|
ASUS Malaysia “Explore Windows 8 & Win” Facebook Contest
Posted: 09 Jan 2013 07:42 AM PST
| ASUS Malaysia “Explore Windows 8 & Win” Facebook Contest Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:06 AM PST  ASUS Explore Windows 8 & Win contest prizes ASUS Malaysia is having an "Explore Windows 8 & Win" facebook contest to giveaway VivoTab RT, Vivobook S200 and S400, plus 8000 FREE GSC movie tickets. How to win? - Visit "Explore Windows 8 & Win"
- Click on the "Click Here To Play Now!" button.
- Follow the instruction to explore Windows 8 user interface.
- Submit your personal details and choose the GSC cinema. Free movie tickets will be post to your address.
- Your entry will automatically enter the lucky draw to win an ASUS Windows 8 device:
- 1st Prize: ASUS VivoBook S400 (2 units)
- 2nd Prize: ASUS VivoTab RT (1 unit)
- 3rd Prize: ASUS VivoBook S200 (2 units)
While I am writing this, there are still 6,686 free Golden Screen Cinema (GSC) movie tickets up for grabs. Act fast! ➤ ASUS Malaysia facebook page The post ASUS Malaysia “Explore Windows 8 & Win” Facebook Contest appeared first on LiewCF Tech Blog. Follow @liewcf on Twitter. Like LiewCF Tech Blog on Facebook. | You are subscribed to email updates from LiewCF Tech Blog
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
Withings Smart Activity Tracker Is First to Record Heart Rate
Posted: 09 Jan 2013 07:38 AM PST
| Withings Smart Activity Tracker Is First to Record Heart Rate Posted: 09 Jan 2013 06:46 AM PST  Smart fitness technology company Withing announced a new product at International CES 2013 -- the Smart Activity Tracker.
The little device can fit into your pocket or attach to the included belt clip or arm band. Using Bluetooth and Bluetooth Smart technology, the tracker communicates with the Withings Health Mate app. The front of the tracker has a touch surface on which you can navigate from various screens. Simply press your finger to the back of the device to record your heart rate. This is the first time we've seen a pulse measurement on a tracking device. So in addition to monitoring your steps, distance, calories, strides and quality of sleep, you'll be able to read your heart…
Continue reading... More About: apps, CES 2013, fitness, fitness tracker, health and fitness, Withings  | | So What’s Up for Amazon in 2013? Posted: 09 Jan 2013 06:44 AM PST  Among the Gang of Four in tech right now -- Apple, Google, Facebook and Amazon -- Amazon is the only business that revolves around content. The company's hardware products are basically buying machines. Amazon is dabbling with advertising as a potentially profitable side business.
But at bottom, it really just wants to sell you stuff. Despite this guiding principle, analysts expect Amazon to continue clashing with at least two of the three predominant ecosystems in 2013. Inevitably, in order to grow you just have to get into new areas that have already been colonized by someone else. In 2013, that may mean the first-ever Amazon Phone. Such a device has been rumored for years at th…
Continue reading... More About: amazon, Business, features, Predictions 2013  | | LinkedIn Tops 200 Million Users Posted: 09 Jan 2013 06:30 AM PST  LinkedIn on Wednesday announced it had passed an important milestone: 200 million members.
The business-oriented social network had reported in its last earnings call on Nov. 1 that it topped 187 million members and had been growing at a rate of 10 million to 15 million users per quarter last year. Launched in 2003, LinkedIn passed 100 million members in 2011. LinkedIn's network compares with 1 billion-plus for Facebook, more than 500 million for Twitter and more than 500 million for Google Plus. According to the company, 74 million users are based in the U.S., 11 million are in the U.K., 7 million are in Canada, 18 million are in India and 11 million are based in Brazil. LinkedIn…
Continue reading... More About: linkedin  | | Google Doodle in U.K. Celebrates 150th Anniversary of the London Underground Posted: 09 Jan 2013 06:17 AM PST  Web surfers in the U.K. were treated Wednesday morning to a Google Doodle celebrating the 150th anniversary of the London Underground, that city's subway transit system.
The Doodle uses the famous map to spell the letters of its name. According to The Independent, the lines and names of the stops are accurate. The Metropolitan Railway, as its known, opened on this day in 1863. The first journey took place between Paddington and Farringdon. At the time there were seven stations. Since then, 263 more stations have been added. Some 1.17 billion passenger rides took place across the system last year. The New York subway system delivered 1.64 billion rides in 2011 The oldest subway line…
Continue reading... More About: google doodle, london underground  | | Moms’ Mobile Shopping Skyrocketed in 2012 Posted: 09 Jan 2013 06:00 AM PST  Although moms may regulate cellphone use for their kids, they definitely love spending one-on-one time with their own smartphones.
An infographic from pregnancy app BabyBump shows that 93% of moms spent more time shopping on their cellphone in 2012 than in 2011, while 34% did more than half their shopping from their mobile device last year. When it comes to what they bought, moms relied heavily on input and recommendations from other moms (58%). And why shouldn't they turn to their smartphones? We've seen dozens of studies that suggest smartphones make parenting easier by lowering back-to-school stress to keeping parents organized and even acting as emergency kits. More than 1,…
Continue reading... More About: Moms, parenting, parents, shopping, smartphone  | | Google’s Motorola Mobility Withdraws Patent Claims Against Microsoft Posted: 09 Jan 2013 05:19 AM PST | | ‘Monopoly’ Letting Players Vote on Which Game Piece Gets the Boot Posted: 09 Jan 2013 05:00 AM PST  Will this be the Scottie dog's last lap? Or will it be game over for the race car? Hasbro has invited fans of Monopoly to decide which iconic board-game piece will be replaced by a new token.
Using Facebook or Twitter, fans have until Feb. 5 to tell Hasbro if the battle ship, top hat, Scottie dog, race car, iron, wheelbarrow, thimble or shoe should go "to jail." They then have the option to the choose the replacement token from a diamond ring, toy robot, cat, guitar or helicopter. Those interested can vote on Monopoly's Facebook Page or by using the Twitter hashtag, #tokenvote, to share their favorite token. Monopoly was invented in the early 1900s by Elizabeth Magie, though the v…
Continue reading...  | | Need a Rugged Tablet? Panasonic Has Two New Toughpads Posted: 09 Jan 2013 04:10 AM PST  Panasonic has launched two new Toughpad tablets at the 2013 International CES show, one running Android and the other based on Windows 8 Pro.
The FG-Z1 (pictured above) runs Windows 8 Pro and is quite a powerful beast, with a 10-inch, 1,920x1,200 pixel display, a 1.9GHz Intel i5 processor, up to 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD, while the microSD slot is an option. On the connectivity front, it packs USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, wired LAN, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and -- optionally -- a Verizon LTE or 3G chip. The Android-based JT-B1 (pictured below) sports a 7-inch, 1,024x600 display, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage memory, further expandable via microSD cards. It also has…
Continue reading... More About: CES, ces2013, Panasonic, Toughpad  | | Silence Annoying Electronics With This Battery Gadget Posted: 09 Jan 2013 02:37 AM PST | | Google+ Gets Pan and Zoom for Large Photos Posted: 09 Jan 2013 01:56 AM PST  Google has introduced the ability to pan and zoom large photos on its social network, Google+.
Users can now use their mouse wheel to zoom in or out when watching high-resolution photos. Also, clicking and dragging will pan the photo in any direction. The same can be done on touch-sensitive trackpads, such as the one on Apple's MacBook Pro. The new feature, announced by Google's Dave Cohen on his Google+ profile, comes weeks after Google launched full-size backups for Android photos. What do you think of this new feature? Tell us in the comments below. More About: Google, pan, zoom  | | iPhone Cases Framed as Beautiful, Collectible Art Posted: 09 Jan 2013 01:28 AM PST | | Rare ‘Dolphin Stampede’ Captured in Breathtaking Viral Video Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:57 AM PST  In a rare display, 1,000 common dolphins stampeded off the coast of California, captivating onlookers on a whale-watching boat.
Footage of the stampede, captured by tour company Dolphin Safari, has attracted nearly 200,000 views since going online Sunday. It features the dolphin pod swimming near a boat of whale-watchers who ooh and ahh at the breathtaking sight. "The line of dolphins could be seen miles away churning up the water," Dolphin Safari wrote on the video's YouTube page. "The dolphins turned and stampeded directly over to the boat. Often this unusual behavior happens without warning or anything frightening them as was the case this time." Dana Point, Calif., whe…
Continue reading...  | | That Flat Screen TV May Cost More Than You Think Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:29 AM PST  LAS VEGAS – Running your electronics can get pricey. You already know about Vampire energy and how simply having your TV or DVR plugged in can cost you money. But do you have any idea how much it actually costs to run those devices?
A new gadget being shown at the International CES – MeterPlug -- will not only tell you how much your new flat screen TV costs to run, it will send the data to your smartphone via Bluetooth. It's a small plug that sits between the device's plug and the outlet or power strip. Once paired with your phone, it will tell you your current wattage and costs. MeterPlug does this by finding the electric rates in your area based on the GPS in your phone.…
Continue reading... More About: CES, CES 2013, energy, meter, power  | | Your Landline Could Get a Second Life With ‘The Home Phone’ Posted: 08 Jan 2013 11:58 PM PST  Dust off that landline -- household phones may be making a comeback with a new Kickstarter project.
The Home Phone, designed by French husband and wife team UrbanHello, is a smartphone for the whole family, allowing shared conversations with its automatic hands-free mode. When placed on a surface, the 360-degree loudspeaker activates, and its use reduces electromagnetic wave exposure by 99%. You may not trade your iPhone in just yet, but the Home Phone's sleek, modern design and HD sound is a minimalist alternative to bulky, cordless home devices on the market. "It's a device which is so beautiful it can be given to someone as a present just like a bouquet of flowers," Herve and…
Continue reading... More About: CES, CES 2013, home phone, kickstarter, smart phone  | | Microsoft Officially Ditching Messenger, Switching Users to Skype in March Posted: 08 Jan 2013 11:30 PM PST | | You Can Now Apply to Be a Mars Colony Pioneer Posted: 08 Jan 2013 10:59 PM PST  If you think you have the right stuff to help colonize Mars, you'll soon get your chance to prove it.
The Netherlands-based nonprofit Mars One, which hopes to put the first boots on the Red Planet in 2023, released its basic astronaut requirements on Jan. 8, setting the stage for a televised global selection process that will begin later this year. Mars One isn't zeroing in on scientists or former fighter pilots; anyone who is at least 18 years old can apply to become a Mars colony pioneer. The most important criteria, officials say, are intelligence, good mental and physical health and dedication to the project, as astronauts will undergo eight years of training before launch. "Gon…
Continue reading... More About: Mars, Mars Colony, space  | | Brain-Controlled Puzzlebox Orbit Helicopter Makes Waves at CES Posted: 08 Jan 2013 10:35 PM PST | | Soccer Stars on Twitter: Who Follows Whom? Posted: 08 Jan 2013 10:01 PM PST  This infographic explores the Twitter presence of soccer's biggest stars and clubs.
More About: soccer, Sports  | | DanceDance Revolution Comes to the Classroom Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:28 PM PST  It won't be long before students are playing video games at school.
A new interactive fitness game announced at International CES 2013 brings at-home fitness video games to school. DanceDance Revolution Classroom Edition was made with school physical education class in mind. With the DanceDance Revolution games, users follow steps to dance choreography while listening to hit songs. Players hold a control that senses their movements or move on a mat, depending on the game console used. Players get points based on how close their moves matched-up to the ones on the screen. The fun calorie-burning game is played by both adults and children. This particular edition was made to bring that…
Continue reading... More About: CES 2013, Children, classroom, fitness  | | The Football Helmet That Could Save Your Kid’s Brain Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:07 PM PST  Violent collisions in the NFL are getting more attention from players, journalists and medical professionals -- and for good reason. We're just beginning to grasp the effects that repeated big hits can have on the brain, and a troubling series of violent deaths of current and former pros has only raised the stakes for trying to understand how to manage the damage players do to themselves and one another.
But what about tackle football at the youth level? Surely, slamming into one another over and over can't be good for growing bodies either, right? Well, longtime helmet-maker Riddell may have just come up with an innovative solution to track and minimize the damage to young players'…
Continue reading... More About: Sports  | | Woof! These 15 Slush Puppies Are Crazy About Snow Posted: 08 Jan 2013 08:25 PM PST Warning: Snow excitement may cause eyes to pop out of head.  Image courtesy of Flickr, oakleyoriginals Click here to view this gallery. Humans often greet cold weather with grumbles and gripes, but us two-legged creatures could learn something from our best furry friends. Dogs skip the snow complaints, and lick Jack Frost's face. (Or, lift their leg on him.) SEE ALSO: 12 Animals With Hangovers Worse Than Yours Barking about the enjoyable side of snowfall might do little to persuade warm-weather worshippers. Instead, let's give the dogs a chance to show the wonderfulness of chilly temperatures and falling flakes. Grab a toboggan, and take a ride through the gallery to see 15 dogs pumped about winter. BONUS: GIF! 
GIF courtesy of Imgur Thumbnail image courtesy of Imgur More About: cute animals, dogs, Watercooler  | | NFL Star Uses Twitter Avatar to Send Trash Talk Message Posted: 08 Jan 2013 07:43 PM PST  Did Arian Foster just make Twitter avatars the new locker room bulletin board?
More About: nfl, Sports  | | Artist Looks for Drone Pilots on Craigslist, Gets Threatened by FBI Posted: 08 Jan 2013 06:45 PM PST  An Israeli filmmaker attracted the attention of the FBI when he posted an ad on Craigslist, looking for U.S. drone pilots. While doing some research for his short film about drone strikes, 5,000 Feet Is The Best, Omer Fast posted an anonymous ad looking to talk to pilots based at Creech Air Force Base, one of the main bases where pilots remotely operate the flying bots from ground control stations (see the picture below).
That's when the FBI called. "We were told to stop what we were doing and threatened in suggestive, spy-movie language," Fast told UK magazine Photoworks. The FBI was able to trace the ad back to Fast and his production team even though the ad was anonymous. "I imagi…
Continue reading... More About: Drones, FBI  | | Samsung Shows Off Curved OLED TV Posted: 08 Jan 2013 06:11 PM PST  LAS VEGAS -- You're not seeing things: This TV from Samsung has a slight curve to it. The company claims it's the world's first curved OLED TV, and we don't doubt it.
