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New Year's Blogging Resolution

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 11:29:02 PM EST
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There are a million New Years' Resolutions I could make. But, I don't believe in them, unless I make them during Christmas week to get a head start. Who wants to be the person huffing and puffing at the gym on Jan. 2? At least if I start Dec. 26, I'll feel like an old-timer by the time the newbies roll in.

I've decided to forego all of the traditional resolutions this year. I lift however many pounds I can lift. I weigh what I weigh. No matter what resolution I make, I'll never have more money in the bank.

So, this year I'm making a resolution for TalkLeft. Last year I promised myself I would redesign the site, whether I could afford it or not. I'm very proud that I did it, albeit in December, with my own funds and without asking readers for help.

For 2006, I have a new goal. Again, it's one I will do without asking for contributions. It is learning graphic design, and I started the day after Christmas. Like most analytical lawyers, I am very left-brain and very right-brain challenged. Yet, I cringe with envy every time I visit Jane and Reddhedd at Firedoglake and see how they begin every post with an awesome graphic.

I have had Adobe Photoshop 6 for years but no one to teach me how to use it. This week I shelled out the bucks for Adobe CS-2 which comes with a video tutorial, and I promise, that by December 31, 2006, I will be able to make my own graphics.

Blogging is evolving past text. We can only read so much. Graphic portrayals, short videos and podcasts will launch blogs to the next level. The past few years I have learned to use Powerpoint for lectures and paid experts to design demonstrative exhibits for juries. But creating graphics for a website is an entirely different medium. Since blogging is a hobby, there is no money to pay graphic designers. I have to learn it myself. And I will. So that's my New Year's resolution: I will learn to make pictures that accompany my interpretation of injustice or I will go broke trying.

Wish me luck.

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    New Year's Blogging Resolution | 11 comments (11 topical)
    Re: New Year's Blogging Resolution (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 12:13:49 AM EST
    I wish you luck and best wishes, but I will say add that there is no such thing as free lunch. Those of us that read a lot of blogs on our Treo's and other slow, low bandwidth devices, really don't like the graphics. Slow to download and certain ones just make my Treo work way too hard to scroll. Also, I believe that Jane and ReddHedd rely a lot on "the monk" (?) for the graphics they use on their site. Form follows function! I do very much like your new design.

    Re: New Year's Blogging Resolution (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 04:06:05 AM EST
    Good Luck with the graphics. I'm doing the same thing. I have found a few sites that offer free use of their images. It's sometimes hard to find images of political players that aren't protected by copyright. Happy New Year!

    Re: New Year's Blogging Resolution (none / 0) (#3)
    by joejoejoe on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 04:29:39 AM EST
    I recommend the books of Edward Tufte on graphic design. You should read his Ask E.T. forum for great graphic discussions and check out his books (which are as beautiful as they are informative). OT: Mark Schmitt has some interesting speculation on the intersection of the Plame case and the FISA circumvention. Frances Townsend is at the center of both scandals.

    Re: New Year's Blogging Resolution (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 07:29:49 AM EST
    TL... You're doing a fine job. This is a great site and I have turned on many friends to it. Keep up the good work Happy New Year!

    Re: New Year's Blogging Resolution (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 08:25:13 AM EST
    Dear sir, 1. I very much enjoy what you write, and what you write about. 2. The new blog look is lovely. 3. Enjoy photoshop. I have been using it for nearly a decade. 4. Take the advice of joejoejoe above. Those are good books. However: your statement above to the effect that you will "teach yourself graphic design this year" is probably not a reasonable one. Learning good graphic design is not like learning scrapbooking. There is a great deal of genuine theory and history in the field. Good design is rare. Just look around you at the schlock this world pumps out. You may wish to amend the statement to "I willl teach myself how to do a little photoshop this year." That would be far more reasonable, and far less insulting to professional graphic designers. Ahem. Happy New Year

    Re: New Year's Blogging Resolution (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 09:15:24 AM EST
    Mr peebles, point well taken. I will learn how to do some photoshop this year.

    Re: New Year's Blogging Resolution (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 09:39:33 AM EST
    I just looked at that firedoglake site. And you know what, TL? Your site is MUCH more attractive. Where websites are concerned, the most important thing is a nice clean grid and attractive use of type. You've got those down. Throwing in a bunch of pictures doesn't make a site prettier -- it can have quite the opposite effect. So definitely, Photoshop is worth learning, and pictures can be very effective -- but don't go too crazy and ruin a good thing, eh?

    Re: New Year's Blogging Resolution (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 11:11:50 AM EST
    Webmacher, thanks. I agree that too many photos would become tiresome, just like too much text. I will try to find a balance. Plus, hunting down appropriate photos and images can take hours for each post, which is time I'd rather spend blogging. But I love Jane and Reddhed's pictures and as I said, am very envious of their ability to find them.

    Re: New Year's Blogging Resolution (none / 0) (#9)
    by The Heretik on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 11:16:33 AM EST
    Too many pics would be tiresome.

    Re: New Year's Blogging Resolution (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 02:50:29 PM EST
    Talk Left-- The redesign is aesthetically pleasing and very efficient. My first clicks after signing on to the Net are TL, Raw Story, Firedoglake and HuffPo. Here in Philadelphia, I had to subscribe to XM in order to hear AAR. I can get hate radio here for free, on TWO stations, 24/7. I feel quite isolated sometimes, but these sites help so very much. Thanks again to Jeralyn and everybody @ TL. MacReady

    Re: New Year's Blogging Resolution (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jan 02, 2006 at 05:04:47 PM EST
    Sure, firedoglake's graphics are cool, but that is not why I visit there. Spend your extra time writing more material...which is great stuff and don't worry about the gee whiz stuff. Thanks for a great 2005!

    New Year's Blogging Resolution | 11 comments (11 topical)