Disqus - Latest Comments for Erica Douglass

Re: Hulu and the Subscription Model

Erica Douglass — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:22:10 -0000

Read between the lines. Hulu isn't making money with those commercials. It's possible that they are doing this because advertisers aren't getting the expected ROI from Hulu commercials.

If you don't like it, may I suggest a Tivo?

-Erica

Re: Google Editions: E-Books From Anywhere

Erica Douglass — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:12:47 -0000

I love my Kindle, but it's not worth putting on a credit card. If you have the extra cash -- especially if you travel a lot -- it will be the most worthwhile item you buy this year. It's become my "must have" device for travel. Still -- pay down debt first, and pay cash for it.

-Erica

Re: TV Ad Volume May Finally Be Moderated

Erica Douglass — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:21:22 -0000

Take matters into your own hands and get a TiVo. :) (You can find ones with lifetime service on eBay.)

-Erica

Re: QuickBooks 2010 Now Available, Discounts for Readers

Erica Douglass — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:48:45 -0000

Hi Flexo,

It may be worth it to pay your accountant to handle QB for you. That's what I do...after trying it myself and realizing it wasn't worth my time.

I still have Pro 2007. I figure I'll upgrade when my accountant tells me I need to. :)

If you're reading this and you have employees, their payroll service is worth the monthly fee.

-Erica

Re: Earning What You Have: The Mindset I Hope I Never Lose

Erica Douglass — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:19:13 -0000

Wow, after reading this I realize you're serious. Many people who earn that much generate a ton of value for their clients. They help other people feel better, make money, or generally have a better life.

If you were to go to the emergency room right now and found out you had a rare form of cancer, the person you would "hire" to fix it would make far more than $150K/year. Are you seriously saying they are not worth it? To save your LIFE?

That's an extreme example, but the people who demand that kind of money are absolutely worth it.

-Erica

Re: Visa Signature Concierge: Useless for Immediate Travel

Erica Douglass — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:41:26 -0000

When my grandfather died and his funeral occurred, I could not justify the $1300 round-trip Delta wanted for the nearest airport (CVG), and no one in my family was able to make the 4+hour round-trip to IND, which would have been slightly cheaper.

I ended up not going and made me peace with him in other ways. I don't really regret not being there, but it is unfortunate that the airlines don't really help. Then again, verifying funeral dates, times, and relations is a lot of manual work and not really worth it for them.

-Erica

Re: Southwest Air’s $10 Boarding Upgrade

Erica Douglass — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:33:53 -0000

The trick to getting A20 (the highest you can get without being Business Select) is to check in online exactly 24 hours before your flight. I mean down to the minute. I have alerts set everywhere so I am usually one of the first to check in.

You can check in on any mobile phone with a web browser by going to m.southwest.com.

Remember that you don't have to print your boarding pass then and there to check in; check in, get your number, and then print your boarding pass when you get to the airport.

Never wait until you get to the airport to check in.

-Erica

Re: How to Save Money at Baseball Games

Erica Douglass — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:43:47 -0000

Interesting post (and glad to see that Tom is commenting, too! ;) My only feedback would be to try to buy the tickets on craigslist. I found they are even cheaper than StubHub, but you may have to meet the person and exchange cash. I've bought lots of tickets on craigslist, mostly for concerts, and have saved a ton of money -- to the point where I probably wouldn't buy through Ticketmaster.

-Erica

Re: Posts of the Week

Erica Douglass — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:39:11 -0000

Hi Flexo,

"Money Quantum -- for people whose life involves money..."

You need to re-read my "Why Entrepreneurs Fail" article. Particularly Trap #3. ;)

http://www.erica.biz/2009/why-entrepreneurs-fail/

-Erica

Re: Cash for Clunkers: The Revenge

Erica Douglass — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:53:02 -0000

Smithee, you have some smart readers on here. The first two commenters are particularly prescient. Like them, I'm not clear on what the couple featured in the article would have done differently had C4C not been around. They probably would have bought another car later -- which is exactly what most economists are trying to say.

