Aside from Britney who was last year's most searched singer for 2008, another singer has been making waves with almost as much controversy - Lindsay Lohan. Lindsay Dee Lohan (born July 2, 1986) is an American actress, model, and pop singer. Lohan started in show business as a child fashion model for magazine advertisement and television commercials. At age 10, she began her acting career in the soap opera Another World; at 11, she made her motion picture debut by playing identical twins in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap.
Lohan rose to stardom with her leading roles in the films Freaky Friday, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Mean Girls and Herbie: Fully Loaded, Her subsequent roles include appearances in A Prairie Home Companion and Bobby, In 2004, Lohan launched a second career in pop music yielding the albums Speak (2004) and A Little More Personal (Raw) (2005).
Lohan's personal life has been a frequent subject of celebrity and tabloid journalism.
If you want to know more about Lindsay Lohan Here is a collection of sites that can help you get started:
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
I have decided to make a compilation of the Online SEO Tools that I used to help propel Empty Streets 1027 to how it is now with all of you. Each of these websites have their respective pros and cons of course and I strongly encourage that you experiment. Nothing really beats a good old fashioned trial and error approach for I believe that it is only through mistakes that we ever truly learn and get better. :) So with that being said here is the list to use and experiment with. My last piece of advice for those venturing into the field of SEO Marketing - Have fun with this and eventually things will work out and that the only true failure is when you give up.
SEO Tools
SEO Browser: See your website as the search engines see it.
Lynx Viewer: Snapshot of what the search engine sees when it spiders your pages.
Spider Simulator: Simulate how a search engine spider moves through your site.
Spider Viewer: See what search engines see when they crawl your site.
MonitorThis: This tool allows you to subscribe to 20 different serach engine feeds at the same time.
Site Explorer: See which pages are indexed and who linkes to them.
MindSet: Tweak your search results to be more or less commercial... in real time.
Copyscape: Allows you to see if your web content is being utilized anywhere else on the internet. Great tool to see if your copywritten material has been stolen.
SEOMoz Trifecta: Measure the number of sites that link to you and number of times your brand is mention on the web.
Visual PageRank: Allows you to view all the links alone with pageranks on a certain page.
Site Link Analyzer:A tool that returns a table of data containing outbound links and related anchor text.
Marketing Research Tools
SEO/M Tools
Customer Focus Calculator: Analyzes text on your pages to determine if your text is customer focused.
WordTracker: Research actively searched-for phrases within your industry.
WordTracker vs. Overture: View keyword search volume comparisons between WordTracker and Overture.
Niche BOT: Keyword research tool that helps you find the terms that produce the highest amount of traffic. Lets you drill down to dig deep and find niche phrases as well.
Metrics Market: How much traffic are you getting compared to your competitors?
Yahoo Tools
Keyword Selector: Allows you to retrieve Overture search volume for up to 50 keywords at one time.
MSN Tools
Search Funnels: See what people search for before and after your keyword.
We have already featured the top 2 most searched athletes of 2008 and now it is time to feature our number 3 on the list Danica Patrick. Like the other powerhouse women we have featured in the last Sports Saturday articles Danica is definitely in a league of her own and is becoming an icon for women and an item for men to drool over. But don't be fooled so easily for this talented athlete has a lot to offer than her hot sizzling looks.
Danica Sue Patrick (born March 25, 1982 in Beloit, Wisconsin) is an American auto racing driver, currently competing in the IndyCar Series. She was raised in Roscoe, Illinois. Patrick was named the Rookie of the Year for both the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and the 2005 IndyCar Series season. In May 2006, she published her autobiography, Danica: Crossing the Line. With her win in the 2008 Indy Japan 300, Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy car race. She also has an equity stake in her #7 team
Prior to her win in Motegi, the most notable criticism of Patrick was that she had not won a race in three years of IRL competition and still garnered significant media attention. She is frequently promoted in mainstream and motorsport media, and has been compared to female athletes like Anna Kournikova for her apparent willingness to be marketed on her looks, examples being her appearance in FHM in April 2003 and Sports Illustrated in June 2005, February 2008, and February 2009. Before 2008, some racing journalists, IndyCar fans, and other drivers claimed that Patrick's relatively low body weight gave her an advantage in the IndyCar series, which had a strict minimum weight set for the cars but which did not account for the driver's own weight. Patrick's height is 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) and she weighs 100 pounds (45 kg; 7 st 2 lb). By comparison, the IRL's tallest driver in 2008 is 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Justin Wilson who weighs 176 pounds (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb). The Dallara cars used in the IRL series weigh between 1,530 pounds (690 kg) and 1,600 pounds (730 kg), excluding the driver and 22 U.S. gallons (83 L; 18 imp gal) of fuel. IRL President Brian Barnhart thinks the advantage is exaggerated, telling Dave Caldwell for The New York Times that Patrick's weight "had a minimal effect on the competition." With the IRL-Champ Car unification prior to the 2008 racing season, the rules were revised to define the minimum weight of the car as including the driver.
