§trEynjur ~ Dare to Think Different

Google +1 - Much Hype and Nothing More

2011-06-14T16:47:00.001+05:00

Google launched +1 button to much hype and publicity.

Here's what Google +1 offers (or doesn't):

+1 to make Search Results more Relevant - or so they say. Aside from being a copy of Facbook's 'Like' button, there isn't much to Google +1. Just Facebook, you can see your friends recommendations after you sign in.
Affects on Search Rankings - Highly unlikely! Google "might" incorporate +1 recommendations in the search results in the future but it's not happening any time soon. And when it does, who do you think would jump at the opportunity the most? SEOs of course! And then there will be another story of SEO spamming etc etc.
Incorporating Twitter Results - Google said no to that already! They're already showing Twitter results through their search engine, you think they're crazy to give Facebook and Twitter all the credit? :P
Flickr Recommendations - While it's not visible now, but Google says that it will use data from Flickr for its +1 recommendations.
Third Party Effects on Search Results - When Google considers Twitter and Facebook in its search results, it's sure to take direct recommendations from its very own +1, but that's for future use they say.

What Google is Doing

Competing with Facebook - LOL! Google is known for this, aren't they? I think they believe in the philosophy... If you can't beat em, join em ;) Has to be so, since Google has the habit of buying anything that shows even a bit of competition and when they can't do that, they try and compete. Just like they 'tried' to do so with Twitter by launching the (oh-so-failed) Buzz.
Trying for a Google Community - Millions of users stay logged in to Facebook 24/7, and with a good reason too. Facebook is highly interactive and has a lot to offer. Who would want to stay online on Gmail all this time? Unless you're a crazy SEO... I can already hear collective whines!
Effects on SEO - Since Google announced that it will consider +1 recommendations in the search results and it's likely to effect site rankings, don't you think that will create a mass black hat out break? Well they are calling for it! People can easily create so many Gmail accounts, log in and +1 their sites. Or ask their friends and family to do that same from their dozens of accounts. How is that going to help with authentic results?

Sometime I wonder if Google even thinks before launching stuff like this or maybe they just do it for the sake of competition!

OMG! Jazz Jazba Logo is Copied!

2010-12-13T15:26:00.007+05:00

Some of you might have noticed, and in case you didn't... Jazz Jazba logo is copied!

Yes, that's true. You read that right!

Apparently whoever designed the logo for them had a bit of 'inspiration'.

Yes, that's the Jazba! ;)

There are views that it's not a copy but only the topography is same. However, before launching a brand identity, shouldn't the company be looking at possible plagiarism? We would like to believe that it's not a copy of Zagora's logo, but that's just wishful thinking!

Copied or not, the logo certainly did remind people of another logo they had seen quite earlier, therefore not creating the impact Jazz company was perhaps going for. Who wants their brand logo to be called copied?!!!

Word of advice guys - next time search before you market! Or better yet, create your own unique brand instead of having logos created for every package :)

'Change Profile Photo' Option Missing on Twitter

2010-10-27T10:03:00.003+05:00

For some unknown reason Twitter's 'Change Profile Photo' option seems to have disappeared. Can you find it? I can't!!!

Logged in to Twitter this morning, thought of changing the profile picture, went to Setting and was unable to located the section where we change the profile picture. Where'd it go? It has to be some Twitter malfunctioning. Unless they have removed this option all together. Which will just be weird :s

Why the New Twitter is All That!

2010-09-28T16:34:00.005+05:00

Ok, so Twitter has started rolling out its new web interface. Users will gradually start viewing the new interface over the next few weeks.

I have been using the new twitter for past couple of days and I have to admit its pretty cool and sleak looking. I like how they have made things more interactive and available to users in the right panel. One of the best features is how one click on someone's name can open the page up in the right panel, all the while keeping your personal page running on the left. Now that is cool! It's loads better than clicking on someone's name and then going to their page and then coming back to your home page.

New Twitter Interface

One of the things I found slightly preplexing for the first day or two was the missing 'Find People' button. I couldn't locate it anywhere. The new twitter interface offer you better search options. Now we can not only search for terms but also find people via the search box loacted at the top. You enter your search term and get a new page where there are options to furture specify your search. Nice!

What's left is Twitter adding paid ads at the bottom of the right panel, since there is space to do something like that there. Or perhaps they'll have more ideas. Anywho, overall its a more sophisticated interface which is more organized and is definately more faster (since I don't have to click on the 'More Tweets' button anymore.) All you have to do is scroll down and twitter will keep showing the older tweets without you asking twice. Is that cool or what? :D

Caffeine + Instant = Google Me. Duh!

2010-09-15T12:13:00.005+05:00

Like Google Caffeine and Google Instant, Google Me is likely to lead webmasters and website owners into a SEO frenzy. Sure, Google is doing all this to provide us with 'authentic' results but why can't they make an update and then let us be for a while longer than just a few months? I wonder!

Google Me is working in collaboration with Facebook and will be providing a 'social layer' in the search results that will top all other results, including basic search, videos and Maps. Read more>>

Google Instant searches are based on assumptions. Even before you finish writing your longtail query it will start giving search results and your target audience is likely to go for a more general term that comes up first and seems nearest to the query. Read more>>

Google Caffeine added quality to the search results. Good thing about this is that now the webpages get indexed faster, producing results in real-time. So now instead of the search engine taking months to index sites it will do it within seconds. The focus is now more on social media sites like Twitter etc.

One question though, if all of this is based on providing real time results then why launch 3 different things and not provide all on one deal?

Seriously, the people at Google who came up with these names (Caffeine, Instant) sound seriously addicted to coffee and maybe it went up to their heads, rendering them incapable of thinking straight and launching so many updates like this :s

Image Source: a1-leading-edge-intl.com

Twoogle: The Google bought Twitter story

2010-01-08T12:50:00.009+05:00

Reports are that Google is almost ready to take over Twitter. Latest news suggests that Google will soon be acquiring (btw that's just a nice way of saying 'take over' in Google terminology)Twitter. Talks are still in the early stages, although some are suggesting that the deal being signed by both parties has nothing to do with any acquisition, but is rather about the collaboration of the two companies on real-time search. And although Erich Schmidt,Google CEO, called Twitter a 'poor man's email system' (check PC World for details), he still wishes to 'acquire' it.

Rumors are that there is now a Twoogle in making. Sounds like a mutant movie sequel. LOL!

Honestly! Is it fun? Calling companies names and then taking over them? Hmm... come to think of it, maybe it is. That's why some call it the hostile take over. Google is, and possibly will remain, the smartest businessman in the whole world wide web. Yes, and while I say it with a scorn, you and I both know that it's true. Google will stop at nothing... especially not when its integrity is being threatened. The company has a habit of taking over anything that threatens it (as I mentioned earlier in Twitter the Google Killer). I've said it time and time again and i'll say it one more time... Google is taking over Twitter! Arrrrrrrgh!... Need I say more?

Apparently Google has some wicked plans up its sleeves for Twitter (details on PC World). Perhaps its a good thing.. at least we know that Google has ended up making search much better. But I really want to know why Google can't stand a little competition. Really Google, WHY???

Facebook Privacy - New & Improved?

2009-12-11T15:48:00.009+05:00

The latest Facebook Privacy announcement has raised a lot of concerns among users and privacy experts alike. Unless you have already seen the privacy wizard on facebook (or ignored it, as many have) you are likely to see it as soon as you sign in your facebook account.

While the new privacy setting are suppose to make it easier for the user to control his/her information, the recent changes are drawing a mixed reaction from the audience. Here are the 5 key areas of concern:

Search Settings:Many users are complaining that the option in the search settings to turn their profile 'public' has been now turned on, although many seemed to have specifically turned it off years ago. This has recently been done in order to make info on facebook more accessible to search engines and if you don't want to have a public profile, do yourself a favor and make sure that your index settings are 'off'. Just go to Settings>Privacy Settings>Search to check if you are being indexed or not.

Personal Information: Seems like under the new privacy setting of facebook your 'private' information is no longer private. That's because facebook doesn't think that it should remain private anymore. Turns out that most of your information including your profile picture, friends list, gender, fan pages, location and networks will be turning up on the search results after all.

Friends List: Turns out that while you can still control the list of friends from appearing on your profile page, it's privacy setting is no longer available on the privacy page. See the small pencil icon right above your friend's list? Well, it turns out that you need to click on that and uncheck the 'show my friends on my profile page' option, if you want your friends list to remain private.

Password Protection: Seems like facebook tried adding another layer of protection to your account! When you try to change your privacy setting you will be asked to give your password one more time before you can make any changes. However experts are confirming that this isn't quite working out as it should. They are still have timeout issues in this area.

More Control: Where facebook is taking away some of the control from its users, it is also giving you a lot more control in some places. For instance, now you can even control who sees your latest updates and shared content. Don't want some of your friends to see your latest update? Customize it! ;)

Word of Advice: Check your facebook privacy settings immediately!

Facebook's latest privacy setting are getting a mixed reaction from the audience. And yes, there are things that you might want to delete from your Facebook account now (since it will show on your profile otherwise), it just goes to show that anything you put on the internet is public in the end. Maybe Facebook's latest privacy settings are not such a bad thing after all, as it will surely make you think twice before sharing anything on the internet again.

Quotes from the Golden Compass (the Northern Lights)

2009-12-10T16:20:00.006+05:00

I started reading the Northern Lights by Philip Pullman a few days back and I was mesmerized by the intensity and dept of the novel. Like Harry Potter (or perhaps it's wrong to compare as both are classics in their own regard) the Northern Lights (also known as The Golden Compass) bewitches you from the very first line and takes you on an interesting journey in Lyra's world.

Some of the dialogues of the characters and the narrative itself (at places) offers such dept in thought and philosophy that one can't help but begin to ponder upon it. And the concept of daemons is not only clever but completely fantastic. Truth be told, we all have our own daemon we fight against or listen to and Philip Pullman very intelligently gives these daemon of ours the character and essence that gives them a persona of their own (but nevertheless of it's owner). These daemons are but only our inner conscience... the little voices in our head that speak to us.

All that said and done, here are a couple of quotes from the book the Golden Compass:

"...there are two worlds: the world of everything we can see and hear and touch, and another world, the spiritual world of heaven and hell. (There is possibility of) the existence of numerous other worlds, like this one, neither heaven nor hell, but material and sinful. They are there, close by, but invisible and unreachable."

"(It is) the duty of the old, to be anxious on behalf of the young. And the duty of the young is to scorn the anxiety of the old."

"There's no tongue that's so tied, when tying's needed, as the one that babbles most bewhiles. Babbling covers a lot of secrets."

And those of you who have read the book will love the movie. However those of you who have watched the movie without reading the book will not only be lost in places but will end up being disappointed.

10 Best New Moon Posters

2009-11-23T15:55:00.010+05:00

The New Moon mania is still going strong. So today I decided to bring to you a collection of 10 best New Moon Posters available online... need I say more? Check them out :)

Sources: deviantart.com, photobucket.com, thetwilightfansite.net, ineedmyfix.com, chelsea.lib.mi.us, thescarletblog.com, twilightguide.com

5 Freelancing Mistakes You Will Regret

2009-10-30T14:13:00.005+06:00

As freelancers we all end up making a couple of mistakes that we eventually learn from. Sometimes we learn the hard way but it's a lesson well learned.

Given below are the 5 mistakes most of us end up making in our freelancing careers:

Charging Low: Anyone who has ever freelanced knows exactly what I'm talking about. While many of us end up accepting slave wages for many projects initially, we must know exactly where to draw the line. Underpricing, up to a certain level is alright, especially when you are an amateur in the field. However charging low gradually will lead the client to believe that your work is of lower quality and that you are desperate. That is why you need to price well and ask for what your work is worth. While building up a clientele is also important, asking for lower charges after a couple of projects will only end up degrading you and your work.
Not Getting it in Writing: Don't ever underestimate the power of writing. And that goes for getting all your terms and condition written down clearly when starting a project with any client. Many a times Freelancers end up taking the client's word for something and end up regretting it when the client either point blankly refuses to have made such a claim or changes their mind after you have completed the project. Getting the need and requirements of your client as your own terms and conditions in writing as well will give you a clear cut idea about the project and will save you from a lot of hassle and disappointments.
Not Being Clear: Another mistake which most freelancers end up making is of not being very clear. When you make a clear agreement with the client you end up saving yourself major future trouble. Be clear about the requirements from both ends (yours and the clients). As client can sometime end up changing their requirements as they go along, make sure that you are very clear and understand everything before starting work on a project.
Being too Proactive: No need to be too proactive when it comes to starting a project after initial contact from a potential client. Serious clients will reach out to you actively and will not hesitate in drawing up a contract. Only the non-serious clients will back out before the project is complete. That can be deflating. That is why make sure that you pay special attention to point# 2 & 3.
Losing Client to a petty Demand: Sometimes it is worth giving a discount. If you have a huge project and your client is making an issue about your charges being too high, make sure that you give the client a good discount, instead of losing a client. Making a client feel special by giving them a good discount will not only be good for your business but will also make the client come back. I know that's what I did... With a couple of initial huge projects I offered my clients a small article or two free. This way they pay you what you ask and quit whining about the cost ;)

Sure it's good to learn from your own mistakes but it's even better to learn from the mistakes made by others and avoid it yourself.

Money Matters - The Freelance Rant

2009-10-05T12:51:00.017+06:00

Freelancing can teach you a whole a lot about money matters than any other job. Since it rarely provides with a steady paycheck, freelancing helps promote financial responsibility and a more creditworthy saving and spending.

While maintaining a stable income on the freelancing road is tricky business, still there are many who have made good money treading on this path.

Here are 5 Reasons Why Freelancing = better Money Matters:

>> Cut back on Apparel costs: Since working from home means that you can wear anything (be it lounging around in your PJ's all day) you really need not worry about spending a fortune on clothes, shoes and accessories every month. This not only helps cut back on cost as it allows you to wear casual clothing, which is practical and more more cheaper, but it also lets you save up that money.