This is the broken window fallacy at its finest -- a Keynesian debacle which will most likely sink car sales for the next 6-12 months after it expires (and possibly more.) Here's an explanation, straight from my favorite economics book, Economics in One Lesson:

http://jim.com/econ/chap02p1.html

-Erica

Re: Answering Mail: Using Debit Cards as Credit Cards

Erica Douglass — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:10:15 -0000

Many rewards cards only give you rewards if you use them as "credit" (or they give more rewards if you use as credit.) If you have a rewards debit card, make sure to read the fine print to figure this out.

-Erica

Re: 10 Percent of U.S. Post Offices Under Evaluation, 700 to Be Closed

Erica Douglass — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:26:28 -0000

This is a failure of overarching government legislation. The gov't "privatized" the Post Office, but Congress still sets the rates for mail.

To make matters worse, the Post Office, like many government agencies, has a pension debacle. They have promised too much in pensions and are unable to deliver.

The Post Office should either be truly privatized (i.e. no unions and 401(k)s just like a private company), or it should be disbanded. If it is disbanded, other private companies will take its place. The world will not end.

IMHO the best route would be to push it into bankruptcy and have it discharge its pension obligations. Then have it re-hire non-union employees and remove the requirement that Congress set postal rates. But this is a pipe dream with the current administration...who will likely swoop in with our tax dollars to "save" this mess.

-Erica

Re: Growth Career Fields for the Next Twenty Years

Erica Douglass — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:33:16 -0000

I have to say, everyone I know who knows Linux system administration is doing incredibly well. I gave references last week for a former employee of mine who is in that area. He ended up with two jobs competing for him.

Even if you're just studying Linux at home and built your own router, etc. you should be able to find some decent jobs. I know we were hiring those folks at $18/hr in San Jose as summer interns a few summers ago.

-Erica

Re: Posts of the Week

Erica Douglass — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:09:11 -0000

Flexo, thanks for the link! I have a whopper post coming up about scam-free ways to make money online, as well.

Enjoying Consumerism Commentary, as always! :)

-Erica

Re: Anniversary Giveaway: Enter to Win Free iPod If You Find All Four Clues

Erica Douglass — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:46:07 -0000

Looks great now! :)

Re: Anniversary Giveaway: Enter to Win Free iPod If You Find All Four Clues

Erica Douglass — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:56:25 -0000

Your headline implies that everyone who finds the four clues will win an iPod...not your intent according to the text of the post!

-Erica

Re: Emotional Barriers to Negotiating and Haggling

Erica Douglass — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:11:06 -0000

"Perhaps it was this one incident that set Circuit City on the path towards bankruptcy. "

Ha! Clearly, Flexo, you with your evil negotiating ways, have singlehandedly driven an otherwise completely-solvent and debt-free company out of business! ;)

I always favor the "What's the lowest price you can offer?" tactic. Agreed with the lack of yes/no questions. This works great at hotels, rental car companies, etc. They almost always throw in a discount.

I'm still kicking myself for not negotiating SOMETHING with the landlord on our new place. The problem is it's a unique place in a small town without a lot of rental stock, and it had everything we wanted! Still...I could have done something, says my haggler side. :s

-Erica

Re: Forbes Gets it Wrong About “Online-Only” Bank Accounts

Erica Douglass — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:23:16 -0000

Yikes! Thanks for pointing this out. I just fulfilled my "general fund" savings goal, so I was setting up subaccounts for other savings goals, but had no idea ING counted subaccount transfers as part of the 6. I got nailed with a fee from WaMu for this same thing, which is one of the reasons I opened a ING account.

-Erica

Re: When Going Into Debt is Worthwhile

Erica Douglass — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:18:32 -0000

Hi Flexo,

I enjoy your blog, and I also enjoy mildly teasing you whenever I see your common beliefs peeking out. All in good fun. I'll continue to rabble-rouse in your comments. ;)

-Erica
P.S. Maybe I should sit down and write long enough to make some of this stuff into a guest post!

Re: When Going Into Debt is Worthwhile

Erica Douglass — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:16:43 -0000

Hi Apex,

Thanks for the reply! Actually, right after I wrote my comment, I wondered if someone would say that.

