Alt Attribute & Search engine optimization

SEO Optimization images is becoming more and more important in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This can be a lost opportunity for better rankings.

In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise the use of alternative text for that images in your site:

Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. In addition, we recommend using a human-readable caption and descriptive text round the image.

Why would they ask us to do that? The answer is easy, really; search engines like google have a similar problem as blind users. They cannot begin to see the images.

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse using this attribute, attempting to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a certain keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now as it was previously.

On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines, trigger spam filters, which may result in a penalty for your site's ranking. Even without such a penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from this tactic.
This process also puts persons who use screen readers in a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that really read aloud the items in what's displayed on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt attributes of images are read aloud as well.

Imagine hearing a paragraph of text that is followed by repetitions of many keywords. The page would be far from accessible, and, to put it bluntly, would be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute should not be used as a description or a label for an image, though lots of people utilize it in that fashion. Though it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is a label or a description, it's not!

The words used within an image's alt attribute should be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve exactly the same purpose the image would.

The thing would be to supply the same functional information that a visual user would see. The alt attribute text should be the "stand in" when the look itself is not available. Ask yourself this question: Should you replace the image with the text, would most users get the same basic information, and would it create the same response?
A few examples:

 

Some SEO Optimization Tips

If your search button is really a magnifying glass or binoculars its alt text ought to be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.

If the image is meant to convey the literal contents of the look, then a description is appropriate.

If it is meant to convey data, then that information is what's appropriate.

If it is meant to convey the use of a function, then your function is what ought to be used.

Some Alt Attribute Guidelines:

Always add alt attributes to images. Alt is mandatory for accessibility and for valid XHTML.

For images that play only a decorative role in the page, use an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or a CSS background image so that reading browsers don't bother users by uttering things like "spacer image".

Keep in mind that it is the function of the image we're attempting to convey. For instance; any button images should not range from the word "button" in the alt text. They ought to emphasize the action performed through the button.

Alt text ought to be determined by context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text.

Attempt to flow alt text with the remainder of the text because that's how it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone hearing your page should hardly remember that a graphic image is there.
Please keep in mind that utilizing an alt attribute for each image is required to satisfy the minimum WAI requirements, that are used as the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and the remainder of Europe. They are also required to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in america.

It is important to categorize non-text content into three levels:

Eye-Candy
Mood-Setting
Content and Function

I. Eye-Candy

Eye-Candy are things that serve no purpose apart from to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (in many cases) fulfill the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there might be value to some sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there that will enhance the usability from the site for somebody using a non-visual user agent. Use a null alt attribute or background images in CSS for eye-candy.

II. Mood-Setting

This is the middle layer of graphics which may actually set the atmosphere or set the stage so to speak. These graphics are not direct content and could 't be considered essential, but they are essential in that they help frame what's going on.

Try to alt-ify the 2nd group as is sensible and it is relevant. There may be instances when doing this might be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then avoid it.

For instance; Alt text that's identical to adjacent text is unnecessary, and an irritant to screen reader users. I suggest alt="" or background CSS images in such instances. But sometimes, it's important to understand this content inside for all users.

Usually it depends on context. Exactly the same image inside a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content should always be fully available. How you go in this example is a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

This is when the look is the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes may also be in order.
The main reason many authors can't figure out why their alt text isn't working is they don't know why the pictures exist. You have to figured out precisely what function a picture serves. Consider what it's concerning the image that's important to the page's intended audience.

Every graphic includes a reason behind standing on that page: since it either enhances the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is advisable to what are the page is attempting to explain. Understanding what the look is perfect for makes alt text easier to write. And exercise writing them definitely helps.
A way to look into the usefulness of alternative text would be to imagine reading the page over the telephone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a specific image to create the page understandable to the listener?

Aside from the alt attribute you have a couple more tools available for images.
First, in level of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and may add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered by the user agent. Remember they're invisible and not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received through the keyboard. (So much for device independence). So make use of the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points to the URL of a full description of the image. When the information found in an image is essential to the meaning of the page (i.e. some important content would be lost if the image was removed), an extended description compared to "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can offer rich, expressive documentation of a visual image.

It should be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of the image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is really a long description of the image...The goal is by using any period of description necessary to impart the details of the graphic.

It wouldn't be remiss to hope that the long description conjures an image - the image - in the mind's eye, an analogy that holds true even for the totally blind."

Although the alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility as well as for valid (X)HTML, not all images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.

Oftentimes, you are better off just choosing your gut instinct -- if it's not necessary to incorporate it, and when you don't have a strong urge to do it, don't include that longdesc.

However, if it's necessary for the entire page to work, then you have to add the alt text (or title or longdesc).

What's necessary and what's not depends a lot about the function of your image and it is context about the page.

Exactly the same image may require alt text (or title or longdesc) in one spot, although not in another. If an image provides simply no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images might be appropriate to make use of. But if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt will be required and perhaps a long description would be in order. Oftentimes this kind of thing is a judgement call.

