Adgitize, Entrecard, and Blogging Traffic

Image by Moshimishie ♥ - Hiatus via Flickr

Like a lot of bloggers who had been using the Adgitize advertising network, I was very upset when Ken Brown announced that he was closing the service down.  At that time, I had decided that I would go back to using Entrecard and give them another try.  Things had been going well the past three weeks.  It had appeared that Entrecard had improved a bit since I last used them regularly.

That is, until last night.  Last night around midnight, I was visiting several blogs using the Entrecard toolbar with Firefox.  It worked well for about 30 minutes when all of a sudden I started getting an error message saying that my search had failed.  I tried visiting the Entrecard website to go into my dashboard and drop inbox only to see the following error.

Entrecard is having technical issues. Any of the following may apply: 

• We may be suffering extreme load (lots of people) 
• We may be upgrading our server software 
• We may be suffering from a serious bug 

We have on-call people watching the system, outages are unlikely to last more than 10 minutes. We apologise profusely for the inconvenience.

That was 14 hours ago and the system still is down. I have been able to do a few drops when I find a blog with a widget, but sooner or later you end up hitting a dead end when the next ad you come across is one you have already visited. I certainly hope that this is a temporary issue with the network and will be back and running soon.

In the distinct possibility that Entrecard has breathed its last, I started looking for some other sites to help build traffic.  One of the things I did was sign up with Zimbio.  I found another traffic exchange that I am currently trying out, but I am not sure if it is going to be using long term.  The site is called Blog Clicker and it is very similar to Blog Explosion if anybody remembers how that works.

You sign into the system and it opens up a browser page with a Blog Clicker tool bar.  You visit the site and a countdown appears in the bar.  When the countdown reaches zero, you earn a credit for every site you visit which is then exchanged for visits to your site. So far, I have not seen quite as many quality blogs as I have seen on Adgitize and Entrecard, but it is early yet.  If you want to check them out here is a link

Related articles

• Adgitize is DEAD! Google to Ban Entrecard Blogs? (dave-lucas.blogspot.com)
• Ode to Adgitize - Goodbye my friend, goodbye (asktheblogster.blogspot.com)
• Can I Comment On Your Blog? | bethere2day (bethere2day.com)
• 65 ways to drive traffic to your blog (by Satrap) (thetaskmistress.me)

Big Oil, Apple, Democrats, and the Media

Image via CrunchBase

The other day I was driving to work when I heard that Apple had just released their most recent quarterly earnings.  For the most recent quarter, they had earnings of over $13 billion.  I thought to myself, "Wow, that seems like an awful lot."

I do know that Apple is a tremendously successful company providing goods and services that people around the globe desire.  As a capitalist, I do not begrudge them one bit the amount of profit they make in the marketplace.  Still, curiousity got the better of me and I wanted to see just how that $13 billion in profit compares to other companies.

What better company to compare Apple's earnings to than one of the greedy oil companies.  After all, Exxon Mobil and other oil companies have been demonized by Barack Obama, his fellow Democrats, and the media every time they release their quarterly profit numbers.  Obama wants to impose a "windfall" tax on their profits and some Democrats have proposed a "Reasonable Profits Board" to regulate oil company profits.

Image via Wikipedia

The most recent quarterly earnings report from Exxon that I could find was released in October of 2011.  During that quarter, Exxon reported profits of $10.3 billion dollars.  Not shabby, but nearly $3 billion less than Apple just announced.  I wonder if Democrats would consider Apple's $13 billion a reasonable amount of profit?

Perhaps a more telling way to look at it would be to look at the profit margin as opposed to strictly the dollar profit of the company.  Now most politicians and members of the media would not know the difference between profit and profit margin if it bit them on the ass.  In simple terms, profit margin is the amount of profit for every dollar of sales or revenue brought it.

