Janey Godley’s Neighbors

Become a Vox Fan on Facebook

nobody@vox.com(Team Vox) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:25:50 +0100

Gimme a V! Gimme an O! Gimme an X! What's that spell? VOX!

What better way to tell the world how much you love Vox than to announce it on Facebook? That's right: Vox now has an official Facebook page! Become a fan of Vox.com on Facebook and let your friends know what you really care about: staying connected with friends and family through blog posts, photos, videos and comments.

Once you're a fan, you can also add photos and videos to the page, write on the wall, and connect with other Voxers in ways you may not have previously. Plus, it's a great opportunity to let people know about your Vox blog, or start discussion topics. To become a fan, just visit the official Vox.com Facebook page and click the "Become a Fan" button in the upper right hand corner.

Once you've joined, why not post a response to the current discussion topic? Just post a link (and a brief description, if you'd like) to what you consider one of your all-time best Vox posts.

What are you waiting for? Become a Vox.com fan on Facebook today!

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Mommy Bloggers Hit the Road

nobody@vox.com(Team Vox) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:38:06 +0100

Summer Road Trip '08

Although we typically post on Team Vox to let you know about things that are going on with Vox (to, uh, state the obvious), once in a while, we like to let you know about other cool things that are happening around the blogosphere. And we think the idea of four hilarious mommy bloggers traveling across the U.S. on their way to the BlogHer '08 conference - all the while blogging and video blogging the journey - is one trip you will not want to miss.

Four adventurous bloggers from the Silicon Valley Moms Group were selected to participate in the Summer Road Trip '08 and blog about their travels, hotel stays, media appearances, time away from their families, and life on the road. Six Apart helped them partner up with General Motors, who provided the blogging mommies with a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid SUV to help make their journey comfy, safe, and a little more green.

In case you're not familiar with them, SV Moms is a group of over 200 bloggers who showcase the ups, downs, outrages, struggles, victories, and everyday humor of motherhood. There are currently nine regional and demographically tailored sites that give mothers from D.C., New Jersey, the Deep South, Rocky Mountains, L.A., and Silicon Valley a powerful voice and sense of camaraderie across the country. Whether you're a mother, a child, or just a person who enjoys a good blog, you'll really love reading the words of these amazing women.

Packed and Ready!

The moms buckled into their Chevy Tahoe Hybrid SUV on July 11th and even got an encouraging message from Katie Couric to kick things off! They are currently somewhere in the middle of America making their way to San Francisco where they'll attend an SV Moms Group Party, as well as BlogHer '08.

You do not want to miss these entertaining and irreverent bloggers -- or their spontaneous contest giveaways! -- as they blog from the road. Experience the journey at MomRoadTrip.com.

And let us know about your summer road trip - or plane/boat/bus trip - in the comments! (I like to live vicariously.)

~daisy

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Velatol Energy Enhancing Research

nobody@vox.com(Energy Enhancing Research) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:31:22 +0100

For back and nerve health without any worries as to the dangers, you can trust energy enhancing research and velatol to provide you with your health and wellness.

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Vox Meetup This Saturday: Cincinnati, Ohio

nobody@vox.com(Team Vox) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:12:24 +0100

Cincinnati, Ohio Vox Meetup

Do you live in or around Cincinnati, Ohio? If so, you're in luck because Scott and the Queen City Voxers Group have organized a Vox user meetup!

WHEN: This Saturday, July 12th

WHERE: Ault Park Playground. 3600 Observatory Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208. "We'll look for each other at the playground marked by the red X below. If it's raining, head for the shelter to the north of the [red] X."

Ault Park Map

EATS: Bring your own picnic and, if you're so inclined, bring something yummy to share with the other Voxers.

To RSVP (which is not essential, but is appreciated), reply to Scott's announcement or send him a private message. All Voxers, as well as their friends and family, are welcome to attend.

If you do attend the meetup, have a great time and please take lots of pictures and send them to me so I can post them in Team Vox for everyone to see!

Thank you so much to Scott for organizing this meetup. Wish I could be there!

~daisy

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Take Your Dog to Work Day

nobody@vox.com(Team Vox) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:25:07 +0100

Although almost every day at Six Apart is Take Your Dog to Work Day, Friday was extra special because it was the official Take Your Dog to Work Day! Plus, as lovers of blogs and animals, we think it's great that active blogger and Human Society's President and CEO, Wayne Pacelle, thinks having dogs around the office is a good reminder of "who we're working for."

We realize some people have it ruff and aren't lucky enough to be able to bring their dog to work, but hopefully these pictures taken at Six Apart last Friday will get your tails wagging... And let me tell you, it's harder than it looks to get all the doggies and their fetching owners in one picture.

