Entries from April 2008 ↓

StylishDesign.com is a blog that covers all sorts of web design issues including search engine optimization, CSS, tools and software related to web design, and much more information that anyone designing a website would be glad to know. The nice part about StylishDesign.com is that it covers everything from the highly technical, like what exactly happens when a website is requested, to more ethereal issues like the philosophy behind the main intent of designing a website.

Since many of us webmasters have to act as not only the technical web guru, but also the graphic designer and content manager, it’s nice to have a resource like StylishDesign.com. Many times it turns out that we fall a bit short on certain parts of our multi-requirement jobs, and to have a central location to go and do all of our research is a great benefit.

One part of the web design puzzle that I fall a bit short in is understanding what exactly a Google page rank is, and why it matters. I fortunately have a reasonable page rank on my blog, but it tends to fluctuate in confusing ways. After reading an article on StylishDesign.com about why you really can never tell a page’s true page rank, I feel much better about my confusion. Turns out it’s just confusing to begin with, and was probably created that way for a reason.

I have finally had a chance to post two of my videos from the Transworld Haunt and Attractions show in Las Vegas last month. Here are two of my favorite props from the show. The first is the Skulltronix Talking Skull and Skeletron, which is a full size animated skeleton body on which to mount the talking skull.

The second prop is from ScareFactory, and is a zombie mounted on a walker that shakes around and basically just looks creepy. It’s really a shocking prop despite its simplicity. I’m strongly considering building something similar for this year’s haunt. Anyway, enjoy the clips!

Skulltronix:

ScareFactory:

Are you a zombie hunter or other kind of soldier of fortune? Do your everyday exploits require the use of police quality tactical gear and clothing? If you do, check out lapolicegear.com. They have a great assortment of clothing and gear to suit your zombie hunting needs, all from the comfort of your own home. Stop using that worn out holster and those pants with the holes in the knees, and pick up some new tactical gear from lapolicegear.com today!

Last month, I attended the Transworld Haunt and Attractions show in Lass Vegas. Transworld is arguably the biggest show for the haunt industry, as well as the costume and party industry. I took some pictures and did some guest blogging for The Haunted Report ( http://www.hauntedreport.com ) upon my return since they were not able to make it out to the show. My posts so far are located here:

http://www.hauntedreport.com/2008/04/transworld-madness-part-one.html

And here:

http://www.hauntedreport.com/2008/04/transworld-madness-part-two.html

Check out my posts over there, and be sure to check out The Haunted Report for your online Halloween and horror fix! Hopefully this relationship will progress, and I’ll be able to be a guest blogger for them more frequently. Anyway, I’ll keep you posted as this relationship progresses!

One of the best things about the Internet is that it is easier than ever before to get free coupons and print them off at home. Saving money is a snap when you know where to look.

At PPGazette.com, you can find Free Grocery Coupons and print them out from the comfort of your own home. And in this age of exponentially rising gas prices and state budget deficits, who couldn’t stand to save some money? Give them a try today, and save money easily on your grocery bill!

I don’t always agree with MoveOn.org, but I am on their email list and think that they do more good than harm. This is an example of when they disseminate useful information. Here’s an excerpt from an email they recently sent out with ten facts about John McCain that you probably don’t know, but should:

10 things you should know about John McCain (but probably don’t):
1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has “evolved,” yet he’s continued to oppose key civil rights laws.¹

2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain “will make Cheney look like Gandhi.”²

3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.³

4. McCain opposes a woman’s right to choose. He said, “I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned.”⁴

5. The Children’s Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children’s health care bill last year, then defended Bush’s veto of the bill.⁵

6. He’s one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a “second job” and skip their vacations.⁶

7. Many of McCain’s fellow Republican senators say he’s too reckless to be commander in chief. One Republican senator said: “The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He’s erratic. He’s hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me.”⁷

8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than any of the other presidential candidates.⁸

9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his “spiritual guide,” Rod Parsley, believes America’s founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a “false religion.” McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church “the Antichrist” and a “false cult.”⁹

10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a 0—yes, zero—from the League of Conservation Voters last year.¹⁰

—

Citations

1. “The Complicated History of John McCain and MLK Day,” ABC News, April 3, 2008
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/the-complicated.html

“McCain Facts,” ColorOfChange.org, April 4, 2008
http://colorofchange.org/mccain_facts/

2. “McCain More Hawkish Than Bush on Russia, China, Iraq,” Bloomberg News, March 12, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aF28rSCtk0ZM&refer=us

“Buchanan: John McCain ‘Will Make Cheney Look Like Gandhi,’” ThinkProgress, February 6, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/06/buchanan-gandhi-mccain/

3. “McCain Sides With Bush On Torture Again, Supports Veto Of Anti-Waterboarding Bill,” ThinkProgress, February 20, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/20/mccain-torture-veto/

4. “McCain says Roe v. Wade should be overturned,” MSNBC, February 18, 2007
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17222147/

5. “2007 Children’s Defense Fund Action Council® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard,” February 2008
http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_learn_scorecard2007

“McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion,” CNN, October 3, 2007
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/mccain.interview/

6. “Beer Executive Could Be Next First Lady,” Associated Press, April 3, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-S1sWHm0tchtdMP5LcLywg5ZtMgD8VQ86M80

“McCain Says Bank Bailout Should End `Systemic Risk,’” Bloomberg News, March 25, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHMiDVYaXZFM&refer=home

7. “Will McCain’s Temper Be a Liability?,” Associated Press, February 16, 2008
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4301022

“Famed McCain temper is tamed,” Boston Globe, January 27, 2008
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/famed_mccain_temper_is_tamed/

8. “Black Claims McCain’s Campaign Is Above Lobbyist Influence: ‘I Don’t Know What The Criticism Is,’” ThinkProgress, April 2, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/02/mccain-black-lobbyist/

“McCain’s Lobbyist Friends Rally ‘Round Their Man,” ABC News, January 29, 2008
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4210251

9. “McCain’s Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam,” Mother Jones Magazine, March 12, 2008
http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html

“Will McCain Specifically ‘Repudiate’ Hagee’s Anti-Gay Comments?,” ThinkProgress, March 12, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/12/mccain-hagee-anti-gay/

“McCain ‘Very Honored’ By Support Of Pastor Preaching ‘End-Time Confrontation With Iran,’” ThinkProgress, February 28, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/28/hagee-mccain-endorsement/

10. “John McCain Gets a Zero Rating for His Environmental Record,” Sierra Club, February 28, 2008
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/environment/77913/
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