2.20.2012

TIME


Top 5 Most Deadly Websites For Office Procrastination

1
Let’s face it: we all do it. All it takes is for one excitingly titled article or an ill-timed email from a coworker bearing that fateful link and before you know it an hour has disappeared and you suddenly know more about the sexual proclivities of sea slugs than anyone else in the office.
The primary reason for this appears to be the simple fact that some sites are just pure online crack, carefully engineered to lure innocent surfers in and then never let them leave.
Here follows a list of some of the most irresistible siren sites of them all; be strong, lest they claim ye too. Or again. Or make you open up another tab on the same site because you were already browsing it.
Yeah, we’re all screwed.

5. Facebook & Twitter

facebook-twitterDespite the disdain with which we usually treat most of them, social networking websites are undeniably powerful things. If you happen to leave them logged in at work, the Facebook and Twitter tabs will regularly inform you of the number of things you’re missing out on by focusing diligently on your work, taunting you as the bracketed numbers rise higher and higher.
When you inevitably give in you simply have to see what’s been said it, who said, if it involves you and comment if necessary. Oh, and also detag those horrific photos of yourself from Dave’s party.

4. Cracked

cracked.comCracked advertises itself as a humor website, and to be fair, it is generally pretty funny. For the most part it features interesting content combined with eye-catching titles and images, the prevalence of the list format making its articles even easier to read (and thus get lost in).
Just one more, you think , casting your eye over the several others you’ve already added to your growing queue of Cracked tabs. I can totally finish reading this before my lunch break is over. Just one more …

3. YouTube

youtubeBecause moving pictures always make things more fun (and, if you’re feeling particularly lazy, often you don’t even have to read anything). While this is frequently hampered by a lack of sound and/or headphones in theoffice space, some videos can get their message across without them (likethis one, for example).
YouTube’s insistence on including those pesky related videos means that it’s highly likely that watching just one video can and will turn into six (or maybe ten on a particularly good/bad day).

2. Wikipedia & TV Tropes

tv-tropes-wikipediaLumped together as they are both wikis. Wikipedia (and indeed most wikis, really) encourages endless periods of link clicking, luring you into reading the myriads of related articles that are linked within the first one you started reading.
At its core, TV Tropes is simply a wiki cataloging common conventions in fiction, film and television. However, once you start reading, it becomes so much more than that. Reading TV Tropes is a magical adventure where you could start off reading about the depictions of Queen Elizabeth I in cinema and end up finding out exactly how much Japan loves harem anime.

1. Stumble Upon

stumbleuponDo I even need to explain this one? Stumble Upon is clearly the devil incarnate, sent to tempt us away from our more productive endeavors.

Ella

Written by Ella

Ella’s office-based occupation is copywriting. When not slaving in the word mines she enjoys video games, tabletop RPGs and other such nerdery (as well as sleeping).

2.15.2012

Dorm Daze #1

I'd like to welcome our newest team member, Eden Redmond (a dear friend of mine and the author of Wildish) and her new series Dorm Daze. She is kind enough to share some of her most interesting experiences as an RA.


There were two sets of legs in the shower, only three feet on the ground. We had had enough. Residents in the hall had complained for weeks about the awkward giggling and extra wet noises coming from the stall at conspicuous hours. So when my co-worker came running to me and said "They're in there!" I was eager to bust the scene. 

It isn't necessarily protocall to directly interrupt a four legged shower, but we had spoken to this couple after-the-fact several times to no avail. It was time for more aggressive, embarrassing action.

I walked into the bathroom with my nervous co-worker and sure enough they were in there giggling away. I banged loudly on the paper towel dispenser, the fourth foot dropped. 

"Good evening folks, this is your RA speaking. Due to constant expressions of discomfort by your neighbors we would like to ask you both to discontinue your shared shower time."

Whispers behind the curtain.

She walked out first, totally naked chin held high with the coldest look in her eyes, her attitude harder than her nipples. She did not break eye contact as she grabbed a towel, wrapped her hair up in it and walked out of the bathroom otherwise naked. Totally ignoring my "Thank you so much for complying to the housing contract you signed."

He stayed in the shower a few moments longer (real simple guess as to why) and then turned off the water. He was flush red and quickly grabbed a towel with much more modesty than his partner. He covered himself up and rushed past my co-worker and I without eye contact. 

I later found out that it was his birthday.

2.14.2012

The Big Debut

I'd like to officially debut my online portfolio! I finally got a simple portfolio online so people can view some of my design work. Look at it HERE !!!!!

And a big thanks to Zack Cardenas for taking the photographs of my work.