Blogging Nightmare

I have been battling with Blogger and Thingamablog for almost 4 months now. It is absolutely driving me crazy! If - and this is a big one - I can get something to post on one, I can't get it to update on the other.


So, I am doing another test: to make sure that I can post on blogger AND that I can update Thingamablog. I'm still not certain exactly which format I prefer. The individual post format on Blogger is much nicer; I have much more control. But I have to admit, I really like the overall format that I have set up on Thingamablog.


Sadly, in the midst of all these trials (and tribulations) I've misplaced an archive file (or 3) with many of the posts that I made in May and June. Needless to say, I am seriously not happy.


We'll see how this latest test goes, and then maybe I can get everything in one place -- at least going forward. Wish me luck!



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at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Family Lawsuit Against MySpace.com

I don't recall an original story about this lawsuit, but this 'new round' definitely grabbed my attention. After some serious thought, I had to side with the courts. This is, in my opinion, an attempt by parents, who were unaware of / not monitoring their child's behavior, to blame MySpace for what happened to their daughter.

MySpace has guidelines and does monitor, to the best of its ability, the users who have pages. I know, personally, that many IDs and pages have been removed for violating policies. But this little girl, also violated MySpace policies by lying about her age in order to acquire a login and create the page.

At that young age, in a place as potentially dangerous as a social networking site, parents need to closely monitor what their child is doing on the computer. They need to - repeatedly - talk to their children about how to safely use the Internet. Many experts recommend keeping computers out of kids' bedrooms, so that it's easier to keep an eye on surfing habits.

Links to information for kids and parents about Internet Safety (alphabetically):

Parental Guides and Information for Kids on BOTW.org

Internet Safety for Kids and Teens on DMOZ.org

World-Wide-Web Safety on Yahoo!Kids' Directory

Yahoo!Safely Internet Guide

The rules for virtually all interactive websites are the same - no one under 13, don't give out personal information, and don't physically meet someone you only know online. Even sites designed for kids, and there are some great ones out there, require parental approval before kids under 14 can create accounts/logins. But no site account set-up includes a lie detector.

If kids don't tell the truth, the website certainly can't be held responsible. And, personally, I'm getting a bit weary of people making everyone, but themselves, responsible for the misbehavior / behavior of their children.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

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We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Cell Phone Amplifiers

Now, here is something - cell phone amplifiers - that Mark and I have been wanting for a very long time. Over the years, we have spent a great deal of time in hospital rooms, doctors' offices, and ER waiting areas. There is nothing more frustrating, at 3:00am, than being unable to sleep and unable to distract yourself by surfing the 'Net on your phone.

I remember, more than once, sleeping in the waiting room that was down the hall from the ICU. Unlike the wards, I couldn't stay the night with Mark, so I had to use a really old reclining chair in a brightly lit room. No matter how tired one gets, it's nearly impossible to sleep when someone you love is in a coma.

Reading is a wonderful option and, believe me, I have worked my way through dozens of novels since 2004. One amazing thing about the VA are the kiosks, all over the place, with a huge selection of books. Believe it or not, a few months ago I picked up a book to keep me entertained while we waited to meet the oncologist, only to find I had read it before Mark's transplant in 2004.

Still, nothing beats being able to send and receive emails, IM your family and friends, and surf the web when you are desperately trying to not think about where you're at and why you're there.




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Possible Identity Theft

I got an interesting letter in the mail this week. It seems that the company I worked for, back in 2003, got hacked recently. Still investigating the extent of the incursion, they wrote to warn me that my personal information may have been stolen.

If that were the extent of the letter, it probably would have been sufficient to alert me and I could have taken steps to monitor my credit records. But my former employer went far beyond a simple notification. They set up a free, one-year credit monitoring account for me - on their dime - that includes $25,000 identity theft insurance and a team of fraud resolution representatives, should there be a problem.

One of the reasons I really liked this company was the way they treated employees. It's nice to know that hasn't changed.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Marines Investigate Puppy-Throwing Video

When I saw this headline, I didn't know whether to be shocked, angry, or just sad. So, I settled for all three. What in the world is happening to society?!