Image Seo optimization Tips

Listed here are key steps in optimizing images:

Choose a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You can use hyphens within the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Stay away from underscores as a word separator, such as "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";

Label the file extension. For example, if the image internet search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's going to assume the file is a photo, and when it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is a graphic;

Ensure that the text at the image that is relevant to that image.
Again, don't lose an excellent opportunity to help your website with your images searching engines. Use these steps to rank better on all the engines and drive increased traffic to your site TODAY.

SEO Company

Gaining Discipline and a Strong Work Ethic at a Young Age

Entrepreneurs mostly fall short because they don't have the work ethic needed to start a business from nothing. It took a while, but I had to train myself to work 17 hours a day.

I've learned that it is the indirect work that an entrepreneur puts in that makes him or her successful. For instance, I continuously read new books that I feel may be pertinent to my job. I always take detailed notes so I don't forget the concepts.

If I'm not at the gym or sleeping for 7 or so hours, I'm available for my clients. This is what compels them to continuing working with my firm.

The biggest problem I have with my vendors is that it takes them too long to execute a request. Corporate America has set a standard of 8 hours a day - no more no less. It is imperative that the entrepreneur exploit this status quo and stand out from the crowd.

Advertising and Marketing on a Budget

I knew that I could not rely on cold-calling forever. Also, I am a firm believer that you should never rely on current clients. They can move companies and no longer need you, they can experience budget cuts, or you can have a disagreement that leads to a falling out.

However, pay-per-click would not work for me because candidates who yielded little to no return would kill my budget through costly clicks. Obviously it was important that job seekers visit my company's site, but they aren't the real revenue-drivers in the recruiting world. Therefore, I found various industry directories that were accessible to my target market and only cost a hundred or so dollars per advertisement annually.

Once I closed enough deals to support a marketing budget, I decided that we needed some form of SEO. I found a company out in California through the web and the sales representative, seemingly desperate for business, threw in 35 programmed new pages per month with the SEO.

At this point, I had an intern from NYU come to my apartment full time, and together we wrote over 150 landing pages. (Landing pages are website pages geared toward ranking on a particular keyword phrase or two and, mostly they are not linked to from your website's homepage.)

While their programming skills were satisfactory, when it came to SEO, my vendor had no idea what they were doing. Before we parted ways, over the course of approving programmed pages, my vendor sent me their programming and meta tags for my site.

This piqued my interest and I began studying SEO. I ended up studying it all day, every day. I knew it was the only way my company would grow. I read SEO blogs, contacted sites that would give links to recruitment agencies and, at this point I began the uphill battle that was cold-calling universities for.edu links.

In total, I probably contacted 350 or so university career centers in order to present my company as a career resource and, subsequently get a link from their site. I got a lot of resistance, mostly because I was a recruiter and recruiting has a certain low reputation, but some of the career center people were simply hard to negotiate with.

Partially, that's due to academia being its own, insular world, where rules apply differently than in the business world. A university in Arizona would not even accept donations to be listed because we were a staffing agency. Another university's career center got in a lot of trouble when the woman asked for $500 for us to be listed, but there was no cost for any other firm.

I knew something was wrong when she emailed me right away with a "First-Ever Best Career Center Intern Award" in which she would give cash to the student who did the best job of convincing her that they were the best intern and should get the money.

Then, there was my alma mater, who took a donation, only to tell me that the woman who swiped my credit card was no longer there and she didn't have authorization.

In the end, I ended up with only 30 or so links after literally days' worth of cold-calling hours. Even so, it was a higher number than my competition had. Right now, SEO is what fuels my business. We get around hundreds of visits a day and our advertising budget is a mere pittance compared to what most ad and marketing agencies quote.

This means that our firm does not need to attend trade shows and is not reliant on one particular customer to maintain a steady stream of revenue and fuel growth.

Recruiting the Right Employees From an Apartment

I started my business from a studio apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side, and continued to grow it when my wife and I moved to a larger place on the East Side. But a Manhattan apartment with the attendant space restrictions it still very much was.

I decided to prioritize growing our online presence and business base, as described above, rather than investing in office space before it made logistical sense. But I was quickly busy enough that I couldn't run the business on my own, and that meant bringing on employees.

Recruiting employees to work out of your apartment is very difficult. This is especially true when they are of the opposite sex. I knew that remote employees would not work, as they have a significantly higher turnover rate than in-house employees.

Also, I wanted to hire entry-level people, and too much autonomy leads to failure at that experience level. I wanted them trained by me and not another recruiting firm, therefore we would have to teach them the business.

When I set out to get new full-time people, I already had our Managing Director, Alison, on board so it was a little easier, but many applicants would not consider working out of an apartment.

They would get very skeptical as to the legitimacy of the company. Most would not show up to the interview.

The only way to accomplish recruiting the right people was to increase the salary for the position to roughly 25% over market. It was worth it, as we found one great employee who would help us find the 4th member of the team.

We also assured our employees that we would get an office, a promise that we kept and signed a lease after a few months of the new team members being on board.

Recruiting, even if you have the tools, is a very difficult thing for a start-up. However, the hurdles I cleared can apply to many industries, not just staffing or consultancy services. Work hard, plan smart, and hire right. Aren't those the basics to any start-up's success? The trick is getting them right the first time, or if not, to try, try again.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6129956

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Bench Craft Company on the focus of basic modifications

There has been a lot of talk as to whether or not social media is the front runner in another inflated internet bubble waiting to burst, leaving users “virtually” friendless and clueless. Will everyone be out of the loop, with no one keeping track of daily deals, happenings or status updates? Warren Buffet confirmed this fear stating that although it’s not as big as the dot com bubble, social media is not long term by any means. However, industry trends and buyer behaviors are stating otherwise.

