Anne Chen
Writing Portfolio
Includes:
1. Printable Baby Shower Invitations (Product Review/Promotions) 2. Solar Water Fountains (Product Review/Promotions) 3. DeMarini 2014 Vendetta (Product Review/Promotions) 4. My “Cous-aunt” (Family Relationships) 5. Bringing Modernity to the Skies (Business) 6. Mychiatry (Health) 7. Google Glass (Technology) 8. Selfish (Entertainment)
PRINTABLE BABY SHOWER INVITATIONS Your new baby is special, perfect, and your’s - so why should your baby shower invitations have to look dull and cookie-cutter, or be designed by someone else? With printable baby shower invitations, you keep your right as a parent to make all the decisions for your newborn. Nowadays, the option of personalization is key for any product, especially cards. You and your partner need a way to welcome your baby into this world with shower invitations as unique as your family. The great news is that plenty of sites make the process of creating designs that are distinct and irreplaceable seamless and simple. If you need some help getting your creative juices flowing, just browse their wide selection of templates. Coprinted. com, for instance, has over forty options in just its baby shower category, with new content being added every month. And when you move on to celebrate your infant’s other important milestones, such as baptisms, birthday parties, bat mitzvahs, and graduations, you’ll be sure to continue to find this same variety. Its free account option is perfect for first-time parents, or card-making beginners. Experienced mother, or in frequent need of cards? You’ll love the site’s discounts and bonuses, free sample testing, sharing features, and risk-free guarantee. Besides personalization, perhaps the best part about these printable cards is that you never have to leave your home to get them! Seeing your design on your computer screen to holding it in your hands requires just a few short, easy steps: select your card, customize it (maybe adding a photo or two, adjusting some words, or editing the color scheme), then download and hit “print”. No wait time, no hassle, no hidden fees. Of course, if you’re looking for a more professional feel, simply bring your design to a print shop of your choice, or get them shipped to you for free from Coprinted.com We all know how time-consuming, stressful, and expensive planning any event can be. What theme should your baby shower have, who should you invite, what food will you serve? With printable baby shower invitations, you can focus on these more important things, and wow your friends before they even attend your shower. But the most significant end result? You have more time to spend with your beautiful newborn. So just pop open a new web page, and get started on having your own baby shower invitations now!
SOLAR FOUNTAINS Imagine - your own private oasis, complete with the tranquil sounds of Mother Nature, and the aesthetics of a well-kept garden. No, you haven’t been transported to some faraway mountainside — you’re back home, after a long and stressful day. All of this, just from your terracotta cascade solar garden fountain. Besides the benefits on your spirit and lawn’s appearance, solar fountains have numerous other advantages: easy to maintain, cost-effective, environmentally safe. No more untangling extension cords or concealing ugly electric motors — all you need to do is pick a spot on your yard! Choose from a wide range of options: waterfall, birdbath, tiered… etc. Looking for something with more personality, with a dash of exoticism? Try this beautiful two tier pineapple solar fountain, from Haddonfield. Whether you need relief from modern burdens, want to reduce your environmental impact, or simply hate installing things, a solar fountain is right for you.
DeMarini 2014 Vendetta Newest model from the brand behind Half & Half Technology doesn’t fail to impress My high school softball team kicks off every season by comparing new bats. I admit, conversations can get a bit heated, as we each have our own brand of preference. I took a break from this morning’s debate to sit back and listen to my fellow teammates continue the argument over which model is this year’s best. “The Louisville Slugger Xeno!” Patricia insisted, gesturing vehemently at her bat. “No, no, the Easton Synergy Speed!” Joyce countered aggressively. After a quick sip of water, I jumped right back in: “Look, you two, rather than tell you why my bat’s exceptional, why don’t you just try it out for yourselves?” I offered my DeMarini 2014 Vendetta to Patricia. She shot Joyce one last angry look before taking a test swing. Silence. Still awestruck, she handed my bat off to Joyce. Again, silence. “Wow…” Joyce managed to finally utter. Here’s what they experienced: the best comfort, the best balance, and the best power, perfectly integrated. That’s what I get from my DeMarini 2014 Vendetta for every swing, whether it’s during a game, or a training session. Approved for play by the ASA, USSSA, NSA, ISA, and ISF, the DeMarini 2014 Vendetta caters to the needs of every player. You won’t believe how the ball springs off of it, how every swing delivers an amazing pop. You and your bat become a synchronized, homerun-hitting machine. I know that there’s a laundry list of considerations you have to go through before picking a model, so I really appreciate how DeMarini delivers consistently on introducing highperformance bats every year. This saves me so much time when it comes to bat upgrades. It’s obvious that the brand has both a beginner’s and a seasoned player’s needs in mind. I can vividly recall my first softball season; there were so many things about a fastpitch bat I had to consider before exploring brands:
The length and weight that’s right for my body shape and size. Its barrel diameter. Its composition (wood, aluminum, composite). If it’s approved by my league (USSSA).
