Edux redux

For my friends who had taken Dr. Kent Lawson's courses (either Eduction, also know as Edux, or physics), you might find this interesting. I have a friend who dated Dr. Lawson after his wife passed away. She is a very nice woman, and like me, misses Dr. Lawson very much.
After Dr. Lawson passed away recently, his family gave me his papers to try to develop an online course with. I have about 40 boxes of notes, manuscripts for books, reel-to-reel tapes, audio cassette tapes, and some VHS tapes. I finally found the box with the VHS tapes. My friend (the one who dated Dr. Lawson) wanted to see one, as a remembrance of him. So I'm going to loan it to her. But I watched it, first.
WOW! It was amazing to see Dr. Lawson in 1972, introducing a course in Eduction to a group of educators. I intend to digitize these VHS tapes eventually (but it will take time) and make them available to the world, as they should be. His family wants that, too.
I can't wait to show this tape to my friend, and watch her reaction.

You can find out more about Eduction (Edux) at https://www.facebook.com/eductiontheory

Also, here is where you can find out more about Eduction (Edux)

http://oneontanails.com

Spent the morning bookmarking sites for clients and working on the concept of getting sites ranked high for potential clients. 

What that means is I got some domain names and created websites for some niches, like "oneonta nail salon" for companies that don't exist. Then I'm going to shop them out to savvy local business owners who want a site that is already at the top of Google, Bing, Yahoo and other search engines. Saves everyone (but me) time and effort. 

So far, so good, though. If you Google "Oneonta nails" my "Imaginary Oneonta Nail Salon" owns the first three positions. Not bad for a business that doesn't exist. 

http://www.squidoo.com/workshop/delaware-county-ny-general-contractor

I know it's Saturday, and it's a beautiful morning here in Otego, but I still spent the morning at the computer, making a satellite site for one of my clients, Dan Tait, Inc. a general contractor in Delaware county, NY. If you need a home built, renovated, or need an electrician, plumber or roofer in or around Delaware county, check out http://www.squidoo.com/workshop/delaware-county-ny-general-contractor.
Now it's time to go out in the sunshine and throw the frisbees with Maia and Galileo!

http://www.newyorksteak.com

Check out the new slideshow and colors at http://www.newyorksteak.com. I worked all day on this bugger, and I think it "works." Feedback?
B

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jplh6Qam0wk

Just made a little animated video about video marketing for business websites. Used xtranatural on YouTube to animate it. What a hoot!

http://www.tvkim.com/watch/1058/kims-picks-an-impressive-virtual-illusion

THis is a brilliant piece of techno-illusionism from Marco Tempest, a great Swiss (of course - it's total hi-tech) magician. You should really check it out to see what's on the cutting edge of some of the magic you will never see guys like Chriss what's his name think up. (Maybe he'll buy it)

http://www.upstatebusinesswebsites.com/custom-web-design-doesnt-always-mean-good/

Just put up a new article on the Upstate Business Websites blog. It explains why a lot of the "custom designing" by some web designers and firms is just a sneaky way to get you hooked on them and having your website "held hostage" if you want to change to a more effective and reasonably priced designer. Don't make this mistake when you hire a web designer.

http://www.oneontacafe.com

Just finished the site for Capresso Coffee Bar in Oneonta at http://www.oneontacafe.com. Have a peak.

http://www.oneontacafe.com

New client, Capresso Coffee Bar at http://www.oneontacafe.com is having a grand Re-opening, this Saturday, June 11. 215 Main St. in Oneonta. Free coffee with every purchase, and other surprises.

Not procrastinating in Joe's Garage

Having made a commitment, yesterday, to total non-procrastination, I've just finished up a ton of coding on a client's pages. Almost ready to launch a new site. As I do this, I'm listening to music I hadn't heard in ages.Among the other things I've vowed not to procrastinate about is to get rid of the thousands of cassettes and cds I have cluttering up shelves, by digitizing two or three a day. A couple of years from now I should be vinyl and plastic-free. I also have found some cool things you can do to promote small businesses with empty cassette and cd cases. Cool beans.The music has the added effect of motivating me to keep working. I mean, how can you not work with Doo-Wop and Motown pounding rhythm to the brain?
Right now I have Zappa's "Joe's Garage, Act 1" blaring "Catholic Girls." Now that's motivatiing.

spoke too soon...

