Author Archives: debmcalister

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About debmcalister

I'm a Dallas-based marketing consultant and writer, who specializes in helping start-up technology companies grow. I write (books, articles, and blogs) about marketing, technology, and social media. This blog is about all of those -- and the funny ways in which they interesect with everyday life. It's also the place where I publish general articles on topics that interest me -- including commentary about the acting and film communities, since I have both a son and grandson who are performers.

Casting Hub: Another Look at the Dollars and Sense

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My 12-year-old takes weekly film acting classes with the wonderful Nancy Chartier. Over the year and a half he’s been studying with her, I’ve gotten to know some really wonderful parents of very talented young actors, as well as some … Continue reading

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Is CastHub.tv a Casting Hub Spin-off? Is it Legit?

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I can always tell when Casting Hub hosts one of its big weekend “auditions”, because traffic on my blog always skyrockets on Sunday, as parents start to go online to research the company after their child gets the “good news” … Continue reading

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Heckerty’s Valentine: The Best Valentine for Kids Ever!

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OK, I am going to start with the disclosure. I love Heckerty — and I love Heckerty’s creators, Jan Ziff and Alan Davidson. I’ve been friends with them for years, and I first heard about Heckerty on a rainy day … Continue reading

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A Big Day for a 12-Year-Old: a TV Pilot, Science Fair & Magnet School!

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Today’s a big day for our resident 12-year-old. First, and foremost in his thoughts, it’s the day of the last elementary school regional science fair he’ll ever get to enter. He has put in well over 120 hours on his … Continue reading

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Why More People Don’t Go to the Dallas Arts District

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I just got one of those beautiful emails from the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District. That isn’t a sarcastic comment: their emails really are beautiful. Gorgeous photos, very well designed. They make me want to attend … Continue reading

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Don’t Be Stupid: PR Pitch Mistakes Journalists REALLY Hate

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Author, blogger, and journalist Shel Israel knows a few things about PR having been a PR guru in Silicon Valley for several decades before making the switch to editorial writing. So when he posts a comment about how PR people … Continue reading

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The Definitive Guide to Secure Mobile Printing

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Like a lot of others, my iPad surprised me when I first got it and discovered that there was no way to print easily from it. Since mine was a gift, I just added that to a list of other … Continue reading

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2013 Kyoto Prize Laureate: Dr. Robert Heath Dennard

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Dr. Robert Heath Dennard 2013 Kyoto Prize Laureate, Advanced Technology My mother-in-law, Evangeline Dennard Holland, always thought that her “little brother” deserved a Nobel Prize. Unfortunately, she didn’t live to see him honored with the prestigious Kyoto prize. Her “little … Continue reading

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How to Help Your Child Win a Science Fair: Updated for 2014

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Science fair projects are due at Wallace Elementary School next week. That means our 12-year-old is spending the last couple of days of his Christmas break polishing the report on his project. He’s won the last two years, and intends … Continue reading

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Live in the U.S.? DON’T Tie a Yellow Ribbon on Your Dog’s Leash

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Sounds like a good idea — but it isn’t. It’s being used by lawsuit-happy attorneys as an admission that the owner knows they have a dangerous dog. One of the memes making the rounds on Facebook urges dog owners of … Continue reading

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