tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82066821868866202192024-03-13T20:00:13.184-07:00A HermittAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-13477592744064185832018-09-20T16:37:00.002-07:002018-09-20T16:49:59.499-07:00Just deleted about 400 posts from this blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4adIwMf3v3U/W6QyDGRJ2HI/AAAAAAAAEhY/kwZkkb3v28oJJXUb1vLHwdZn7E7lxdDrQCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BPost%2B%252812%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4adIwMf3v3U/W6QyDGRJ2HI/AAAAAAAAEhY/kwZkkb3v28oJJXUb1vLHwdZn7E7lxdDrQCLcBGAs/s200/My%2BPost%2B%252812%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
All of the posts I deleted had dead links as they contained links from articles written from 2006-2012 and those websites are either moved or defunct.<br />
<br />
I will be adding fresh content to this blog in the near future.<br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-54100514256829711282018-09-20T09:38:00.004-07:002018-09-20T16:54:41.385-07:00Back to writing, Here are some of my more recently published articles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mck1Ixo-UT4/W6QzM8kCM0I/AAAAAAAAEhg/zGw-HG5H0gwdlbJT3KpmLVFyWMe7hsBcgCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BPost%2B%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mck1Ixo-UT4/W6QzM8kCM0I/AAAAAAAAEhg/zGw-HG5H0gwdlbJT3KpmLVFyWMe7hsBcgCLcBGAs/s200/My%2BPost%2B%252813%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
It seems that enough time has passed since online the content writing industry literally blew up. (Remember Google Panda?) I have been applying to websites and seeking out new clients as of late because, after 6 years, I have really missed my old job.<br />
<br />
In searching the internet, I have noticed that while a lot of links to my old articles are gone, many have been resold and are popping up on other websites. (I did sell my rights to one company when it closed down, so this is not a copyright violation that I know of.<br />
<br />
I will be creating new links to my articles as I find them.<br />
<br />
Here are some that I found today:<br />
<br />
Foods for your face at Better after 50.<br />
<a href="https://betterafter50.com/foods-for-your-face/">https://betterafter50.com/foods-for-your-face/</a><br />
Pros and Cons of Technology in the Classroom:<br />
<a href="https://classroom.synonym.com/pros-cons-technology-classroom-5384898.html">https://classroom.synonym.com/pros-cons-technology-classroom-5384898.html</a><br />
GED age requirements:<br />
<a href="https://classroom.synonym.com/ged-age-requirements-5531895.html">https://classroom.synonym.com/ged-age-requirements-5531895.html</a><br />
Homeschool Home-Business Ideas<br />
<a href="https://bizfluent.com/about-5457265-homeschool-home-business-ideas.html">https://bizfluent.com/about-5457265-homeschool-home-business-ideas.html</a><br />
Wipe Out Old Debts Without Bankruptcy<br />
<a href="https://pocketsense.com/wipe-out-debts-bankruptcy-2283879.html">https://pocketsense.com/wipe-out-debts-bankruptcy-2283879.html</a><br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-73629105396288207732018-06-10T12:34:00.003-07:002018-06-10T12:34:46.459-07:00I turn 50 in 10 days. That's sobering. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mens-50th-Birthday-Vintage-Shirt/dp/B077P6YC51/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1528659188&sr=8-1&keywords=turning+50&dpID=416duTFmgcL&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch&linkCode=li2&tag=gwinnetthomeschool-20&linkId=e70d4ad57c4053790f6e83e9c2d04ef7" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B077P6YC51&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=gwinnetthomeschool-20" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I actually bought this t-shirt. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=gwinnetthomeschool-20&l=li2&o=1&a=B077P6YC51" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<br />
As my 50th birthday approaches, I can no longer convince myself that I will live as long as I have already lived. Yuck. That sucks. I mean, my longest living relative made it to 88 and my own mom made 55.... sooo... yes. I need a drink.<br />
<br />
But seriously though, It has me thinking about when I am ever going to get down to things that make me happy, accomplished and content.<br />
<br />
I have made some changes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I am back to writing passionately about homeschooling and education, </li>
<li>I am focusing on my art and the arts in general. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
That is all. I think I am getting somewhere.<br />
<br />
<br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-73140029816231576962018-03-23T17:39:00.000-07:002018-09-20T16:55:13.739-07:00It's been a busy winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mck1Ixo-UT4/W6QzM8kCM0I/AAAAAAAAEhg/vNg-SscMEcEwNOiFrNX0RAnpUuNrdINlwCEwYBhgL/s1600/My%2BPost%2B%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mck1Ixo-UT4/W6QzM8kCM0I/AAAAAAAAEhg/vNg-SscMEcEwNOiFrNX0RAnpUuNrdINlwCEwYBhgL/s200/My%2BPost%2B%252813%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
As the first buds of spring awaken, so do I. But I didn't get to hibernate this winter, much to my chagrin, and thanks to my own machinations. Here's what my winter looked like.<br />
<br />
Actually, it started in July, when I put down a contract to build a new house... then...<br />
<br />
Mid-November, with my house sold, we moved out and into my in-laws home with our two adult kids.<br />
<br />
December 29, we closed on our new house and moved in.<br />
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Jan 1 Dove into the black history month project at the community theatre, which I produced.<br />
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Mid-February, ramped up costume projects for 2.... yes three shows. One show is now finished, and costumes for the second gets delivered next week, and the third in 3 weeks.<br />
<br />
After that, I will rest for a moment and take a vacation... and then in May, I open a vintage clothing booth.<br />
<br />
