Beagles and Goldens and Mutts...oh my!

If you're into the animal thing or the charity thing, check this out: Beagles and Goldens and Mutts...oh my!. My big sister is walking in the Denver Furry Scurry and needs donations. Go Sya!

And we have a Winner!

I never win anything. Ok, there was the time in college when I won a gift basket from 9News for filling out a survey on the new StarTrek exhibit at the museum. (no, I'm not too embarrased to have been a Trekkie in my former life!) But other than that... My sister has always been the lucky one for things like that. We used to exchange scratch lottery tickets at Christmas. The 10 tickets I bought her invariably ended up netting her $30 or more. The 10 tickets I received netted... $3. And if I had bought 10 tickets for myself, I'd have the same result. Just last year, my big sister won a fabulous trip through her work to the Caribbean. I just don't have that kind of luck.

But this week was different. I won where it counts - exposure to my business. A few months ago, I joined yet another online networking group - WorldWIT (Women, Insights, Technology). I'd known some other VAs who were involved and had success with the group, so I decided to give it a try. Shortly after joining, I placed their logo and link on the home page of my website alongside several others. I had forgotten about it entirely. Until I received a phone call last week from the National office for WorldWIT. They'd had a contest running and out of all the members nationwide who linked to them, I won their contest! Woo-hoo! I never win!

They had several prizes to choose from, and frankly, I would have been happy with either the iPod Shuffle or the free marketing exposure through the WorldWIT newsletter. But I chose to take the free registration for Camp WorldWIT, their national conference coming up in May. I love conferences and know how much they can help with networking and promoting my business, in addition to giving me a big boost of energy to work on my business when I get home.

It's not quite to the level of winning the lottery (I'd have to buy a ticket to get that, anyway!), but it's certainly more beneficial to my business. Thank you, WorldWIT (and my local group, RockyWIT!), for supporting women in business. I look forward to meeting you all at the conference in May!

Could you get fired for blogging?

Here's another twist in the free speech debate: bloggers posting anonymously (on personal time) get fired for their comments. CNet.com - Bloggers: Use caution

Religion in the Military - Church vs. State

To what extent does the first ammendment protect our religious freedom? Does it protect an individual from being forced to listen to proselytizing from superiors who hold careers in their hands?

Mikey Weinstein is brave enough to take on this volitile issue. Now the question is, do you agree or disagree? And what are you going to do about it?

CSIndy: Mikey's Mission (March 2, 2006)

Wal-Mart withholds photos

After our recent wedding, I took a CD of photos to the self-serve kiosk at Wal-Mart to print copies for inclusion in our thank-you notes. Imagine my surprise when, after spending 20 minutes printing the pictures I wanted, the worker printing out my bill refused to let me take home my pictures! I was informed that some of the pictures were obviously taken by a professional and I needed a written copyright release on the photographer's letterhead. I left my pictures and my future business at the Wal-Mart photo counter. I was later able to print my photos without incident at both Target and WalGreens.

On further research, I discovered that this is nothing new. It seems that after a large company or two got sued by photographers for copyright infringement, companies such as Wal-Mart instituted tougher policies on printing digital photographs. Check out these links for more information:

Signs on San Diego article
USA Today article
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00CVE6

The digital world makes the copyright issue complicated. I don't have a problem with companies protecting themselves against being sued. I don't have a problem with photographers sueing to protect their copyrights. I just want my pictures and a uniform policy to count on. My solution to my problem above? I would gladly have signed a legal form stating that I own the copyrights to my photos and I alone am responsible for any copyright infringement. This way, the companies won't be sued and the photographer's can still protect their rights.

Are you an above-average photographer? Get a lucky shot once in a while? Don't go to Wal-Mart. They won't let you print it.

Christmas fun!

Take a break from work and enjoy this Christmas light show! Created by a retired engineer, perhaps?

Christmas Gifts

As a child, one of the best times of the Christmas season began a few days after Thanksgiving. I couldn't wait until Mom posted that piece of paper on the fridge - a blank sheet divided into 4 sections with each family member's name in one of the quadrants. The gift list. Helpful of course to know what I should get Mom or Dad (they were always good about posting something in my budget!). But the best part was writing down, for all to see, my wants, wishes, hopes and desires. Some were outrageous, some surprising, some predictable. I added to the list as ideas popped into my head, sometimes trying to do so only a few days before the big day!

As the years progress, it gets harder and harder to make list - when I need something, I buy it for myself! But as the family continues to ask, here are a few ideas for this year...

- Items from my bridal registry at Bed, Bath & Beyond is, of course, always a sure bet. Gift certificates for this store as well.

- Good maps of Colorado Springs - laminated folding version as well as a spiral detailed area by area version.

- Uncle Jimmy's new book!

- DVDs: MASH season 9, Oprah 20th anniversary

- PC Magazine subscription

- Gift certificates: Kohl's, Best Buy, Office Depot/Max

- Sweaters

- Charity Donations: Marion Medical, Red Cross, Cancer Society

- Storage space? :)