(L to R) Ben and Maddy, Staci and Jax, Sergeja and Sushi, Steve and Rudy:

6adogs

And Penelope Trott took Rudy for a quick spin in her wagon while Mom and Dad were hard at work

Penelope and Rudy

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What's Your Theme for Summer?

nobody@vox.com(Team Vox) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:30:40 +0100

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, today is the summer solstice. For ancient civilizations, this day was akin to our modern day New Year's Eve and was viewed as a time to reflect and renew. So why not kick off your summer celebration with a new theme?

See all of our themes in the Design Area.

Or choose from one of these brand-new themes. (Available under "New.")

Vox Themes June 08

L to R: Blooming Garden, by Teresa Jones; Ocean Beach, by Jesse Gardner; Sweet Dreams, by Susan Smuk Jorgensen.

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Endings/Beginnings

nobody@vox.com(fox in the snow) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:28:34 +0100

I scribbled lots of notes down during my last days at work and thought I might as well cobble them together into a blog entry.

Thursday night is my reluctant leaving-do, one day early. I agree to it only if I can tag along to a colleague's birthday drinks because I don't want the fuss of a separate event. This is how I end up in a trendy cocktail bar with a stupid name rather than a pub with sofas and proper beer. Still, I reason, it's not really my night so I can slip off early. Only once I get there, it's unexpectedly lovely. People I've only spoken to in passing make a point of coming over to wish me well. Jon gives me a hug and says he wishes we'd got to know each other earlier on. I tell him to resign, he's too good for the place. I'm talking too loudly and my editor looks over. I don't care.

I've been in the unusual position of sobering up throughout the night as, after a boozy lunch, I don't want to drink any more and risk a hangover tomorrow. I accept a couple of gin and tonics and pass them to Sam, who has kept me sane over the last few chaotic months. She is giggling and busily conducting a straw poll to see which of our male colleagues is tallest when SleazyExTeamLeader walks in, so she doesn't notice him cosy up to me on the suddenly too small sofa. He "casually" slides his arm along the back of it, makes unnerving eye contact and tells me how much he'll miss me. I don't bother to point out that he left work over a year ago. He manages to lean closer and tells me I should get a job presenting on Nuts TV. I ignore him. He repeats it, apparently believing this is the acme of chat-up lines. Finally, Sam looks over and oh, is that the time, we really have to go and make sure we don't miss the last tube. It's 9.30pm. We exit.

Friday morning, my last day. I am late in due to a glitter-related incident (I end up having to comb it out of my hair) but still the first of my team to show up. Punctuality is not anyone's strong point. I finish my last piece of work, writing about the legal system in Monaco, and by the time I'm done everyone else has trickled in. "What are you going to do next?" someone asks. I tell him I'm going away for the weekend and then I plan to do lots of baking, deliberately misinterpreting his question. "No, what job are you going to?" I tell him I have nothing lined up and force a smile as he looks concerned. "It's fine. Something will turn up," I say. This has become my mantra of late. I don't know if I really believe it or if it's just a self-comforting empty phrase.

By early afternoon, there is a sense of barely reined in hysteria amongst my team mates. Richard does a reverse pterodactyl impression and we collapse into disproportionate laughter, eager to break the weird tension. We laugh more genuinely as we realise an interviewee for my position walked past at the exact moment he stood on his chair and let out an "aw-awwwk!" There is something in the air, something seismic is happening. I am not so arrogant as to think this all rests on my shoulders. I am the first of a mass exodus of leavers. The rats are leaving the sinking ship, far faster than the actual rats are leaving the building.

Going against tradition, I asked not to have a speech or a presentation because OH GOD, the mortification. I just want to slip away. Nonetheless, at 3pm my team gathers quietly around my desk and hands me a card, signed by everyone in the office, and a book - a graphic novel based on the songs of Belle & Sebastian (geeky and twee - how did they know?). It is thoughtful and kind and I am suddenly more moved than I thought I'd be. I open the card but can't read the messages for fear I might cry.

Why am I getting upset at leaving a job I've despised? It's the unexpected kindness of my colleagues, a theme continued by MaverickEditor striding over and offering to take me for a drink. That decides it - I'm leaving now. I clear my internet history, delete some pictures of ponies, empty my inbox and log off. I say goodbye to my team, thank them for the present, and walk out. A few others notice me leaving and shout goodbyes across the room. I close the door behind me. My departure has barely caused a ripple, which is just how I wanted it.

MaverickEditor takes me to a lovely tiny pub across the road and buys me wine. "So, why are you leaving?" he asks as we loiter outside in the sunshine while he smokes. "Hit the glass ceiling of £25k?" I laugh and tell him what I was earning. He is shocked. Even more so when I tell him what I was on six months previously before my token pay rise. "Fucking bastards," he says, nodding hello to yet another local he recognises. "Fucking shitty nepotistic bastards," I agree, and laugh again, this time without the bitterness. My impotent railing against the system won't change anything now but still, it feels good.