So... yeah.<br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-57622431514832753712017-06-18T18:32:00.001-07:002018-09-20T16:50:47.792-07:00Updated blog with FREE homeschool links<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4adIwMf3v3U/W6QyDGRJ2HI/AAAAAAAAEhY/SD0MoR-kIVIn2IFlN3iImHrs-vpRq8XHwCEwYBhgL/s1600/My%2BPost%2B%252812%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4adIwMf3v3U/W6QyDGRJ2HI/AAAAAAAAEhY/SD0MoR-kIVIn2IFlN3iImHrs-vpRq8XHwCEwYBhgL/s200/My%2BPost%2B%252812%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I just updated my blog with <a href="http://freehomeed.blogspot.com/">free homeschool links</a>. I went through more than 10 years of links and deleted any links that were dead or sold or had iffy pop-ups. I don't have as many resources as I used to have, but they are all good, and they still pretty much cover anything you will need from Kindergarten through college prep.<br />
<br />
The name of the blog is<br />
<h1 class="title" style="background-color: #fcfbf5; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-size: 48px;">F</span><span style="font-size: small;">ree Home Education for African Americans </span></h1>
Don't get mad though... anyone can use it... It is just now targeted toward the new growth in population of black homeschoolers... as a black homeschool veteran, I feel like I can attend to the needs of this new homeschool demographic and I named my blog appropriately so people know where to see help.<br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-59485214711822488182017-06-04T08:35:00.002-07:002017-06-04T08:35:58.565-07:00Reeeeee-Brand!It is time for a re-mix or rebranding of sorts.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CkbftmVycek/WTQozeEPzjI/AAAAAAAADlM/a1G3u_zbYLUuSlAJ35UJrg4pXZFcKxFTwCKgB/s1600/Screen%25252BShot%25252B2014-01-13%25252Bat%25252B12.45.56%25252BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="132" data-original-width="132" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CkbftmVycek/WTQozeEPzjI/AAAAAAAADlM/a1G3u_zbYLUuSlAJ35UJrg4pXZFcKxFTwCKgB/s1600/Screen%25252BShot%25252B2014-01-13%25252Bat%25252B12.45.56%25252BPM.png" /></a></div>
I have neglected this, my main blog and tried combining my main blog and my homeschooling blog, since I was done homeschooling. That has been awkward. I will be separating the personal and homeschooling stuff again as I am focusing on my homeschool book over there, and managing all of my business stuff over here, and... I dunno. I am working it out. But in doing all that, I have taken my eye off the <a href="http://nfahm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">homeschooling stuff</a> when it seems most sorely needed.<br />
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Here you will basically find my starter page which will reach out the all the other items... sounds separate, but in my brain, it will all be more cohesive.<br />
<br />
til next time.<br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-91140268096028654732017-01-01T09:36:00.000-08:002018-09-20T16:55:53.316-07:00January 1, 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mck1Ixo-UT4/W6QzM8kCM0I/AAAAAAAAEho/fW14pbu1yREJ27ktrGAdM-XvX8Zr5OrfQCEwYBhgL/s1600/My%2BPost%2B%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mck1Ixo-UT4/W6QzM8kCM0I/AAAAAAAAEho/fW14pbu1yREJ27ktrGAdM-XvX8Zr5OrfQCEwYBhgL/s200/My%2BPost%2B%252813%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Well. I have been very busy this year. Some of the things that happened are:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Getting to spend a good portion of the last year and the year before in NYC with my husband (job related- which was also an excellent opportunity to work on my book)</li>
<li>Adding to my costuming business (with my daughter)</li>
<li>Getting my vintage booth up and going</li>
<li>Co-chair on the board of a community theatre.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
It's amazing how much you can find yourself doing when you don't have "a job".<br />
<br />
I used to dismiss people who were into more than one business... I thought it meant they lacked focus and could not find success in one thing. Now I know better. To do well in this current economy, diversifying is key.<br />
<br />
Enjoy: <a href="http://fundersandfounders.com/serial-entrepreneurs-how-to-pursue-multiple-opportunities/" target="_blank">Serial Entrepreneurs- The Founders Who Pursue Multiple Opportunities</a><br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-66146520330374325892015-03-16T13:07:00.002-07:002015-03-16T13:07:50.797-07:00A fresh start<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sd-AEY7CN-k/VQc33teUGEI/AAAAAAAACXg/bHd7_J0guqc/s1600/IMG_3481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sd-AEY7CN-k/VQc33teUGEI/AAAAAAAACXg/bHd7_J0guqc/s1600/IMG_3481.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>I enjoyed the last decade-plus as a content writer for numerous websites, but just as quickly as the industry grew, it also died. It happens. The rise, in the industry just happened to coincide with the years I spent homeschooling my children, so it was a great match. I could write at home, and homeschool my kids who needed less and less of my supervision as they got older.<br />
<br />
Well, they are in college now, and I am moving on to bigger and brighter things. In the past year, I have costumed 3 plays locally, I am doing more artwork, and I am starting a business of re-cycled, re-freshed, re-designed clothing items. Stay tuned. <br />
<br />
In the meanwhile, here is an image of one of my most recent creations... a side open Surcoat for The Complete Works of Shakespeare, Abridged.<br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-57992074127274163602014-08-11T11:31:00.002-07:002014-08-11T11:31:51.436-07:00Articles stolen as Yahoo Contributor Network / Yahoo Voices closesA side effect of YCN & Yahoo Voices closing is that unscrupulous people have have on the site and stolen our articles for their own sites. We will have no way to prove that the articles are ours because the originals will be gone from the web, so if these people manage to get our articles posted first, then they are kind of theirs officially. <br />
<br />
This really sucks. <br />
<br />
Here's an articles I wrote that is currently residing on <a href="http://parkarday.info/use-coconut-oil-to-grow-your-african-american-hair/" target="_blank">someone else's blog</a>, but the formatting caused <br />
