Posted on October 19, 2009 01:51 PM
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of traveling to London to speak at Andrew Reynold's Entrepreneur Bootcamp 2009.
For the past few years, Andrew has put on an annual event that has dwarfed other marketing events in both size and scope.
This year sought to outdo them all with a massive two-day event at the London O2 Arena. Continue Reading
Posted on October 13, 2009 09:34 AM
In the beginning there were blogs.
And yea, God saw that they were good.
After all, what a fantastic way for anyone to become an online publisher.
Sure, the word "blog" doesn't roll off the tongue. It sounds more like you are about to upchuck yesterday's hot dog.
But being short for "web log", it does work in a "oh well I guess it will do" kind of way. Continue Reading
Posted on October 12, 2009 03:49 PM
Everywhere I go, people ask me how they can make money online. Every time I show up at a conference, I am swamped with people interested in owning their own Internet business. My Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts receive contact from people on a regular basis. Emails, tweets and submitted forms are always asking what tips I can provide for those who want to learn my strategies. Yes, even my email box is regularly under... Continue Reading
Posted on October 10, 2009 08:54 AM
Last week the FTC dropped a bomb on the marketing world. They released new guidelines for the use of testimonials and endorsements in marketing. I immediately contacted my attorney, Kevin Houchin, to get his take on the latest guidelines. With Kevin's permission, I am republishing the entire text of his interpretation. It is essential that all marketers, online and offline, pay attention to this content. And understand that if you have ANY questions, you should... Continue Reading
Posted on September 25, 2009 08:21 AM
Alright, so maybe it wasn't the legal dispute of the century. But you've got to admit, for two little iPhone flatulence apps, we sure did make a stink! As you may recall, the fun and games began when Air-O-Matic, the creators of Pull My Finger, contacted me with a demand for $50,000. Why? They claimed that my use of the phrase "pull my finger" in a small portion of our online marketing campaign was responsible... Continue Reading
Posted on July 23, 2009 12:02 PM
By now, you know that I am the creator of the world's most-talked about iPhone application, iFart Mobile. Although most people know me these days as the best selling author of "Twitter Power - How To Dominate Your Market One Tweet At A Time" and a successful internet entrepreneur, my staff and I eagerly jumped into iPhone development as soon as the app store launched. If you have been following me on Twitter, you are... Continue Reading
Posted on May 4, 2009 08:00 AM
I consider myself very fortunate. I have a beautiful home with a beautiful view of the Rockies in a beautiful part of the country. I also have a great office staffed with fantastic people.
And the two are separate.
That isn't everyone's goal. I've met lots of people whose dream is to give up the commute and start working from home.
I can understand that. I've done that.
Continue Reading
Posted on April 27, 2009 08:00 AM
There's about a million and one reasons why I love Internet marketing.
It pays, of course, and that has to be important. It's fun too. I'm having a ball doing this and it's rare that someone can say that about their work.
But one of the things I love the most about Internet marketing is that it's democratic.
Anyone can do it. And I really do mean anyone. Continue Reading
Posted on February 13, 2009 02:38 PM
My team and I came up with the idea for an iPhone fart application in summer of 2008. We knew it would be a hit. We just needed to develop it. We took great pride in developing iFart Mobile. It was more than another iPhone application. It was a true entertainment machine with a unique interface. It didn't LOOK like an iPhone app. When we submitted the application to Apple, it was put "in review... Continue Reading
Posted on January 23, 2009 08:00 AM
It shouldn't be a difficult question. If you want to know whether your site is a success, you don't have to look further than the last line in your AdSense stats. If you're happy with the amount that's going to appear on Google's check this month, you're successful. But what if an advertiser asked how successful your site is. What would you say then? You wouldn't tell him how much you're earning each month, would... Continue Reading
Posted on January 10, 2009 11:48 AM
It doesn't happen often.
But it does happen. And when it does, I have to shake my head and wonder what some people are thinking.
What am I talking about?
Well, let me set the stage for you with a little anecdote. Continue Reading
Posted on December 29, 2008 08:00 AM
You know what I like best about Twitter? It isn't the fact that it's easy to use and a ton of fun (although those are important). It isn't the fact that I can communicate with some fantastic people, get answers to questions and pick up information and advice that I couldn't have learned any other way (although those are important too.) And it isn't even that it's a fantastic marketing tool that drives traffic, builds... Continue Reading
Posted on December 16, 2008 08:00 AM
I believe that anyone can make money as an online publisher. I've always believed that and I've seen enough people set up websites and generate income to keep believing it.
But I know there's something wrong with this picture.
I'm not going to kid myself and it would be plain wrong to try to kid anyone else.
Some publishers are going to have an easier time than others. Continue Reading
Posted on November 26, 2008 08:00 AM
Life must be hard for television executives. To decide how much to charge advertisers and whether they should commission another season of a show, they have to know the size of their audience. The only method they have to do that is by using a survey. The Nielsen ratings track what television viewers watch and then, based on demographics, make certain claims about what everyone else was watching at the same time. Those figures could... Continue Reading
Posted on October 8, 2008 08:00 AM
I often talk about the different tools that you can use to complement the AdSense units you put on your site. Sure, AdSense is always going to be the most effective ad system on your pages. But you also want to earn for your impressions, and from affiliate links too.
A mixture of different revenue generations systems will help to increase the value you receive for your users.
Continue Reading
Posted on September 24, 2008 08:00 AM
It's been a long time since I optimized my first AdSense ad. Many things have changed since then. Some things have stayed the same. The principles of AdSense optimization have stayed the same. You still have to blend your ads into your site. You still have to produce good quality content. And you still have to bring in traffic to look at that content. The content itself has changed though. Videos are now an important... Continue Reading
Posted on September 15, 2008 08:25 AM
If you were publishing a newspaper, you wouldn't care who read it. As long as the number of readers was nice and high, it wouldn't matter too much to you whether they all read one article or absorbed everything from cover to cover.
That would be true even if you were publishing a free newspaper.
Continue Reading
Posted on September 13, 2008 12:00 AM
Everyone was talking about the Beijing 2008 Olympics this summer.
Phelps and others stole the headlines with victory after victory.
However, in the midst of this global competition, another competition was completely ignored by the mainstream media.
It is now my pleasure to bring you exclusive coverage of the InfoMedia, Inc. First Annual Flying Monkey Office Olympics.
The sporting world will never be the same... Continue Reading
Posted on September 11, 2008 08:00 AM
I'm always going on about the importance of networking at conferences. That's because I don't know of any strategy that can improve an online publishing business's success rate faster. Networking puts you in touch with opportunities that you can't find any other way. It builds the sort of business relationships that can last for many profitable years. It really does make running a business fun. And there's just no better place to do it than... Continue Reading
Posted on May 26, 2008 12:43 PM
I boarded my flight from Dallas to return to Denver yesterday morning, hungry and certain that my first class seat would get me some sort of meal.
As I boarded the plane, I asked the flight attendant if there would be food service.
He informed me that there would not be and I quietly expressed my disappointment.