Many question whether this a true story - it does make great propaganda against the American military. The fact that there is a Marine, with the name mentioned, stationed at this base in Hawaii is discomforting, to say the least. Is this how we train our military, to have no respect for any life but their comrades-in-arms?

I have known - and know - people who put the value of an animal's life well below the value of a human's life. And we all read stories of animal neglect and abuse, almost daily.

It is, apparently, the religious concept of man's dominion over the 'lesser' creatures that encourages humans to denegrate and damage animals.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Paint Your Life

I've heard of this before. Actually, I saw it on a Gilmore Girls episode, but I really didn't know it was this easy to do. You can have a painting made, from a photograph, that looks absolutely amazing. Just imagine what an incredible anniversary gift a family portrait would be for your parents or grandparents.

No longer do you have to coordinate everyone's schedule and set aside huge amounts of time for sittings. Not to mention, there's no need to settle for a run-of-the-mill setting. Simply upload your favorite photograph, choose the medium you prefer (oil, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, acrylic, pencil, or mosaic), and let the artist do the rest.

Paint Your Life is incredibly easy to navigate. No confusing menus or hard to find information. They also have very strict quality controls, and you always get to review and approve the artwork, before you make the final payment. Really a great idea.




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

AOL Shutting Down Netscape

Admittedly, I have never been an active Netscape user. When I started designing my website, the buzz said that pages needed to work in IE and Netscape. With very little training, I managed to get a simple site up and running on Internet Explorer. Filled with naive confidence, I turned to Netscape.

It didn't take long before I was sorry and quietly sobbing in frustration. My self-esteem, as a newborn webmaster, took a nosedive and I was certain that I would never, ever have a successful site without Netscape. It's somehow vindicating to find that I wasn't necessarily alone in choosing to not use that browser. I seriously prefer Netscape's cousin Firefox - over IE, as well. And to think, they actually charged for Netscape.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Mailboxes

I've been shopping again. But it's not my fault; really! Mark and I were talking about mail delivery, back when we were young and the mailman had to get out of his truck at every house. In the neighborhood where I grew up, all of the post-WWII houses were the same exact size and shape. The only thing that made each home unique, besides the paint colors, were the mailboxes.

Back then, residential mailboxes were pretty simple: a rectangular metal box, hung by the front door, with a hinged lid and two pieces of curved metal underneath for magazines or a curved-top box, mounted on a simple wooden post, with a hinged front door and a mail-to-pick-up flag that sometimes even stayed up. Utilitarian, but not necessarily attractive. Not any more - I checked! Now, these mailboxes are amazing, artistic items, crafted with style. I've already picked a couple that I want in front of my house, once I get my house.

Although, when I was checking out commercial mailboxes - you know I can't resist any shopping page - I found some security mailboxes that really made me stop and think. With all of the identity theft these days, it might not be a bad idea to use something that's going to be really difficult to break into. Nice to know that I have lots of options.

And lots of reasons to keep shopping!




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Internet Dating

With all of the websites out there where you can meet singles, how do you know which one is right for you? I can't even imagine trying to sort them all out. Not to mention, there have been statements from one site about another site refusing to help people who don't meet a specific criteria.

Now, there's a site, 5 Star Dating, that takes the guesswork out of picking an online dating or matchmaking service. They research all of these dating sites and provide information about the available options. Why hunt all over the Internet for a Christian dating site that understands who you are and what you want, when you can read about all of the most reliable sites in one place?

One of the sections that I really like is the Dating Digest, filled with helpful tips, first-date advice, and interesting articles all about dating. If you're new in town or just aren't meeting the right people, why not give 5 Star Dating a look?




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Real Estate

If one of your goals for the new year is buying or selling a home - something I would love to be doing - you need an agent that knows your area and market. There are a lot of real estate companies out there. How do you know you're getting good service and a decent price? You research.