>> Save up on Car and Fuel: By not going to an office you save up big time on fuel costs and car maintenance bills. You might even entirely give up on a car altogether (if it works for you). That in turn means no car insurance or registration payments etc.

>> No more Extra Expanses: 9-5 jobs lead to stress which in turn leads you to indulge in stress-revealing trips and expensive vacations. But these are so not needed when you are a freelancer because then you become creating a work schedule around your play time ;)

>> Save up on Office-related Taxes: No more 9-5 means no more office related taxes. Now no one can cut back taxes from your monthly payment.

>> Timely Raise: Working as a freelancer means that you get to give yourself a raise when you deserve one. No need to worry about asking the boss for one or feeling subjected to overload of work with the increase in payment. A good raise every year is what you can easily give to yourself if you are a freelancer.

So there you have it... A few more reasons for why Freelancing is All That!

Why Freelancing is All That!

2009-09-25T15:22:00.006+06:00

It's Happening, it's Real and it's All That!

Despite its various challenges, freelancing is still One of the Best Jobs in the world as it gives you:

>> Control... Over your time, over your money and over your life! You don't have to depend on a boss to reap the merits of your hard work.

>> Freedom... to do things your way! You get to decide where you work and how. Staying out late at night, catching your favorite show, enjoying a holiday with the family or taking out time to celebrate with friends... you can plan your work around everything you want to do.

>> Time for the Things you Love... Where working on a full time job can leave you stressed out and miserable most of the times. Being a freelancer allows your to focus on things you love to do along with your work. It allows you to decide the kind of living you want to have and not forsake your happiness.

>> Job Security... Since you are your own boss you need not worry about getting fired or laid off. Sure, most of the times you have to work really hard to maintain a solid income but at least you don't have to worry about losing all of your income at once.

>> Unlimited Opportunity... Having the freedom to work at anything and everything that you want, freelancing offers you unlimited opportunity. There are many freelancers who have gone on to create successful businesses with the variety and creativity they offer in their field.

And yes, freelancing is all-that and much more! Of course if you are new in this field then getting clients will be the biggest challenge for you in the beginning. But once you get the hang of freelancing, there is little that anyone can do that will make you leave it for good.

Hooked to Freelancing - Why I Stuck to Freelancing

2009-09-01T09:24:00.000+06:00

Freelancing is all but fun and although many people get lured into it because of the apparent comforts it offers (because it's said to be "all that"), the truth is that it's not exactly everyone's cup of tea. Today I thought of sharing with you a few facts about freelancing. Facts that got me...
1) hooked to freelancing,
2) still has me hooked after all this time and
3) makes me think twice about going for a 9-5 job again.

Here's why I decided to stick to Freelancing:
1) Comfortable Week Plan: Allows me to work as I want and when I want. I sometimes spend 3 continuous days working and give myself off for 2 days or work every alternate day or however I desire. The best part is that I make my own schedule and can give myself long weekends after tiresome projects.

2) Coz I'm the Boss, that's why!: Best part about freelancing is of course being your own boss. But this isn't just as easy as it sounds. Unless you are willing to take responsibility for your own actions, nag yourself about deadlines and keep yourself up to the mark... freelancing just isn't for you. And sure it has it's down side too but to be honest, if handled well, freelancing is the best job in the world. Because you don't work for some company, you get no office politics, you can create your own leisure time etc etc.

3) It's My Way or the Highway: I not only get to choose what projects I take but also decide how much I charge, when I socialize, make time for myself and do as I please because I have the authority to have it my way.

4) Enjoy Work: If you have a flair for what you do and can have things your way, then freelancing is the way to go. And why not? Give or take a few things it all comes down to the fact that freelancing offers you a relaxed schedule and much peace of mind. No matter what time of the day or what season, with freelancing you get to enjoy every weather and every time of the day. No more 9 - 5. You can work at whatever hours suit you well.

So there you have it... my basic reasons for sticking with freelancing after all this time and despite other possibilities. Although I've summed it all up in just 4 points, all this rant about generally comes down to the 'sense of control' you feel when you're in-charge. Even though sometimes you end up working over 40 hours a week but in the end it's all worth it as you make your own choices and no one gets to boss you around expect you! ;)

Paint the Change - Call for "Positive Pakistan"

2009-08-31T14:09:00.002+06:00

DawnNews and I Own Karachi are joining hands to clean up Karachi!
Vandalized or graffiti walls will be cleaned up and beautified with art created by students and volunteers. The theme of the artwork is 'Positive Pakistan.'

So far 18 towns in Karachi have committed themselves to supporting our endeavors. More people are required to come together, volunteer, and get involved as this is a project for the community, by the community.

More details on Karachi MetBlogs

Crimson Collection - 10 Red Wallpapers

2009-08-27T15:54:00.010+06:00

Turn for my favorite color to make a cheery note! Today it's Red Wallpapers all over and as an extra special treat, its 10 crazy red wallpapers for your PC.

And so with today's post we end this colorful wallpaper masquerade. Until next post... Cheers!

5 Cheery Yellow Wallpapers

2009-08-25T12:48:00.004+06:00

Yellow spells happiness and sunshine. Here's to celebrating a yellow week... Cheerio!

Going Green - 5 Lush Wallpapers

2009-08-16T08:31:00.001+06:00

Going green in keeping with the spirit of the week. Enjoy the fresh wallpapers... Cheers!

Images Source: Click wallpapers to view source

Beautiful Pakistan - Images & Snapshots

2009-08-14T08:52:00.007+06:00

In keeping with the spirit of Independence, here are some beautiful images from Pakistan. Enjoy!

and Happy Independence Day everyone! :)

Images Source: Flickr.com | GameSpot.com | Wikimedia.org | NationalGeographic.com | GordonBrentingram.ca | Razzita.blogspot.com

10 Colorful Wallpapers for a Happy PC Mood!

2009-08-11T17:50:00.015+06:00

Did you know that your desktop wallpaper is likely to have an affect on your mood? Since it's normally the first thing you see soon after your PC starts up it generally ends up determining your mood for the remaining day. So, why not make sure that it turns your mood around for the better? Even in the most darkest of days I depend on my desktop wallpaper to make me feel all better. And why not? Colors and images effect our minds to a great extent. So much so that sometimes even the most depressive of moods can take a swing for the happy side.

That is why starting from today we are celebrating a month of color on this blog. Every week I will bring you dozens of creative and cheery wallpapers in keeping with our theme for this month. Today we start with the 10 most colorful wallpapers that are not only cheerful to look at but will also make you feel happy when they are on your desktop :)

~ Cheers

Crazed Clients and How to Deal with Them - Freelancing Blues

2009-07-25T16:49:00.007+06:00

While freelancing you are bound to come across an assortment of clients. Some of these are going to be nice, some not so and some will be just downright annoying. Here's a look at a few typical ones you might end up working for...

>> The Rush Package: This is the client who wants work done instantly. He wants it now, whether you like it or not. Impatient and restless, this client will have little regard for you or your concerns. He is only worried about his project and you better start working on it right away, delivering it within the next hour or else!

How to Deal: Generally the best way to deal with such a client is to ask for an extra amount of 'rush fee' which you can take in advance (or however it suits you). Unless you are getting a week on the project or a good amount of time asking for an extra fee is a better idea. You have to show the client that while his work is priority, you will also be cutting time on various other project of yours to get his done, so it's only fair to ask for that rush fee. Also this kind of helps calm the client down and who knows, you just might get a few breathing hours or days on the project.

>> The Perfectionists: This client wants top-notch work, the best ever work quality and everything utterly perfect. They will perhaps even make you re-check, double check and triple check your work before they are perfectly sure that you have done a nice job. Of course you are not getting paid for all the extra time you will be spending beating yourself up on their projects, and why should you... as they would say "It's your job!".

How to Deal: Make sure that you set your terms and conditions before taking up any project. Let the client know how you work, what you would and would not do as well. It's always better the play your cards right with this one and make a game plan before you start the project.

>> The Want it All: This guys would want it all. Apart from the work you are assigned he'd want you to take a look at this or a peek at that or do something about this and edit a bit of that. Mind you, he isn't going to pay you for all that extra work because well, he's short on budget. Of course he wouldn't mind getting 10 times as much work out of you for the cost of one.

How to Deal: Proceed with caution with this one. If you feel at any time that he is asking for more work just send him a quote. Simply make a list of services you offer and your price for it and send it to him in reply to his asking for more work. You need to put your foot down somewhere, you are not running a charity but of course if the work you are doing is for a good cause you might want to reconsider all of the above.

>> The Unsure: Normally clients don't know much about the working of what they hire you to do. Some might have a know-how but most are just counting you to offer advice and do a good job. They depend on you to make the right choices and establish a good ground for their project. However these guys are unpredictable and you need to be careful when dealing with them.

How to Deal: Since this guy can be extremely fussy you need to make him understand your boundaries and make sure he doesn't end up asking for a lot of revisions. Because chances are that he might. Be very sure about the things that you are doing and stand your ground as an expert at what you do best so that the client can feel relaxed too. If he isn't .... well tough luck!

>> The Laid-back: This client wants work, that's for sure, but he'll probably be too lazy to send in details on time. He'll message you about the new project he has, or something urgent that he wants and disappear when you ask for details or will not reply back when you ask him something in the middle of the project.

How to Deal: Best way to deal with this guy is to send him an email asking him what you need to know and make sure that you tell him that you cannot proceed until he replies. Or become as laid back as that client. Chances are that he'll be understanding enough or lazy enough to care ;)

So there you have it... crazy clients of this crazy freelancing world (where people expect you to work more for a meager pay). You're welcome to add to this list :)

5 (more) Things To Do When You Have Nothing To Do

2009-07-17T20:07:00.009+06:00

Here are 5 more things to add to your list of 'What to do when you have Nothing to do':

1. Enjoy the Weather: Take a chill pill and enjoy the weather! Go out and play around on a raining day, hang out with friends on a sunny day, enjoy a cold day by snuggling up by the fire or eat a bucket full of ice cream on a really hot day. Whatever the weather, learn to live your life to the fullest!

2. Renovate: Get your creative juices flowing and make plans for renovating your space, be it your office, bedroom or the whole place. Think of a few ideas, search some online, look in a couple of magazines, watch interior design shows or take the help of family and friends... just get up and get busy. Renovating will help you get creative as you play around with colors and patterns.

3. Build Something: Whether its making a city with Lego or making pottery or simply carving out something on a piece of wood, make something that is fun and interesting.

4. Get a Makeover: Bored out of your wits? Get a new haircut, try out that new top you saw in the shop the other day, go buy some hot new shoes or better yet get a complete new makeover. And why not? If you are bored with the usual you, you'd be surprised how much different and lighter a brand new makeover can make you feel. Don't forget to take some good friends along!

5. Try Extreme Sports: Be it para gliding, dirt biking or rock climbing, extreme sports is for the young at heart and a whole a lot of fun. You will be surprised at the exhilaration and thrill you would get out of trying something new and adventurous.

Don't let those freelancing blues get you down. So what if you are out of work for a while, just remember that this free time that you have on your hands right now isn't going to last forever, it's just smart to make the best of it today then. Capture the moment and enjoy your free time instead of sulking in the darkness. In short... just get up and do something! ;)

Freelancing Blues: What To Do When You Have Nothing To Do!

2009-07-15T15:35:00.008+06:00

And we're back in the game! So much for the entertainment posts... we'll be giving a rest to that for now (of course we'll keep certain updates coming in from time to time). But at the moment let's start off with our freelancing business once again. The interval was slightly too long for my taste ;)

Aha yes, the Freelancing Blues! For which I must say that you are not truly a freelancer yet if you haven't suffered from the blues :)

Every freelancer, whether you are a writer, painter, designer or do anything that can be freelanced, has suffered from the freelancing blues every once in a while. But mostly it's the artistic writers and painters who are known to suffer from these blues more often. From depression to self-obsession and stress, freelancers are prone to suffer from any of these when they have nothing to do. If you are a victim of the 'nothing to do', then you need to know about the 'where from' and 'how to' bring in the light in order to fight the blues. So read on and get inspired...

9 Surefire Ways to Fight the Freelancing Blues:

Take a Vacation: A vacation is a good thing when you have nothing to do. In fact, it's a great thing! Plan a vacation with friends or family. Go on an adventure trip or plan a getaway to a romantic hideout, whatever your interest maybe. A good long vacation will help you relax and help you de-stress.

Get Entertained: Catch up on some funny sitcoms (there are so many good ones out there these days), go out with your friends on a movie date or just rent a movie and enjoy as your blues start to fade away.

Read a Book: If you were ever an avid reader or enjoy reading then now is the time to pick up a good book and start that reading habit. Reading not only takes you into a whole new world but also helps fight away the depression that just might be lurking in the corner.

Socialize and Party: Perhaps your freelancing work kept you too occupied for months and you never got to go out with your friends like the way you wanted. Now that you have nothing to do, it's probably best to spend some quality time with your friends. Plan a get-together or throw a party, whatever you do just enjoy yourself and understand that this free time won't last forever.

Volunteer: Time on your hand must be well spent, lest it is wasted. Join some volunteer program or help the community by joining a community program. No only is this self satisfying but will earn you some blessings as well.

Develop a New Talent: There must be something that you wanted to do? Perhaps you want to learn how to fish or horseback riding? Maybe you have always wanted to learn how to paint or do some creative writing? Or perhaps you wanted to know how to design a website for work purposes? Now is a good time to start! You have time in hand so don't just sit there thinking what to do, join a course and learn a new trick today.

Exercise or Meditate: Meditation helps fight stress and exercise will not just help you stay fit but will also make you feel good about yourself. Take out time for yourself now that you have time on your hand and explore new horizons.

Spend time with your Family: Go out on that shopping trip that you have been long planning with your sister, spend hours talking with your mother, go on a long walk with your father and hang out with your brother. Try making up for all those times that you missed out on your family because of work perhaps. They will appreciate it and so will you. Oh and don't forget your family pet (if you have one), do spend some quality time grooming or playing with it. It's all for the best.

