A recent Pew Research Center study found that the Internet is now the third most-popular news platform, behind local and national television news and ahead of national print newspapers, local print newspapers and radio. Yep, our world has gone digital and–as my March Her Nashville column points out–if you’re not exactly tech savvy and don’t have a go-to geek in your corner, you’re missing a fine pixel parade.

Having a geek in your corner will increase your confidence and teach you a thing or two. If you don’t have someone to turn to for your slightly-intimidating social media and technology issues, find one. Among other things, your go-to-geek will:

• Encourage you to be your own guinea pig
Avoid the geeks that call themselves “gurus.” You don’t need a spiritual leader; you need the guidance of a tech-savvy person who encourages you to try your hand at social media, blogging, and good email etiquette. Through your relationship with this geek, you should begin to see in yourself increased confidence when talking about and using new media, not a gal who is rendered dependent on some secret geek sauce. Read More…

This is a morbid, buzz-killing topic, but it’s really important. My January Her Nashville Chic Geek column pushes you to  think about who–if anyone–will take over your online identity, accounts, etc. when you leave this world.

Here’s teaser; read the full thing at HerNashville.com:

If I should die before I wake, my Facebook password my husband should take. Oh, and an auto-reply message on my Gmail he should make, but my Twitter, LinkedIn,eBay, and PayPal accounts he may forsake … Read More…

I’ll never tire of folks emailing, DMing, Facebook messaging and calling with geek/productivity/PR questions. It’s amazing what a little perspective and encouragement will do for a person; I’m honored to be someone you call on when you need that.

Here’s the thing though: you seldom ask your question in the comments on my blog(s) or on Twitter. You seem to like your privacy. That’s cool, but I’d like to encourage you to share the Q & A luv; that’s what makes the Internet so fabulous, ya know? Wisdom of crowds and what not. Read More…

I’ve had a good deal of positive feedback from November’s Her Nashville Chic Geek column; thanks for taking the time to email, Tweet and Facebook-wall me with your thoughts!

My latest column tells the true story of a gal (who’s name has been changed) who showed up to a networking event with the best of intentions, but failed to bring along business cards. This got me to thinking of how important it is to be prepared to sell yourself, your talents, your brains and your intentions at a moments’ notice: Read More…

The October issue of HerNashville is online! A little Chic Geek teaser:

Nashville-area business owners, managers, and diligent employees: pay special attention to that customer tapping away at her iPhone or thumbing through her BlackBerry. She just might be Twittering about your customer service (or lack thereof), snapping a pic of your cute bartender or barista, or posting a rating of your business on consumer review websites like Yelp! and OpenTable. Read More…

…sans wine coolers.

Check out my rationale over at HerNashville.com.

Also, is it just me, or is the accompanying art for my September column just FREAKIN FANTASTIC? It’s about the cutest graphic ever and I want to wear it on a t-shirt.

In other news, Dave and I went to Tech Cocktail last night. It was supposed to be kind of a big deal and it felt like a big deal, but it was really, really loud. And sweaty.  Oh well, at least the AOL running guy thing was there. And this t-shirt was funny.

Is it seriously August Issue time already? It seems like just yesterday I was whining about the insanely cold temperatures of February and March. Time flies!

Anywho – the newest Her Nashville is online. This month, your Chic Geek hopes you’ll embrace change. Take it from someone who has seen a lot of it this year — change can be a good thing, but you’ve gotta know how to work it:

Greet change at your door. Invite him in and toast him with a glass of Merlot. Then, make him take you to a movie.

Or don’t take it from me at all and just listen to Life Coach Daryl; he’s an expert after all. Read More…

Reader J points out that I’ve neglected to post links to my last three Chic Geek columns here on FlackRabbit. Oops! In my defense, I was sort of going through a few major life changes, which caused me to forget and stuff. And then Wordpress hated me for a bit. Sorry! BUT I never missed a Her Nashville deadline in all that moving and stressing out and whatnot. If it makes you feel better — at least my editor was happy (Hi Ashley)!

