Did you know . . .
Monday, December 31, 2007
Shift Happens, the text
Did you know . . .
Posted by
Missy Schmidt
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6:38 PM
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Labels: Shift Happens, video
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Are you a sensory junkie or a nervous wreck?
This is an interesting article exploring the how and why of our senses, explaining in part how we react to the world around us, including our compatibility (or the lack thereof) with others.
What’s your sensory type?
SEEKERS enjoy going to firework displays; make noises such as humming and whistling; order or cook spicy food; tend to touch people when talking to them; walk around barefoot; change daily routines to keep them interesting .
BYSTANDERS are easy-going and not easily ruffled; have to be called several times to get their attention; miss signposts; may leave dirt on their face or hands; find scratches or bruises and don’t know how they got them; don’t notice clutter until someone points it out.
AVOIDERS leave the room when a crowd starts to gather; like their surroundings clean and tidy; keep curtains or blinds drawn or partially drawn; make narrow food choices; don’t like getting their hands mucky; select solitary leisure activities.
SENSORS are distracted by sounds; startle easily; are bothered by fast-changing images on TV; have precise ideas about clothing textures; repeatedly pick the same food in restaurants; prefer clean design in the home; select only a few chosen rides at amusement parks.
I find this fascinating; I'll have to read the book. I think I'm a typical SEEKER with a few shades of SENSOR thrown in for good measure.
Read the full article in The Times UK
Posted by
Missy Schmidt
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11:57 PM
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Labels: marketing
Friday, December 28, 2007
Holidaze revisited, including a Soulja Video
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Cities, businesses team up to boost defense industry
The aim is to position Hampton Roads as "Pentagon South".
Officials said the new group is an outgrowth of a defense industry consortium formed by Virginia Beach three years ago as part of an economic development initiative.
The Beach recruited Chesapeake last year, and industry and government officials in those two cities have now concluded that it makes sense to broaden the effort. Some of the defense companies, for instance, have offices in multiple cities.
With defense spending accounting for roughly one-third of the economy in Hampton Roads, several cities consider such businesses a target market for job creation.
"We always talk about coming together as a region, so this is something else we're trying to do," said Scott Howell, senior business development manager for Chesapeake's Department of Economic Development. "It only makes sense given how much our local economy relies on the defense industry."
One city can't promote itself as "Pentagon South," said Cynthia Spanoulis, strategy and performance coordinator for the Beach's Department of Economic Development.
"We've got to be bigger to call ourselves that," she said. "Everything's regional."
The new group will be known as the Hampton Roads Defense and Homeland Security Consortium. It will operate under the umbrella of the Hampton Roads Technology Council, which counts a variety of defense contractors as members and now works with local economic development agencies.
Rick Lally, chairman of the technology council, said he hopes the regional group will explore such things as mentorship programs, a defense business incubator, and other ways to strengthen the presence of small, innovative companies.
Lally's Oceana Sensor Technologies Inc., which works with the Navy, was among around two dozen companies in the Virginia Beach consortium.
"The benefits of having these businesses here and their impact on the community is a regional thing - that's what it boils down to," Lally said.
The group's first meeting - representatives from any local defense or homeland security business can attend - is a Monday (October 15, 2007) lunch at the Residence Inn at Greenbrier in Chesapeake, starting at 11:30 a.m. Chesapeake's Department of Economic Development is covering the meals and the $150 room-rental fee, Howell said.
So far, economic development officials in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News have expressed interest in joining the Beach and Chesapeake in the effort.
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(757) 446-2318, jon.glass@pilotonline.com
Posted by
Missy Schmidt
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8:43 AM
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Labels: America's First Region, business development, DHSC, Hampton Roads, Pentagon South
Friday, December 21, 2007
More HAPPY HOLIDAZE
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can you find the cat in the Christmas tree? more funny pictures
ok, I'm outta here 'til after Christmas. Have a Happy!
Posted by
Missy Schmidt
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1:04 AM
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Labels: holiday
Mercury Retrograde
What?
My 1-yr old computer developed a "cold" which caused some clunky operating, and I had to clean my registry. Our home wireless network acted up, and I had to reconfigure it. And, a few other just plain weird communication-oriented things happened this week.
