In doing some research for a client, I stumbled upon I Did Not Know Acrobat Could Do That. It looks like it has some interesting articles for folks who want to make the most out of the software, and cheers to that. But the design and overall tone of the blog are…hard to decipher. Is this guy really excited about Acrobat? Or are his corporate bosses making him pose that way on the home page? It’s like he’s totally into it, and the blog is labeled as “a cool place to learn about Adobe Acrobat,” but I guess I don’t know if I want a company telling me how cool it is. If I were 12 and watching a commercial on MTV, maybe. But as a grown-up with expansive (and expensive!) software needs, I guess I’m a little jaded.

I see this as an interesting evolution in corporate blogging - blogs set up by people in a company, about their company and what it does. It’s hard to tell how much of the content is corporate speak filtered into the blog, versus stuff the guy is genuinely interested in. It’s fascinating to see this trend evolve.

I have recently discovered the wild, wonderful world of Mac Dashboard Widgets. Yes, Ive been faithfully using the defaults (I especially like Flight Tracker & Translation), but a new world has opened up to me after browsing the Apple Dashboard Widgets page. Now, I can calculate image and page sizes (Designers Toolbox), not to mention see when my favorite band is playing (OnTour). What was life like without them? (Warning: it’s addictive…)

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to download a Widget to learn guitar chords…

*For non-Mac users: Widgets are mini applications used on the Dashboard, which is part of the Mac OS X

Here’s an article from Raintoday.com on how to use blogs to attract attention for your clients, or yourself, without having to maintain one.

Have you ever read the letter Sol LeWitt wrote to Eva Hess? He sums it all up for me, and every time I read it I feel all better about my work and creative process.

you must practice being stupid, dumb, unthinking, empty. then you will be able to DO! i have much confidence in you and even though you are tormenting yourself, the work you do is very good. try and do some BAD work. the worst you can think of and see what happens but mainly relax and let everything go to hell.

Fantastic! Just a little tidbit to think about as you go through your creative day.

Blog Action Day is October 15, and over 9,000 blogs have signed up so far to participate. We’ll all be writing about the environment and enjoying a lovely feeling of connectedness. Any IdeaXchanger who would like to post something about the environment that day should feel comfortable doing so!

PaperSpecs, the online paper database for designers/printers, is offering a free webinar on Oct. 16: Paper 101 - Uncoated Paper. It will discuss the basics of printing with uncoated paper. This looks to be useful for designers and non-designers alike.

In addition to their free weekly newsletter PaperTalks, they have a nifty page called Must Haves, showing the latest paper promotions with a direct link to order samples. Even if you’re not a designer, many of these promos are nice to have. Happy paper spec’ing!

In How to Build a Better Blogger, Performancing has a few healthy tips: instill character in your blog, learn the art of self-promotion, and don’t settle for being good enough are three of my favorites. Check out the entire list, and then…apply as necessary.

Perhaps you noticed, kind readers, that this week’s theme is posted a couple days late. Why? Because I’m on overload - too many things to do, and not enough time to do them. And this isn’t the kind of overload that can be solved with a little time management - it’s TRUE overload, with an abundance of responsibilities and simply not enough hours in the day.

Hundreds of emails coming in daily (not including the junk!). A foot-high stack of filing still to be done since moving post-microburst (using my fancy new temporary filing system, comprised of cardboard moving boxes). Juggling three clients (one of whom is brand new, so I’m still feeling him out.) Plus: the weirdness of adjusting to living in a completely different place; the need to drive across town three times a week to pick up my business mail at the PO box (which used to be a 10-minute trip from our condo); the emotional ups and downs I face each day with insurance paperwork and reconstruction updates and decisions; and a darn virus. Whew!

Thus: Overload. How to deal with it? The past few days, I’ve simply tried to focus my priorities and do the things that MUST be done, which unfortunately leaves many other things undone. My hope is that by this weekend, my virus friend will be gone, and I can use my weekend energy to catch up.

My question to you is this: How do you deal with overload? I know we all face it at one point or another, and I would love to know how you handle it. Do you hire out? (This guy at 43 Folders recommends it.) Bring in an intern? Accept that some things fall through the cracks? Create an intricate flow chart of tasks and responsibilities? Curl up in a ball and whimper? I want to know!

From entrepreneur.com:

Businesses That Won’t Survive 10 Years

Unfortunately, used bookstores are on the list. That would be a shame…especially in my neighborhood where browsing through old books is a much loved past time.

Source: newsletters@poynter.org
Al’s Morning Meeting

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