I didn't really ASK for food, but I did make it known that I was hungry. Continue Reading
Posted on April 25, 2008 11:21 AM
Everyone has heard of Chicken Soup for the Soul and the zillion titles that were derived from this massive best-seller. What you don't know is that I am friends with the man who helped make that series so huge! His name is Rick Frishman and he knows a few things about getting attention. ;-) Rick has just released a new book of his own called "Where's Your Wow?" that reveals 16 ways to make your... Continue Reading
Posted on April 19, 2008 11:16 PM
I remember seeing Ben Stein for the first time in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Who could forget the monotone deadpan teacher repeating "anyone... anyone... Bueller... Bueller". And then there was "Win Ben Stein's Money", a campy television quiz show that demonstrated Ben's ability to stand toe-to-toe with the best of them. I sure would have liked to have seen him go up against Ken Jennings. As a columnist for the Wall Street Journal and a... Continue Reading
Posted on April 13, 2008 11:04 PM
Shopzilla is one of the largest online shopping sites. You've probably used them before for their price comparison tool. Recently, Shopzilla has been beta-testing a contextual ad program that would allow site publishers to place Shopzilla ads on their pages and get paid every time someone clicked on an ad, in the same vein as AdSense. I'm impressed with their program and I decided to research them further. My research led me to write a... Continue Reading
Posted on April 6, 2008 01:39 AM
What is the definition of true success?
Is it having a large bank account?
Is it having a garage full of cars?
Is it having a mansion with so many rooms you can't fill them all?
I would say that all of these material things are an indicator that a person may have succeeded in business, but without one key component I don't believe a person is truly successful. Continue Reading
Posted on April 3, 2008 01:19 PM
In March of 2006 I attended Yanik Silver's Internet Marketing Underground seminar in Washinton, DC. It was a life-changing date with destiny, for it was there that I met my future JV Partner, Eric Holmlund. I was also impressed by the high caliber of people who attended this seminar. It seemed that there was an awful lot of success in the room filled with over 300 people. Two years later and Yanik does not disappoint... Continue Reading
Posted on March 31, 2008 12:59 AM
If you were publishing a newspaper, you wouldn't care who read it. As long as the number of readers was nice and high, it wouldn't matter too much to you whether they all read one article or absorbed everything from cover to cover. That would be true even if you were publishing a free newspaper. You'd just want know how many people your publication reaches so that you can charge advertisers the right price. Online... Continue Reading
Posted on March 14, 2008 12:59 AM
So I've got this great idea for a screenplay. The story goes like this... Due to severe beatings she had received as a child, a thirty-something year old woman develops a strange phobia and doesn't leave the bathroom for two years. I know, bizarre, yes? It gets more interesting. The woman spends the majority of her time on the toilet. Yes, on the toilet. In fact, she spends SO much time on the toilet that... Continue Reading
Posted on March 12, 2008 02:54 AM
I try to be very transparent about the ways I make money on the web. It's really no secret and I've nothing to lose by sharing this information with you. I don't like to hold back as that doesn't contribute to your success at all. So I'm about to reveal one of my biggest secrets for profiting online. Ok, it's really more along the lines of "incredibly obvious", but I'm amazed at how many people... Continue Reading
Posted on March 11, 2008 12:15 PM
Google is a behemoth that continues to swallow everything in its path.
Back in April 2007, Google offered Doubleclick over $3 BILLION to buy them out.
Today the transaction is complete...
I received this email from Kim Malone at Google today... Continue Reading
Posted on March 4, 2008 03:58 AM
Do you ever go to Google to search for your name?
A search for David results in 719,000,000 web pages. Zoiks!
A search for Brenda presents 31,500,000 results.
And search for Fred will get you 120,000,000 results, including a stock chart for Fred's, Inc, whoever that is.
Last year, I Googled my name to see where I came up in the results. Continue Reading
Posted on March 1, 2008 02:52 AM
If you saw The Next Internet Millionaire, you will remember our third runner-up, Thor Schrock. Thor is an impressive guy with a natural ability to speak and a strong desire to succeed. He is very creative and he's about to demonstrate that creativity to the world. Thor is taking on the task of creating his own reality show, The Top Affiliate Challenge. Unlike my show, Thor is seeking to broadcast his show much closer to... Continue Reading
Posted on February 25, 2008 05:54 PM
I've been wanting to meet Jason Calacanis face-to-face for some time. For those that don't know, Jason is the co-creator of Weblogs, Inc., which was sold to AOL for $25 million. I'm at Affiliate Summit in Las Vegas where Jason Calacanis delivered the keynote address this morning. I really didn't know anything about Jason as a person, so I was looking forward to an insightful talk with fresh ideas. Wow, was I in for a... Continue Reading
Posted on February 15, 2008 12:53 AM
My new blog has been up for over 24 hours now, and the verdict is in!
Visitors to this site overwhelmingly approve of the look and feel of the new JoelComm.com.
In fact, many people are asking me questions as they want to know how I put this new site together.
Well, I've got nothing to hide and I will tell all... Continue Reading
Posted on January 20, 2008 12:32 AM
Does American Airlines have good customer service? Once again, I find myself on the "I can't believe this is happening" end of a telephone conversation with a customer service rep. Here's the story. I had booked a flight using reward miles to fly someone from Dallas to Denver in a couple weeks. As it turns out, he is going to drive here a few days early and won't require the initial leg of the flight... Continue Reading
Posted on January 16, 2008 09:20 PM
I love living in Colorado.
Ever since I moved my family here in February of 2007, I really can't imagine living anywhere else.
I love the mountains.
I love the change of seasons.
I love zero humidity.
And I've met some really great people here.
But there's one thing that is still lacking... Continue Reading
Posted on January 4, 2008 12:01 AM
I'm at a loss for words. I've started this newsletter half a dozen times trying to find the right way to share some information with you. Sometimes the words don't come. Eloquence doesn't seem to be in the cards for me today. It's not that the topic isn't interesting. It's just that I've got writer's block. Has that ever happened to you? There are days that I am able to create new content for my... Continue Reading
Posted on December 20, 2007 06:21 AM
I love keeping my eye out for new ad services that can make you and me money.
Google AdSense continues to pay off.
Kontera is a winner is my books.
And I've had some positive things happen with YPN and Chitika.
But I've come across something new which pays off INSTANTLY!
Continue Reading
Posted on December 17, 2007 05:13 PM
Buzzword. Defined as a word or phrase connected with a specialized field or group that usually sounds important or technical and is used primarily to impress laypersons. But Buzzword is more than that now. Look out Microsoft Office... there's a new player in town. Adobe announced the launch of their free online word processor, Buzzword. And I gotta say, it is a class act. There is a simple registration requiring your name, email address and... Continue Reading
Posted on November 29, 2007 10:13 AM
It's a sad moment, but it was easy to see coming.
Google has now officially killed off site targeting.
The function that allows advertisers to choose to advertise directly on your Web pages still exists. But now it's called "placement targeting."
There are two differences. Continue Reading
Posted on November 23, 2007 12:10 AM
It was only a matter of time.
Google is coming out with their own phone.
But Amazon has beat the Big "G" to the punch with their own electronic device.
It's called Amazon Kindle, and it appears to be a contender for the coolest device of the 2007 holiday shopping season.
Imagine being able to access thousands of books wirelessly and read them on a crystal clear display anywhere you go. Continue Reading
Posted on October 30, 2007 11:34 AM
What motivates people to buy?
Is it true that there are "triggers" that cause people to take action?
What are the secrets that the gurus know that can multiply your bottom line?
I am really thrilled to share this with you today, because it has the answers you need...