The answer to your quandary is similar to what Flexo mentioned in his reply to me -- not everyone has the same goals. Who would build your house? Short answer: Someone who enjoys building houses more than he/she enjoys passive income.

Just because "everyone" can't do passive income doesn't mean YOU can't. Don't confuse the two, or you risk looping yourself into a defeatist position. Not everyone has to be the same. I act as a catalyst through my blog and these types of comments -- I encourage people to think about the world differently. I like to shake things up. This post is full of common beliefs. I happen to subscribe to none of them.

There are plenty of ways to earn passive income. Many teach how to do it online, or you can learn value investing, or any number of ways...while still holding down a job, if that's what you prefer.

Worth noting: If you believe that only a very few can do what you want to do, what are the steps you would have to take to become one of those few? (Side note: I don't have that belief.)

-Erica

Re: When Going Into Debt is Worthwhile

Erica Douglass — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:47:05 -0000

This article is really about an employee perspective. Go to a good college, so you can get a good job, etc. etc. Isn't this kind of boring? (I sense that finally some people are waking up, but still, this article doesn't make any mention of another path.)

You also push the "buy a home for stability" line, which I also don't agree with. I sit here typing this from a rental I've lived in for 5 years. Most folks don't own their homes for much longer; the average used to be 7 years and has gone down in recent years. School districts are fairly large; I suspect that even if a rental didn't work out, you could find another one in the same district. I strongly urge people to do the math before buying a house. If you can rent for less, rent for less and invest the rest!

I know my financial goals are far different from the majority of Americans. My goals include having enough passive income to pay all of my expenses. At that point, who cares whether I rent or own a house? If I have guaranteed passive income that exceeds my expenses, it's a moot point.

I'd love to see other articles contemplating this viewpoint instead of more articles focusing on homeownership and career (yawn.)

-Erica

Re: Smithee’s First Stock Sale

Erica Douglass — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:04:31 -0000

Cool; congratulations! They won't all work out that well, but that's awesome nonetheless.

-Erica

Re: Personal Finance Advice: One Size Does Not Fit All

Erica Douglass — Tue, 26 May 2009 02:16:11 -0000

You wrote: "...the only chance for average individuals to survive through retirement is to take relatively risky bets on the stock market."

This is a belief; it's not a fact. Many "average" folks have started businesses, acquired real estate, invented and patented doodads, or even done crazier things like fund startup companies to make a ton of money.

There are pretty much infinite ways to make a few million dollars.

-Erica

Re: Annoying Calls From Extended Car Warranty Dealers

Erica Douglass — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:39:47 -0000

I haven't gotten an auto warranty one recently, but I get robocalls from "my local carpet cleaning service." Except this isn't a local number. You can call the number back and press 1 to be removed, but it doesn't seem to stop them. They just call from another number!

One time I pressed the number for more info, got connected to a person, and asked to be removed, and they hung up on me. Yuck. I reported them to the FTC.

-Erica

Re: Airline Fees for Checking Bags

Erica Douglass — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:44:11 -0000

Hi Flexo,

Thanks! I typically fly Southwest, but it's good to see the other airlines. Southwest isn't the most comfortable for long-term flights. Used to fly America West (now US Air) often enough to get the free tickets, but since they became US Air their flights have become far more expensive than Southwest.

Southwest tip: Check in online EXACTLY 24 hours (to the minute!) for your flight to get the highest A number boarding pass. I set a reminder on my phone for this. You can check in online even if you don't have a printer; just check in 24 hours ahead, then reprint your boarding pass at the airport.

-Erica

Re: Airline Baggage Fees Increasing in Popularity

Erica Douglass — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:55:47 -0000

It's worth pointing out that some airlines, such as Southwest, don't charge these fees. Would be great if you could do a roundup of who does and doesn't charge.