<a name='more'></a>all kids of extra punctuation, so that should be obvious that they did not write it. <br />
<br />
<br />
I did manage to get a screen-shot though before the site closed. Here it is. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYQnGbMvCYE/U-kInDDP8ZI/AAAAAAAAB98/AgzZBEDN3bI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-30+at+11.32.37+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYQnGbMvCYE/U-kInDDP8ZI/AAAAAAAAB98/AgzZBEDN3bI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-30+at+11.32.37+AM.png" height="297" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yahoo has it dated 2/26/ 2008, the date I submitted it to them. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wCjulv-1--I/U-kJuMUDjPI/AAAAAAAAB-E/bS9Jo739wVo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-11+at+2.20.31+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wCjulv-1--I/U-kJuMUDjPI/AAAAAAAAB-E/bS9Jo739wVo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-11+at+2.20.31+PM.png" height="80" width="640" /></a></div>
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And I placed it on my new blog/website today with a couple of small updates, including the title. </div>
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<a href="http://peguides.blogspot.com/2014/08/does-coconut-oil-grow-african-american.html">http://peguides.blogspot.com/2014/08/does-coconut-oil-grow-african-american.html</a></div>
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So, I can clearly prove that this article is mine, but I wrote over 1800 articles for Yahoo Contributor Network/ Yahoo Voices. There is no way to search for each and every one, and with YCN shutting down, there is no real way to prove that at least half of the articles are mine if I do run across them. I do however, have all the titles and publishing dates store in my email account as YCN sent an email each time they accepted and published an article. </div>
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I guess that is all I can ask for. </div>
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I do have to once again say I am grateful that they have returned rights to our articles to us... it's just a shame that thieves got wind of it and started copying the articles for their own use. </div>
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-58805492807533420292014-08-03T14:20:00.001-07:002014-08-03T14:20:44.365-07:00I'm not done yet, and could use some help. I really enjoyed my work as a content writer, but working for other sites has come to an end. The reason... when the economy went bad several things happened:<br />
<br />
1st: Web writing became popular and I noticed a glut of new available writers began to lower the amount of money I could make on my articles.<br />
<br />
2nd: The writing on the web became bad. All the new writers in the market resulted in quite a lot of poorly written articles.<br />
<br />
3rd: The web revolted. Good in particular thought up PANDA which resulted in "Content Mills" as they were called being being penalized. <br />
<br />
This all resulted in a long slow decent of the industry. <br />
<br />
It seems the final foot has fallen, and Yahoo has closed Yahoo Content Network and Yahoo Voices. <br />
<br />
The good news is that they returned my 1800+ articles to me. They didn't have to, but they did. (I've been writing for them since 2006.) So here's where I could use some help. I am creating a blog/website to feature all of my best articles. I am letting the duds die! (When you write that many articles, you regret a few.) In time I plan to add other writers, ... just a few, don't want to anger Google! But for now, I need readers for my articles to get them back in circulation! <a href="http://peguides.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Take a peek</a>, and if you like what you see, please share it. <br />
<br />
Thank you.<br />
<br />
<br />
© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-67082286765600170072014-08-01T20:37:00.002-07:002018-09-20T16:57:01.672-07:00Well it happened, another web content website closed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mck1Ixo-UT4/W6QzM8kCM0I/AAAAAAAAEho/fW14pbu1yREJ27ktrGAdM-XvX8Zr5OrfQCEwYBhgL/s1600/My%2BPost%2B%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mck1Ixo-UT4/W6QzM8kCM0I/AAAAAAAAEho/fW14pbu1yREJ27ktrGAdM-XvX8Zr5OrfQCEwYBhgL/s200/My%2BPost%2B%252813%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
None of the websites that I used to make a decent living just a few short years ago exist. That's the bad news.<br />
<br />
The good news is that with the closing of Yahoo Content Network, ownership of all articles... all 1800 articles had been returned to me.<br />
<br />
With so many articles in my ownership, I have started a blog/website : http://peguides.blogspot.com<br />
<br />
I will also be placing articles for sale on this site soon. Look in the contents bar for more information.<br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-42262133846676263932014-05-14T12:35:00.000-07:002018-09-20T16:57:33.353-07:00Changes in the web content world? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mck1Ixo-UT4/W6QzM8kCM0I/AAAAAAAAEho/fW14pbu1yREJ27ktrGAdM-XvX8Zr5OrfQCEwYBhgL/s1600/My%2BPost%2B%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mck1Ixo-UT4/W6QzM8kCM0I/AAAAAAAAEho/fW14pbu1yREJ27ktrGAdM-XvX8Zr5OrfQCEwYBhgL/s200/My%2BPost%2B%252813%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I don't trust that this is anything more than temporary, but I have noticed and uptick in income from my old blogs and articles. Interesting. Is <a href="https://contributor.yahoo.com/account/" target="_blank">Google changing</a> it's focus and stance when it comes to blackballing sites like YCN, where most of my articles lie?<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, I am still moving forward with my Real-Estate License, but I am not going to turn away any income I can make while I build my business.<br />
<br />
With that said, there are changes in the web content world, serious changes. In the area of education especially, I have noticed that much of the sites that had been free to homeschoolers in the past are now pay-for-use sites. Why? Because ad revenue is not longer going to print and information sites. It is going to video content. This is the sign of the times.<br />