... and it was created by Jordan Hall and Laura Martin! Continue Reading
Posted on October 23, 2007 09:54 AM
Last month I was in Atlanta for the Big Seminar. Now usually I'm not much of a morning person, but when I took a peek at Friday's schedule, I knew I had to wake up early... Over the past five years or so I'd been hearing the first speaker's name over and over again... "Joel you've got to check out this young kid Jermaine. He's from the inner-city, but Corey Rudl is taking him under his... Continue Reading
Posted on October 15, 2007 09:11 AM
Cost-per-click advertising, contextual advertising, cost-per-mille advertising, domain name investing, affiliate networks, joint ventures, resell rights, floating ads, banner ads, video ads...
It's enough to give anyone a headache.
There are so many ways of monetizing a website these days that it can all get a bit overwhelming. How can you tell which ads would best match your content and which system you should be using to squeeze the most out of your pages? Continue Reading
Posted on September 26, 2007 01:56 PM
Episode 6 of "The Next Internet Millionaire" is now online...
... and in this episode, tensions are rising as the seven remaining contestants battle it out in a challenging immunity task and a team challenge that tests their sales ability.
Special guest teacher Brad Fallon instructs the contestants on principles of business and ecommerce, and someone gets a special night on the town courtesy of Brad! Continue Reading
Posted on September 19, 2007 06:49 AM
It's one thing to have consenting adults eat worms on a reality show.
It's a totally different story when children are being exploited for entertainment.
And that is exactly what is taking place with Kid Nation, CBS television's much-hyped reality show. Continue Reading
Posted on September 11, 2007 12:30 AM
I'm not easily impressed.
As I said yesterday, if a product isn't innovative it probably isn't going to get my attention.
But I've just seen something that makes me say "wow!"
If you are looking for an incredibly cool way to put advertisements on your site, I've got just the thing for you.
Go ahead. Click the link and check out how compelling this is... Continue Reading
Posted on August 1, 2007 07:42 AM
Deciding on a topic for a blog post isn't always easy. Sometimes, you'll know exactly what you want to write. Other times, you'll struggle for an idea. But there are times when a subject just seems unavoidable. Whenever Apple releases a new product, Nintendo brings out a new game system or Harry Potter hits the news again, it seems as though everyone is writing about the same thing. And of course, those aren't the only... Continue Reading
Posted on July 23, 2007 12:26 AM
There are lots of things to enjoy as an online publisher. There's the thrill of creating content. The pleasure of meeting friends at conferences. The sheer freedom of being your own boss and setting your own schedule. And then there's publicity. That's a whole other world of fun. Not every online publisher uses publicity to drive traffic to their website. Some think it's a bit like a lottery. You'll send out hundreds of press releases... Continue Reading
Posted on July 4, 2007 12:07 AM
Google's referral programs have never impressed me very much. Although the commissions are now fair, they started out very low. But even at the new(ish) rates, few sites are going to benefit from them. They're only good for publishers who aim their content at other publishers. That's always been the problem with Google's referrals: there were too few products aimed at too few topics. But Google has been working on a whole new referral system... Continue Reading
Posted on June 28, 2007 12:00 AM
Recently, I told you that I was pulling out of the Bookwise program. It looked like a good opportunity -- it still does look like a good opportunity -- but when they objected to the domain name I was using to profit from it, I decided to leave. One door closes... and another one opens. I've been playing around with AuctionAds, and I have to say, I've been very impressed. AuctionAds lets you put eBay... Continue Reading
Posted on June 17, 2007 05:27 PM
Video is definitely the wave of the future online. Our world has already become accustomed to television and movies, so it makes sense that video will become a dominant force for information delivery and entertainment on the web.
Naturally, this is one reason I've chosen to launch the reality show, The Next Internet Millionaire, on the Internet.
But I just came across something very cool on YouTube. Continue Reading
Posted on June 11, 2007 05:56 PM
I had the pleasure of enjoying the company of my brother and his family this past weekend. They live in suburban Chicago, so it was a treat for them to come to the mountains and enjoy a little slower pace for a few days. By the way, you'll want to watch for my bro. He is a brilliant CPA with some keen insights into money management. I foresee a website and a book in the... Continue Reading
Posted on June 8, 2007 12:31 AM
I've been pretty lukewarm about Google's referral products. They've been pushing them pretty hard but I haven't been impressed. I'm not convinced that the Google Pack contains anything worth writing home about. I don't care enough about Mozilla to recommend that everyone downloads Firefox. And the commissions that Google is offering for its downloads just aren't big enough to take up real estate on my Web pages. I'd rather put together a joint venture with... Continue Reading
Posted on June 5, 2007 01:08 AM
I can't take it any longer.
I've seen a few trends taking place in Internet marketing lately, and I don't think they are right.
It's time to take off the gloves because I've got something to say.
I'm throwing caution to the wind because I think someone has got to stand up and speak the truth. If I take heat for it, so be it.
Here goes...
Continue Reading
Posted on May 29, 2007 11:08 AM
You've heard it all before...
$20,000 in one day!
$100,000 in a week!
A Gazillion dollars in a month!
The Internet marketing community is being inundated with messages telling people how they can make outrageous sums of money in a very short period of time.
Sometimes these claims are valid.
Other times they seem like "pie in the sky". Continue Reading
Posted on May 2, 2007 02:56 PM
Here's a hot tip...
Actually, TWO hot tips!
First... If you want your website to have lots and lots of traffic, you need... links.
Okay, that didn't sound so hot, did it?
But it is hot, because so many people ignore it.
I'm not talking about incoming links. Everyone remembers that they have to work their fingers to the bone to get those.
I'm talking about outgoing links. Continue Reading
Posted on April 18, 2007 12:41 PM
I'm impressed.
I don't say that much these days.
While on the hunt for the absolute best resources and services that actually help people make money online, I find myself wading through a lot of nonsense.
A LOT of nonsense.
When a friend told me about a new product called "My Affiliate Store", I had to laugh. Continue Reading
Posted on April 11, 2007 12:22 AM
You've probably already noticed it. The look of your AdSense units has changed. No, you didn't push the wrong button and accidentally wipe out all your formatting. And no one hacked into your code and played with your Web page. Google has redesigned its ad units. The changes aren't radical but they do offer a couple of small advantages. First, the "Ads by Google" tag is now at the bottom of the unit instead of... Continue Reading
Posted on April 9, 2007 10:19 AM
*** This just in! *** Actually, TWO things just came in. Please read both items carefully... 1) I JUST received an email from John Reese, the Internet marketing legend who created the now-famous Traffic Secrets course. When this course came out, it was considered pricey, and somewhat out of reach for people. Don't get me wrong... At $997 it was worth EVERY penny. But STOP THE PRESSES! John just told me that his inventory is... Continue Reading
Posted on March 26, 2007 08:14 AM
Everything has changed.
I remember when I first discovered computers.
I was in high school when Radio Shack came out with their TRS-80 Model I personal computer.
I remember going to the store and staring at it... ogling it... feeling the power of its keyboard...
Hey, I guess I just wasn't into girls yet. That time came along eventually as well. ;-)
Oh, those were the days. Continue Reading
Posted on March 19, 2007 11:58 AM
I love to write my own newsletter. It gives me an opportunity to share my thoughts and feelings with you in a very personal way. However, my friend Eric Holmlund has written such a brilliant piece that I have asked him if I can reproduce it in its entirity. Being a great guy, Eric said no problem. With no further ado, here is Eric's post... ---------------------- I want to tell you about a young woman... Continue Reading
Posted on February 24, 2007 10:37 AM
Saturday morning ramblings.
I know, it might be Saturday afternoon or Sunday... or even Monday, when you receive this. Nevertheless, it's Saturday morning as a write.