Catch up on that Lost Sleep: It's not like you lose a lot of sleep if you only freelance but sometimes working on crazy schedules and meeting deadlines can lose you a bit of that sleep you so desire. Now would be a good time to catch up on that lost sleep. Doze off to slumber land and sleep long hours but don't overdo it lest it turns into something as dangerous as hypersomnia. Just remember not to leave out on all the important things in life while you're at it!

Which reminds me... I'll go catch up on that well-deserved sleep as well. Just a good eight hours and then I'm ready to think of some more creative ways of spending these work-less days ;)
Until next time... keep fighting those unnecessary freelancing blues!

Taylor 'Grows' for Jacob Black - New Moon Highlights

2009-07-13T13:00:00.006+06:00

While the casting of Taylor Lautner for the role of Jacob Black in the movie Twilight remained disputed, film makers considered dropping Taylor for 'New Moon'. The main reason being that, like the audience, they were unsure of his appearance and transformation for the sequel. Those of you who have read the books already know that Jacob is a gangly 17 year old who looks older for his age and Taylor didn't seem like he would be growing a lot any time soon. And while the film makers found someone to replace him, Taylor had some surprises for them up his sleeves. Turns out that Taylor Lautner, in apprehension of the sequel, had started working out as soon as the shooting for Twilight ended. News is that he has gained almost 26 pounds. On the bright side, at least he can act better than Robert Pattinson (Edward). Who knows... he just might even look better in the next movie. *Fingers crossed*

Robert Pattinson killed Edward Cullen in Twilight

2009-07-04T17:42:00.007+06:00

Over 3,000 people voted for Robert Pattinson to play the role of Edward for the movie Twilight. And while they all were perhaps mesmerized by his acting skills in various other movies, I'm sure that most of them were very disappointed by his Twilight role.

Although earlier Pattinson announced that he was not looking forward to the next installment of the Twilight franchise, his excuse for his bad acting was *contact lenses*. Duh! You can do better than that dude! Did he not know that his acting just stink all over the movie?

So Pattinson went out to blame the orange contact lenses for his pathetic acting skills in Twilight. He literally killed, if not murdered, Edwards characters single handedly. Word of advice... he should really take some acting lessons. Leave alone the close-up shots in the movie. He just couldn't act. Period. Maybe he should go watch movies like Underworld and Van Helsing. Would give him the jest of what vampires are suppose to be like. Sure vampires are all white and dead but they are mysterious too. Of course vampires have weird eye colors and talk in undertones but they give expressions that match their words perfectly. Unlike Edward, who delivered his lines as if he had memorized them. And no expressions :(

You have to do better next time! Otherwise... the movie will stink more. Not that it stinks any less now :p

Movie Wallpapers - from Twilight to New Moon

2009-07-01T16:34:00.000+06:00

Search for a Twilight wallpaper online and you'll find over thousands of them. From Twilight to New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, fans and graphic professionals have created some of the most dazzling wallpapers. These are created mostly around the titles of the books, on the characters of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen as well as on the various other characters from the story, both vampires and werewolves. So, if you're a Stephenie Meyer book fan or have enjoyed the movie Twilight, here are some of the most interesting wallpapers for you...

The posters even cover the ever so crazy werewolf family (up, close and personal) and the mysterious vampires (good looking and blood thirsty).

Photo Source: mcsearcher.com | fanpop.com | twilightguide.com
| shockya.com

Getting Kicked Off Facebook - 10 Things to Avoid

2009-06-29T15:21:00.008+06:00

Every day we hear of more and more people from the world over complaining about Facebook shutting down their accounts without any prior notice. While Facebook clearly reserves the right to shut down any account they find 'suspicious', some of you will be surprised to know that one of the strangest reason for why your account might be shut down is 'excessive use of the site'.

They say that Facebook is "purposefully obscuring their processes, making it harder for spammers to get into their system". Unfortunately, by doing so they are also creating trouble for many innocent Facebook users out there who get caught, every now and then, in this web nightmare.

While many people do receive warning notices before their accounts are shut down, some are not even given that honor. Most complains against Facebook these day revolve around accounts being 'permanently disabled' without any notification. Sad part is that those who complain to Facebook or write to them on any of their help address are not getting any answers from the FB authorities.

We ponder as to why that is? Although Facebook supposedly provides a help center, apparently it's either not sufficient enough to deal with all the emails they get on a regular basis or they just plain ignore these requests (or so it seems).

Anyways, all that said, if you are one of those people whose Facebook account has been disabled all of a sudden without any prior notice, here's a list that you might want to consider.

10 Things that can get you Kicked Off Facebook... Permanently:

1. Using Fake Name or Persona: Turns out that FB authorities can find out if you don't use your real name and use a nickname or initials instead. Also those who show themselves as something other than a human... Dogs, cats and things are so not welcome by Facebook:s

2. Too many Friends: Think about it... you don't need to add just about everyone as a friend. Keep under the maximum limit of 5000 friends.

3. Posting too many Messages: Be it your wall or someone else's, if you're sending out too many messages you can translate as a spammer. Beware!

4. Joining too many Groups: Apparently that is an offense. Maximum limit is 200 groups per user, crossing this number will get you in trouble for sure.

5. Poking too many People: Avoid this! Especially if there are applications that poke people on your behalf. That's counted as spam and you will have your account shut down!

6. Under 18?: If you are under 18, chances are that your account might get suspended without prior notice.

7. Creating Offensive Content: Posting offensive content on your or anyone else's wall or in a group will have your account permanently disabled and perhaps without any prior notice too.

8. Using Duplicate text in Multiple Messages: Don't copy/paste one message for several people. This is an offense!

9. Plagiarizing off Facebook: Turns out that Facebook has a zero tolerance policy. If you copy anything from their pages you are likely to get kicked off FB. Although they don't have a reliable way of proving it's you who's doing the scraping, an IP matching is probably good enough for them. So be very careful!

10. Advertising applications on Wall Posts: This isn't taken as self promotion, it's down right annoying and definitely considered a good enough reason for disabling your account.

If your Facebook account has been disabled for any strange reason you must email to the FB authorities on one of the following addresses:

- disabled@facebook.com
- appeals@facebook.com
- info@facebook.com

We're hoping you'd get an answer. *Fingers Crossed*

SEO Basics for Google - Past, Present & Future

2009-06-25T15:14:00.012+06:00

There are a few basic functions that SEOs around the globe have been doing for past several years and are still required to do. These constitute the basis of the new personalized search launched by Google. And whether we like it or not, these have quite a good chance of remaining just as important in the future too.

So if you are an SEO, here are the SEO Basics you must still do for a website:

1) Tiresome Keyword Research
2) Tedious Industry Analysis
3) Boring Competition Research
4) Creating Meta Tags (page titles, descriptions and keywords)
5) Producing a Website Usability Methodology

Can the SEO Basics go Stale for Google any time soon?
With the latest developments many have started to question the significance of these SEO basics. Most wonder if it's time to throw the traditional search out of the window. I'd say, not yet and I'd give you 3 reasons as to why...

First, because you need to go through these basics if you want people to believe that your site is authentic.
Second, because it still helps to get your site in the search results where users notice.
And Last and most importantly Google has worked too hard and too long to instill these basics in their search algorithm. They've made an empire out of these basics, so to say and there is no way that they are letting go of this any time soon. So all this said and done, there is really no need to worry, at the present or in the near future, about the SEO basics going stale ;)

Website Essentials - 3 Must Haves

2009-06-13T16:50:00.006+06:00

When implementing tricks of the trade on your website there are 3 things you just can't ever go wrong with. Big or small, every website deserves these 3 essentials:

Implement SEO >> Upgrading your website or working on launching a new one from scratch, consider SEO. It's never too late to implement SEO and the sooner you do it, the better. So start today!

Creating Quality Content >> Whether you own a website or just a blog, you can never be too big or too little for quality content ever. No matter how much traffic you get (or don't get), no matter what business you're running, you would always need good content. Even when you think that your visitors don't read it or your services aren't popular enough... Quality content on your webpages can just never be enough. So keep updating good content every now and then!

Link Sharing >> Link sharing is good. Distribute some of the content from your website to others on a free-reprint basis. This helps in not just earning links but will also increase your visibility chances and bring more traffic to your website.

Easy, isn't it? ;)

Twitter - a Google Killer. Really?

2009-05-27T18:12:00.006+06:00

Question is, can Twitter be a real challenge to Google?

Well, lets just say that it depends largely on what you perceive as "Google's capability" of taking a challenge. And what Google takes as a challenge in reality.

At the moment many are debating whether Twitter search can kill Google search or not. Before we jump to any conclusions let's take a brief look at the facts...

Drawbacks of using Twitter Search:
While Twitter search is popular and gives you ample of opportunity to search real-time chat topics, there are still many out there who don't know how to use it. Better yet, at the moment twitter search is much easier to manipulate with spam.

What Google Search offers:
Quality, spam free search results that offer you a blend of web results along with news, press results, blog results and videos.

Having said that, lets move on to What Else Twitter is Offering:
Twitter is more or less like an online SMS service, keeping you connected to millions and allowing you to follow updates and chat online. This makes Twitter all the more addictive. Also, only recently it was discovered that in order to improve its search Twitter is now focusing on adding a Q&A section soon. A very smart move indeed, as Q&A sites have quite an appeal.

To Cut the Long Story Short:
A growing trend shows that while Google gives more authentic results than Twitter, people now prefer to log on to Twitter search long before they search Google for anything.

Moral of the Story:
It didn't take Twitter too long to become a verb and with so many positive changes being made in Twitter, it won't be long before it hits big. Ok fine, so may be it can't do better in search (yet... or as searchenginewatch reports) than Google and its possibly not the Google Killer most of us are rooting for but it's growing fast and admit it or not... people are beginning to prefer Twitter over Google now. So that makes Twitter dangerous for Google on so many levels.

Possible Condescending Ideas of Google:
I bet Google can't wait to get it's hands on Twitter (they just always have to own anything that threatens their popularity!). Who knows, perhaps at this very moment Google is cooking up some devious plan to acquire twitter altogether. Argh! I just hate Google take-overs! :8

Got a Question? Ask Google!

2009-05-25T16:33:00.000+06:00

Here's a funny illustration I came across some time back. Honestly gives you the jest of why Google is the best search engine there is ;) Well, it does work for most people and we'd rather have people asking stupid to Google than us, wouldn't we? Yes, we would! Problem solved!

Caution: Freelancing Burn-Out in Progress!

2009-05-20T19:13:00.002+06:00

Where loads of work is known to get many of us down, shortage (or rather lack) of work can also lead you to agonizing boredom and absolute stress. As full-time freelancers many of us get so caught up in work or worrying about it that personal life is likely to get affected.

Freelancing Insecurities
It is at these times when you tend to get insecure about your expertise or qualifications. While these times might be rare, insecurities are a part of a freelancers work routine, especially during the 'down-times'. Times when there is no work, the weather is blazzing hot, nothing good comes on t.v and your social life is running at a slow pace... did i just give a very pessimist picture? Nah!
It really does happen.

And then you have the freelancing burnout! POOF goes your temper and BAM goes your creativity and WHAM you feel lost and useless. So much for that growing progress of your career! What to do? Hmm... fret not! These times are rare and while many of us are unprepared when they arrive, a bit of logical thinking can help loads. Just put two and two together!

Where to Focus your Energies?
Even when nothing helps its good to remember that your freelancing career is a constant progress. What you offer to your client is unique and has a character of its own, that's why your client keeps coming back for more. Either this or you guys have a contract ;) Anyways, creativity doesn't come from remaining static and its your constant experience in your field that makes you an expert. Although the progress is gradual, most of the times its worth it in the end.

On a freelancing burnout it really helps to use your energies in progressive stuff and leave the stress alone. Instead of stressing over not having work and not having a life, go out there and get a life. Use all your extra time to make yourself flexible by studying some aspect of your job that you have previously ignored. Taking creative classes or teaching yourself some new found skill can help a great deal. You will be able to spend all that extra time on hand and will find the skill you learnt useful in your job as well. In turn this will allow you to grow more confident of your talents and capabilities.

Burnout or not, one thing is for sure... freelancing gives you ample opportunities to educate and train yourself for becoming an expert at a particular job.

How to be Your Own Boss & get Away with it!

2009-05-15T18:20:00.003+06:00

No one ever tells you that freelancing isn't all about just sitting at home, relaxing and getting your work done. It's more than just all that 'fun' and 'freedom' people generally associate it with. Yes, freelancing gives you independence but unless you know how to manage certain aspects of your life together and understand how to act like an independent business person, you might as well say goodbye to your freelancing business altogether.

We have already discussed some of the most important aspects of the freelancing career in the earlier posts, including the necessity of keeping a balance between work and play. The next most significant thing for your freelancing career is understanding your independence and appreciating it.

Understand Your Limits
Remember to take charge of your work when you are freelancing. This does not necessarily mean that you try and control each and every aspect of your work but knowing how far you can go. The key point here is to know your limits. Setting boundaries is essential if you don't want people walking all over you (and yes that includes clients). Know what you can do and what you cannot. Be your own boss and get away with it by being firm about your limits, to clients or otherwise.

Create Boundaries
Whether its work or play, as long as you have limits created for yourself there is no chance that things will get out of hand. Also once you have created these boundaries, remember to be firm about them and not sidetrack from them at any given point. The best way to go about is to generally 'notify' people (around you or the ones you are working for) when something comes up. This is one of the best strategies to-date, especially in uncertain situations. Now suppose that you want to take a break from work but are unsure as to the future projects that your client might send. In such a situation, sending a notification of your unavailability for the next few days or a week would help clarify matters before hand and save you and your client a lot of trouble.

Take Charge
Taking charge of your work is as important as taking charge of your life. In fact, for a freelancer it means taking control of your life and understanding not just when to but also when not to compromise. So become your own boss, starting today! Set boundaries, be firm yet polite and consider what to compromise and when. By doing this you will not just earn your client's respect but will also save yourself from a lot of probable future hassle.