We spend longer talking than either of us intended, exchanging gossip and chatting idly. He pulls a face as his mobile rings - it's his manager, wondering where he's vanished to. He has to go. We walk outside where I shake his hand and tell him he's one of the reasons I've been able to stick it out for so long. I genuinely mean it, and he is genuinely touched. We make no false promises to keep in touch. He crosses one road to return to work, I cross another to get to the station.

I am lightheaded from afternoon drinking and have to concentrate hard to make it to Victoria to meet Jef. We catch a train to Brighton, to the sea, to where it all began, to where it will begin again. I remember leaving this town and not knowing what would happen next but in a terrible, confusing, empty way. Now I've taken another step into the unknown but this time a weight has been lifted, not added. Someone told me you don't realise how much a bad job is weighing you down until you leave it, and it's true. Everything is better now. I can think and write again. Somehow, against the odds, I am joyous and hopeful. 2008 has already given me so much and I don't believe that will stop. Everything will be ok.

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Introducing Blog It for iPhone

nobody@vox.com(Team Vox) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:45:33 +0100

Blog It

A couple of months ago, we told you about Blog It powered by TypePad, the first cross-platform blogging application for Facebook the enables you to post to your Vox blog - and ALL your blogs - with a single click.

Within a week, Blog It had nearly 4,000 active users posting tweets and creating blog posts, as well as updating their status messages with the title and link to the published post. Today, Blog It's Facebook application has nearly 10,000 users. But here's the thing: You're not always sitting in front of the computer when the inspiration to blog strikes. And at Six Apart, it is our goal to provide you the tools you need need to blog where you want, and when you want.

Blog It for iPhone

Which is why this week we introduced Blog It for iPhone, a free web application just like the one we introduced for Facebook - only now - on your iPhone. Built specifically for iPhone's Safari browser, Blog It for iPhone enables you to post blog entries or status updates from wherever you are to more than a dozen different online services. And just like the original Facebook version, you can choose to share your posts with the people you know across various social networks.

To start blogging with Blog It for iPhone, go to http://blogit.typepad.com with your iPhone's Safari browser and install the Blog It icon onto your mobile desktop. Then, all you have to do is click the Blog It icon and start creating posts!

Whether you're riding the bus to work, cheering on your team courtside, or enjoying a picnic by the lake, now it's easier than ever to Blog It.

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Yet more reasons why 2008 is rocking really hard

nobody@vox.com(fox in the snow) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:51:20 +0100

Last night, Kate and I met up for an evening of fabulousness. PREVIEW: this entry contains dresses, cheese and secret bars.

We started in Beyond Retro in Soho, which was like entering a cellar full of awesome. There were dresses and underskirts and negligees and clutch bags a go go. We seriously debating buying jumpsuits for DJing purposes (it's London Loves this Saturday! I had my eye on a yellow towelling number) but Kate managed to get away with just two dresses while I scampered home with this one, which makes me feel like Alice in Wonderland:

Dress of joy

Ah, what better way to usher in a new era of unemployment than with wanton profligacy?

On for dinner of bread, cheese and more cheese. Total calories: 17,356. That sound you hear is Paul McKenna shooting himself just so he can spin in his grave. We managed to stop ourselves ordering another loaf of walnut bread to mop up the excess Gruyere because we had to dash off to a gig in an old Fitzrovian department store (twee factor: 3 billion).

And thus I discovered my new favourite place in London: Bourne & Hollingsworth. We descended a narrow metal staircase to the bar and entered 1945. The venue was about the size of a living room with peeling floral wallpaper, candles in tea cups and a fireplace covered in champagne bottles against which one could lean rakishly. And there were rakish men with shiny hair and improper thoughts everywhere. We contemplated ordering some Sebastian Martinis but instead holed up in a corner with vodka and wine, watching an endearingly ramshackle line-up of bands rattle through songs from The Village Green Preservation Society.

(Incidentally, there was a courting couple at the table beside us and we correctly guessed that (a) it was their first date and (b) they'd met through Guardian Soulmates. He talked too much, she was uncomfortable with his arm around her, things fell flat when he suggested a trip to Basingstoke. They left early and we both craned around to see if they stopped for a kiss under the red light at the bottom of the stairs. They didn't. I don't see a future for those kids.)

We were flagging by 10.30pm and headed off. It was something of a disappointment to join the real world and find that it was still 2008. Part of me was hoping that the sirens would still be sounding and we'd have to hole up in there all night, singing There'll Always Be An England and comforting the children with gin.

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Vox Maintenance Tonight: 11:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. PDT

nobody@vox.com(Team Vox) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:47:22 +0100

We will be performing scheduled maintenance on Vox tonight (Friday, June 6, 2008) from 11:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. PDT. Although we don't anticipate this maintenance to be highly disruptive, we always like to give you advance notification when there is a slight chance of some downtime.

As always, thank you for your patience - and have a great weekend!

Update: There WILL be downtime between 11:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. PDT. so please plan accordingly.

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