Well, this sounds like an interesting job for my skillset...

...except it's for Britney Spears' team, and these ppl clearly have no idea what 'digital media' even means.  Lord, I don't even know how to react to people who talk like this (e.g., "leveraged by a branded social network.")

IF, for some reason, this sounds appealing to you, let me know and I can try forwarding on your resume.

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Job Posting - Britney Spears 2.0 Media Manager

Thu Jan 8, 2009 3:43 pm (PST)

Hey H-Bomb Britney Fans,

Brandcasting Unlimited currently manages BritneySpears.com and all Britney's digital media and online properties (YT, Fb, MS, Twitter, ect). We are looking for a Social Media guru to help manage Britney's network and other high profile branded networks, the job description and responsibilities are listed below.

Job Description:
  • Manage a high profile branded online network of digital properties for one of World's top celebrities.
  • Responsible for driving and optimizing traffic from exclusive photos and videos.
  • Decide which content to feature on the branded social network's blogs, discussion forms, and other features.
  • Work with Talent and management to ensure that new and approved content is constantly being added to the network.
  • Moderate videos, photos and comments added to the network.
  • Manage a team of Administrators to assist you with Managing the network.
  • Develop interactive programs such as contests, for Members of the social network.
  • Design new skins of the social network and assign Administrators.
  • Produce marketing campaigns via email and on other websites to spread the awareness of the network.
  • Manage the social networks' traffic analytics reports and Membership data.
  • Engage with fans by posting messages, responding to questions, and moderating discussions.
  • Analyze community activity and conversation to deliver key learnings to advise content strategy and brand positioning.
Jobs Skills Needed:
  • You are a Social media expert with Googloe Analytics, SEO and SEM experience.
  • You have experience building, launching and managing communities online.
  • You are addicted to social networks such as MySpace and Facebook, technology and social media blogs, and playing around with new technologies such as Twitter. You are constantly thinking about how they can be leveraged by a branded social network.
  • You love creating and maintaining relationships.
  • You are an analytics nerd and adore metrics because they show-off your success and help you determine new goals.
  • You have some design / photo-shop experience.
  • You know how to moderate content and when to ban party crashers.
  • You are a popular culture addict and passionate about the intersection of Silicon Valley and Hollywood.

And they ask me why I love LA...

Plans for tonight kind of fell together at the last minute.  

My childhood friend and I decided against the LACMA (free after 5pm) because of the protests happening near the Israeli consulate (I can't even begin to talk about that), and opted instead for a bit of boutique browsing on Melrose.  We went into one with some fashion-forward, well-priced-for-the-quality clothes.  I wasn't planning to get anything, but asked where they sourced their stuff--she told me California Mart, one of the largest fashion wholesale centers in the US.  It's in Downtown LA and has sample sales open to the public once a month.  My mom and I used to shop there years and years ago.

We also visited Susina, a decent bakery (but doesn't hold a candle to SF's Tartine), for a sticky bun.

The one thing I really miss about LA is, as ya'll know, the abundance of authentic, and amazingly cheap, ethnic food.  Tonight we went to Sanamluang Cafe in Thai Town (Hollywood Blvd. x Western Ave.).  I forgot how much tasty goodness can be had for $6.50.  We ordered:
  • Tom kha gai: A huge bowl of the sour-ish Thai soup, much like tom yum, except with coconut milk.  Flavored with lemongrass, galanga and cilantro, and chock-full of tender morsels of chicken and straw mushrooms.
  • Pad kee mow: Probably my favorite type of Thai noodle.  Flat rice noodles with tomatoes, onions, and your choice of ground meat (we chose beef).
  • Stir-fried eggplant, vegetarian style with tofu.
There was a ton of food left over, enough for another 2 people probably, and the whole thing cost like $22 including tax.  After that we headed to The Hungry Cat for drinks with some other friends.  I had a very delicious oatmeal stout from the Craftsman Brewing Co. and chocolate bread pudding.

Oh, and we scored some free parking on Sunset Blvd. just a block away from the Hungry Cat!

