had inwardly acknowledged that she'd felt that sentiment many years earlier.

She didn't want to lose the opportunity to tell me how she felt.

IF YOU WERE INSPIRED BY A TEACHER, YOU NEED TO TELL THEM.

(Thanks to mudpiesandbutterflies for the wonderful video)

[paratecva-blog]

This is 'I Giorni' by Ludvico Einaudi as played by Steve Luck at a concert on 16th December 2011 in Newcastle.

I have loved Einaudi for many years. Some say his music is bland because of all the repetitions, but to me it's a sound that flows like a mountain stream.

I found this file on The Sound Cloud, and I'm so glad I did.

[doubledaybooks]

Oh, magic hour, when a child first knows she can read printed words.

Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn  (via berfrois)

[paratecva-blog]

Keep Your Personal Info Safe!

No-one in their right mind would divulge their personal security info to a stranger standing in the high street, right?!  So why do so many people make it easy for cyber-criminals to obtain their security info online?

Passwords need to be robust i.e. at least 12 characters in length.  Take time to think about a strategy before you construct your passwords, it really is worth it.

Please pass this message on to your family and friends who might not be as tuned into online security as you are!

Let's begin a wave of awareness-spreading!  If we all do this we could help to stop cyber-criminals wrecking lives.

[paratecva-blog]

FLUX by Candas Sisman

I know nothing about the technology skills employed in this example but the finished work is stupendous in my opinion.  

Thanks to Paul Hazel Head of the School of Digital Media at Swansea Met Uni for featuring it on his website.

I'm transported to another space by this piece ... the explosion of the orb is breath-taking.

A beautiful musical interpretation too.  

Watching the piece makes me feel, well, .... like I've had a transcendental experience! 

I dream about having this piece occupy a whole wall space in my home.   I would have it play, and replay on demand.  I don't think I could tire of watching it. 

Be prepared to be mesmerised by the genius of this huge creative talent:

F L U X from candas sisman on Vimeo.

by the courtesy of Plato Art Space (Plato College of higher education) ilhan koman hulda festival, a journey into art and science exhibition Ayvansaray Caddesi No:33 Balat - İstanbul 22 September - 31 october video and sound design by Candas Sisman commissioned by Plato Art Space (Plato collage of higher education) thanks to :İlhan Koman, Bager Akbay, Gorkem Sen, Burcu Beslioglu, Plato Art Space (Plato collage of higher education), Koman foundation, Deniz kader http://www.csismn.com/ http://www.PlatoSanat.com http://www.huldafestival.org http://www.koman.org/ A Short Animation Inspired by the Works of İlhan Koman Plato Art Space is proud to present Candaş Şişman’s video dedicated to famous sculptor İlhan Koman produced for the exhibition İlhan Koman: Hulda Festival, a Journey into Art and Science opening on the 22nd September, 2010. İlhan Koman’s unique design approach in his form studies also inspires contemporary art works. The video installation Flux by young artist Candaş Şişman can be defined as a digital animation which is inspired from the structural features of some of İlhan Koman’s works like Pi, 3D Moebius, Whirlpool and To Infinity... A red circle, which is colored in reference to the red radiators of Ogre, is traced in a morphological transformation which re-interprets the formal approach of Koman’s works. The continuous movement sometimes connotes the formal characteristics of Pi, 3D Moebius, Whirlpool and To Infinity..., as well as the original formal interpretations of the design principles of the works . In Flux, Koman’s design process in the making of the Pi series has been treated as the emerging of a sphere from a two-dimensional circle by the principle of increasing the surface; and that simple direction is re-interpreted in digital medium. Thanks to this, in the digital animation an entirely different form serial that does not resemble Pi yet remaining its design principle can be followed through the flow of a circle to the sphere. As a conscious attitude of the artist, this work is not designed in a direct visual analogy with Koman’s works. During the animation, none of the moments of the transforming form look like Pi or 3D Moebius, however the subjective reading of Koman’s approach can be observed. With the integration of the sounds of various materials – which Koman used in his sculptures – Flux turns into an impressive spatial experience. Flux, also exemplifies that Koman’s work can be re-interpreted by the analysis and manipulation of form in the digital medium.