Mercury Retrograde explained So, I was having lunch with a friend, and she suggested that perhaps it was Mercury's fault.
When Mercury is in retrograde, the speed of the planet slows down considerably. Communications, paperwork, electronics, and traffic can become very mixed-up or delayed during this time. It is surmised that this gives rise to personal misunderstandings; flawed, disrupted, or delayed communications, negotiations and trade; glitches and breakdowns with phones, computers, cars, buses, and trains.
While I'm not a big believer of astrology, there just may be something to this. For instance, the moon affects so much on planet Earth, the tides, the wind. What if the Moon didn't exist?
So much to contemplate.
Posted by
Missy Schmidt
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12:51 AM
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Labels: technology
Monday, December 17, 2007
Shift Happens, Did You Know?
"Shift Happens", the original and 2.0 versions of the video from Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod, very compelling ... and worrisome. First, the original:
And, now, an official update to the original "Shift Happens" video from Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod. This June 2007 update includes new and updated statistics, thought-provoking questions and a fresh design. For more information, or to join the conversation, please visit http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/
-- Content by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod, design and development by XPLANE.
Posted by
Missy Schmidt
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9:00 PM
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Labels: Shift Happens
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Happy Holidaze from Bert and Missy
Bert and Missy (and Jillian and Bertel, too) wish you a very happy holiday season. Our annual holiday end-of-year greeting comes to you this year via pictures and video. Enjoy!
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Enjoy the kids tribute to their Dad's favorite drink!
Click picture above for the video.
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Click on Bert's picture above to read all about it!
... so we said good-bye to Harrisonburg VA, WVPT-Public TV and Friendship Industries and off we go to Norfolk Virginia/Hampton Roads ...
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Watch Bert's videos about WHRO-Public Broadcasting HERE on WHRO's website
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City life, super neighbors, no yard care and walking distance to everything!
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... Bertel and Jillian visited with us in July; we hit DC first, then on to Norfolk ...

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Click on the picture below to see our video of the explosion that occurred while on our way to the hotel ... and the aftermath!
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... we all traveled to Atlanta GA in August ...
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
... the entire Schmidt clan got together in Atlanta GA to celebrate Doug's (Bert's youngest brother) and Dawn's vows renewal and birth of baby Parker ...
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... also traveled to 1000 Islands, NY to celebrate Bertel's birthday in August ...
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Check out Bertel and Jillian as they join the Syracuse Children's Circus!
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You can even watch a video of her talents (click on her picture above)
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... we had a blast in 2008, traveling quite a bit this year, to Vegas, Minneapolis MN, Palm Desert CA, NYC ...
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... and we're honored to have such a warm welcome to Hampton Roads from WHRO staff, friends and more; we've made friends with some of the best people one could ever hope to meet or know!
Elmo even visited us this year ...
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... and while Bert worked side by side with his amazing staff...
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... Missy is still looking for just the right "next position" along her career path ...
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... hic-cup ...
not sure how to top 2007, but we know 2008 will be even better!
Posted by
Missy Schmidt
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9:57 PM
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Truth in Advertising, always be truthful
Some light-hearted fun for the holidaze:
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moar funny pictures
Posted by
Missy Schmidt
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9:20 PM
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Labels: advertising, truth
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
CANZ I BE LOLCAT 2?
moar funny pictures
Posted by
Missy Schmidt
at
12:13 PM
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Labels: LOLcat
HAPPEE HOLIDAZE
I couldn't resist sharing some silliness today. Ever heard of LOLCats, the feline-nomenon of the world wide web? Check out http://icanhascheezburger.com/. There's even a site devoted to LOLDogs now: http://ihasahotdog.com/.
Here are some of my faves, and, yes, they are my creations, too, except for the last one. (Ok, you caught me; I have another guilty pleasure!)
I IZ LAZEE (my kindergarten-teacher sister's cat "walks" in a baby stroller; this is her cat, "Bert". Her cat, "Ernie" is hiding under the car somewhere.)
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moar funny pictures
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moar funny pictures
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moar funny pictures
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moar funny pictures
Later....
Posted by
Missy Schmidt
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10:53 AM
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