• Stanford Presentation

    My presentation at Stanford went swimmingly.  I think my UX presentation was well received.  The class had about 50 people in it.  They laughed when I wanted them to laugh and they cried when I wanted them to cry.  My timing worked and I ended on a positive, inspirational note…

  • Feeling off

    I am feeling very strange the last day or two.  I feel nauseas and tense.  Symptoms: A lump in my throat, constriction in my lungs, gas, hard to concentrate and general uneasy feeling.  I can’t think of anything particular that would make me feel this way.  Everything I think about…

  • Word 2007 Crashing

    I have seen this problem in several systems.  One symptom is Word 2007 crashing.  Another symptom is the Word Options do not allow you to click anything in the left tree.  Thank you to Joe Stagner who posted a fix for the problem.  It could be related to Snagit.  I…

  • The UX of Gas

    The tank was on E.  Empty.  We need to use the car.  I bike to work, I use public transportation, but damn it, I have no choice, I have to drive some places.  I had to stop and get gas.  The price of regular: $3.95.  The price of Super: $4.15. …

  • Management of Expectations

    Managing expectations is always hard.  Lots of angles, lots of risk.  Who is right?  Should you track all of your hours?  Should you pad your hours?  In my experience, people want predictability in an unpredictable world.  They want to hear, “This is exactly what we can do at maximum efficiency.”…

  • Live demos of my UX work

    I’ve been pretty excited about the work I have been doing at Marketo. The marketing automation platform we built has alot of really unique models. The way segmentation works is just beautiful. I am really proud of it. Additionally, the stuff coming out in the next few months is making…

  • Opposite Day

    Matthew asks, “Is today opposite day?” I answered, “If it was opposite day, I would have to answer NO, which is the opposite of the truth.  If it was not opposite day, I would just say the truth and answer NO.  So my answer to you is, No, it is…

  • Web Copy

    Writing effective documentation is tough.  (That page is funny, check out the giant font.  Cool) Here are some tips from me: Write as if it was Playskool. In fact, browse through the Playskool website.  They are writing good web copy!  Ha, I love it when things come together like that. …

  • Mariah Carey, Songwriter

    On American Idol last night, they had Mariah Careyas the star mentor.  One thing they said really shocked me.  Mariah has written almost all of her own songs.  This page says the same thing.  Additionally, Mariah has surpassed Elvis as the artist with the most number 1 singles. Seriously??  18…

  • The Book

    Why am I awake at 3:30am?  I should be sleeping.  I guess I have alot on my mind.  I have had alot on my mind for the last few months.  Time has not been available to do personal projects. One proect that has suffered is the book.  It has gone…

  • Ethan’s email from school

    Ethan is learning a poem for talent show and is so coachable on it. I love it. Apparently, he gets his own email in his classroom. He responded to Katie from his classroom. dear Mom, I love you more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UMMMM o yeah I’ put on sunscreen.Mom I want to play…

  • The UX of Enthusiasm

    How often have you been in the situation where someone near to you is excited about a project.  They are enthusiastic and productive in their project, working hard and happy to do so.  They are in Flow.  But there is a problem. You think it’s the wrong project. This is…

  • The UX of Disruptive Teenagers

    The boys and I were at a Bat Mitzvah, which is a religious ceremony for a 13 year old girl.  She reads in front of everyone, pray pray, sing sing, go have a giant party afterwards with music too loud.  At the ceremony, there was an interesting phenonmenon.  All of…

  • The UX of Virgin America

    First of all, Virgin America’s website kicks ass.  It blew my mind.  I put in the origination and the destination and it gave me the lowest prices that day and several days ahead and behind.  That clued me in to the right day I should fly to save literally thousands…