Freelancing Qualms: The Good, Bad & the Ugly!

2009-05-08T22:34:00.005+06:00

When your Heart tells you to Freelance,
ask your Head as to why you should?

When freelancing some people imagine themselves as successful businessmen of the future and dream of days their freelancing would lead them to a million dollar deal. As a result, many of them end up loading themselves up with work and getting totally stressed out. Then there are those who just don't know what to do with their lives apart from a few freelance projects they get their hands on. Future for them is an unknown territory, a place where angles fear to tread.

It's true that both overload and boredom can eat you alive, but an experienced freelance writer knows his/her boundaries and understands that in order to get somewhere (anywhere at all for that matter) you need to take things one step at a time. Staying focused is the key and considering freelancing as a significant milestone in your life is utterly important.

Take freelancing as a stage of your life. A 'phase' that helps you learn how to create and manage a balance between work and play. A phase that helps you understand whether you are ready for the long term goals you've set for yourself or realize whether all your dreams were only dreams.

Freelancing can also help you understand and respect failure and success. As a freelancer you will try your hand at what you imagine to be your future business/job, and failure at this point in your life will only help you appreciate the other choices that you might have. So what if you failed as a freelancer in your chosen field? At least you now know that it's not your piece of cake and that you still have other types of work that you can go back to. However your success in that certain area will help you explore your potential and will lead you to newer grounds. It may even pave the way to the perfect future job for you, perhaps something you've always wanted.

Remember: Your freelancing efforts can either be a complete success or an absolute failure. Either way, freelancing will be a turning point in your life. All you need to do is realize whether your efforts were for the good (to hold on), or for the bad (to let go) and therefore become capable of avoiding the downright ugly (the path that leads to nowhere)!

Vacation Virtues - Refueling your Freelancing Life!

2009-05-02T15:21:00.007+06:00

There are times in a freelancer's life when s/he can't help but wonder where the day went. Times when you get off your sore bottom and stand up stretching yourself only to get startled when you look out the window and realize that yet another day is over. Then you look at the clock and drag your tired self to bed so that in a few hours you can start work all over again. Humph!

It's true that sometimes, while you are freelancing, your days can just liquidate into weeks and weeks into months before you start wondering where all that charm of freelancing went. Did it fly out of your window? Perhaps not. But it surely slipped your mind, I'm guessing!

Take a Vacation
Yes, work can monopolize you at times but remember the first rule of freelancing? It's called 'being your own boss'. And that's where the entire charm of freelancing comes in. As freelancers we do have an advantage of making up for such tiresome days i.e, by taking a vacation... (and here's the best part... wait for it...) We can do it ANY TIME we want! Three cheers for freelancing! Hip hip... oh well, you get the idea :D

Not only can we take vacations any time we want, and for as long as we want but we also don't have to worry about the 'Leave without Pay' scenario. You don't have to comply to the office rules or get anxious about what your boss might say when you tell him that you want to go away for a whole week.

Even if your work is deadline oriented and you just have to work, you can still go on a vacation and manage both at the same time. All you have to do is find a hotel or stay at a place where a free wireless connection is easily available and happily enjoy the change of scenery while you work.

Isn't that just great? All you have to do is remember that you are your own boss, so make things work your way and while we're at it... won't a vacation be a great way to start this month? Swell! I know I wouldn't mind one ;)

Freelancing Work Ethics & the Social Cocktail

2009-04-29T17:20:00.007+06:00

There are times when freelancing, despite all its freedom, can get a bit depressing. Sometimes your routine gets you down, while other times its just one of those days when you want to turn to your coworkers and complain to your hearts content. Although working from home is appealing for many, it comes with its own bunch of setbacks.

While on the glamorous side of the freelancing picture you can sit in your PJ's the whole day and work, on the dark side of it you just can't turn to a colleague and complain about your tough schedule and work overload. This is the bit you have to swallow on your own if you freelance.

Chillax and Enjoy!
Having said that, its not all that bad and freelancing still has its own charm. The good part is that you are not bound to that 9 to 5 schedule, nor do you have to sit amongst annoying people all day and bear them. Instead what you can do is work at your own ease and still make time for your favorite friends and family. And this is the charm that attracts many to freelancing, time and time again.

Make time for Socializing
As a freelancer you can schedule your work around your social time and run your business instead of letting your business run you. It's fun to work as a freelancer when you know that you can plan lunches with your friends, take a day off to hang out with the family, go shopping or get off work early because you have a dinner party at night. You can make your schedule work for you and make social time, all in one go (Something you really can't do if you work in an office).

Not just that but while socializing you can also increase your networking and gain more business opportunities as well. The best part about freelancing is that while you can socialize whenever you like, you can also make up for the lost time later as well, especially during those quite days when friends and family are not available to hang out with and when there isn't much going on in your life.

So get up, go out and chillax! Go socialize with friends and make dinner plans with the family. Just because you work from home doesn't mean that your schedule has to be boring. In fact it can be all the more fun mixing work and play together in a social cocktail ;)

Freelancing Frolics - From the CEO's desk

2009-04-27T15:40:00.005+06:00

The best part about freelancing is that you get to be your own boss. You set your own schedule, manage your own timings, respond to your own creativity and are responsible for your own self. Sometimes though, while freelancing, you can end up working for multiple bosses and as a result are liable to a hectic schedule and plenty of deadlines.

At the end of the day however, what matters is being capable of managing your schedule, no matter how hectic, and still finding a balance in life. Striking a balance between work and fun is important, especially if you are a freelancer. Don't let work get you down. You are your own boss - remember? So why not find ways to work comfortably around your schedule and at your ease. Freelancing brings freedom a whole new flexibility, so why not happily use it to your advantage!

My next couple of posts will be comprising mainly of tips that will help you bring back the 'fun' and 'freedom' into your freelancing business. So here goes...

Seize the Moment!
Freelancing offers its own advantages. And while you get a fair share of disadvantages too that can make your schedule unbearable, what matters is how well you can cope and strike a balance.

What makes me appreciate freelancing most is the freedom of it all. Despite the usual busy schedule it's exhilarating to try and seize control of your work and life together. It feels like an achievement to make time for going out with friends, cooking a special meal for the family or just relaxing under to cool shade of a tree in the afternoons while playing with your pet. The best part is that you don't even have to compromise your work for these things most of the times.

Make Your Own Time!
True that work schedule can be quite tough at times, not to mention those annoying and sometimes outrageous deadlines we have to meet as freelancers. But making time for fun really helps boost your enthusiasm for work rather than making it more hectic. No matter what your business is or what you freelance about, remember to find a couple of ways to personalize your work schedule even if it means taking time off work every single day. Interrupt your routine on purpose and do something fun and relaxing. Of course this does not imply taking hours off work every day, but at the end it all comes down to understanding your work ethic.

Fit fun things in your everyday work schedule, whether for a few minutes or for a couple of hours. Stop fretting about how much work you have and learn to enjoy that you have work at all. So make your own unique time everyday starting today and bring back the 'freedom' in freelancing! :)

continued...

15 Life Lessons Worth Remembering

2009-04-22T17:02:00.005+06:00

I was reading 'Life Maps' by Gregory E. Lang the other day. It's a great book filled with some amazingly simple directions (as the author puts it) that one can use to find his/her way in life. Although what the book offers are lessons that are quite simple and require only common sense to understand, it's a pity that still some of us humans lack that common sense and are too engrossed in our own selves to realize the worth of loved ones.

Isn't it funny how most of us don't realize what direction our life is taking while we make irrational decisions time and time again? Isn't it funny how we start our journey for something and half way through lose the sight of it? The truth is that it isn't funny at all! Still a number of us remain blind to what's right in front of them and start taking life and all those dear to us for granted, only realizing their worth when its much too late. Anyways, so much for my rantings :)

While there are so many things in the book that are worth sharing, given below are only a few of the worthwhile lessons to live by...

Don't have double standards. If you don't want others doing it to you, you shouldn't do it to them either.
Make time now for those you love. You never know how much time you might have to give later.
Its easier to lose the respect of someone you love than it is to earn it. Once earned, be sure to keep it.
Know what brings out the worst in you and avoid it.
Try harder when given a second chance.
Contribute time and money generously when you can. When you cannot, make up for it later.
If you have led someone to expect something from you, don't get mad at them when eventually they do.
Give more than you take. It will come back to you in one way or another.
Loving someone is all the more reason to tell them when they are wrong.
Never take up a habit that you know you will need to break someday.
When in doubt, wait. Often a quick decision is the wrong one.
It's more important to care about what your loved ones think than what strangers think.
Remember that succeeding in marriage and family is better than becoming the world's best CEO.
When your life isn't going according to plan, ask yourself if you have the right plan.

and here's one that perhaps seems hard to believe but is nevertheless true to its core:

Although opposites attract, they seldom stay together.

Color Filter on Google Image Search

2009-04-17T15:00:00.000+06:00

Google has recently added another new feature to its image search, the Color Filter. The Google Image Search Color Filter allows you to select the color in order to select the images you wish would appear in the search results. Although this function was available before, however a code was required for that which could be placed in the URL of the query page in order for the specific results to be filtered. But now with the new feature readily available all you have to do is click a color and get filtered results.

You can also use the color filter in your own image searches. All you have to do is search for something like you normally would, then on the results page click on the 'All colors' drop down bar to choose a color of your choice. It's an interesting feature (unlike some of Google's special features) and will hopefully be a useful one, especially when you want a filtered search.

Control your Sleep – Do you have what it takes?

2009-04-13T15:00:00.002+05:00

A major misconception people tend to have is considering themselves stuck to a certain sleeping pattern for their entire lives. How many times have you heard someone saying that they are a morning people, or evening people or the ‘night owls’? This misnomer is based on concepts people commonly have and which they come to think of as facts. Considering themselves to be capable of sleeping only at a certain time or thinking of being capable of complete wakefulness at another.

Excessively Sleepy? Caffeine won’t help!
If you think that caffeine can keep you awake, think again. Studies show that buckets full of tea and even coffee won’t help when you are suffering from excessive sleep disorder. Nor will coke or any amounts of chocolate, which are otherwise known to contain active caffeine ingredients, will help you stay awake. Alcohol, drugs and smoking are also known to rob patients of deep sleep while keeping them lethargic.

Dealing with Sleep Issues
Not having a proper sleep pattern is a flaw but having one, knowing the hazards of your disorder and then not doing anything about it, is no less than a crime. And it’s a crime you commit against yourself and your health. In the long run it is you who will suffer and consequently your loved ones.

You have a Choice - Take your Pick!
It’s simply wrong to blame your relatives or friends for keeping you awake or blaming them for destroying your schedule, its wrong to believe that you didn’t have a choice, because you do. It’s our own weakness that allows us to get by in most situations and find others to blame it on. In any walk of life, in any situation, we always have a choice. It’s the one we make that creates all the difference in the world. So make a choice today! Take your sleep very seriously but don’t let it or the lack of it take over your life. Any kind of sleep disorder must be taken seriously and professional help should be sought.

Hypersomnia - The Wake up Call [Part 3]

2009-04-10T16:04:00.001+05:00

Unchangeable sleep pattern? — No such thing!
Sleep can easily be compared to eating. Our body will try and get more than it really needs, and as a result we spend more time sleeping than absolutely necessary. Our body demands sleep proportional to the amount of learning received during the preceding day. However, modern research suggests that even in case of total inaction, our body demands sleep for seven to eight hours. Few people realize that we are capable of changing our schedules of sleeping by shifting them every 30 to 40 minutes daily.

Hypersomnia in Men
Sometimes there are other causes that lead to hypersomnia and therefore need to be taken care of. In men, the most common factor that causes hypersomnia is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Around 10 per cent of men suffer from OSA, which leads to hypersomnia. This involves loss of the muscle tones in the tongue and throat area that collapses during sleep leading to a block of the air flow, making the patient wake up temporarily before falling asleep again and hence disturbing the natural NREM-REM cycle.

Hypersomnia in Women
Anything taken to extreme is not good. It is the same case with sleep. A study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that excessive sleep in women aged from 50 to 80 can lead to serious stroke risk.

Stop Catnapping & Start Exercising!
People suffering from hypersomnia remain restless, disoriented and anxious throughout the day. Mostly a drop in alertness happens after a heavy meal, as is common in our part of the region. A short nap is generally known to bring people back to their alert selves, but if you want to cure your excessive sleep disorder, it is best to replace catnapping with press-ups. Twenty minutes of physical exercise is enough for anyone who wants to sleep well and keep fit. But remember to exercise no later than three to four hours before nighttime; otherwise this will interfere with your sleep pattern.

Although particular causes of hypersomnia may vary with each individual, in most cases the treatment involves changing your lifestyle. Ninety per cent of the time, all the patient requires is a proper daytime schedule and the willpower to stick to it. Making a schedule is not a problem; the main issue is sticking to it and following it strictly. We easily find reasons to sidetrack from the path and then blame it on circumstances and other people.

Not having a proper sleep pattern is a flaw but knowing the hazards of your disorder and not doing anything about it is simply foolish!

Published: Dawn | Images | Health Wake up call

Hypersomnia - The Wake Up Call [Part 2]

2009-04-08T10:00:00.000+05:00

What is Hypersomnia?
Excessive daytime sleepiness is a disorder clinically defined as getting more than 10 hours of sleep every night and still feeling lethargic for most of the day. Symptoms include feeling sleepy despite the long sleep hours, depression and chronic fatigue syndrome. Energy levels remain low and even napping does not seem to help. People feel weakness and muscular pain. It is best to consult your physician immediately if you suspect hypersomnia.

There are two known kinds of hypersomnia. The primary hypersomnia distinguished by prolonged excessive sleep disorder. This happens over a long period of time and the symptoms remain consistent. The other is called recurring hypersomnia. However, this lasts for a day or only a couple of days, but can recur many times during a year.

Dealing with it
Since delay in bedtime is the most common cause of this problem, very often hypersomnia is cured by changing your sleep pattern. One can try and change the sleep pattern for a week or so before seeking professional help.