Exxon had revenue of $125 billion in order to achieve their $10 billion in profit.  That means that for every $1 in revenue they earned a mere 8 cents on the dollar, a profit margin of 8%.  Apple's $13 billion in profit came from $46 billion in revenue for a profit margin of 28% for every dollar of revenue.  That is 3.5 times the profit rate that Exxon earned.

The Democrats and the media demonize Exxon for their profits implying that Exxon is ripping off customers to achieve their high profits.  However, if any company could be accused of gauging the customer, logic would seem to dictate that the company earning 28 cents on the dollar is more likely gauging the customer than the one earning 8 cents on the dollar.

Now, I am definitely NOT saying that Apple is ripping off their customers.  They make a fine product and have created a demand for that product.  My point is to highlight the hypocrisy of the left.  Rather than comment on how high Apple's profit is, the media talks about how great Apple is. By the way, Apple is one of those companies sitting on a ton of cash (nearly $100 billion) and outsourcing their production to China but you don't hear any outrage about how they could be using that money to produce goods and jobs here.

Related articles

• Apple surpasses Exxon to become the world's most valuable public company (again) (venturebeat.com)
• Apple Beats Estimates Again: $46.33 Billion In Revenues, $13.06 Billion In Profit (fastcompany.com)
• Can We Afford to Forget the Benefits of Oil and Gas? (thefracdog.com)
• Six House Dems Would Confiscate Oil Company Profits (mb50.wordpress.com)
• If Obama's Serious About Jobs, He Shouldn't Punish the Energy Sector (usnews.com)

What a Pain in the Neck

On Friday, I went to the doctor to get checked out after experiencing some numbness and weakness in my left arm and leg.  At the time, the doctor thought that it may be a bulging disc in both my neck and back so he sent me to get some x-rays done.  Yesterday, his office called me to inform me that I needed to come in for a follow up and that the x-rays showed some inflammation in both the neck and back that was causing my pain.

It got me thinking about a book that I picked up when I attended the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, CA last year.  One of the vendors at the show had Jack Challem in attendance giving away and signing copies of his book The Inflammation Syndrome.  The gist of the book is that chronic inflammation can lead to a host of ailments, aches, and pain.  Since I have been reading most of my books on the Kindle, I have yet to read the book, but started it today.

The book talks about how the foods we eat and drink can lead to chronic inflammation.  If we learn to eat the right foods, we can reverse the inflammation in our system and cure ourselves.  I firmly believe that the human body has a tremendous capacity for self healing.  Of course, having that knowledge and belief is only as good as our capacity for putting the correct behaviors into practice.

In addition to changing the diet to help reduce the inflammation that causes problems in the body, there are a number of different supplements and wellness items that can help. Nopalea is a wellness beverage that is derived from the fruit of the Nopal Cactus.  The fruit of the Nopal cactus has been utilized by the native people of the Southwestern US and Mexico for its healing properties.

Nopalea contains rare and potent antioxidants that have been shown to help the body reduce inflammation.  Right now, you can get a free 32 oz sample bottle of this wellness drink.  All you have to do is call 1-800-203-7063.  There will be a $9.95 charge to cover the cost of shipping.  It can be a first step towards naturally helping your body to reduce inflammation.

School Bus Cameras

Image via Wikipedia

In the past, I have been on the record here as being against traffic cameras.  I have always thought that they are more about generating revenue rather than being a mechanism to encourage safety.  It is not that I am out rampantly disregarding traffic laws.  Quite to the contrary.  I really do try to adhere to traffic laws, especially things like stopping for pedestrians in a cross walk.

Let's take red light cameras for instance.  The concept of the red light camera in and of itself isn't so bad.  After all, who wouldn't want to cut down on the number of accidents in intersections, especially the more serious head on or side collisions.  While there are studies that have shown a decrease in those accidents, there have been studies that show an increase in rear end collisions.

In my area, they have been starting to put in a lot of speed cameras, especially in school zones.  When I drive through those areas, I pay special attention to drive right at the speed limit the whole length of the road.  Unfortunately others will speed through the road until they get into the camera zone, then slow down through the camera zone, and then resume speeding when out of the zone.  Kind of defeats the purpose if you ask me.