So there. :-P
Here come the ramblings, kind of a stew from me to you :-)
Continue Reading
Posted on February 23, 2007 12:51 AM
Five days ago, I wrote about my experience with American Furniture Warehouse in Fort Collins, Colorado. It was not a glowing moment for their customer service team. This morning, my home phone rang and my wife informed me that American Furniture Warehouse wanted to speak with Joel Comm. I had been anticipating a call from them. Surely they monitor the web for mention of their name, and just 48 hours after blogging about my experience... Continue Reading
Posted on February 13, 2007 12:21 AM
The writer Anne Lamott likes to tell a story of how her brother had to create a school project describing a huge number of different birds. He didn't know how he was going to complete it. Lamott's father had some wise advice. He told his son to do it "bird by bird." Lamott used that analogy to describe the process of writing a book. You can think of it as a way of creating a... Continue Reading
Posted on February 1, 2007 12:27 AM
There's a look that I've seen way too many times. It doesn't happen often, but even once is enough. I'll be standing in front of an audience at a conference or teaching a class, and I'll see my audience's eyes glaze over. Instead of looking at me, they start looking at the conference program or at their watch or at anything but me. It's a look that says I've lost them. Whenever that happens, I... Continue Reading
Posted on January 11, 2007 09:07 AM
Ack! It was the only word uttered by Bill the Cat of Bloom County fame. If you don't know who I am referring to, here's a quick refresher course. Bill the Cat And now that we are on the same page, I felt a bit like Bill the Cat yesterday when I received questions about my Monthly Templates membership program. They were very GOOD questions. And I can't believe that I blew it by not... Continue Reading
Posted on December 17, 2006 11:20 AM
I love giving gifts.
I can't help myself.
I am one of those who prefer watching others open presents on Christmas morning to opening my own.
There's just something special about seeing a smile on someone's face when they open a present I've given them that brings joy to my heart.
Continue Reading
Posted on December 11, 2006 09:41 PM
Deck the Halls with boughs of holly...
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way...
Frosty the Snowman, was a jolly happy soul...
You'd better not pout, you'd better not cry...
You get the idea! Christmas is coming!
And you can spice up your AdSense blocks with a little holiday cheer using their "themed ads".
Want to know how? Continue Reading
Posted on December 5, 2006 12:55 PM
He beat me to it.
I'm not angry... it's not my style.
But I am just a little.. bit... um... er... envious?
Ok, I said it. I'm envious.
And I think I have a right to be.
Continue Reading
Posted on November 27, 2006 12:00 AM
Alright, we are now headlong into the holiday season, and I wonder... Would it be ok with you if I follow a rabbit trail today? I just want to get something off my chest. It may just end up being instructive, but right now I just need to... um... well... er... rant? Yes, that's it. I need to rant. So, if you aren't interested in my little hissy fit, go ahead and delete this email... Continue Reading
Posted on November 25, 2006 04:05 AM
I’m always going on about the importance of great content. I don’t apologize for that. You can have ad units that are perfectly optimized, blended completely into your site and packed with high-paying ads. But if your content’s garbage, no one’s going to click on them because no one’s going to come to your site. I meet so many people who dream of getting rich with AdSense but never give a thought for building a... Continue Reading
Posted on October 24, 2006 01:33 AM
It's just been an incredible month for new revenue-generating resources!
First we had the SEO product of the year, The Stomper from Brad Fallon.
Then Instant AdSense Templates helped people get a site up and running quickly.
Next, Anik Singal and Rosalind Gardner launch their Blog Classroom, which is only available for a couple more days, by the way. If you haven't signed up yet, visit Blog Classroom
And now, there's this... Continue Reading
Posted on August 28, 2006 12:29 AM
One of the fastest ways to get started with a web site is to create a blog. Absolutely anyone can get started with blogging in less than FIVE minutes by setting up a free blog at Blogger.com. Yes, it's free.
Once you get the blog set up, follow their simple instructions for creating your blog content.
And then, the real fun starts... Continue Reading
Posted on August 22, 2006 04:11 PM
Eric Holmlund has been telling me about HyperVRE. He's like, "Joel, this is perfect for your AdSense students... and it's free!"
I said, "Reeeeally..."
So I took a look at it. And I am impressed. Eric said that I could show you his video that demonstrates exactly how this free tool works.
HyperVRE Continue Reading
Posted on August 7, 2006 11:00 PM
I've gotten to know Mike Filsaime over the past year, and consider him a good friend. Not only is he an incredibly smart marketer, but he is a good-hearted guy who really wants to see people succeed. When Mike launched Butterfly Marketing earlier this year, he hit a huge run. Not only did he sell tons of copies of his course, but the results have been equally impressive. Testimonial upon testimonial of success stories find... Continue Reading
Posted on July 31, 2006 02:48 PM
Wouldn't it be great if we could optimize our websites for AdSense then just kick back and enjoy the income? We wouldn't have to worry about trying new ad formats or checking new strategies or wondering what else we could be doing to increase our revenues. We certainly wouldn't have to watch out for the sort of change that could radically affect the way our pages are arranged. One such change could be just around... Continue Reading
Posted on June 10, 2006 12:40 AM
If you've been following my life at all, you know I've been working with my mother to help her build her website, TravelsWithSheila.com.
Acting on my advice, my mom has issued a press release today. Continue Reading
Posted on June 7, 2006 12:07 AM
If you have a site and want to get your visitor's attention, this is really cool stuff...
Over 86% of web surfers have some sort of popup blocker installed. If you want to gather email addresses or request your visitors take some other action, popups have become ineffective.
Until now...
Impact Popup gets around popup blockers to display a very slick popup that you can install on your site in a matter of moments. Continue Reading
Posted on June 1, 2006 09:23 AM
Stop the presses!
Jeremy Gislason just sent me an email telling me that the Marketing Main Event 2 is now available for 1000 people.
What is the Marketing Main Event?
Only the largest collection of membership reseller licences, private label rights, master rights, resell rights, contributed products, instant sales pages and sales links, exclusive joint ventures, special offers, V.R.E. content generators, training and learning zones EVER! Continue Reading
Posted on May 31, 2006 12:11 AM
I'm just back in town from Michael Penland's Internet seminar in Orlando. It was a great seminar with two dozen fantastic speakers. I know the attendees must have gotten alot out of the time spent there.
I want to take a moment to tell you about a guy I met in Orlando this week.
His name is Keith Wellman. Continue Reading
Posted on March 25, 2006 07:39 AM
I can't tell you how many times people have walked up to me at Yanik Silver's Underground Seminar and said, "You're Joel Comm!" Usually, I get a dumbfounded look on my face, look down at my badge to confirm their suspicions, smile, and look back up them... saying, "why, yes I am!" It's an incredilby humbling experience, actually, because I'm the same guy that I was before anyone thought of me as the AdSense guru... Continue Reading
Posted on March 14, 2006 10:30 AM
It probably isn't easy to get a job with Google. But Tom Vendetta was determined to secure a position with the search engine giant. According to a press release sent out via I-Newswire, this 15-year old boy was hired by Google, and his salary would be placed in a savings account for his future education.
Kudos to Tom!
Oh, I may have failed to mention this... Continue Reading
Posted on March 7, 2006 10:59 PM
I am extremely impressed with the folks at TextPayMe.com. Not only is their "send funds by cell phone" service ultra-cool, but they have made good on their free Xbox 360 offer in record time! Continue Reading
Posted on March 3, 2006 06:04 PM
I can't remember the last time I had so much fun playing guitar.
