Google Presents The 1 Button

Google has rolled out one more feature to its social search. The +1 button is a button that will allow you to recommend search results, ads, web pages etc., to your friends. This feature is currently available for search results page. Google will add the +1 button feature to ads and also pages, you can sign up for e-mail updates for the same.

Google says that, "We expect that these personalized annotations will help sites stand out by showing users which search results are personally relevant to them. As a result, +1's could increase both the quality and quantity of traffic to the sites people care about." The +1's will also be considered by Google just like it uses social signals from other services to determine a page's relevance and ranking. It works quite like the Facebook 'Like' option.

How it works

When you run a search, with your Google account signed in, and find a quality page in the organic search results, you can click the +1 button and recommend it (the site or page) to your friends. The next time your friends sign in to their Google account and run a similar search, he/she will find that you have recommended a particular site or page. Your friend can then quickly follow the recommended link knowing it is worth a visit as it has been recommended by someone he/she knows and trusts.

via searchnewz.com

What do you think of the Google plus 1 button?

10 most 'liked' car brands on Facebook

Ferrari

Whether you agree with it or not, social media is now part of most people's everyday life. Whether it's keeping up with friends on Facebook or chatting idly on Twitter, many people use social media to interact with all manner of people. Including car companies.

You see, they've figured out that if you interact with current and potential customers they're more likely to think of the brand in a positive light and go on to buy one. There are a few methods of interacting with 'your' brand - the most easy to measure is Facebook. You can see how many 'fans' a brand has and join in and ignore as you like. We've found the 10 most 'liked' brands on Facebook, see if you're a fan too.

via cars.uk.msn.com

So what is your favourite car?

43 Things You Should Know About Google Wallet

This week, Google introduced Google Wallet, which could either be representative of the future of how we pay for things and organize our daily lives or a massive bust. Time will tell. In the meantime, we’ve compiled a great deal of information about the product, and what’s known about it before its true launch.

Share your thoughts about Google Wallet with us in the comments.

Here is what you need to know about google Wallet:

1. Google Wallet stores virtual versions of credit cards and coupons on a phone.

2. It will also store loyalty and gift cards in the future.

3. Google Wallet is a free app.

4. Google Wallet is separate from Google Checkout, and can be thought of as the brick-and-mortar counterpart to the online payment nature of Google Checkout

5. Google Wallet uses Near Field Communication to allow consumers to make contactless payments.

6. Google Wallet is currently field testing, but will become available to consumers this summer.

7. At first, Google Wallet will only be available on the Nexus S 4G by Google from Sprint, but Google will expand it to other devices/platforms in time.

8. Citi, MasterCard, First Data, and Sprint are launch partners for Google Wallet.

9. Google is also partnering with point of sale systems companies, including Verifone, Hypercom, Ingenico, and ViVOTech, to “introduce rich interaction between Google Wallet and the point of sale.”

10. Google says it continues to partner with issuing banks, payment networks, point of sale systems, semiconductor companies, mobile handset manufacturers, mobile operators and merchants on Google Wallet-related elements.

via webpronews.com

Whats all this about Google Wallet? I didn't know they had one. This article explains all about it.

What your identity is worth to fraudsters - Crime - MSN Money UK

What your identity is worth to fraudsters

As ID thieves continue to hunt down our personal data using increasingly sophisticated scams, here's how much your details are worth on the black market.

Image: Getty Images

ID thieves are selling victims' details for as little as £2, new research has found.

A report from McAfee Resources has found that criminals are using increasingly sophisticated marketing, sales and distribution systems to first gain access to your data and then dispose of it for a profit.

via money.uk.msn.com

Beware of Identity Theft!

Article Writing Made Easy

Article Writing Tips

If you work online whether it is for profit or just for the fun of it, you will need to do some writing. But if you are anything like me, the thought of writing an article is enough to fill you with dread and make you freeze in your tracks.

I know a lot of people who really enjoy writing but lots of people do not. At least they don't like the though of having to write an article. I am one of those people who "hates" writing. Or at least I often dread the thought of writing an article or a blog post that I know needs to be done. But more often that not, once I get going and go with the flow, then things can work out fine.

via squidoo.com

If you work online you normally have to write articles.. If you find writing articles daunting, this web page will offer some good advice.