Arggg... I spoke too soon. The other sites are kicking butt, but my own just dropped back down to below the first page of google. Google can be a fickle mistress. But I respect her algorithm. Well - back to the dance...

Banner day

Great day for Upstate Business Websites. Finally got to the number one google position for "Oneonta Web Design". Also got my client, Mama Nina's Pizza, to dominate the first page of google with the FIRST FIVE (!) positions for "Oneonta Pizza" and the first three for "Pizza Oneonta."
OK, I admit that that is to be hoped for if you're an SEO and web design company, but check this out:
I made up a Nail Salon business - The Imaginary Oneonta Nail Salon ("Where your Nails are always in Good Hands"). I wanted to see if I could rank it in google higher than the real nail salons. It now has 3 positions on google's first page for "Oneonta Nail Salon", and the first five position for "Oneonta Nails." This only took two weeks since I made the place up.. Not bad for a business that doesn't exist.
OK, enough childish gloating. It's time to go help some real businesses.

Royal City Riot at the Black Oak

Talking to a bunch of music industry majors from Oneonta, NY about how to promote websites and concerts. They're promoting the group 

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=113966165350507">Royal City RIot</a>

submitting company information to local business directories

Spent an entire day's work (about 12 hours) submitting clients' information to local business directories. What a pain in the ass that is! Gotta' get some virtual assistants or interns soon. Upstate Business Websites is growing beyond my ability to take on new clients soon. Good/bad.

Inspiration that isn't soppy BS

If you know me at all, you know I hate lugubrious crap. This certainly looked like it was going to fall into the category, but man, even this old curmudgeon teared up over it. Check it out:

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=150419974440

Petition to Prohibit Heavy Industry in the Town of Otego

The Concerned Citizens of Otego have drafted a petition to prohibit heavy industry, like that of gas drilling, in the Town of Otego at:

http://otegony.com/petition

If you are a resident of the Town of Otego (which includes the Village of Otego), please sign the petition.

The Shall Scam

Time Magazine, 2011:
Natural gas from shale rock promises to provide cleaner, abundant energy for the U.S. and the world. But there's a catch. It could come with significant environmental and social costs. Can the energy industry deliver the goods so that everyone benefits?

Time Magazine, 1939?:
National-Socialism promises to provide abundant labor for Germany. But there's a catch. It could come with significant social costs. Can Hitler deliver the goods so that everyone benefits?

Why does a negative times a negative yield a positive?

Just posted an explanation of why a negative times a negative gives you a positive on the Math Mojo Chronicles. It's a good, quick read. Give it a shot.http://www.mathmojo.com/chronicles/2011/04/01/negative-times-a-negative-is-a-whaaaa/

Oneonta Web Design and The Imaginary Oneonta Nail Salon

Just did some work on the Oneonta Web Design site. Also the Oneonta Nail Salon site. Added a great new plugin to it that I'll be using for lots of retail sites in the future. I love Wordpress!

...out like a lamb, my eye!

Mother Nature's playing an April Fool's joke on us today. It's snowing. At least they've revised the forecast from 5-10 inches to only one inch.

How to Hire a Building Contractor in Upstate NY

Just published this short "how to" article for a client (Dan Tait, Inc.) at http://www.wikihow.com/Select-a-Building-Contractor-in-Upstate-New-York

New Logo for website

Getting back into Bryce 3D animation, if only to make my new logo for Upstate Business Websites. It's a fun program.

Harry Houdini

If I ever had a childhood hero, it was Harry Houdini. Like so many magicians my age and older, he was really the icon of icons. In life, he was so much bigger than life. He probably inspired more young men to get into magic than anyone in history.
When I ask young magicians how they got into magic today, so many of them mention some of the trendy posers of the recent magic scene. I feel sorry for them, but then again, I know if they stick with the craft they will come to appreciate the true pioneers. The story of how Erich Weisz became the Great Houdini is one of the great American epics.
Today, March 24, 2011, would have been Houdini's 137th birthday.
So, happy birthday, Harry!
From your ever-devoted fan,
~ Brian

http://www.caninekneesurgery.com/results/

This was a fun video to make for a client. Thank you, iMovie!

