-The Daunting and Haunting Task of Proofreading

Proofreading is probably a writer’s least favorite task. It is also quite necessary, entirely expected, and all of the ‘rewards’ are negative at best. What makes it particularly daunting and haunting is the obvious fact that all of us fail at it occasionally no matter how many times we re-read and edit our masterpieces.

How many times have you bloggers glanced upon yesterday’s article that you’re so proud of only to find an obvious error that the spell check missed or worse yet you used the wrong ‘their’ there. It happens to me all of the time.

Then what do you do? I go back in and change it. I don’t care if it was written last year and it’s all over the Internet in cached form.The error is going down.

This brings up an entirely different subject. There are some who say that once an article is posted on the Internet it is sacrosanct and should never be altered. Horse pucky! Those folks are just crazy and maybe even a little lazy. All of the best publishers will change their miscues in the 2nd edition even if it is a NY Times best seller.

I actually found today’s topic while reading the newspaper of all things, proving that fish wrap can still be relevant if not amusing. Particularly when it’s consumed with coffee and Cheerios. Stephen Wilbers writes a great syndicated column that appears in The Orange County Register: “Writing For Business”

Here’s a link to his website where you can subscribe and receive his columns every week by email if it doesn’t appear in your hometown paper: Writing for Business and Pleasure

Take a look around the site. There’s lots of good stuff to help you improve your writing and proofreading (look under ‘Contents’). Particularly take a gander at this one and the followup which is on today’s topic:

“How to proofread and never miss a single errror”

My greatest fear is that Dr. Wilbers will actually read this post and point out all of the obvious ‘errrors’ that I somehow missed. There’s bound to be several at least. When you find some let me know.              *Top

-What is Google ‘Panda’ Looking For?

First of all you may be asking- What the heck is ‘Google Panda’ anyway? It certainly is a question I asked when I first came across a reference to it.

‘Panda’ is the name assigned to Google’s latest algorithm. The program that rates everything on the web and determines what gets linked to and decides whether that article of yours is listed on Google’s first page during a search or shows up 2000 links later.

Over the years business folks have spent a great deal of time, effort, and money trying to figure out how to beat the search engine and get their website consistently listed at the top. Most of us who are part time bloggers end up reading an article or two and hope for the best. Usually well written original content wins Google over and rises to the top just like cream.

Then Google makes changes in their algorithm and the process starts all over with folks trying to discover the new golden Google fleece once more. Here’s a timeline of the major algorithm changes over the years including the most recent:

o 2003-05-01 “Fritz” update
o 2003-05-16 “Florida” update
o 2007-01-25 “defused” update
o 2009-02-20 “Vince” update
o 2010-05-01 “Mayday” update
o 2011-02-24 “Panda” update
o 2011-05-10 “Panda 2.1″ update
o 2011-06-16 “Panda 2.2″ update

(Source: ToddNemet.com)

When I started blogging nearly 6 years ago the big deal was getting as many links as possible and the sources really didn’t seem to matter that much. So I bought a automatic program that got my site linked to on 1000 others or so and boom- we had instant Google credibility. I can remember one Christian ministry that would provide your site with hundreds of reciprocal links if you joined their directory for a small fee of $30 or so. I declined on that one.

Then a few months later link farms and unrelated directories became a liability that got your site banned to Google’s version of outer darkness so adjustments had to be promptly made.

What Google is consistently looking for is to be able to link to real information and real content rather than a site with just a bunch of misleading ‘key’ words that fool the search bots.

If you are producing original content and providing real information than most of the time your stuff will rise to the top. Nevertheless, it is always good to know what Google is looking for and what they penalize. Here’s 2 interesting articles by David Jackson with info on Google’s latest:

“Google Panda Update: 11 Important SEO Facts You Should Know”

“Google’s Panda Update: Haters, Cheaters and Consequences”

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-Having and Using Multiple Email Addresses

Practically everyone and everything demands an email address from you these days. Purchase flowers online, book a room or a flight, to access a news site, set up a blog, join a social network, download a new program, leave a comment on a website, or keep in touch with family or friends. Any or all demand your email address.

