The Logical Lizard

Geoffrey Notkin mixes art with science for a delectable blend of life in the desert

by Logical Lizard on Jul.03, 2009, under Computers & Internet

The New, New TucsonCitizen.com

In preparation for the launch of the new and improved TucsonCitizen.com site, our esteemed editors Mark Evans and Ryn Gargulinski invited the blogging contingent down to the TC.com offices for some hands-on interfacing this week. There isn’t much I enjoy more than spending time with some super-smart guys who know computer design and programming inside-out, so yesterday was a real treat for me.

Not only did I enjoyably go though the mutual friends and seen-you-before discussion with Mark, but I also had the pleasure of meeting the friendly and accomplished brainiacs who built the new TC.com site. As if that wasn’t enough entertainment for one afternoon, our tech and design experts unveiled the new site layout and gave us some helpful tips on how to make the most out of using it. I was highly impressed by the new concept and design, and after spending many years working as an art director in New York City I don’t say such things often.

Sky's the limit with the new TucsonCitizen.com. Check in with us Monday morning!

Sky's the limit with the new TucsonCitizen.com. Check in with us Monday morning!

The tech team had an array of Macs set up for us, all networked and logged in to a demo version of the new site . . . and  . . . a projector displaying the entire operation on the office wall! In everyday life we usually don’t get to meet the ones who make things happen behind the scenes, and I was grateful for the opportunity.

A lot of people have worked very hard to make TucsonCitizen.com happen. Tune in on Monday morning and enjoy the fruits of their labors. From my end, I’m just thrilled to be part of it.

a-lizard-art-cp2

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7 Comments for this entry

  • Karyn Zoldan
    July 4th, 2009 on 7:48 am

    I, too, was excited to be there and learn about widgets and other Wordpress functionality.  Under the tutelage of Mark and his enthusiasm, I’m looking forward to the expansion of the Tucson Citizen.

    Reply
  • Red Star
    July 4th, 2009 on 9:15 am

    Who (or what) pays the bills? What will be the revenue stream for this experiment? Or was it all just gushy, mindless, gaga, kneel down at the feet of “brainiacs?”

    Reply
  • Logical Lizard
    July 4th, 2009 on 9:35 am

    Red Star: Funny thing about me, but I like to compliment people who do a good job. Yeah, it’s old fashioned, I know. I’m sorry you feel that commending our hardworking design team is “mindless gaga.” The TC.com bloggers are currently working without pay, as they believe in the project. If you want to know the specifics of how the operating costs are being covered, you should ask our editor Mark Evans. But then, of course, it’s a lot easier to sit behind a keyboard and criticize and complain than actually do something constructive, right?

    Reply
  • Red Star
    July 4th, 2009 on 11:12 am

    Truly don’t want to see Logical Lizard get hurt. Especially since there is an apparent lack of understanding of “critique” and a shrugging-off of the sooner-or-later bottom line.
    As for the ad hominem attack on Red Star, that’s all just part of the shipping and handling of dealing with true believers…

    Reply
  • heez10
    July 5th, 2009 on 4:47 am

    I am looking forward to read about my favorite town in a new format, good luck. live in Fl. will visit Tucson again in Sept., cna’t wait!

    Reply
  • Glock&Spiel
    July 5th, 2009 on 2:13 pm

    You could ask the very same question of the Obama Administration. Nobody seems to like the slice of reality you’re dishing out. I guess they can’t handle the truth?

    Reply
  • Logical Lizard
    July 5th, 2009 on 2:56 pm

    Red Star: It was not my intention to shrug off your question about finances, and I apologize if my reply came across that way. I honestly do not know the details of how TC.com intends to generate revenue (although we can all see that ads are running on the home page), hence my recommendation to ask our editor. My job is to write the best blog I can. I trust my editors and the TC.com staff to handle the financial aspects, and don’t feel the need to have them explain those details to me at this time. You and I both know that it takes money to run a complex website and pay full-time staff. Hopefully we will collectively succeed in making this project fly.

    Regarding “critique”: Just last week a nice gentleman wrote all the way from Belgium to comment on an appalling error I made in my Apollo 11 piece (June 26). I corrected my mistake immediately and thanked him for alerting me to it. Your comment that my piece about the new TC.com layout was “gushy, mindless, gaga” is not a “critique” in the literary sense, rather a string of critical words. You are clearly educated and intelligent and will easily appreciate the difference. I have been a professional writer for many years and I am used to critique and welcome it when it is reasoned — whether I agree with it or not. On the other hand if someone just wants to verbally slap me, I slap back.

    In any case, we are nothing without our readers, so I do thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and to share your thoughts.  –  LL

    Reply

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