Check out the video of “Rudder” who had bilateral, simultaneous (both knees at the same time) tibial tuberosity advancement surgery by Dr. Leahy.
Rudder was walking fine in two days!

http://www.squidoo.com/oneonta-web-design

Just published my 25th Lens. Liking Squidoo more and more. This one is about Web Design in small towns, specifically Oneonta, NY.
There are special challenges when you live in a small town and are limited to your choices in web designers, and information about search engine optimization and internet marketing in general.

http://oneontapizza.com

Just put up photos of some of the awards Mama Nina's Oneonta Pizza has won over the last few years. Since 2005 they have won the Best Pizza award from Hartwick College every year. It makes a nice display. Check it out at the bottom of the page. The page still needs some text. I did an interview with the own last week and we'll put it up on the home page soon.

http://jungletreats.com

Just finished putting up a site for a new client at http://jungletreats.com. The product is Kale Krisps. They are a super-healthy, 100% organic, raw, dehydrated Kale chip. Sounds gross, right? They are really delicious. I ate a bag of them on the way home from the meeting with her, and they were more satisfying than any chip I'd ever eaten. Really.

http://www.97wwdj.com/italo.htm

While listening to "Believe Me" by the Royal Teens for the godzillionth time, I was musing on one of my favorite music genres - Doo Wop. Not just any doo-wop, either, but Italian-American Doo-Wop (which sounds like a slur, but is really some of the best music you ever heard).
Awhile ago I was listening to someone talk about the musical "Jersey Boys" (About the Four Seasons) and I said, "Yeah, I love Italian-American Doo-Wop." They looked at me like I was crazy. They said they never heard of that. I guess they missed half the point of the show they just came from.
A short list of great Italian-American Doo-Wop groups include The Royal Teens (with Bob Gaudio, who later wrote for the Four Seasons), The Crests with Johnny Maestro, Dion and the Belmonts (my faves), The Duprees, The Regents, The Elegants (with my favorite "Little Star" - what a voice!) Danny and the Juniors, The Mystics... look 'em up. You've heard lots of songs by all of them. Each one has at least one evergreen.
Hell, all Doo-wop is great. Rock 'n' Roll will never die!

http://www.dogwork.com/tder6/dog.mp4

Two dogs in a busy restaurant. If you haven't seen it - check it out.
Nice waste of time, but worth it.
B

http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/new_workshop/dog-knee-surgery

Just put up a new squidoo lens for my client at http://caninekneesurgery.com. It's about dog knee injuries and a new and very effective surgery that pretty much cures ligament ruptures in dogs knees without being as invasive as previous surgeries.

http://fora.tv/fora/fora_player_facebook...

This is a very good thing for anyone who is interested in the internet, marketing and/or being human to watch. I don't subscribe to his thesis of this being the "humanization" of the internet (if it is, then his concept of humanity is set at a very low bar, indeed) but it is certainly less of a "dehumanization" of the internet, and it is not a bad trend. 
And, he is a great speaker. 

http://otegony.com/natural-gas-boomtown-news

Just posted this article about a paper that shows the the boomtown myth of natural gas to be just that, a myth. The benefits to towns is temporary at best, and even that temporary short-term benefit is outweighed by other devastating effects. A very few will prosper at the expense of everyone else. Sometimes to the tragic expense of people who the industry seems to consider "expendable."

Check it out at the OtegoNY blog: http://otegony.com/natural-gas-boomtown-news

Little Bastards...

I'm sitting in the Capresso Cafe, one on my favorites, and the little kiddies have swarmed in and are loud and amazingly stupid. It's weird, people think that "kids today" are disrespectful. I don't think so. Disrespect implies ill will. I don't think they are intentionally disrespectful, but I think they are dumber than I pile of monkey-shit. I think some parents need a good caning. 

I'm still in Pandora Radio, blasting HENDRIX into the earbuds, but the little boogers are still coming through, obnoxiously loud. I've asked them once if they could keep it down a bit, and they looked at me like I was from Mars, which I might be, but nevertheless...

