Tag Archives: blog

Telling a story

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I recently finished the wonderful Freakonomics book which, in my 2006 revised edition, came with a bunch of blog posts from the Freakonomics blog. And, my friend, it’s been a revelation: I really enjoied Lewitt and Dubner blog style: they don’t write posts, they tell stories instead (I just subscribed to their feed, by the way).

And here from my decision; I want to start telling stories instead of reporting facts, I want a major personal commitment to my Yellow Line blog: I’ll start with a mandatory Post Day a week, based on Friday evening (CET) and look where it’ll take me from there; I won’t romance facts, I’ll just try to write in a more compelling way; what I want is a blog I’ll enjoy to re-read, instead that a blog I just enjoy writing for.

You, my loyal readers, will be my judges.

I’m down with the Blog Tag meme

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Well, it’s the first time I decide to participate in a meme, invited by Mentegrafica; I’ve found this one really funny: five things relatively few people knows about me:

  1. Once I was an MC. Rapping on the stage, so to say
  2. I started my career back in 1996 as a web designer; the first site producing an income was for a (now closed) restaurant in Mantua
  3. I’m mad for NCIS and Smallville serials
  4. Back in 1999 I was on the stage of the (now dead) Italian TV Show “Il brutto anatroccolo” watching my colleague Barbara (now my wife) being transformed on the stage. We still laugh a lot watching the videotape :-D .
  5. I do human beatbox making my daughter dance

I now tag my friends Leeander, Tom Landspurg, Simone Lippolis, Dirk Knemeyer and Stefano Sanna. Your turn guys!

Top 10 2006 life tags

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Top 10 Life Tags of 2006

Blogging
It’s now a year since I switched the blog to the English language and – even if I expected a more vertical growth in RSS subscribers – I nearly doubled my BlogLines subscribers (or, staying with Feedburner, I’m having a media of 35 subscribers: whom I’d really like to thank).
I never blog as much as I’d like, mostly for time constraints; but – counting my 2006 posts – I reach the quote of 64: which means something more then 1 per week. not good, not bad, just ok for me as I use my blog as a life diares for when I’ll grow up (now: when? :-)

Eyetracking
I’ve done a lot of eyetracking in the last 3+ years. most of my activities were centred on RnD (I’ve filed a couple of patents on it) but I’m mostly known for my eyetracking analysises published by UXmatters. I’m really honoured of the results, the last one – published back in June – got more than 40 comments to the article. Further more then any other article published by UXmatters.
The future? Well I’m still in the eyetracking business working with the University of Rome (ciao Francesco) but I don’t feel eyetracking is going to be a 2007 life tag. Making the wheel turning.

Family
I realy enjoyed family life this year. A lot of readings, vacations and time to spend with family. Things are going to change in 2007: during week days I’m able to see my wife and baby just a couple of hours a day. Coming home too late from work: things need to be done.

Flickr
Still enhancing my love for Flickr after 3 more years: got a pro account since 2005 and part of our Christmas present to my sister was a PRO Flickr account. It’s definbitely the killer application for digital photography (and I’m still waiting for GPS wi-fi/UMTS enabled digital cameras)

Francesca
She’s our life. Growing up at the fastest pace. If you’re a Flickr friend of mine you can take a look at the Flickr photoset (just the best shots, I’m counting approximately 500 of them). Drop me a line if you’re a friend of mine but have no access to the set.

Gabetti
I’m really honoured to work for this company. A lot of innovation is going on but it’s too early to talk about it. Let’s say we have an appointment late in January 07 and another one late in February 07. But the most groundbreaking one is coming up more or less near April 07. Stay tuned.

Mobup
If you regularly read this blog you couldn’t have missed it. It’s open source, it’s free, it uploads your cameraphones shots to Flickr. Originally born in July 2005 in Consultechnology it’s now available to every developer or cameraphone lover. We now have a top of the notch CTO (Thomas Landspurg) and a dedicated team of developers. We’re improving but we still need your support and suggestions.

Public speaking
I think 2006 has been the most crowded with speaking opportunities year in my life: I featured international conferencies, nation wide ones, universities, and small but innovative ones. I wa sborn for standing on a stage since I enjoied myself being an MC back in early 90s.
2007 coming up with other great seminars!

Second life
I discovered it at the Interaction Frontiers 2006 thanks to Andrea Benassi *see his presentation here). I now say that Second Life is today what the web was in 1995 a great opportunity for trend setters and first movers. I count myself in. more on this coming really soon.

Writing articles
I count more than 50+ articles in the last 4 years published on the web (Idearium, UXmatters and Flashability mainly). I prefere writing in english due to the broader audience I can reach.
A book is oin the air for 2007 but I’m really not sure whether it’s going to see the light or not. At the moment I’m really to busy with Gabetti (see proper life tag) to think about writing.

Have a great 2007!