Conversely, some have noted Patrick's disadvantage given the lack of power steering.
Several male drivers have made negative comments about Patrick's ability, as a woman, to race successfully. Former driver Richard Petty responded, in a separate interview, by stating, "I just don't think it's a sport for women, and so far, it's proved out. It's really not. It's good for them to come in. It gives us a lot of publicity, it gives them publicity. But as far as being a real true racer, making a living out of it, it's kind of tough." After Patrick's IRL win, she was praised by many drivers. NASCAR driver and former IRL champion Tony Stewart, for example, said "I think obviously she's got talent; she's been successful in every form of racing she's been in so far and I don't see why she wouldn't be successful here [in NASCAR]." Bob Margolis of Yahoo! Sports criticized Patrick for her actions after being taken out of the 2008 Indianapolis 500 after a pit road collision with Ryan Briscoe, writing that "Patrick’s drama queen theatrics have worn thin
With all that being said here is a video commercial of Danica for you to enjoy:
A script is more of a guide than a must strictly follow rule. Many call centers make script errors which result in repeating mistakes. Here are 10 tips to avoid common errors call centers encounter when writing scripts:
1. Avoid formatting the script in long paragraphs that promote mechanical reading.
2. Omit irrelevant information.
3. Avoid accepting any limitation or fault on your side immediately.
4. Avoid “blaming” or criticizing the customer from the outset.
5. Don’t talk to the point; you need to proactively build relationships with customers to generate more business.
6. Don’t forget to include a proper follow-up plan. Without follow-through, your customers’ frustrations will quickly escalate to permanent anger.
7. Don’t require a full agent script, because it can diminish the customer rapport.
8. Avoid a long greeting or closing. Customers hear enough about who they're calling in the IVR (interactive voice response), so make greetings short and simple – identify the brand, yourself and get down to business.
9. Don’t require inflated cheerfulness or an overly polite tone. Saying please and thank you is customary, but requiring it after every request annoys many customers.
10. Don’t repeat the same questions. If a question was asked on a previous contact or in the IVR, don't ask it again. That applies to verification, phone numbers or anything that should have been captured in the first contact. Leverage your CRM application, automatic-number ID pop-ups, softphone capabilities and any previous data stored.
Last, but certainly not least, consider timing. Don't measure on calls per hour or minutes per call — you're just setting yourself up for bad customer service, instead, measure on key performance metrics that are aligned to your strategy.
I have been craving for the old Singaporean Chilli Crabs ever since I got back from Singapore last 2006 and I have been looking around and trying out different recipes to try and replicate it here back home. It took me quite awhile and I have finally found one that actually works and I couldn't wait to share it here with all of you in today's Food Fridays.
Ingredients:
6 live blue crabs
4 tbsp peanut or vegetable oil
3 tbsp garlic, finely minced
2 tbsp ginger, finely grated
1 large egg
salt and pepper
To Combine for the Chilli Sauce
4-5 tbsp or to taste Chilli Paste
1 cup tomato ketchup
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp rice vinegar or lemon juice
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1/2-1 tbsp soy bean paste
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 cup water
Preparation
Clean Blue Crabs and cut into halves. Crack the shells and claws gently with a wooden mallet.
In a bowl combine chilli sauce ingredients, mix well.
Heat peanut or vegetable oil in a hot wok, add garlic ginger and chilli paste - stir fry for about 2 - 3 minutes.
Add combined chilli sauce ingredients to wok.
Bring sauce to a boil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Toss in crabs, stir fry to coat with sauce, about 2 minutes.