I know that the manager would like to say something, but she's sort of in a pickle. It shouldn't have to be her, or my, job to discipline spoiled bumpkin kids. 

Why am I the only adult who's said anything to these snot-faced rats? You can see it in everyone else's faces that they are annoyed, but they are scared of freakin'' twelve-year olds. 

Most people complain about the government, their bosses, whatever, but they won't take a simple step and help a kid not be an asshole in public. 

There is no hope, is there? 

Don't go givin' me a headache...

I'm at the local truckstop, working on stuff for clients. Been here since 4 am. Couldn't sleep. I wish we could get DSL at home, but there is no service up our road, so when I have to do a lot of work on the web, I have to come down here. Our satellite connection is faster than dial-up, but it's still frustratingly slow when you have a lot of work to do. 

Can't get Skype calls on satellite, because of the up and downlink speeds. So it was nice to get a call from a friend in Barcelona this morning on Skype. 

The big downside of being here (besides the fact that it's not home) is the unbelievable crap music they play at the truckstop. Ah for the days when truckstop music was Lefty Frizzell, Jimmy Rogers, Hank WIlliams and Marty Robbins (and of course, Dave Duddely and Truck Stop). But now its trendy bullshit and some pitiful "oldies". Normally I love oldies, if they are a) good and b) oldies (anything before Buddy Holly died). 

The audio-trash that's on now is "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" by Elton John and Kiki Dee. It must be among the top ten worst in "rock" history. Kiki Dee - her act is the only one I ever got a ticket to with the expressed purpose of going to boo her. It was some time in my college days in the 70s. Probably '74 when she played at the college in Oneonta. 

What a shame! That stage hosted the likes of Dave Bromberg, The Dixie Dregs, Harry Chapin and other great acts. Kiki Dee?!

Thank Zeus for Pandora Radio and my earphones. I got Lefty Frizzell radio on now. 

Happy listening. 

http://concretecentral.net

Just worked on an account for a company that makes some pretty cool furniture. They specialize in custom concrete design. Hard to believe, but they do real artwork with cement. They make concrete countertops, vanities, fireplace surrounds and mantels, tables, etc. The stuff looks like marble, granite, you name it. They also do concrete floors that look like beautiful stone. Check out the pictures on their site.
It was really easy going working with this client. It's nice to be appreciated.

How to get an affordable website that ranks high in the search engines

Just wrote about how to get an affordable website that ranks high in the search engines on my blog at http://tinyurl.com/highrankingwebsite

Beatlemania remembered

While trying to take a break from depressing news, I came across this piece of Rock 'n' Roll history that should bring back memories: 

1964 : Thanks to media coverage and a publicity campaign by Capitol Records, thousands of screaming fans greet The Beatles when their plane lands in New York at 1:20 pm. The scenes become iconic images of Beatlemania.

Egypt squaring the circle?

My buddy, David Steinberg, recently sent me this observation:

"What conclusion should we draw from the fact that Cairo's Tahir Square, which every news outlet reports is the main protest site, is, in fact, a circle?"

http://www.caninekneesurgery.com/

Just finished this website for Dr. Leahy. It's about a state-of-the-art surgery for dog's knees. It was actually fascinating to make this site because I got to learn a lot about the anatomy of dogs' knees, and anatomy in general.The surgery is to relieve pain and give back full motion to dogs who are suffering from cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) ruptures. That is like the typical football injury for human knees (ACL) where the athletes "blows out his knee."The new technique is not practiced by a lot of veterinary surgeons yet, so we're lucky to have Dr. Leahy in our area. Besides that, he has been the trusted vet for Mimi's and my dogs for ten years, and Mimi's previous dogs fifteen years before that, so we can recommend him highly.Check out http://www.caninekneesurgery.com/ for more info if you suspect that your dog may have problems with his or her hind knee(s).

Lost Dog - Antonio

Please help find this lost dog in the Otego area. Details at http://otegony.com/lost-dog-antonio

Haiku for a Old Fart

Softly falling snow
A kidney stone is passing
Causing me to scream