What advantage does a curved TV have over flat panels? Samsung says the curves gives panoramic images such as nature scenes a more life-like viewing experience. A curved panel would theoretically also make viewing angle less of an issue, since the curve would bend pixels slightly toward the user. That would be more of an advantage for LCD TVs, however, which tend to lose color saturation at off angles, than OLEDs, which don't. Samsung's Curved OLED is just a concept right now, with no plans to bring it to market at the…
Continue reading... More About: CES, CES 2013, OLED, samsung  | | Lego-Inspired iPhone 5 Cases Will Make You Geek Out Posted: 08 Jan 2013 05:56 PM PST | | T-Mobile to Expand Value Plans and Let You Upgrade Early Posted: 08 Jan 2013 05:48 PM PST  LAS VEGAS -- T-Mobile originally launched its value plans in September 2011 and Tuesday it announced plans to move all of its devices to the Value plan model.
Most phones you purchase at a carrier are subsidized by that carrier. What that means is you might get a $600 phone for $200, with the carrier picking up the tab for the leftover $400 of the device's purchase price. "We're not a big fan of the subsidy model," T-Mobile's Brad Duea told Mashable. "We think the value plan is a better model for the customer, because it's more transparent: here's the price for your device and for your service." With the value plans, phones will be available for a low, out-of-pocket pri…
Continue reading... More About: CES, CES 2013, T-Mobile  | | T-Mobile Brings Free Data to Windows 8 Laptops and Tablets Posted: 08 Jan 2013 05:29 PM PST T-Mobile announced 4G Connect Tuesday, a new program that gives customers a free 4G data connection with the purchase of select notebooks, tablets, and Ultrabooks. With the program, customers will be able to access the web from their device, straight out of the box, for free. Every device comes with 200MB of data included for two years from the purchase date, with additional contract-free data available for purchase if and when they need it. 1GB of data, for instance, will be an additional $10. 
'We're trying to really challenge the model of contracts –- and provide a delightful, easy experience for customers," T-Mobile's Brad Duea told Mashable. Traditionally, devices with bui…
Continue reading... More About: 4G, CES, CES 2013, T-Mobile  | | Apply for Scholarships in a Flash With ‘Personal for Education’ App Posted: 08 Jan 2013 04:59 PM PST  Filling out scholarship forms is easier when you don't have to write your basic information over and over again. "Personal for Education" is a web and mobile app that lets you store all of your basic information and populate online applications, making the process faster.
Personal.com can store and share all kinds of personal information -- your birth certificate, passport, passwords, driver's license number and more. This new offering simplifies the college scholarship and financial-aid application process by saving students valuable time. Personal, along with a small number of private companies, promised to help students and future students make use of their college information --…
Continue reading... More About: apps, college, education, scholarships  | | ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ Mobile App Will Blast off During Super Bowl Posted: 08 Jan 2013 04:39 PM PST  Movie studio Paramount has teamed up with Qualcomm to create a new app for the upcoming film Star Trek Into Darkness. Announced at CES 2013, the app uses context-aware technologies to bring specific information to users at specific times.
When the app launches at the end of January, fans will be able to get special Star Trek Into Darkness content, such as videos, photos and wallpaper delivered directly to the mobile device. That sort of functionality is standard fare for promotional apps for tentpole films. To kick things up a notch, the Star Trek Into Darkness app will also be able to unlock exclusive content and interactive features. The first opportunity to unlock content will co…
Continue reading... More About: CES, CES 2013, Star Trek Into Darkness  | | Japanese Cat Carries Clues to Bizarre Bomb Hacker Case Posted: 08 Jan 2013 04:34 PM PST  A cat in Japan carried a memory card police say is the latest clue in a chase for a hacker who's sent anonymous bomb threats to schools, airlines and malls.
More About: cats, hacking, japan  | You are subscribed to email updates from Mashable!
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
Seek Accountability {31 Days to Your Goal}
Posted: 09 Jan 2013 07:33 AM PST
| Seek Accountability {31 Days to Your Goal} Posted: 09 Jan 2013 05:53 AM PST  
If you’re just joining us, be sure to start at the beginning of the 31 Days to Your Goal series! Yesterday we talked about sharing your goal publicly as a way to find extra motivation to stay on track. Today we’re going to take that to the next level and seek actual accountability from an individual or group. 
Sharing your goal is different than seeking accountability. When you share you’re goal, you’re simply telling people what you’re working toward, but when you seek accountability, you invite someone to offer feedback, check your progress and actually help keep you on track. Ideally, the person (or group of people) holding you responsible is someone with a shared goal so that you’re actually pursuing the same goal together, but it could also be someone who has already achieved that goal (for example, someone who is further along the real food journey than you) or even just someone who cares about you and wants to see you succeed. Having an “accountability partner” (anyone having flashbacks to church youth group) can be a great way to stay motivated on track. Just knowing that someone might ask you about your progress is often motivation enough, but pursuing a goal with someone beside you is a lot easier and more fun too. Do you have someone holding you accountable for your goal? If not, is there someone you could ask?
 | Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces. | | Seek Accountability {31 Days to Your Goal} is a post from Life Your Way © 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Work Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to con...@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.  | | Quick Tips from a Minimalist Kitchen Posted: 08 Jan 2013 03:30 PM PST  
I’m excited to share a new series I’m launching on the Easy Homemade blog, Quick Tips from a Minimalist Kitchen! Each week, I’ll be sharing tips from my kitchen on how to cook without specialty gadgets, and I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts as well: Five-and-a-half years ago, my kitchen cabinets were overflowing with cooking gadgets. In fact, my laundry room was overflowing with them as well. And there were probably a few in storage too. I have always loved kitchen stuff, and even in high school I would ask for gadgets and small appliances as gifts. Before our wedding, I was given a Pampered Chef bridal shower and later became a Pampered Chef consultant (which is laughable considering my proficiency — or lack thereof — in the kitchen at that time), and I had an abundance of gadgets and gizmos which I'd carted back and forth across the country. Click here to read the rest, including the 5 questions you should ask yourself when deciding which kitchen gadgets to keep and which to declutter… Quick Tips from a Minimalist Kitchen is a post from Life Your Way © 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Food Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to con...@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks. | | 3 Tech Resolutions for 2013 Posted: 08 Jan 2013 12:00 PM PST  The following post is from Michelle of Mommy Misadventures:  source: FreeDigitalPhotos.net There’s something about the New Year that just inspires change, a license to start over anew! Since so many of my life revolves around technology, I always make a list of things I can change about the way I think about or use technology to get a fresh start. I’d love to share three of those with you today. 1. Secure my devices. Last year, after Mat Honan reported how his digital life was taken over by a hacker, I wrote a post on how to safeguard your digital identity. Digital security has always been a passion of mine and is something I think about all year long. With so many people receiving new gadgets over the holidays, it is very important to start the new year off on the path to digital security. One tech resolution I hope to encourage for everyone this year is to secure your devices. Smartphone and tablets are prime targets for would be thieves, not just for the hardware resale value but for the data that these devices have. For some thieves, the data, and not the phone, is the target. That’s why I’m resolving to get more diligent about securing my gadgets. I am enabling an access passcode and data encryption on all my portable devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop). These are key steps to help protect your device and your data from being misused. 2. -Acquire and organize my data more efficiently. I’m a digital hoarder, a habit I often justify because as a writer and web journalist, I am constantly saving things in the name of research. Despite seasonal cleanups, I find myself sorting through mountains of digital clutter. When it comes time to get rid of an old computer or device– either by sending it to e-waste or performing a data wipe to repurpose it — I am often anxious because I know there is a chance that I may have left something behind. In 2013, I’m resolving to change how I look at my research. I am taking a hard look at my work flow, not just how I organize and archive but also how I acquire data — what do I download and why am I downloading it? While determining and implementing a good file organization system is a must no matter what platform you work on, I am also resolving to look at using more tools like Evernote and Google Drive to help make my multi-platform computing more efficient. 3. Spend my time online wisely. Every morning, I open up a browser window intending to do some work. Two hours later, I’ll look up in panic when I realize my “work time” was spent on my personal Facebook account, commenting on status updates and sharing random Doctor Who related pictures.
My resolution is to get a handle on my mindless websurfing. I wish I could say willpower was part of my plan but since I know I’m weak, I’m depending on LeechBlock (FireFox) and Nanny for Chrome (Chrome) to help keep my work time safe from my online time sinks. While I’m a tech geek whose gadgets are arguably an extension of my brain, a very personal resolution I am making is to NOT use my smartphone when I’m with my daughter. Fifteen years ago, I would have been thrilled at the prospect of being able to use the Internet from just about anywhere and everywhere. These days, I’m realizing that just because I can be connected all the time doesn’t mean I should be. This year, I’m determined to making the most of my time with my daughter than having her childhood pass me by because I’ve been too preoccupied staring at little screens. Do you make technology resolutions? What are some of your resolutions for this New Year?  | Michelle Mista is an IT professional, writer and blogger with a love for all kinds of technology. She writes about tech tips and trends for work at home professionals on her portfolio blog and muses about motherhood at Mommy Misadventures. She is on the constant quest to balance life, work and geekery. | | | 3 Tech Resolutions for 2013 is a post from Life Your Way © 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Tech Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to con...@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks. | | Giveaway: Organize Your Paper Clutter Online Workshop from Simplify 101 Posted: 08 Jan 2013 08:30 AM PST  
If you regularly read organizing books, newsletters and blogs but still struggle to create the organization you are after, Simplify 101 is the perfect solution for you. In addition to organizing tips and ideas, Simplify 101 offers online workshops, self-paced workshops, and one-on-one coaching. Organize Your Paper Clutter Workshop If paper is piling up around you, it's hard to relax let alone be creative. There is a better way! With the right paper organizing systems in place — custom created with you, your paper, and your home in mind — you can free yourself from paper clutter and the stress that comes with it. 
In the Organize Your Paper Clutter online workshop, Simplify 101 will equip you with a simple, step-by-step process to organize your paper. With easy to follow action steps, your paper clutter and your stress will be replaced by organizing systems you love and feelings of confidence, relief and peace of mind. (Which means you'll feel more creative, too!) Organize Your Paper Clutter begins January 17, 2013. Self-Paced Workshops Self-paced workshops from Simplify 101 are another great option for anyone who wants to get started right away or work through organizing projects on their own timeframe. The beauty of these instant downloads is that they: - Fit your schedule. Whether you need to tackle a project in 15-minute increments over several weeks, or would like to get it done over the course of a week or weekend, Simplify 101's self-paced workshops help you to organize on your time table and at your own pace!
- Are portable! All you need is a PDF reader or a pre-printed copy of your download. They are perfect for those busy times of the year when you don't know whether you are coming or going.
- Provide bite-sized, action-oriented content. More than just good ideas and information, these self-paced workshops are designed to guide you through your projects. Self-paced workshops are available to help you organize your k-itchen, closet, creative space, clutter, kids and more. Click here to see the full list of options.
And More… Save 15% on all of the online workshops and instant downloads in the Simplify 101 catalog when you enter coupon code YOURWAY at checkout! Valid through 1/14/13. Cannot be combined with other offers. Simplify 101's mission is to make getting organized fun! Get a taste of Simplify 101 — and the organized life — with their FREE, simple-to-follow guide How to Create a Command Central Binder. You'll put together a home reference binder that will help you get organized, save time, and minimize paper clutter and the stress that comes along with it! For more organizing tips and ideas, be sure to follow Simplify 101 on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter! Enter to Win This week, Simplify 101 is giving one lucky Life Your Way reader a spot in the January session of their online Organize Your Paper Clutter workshop plus one self-paced workshop of your choice! We are offering up one spot in our January session of online workshop Organize Your Paper Clutter, plus one self-paced workshop of winner’s choice. Paper Clutter is a six-lesson, expert-guided workshop which includes access to and support from our friendly online community. The self-paced downloads are available as instant download pdfs and can be as a diy project. To enter, fill out the form below: This giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, 1/11. The winner will be selected randomly and notified by email, and this post will be updated with their name as well. Open to U.S. residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway: Organize Your Paper Clutter Online Workshop from Simplify 101 is a post from Life Your Way © 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Home Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to con...@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks. | You are subscribed to email updates from Life Your Way {Full}
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
Client + Server - Passwords
Posted: 09 Jan 2013 07:31 AM PST
| Client + Server - Passwords Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:04 AM PST This has been live on our servers for a while, but is now announced and open for general use. Here's the short version: If you have an Android app and a web-server back-end, you can authenticate the person using the app to your back-end securely, efficiently, and with no prompts or passwords. I'm pretty happy with this, and think that app developers who can use this should. Because your server really has to know who it's talking to, but there are few things less friendly to a person using a mobile device than making them type passwords. The long version is a multi-step recipe, but nothing about it is actually difficult. I'm not going to revisit the recipe, but here are a few sidelights worth noting. OAuth and OpenID This is based on the OAuth 2 code that's already built into the our back end and Google Play services. Which I think highlights what OAuth 2 really is: Not a real Internet Protocol like HTTP or SMTP, but a framework that you can use to build useful pieces of authentication and authorization machinery. The technique is based on using an ID Token, a notion that actually comes out of OpenID Connect. So thanks to those people for cooking up this useful thing. We probably can't claim that this is OpenID Connect-compliant, because, well, OIDC isn't finished yet. But it probably will be eventually. Limitations This isn't for 100% of everybody. It won't work for you if: You don't want to use any of the Google accounts on the device, or You're on a device that doesn't have Google Play or is running a version of Android older than 2.2 (Froyo). Lots of developers want to support really old devices and also things like Kindles and Nooks. I suspect that the user experience in doing identity this way is superior enough that those people should probably implement this anyhow for the people that can use it, and fall back to old-fashioned passwords or whatever for the rest. Account Selection Tricks Every piece of code I've seen that talks about using Google identities on Android begins with a callout via the AccountPicker class to show a list of the accounts on the device and ask the person holding it to pick one. But I think that can often be dodged. To start with, lots of devices have just one account; in which case you can just use it. Another option, if there's more than one, is to (don't laugh) just pick the first one and run with that. I do that in my LifeSaver application and nobody's complained yet. And if you must make them pick an account, remember it in a SharedPreferences or something for next time, so it's a one-time tax. Permissions For this to work, your app needs to be able to retrieve a user's email address, and talk to Google's auth servers. So it needs two permissions: GET_ACCOUNTS and INTERNET. | You are subscribed to email updates from ongoing by Tim Bray
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
Andrew Sullivan Finds Success With Paid Blogging Model
Posted: 09 Jan 2013 07:29 AM PST
| Andrew Sullivan Finds Success With Paid Blogging Model Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:23 PM PST Blogger Andrew Sullivan is leaving The Daily Beast and returning his blog to his website, andrewsullivan.com. Sullivan decided to go with a paid blogging model. In the announcement, Sullivan said the decision not to use advertising on the relocated blog was the hardest. The decision on advertising was the hardest, because obviously it provides a vital revenue stream for almost all media products. But we know from your emails how distracting and intrusive it can be; and how it often slows down the page painfully. And we're increasingly struck how advertising is dominated online by huge entities, and how compromising and time-consuming it could be for so few of us to try and lure big corporations to support us. We're also mindful how online ads have created incentives for pageviews over quality content. Sullivan went with an initial annual subscription price of $19.99 a year for his blog, the Dish. He is well on his way to having a successful paid blog. In just 24 hours, The Dish obtained about 12,000 paid subscribers and brought in about $333,000. Venture Beat reports that Sullivan estimates he needs about $900,000 in revenues a year to run his blog ad-free at its current level of content. Venture Beat also says Sullivan has partnered with Tinypass for site metering services. Permalink | Recent Headlines | Facebook | Twitter | WWFeeds.com  |
|
|
12 Things You Should Never Stop Doing
Posted: 09 Jan 2013 07:27 AM PST
| 12 Things You Should Never Stop Doing Posted: 08 Jan 2013 06:51 PM PST 
Take control of your destiny. Believe in yourself. Ignore those who try to discourage you. Avoid negative sources, people, places, things and habits. Don't give up and don't give in. Your life isn't behind you; your memories are behind you. Your life is always right here, right now. Seize it! Choose to let each of your experiences today be a gateway to an even brighter tomorrow. Start doing these things now and never stop… Reminder: We just released our new ebook 1,000+ Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently. It makes a perfect starter kit for the new year. Click here to find out more.
- Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Be a defender of honesty and truth so that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the achievements and lessons of today. Give so much time to your own self improvement that you have no time to criticize others. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism part of your religion. Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is you.
- Walk comfortably in your own shoes. If you don't follow the path others want you to follow they might become irritated. Don't worry about it. Let them be. It's their problem, not yours. So many people seem to (more…)
| You are subscribed to email updates from Marc and Angel Hack Life
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
Threadwatch Returns After Five Years
Posted: 09 Jan 2013 07:24 AM PST
| Threadwatch Returns After Five Years Posted: After closing down over five years ago, with only being in operation for less than a few years and being managed by two different owners - Jim Boykin decided to bring it back to life... | | Google Maps Business Verification Delays Posted: Google seems to have a backlog in the number of business verifications they have to manage within Google Maps / Local / Places. A Google Business Help thread has one business owner complaining he submitted his code into Google Places 3 weeks ago but the business listing is still not verified... | | Phone Support Comes To Google Local For Business Posted: Jade Wang mentioned that a specific person can contact the Google Maps support team in a Google Maps Help thread, and linked to this support form. If you click through the options, you may get to a way for Google to contact you via phone. | | Google News "Show Sources" Number Often Wrong Posted: A Google News Help thread has a complaint that the number shown in the "sources" section of Google News clusters is wrong. Here is an example, this says 3 but it leads to 4 sources: I honestly never thought the number was exact... | | Google's Larry Page Original Business Card Posted: | | Daily Search Forum Recap: January 8, 2013 Posted: Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web... | You are subscribed to email updates from Search Engine Roundtable
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
Three Steps to Real Life Social Prospecting
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:44 PM PST
| Three Steps to Real Life Social Prospecting Posted: 08 Jan 2013 11:33 AM PST There's a lot of talk about leveraging social media for offline business relationships. In fact, there are 181,000 social media gurus on Twitter who will be happy to help you with the challenge. And it's tough to argue with the fact that social media can be a powerful tool for finding new business opportunities. However, there's another tremendous source for sales prospecting that's being largely ignored. It's called the Real World. One of the best places to prospect for new opportunities is in social settings. When a prospect discovers you in an unexpected place, you jump to the top of the pile of possible providers.  Recently, I was in Cape Town, South Africa. English is a common language there, but South Africans often have thick accents. I was wandering around the waterfront when something caught my attention. It was a man with a distinctly American accent. I turned and said, "Hello." Sam and I struck up a conversation and began discussing common business interests. We've been introducing each other to prospective customers ever since.
I wouldn't have met Sam on Twitter or LinkedIn. We met because we were in the real world interacting with real people. Prospects don't want cold calls or unsolicited emails. Instead, they want to discover you on their own. An obvious hiccup is that they might not find you when you want to be found. They might run across your competitor instead! Therefore, you have to take steps to ensure you're first, last, and always in the minds of your prospects. You can do much better than my chance encounter with Sam in Cape Town. Here's what we recommend: - Begin by defining your ideal prospects. Who are they? What do they have in common? What interests do they share?
- Then, research them to understand what they do when they're not working. How do they pass time? What are their outside interests? Passions? Hobbies?
- Finally, place yourself in situations where they socialize. What Trade Associations are they involved with? Where do they like to Volunteer their time? Do they enjoy local Sporting Events?
Of course, this isn't an excuse to spend all of your time socializing, but it is an excuse to do the hard work of seeking your prospects outside of the workplace and casually interacting with them. A friend's sixteen year old son helped me understand an important caveat to this strategy. The other day, I overheard the teenager complaining about his mother being a "creeper" because he felt she was watching him too closely. Ignoring for a moment possible questions about parenting tactics, I think the young man's observation can go a long way here, too. Don't be "creepy" when it comes to building these offline relationships. Instead, figure out where your ideal prospects are, go there, and meet them in the normal course of events. Don't stalk them. If you're intentional about it, you'll find some amazing opportunities in the Real World. After all, there's nothing new in Social Prospecting. Finding prospects socially has been a sales strategy for a long, long time. Oh, and never, never forget to provide value before asking for something! Never. What about combining the two? Have you and your team had success combining social media and real world efforts to win sales? - @JebBrooks | You are subscribed to email updates from Sales Evolution
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
Whet Your Appetite: Colorful First Courses
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:43 PM PST
| Whet Your Appetite: Colorful First Courses Posted: 07 Jan 2013 12:16 PM PST On Forkly, stunning food images from food and drink lovers around the globe are an everyday treat. The luscious red of a perfectly plump summer tomato; the deep, velvety green of fresh-picked mint; the marbled yellow of golden beets...the list goes on. We've repeatedly found that the brightest, most colorful dishes and drinks are the ones that spark the most enthusiastic responses both at the dinner table and in the online world of food photography. So for the next few weeks, we'll be serving you a course a week at our virtual Forkly dinner table. This week, we wanted to whet your appetite with a beautiful range of first course dishes from users across the US and Europe. Play around with the images and you'll see more information about the restaurant and other dishes tried there...or simply take in their beauty--savor that first bite. Bon Appetit!
1) Gran Fra i Fjor & Sjøkreps (Last Year's Spruce & Langoustine)
2) Oysters
3) Strawberry Gazpacho
4) Walnut Crusted Burrata, Grilled Broccoli & Anchovy Caponata
5) Heirloom Tomatoes
To start sharing your own colorful dishes, download the Forkly app (for free) today! |
|
|
ShoeMoney Book FAQ – Yes People outside the USA can buy it for the same price
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:42 PM PST
| ShoeMoney Book FAQ – Yes People outside the USA can buy it for the same price Posted: 08 Jan 2013 10:01 AM PST 
Got some questions about the book launch today. Its off and running!!!! Here is a link to buy it if you have not already: http://shmny.me/shoemoneybook Q: I saw the book for FREE on amazon this morning but now its $9.95 whats up ? A: I enrolled the book in KDP select and allowed Amazon to offer it for free daily. Its a new program where they pay you back for giving it away but they control it. I was invited to the program so I got some extra perks. But yes its possible you can see it for free (for the ebook). It was downloaded for free like 10,000 times this morning so not sure how much more they want to pay me for =P. Q: I am not in the USA and when I go to buy it on Amazon in my country it shows the same price as $2500 usd for your book!!! WTF!!!!! A: yes I know when I did the “I’ll put your companies logo in my book if you buy it for $2500″ it never updated the price on Amazon (but I did raise a ton of money for charity!) . I called about this today and they said for countries outside the USA it can take up to 6 weeks!!!!!! But good news! You can buy it on create space and get the 14.95 price Funny unintentional marketing note: More foreign people tweeted/facebook about the price being so high that I think it helped spread the word about the book. Q: Can you sign my copy? A: Sure send it to ShoeMoney, 1316 N ST lincoln NE 68508 with return shipping label attached and I will sign it  . Q: Is the book in color. A: The e-book is in color. The print version is not. (its like 3x as much to have a printed color book). Q: How much money are you making off the book? A: Its like 70% of ebook and 35% of print. But I used my amazon link to promote it so I get another 7%. Q: I live in Nebraska can I come buy it and hang out? A: I honestly would rather you wouldn’t. We don’t have time to chat. I am very active in my company and very busy. Sorry to sound like a jerk. Also if your going to Affiliate Summit West next week make sure to bring your books and come to MaxBounty’s booth #515 the last 2 hours of the first day of the exhibit hall. Trying to increase your Google rank that is like no other? |
|
|
Jon Stewart Slams House Republicans For Opposing Hurricane Sandy Relief
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:38 PM PST
| Jon Stewart Slams House Republicans For Opposing Hurricane Sandy Relief Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:00 PM PST  Click here to view this media After we saw New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Rep. Peter King tear into House Speaker John Boehner for cancelling the vote on Hurricane Sandy relief over the holidays, Jon Stewart took his turn upon returning from vacation this Monday and he got some knocks in at the rest of the House Republicans as well. Stewart singled out Representatives Paul Ryan and Steven Palazzo for voting against the bill once Boehner finally did bring it to the floor, and as we noted here as did Think Progress, they weren't alone. 67 of them voted against the bill, 37 of whom had previously asked for disaster aid for their home states. Here's how Stewart concluded his rant: "This is just a simple down the middle, black and white, cut and dry, warm cup of what would Jesus or any other human being that is not an asshole do, and you blew it," Stewart remarked. Ryan said he opposed the disaster relief funds because the legislation contained "pork-barrel spending." "It's one f**king page," Stewart said, aghast. "It's two paragraphs that add 9.7 billion to the national flood insurance program and nothing else. There is as much pork in here as in the mini-fridge in the break-room at PETA. There is no pork in this thing!"
| | While Australia burns, the media fiddles. Posted: 08 Jan 2013 12:00 PM PST It's been a hellishly hot summer in Australia, this week temperatures soaring over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), and bushfires raging out of control in three states. In Sydney, it's even too hot for ice cream trucks. In some places, the temperature has reached an all-time record high of 54 degrees Celsius (129.2 Fahrenheit). The heat has become so bad that the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's interactive weather map has had to add new colours – deep purple and pink – to indicate temperatures in excess of its previous cap of 50 degrees. And summer has just started... the heatwave hasn't even peaked yet. Worse, this so-called "once in 20 or 30 year heat wave" is likely to become a much more regular occurrence, the last record breaking heatwave in 2009. But of the more than 800 articles covering the heatwave over the past five days, less than ten of them even mentioned "climate change", "global warming" or "greenhouse gas." And those that have skimmed over it quickly. Australia's media is just as irresponsibly bad at covering climate change, even when their feet are literally being held to the fire. When Morning Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons tweeted, "Will the politics of carbon tax/climate change alter with this extraordinary, sustained heatwave hitting the southern states?", Tim Blair retorted in the Daily Telegraph, "It's called summer, Peter." Tim Blair seems less concerned about climate change than he is sulking over the possibility that air fare might become so expensive that only the rich "carbon kings" will be able to travel to London, Paris or New York, while the rest of us "bogans" will have to make do with Mildura. (Although, if I were from Mildura, that sort of snobbery would get right up my nose, it's a lovely place.) So, on a day when Simon Divencha of the Environment Institute at the University of Adelaide is asking why, oh why, isn't the media paying more attention to climate change, why are our media, our leaders, even our community at large still willfully in denial of the realities of global warming, I sat down for lunch in the sweltering Queensland heat and flicked on the television to watch... a rerun of "Miracle Planet: Snowball Earth." *sigh*. | | Blue America chat: Activist Debra Cooper for New York City Council Posted: 08 Jan 2013 11:00 AM PST When the Netroots first appeared in the middle of the last decade, there were a few people who instantly joined up as supporters, benefactors and activists who "got it." But no one got it more clearly than our good friend Debra Cooper, a long time champion of women's rights, New York NARAL board member and Democratic Party activist. From the very beginning Debra understood the power of this new force in American politics and embraced our work and enthusiastically participated in our activities, often to the befuddlement of other experienced organizers who failed to see the potential of our new medium. Debra has been a stalwart supporter of Blue America since its inception and we are thrilled to return the favor by making her our first endorsee of 2013. Blue America doesn't normally get involved in local races, but a New York City Council seat is not the usual local race ... and Debra is not the usual candidate. As she says: I have been an unabashed progressive my entire life. And I have been around long enough to see that it matters is we move forward as progressives and not react backward. If we aren't pushing forward on our agenda, the right wing is pushing us backward. And it goes from everything from women's reproductive rights to social security to the safety net to the issue of gun control. Those issues all matter. We have to push forward, we have to enlarge the conversation to include our solutions and not just react to their solutions. I have been asked about my lines in the sand. Actually I have lines in quick drying cement. And those lines are about principles --- progressive and democratic principles. Lines in the sand are for tactics and for strategy. They are moveable and they are erasable. Principles are not. They are firm and they are clear. You use lines in the sand to negotiate. And over the long term, as a progressive , if we want to move the conversation in the right direction, we want to make the lines in the sand the same as our lines in cement.
A couple of years back Debra wrote a piece that I've often quoted on my blog because it's so important. She talked about abortion in the language of freedom, which is frankly something I've never heard anyone do before: For women ALL Roads to freedom and equality - economic equality and most particularly the ability to avoid poverty START with control of their bodies. If they can't control how they get pregnant and when they will have a child then poverty is the result. There is theory about something called the Prime Mover - the first action or the first cause. Well for women it IS reproductive rights. It precedes everything. It really is simple. Without the abilty to control your own body then you are a slave to everything else. Frankly sexism, the need to control women's lives by controlling their bodies and the things that arise from it, are endemic to any social structure. It is ever enduring and even when it seems to be quashed it returns in another form. That is the story in the modern era of women's rights. One step forward after a long struggle - suffrage and then a step back. (And no way do I say that women are not complicit in their own subjugation. We are.) I am reading The Reactionary Mind by Corey Robin. In the epilogue he makes a point of saying that the loss of power and control is what the elite and the reactionary fear the most. More than a specific loss itself the fear the rising volcano of submerged anger and power. And for them it is most acutely felt compulsion for control in the "intimate" arena. That is the most vexing and disturbing of all. It is why they want to control women. And controlling their reproductive lives is the surefire way to control them. It is why abortion rights are absolutely central to every other kind of freedom.
Wouldn't it be great to have someone who thinks like this in elective office? She is one of us, a stalwart progressive who has been inspired and motivated by our work --- and your commitment --- to throw her hat into the ring and represent our shared values in elective office. John, Howie and I are proud to support her and we hope you will too. Hopefully everyone had a chance to rest up during the holidays and take a breather. But the reactionaries never sleep. As Debra says, if we aren't pushing our agenda, the right wing is pushing us backwards. It's time to start pushing. Please welcome Debra to Blue America for our first chat of the New Year. You can donate to Debra's campaign here. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | | Speaker Boehner: 'I Need This Job Like I Need a Hole in the Head' Posted: 08 Jan 2013 10:00 AM PST 
In a revealing interview with The Wall Street Journal, House Speaker John Boehner discussed the conversations he had with President Obama during closed-door fiscal-cliff negotiations. Appearing to have a case of battle fatigue after weeks of negotiations, at one point in the interview Boehner said "I need this job like I need a hole in the head." He says he was most shocked by Obama saying that Washington doesn't have a spending problem. The speaker, just entering his second term, also explained his notorious "Go f--k yourself" snap at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "I was in Ohio, and Harry's on the Senate floor calling me a dictator and all kinds of nasty things. You know, I don't lose my temper. I never do. But I was shocked at what Harry was saying about me," he said. Boehner also discussed his decision to vote for the Senate tax package, saying a "no" vote would do "serious damage to the economy." "What stunned House Speaker John Boehner more than anything else during his prolonged closed-door budget negotiations with Barack Obama was this revelation: "At one point several weeks ago," Mr. Boehner says, "the president said to me, 'We don't have a spending problem.' " "I am talking to Mr. Boehner in his office on the second floor of the Capitol, 72 hours after the historic House vote to take America off the so-called fiscal cliff by making permanent the Bush tax cuts on most Americans, but also to raise taxes on high earners. In the interim, Mr. Boehner had been elected to serve his second term as speaker of the House. Throughout our hourlong conversation, as is his custom, he takes long drags on one cigarette after another." "Mr. Boehner looks battle weary from five weeks of grappling with the White House. He's frustrated that the final deal failed to make progress toward his primary goal of "making a down payment on solving the debt crisis and setting a path to get real entitlement reform." At one point he grimly says: "I need this job like I need a hole in the head."' "The president's insistence that Washington doesn't have a spending problem, Mr. Boehner says, is predicated on the belief that massive federal deficits stem from what Mr. Obama called "a health-care problem." Mr. Boehner says that after he recovered from his astonishment—"They blame all of the fiscal woes on our health-care system"—he replied: "Clearly we have a health-care problem, which is about to get worse with ObamaCare. But, Mr. President, we have a very serious spending problem." He repeated this message so often, he says, that toward the end of the negotiations, the president became irritated and said: "I'm getting tired of hearing you say that."' "With the two sides so far from agreeing even on the nature of the country's fiscal challenge, making progress on how to address it was difficult. Mr. Boehner became so agitated with the lack of progress that he cursed at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "Those days after Christmas," he explains, "I was in Ohio, and Harry's on the Senate floor calling me a dictator and all kinds of nasty things. You know, I don't lose my temper. I never do. But I was shocked at what Harry was saying about me. I came back to town. Saw Harry at the White House. And that was when that was said," he says, referring to a pointed "go [blank] yourself" addressed to Mr. Reid." "Mr. Boehner confirms that at one critical juncture he asked Mr. Obama, after conceding on $800 billion in new taxes, "What am I getting?" and the president replied: "You don't get anything for it. I'm taking that anyway."'
And here you have the latest go-to Republican talking point, "But, Mr. President, we have a very serious spending problem." Yet in the last year in the Budget Control Act, and the 2011 spring budget deal to avert a shutdown, Congress actually cut $1.5 trillion in spending. After reduced interest payments due to a smaller debt are factored in, a good deal more than $1.5 trillion is cut from spending. The interest savings amount to about $250 billion, bringing the total deficit reduction achieved to date to more than $1.7 trillion. And before that, there was the $700 billion in reduced Medicare spending passed in the Affordable Care Act in 2010. We have indeed already confronted the "spending problem." Not that this will keep the GOP from trying to do away with those pesky "entitlements." | | Alex Jones Foams at the Mouth to Piers Morgan over Gun Control Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:00 AM PST I thought I had seen Alex Jones on TV before, but nothing can prepare a normal human being to watch something like this. I know some people might think Piers Morgan shouldn't be inviting the most extreme right wingers on his show at any time at all, but once in a while it's good to let them loose so the American people can truly see who and what they are. The man who made his bones by promoting black helicopter info during the Clinton years and continued to more Bircheresque conspiracies through the Bush years helped start a petition drive to kick Piers Morgan out of the United States for daring to promote gun control after the horrifying massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary. By the way, Morgan's freedom of speech was thrown out of the window by Jones, but he doesn't even realize it. I guess some Constitutional rights are more important than others. In response, Piers decided it would be a good idea to debate Alex Jones over the issue. As you can imagine, Jones wants to arm everybody in American and in our schools because that's freedom. Morgan quickly learned that you can't have a normal discussion over an issue with people like Jones, who got more rabid as the minutes passed. He spewed out what he believed to be da facts about violence in America, all the while ignoring Morgan's questions. By the end of the first 15 minutes, Jones screaming at Morgan that if they tried to make Americans register guns then they'll take them all away and Mr. and Mrs.America will rise up and rebel once again like it was 1776 once again, motherf*&kers! Alex Jones screamed that Piers Morgan and his advertisers were trying to control him, berated his show repeatedly and challenged him to a mano-a-mano boxing match on his set. Jones would even wear an American flag or something. By the second half of the interview, Jones was so unnerved by Morgan's calm approach to his hysteria that he broke out into some kind of a weird English accent (I think) to describe some past events in history (I think) which makes the word pathetic seem too kind. Millions of extreme wingnuts have listened to this man over the years and the only explanation I have is that there's a sucker born every day. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | | Rep. Alan Grayson Mocks ‘Bath Salts Caucus’ Posted: 08 Jan 2013 08:00 AM PST  Click here to view this media Rep. Alan Grayson continues to come out with some of the best lines to describe the complete dysfunction in the House of Representatives. via Eric Dolan at Raw Story Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) on Monday mocked the 67 House Republicans who voted against disaster relief funds for the victims of Hurricane Sanday. "It's the same 67 over and over again," he noted on The Stephanie Miller Show. "It's the bath salts caucus, the people that would rather eat your face than cut taxes on the rich." The bill provided $9.7 billion for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Sandy last year. The 67 Republicans who voted against the bill objected to it because the funds were not paid for with cuts to over government programs. Grayson said that Republican obstruction in Congress had become worse since his previous term in the House of Representatives.
| | Five Federal Policies on Guns You’ve Never Heard Of Posted: 08 Jan 2013 07:00 AM PST 
By Suevon Lee, ProPublica, Jan. 7, 2013 U.S. gun policy is set by both state and federal law. We previously published an explainer on the ways states have eased gun restrictions. But federal policy, too, has become more gun friendly in recent years — and we're not just talking about the 2008 Supreme Court ruling that struck down the handgun ban in Washington, D.C., and held that people have a right to keep guns in their homes. Here, we outline five federal policies relating to guns you may not have known about: 1. A federal firearms trace database is off-limits to the public. How often do federally licensed gun dealers sell guns that are then used in crimes? It's hard to know, because for nearly a decade such gun trace data has been hidden from the public. Even local law enforcement had been, until recently, barred from accessing the database for anything but narrow investigations. Under the Gun Control Act of 1968, licensed dealers are required to record certain information about a buyer and the gun's serial number at the point of sale. These records go into a database maintained by The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. A tool to catch criminals, the database in the early 2000s became a political flashpoint, as the Washington Post details. Outside research tying seized guns to a small handful of dealers spurred the federal government to impose tougher sanctions and inspections on gun retailers and manufacturers. But those sanctions sparked a backlash: Since 2003, the Tiahrt Amendments, so named after the former Kansas Republican congressman who introduced the measures, have concealed the database from the public. Prior to 2010, local police could access the database only to investigate an individual crime but not to look for signs of broader criminal activity. Despite the relaxing of some restrictions, parts of the original Tiahrt Amendment remain in place. The ATF can't require gun dealers to conduct an inventory to account for lost or stolen guns; records of customer background checks must be destroyed within 24 hours if they are clean enough to allow the sale; and trace data can't be used in state civil lawsuits or in an effort to suspend or revoke a gun dealer's license. 2. The military can't impose additional regulations on service members who own guns. Following the November 2009 shooting at Fort Hood military base in Texas that killed 13 people and wounded more than two dozen others, the Department of Defense proposed guidelines that included, among other things, a new policy around private firearms. (The semiautomatic pistol used by accused gunman Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan was purchased at a store off-base.) Consideration of tighter gun regulations, such as the registering of non-military guns, sparked at least one new piece of federal legislation. Less than a year after the shooting, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., introduced a bill prohibiting new regulations on Defense Department personnel's private guns. It also prohibited commanders from inquiring into private gun ownership. At the time, Inhofe stated that the measure would "prevent current and potential Second Amendment violations for those serving and employed by the Department of Defense." There has been a recent revision: In the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act recently passed by Congress, a new provision does allow military commanders to ask about private firearms if there is reason to believe a service member is at high risk of committing suicide. "It codifies the ability of military commanders to have a conversation with someone they feel is suicidal. This is all about conversation, not confiscation," said John Madigan, senior director of public policy at The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which pushed for the measure. 3. You can carry a gun inside a national park or check a gun when riding Amtrak. In 2009, Congress passed a measure, tucked into a larger credit card reform bill, to allow visitors to national parks and wildlife refuges to carry a loaded firearm. (Previously, the guns had to be locked, unloaded and stowed away). Under the amendment, which took effect February 2010, visitors can carry firearms only in those parks located in states that permit concealed guns in their own state parks. Although the U.S. Department of the Interior had lifted the 25-year ban the year before the law passed, a federal judge had blocked implementation after gun control groups objected. Also in 2009, Congress voted to allow customers riding Amtrak to check guns and ammunition in their luggage. (Though airlines have a similar policy, the federally subsidized national rail service barred guns in any luggage, checked or carry-on, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.) In a statement shortly before the measure took effect, its sponsor, Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, said it would provide "hunters, sportsmen, and gun owners with more choices for traveling." 4. The gun industry is shielded from many lawsuits involving criminal misuse of guns. In 2005, Congress enacted a law that immunizes gun dealers and manufacturers from liability for injuries resulting in the "criminal or unlawful misuse" of a firearm. The law authorized dismissal of any applicable pending lawsuits and prohibited future claims. During floor debate, the bill's primary sponsor, former Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig, said the measure wouldn't provide the gun industry with blanket immunity, just prohibit "one extremely narrow category of lawsuits: lawsuits that attempt to force the gun industry to pay for the crimes of third parties over whom they have no control." Indeed, the 2005 law provides for certain exceptions, including cases in which a gun dealer or manufacturer is aware the firearm will be used to a commit a crime and the suit is brought by the victim directly harmed. The law also allows suits based on a manufacturing or design defect, but not for lacking certain safety features. Under the law, it would be much harder to obtain a settlement of the kind that families of the victims in the Washington-area sniper shootings of 2002 received. In 2004, those families won a $2.5 million settlement from the manufacturer of the Bushmaster XM-15 assault rifle used in the shootings and from the licensed Tacoma, Wash., store from where the gun was stolen. "The law has not stopped gun litigation, but it has created an obstacle for litigation," said Jonathan E. Lowy, director of the Legal Action Project at The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which filed the lawsuit, alleging that the defendants' negligence allowed the snipers to obtain the firearm. "Today, you would almost certainly face motions to dismiss by the dealer and manufacturer, and there is a significant number of judges who would dismiss the case," he said. 5. Congress has removed federal funding for firearms-related research. Funding used to be set aside for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to research the impact of gun ownership — but that was taken away in the mid-90s. The New York Times explains that as the CDC became "increasingly assertive about the importance of studying gun-related injuries and deaths as a public health phenomenon," the National Rifle Association assailed its findings as politically skewed and lobbied to defund research. One study commissioned by the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control found that the risks of keeping a gun in the home outweigh the benefits: "A gun kept in the home is far more likely to be involved in the death of a family member of the household than it is to be used to kill in self-defense," its authors wrote in 1993. In 1996, an amendment proposed by then-Arkansas Republican Congressman Jay Dickey removed $2.6 million from the center's budget, the same amount earmarked for firearms research. When funding to CDC was later restored, legislation included the directive that "none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be used to advocate or promote gun control." Critics charge that language had a chilling effect on CDC's support for gun-related research. The CDC Injury Center today collects data generally on homicides, suicides and injuries in homes, schools and communities. But when it comes to firearms-specific research, "I never heard the money was replaced," said Dr. David Satcher, the former U.S. Surgeon General who served as CDC's director from 1993 to 1998 and now leads The Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine. "I don't think this (1993) study was saying the government should take guns away from people. I think it was saying people should know what happens when you have a gun," Satcher told ProPublica. "A major benefit of that kind of research is, it keeps informing and updating people: What do we know about gun violence? What do we know about the benefits of owning a gun? I think those are the kinds of questions we need to ask in public health." This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | | OFA Agrees To Large Fine For 2008 FEC Violations Posted: 08 Jan 2013 06:00 AM PST After an extensive audit of Obama for America's 2008 campaign disclosures, the FEC and OFA have agreed to settle the specific complaints with a $375,000 fine, one of the largest in campaign finance history. The RNC released the settlement agreement to Politico last week. Here are the violations they settled: - Misreported dates of contributions: The Obama Victory Fund transferred $89 million in contributions to OFA, which OFA reported. However, OFA used the date of transfer from OVF in their FEC reports instead of the date the actual contributions were made.
- Contributions Required to Be Reported on 48-hour notices: Campaigns are required to report contributions made in excess of $1,000 which are received less than 20 days but more than 48 hours before an election. There were 1,266 contributions received by the campaign which totalled $1,895,956 in that time frame which were not reported on a 48-hour notice. Of the 1,266 contributions received, 711 of them were transfers from OVF, presumably with the incorrect date, which exacerbated the problem. The fine for that was $191,135 and was paid in full.
- Excessive contributions Contributions were received which totalled $1,363,529 and were from individuals who had already contributed the maximum. Of those, the campaign refunded nearly $500,000 upon discovery, and the FEC discovered the remaining contributions on audit, which they will now refund to donors. If the donors cannot be located or don't cash the refund check, the funds will revert to the US Treasury.
