Ads in Blogs and Content

I know that seeing ads everywhere in a blog annoys and I’m guilty of it. I do the best I can to provide you with information that you can use or find valuable. Many quality Web sites are using ads and I respect that. I even click on them when I find something interesting.
The ads are there for the most obvious reason. Since becoming a full-time content maven, I’ve had to explore various routes to support the family and that includes ads. This may not matter to you, but I simply want to be up front with you about this.
Ads come with the risk of losing readers. Master New Media, Engadget, Gizmodo (ooh, I listed competitors next to each other), and Boing Boing are well-respected and full of traffic, right?

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i.e., etc., and e.g.

A professor I work with at NYU asked me about i.e., etc., and e.g. and when to use which. First, to make it easier to remember which one means what, here’s what they mean: i.e. – that is (stands for id est from Latin). You can also use it to substitute, “in other words.” etc. … Read more

Adobe to Cut Jobs

If you think you’re having a bad weekend… consider a couple of thousand people who have to face L-day as in layoff on the 15th. Not surprisingly, Adobe plans to cut jobs and announce them on December 15. Wonderful holiday present… (yes, sarcastic). The cuts aren’t limited to former Macromedia staff. Most cuts will occur … Read more

Why English Is Hard to Learn

In November’s issue of meryl.net newsletter, I included “Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn.” (I don’t remember where I got it from, otherwise, I’d happily add an attribution.) Weatherly wrote a Haiku-like thang (obviously it’s not a Haiku since it doesn’t use 5-7-5) a few years ago, sent it to me, … Read more

Blogs Bad for Business?

Kristen posted a comment on Brand Autopsy. and need Kirsten say more about why blogs are a poor choice for connecting with consumers and customers? blogs are not fact-checked. blogs are opinion. blogs are skewed with personal perspective. my words keep falling on deaf ears but media should be listening since I understand media and … Read more

Bar Mitzvah Disco: The Music May Have Stopped, but the Party's Never Over

The inspiration for the book comes from the Web site (barmitzvahdisco.com) in which the authors tell the story of a generation through collections of Bar and Bat Mitzvah pictures and stories from friends, families, and strangers. The people who wrote the Foreword are perfect for the job. They’ve probably played a part in every Bar … Read more

Mouse Wars: Logitech vs. Microsoft

I needed to get a new mouse or desktop set (keyboard and mouse) because the Microsoft Wireless Intellimouse Explorer 2.0 was working erratically — I had to work hard to use the buttons. I tried upgrading the software, putting in fresh batteries, and pushing the connect buttons. Nothing worked. Time for a new mouse. First, … Read more

Super Customer Service: Starbucks

The title of this post isn’t an oxymoron. The manager of the neighborhood Starbucks has been a wonderful supporter of my kids’ elementary school. He provided coffee for an early morning outdoor event and his employees signed up to volunteer at the school. Since the store is collecting toys and books for children in a … Read more

Meet the New Snave Family Member

Our Beagle passed away on Election Day 2004. Since then, my daughter has been begging for a dog. We considered some over time, but didn’t feel we were the best family for them especially since we have no backyard because the pool takes up the entire backyard. However, it was not always there. We added … Read more