Making sure of your health problem and finding the reasons for your symptoms is the first step to a cure. That is why it is important to consult a physician for a proper diagnosis. Hypersomnia is an uncommon disorder and excessive sleep does not necessarily mean that one has this problem. In fact, there can be several other causes for the excessive sleepiness. About five to 10 per cent of adults aging between 15 to 30 years are known to suffer from this disease.

Make a Schedule
Quite often we initiate sleep too early which results in a longer period of sleep and lethargy through the day. Try to adjust the sleep phase from three to six hours after you start feeling sleepy. Take optimum sleep rhythm into consideration and try to avoid sleep during the day. Maximum sleep generally comes during the middle of the night and tends to increase slightly in the afternoon.

Recognizing maximum sleepiness is important to set a healthy pattern for ourselves. We can take note of when we feel sleepy the most for a couple of days to keep track. Once we understand the sleep pattern, we should try and adjust it to our schedule. The best time to sleep is at night since our mind and body’s natural pattern demands that. Therefore we should try and set our sleep pattern accordingly. Avoid falling asleep anytime during the day, even if it’s just for 30 minutes or less since chances are that we might still wake up ‘un-refreshed’. Continued...

Published: Dawn | Images | Health Wake up call

Hypersomnia - The Wake Up Call [Part 1]

2009-04-05T15:24:00.005+05:00

Sleep is a favourite past time for many. And perhaps rightly so, since some of us are just too overworked, tired, lethargic or simply need a break from the hassles of the day-to-day life. But did you know that a continued excessive sleep spell can be dangerous for your health?

For years we have been told that lack of sleep is a disorder and causes serious harm to human health. Recent studies show that even too much sleep is just as harmful. Potentially doubling the risk of an early death, excessive sleep is the latest of sleep disorders and a major concern for many worldwide.

Sleeping more than the recommended seven to eight hours per day could possibly be a leading cause of various chronic diseases. Where too little sleep is linked to a number of cardiovascular issues, too much sleep is associated with diseases that range from several forms of cancers to chronic conditions of anemia, obesity, diabetes, smoking, drug abuse, head trauma, medicine withdrawal, metabolic factors and serious depression.

A normal human requires only seven to eight hours of sleep per day. During this period our body and mind rejuvenates and prepares itself for another day. But if you are sleeping over eight hours constantly, then your body is trying to tell you that there is something seriously wrong with you.

Although there are various possible medical reasons and disorders that lead to excessive sleepiness, the most common factor is stress or depression. If you have suffered from excessive sleepiness for over a month then it should not be taken lightly. People younger than 30 years are prone to fall into excessive sleepiness, and unless you have suffered from recent trauma or are possibly stressed over some major life issue, the sign that your body is giving out must be taken seriously.

Dr. Piotr Wozniak, in his work ‘Good sleep, good learning, good life’ states that over 90 per cent of the human population suffers from some kind of a sleep disorder and for a real solution we drastically need to change our ‘family life… work… or some social rules’. Since sleep plays a significant psychological function, those of us who fail to respect their sleep patterns are likely to never reach their full intellectual potential. Continued...

Published: Dawn | Images | Health Wake up call

Google Search Parody - April Fool!

2009-04-01T17:37:00.006+05:00

Philipp Lenssen (author of Google Blogoscoped) created an interesting parody of Google this April Fool. Although the related page and its search are not related to the real Google, it is a clever bit of work for sure. The search allows you to find everything and anything related to the April Fool's day. Interesting.... :)

Interesting Alternative Google Logos

2009-03-31T14:50:00.000+05:00

Google generally comes up with new logos for special holidays etc... However only recently I came across some very interesting alternative logos of Google. These have obviously not been created by Google themselves, but they are totally fun and absolutely creative. So scroll down and take a look at some of the fake holiday alternative Google logos. Enjoy! :)

Gargoyle Day Logo

Googol Logo

Guess WhoOgle Logo

L33T Speak Logo

Lego Logo

Google Pacman Logo

Giggle Day Logo

Google Eye Examined Month Logo

Social Networking Overtaking Email

2009-03-30T15:59:00.005+05:00

It seems that Social Networking... especially websites like Facebook seem to be taking over internet mailing by storm. Social networking has now become more popular than e-mailing. With almost 67% of users preferring to use it for sending instant messages and even mails, than email itself, the social networking trend has significantly gained popularity. Thanks to networks like Facebook (one of the leading websites on the social networking front) recent studies have shown a great increase in its users in the past year. And why not... Facebook is easy to use, interactive plus everyone just replies to you on that rather than to your emails that generally rot in their inbox :s

10 Most Common SEO Mistakes - Stone Age to Present

2009-03-27T12:33:00.002+05:00

SEO offers business owners a significant way of promoting their products and services online. While SEO is easy, it is also generally misunderstood as something that requires major capital. True that SEO can provide your business some major benefits, but if mis-treated it can also go in the opposite direction... leaving you and your business in a lurch.

Search engines have their own rules and guidelines set to be followed. Ethical SEO firms and SEO experts make sure that they follow them to a large extent, if not completely. And while some of us are on the go, following these set of rules, we tend to make some common mistakes that can lead us into the deep dark ditch of penalization.

So here's a look at some of the most common SEO mistakes made from times past to the day present:

1. Copy Cats: Copied content, either plagerized or otherwise will simply not do. Unique and original is always better. Be it short or long, just make sure that the content on your website or blog is originally yours to begin with. Otherwise... well, face the consequences!

2. Linking Softwares: Trying to link your website automatically to various websites and search engines via some software can get you banned forever.

3. Duplicate Meta Tags: Using the same titles and descriptions throughout your website is... well... wrong!

4. Keyword Stuffing: Don't try and increase your keyword density by over using the keywords throughout the page. You should know by now that this will get you penalized.

5. Link Farm Programs: Participating in link exchange and link farm programs will possibly lead you into bad neighborhood, might link you to scam websites and will surely get you penalized... need I say more?!

6. Cloaking: As old as SEO itself... cloaking text using same color as the site background and hiding keywords just doesn't work anymore. Will make you zero instead of a hero.

7. Flash-based Website: The search engines refuse to crawl flash-based websites, so avoid making it completely with flash. Also try using images and graphics that take less time to load to keep both the visitors and search engines happy.

8. Doorway Pages: This one's from stone age too and must be avoided at all costs. Try the Landing page instead, its healthy and profitable.

9. Over-Optimized Web Pages: Too much of everything is bad. So is the case with SEO. Don't over optimize your web pages, instead keep them fresh and easy to read.

10. Duplicate Content: Like duplicate meta tags, this one's a goner too. Only spread duplicate content across several pages of your website or various domains if you're looking for some penalized fun ;)

So there you have it... 10 most common SEO mistakes from the SEO Stone age to the present day. And with this we end the Murderous March series for now. Until next time, Happy clicking! :)

OverLooked Landing Page Aspects

2009-03-24T16:48:00.006+05:00

Here's a look at some Landing Page aspects that are generally overlooked but have the potential of enhancing a web page:

Using More than One Headline >> Every headline has the capacity of engaging the reader and urging them into buying your services/products.

Testimonials from Well-known Authors >> High-powered testimonials are like warranties that will only benefit your business to a larger extent.

Sacrificing Load time for Graphic design >> Any page that takes too long to upload, especially due to graphics, can seriously help you lose quality traffic.

Aesthetic Issues >> Test the design for your audience before uploading a landing page. Aesthetics are important, so make sure that you understand what a majority of your audience will respond to before finalizing it.

Instant Website Knockouts - Insignificant SEO Worries

2009-03-21T16:40:00.011+05:00

And Murderous March continues...

There are some things in SEO on which we like spending our time. Then there are a few things we have to spend time on. And then there are a few others we should NOT be spending time over at all, let alone think about them.

These 'other things' we should 'Not be spending time on' are what I refer to as the 'Instant Website Knockouts'. Research shows that small business owners are amongst the hard hit by these as they tend to obsess over many insignificant SEO related things. So a word of advice...

Don't knock yourself out fretting over the following:

Google Page Rank Obsession >> In case you didn't know, Google Page Rank is not very significant. What the page rank tool bar probably shows you are rankings that are many months old and are barely relevant. What you should be concerned more with is whether or not any of your web pages got stuck in the supplemental index.

Multiple Domains >> Trying to get yourself up in the SERPs by having additional domains or multiple sub-domains is a bad idea to start with. Multiple domains are generally required under different considerations and are mostly this involves user's involvement. Don't try to be over smart with the search engines or the users by spreading out your content over many domains.

Website Submissions to Search Engines >> Huge wastage of time and big loss of money. Search engines are generally crawler-based and will find your website eventually. So don't waste your time submitting your website to search engines. So not the in-thing anymore.

Website Rankings >> It's absurd checking your website rankings every day. If they have dropped down, your looking constantly at them will not make them come back. The best thing to do is to keep working on improving your web pages.

Replying to SEO spam emails >> Don't ever believe a company that claims that you can buy over a 2000 quality links for a mere $50 or less. Neither should you believe any claim of getting your website submitted to over 1000 websites and search engines with just one click. It's not likely that an authetic SEO company would send you such an email. If it sounds too good to be true, it could be spam.

The list can continue well beyond this point. Your comments and suggestions are welcome :)

If You Give Google A Cookie - SearchEngineWatch

2009-03-17T15:34:00.005+05:00

The other day I came across a very interesting post by Frank Watson on SearchEngineWatch called If You Give Google A Cookie. The post is regarding Google's behavior based search. Although it is a couple of months old but then again that's how long the story itself has been developing and that's how long concerns have also been growing. The post follows on Google's behavior based search trend... What some are calling privacy invasion, others refer to as advancement in technology and Google calls it the Behavior-Based Search!

Google Behavior Search - To frusturate or not to frusturate?

2009-03-16T15:58:00.005+05:00

With search engine position and rank being dead, website owners seem to be finding other more comprehensive concerns with Google search and its new shift. While some expert seem to be claiming that traffic has become the #1 Google concern with the personalized search, many others beg to differ.

Google's Personalized search is keeping track of your IP Address and several other search factors. Of course with this there is no way that searches will remain relevant, if anything, in any way what so ever. The Behavior based Google Search is taking into account, apart from your IP Address, your most visited pages, previously visited pages, the types of searches you conduct and not to mention the geo-location. So now your searches will more or less be tailored to fit your needs. Or will they really fit your needs at all?

This new behavior-based search might not always be able to give you the exact answers to all your queries. And by always I mean whenever you feel like searching otherwise...

Suppose you are used to searching for various kinds of banking needs and generally spend all day long searching for these specific needs and techniques. And say that you are a huge movie buff also. Now for instance one day you forget the name of this actor who came in a certain movie. What do you do? You will Google of course... and type in a general search for the actor. What do you get? Well with Google's Personalized search you are more likely to get data more or less similar to your earlier work related searches. Why? Because this behavior-based search
of Google's will probably not be able to distinguish between work queries and your movie-actor based search. Thus... you are likely to get frustrated with the kind of results you will get. So typically classic-Google-beta-frustration style... ain't it?!!!

Reminds anyone of Google's Monopoly... ahem.. adventures from the not-so-distant-past? Seriously, I think it's just another one of those growing-the-business attempts. Humph!

Google Personalized Search Trends 2009

2009-03-12T16:14:00.007+05:00

... just taking a short break from the SEO/Landing page series to give you the latest on Google. And of course with the frusturation much of this is likely to cause, this update remains quite apt to our Murderous March theme ;)

Come another year and we find yet another one of Google's drastic changes launched in full force. Welcomed? I wouldn't really count on it... but of course Google is only doing all this for our search benefit, as always. Duh!

What Google's Personalized Search is offering? Quite simply...

customized search
no more login to personalized search necessary
no more web page ranking
importance given to traffic
more strictness for spammers

oh and before I forget, there is also this

Google Behavior-Based Ads thingy (details SearchEngineLand)

It's being claimed that Google search is now 'supposedly' becoming more universal and we are likely to see plenty of changes in the traditional SEO theory. Yawn! Yawn! That's what they always say... Remember last year's drastic algorithm changes in Google and the frustration it caused? Not to mention the Google Dance? Ya well, with this behavior based search of Google's , get ready for some more of those dance routines, I'd say.

10 SEO Suidical Attempts - The Hangman's Noose!

2009-03-10T00:59:00.000+05:00

Despite the fact that there are many SEO firms and experts out there who claim to be following the ethical practices and seem to know what they are doing, there seem to be hitches and glitches everywhere. While SEO can lead your website to the best of places, some basic mistakes in it can also become the hangman's noose for you, leaving you and your website stranded.

So today we take a look at the most common SEO mistakes or as I'd rather call them...
The Top Ten SEO Suicidal Attempts:

1. Hiring the Vigilant: When choosing to hire a SEO company for your business, make sure that you pick out only the best. Since SEO has the capacity to make or break your business, it is best to choose an experienced company after much research and questioning. Remember to question as much as you can and even meet a couple of their clients if you can for maximum satisfaction. You will be paying them so its your job to understand and know about them as much as possible, because if you don't then you might end up paying a high price for their mistakes.

2. Website Usability: Do not avoid things like logical navigation, simple structure, good linking and quality content. These are considered by both, the visitors and the search engines, so rest assured that it will not be overlooked. Even the smallest downloading issue or complication with these can make a visitor lose interest.

3. Generalized Keywords and Phrases: Opting for keywords that are too general will lead you nowhere. Chances are that these keywords will also be competitive and the higher the count there is for these keywords, the lesser the chances are of your website getting ranked anywhere on the top for these. Specific keywords/phrases tend to work well and these are possibly something that potential customers will possibly use when trying to find the services/products you offer.

4. Duplicate Content: Having the same content, not just on your web pages as text but also in the meta title, is a no-go. Before you know it, your site will start appearing in the supplemental index and will be caught for duplicate content issues.

5. Same Anchor Text: Try using different anchor texts when linking your website. Using the same text every time for linking is considered unnatural and doesn't really help your link building in anyway.

