Friday, September 29, 2006

Check out this website!

Eric suggests that you check out the Compassion International web page
below.

http://www.compassion.com/dynamation/default.htm

Personal Message From Eric:

I thought you might enjoy a page I found at Compassion's Web site. To
check it out, just click on the following link:
http://www.compassion.com/dynamation/default.htm or copy and paste it
into your browser window.

Note: This message was sent to you through Compassion on behalf of one of
your friends. Your name was not placed on a mailing list, and you will not
be contacted further.

New vector of virus attacks motivated by money

Virus-writers now aim for slow but extensive computer takeovers
Houston Chronicle, United States - 7 hours ago
By ANICK JESDANUN. AP. NEW YORK - In the past, virus-writers seeking fame and attention wrote their malicious programs to spread as ...
Virus writers 'driven by money'
News24, South Africa - Sep 26, 2006
New York - In the past, virus writers seeking fame and attention wrote their malicious programs to spread as quickly and broadly as possible, boasting to ...
Computer systems in Taiwan plagued by BotNet viruses
China Post, Taiwan - 1 hour ago
Up to 80 percent of computer systems in Taiwan might have been infected with the BotNet virus, ranking 4th in the world in terms of infection by such viruses ...
Computer virus writers plan slow spread
USA Today - Sep 26, 2006
By Anick Jesdanun, Associated Press. NEW YORK — In the past, virus writers seeking fame and attention wrote their malicious programs ...

New vector of virus attacks motivated by money

Virus-writers now aim for slow but extensive computer takeovers
Houston Chronicle, United States - 7 hours ago
By ANICK JESDANUN. AP. NEW YORK - In the past, virus-writers seeking fame and attention wrote their malicious programs to spread as ...
Virus writers 'driven by money'
News24, South Africa - Sep 26, 2006
New York - In the past, virus writers seeking fame and attention wrote their malicious programs to spread as quickly and broadly as possible, boasting to ...
Computer systems in Taiwan plagued by BotNet viruses
China Post, Taiwan - 1 hour ago
Up to 80 percent of computer systems in Taiwan might have been infected with the BotNet virus, ranking 4th in the world in terms of infection by such viruses ...
Computer virus writers plan slow spread
USA Today - Sep 26, 2006
By Anick Jesdanun, Associated Press. NEW YORK — In the past, virus writers seeking fame and attention wrote their malicious programs ...

Thursday, September 28, 2006

The Enquirer - Forbes leaves millionaires behind

This interesting article is about the ever shrinking number of millionaires on the top list of richest people in America. In order to even begin to dream about being a millionaire or even a billionaire and be on this list, you need to learn to think like these people.

Forbes leaves millionaires behind
400 richest Americans are all billionaires

NEW YORK - These days, it takes a billion - at least.

For the first time, Forbes magazine's list of the 400 richest Americans consists exclusively of people worth $1 billion or more. As a group, the people who made the rankings released Thursday are worth a record $1.25 trillion, compared to $1.13 trillion last year.

In the billionaire-athon, casino magnate Sheldon Adelson pole-vaulted to No. 3 from No. 15 in last year's ranking, finishing behind the mainstays at Nos. 1 and 2: Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates and Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

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Adelson is estimated to have $20.5 billion, Buffett $46 billion and Gates $53 billion. Gates has held the No. 1 spot for the past 13 years while Buffett has been No. 2 every year since 1994 except 2000, when Larry Ellison of Oracle Corp. held that spot.

Adelson's expanding net worth is related in no small part to his decision to open a casino two years ago in Macau, an emerging gambling haven off the southeastern coast of China. Profits are growing rapidly thanks to the Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s Macau casino. Adelson personally and through family trusts controls 60 percent of the company.

Forbes estimates Adelson earned about $1 million an hour over the past two years. To tap the demand from gamblers in Asia going forward, the Sands Corp. plans a second property on Macau and a casino in Singapore.

