Alexandra Wolfe's Blog, page 51

Tree Project – Day 1

Tree Project – Image 1

I decided I wanted to do a new photography project and, at first, while I had thought to do a series featuring aspects of my favourite garden, the University Botanic gardens, I set my sights a little closer to home (especially having just moved to a new apartment) and have settled on taking one shot a day of a tree, or grouping, that I can see from my balcony.

Nothing adventurous or ground breaking, but a record more for myself of how each day will unfold here, in my new place, at the start of a new chapter in my life.

And especially as autumn is fast approaching, I wanted to start today, Sept. 1st, and try to capture a complete year. Of course, that remains to be seen. But here goes, here’s the first image taken at 7 pm.

Tree Project – Image 1

Tree Project – Image 1

I decided I wanted to do a new photography project and, at first, while I had thought to do a series featuring aspects of my favourite garden, the University Botanic gardens, I set my sights a little closer to home (especially having just moved to a new apartment) and have settled on taking one shot a day of a tree, or grouping, that I can see from my balcony.

Nothing adventurous or ground breaking, but a record more for myself of how each day will unfold here, in my new place, at the start of a new chapter in my life.

And especially as autumn is fast approaching, I wanted to start today, Sept. 1st, and try to capture a complete year. Of course, that remains to be seen. But here goes, here’s the first image taken at 7 pm.

To Note or not to Note

That is the Facebook question.

Will Facebook’s new revamped Notes be a blogging boon on Facebook, or just a passing curiosity for a chosen few?

What, you didn’t know Facebook had Notes? Well, yes, they did and still do, but it isn’t used as much as I think Facebook would have hoped, and that’s more to do with the way their algorithm ‘pushes’ Notes and Status Updates, which are 5-times more likely to be seen by your followers and friends than any Notes you write.

But, we are reliably told, not only has Facebook hired the development team that worked on Medium (yes, they hope Notes will look and work like Medium) they reassure the media that Notes will act and perform better than the previous incarnation.

I’ve used Notes in the past but, quite frankly, they were very rarely read and or commented on, much like most blog posts. I wonder if the new revamp Notes will be any different despite getting the make over, as it will all depend on audience. Will your Notes turn up in their feed, and will they stay long enough to read it, let alone bother commenting?

Then again, if you write exciting content, whether in an Update or Note, and you naturally have a bunch of friends who are both writers and readers alike, you’d think the odds are stacked in favour of them stopping long enough.

The new Notes will offer larger format cover images, a wider space, larger text, the ability to tag photos as well as add links and hashtags. If so, and it works from the get go (none of the usual Facebook hiccups) could this be game changing for writers?

I mean, would more people blog and write longer Note-like posts on Facebook to share with their own audience and give up a personal blog, like Tumblr or WordPress? Which, if Notes works as proposed, I would consider doing, would you?

News Sources:

Fastcompany: http://tiny.cc/zshg2x

Wired: http://www.wired.com/2015/08/facebook...

Becoming a News Publisher

Yes, I did it! I just signed up for Apple’s new News Publisher, which will be available with the new software iOS9 update later this year. Doing it now means I am set and ready to go. Especially when they provide the interface and tools to create, what I hope and, I am sure many others hope too, is a new kind of content that will rival apps like Flipboard and Zite. Or, as some are already predicting, kill-off these other news apps.

What’s exciting for me about this is the prospect of creating tailored content, for a world-wide audience. Apple is promising a more dynamic platform to build interactive content with control over how it looks and feels, in a way magazines did with print and paper, back in their day.

An announcement from Apple:

“We’re working on bringing you a brand new format you can use to create signature content for News. With Apple News Format, you’ll be able to create beautifully crafted layouts with custom typography, rich photo galleries, videos, and animations. Author once and News will optimize your content for all iOS devices. You’ll also be able to connect your existing content management systems to News, and get access to a rich suite of tools for measuring user engagement.“

There are a number of options available to those who sign-up to generate revenue from their content using iAd. The distribution is quoted as 70% to you and 30% to Apple. If you do not want your content featuring any kind of advertising then I suggest you DO NOT sign up for the project.

Currently they are only accepting English-Language submissions from Companies, Publishers, and bloggers, and, I believe, only from the US, UK and Australia. No news yet about the rest of the world, or here in Canada, I’m sure we will here more on that later.