2009 Tournament of Roses Parade

A Southern California New Year's Day tradition.  20+ years of living in the LA metro area, and my family has never before gone on New Year's Eve to see the floats all lined up before the parade.  It was a long drive out to Pasadena, but well worth it!  We got to see the floats up close, down to individual beans painstakingly glued to the signs.  Everything was gorgeously elaborate, and there were tons of people, young and old, milling about.  Enjoy =)

2009 To-Do List

Happy New Year, all!  As Garry mentioned, I've made a 'to-do' list every year since seventh grade.  It began as a 'secret wish' list with some pretty dumb things on it, but soon turned into a list of goals. I never expect to accomplish everything (like any to-do list), but I'm happy if I get more than half done.  I find it easier if I come up with very specific things--helps keep me on track.

So the one exception was 2008.  I never did a to-do list this past year, and lo and behold, I got jack-sh*t done.  So it's back to business as usual.  For reference, I've transferred my old 2007 list of things to do to a privitized post.
_____________________________________________________

Travel
  • Summer weekend trip to Lake Tahoe
  • One long-weekend domestic trip: New Mexico, Portland, New Orleans/Texas, Hawaii, Yellowstone, OR DC area
  • Visit LA at least 2x and go to Magic Mountain
  • Visit (or camp at) Muir Woods, Mt. Tam, Bodega Bay, northern CA (Eureka or Shasta), and one California destination I've never heard of.  Addition: Getaway to Sonoma.
  • Fall 2009 trip - China/SE Asia, Japan, South America, Costa Rica, Western Australia OR Spain/Morocco
Health & Wellness
  • Sleep at least 7 hours/night (before 12:30am on weeknights)
  • Wear sunscreen daily, and lip balm for my perpetually chapped lips
  • Move my bike from home (in LA) to the Bay Area
  • Hike once a month.
  • Conquer my asthma and my gimp knee (so I can ski by next winter)
  • ...and get my weight back down to 120-125lbs., however that has to happen (gymming, walking, eating less).
  • Take a self-defense class
Personal Projects

Sewing (skills): Learn one new technique every month, things like: install a zipper, read/execute a pattern, tailoring techniques such as darts, princess seams, etc., create a pattern, smocking and shirring, install interfacing, create pleats, Hong Kong seams, linings for anything, make a pocket, and dye fabric
    Sewing (projects): 
    • Finish my fingerless gloves
    • Alter the $5 sari dress and skirt that I bought at the Lotus Festival and never wore.
    • Make a sundress out of the pretty batik I bought in Malaysia last year.
    • Make an evening/cocktail dress out of the material I bought at Joann's + all the sewing ideas I've been collecting for the past few months
    • Make an obi-style belt 
    Cooking:
    • Organize recipes and start recording family favorites and newly inspired creations in a journal or binder.
    • Master my slow-cooker so I don't starve when I start my new job
    • Recipes to master: 
      • The 'One Great Cookie' recipe for browned-butter cookies in the 2006 issue of Gourmet Magazine
      • My coworker's famous chocolate-chip cookie recipe
      • Addition: my old boss' wonderful recipe for blueberry scones
      • A really great gingerbread cookie recipe
      • Chili (this one was too tomato-y)
      • The Google chef's recipe for madeleines
      • Baked butterfish with miso glaze like they used to make in our cafeteria
      • Flan!
    Volunteering: Find one great organization/activity to commit to.

