NaBloPoMo

Why would someone move to Vegas?

November 1, 2013 Karen Hartline

Can't live in Vegas without a pool! — Can’t live in Vegas without a pool!

I have officially been a resident of Las Vegas for just over 4 months now. Whenever friends ask how things are going, I answer quickly, “I love it…I really love it,” which surprises me every time the words come out of my mouth. Not because I didn’t think I’d love it, but because of how quickly it’s become home for me.

I lived in Madison, WI for over 4 years and it never really felt like home, but I don’t know why. I then moved to San Jose, then San Mateo, and eventually on to San Francisco where it took a while, but the city finally felt like home. Don’t get me wrong, I fell in love with San Francisco during my very first visit when I stood at Twin Peaks and looked over the entire city. I knew in my heart that I was moving there and did a few months later. No matter how fast I fell in love with the fabulousness of the city, it took a while for it to feel like home.

So why has Vegas not only found its way into my heart (honestly–it did that a year ago–but that’s another story!) but is a place I call home sweet home so quickly? Because of the community that is growing and thriving in Downtown Vegas. What’s awesome is I’m not the only one who can see it, taste it, feel it. I’ve had numerous friends visit in the short while I’ve lived here and they all say they same things which only confirms the validity of the community.

Vintage Vegas neon lights that say “In Love”

It’s not something that’s exclusive or contrived. It’s real…very real…and very exciting. It’s a community of passionate people coming together to be a part of something bigger than each of us could ever imagine as a single unit. I compare it to the community that brought so many people together in SF in early 2008, when people shared ideas openly, challenged each other, and cheered each other on. Part of the reason I left the city I loved was because that spirit seemed to be dying. For a while, I thought maybe it was just something I was seeing only through my eyes, but after multiple conversations with others who were a part of that community, I’ve come to the conclusion that the spirit that thrived was in fact missing now.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ondi Timoner last week as she was a speaker at the Tech Cocktail Celebrate conference that we produced. I controlled my inner fan girl as she directed “We Live in Public“, a documentary that was shared in the online community a few years ago and really made me think about the things I share via social networks and why I share them. Ondi is working on a project called “A Total Disruption” and shared this video she made during her visit to Downtown Vegas last week. You can also read her take on what’s going on so you understand from an outsiders perspective. It makes my heart sing and I hope that it will help you understand why I moved to Vegas and why I am so happy to call it ‘home’.

NaBloPoMo

Celebrating Samasource at the Give Work Gala

November 4, 2011 Karen Hartline

Take note of the name Samasource as it’s one you should definitely know about. In short, they bring dignified, computer-based work to women, youth, and refugees living in poverty. There’s a huge trend of outsourcing work, no matter how big or how small the job is, but Samasource takes that trend and uses it for training and educating workers in Africa with Samasource account managers and QA professionals overseeing the work. In their words:

Samasource is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects people living in poverty to work via the Internet. In parallel, we provide high-quality content moderation, data entry, and other outsourcing services to clients including LinkedIn, Intuit, and the US State Department.

Samasource’s San Francisco-based sales and delivery teams work with clients to move large data projects to a proprietary online work distribution system, the SamaHub. Dedicated, full-time workers around the world access the SamaHub from delivery centers monitored by Samasource staff. Samasource account managers and QA professionals ensure quality, accuracy, and fast turnaround times.

Samasource derives its name from the Sanskrit word sama, which means equal, and was founded in 2008. The company’s board and management team includes experts in the fields of distributed work, economic development, and outsourcing.

I remember meeting Leila Janah, Founder and CEO, a few years ago and talking with her about ways we could work together. Things didn’t pan out much at that time, but I’ve followed the Samasource success ever since. I’m quick to share about them with others and have often suggested Leila as a speaker for social good events and conferences.

I’m very honored to have received an invite to the Give Work Gala this evening and am excited to celebrate the amazing work Samasource has done over the past year as well as what’s coming up in their future. If you’re interested in learning how to get involved by giving work, donating or volunteering, please check them out.

Music is my boyfriend, NaBloPoMo

Super Bass brings super excitement!

November 3, 2011December 30, 2011 Karen Hartline

I’m don’t usually watch videos that are shared via Facebook, but am so glad I came across this video earlier this week. It literally brought tears to my eyes watching how excited Sophia Grace is to meet her idol, Nicki Minaj.

Ellen first interviews Sophia and her cousin, Rosie. This girl is going to be a triple threat with her voice, dancing (you’ll see in the next video) and her British accent!

*I also love pink…and fluffy dresses!

And then Ellen brings Nicki to the stage. I love the message that Nicki gives to Sophia and Rosie.

This little girl just can NOT contain her excitement…but why should she? Let me just say that Sophia is inspiration for me to learn Super Bass to rock out at karaoke sometime soon.

Hoping you find something exciting this week that makes you jump up and down. 😉

*Cheers,

NaBloPoMo, Twitter Thoughts

What’s your sign?

November 2, 2011December 30, 2011 Karen Hartline

I’m always intrigued by the makeup of a person’s personality and believe that we’re often influenced by those we admire. For instance, I am reminded of my ‘big sister’ Wendi often as I see parts of her mannerisms come out in me when I smile and laugh. There are words we pick up from being around others, habits we adopt, and quirks that we take on as our own….sometimes good and sometimes bad.

I’m also amazed by how much astrology signs play into personalities. Me? I’m a Gemini (June 16 if you want to get me a present!) and it’s not uncommon for me to go from being super extraverted to a homebody for days at a time, showcasing the Twin trait. I started following @TheDailyGemini a while back and often favorite tweets from that account as I read and think “That’s TOTALLY me!”

Do you have any traits of your ‘sign’ that definitely describe who you are? Would love to hear more about you and your sign in the comments. Oh, and here’s a few more insights into me as a Gemini: