Dec 15 2007

Video Blogs

Published by Admin under Blogging, Blogs, Videos

First there were diaries and journals—those that one wrote in, locked with an insignificant little key, and hid where none would find to read; then there were published diaries and journals, such as those of the infamous Samuel Pepys (that you were assigned to read in high school maybe) and those of Anais Nin and Sylvia Plath.  Then there were home movies, the reel-to-reel kind that you forced visitors to watch of your trips to the Grand Canyon or of your baby’s first Christmas or whatever.  Then there were blogs, some utterly dull and useless things that allowed (and still allow) any psycho or silly willy to post ramblings, some brilliant and time-consuming collections of advice, reviews, and news.  Then there were video blogs.  Or were there?

Video blogs—a.k.a. vlogs—marry journaling with video, allowing the video blog artist or administrator or user or whatever to log events and upload to the net, so site visitors can see what you are saying…can hear what you are reporting.  The faith in this “new” form, however, is stretched to its limitations.  Some believe in and are using the new mode.  Here, for example, is one of the more well-maintained of video blogs sites:

VidBlogs (http://www.vidblogs.com/) – This site is clean, easily navigated, and set up with more appealing entries—as most are done by creative individuals who have something clever to share.  The other redeeming characteristic of this site is its format: there is a search segment where one can search by nation or state; a section of random video blogs; and a section of featured blogs—the better or more appealing entries, if you will.

However, the web gurus see video blogs differently.  The genius of geniuses (or genii, as it is properly written), Jakob Nielsen, web design usability expert/consultant, offers a discussion of video blogs (as they apply to user eye-tracking) that minimizes the viability.  (Check out his December 5, 2005 AlertBox: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/video.html)  He sees the “talking heads” approach as boring online, and considers the video blog a tool of distraction.  The users who “read” a video blog look at every eye-catching element in the frame; this means the viewer reads the landmarks and road signs, the menu text, as well as the play. Rewind, and fast-forward buttons at the bottom of the frame.  This in turn means, according to Nielsen, that the manifest content will be absorbed less—that the actual content will not get the focus or attention it should.

Now that you have visited VidBlogs and read Nielsen’s AlertBox information, what do you recall from the video blogs you just watched?  You’ll be the judge, after all, of whether video blogs take or get sent squealing back to lock and key format—or online text blog format, anyway.

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Dec 15 2007

Web Based Training

Published by Admin under Web Sites, Webmaster

The popularity of web based training is growing by leaps and bounds, and it is not hard for you to
see why. There are many reasons that training on the web is preferable to other methods of
learning any subject matter. In the first place, web based training is quite cheap and efficient.
There are tons of companies which sell web based training programs to allow you to put your
course material in an interactive format for use online. Although some of these programs can be a
little bit on the pricey side, all you need is the initial investment, and then you can create as much
web based training as you wish for free. Compare this to the expense of printing out all of the
course materials, renting out a classroom, having a teacher give live weekly lectures for each
class, and all of the other associated costs, and web based training becomes, by far, the most
economical of solutions for any learning program. If you add to this the convenience of using
web based training, the advantages are even more obvious. Think about it. Students can submit
papers, ask questions, take tests, and whatever else they might need to do, all from the comfort of
their own homes. There is no other good solution for the working professional.

Many people object to web based training without adequately evaluating it. They claim that web
based training does not really give people the opportunity to properly interact with their teacher
and fellow students, and that therefore a classroom is better. I agree that the best way for
someone
to learn is generally to go to a classroom, but taking classes on the web is a surprisingly
competitive option. There are many ways for them to interact with web based training, including
email, live and video conferencing. A student can even go ahead and set up an actual
appointment with the teacher if they do happen to live in the same state and city as him.

The bottom line is that, although all of the stuff that people say about life speeding up more and
more is bunk, there still is the need for web based training. There are many ways in which
internet classes fulfill a need which has been there for a good long time and has remained
unfulfilled. web based training lets the busy professional learn the skills that he or she needs.

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Dec 15 2007

What web search engine do you use?