I didn't realize that there were so many specialists in the industry. From buyer representatives to luxury home specialists to residential marketing masters, the services you need are available. I really enjoy reading up on the available options, because the market is changing constantly. Right now there are a lot of defaults and financing isn't as easy to find.

One day we are going to be buying our own place and I don't want to end up paying too much or getting less than we need.





Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Cherished Number Plates

If you're not familiar with Cherished Number Plates, perhaps you know them better as personalized registration plates. What I found fascinating is that the letters and numbers on a UK plate have very specific meanings, so choosing a vanity plate, as we call it in the US, is a bit trickier. One must be careful not to misrepresent any information about the vehicle.

Northumbria Numbers has an easy-to-use search function that helps you search for the plate number that you simply must have. The site also explains the legalities and cost of transferring these special plates. I had a great time looking for a combination that would work for JMAe (JMark Afghans, etc.) and was amazed by the things that one needs to know, in order to design a Cherished Number Plate.




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Web Hosting

It's easy to find a template and throw a website on the Internet. What isn't easy is finding a reliable hosting service. Believe me, I have looked at a number of options and, between the costs and the limitations, some services are a bit scary.

But there are easy ways to find what you need. For example, http://www.webhostingchoice.com offers an advertisement-free way to look for a host that offers all of the options you need, while eliminating all of the hosts that don't fit your requirements. This searchable directory allows you to enter the amount that you want to pay each month, any set-up costs you're willing to incur, and how much bandwidth and storage space you need.

If you don't know how much storage or bandwidth is right for you, don't worry. There is a Learning Center, filled with information to help out.





Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Pop-Up Blockers

There are some webhosts and sites that are just loaded with pop-ups. When I first started my website, I had free service, so my host put ads on the side of my pages. Now, that - to my mind - wasn't nearly as bad as dealing with constant pop-ups.

About the same time, I volunteered as an editor for an open source project and realized that I seriously needed a popup blocker. The poor souls who have free webhosting with companies that load these pop-ups can't do much about it, but as a web-surfer I sure was going to make them stop.

It's not difficult to find software to do the job. But, it can be difficult to find reliable software to do the job. The best ones, and they are out there, also block adware, spyware, and phishing sites.

I still get the occasional pop-under, which is a whole 'nother story. But there's just no reason to put up with the other annoyances. So I don't.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Online Communications

For those of us who blog regularly with our customers, it's easy to get locked into a style of communication that is very narrow in scope. I know that, when I started this blog, it was difficult for me to break the mental habit of wanting to make everything about the website. Luckily, there are sites with terrific information and tips for those of us who get into a rut.

I particularly liked the article about finding additional content (click here) for my blog. Information about my site is easy. Now, adding information about complimentary products or new, exciting yarns really expands my options. It's nice to know that I don't have to have all of the answers, I just need to know where to find them.




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Blogsvertise.com

In my travels around the Internet - yes, I've been shopping again - I found an interesting site for Bloggers. Called Blogsvertise.com, it's a great way for me to earn a little extra holiday money while doing what I do anyway - blog, blog, blog. The process is simple and easy.

If you have a blog already, just register for free and follow the instructions. Naturally, there is a review process, so approval takes, on average, 24 hours. But, would you really want to associate with an organization that was cavalier about who could work with them? Besides, a day or two isn't all that bad, in the whole scheme of things.

There are a lot of things to like about Blogsvertise.com. First, the rules and guidelines are truly simple. You choose the 'tone' of your blog post; this isn't blatant advertising. It's also not the 'Great American Novel.' You aren't required to do more than mention a particular website, include 3 links to that website, and write 2-3 paragraphs - about 75 words or so. Now that's easy. (I've already written more than that, just telling you this much.)

Secondly, even if you don't currently have an active blog you can still participate. It will just take a couple of extra steps. You'll need to create a blog or online journal and start writing. No duh, huh? But Blogsvertise.com has a list of free software and sites to help get you started. Once you're set up and have some posts to show off, you can register for an account.