As a strict matter of legal compliance, these are serious violations and presumably were corrected by the time the 2012 campaign finance cycle rolled around. I say presumably because I do not see the same inquiries in 2012 that I saw for the 2008 reports. In fairness to OFA, they overwhelmed the FEC electronic filing system because of all of the small donors. Reports had to be broken into smaller pieces because they were too large for the system, the universe of small donors stretched across OVF and OFA, and were difficult to track with existing database technologies in 2008. In 2012, that should not be the case. One other point worth making: It was the required disclosure process that revealed these issues, and the resolution process that resolved them. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of Republican fundraising efforts, since they're done outside of FEC oversight and without any disclosure. Still, this is certainly a learning exercise in managing campaign finances, and one that should be taken seriously by OFA and all organizations raising money for candidates. | | Mike's Blog Round Up Posted: 08 Jan 2013 05:00 AM PST Politicus USA: Republicans are already losing the debt ceiling fight. What Would Jack Do: The crazy is breaking out all over. Legal Schnauzer: Anonymous is fighting the good-ol'-boy network in Steubenville. Pharyngula: There are good reasons why most scientists lean Democratic. Blog round-up by Infidel753. Tips to mbru [at] crooksandliars [dot] com. | | Open Thread Posted: 07 Jan 2013 08:30 PM PST Vlogbrothers asks, "Why Does Congress Suck?" Open thread below.... | You are subscribed to email updates from Crooks and Liars
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
Targus Touch Pen Transforms Any Laptop into a Touchscreen
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:33 PM PST
|
|
7 Ways Inbound Marketing is Like a Snowball Fight
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:32 PM PST
| 7 Ways Inbound Marketing is Like a Snowball Fight Posted: 08 Jan 2013 06:00 AM PST 
On Saturday, January 12, the people of Seattle will gather for Snow Day, the world's largest snowball fight. Dump trucks will deliver 162,000 lbs. of snow to more than 5,000 people attempting to set a new Guinness World Record. Plus it's a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County. What on earth does this have to do with Internet marketing? More than you know… here are 7 ways inbound marketing is like a snowball fight. 1. Action plans are essential You might have some success in life or in snowball fights without an action plan. But if you want to go beyond whitewashing a single opponent to dominating an entire field, you have to plan ahead. Your inbound marketing plan should cover earning attention, making yourself easy to find, and providing value to your customer. 2. Exploring new territory The Internet has been around for a while, but the landscape changes as fast as any melting battlefield. Every time Google updates their algorithm, we must reassess our strategies and make new battle plans. Whether you are creating the freshest content or building a catapult on the fly, adaptation is key to survival. 3. Some people play dirty Some Internet marketers will sell you a bundle of links along with promises of glory. This is not inbound marketing. Like those rats who put rocks in snowballs, they may be successful in the short term, but there's a lot of collateral damage. Play unto others as you would have them play unto you… 4. Capture the high ground You want to rank #1 on Google. That prized, top-of-the-hill position helps your customers find you. Just expect that once you plant your flag, you automatically become a target. So be ready to defend your position when you get there (see step one). 5. Even little guys can compete You don't have to be a megastore to compete on the Internet. In fact, being small has its advantages. With the right set up, whether we're talking a killer fort or an awesome site design, you can grab customers (or fling snowballs) while staying under your competition's radar. Heck, if you can create super-awesome video without owning a camera, you can do anything. 6. Capitalize in the short term Trending topics are as fleeting and wonderful as Seattle snow. People get very excited about them in the seconds before they melt. Part (and only part) of your content strategy should be to grab onto a hot topic for an easy content win. 7. Teamwork is the best strategy Beating South Korea's 2010 snowball fight world record will require 5,388 combatants. That could mean you against 5,387 snowball-flinging strangers or you could team up with a friend who can cover your back. Same goes for inbound marketing. Because the Internet sometimes looks like this: Consider teaming up with someone with field experience to help you draw up a plan of attack. Don't forget to sign up for Snow Day on January 12 at Seattle Center. Together we can set a world record, raise money for charity and have a rockin' good time.  |
|
|
9 Persuasion Lessons You Can Learn from a 4-Year-Old
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:31 PM PST
| 9 Persuasion Lessons You Can Learn from a 4-Year-Old Posted: 08 Jan 2013 03:00 AM PST  
How confident are you in your persuasion skills? After months and months of providing your most valuable teaching, are you hearing crickets chirping when you finally make your audience an offer? No feedback. No sales. Earning email list subscribers is like pulling teeth. And yet other publishers seem to get a tremendous response to everything they do online. You know who these people are. They get traffic, they get comments, and they get sales. People respond to them. Tired of eating their dust? If so, allow me a few minutes to show you how a persuasive four-year-old kid might just save the day. And yes, I wrote that correctly, a four-year-old … Uncovering the secrets of persuasion Enter Elijah. He’s a child that gets what he wants — almost every time. How persuasive is he? He got a woman in the grocery store to open a bag of chips for him that she hadn’t even paid for yet. He gets an average of two helpings of candy at every door on Halloween. He randomly picked a stranger at a sporting event and — before I could intervene — got the guy to buy him a large bag of Gummie LifeSavers from a vending machine. I still don’t know precisely what Elijah said to him, but it worked. These things happen all the time, and I’m so glad he’s my child — because I can ground him for life if he goes to work for a rival marketer. He’s just that skilled at the art of persuasion. Here are nine things my son has taught me about getting people to do what you want them to do — every single time … 1. The art of the ask Despite repeatedly assuring Elijah that he would not find cake at the hardware store during a recent trip, Elijah approached an employee anyway and asked, “Do you have cake?” Instead of turning him away, the employee lead us to the employee lounge where, coincidentally, someone had just celebrated a birthday. They happily gave Elijah a large slice of birthday cake, and I relearned one of the most basic lessons of persuasion. Persuasive Tip #1: You’ve got to ask for what you want, or you’ll never persuade anybody to do anything. And just like asking for cake in a hardware store, there are two common places most writers often don’t think to ask for what they want. They are: #1 Ask at the end of your article — Any time you’ve given someone something of value (like an informative article on your site), this is a great time to give people a gentle nudge to join your email list or look further into a service or product you offer. #2 Ask again after they’ve taken action — If someone has just taken action — like joined your email list or purchased something — immediately invite them to take more action. They have action-taking momentum, and it’s a great time to make them an offer they can’t refuse. Whatever you do, don’t write anything without including a specific call to action. 2. Find the right angle Elijah has seen Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland” far too many times. So when I told him to do something he didn’t want to do, he declared: “Daddy — off with your head!” “That’s not a very nice thing to say,” I said. Elijah changed his tone. “Off with your head … please?” Persuasive Tip #2: Any message will become more persuasive as you test different approaches and see what works best. Some effective ways to test your copy are: - Split testing: Show half your visitors one message, and show the other half a slightly different version of the message. See which one produces better results.
- Ask prospects: Find your target market online and ask them to evaluate your offerings and messaging. I’ve found LinkedIn groups to be quite responsive.
- Complaints: They’re really just opportunities to improve. Complaints about your business or complaints about your competitors are equally useful.
- Ask customers: Ask each of your buyers what persuaded them to accept your offer, and tweak your message accordingly.
Always test and tweak your copy. Professional copywriters and marketers are fanatics about testing and adapting their messages to discover the most persuasive approach. 3. Break the entire process down into manageable steps Our collection of children’s DVDs is placed out of Elijah’s reach. After repeatedly asking me to pick him up so he could rummage through them (and getting rejected), Elijah employed a new strategy. “Daddy … stand up.” I had just repeatedly turned down his other requests, so I obliged. Once I was standing, he said “Pick me up.” Okay. I picked him up. “Now stand over there.” He pointed to where the DVDs were located. I had to laugh. The kid had already gotten me halfway there, so I stepped over to where the movies were, and Elijah started picking through them. Well played, my son. Persuasive Tip #3: If people aren’t doing what you want, can you break that process down into steps that people will take? Can you make a phone call, a free trial, or a special offer? Try this anyplace where people aren’t taking action. As an internet marketing coach, I found a direct sales pitch to my new Facebook friends doesn’t work. But when I give them some free advice by email, then a complimentary consultation by phone, then offered a free trial to my program — just to try it out — many of my Facebook friends easily became paying clients, because each step was very simple for them to take. Try this wherever you’re having a hard time persuading people to do something. 4. Emulate successful strategies “Lauren!” Elijah yelled across the yard to our next door neighbor “You look gorgeous in that dress!” “Thank you Elijah!” Lauren called back. “Mom,” Elijah whispered under his breath. “What does gorgeous mean?” Persuasive Tip #4: If it works for others, try it out yourself. Look at your competitor’s websites, join their email list, study their ads, and crash their webinars. What persuasive things do they say, and how do they say them? Does it seem to be working? Next, look closely at sales pitches and persuasive copy outside of your industry. What do they say that persuades you? What moves you to action? Can you adapt it to your copy? Whenever someone successfully compels you to purchase anything, ask yourself “How did they do that? And can I adapt it in a way that would make sense for my business?” 5. Collect compliments Elijah has a pretty high opinion of himself, and has no trouble finding people who agree. He’s heard the phrase “You are SO CUTE!” so many times, he thought it was his name. He collects compliments everywhere he goes, and you should too. Persuasive Tip #5: Compliments and testimonials are extremely persuasive if used properly — especially these two types of under-utilized testimonials: Story Testimonials
If you really knocked one out of the park for your client, write a detailed narrative of what happened. The more vividly you paint that client's story, the better. Detail how your client felt before, during, and after you stepped in. Story testimonials will really speak to your prospects who are dealing with the same situation as your client — and you’re not bragging because it’s your customer doing the talking. Comment Testimonials
Did you ever look at the positive comments on your website as a bunch of mini testimonials? I collected positive comments and placed them on my email subscribe page, and I get a 37% signup rate on that page. What do you think? Do you see how those positive comments work just like customer reviews on a product site? They are sincerely and spontaneously given, so they’re very persuasive. 6. Use rich language Elijah often tries to lure me out of my office with some kind of “horrible,” “amazing,” “dangerous,” or “exciting” situation that needs my intervention. Today he pressed his mouth up to the crack under my door and described for me how his stuffed animal was maliciously eating imaginary important documents. “Daddy … Kitty is eating your papers. I’m horrified!” Persuasive Tip #6: Keep your copy full of energy-rich wording, like “horrified,” and your readers will have the energy to take action when you ask it of them. Words like amazing, gorgeous, terrible, magnificent, repulsive, exquisite, ultimate, bewildered, immense, tremendous … Used thoughtfully, these words can add excitement, magnetism, and personality to your writing. If your readers feel energized reading your copy, taking action is easy. 7. Paint vivid pictures for your readers “Elijah, don’t hang from the refrigerator handles,” I ordered him. Instead of letting go, he hung upside down from the handles and asked “Will I fall down and crack my head open?” Persuasive Tip #7: The more vivid the pictures you draw in your readers’ minds, the more engaged their minds become in your writing. “Crack your head open,” one of many graphic phrases I use, has more impact than the standard parental line “Stop or you’ll hurt yourself." We don’t think in words — we think in pictures. So how would you apply this visual persuasion technique? How about walking someone through your ordering process? Or, for some bonus persuasiveness, how about walking them through your ordering process by using a testimonial? It might sound something like this … “I clicked that order now button and filled in my information as fast as I could” your happy customer illustrates. “I flew through the ordering process and immediately downloaded your ebook and couldn’t stop reading it! The information had an almost instant impact.” If you were to place this at the end of a sales video, for example, your prospects watching that video might visualize placing that order themselves and then reaping the rewards. If they’ve already seen it in their minds, taking that action in real life is a whole lot easier. 8. Show them some love Nothing helps smooth over the fact that the recliner is now covered in milkshake like a declaration of affection. But Elijah doesn’t just say that when he’s in trouble. His secret to persuasion is to express his affection regularly, in various situations. Persuasive Tip #8: If you want people to do something, show them some love. Short comments like the following will encourage people to do more of the things you want: Want more comments? Let your readers know, “I really appreciate it when people reply with thoughtful comments. Honestly, it makes my day.” Want more sales? Before they even buy, say, “Thank you for your purchase! I look forward to working with you.” Want more Tweets, Likes, and Plus Ones? Try saying, “The greatest compliment you can give me is when you share this with others. I sincerely appreciate it.” Let them know what you want them to do by telling them you appreciate it. 9. Tell them your hopes So Elijah walks into the bathroom while I’m taking a shower, turns off the light, and says, “It’s dark!” and I agree with him. Then he snickers, “I hope you have fun in the dark, poopy cave!” (which is what, I suppose, a bathroom without light is) and then he closes the door. So I spent the second half of my shower in total darkness. Persuasive Tip #9: The key phrase here is “I hope,” and the persuasion secret is knowing how to use these two words to let your readers know that you care. Have you ever written in an article, “Here’s what I hope you take from this article …” and then proceeded to tell them all the things you were hoping they’d learn and experience while reading what you’ve written? Doing this will make your reader stop and think about you. They’ll realize right that you’re a real human being who has sacrificed your time and offered up the very best of your knowledge in the hopes that they might benefit. Give it a try. Write a closing statement titled “What I hope you take from this article.” Write it from the heart, and your audience will likely respond from theirs … What I hope you take from this article … I hope you’ve gotten something valuable out of each of the “persuasion secrets” you read here. I spent a lot of time trying to make sure each of the tips above wasn’t something you’ve heard twenty times before or, if it was, I hope I’ve at least given you some unique ways to incorporate them into your writing online. I hope you found at least one or two things you’re excited to try. And if you experience a difference in your writing, I hope you’ll write me and let me know. I’d love to see how you’ve incorporated some of these suggestions. If nothing else, I hope you got a good laugh reading about Elijah’s exploits and that you’re inspired by his tenacity. He practices relentlessly.  And that is the one big secret to writing persuasively — learn about something that might work and test it. If something you've read in this article sparked an idea, write it down before you forget it! And then test it in your own writing. Everything you publish for your audience — whether it fails or succeeds — will teach you how to better serve them, and help you to become a part of who you are: A naturally persuasive person. About the Author: Jarom Adair loves individuals who strike out on their own to create businesses, and his website Solopreneur Marketing is specifically designed to help solo entrepreneurs get better marketing results and thrive online. Get his top advice here. Tweet
Related Stories | You are subscribed to email updates from Copyblogger
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
3 Areas That Get Overlooked When Building Links In A Bubble
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:25 PM PST
| 3 Areas That Get Overlooked When Building Links In A Bubble Posted: 08 Jan 2013 12:30 PM PST One of the most frustrating things about doing a link campaign is that usually, we’re doing it because no one else wants to, or no one else has the time to. Link building is one of the most outsourced parts of SEM and much of the time, we’re one of a handful of agencies working [...] Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  | | SPONSOR MESSAGE: Page One Power – The Link Builders You’ve been Looking For Posted: 08 Jan 2013 12:00 PM PST Page One Power is a link building firm dedicated to transparency and relevancy. Though our mission is to catapult you to the top of the SERPs, we’re more than just link builders. We’re real people. Our college-educated writers and researchers create high quality links that makes sense... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  | | Propel Promotion Of Your Content: 9 Ways I Promote Sharing Online Posted: 08 Jan 2013 10:46 AM PST Search Engine Land recently published its top 10 articles of 2012, and I had articles in the #1 and #6 positions on that list. The Social Search Revolution: 8 Social SEO Strategies To Start Using Right Now had over 40,000 unique pageviews with 2,004 tweets, 708 likes, 389 +1′s and 1,353 linkedin... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  | | Google, Mobile Search And The Paradox Of Competition Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:28 AM PST How much does Google figure into the “future of search,” whose advances will largely be determined by mobile and non-traditional devices? That’s a hard question to answer. On the one hand Google is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) brand in the world, with almost unlimited... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  | | Why Is Search Engine Results Personalization A Driver For Using Local Domains Internationally? Posted: 08 Jan 2013 08:23 AM PST Have you seen or read much about what steps we SEOs should take to manage our activities around a world where an increasing personalization of search engine results is an ever present feature? I’ve seen a few things about needing to take less note of rank positions and more of traffic but... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  | | Google Is Hiring Someone To Find Ways To Make You Want To Search While Signed-In Posted: 08 Jan 2013 06:09 AM PST Google is hiring a new product marketing manager for search with one of the key goals being to find ways to get people to sign-in while they search. The job description says: As Product Marketing Manager within the search growth team, you will be responsible to developing plans, creatives,... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  | | Google Fixes Definition URLs, Makes Them Clickable Links Posted: 08 Jan 2013 06:05 AM PST When Google introduced a new format last month for the definitions it sometimes shows at the top of its search results, something was missing. The source URL wasn’t a clickable link. That’s now been fixed. Here’s an example, the definition box that Google shows for a “define... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  | | 3 Days, 50+ Tactic-packed Sessions – Customize Your Learning at SMX West Posted: 08 Jan 2013 05:55 AM PST Constant algorithm changes. New ad platforms and options. Mobile apps and voice search. Attend Search Engine Land’s conference SMX West, March 11-13 in San Jose, and you'll get the latest tactics, tips and advice from marketing experts who succeed in – or in spite of – the ever-evolving... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  | | SearchCap: The Day In Search, January 7, 2013 Posted: 07 Jan 2013 01:55 PM PST Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: A Search Marketer's Guide To Google Display Advertising, Part 3 Last month, we took a look at the wealth of Google Display Network (GDN) targeting options and... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.  |
|
|
Looking for a quick PR hit?