HurricaneVanessa

 

Very pretty. 

The Italian footwear designer Giuseppe Zanotti teamed up with the Swiss watchmaker, Chopard to design the pink satin sandals, which were weighed down with two carats of diamonds, 199 carats of pink sapphires and 134 carats of rubies set on rose gold chains.

via hurricanevanessa.com

How much would you be willing to pay for a pair of shoes?

Christian group predicts apocalypse - World News - MSN News UK

Jesus Christ will return to Earth on Saturday for The Rapture, a loosely organised Christian movement has predicted

A loosely organised Christian movement has spread the word around the globe that Jesus Christ will return to Earth on Saturday to gather the faithful into heaven.

While the Christian mainstream is not buying the theory, many sceptics are milking it.

A Facebook page titled "Post rapture looting" offers this invitation: "When everyone is gone and god's not looking, we need to pick up some sweet stereo equipment and maybe some new furniture for the mansion we're going to squat in."

The prediction is mocked in the comic strip Doonesbury and has inspired "rapture parties" to celebrate what hosts expect will be the failure of the world to come to an end.

In the Army town of Fayetteville, North Carolina, the local chapter of the American Humanist Association has turned the event into a two-day extravaganza, with a Saturday night party followed by a day-after concert. "It's not meant to be insulting, but come on," said organiser Geri Weaver. "Christians are openly scoffing at this."

The prediction originates with Harold Camping, an 89-year-old retired civil engineer from Oakland, California, who founded Family Radio Worldwide, an independent ministry that has broadcast his prediction around the world.

via news.uk.msn.com

Predicted end of the world on Saturday by a Christian Group! Roll on Sunday!

Facebook Data Incorporated Into Bing For Better Search Experience

Facebook Data Incorporated Into Bing

If you are a user of both Bing and Facebook, you can now get personalized search results "based on the opinions of your friends by simply signing into Facebook." while you search on Bing. This means, more than facts and search engine rankings, you can now seek the opinion of your trusted friends (on Facebook) to make decisions while you search the web.

With the Facebook data incorporation, you can now "Like" stuffs on Facebook using the Bing Toolbar and juggling. They have also has added new features including:

• "Liked" Results, Answers & Sites " lets you see the links "Liked" by your Facebook friends on the web.

• Collective IQ " Allows you to see the collective IQ of people on Facebook to help your decision making.

Integration of Social Messages " Bing will also show you what major brands and companies are saying.

Conversational Search " With the combination of Facebook's communication tools and Bing, you can make decisions based on an active dialogue while you search on the web.

Expanded Facebook Profile Search " While searching for a specific person on Facebook, you can see more detailed profile including location, education, and employment details etc., of the person.

via searchnewz.com

Get personalised results from Facebook and Bing.

The auction has begun on the Princess Beatrice Royal Wedding Hat

Current bid $17 900

Hold me back.

C’mon, the world can surely do better for an iconic work of comedic brilliance?

All proceeds are in aid of UNICEF and Chidlren in Crisis, plus a jolly good laugh for the lucky person who nabs this delightful …thing.

(How could a person ever be sad, if they could look at that hat every day?)

49 people have bid so far but there’s still time – the auction ends on the 22nd May.

I shall keep an eagle eye peeled on the proceedings.

via hurricanevanessa.com

You still have a chance to bid on Princess Beatrice's Hat!

Yew Court: We Need More Rain At Yew Court

We Need More Rain At Yew Court

Here at Yew Court we are getting worried about the lack of rain. Apparently in our area we have only had about 10% of our normal rainfall.

Everything is very dry and the lawns are going brown. Richard has been watering the garden as much as possible but being on the water meter it is too expensive to water the lawns as well.

It keeps threatening to rain and when we do get rain it only seems to last for a very short time. Oh dear I hope we get a good long downpour soon!

The birds have been busy in the garden lately. There has been a lot of activity with nest building and we have some blue tits nesting in the nesting box again. We have seen baby blackbirds being fed by their parents and also some young bullfinches. I love to see all the birds in the garden.

via yewcourt.blogspot.com

The goings on at Yew Court.