Cover and cook crabs over medium to high heat until they turn red in color.
Lift cover from time to time to give it a good stir
When crabs are almost fully cooked, push crabs to the side of the wok, or remove them with a slotted spoon.
Break an egg intoo the sauce, stirring gently to form yello and white streaks, then mix the crabs.
Remove crabs from the wok and keep warm. Let it stand for about 10 minutes for the flavors to meld.
Serve with French Baguettes to dip into the yummy sauce. ;)
Here is a video presentation of the Chilli Crab recipe for those that like to watch how this tasty Singaporean recipe is done :)
This coming April 24 - 25 something special and different will be celebrated in a town that is known for it's people and it's festivals. The Town of Pinamalayan, Mindoro will be celebrating the Bahaghari Festival and it is definitely an event that one shouldn't miss.
According to an old story, the early settlers of this town came from Marinduque. While on this way to Mindoro on their bancas, they encountered turbulent weather and lost their direction. They prayed to God Almighty for deliverance and guidance, whereupon the weather cleared and a rainbow appeared on the horizon. The crew shouted “ipinamalay” meaning- it was made known. They followed the direction of the rainbow and landed at what is now Brgy. Lumangbayan and established the first settlement which they named Pinamalayan. The rainbow became the historical landmark of the town. The yearly Bahaghari Festival is a colorful commemoration of the importance of the rainbow in the history of the town of Pinamalayan. The celebration includes a street dancing competition, cultural presentations, religious & cultural activities, and products & trade fair. Said activities showcase the values of the people, appreciation of their cultural heritage, the strength to face up to life’s challenges and unity and harmony as in the colors of the rainbow. Like the rainbow which rises to give color in the sky after torrent of rain, the Bahaghari Festival is a reflection of the continuing effort of the people of Pinamalayan that there is truly paradise at the end of the rainbow.
If you want to know more about this festival and this rather cozy little town check out their main site here - Welcome to Pinamalayan
I have been featuring organic food alternatives in the past Wellness Wednesday articles and because of it I got a rather interesting email asking why would it be better to go organic. I had to ponder on that question for a little bit before I finally got my answers all put together into three simple reasons.
Why would organic be better? 1. Overall Health of the Environment
Organic farming helps maintain the overall health of the environment by reducing the level of pollution in the air, water and soil. Free from synthetic fertilizers, organic farming helps eliminate harmful chemicals being introduced and released into the atmosphere. (Preserving our precious water sources!) In contrast to modern farming techniques which use synthetic or chemical fertilizers, organic farming distributes biofertilizers such as crop, animal, farm and aquatic waste into the soil in order to encourage growth and high produce yields.
2. Soil Preservation
Organic methods help maintain, strengthen, and preserve the soil. Alternative fertilizing methods, such as using compost and green manure, help create a highly productive soil, full of the necessary nutrients and microorganisms which are vital to the plant's growth. Because organic farming is free of synthetic chemicals, the soil will not be depleted of vital nutrients. In a way, you could say that organic farming ensures the maximum utilization of the resource in that it is still here for years to come. The point is to reduce physical and chemical damage to the soil so that it does not become infertile, dry, loose, or invaded by pests.
3. Live Healthier
Organic farming's all-natural approach increases the nutritional value and overall health of the produce farmed in healthy soil. The more nutrients in the soil, the better it is for both the plants and for us as consumers. A surplus of nutrients allows plants to grow to their full potential. And consequently, we are able to eat, digest and reap the benefits of all the nutrients offered from these plants. Eating healthier will help you live healthier, not only now but in the future years to come. (On a side note, organic foods are also said to be tastier compared to those grown in a greenhouse or on a high-production agricultural farm that uses chemical fertilizers.)
The growing number of supporters for going organic is increasing and the awareness of how it benefits us all is spreading. Here's a video to help teach you more about why more and more are turning Green ;)
Aside from Britney who was last year's most searched singer for 2008, another singer has been making waves with almost as much controversy - Lindsay Lohan. Lindsay Dee Lohan (born July 2, 1986) is an American actress, model, and pop singer. Lohan started in show business as a child fashion model for magazine advertisement and television commercials. At age 10, she began her acting career in the soap opera Another World; at 11, she made her motion picture debut by playing identical twins in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap.