Today, however, I heard of a proposed traffic camera that I can actually support.  Montgomery County, a neighboring county of mine here in Maryland, is proposing putting camera on all of the county school buses to catch people who pass the buses while they are loading and unloading kids.  The proposed fine would be $250.  The safety of our children should be our highest priority.

Related articles

• Run A Red Light, Wreck Your Credit Rating? (denver.cbslocal.com)
• The Traffic Camera (fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com)
• Iowa lawmaker's measure would ban red-light, speed cameras (thegazette.com)

Music Monday-Etta James "At Last"

On Friday, rhythm and blues singer Etta James passed away after a valiant battle with leukemia. It is only fitting that for this Music Monday that I choose her signature song, "At Last." RIP, Etta.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Gabrielle Giffords to Step Down

I remember seeing the news flash that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others were shot at an event in Tucson.  The news was shocking to say the least.  Twitter and the news media was ablaze with reports on the horrific news.  Sadly, some did not survive the events of that day, but fortunately for Giffords, she did.

It has been remarkable to see her recovery.  Just the mere fact that she has survived was one thing.  Seeing all of the strides that she has made is inspirational.  However, you can still see how far she still has to go to fully heal.

As the election cycle has gotten closer, I have thought more about Giffords.  I had considered writing a post stating that it would be best for her and for her constituents if she would consider not running for re-election in the upcoming elections.  She needs continued healing, and her constituents need representation.

Today, Gabrielle Giffords announce that she is stepping down from her position in Congress.  It is the right thing for her to do, both for her and those she represents.  I hope that she continues to heal, and though a Democrat, I hope she recovers to where she could consider another run.  I wish her continued healing and a long and healthy life.

South Carolina Primary

Image by DonkeyHotey via Flickr

I am taking a rare weekend off from my pizza delivery gig this weekend.  Thursday afternoon, I was feeling a little out of sorts with some numbness in my fingers, neck, and leg.  Yesterday morning, I woke up and it was a little more irritating and concerning than the night before so I decided to call in sick from my day job and call the doctor.

Ever since I had my little episode from last summer where I had similar symptoms that led to a series of tests, I tend to err on the side of caution.  This visit to the doctor led to a prescription for a strong anti-inflammatory and x-rays on my neck and spine.  He thinks that I may have bulging discs in both my neck and back that are causing the numbness.  So, this weekend I decided to take it easy for a change.

So, since I will be home tonight instead of in and out of the car, I will be able to keep track of the returns from the South Carolina primary from the comfort of my own home instead of periodically checking the internet or Twitter from my phone.  After this week, it is looking like it could turn out to be an interesting race.

At the beginning of the week, there were still 6 candidates in the race, and Romney was leading in the polls in South Carolina.  It was widely thought that he had won both the Iowa caucus (albeit by only 8 votes) and the New Hampshire primary.  It was looking like he would be the first non-incumbent candidate to win the first three events in the quest to become the Republican Presidential nominee.

Since the week began, 2 of the 6 candidates, Jon Huntsman and Rick Perry, have dropped out of the race.  The Iowa caucuses have certified their votes and now declare that Rick Santorum was the winner in Iowa.  Two strong debate showings by Newt Gingrich on Monday and then Thursday have him surging in the polls to the point where one showed him in the lead this morning.

Now, instead of Romney winning the first three events, which would have been historical, we are looking at three different candidates winning the first three events.  Personally, I hope that happens as I am not ready to have Romney declared the nominee when there is still so many more primaries to be held.  It looks like it could potentially end up being an interesting race.

Related articles

• South Carolina Primary: Poll (markamerica.com)
• 2012 South Carolina Primary (isworthy.wordpress.com)
• Analysis: The South Carolina Primary (philadelphia.cbslocal.com)