No Limit - 2 Unlimited (1993) - Silliest number one singles

Larger image

Rex

It might be one of the best known (and best-selling) Eurodance tunes ever, but that doesn't mean it's any good. In fact, it's terrible. Featuring the word 'no' a grand total of 72 times in less than four minutes, No Limit is perhaps the epitome of mindless (barely) musical trash. And in a nice little link to The Chicken Song, the Spitting Image team parodied its vacuity with a song called No Lyrics.

via music.uk.msn.com

Some of the worst songs ever.

La. floodgate opens for 1st time in 38 years, eases strain in Mississippi River levees - The Washington Post

By Associated Press, Published: May 14 | Updated: Sunday, May 15, 5:30 AM

MORGANZA, La. — A steel, 10-ton floodgate was slowly raised Saturday for the first time in nearly four decades, unleashing a torrent of water from the Mississippi River, away from heavily populated areas downstream. 

The water spit out slowly at first, then began gushing like a waterfall as it headed to swamp as much as 3,000 square miles of Cajun countryside known for small farms and fish camps. Some places could wind up under as much as 25 feet of water.

via washingtonpost.com

Morganza Floodgate opened to ease the Mississippi floods

Britax Chaperone Blog | Britax Chaperone Infant Carrier

The Britax Chaperone Infant Carrier has impact protection and a patented anti-rebound bar and front, rear and side impact protection.

• True side impact protection distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion, contains the head and body and keeps the head, neck and spine “in true” or aligned, to limit injury

• Anti-rebound bar stabilizes child seat by minimizing rotational forces associated with front and rear collisions

• Quick-adjust head restraint and no-rethread harness easily adjust the harness shoulder height and head restraint without disassembling the harness

• 30-pound weight capacity for safety and comfort through the first years

• Ergonomic carry-handle designed to contour to forearm to allow for more comfortable carrying of child in carrier

via britaxchaperoneinfantcarrier.net

A great infant car seat for your little one.

Richard Cammell | Digital Photography Shots

Richard is a talented photographer with a fine eye for detail. He specialises in nature shots, including birds, plants and insects.  He likes to capture the moment as it happens in fine detail.

You can email him at:  richard@digitalphotographyshots.com

Alternatively go to the Contact Page and leave a message.

We hope you enjoyed your visit.

via digitalphotographyshots.com

Photographer Richard Cammell. His website is worth checking out. Great nature and wildlife photos!

Thousands flee Spain quake town - World News - MSN News UK

AP

Thousands of people, fearing more earthquakes, spent the night outside in Lorca (AP)

Thousands of Spaniards have fled the town of Lorca after two earthquakes killed nine people and caused extensive damage.

Lorca, which has a population of about 90,000, was transformed into a ghost town with a steady stream of cars carrying residents fearful of aftershocks to nearby cities and towns.

Shops, restaurants and schools were closed and the sirens of police vehicles and ambulances filled the air while helicopters hovered overhead.

Tens of thousands of residents slept outside in makeshift camps or on the streets following the quakes on Wednesday night, choosing not to venture home amid fears of further tremors.

Only a few buildings were destroyed, but the quakes - with magnitudes of 4.4 and 5.2 - sent brick building facades and parts of terraces plunging into the streets and caused damage to hundreds of apartment buildings.

via news.uk.msn.com

Earthquake in Spain!

Hire a House Cleaning Expert | Cleaning Service Long Beach

Keeping a house clean and tidy is hard work. Keeping every room in the house clean at all times is challenging. If you have a full-time job or a few kids, you are probably very busy, so you may find it difficult to keep the house clean and tidy. You can make your life easier by hiring a professional house cleaning contractor. You can have a professional clean your home or apartment as often as you like, once a week, once every two weeks, or once a month.

House cleaning contractors use professional products and quality cleaning solutions. They know how to clean carpets rugs, hardwood floors, and tile floors. They know what cleaning solutions need to be used on your floors and they will not damage your home.

Before you hire a housekeeping contractor, make a list. Decide what you want the contractor to do for you. A cleaning contractor can clean your bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchen, living room, dining room, basement, and attic. They can clean the dust from your furniture, vacuum your carpets, wash your floors, make your beds, and wash your windows. They can even do your laundry, wash your dishes, sweep your floors, clean your upholstery, clean your deck or backyard, wash your carpets and rugs. Gather your thoughts and decide what needs to be done in your home every week or month.

