I’m not finding as much time to experiment with things on this site as much as I’d like, but I did switch over from Google AdSense to Rubicon to try them out (on Micah’s recommendation).

I turned off things I thought would be too annoying: Audio Ads, False Message Ads, Shaky/Flashing Ads and Windows Dialog Ads. Nice that they offer this option.

I like the premise of Rubicon - seems quite interesting. I’ll leave the switch in place for a little while, then compare the results.

Please let me know if you see anything in the ads that bother you. So far I’m mostly just seeing Google AdSense being served by Rubicon.

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The Olympics are coming and with it a heap of viral campaigns that you can look forward to.

I’m short on time today as I have some designing that needs to be done, however, there are a few links I just have to share with you before I get back to work!

• Perfectionism hurts! Freelance Folder asks - Building a Perfect Website? Are You Too Perfectionist?
• WordPress isn’t just for blogging anymore! Here are 48 Unique Ways to Use WordPress.
• BloggerTalks has a fabulous interview with WordPress maven, Lorelle (who I am eternally grateful to anyhow)
• Just Make Money Online is talking about Monetizing Domain Names - interesting.
• Working from home? Then you need to make sure you are not making these Eight Deadly Mistakes that will Completely Ruin your Dream of Business Success!

And, rumor has it that Liz and team have some pretty cool sponsors falling into place for the blogging conference event of the year, SOBCon - May 2-4, 2008 in Chicago. Go check it out and by doing so, you can help me win the contest and go to SOBCon for free.

Moscone Center
San Francisco
USA
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Four things that make me happy:
1. Sunshine
2. My animals
3. A good book
4. Wine tastings

Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. The Notebook
2. Almost Famous
3. Pretty Woman
4. Dirty Dancing

Four websites I check daily:
1. thejjb.com
2. www.woot.com
3. Gmail
4. Google News

Four favorite drinks:
1. Mt. Dew/Diet Mt. Dew (I love both, is that weird?)
2. Sweet Tea
3. Wine
4. Strawberry Banana smoothies

Four places I have lived:
1. Canton, OH
2. Raleigh, NC
3. Hickory, NC
4. Burlington, NC (Wow, all the NCs make me sad.)

Four TV Shows that I watch:
1. Heroes
2. Grey’s Anatomy
3. Weeds
4. Survivor

Four favorite colors:
1. Blue
2. Pink
3. Brown
4. Green

Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Mexico
2. Canada
3. Bahamas
4. California

Four things on my desk right now:
1. Jolly Ranchers
2. POM tea glass with pennies in it
3. My SJP Bitten purse
4. Minnie Mouse ears I never took home after hat day.

Four blogs I read regularly:
1. I’m Not Obsessed
2. Magnolias, Marriage and Manhattan (She originally posted this fabulous list)
3. Just Jared
4. Chic

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Crab! Crab legs, crab dip, crab soup, crab cakes.
2. Cheese and anything covered in it or stuffed with it. Particularly fresh mozzerella. If you’re ever in Raleigh, stop by Assaggio’s for the best around.
3. Strawberries
4. Sour Patch Kids

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. At the beach
2. In bed
3. At a live show of any band I love
4. Exploring a new city

So much for Ask.com being a threat to the top 3 engines. IAC just fired a bunch of their people, and it seems Ask will go back to its Jeeves day when it was all about questions and answers instead of a search engine. Ask.com had an OK technology behind it and had made numerous moves to cut into its bigger competitor’s shares, but it wasn’t any close to being a Google or Yahoo! killer. I wonder if this actually affects the Yahoo!, Microsoft deal as the industry is now different with only 3 major players in it rather than four. On a side note, I think Ask! will be a great destination for all women around the world.

All developed countries have started taking measures to reduce their bad impact on Earth. Banning incadescent lightbulbs, cars from the city centres, or introducing laws for greener factories and industries. Greece at last followed their example by promoting a greener life in the capital.

After its apathy at Bali’s summit, where the greek spokepersons had no specific proposals or positions, Greece seems to start thinking more about the environment. Such late a start can be partly justified, as the country lacks basic means. Most people are way too indifferent and uninformed about global warming and facilities don’t meet the specifications for major changes (for instance the way buildings had been built makes it impossible to widen the roads and introduce cycle lanes etc).

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The Basic Materials Sector has acquired renewed importance of late for North American stock investors. Precious metals and energy stocks provide refuge for capital looking for ways to retain value. This company is based in Saskatoon and has its exploration as well as mining rights in Canada.

The ownership and asset structures offer protection to stock investors who worry about security in third world countries. Abundant demand for gold, oil, and natural gas within North America effectively isolates the company from adverse geo-political developments, and also from dollar depreciation. That is why the stock represents such high value for investors in search of stable small capital entry routes into the Basic Materials Sector.

2008 is off to an encouraging start for the company. The management used the last day of calendar year 2007 to announce a sale of royalties related to one of its working gold mines. The arrangement yielded income of more than $25 million, exclusive of interest for over a decade. The company has reported drilling results from the area around this mine during early February 2008. 2007 explorations have established extensive mineral deposits in the drilled area.

The management has also announced, over the last 30 days, similarly encouraging results from drilling activities at two more of its properties. These results augur well for the future of the stock. The company has a secure balance sheet with a Total Debt to Equity during the Most Recent Quarter of just 0.10.

Let us hear your thoughts below:

Who doesn’t know someone nailed by this flu or at least had it?  One thing I am hearing, and possibly feeling, is that it comes back just like the bad guy in the movie.

One agent in my office got a second hit and I am feeling a little worse for wear.  Unfortunately hit him even harder the second time.  Time for some OJ for me.

Some observations from behind the computer;

Traffic seems light lately.   I wonder if gas prices finally affected driving habits.

Our market got hot after many others did.  Will our problems come later too?

Showings have increased on some of my listings, dramatically.

I see flexibility from sellers.

FHA and VA loans are back and probably big.

And don’t forget to Spring Forward on Sunday morning..