What do you consider to be the greatest invention of all time? Is it the wheel? Okay, let’s not be ridiculous. Although the wheel has its place, there are other creations that seem incomparable. I’ve heard folks say that the television is the most amazing innovation since it works as a mass communication device, but also entertains beyond the capabilities of the radio. I can see the praise. However, how can anyone choose one invention and deem it the best form of technology? For me personally, it’s impossible. Although the computer is certainly at the top of my list. When it comes to home computers, they just offer us so much connection. The World-Wide-Web has provided us with limitless possibilities. How often do you use your PC or Mac? These nifty little machines grant us with so many conveniences. I’ll never forget the first time I popped open a web search engine.

What web search engine do you use? Most of us prefer a certain one in order to surf the web. Back in the day when net surfing became a phenomenon, Yahoo.com was like the biggest thing around. Everyone was talking about investing in this new-age web search engine. These days there are several ways to browse cyberspace. In fact you have a number of search engines to choose from. Anything from Webcrawler to Askjeeves to Lycos to Google to MSN to Hotbot can be used to locate that special website. Now, the question is; how do you decide on a particular web search engine? Well, the way I settled this was trying them all. I used to love popping open new search engines and surfing for my favorite products. In the end I made a decision on which one worked the best, hence provided me with the best selection of products and deals. For me this web search engine was Google. Keep in mind this was back in the late 90s. Back then Yahoo was still all the rage. Now days Google.com is probably the most used web search engine around. Yahoo and MSN follow close behind.

Have you found that particular item or data via the Internet? Well, maybe you should try a new web search engine. You’ll soon notice that different results can be found with various engines. Regardless of your web search engine of choice, one thing is for sure, the Internet remains the best place to look. Get online today and browse with a variety of search engines in order to find your favorite one.

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Dec 15 2007

Web Search Engine

Published by Admin under Search Engine Optimization

If you want get good web traffic, it is important for you to submit your website to search engines.
This alone will not guarantee you good traffic, however, with web search engines, so you really
must do the work to get your website recognized. Getting a lot of traffic from web search
engines, especially Google, is really one of the most important things, whether your website is for
your business, or just to get you exposure for your writing, art, or nifty blogging. The fact is that,
if the web search engines do not see your site, then it might as well not be there. Although you
will probably get some traffic by referral, the fact is that most internet users are lazy. They want
quick results, and will go for the very first website that seems to get them what they want, even if
some of the other ones may actually be better. Therefore, it is no use to just perfect your site. No
matter how much effort you put in to getting it just right, down to the flashy flash intro and the
extensive links page complete with animated gifs, it just will not do alone.

Although there are a great many search engines for the web, in reality today it usually all comes
down to just one: Google. Google puts every other web search engine to shame. I have heard it
said that all of the web search engines combined only generate a very small fraction of the
amount of traffic that Google does by itself, and that is a fact. Of course, Yahoo is important too,
especially because it has other services which it provides that are really useful, and so some
people are lured into using its web search engine. But the fact is that, if you can get a good, high
rating in these two web search engines, you probably have it made. That is a fact. None of the
other web search engines matter at all. They can not compare to the combined might of Yahoo
and Google, and so are not that important to worry about. This has its advantages, because you
can, with a little knowledge, customize your website to hit high in these web search engines,
rather than worrying about the literally hundreds of other search engines on the web at all. It
would be difficult to score high in ranking for every one of the web search engines, as each has a
different algorithm, but it is easy enough to see how to please these two alone.

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Dec 11 2007

What Is Cloaking

Many people who are web designers use cloaking, but for the rest of us, the question of what is cloaking is an important one. Basically, cloaking is a technique used to optimize a web page to get the best results and highest ratings from a search engine. There is no real mystery to what cloaking is. It is a very simple technique that any web designer can use, but it can sometimes backfire quite dramatically. Cloaking is when a web page delivers different results to a search engine than it does to individual users. The results given to the search engine are keyword optimized to increase hits, but the ones to the users are just the sites normal content as the user expected.