No, I'm not talking about my Yamaha Strat knock-off or my Ibanez steel string.
I'm talking about a plastic guitar with no strings and five frets.
Huh? Continue Reading
Posted on March 1, 2006 12:00 AM
Blog networks are all the rage right now. You can sign up at a number of sites and instantly have your own blog. Take Trooblog.com for example. Sign up your blog and have instant access to all the power of Wordpress. Blog to your heart's content. Continue Reading
Posted on February 3, 2006 11:47 PM
In November 2005, I saw Dave Lakhani speak for the first time at Armand Morin's Big Seminar. Dave's presentation on how to use press releases to get noticed by the media and as tool to generate traffic really caught my attention. I had the privilege of spending some time with Dave this past weekened in Raleigh, NC, and found out a few things. Not only is he a brilliant PR strategist, but he is a... Continue Reading
Posted on January 30, 2006 10:26 PM
What are people searching for? The Google Zeitgeist knows all.
The Zeitgeist examines all searches made through Google and examines patterns, trends, and surprises. You can check the site regularly to see the most popular searches aroundt the world. Continue Reading
Posted on January 27, 2006 10:11 PM
Yes, people will talk. And the things they will say are quite interesting.
Ever since my AdSense ebook has come into the spotlight, my name has become more well known. Once your name is "out there", commentary and opinion is not far behind.
So how do you know when you have "arrived"? Continue Reading
Posted on January 21, 2006 07:32 AM
When I was in Las Vegas, I spent a little time with Paul Colligan. Paul is an expert in Affiliate marketing. But recently he has began beating the drum for podcasting.
Now admittedly, I have been slow to come to the podcasting table. However, after spending some time with Paul and Declan Dunn in Las Vegas, the light has turned on above my head. Ding! Continue Reading
Posted on January 17, 2006 11:58 PM
I had two telephone consultations today. One of them was scheduled with a client. Another was spontaneous with a contact that I met at a seminar a few months back. But both of them had something in common. Each person was trying to figure out how they could create a profitable business online. Continue Reading
Posted on January 7, 2006 09:34 AM
It's been at least seven years since I have attended the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Since I was coming into town for the Affiliate Summit, I thought I'd come to town a day early and enjoy free entry as a member of the press. It took little arm-twisting to convince my good friend, Dave Taylor, to join me on this excursion. Continue Reading
Posted on January 2, 2006 01:23 PM
I would like to wish you a very Happy New Year! May your year be filled with good health, prosperity and lots of laughter. :-) I have a New Year's gift for you to get things off to a good start! You may download your very own FREE AdSense Buddy, a very useful tool to help you keep track of your AdSense statistics without having to login to Google's site! You can check stats by... Continue Reading
Posted on December 14, 2005 12:40 AM
Two totally conflicting stories out of Hollywood today that explain absolutely everything you need to know about how out of touch Hollyweird is with the American mainstream. Continue Reading
Posted on November 28, 2005 11:37 AM
Are you going to Affiliate Summit? This is the PREMIER event for webmasters and merchants online. My friend, Shawn Collins, tells me that the event is nearing sellout and record attendance. I would love to see you there! Continue Reading
Posted on November 25, 2005 05:15 AM
"Bush is stupid" is always a great way to start a conversation. Seriously... bold, definitive statements are the doorway from which we can expand our knowledge base and increase in wisdom. Continue Reading
Posted on November 16, 2005 05:11 PM
A couple weeks ago at Big Seminar, I told you that I had the opportunity to meet world-class copywriter, Michel Fortin, along with his lovely fiancee, Sylvie Charrier. What I didn't tell you at the time was the news of a new contextual advertising tool that Michel revealed to me and other attendees. I didn't want to discuss it before it became available, but the day has arrived! Continue Reading
Posted on October 26, 2005 10:04 PM
My favorite Aunt in the whole world is my Aunt Joan. She is my mother's younger sister and I have some fantastic memories of her from my childhood. She was always bubbly, gregarious, fun-loving and pleasant to be around. She loved her parents, her sisters, her children, her nieces and nephews and her grandchildren with a passion. Everyone knew when Joan was in the room. Her laugh was something akin to a "cackle", and she... Continue Reading
Posted on October 10, 2005 12:34 AM
All you hear from the liberal democrats these days is "Bush lied... no weapons of mass destruction... Get out of Iraq... Saddam was not tied to terrorists... etc and so forth." I came across this series of quotes from the beloved liberal leadership that should make anyone who has supported them in the past go "hmmmm" Their own words nullify their objections with this administration, and make clear that they have absolutely no platform to... Continue Reading
Posted on October 3, 2005 11:28 PM
Mary was out of town at a conference yesterday, so I wanted to find something fun for the kids and myself to do together. Last week, I found out that a new place opened up on Northwest Expressway in Warr Acres, OK, where an old Wal-Mart used to be. It is called "Incredible Pizza". I asked a friend about it and was told that they opened up about six months ago. They described it as... Continue Reading
Posted on September 22, 2005 12:29 AM
Yesterday, I received a press release announcing a new book that my readers might find of interest. The book is called "Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed" by Katharine DeBrecht. Being a solid conservative, I got a laugh out of the title and had to read on to find out what the book is all about. Since I haven't read the book myself yet (but have ordered it), I will just post this... Continue Reading
Posted on September 11, 2005 12:23 AM
Slowly but surely, the truth about abortion is coming to the surface in the American mindset. More and more women are speaking out about how abortion has hurt them terribly, leaving a wake of destruction in their personal lives. So many of society's ills can be traced back to an abortion in someone's life. Drug addictions. Eating disorders. Sexual dysfunction. Depression. There is a cause and effect link between taking the unborns baby's life and... Continue Reading
Posted on September 7, 2005 10:15 PM
It will happen sooner of the later. The people of the state of California will eventually have a majority that will vote for same-sex marriages. Don't get me started on what it means to redefine the English language and the meaning of words. But regardless of which side of the debate you stand, Governor Schwartzenegger has pledged to veto the bill recently passed by the California legislature, which usurps the will of the people of... Continue Reading
Posted on August 2, 2005 12:17 PM
If I had been drinking coffee or milk, it would have come out my nose when I saw this story. Yesterday, the news reported that President Bush is the most physically fit President in history. He exercises six days/week and eats well. In the response to this, The Democratic National Committee has issued a press release saying "Bush Should Stop Playing Games with Physical Fitness". They accuse the President of cutting funding to schools for... Continue Reading
Posted on July 17, 2005 04:31 PM
When I first heard that Tim Burton was doing a version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I thought "Oh no. He's going to butcher it." Don't get me wrong. For the most part, I like Tim Burton's work. Yes, he is bizarre, and probably somewhat twisted. But I like his creative flair. I enjoy his unusual characters and camera angles. But I also have read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and thoroughly enjoyed Willy... Continue Reading
Posted on March 23, 2005 12:05 AM
Finally, a documentary about the left that I can't WAIT to see. This just in from Drudge... HBO MOVIE SHOWS RADIO 'AIR AMERICA' CHAOS HBO is set to air a behind the scenes look at the launching of liberal radio network AIR AMERICA. The DRUDGE REPORT has obtained a director's cut of LEFT OF THE DIAL, a grossly entertaining docu-drama of life on the other side of the AIR AMERICA microphone. The doubts. The lies... Continue Reading
Posted on February 14, 2005 02:35 PM
You know the kind I am talking about. The wife is sick, so I am up early to take them to school. The server is crashing, so I am on the phone with my webmasters attempting to resolve it. The call comes from school. My son may have chipped his tooth. He can't eat anything solid, so I pick him up and buy him a bowl of soup and take him to the dentist. Overwhelmed... Continue Reading
Posted on February 5, 2005 11:19 PM
I am a Type-A personality. My mind typically goes 100 MPH and I tend to thrive on being busy. I may even be somewhat addicted to stress, as I do some of my best work under pressure. Because of this, my blood pressure has tended towards borderline and I don't always chill out so easily. My next-door neighbor at work is Dr. Mark Morgan. Mark is a chiropracter and practicioner of alternative medicines. He has... Continue Reading
Posted on January 20, 2005 11:13 AM
The Amazing Race 6 has turned into a hit show, gathering more steam as each season goes by. Pretty impressive for a show many thought would not return after season 2. Unfortunately, this season contains some of the least likable people the show has seen. The producers have opted for cookie-cutter model types for many of the couples. Several of the others have just been utterly uninteresting. Fortunately, the exotic locations and unusual tasks continue... Continue Reading