If you have a busy schedule and you struggle to keep your house clean, you should consider hiring a cleaning contractor. If your schedule is packed, you will not have a lot of time to get the household chores done. A good housekeeping contractor will do all the chores for you and get the job done in an effective manner. You and your family deserve to come home to a clean house, and house cleaning contractors can do the job for an affordable price.

via cleaningservicelongbeach.com

Most people hate housework, I know I do! If you live in Long Beach this looks like a good House Cleaning firm to hire.

Articles | Online Local Business Consultancy

One great way to get your business found online is by using Google Places.

Google Places allows business owners to claim their business and customize their listing on Google Maps.

This video explains all about it

via onlinelocalbusinessconsultancy.co.uk

One way to get your business found online is by utilizing Google Places.

Martha Graham - About the Dancer | American Masters | PBS

“I wanted to begin not with characters or ideas, but with movements . . .I wanted significant movement. I did not want it to be beautiful or fluid. I wanted it to be fraught with inner meaning, with excitement and surge.”
–Martha Graham

Martha Graham’s impact on dance was staggering and often compared to that of Picasso’s on painting, Stravinsky’s on music, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s on architecture. Her contributions transformed the art form, revitalizing and expanding dance around the world. In her search to express herself freely and honestly, she created the Martha Graham Dance Company, one of the oldest dance troupes in America. As a teacher, Graham trained and inspired generations of fine dancers and choreographers. Her pupils included such greats as Alvin Ailey, Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham, and countless other performers, actors, and dancers. She collaborated with some of the foremost artists of her time including the composer Aaron Copland and the sculptor Isamu Noguchi.

Born in 1894 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Graham spent most of her formative years on the West coast. Her father, a doctor specializing in nervous disorders, was very interested in diagnosis through attention to physical movement. This belief in the body’s ability to express its inner senses was pivotal in Graham’s desire to dance. Athletic as a young girl, Graham did not find her calling until she was in her teens. In 1911, the ballet dancer Ruth St. Denis performed at the Mason Opera House in Los Angeles. Inspired by St. Denis’ performance, Graham enrolled in an arts-oriented junior college, and later to the newly opened Denishawn School. Denishawn was founded by Ruth St. Denis and her husband Ted Shawn to teach techniques of American and world dance. Over eight years, as both a student and an instructor, Graham made Denishawn her home.

via pbs.org

Martha Graham's 117th Birthday today.

Many a Google doodle on Roger Hargreaves' 76th birthday - Tech News - IBNLive

New Delhi: Google has put up at least 16 different doodles on its home page to celebrate the 76th birth anniversary of English author and illustrator Charles Roger Hargreaves. Hargreaves is best known for his series of Mr Men and Little Miss books for children. 

Born on May 9, 1935, in Cleckheaton, England, Hargreaves worked in his father's dry cleaning business, then moved to the world of advertising and finally came back to his original ambition, cartooning. In 1971, he wrote his first Mr. Men book, Mr Tickle, which was a runaway success and later led to the animated series Mr. Men Show, on BBC. A decade later, the Little Miss series of books began to appear. His books have sold millions of copies around the world and have been translated into many languages. Hargreaves died of a stroke on September 11, 1988. 

While Google has recently been doing a number of animated doodles, the last few have been static images. The different Roger Hargreaves doodles that appear on every refresh of the Google home page feature popular Mr. Men and Little Miss characters including: 

Little Miss Magic, Little Miss Tiny, Little Miss Naughty, Little Miss Shy, Little Miss Sunshine, Little Miss Chatterbox, Little Miss Curious, Mr. Messy, Mr. Rush, Mr. Happy, Mr. Dizzy, Mr. Forgetful, Mr. Tickle, Mr. Bump, Mr. Slow and Mr. Funny. 