Facebook has proven beneficial to marketing efforts for B2C companies, but B2B marketing has struggled to find its footing on the platform. That’s where LinkedIn has emerged as the go-to medium for B2B marketers.

A recent study done by BtoB Magazine, showed that when asked “Which of the following social media methods does your company currently use for your B2B marketing (i.e. not personal use)” 72% of B2B marketers said LinkedIn. After reaching more than 100 million users, LinkedIn has solidified its niche as Facebook in a business suit, and B2B companies have taken notice.

The 2011 State of Inbound Marketing (an annual report done by HubSpot, an inbound marketing software company) found that 61% of B2B marketers who participated in the survey acquired a customer through LinkedIn. The targeted and measurable aspect of inbound marketing is what makes it so attractive to smart business owners who are tired of spending money on marketing with no proof that it’s working. Former Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald’s, M. Lawrence Light said, “It no longer makes economic sense to send an advertising message to the many, in hopes of persuading the few.”

Continued on the next page


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MLB leans toward extra replay for 2012, report says

Major League Baseball is leaning toward expanding replay for 2012 to include trapped balls and fair-or-foul rulings down the lines, a person familiar with the talks tells The Associated Press.

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Fox <b>News</b> Reports That GWU Student&#39;s Suicide &#39;Tragically Coincides <b>...</b>

UPDATE: As of 4:30 p.m. EST, Fox has apparently pulled the article in question from their site.

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Multiple Sources Confirm New Nintendo HD Console - <b>News</b> - www <b>...</b>

Game Informer has heard from multiple sources that Nintendo will unveil its new home console at this year's E3 – or maybe even sooner.

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Video calls were a mainstay of classic sci-fi films, and even today there’s something almost magical about seeing your friends and family on the screen of a portable device. Video calling has been around for some time, but it’s only really in the past year or so that its got more attention among regular users. That’s thanks in no small part to Apple and FaceTime, as found on the iPhone 4, iPad 2 and other gadgets from the company’s range. Read on as we give FaceTime the full SlashGear 101 treatment!

So Apple invented video calling, right?

No, not at all, though they did do a lot to make it easier to use – just as long as you have the right hardware. Video calling is actually a part of the 3G standard, which – if the carrier and whatever phone you’re using supports it, which isn’t the case in the US – has been available since around 2003. Unfortunately a combination of high pricing, poor understanding by users, mediocre quality and patchy reliability meant this form of video calling has never really taken off.

Apple’s FaceTime takes advantage of the company’s tight control over the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and MacBook software, which has allowed it to polish the video calling experience to the point where everyday use is possible. Now FaceTime is available to anybody at the touch of an on-screen button.

Do I need an Apple phone to use FaceTime?

Not necessarily a phone, but definitely something with the Apple logo. FaceTime was first supported on the iPhone 4, which was Apple’s first mobile device with a front-facing camera (i.e. one that looks at the user, rather than out the back of the handset). The latest iPod touch and iPad 2 both have front-facing cameras and FaceTime support as well, and Apple has released a FaceTime app for its Mac and MacBook computers so they can join in the fun as well. FaceTime comes free on the mobile devices and the very latest Macs, and is a $0.99 download from the Mac App Store for earlier Mac owners.

Okay, so how do I use it?

It’s pretty simple, just as Apple was aiming for. On the iPhone you make a voice call in the normal way and then tap the FaceTime button on-screen to switch to video. On the iPod touch and iPad 2, you start a video call in the FaceTime app. You’ll need an Apple account in order to make and receive calls, since that’s used as the “phone number” for devices other than the iPhone 4.

Currently, FaceTime video calls can only be made when you have a WiFi connection, not when you’re using the mobile network for data. That’s a limitation Apple has put in place itself, though the company has said it is working on removing it in the future.

I’m not into Apple, can I video call with something else?

You certainly can, though the process gets a bit trickier. Various apps are available for Android and other mobile phone platforms which promise video calls, sometimes over not only WiFi but the 3G mobile networks too. That means you can make video calls when away from your home network or a WiFi hotspot, as long as your signal is strong enough.

Skype, Fring and Qik are all among the companies offering video calling apps, though their effectiveness often varies on a phone-by-phone basis. Not all phones have front-facing cameras, either, though they’re becoming more common on the latest handsets. A future SlashGear 1010 feature will look at the best video calling apps if FaceTime isn’t your thing.

Apple has said it plans to open up FaceTime to other manufacturers, so that non-Apple phones can make and receive calls too, but so far there’s no sign of that actually happening.

More information at Apple’s FaceTime page.

As rumors of a later-than-usual iPhone launch for 2011 persist, a new report reveals that the notoriously secretive Apple is being even more careful than usual when dealing with overseas suppliers.



