Stewart Copeland ROCKS August 5 2008 at 8:29 AM

It's well known that I am one of the biggest Police fans around. Since they reunited last year, I've been to 5 shows. Most of the time I'm sitting next to some guy who insists on telling me how pathetic it is that all the "chicks" turn out to oogle Sting, and we don't realize what a great drummer Stewart... More

Renewing the call to marketers July 21 2008 at 8:27 AM

After I attended SXSW earlier this year, I posted a blog entry as a "call to marketers" to cut the crap, that is try to control all the junk that gets handed out at that and other conferences. At this BlogHer, Susan Etlinger posted a similar rant about all the swag that gets handed out here. Rather... More

Meet Andrew Wise July 16 2008 at 10:00 AM

When I first started looking at how my company could give back by selling on eBay, I had to look no further than across my street for some inspiration. That's where my good friend Andrew Wise lives. In his non-soccer dad and frustrated rock drummer life, he's the Vice President of Consumer Products... More

An interview with the DC Goodwill Fashionista May 5 2008 at 2:06 PM

One of the MANY great things to come out of BlogHer Business last month for me was my discovery of a really cool site, the DC Goodwill Fashion Blog. You may think, what does Goodwill have to do with fashion? Ah, my dear, that saddens me, because you are missing out on some incredible potential finds.

Rules of Volunteering, Part 2 April 23 2008 at 6:28 PM

Whenever I talk with people about my life, I somehow always come back to the different volunteer activities that I am involved with. Whether it's talking about coaching my daughter's soccer team, or helping out at a Girl Scout event, these things are what defines me. There's nothing that connects me... More

Going Social - Publishing article in Business Week August 28 2008 at 1:45 PM

It’s been a hectic week, but I finally got around to reading Sarah Lacy’s article in Business Week about how book publishing needs to evolve and be more Web 2.0.
Initially, I was a bit skeptical.  Having seen first hand her interview of Mark Zuckerberg at SXSW, I’m not exactly a fan of hers.  I read bits of her book and wasn’t blown away either.  But her article has merit.  Some of it is kind of same old same old, in my opinion, but she has a number of points that people... More

Facebook: Here we go again August 26 2008 at 2:28 PM

It’s been a little quiet around these parts.  Sure stuff is going on at work and at home, but we have a new social media crisis brewing for the IT Girl.
I’ve been banned from Facebook.
Again.
But this time, we’re not talking about Dummies Man.  We’re talking about me.  Ellen Gerstein.  Real live flesh and blood IT Girl.  BANNED.
It started innocently enough.  I got a FB email from a co-worker, saying there was a video of me that I should see.  Normally, I would totally... More

Head of the Class August 22 2008 at 7:33 AM

Ever since Little IT was in kindergarten, class assignments for the new year were given on the last day of school, on the report card.  It meant that parents clogged the parking lot to pick up their kids that day, frantically scanning bags, ripping envelopes, and either shrieking with joy or cursing the fates that put their kids in “that class” - whatever it was.  Our village holds an ice cream social that night, and it would be packed with kids and parents asking the same question over... More

Spell Checker August 20 2008 at 10:08 AM

Few things in life make me happier than a really great typo.  I’m not a frustrated English major, but I certainly work with a few of them.  Most publishing houses are filled with the type.  You can pick them out easily on our cafeteria any given day.  They walk around with their grease pencils, ready to draw them out a moments notice to correct the typos on the menus.  And they do.  Sometimes, they get into fights about who gets to make the correction.  I kid you not.  I’m certainly... More

Stay-cation, all I ever wanted… August 18 2008 at 8:23 AM

Today marks the start of my summer vacation.  Except it’s really not.  Yes, I am taking this week off from work, but no, I’m not really going anywhere.  First off, Mr. IT’s working this week.   Since we went away during both winter and spring breaks this year, we decided to take off alternating weeks to be with the kids and give my mom a break from child-sitting duties.  Mr. IT’s week off was last week, during which he hit the pool and the mall with the kids.  Me,... More