Ellen Vessels

New Barbie dons a hijab to honor Olympic athlete Ibtihaj Muhammad - The American Genius

(BUSINESS NEWS) To expand their "Shero" line, Mattel has added a hijab-wearing Barbie doll to honor an American Olympian. Barbie is introducing a first-of-its-kind new doll to represent a one-of-a-kind woman, Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad. In 2016, Muhammad became the first Muslim-American woman to win a medal, and the first to wear a hijab while competing.

Hilfiger is bringing function to fashion with adaptive clothing line - The American Genius

(BUSINESS NEWS) Everyone enjoys wearing clothes that are easy to wear. In the case of those with disabilities and other special needs, finding functional clothes can be hard which is why Tommy Hilfiger has just released Hilfiger Adaptive. Ideally, we all want clothing that is both fashionable and functional.

Class action lawsuit claims Tesla plant is a hotbed of racism - The American Genius

(BUSINESS NEWS) Tesla is being hit with another lawsuit, this time alleging discrimination at one of their plants. No wonder Musk wants to get to Mars... Groundbreaking automaker Tesla may be the future of automotive transportation, but when it comes to discrimination, some say the company seems to be living in the past.

The Soil Could Save Us: Mitigating Climate Change on the Farm

Organic Hotspots—Organic Agriculture Cultivating Rural Communities

Gift Gardens Growing Guide

I edited this garden guide and contributed new content.

Why Google's Deep Dream project is more than just a trippy tricky - The American Genius

As machines become increasingly intelligent, they are also becoming more artistic. Google's Deep Dream is making a huge splash on the web. It was originally coded by Alexander Mordvintsev, a programmer working in security systems who liked to play around with artificial intelligence as a side project.

A fun, brief overview of the History of the Internet

My, doesn't time fly? It seems like only yesterday that we dialed-up to access the World Wide Web, hoping to hear that familiar "you've got mail" jingle. Since its early days, the internet, and how it's used, have transformed tremendously. The Pew Research Center has put together a pretty cool timeline of major moments in the history of the internet.

India is crafting laws to end selfie-related deaths - The American Genius

We know you want to stock your Instagram with killer selfies. But some take it too far, taking selfies that actually cause injury or death. It sounds like a twisted joke, but unfortunately, it's a real problem - one that researchers in India are attempting to study and quantify.

Study: ad fraud is a big problem that could cost you big time - The American Genius

(MARKETING) A recent reports highlights a new and quickly growing trend in marketing/ advertising - ad fraud. Cases of ad fraud - in which marketers are fooled into buying useless ads - "continue to grow, both in their scope and their level of sophistication."

Brand marketing isn't always easy, know what consumers hate - The American Genius

(MARKETING) It is hard to know what consumers like when organizing advertising campaigns, but knowing what they dislike can be equally as important. The world of marketing is rapidly changing, and most brands keep track of their advertising successes by looking at which ads generate engagement and conversions.

Influencer marketing: The real cost and why some call it a huge scam - The American Genius

(MARKETING) Influencer advertising and marketing is currently the "in" thing to do. However, even influencer marketing gurus aren't convinced about what they do. With the rise of user-created Internet content and social media came influence marketing.

Tech CEO tweet ruins years of a young designer's hard work - The American Genius

(EDITORIAL) With a tweet here and there, thoughtless questions have potentially bullied a young Asian woman in tech out of her career. It's hard enough for women, particularly women of color, to make it in the world of tech, without rude jerks questioning if you literally exist.

Facebook's Watch is aiming to take the video throne from YouTube - The American Genius

(SOCIAL MEDIA) Facebook is taking on a new competitor, YouTube, with the launch of their new video services, Watch. Despite the increasing amount of video on Facebook, the social media site still can't touch YouTube. While Facebook users enjoy discovering videos on their News Feed, folks specifically looking for videos to watch still look to YouTube.

Red flags to help you spot a bad social media professional - The American Genius

If you're thinking about hiring a social media professional - or are one yourself - take some tips from the experts. We asked a number of entrepreneurs specializing in marketing and social media how they separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to social media managers, and they gave us some hints about how to spot whose social media game is all bark and no bite.

Retailers are selling off their real estate to survive

(REAL ESTATE NEWS) It's no secret that retailers have struggled, and those that intend on surviving are looking to their most valuable assets to get creative with. With brick-and-mortar sales plummeting and more and more customers shopping online, retailers nationwide are laying off employees, shutting down stores, and desperately trying to adapt to changing conditions.

Feds say Northwest Trustee knew they illegally foreclosed on active military, veterans

The consensus is that if more Americans can sustainably buy homes, the economy and taxpayers will benefit. As the nation's homeownership rate hovers around a 50-year low, it's time to acknowledge and start addressing the range of issues suppressing the market today, according to individuals at a Realtors and S&P event this month.

Dilemma: job growth is spiking and home construction can't hang

(BIG DATA) As job growth continues to rise across the nation, a dilemma is faced that home construction can't keep up with the influx of people. Several U.S. metropolitan areas are having economic booms with a lot of job growth. But new home construction can't keep up with job growth.

From Swamp to Shore

Emerging from Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia's largest designated wilderness, and emptying into the Atlantic, the St. Marys River comprises the easternmost part of the Georgia-Florida border. With its twists and turns, we anticipated a 130-mile journey from the headwaters to the seaside town of St. Marys.

Wild Cumberland

I edited and contributed new content to the website for Wild Cumberland, a grassroots organization working to protect the Cumberland Island Wilderness.

Earth's Lunar Cycle

This text was formatted into a booklet, which was sold with a chart explaining the cycles of the moon.

ISO

A creative piece for a rural LGBT magazine.

Communique #1

A zine about space travel, fermentation, and criminal clowns. An excerpt was published in RFD magazine.