"Apple is keeping its iPhone 5 cards extra close to the vest on this launch to avoid a falloff in iPhone 4 demand ahead of a refresh, especially given the February launch of the CDMA iPhone 4 with Verizon," Analyst Brian White with Ticonderoga Securities said in a note to investors on Friday. He believes that the iPhone 5 could still launch in June or July, as previous models have.



White noted that various rumors have pointed toward a launch later than June this year for the fifth-generation iPhone. One report from March alleged that Apple has not even begun ordering components for the anticipated "iPhone 5," and the device is slated to arrive in the company's 2012 fiscal year, which begins in late September.



And a third report alleged that Apple is working on a major revamp of iOS, its mobile operating system, for version 5.0. New features like cloud-based storage of music, photos and video are rumored to arrive in the update this fall, likely alongside new iPhone hardware.



But despite all of those reports, White isn't yet convinced that the iPhone 5 will be introduced later than its typical June or July timeframe.



"Although we do not have a smoking gun that definitively rules out a delayed autumn unveiling or one that supports a launch this summer, there is a pattern of activity in motion with the supply chain that makes us question a delayed launch," he said.



White also cited sources who indicated that iPad sales could reach up to 40 million units in calendar year 2011. And supply chain sources also indicated that disruption from the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan will actually end up benefitting Apple, as suppliers will "rush to support Apple at the expense of competitors."



The analyst already revealed earlier this week that Apple has been offering upfront cash payments to component suppliers in order to secure components in the wake of the disaster in Japan. Apple has apparently also been using a "three cover guarantee," referring to capacity, stock and price, to block out competitors and prevent them from building ample supply of devices.

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In recent weeks we’ve shared articles on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and others. Now it’s time to look at how all these tools are changing the way you do business. By the way, we’d like to learn what kind of social media your business is using and why. Be sure to leave a comment below.

Strategy

How to be a social media leader. How to be a social media leader or authority. It’s a question surely on the mind of plenty of small business owners working to learn the vocabulary of the new online media. In the end, it may be easier than it looks. Check these simple tips. Small Business CEO

How to set up a small realization that business blog. Whether practitioners of small business social media nowadays would describe a format as “old school” as blogging as being a part of the social media is uncertain. We certainly consider it to be. In many ways blogging is the cornerstone of a strong online social presence and establishing a blog as the hub of your social media campaign requires learning some basics on establishing a small business blog. Dazzlin Donna

Marketing

How to use social media to build context. Gary Vaynerchuck is arguably one of the most innovative pioneers of the social media marketing approach, but in this interview he argues using the means open to small businesses today isn’t necessarily about the tools, it’s about the context. Find out why. The Rise to the Top

How to grow your social media fan base. Whether it’s Facebook or another comparable site, social media is about being social. To understand why this is harder than it might at first seem, check out this post on growing a social media fan base for your business. Like other online marketing, social media is about content. This post talks about how to use content and other tools to boost your number of fans. Premium SEO Solutions

Operations

How to create Twitter and other social media content. So, we know that using social media and frequently updating with content are the key to an effective social media marketing campaign. But what in the world can you say. As it turns out talking endlessly and pitching endlessly about your business on social media is NOT the answer. Follow this guide to participating effectively in social media WITHOUT being labeled a spammer. What’s your approach? Blog Godown

How bloggers have become much more influential than celebrities. When it comes to influencing purchasing decisions, people are more likely to listen to a blogger than a rock star. That’s according to a recent study suggesting the increased influence social media is having on purchasing decisions. If you haven’t yet considered social media and particularly blogging as part of your marketing campaign, you may want to read more. Fox News

Research

Why social media may not be your best traffic driving tool. A recent study suggests that as a strategy for driving traffic to your Website, social media may not be the best choice. Then again, the study goes on, for brand awareness its effectiveness may be somewhat higher. In the end, it’s important to remember that the tools you use must make sense to your business, says blogger Cynthia Boris. Don’t look to social media as a magic bullet. It’s a useful tool, nothing more. Marketing Pilgrim

How to create a successful social media strategy. Businesses seeking to take advantage of all aspects of the social media need to apply careful planing to their approach. The possibilities for crowdsourcing, studying of online customer conversation and other factors makes innovation easier as well. But with all these possibilities, where should your business begin? A well defined social media strategy is a good first step. 1 to 1 media

How to listen to social media and gain insight about your brand. Someone is talking about your business out there. But what are they saying and is it something you should even be worried about? Monitoring social media for positive and negative comments about your business can be a great strategy for constant innovation. Here’s more about how it works and how you can get involved. InformationWeek

Final Thoughts

Trying to figure out social media. One of the main issues for small businesses today, surprisingly, is not just deciding to implement social media but trying to figure out all of the possible implications. Social media is, after all, more than just a tool. It is a movement as well. The existence of social media is a hard reality and offers opportunities to small business of all kinds. But there are challenges too. Here are some important thoughts. Business 2 Community

Next, Odeo moved into an office and started hiring more employees – including a quiet, on-again, off-again Web designer named Jack Dorsey and an engineer named Blaine Cook. Evan Williams became Odeo's CEO.

By July 2005, Odeo had a product: a platform for podcasting.

But then, in the fall of 2005, "the shit hit the fan," says George Zachary, the Charles River Ventures partner who led the firm's investment in Odeo.