Posted on January 4, 2005 06:46 PM
I'm getting real tired of the mainstream press and other countries telling the United States that we are stingy over the amount of support we are giving and bringing to the Tsunami victims. Granted, the irrelevant and ever-more annoying United Nations is backpeddling from their comments, but many are continuing this lament just the same. The fact of the matter is, the United States and our people are the most generous people in the world... Continue Reading
Posted on December 10, 2004 12:40 AM
Over the years, many atheists and agnostics have enjoyed mocking Christians and people of religion who choose to believe in God. The most frequent criticism is that belief in God is unscientific, therefore it is foolish. What many people don't realize is that the Bible and the stories within have an incredible amount of evidence to support them. More and more scientists are recognizing that the complexity of the universe necessitates a divine Creator as... Continue Reading
Posted on November 29, 2004 04:56 PM
Friends occasionally ask me which credit card I like to use. I have had dozens of cards over the years. First USA. Citibank. Bank One. Etc, and so forth. I have tried multiple programs. Cashback from Discover. Sharper Image store credit rewards from First USA. General Motors rewards (never did buy another GM vehicle). American Express privileges. And so on. I finally settled on Citibank Aadvantage card as giving me the most bank for my... Continue Reading
Posted on November 21, 2004 02:32 PM
I just love this guy. The President is in Chile for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. He is entering the cultural center and gets inside the building when he notices a scuffle taking place outside. As it turns out, Chilean security officials had detained one of Bush's Secret Service agents and were not letting him inside. The President went back outside, reached in to the crowd for his agent and pulled him in. End of... Continue Reading
Posted on November 11, 2004 12:00 AM
Ask the average American which constitution the phrase "separation of church and state" appears in and the majority will look at you as though only a moron wouldn't know the answer to the question. The most common reply will be "The United States Constitution". Imagine the surprise of these same people when they discover that not only does the phrase NOT appear in the U.S. Constitution, but the words DO appear in a version of... Continue Reading
Posted on October 22, 2004 03:22 PM
A few months back, BlockBuster Video sent me a press kit encouraging me to try their new online DVD rental service. I had used Netflix once before, but wasn't too thrilled with their service at the time. I decided to give BlockBuster a try. After two months as a member, I must confess that I am terribly impressed with BlockBuster's service! Here's how it works. You pay a monthly fee of $19.95 which allows you... Continue Reading
Posted on September 15, 2004 01:27 AM
After the somewhat scathing replies I got regarding my review of the Christian film, Gone, I am somewhat reluctant to step up to the plate again. Regardless (or irregardless if you want to annoy people), I will now attempt to convey my thoughts on a film I viewed today. Six: The Mark Unleashed is a futuristic end-times thriller focusing on the coming one-world government and the ubiquitous "mark of the beast" which must be taken... Continue Reading
Posted on September 9, 2004 12:49 PM
Teresa Heinz Kerry has put her foot in her mouth again. Liberals are always accusing conservatives of "hate speech". According to a story in the Associated Press, Teresa Heinz Kerry says "only an idiot" would fail to support her husband's health care plan. But Heinz Kerry, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, told the (Lancaster) Intelligencer Journal that "of course, there are idiots." Kerry's proposal includes health care subsidies for children, the unemployed... Continue Reading
Posted on September 1, 2004 12:29 PM
Amazingly, there are still liberals and democrats repeating the "Bush lied about WMDs" mantra. Let's put it to rest once and for all. Before we went to war in Iraq, what did DEMOCRATS say about the connection between Saddam and WMDs? "One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line." - President Clinton, Feb... Continue Reading
Posted on August 23, 2004 12:51 AM
It was just like any other day. I booted up my computer and started to check on my web sites. And as happens from time to time, my sites were not coming up quickly or at all. My first thought is that a server is down. I test another server and see that it is not communicating either. Now I start thinking my T1 to the office is down. So I apply the test to... Continue Reading
Posted on July 14, 2004 10:01 PM
I'm wiped out. It's not that we did a LOT today, but combining the altitude with the activity seems to have taken its toll on me. We started the day with a complimentary breakfast at the lodge. Bread, cereal, fruit, etc. Then it was off to the Steve Jones Stables for horseback riding. We scheduled a one hour scenic ride. All four of us are a bit more seasoned riders than we were a few... Continue Reading
Posted on July 3, 2004 12:22 PM
Before you go any further, I must tell you that this article is NOT a movie review. Rather, it is a smack to the side of the head of Activision regarding the release of the new PC game of the same name. Available last week, amidst much hype due to the release of the movie, Spiderman 2: The Game was promised to be an extremely open-ended game where you had all of Manhattan Island to... Continue Reading
Posted on June 30, 2004 09:31 PM
In my quest for the perfect online game, I have past by Everquest for several years now. However, I was reading a PC game magazine and saw that they were offering a 30-day free trial to the game. So I went to the site and downloaded an enormous 1.26 GB file. I installed it and signed up as Remotheus, a warrior of some sort or another, with devotion to some god of love. I figure... Continue Reading
Posted on June 17, 2004 03:56 PM
I rented Mystic River this week, as I have been wanting to see it ever since it received critical acclaim. This Clint Eastwood directed film has been dubbed his "masterpiece" by many, with Sean Penn and Tim Robbins both winning Oscars for their performances. Mystic River was a very moody and layered piece. Three boyhood friends are forever changed when one of them is abducted and abused for several days. The 10-minute boyhood prologue sets... Continue Reading
Posted on June 5, 2004 12:19 AM
And now, the continuing saga of the T-Mobile Sidekick, as featured in yesterday's entry. So my Sidekick finally activates around noon today. Around 2 pm, my phone number is ported from Sprint. All is well and good. (except dealing with Sprint.. but I'll save that rant for another time...) I am able to surf the web and received a couple calls. However, I immediately noticed that the "e" key sticks a bit. Sometimes it works... Continue Reading
Posted on June 4, 2004 03:30 AM
Earlier this year, I went to my local T-Mobile store and purchased a Sidekick, a unique cell phone and PDA that is pretty slick looking. T-Mobile has a 14-day trial period, so I took advantage of it, not really sure if I would want to keep it. Plus, I had already decided that I would be returning this phone as I found I could get it cheaper on Amazon.com. The phone retails for $350, but... Continue Reading
Posted on May 21, 2004 02:09 AM
I recently read a book that has given me much to think about. It is called The Dream Giver, by Bruce Wilkinson (of The Prayer of Jabez fame). The Dream Giver is actually two books in one. The first portion is a modern-day parable that tells the story of Ordinary, one who dares to leave the Land of Familiar in order to pursue his Big Dream. The second half discusses the meaning of the parable... Continue Reading
Posted on May 4, 2004 12:00 AM
I am one proud papa tonight. Zachary has been taking piano lessons since he was five years old. It took him a while to get going, but he has steadily improved over the years. Like his mom and dad, he has a natural love for music. This past year, I have noticed a marked difference in his playing. I am very impressed with the skill he has developed since turning twelve! Tonight was his piano... Continue Reading
Posted on April 21, 2004 09:47 AM
I'm in "The biggest little city in the world", Reno, Nevada, attending a meeting of the minds with other Internet entrepreneurs. Strolling through the streets of Reno last night left me quite unimpressed with the city. It feels like a throwback to 1970's Las Vegas, only cleaner. We dined at a very expensive, yet mediocre, buffet. But the highlight of the evening was visiting with some of the other attendees, each from a different niche... Continue Reading
Posted on April 12, 2004 08:47 PM
Ashley Revell is a British man who was vacationing in Las Vegas. He decided to sell ALL his possessions, including his clothing, and wager his life savings on the spin of a roulette wheel. The 32-year old man took $135,000 to the Plaza Hotel last month, did some low-stakes gambling, and then proceeded to bet the whole amount on Red. With a little less than 50/50 chance of winning, due to the two green spaces... Continue Reading
Posted on April 5, 2004 11:01 PM
Admittedly, my tastes run a bit eccentric. I don't enjoy odd films just because they are odd. Maybe I am odd. Anyhow, I ran across a documentary that I just had to have. It promised thrills, excitement and all the fun that is inherent in a National Spelling Bee contest. For real! Spellbound is a fascinating and fun film that follows eight children in their quest to become National Spelling Bee Champion. The eight children... Continue Reading
Posted on April 4, 2004 09:32 PM
Any fan of Jerry Seinfeld knows that he loves Superman (no, not in THAT way...)