-Erica

Re: Smithee’s Best Advice for Graduating Seniors

Erica Douglass — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:27:20 -0000

I started my career and business with credit cards, and had $110,000 of unsecured debt, much of it on credit cards, when I sold my business. Of course, I didn't graduate college, either, so I may be outside your radar. ;)

-Erica

Re: When Large Institutions Hoard Cash, Start Investing

Erica Douglass — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:57:48 -0000

Hi Joe,

Here are more details about the 50% line I quoted: http://accessrisk.knowledgeatwharton.com/index....

I only invest in dividend-paying stocks, and I carefully research every stock I invest in, so I'm with you on that one.

I'm just not hugely comfortable investing right now, especially since so many think the market is overbought. Doesn't mean there aren't still good buys out there, but I'm happy to wait.

-Erica

Re: When Large Institutions Hoard Cash, Start Investing

Erica Douglass — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:22:51 -0000

Ooh, I really don't like this call here. The technical indicators are showing overbought: http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2009...

Also, we're now above the 50% line of where the market peaked. Statistically speaking, in a downturn, it's only profitable long-term to buy index funds when the stock market is at 50% or lower of its peak. The DJIA peaked at just over 14,000; it's at just over 8,000 right now, which means you could see a substantial loss by investing now.

I'd wait until the DJIA gets to around 6700-7000 or lower before investing again. In fact, I am doing that with my latest IRA contribution.

-Erica

Re: Basics of the Fair Tax

Erica Douglass — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:08:05 -0000

I've read up on the fair tax previously, and while it sounds good, it would take a lot of adjustment. Like it or not, our current economy is driven by consumer spending. Having the tax taken out when you buy products instead of when you get paid is a major mental shift for many, and may cause a stark drop in spending.

NOW, the good news is that if you are a fan of Austrian economics, as I am, you know that eventually, a dollar saved and either invested in a stock or put in the bank helps the economy out in the long run as much as a dollar spent. So long term, this could be hugely beneficial.

The other problem I have is that it taxes services, putting a huge burden on small businesses to collect these taxes. I ran a small service business and the small business advocacy groups always fight hugely whenever a state tries to tax services. It may also eliminate the "bonus" of buying online from a retailer; I couldn't find that addressed in the FAQ. On the one hand, closing that loophole would be great for government revenue; on the other, it's bad for us.

California already has a 9.3% income tax AND a 9.0-9.75% sales tax (depending on county) and it still doesn't seem to be enough; this also isn't really well-addressed. Some states, such as California, have spent so far beyond their needs and have so many pension obligations that the only true long-term solution is state bankruptcy. This doesn't really address what states like California would do under this new system, though that may be asking too much.

-Erica

Re: Why I Am Not Blogging Full Time

Erica Douglass — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:24:50 -0000

I think all the people with jobs will tell you to keep your job. But most of the millionaires -- especially those who made at least $1 million being self-employed -- will tell you to leave.

You know where I stand. If you want help or advice, I'd be happy to. I've consulted behind-the-scenes with other PF bloggers to help them establish a safe, non-advertising-related income.

-Erica

Re: Number One Frugality Tip: Don’t Be a Woman

Erica Douglass — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:53:44 -0000

Hi! Here are my actual expenses, pulled directly from my financial worksheet. When I ran a business, I used to meet clients in person all the time, and now I do a lot of public speaking, so I still need to look good.

Highlights: $140 (including tip) 2x/year

Have just started doing haircuts in between the highlights; first one is tomorrow. Probably $80 or so, 2x/year

I do all my blow dry/styling at home or in my hotel room!

Aveda shampoo, conditioner, body wash: $130 2x/year I buy in July and December when they send the double points coupons. This often includes body wash for my boyfriend as well, since he uses some products of theirs.

Clinique lipstick, lotion, and face wash: $50 3x/year I use their 3-step system since it's the only thing that can consistently keep my face free of acne. Lipstick is the only makeup I currently wear (I'm 27 years old.)

Eyebrow waxing = $30 3x/year

Laser hair removal: I did 8 treatments at $215 each. That covered my legs, underarms, and belly hair. Totally worth the $, by the way.

I don't do tanning, "lip plumping", mani/pedi, or any of that stuff.

