Search Engine Optimisation

Search Engine Optimisation! That should be a Degree Course by itself! Maybe it will be soon. There is so much you have to be aware of if you want to be top of the list at google and if you want to be top of the list on any other search engine you have to start all over again.

There are DON'Ts like Hidden and Invisible Text and Keyword Stuffing(?!?) and DO's like "Make it text rich". You can check your popularity you have to be strategic and do all sorts of things (I don't understand half of it ... Sorry, Colin).

No doubt, it is very important and like so many other things concerning the web ever growing in importance. But i have to admit, I would rather pay somebody to optimise my page than do it badly myself!

News Release - Careful this is Fiction!

News Release

For immediate Release

Issued by:
Svenja Bolstad
Contact Details

29 November 2008

Ray Dartley launches "Positive Age Week" for Age Action Ireland

Popular Irish Radio DJ Ray Dartley helped launch the "positive Age Week" for Age action Ireland at a small tea party in the Merrion Hotel yesterday (28.11.2008)

Pensioners Maeve Reilly , John Murphy and Mary O'Keefe joined him for a cup of tea to toast the new initiative. The central goal of "Positive Age Week" is to dispel the many negative peerceptions that surround ageing in Ireland. It aims to transform attitudes and to raise much-needed funds for the charity.

During "Positive Age Week", people are encouraged to organise parties that celebrate the elderly. They can be anything from a small family gathering to a street party. A nominated fund raiser at each party will accept donations from those attending. "Positive Age Week will run from Monday 8th to Sunday 15th December 2008.

Lorraine Dorgan, Chief Executive of Age action Ireland:"We need to celebrate the fact that we are living longer; that ageing is not a burdon but an opportunity. I would like to encourage as many people as possible around the country to take part is "Positive Age Week".

Age Action Ireland is the national independant organisation on ageing and older people. Its main aim is to improve the quality of life of older people, especially those who are most disadvantaged and vulnerable, by enabling them to live full, independant and satisfied lives for as long as they wish in their own homes.

To register as a fundraiser for "Positive Age Week", please contact Lorraine Dorgan on 01 2345678 or visit http://www.ageaction.ie/ .

Svenja Bolstad
Contact Details

###

Why make something beautiful ugly!

Here is yet another thing I don't really understand! The Sex Industry. I just find it very hard to grasp what makes Porn, Prostitution and all the rest of it attractive to anyone.

Now, and that is what I mean with my title I think the human body in its various shapes and sizes can be depicted in very beautiful ways. It has been done throughout the millenia. Aren't these ladies above absolutely beautiful? Why make it anymore graphic? I feel some things are intimate and you shouldn't mess with it.

The online sex industry is a difficult topic. There are so many different angles.

• As already mentioned I don't understand the pleasure many people obviously get in looking at pictures and videos; but as long as the subjects are of age and agree with the material so be it.
• Then there is a sort of medical angle to it. If somebody does need any kind of product be it creams or pills or whatever is out there, then the internet gives them an opportunity to avoid embarrassing trips to the chemists or other shops. Here's that intimacy thing again.
• Then there is of course the dark side with paedophiles and stalkers etc. Here the internet is much to easy and it is much to difficult to keep up with the censoring.

Here's a theory!

In my latest attempt to get rid of some of the pounds, I had gathered in recent years through various reasons I came across an interesting view point.

I started reading a book called the "Easyweigh to lose weight" by Allen Carr; he is the same person who wrote the "Easy way to stop smoking". That worked for me over five years ago so I thought I might as well have a look and see what he has to say about food.

Maybe you can gather from my tone, I was a teeeny weeny bit sceptical. Here is his point in a very brief summary which does not do him any justice:

We, as a species are not really meant to eat meat, fish, dairy etc. He explains this this with a few examples:

1. Look at our closest relatives: Gorillas and chimpanzees - there main diet is fruit, nuts and other vegetation. If times get rough they do eat animals or eggs but mainly for the reason not to starve.
   
2. Look at our own babies: What do they love when they are weaned onto solids? Fruit and sweet vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips. I am still struggling to teach my 2-year-old to eat meat! I thought he is just a fussy eater ... but maybe not! Maybe he is just doing what is right for him and I should stop coaxing him and just start serving more pulses and beans.
   
3. This is one of the things I found very convincing: Carnivores itch to kill! Okay some demented humans do too but that's a different matter! Just watch your domestic feline: They pounce at everything that moves. They usually get fed more than enough and are generally not hungry but they will still go out and bring you a little present in form of a 'blue tit'! Whose side are you on in these moments? I feel terribly sorry for the poor bird, but that's nature ... right? What's our nature?

Now just yesterday I heard in the radio that by whatever year it was, food production has to be doubled in order to feed the growing human population.

And we all know about the huge problem obesity is causing.

Just sort of thinking to myself ... Has Allen Carr actually got the answer to several dilemmas? If we eat more vegetation instead of meat etc there would be much more space to grow grain... Grain wouldn't be eaten by cows... Cows wouldn't fart us into the green house effect and global warming(?) .... as some people believe.

I don't know, but he has definitely got me thinking

Virtual Communities

My experiences with Virtual Communities are rather limited. I feel absolutely ancient saying that, but there you go!

I've recently signed up to facebook and must admit I don't really get it! I just looked into "Second Life" but quite honestly I felt I don't have the spare time for this. I think you just really have to spend time with both these for them to be fun and of any benefit to you. Saying that I did find an old colleague of mine, and a fellow I grew up with through facebook, which was very nice as we had lost contact completely.

One of the things I am actually growing really fond of is this blogging thing! Being able to voice an opinion and getting it published is like actually having a voice in this society! Okay, I know I still have to refine my SEO to actually get people to read it.

What I did find extremely useful was using the chatrooms and forums of "mums to be" and "new mums" sites for example Gina Ford. In those moments when I was alone at home with a screaming three week old baby, these complete strangers I was chatting to or asking for advice gave me a huge amount of comfort because they were in exactly the same position.

I feel that all of these virtual communities, brand communities, blogspots etc definitely have their space in our society and they will grow and so they should.

Something Good

Just recently I had a lovely experience at college.

I had been waiting in a queue for a cup of tea for quite some time and was about to pay when I realised that I must have left my purse in the last classroom. So for a moment I was standing quite stupidly in front of the cashier with a huge thirst for my tea and not a penny on me.

The girl that was behind me had watched me desperately search my whole bag and actually paid the tea for me. I felt a bit embarrassed but it was a lovely cup of tea that won't be forgotten too easily.

I hope that one day I will be able to do something really good for this girl because it was a very nice experience.

Being in Barack Obama's shoes!?

Nearly a week after the US Election and the appointment of Barack Obama as the next President of the USA, I can not stop myself thinking:" He has taken on the worst job in the entire World, the poor man! I wouldn't even want to get near his shoes nevermind attempting to walk in them."

He is taking on his position in the worst economic situation in nearly a century

He is inheriting a world which is deeply divided. Okay, the part about deeply divided might not seem as scary because the cold war era wasn't exactly famous for harmony either.

He has to mend the reputation of his country which is so bad that most US Americans have been a bit embarrasssed when travelling abroad.

And above all he has two beautiful daughters who will soon enter teenage ... for most Dad's that is probably enough of a challenge in itself.

I sincerly wish him the best of luck in his attempts to solve all the problems he is facing, that he'll be able to keep this calm and gentle but very enthusiastic and driven personality he appears to be.

In other words I hope he doesn't go mad in his new job.