Of course, the definition of what is cloaking varies depending on who you ask. Some people think that personalized content is cloaking, but most others disagree. When I asked a friend of mine who is a web designer what is cloaking, he explained all about this issue. Basically, some websites will change their content depending on who you are, how often you visit, and where you are physically located. For example, they might show ads for apartments or services available in your area. Although some people can’t say exactly what is cloaking, most will disagree that this is an example of it because, even though it gives the search engine different information than it might give some users, it still gives the engine information that it would give a user from wherever that search engine is accessing it.

The second question people ask after they find out what is cloaking, is whether it is something that is a good idea for web designers. This is a good question, and the answer is quite complicated. Not all of the experts agree. There are some good reasons for cloaking. Many web designers use it to hide their optimization content so that other designers can not steal it. This is a good idea, not only because their content represents an investment of time and money, but also because, the more people who use their web optimization information, the less it is worth. Once a certain set of keyword optimized documents gets well known all over the internet, the search engines will recognize it and penalize sites for using it. But then again, the sites can get penalized for using cloaking in the first place! The question of what is cloaking is much easier to answer than whether or not to use it!

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Dec 11 2007

Wireless Internet Service Provider

Published by Admin under Internet Service Providers

You know what I miss about having a dial-up Internet service? It’s the music you hear when you’re attempting to log on. Notice how I said attempting. We’re all familiar with that angelic tune, right? It sounds out, louder than life as we press that connect button. Okay, who am I fooling; that screech was the epitome of annoying. It’s almost even hard to describe it. Although we all remember it quite well, none of us truly have the ability to duplicate it, and that’s the real scary part my friend. Anyway, these days we all have the ability to enjoy a much nicer Internet speed and connection. Yes indeed, with cable high-speed access on our side, cyberspace is a much better place to frolic. Furthermore, with a wireless Internet service provider, it’s feasible to virtually have it all. Who’s responsible for your connection to the World-Wide-Web?

Are you fully satisfied with your current wireless Internet service provider? I only ask because I see no reason to keep something you literally despise. I speak from experience, folks. Not too long ago I dealt with a wireless Internet service provider, who will remain nameless, and I wasn’t satisfied to say the least. In fact, if satisfaction were a steak, I was served up a piece of Spam. Anyway, my point here is that when it comes to the contemporary wireless Internet service provider, you should expect a lot. When I say a lot, I mean great access to the web 24/7, no cut-offs, and a low monthly bill. If you are not receiving these basics from your wireless Internet service provider, you may want to do some shopping around. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s paying for something that doesn’t work. It just irks me beyond belief. In addition, I feel that the monthly bill should be reduced when the service fails to live up to its name. However, is the bill ever cut down? NO! That certainly reiterates my point regarding a quality wireless Internet service provider. Don’t settle. There are too many competitors who will give you what you want.

If you’re currently hoping to switch to a new and improved wireless Internet service provider, then I suggest you get online. This is the ideal place to surf and browse for that perfect deal. It’s always prudent to run through all options available before making that final decision.

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Dec 09 2007

Write A Movie Script

Published by Admin under Scripts

Are you a writer? Hey, join the club. There are many of us out there trying hard to hone our craft. Whether it’s journalism, fiction, essays, or screenwriting, we all just want to make a living at it. That’s the true goal of a writer. Make a living doing what you love. Anyway, I am one of the many who love to write movies. Have you ever attempted to write a movie script? It’s certainly not as easy as it looks. There is a definite structure and process that go along with crafting a decent flick from scratch. You have to remember that you’re basically building the skeleton for a greater thing. However, if you love to write and movies are your passion, then maybe screenwriting is right for you. Want to learn how to write a movie script? Let me toss in my two cents.