Various other features, such as construction, drop, etc.
Here’s how the DeMarini 2014 Vendetta compares to a competitor, the Easton 2014 FS3: Model Barrel size Length-to-weight ratio (Drop) Composition ASA approved? USSSA approved? Features Price*
DeMarini 2014 Vendetta WTDXVCF 2 ¼ inches -12
2014 Easton FS3 FP14S3 2 ¼ inches -12
Composite Yes Yes C6 Composite Barrel, Rotation Index $119
Composite Yes Yes Ultra-thin Composite Handle, Performance Grip $128 *Prices from Discountbaseballbatsale.com.
There of course are similarities, but, as you can see, the FS3 won’t give you the handy DeMarini Rotation IndexTM. This feature reminds you when it’s time to rotate your bat, helping to prolong its lifespan significantly. As someone who’s also tried the FS3, I can tell you another big, important difference: the breakin period. Now it usually takes me a while before I grow comfortable with a new bat, but with the Vendetta, I was feeling and seeing results after just a few practices. Since taking my Vendetta to the diamond, my batting record has improved exponentially, and my coach has finally stopped complaining about my lack of bat control. So, back to my story… “It’s not slipping in my hands at all,” Joyce said, now refusing to return my bat. “No wonder you’ve been hitting the ball so much farther,” Patricia mused. “Let me give it a whirl!” Lily had wandered over to join our conversation. It took a good fifteen minutes (after everyone on the team had a go) before I finally had my DeMarini 2014 Vendetta back in my hands.
My “Cous-aunt” Are older generations starting to mirror Gen Y a bit too much? Last week, my mother’s sister took a much needed escape from the hundred-degree Houston weather to stay with us in here in New Jersey. Standing in the airport terminal, with a last-minute welcome bouquet in hand, I didn’t know quite what to expect. It had been over fifteen years since I’d seen Auntie Cecily; I wasn’t sure if I could even pick her out of the steady stream of the just-landed (there were plenty of Asian faces.) Would she be dressed like my mom, in clothes that conspicuously reflected her Taiwanese roots? Or would she look more like me – a Chinese girl, born and raised in the states, who favors hip, fast fashion pieces and has the tips of her hair dyed lavender? The good thing was that my mother was with me – she had been anticipating this reunion with her youngest sibling for days. Lost in my thoughts, I was startled by her sudden cry in Chinese: “Little sister!” I tried to get a better look at the woman she was now embracing tightly. Given how she’d just been sitting on a cramped cabin for a few hours, I was impressed by how polished my aunt appeared. If I ignored the small suitcase she was wheeling behind her, I would have never guessed she’d just stepped off of a plane. Her look was the epitome of business casual: she had on a pair of modest heels (I applaud her for not traveling in walking shoes), and a beautiful knee-length dress splattered with an avant-garde, mosaic print. Of course, besides her quality fashion sense, what stood out to me the most was how she was juggling many pieces of technology at once. Headphones were dangling from her ears (she’d just gotten off a business call, she’d explain later), and there was an iPad clutched tightly in her right hand (she’d been looking up information for a client.) You’d think that all of this would make it difficult for her to return my mother’s hug, but she seemed to do so with ease. Now I have four other aunts, none of whom have been able to show this prowess. In fact, they all struggle with digital devices – whether it’s balancing them, using them, or even understanding what they do. I’d always thought that within my family, it’s just my sister, my cousins, and myself who can claim the title of Digital Native. But here was Auntie Cecily, a forty-eight yearold woman, who proved my theory otherwise. Chatting with her revealed her similarities to my generation even more. “What do you think of Orange is the New Black?” she asked, before my mom could inquire if this was some new fashion trend. “I must send you this funny article I found on Buzzfeed!” she exclaimed, after Grumpy Cat came up during a conversation. And I’ve accrued numerous Line messages and goofy Snapchat photos from her ever since.