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Either change your approach or more on.<br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-79257375902320316502013-10-27T15:13:00.001-07:002018-09-20T16:57:58.718-07:00We are slaves of the internet, aren't we?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mck1Ixo-UT4/W6QzM8kCM0I/AAAAAAAAEho/fW14pbu1yREJ27ktrGAdM-XvX8Zr5OrfQCEwYBhgL/s1600/My%2BPost%2B%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mck1Ixo-UT4/W6QzM8kCM0I/AAAAAAAAEho/fW14pbu1yREJ27ktrGAdM-XvX8Zr5OrfQCEwYBhgL/s200/My%2BPost%2B%252813%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/27/opinion/sunday/slaves-of-the-internet-unite.html?_r=0" target="_blank">People who would consider it a bizarre breach</a> of conduct to expect anyone to give them a haircut or a can of soda at no cost will ask you, with a straight face and a clear conscience, whether you wouldn’t be willing to write an essay or draw an illustration for them for nothing. </blockquote>
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When I started writing web content back in 1999, I got paid an amount that I thought was extremely fair for a new writer. I could not believe my luck. But now with more than 10 years experience in my back pocket, I feel guilty asking for that very same price per word count. But what other industry in the world pays you less over time? </div>
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Writers are so abused! Artists are abused even more. And I am 50% of one and half of the other. Go figure. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Anyway, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/27/opinion/sunday/slaves-of-the-internet-unite.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0" target="_blank">enjoy this excellent article</a> for which I doubt the writer was properly compensated. </div>
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-56615772306818078912012-10-08T11:02:00.000-07:002012-10-08T11:02:15.730-07:00Don't you wish all signs were this clear?I came upon an <a href="http://www.safetysign.com/" target="_blank">online sign company </a>that supplies hundreds of signs for safety, parking, and informational reasons and thought. I would all signs were this clear.<br />
<br />
Personally, I am at a pivotal moment in my life, as I am now about to graduate my second and last homeschooled child. I am looking at my life, happy with what I accomplished and looking onto what is to come next. I thought I already had it figured out. As of right now, I have been writing content on the internet for 14 years and I thought I would do it indefinitely, but considering I have made no more this year than I did year 1 (thanks economy), it seems that I may have other decisions to make as well. <br />
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I'm just not sure where to start. I there was a <a href="http://www.safetysign.com/Traffic+Signs.html" target="_blank">traffic sign</a> to help me out... a very specific sign. I would much rather a No Left Turn sign than one that just ways Buckle Your Seatbelt. You know what I mean? Instead, I am left mulling my options over, and over, and over again. I could get a job, I could follow my passion and stay involved in education. I could use my expertise of 10 years as a homeschooling mom and counsel other homeschooling families. I could even explore my talent and take some art classes, and being working as an artist, as was my intention when I was young and childless. What-to-do?<br />
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It's not like I have no idea as to what I want to do, I just don't know where to start. Just need a very, very specific sign.... kind of like a <a href="http://www.safetysign.com/Parking+Signs%2C+Permits.html" target="_blank">parking sign</a> that says Customer Parking Only, for this specific restaurant, I need one that screams Andrea, Park Your Butt Here! All others will be towed. <br />
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Am I asking too much?<br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-50304943488469796042012-09-26T08:15:00.000-07:002018-09-20T17:02:41.186-07:00Oh My Gosh.... Guest Posts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V3e9AVQ6Qww/W6Q1FCyaw3I/AAAAAAAAEhs/-s9JMJ-46iEhady903B6mohXj4KcnaoIgCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BPost%2B%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V3e9AVQ6Qww/W6Q1FCyaw3I/AAAAAAAAEhs/-s9JMJ-46iEhady903B6mohXj4KcnaoIgCLcBGAs/s200/My%2BPost%2B%252814%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
My <a href="http://nfahm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">homeschool blog</a> has become very popular. I get at least 2 requests a week for guest posts. I.e. people wanting to promote their own blogs are requesting to write a post on my blog. They will provide me with a well written post, so I get saved some time, perhaps not needing to write a post that day (saving my already addled brain). They get exposure.<br />
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This past month, I have been really struggling with these guest posts. As I suspected when the rush to write for my blog started, the writers would not be able to capture the voice and intent of my blog. The guest blogs don't fit well into my blog and they may even be turning off my readers.<br />
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Here's the problem. It is a homeschooling blog. It is more a journal and encouragement than instructional. There's a reason for that. It is my opinion that we homeschoolers didn't break away from traditional schooling to follow instructions. Yet most guest blogs I get try to give instructions on how to homeschool. Not only does it not fit into the spirit of my blog, but it is also laughable... you see, most of these people have ever homeschooled, so how are they giving instructions? I find that borderline insulting.<br />
<br />
So I tried to lay out some guidelines. I said I would only take guest posts from people who added real value to the conversation, who preferably homeschooled. I forwarded each request to my rules and regs and they all came back and said "I can fit your guidelines". However, when they forwarded my their finished article it screamed "this person knows nothing about homeschooling" even though the blog had a sentence like "I was homeschooled for such-and-such amount of time".<br />