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:25 PM PST
|
|
MAKE at CES 2013: Hello from Las Vegas!
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:23 PM PST
| MAKE at CES 2013: Hello from Las Vegas! Posted: 08 Jan 2013 12:30 PM PST  Hello from Las Vegas! I’m at International CES this week looking for interesting technology and electronics. Of course, since this is MAKE, this won’t be your typical CES coverage. I’ll be looking past the dazzling booths and big screen televisions for the stuff that makers are interested in like 3D [...] Read the full article on MAKE  | | MAKE Asks: Cable Management Posted: 08 Jan 2013 12:00 PM PST  MAKE Asks: is a weekly column where we ask you, our readers, for responses to maker-related questions. We hope the column sparks interesting conversation and is a way for us to get to know more about each other. Read the full article on MAKE  | | How to Make a Makerspace Workshop Posted: 08 Jan 2013 11:30 AM PST  If you’re thinking of starting a makerspace, and don’t know how to proceed, you’ll want to be in Massachusetts the weekend of February 1st for the How to Make a Makerspace Workshop. Host and MAKE publisher Dale Dougherty describes the event: Artisan’s Asylum and MAKE are teaming up to put [...] Read the full article on MAKE  | | Learn a New Skill in the New Year – Getting Started with Soldering Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:17 AM PST Soldering is one of the the most useful skills in a maker's arsenal. If you're looking to learn to solder or perhaps brush up on your skills, consider checking out our Getting Started with Soldering Kit in the Maker Shed. It has just about everything you need to get soldering all in one box.  | | Toolsday Hangout on Air, Live and Online Tomorrow at 2pm PST/5pm EST Posted: 07 Jan 2013 03:37 PM PST  Tomorrow is Toolsday here at MAKE, so you know what that means – a live Google+ hangout where we will be discussing our favorite tools and workspace essentials. The main topic of the hangout will be part finishing. We'll discuss the tools and techniques required to protect and decorate your part with paint, varnish, anodizing, powder coating and more. Join us at 2pm PST/5 pm EST on the MAKE Google+ page or catch it later on the MAKE YouTube page. Read the full article on MAKE  | You are subscribed to email updates from MAKE
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
I Can’t Afford It
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:20 PM PST
| I Can’t Afford It Posted: 08 Jan 2013 04:29 AM PST We have fascinating views on money, don’t we?  When we think about what we spend our money on, it’s always an interesting series of choices, isn’t it? All this came to me as I watched someone at my local grocery store buying $10 lottery tickets from a lottery vending machine. I have this thing about lottery tickets. Why do people invest in a gamble? (You might try and reply that everything is a gamble, and to that, I’d be polite and say nothing.) All Spending is a Choice My first eye opening moment in understanding money came from The Millionaire Next Door (affiliate link). In this book, we learn that millionaires are frugal, that they tend to drive older cars, wear less expensive clothes, and have far less debt than people who aspire to wealth. When I first read it, I felt that I understood it. Now, it’s something of an aspiration, to be as smart and as intentional with my money as possible. People tell me all the time that they can’t afford something. But then I’ll watch their Twitter feed, or Facebook, or Instagram, and I’ll see the reason why not. Just a Few Quick Numbers 1 latte at Starbucks = $5.
20 a month (assuming you get one on the way to work every day) is $100.
$100 x 12 months = $1200. So switching out this one luxury gives you a $1200 raise, or $1200 you could spend on an airplane ticket, a trip somewhere, a gym membership, etc. Buy 1 album on iTunes for $10 or Buy 1 month of all the music you want on Spotify for $10 (or Rhapsody, etc). People tell me, “but not as much money goes to the artist.” If you bought 1 month of a streaming service, you’d have money to buy a tee shirt or paypal it directly to the artist. If you buy more than one album a month, then you’re already saving money with this one change. Movie at the theater: $12 (average)
Popcorn and a drink: $13 Or, Netflix/Amazon Prime, RedBox and spend $3 or $4 on the experience, plus whatever’s in the fridge. $25 a month on movies (and this presumes you go solo and to one movie a month only) adds up to $300 a year. Let’s be more realistic: 4 people x $25 = 100 a month = $1200 a year on movies. The cinema is magic. I go there myself. But I’ve made it a choice. Let’s talk about that next. My Examples Aren’t The Focus: Your Choices Are The point of this post is that you are likely doing some habitual spending in some part of your life and that at another part of your life, you’re feeling like you can’t afford something that matters to you. The reality is, if it matters to you, you can find the money in some part of your life (for most folks). The majority of people who read this blog don’t live at or below the poverty line (except for a few of my homeless friends, and hi to you! This really doesn’t apply, but I’m glad you’re here). Instead, what we find is that most of us live in the muddy middle. All of it is choice. Your previous choices are still being paid off. Your future choices have yet to be funded. All of these choices are in your hands. One Way to Make Decisions I’m trying hard to adopt this kind of mindset: will this grow my capabilities, or is it for pleasure only? That one sentence keeps me on a much better path. I spend when it makes sense, and I try to hold off or not buy at all, when it’s just a “want” without any real obvious value beyond the purchase. I do still make purchases for pleasure. I’m not saying we should live like monks, but the question above is a great way to shed a lot of useless spending. It’s a way to know whether I should go see The Hobbit or I should buy a book about cultural anthropology. But that’s my choice. That’s my gauge. Or one of my gauges. What are you doing? How do you look at money? What’s changed?  | You are subscribed to email updates from chrisbrogan.com
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
Modo modular desktop organizer on Kickstarter
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:16 PM PST
| Modo modular desktop organizer on Kickstarter Posted: 08 Jan 2013 08:30 AM PST The organizers of a new Kickstarter project got in touch with us yesterday because they thought our readers might be interested in the modular desktop organizer they’re trying to crowdfund. Watch the following video: The design seems both simple and flexible. We’d love to see them produce the base in a variety of woods though. While sustainable, bamboo isn’t always our cup of tea. At a pre-order price of $26, we’re still impressed. Need help getting organized? Buy the DRM-free audiobook version of Erin Rooney Doland's Unclutter Your Life in One Week today for only $8.99. | | Ten uncluttering tasks you can do in five minutes or less Posted: 08 Jan 2013 07:00 AM PST  Do you use a “down time” list? I used one often when I worked in the corporate world. It was a list of things I could work on when I finished my usual responsibilities. Now, several years later, I use a similar list, though it usually has things that I can do in five minutes or less.
One of the challenges many people often face is finding the time to unclutter. Everyone’s busy and has full schedules as well as other things they’d rather be doing. To combat the dread you might be feeling when it’s time to get things in order or to stop the mad dash when you’re looking for something, create a list of things you can get done in just a few short minutes until they become regular habits. To help you get started, consider adding these 10 things that you can do in 300 seconds to your daily or weekly routine. - Use hooks. Hooks take very little time to install and they can be used just as quickly. Instead of putting your clothes on a chair (or other flat surface), hang them on a hook.
- Purge your hanger stash. Hangers that are laying on the closet floor are not being put to good use. Remove them to free up your space and refuse them when they are offered to you at the store. Most dry cleaners have hanger recycling bins, so give your local dry cleaners a call to see if you can drop off your extras there.
- Delete unnecessary duplicates. Where can you check for multiples of the same thing? Your smart phone (contacts, apps), pantry, spice cabinet, and closet are great places to look for duplicates you can delete (or donate).
- Gather your stuff the night before. Put everything you need to have for the next day (keys, wallet, mobile phone, ID badge, glasses, etc.) all in one spot so that you can find them easily.
- Remove junk mail before it gets inside your house. When you remove junk mail before it gets inside your home or office, you can spend your time focusing on the important items. Keep a recycling bin and shredder near the main entryway of your home for easy junk-mail disposal.
- Take something with you. Whether you’re in your car or in your home, before you leave an area, take something that doesn’t belong with you and put it away.
- Organize your wallet. Take a look in your wallet and remove anything that you don’t need to frequently access.
- Unsubscribe from unwanted junk email. The beauty of unsubscribing is that it takes very little time to have your name removed from emailing lists. Simply click on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the junk emails you no longer wish to receive.
- Say no to freebies. Unless that free item (like a gift you get when you make a purchase) is something that you or someone in your family uses regularly, it will likely end up cluttering your space. Of everything on this list, saying “no” to freebies is perhaps the quickest thing you can do.
- Keep a donation box in your home. A great place for a donation bag or box is inside your closet or laundry area for clothing that no longer fit or flatter you. Donation boxes can work well for other things, like toys, so pick a room, and take five minutes to select things you can give away.
Need help getting organized? Buy the DRM-free audiobook version of Erin Rooney Doland's Unclutter Your Life in One Week today for only $8.99. | You are subscribed to email updates from Unclutterer
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
#1 Reason To Attend A Networking Event (Even If You Don’t Know Anyone)
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:13 PM PST
| #1 Reason To Attend A Networking Event (Even If You Don’t Know Anyone) Posted: 08 Jan 2013 12:30 AM PST  Attending a networking event where you don't know anyone can rank right up there with a root canal, but it doesn’t have to painful, or even uncomfortable, if you know how to manage the situation.