What a treat to find this gem from American Express.
The Adventures of Seinfeld and Superman
Click on the movie reel that says "Uniform" and prepare for classic Jerry. You too will be singing, "Oh, YES! Wyoming" Continue Reading
Posted on March 20, 2004 12:57 PM
I am WAY overdue on this entry in my 15 Best Movies Ever series. Sorry about that, but I wanted to watch the film again before writing about it and recently got around to it. I know, I know. You were checking my blog every other minute just hoping the review was forthcoming. Wait no longer! #9 is a love-it or hate-it film by Monty Python alumnus Terry Gilliam. The only American in the troop... Continue Reading
Posted on March 19, 2004 01:45 PM
As a follow up to my entry on VeeGeez.com, I am still holding a position in the company, now renamed GameZNFlix. The company is trading on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol GZFX. The new GameZNFlix.com is going to go up against NetFlix, the leading online place to rent DVDs. GameZNFlix has a different plan. They will be renting DVDs AND video games for one low monthly fee. This is a great plan, in... Continue Reading
Posted on February 27, 2004 12:00 AM
Michael Medved is not alone in speaking out against those who would attempt label The Passion of Christ as "anti-semitic". Rabbi Daniel Lapin, known on the national airwaves as "America's Rabbi", has written a thoughtful article taking his fellow Jews to task. Lapin states: Those Jewish organizations that have squandered both time and money futilely protesting Passion, ostensibly in order to prevent pogroms in Pittsburgh, can hardly be proud of their performance. They failed at... Continue Reading
Posted on February 12, 2004 11:15 AM
The democratic presidential primary run is one of the most entertaining current affairs that I have seen in a long time. You've got Howard Dean screeching like a lunatic. Wesley Clark is denying statements that he made on video tape, clearly enough for even my children to pick up on. Joe Lieberman has the charisma of wall paint. Al Sharpton and Dennis Kucinich are loud of mouth but small of significance. And now there is... Continue Reading
Posted on February 2, 2004 12:17 AM
Not be confused with my groundhog day rant a couple weeks back, this entry concerns itself with the title of the Bill Murray film from 1993. Caddyshack was funny. Ghostbusters was trendy. The Razor's Edge was dramatic. But Groundhog Day is Bill Murray's finest hour and comes in at #10 on my list of The 15 Best Movies Ever. Groundhog Day is the story of Phil Connors (Murray), a cynical weatherman who feels he is... Continue Reading
Posted on January 31, 2004 04:27 PM
Mary and I rarely go to the movies these days. I hate going to a crowded theater with people who talk during the film or make incessant noises as they scarf down their popcorn and jujubees. We are far more likely to enjoy a film in the comforts of our own home. We rarely see a film until it has come to DVD. Last night, we watched Seabiscuit. While I did not live through the... Continue Reading
Posted on December 22, 2003 12:59 AM
On the first day, God created the heavens and earth... and so goes the first words of the Bible. Take an animated multimedia tour through the first seven days of Creation through this very cool flash movie. The Art Mill has produced several other animations on the page, so be sure to check out several of them. Be sure not to miss the one titled "The Arrival" as it is highly appropriate for the Christmas... Continue Reading
Posted on December 6, 2003 01:10 AM
Yesterday I told you about Barbara Feldman and SurfNetKids.com. Barbara sent me a copy of her ebook, How to Add Games to Your Web Site, and I am suitably impressed! If you run a web site for kids or teens, or if you just want some free cool content for your own site, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of Barb's ebook. Imagine adding crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, arcade games and... Continue Reading
Posted on November 28, 2003 11:40 PM
I have never been one to hit the stores the day after Thanksgiving. I have heard about the craziness, but never experienced it myself. It always made way more sense to wait until a more reasonable time to shop. I know there are some great deals for those willing to shop at 6 am, but I also know good deals can be found year 'round if you know where to look. For example, smart shoppers... Continue Reading
Posted on November 18, 2003 03:36 PM
Tomorrow, I begin a series titled "The Best Movies of All Time". First of all, you should know that I am only counting movies that are presently in my DVD library (600+ titles), so some movies are not even getting a chance at this honor. However, since the majority of films have been released on DVD, and there are very few that I am looking forward to being published, I believe this list to be... Continue Reading
Posted on November 8, 2003 11:25 PM
Alright you anti-war crowd. How you like these apples? 300,000 Iraqis May Be in Mass Graves By BASSEM MROUE and NIKO PRICE Associated Press Writers November 8, 2003, 10:10 PM EST BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Saddam Hussein's government is believed to have buried as many as 300,000 opponents in 263 mass graves that dot the Iraqi landscape, the top human rights official in the U.S.-led civilian administration said Saturday. Sandy Hodgkinson said the administration has been... Continue Reading
Posted on November 1, 2003 08:47 PM
We had a casual morning, taking our time to get packed up and on our way. Packing is such a hassle and I do not look forward to "the big schlepp" each time we leave. I have streamlined the procedure a bit more with each stop, but we are also acquiring more souveniers along the way, so the van is getting more and more stuffed. We left our hotel around 12:30 pm and went to... Continue Reading
Posted on October 31, 2003 10:38 PM
Today we visited The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. As a Jew, I have been wanting to see the museum for a long time. I knew it would be a "must see" if I ever made it to Washington. I'm not sure I can put my experience into words, and perhaps it is best that I don't even try. I don't want to minimize my visit into simple cliches. I'll sum up by saying this... Continue Reading
Posted on October 30, 2003 06:53 PM
Once again, we got an early start and walked all over the place. We started by going to the Washington Monument, the tallest structure in D.C. It stands 555 feet high and is truly an awesome site. We took the elevator to the top and got to look out some very small windows in each direction. Of course, there are many others attempting to get a good view, so we didn't have much time to... Continue Reading
Posted on October 29, 2003 08:42 PM
Woke up bright and early to begin our tour of the Nation's Capitol. We found a subway station just across the street from the hotel and were at The Mall in a few minutes. Bam, there we were, surrounded by the greatness that is Washington, D.C. The Washington Monument to my left; the Capitol Building to my right; and The Smithsonian beckoning to us from all directions! It was my first glimpse of the city... Continue Reading
Posted on October 21, 2003 09:15 PM
We had a horrible night at the Quality Inn in Lyndhurst, NJ. It was supposed to be a non-smoking room, but the odor was there just the same. I went to the front desk and they gave me an ionizer to use in the room. We gave it a shot, but it didn't do the trick and the odor was giving Mary a headache. It was late and the kids were already falling asleep, so... Continue Reading