<br />
Finally, I had to say no to guest blogs. So if you want to write a guest posts for my homeschool blog, (with the exceptions of actual homeschool bloggers) those are my reasons. And I posted my new rules.<br />
<br />
So why am I still waking up each morning guest post requests? According to what I know about guest blogging, one of the main rules is to <a href="http://blog.kissmetrics.com/guide-to-guest-blogging/" target="_blank">GET TO KNOW THE BLOG'S CONTENT</a>. So if you have visited my blog, you will find a link to my guest blog and ads rules at the top of the page. You are not getting to know my blog if you are missing that part. You are also not getting to know my blog if you are submitting potential guest blogs that don't fit the spirit of my blog, and so now we've come full circle.<br />
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Meanwhile, I am kind of happy that so many people are offering to guest post on my blog. It shows that I am getting attention. Unfortunately it's not necessarily the attention that I want,<br />
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Hmmm... I just had a thought. Maybe I should offer to trade guest blogs. You write on mine, I write on yours?<br />
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I'd love to hear what others think about this.<br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-37183623829422694882012-09-04T19:38:00.000-07:002012-09-04T21:27:41.717-07:00DragonCon and ATCsI spent the weekend at the <a href="http://dragoncon.org/" target="_blank">Dragon*Con</a> convention in Atlanta. People tend to see the description of the convention, "<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #4c5d69; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the universe!" </span>and ask me WHY? <br />
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Well, first, my teenage daughter turned me on to it. She loves all things anime, and most things video games, and plans to do costuming as well as musical theater, and she got me to look into it and so I went last year. I liked it so much that I returned this year.... Yes, I'm planning to go back next year. There are tons and tons <br />
<a name='more'></a>of things to do, see, and learn there (<a href="http://dragoncon.org/fan_tracks.php" target="_blank">more info here</a>), but for me, the art track was well worth every cent I spent.<br />
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After thoroughly enjoying the costuming track last year, I realized that they had an art track, so I attended several artist panels. They included Artist Open Studio Drawing, Classical Digital Painting, Before the Paint Goes On, What to know when creating a realistic painting, and Artist Trading Card workshop and swaps.<br />
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I used to create and sell a lot of Artist Trading Cards back in my Ebay days. I stopped because The eBay artist market went south, and so my art (of all sizes) stopped selling. I started content writing around that time, and my writing work edged out my art. I went to the Artist Trading Card <a href="http://dragoncon.org/workshops.php#Artist" target="_blank">workshop</a> because I thought, hey, why not go, it will force you to create (my whole reason for attending Dragon*Con this year)... and so I did. I made five ATCs in a 24 hour period (it only takes about 1/2 hour each), and the next day, I traded them all in about 10 minutes. I ended up with a lot more cards than I had given out, so my guess is that folks were either generous or really liked me cards. I think it was a combination or both.<br />
<br />
Anyway, here are the cards I created, that I no longer own. (these photos are a little shadowed and uncropped because I snapped them with my iPad before trading) <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXb2nOHdSrI/UEayvCzPqwI/AAAAAAAABIc/5pT5rrmIneo/s1600/IMG_0161%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXb2nOHdSrI/UEayvCzPqwI/AAAAAAAABIc/5pT5rrmIneo/s320/IMG_0161%5B1%5D" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was was done in a method they called <a href="http://www.zentangle.com/" target="_blank">ZenTangles</a> which helps you create a card when you have no idea what to draw. It was officially the first ATC I'd created in 7 years. I used my favorite artist pen and a crayola black marker as I wanted to see the juxtaposition of lines between the two tools. I thought it was a little busy, but another artist like it so... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eA2V1Bd_KQU/UEay7A621HI/AAAAAAAABIo/WATmWnXbOLk/s1600/IMG_0162%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eA2V1Bd_KQU/UEay7A621HI/AAAAAAAABIo/WATmWnXbOLk/s320/IMG_0162%5B1%5D" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eA2V1Bd_KQU/UEay7A621HI/AAAAAAAABIo/WATmWnXbOLk/s1600/IMG_0162%5B1%5D" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
This
also started as a Zen Tangle, but as I love to write on my art work, I
wrote a little message. This was to my hotel. It says, "Dear Westin, I
conscientiously object to my bill. $180 a day and no Wifi. Parking
should be free. Ps. Sorry about the mess". If it hadn't traded, I