6. Stuffed Up Web Pages: Stuffing your meta tags, page footer or the page header with keywords is called spam. Same as with hiding text in the background or anywhere else on the page. You will get caught, so don't do it!

7. Domain Name Issues: Always be careful with your domain name. Search engines consider www.mydomain.com and domain.com as 2 different websites, so you can imagine what that could possibly mean. You will get caught for duplicate content for sure.

8. Too Much Link Usage: Using your website link over and over in your guest books, blogs or comments is not good SEO. This will be taken as spamming.

9. Restrained Spiders: Incorrect robots.txt files, having an all-flash and full of graphics website that the spiders can't crawl, various session IDs and a number of variables in your website URL are capable of restraining search engine spiders to crawl your web pages and hence prevent it from getting properly indexed.

10. Disturbed Link Trade: Trading links with every website is not the very best of ideas. Although reciprocal linking is good but it is best to trade links with quality sites only and with those related to your industry.

The list can continue well beyond where it stopped. Your additions and comments are welcome :)

7 Instant Landing Page Killers - Covert & Merciless!

2009-03-06T16:39:00.009+05:00

Murderous March continues...
And with today's post I intend on continuing the list of seemingly covert tactics that are generally ignored and are quite capable of leading any Landing page to an instant death.

Given below are 7 more Instant Landing Page Killers:

1. Obnoxious Forms: Quite obvious you might think... think again. When it comes to the contact form, most people tend to overlook this fact and end up asking potential clients a hoard of questions in the first go. Results... the potential customer runs away... clearly scared of the interrogation. Perhaps people do so in order to gain quality leads. But is it really worth it? No it isn't! Instead of asking too many questions in your contact form, make sure that you ask a few 'specific' questions only and leave the rest for later.

2. Unclear Contact Form Response: Another major aspect that many tend to overlook is stating the response time to the customer and being more specific about how you will be contacting them. Both are important. Customers who fill up your forms expect to know When they will be contacted and How. So don't keep them assuming. State it clearly, it will only work to your advantage.

3. Unnecessary Navigation: Make sure that the links of your website provided on the Landing page are specific to the services or products you are offering there. If the links are referring to other services or unnecessary pages of your website, the chances are that the client will get distracted and navigate elsewhere on your website. Result... Quite obviously you will end up losing the client.

4. Info Overdose: Yes we all know that landing pages should have a simple layout, easy navigation, lighter images and relevant content. And many of us constantly obsess over these overt issues more when creating a landing page. But did you know that relevant content doesn't mean cramming up information regarding your services/products on one page only? If you have a lot to say then its always wise to cut down the things and make separate landing pages for each new thought.

5. Self-Praise: Benefits of your services or products must be cleverly stated on a landing page and should address the problems of the customers rather than praising what you do and how you do it. A landing page that poses a question derived directly from a possible problem of clients is likely to gain more attention than loads of praise about your services/products.

6. Float Gloat: Sometimes people end up keeping the contact form or the special offers in a float only, which tends to pop up soon after the landing page is uploaded. Most of the times visitors close these floats without giving them a second thought and get deprived of those special offers. Sure it doesn't hurt much to have a pop-up float once in a while but try and provide the same info on the landing page as well.

7. Industry Specific: It's good to keep content relevant to the industry your business is related too. But if the content is too specific, so specific that it becomes readable for only the high class professionals, then chances are that you will lose many potential customers. Also, it gives to simply, yet cleverly, state your services and to possibly compare and contrast the major points. It really doesn't hurt to specify a couple of things that you are offering and your competitors are not.

The list can obviously continue when it comes to covert killer tactics, as it would if we speak in terms of the overt. However, the moral of the story is to think smart when creating a landing page for your website. Its important to keep all elements clear-cut and not to get overwhelmed by it. Just try a couple of things and see what works best for you! ;)

3 Things to Murder Your Landing Page with

2009-03-03T16:38:00.004+05:00

Murder Tactic # 1

Keyword Stuffing: Using keywords way too many times and hiding them in all the wrong places. Some people, in an attempt to increase the keyword count on their web pages, tend to hide keywords in various ways e.g, writing keywords in invisible text or filling up spaces with keywords written in a tiny font. Do this an get penalized!

Murder Tactic # 2

Link Bleeding: Insignificant and irrelevant linking is highly combustible. Overcrowding and obsessive link use can lower your conversion rate and possibly have your website banned (if not for life, then at least from the top results for sure). Although when it comes to making money this way... Google for one couldn't care less!

Murder Tactic # 3

Automated Linking & Link Farms: Use an automatic linking software, work with link farms, use excessive unnecessary link exchange and get banned for life. This is a surefire way to get your website murdered by the popular search engines. There goes your dream!

For now that's the best top 3 covert tactics to use, if you want to get your Landing page murdered online. Coming up next... more instant overt landing page killers. Keep me posted with your insights and ideas regarding this topic! ;)

The Autobiography of Malcolm X - Book Review

2009-03-01T15:51:00.007+05:00

A friend of mine recommended The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley to me a couple of weeks back. Being an avid reader, I’m a little embarrassed to say that I had come across the book many times, but I had not dared to read it. Although reluctant to read yet another autobiography of some renowned person, I decided to give it a try. I’m glad that I did!

The book grips you right from the very first chapter that describes Malcolm Little’s life as a child. You can’t help but get pulled into the story of the black American child, his poverty stricken life and the appalling ways in which he has to succumb to doing some degrading things in order to survive. The account is gripping and the details vivid. Thought provoking though the book is, it starts losing its charm halfway through when young Malcolm is transferred here and there, bumped around, pushed and pulled in various directions till he starts life in the city. It isn’t until he starts trying to become one with the ‘in crowd’, trying to ‘move up’ and achieve status that the book starts to grip the reader again. From then on we learn of his life as a criminal, a pimp, an addict, a hustler and then later on as a prisoner, a racist and somewhat of an extremist. We see him as a Muslim, who has found his identity (or what he then believed it to be his true calling) ready to put down his life for the cause he believes in.

His life takes the turn for the best, and in some ways for the worst, after his visit to Mecca. He comes back as a changed man, a man the world comes to know as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. After that there is a powerful psychological drama that even makes the reader question himself and his true beliefs. We find a lost man - shaken by a shattered trust, a new man having found his true calling, a changed man daring enough to speak the truth when death deviously plays games all around him. We find, by the end of the book, a man who is dead, but alive in ways beyond common beliefs. Malcolm X changes much when he is alive, but the dead Malcolm X brings even more changes. He changes the way many of us think today; he changes the thought process of a whole race.

There are times when you have to put the book down and reflect upon not just your own life but on our life, collaboratively as a nation and then as a whole Muslim Nation.

I will not say that Malcolm X was the best leader ever, or the greatest person ever to live. Of course he had his flaws. What shocked me to some extent was his extreme hatred for the white people; he refers to them as ‘the white devils’. But given his background and the unjust system he was raised in, it is not too hard to understand his feelings or to sympathize with him.

The book made me understand the fanatics’ point of view to a greater extent. I can understand how people in Kashmir, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and in other occupied areas feel.

Also, what I loved about Malcolm X was his realization that the black Americans had a separate identity and cultural background, something that they could look up to. It makes one wonder that how far down have we demeaned ourselves into believing that only by ‘becoming’ like the whites will we become something. Our psychological situation is nothing less than the situation of the black Americans back in the 20th century.

Nevertheless, The Autobiography of Malcolm X is truly an eye-opener. It is a revolutionary book about a human being who changed for the better when alive and has the capacity to change people after his death.

Published Link: US Magazine (The NEWS)/Feb 09

De-Motivational Posters & Despair Merchandise - When Motivation isn't Quite Enough!

2009-02-26T16:23:00.010+05:00

Ever gotten tired of all those inspirational posters and motivational quotes that are hanging about in your office or at home? Well, here are some posters that will possibly cheer you up. Take a look...

I came across Despair.com only recently and was totally amazed by their collection of demoralizing merchandise. The stuff they offer at their site ranges from posters, pessimist's mugs, bittersweet sweets, calendars, t-shirts and note cards. The quotes are great and you can't help but smile. The site is definitely worth a visit. I especially loved their t-shirt collection and the posters are excellent.

So, the next time you feel like sending a straight-forward message to your pal or just want to speak out your thoughts, order something from despair.com. Or just buy a couple of posters and stick em up at your office ;)

10 Simple Steps to Writing a Good Online Article

2009-02-23T22:35:00.003+05:00

With the rapid growth of the e-market and the constant rise in competition online, article writing has become one of the fastest growing and the most effective ways of promoting your business worldwide. It’s not just free but also highly efficient. Persuasive article writing can help boost your business sales and offer you quality traffic in a short span of time.

Text that is readable and easily understood attracts not just the readers but also search engines. That is why it is so important that you state your message clearly in the article and follow a step-by-step procedure.

Follow a Steady Approach – write a proper introduction, body and conclusion for your article.
Be Precise – lay things out clearly and outline your article in points.
Grab Attention - write tag lines and catchy phrases to grab the readers attention.
Go Simple – follow a simple and easy content writing style which is understandable to everyone.
Short and Sweet – cut down your article in short paragraphs as this will make it easier for the readers to follow.
Give Relevant Info – offer accurate advice and give relevant information. This will help draw people to your article.
Provide Concrete Examples – give real life instances and hypothetical examples.
Emphasize Benefits – mention benefits and features of your products and services.
Summarize – at the end of the article summarize what you initially started out to state.
Submit to Ezines – submit your articles to ezines. This will help bring quality traffic to your website.

There are now hundreds of sites that promote article writing online and are also absolutely free. Persuasive article writing can help you advertise your services and products free of charge. Most websites that promote article writing offer a resource box which is great for promoting your business. Experts in this field have been able to help bring quality revenue and profits to their businesses and have gained quality back links for their websites. This helps in increasing your PR online and improves your website credibility.

Persuasive article writing has also helped many businesses and companies gain targeted traffic and gain significant value in the e-market. By following a simple approach you can not only make article writing fun but also attract potential customers to your websites.

Landing Page Love - The Success Factors

2009-02-17T15:49:00.009+05:00

It makes sense when you are designing your web pages from the usability point of view. Especially if you are ambitious about getting quality traffic on your website and as a result want to turn visitors into potential customers. This is where the Landing Pages come in.

Successful landing pages are able to communicate to customers in a matter of micro seconds only. The clarity of the design and content is the foundation of a powerful landing page. Visitors are able to understand and make sense of what's being said as soon as the arrive on the web page. This is something I like to call 'Landing Page Love'. It's where a visitor gets and stays impressed with your landing page from the moment s/he arrives at it, because you were able to successfully communicate your objectives to him/her. Hence the visitor falls in 'Love' with your 'Landing Page' and generates call to action as a result. Making him/her self as well as you happy... creating reciprocity... the essence of true love (well at least when it comes to the give and take philosophy) ;)

Here's how you can Communicate Instant "Landing Page Love" with Your Visitors:

>> Create Interest: Keeping the reader interested is crucial to a successful web page and for creating instant "Landing Page Love". You don't score a customer unless you can keep him/her interested in your page for over 10 seconds. And for doing that your landing page must be designed such that your objectives/services are effeciently communicated.

>> Link it: If you are able to create interest in your landing page visitors, then the next thing s/he will do is try and find links leading to further information. The quicker your visitor is able to find relevant links, the easier you make it for him to explore your services further and follow through. Make sure that relevant links are place effectively on your landing page but don't complicate things up. Remember to keep it simple and relevant when linking. Because when it
comes to customers, don't forget... "If you confuse em, you lose em!"

>> On-Page Optimization: Increase your page ranking, attract links and get noticed by the search engines. Optimizing the landing page for the search engines on competitive keywords offers significant benefits. You get noticed by the search engines, appear in top results and become capable of attracting more traffic... and yes this means more business!

>> Smart Blogging: You might wonder how this might be related to your landing page at all, let alone your website. But it is. Since search engines favor web pages containing relevant and frequently updated content, it's only a wise move to integrate a blog with your website. Active blogging will not only give you the chance to participate in the social media scene but will also build up your websites' general authority. Not just that but once your blog starts doing well, it can also act like a landing page for your website. With all the relevant links available on it along with interesting content, there is no way that it won't attract traffic straight away!

>> Bookmarks: Bookmarks can help you enjoy viral marketing to the fullest. If your content is powerful and scores with the visitors, then you just might get bookmarked by them and as a result gain more traffic for your website. Adding up various bookmarks (like Delicious, Stumble Upon etc) on your landing page is a clever move as it can help you in the long run.

Landing Page Love - Doing it Just Right!
As long as you keep it simple and play your cards right, there is no reason that you will go overboard when creating a "Landing Page" which both the visitors and the search engines will "Love". Keep the basic factors in view... Offer valid content, relevant link resources and periodic cross-references that will meet the need of your target audience... and get ready to feel the Laaaaaaaave! :D

10 Most Creative Valentine's Day Gift Ideas -- Expressing Your Love Differently!

2009-02-12T20:41:00.020+05:00

Who doesn't want to wow their beloved and show them how much they care. And with Valentines day just around the corner, so many of us would still be searching for 'that perfect gift' or a way to simply say 'I love you'.

Given below are a couple of creative gift ideas that will put a smile on your beloved face for sure. So read on and get ready to express your love this Valentines with the most creative of gifts! ...

1. Lollipop Bouquet:
Of course chocolates and flower bouquets are the most typical of the gifts that one expects to receive on a Valentine, but how about a sweet surprise? Ever thought of saying 'I Love You' a little more creatively with a Lollipop Bouquet? If not, then try it this time ;)

Get a couple of the yummiest, biggest and the most colorful of lollipops, gather them together in a form of a bouquet, tie a big red bow down the middle and present it to your sweetheart... bet it'll be a sweet surprise :D

2. Bake a Cupcake:
Oh yes! This one is guaranteed to put a smile on your sweetheart's face and say I Love You in so many ways. Bake 1 chocolate cupcake yourself and decorate it to give it to your beloved. It's one of the sweetest gifts, especially because you would've taken out time to make that special something for your darling. Trust me, this one can work wonders ;)

3. 'I Love You' Balloon Bouquet:
Send your special someone a 'I Love You' balloon bouquet to say how much s/he means to you.

