We’re moving and wanting to find a good home with our doggies. Their names are Punk and Homey. We adopted them over a year ago from a local sheltor, after they were featured on the news.

Reasons we love our dogs:

1. They talk to each other… the grunt, growl, and bark at each other just like any good pair of brother
2. Punk thinks he’s alpha but Homey (under the chair) is truely alpha and has always stood up for punk no matter what was going on (think investigation, breaking into the bathroom, etc, when we do baths, or whatever)
3. Punk is just funny. He’s short, stalky and got a curly chug tail
4. They love Kibbles & Bits, and love to eat 2x’s a day. Every morning they remind us to feed them by grunting
5. They snore. It’s hilarous! It’s like a grown man is snoring loudly, but when the two of them are snoring, they sound like trains…. to get sleep in our house, we just close our bedroom door.
6. Homey is always a lover. He’s gentle and friendly with our young daughter.
7. Both dogs would love to be lap dogs for anyone who can handle two fat boys. We work alot and our daughter prefers to be in our laps, so often they have to hang out on the floor.
8. They love to sleep on towels, blankets, or other nesting materials.
9. Come and go outside through the doggy door as needed.
10. Can walk on leashes

Today, please take a moment to Vote for Shellie Hall’s Mahalo Daily Video Entrance! She’s one of our very on instructors, a very TECHY girl and an all around fun chick to hang out with.

To vote, all you have to do is:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS0m0dn7WBg]

or go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS0m0dn7WBg&watch_response
(All you really have to do is play & rate the video!)

Then go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWMROWLqU2c
And leave a comment shout out for Shellie Hall!

Also, if you feel the urge, and have a digg account… Please digg her video!
http://digg.com/tech_news/Get_Creative_for_Mahalo_Daily

Then – if you want, drop Shellie a Good Luck Note!

My Vote is Shellie for Mahalo!!!! GO Shellie GO!!!

read more | digg story

Case #1:

• 4 yrs studying History yields a degree in History
• Job out of College: Sales, profitable, however after 8 years it took a while to build wealth, if any.
• After 12 years - how much do you think he will remember of his history studies?

Is this a profitable venture? Or would you spend $20 a month to continue your studies in history - even if you were working in sales?

Case #2:

• Art student, photography major, graphic design minor. 5 yrs in school.
• After 6 years of multiple jobs, an increase in pay from $20K to $55K
• Does working in the field constitute as the only place to advance ones skills? No?

What do you bet that this person used additional ways of continuing her education to increase her knowledge, experience and continue working in the field?

What are ways that she probably used?

• Employer paid conferences
• Local enthusiasts groups
• Internet Surfing, including blogs, forums, and other online free materials
• $100 yr in Magazine subscriptions

I think this person would have been better off with a $20 month subscription to xTrain. It covers the same topics, instructor led, 24 hour availability but can be done on the job, at home, or whenever.

Shameless plug aside, let’s think about it.

After you’ve spent 4-8-12 years in college, many careers require continuing education credits. However the design field doesn’t. You are either good at a certain type of art, or aren’t. A Jack of all trades artist, one who can work with, create in, and or market multiple art forms is more adventurous and able to find extra freelancing than just a one art form person. Now, don’t take this wrong, if you’ve got a gift, that particular gift should yield profits and a long standing career. But just like with the financial markets, the life of an artist will have profitable years and down years. It’s what you do with those down years to make the best out of the up years for years to come. So, in this time of heavy job loss, lack of funding, and less business ventures, be sure to spend your time wisely. Take that extra time you have to educate yourself one way or another and continue to grow your artist spirit. After all, most art forms boil down to a central business element and intertwine with one another. This should give you inspiration and more work in the mean time!

I can’t tell you how many times people say - oh you’re an artist do something free for me. And I’m sitting there nieve enough to go sure why not…. And then, i spent my 10 years in the industry wondering where my time went… ok so it was more like the first 3 years i didn’t get it, 4 more years went by of picking and choosing free projects… and the last few… hell no, pay me, pay me up front, or forget it. I’m not going to waste my time trying to please you, trying to collect money from you - after my services are rendered… oh and btw - our company has a 90 day pay period.

Then I watched Bryan Peterson’s course on xTrain on - why free designs do not enhance our life. As a matter of fact he pointed out that it’s against the AIGA’s guidelines to do pro-bono. Then he went into detail on how to negotiate - a concept for pay - and walk away if you don’t like idea. Very excellent. I haven’t used it lately because I’m too busy training, marketing and working with xTrain… but it’s one of those things… that comes back to the graphic above… if a used car sales man can’t barter - DON’T bother to do it free for him!

Shout out to ya have a great weekend!

That’s Right - That’s the DIGG article that SAYS xTrain’s on Adobe TV!!!

read more | digg story

read more | digg story

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnpcaMMnmcs]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgckKlRDwBg]

Excerpt from our press release: xTrain is proud to announce its new featured partnership on Adobe Systems’ new Adobe TV site. The new site features over 100 training segments from xTrain that include topics such as photography, graphic design, video, web developing and design, business and more. We are honored to be teaming up with such a significant leader in the software and technology industry, as we believe it will enable both our companies to deliver high-end education to a broad spectrum of Adobe software users.

Just go to their website, type in xTrain and you’ll find dozens of AWESOME videos that our instructors have worked so hard to put together for us, and now ADOBE loves them so much they’ve included them on their Training website!!!