That was when Apple first announced iTunes – which included a podcasting platform built into every one of the 200 million iPods Apple would eventually sell. Around the same time, Odeo employees, from Glass and Williams on down, began to realize that they weren't listening to podcasts as much as they thought they would be.

Says Cook: "We built [Odeo], we tested it a lot, but we never used it."

Suddenly, says Zachary, "the company was going sideways."

By this point, Odeo had 14 people working full time – including now-CEO Evan Williams and a friend of his from Google, Christopher "Biz" Stone.

Williams decided Odeo's future was not in podcasting, and later that year, he told the company's employees to start coming up with ideas for a new direction Odeo could go.  The company started holding official "hackathons" where employees would spend a whole day working on projects. They broke off into groups.

Odeo cofounder Noah Glass gravitated toward Jack Dorsey, whom Glass says was "one of the stars of the company."  Jack had an idea for a completely different product that revolved around "status"--what people were doing at a given time.

"I got the impression he was unhappy with what he was working on –  a lot of cleanup work on Odeo."

"He started talking to me about this idea of status and how he was really interested in status," Glass says. "I was trying to figure out what it was he found compelling about it."

"There was a moment when I was sitting with Jack and I said, 'Oh, I do see how this could really come together to make something really compelling.' We were sitting on Mission St. in the car in the rain. We were going out and I was dropping him off and having this conversation. It all fit together for me."

One day in February 2006, Glass, Dorsey, and a German contract developer Florian Weber presented Jack's idea to the rest of the company.  It was a system where you could send a text to one number and it would be broadcasted out to all of your friends: Twttr.

Noah Glass says it was he who came up with the name "Twttr." "I spent a bunch of time thinking about it," he says.  Eventually, the name would become Twitter.

After that February presentation to the company, Evan Williams was skeptical of Twitter's potential, but he put Glass in charge of the project. From time to time, Biz Stone helped out Glass's Twitter team.

And it really was Glass's team, by the way. Not Jack Dorsey's.

Everyone agrees that original inkling for Twitter sprang from Jack Dorsey's mind. Dorsey even has drawings of something that looks like Twitter that he made years before he joined Odeo. And Jack was obviously central to the Twitter team.

But all of the early employees and Odeo investors we talked to also agree that no one at Odeo was more passionate about Twitter in the early days than Odeo's cofounder, Noah Glass.

"It was predominantly Noah who pushed for the project to be started," says Blaine Cook, who describes Glass as Twitter's "spiritual leader."

"He definitely had a vision for what it was," says Ray McClure.

"There were two people who were really excited [about Twitter,]" concurs Odeo investor George Zachary. "Jack and Noah Glass. Noah was fanatically excited about Twitter. Fanatically! Evan and Biz weren't at that level. Not remotely."

Zachary says Glass told him, "You know what's awesome about this thing? It makes you feel like you're right with that person. It's a whole emotional impact. You feel like you're connected with that person."

At one point the entire early Twitter service was running on Glass's laptop. "An IBM Thinkpad," Glass says, "Using a Verizon wireless card."

"It was right there on my desk. I could just pick it up and take it anywhere in the world. That was a really fun time."

Glass insists that he is not Twitter's sole founder or anything like it.  But he feels betrayed that his role has basically been expunged from Twitter history.  He says Florian Weber doesn't get enough credit, either.

"Some people have gotten credit, some people haven't. The reality is it was a group effort. I didn't create Twitter on my own. It came out of conversations."

"I do know that without me, Twitter wouldn't exist. In a huge way."

By March of 2006, Odeo had a working Twitter prototype. In July, TechCrunch covered Twttr for the first time. That same summer, Odeo employees obsessed with Twitter were racking up monthly SMS bills totalling hundreds of dollars. The company agreed to pay those bills for the employees. In August, a small earthquake shook San Francisco and word quickly spread through Twitter – an early 'ah-ha!' moment for users and company-watchers alike. By that fall, Twitter had thousands of users.

By this point, engineer Blaine Cook says it began to feel like there were "two companies" at Odeo – the one "Noah and Florian and Jack and Biz were working on" (Twitter) and Odeo. Twitter, says Ray McClure, "was definitely the thing you wanted to be working on."

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Daily Kos: Fox <b>News</b> ties suicide to Obama speech

But with the other option being to talk about the Republican plan to abolish Medicare, apparently politicizing this young man's death looked a whole lot better to Fox News. Pathetic. (h/t Balloon Juice) ...

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New Google <b>News</b> for Opera Mini - Official Google Mobile Blog

So we have rolled out a redesigned Google News for Opera Mini in all 29 languages and 70 editions of Google News. This includes an enhanced homepage featuring richer snippets, thumbnail images, links to videos and section content ...

Roofing Contractors Vancouver - 5 Inquiries to Think about

Roofing Vancouver - Frequently Asked Questions

1. Repair or Replace?

There's no opinion as an expert opinion. Most contractors will provide you with a totally free estimate. Get a list of a few trusted contractors and contact them well in advance of when you want to get your roof fixed to help you compare costs and opinions.