There was a time when I had just one but now I have multiple email addresses for a multitude of uses and reasons. First of all I found it necessary just to keep up with it all. I compartmentalized my e-life with a separate email addresses for the following:

1. Personal

Friends and family are the only ones with access to this one. Plus a few key financial ties.

2. Business

This one is for work only.

3. Blogs

I have a separate address for each one of my blogs.

4. Social Networks

A separate address for each one. Imperative to keep on top of it all.

5. Ministry

A separate address for use at church and in ministry.

6. False Flag

A ‘throwaway’ address to give when demanded but care less about and don’t want to be bothered.

Here’s a tip for keeping track of it all.

I have nearly a dozen on Gmail alone that I can access and check up on going to just one log-in site: gmail.com. It really doesn’t take that long and is much easier than working with 2 or 3 different addresses like I use too and having to wade through all sorts of unrelated junk mail and spam.

At least now I can determine where everything is coming from a whole lot easier than I use to. Plus I can more readily find what’s really important.    

-Even The Pope Tweets?

For those who continue to make fun of all the Millions ‘Tweeting’ away their lives, now even the Pope tweets. 

Pope Benedict XVI sent out a message on Twitter to publicize the launch of the Vatican’s new website-  News.va, The following was the pope’s first message:

"Dear Friends, I just launched http://t.co/fVHpS9y Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI"

The message was prepared for him a head of time so all he had to do was click and send. The occasion also marked the 60th anniversary of his ordination as a priest.            *Top

-10 Online Behaviors That Christians Should Avoid

Here’s a good article from Church Mag listing 10 different behaviors that Christians should avoid if they want to maintain a good reputation and continue to be positive ambassadors for Christ:

10 Easy Steps to Ruin Your Online Reputation

-Re: The New Google +1 Button

The video introduces the whys and uses for Google’s new “+1 Button”. It is somewhat similar to the “Like” button on Facebook but is intended to be used all across the Internet.

Plus according to those in the know, the button will be tied into the Google search engine so it will be important to tool up your blog or website to provide the new app. It is designed to give your blog posts better visibility on Google.

Take a look at the bottom of this article on the right side and you will see what it looks like. I put it on this site by installing the new WordPress Google +1 Button plugin. It is not only easy to install but gives you options for where you want it placed- before or after the post, or both and on the right or left hand side.            *Top

-Techno Stewardship?

The Barna Group has completed a new study showing something that all of us directly experience- that families are more technology and media dependent than ever.

They conclude that modern families by and large are negligent in applying concepts of Biblical stewardship to how much of their time is spent online, watching TV, and on various digital devices.

Also, nearly all of those surveyed say that they have never received any kind of teaching at their church concerning how they can be good stewards of media, entertainment or technology.

The study also shows something you might not expect that parents are nearly as involved with tech as their children and teenagers. Not only that, but by nearly a two-to-one ratio, parents think of technology as actually making their family life better rather than worse.

Barna Group president David Kinnaman draws the following conclusions from their research:

“Technology is shaping family interactions in unprecedented ways, but we seem to lack a strategic commitment to the stewardship of technology. Parents, tweens and teens need more coaching and input in order to face the countless choices they make regarding how technology affects their attention, interests, talents and resources.”

Response: It is interesting that churches have substantially ignored this growing situation among modern families in America. Again, technology seems to be dividing the generations with each doing their own techno thing.

My own family is not that much different. I’m on the computer right now writing this article while my wife is in the same room watching TV. Earlier I was watching TV and she was transferring family pictures on the computer to an online account, checking her Facebook site and playing Farmville. Not to mention that the grandkids were here today playing video games and the oldest one, 13, was texting his friends while listening to his ipod and watching TV at the same time.

Nothing like it was in the 50′s when I was a kid and the entire family gathered together around the TV.  All the social commentators and preachers at the time said that TV was ruining the American family. At least we were all in the same room together watching the same show. Plus there was even time for short conversations during the commercials.              *Top

-Ever Thought About Adding a Forum?

Ever thought about adding a forum to your website or blog? bbPress is one of the best and it is free: bbPress

Plus it has thousands of folks constantly upgrading the program and making it better. There’s even a forum about the forum with all sorts of help available on the bbPress website.

If you are running a WordPress blog it is now as easy as adding a plugin: bbPress  (Right now it is in beta 2b)             *Top