I love Google

Except when I don't of course! - Like when I am trying to get it to take notice of my client's site and it prefers ghastly spam filled pages to my lovely unique content rich site.

But I love Google as a resource to find things out.

'What is the speed of light, Mum?' asks my 8-year old.
"I don't know" I say, "Let's Google it!"

And we do and then we know.

The other day I was working on my father's website. He is quite a well known academic who has developed an alternative theory of language and communication called Integrational Linguistics. Working on his website can be quite challenging as every nuance of the language used is important. I need to keep checking back with him to make sure I am not misrepresenting what he is trying to say as I modify some of the text to make the site more Search Engine spider friendly. So far so good, until yesterday when I received his comment that he did not want to be held responsible for the apostrophe in some text that I had altered "...it's role in defining communication" '

Now I know I should know the difference between it's and its - being a linguists daughter an' all! But I didn't.

Until I Googled it. I just copied and pasted 'apostrophe in it's' into Google and found a great page provided by the Oxford University Press called How do I know when to put an apostrophe in it's?

Problem sorted.
Thanks Google.
Now please will you understand that royharrisonline.com is the definitive site on Roy Harris's work, over and above any of the numerous catalogues and book stores selling his books.
That would be great!

All publicity is good publicity

I recently discovered an extremely unfavorable review of my website. For some reason though this guy's comments don't bother me much. Maybe it's because he can't spell ridiculous!

Here's what he has to say

"Good god. It's amazing how far you can go when you ignore that little voice in your head that points out how rediculous you are being. This is the worst of feminism, wicca and neo-pagan sexuality rolled into a Geocities-style website. I have rarely seen a site so ... crap."
by CastorQuinn, Aug 11, 9:02pm, 2004

Strong words Castor! Something we said must have touched a nerve I'd say.

You can check out other sites CastorQuinn likes and doesn't like at his stumbleupon page

You could also check out yoni.com and see if you agree with him!

If you don't already know about StumbleUpon it's worth checking out. StumbleUpon offers a downloadable toolbar that you can use to rate websites that you visit and which takes you to sites that others have rated highly in the categories that you are interested in. In it's own words "It is backed by a community of members who explore and review sites they like. These reviews help everyone discover the best sites and meet like-minded people." I have "stumbled upon" some great sites using their toolbar.

A wise old bird

"Go to the people at the top—that is my advice to anyone who wants to change the system, any system. Don’t moan and groan with like-minded souls. Don’t write letters or place a few phone calls and then sit back and wait. Leave safety behind. Put your body on the line. Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind—even if your voice shakes. When you least expect it, someone may actually listen to what you have to say. Well-aimed slingshots can topple giants."Maggie Kuhn, born one hundred years ago today.

With the slogan "Do something outrageous every day," Kuhn organized and founded the Gray Panthers in 1970 to advocate the rights of the elderly. The National organization continues to be dedicated to social change with both "age and youth in action."