Image Source: Grumpy Cats
My point here, besides applauding my aunt for being so hip and cool, is to question if the line between Baby Boomers and The Selfie Generation has become blurred, even erased. Is this a good thing, or a bad one? In my opinion, I like how technology is being used to better connect different age groups, especially when family members can be so dispersed across the country (or world.) Since graduating college, I’ve really felt it: nowadays, family relationships are hard to maintain. Being able to talk with my aunt about TV shows that I love, on even the stupidest pop culture trends, makes me feel closer to her, like I am just talking to a friend, a cousin. And it’s not just what we share that’s the same – it’s how we share it, through the latest Apps, social media platforms, and so on.
And so, as her three-day New Jersey vacation came to an end, I didn’t forget to whisper in her ear as I hugged her: “You’re really more like a cousin, than an aunt, you know.” She giggled (though not before quickly rebalancing her tablet): “Thank you, that makes me feel so young. Don’t forget to add me on Twitter.”
Bringing Modernity to the Skies Three pieces of advice to airlines from a digital economy class flyer The fifties are often dubbed as the “Golden Age of flying,” a title the period earned thanks to widespread post-war optimism. Rapid population growth birthed (besides newborns) the catchphrase Baby Boomers; production efficiencies meant economic growth; and Americans (particularly those in the Middle Class) were feeling especially aspirational. From a company’s standpoint, all of this was a cause for celebration. Thus, this was the decade of the first commercial carrier, the setting for the heated competition between United, Pan Am, and TWA. Plenty of Pinterest boards dedicated to collecting just advertisements from the three justify this. In the fifties, air travel was finally became a true enterprise – big money was to be found in populating the skies. Fast forward to the present. Some may say we’re completely post-recession, but I say we’re still reeling from its effects (think: job insecurity, expensive healthcare, political chaos.) In a world where less than one percent of the population owns over fifty percent of the world’s wealth, it’s no longer about flaunting expensive goods, especially when there are so many cheaper substitutes out there. But besides affordability, there’s another product feature that today’s shopper demands: seamlessness. Unlike the fifties consumer, modern man has several new appendages: Smart phones, tablets, and laptops. How has this affected air travel? Well, planes better be ready to cater to these new “body parts.” Let’s dive a bit deeper, and see how some changes in the economy cabin reflect these trends. Chairs I have news for airlines who think all classes desire the same things: they don’t. Ask a first class flier what they want, and they might tell you it’s more pillows, more menu options, more seating space, more of X, Y and Z. But pose the same question to someone sitting in an economy cabin, and odds are you’ll get the response of cheaper fares. Because isn’t this why he picked economy over first class in the first place? My advice to airlines: stop thinking “more”, and start thinking “the right amount,” especially when it comes to chair decisions. Take a cue from Nippon Airways, Lufthansa, and other carriers which have ordered Recaro’s beautiful BL3520. With its smart design, you won’t have to sacrifice space for the sake of passenger comfort. Screens The screens of the fifties were the epitome of “in-your-face.” No headphones meant no control – flyers had to watch the film (selected by the airline), whether they liked it or not. But carriers suffered too – besides weighing a plane down, big projectors conflicted with the utilization of total plane space. But now, with the trend of BYOD (“bring your own device”), plane screens have grown redundant. Many carriers are thus removing them (money saved, weight reduced), and instead supplying anything else this “second
passenger� needs (Wifi, storage, charging, etc.). Below, you can see Boeing 767’s iPadfriendly seats.
Image Source: Australian Business Traveler
So give your plane a digital detox, and consider removing this superfluous feature. Food Achieving assembly-line efficiencies to populate the skies has always meant no-frills food. Just take a look at this meal from TWA (1951). Though complimentary, air plane food of the fifties was served cold and heavily salted.
Image Source: Vintage Ad Browser
Indeed, these pre-packaged boxes were more “to-go” than “sit-down-and-enjoy”. But perhaps the lack of tablets made even frozen dinner-like meals a welcome distraction. Contrast this with what today’s Air Baltic flyer can now enjoy (for an additional fee): pre-ordered, fresh, and customized dishes via the line’s virtual menu.
Image Source: Air Baltic
In short, it’s all about unbundling the economy ticket price. Save up costs – whether it’s by utilizing space, ending complimentary meals, or removing fixed plane entertainment devices – and pass these savings down to the flyer. Don’t set in stone what flyers will get; leave it up to them. Fare should only cover the flight – all other perks available a la carte. Want more space? Sure, if you pay for it. Forget your tablet, want special content? It’s available, for a fee. Suddenly hungry? See our menu for prices. As I flyer, I don’t my fare to have to cover what other passengers want; only what I desire. This, to me, is the ultimate form of personalization.