Google Inc.'s founders were also big earners. Sergey Brin and Larry Page gained about $13 million a day over the past two years, according to Forbes. That puts them in 12th and 13th place, up from a tie at 16th place last year.

Page and Brin also share the distinction of being, at 33 years old, the two youngest people on the list and two of only eight who are younger than 40.

The list was led off by technologists, such as Gates, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Dell Inc.'s Michael Dell and Ellison, and rounded out by five members of the Walton clan who have fortunes amassed from sales by the world's largest retailer.

Ellison, with $19.5 billion, moved to fourth place from fifth, while Allen, last year's No. 3, was fifth this year with $16 billion. Dell fell to a tie at ninth place from fourth in last year's list; he is worth $15.5 billion

Adelson's ascension knocks Helen Walton, the wife of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, into 11th place with a net worth of $15.3 billion. Her children, Jim, S. Robson and Alice, and Christy Walton, the widow of her son John, ranked in the bottom half of the top 10 this year. Each was worth from $15.5 billion to $15.7 billion, Forbes reported.

Martha Stewart, founder of the eponymous Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., fell off the list completely, as she lost $395 million over the past year.

The biggest number of people on the list live in California, which houses 90 of the 400, and 44 live in New York City.

The Enquirer - Forbes leaves millionaires behind

This interesting article is about the ever shrinking number of millionaires on the top list of richest people in America. In order to even begin to dream about being a millionaire or even a billionaire and be on this list, you need to learn to think like these people.

Forbes leaves millionaires behind
400 richest Americans are all billionaires

NEW YORK - These days, it takes a billion - at least.

For the first time, Forbes magazine's list of the 400 richest Americans consists exclusively of people worth $1 billion or more. As a group, the people who made the rankings released Thursday are worth a record $1.25 trillion, compared to $1.13 trillion last year.

In the billionaire-athon, casino magnate Sheldon Adelson pole-vaulted to No. 3 from No. 15 in last year's ranking, finishing behind the mainstays at Nos. 1 and 2: Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates and Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

ADVERTISEMENT
Click Here

Adelson is estimated to have $20.5 billion, Buffett $46 billion and Gates $53 billion. Gates has held the No. 1 spot for the past 13 years while Buffett has been No. 2 every year since 1994 except 2000, when Larry Ellison of Oracle Corp. held that spot.

Adelson's expanding net worth is related in no small part to his decision to open a casino two years ago in Macau, an emerging gambling haven off the southeastern coast of China. Profits are growing rapidly thanks to the Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s Macau casino. Adelson personally and through family trusts controls 60 percent of the company.

Forbes estimates Adelson earned about $1 million an hour over the past two years. To tap the demand from gamblers in Asia going forward, the Sands Corp. plans a second property on Macau and a casino in Singapore.

Google Inc.'s founders were also big earners. Sergey Brin and Larry Page gained about $13 million a day over the past two years, according to Forbes. That puts them in 12th and 13th place, up from a tie at 16th place last year.

Page and Brin also share the distinction of being, at 33 years old, the two youngest people on the list and two of only eight who are younger than 40.

The list was led off by technologists, such as Gates, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Dell Inc.'s Michael Dell and Ellison, and rounded out by five members of the Walton clan who have fortunes amassed from sales by the world's largest retailer.

Ellison, with $19.5 billion, moved to fourth place from fifth, while Allen, last year's No. 3, was fifth this year with $16 billion. Dell fell to a tie at ninth place from fourth in last year's list; he is worth $15.5 billion

Adelson's ascension knocks Helen Walton, the wife of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, into 11th place with a net worth of $15.3 billion. Her children, Jim, S. Robson and Alice, and Christy Walton, the widow of her son John, ranked in the bottom half of the top 10 this year. Each was worth from $15.5 billion to $15.7 billion, Forbes reported.

Martha Stewart, founder of the eponymous Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., fell off the list completely, as she lost $395 million over the past year.