probably would have left it as a hotel "tip". </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ryn1NoTM5wk/UEazIyDM3II/AAAAAAAABIw/RV4dkNSFZNk/s1600/IMG_0163%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ryn1NoTM5wk/UEazIyDM3II/AAAAAAAABIw/RV4dkNSFZNk/s320/IMG_0163%5B1%5D" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I drew this after I watched an exchange with a Zombie CosPlayer and a young lady. Firstly, I loved everything but the Zombies. I seriously wanted to carry a fly-swatter to swat them away from me if they go too close... they really creeped me out... Especially since they all stayed in character so well. This particular Zombie had been drinking though. So he was making crude remarks to a very respectable young lady, then getting irate because she did not find him charming.... Hence, the caption. "What's the difference between a sober zombie and a zombie who's been drinking? A drunk zombie wants to talk!" A guy grabbed this one up and gave me two of his in exchange. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cQASopDoSyQ/UEazW9ID9GI/AAAAAAAABI4/ooZ7q40GSCA/s1600/IMG_0164%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cQASopDoSyQ/UEazW9ID9GI/AAAAAAAABI4/ooZ7q40GSCA/s320/IMG_0164%5B1%5D" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what happens when your husband and daughter fall alseep early and wake up at 3am for a party in the hotel room. This started as a ZenTangle that I tried to pull an image out of... but it was 3am, so I don't really know how successful I was. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oa63rm3wbp8/UEazjfKOLtI/AAAAAAAABJA/jgqLLDDTDTA/s1600/IMG_0165%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oa63rm3wbp8/UEazjfKOLtI/AAAAAAAABJA/jgqLLDDTDTA/s320/IMG_0165%5B1%5D" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is the most important thing I learned at Dragon*Con. If you are on floor 36 and a half empty elevator goes up... get on it. Yes, it is possibly going up to floor 45, but when it comes down, it will be full. Hence the caption, " Elevator rule #1: What goes up... must come down". This was my favorite and one of the ladies running the workshop scored it. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tIiV3iZMnWc/UEazunh12FI/AAAAAAAABJI/zFfjqHolv_I/s1600/IMG_0166%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tIiV3iZMnWc/UEazunh12FI/AAAAAAAABJI/zFfjqHolv_I/s320/IMG_0166%5B1%5D" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will show more of the cards I received tomorrow, but for now, here are my to favorites.... It's pretty clear that I love black and white, isn't it? The card on the left is entitled Skull-Trait by Matthew Mahnken The one on the right is by Julianne Trew. It is scratch art... it is more detailed than you can see. It is breathtaking</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-89098009721742701552012-08-28T22:32:00.000-07:002012-08-28T22:32:08.909-07:00Something I wrote somewhere else Not sure why I have more than one blog... actually I do. This one is mostly about my writing, the others about homeschooling, hobbies and such. I may combine them sometime in the future. In the meantime, I wrote a post today that is more about me and my feelings than anything, so I though any readers of this blog... Hello? ... might be interested in reading it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nfahm.blogspot.com/2012/08/dragoncon-and-other-news-according-to-me.html">http://nfahm.blogspot.com/2012/08/dragoncon-and-other-news-according-to-me.html</a><br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-16756370806617141262012-06-27T20:49:00.001-07:002012-06-27T20:49:23.766-07:00Still writingThis has been a good week.<br />
<br />
I have basically gone on strike from my Yahoo Voices gig as they need to get things sorted out. I don't like being a test dummy as they iron out all the wrinkles (still) from the Associated Content transition and the Google Panda fiasco. Sometimes I wonder if they will ever get it straightened out. It seems like a lot of content writing websites are having similar problems. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I have a few jobs to write articles for smaller companies and indivduals, so I am still getting my<br />
<a name='more'></a> pocket change. A lot of work has come in this week. I am not posting my articles on this blog right now because I am mostly ghost writing so I am selling my right to put my name on them. But when I do write something share-able I will be sure to post it here. <br /><br />
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Also, I am transitions into writing about education a little less, and doing education consulting a little more. It is where my passion is, and since I am almost done homeschooling my kids.... (Son just graduated, daughter is a Sr. now)... It's it time for me to transition my work. <br />
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I have been reading a lot of books lately about getting business to come to you or how start a business, etc. It's not that I don't know how to run a business, but a little guidance in organization will certainly be good.<br />
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Until next time... <br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-61207395433308595072012-04-28T18:59:00.003-07:002012-04-28T19:05:05.060-07:00Managing blogs is hopeless (for me)I really wish I could focus more on my blogs instead of writing for other sites. I have one major problem though. I am horrible about blog management.<br />
<br />
I had begun to celebrate as the income for my blogs this month is triple what it had been... it hadn't been much, but triple is a good sign. Then all of a sudden, the earnings stopped. I watched it a couple of days then investigated. I finally realized that Google had kicked my ads off my blogger blogs. It's probably something I did as my blogger accounts are connected to a Google email and my Adsense is connected to a yahoo account and for some strange reason, that I can't fathom, they won't let me put the Adsense on my Google account I think.... anyway, I am hopeless. I re-linked my yahoo Adsense to my blogger blogs and I have ads again, so I am looking forward to continuing the progress of the month, but it seems like I don't understand the simplest things... and I'm a smart girl, but the inner working of blogs confound me.<br />
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Now, you're probably saying, you've been blogging for a good 10 years, why are you still on blogger... easy. As in... it's easy. Wordpress scares me to death, and I am no good at site promotion either, I just feel like I have more traffic over here. <br />
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It's hopeless, but somehow it's working. I need a book called "blogging for really really dumb bloggers".. I don't even know if that will help.<br />
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blech! <br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-43679561876129221212012-04-16T20:00:00.000-07:002012-04-16T20:06:47.992-07:00Content writing to pay for college<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/76657755@N04/7067727893/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Saving for College by Tax Credits, on Flickr"><img alt="Saving for College" height="200" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5071/7067727893_b68dce54fc.jpg" width="200" /></a>My content writing has come to a complete full stop in the past two months. <br />
