Disqus - Latest Comments for FreshOats

Re: What is your brand? |

Justin (Oats) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:51:10 -0000

Those five points are good advice. I don't really have a personal 'brand', but I have been working on my professional website for some time trying to figure out what information I should include and what to omit. Overall, I like to think of myself as a good candidate for the jobs I will next be applying to, and I have a signature look so that people clearly remember my face.
I think the most important part of it all is the connection of who the person is and what the person is capable of. It may all look good on paper, but if they don't remember who you are they may be hesitant to hire; and conversely they may remember who you are but fail to make the connection of your proficiencies. Like usual, it all comes down to balance.

Re: Facebook Fan Pages vs. Networked Blogs

Justin (Oats) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:57:26 -0000

One problem with Facebook in general for blog promotion is that you are pushing your blog onto people that you already know and likely already know of your blog. You will not be getting a fresh audience using facebook. You'd have to use some kind of network that allows random users to view your blog, and find a way to promote there. Facebook isn't, and never has been blog-friendly.

Re: Magnificent People You Are

Justin (Oats) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:56:09 -0000

Making a big move always brings anxiety - what are you going to miss? What are you going to find? I've always found it's like starting over again. Although your friends are far away, you've also left behind any of the negative aspects of that city. You're in a new environment, you'll make new friends, and you'll have yet another city to call home.

Re: The Blogger Is Not Real

Justin (Oats) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:51:13 -0000

I agree with what Phampants said: My blog is an extension of my life.

But that is all it is, the extension. It's not all of me, but it is a part of me. So for a reader that may possibly meet me or maybe has met me have come to realize that for a blogger with many words, I'm rather quiet in person and my personality is completely lacking in my blog. But at the same time, they know that part of me that I write about, my interests, my activities, etc. Pieces of my life. An extension. Like an extra limb.

Re: Writing Experiment #14 – Re-Write Something

Justin (Oats) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:00:29 -0000

This is a good idea. It reminds me of a story by Flannery O'Connor - "The Geranium" It's the first short story she wrote, about an old man who watched as the neighbor put out his flower on a balcony. Later in her life the last thing she wrote was a different version of "The Geranium" called "Judgement Day" which is an expanded and revised version of the original.

I'll have to find a good blog to revisit.

Re: The Cocktail Question

Justin (Oats) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:55:05 -0000

By day I am a scientist. I do electrophysiology, molecular biology, cell culture, and primary cell isolation.

But I also push the limits, wear borderline inappropriate t-shirts on a daily basis, read, write, love, take pills, have mood swings, play rock band (all the time), play guitar, play piano, go to kung fu class, run, think, cook, think some more, eat oatmeal for lunch every day, try to be better than I was the day before, try to run faster, push harder, smile on only rare occasions when it really means it, laugh at stupid jokes, pretend to be interested, try to be interested, smile and nod, question the authorities, talk to my mom, talk to my dad about business, talk to my brother about something that is usually TMI from his end, email people, check twitter religiously, hate macs, love my pc, enjoy hot-tubbing in the snow while singing "hot tubbing, we're hot tubbing" to the tune of Night Clubbing by Iggy Pop, cycling, walking the dogs - 2 long-coat chihuahuas, and observing everything around me absorbing every detail, taking a deep breath, and exhale.

Re: Where Are The Male Bloggers?

Justin (Oats) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:21:37 -0000

It's a difference between men and women, women typically like to express their feelings, get opinions, talk about their day, discuss what they bought (shoes), or go into some detail about their sex life. Men, on the other hand, (thinking back to the dinner table dad figure) don't feel the need to go into the details about their day, feelings are never discussed amongst a group of guys. I've never had a friend come up and say, hey, Oats, I'm really sad today. Not unless they're wasted that is. Men don't go on about shopping and unless they want to come across as some pervert would likely not blog about their sex life. It's not even blogging, it's just like conversations you'd have with friends.
The medium of blogging sets up an environment ideal for many different forms, however when it comes down to what guys actually want, you're more likely looking at sports and video games if they're going to be in front of a screen. I've seen a few gamer blogs, but games are dominated by the male population.
It seems to me, the kind of commitment and received output/feedback from blogging satisfies womens' needs moreso than most men who want instant gratification.