The biggest number of people on the list live in California, which houses 90 of the 400, and 44 live in New York City.

Claude preps for One Web Day

Claude preps for One Web Day
Claude preps for One Web Day,
originally uploaded by Amber Mac.
All I have to say is that even though I google everything and amaze my family and friends, the truth of this sign is beyond doubt.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Google Webmaster Tools - Query stats

Did you know that there is a free tool from google which will allow you to see the top search queries and your average top position and the top search query clicks and that average top position? This is great insight into the keywords on your site which are attracting business.

Query stats [?]

  • Top search queries are the queries on the selected search property that most often returned pages from your site.
  • Top search query clicks are the top queries that directed traffic to your site (based on the number of clicks to your pages).
  • Average top position is the highest position any page from your site ranked for that query. Since our index is dynamic, this may not be the same as the current position of your site for this query.

Microsoft Offers Early Fix for Critical IE Bug

PC World - 9 hours ago
Mounting problem forces software giant to release VML patch ahead of its monthly security update. With attackers finding new ways to exploit a critical flaw in Internet Explorer, Microsoft today released a ...
Microsoft rushes out 'critical' fix CNET News.com
MS mulls emergency IE fix Register
BetaNews - Washington Post - VNUNet.com - iTWire
all 157 news articles »

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Points.com | Get More Rewards, Faster

Thank you very much Teresa A. Polychronis for sharing this.

If you are willing to pay a small fee you can combine Frequent Flyer Miles from multiple carriers and use them for travel.

Points.com | Get More Rewards, Faster

Monday, September 18, 2006

I have been SO WRONG and I didn't know it! Organizational Engineering: Leadership Development

I am reminded of Joel Osteen saying "Who told you that?" in reference to bad things that we take for granted about ourselves.

This article clears up for me what is good about being and RI or relational innovator.

Organizational Engineering: Leadership Development

It might help you understand how to approach and talk to CEOs and President's better.

Organizational Engineering: Consultant Profile: Getting the Gig

I am an RI according to this I-Opt system built around Decidex. This is the first place I have ever seen which describes it in useful detail like this.

Organizational Engineering: Consultant Profile: Getting the Gig

Eric

The 14 best ways to protect your computers | InfoWorld | Test Center | September 15, 2006 | By Roger A. Grimes

If you are an IT manager for your small business or you don't have one, then you should consider these ways, and make sure that your office is behind a firewalled router.
The 14 best ways to protect your computers | InfoWorld | Test Center | September 15, 2006 | By Roger A. Grimes

One way to avoid the expense of converting your email to plaintext is to use gmail.com instead. They now have a beta for their corporate version which lets you brand your email but use their services. Recommended.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

The Sun Herald | 09/17/2006 | Linux still free and now easy

If you are tired of buying a new computer when your old one is probably still just fine and tired of fighting the virus/worm/trojan war, you should read this:
The Sun Herald | 09/17/2006 | Linux still free and now easy

Friday, September 15, 2006

Free search listings vs. paid | Perry Marshall

Thought I'd share this insightful email from Perry Marshall.  He is pretty proficient with adwords.  I love'd his reference to not keeping all of your eggs in one basket.
Hi eric,

   Just got this email from a customer:

"I am reading through your ebook at the moment.
My most  common search terms are already #1 ranked in
Google (regular search results).  Should I also advertise in
ADWORDS for those same terms?  Would it help me
anymore or is it just a waste of money?"

-Rob

Dear Rob:

   You should do both.  Sure, free is always a great deal, but
you should still buy advertising as long as it will give you an
acceptable return on investment.  It's kind of like owning stocks--
some stuff gets you 17% interest this year, other stuff makes
you 2-3%, but you dollar cost average it out and do OK.

   Plus, people who depend on free search engine listings
are *extremely* vulnerable to Google's whims, and if
you read much on this subject, Google's been just
nasty these last few months.  One day you're #1
and the next day you're not even in the top 1000 -
literally, that's really happening.  Don't ever rely
on just one thing.