So I'm at about $940/year plus the one-time $1720 for the 8 sessions of laser hair removal.

All of this is dwarfed by the $4500 I recently spent on Invisalign to have my teeth corrected, again. In total my parents (when I was young) and I have spent something north of $30,000 on 8 years of braces, 4 gum graft surgeries, a complicated wisdom teeth removal, and Invisalign tomake my teeth look even remotely normal, only a small portion of which was ever covered by insurance.

I figure the cost of beauty is dwarfed by the cost of healthcare.

I live in one of the most-expensive areas of the country (San Jose, CA), so I also think Newsweek's prices are a bit inflated.

-Erica

Re: $400 Stimulus Payment Dumbness Update

Erica Douglass — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:53:41 -0000

I haven't seen a small business do manual payroll in years. With Quickbooks costing so little every month, most businesses just use that (even if they're still paying invoices with checks -- Quickbooks makes it super easy to pay anything with a check!)

With Quickbooks, it's downloaded and figured automatically. You don't have to do anything other than open Quickbooks and read a couple of dialog boxes.

-Erica

Re: Giveaway: Free TurboTax Online Premier Tax E-Filing (10 Available)

Erica Douglass — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:13:55 -0000

Hi Flexo,

I follow you, subscribe, all that good stuff! :)

Thank you,
-Erica

Re: Twitter Suspensions Show Need For Social Redundancy

Erica Douglass — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:39:46 -0000

I think Twitter should let people vote on who is a spammer and then actually act on it. I've reported several people as spammers because all they do is send out keyword-based links, but Twitter hasn't killed them. Yet they kill for following/unfollowing. Following and unfollowing isn't a nuisance unless the community says it is by VOTING those folks down (a "block" is the most effective vote, IMHO.)

I think Twitter should dot his more like craigslist. You can report/block any person easily from their profile, but otherwise, they won't police it. Once a person gets a certain # of votes vs. followers, they're gone. This would make a lot more sense than the cat-and-mouse game they are playing now.

-Erica

Re: Why Bigger Goals = Less Competition (Plus: Major Media Opp)

Erica Douglass — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:02:48 -0000

Hi Tim,

Regarding your media opportunity:

A few years ago, I was running my own business...but really, it was running me! I was in debt and didn't make very much money to pay myself with. Last year, I read your book, and with its help and help from my friends I was able to turn the business around and sell it.

After I sold the business, I "temporarily retired" and took several months off. Now I am starting a new business with the goal being to make $10,000 a month by the end of the year while only working two hours a day. I'm blogging my progress at erica.bi -- a recent post is titled "Changing Your Perspective About Work: The 2-Hour Work Day." http://www.erica.biz/2008/changing-your-perspec...

I'm interested in this media opportunity as an example of someone who "retired" at a young age (I'm 26). I'm determined to be in control of my own destiny and never again have a "job" disguised as a small business!

I'm single -- my boyfriend and I live together in San Jose, CA.

You can contact me through my email address or website.

Thank you for your consideration!

-Erica Douglass
Sold business and "temporarily retired" at age 26

Re: Pimping Firefox: The Basics (Matt Mullenweg, Garrett Camp, and More)

Erica Douglass — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:13:02 -0000

Most of these same features can be found on IE7 with IE7Pro: www.ie7pro.com

Re: Random and Fun Announcements: Keynote with Mike Shinoda, Inc. 500, Madrid Party, More…

Erica Douglass — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:39:15 -0000

Hi Tim,

I have been following your blog with interest and describing my own thoughts about having a personal assistant, etc. on my blog.

I know you mentioned you are moving...where are you headed? I live in San Jose, too, but I'm pretty sure I'll be moving to San Diego early next year.

-Erica

Re: The Tweet to Beat: Paying $3 Per Twitter Follower

Erica Douglass — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:39:05 -0000

Hi Tim,

This is a great idea! It would be even better if your comments field allowed inline videos -- they can communicate so much more than simple text.

I'm looking forward to seeing the results.