MYCHIATRY Psychiatry for the Digital Era Few industries (if any at all) have been able to escape the effects of the Digital Revolution. Now those in healthcare, I feel, need to pay this phenomenon special attention. Pre-Selfie times, the ball was really in the provider’s court – it was the physicians, the technicians, the drug companies, etc. who were undeniably the primary overseers of treatment. But nowadays, the power has shifted, a transition triggered by patients’ newfound access to two things: knowledge and technology. Perhaps you’ve treated your own frustrating backache by visiting WebMd.com, or replaced an expensive over-the-counter allergy drug with a simple home remedy mentioned in a Health.com article. Maybe you’ve ended your relationship with your gym (and its pricey membership) because you now have MyFitnessPal on your iPhone, or no longer pay “Ms. Nutritionist, Certified RD” for healthy recipe ideas since you can discover them at ease through Green Kitchen Stories. Welcome to the age of the prosumer, the propatient, the “I have an ailment, but maybe I can solve it on my own” era. Now the stories I painted for you above all deal really with physical issues. To be sure, digital health innovations really started there – think: fitness Apps, medical Websites, health blogs, and so on. The nuance to this nuance, then, is it is now seeping into the world mental health. In one word: mychiatry. The term is pretty self explanatory – break it down and you can get the rough translation of “my psychiatry.” It again, then, is all about patient empowerment, something that’s more difficult for the mentally ill to secure because they face many other challenges: social stigma, unproven treatment, misdiagnoses, etc. I speak from not professional experience, but personal ones: I have friends who suffer from depression, family members who struggle with eating disorders, classmates who need Adderall to get through the school day. Problems begin from doctor visit number one: how can patients be expected to explain and describe a problem to someone, when they don’t even understand it themselves? So here is where knowledge and technology come into play, where mychiatry really shows promise. In fact, the phenomenon was one of those listed in Trend Watcher’s 7 Consumer Trends to Run With in 2014 report. “Mind will be the new body,” it summarizes. Bailey Brissin of Dig Magazine confirms: “No longer is obtaining information about our bodies’ activities only accessible through a visit to the doctor. With the click of a button or a download of an app, the world of statistical-overload and self-prescribing is available with open arms.” This just gives you a taste of all the white papers and news articles addressing this hot topic. But what you’re probably more interested in are the actual mychiatry products that are out there. Here are three of my favorites.
If you have chronic depression (or just need an easy way to deal with everyday modern burdens), try out iMoodJournal. It lets you keep track of and record your moods – after just a few days of digital journaling, and you’re well on your way to self-discovery. I feel my spirit lifted just from seeing the App’s vibrant color scheme. If you are dealing with an eating disorder (or need some more body confidence), download Body Beautiful. Get inspiring quotes, reach out to and encourage others, and browse personal stories and photos for some extra motivation. Now if it’s a physical product you’re looking for, check out Melon. The sleek headband not only monitors your mental activity, but enhances it. It’ll help you keep focused on that project you’ve been struggling to finish, relax after a long, stressful day of office meetings, and so on.
Image Source: thinkmelon.com
Google Glass One year later: Reflections on where Google went wrong
As a technology enthusiast, I am an avid reader of sites which cover digital trends, such as Technology Review and Fast Company. But even if you don’t surf gadget blogs on a daily basis like I do, you’re still probably pretty familiar with one of last year’s hottest topics: Google Glass. Articles addressing the subject post product launch really fell into one of two general camps: those that hyped it up, and those that questioned why it wasn’t on everyone’s face. Intrigued, I decided to explore this for myself. Now if you’re new to the world of wearable technology, here’s a quick run through of its history. These digital devices really first debuted in the fitness market, with Nike’s FuelBand and Jawbone’s UP among the early entrants seeking to cater to the needs of modern athletes and gym devotees. Since then, wearables have spun off into other realms: high fashion, video games, public service, and so on. Here are some examples to demonstrate what I mean. Wearable Fashion For mobile fashionistas, QBracelet lets them look sleek and keep their devices charged.
Image Source: Minimalissimo
Wearable Virtual Reality For gamers interested in really checking out of reality and checking into their game, Oculus Rift is a worthy investment.
Image Source: Geek.com
Wearable Safety The Apex Suit, developed by Bob Griffin of The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology division, lets firefighters tackle flames (and other emergencies) while staying well connected and well protected.
Image Source: Digital Trends
So who is the Google Glass for – the fashionista, the gamer, or the firefighter? Well, when the company’s design team first came up with the idea, I am pretty sure it had “everyone” as its target market.
