SEO & Gadgets

OK, that’s it, hold the phone! GADGETS THAT ALLOW INTERNET USAGE WHILE ONE IS IN A CAR?

Say it isn’t so! Nope, ‘fraid so. There it is, big as life on an SEO, with links to car manufacturers who are already advertising cars that will have that capability.

I’m sorry, but aren’t cell phones dangerous enough? Aren’t some states already making it illegal to use a cell phone while driving unless there is “hands-free” capability? More importantly, didn’t I just say something about whether or not it’s NECESSARY to be connected all the time in a previous blog?

Let’s see, I THINK I said that just because we as people feel it necessary to “multi-task”, that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to make our equipment “multi-task”. Last time I looked, a car was for DRIVING, a cell phone was for making PHONE CALLS, and a computer was for EVERYTHING ELSE!

I see enough bad drivers as it is. I certainly don’t want to see someone driving down the road blabbing on their cell phone (hands-free or not), while “surfing” the Web, texting their friends and/or family, and in short doing everything BUT driving.

And, stop drooling, all you webmasters, site managers, and site designers out there. Think about this for a minute. Sure, your site will reach more people, advertisements will reach a wider audience, and links will be accessed more, but, AT WHAT PRICE? In this case, people, it might be a human life. And, the last time I checked, a life didn’t come with a price tag, not all parts on the human body were replaceable, and, most importantly, no amount of technology could fill the void left by the death of a loved one. Think about it this way, what if it was YOUR loved one?

People, let’s think here. What’s really important? Go ahead and USE your cell phone IF YOU HAVE HANDS-FREE CAPABILITY, but LEAVE IT AT THAT!

Again, my opinion.

ID Theft & SEO

I saw an article on protecting oneself from identity theft. The SEO sponsoring the article also provided links to websites advertising mortgage information, free credit reports, and other related subjects.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t one have to GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION to receive this information? And, isn’t that how identity theft happens? Giving out your PERSONAL information?

Yes, yes, I know, webmasters and site managers do their dead-level best to insure that the site is secure. However, I know—from recent personal experience—that, just like with anything else, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

I spent the better part of one hour today (let’s just say “today” is a certain Monday in July and leave it at that) closing one bank account and opening a new one simply because someone at a check authorization agency who had access to my information as well as Heaven only knows how many other people’s information downloaded the files and sold them to another company. I know that these things happen, I’m aware that this has happened before, and will probably happen again, and I understand that, but it still made me feel VERY VULNERABLE.

You better believe I will guard this new account as closely as I can. However, should it happen again (God forbid) I honestly do not know what I will do. I have racked my brains all afternoon trying to think of ways that I can make purchases, pay bills, and take care of business without having to reveal my checking account information. I will probably start using a debit/ credit card as much as possible, although, frankly, I’m not sure how secure that is.

Is there anyone out there, any Webmaster, site designer, site manager, who can think of a way to make a site more secure? I can guarantee you if you come up with an idea, and it works, you would have my undying gratitude as well as that of ANYONE who has ever been a victim of identity theft.

How about it? Anyone up to the challenge?

I-Phone & SEO

According to an article posted on a certain SEO, the first month’s I-Phone bills came out today, which caused a major drop in the oxygen level (from all the people gasping for air when they saw the amount.) Reportedly, some bill amounts are in the triple digits. I’m sorry, but I can’t see paying as much if not more for a “glorified” cell phone than I do for a tank of gas or a utility bill.

Yeah, yeah, I know, it has all the “bells and whistles”. It’s an I-Pod, it’s got Internet access, it’s got text messaging, etc., and so forth. Well, so does my computer.

My cell phone is one of the cheapest made. It has basic service—plenty of minutes, free long-distance, no charge for talking to someone who uses the same carrier. It HAS other capabilities, I just don’t choose to use them.