For a dozen years, Google has been occasionally swapping its everyday logo for a doodle. The Google doodles, an artistic take on the Google logo, have gained immense popularity over the past few years and the Google doodle team has put out commemorative doodles on numerous events of international or national importance, ranging from news events, civic milestones, birthdays, death anniversaries and important dates in history. Google estimates it has created more than 900 doodles since 1998, with 270 of them running in 2010. Some appear globally, and others are tailored for local markets.

via ibnlive.in.com

Roger Hargreaves is 76 today.

Car Sales Ipswich | Car Sales Ipswich

Car Sales Ipswich will feature our premier choice of car sales dealer in the Ipswich, Suffolk are of the UK.

Finding a reputable car sales dealer to purchase your vehicle is an important decision to make and here at Car Sales Ipswich we will recommend a reputable and trustworthy car dealer that you can rely on.

Purchasing a used car from a trusted car sales dealer will give you peace of mind in the knowledge that the vehicles offered for sale have been carefully selected, are mechanically sound and properly prepared for sale.

via carsalesipswich.co.uk

If you live in the Ipswich area of the UK and are looking to buy a car, then this website will give some helpful advice and information.

Google Panda Update: New Advice Directly From Google | WebProNews

Google Panda Update: New Advice Directly From Google

23 questions to ask yourself about your content quality

Google’s Panda update left a slew of victims in the wake of its warpath (the war, of course being on shallow and low-quality content). While Google has dropped some hints here and there on its philosophies for what it considers to be low quality, the company has now been clearer than ever as to what it’s looking at. 

Do you think Google’s results have improved since the Panda update? Tell us what you think.

“Some publishers have fixated on our prior Panda algorithm change, but Panda was just one of roughly 500 search improvements we expect to roll out to search this year,” writes Google Fellow Amit Singhal on the Google Webmaster Central blog. “In fact, since we launched Panda, we’ve rolled out over a dozen additional tweaks to our ranking algorithms, and some sites have incorrectly assumed that changes in their rankings were related to Panda. Search is a complicated and evolving art and science, so rather than focusing on specific algorithmic tweaks, we encourage you to focus on delivering the best possible experience for users.”
Google lists the following as “questions that one could use to assess the ‘quality’ of a page or an article”:

• Would you trust the information presented in this article?
• Is this article written by an expert or enthusiast who knows the topic well, or is it more shallow in nature?
• Does the site have duplicate, overlapping, or redundant articles on the same or similar topics with slightly different keyword variations?
• Would you be comfortable giving your credit card information to this site?
• Does this article have spelling, stylistic, or factual errors?
• Are the topics driven by genuine interests of readers of the site, or does the site generate content by attempting to guess what might rank well in search engines?
• Does the article provide original content or information, original reporting, original research, or original analysis?
• Does the page provide substantial value when compared to other pages in search results?
• How much quality control is done on content?
• Does the article describe both sides of a story?
• Is the site a recognized authority on its topic?
• Is the content mass-produced by or outsourced to a large number of creators, or spread across a large network of sites, so that individual pages or sites don’t get as much attention or care?
• Was the article edited well, or does it appear sloppy or hastily produced?
• For a health related query, would you trust information from this site?
• Would you recognize this site as an authoritative source when mentioned by name?
• Does this article provide a complete or comprehensive description of the topic?
• Does this article contain insightful analysis or interesting information that is beyond obvious?
• Is this the sort of page you’d want to bookmark, share with a friend, or recommend?
• Does this article have an excessive amount of ads that distract from or interfere with the main content?
• Would you expect to see this article in a printed magazine, encyclopedia or book?
• Are the articles short, unsubstantial, or otherwise lacking in helpful specifics?
• Are the pages produced with great care and attention to detail vs. less attention to detail?
• Would users complain when they see pages from this site?

via webpronews.com

More information about the Google Panda update.

'Resounding' victory for No to AV - UK News - MSN News UK

Ballot papers are sorted for the national referendum on the Alternative Vote system

Campaigners against changing the way MPs are elected have claimed a "resounding" victory as the No camp gained an unassailable lead in the UK-wide referendum.

With 403 of 440 results declared, more than 11.4 million people had rejected a switch to the Alternative Vote, with 5.2 million in favour - a margin of around 69% to 31%.

Senior political figures on the No campaign said the scale of the victory meant it was not simply a vote against AV but a firm endorsement by the public of the first-past-the-post system.