Naturally, newer blogs or blogs without a lot of regular activity may have a probationary period. Payments may be lower, or assignments may be fewer, until there are about 60 days worth of activity. I know that I was flat-out denied by a site before I starting writing regularly. So, that's not a big surprise.

Believe me, when you're keeping an online journal or blog anyway, it's dead easy to work with Blogsvertise.com and generate a little spending money for yourself.





Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Website Optimization

I received a call today from a gentleman who wanted to help me optimize my website. Not necessarily a bad idea - except for the fact that the example site he sent me to was actually less optimized than my home page. Add to that the fact that he had never heard of Google PageRank and didn't understand what the Alexa traffic numbers mean, and you've got someone who really needs to do a little more homework before calling site owners.

So, if you have a website of your own and get a call from someone who tells you that they can help you improve what you've done - be very careful.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

FreeRice.com

A friend of our sent us this link - FreeRice.com. For every definition you get right, they donate 10 grains of rice throughout the United Nations, in an effort to end world hunger. What a great way to practice your vocabulary!

Not all of the words are exactly easy. Some are older in usage, and some are medical. As you work through the list, your vocabulary level increases and decreases. Mine went up pretty fast, then went down even faster! lol

By the time my brain decided it had had enough, I had donated almost 2,000 grains of rice and gotten some well-needed mental exercise.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Series 7 Exam

I couldn't believe all of the different exams required in order to work in the securities / stock industry. Not every position has to pass every exam. But, for example, in order to work as a General Securities Sales Supervisor, an individual has to pass the Series 9/10 ~ after passing the Series 7.

The Series 7 exam is the NASD/NYSE test required for registered representatives by most broker-dealers. While there are no prerequisites to this exam, the Series 63 or Series 66 exam is a co-requisite. That's a lot of information to learn. If it were me, I'd want all of the help I could get.

That's where Empire Stockbroker comes in. They offer classroom training, home study materials, and an online testing program designed to help individuals pass, whatever exam they're taking, the first time. Since the Series 7, alone, is 260 multiple-choice questions, with 3 hours allowed to complete each half, I certainly wouldn't want to have to take it more than once.

If your career requires NASD/NASAA licensing, why not trust the company whose instructors have actually taken and passed the exams themselves?




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Race to Stop Global Warming

From Care2.com:

Welcome to Care2.com's Race to Stop Global Warming!

Once per day, you can click for free to slow global warming by offsetting one pound of carbon, a greenhouse gas.

To offset even more greenhouse gases, please get your friends involved. Forward this message to let friends know that when they click on the Race, Care2 will pay to offset one pound of their personal carbon emissions - up to once per day.

Carbon, and other greenhouse gases, released into the air by power plants and cars
contribute to global warming. Each day, you can take a small step in slowing global warming by offsetting some of your emissions. Just go to: http://stopglobalwarming.care2.com

Be sure to tell your friends!

Thanks!
Care2.com

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Carrot Cake and Banana Bread

Even with Mark's diabetes, we keep cake (of some sort) in the fridge for dessert. One small piece of cake doesn't seem to have any more effect on his blood sugar than a plate of pasta would. And, this way, no one feels deprived.

Today he mentioned being hungry for carrot cake with cream cheese frosting or banana bread. I've made banana bread before (a long time ago) and it's really simple. But I've never tried carrot cake, so I went looking for a recipe. What a pain!

Since I love the shows, I decided to search FoodNetwork.com. The recipes were great - I found the 2 that I wanted - but the site is slower than molasses in January. Apparently, they have so many ads supporting their site, it takes forever for the pages to load.

Great food - crappy site.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

City Guides

Have you ever been to Steamboat Springs? It's an amazing resort, high in the mountains of Colorado. I have to admit, it's been years since I visited, so I know a lot has changed.

That's why the USA Hotel Guide is so great. You don't have to know everything about the place you'd like to visit. Just look up the city and explore the information.