2. Beauty versus Practicality?

Discuss this with your spouse or partner. (The children could care less...at least the children.) The fact is, nobody wants an ugly roof the same as nobody wants to be viewed with bed hair. If you've got a great quality roof and you simply need to repair it, it's worthwhile to pay the price of the initial shingle instead of doing patchwork. A roof replacement doesn't happen very often (hopefully!) and so make a decision that best suits you and your family well or it'll stick out like a sore thumb everyday you go home.

3. Must i replace the roof in order to sell the home for additional?

Think about this very carefully before making a decision. Depending on the roofing material you select, a brand new roof lasts anywhere from twenty, fifty, to one-hundred years! This means you have to look into the year from the roof that's currently too deep first. Are you at year 18 of the 20-year warranted roof or year 30 of the 50-year warranted roof? Obviously, the quality is the reason why the roof last longer, but when you're not planning to stay in your current home throughout your life, the larger expense might not be worth neglect the. Although a new roof can enhance the worth of your selling price, the rise may not be enough to pay for neglect the and that's definitely going to hurt your wallet.

4. Is it a good idea for me to repair the rooftop myself?

Sure it's. Before you need to do, consult a specialist first. You can perform it yourself, however, you shouldn't be considered a complete ‘lone ranger.' Depending on the extent of the repair, you might or may not change your mind. Either way, it helps to obtain a professional eye on the problem first and perhaps even a free quote to help you do the math later and see if it's truly worth your time, sweat, and money to be mister or miss fix-it.

5. When is a great time to get the roof replaced?

Weather can cause delays from days to weeks. Most people prepare yourself to have their roof replaced in the summer when they have a friend is going to be home throughout the day for a solid two weeks. Once you have this era in your mind, create a call to some trusted contractor months in advance to obtain a quote. Some companies get reserved fast and odds are, they're the most reputable. Planning ahead from the summer also gives you time for you to discuss with many compare costs...especially if you want to possess the roof done by a specified date.

 

The Top Roofing Company In Vancouver!

It is possible to leak in your home's roof? Have you lost shingles or tiles inside a storm? Have overhanging branches caused damage? Is your roof more than 20 years old and showing its age? Are your gutters overwhelmed and draining poorly?

If the response to any of these questions is "Yes" it is time to call the top roofing company Vancouver - Crown Roofing & Drainage.

For more than a century Crown Roofing has been the roofer of choice among our Vancouver neighbors. We offer complete roofing services, from emergency repairs and roof restoration, to accomplish roof replacement. All using the finest quality materials, installed with precision and the highest degree of customer service.

YOUR Vancouver ROOF DESERVES NO LESS!

The roof of your Vancouver home is the very first type of defence against wind, rain, snow, ice along with other weather conditions. Be sure it's up to the job. Among Vancouver Roofing companies, only Crown Roofing has the depth of expertise and successful track record to make sure your roofing system is going to be properly designed and installed.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.

One reason Crown Roofing has been the most successful roofing contractor in Vancouver is our resolve for our neighbors. We treat your home as though it were our own and we were creating a roof to safeguard our own family. That's what neighbors do, and you will count on Crown Roofing being here to support you and back our work. In the end, we've been repairing and replacing roofs in Vancouver since 1902!

GET A FREE INSPECTION AND EVALUATION OF YOUR Vancouver ROOF.

Visit the Roofers Vancouver for any FREE inspection and evaluation of your roof. Give you the best roof for the Vancouver home, at the cost effective. We build roofs to last!

 

Tacoma Roofer: Make your Home Beautiful

Very few people understand the value of a good roof, your knowledgeable Tacoma Roofing contractor does. From top notch experience, they will be in a position to tell you the reason why you require a strong, secure, and leak-free roof on your home.

The local Tacoma Roofing contractor is well aware how important a financial investment your house is for you, especially as it is a long term one. Your home may have been damaged slowly over the years and also you need to take steps to minimize this damage. For a number of people, keeping their house beautiful is also a matter of pride. There are those too who'd like to turn their house into a economical and efficient living place. Your roof is an integral part of your property and contributes to each one of the aspects mentioned previously. For this reason, you need to employ the services of qualified a Tacoma Roofing company.

Kinds of Roofs installed with a Tacoma Roofing company

One of the more prevalent types of roofs are asphalt shingles, steel or metal sheeting, fiberglass, slate and terra cotta tiles.

Each kind of roof invites distinct problems, but they can be easily looked after with a trusted Tacoma Roofing contractor. It's imperative that you nip roof problems in the bud before they become too expensive or dangerous. You are able to schedule a scheduled appointment using the Tacoma Roofing contractor to take a look at your roof to see if you will find any issues or potential problems with it. If you will find, they might be able to tell you how to deal with them.

A Tacoma Roofer Helps to Build Strong Homes

The exteriors associated with a house, primarily the roof and gutters, face the onslaught of bitter and varying climate conditions, day after day. Painting, repairing, and cleaning gutters might be necessary. In some instances you may have to replace them completely. Usually, when your gutters show signs of trouble, your roof also needs to be inspected for problems. Whatever issues there might be, a skilled Tacoma Roofing contractor can examine them in detail and suggest the remedy.