Back when I went to college, I knew I wanted to do something with writing. It wasn’t until later on that I came to the epiphany about writing movies. One day I was flipping through a cinema magazine and saw an article on a screenwriter. As I read it, I realized that it was something I would enjoy. I then wanted to learn how to write a movie script. Therefore, it was off to film class. Soon I was in a screenwriting class, and before I knew it I had a minor in film. After taking the much-needed writing course and reading a few great books on screenwriting, I felt pretty prepared to sit down and write a movie script. So I did. Of course it was a horror flick. That was the perfect choice for my first work. I love horror movies! Let me tell you how I began. It all starts with an idea. What is your great film idea? Is it truly original, or has it been done to death? You’ll want to create an outline depicting how you want the film to play out. This is not too difficult if you already know where you want to go with it. Of course it can change constantly down the road. When you write a movie script, you break it down into three acts. Certain things need to take place in each act. Although it may sound rather formulaic, some things are standard in this form of writing. If you are serious about crafting films and you have full intention to write a movie script that will sell, then I suggest you pick up a few books on screenwriting first. Hop online and check out the variety on Amazon.com. Oh, and don’t forget to start your flick with an amazing hook. It should come quick in order to keep the reader interested.

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Dec 08 2007

Writing Resource

Many aspiring writers look to the World Wide Web to find a good writing resource. This can take a considerable amount of time. Sometimes it is best to look to other writers for ideas and inspiration. The wonderful thing about the field is that it lends itself to much discussion simply though its nature. There is a plethora of information out there and with a little time and energy; you can find a favorite writing resource of your own.

The very nature of the craft of using words to convey ideas and provide information is useful because many people in this field often write about their work. The meta-writing process is helpful to other people looking into becoming writers themselves. Sometimes the best writing resource is an author or a freelance journalist. Using their insight and knowledge can be a boon for your career as an author yourself.

One writing resource that seems to be gaining popularity is the blog. Blogs are also known as weblogs. They are quite different from websites in that they are a kind-of daily log or diary. People include pictures, detailed essays, fiction, poetry and countless other subjects into their blogs.

Some writers develop blogs as they emerge into the freelance scene. These writers share their accomplishments and their disappointments. This can be a great writing resource because you can save a lot of time looking for leads. These blogs already weed out the disappointing leads and they praise the good ones.

Since authors love to string words together so much, many join a community blog about their craft. This can be a great writing resource as well. When authors of different genres unite, they really stir up some great inspiration and some innovative ideas. Many of the group blogs welcome guest writers or they are constantly looking for people to post. This writing resource provides as a networking system that can pay off in the end.

Other blogs are designed specifically to inform. These blogs are often dry to read but you can use this writing resource to find out who is hiring. You can also learn what contests are floating around and you can quickly filter through the options available on the site.

One particular blog simply lists leads. This writer was so enraged by unfair pay that she decided to sift through the insulting offers and only post the job offers that pay their freelancers fairly. This is one writing resource that can save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run.

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Dec 08 2007

Lesson Plans Writing

As a veteran student of a million writing courses and a zillion writing workshops, as a graduate of two writing-related (lit) programs and a certificate to teach college composition program, and as an instructor of a few years, I appreciate the fresh approach writing lesson plans.  There seemed over the years nothing more antithetical to learning how to write decent essays than the writing lesson plans that involved argumentative modes focused on abortion, euthanasia, and gun control.  Likewise, there seemed nothing more delightful than the teacher who assigned a writing project wherein students were to create their own religion or emulate an author or re-write/modernize a fairy tale or poem.

Granted, the teacher designing, developing, and administering the writing lesson plans has one of the hardest jobs on the planet—as far as I’m concerned.  He or she must use a balance of models, introduce new skill-tasks, must be reflexive (reminding learners of the past lessons in connection with and building on the new lessons), must meet the rigors of educational standards and regulations, and must, as always, do all of the above in a way that engages, keeps engaged, and ensures academic evolution.  Some of the finest teachers I know and/or work with can do all of this.  They work each night and every weekend on creating and perfecting their writing lesson plans.  They have impeccable organizational and balancing skills.  And they bring a creativity to their tasks that would rival the latest, best-selling authors’ works.