For example, on the Steamboat Springs page, I got a history of this beautiful area, the best things to do there and where - exactly - to find the hot springs. There's information about hotels, in and around the city; outdoor and indoor activities in the area; and where to pre-purchase your ski or snowboard rental for the big trip.

If you're planning a vacation, but can't decide where to visit, why not start with the city guides that give you all the information you need?




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Great Gifts For A Good Cause

I hope that you'll visit this incredible site, for a number of reasons. Primarily, a portion of every item sold by JacarandaStyle is donated to a school in South Africa. The Ethembeni School serves 300 physically disabled and visually impaired students. Amazingly, a few children from the school even get to come here and run the New York City marathon, each year.


Just look at some of the beautiful items that are available on JacarandaStyle. The website curator, who lives in New York City and is married to a South African, travels frequently to that country, bringing unique, exclusive items to the world.


I, personally, am in love with the jewelry. It's just amazing and not like anything else you see in the stores. You have to see the cuffs and the beadwork. They have so many different styles that you're sure to find a couple that you just can't do without. But, then you have the ceramics, both blue and white, and fusion. This pedestal bowl, for example, is hand-painted and signed by the artist.


Like all of the ceramics I looked at, it's lead-free, safe to use for food, and able to go into the dishwasher. Between the oval and square platters, the salad and triangular bowls, and all of the brass and pewter accessories, it is so easy to set an amazing table. Whether you're celebrating the holidays or just having some of your favorite friends over, you'll love these items.




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Design Your Blog

Do you have a blog, but you're just not happy with the look? I know how you feel. When I started this blog, I used a template that was sorta, kinda similar to the colors on my website. It wasn't a bad looking template; it just wasn't what I wanted.

So, I started making changes. First I added some of the background patterns that I use on my website. Then, I incorporated fonts and colors. Finally, after adding more goodies, I got the links, banners, and style that you see today.

Because I like the look, I designed my MySpace Page to be very similar. Some of the link colors are different, but I think they work. Now, I just have to come up with a design for my new blog. It's still at the template state, but I plan to change that very soon. I don't think it will look anything like my website, when I'm done. But you just never know.

Would you like to update the look of your blog? Want to change things around to better represent your personality? Need a place for your favorite quotes or a list of your most-visited websites?

Let me know. I'd be happy to help.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Game Addiction

Uh oh! I got a new game on Big Fish Games yesterday - "Heroes of Hellas" - and I think I'm hooked. It's really a fun game, with a bunch of different tasks.

Basically, it's a match-3 game with a twist. The spaces are hexagon-shaped, so you can link any matching shapes that are touching on any of the six sides. Unlike other games, when you make the matches, the surrounding spaces drop straight down, not in the direction that you moved the matching spaces. (If you play match-3 games, that makes sense; if you don't, my apologies for confusing the issue.)

Each 'episode' introduces a new Greek hero, who has special powers to help you clear spaces. (He doesn't actually help until you beat the particular episode. As the game progresses you get to add parts to your palace, collect trophies for different achievements, and unscramble mosaics to get free wallpapers. Seriously! The game gives you free wallpapers!

You start out with 4 lives. Along the way, you can earn extra lives. I've only earned one so far, in episode 2. Unfortunately, I'm desperately stuck in episode 4, where the game adds 'Hades stones' that can only be broken with lightening or with the help of Achilles. And I am losing lives fast! Mark, however, has already passed episode 4 and is beating his head against the wall of episode 5.

I have a feeling that episode 4 and I are going to learn to hate each other pretty quick. This is my 3rd attempt to beat it and, so far, I'm not doing so well. At least I know I won't be bored with it any time soon!






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Unsigned.com

Whether you're a music fan looking for a new sound or a new sound looking for music fans, Unsigned.com is a really well-designed, easy-to-use site. I can't remember another place where there are so many independent artists, just a click away from the main page. I know that a lot of unsigned (and signed) bands and solo artists have pages on some of the social network sites, but I have a really hard time finding specific artists and genres. Not to mention, if I haven't heard of them yet - how am I supposed to search for them?