Be Prepared One of the best ways to prepare for a networking event is to find out as much information as possible. Where is the event being held? Who will be in attendance? What's the dress code? Try to obtain any other details the organizers might be able to provide. You want to make sure you're confident when you arrive, so being prepared helps assuage those last minute anxieties. In some cases, you can find out the type of people who will be in attendance. For example, if you're going to a networking event sponsored by a trade group or association, you can probably get a list of their member organizations who may be attending the event. Do a little research on the companies that may be of interest to you. When you meet people from those companies, they'll be impressed you know a little about their organizations. Take Business Cards And Resumes If you're looking for a new job and/or currently unemployed, consider having business cards made with your contact information, as well as information on the job you're seeking. You can order some very inexpensive, but professional looking, cards from several online printing services. It also helps to have some copies of your resume on hand in case someone asks. Treat The Event As If It's A Series Of Several Mini-Interviews Attending networking events may or may not lead to an immediate job offer, but by expanding your network, you'll be exposed to more opportunities in the future. Stand Near The Entrance Door To The Event While it may sound silly, standing near the entrance gives you access to new people who are just arriving. Other people are also nervous when they first go into a room of people they don't know. A friendly smile goes a long way and it might be all you need to start a conversation with someone. Another added benefit is people have a greater tendency to remember the first and last people they meet. Have A Goal If you plan to attend a networking event for one hour, try to make three to five solid contacts. The conversation is not always going to be stellar with every person you meet. Know when to say "it was nice meeting you" and move on. If you become glued to the first person you started talking to, the event won't be as successful for you as it could be. Enjoy The Experience Networking events may put you out of your normal comfort zone, but they can be very beneficial. By attending solo, you're forced to meet new people. You never know who's going to be there. There might be business owners, recruiters, or other people that can help you with your current career path or be resources for you in the future. Photo Credit: Shutterstock The post #1 Reason To Attend A Networking Event (Even If You Don't Know Anyone) appeared first on CAREEREALISM. | | Unemployment: 3 Critical Job Search Tips Posted: 08 Jan 2013 12:15 AM PST  When you are unemployed and looking for work, a job search can feel even more pressured-filled. The lack of income and feelings of insecurity make it hard to stay positive and focused on the goal of getting hired. We lack confidence. That's why the following three tips are critical for job search when you are unemployed:
#1 – Avoid negative people at all costs. Support groups seem great in theory, but are often ineffective in practice. Be selective to which events you attend and be mindful of the company you keep. If you aren't leaving the events feeling happy and energized, then you shouldn't go anymore. When looking for work, mindset is everything. It can be hard to stay positive. There's no need to make it harder on yourself by spending time with people that make your feel worse. The same applies for friends and family who put you down or make you feel bad about your employment situation. Stay clear of anyone who can't help you remain positive! #2 – Get extremely clear on how you are the "aspirin" to an employer's "pain." Getting hired is all about showing an employer how you can save and/or make them enough money to justify hiring you. You must be very compelling. You do that by proving to them that you will alleviate some major pain. Focus in on the problems companies in your industry are experiencing and initiate dialog with as many professionals in your field as you can to discuss this problem and how you solve it. You must brand yourself as a specialist who can add value – a.k.a. be the aspirin to an employer's pain. Otherwise, you'll find your job search stalling from a lack of focus on your part, and a lack of interest on the part of the employers. #3 – Be proactive! Applying to endless jobs online is the most ineffective job search tactic and unemployed person can use. You will often be screened out automatically for not currently working. Is it fair? No. But, it's reality. The solution is to meet people and industry events and proactively ask people to set up informational interviews. You must connect with people directly and have meaningful conversations with them, in order to get people to pay attention to you. That way, you can circumvent the online application process and get referred to jobs directly. This is the single best way an unemployed person can remove the stigma that comes with their employment status. If you get referred by someone, the fact that you aren't working becomes less important. So, get out there and connect. Being unemployed is challenging, but it doesn't mean you can't find work. It does mean you need to ramp up your efforts and pay close attention to how you are conducting your job search. Follow the tips above and they should help improve the chances of you getting interviews. Your Next Step School teaches you everything except how to get the job. You must invest time in learning the right way to job search. I just finished four new training videos for you – they’re all about executing an easier job search in this economy. My videos are completely free and I’m confident you’re going to find them useful. The link to access the first one is below. WATCH VIDEO NOW ► Photo Credit: Shutterstock The post Unemployment: 3 Critical Job Search Tips appeared first on CAREEREALISM. | | 5 Weird Ways To Improve Your Work Performance Posted: 08 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST  Feel like you need a little boost at work? Here are five weird ways to improve your work performance:
1. Looking At Kittens Puppies really do make everything better! According to this article in Business Insider, looking at cute pictures of baby animals can actually make you work harder. (Now you have an excuse for being on Pinterest at work!) 2. Wearing Lipstick Need a little confidence boost for that presentation? Smear on your favorite shade of lipstick! According to a L’Oréal survey, 75 percent of women believe lipstick makes them more confident. So, always be sure to have a tube of lip color in your bag for those days when you need a dash of confidence! 3. Watching SNL Stressed out at work? Take a time out and watch a funny clip of your favorite comedy! Not only does laughter reduce stress levels, but it increases your productivity. Therefore, you should take a few minutes to watch Celebrity Jeopardy (we won’t tell!). 4. Drinking Coffee Wait, what? This isn’t groundbreaking news! Coffee helps millions of people get through their workday. But did you know that drinking caffeine before a negotiation can actually help you stand your ground in an argument? Turns out caffeine can give you the edge you need to not back down. So, before you approach your boss about a promotion, drink a cup of joe first! 5. Smelling Peppermint Did you know that the scent of peppermint actually stimulates your brain? Studies show the refreshing, minty smell increases a person’s alertness, motivation, and performance. Not only that, but it helps you both to fight fatigue and focus better. Keep some of these peppermint candies in your drawer when you need a boost at work! Photo Credit: Shutterstock The post 5 Weird Ways To Improve Your Work Performance appeared first on CAREEREALISM. | | The Biggest Mistake You Can Make In A Phone Interview Posted: 07 Jan 2013 11:45 PM PST  I have to admit, with more than 12 years of hands-on experience interviewing candidates for various positions, I find the biggest mistakes aren't made during the face-to-face interview - the ones that have really shocked me have been when I've interviewed a candidate over the phone.
I find this especially serious for those who are looking to work from home or telecommute. So, if that's you, listen up: I'm about to save you from making a mistake that will most definitely cost you the job. I would assume, if you're interviewing for a position, it's because you want the job; I wouldn't assume you're just wasting your time and mine by having a phone interview if you weren't truly interested in the position or didn't want to learn more about it. Yet I find some candidates just don't take the phone interview very seriously. Let me be very clear here—the phone interview is the hiring manager's first impression of you (aside from your resume, of course). You don't want your first impression to be, "I don't care enough about this position to use proper telephone etiquette." Make it a good first impression. If you are interviewing for a work-from-home position or a telecommuting position, then this is not only your first impression but may be the ONLY impression the hiring manager will have of you; and it's even more critical to ensure you're conveying your interest in the opportunity—but also that you take this position seriously. The number-one way to turn off the hiring manager and ensure you don't get the job is to conduct your telephone interview while driving. Others may disagree with me, but to me, this is the biggest mistake you can make—especially if you want a work-from-home position. This tells me you don't take the opportunity seriously enough to set aside dedicated time to talk without distraction. It also tells me your consideration for my clients will probably be about the same—or worse. If you don't take the interview seriously, then the hiring manager will make the assumption you won't take the position seriously either; and when it's a work-from-home or a telecommuting position, that can be very damaging. If you're driving while interviewing with me, it tells me you're distracted; you're not taking notes, you're not giving your complete attention to answering or asking questions, and you're not evaluating the position. I can also hear the background noise, and it can be very distracting. It's critically important during a phone interview to communicate you value the interviewer's time and you take the position seriously and will do your best. Putting your best foot forward during a phone interview shows the hiring manager you'll put your best foot forward with their clients, customers, and needs. Photo Credit: Shutterstock The post The Biggest Mistake You Can Make In A Phone Interview appeared first on CAREEREALISM. | | What Does Your LinkedIn Headline Say About You? Posted: 07 Jan 2013 11:30 PM PST  Did you realize LinkedIn has a built-in marketing and search engine-friendly capability that is easy to use – and often overlooked? Well, neither do most job hunters.
The best 120 characters of keyword optimization you can find for a job search, your LinkedIn Headline (or title) is a major piece of the puzzle that can help recruiters locate your skills. If you’re one of the many that loaded up this field with your current job title (such as “Vice President of Operations” or “Sales Executive”), or worse yet, used it to declare your unemployed status, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to market yourself! Instead, I recommend presenting your brand and goal in your LinkedIn Headline, using some self-promotion plus a label that gives you a fighting chance of being located by a keyword search. (What’s that? You didn’t realize that recruiters will look for you by keyword? That’s a subject for another post.) Here are some LinkedIn Headline comparisons for your perusal, taken from actual profiles. - William Jones, Unemployed and Looking
- John Taylor, Operations Director and Manager | Cost Control & Efficiency Improvment at AT&T
- Bill Ford, Project Manager at Sun Microsystems
- Anne Wilson, Providing Innovative Business Solutions by Leveraging Technology
- James Hardin, Pursuing Product Management & Quality Consulting Assignments in Dallas
- Carson Anderson, IT Systems and Management With Government and Nonprofit Experience
- Douglas Harding, Enterprise Technology Leader | Principal Network Engineer | Network Architect | Team Leader
Which do you believe increase findability? What makes you want to read further or fails to pique your interest? And of course, which of these are too general to tell you anything about the candidate’s brand? I hope this makes you take a closer look at your own LinkedIn Headline. Maybe there is a better, more strategic way to convey your value and goals, while sticking to that 120-character limit. Photo Credit: Shutterstock The post What Does Your LinkedIn Headline Say About You? appeared first on CAREEREALISM. | | How To Find An Internship Posted: 07 Jan 2013 11:00 PM PST  Job experience matters and recent graduates and entry-level candidates are expected to have some relevant job experience before applying for a full-time position. In many cases, this experience comes in the form of an internship. But, do you know how to find an internship?
Finding an internship is easier than you may think if you're willing to do the work. Use your existing contacts to network, network, network! Talk to professors, friends, career services, friends of the family, and whoever will sit still long enough to hear you talk about your career aspirations. We're all connected somehow and you never know who might have a contact in your career field of choice. Use online resources to find an internship. Many organizations list their intern needs on their websites and social media sites. Make a list of companies in your desired career field and then visit their pages every few weeks. If you don't see anything listed, you can send an email to their recruiting contact and ask if they will have an internship program available in the near future. Some companies may not have a formal internship program, but would be willing to add a few interns to supplement their full-time staff. There are a number of online job boards that cater to internships. It's worth looking at these sites to get ideas of which companies are hiring multiple interns and in which geographic locations. Be ready to sell yourself and show the business case of why you should be hired. In some cases, organizations have never had an intern before and aren't quite sure how this would benefit their company. Create a pitch for why the organization should hire you as an intern and what value you could bring. This may include cutting edge skills that you've learned in your classes, inexpensive or free labor and a variety of other knowledge, skills, and abilities. Be flexible. Some internships are in other cities and other countries. Some internships are unpaid. If you're in a position to travel for a summer or work for free (or a reduced rate), you may be more attractive to a prospective employer. Plus, if an internship goes well, you get the benefit of listing it on your resume and using your manager as a reference. The monetary value of that can't easily be calculated, but it's probably more than a paycheck or two. There's always a chance that an unpaid internship could lead to a future paid internship, part-time job or even a full-time opportunity in the future. If you're not financially able to work for free, consider taking the unpaid internship as a part-time job for the valuable experience and finding another paid opportunity that might not be as closely aligned to your career field to make some much-needed cash. Photo Credit: Shutterstock The post How To Find An Internship appeared first on CAREEREALISM. | | 10 Things To Know About A Career In The Sports Industry Posted: 07 Jan 2013 10:30 PM PST  Having a career in the sports industry can be quite rewarding and exciting – even though you may not be the one swinging a wooden bat. Before venturing into this world, here are ten things to know about a career in the sports industry.
1. A Career In The Sports Industry Requires Networking If you plan to get a job in sports, then you may have to attend many functions, happy hours, or networking events to find out who is hiring. At these networking events, you want to let people know that you are looking for a position and explain to them your many accomplishments. 2. It’s Still A Business, So Stay Professional Many people believe that, since it’s the sports industry, you have a reason to be relaxed and slightly unprofessional. Remember that it’s still a business. Remember to dress appropriately every day, come to work on time and maintain good work ethic. 3. Luck Is Very Important In order to get ahead in the industry, luck is also very important. That means being in the right place at the right time. Your credentials and related experience will help you get a job; however, a large portion of success is luck. 4. Research The Job Description Make sure to research the job description and the industry before applying for or interviewing for the position. You want to make sure that the job and the company is a place where you can flourish and grow. 5. Having A Love For Sports Is A Plus If you have a love for sports, then this can help, especially during the interview process. It’s always nice to work for a company that you feel passionate about. 6. A Very Competitive Industry There are many people who are looking to break into the sports industry, so make sure you stand out. 7. Highlight Related Experience On Your Resume Show how your experience links to your particular position. You should do this not only in the interview but also after you have gotten a position and are looking to advance in your career. 8. Jobs Tend To Be Localized In the sports industry, many of the high paying jobs tend to be in larger cities, such as Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. It could be tougher to find a decent job in smaller cities or in towns, but you should definitely try. 9. It’s Hard Work Since the sports industry is a very competitive field, you will have to work hard and long hours in order to prove yourself to your superiors. If you are looking for a corporate position, don’t expect for the hours to be just 40 hours per week. 10. There’s Plenty Of Room For Mobility Even if you have to start at the bottom as a receptionist or in the mail room, you can work your way up with a great deal of hard work and networking. One day you may be selling vintage baseball bats, the next you could be managing a team. Be patient. Photo Credit: Shutterstock The post 10 Things To Know About A Career In The Sports Industry appeared first on CAREEREALISM. | | Public Health Careers In The Non-Profit Sector Posted: 07 Jan 2013 10:00 PM PST  Looking into different public health careers? Non-profit organizations play a critical role in public health by providing health services that government agencies and private businesses fail to address. The non-profit sector provides solutions for health issues related to infectious diseases, public safety, environmental hazards and disparities in health care that threaten the well-being of communities around the world. Non-profits also serve groups of people with specific health care needs, including mothers and children, the elderly and those with behavioral health problems, such as alcoholism and drug addiction.
Public Health Career Paths Job seekers with public health degrees have the opportunity to make the world a better place by working for such non-profit organizations. A survey of the American Public Health Association’s job board provides insight into the type of public health jobs available to people with public health degrees. Non-profit health organizations need research coordinators, epidemiologists, program directors, program analysts, policy analysts and fundraisers with a strong background in public health. Some of the non-profit organizations that center on public health include the American Red Cross, Save the Children, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the United Way, the United Nations, and the World Health Organization. In addition to these well-known national and international organizations, there are small grassroots non-profits that address health care in cities across the nation. Master of Public Health According to the Association of Schools of Public Health’s What is Public Health? website, public health professionals who expect to advance in their career need a graduate degree in public health. Although it is possible to begin working in the public health field with an undergraduate degree, the opportunities for moving into advanced positions will be limited. Most government, non-profit and private organizations prefer a Master of Public Health (MPH) as the graduate degree for public health professionals. The MPH, which focuses on practice as well as academics, prepares graduates to assume leadership positions in community, national and international health organizations. MPH degree holders are qualified to work for government agencies and private businesses, but many are drawn to the non-profit sector. Students in MPH programs typically come from a variety of academic backgrounds, with undergraduate degrees in science, social science or the humanities. Most MPH programs offer areas of specialization that coincide with a student’s academic background and professional interests, including biostatistics, environmental science, epidemiology, health education and health service management. Many MPH programs are geared to the schedules of working professionals who want to earn an advanced degree without interrupting their career. Some programs also offer accelerated tracks for professionals who already have advanced degrees in other fields. Earning an MPH degree will allow these professionals to gain a deeper understanding of public health principles and become leaders in public health administration. Jobs in public health frequently address multiple functions and responsibilities, requiring public health professionals to wear a variety of different hats. A researcher may also be required to be an educator and communicator, or an administrator may also write grant proposals. The multidisciplinary nature of the Master of Public Health degree prepares graduates to excel in a wide variety of job roles in both the non-profit and private sectors. This article was written by Social Media Outreach Coordinator, Sarah Fudin on behalf of CAREEREALISM-Approved Partner, 2tor – an education-technology company that partners with institutions of higher education such as the George Washington University to deliver their masters of public health programs online. Photo Credit: Shutterstock The post Public Health Careers In The Non-Profit Sector appeared first on CAREEREALISM. | | The Resume Of The Future Posted: 07 Jan 2013 09:45 PM PST  What will the future hold for the traditional resume? According to a report by the Career Thoughts Leaders Consortium, the resume, as we know it now, is not likely to exist in the future. Some believe that the resume will be replaced by a social media profile such as LinkedIn. Yet others believe that if the resume does survive, it will be very short and concise, possibly even suitable for a 140 character tweet.