<br />
Reason 1 is that since that Google Panda update a year ago, content writing has become less fun...and profitable, but things are looking up. <br />
<br />
Reason 2 is that I am on my last year homeschooling my son and I have been giving him and my daughter (who will graduate next year) a lot more attention. So, I have been so focused on my baby, i.e. The Gentle Giant, i.e. Tall, Dark, and Handsome, will be going to college. The college search within itself has been quite the time-sucker. We searched for colleges all the way from South Carolina to Alabama. It is a good thing he decided to stay close to home or we would still be looking. <br />
<br />
It is very interesting that the college that has been first on my son's list for his ENTIRE high school career, ended up at the bottom of the list when it came time to make a final decision. It turns out that while a college may have a great reputation as an art school, if it is 10,000 more than everyone else, there is one strike against them. Also, if their merit scholarships are 1/2 of what other schools offer, that's another strike against them.<br />
<br />
In the end, my son chose a college that was not only a good financial fit, but actually had better competition stats than the school that was supposed to be the best in his future field. In addition to that, he is also getting a liberal arts education... thank goodness. Balance is good.<br />
<br />
Of course once the selection was made, it came time to iron out finances, qualifying for grants and getting financial aid (loans) and such. In the end, it means I need to get back to writing. <br />
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<br />Ahermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-77249648297748770192012-03-07T06:35:00.000-08:002012-03-07T06:35:09.743-08:00Discount Shopping in Advance of NeedYou'd think that because my finances are no longer strained that I would let up on some of my tightwad-ery. Instead, I find myself spending more time and effort looking for bargains. For example, once you spend a year or too shopping at Ross Stores and still dressing well, walking into Nordstroms just doesn't sit well. The prices seem obscene, and the clothes are of no better quality.<br />
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I have also learned that regular bargain shopping, can actually be cost effective. This doesn't mean buying every. single. thing. that is on sale, but regularly looking through sale flyers and websites like <a href="http://dianatan.net/nomorack-more-shopping-deals/" target="_blank">nomorerack.com </a>for items that I know I will need in the next six months, and buying them now while they are one sale.<br />
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This takes time and planning, but it's not that hard to anticipate future needs. Right now I know that there is a shopping list as long as my arm for items my son will need for college the fall. I can also anticipate the need for new winter boots and a new winter coat for my daughter, not to mention a swim suit, and the usual regular clothing and accessory purchases. By trolling the short term online discounts every morning, I have been able to snag items that I would need in the foreseeable future for pennies on the dollar. It doesn't hurt that I can do all of this while <a href="http://www.leytestar.com/2012/01/24/shopping-at-home.html" target="_blank">shopping at home</a>. <br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-14281355498697707902012-01-09T20:28:00.000-08:002012-01-09T20:29:16.563-08:00Is Your Senior Ready to Graduate? (Snellville Today)I wrote the following article for <a href="http://snellvilletoday.com/" target="_blank">Snellville Today</a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2G1ZkEXbaI/Twu93Ic9J1I/AAAAAAAABDo/rdeaz1_nKgs/s1600/graduation+cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2G1ZkEXbaI/Twu93Ic9J1I/AAAAAAAABDo/rdeaz1_nKgs/s1600/graduation+cc.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">It is January of your high school senior’s year. In just a few short months, they will be sure to graduate. Or will they? Too often, parents are unaware of the real status of a students record, and are surprised to find that their high school senior will, in fact, not be<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>... <a href="http://snellvilletoday.com/blog/2012/01/08/is-your-senior-ready-to-graduate/">Read more here </a><br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COM<br />
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(Graduation Illustration www.luxamart.com/creative commons)</div>Ahermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-24952181700608979892011-12-28T20:26:00.000-08:002011-12-29T13:29:00.767-08:00Google Search VS. Yahoo Search<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In all honesty, I have to admit I have bone to pick with Google Search. In the past 6 months, all of my residual income has dried up thanks to something called PANDA that downrates "content farms" which all of the sites I have been writing for have been classified as by Google. Man, this burns me up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With that said, i<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">n Google's effort to shut down sites it determined to be inferior, it has bitten itself in the proverbial butt. Even Bing is better now.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As someone who has a couple thousand articles on Yahoo Voices, it <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"> occurs to me that the best way to support Yahoo is to use the Yahoo search instead of Google.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"> I just did a bit of an impromptu test and here is what I found: </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><b>Test: </b> I purchased some bio oil today and in a moment of buyers remorse, decided to look up the item. The results:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><b>Google search:</b> various sites that sell bio oil (not the official site) leading with Amazon and the like, and a few random opinion question and answer sites. LAME. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><b>Yahoo search:</b> The official website, several beauty sites with reviews, a very informative Hub page that gave the pros and cons, and an ehow page. MUCH BETTER.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;" /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;">In my opinion, Google can keep messing with Algorithms if they want, but if the searches are garbage, where will that leave them? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;">Furthermore, who died and named Google search engine God. I cam across a new video by my favorite You-Tube act and I thought I would end this blog with a bit of appropriate theme music. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;">I think it is time to crash Google's party</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WOorxvAVqb4" width="560"></iframe><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;">Realizing that I am writing this on Blogger, a Google owned Company, maybe it's time to consider another blog host. Ugh. What a nightmare. </span><br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COM</div>
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</div>Ahermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-24639520341600496632011-11-09T13:08:00.000-08:002011-11-09T13:08:15.531-08:00Time to start Christmas shopping. Are you ready?<br />
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<a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/462623/get_a_title_loan_for_christmas_regret.html?cat=3">Get a Title Loan for Christmas, Regret it All Year Long</a></h1>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Imagine, if you will, a commercial that starts out with a sparse room with a sparsely decorated tree. As the image zooms out, the speaker suggests getting a title loan to make the holidays easier. Cut to a picture in a picture montage of people saying how... </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<h1 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5997300/christmas_tree_candles_are_back.html?cat=6">Christmas Tree Candles Are Back</a></h1>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In thinking about how much I don't want to deal with stringing<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a class="link interlink" href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1626/lights.html" rel="&content_type=theme&content_type_id=1626" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #0062a6; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" title="lights">lights</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a class="link interlink" href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1312/christmas_tree.html" rel="&content_type=theme&content_type_id=1312" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #0062a6; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" title="Christmas tree">Christmas tree</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>this year, I began to research<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a class="link interlink" href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1311/christmas_trees.html" rel="&content_type=theme&content_type_id=1311" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #0062a6; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" title="Christmas trees">Christmas trees</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>without lights. It's not that I am a Scrooge or anything, but the idea of tangled cords and higher electric bills does not...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1148938790"><br /></a></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2361604/low_cost_christmas_gifts_you_can_make.html?cat=7">Low Cost Christmas Gifts You Can Make at Home</a></h1>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">As Christmas approaches, it is time to consider what you will give to your loved ones as gifts. For many gift givers, while the gifts must be meaningful, they also need to be inexpensive. Here is a list of low cost<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a class="link interlink" href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/theme/1326/christmas_gifts.html" rel="&content_type=theme&content_type_id=1326" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #0062a6; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" title="Christmas gifts">Christmas gifts</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>you can give....</span><br />
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<h1 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2364452/considering_a_gift_free_christmas.html?cat=74">Considering a Gift Free Christmas</a></h1>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">You've spent an entire year getting your finances in order. You've paid down your debt and gotten a handle on your finances. Now that's it's Christmas, you are about to set yourself back several months. Is that really the smart thing to do?...</span><br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206682186886620219.post-31798872991707590932011-11-03T17:19:00.000-07:002011-11-03T17:19:51.989-07:00Good web-writers will keep workingSo I may have been having a bit of a tizzy when I wrote <a href="http://ahermitt.blogspot.com/2011/11/so-what-happened-to-web-content.html">my last article</a> about the webcontent industry. It's not all doom an gloom. I got a reminder of that this evening.<br />
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I was referred to a website owner and will now be writing for a new and exciting website. Why? Because I am a good writer.<br />
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So while the web content industry is very over saturated and bleeding badly, the good writers will be recognized for their talent and expertise and will be able to keep writing, and for good pay.<br />
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Thank Goodness<br />
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© WWW.AHERMITT.COMAhermitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12246307693236606434noreply@blogger.com