DebPictures

Hi. I'm Deborah Shadovitz. Friends, clients and readers call me Deb.

 

 

Note to Mac Groups & Users:

In my photo you see MacHEADS, The Movie playing. I have been on the Board of Directors of LA-based MUGs and been an advisor to many Mac groups, chapters, special interest groups.

I want to meet Mac users around the world. I'd love to come visit your group — attend a meeting, to meet some of your members if I can't be there for a meeting, or to speak if you'd like.

I hope to hear from plenty of folks!

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Friends always teased, Deborah's out to change the world — and I am.
I share tech skills to help people achieve by making computers easy for people.
I write about great experiences you can have, family activities, things that make lives better.

I'm an writer or author, speaker, instructor, consultant, event producer, and radio person — specializing in Mac, Internet, Web, and travel.

In my 20s I spent 3 years living out of a backpack, travelling the world solo because it gave me the opportunity to learn about other people's lives and cultures — and I'm travelling again. This time I travel with computer tech and continue to work developing web sites, speaking, and writing.

Note to Tech Editors, Tech Publicists

I am now out of the US and travelling. If you have hardware for me, I may be able to have people try it for me and report about it on the air with me.

Note to Travel Editors, Travel Publicists

I am now traveling the Yucatan area. For up to a year, I'll be exploring Central and South America, parts of the Caribbean, and perhaps other parts of the world. I am open to assignments. I can certainly provide travel info and essays.

Last time I travelled like this we didn't have pagers, cell phones, and personal computers. I discuss the tech I adopt on my regular segments on Computer Talk Radio — and can write about or report about this experiece for you. I am also doing more travel writing.

Some of my equipment:

I found the greatest travel shirt, am trying promising travel shoes, and even have a portable pocket. My convertible backpack is well organized thanks to Sea To Summit's Travelling Light™ Garment Mesh Bag. (I wish I had more of their line.) Details about all of this stuff are on (or will soon be on) my travel blog, Tales of Travel and Tech. Of course, I also use Twitter and Facebook to share what I learn.

If you're an Editor in search of unique stories from a proven, reliable author who brings experience and wise perspectives, feel free to reach out to me.

An appeal...
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When it's repaid, you can loan it again, and again.
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And now, some of what I do....

Radio & Public Speaking:

  • You can hear me on the air weekly on Computer Talk Radio if you're in one of our markets. It's a nationally syndicated radio program with computer nerd Benjamin Rockwell. (Some more about my Computer Talk Radio segments here.)
  • I've been speaking to groups about the Mac, websites, internet use and more for many years as well. If you need a dynamic speaker for any of these topics, lets talk, especially now as I am already traveling.
  • From time to time, I'm a Mac expert on Jeff Levy's Computer show. I also help with segment ideas behind the scenes.
    You can hear some of my radio segments on my speaker page.
Los Angeles Area Life screen shot

Editor-In-Chief and Web Designer:

I did a stint as a magazine editor (Editor-in-Chief/Assigment Editor/Author) for a Southern California-based magazine for a while in '09. It was fun, but those who saw how much I put into each article and how much info I imparted, lamented that it had both a short reach and short shelf life, so I designed LosAngelesAreaLife.com.

My columnists, contributors, and I write about all sorts of things that tie into life in the greater Los Angeles area: entertainment, get-aways, dining, entertaining, home improvement, home design, home tech, gifts, golf, gaming, fashion, and more.

Web Design and Web site Authoring:

A website isn't much help if the right people can't find it or if visitors can't quickly see what your site offers them. Frankly, I'm rather unique in that I can design a clear user interface, write clean SEO-effective code, write copy that's right for a website as opposed to any other medium, and format the pages for the best search results. If you already have a site, you can still benefit from the expertise I can provide. In the past year people have found that my tweaks have brought their sites into top positions for relevant searchs.

Freelance writing:

Because of my web expertise, I have been writing reveiws of web software. I write about other Macintosh software as well. I link to some of my Macworld magazine reviews on my author page. I'm available to write about just about anything, as long as it's a legitimate issue or product. If you need a great writer, let's talk.

Editor-in-Chief of Lifestyle Magazine:

After years of writing only about Mac and Web, I went back to a bit of travel and other writing. This is the magazine for which I did a stint as Editor in 2009. My first issues and articles:

I’ve been asked to have a donation button for those who'd like to thank me for something learned here or for other help I’ve given. So, if I’ve helped you and you’d like to say thank you in this way, I’d be honored.