At Unsigned.com, within a minute or two, I found a great country band, Boggy Creek, that I've heard and heard of. They're based in Florida and, for two years, have played at NASCAR's Pepsi 400; the July 4th race at Daytona International Speedway. Just goes to prove that lack of a recording contract doesn't mean that these independent bands are unknown, or untalented.

Whether you perform gospel, rock, metal, alternative, reggae, techno, or something in between, Unsigned.com has a place for you. Design your custom artist profile, upload your songs, and create fan networks. What a great way to get your music out onto the Internet!

For music fans, there's just no better place to sit back and explore all of the possibilities. Set aside some time; there's a lot to listen to here.





Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Blogger Breakdown

November 6, 2007 2:12PM Just to let everyone know - if you suddenly see 50 new posts on here, Blogger finally loves me/us again. Starting Sunday, all of the blogs that are hosted on their own site - like mine on www.jmarkafghans.com - stopped posting. Apparently, according to the staff at Blogger, there is a server problem.

Personally, I'm going nuts! I can't take any posts at PPP until this mess is fixed. I can't publish anything to this - or any other blog - right now. It's a bit like having laryngitis - the vocal cords are there, you just can't make any sounds. Those of you who know me well know that shutting me up is a virtual impossibility - so you can imagine my stress level right now! ARGHHHH!!

Oh, well. There's a Blogger outage planned for tonight, so hopefully it'll be a short-lived silence.







Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Wanna Buy a Car ... Cheap?

We've all heard stories about wives who sell their husband's cars for $1.00, as revenge for bad behavior. Until now, I honestly thought most of those were urban legends, designed to keep errant husbands in check. But today I found out differently. It really does pay to "beware of a woman scorned," especially if you live in the UK.

There's a top UK site where people list cars for sale. At a flat rate of £4.95 until the car sells, it's a terrific deal. The site gets thousands of hits per day, so you know the ads get a lot of traffic. They also offer new cars and car loans, but it was the used car advertisements that really caught my eye.

It seems that a man bought himself a lovely Jaguar S-type. Gorgeous car! For whatever reason (the ad doesn't say) he registered the vehicle in his wife's name. (Big mistake!) He then proceeded to use this his lovely little car to pick up his mistress and cheat on his wife. (Terminal Mistake!) Being justifiably upset, the wife responded.

After correcting the paint scheme (see image at right), the wife - within her rights as titled owner - listed the Jaguar in the Used Cars section of the website - at 50% of it's actual value! But that's not quite the best part - at least it wasn't to me. What I enjoyed most was the wording of her advertisement, which begins: "Car Belongs To Cheating Rat Of A Husband. But The Idiot Had The Car Registered In My Name So It's Mine To Sell."

Apparently, the paint damage is relatively inexpensive to correct. Somehow I doubt that the damage she's going to inflict on her husband is going to be inexpensive - at all!




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Pay Allowances with a Target GiftCard

PAYjr, the online chore and allowance program that introduced Visa Buxx cards for teens, is partnering with Target to create a similar program for kids 12 and under. Now, parents can put allowances automatically and electronically onto a free, reloadable Target GiftCard^SM. For younger kids, who cannot get a Visa Buxx card, this is a great way to teach them the connection between hard work and financial reward.

The system, which I think is ingenious, lets parents assign household chores online, schedule the frequency and due date of each chore, and set the amount to be paid when each chore is completed. A printable calendar is automatically generated for each child, listing their daily, weekly, or monthly responsibilities and check boxes to mark completed tasks. You'll never have to write out another monthly schedule again.

PAYjr sends an email to the kids, reminding them which chores they haven't done, yet. Once they do their chores, kids can log onto the website and mark off what's been finished. Parents then receive an email, letting them know that tasks have been done. When they confirm completion, through a link in the notification or online, PAYjr creates an electronic record of the amount owed or paid to each child.

Tired of digging for cash to pay allowances? Sick of arguing about which chores do and don't need to be done? Eliminate the hassle and stress, while giving your children the ability to grow and learn.




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

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