How Does That Affect Me? Currently, a resume is still needed; however, a LinkedIn profile is also becoming an essential tool for the job seeker. Social media is not a just a fad, it is here to stay. More and more recruiters depend on the information in LinkedIn to help them make a decision on whether to interview a candidate. If you don't have a LinkedIn profile, start now to build one. If you do have a profile, review it to make sure it ranks 100% complete and that it is well written. LinkedIn really allows you to showcase your skills. The Trend For Resumes Is To Be Short And Concise A survey of recruiters on LinkedIn revealed an overwhelming preference for shorter resumes (1-2 pages). Some experienced professionals believe they have too much experience to fit into two pages but this is a mistake. A long resume turns off many recruiters. Take the time to edit your resume to include only the most essential ingredients. On the opposite side, some job seekers think they are required to have a two-page resume. If you don't have a lot of work experience yet, it is perfectly acceptable to have a one page resume. Again, unnecessary information will turn off many recruiters. Don't Get Left Behind Prepare now by investing your time in what is trending now – concise resumes and well written LinkedIn profiles. Photo Credit: Shutterstock The post The Resume Of The Future appeared first on CAREEREALISM. | | Classy Workplace Attire Changes For 2013 Posted: 07 Jan 2013 09:30 PM PST  Workplace attire for both men and women has changed over the years. Not so long ago, working women were expected to wear dresses and pantyhose on a regular basis. Professional styles for men were also less than casual. But things have changed. Nowadays, both men and women can enjoy a more relaxed attitude toward work attire.
Casual But Classy Clothes are meant to look good, but they should also be comfortable. Dressing for success shouldn't feel constrictive or restraining. Classy casual is the definitive look for 2013, but be aware that classy comes in many variations. Classy casual attire includes everything from chic and classy jeans to stylish dresses and skirts. Whether you work in an office setting or you are an on-the-go real estate agent, looking good is important. Classy casual clothing is the perfect solution; it looks great and it's comfortable to wear. Learning to take the idea of comfort seriously is the key to fully enjoying the classy casual trend. Women are not restricted to skirts in any one length or style. In fact, women can choose to wear dresses, skirts, or pants to work. This freedom has exploded the fashion industry. It allows each and every individual an opportunity to choose the style they are most comfortable with for work. Classy casual clothing provides a stylish and tasteful look that works in virtually any environment. Piecing It Together Getting started with this look does not have to be expensive. You can start with some basic pieces and build your wardrobe from there. For example, purchase an elegant but basic suit jacket in black, gray, or other neutral color and add a matching pair of pants or skirt. Mix and match these items with eye-catching shirts, camisoles or blouses and a few accessories. The result will be a very professional and classy look. The idea is to start with items that will build the foundation of your wardrobe. You can then add other pieces as time goes on. Soon you will have a closet full of clothing that is comfortable and that looks terrific. Casual Fridays Never Looked Better Casual Fridays are recognized as a 'dress-down day' for many workers. However, it should be remembered that this concept can be taken to the extreme. The idea of dressing in a casual fashion does not include things like ball caps, tank tops, flip-flops, or jeans with tears and rips. Casual clothing can be fitted but it should not be form-fitting. Make casual Fridays a time to wear a more relaxed look, but keep it professional. For example, men may opt to wear a pair of khaki pants or jeans and a stylish shirt. No ties are needed on dress-down day. Women may elect to wear casual slacks or jeans along with a chic top. Jackets, scarves, and other accessories can be used to complete the outfit. When it comes to fashion choices we've come a long way. Fortunately, designers have taken note of the fact that comfort is as important as style. By choosing classy casual looks we can have the best of both in 2013! Article Author: Amanda Green Photo Credit: Shutterstock The post Classy Workplace Attire Changes For 2013 appeared first on CAREEREALISM. | You are subscribed to email updates from CAREEREALISM
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
Using Your Twitter Profile for Link Building
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:07 PM PST
| Using Your Twitter Profile for Link Building Posted: 08 Jan 2013 06:00 AM PST 
 Twitter is one of the most widely used social media platforms on the web today and a great portal for catching up on the latest in any industry news, for sharing information and promoting your personal or business profile. It's also a great avenue for link building – if you know where to go.
Setting up the Framework To start with, you need to follow a couple of really simple steps in order to maximize on your Twitter link building efforts. Once your Twitter profile is optimized for building links, you're well on your way to making this idea come to life. If you have a look at the screenshot below, you'll see how there is always the field where one can fill in the link to their website, but there is also the bio field that'll convert any typed links into hyperlinks. 
This ensures that you've got your hyperlinked web address as per normal, and you've also got an additional hyperlink in the short description about you or your company. Now for the fun stuff!
Sites for Twitter Link Building These sites are all listed here because they will either link directly back to your Twitter profile or they'll allow you to sign in with your Twitter account and add links. They're all well ranked and will offer up a great deal of clout for your link building efforts. Speaking of clout… Klout Google PageRank of 7 If you're signed up with Klout, you'll automatically get a backlink from them and they'll pull the information from your Twitter bio, thus pulling your weblink with a dofollow link. You can also add links to your other social networks and receive an overall score of your weight on the social scale. Twitter Grader Google PageRank of 6 Twitter Grader is similar to Klout in that it scores your social activity on Twitter. The home page requests that you enter your Twitter username before you can be scored, but once you have created a page you can access the site via http://tweet.grader.com/username. Twitter Grader links back to your profile with a nofollow link. Twellow Google PageRank of 6 Twellow is one of the larger Twitter directories that is also split into easy to use categories. Your Twitter handle might already be listed on the directory, if not, you'll have to register. Once joined, you can authorize your Twitter profile and customize your bio to include hyperlinked anchor text, which will be a dofollow link. TwitterCounter Google PageRank of 6 TwitterCounter is a great tool for keeping track of your tweets, followers, those you follow and your overall reach for up to six months. It's an awesome way to get a link back to your Twitter profile. You might already have an account, but if not it's easy to register. It pulls your Twitter bio through, as well as the link associated with it. Other Worthy Sites • Twitaholic pulls your Twitter profile bio and weblink, but only the weblink is hyperlinked, with a nofollow link - Google PageRank of 6
• Listorious also pulls through your bio and weblink, but only hyperlinks the weblink. Once you've authorized your profile on the site, you'll benefit from a lovely dofollow link – Google PageRank of 6
• Tweetlevel scores your Twitter activity much like Klout does, although it doesn't have the influence of the latter. It pulls your bio and weblink and hyperlinks the weblink with a dofollow link – Google PageRank of 5
• twtBizCard gives you the opportunity to create a digital business card pulling your bio and weblink from your Twitter profile and hyperlinking both of them with dofollow links – Google PageRank of 5
• Favorious allows you to tag your favorite tweets as well as keep track of all your favorite items on Twitter. It pulls both your bio and weblink and hyperlinks both of them with dofollow links – Google PageRank of 4 Other sites that offer the same or similar services using your Twitter profile information include: Retweet Rank, TagWalk, Crowdreel, SNpros and Twitperts. Try for yourself and let us know if you come across any problems. Please also feel free to share with us your own examples of sites that encourage link building using your Twitter profile. Image courtesy of: spring-of-poem.blogspot.com Bio: The following is a guest post by Katherine Stott, a writer for Chicago-based Northcutt, who offer social media marketing services.  | You are subscribed to email updates from Socialnomics
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
The Making of The Blues Brothers
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 01:05 PM PST
| The Making of The Blues Brothers Posted: 08 Jan 2013 11:12 AM PST Ned Zeman tells the story of how The Blues Brothers came to be made for Vanity Fair. Aykroyd spends his free time speeding through outskirts and befriending coroners. Belushi, being Chicago's favorite son, does anything he wants. Everything about him -- his lunch-bucket charm, his utter lack of pretense -- makes Belushi a figure of such resounding local popularity that Aykroyd calls him "the unofficial mayor of Chicago." A trip to Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, boggles Landis. "Like being with Mussolini in Rome," he remembers. Belushi, having entered one of the stadium's crowded bathrooms, smiles and shouts, "O.K., stand back!" Everyone retreats from the urinals. Belushi does his business. Then, zipping his fly and beaming, he says, "O.K., back you go!" "John would literally hail police cars like taxis," Mitch Glazer says. "The cops would say, 'Hey, Belushi!' Then we'd fall into the backseat and the cops would drive us home."
But the drug habit that would claim his life two years later also made Belushi a weight on the production. One night at three, while filming on a deserted lot in Harvey, Illinois, Belushi disappears. He does this sometimes. On a hunch, Aykroyd follows a grassy path until he spies a house with a light on. "Uh, we're shooting a film over here," Aykroyd tells the homeowner. "We're looking for one of our actors." "Oh, you mean Belushi?" the man replies. "He came in here an hour ago and raided my fridge. He's asleep on my couch." Only Belushi could pull this off. "America's Guest," Aykroyd calls him. "John," Aykroyd says, awakening Belushi, "we have to go back to work." Belushi nods and rises. They walk back to the set as if nothing happened.
Tags: Dan Aykroyd drugs John Belushi movies The Blues Brothers | | Extreme temperatures force new color code for weather map Posted: 08 Jan 2013 08:06 AM PST The forecasted temperature in the interior of Australia is so high for next Monday that the country's Bureau of Meteorology has had to add an extra color code at the top end of the temperature scale for REALLY FUCKING HOT. 
The bureau's head of climate monitoring and prediction David Jones said the new scale, which also features a pink code for temperatures from 52 to 54 degrees, reflected the potential for old heat records to be smashed. "The scale has just been increased today and I would anticipate it is because the forecast coming from the bureau's model is showing temperatures in excess of 50 degrees," Jones told Fairfax newspapers. Australia's all-time record temperature is 50.7 degrees, set in January 1960 at Oodnadatta in the state of South Australia. The nation as a whole experienced its hottest day on record on Monday with the average maximum temperature across the country hitting 40.33 degrees, surpassing the previous mark of 40.17 degrees set in 1972.
I feel like climate change needs a Steve Jobs to kick everyone's ass into action on this, iPhone announcement-style. "Unprecedented polar ice cap melt, new colors on Australia's weather map, massive East Coast hurricanes, are you getting it? These are not three separate incidents. This is one global pattern. And we are calling it anthropogenic climate change. [wild applause]" (via @ftrain) Tags: Australia design global warming Steve Jobs | | Crooks are stealing Tide to trade it for drugs Posted: 08 Jan 2013 07:06 AM PST I had no idea that laundry detergent could be so interesting. Procter & Gamble has done such a good job positioning Tide as a luxury laundry detergent that they can charge a premium for it and people will still buy. Shoppers have surprisingly strong feelings about laundry detergent. In a 2009 survey, Tide ranked in the top three brand names that consumers at all income levels were least likely to give up regardless of the recession, alongside Kraft and Coca-Cola. That loyalty has enabled its manufacturer, Procter & Gamble, to position the product in a way that defies economic trends. At upwards of $20 per 150-ounce bottle, Tide costs about 50 percent more than the average liquid detergent yet outsells Gain, the closest competitor by market share (and another P&G product), by more than two to one. According to research firm SymphonyIRI Group, Tide is now a $1.7 billion business representing more than 30 percent of the liquid-detergent market.
Because of this premium status and because laundry detergent is not usually well-guarded in grocery stores, Tide has become a large target for theft and subsequent resale, either for cash or crack on street corners across the nation. What did thieves want with so much laundry soap? To find out, he and his unit pored over security recordings to identify prolific perpetrators, whom officers then tracked down and detained for questioning. "We never promised to go easy on them, but they were willing to talk about it," Thompson says. "I guess they were bragging." It turned out the detergent wasn't being used as an ingredient in some new recipe for getting high, but instead to buy drugs themselves. Tide bottles have become ad hoc street currency, with a 150-ounce bottle going for either $5 cash or $10 worth of weed or crack cocaine. On certain corners, the detergent has earned a new nickname: "Liquid gold." The Tide people would never sanction that tag line, of course. But this unlikely black market would not have formed if they weren't so good at pushing their product.
Please don't let this be a hoax, it's almost too good to be true. (via @mulegirl) Tags: crime drugs economics Procter and Gamble | | My Design Matters interview Posted: 07 Jan 2013 07:11 PM PST | You are subscribed to email updates from kottke.org
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
|
2013 Writers Guild Award Nominations Announced
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 11:57 AM PST
| 2013 Writers Guild Award Nominations Announced Posted: 07 Jan 2013 02:32 PM PST The nominations for the 2013 Writers Guild Awards have been announced. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 17th. Here are the nominees in the screenwriting categories: Original Screenplay - Flight, written by John Gatins (Paramount Pictures)
- Looper, written by Rian Johnson (TriStar Pictures)
- The Master, written by Paul Thomas Anderson (The Weinstein Company)
- Moonrise Kingdom, written by Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola (Focus Features)
- Zero Dark Thirty, written by Mark Boal (Columbia Pictures)
Adapted Screenplay - Argo, screenplay by Chris Terrio; based on a selection from The Master of Disguise by Antonio J. Mendez and the Wired Magazine article "The Great Escape" by Joshuah Bearman (Warner Bros. Pictures)
- Life of Pi, screenplay by David Magee; based on the novel by Yann Martel (20th Century Fox)
- Lincoln, screenplay by Tony Kushner; based in part on the book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin (DreamWorks Pictures)
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower, screenplay by Stephen Chbosky; based on his book (Summit Entertainment)
- Silver Linings Playbook, screenplay by David O. Russell; based on the novel by Matthew Quick (The Weinstein Company)
Documentary Screenplay - The Central Park Five, written by Sarah Burns and David McMahon and Ken Burns (Sundance Selects)
- The Invisible War, written by Kirby Dick (Cinedigm Entertainment Group)
- Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, written by Alex Gibney (HBO Documentary Films)
- Searching for Sugar Man, written by Malik Bendjelloul (Sony Pictures Classics)
- We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists, written by Brian Knappenberger (Cinetic Media)
- West of Memphis, written by Amy Berg & Billy McMillin (Sony Pictures Classics)
You can find the full list of nominees, which includes the TV and radio categories, here on wga.org. Permalink | Facebook | Twitter | Recent Headlines | Our News Feeds  |
|
|
Stay off my butt
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 11:41 AM PST
| Stay off my butt Posted: 08 Jan 2013 07:00 AM PST 
I want your product, I like how you make it, and I’ll buy it for years. But I don’t want your logo on my backside. I’m not your billboard, and I don’t want to advertise your brand. I pay you for things, I get your things. If you want me to advertise for you, you pay me for advertising space. There is a fundamental conflict between marketing and genuinely caring about the interests of your customer. How is this product better because you added your logo? If you cared about what your customers want, that logo wouldn’t be there. It only benefits you, not the user. Marketers have become too presumptuous. |
|
|
Misconceptions about Google Search Algorithm Updates and the Disavow Links Tool
Posted: 08 Jan 2013 11:39 AM PST
You are subscribed to email updates from Search Engine Journal
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
|