Look here for more Info and FAQ.

Going Ga-Ga for Hobohemia

“Indiana, the 1930s. Welcome to Soggiorno Bros’ Travelling Wonder Show, and a very different Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.”

I’m delighted to see that Abaddon Books has released A Scandal in Hobohemia, by the very talented Jamie Wyman, for download on the Kindle, along with The Case of the Tattooed Bride. Which is a novella-length story featuring the brilliant carnival manager and crime-fighting Sandford ‘Crash’ Haus and his friend, Jim ‘Dandy’ Walker. I’m really looking forward to reading the new novella by Wyman.

Check out my review for the Holmesian anthology, Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets, which featured A Scandal in Hobohemia.

You can also buy the new combo at: Kindle US | Kindle UK

Google Drives me Nuts

I’m using Google Drive. I have been using Google Drive since it came out. And … I hate it. I like it. I loathe it. Why? Because of the experience I have with the Drive on my iMac. It’s more insidious and annoying than Dropbox when it comes to misplacing, not quite synching, or losing files altogether. I should also point out I use Google Drive primarily on a iMac. Not on my iPhone, I haven’t downloaded the app. Nor on my iPad, I haven’t downloaded the app. While seemingly convenient to open and upload items directly, by dragging and dropping said items into the Google Drive folder and sub-folders you create. At the end of the day (and doesn’t love that saying) when I go to close down my machine, it hangs. And hangs. And hangs. Until, that is, Google Drive has finished deciding whether or not all my stuff in the Drive folder, in mythical cloud land, are synched. And then, and only then, after several minutes and yes, I do mean several …

WordPress Page Builders Compared

I’ve been looking at the new crop of page builders that come either as a plugin or, as a theme with built-in components. Here are a few I looked at, tried out (where demos where available) or tried in my own WP site to see how they faired and functioned. Please bare in mind, this is just a selection of a number that are cropping up and not a definitive list.  Beaver Builder: $99 Rating : C This paid-for plugin offers no ability to change font and styles within each individual component. There is no way to insert a sub-header or “by-line.” All you are doing is dragging and dropping a handful of pre-set components, aligning text within or adding pre-made plugins and or widgets. A really expensive way to place text, images and or video. Headway Themes: $59 Rating: C Like Beaver, this one offers plenty, but doesn’t quite deliver either, and while it has a cheaper license, there are still by far better options available. This isn’t a plugin, but rather a theme …

Plains of Abraham

Making the most of the brief spring weather here, before rain next week. I took the afternoon off, yesterday, to go for a walk out on the Plains of Abraham. And why not? It was beautiful, warm, with clear blue skies. I started my walk outside the Grand Théâtre de Québec by the Three Players. A trio of statues sat on the lawn, who were also enjoying the lovely spring weather. I made my way from there toward the Plains stopping to take photos of a couple of churches, before arriving at the Jehanne D’arc Gardens. Sadly, this early, there are still no flowers to speak of. From there, I walked part of the Plains, taking in two of the last standing Martello Towers, and some of the finest views of Québec, the river, and the south shore.

Spring Weekend Walkabout

The one thing you can guarantee the minute the sun comes out up here in the Frozen North, is everyone, and I mean everyone and their dog, will be out promenading. And so it was with me, this weekend, camera in hand. I did one of my favourite walks down along the Rue St-Jean, through the St-Jean Gate and Place D’Youville, along the lower end of the rue St-Jean, and into the Old Quarter walking toward the Petite Champlain. It’s an enjoyable 2 hour walk passed historic churches, bakeries and coffee houses, cafes and museums, toward the historic Old Quarter, to Notre-Dame de Québec cathedral, to Terrasse Dufferin and the promenade with amazing views over the river, Chateau Frontenac, and lower town.

Spring Flowers

It’s that time again, the day the park opens. Or, to be exact, the day the University Laval gardens open. Much like a miniature Botanic Gardens, the Laval gardens have a wonderful array of trees, shrubs, flowers and plant life. [Check out the Map.] Sad to say though, at this time of year, the snow has only just receded and flowers are sparse on the grounds. And while many towns and cities well to the south of us are enjoying their Spring Flowers, and Cherry Blossoms, here in Québec City we are only just seeing the crocuses, bluebells and primulas pop their pretty heads above ground.