Last Friday the whole Headspring gang got together for one of our quarterly company excursions. This afternoon began on the beautifully serene dock at Hula Hut, where we chowed down on a delicious fajitas bar. After lunch, we went over new policies, promotions and awards, and Jeffrey led open discussion on how to identify and improve our strengths as a company. Then we moved on to our Riverboat cruise, to relax, share a few beers and enjoy the breezy weather.
For your viewing pleasure:
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Last Friday I took to the Austin Convention Center for the five day frenzy known as SXSW Interactive. Basically, I made this meme summing up my time spent downtown quite nicely:
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The bags are packed and we’re ready to head out for Dallas Day of Dot NET. We’ve heard through event organizers that over 500 people are expected to attend. Woo Hoo! Half of our team is going, including President, Jeffrey Palermo, sporting a fresh polo from his recently bestowed and 7th consecutive Microsoft MVP title.
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The second week of March is upon us, and I could not be more excited.
SXSW Interactive is going to be bigger and better than ever – over 19,000 are expected to attend this year. I’m really looking forward to being a part of it. Even the Juggalos will be there! Juggalos and Bruce Springsteen featured in the same event; I never thought I would see the day.
If you have a badge, make sure to find me and say hello. In between panels, I plan to visit the Microsoft and Beacon Lounges or browse the Trade Show and ScreenBurn Arcade. Here’s my schedule: http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/user_events/user_60347
However, if you don’t have badge, there is still plenty of opportunity to get in on the action. Of course, I’ve made a list: Read the rest of this entry »
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, three Headspring consultants competed in the annual Austin Accessibility Internet Rally (Austin AIR) hosted by Knowbility.org. Knowbility’s website explains the goal of the rally is “to teach participating web developers and designers about the tools and techniques necessary to make the web accessible to everyone – including people with disabilities.” In addition, participating nonprofits benefit by receiving professional help to build a new or replace an existing site. Judging for the competition lasts a couple weeks, and the winner is announced at an awards ceremony in March.
Headspring-ers Anne Epstein, Mahendra Mavani and Deran Schilling showed up bright and early Saturday morning to form their team, calling themselves the Headspring Hurwitzes (a tribute to our reigning Chief Architect, Kevin Hurwitz). They were assigned to Texas TERA with a mission to breathe life into their stale, outdated website.
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Upon the suggestion of a coworker I joined 342,787 people (and counting) with a 2012 resolution to learn how to code. It’s called CodeYear, presented by CodeAcademy, supported by companies like YCombinator, and made viral by the addition of my fellow student, Michael Bloomberg. It’s a very simple, learn as you go platform, with big clean buttons and “dumbed down” explanations for the average Joe (or Jill). I get an email every Monday with a new lesson to work on for the week. As I progress, I earn badges and bragging rights to publish on Facebook and Twitter.
There are a number of courses and levels to choose from, and I have just completed the first one, “Getting Started with Programming”. After creating an account, I can sign in and access courses that I am working on and track my progress. Read the rest of this entry »
Several web redesigns have been coming out recently, so I put together a quick recap of the ones I am most excited about.
1.YouTube
YouTube’s redesign focuses mainly around making their channels more attractive to users. The homepage now features a bar on the left with a list of subscribed and suggested channels, and a feed in the center. Other featured videos are in a bar on the right, versus front and center on the previous design.
Another great benefit is the long overdue integration with Google accounts and social media. It’s no longer necessary for new users to create an account if they have Gmail. Visitors already logged into their Google account, are automatically logged in when they visit the homepage. Who needs to remember another log in or password? Also, Google+ and Facebook get prime spots in the navigation bar.
This video explains all the new features in under two minutes: Read the rest of this entry »
We’ve all been there… You are walking into the grocery store around the holidays and by the entrance are the familiar red kettle and the ringing bell. You would like to donate, or maybe you wouldn’t, but its 2011, who carries cash anymore? Fact of the matter is, its 2011, debit and credit cards are the norm… Thus enter the “Square.” Read the rest of this entry »
Logan Turner graduated in May 2011 from Grace Academy in Georgetown, Texas. Instead of taking the summer off to go on vacations, spend time with friends and sleep in like most teenagers, Logan decided to get an internship before going off to college. Currently a freshman at LeTourneau University, Read the rest of this entry »
As an early programmer, Headspring’s COO Jeffrey Palermo has recently revealed the challenges of beginning his software career and opened up on his experiences as a leader in a technical organization on the bi-weekly online audio show, Pluralcast.
“I started programming by creating a web page, and I was one of the early people who had an email address when if you ask someone ‘hey, what’s your email and they would ask, what’s that?!’”
As a six-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), find out more about how Palermo found his passion for programming, his career advice, his methods of handling a leadership role and his approach to business and management.
Listen to the full podcast, by visiting the Pluralcast website.
