Blazing Minds

Ok, I admit it. I haven’t tweeted. Take a couple parts guilt feelings, a part procrastination, a part “where-do-I-start” and a dash of OCD/perfectionism and you get a social media nut who isn’t tweeting. Why? Simply because I love people so much that I want to thank each and every one and realize the more days that pass, the more people there are that I haven’t thanked, and how far back do I go with the thanks and should I thank yesterday’s tweeps first, or a month ago?… Ok, do you get the picture? I told you it was crazy, so consider yourself having been fore-warned!

And, to top it off. While I sit back, chasing my tail, wondering where to start, my Klout score plummets, and plummets, and plummets… OK, don’t go looking, now. Seriously, I am embarrassed! So, I fell down on the playground and skinned my knee. Not like I can’t stand up, brush myself off, and go on skipping rope in the playground called “Life,” in the sandbox called “Twitter.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Image via Wikipedia

In fall of 2011, one of the world’s greatest visionaries and the great mind behind Apple’s innovative creations, Steve Jobs, passed away due to pancreatic cancer. And since Jobs led such a high profile life, people around the world wanted to know his life story, from his struggles to the success he has achieved during his time on earth. It wasn’t months later that Apple News released a statement to the press about the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic that they were working on. Since then, rumors and speculations have arisen in voluminous amounts flooding the online world. Who will play Steve Jobs? Who are the other characters in the movie? When will it be released? Who is set to produce the film? These are only some of the questions that arose when Apple News did their press release.

Steve Jobs’ Life and Impact On Modern Technology

Almost all people know who Jobs is and what he contributed to our world, from his personal computer revolution to Apple’s bestselling gadgets, such as the iPhone and iPad. Without Steve Jobs and his brilliant and world-changing ideas, we wouldn’t have personal computers as advanced today or mouse-driven graphic user interface that has led to the invention of the Apple Lisa. However, Steve Jobs wasn’t only known for his brilliant work in Apple. His past careers included creating NeXT computer after a power struggle with Apple and working with Pixar and Disney for a couple of years. These are only some of the things that make Jobs’ life so interesting and intriguing that a film about his life story was in order.

Read the rest of this entry »

Lets face it there are so many sites out there these days that offer you the chance to increase your followers and the majority of these sites can fall foul of the Twitter Spammers, but when I heard about Just Retweet, I had to check it out for myself, the title just made me think, “Now that sounds interesting”

First of all Just Retweet is quite basic and there isn’t any of all that pop and circumstance of promising you the world in the TwitterVerse, it’s just there to help spread your tweets to the ever-growing Twitter users.

JustRetweet is a Web site that drives a lot of traffic to your Twitter account and your blog when your tweet gets retweeted and goes viral. There’s no question that Twitter drives website traffic. This is particularly true when one of your updates blog post, Website, etc.is retweeted within the industry. And the effect is two-fold: You not only get a good dose of traffic to your site, but will also likely gain new Twitter followers as a result.

Read the rest of this entry »

Image by siette via Flickr

The following are some of the most common mistake photographers make when communicating through email.

1. Poor subject lines

The subject line is the most vital part of your email. This is what will determine whether your email gets deleted or opened by photo editors. Avoid using tricks to manipulate them to open it. Don’t use unnecessary words like ‘URGENT’. Such deceptive strategies may cause your emails to be filtered as spam and will cost you your credibility. Instead of using tricks, try using descriptive words. Using keywords in subject lines is a strategy that has worked for my emails promoting thinkstock discounts coupons and istock photo discounts.

2. Irrelevant content

Before sending the email, think again. Be sure that the text and images within your email are relevant and helpful for the recipients. Therefore, it is important to have some information about the business, publication or person you are sending the email to. What topics do they cover? What are their areas of interest? What is their preferred photographic style? What would their readers be interested in? Before you send your email, make sure you have an answer for all these questions.

Read the rest of this entry »

OK folks a little something special for you today, those that read the Blazing Minds blog will have seen me mention Point FM several times and particularly when I was interviewed by them at Apollo Cinemas Rhyl about my movie reviews. So I thought it would be great to turn the tables around and interview Dan Porter here on the Blazing Minds blog, now if only I could get one with Mark Pike as well

Dan kindly agreed to have an interview, with added mug shots, for the Blazing Minds blog and I’m so glad he agreed as you’ll see from the interview Dan is a scream and a really nice guy as it happens

So please enjoy the interview with Dan Porter.

Blazing Minds Interviews Dan Porter From Point FM And Teen FM

Karen:  Hi Dan, tell us a little about yourself.

Dan: Hi, I’m Dan… obviously. That’s not a very good way to start, I’ll  start again. I am 20 years old, born in Walsall and moved to Rhyl 7 -  8 years ago, and present on a local radio station for North Wales called Point FM also back in 2007 I founded an internet radio station  Teen FM. My passion has always lay within radio, I have worked in amusement arcades, cafes & shops and disliked every single one!

I am usually the one who gets bullied…. (aww), in the past year I  have been thrown in the deep end of a swimming pool live on radio, had  my legs waxed twice… live on radio and also shuffled in front of  a lot amount of people, youtube it, its amazing!.

Karen: Tell us about your Record Breaking achievement?

Read the rest of this entry »

Ages ago, when St. Hallmark created Valentine’s Day, I’m sure he intended it to be a celebration of love and appreciation. Unfortunately, modern times have convoluted this original and liberating message. Being in a romantic relationship is no indication of how full someone’s life is, but contemporary Valentine’s Day has made the 14^th of February for couples only. Here is a list of few things to do if you find yourself alone on Valentine’s Day:

1. Emotionally eat. This is how all the best people deal with overwhelming emotions that are completely self-manufactured. Hang out with Ben & Jerry—they understand and so does double chocolate chuck. There is nothing that goes better with pie than another pie. Spoil yourself, you deserve it. That bathrobe is looking a little tight. Undo that belt and get yourself another bowl. Good.

2. Watch the saddest movie you can find. Suggestions: Requiem for a Dream, Sophie’s Choice or Schindler’s List. In fact—just turn off all your lights and make it a day-long marathon.

Read the rest of this entry »

He has flown through space as Captain Kirk, arrested criminals on the tough streets of Los Angeles as veteran officer T.J. Hooker, and played a Boston lawyer most recently. However, can William Shatner survive a fiery bus crash?

In the world of getting as much bang for your buck (no pun intended), a new commercial that was to begin airing Jan. 23, shows the famed actor in his well-known ‘Priceline Negotiator’ role meeting his demise. Or does he?

Priceline, which has been using Shatner in its ads for more than a decade now, debuts this latest commercial with the idea of leaving a lasting impression on television and online viewers. If that was the goal, mission accomplished.

Shatner, who has gone were few men have gone before, is seen in this latest ad helping get passengers off a bus that is dangling over a bridge. In his heroic attempt (successful we might note), he saves the lives of the tourists, only to find himself and the bus plunging to a fiery end.

According to a Priceline spokesperson, “We only killed off the negotiator. William Shatner is still under contract (reportedly one year remaining).”

Read the rest of this entry »