   Finally, one of the best things about AdWords is that
you have complete control and you can test ideas
before you roll them out.  That's a HUGE advantage
which is not possible with free search engine traffic.

Perry
www.perrymarshall.com/adwords

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Euphoric Reality - » Train Up a Child In the Way She Should Go…

This disturbing yet non-violent email should be watched by every Christian and Jew.

Euphoric Reality - » Train Up a Child In the Way She Should Go…: "when "

Pictures from our Japan Trip this Summer

My creation
My creation,
originally uploaded by eric_standlee.
I know it is late, but here is a mosaic of our pictures from part of our trip to western Fukui Prefecture in Japan where we visited Bear River Post.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

The low-down on Google changes

Folks,

We knew something like this was coming. With all of those so-called "gurus" teaching people how to agregate adwords ads into sites that look like "good" sources of valid links, we knew that Google would have to fix the relevancy of their search.

One expert in SEO I heard said that Google now has shareholders they have to answer to and thus have to provide the cleanest most reliable natural search so that they can be THE number one go-to search engine out there. Imagine if every time you searched using Google and you got some agregation of adwords ads which when clicked you knew would take money out of advertisers' pockets and put it into theives pockets. Would you continue to use such a search engine? Especially if it took longer to weed through all of those fake sites to find real content..., right?

That is what Google is trying to fix now.

So? You say. Why is this important to me? We we all know that building a list of email addresses which you have permission to market to means that you can build steadily increasing traffic and steadily growing income, right? Well, in fixing the above mentioned mess, Google is also making it impossible to use adwords to send people to a short "squeeze" page to collect email addresses anymore.

A squeeze page is a landing page whose only out so to speak is through a form which collects first name and email address. This page usually gives the shortest bulleted reasons why someone would want to imput their name and email address to move forward.

Well, Google is also trying to thin the ranks of adsense and adwords users to get quality content. That right thar is their most important goal.

So, what? Now we cannot use adwords to advertise? Nope! What? It will cost alot to fix our pages to work within Google's new Quality Score Ratio or take forever? Nope!

Here is what Google's QSR is looking for:
1. Keyword Click Through Rate
2. Relevant Ad Text
3. Historical Keyword Performance
4. Quality Landing page for the visitors going there
5. Finally, Google's perception of your hosting company which may or may not have participated in bad hosting in the past.

The bottom line is that Google's search index is trying to deliver REAL CONTENT that answers the questions of the people who use their search services.

So, how can you fix your pages? I will go through the basics here, but if you aren't a geek, you may just want to hire one. I recommend Eric Standlee .

Here is the simple overview:
1. Old Domain
2. Lots of indexed pages
3. Credibility
4. Believability
5. Privacy Policy
6. About Us
7. Contact Us
8. Link from Authority site
9. Hosting services with good history
10. Domains with good history
11. An article on the landing page which is relevant

Of course, there are already "gurus" out there selling "systems" to do all of this for you.

If you "get it", then you can "fix" your pages so that they work better, and if you don't call Eric.

Google Webmaster Tools

You will want to look into these advanced tools to improve your standing in Google's index.

Google Webmaster Tools: "Our suite of webmaster tools provides you with a free and easy way to make your site more Google-friendly. They can show you Google’s view of your site, help you diagnose problems, and let you share info with us to help improve your site’s visibility."

Monday, September 11, 2006

Is the end of anti-virus finally here? | InfoWorld | Column | 2006-09-08 | By Roger A. Grimes

Is the end of anti-virus finally here? | InfoWorld | Column | 2006-09-08 | By Roger A. Grimes: "If anti-virus vendors don’t take a serious look at the state of their products as compared to the current threats and build a better mousetrap, it’s clear to me that they won’t last another five years."