4. Make a Card:
You don't have to be an artist to pull off this one. Go online, search for a couple of ideas and of course, don't forget to be creative. And this one can't turn out badly, even if you think that it will. Because nothing can say I love you more that spending that little extra time and putting all that hard work into making something for your dearest. This one will be cherished!

5. Small Gift Basket:
Get a small wicker basket and fill it with small sweet things that remind you of your sweetheart, like a little teddy bear, chocolates, candies or anything sweetly different, wrap it up in plastic, finish it off with a bow and present it. A sure winner ;)

6. Candy Jar:
Fill up a transparent jar with colorful candies or heart shaped chocolates and simply tie a bow over it. And of course, don't forget to hide a little 'I Love You' note somewhere in the candies, or you can paste one outside the jar. You don't have to write down something fancy, it can just be a simple line saying 'You are my sweetie-pie' or 'You’re irresistible'.

7. Graphical Love:
If you are a graphic designer or know how to create a graphical image, then get down to it! Create a unique image expressing your love (be creative) and email it to your darling. Or better yet get a huge Panaflex printout to send it over ;)

8. Say it with a Book:
Pick out a small book of quotes on love or something filled with love notes (there is a wide variety of books available in the market, online and off), wrap it up and send it away to speak to your beloved for you.

9. Love Mug:
Get an adorable mug and fill it up with chocolates, candies, a tiny stuffed toy... wrap it up, decorate it and give it away! :)
10. Wrap YOURSELF Up(The Ultimate Valentines Day Gift!):
Yes, YOU! What better gift to give to your beloved than yourself. Tie a bow around yourself, turn up at the doorstep of your sweetheart and give them your undivided attention the whole day long. It's the cheapest gift... but the most worthwhile too :D

You can also mix up some or all of these gifts together to create another. So get cracking and this Valentines Day... get creative!

3 Simple Steps to a K.I.S.S - The Golden Rules

2009-02-09T17:10:00.005+05:00

It comes as no surprise that while writing for the web you will feel compelled every now and then to create a dozen of long sentences (expressing your creative genius of course). However that will be one of the worst things you can possibly do.

The best writing strategy to employ when writing for the web is to Keep It Short and Simple. Short because it makes an easy read and simple so that your audience is able to understand you better. The key here is a Language that is Simple, Sentences that are Short and a Content that is Clearly Organized into Sections.

Here's How to Plant a Perfect K.I.S.S ;)

1. Use Simple English >> Common words, layman language and familiar everyday lingo is the best to employ when aiming to improve communication between your webpages and the reader. This makes the content easy to read as well as understand. Try and avoid high-fi and flowery language. Why? Because not everyone around the globe has English as their first language and they might not understand your elaborate tone.

2. Work with Short Sentences >> Sentences under 20 words in length work well, all because they are easier to read and absorb. Long sentences tend to become complex and the reader will eventually become confused and lose interest. In case you have written down a very long sentence it will be best to break it up into smaller sentence. This way you won't repel your readers with confusion.

3. Be Clearly Organized >> Over 75% of your website/blog visitors don't read the entire content word by word. A majority of people will only scan your webpage, read it in bits and understand it in parts only while ignoring a significant amount of content. Being clear and organized is the key here. Create content for your webpage that is easily scannable. By applying bold formats, including numbered or bulleted text and adding an interesting picture or two you can make sure that the readers stay tuned in.

There you have it... 3 simple steps to writing readably attractive content. And although content policies have come a long way to becoming what they are today (hoping and helping millions of web pages attract readers and search engines alike), the K.I.S.S Strategy continues to remain the backbone to all good content. It ensures that the content remains simple and understandable while continuing to keep it worthy of reading.

What Google Tool You Should NOT Worry About?

2009-02-05T17:31:00.004+05:00

Google Page Rank. Quite simply don't worry about this one. It doesn't matter and probably never will!

Did you know that some of the best websites, with quality content, sitting at the top of Google results DON'T have a very BIG page rank? So quite frankly Google Page Rank doesn't really matter! And I just couldn't have put it more simply :)

Good Content - The Teeny Weeny Details to Success

2009-01-31T16:11:00.007+05:00

[Part 3]

Web pages in the top search engine results have one thing in common - Good Content. The rest of the website is usually just built around it. Yes, good content is still the deal but there are a couple of teeny weeny clever details that you can work on too.

For instance:

Frequent Updates: Frequently updated content is one way that search engines, especially Google, find you. That is how some blogs end up on the top positions in the search engines. It pays to update creative content or add new pages with unique content at least once a week on your website/blog.

Mis-spelled: Sometimes mis-spelled words can also get you a good position. Believe it or not but some specific keywords (often mis-spelled in the query) can get you astonishing results. Why? Because most of the audience is not literate let alone literate in English. So every now and then a couple of common spelling mistakes (in some specific pages) can help loads. Check 'merchant acounts' for instance. However these are not many and there are good chances that search engines like Google will not care to notice. But it's definitely worth a try ;)

K.I.S.S: Keep it Short and Sweet! Short sentences are not just sweet but are also simply easy to read and better to understand than long ones clumped together.

Precise Words & Bulleted Lists: A couple of sentences for a couple of paragraphs and bulleted or numbered keywords and phrases can work wonders. It is makes the text reader-friendly and gives very specific info about your services. Tends to work for the search engines too.

Headings, Headings & Sub-Headings: A great place to use your keywords most creatively. Plus compelling heading or sub-headings for that matter can help you create user interest, generate call to action and provoke further reading. Don't forget that search engines will be reading the added keyword in these place with interest too.

Link it: It's not just your keyword optimization that matters but also the inbound links and anchor text on your web page that can also do the trick. Search engines tend to go for the overall quality of the web page so its always good to have relevant (and maybe 'keyworded') text links on your page.

Good Content: If your website is up and running doing an OK business then its only wise to invest in the quality of your content rather than on silly campaigns. Coz no matter what they say out there, Good Content is still the King!

Good Content - Firing up those Basics

2009-01-26T20:32:00.002+05:00

[Part 2]

In the last part we covered the basics and understood that in order to create good content it needs to be relevant, useful and compelling. Now it's time to put these basics into action.

Here are the 3 Essential Ingredients for Creating Good Content:

Keywords & Phrases: Be creative. Apart from using the general keywords that all your possible competitors are already using, give it some thought and come up with keywords or phrases that a customer might use in order to find your particular product or services. It always helps if put yourself in your audience's shoes and see things from their perspective.

Headings & Titles: Don't forget to use targeted keywords in titles and headings while keeping them fresh and compelling. Choose words wisely, because your titles and heading are doing half the work most of the time, and you want to make sure that the reader gets some promising answer to his query in just that.

Home Content & Otherwise: Of course long articles and thousands of words can be quite compelling, but it's better to leave long stories for the article pages or pages that are made specifically for offering detailed info. It's cool to have a 600 word article but it's a complete NO NO for the Home page or any of the Landing pages. Where large word count can show your authority over the subject, having such a lot in crucial pages can also help lose whatever traffic you might be getting. It's better to keep word count under 300 for basic pages and leave the long stories for the inner pages.

Combined together, the keywords, titles and content, coupled with relevancy and usefulness can create quite a compelling content for your website. While keeping all the basics in focus you can create quite a comprehensive strategy that will fire up your site (without burning it down of course :p) and has a good chance of working all by itself to attracting customers and search engines alike.

Good Content - Back to the Basics

2009-01-21T16:01:00.011+05:00

[Part 1]

There are plenty of articles out there that tell you what to do and how to write in order for you to get your site 'on the top' of 'the' search engine, offering you long stories and strategies about writing 'good content'.

First of all lets just determine what exactly is 'good content'. Very simply put, good content is quality content. Content that is capable of driving home customers and attracting search engines. Now that this is determined, what you need to understand is that there are only 3 basics to writing good content. And by good content I mean the kind that will make you, your readers and the search engines happy.

Relevant: First and foremost make sure that the content on your website, especially the home page and the landing pages is relevant to the subject matter of your site. Relevancy is of utmost importance. Be it the readers or the search engines, if they don't find relevant information within the first few lines of the content, they are likely to lose interest (and you are likely to lose them!)

Useful: If the products or services that you provide on your website are useful, then why can't your content be? Useful content has the capacity to drive a major portion of quality traffic to your website. Believe it or not, but people need to know about your services or what your products can or can't do for that matter. So if you want to keep your business flowing, you would make it's usefulness apparent.

Compelling: While your content should no doubt be useful and relevant, it should also be compelling. By this I don't mean that you should use flowery language but create content that people would like linking to. It should be straightforward, giving the visitors a clear-cut picture but should also be clever enough to turn them into customers.

So there you have it... 3 simple steps to writing good content that will not only attract search engines but will also turn your visitors into potential customers. Guaranteed 100% ;)

Googlism - Google's Little Goo Devil!

2009-01-16T14:58:00.008+05:00

Googlism... Google's web application which queries the text from the search engine itself to show you what Google supposedly 'thinks' about anything and everything. More or less it tells you who, what, when or where 'your query' basically stands. For instance, try writing the name of... say any of Google's competitor's in the search field (suggestion: hotmail or yahoo) and then click Googlism. The answers will be... funny, yes... but quite reflective of Google's devilish thought process I'd say ;)

What Googlism offers are what they call the 'nuggets of wisdom'. These are more or less the public's opinions and thoughts... since Googlism is said to be picking up data from your bookmarklets. So basically Google is just letting you know what 'you' (as public) think about various sites, or people or objects. Or so they want us to believe... as always };> No surprises there! The way it seems is that this 'cool' application is just picking up the 'Goo' off other stuff, searching it through 'Google' and offering it to you calling it 'Google-ism' (sorry for being so crude :s) I mean, how else can you justify its 'thinking' capabilities, huh?

The tool however is quite popular due to its so-called 'humor generation' factor and you can't help but waste a minimum of 10 minutes while you're at it. However, updates are that Googlism isn't quite receiving its fair share of fresh data from Google anymore and most results are some what old. Oh well... that's another googlish tool for you!

Shoo Away Your Blogging Worries this Year!

2009-01-08T16:40:00.008+05:00

Although termed as some what a tricky business, blogging can be all the more fun if done without any reservations. Having gained momentum in the past couple of years, blogging has taken to a wide scope and an even wider audience. What started as something personal soon turned commercial and was put to promotion and marketing in absolutely no time at all. And why not? Even today when the internet world has found other better ways of marketing and personal promotion like social networking etc, blogging seemed to have kept its original charm - giving us bloggers a reason to celebrate.

One common issue that comes up is that when blogging, people tend to maintain some restrictions, especially if its a personal blog - worried about putting themselves 'out there' in the open. While reservations should be maintained in various situations online, however when blogging you can't succeed unless you put aside all your vexations and become a willing blogger. You really need to let go and cut lose to truly enjoy and earn from blogging. Following is a small list of essential what-not-to-worry-abouts as a blogger. Take a look...

Here's what Not to Worry about when Blogging:

I'm Out of Ideas! Heeeelp!
Not possible! Especially with personal blogs, it's a NO NO. The thing to remember is that it's Your blog! Write about whatever your heart desires. Speak out on issues that affect you. Talk about anything you want. No one can stand up and say that you're wrong. And even if they do... so what, you have the freedom to Blog! Use it! Plus, a good controversy can't hurt anyone! ;)

Topic Burnout
Not true! There is always something to write about, no matter how draggy or dull the topic. All you need to do is find inspiration, whether online or off. The best way to go about is to spend some time relaxing. Take time out for a while and try doing a casual research of sites that promote your topic or other blogs that talk about the same stuff. You will be surprised as to how much there is still that you can write about and if you can, try and talk to people from the same industry. You'll eventually get the spark but don't forget to note down the pop-up ideas that come to your mind.

Sharing the Personal Perspective
Never be afraid about penning down your own thoughts and ideas. Your opinion matters and writing it down on your own blog is your right. True that some topics and thoughts might lead to controversies and it feels safe to voice only the non-controversial thoughts. However, on the contrary a personal opinion is but the strongest when voiced properly. A personal blog only provides you a powerful channel to speak out. Plus you never know when your opinion might just become popular.

Long/Short Stories
You shouldn't really worry about how little you are writing on your blog or perhaps about how much. Whether your posts comprise of a few lines or whether you tell long stories, really isn't important. It's rather the quality you should be concerned about, especially if you want to get noticed. If the quality of what you write about on your blog is good and the topics worth reading, there is no way that you will lose the amount of readership.

Promote Your Work
And why not? Your blog, your work, promote it. Period. That should be a reason good enough for any blogger. And while you're at it, don't forget to comment on other blogs and sites. That's another way to go about it ;)

So, I suppose that's about it for now as far as blogging is concerned. Unless you'd like to add something more to the list... Until next time... Here's wishing you another year of blogging filled with inspirational ideas and cut-throat topics.

Blog On... Blog Away...!

Perk Up Your Boring Routine and Do Things Your Way!

2008-12-31T17:26:00.001+05:00

There must have been times in your life as a freelancer when you get by the day by writing dozens of dull articles on a dozen of dull topics, requiring absolutely no imagination at all. These times aren't rare. For freelancers they tend to appear far too often than needed at times.

Fret not! We all are prone to these days and will go through some sadistically boring routine one time or another. The main reason for why we just 'get by' is mostly so that we can get through the day or the month so as to get paid and pay our ever increasing bills or perhaps so that some of us can maybe indulge in one of the frequently needed shopping spree.