[paratecva-blog]

Computer Weekly | Social Media Awards 2011

Would you please vote in the category Social Media (private sector) for my co-workers in this LinkedIn Group: click the heading below to go to the voting page.

T H E    B U S I N E S S    T E C H N O L O G Y    F O R U M 

We've been working on this group for over 18 months.  

Owned by Dave Sumner Smith & Mike Briercliffe, it is sponsored by The Oracle Corp, to reach out to the business community and IT professionals in particular... to listen to what the market is saying about various topics.  It provides answers to questions and it watches carefully for trends.

We've worked really hard over the last 18+ months to make this a vibrant and dynamic on-line community.

I extend the thanks of the Team to @LadyBizBiz for her training and supervision: we have exceeded all expectations and the group is now 17,000 members and growing. 

Thanks too are due to the top-notch mavens and content writers, along with the group owners who have reached out to all the world and brought them within this robust and healthy community! 

Keep your fingers crossed for us - it's now down to the public vote.

[paratecva-blog]

THE 'ALL THINGS DIGITAL 5' INTERVIEW with STEVE JOBS and BILL GATES

The Wall Street Journal Executive Conference 2007 

Video #1 (9:27)

This is worth watching believe me.  

It's got nothing to do with a Apple v Microsoft competition. (If you'd like a chuckle about the Mac v PC battle here's the TV ad of the moment).

However, it's to do with learning more about the century's greatest IT innovators: Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.

Interviewed by both Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg, who himself has said that Steve Jobs had 

"A stunning breadth".

Swisher asks the question of both of them, "What in the other person, has inspired you ?"  

Gates says the Apple company was ahead of its time. He comments on Jobs' taste and elegance which has had a huge impact on the industry.

Jobs admires the work Gates has done in Microsoft for such a long period of time: stressing how difficult it is to keep it going for such a length of time.  Saying also that they have had such luck in having the business partners they have had, and the teams of people that they have worked with.  He pays tribute to those remarkable people.

** Lovely bit towards the end about 'fixed point Basic v floating point Basic'.

You might also like to read what Brent Schlender has written about Steve Jobs based on a relationship with him that extends back to the pre-Pixar days. It's a very interesting documentation of their time together while Jobs was running NEXT. Time enough in my opinion, to get to know the man behind the 'front'.  (Brent Schlender conducted an interview with both Gates and Jobs for Fortune Magazine).

I hope you enjoy watching the whole series of videos which documents this historic event.

[paratecva-blog]

Video #2 (5:49)

Interview with Bill Gates and Steve Jobs at Digital 5: ALL THINGS DIGITAL

The Wall Street Journal Executive Conference

Remember this is 2007.  

Talking about the next developments for Microsoft - graphics interface.  The two companies worked closely on the Mac.  Bill Gates and his team did work for the Mac in the very early days.  By 1995 Windows arrived.

Famous Jobs joke about Gil Amillio delivered with charm and without the slightest malice

"Apple is like a ship with a hole in the bottom, leaking water, and my job is to get the ship pointed in the right direction".

[paratecva-blog]

Video #3  (9:50)

Interview at Digital 5: ALL THINGS DIGITAL

The Wall Street Journal Executive Conference

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates give insightful views about their companies and the relationship they have.  Very amusing to watch the rapport .. I mean, competitiveness.

Steve Jobs says quite clearly that

"Apple had forgotten who Apple was."

So wonderful to hear how the relationship between Apple and Microsoft, who were providing a special team of developers for the Mac stuff, were working harmoniously as a direct result of Jobs return to the company.

Steve Jobs says

"It's one of our best developer relationships."