Events:

  • Mac Mingle (originally Party For The People) — my Macworld Expo party. I broke the mold by creating the first free, open to all badge-holders party. (I am no longer producing this party.)
  • MacDayLA — a one-day Mac event (on hold due to the price of gas in LA and my travels).
  • The MacGathering™ — a full-fledged Apple/Macintosh event. Custom-designed top-notch seminars & classes, plus unique social happenings. However, if you want to see local area Mac events happen, tell me to add you to our mailing list, please. And if you want to exhibit an Apple or Mac-related product? tell me! (Also on hold due to the economy/price of gas, and now my travels.)

Next Speaking Gigs:

Computer Talk Radio, Syndicated
over-the-air, then podcast
Ongoing, weekly.
Info at ComputerTalkRadio.com

Cancun, Mexico — something is in the works.

Recent Speaking Gigs:

Long Island Mac User Group, LIMUG
& also
MetroMac, NYC,
November 2011

Details on my Speaking schedule page.

I hope to get to speak/teach in Latin America too now.

How do contact me (updated March 27):

I no longer have a landline.
I no longer have my iPhone (because Apple & AT&T do not unlock even a discared extra phone).
so...

  • Send me an email — my primary communication.
    I am not always online as wi-fi is not everywhere, so be patient.
  • Use WhatsApp. It enables me to text without having cellular service and doesn't cost you as text or MMS messages. It also sends voice notes, photos and video, shares contacts and shares locations. And it does group chats. The app is available for iPhone, BlackBerry, Nokia, Android, and Windows Phone. (You will see people you know have it and be able to chat with them if you have their phone number, the one they register in WhatsApp, in your address book. You won´t see me on it until you have my GoogleVoice number in your address book. So you will need to email me asking me for that.) You can use WhatsApp on both wi-fi and cellular service.
  • Call my Google Voice mail. (Flash required.)
    How this works:
    Click the icon above. Enter your name and phone number. The system will phone that number and you'll leave a detailed voice mail, speaking clearly. (If you know my GV#, just dial it; it's 4DEB.)
    I'll then see your words as a text message and be able to hear your message, connection quality permitting.
    KNOW THIS:
    Be sure to leave your email address. (Remember emailing me is far better.)
    I cannot call you back at this time.
    I can call you via Skype if you clearly leave your address.
  • Call me on Voxer. Voxer is a walkie-talkie app for iPhone and Android (not BlackBerry). Voxer works in real-time but if one of us is not around, we will see the voice playback button when we come online and launch the app. iPhone notifications will tell me you called. When you install Voxer you should see I am using it. (I am not yet certain how it determines to tell you this.) You can use Voxer on both wi-fi and cellular service.
  • I am not sure TextFree is working for me but you can try it.
    Text me at this text-only number: 424-250-3320. This is a US number that should be local for LA.
  • Call me on Skype: DSShadovitz — and clearly identify yourself in your request for me to see you or in your communication with me.

So what can you do on this website?

  • Get to know me through the Deborah and Travel menus on the left.
  • Contact me to write about travel, whether luxury or budget. I have stayed at and written about the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Beach, visited mountain lodges and written about traveling to and staying at them, and also have a unique backpack travel perspective. Not many American women travel the world alone — as I did for 3 years in the pre-email years — and now travel again.
  • Learn about me as a speaker. I can talk about many things tech including what comprises a great website, teach at your event, or help your company with Mac or word processing efficiency.
  • Invite me to write about computer use.
    I write about aspects of computer use making it understandable in ways that most people don't. People say reading my books/articles is like having me standing over their shoulder explaining it.
  • Invite me to write about something else.
    I'm flexible and I'll be honest about whether I can do a great job for you.
  • Contact me as an expert for your news piece or feature.
    The Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Daily News have. I've also been mentioned in Women's Day magazine. See the places I have been quoted.
  • Developers — contact me to check out or comment about your product.
    Many vendors have benefitted from my UI reviews. I also write or advise on manuals.
  • Expand your Macintosh computer knowledge.
  • Learn about world travel or about visiting LA.

I'm proud to announce that my brother, David Shadovitz, is co-developer of Exam Professor, an online exam application that won the prestigous Adobe Site of the Day award a while back.

If you need an online quiz or test, check it out!

Looking for my brother, David Shadovitz,
the ColdFusion software engineer
and bicycle mechanic?
You can reach him via this link.
Looking for another Shadovitz?
Chances are, he/she is a relative,
so send me a note to forward.

Thanks for visiting
~ Deborah ("Deb")

   ©Deborah Shadovitz 1996-2012. Content may not be used without prior express written permission from Deborah Shadovitz. • Logo design by Daniel M. EastEmail Deborah.