Posted on October 17, 2003 09:12 PM
We got to sleep in a bit this morning. After the kids did their schoolwork and I did some work, we went to lunch. Next stop was the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Museum and Library, south of the city. It is a beautiful building designed by I.M Pei. I was only two years old when President Kennedy was assasinated, so this was a great opportunity to learn more about this man that was much loved and... Continue Reading
Posted on October 14, 2003 10:40 PM
Woke up this morning and decided that Bennington, Vermont would be a very nice place to live. The colors of the leaves are absolutely beautiful. I know it won't last long, and before you know it, the cold weather will come and the snow will fall. I don't care. The town has so much charm, history and beauty. After a quick breakfast in the room, we followed the usual ritual of packing the car and... Continue Reading
Posted on October 8, 2003 10:01 PM
After schlepping our stuff to the car, for what seemed to be the umpteenth time, we drove to the campus of the University of Illinois, my alma mater. Many things looked different, but much more looked exactly the same. I felt both relieved and sentimental as I walked "the quad". It was great to show the kids where I went to school, and I think they were impressed by the old buildings and the number... Continue Reading
Posted on October 7, 2003 10:32 PM
We left Jacksonville, MO around 11 am and set course for Beardstown, IL, made famous by the Beardstown Ladies Investment Club. Our visit had nothing to do with investing. We visited friends, Carla and Rick Simmert. Carla is a blessing as she is the person God had in place to take over Mary's web site, SafeHaven, when Mary no longer had the time to give it the attention it needed. We spent a couple hours... Continue Reading
Posted on October 4, 2003 10:33 AM
Here's the story... of course, you won't see it in the mainstream news or papers. They don't want to eat crow. State Department spokesman: Lethal bio-toxin 'kills people, it kills people in large quantities' © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com The vial of botulinum bacteria discovered in Iraq by U.S. arms inspectors – which experts call the most poisonous substance known to man – is "a weapon of mass destruction," the State Department's top spokesman announced yesterday. "Botulinum... Continue Reading
Posted on September 10, 2003 12:02 PM
While not a fan of the Catholic Church, this news regarding Mel Gibson's The Passion is interesting. This just in from the Drudge Report. VATICAN THUMBS UP ON MEL GIBSON'S CHRIST MOVIE An influential Vatican cardinal is about to endorse Mel Gibson's PASSION, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. The controversial Mel Gibson-directed drama about the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus Christ will be praised -- unconditionally -- by Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos... Continue Reading
Posted on August 26, 2003 01:44 PM
The slope continues to get the grease. This from Fox News. MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Espousing his reverence of God above "earthly authorities," Alabama's Chief Justice Roy Moore (search) said removing the Ten Commandments monument (search) from the state judicial building is just plain wrong." I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately, the majority of Americans have been deceived into believing two erroneous assertions... 1) "The separation of church and state" appears in the U.S. Constitution 2) That... Continue Reading
Posted on August 15, 2003 11:54 AM
I am completely dumbfounded by the heat that Mel Gibson is catching for his film, The Passion. In an age where "tolerance" is preached as a virtue and the First Amendment is wielded as the rationalization for every kind of aberrant behavior, I am amazed at how intolerant and oppressive some people are being in regard to Mel's upcoming movie. I've covered this some, here and here, but this latest news chaps my hide. The... Continue Reading
Posted on July 30, 2003 12:55 PM
Yes, it's true. I have been a Presidential Advisor. At least that's what Mary tells me. About 10 years ago, I was shopping at Best Buy on Central Expressway in Dallas. It was the holiday season, so the store was packed with people. I meandered my way into the software aisle, and there HE was. Who, you ask? None other than then-Governor-elect George W. Bush! He has recently won the election for the Gov seat... Continue Reading
Posted on July 29, 2003 12:25 PM
I decided to go check out the new Aspen Athletic Club that is opening just 1.5 miles away from our house. Mary and I have been talking about joining a club for a while, so I thought I'd stop be on my way to work. The actual club is still being built, but they have a temporary facility set up where they can sell memberships. I don't like long sales pitches and I had more... Continue Reading
Posted on July 23, 2003 11:17 PM
We got a late start this morning, but isn't that what vacationing is all about? Jenna is so excited about going horseback riding, so we walked to the stable and made a reservation for tomorrow at 10:30 am. She will be riding a black and white horse named Questa. Every time we passed the stable today, she pointed out Questa to all of us. Took a photo of Jenna out front of the lodge. For... Continue Reading
Posted on July 3, 2003 01:58 PM
I have finally gone and done it. I have purchased my first Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game for the PC, Star Wars Galaxies, from LucasArts. I have dabbled with the game for a few hours today and have found it to be quite entertaining. I am beginning to see the appeal of this genre. Certainly, there is a fair amount of battling to be done. But most impressive is the interaction with other people simultaneously... Continue Reading
Posted on June 7, 2003 03:04 PM
While on vacation in Enid, OK, we took the kids to see Finding Nemo. It may just be the BEST Pixar animated feature to date! As they have done with several recent flicks, Pixar first taunted us with a short film. Knick Knack was their very first computer animated short film. This story of a snowman in a snow globe pining for the disproportionate blond from Miami had me in stitches for several minutes. 'Nuff... Continue Reading
Posted on May 27, 2003 01:00 AM
Once again, if you are just joining us on this story, you may wish to click here to read so far. After the incredibly overwhelming reception (about 8 emails) I received from my print publication, I knew I needed to do something to get more exposure. It was then I met Ken Burge. He and I met around 1994 and instantly enjoyed discussing all things computers. I believe he was working for Texas Instruments at... Continue Reading
Posted on May 23, 2003 01:01 AM
If you are just joining us on this story, you may wish to click here to read so far. Continuing... Those were the days of BBS's, bulletin board systems, where you would dial in to another computer with your blazing fast 2400 baud modem in order to post messages, download software and play text-based games online. It was also the time when AOL, Compuserve, Prodigy, GEnie and Delphi were battling it out to see who... Continue Reading
Posted on May 19, 2003 01:59 PM
Ok, you got me. There is no such thing as a "friend" egg roll. I meant to say "FRIED". Oops. My bad. (MrsMayor hates that expression...) Continue Reading