But ending up with a monotonous routine is no way to freelance! If you have done that one too many times then you are truly killing the essence of freelancing itself.,, which is 'freedom'... hence 'free-lancing' ;)

What you need to do is follow a simple process. Something that I like to call the CPP strategy. Here's how you can turn your absolutely monotonous routine into a much more cheerful one:

Customize - The best part about freelancing is that you don't work in an office, so there is no need to give yourself a reason to get bored. It's your workplace... CUSTOMIZE it! Add a little color, get some funky decorations, install your favorite surround system or play station or invest some money in getting yourself high-quality workplace supplies. Anything to get the party started... or rather keeping your mind from getting dull.

Personalize - Figure out when you want to work with what. You are your own boss so make a schedule that works for you. If you can't stand to do one work at a certain time then assign another time for it and do what you can handle at that time. The key is to PERSONALIZE your schedule according to your needs and not to let the work boss you around.

Prioritize - Since you have the freedom to choose what you do, then why not utilize it! Set your standards and remain firm. Only take the work that you know you can do and not just everything that comes your way. Figure out which work is more important and needs to get done and which can wait. PRIORITIZE your work and you will find yourself doing work that you love!

With these 3 simple steps your freelancing work will not only become easier but also loads more fun! Just remember that YOU ARE THE BOSS so do things your way! ;)

Edhi Animal Shelter - Karachi

2008-12-22T16:51:00.002+05:00

Situated near Toll Plaza in Karachi, just off the superhighway, the Edhi Animal Shelter is a one of its kind shelter in Pakistan. Although it's very basic and stark, the shelter is providing injured and abandoned animals protection and a safe abode from the harsh city life. Animals don't deserve to be abandoned by their owners or treated cruelly, they deserve a sanctuary where they can thrive and be taken care of in time of need. Government and society must now come together in order to help make this shelter a better place for the animals by offering as much assistance as they can, whether it comes in form of a donation or active volunteer help.

The True Bliss of Freelancing!

2008-12-19T16:42:00.006+05:00

It's December, it's cold, it's windy... and there's rain!

Aah! The blissful rain and it's accompanying chill. All you want to do is stay in bed, get cozy, get under your blankets and eat lots and lots of roasted peanuts. But wait... you have to work... there is a deadline you have to meet... you promised your client that you'd send in work today. Eeeeek! Welcome to the dull 9 to 5 routine some of us have. Sigh! Sad really :( Now you can't enjoy the weather and work at the same time if you're in office, can you?.... Unless you're a Freelancer! ;)

Yes, there's the catch! One of the best part about being a freelancer is this whole scenario. I'm at home, I get up when I want, stay in bed as long as I like.... ah yes, work... I can get that done too. And the best part is I get to work while enjoying the weather. Sitting out in the patio, listening to the sound of the steady rain, watching it fall from the green trees, feeling the chilled breeze, eating dry fruits, typing happily on my laptop and feeling extremely content while my cat dozes off in my lap. Aah! The true bliss of being a freelancer!

Let it rain I say! Let it rain!!!

Freelancing - The Freedom to Choose!

2008-12-13T21:21:00.012+05:00

Why freelance? Because you get to choose what you do. Why choose? Because you have the freedom. Freedom to do what? Freedom to do what you want to do and be who you want to be.

That is what freelancing is all about and what freelancing can give you. You not only get a free rein but also the freedom to express yourself. The great 'freelancing' appeal to many is the freedom of lifestyle and the very choice that is laid before you. But being your own boss isn't all that easy...

While with freelancing you make your own rules and play your own game, a traditional employee ends up under limits and possibly with not much freedom. Freedom is one of the basic reason that lures many into the realms of freelancing. Unbound and unrestricted - It's the place where your creative processes can work at their best and you are able to find your true style. We all seek this path... where we can combine our creative senses and the overpowering need to become our own boss. We desire this essence, we crave this till our entire being screams for us to reach out and grasp the freedom... never letting it go!

Fortunately (or rather unfortunately for some of us) freelancing is not everyone's cup of tea. As freelancing is bound to get overwhelming with time and projects, only those with a true flair and talent for writing actually end up doing this for a lifetime and find a real career in this. The rest of the talentless hopefuls end up... either away from the freelancing world or not doing too well in it.

Naming your Price - When to Ask for More!

2008-12-06T19:59:00.004+05:00

As an experienced freelancer it is important to know your worth. Whether the services you offer are content writing, graphic designing or anything else, if you know that your work has got quality, then asking for a higher price is your right.

There may come clients who own start-up or small businesses, people on tight budgets, who don't want to burn a hole in their pockets. Such clients are looking for discount prices and providing a reasonable quote will ensure that they know what to expect.

Recognize You Worth: The first thing you need to do is to recognize whether you really need that project or not. Since ignoring is terrible for your business, you need to play your cards right. In fact if you want a client, you need to offer some discount or a work or two at a low cost.

Offer Discounts: To avoid pitfalls and shortcomings it's always good to offer a discount. This will help your client to come back for more. Although sometimes after getting your services for a cheaper cost the client might make an issue over slightly expensive cost. The best way to go about it is to provide them with a proper quote (no matter how expensive) and offer them a much smaller portion of work along with it at a cheaper price. This way the client will feel like they are getting a discount and they might as well agree to your over all price!

Be Reasonable: Another important thing to remember is that when creating a quote for your client, make sure you are being reasonable and fair. Research around a bit for what others are asking for the same kind of work and understand your worth. There are chances that you might blow off your client with the amount you ask, however the significant thing to know is that if your work quality is superior than what is being offered out there in the market then you have nothing to worry about.

Stand by Your Standards: Even if your client runs away after hearing your quote, you should remain happy that you did yourself justice by asking for a price worth your professional standards. Your client might choose someone much cheaper but they will eventually come back to you. Just remember your limits and be firm and specific about how much you offer and at what cost. Your clients might go away for a while but trust me... they will find their way back and might even refer you to their colleagues or buddies.

Think - Latest Lego Art Exhibition!

2008-11-30T20:18:00.001+05:00

Nathan Sawaya's latest exhibition 'Think' took his work to new heights. Exhibiting over 30 works, all created from Lego bricks, the artist once again proved his ability to transform the simplest of lego bricks into the most meaningful art. The works were displayed at the The American Swedish Historical Museum in November 2008.

More details available at BrickArtist.com

Lego Art from around the Globe

2008-11-15T16:25:00.001+05:00

Nathan Sawaya - The Inspirational Brick Artist!

2008-11-10T10:47:00.004+05:00

Nathan Sawaya is the inspirational creator of the future art of Lego. This New York-based artist creates amazing works out of the most unlikely toys... Lego building blocks.Working with over millions of colored Lego bricks in his New York studio, Nathan has created the most astounding forms that are both stunning and playful at the same time. His devotion can be seen in the quality of his work and the perfection with which he creates to conceptualize various subject matter.

Lego Art - No Limits!

2008-11-08T15:48:00.003+05:00

Awe-inspiring and truly inspirational, Nathan Sawaya (a former attorney) is better known as the Brick Artist who has created several wonderful sculptures out of lego building blocks. Having used over a million colored bricks he continues to create wonders from legos.

Nathan's website BrickArtist.com showcases images of all his work, beginning from 2002 to-date and contains all the information needed regarding his tours and exhibitions.

Given below are just a few images of his famous works... Check it out!

The Fascinating Masterpieces

2008-10-30T10:27:00.001+06:00

Inspired by my friend Charlie's Most Dramatic Movie Posters on the GraphicDesignBlog, I decided to put down my own list of movies... but with a little difference. My movie list is concerned with the strangely out of this world movies.

Strange, enchanting and inspiring... this is what these movies are. Thrilled, exhilarated and baffled... is what these movies make us feel when they take us on an intense yet spellbound journey into the unknown realms. Movie makers do surprise us sometimes with masterpieces that are not just gripping but also fascinating... no matter how many times you watch them.

Seeing is truly Believing!

Do you Voodoo? - The Political Toy Fad

2008-10-24T01:09:00.021+06:00

The latest fad in the toy world seems to be the interesting voodoo dolls of the various political figures (as if toilet papers, nut crackers and bauble heads weren't enough!). Whether you see these dolls as a must-have accessory, take them as collectibles, send them as gifts, burn them as effigies or consider them just another way of cursing the enemy from afar – these dolls seem to be creating quite a hype the world over ;)

The dolls come with a proper voodoo kit (pins and all) and range from political figures like Obama to Hillary Clinton to George Bush and now even to the French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Standing anywhere between 8 to 12 inches, these are available online under 20$.

Of course these dolls seem to have been on the scene for a year or two now but the hype is being fanned more so (unintentionally) by the French President, who is apparently considering legal action against the producers of the ‘Nicolas Sarkozy’ doll and asking the product to be pulled out of market immediately.

Another Google Upgrade - The Big Bundle of Joy!

2008-10-23T08:56:00.006+06:00

Major updates are coming up on Google Analytics in the coming weeks. An official announcement was made at the Google Analytics Blog recently, announcing the upcoming updates of the user interface. The "Big bundle of joy" for Google Analytics users is the long list of updates featuring some of the most long-requested and welcomed characteristics.

And here's making the long list short...

Custom Reporting: Create your own reports and graphs by setting your own variables.
Advance Segmentation: Allowing you to create a segment for the traffic by breaking it down in various areas and in several ways... from a specific location to websites to people who visit regularly.
Motion Charts: Advance visual feature with graphical representation that you can watch change over time.
Integration with AdSense: Now you will be able to integrate not just AdWords but AdSense too and find out which pages are generating more revenue, the content that doing well on your site along with geographically broken down reports.
API Beta: This has been released to help the developers in extending the usefulness of Google Analytics.

The new features are being considered timely by many, keeping in view the economic rundown and Google is hoping to "go with what works... and invest... to increase their conversions". Still some users remain skeptical of the updates, considering them to be one of Google's "tricks" damping the spirit of Halloween this year. Let's see who gets the run for what! ;)

Google Monopoly

2008-09-30T13:12:00.003+06:00

Google has its own monopoly when it comes to search results and its so-called search standards. Every few months we hear of new rules and amendments being made to Google’s algorithm. The SEOs will possibly lose their jobs if it wasn’t for Google... or so I am told (Ya right! As if I am going to believe that).

More than just providing us with authentic search results Google appears to be determinedly focused on being different and so it is.

Honestly speaking, when it comes to Google you can never be too sure!

Some people seem to want to report paid links and so Google thought that they’d do something about that. Every few weeks they update their algorithm and feel like trying some new ideas that leads them to change the existing algorithm. I don’t mean to imply that paid links shouldn’t be reported. By all means they should. If someone is using wrong means and ways to get the better of the resources and getting by in someone else’s place, that person and company should most definitely be reported and stopped. But shouldn’t the whole scheme and system be perfected before Google starts making everyone’s life a living hell by only testing their still-in-process systems?

What they initiate themselves is what they usually end up creating a system against. What of the webmasters who have only recently brought links to sell off? Ok, so maybe the ones who had all the wrong reasons to buy those links would be feeling very stupid right now but honestly give me a break! How are you to provide valuable services to your customers when your paid links are under siege?

Social Networking - All that Glitters...!

2008-09-23T14:00:00.001+06:00

Social networking seems to be the 'in-thing' these days with almost all the sites... but is it really that good? I wonder sometimes. How helpful is it? And why would someone want to waste a load of time for it online? Ya well, it’s true that the so-called "social networking phenomenon" has been all that and is, at the moment, a great platform for marketers. It's definitely one of the new ways to advertise your brand online. But it rather seems more like a fad. Things like these seem to come and go. How accurate is this really?

So it started as a cool thing, like most of such stuff does, and it's gradually being turned into the 'not-so-cool' by all that extra jazz being thrown its way. More and more companies and brands are opening up their own blogs to advertise for themselves... that’s justified? Ok, so its sending all that growth towards you, but did you know that it's also creeping up some people!

Over the past couple of months social networking sites seem to have received their fair share of 'spam', especially for those who have been using networks like 'Facebook'. They sure seem to be complaining about unwanted friend requests and malicious activities, not to mention the unsolicited advertisements.

So are we still going somewhere with all this 'Social Networking'?

It won't be long before spam becomes all too frequent in this area as well, and then what? Wouldn't the companies who are all "for" social networkings seek other safe havens then? Of course they will. Sure networks seem to be taking notice of this right now but the question remains... how long till people start dropping out of this? Honestly, if spam becomes more frequent, people will decide to leave these networks for good. Just look at the amount of friend requests you get on Facebook and MySpace alone. It’s like a hobby for some people, seriously! And it gets worse... Some people leave social networking thinking that the spam problem is over, but the truth is that the spam seems to follow you even long after you have left. And it doesn't seem likely that this 'social networking' hype will last that long as the 'in' thing, or will it?

Becoming Googled

2008-09-18T15:18:00.000+06:00

Amongst all the various search engines that we have Google is the most popular due to its customer trust. However, we also stumble upon examples every now and then where Google either buys or creates a clone of services that might be threatening their market dominance.

Take StumbleUpon as an example. Once Google saw their growth rate, they made the best possible offer to buy it or in some cases they rather have cheaper clones created that are capable of making huge sales and competing with others. This way Google not just advertises for itself but end up creating a lot of exposure that leads to market dominance. Google doesn’t like competition, who does? But Google knows how to gain an edge over its competitors. And due to Google’s strange market policies it has killed many small market players to get a piece of larger businesses. Google will keep ranting against your brand if they see competition unless you give in and strike a deal with them and give them a big cut. Due to this many small affiliates have been gradually killed and Google just leads the show with businesses who work directly with Google.

And yet again Google bonds with another well-known name. This time Google decided to connect AdSense to Western Union giving small countries a payment option. So now countries like Egypt, Bulgaria, Morocco, Taiwan and Lithuania can follow easy instructions and get paid in local currency easily. Google main search is also providing exchange rates. Well, that's an achievement and one way of how Google keeps on making it Big and being the only one to get a 70% market share in the U.S... yes that's right... by buying or teaming up with market giants. Duh! Way to go guys!!!

So moral of the story is... Anything that is big and has a huge market – it will be Google’s. If it isn't Google's already then it will be soon enough! So all the successful companies and people out there become a part of Google and it gets even bigger and better. Hmmm... so what next?!!!