One of my clients has been racked again by something and rather than clean the network and figure out what is slowing everything whether it is a virus or it is just a microsoft patch, we are considering removing all windows boxes except a terminal server with all windows software needed and remote into this box from linux workstations in the LAN.

The security landscape is unbelievably costly anymore.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Where do I start with this Blogging stuff?

I constantly get this question, so let me try to clarify.

If you are completely new to blogging, then blogger.com is the best solution for ease of posting.  However, you need to have ease of subscribing for your readers so they will come back again and again.  For that, I recommend putting the email subscription code from feedburners.com after you burn your feed onto your blogger.com blog template.  Then, when you want to tell everyone looking at your blog how many are subscribed to your feed you can put a feed counter also provided by feedburner.com.

You say, but I don't understand "code", is there anything out there easier for someone like me.  The answer is yes, but nothing with the blogger community of blogger which will help your blog gain page rank.

So, you say, do I have to learn code?  Nope, but you have to be able to follow the instructions on feedburner as to how and where to put that code so that it will work on your template.

If all of this is just too overwhelming, I will get you up and running with your own blog in less than one day with all of the bells and whistles for a flat fee.  Just email eric.standlee (at) gmail.com

Friday, September 01, 2006

Re: Blogging help?

Dave,

The ad restrictions for being listed on Ac Blog Roll are:
1. no adsense
2. your adwords-like ad to your AC site OK!
3. No links on the sidebar to other income opportunities.

If you find someone doing that, let me know and I will kindly ask them to remove them or be removed from acblogroll.blogspot.com .  That is only fair.

Be blessed,
Eric

On 9/1/06, David Allen wrote:

Hi Eric,

 

Thanks for helping out me with my blog issues.

 

What I need to know is, if there aren't any ads allowed on our blogs through AC blogroll, does this mean we can't have links? Links like google, ebay, our fundraising site, etc.

Also, would it be possible for you to look my site over again? I've had to change everything over from my last blog, this due to google adsense problems. Here's my blog site www.eternalinvesting.blogspot.com  

 

 

Thanks so much for all you do for the AC team?

 

Take care,

 

Dave

 

 

 

 

 

David & Aubrey Allen

Advantage Conferences, LLC.

Re: Blogging

Ellen,

Thanks for asking for references on how to blog.  I will first give you a simple step by step, then I will give you some links to past articles on my blog.
  1. go to blogger.com
  2. follow the sign-up wizard
  3. when you are done creating the blog, take the address like http://crusaderx.blogspot.com to www.feedburner.com and "burn" your feed so that you can provide many more tools to your readers to subscribe to your blog via email or a plethora of readers.
  4. edit your template to add an advertisment for your ac site like a google adwords ad and then make sure you aren't using google adsense ads as that will detract from the clicks on your ad.
Follow through with this and you will have a blog ready for prime-time in less than one hour.

Read through the following links and you will have the basics for starting a good blog, then send me the link and I will critique it.  Then, read through the sidebar on acblogroll.blogspot.com and follow those instructions so that everyone can subscribe to your blog.

Here are some relative links to posts on my blog:
http://crusaderx.blogspot.com/2006/04/question-i-get-alot-ads-on-your-blog.html
http://crusaderx.blogspot.com/2006/04/easy-ways-to-blog-on-your-blogger-blog.html
http://crusaderx.blogspot.com/2006/04/why-and-why-not-blog.html
http://crusaderx.blogspot.com/2006/04/do-you-talk-better-than-you-write-but.html
http://crusaderx.blogspot.com/2006/04/feedburner-optimize-with-feedflare.html
http://crusaderx.blogspot.com/2006/04/feedburner-features.html
http://crusaderx.blogspot.com/2006/04/add-custom-feed-to-googles.html
http://crusaderx.blogspot.com/2006/04/use-feedburner-to-share-your-blog-with.html

Be blessed,
Eric

On 9/1/06, Ellen Bentley wrote:

Eric, I have read several posts about blogging and getting overwhelmed reading ALL THE posts from AC...