Now, I know some of you are out there saying, “But, I NEED all this stuff.” OK, yes, CELL PHONES are becoming a necessity. A “phone away from home” (or office or wherever) is a good thing. But, that’s what cell phones were originally intended for—PHONE usage. And, that’s all I’m going to use mine for.

I have a home computer for e-mail and instant messaging. I have a radio in my car for music, and if I want to listen to music somewhere else, I’ll buy the product that was made SPECIFICALLY for that purpose. I think it’s bad enough that we as people have become a nation of “multi-taskers”. I don’t think we should ask our electronic equipment to do the same.

“But I NEED it for my work.” I’ll bet if you went in and asked your boss to pay all or half of your I-phone bill, you would find out real quick just how bad you “need” all that stuff. Most places I know will pay for basic cell phone service, especially if a person must be reached at all times (such as law enforcement personnel, hospital/medical personnel, etc.) But, the user, if indeed they are allowed to be added to a cell phone, must pay for any “extras”. And, that’s how I think it should be.

My feelings, my thoughts. What are yours?

Stock Market & SEO

A stock market article posted by a particular SEO states that now is a good time to invest in Wal-Mart stock because the company is planning improvements that will serve to revitalize its currently sort of blah, slightly negative image, thus increasing profits, which of course means more money, which leads to more dividends, etc., so forth, so on. YAWN!

I don’t play the stock market, and, I’ll tell you why. I’M TOO DUMB TO. And, I ain’t ashamed to admit it. But, I do know that certain stocks are good investments, and I know that a lot of companies offer stock options as part of retirement plans, so I’m not all that ignorant.

I’ll tell you another reason I don’t dabble in the stock market. I kind of feel like if you buy stock in a company, then you need to support that company. In other words, if you buy Pepsi stock, don’t drink Coke.And, THAT’S why I don’t buy stock. I like a good Coke product every now and then.

Along those same lines, that’s why I don’t, and never will buy Wal-Mart stock. I try to stay away from Wal-Mart as much as possible. I don’t care if they bulldoze every existing store they have, start from the ground up, and build the cleanest, most modern, most high-tech store they can, IT’S STILL WAL-MART AND IT WILL STILL BE WAL-MART!

And, it’s still gonna be crowded, and it’s still gonna put small companies out of business and make it to where you can’t go anywhere BUT Wal-Mart, and it’s still gonna give me a migraine headache every time I HAVE to go in one because I CAN’T go anywhere else because there ISN’T nowhere else.

OK, little disclaimer here. This is my opinion. I have mine, you have yours. And, this is mine.

SEO & Online Dating

An article that gives tips for women who haven’t dated in years suggested the grocery store as a good place to go on a first date. Something about you can tell if a person is thrifty or an impulse buyer by watching what purchases they make and how much they spend.

(Of course, this article just HAPPENED to conveniently link you to SEOs that offered on-line dating services. How nice of them.)

 

OK, wake-up call here. In the first place, any time you’re on a first date, no matter where you go, you’re not gonna be doing what you normally do. And, I know of NO WOMAN out there who, even if she consents to going grocery shopping on a first date (and, frankly, I don’t know of one—especially if you hate it as bad as I do) who is going to buy what she normally buys—especially in the way of “personal” products with a guy who she barely knows standing right next to her.

And, guys, please, don’t even try to tell me that you’re gonna buy your weekly supply of beer (or soda, if you’re a non-drinker) and snacks on your first date. No, you’re not. You’re going to try to convince the little lady that you eat a balanced diet, and you don’t mean one you can balance on your stomach.

Nope, sorry, I think the Webmaster who posted this article, or allowed it to be posted, REALLY didn’t think this one through. I think if I were a Webmaster, I think I would have to ask myself, “Would I think this was a good idea?” Don’t know about any of you others out there, but in my case, the answer would be, “Uh, NO!”

Come on, people. Just because it’s out there doesn’t mean YOU have to let it be on the website YOU are responsible for! It’ll get out there, that’s for sure. But, maybe, just maybe, there’s something else that might be a LITTLE more useful to your users.