Unfortunately, though everyone could use what Glass has to offer (PC Magazine lists sixteen features, but just imagine being able to do everything you do on your Smartphone, minus the use of your hands, and you’ll get the idea), not everyone wants to look like this:
Image Source: Forbes
Released last spring, Glass was racking up critics by fall. A November 14, 2014 article from Reuters reads: “Google dubbed the first set of several thousand Glass users as "Explorers." But as the Explorers hit the streets, they drew stares and jokes. Some people viewed the device, capable of surreptitious video recording, as an obnoxious privacy intrusion, deriding the onceproud Explorers as “Glassholes.” Confirms a Times article from the same month: “While Glass found fans among early adopters and technophiles at first, it was also immediately met with skepticism, ridicule and even outright fear in the mainstream. Its camera, in particular, has raised serious privacy concerns as people fear being recorded without their knowledge.” As we’ve recently passed the one year mark of Glass’s debut, I think it’s time for us (and Google) to sit back and reflect on its mistakes. In my opinion, slips started from day one: letting the tech elite design something which was intended to be for the masses. Glass wearers in Silicon Valley may not afford a second glance, but odds are, someone sporting a pair on the streets of New York will get much [unwanted] attention. This is because when it comes to everyday eyewear, most of us don’t want to draw in stares – we leave standing out from the crowd for special occasions, not day-to-day activities. So perhaps Google should have asked for some input from those who’ve been making glasses long before the tech titan even considered entering the market. Luxottica, anyone?
Selfish Kim Kardashian confirms her seat on the throne of Selfie Queen As both a gossip magazine addict and secret fan of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, I am always up to date with everything that is going on with the Kardashian-Jenner clan. But recently, it’s certainly not just avid followers of celebrity news and fans of KUWTK who are familiar with the family’s ongoings. From Bruce Jenner's recent sex change, to Rob's conspicuous weight gain, to Kendall’s growing modeling career, it seems like nowadays, Kim is no longer the sole family member making headlines. But I wouldn't be surprised if Kim gets the spotlight to aim only at her once again. Since the 2007 leak of her infamous sex tape with R&B crooner Ray J, she has become and remained a tabloid magazine’s best friend. I think we can all agree that paparazzi don't care if what they are snapping is a genuine Kardashian moment, or some pre-orchestrated (usually by family matriarch and expert "mom-ager" Kris) stunt. Besides, their readers usually cannot discern between the two. To be sure, Kim doesn't just have to rely on her mom to be camera ready or business savvy. Ever the smart self promoter, she is pretty good at staying relevant, beyond the KUWTK world. For instance, earlier this year, she released Selfish, a book which gives readers an inside look of her life while showing off her Seflie-taking skills.
Image Source: Amazon
Now I know that you probably are sick of hearing the term "Selfie" by now, but you cannot deny that it is a pretty important word to have in your vocabulary. Dubbed by Oxford Dictionary to be its 2013 word of the year, this result of modern self portraiture can thank Smartphone users and social media addicts for its acceptance into our English language. As a result, the Selfie has spawned a huge race to become the ultimate Selfie taker (especially among celebrities). You’ve probably seen Ellen DeGeneres’ famous Oscar Tweet, which is definitely the epitome of the group Selfie mastery:
Image Source: Twitter
But many have crowned Kim as the Queen of self-snapping, or at least enjoy looking at her photos. Writes one Amazon reviewer: “This is a fantastic book. Kim Kardashian is a beautiful brunette with large breasts, and she makes sure you get a heavy dose of that all through her picture. At $10, this is a fabulous price for the common man and woman. Kim rocking a bikini, Kim in lingerie, Kim in a halter top, Kim in a dress.” Thus, I feel that the release of Selfish is her way of justifying her title. Of course, she probably had other intentions: delighting her fans, staying relevant… and raking in more money. With her marriage to Kanye West and birth of daughter North now old news, she needed a strategy to still make headlines, to continue to grow the Kim Kardashian empire. As Keeping Up with the Kardashians celebrates its tenth season this fall, I am anticipating an exciting premier. How have the family dynamics changed, since Bruce’s transition, since Rob’s hermit-like behavior, since Kendall’s rise to fashion stardom? Where is Kim in all this chaos? To
be sure, I’ll have to juggle my time between watching KUWTK and Bruce’s docu-series spinoff, I Am Cait. With the added competition, who knows what Kim will come up with next? After my next afternoon spent reading People, In Touch and US Weekly, I will let you know.