If your gutters often clog too often, or there are leaks across the walls of your home, it might mean that there is debris piled up on the top. Loose branches, piles of leaves, and other light objects that are swept on your roof throughout a storm can all contribute towards damaging your homes roof, which damages could be lasting. An educated Tacoma Roofer will tell you that birds, mice, and other kinds of rodents often build nest within the debris that collects on the top. While these nests may look rather innocent, they are great at collecting moisture, which can lead to loose shingles, mold, and indoor leaks in your house. Additionally, it may also cause vermin infestation. After a storm, your Tacoma Roofing contractor will claim that you inspect your homes roof for any signs and symptoms of debris or damage.

Reverse Damages by using a Tacoma Roofing company

However top quality the rooftop might be, it will eventually wear down with time. You will find shingles which are known as "25 year" or "30 year" shingles, but those numbers are only related to warranty made by the makers. They seldom last that long. Realistically speaking, "25 year" shingles won't last more than fifteen to twenty years. Within an area that's vulnerable to storms, shingles or even the entire roof should be replaced every ten years. Having a Tacoma Roofing company, the cost is going to be lower than what you think.

If there you lose any shingles, or there is some damage to them, a Tacoma Roofer will be able to assist you to. Damaged shingles can result in indoor leaks, as the substrate from the roof becomes subjected to the sun and rain. Shingles which are loose or broken can slip off and pose a possible hazard to people standing below. Missing shingles produce a gap which allows rain, wind, ice, and debris to build up underneath the adjoining shingles, which creates a "domino effect" that affects other shingles and they become loose or broken. A thorough investigation is going to be produced by the local Tacoma Roofing company, should you call them track of your suspicions of loose or missing shingles.

Your Tacoma Roofing company will be in a position to tell you what the best option is perfect for your homes roof. If your roof is not in a good condition, it is advised you have it replaced completely. The Tacoma Roofer may take you thru the various roofing options available to you that will fit your requirements as well as your budget.

Tacoma Roofing company: Enhancing your Home's Efficiency

Your homes roof shelters you from storms, sleet, and hail. By giving adequate ventilation, your roof protects your home from overheating, by holding within the heat, it keeps your house warm. That's why you need to ready your roof from indoors in addition to outdoors for any sort of weather emergency. A professional Tacoma Roofer can offer help in this situation.

First of all, inspect your homes roof thoroughly for any and all kind of damage, before the beginning of the year. The gutters ought to be clear, debris should not be piled on or trapped under shingles, tthere shouldn't be homes of squirrels or birds within the eaves or attic, and the roof ought to be structurally sound. For that last part, you will need the assistance of your local Tacoma Roofer. It may be quite dangerous to climb onto the roof of your house. This is when the contractor from Tacoma Roofer comes in. He'll read the strength and security of the roof and shingles, and do a general inspection of the entire roof structure, to make sure that it's in proper working order. They'll be in a position to point to problems that you have to keep close track of and problems you might not have spotted.

You will need all of the assist you to can get from the Tacoma Roofer. You are able to help your homes roof by installing a gutter guard or leaf cover to help prevent debris from forming in your gutters. The additional weight of debris prevents the gutters from draining and can even tear them down. Look into the fasteners on your gutters and if they are loose, tighten them. Do something to alter worn screws and brackets. If you have a chimney in your house, inspect the bricks and mortar signs of wear. A trusted mason can be recommended by your Tacoma Roofer, if you will find any repairs to be done.

Tacoma Roofer: Someone You Can Count On
In the event that you know or suspect that there is a problem, your Tacoma Roofing company should be contacted. They are able to use their knowledge and expertise to obtain your house in ace condition by simply focusing on the roof. Your homes roof deserves attention. So give them a call today, so that they can get down to working on your roof.

 

What is Distinction between Commercial Roofing Companies From Residential Roofing Companies

If you are considering hiring a roofing company to re roof your home or building then you can be wondering what the differences are between residential roofing companies and commercial roofing companies. To begin with, the main one huge difference is that often times a commercial roofing company may have signed an agreement with and become obligated to some roofing union in in a position to focus on union commercial jobs.

If this sounds like the case then their labor costs will prohibit them from focusing on non union residential jobs. Beyond that, if your commercial roofing company hasn't signed an agreement having a union they may be outfitted just for commercial jobs which of course means their workers and equipment may not be consistent with smaller residential jobs.

Residential roofing contractors in general tend to run smaller companies and therefore, are more in a position to bid competitively on residential jobs, which tend to be small compared to comercial jobs. In fact, often times residential roofing contractors will run one man operations, where the contractor that you simply speak with may be the one which actually does the job on the building.

Also, liability insurance for commercial roofing is more epensive along with a larger bond is required for any commercial roofing work which will make it not economical for any commercial roofing contractor to complete residential roofing jobs.

Still one more factor is that commercial jobs can run on a tighter time period for just about any quantity of reasons, requiring an industrial contractor to train on a larger crew or crews which again makes smaller jobs not as profitable for them.