The milestone was cheered at the conference centre in London's Docklands where politicians gathered to hear the results announced by the Electoral Commission. A majority in favour of the reform was registered in only eight of the areas declared so far.

"We've won," a delighted No to AV campaign spokesman said in the sparsely-attended hall - where supporters of each side gathered to listen to regional results being read out.

The rejection of AV, under which voters rank candidates in numerical order, was a further humiliation for Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, for whom a referendum on voting reform was his main prize in negotiations to form a coalition last year.

via news.uk.msn.com

The UK says NO!

If you loved Daniel Borris' Yoga Dogs you'll love his yoga kittens

"The photos have been written about in magazines from India to Russia and Brazil," he tells us. "There are calendars and other products coming out in the UK, Russia (and the Balkans), Japan, Korea, Germany and, of course, here. So it's pretty exciting! And having just released the book published by Abrams is fantastic."

MMM via YogaDogz

via hurricanevanessa.com

Does your cat like Yoga?

Elections 2011: what you need to know - MSN News - MSN UK

PA

Voters go to the polls on 5 May in a number of national and local elections.

There is also a referendum taking place across the country over whether we should change the way we elect MPs.

Wherever you are in the UK in whatever election you are taking part, polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm.

Here's what you need to know about which polls are taking place in which area of the country.

Across the UK

A referendum is taking place in the whole of the United Kingdom to decide whether we should change the way we elect MPs.

Voters are being asked whether we should keep our existing system, called 'first past the post', or if we should change to another system called AV, or 'alternative vote'.

Anyone 18 years of age or over on polling day can take part in the referendum. Citizens of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic and qualifying nationals of Commonwealth countries are eligible to vote.

via news.uk.msn.com

UK Elections tomorrow - don't forget to vote!

Online Local Business Consultancy | Online Local Business

Welcome to Online Local Business Consultancy

Our aim is to help small local businesses and give them an online presence so their customers can find them online.

Let’s face it, how many people these days use the yellow pages to find local businesses and services?

How do YOU go about finding local business and services that you need?

If you are like most people, you probably go straight to your computer and do a Google Search.

Many small business are getting a raw deal.  They often pay a lot of money to an “seo expert” to have a nice website made for them and to help their business get found online. They hand over their money and are left to get on with it.

The only problem is – who will find their lovely new website?  If their website is not optimised for the search engines, then their potential customers will not find them and they will never know that they exist.

via onlinelocalbusinessconsultancy.co.uk

If you're a business owner and want to get your website found online, visit this website for some great information and advice.

Norfolk Broads On A Cloudy Day

The Norfolk Broads

This summer we decided to spend a few days with our friend who lives in Norfolk.  During that time we had a day out on the Norfolk Broads and I want to share with you some of the photos we took that day.  Some of the photos are a bit on the dark side but I love the clouds and sky and the swans of course!

We went in September and up until that time the weather had been very warm and sunny, but on the day we went to Norfolk the weather took a dramatic turn for the worse.  It was very cold and down in Norfolk the wind was extremely strong.  We had only brought our summer clothes and it was too cold and windy to go out very much.

But we did have a lovely day out on the Norfolk Broads even though the weather was rather cloudy and overcast. It rained towards the end of the afternoon but even so we had a great day out.

via squidoo.com

Have you every been on the Norfolk Broads? It's lovely and this webpage will tell you all about it.

World’s Fair exposition anniversary celebrated with Google doodle - mirror.co.uk

Today's Google doodle celebrating the anniversary of the first World's Fair

The 160^th anniversary of the World’s Fair exposition has today been celebrated with a Google doodle.
The first expo opened on 1 May 1851, with The Great Exhibition organised in Hyde Park’s Crystal Palace after an idea by Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert.
And it is this Expo, officially titled the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, which is reflected in the doodle with the arched glass roof of the palace central to the image.

With industrialisation ongoing, the exhibition was organised to celebrate modern technology and design.
Inventor and civil servant Sir Henry Cole, Francis Henry, artist and museum curator George Wallis, politician Charles Dilke and other members of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce helped Prince Albert turn his idea into reality.

via mirror.co.uk

Anniversary of the first Word Fair.