So, for the non-Nashvegas readers, here’s what you’ve been missing: Read More…

It’s time for an update! First though, let me say that I’m really sorry I’ve been neglecting my Flackrabbit reporting duties. I realize that if you don’t know about Picalicious, or if we don’t stalk each other on Facebook or follow each other on Twitter, you might not be aware of how much I TOTALLY love DC.

So let me tell you: I TOTALLY love DC.

Over the past three weeks, lots of great stuff has happened for Team Newman; sure, it’s scary – just picking your life up and moving – but it continues to feel right. Everything that we have been stressing or fretting over keeps working itself out. It truly is a blessing.

Things I’ve been meaning to do for years, I’m doing. Like changing banks. There is no US Bank here in DC, so I’ve switched to SunTrust. Let me just say that I’m really, really enjoying their customer service and user-friendly website. I highly recommend them. I even earn interest on my checking account.

I’m really loving my gig. Again, I won’t be going into detail about it on this blog, but I keep pinching myself. I’m very blessed to have this opportunity and I love the pressure that comes with knowing they really took a chance on me, so I’ve gotta deliver. That may sound odd, but I dig it.

Dave moved up last week – and he loves it here. I’m so blessed to have him. He moved his whole life and business up here for me; I don’t know how I’ll ever repay him for that. Thanks, baby! In related news: Dave did Karaoke last week and I have proof! Just had to share.

Georgia is settling in well; of course, she’s got Dave, so she’s got that going for her, which is nice.  However, we are confused about why she’s starting to act like a real dog now. Exhibit A: she lays on the floor at your feet. That’s just weird.  We think the wall-to-wall carpet – that I hate -  is very empowering to her.

We continue to walk around awe-struck that we actually live here. We can walk out of our apartment and buy produce at the farmer’s market, or buy a bottle of wine at the little place across the street, or take the metro to the zoo, or just mosey across Pennsylvania Ave and hear free jazz in the sculpture garden. All without a car.

In other news:

• Team Newman is sad to report that Rebecca is leaving us right when we got here. We are uber happy for her and her fabulous new job in Dallas – but we are sooooooo sad to see her go! Be sure to check Picalicious on Sunday for pics of her going away party.
• Team Newman is happy to report that we have not been completely lost in the city yet, nor have we felt unsafe. You folks seem to be particularly curious about the latter half of that statement. We feel fine here! Swear!
• Team Newman feels obligated to report that it rains a lot here. Like all the time. We’ll be purchasing trench coats in the neat future.

And finally, don’t forget to pick up the June issue of Her Nashville! This month, Chic Geek answers some for your frequently asked questions – check it out!

I get lots-o questions from the non-techy set about “what’s next,” what geek toys I just can’t live without, etc.

This week, a friend asked me to name a few tech items that impress me. He looked at me with great anticipation – literally ready to take notes – but then I gave him my enthusiastic answer: “Oh! That Domino’s Pizza Tracker! It BLOWS MY MIND.” I thought he was going to cry.

(sigh)

Seeing the disappointed look on his face (I mean really, Chic Geek? That’s all you got?) I quickly followed up my pizza tracking glee with another tech toy that really impresses me: the Public Radio Tuner app for the iPhone.  Score! He totally approved of that one.

Clearly, I HEART the pizza tracker. I mean come on people; it tracks your pizza prep in real time AND tells you the name of your delivery person! But hearing about the Public Radio Tuner app really about made me cry.

See, I was listening to the WPLN fund-drive when I heard Blake Farmer say you one can listen to WPLN from ANYWHERE via this iPhone app thing. Holy cow! This was exciting news for me, since I’m moving and one of the things I’ll miss most are the Nashville Public Radio voices. It also lets you tune in WMOT, which is awesome. You don’t even need to be on wireless for it to work; it tunes in via 3G just fine.

The sound is not HD by any means and sometimes it drops the signal mid-newscast, but it’s still your local public radio station in your ear when you are far from home. That’s impressive and makes my heart happy.

What about you? What technology impresses you? Share it in the comments!

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