However…there is help.  Thanks to the generosity of fellow instructors and the accessibility made possible by the worldwide web, online are writing lesson plans for kindergarten classes, grade-school, high school and college-level courses–designed, written, and submitted by fellow instructors.  These writing lesson plans, as you likely know or are probably seeking offer fresh approaches, lend themselves to professional development, and (again, obviously) contribute to the enhancement of classroom (or virtual classroom) learning of concepts, strategies, methodologies, and skills.

1. Online teacher communities, such as proteacher.net, teachers.net, and even the more topic-specific tolerance.org feature writing lesson plans, activities, inter-activities, job boards, regulation guides, teacher chat forums, job and classified bulletin boards, and much more.

2.  Online teacher databases feature writing lesson plans and writing resources, too: for instance, my favorites, offering everything from major writing curriculum projects to writing assignments and samples are the premier sites such as Carla Beard’s extensive Web English Teacher (which has writing, reading, and writing about reading, for instance, everything from Chaucer and Shakespeare to Morrison and Michener) and S.C.O.R.E.’s equally superb Language Arts CyberGuides (which compose comprehensive, interactive k-12 general and specific writing lesson plans and other lesson plans in the English curriculum.

3.  Erica Cassel, Dr. Jerry Adams, and others provide such elements for writing lesson plans as handouts, bibliographies, and kits, at, respectively, mrscassel.com and awesomelibrary.org—while many more writing lesson plans, tools, sources, and resources are replete with helpful guides, lists, databases, and more at such sites as OWL, Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab; Dawn Hogue’s Just for Teachers; ReadWriteThink.org; TeachersFirst.com, TeachNet.com; Microsoft Educational lesson plans; UsingEnglish.com; and Virtual Seminars for Teaching Literature, by the University of Oxford.

Good luck, have fun, and enjoy the above leads to writing lesson plans…which will hopefully enhance and bring joy to your classrooms.

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Dec 06 2007

Yahoo Home Page

Published by Admin under Search Engines, Yahoo!

Every time I start my Internet browser, it goes to the default page. And in my case, the default page is the Yahoo home page. Although I’ve never given the page much thought before I logged onto the yahoo mail page, of late, since I’ve become interested in the global phenomenon called search engine optimization, I’ve begun noticing the yahoo home page with a great deal of interest. To most people, the yahoo home page is nothing but a portal page, leading to many services. But when you look closely, you will realize that the yahoo home page is carefully designed to elicit the maximum click throughs, making it one of the most visited portals on the web,

At the very top of the Yahoo home page, there is the Yahoo masthead with six main links. These links are the products and services that most people would commonly use. They include finance, music, jobs, mail, my Yahoo and the Yahoo messenger. Speaking for myself, I am likely to use all of the above links on a daily basis. I use the Yahoo home page to check out personal finance tips and to see the latest trends in music. When I want to check mail or browse the latest hot jobs, the yahoo home page is my port of call. When I need to interact with my friends, I click on the yahoo messenger link. And my Yahoo on the Yahoo home page is a convenient way to enter my own personalized section on the yahoo portal.

The next item on the yahoo home page is the search box. In keeping with the wide array of search possibilities, this search box comes with tabs for web search, image search, video and audio search, a new directory search, and even local, news and shopping searches. If regular search is not your scene, the yahoo home page also offers you the convenience of going in for an advanced search, searching for specific terms on your web or even using the newly introduced Yahoo answers.

Next on the yahoo home page is the link fest. I like to call this part of the Yahoo home page a link fest, purely because each word on it is a link to one part of the comprehensive Yahoo portal. Broadly called yahoo services, each of these links provide information on specific terms. Whether it is autos, games, kids, maps, mail, mobile, personals, news or even travel, the link fest has something for everyone. Additionally, the link fest on the yahoo home page also has links to other subsidiary sites connected to yahoo. Like personals, which hag grown from a simple service to become a web presence of its own. Or Geocities, which was bought over and integrated by yahoo. Or even photos, which is a free service provided to all yahoo users to store and share their photos.

Other links on the yahoo home page include the latest news reports, a section for the yahoo small business users, entertainment reports, the Yahoo buzz link (which shows you the most searched items on yahoo!) and even yahoo sites worldwide.

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