    General Know-how:
    • Learn about the import/export process and more about retail distribution
    • Read some of those motivational books and start a learning journal of sorts.
    Just for Fun: 
    • Taiko drumming classes.
    • Organize and post my photos from my trip to Asia last year
    • 3x the average traffic-per-post on my blog
    • Use my new 40-min. commute to learn some things.  Get Spanish-language and Chinese-language tapes.
    • Work on an indie film. Bug former coworker Tony about producing his next movie OR get involved in a theater production (ask Annie).
    • Film footage and piece together a 5-10 minute short of any kind.
    • Work with my mom to translate my grandmother's life story, and interview my dad about his family history.
    • Send out Christmas cards next year
    • Take 1 class with Doc Wong, and learn how to drive stick shift.
    • Mail out DVD copies of the play I produced 5 years ago to the cast/crew, which have been sitting on my desk for the past 3 years -___-
    Professional
    • Incorporate lessons learned from my last job. Take more responsibility for my career.
    • Manage expectations and deliver on promises.
    • Exceed my quarterly targets
    • Be on time
    • Respond to important e-mails within 2 hours and keep my inbox under 20 messages
    • Find projects beyond the core role by Q2-3
    • Get promoted
    • Decide on B-school once and for all
    Financial
    • Don't buy any more clothing or home stuff until my birthday (in February).
    • Pay off my car loan
    • Read www.fool.com or other other educational resources once a week and take a couple seminars about investing.  Learn about stocks and all that, because it's Greek to me now.  And identify 3 areas to invest in.
    • Donate at least 10% of my net earnings to church and some non-profits that are doing great work.
    Spiritual, Personal Improvement, and Miscellaneous
    • Develop a daily prayer life. Pray regularly for my daddy.
    • Re-join a small group at church and go 2x/month
    • Forgive and let go of some specific, debilitating things from my past
    • Work on communication (synthsizing/clarity) and listening skills.
    • Give up something that matters for someone who truly needs it
    • Buy only clothing made of natural materials: cotton, linen, bamboo, leather, silk, wool.  This will force me to get fewer things of higher quality, rather than synthetic blends like the cheap stuff from Forever 21 that pills after 2 wears.
    • Clean out/reorganize my closet twice
    • Read: The Far Pavilions, Malcom X's Autobiography, and at least 2 other novels
    • Watch: After Life, Carnivale Season 1, Hellboy 1 and 2, Elizabeth 1 and 2, It's a Wonderful Life, Waking Life, Slumdog Millionaire, the Orphic Trilogy, the Decalogue, Brazil, M, Wild Strawberries
    • Organize my mp3s and create a handful of playlists so I can start using my iPod again
    • ...and the one thing that will make it all possible: STOP WASTING SO MUCH TIME.  Spend less than 1.5 hours/day online--do less online shopping and find a way to blog more efficiently!

    First sewing project in a long time.

    Hope everyone is having a great holiday break!  To help fill my newfound leisure time, I lugged my Kenmore sewing machine 300 miles back home to LA.  The first order of business was a pair of armwarmers or fingerless gloves, because it's been super cold and I was struck by inspiration when I saw this rather sweet black and white rose print against an old lavender scarf that a friend gave me.  Lavender was once my favorite color (and still is one of the faves).  

    It was one of those, a-ha, why didn't I think of that before kind of moments.  When I saw them together I knew what I had to do.

    I started by making the ruffle for the trim.  That was straightforward, just some careful measuring, ironing, and sewing with a very long stitch before pulling the thread to make the fabric bunch up.

    Then, the pattern.  I looked up a bunch of glove-making tips online but couldn't really find a good pattern for fingerless gloves.  So I modified the guidelines set forth in this very helpful step-by-step demo of how to first make a pattern, then construct a pair of costume gloves (the ones here are gorgeous!).  

    I screwed up the pattern-making, as I did not account for the fact that my arm is about 9 in. in diameter at its thickest, and I didn't cut enough fabric.  I had to add scrap pieces to make up the difference.  The first part of the construction wasn't so bad, but then I found the thumb extremely difficult to attach--I had to do it by hand, and I still don't like how it fits... there is some extra room in the fabric that I could probably take in a bit.  

    Oh well.  A decent first effort, I say.  I have to figure out what I'd do differently next time... definitely work with a different fabric because that fake acrylic I used from the scarf kept falling apart.

    Feeling depressive in Detroit, eh?

    This is one of the first things that showed up on the etsy main page today: The Cynic Collection by Lokness Press, a set of hand-stamped cards with something rather ornery to say.  I think they are hilarious, but pretty sad at the same time.

    Product Description (from the product page )

    I've been feeling very cynical here in Detroit with its depressing economy and lack of… a lot of things! So I had an extra amount of fun when I designed my Cynic Collection of "greeting" cards for Lokness Press. You pick the 4 cards for your own set! Oh the choices! Text made from vintage insta-lettering typographer's kit. Cards come with coordinating white envelopes.

    CHOOSE FROM:

    CUNT
    FUCKER
    SHIT FACE
    TWIT
    JERK
    HOBAG
    DICK
    BITCH

    None of these suit your fancy? Let me know what you want your cards to say! Each set is handcrafted upon order; fonts, poppy motif and card stock may differ from photos.  These cards are meant to be fun and playful in a joking manner, but if you are really pissed at someone, I think they'll get the message when they receive this one!