 

Difference Between Commercial Roofing and Residential Roofing

Did you know that the rooftop of the house or building includes a huge impact on the whole structure itself? Damage caused to roofs due to natural or another disasters causes a considerable lack of property everywhere. The kind of materials accustomed to construct the roof which should be sturdy and long lasting, the manner in which the roof continues to be installed and even its timely maintenance are extremely crucial. There's two types of roofs that are utilized on all of the buildings that we see around us: commercial and residential. Although it may seem that commercial roofing is done just for businesses or offices and residential roofing is done for apartments and houses, the truth is the differences tend to be more complex than that.

Residential roofing is usually completed by just one hired contractor but commercial roofing usually takes a whole team to complete the job. The reason being an industrial roof tends to be larger in terms of sq ft than a residential roof.
Commercial roofs need to be made carefully keeping the character and purpose of your building in mind. For instance, when there is a cafe or restaurant within the building then external components like ventilation systems, smoke stacks and pipes will be required. Residential roofs tend not to have such components other than a chimney or two at most.
Commercial roofs tends to be flat in design to support further changes at a later period, whereas most residential roofs have peaks along with other architectural features like roof gardens.
Commercial roofing is much more expensive than residential roofing because of the special tools, materials and safety equipment that are needed onsite. Usually the patching or maintenance work is done in segments unlike for any residential roof where the repair or replacement work could be carried out a short time. This is another reason why the gear employed for residential roofs is often smaller and less costly as well.
Commercial roof installations take a longer time to complete in comparison to residential roof installations and are usually constructed in large sections. During this phase however, you should make sure that there are no leakages, cracks or other visible wear and tear signs as it can certainly cause considerable damage to the entire building.
You should install the right roof for a building based on its purpose. Make sure that you hire a construction company that utilizes first class materials and it has the right equipment for the job or your investment risk turning to be a huge loss later.

 

Commercial Roofing Contractors: How to purchase a Qualified Commercial Roofing Company

If a business is seeking to have work done on its roof, you should use commercial roofing contractors which have an enthusiastic knowledge of any special needs that a business may have. As an example, a roofing job can often be disruptive for the operation of business as always. For this reason, it might be essential for the business to become temporarily shut down, or for the roofing to take place after business hours have ended. A roofer that understands these needs can work plus a business in order to make certain these types of issues are minimized.

First of all , a company should do when it's searching for commercial roofing contractors is to discover who other businesses in the region are working through. Obviously, this article not be helpful whether it comes as a suggestion from competitors, but there are circumstances in which it's not too difficult to locate these details from suppliers or retailers. Since roofing is not an industry-specific service, this post is readily available.

It's a wise decision for any business to obtain in touch with a minimum of three commercial roofing contractors to create bids about the price. In this way, the business could get a better price. It is also vital that you ensure that each one of the roofing contractors is licensed and bonded. These details are available by permitting in touch with the state contractor's board. This also assists you to determine if there has been any claims filed from the company previously.

When examining bids, it is just as vital to check out what services are being offered and which products is going to be used because it is to look at the total cost. The costs can vary quite drastically, but as tempting as possible to choose the lowest bid, this is not always the best option. In many cases, more costs now will mean fewer costs over time as a result of a poor roofing job. To help investigate the quality of the work, it's a good idea to check using the Bbb in order to see if the company has been accredited, and when it's not, to at least see what its rating is.

 

Selecting a Commercial Roofer

When you're looking for a roofer for your commercial roofing project you need to find a contractor who understands the special needs of the commercial roofing project. For instance it may be harder to work on the business during business hours so either the company has to be turn off for that repair or replacement or the job needs to be done after conventional business hours. May be the roofer you are considering for the job willing and able to operate around your schedule constrictions that might involve working weekends or evenings?

When you start your search for any roofing contractor you don't only need to answer those questions but you also want to find someone which will perform a high quality job without a great deal of time delays. Going about finding someone can seem like an obstacle in itself but there are several ways to result in the search easier.

Ask people around you for referrals and try to find at least three contractors to provide you with written bids in your job. Before you go any more you have to make sure that the contractors you are thinking about are fully licensed and bonded. A simple search with the state contractor's board will verify in case your roofer is licensed and when you will find any past judgments or claims against their license.

When you select 3 or 4 roofers to put bids, you should get ready for that bids to become widely varied. Roofers may have brand preferences that will vary and could element in more or less compared to next guy for any labor estimate. The greater detailed an itemized bid is the more helpful it will likely be to focus on where the cost will be incurred. Don't, however, select a roofer based solely on the bid price. Any low ball bids may be tempting to take, but if they're low due to low quality workman ship it might not be worth it in the end.

As the saying goes, you generally get what you pay for, if you are able to afford a mid-priced bid it certainly is smart to increase within your budget instead of down. Additionally you should select your roofer depending on how professional these were and how comfortable you anticipate you will be working with them.

Finally your cost will vary based on which kind of roofing material you select along with the cost to haul your old roof to the landfill. If you are looking for places to chop corners on your roof, instead of cutting labor cost you may want to ask about a metal roof option. Metal roofs can be cost effective and energy efficient which makes them overall money savers for the long term, and on commercial buildings they may be really low maintenance. Plus given that they can be put on top of an existing roof, you don't have to possess the old one removed and hauled away, that make a large effect on your cost.

Choosing a comerical roofing company nearer your home, doesn't have to become a difficult task. For more information, visit http://www.vancouverroofers.net