-Erica

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Erica Douglass — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:35:09 -0000

Hi Robert,

I put a Shuttle PC on my HDTV about a year ago. I love it -- I installed Nintendo emulators, hooked up the original controllers via USB, and have a blast playing old games. Plus, the web browser is a cool feature, and often we watch clips or shows on it. I use it a lot more than I thought I would.

I bought a Shuttle P4 PC (square, small) with a 250GB hard drive and Windows Media Center Edition for $525. So I guess I came out a bit ahead, and the emulators are much nicer for Windows. ;)

Re: Bloglines sucks

Erica Douglass — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:20:51 -0000

It seemed to start for me on Bloglines at the same time that you added (or Wordpress added) the dynamic comment thing into your RSS feed. Although I don't see that any more in your feed, and it's still doing it. Yeah, it's annoying. :s

Re: The MacMini HDTV revolution

Erica Douglass — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:48:12 -0000

Hi Robert,

No, I didn't buy a fancy new Shuttle. Although they're cool, they're too pricey for me. I have a SB95P V2 (Pentium 4) sitting behind the TV. You can see a picture of its form factor here:

http://techreport.com/r.x/shuttle-sb95p/money.jpg

It's not as small as a Mac Mini, but it's cheaper and just as powerful. Plus, it sits behind my TV (a Panasonic 50" plasma), so you can't see it anyway. You can build one for about $400 right now. And it runs emulators better. :D

Forgot to mention I also use the iTunes sharing feature from my desktop PC upstairs (which is also a Shuttle.) My BF has a Mac Mini in the other room and he shares iTunes to the Shuttle as well. Very cool stuff. We are into small computers with big screens at this house. ;)

Re: Air is in my future

Erica Douglass — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:13:01 -0000

Robert, why would you buy an Air? If you're doing video, you want a hard drive that's as fast as possible. My Thinkpad X61 Tablet has an option for a 7200RPM drive in 60 or 80GB sizes. It's also 3 pounds and has 5 hours of battery life, and I've owned this one since May 2007.

4200RPM... that's old-school tech. And guess what... Lenovo also figured out how to squeeze an Ethernet port in there... which is still useful in many hotels! :P

Re: Are we in a recession?

Erica Douglass — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:22:01 -0000

The housing crash is hitting the Bay Area too -- even Half Moon Bay, though the wave has just started there. Here's proof:

http://www.erica.biz/2008/real-estate-bubble-th...

We are not in a recession yet. I think we won't be until closer to the end of this year. Harry S. Dent is predicting that the stock market just hit its low. He thinks NASDAQ will likely go up 30-36% this year from the low it hit last week. Should prove to be an interesting year!

Re: Twitter integration the new shiznit

Erica Douglass — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:57:31 -0000

Robert, I greatly appreciate the fact that you are no longer doing constant tweets from Qik and Seesmic. As one of the ones who complained, I feel it's important to say "thank you" for respecting our wishes.

So...thank you!

-Erica

Re: The entrepreneurial neighborhood of Palo Alto

Erica Douglass — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 13:39:05 -0000

Robert, I think this is one of your best posts to date.

Why? It has interesting and engaging information, that's original, and something that most people probably wouldn't think to ask about (the small businesses that make up the heart of towns and cities.)

It reminds us that there are thousands of folks out there making money doing what they love. That business doesn't always have to be cutthroat and filled with venture capital and crappy negative articles like Valleywag.

Well done.

-Erica

Re: The most important Google Tool for businesses (that you probably have never used)

Erica Douglass — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:03:22 -0000

Hi Robert,

Great post. This is well known in the Internet marketing field, but not so much outside of it.

Check out the free Wordtracker as well: http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/ It does the same thing as Google, but IMHO it's easier to use.

-Erica

Re: So, you need a job? Man, do resumes suck

Erica Douglass — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:58:03 -0000

Hi Robert,

By your own admission, you're unqualified for your own job. Can you spot the typo?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/ofc/864699400.html

By the way, $12-15 is pretty low for SF. I'm paying $16 for a PT personal assistant here in San Jose. Most good assistants in SF will want at least $20. $30 is probably more reasonable to get someone reliable. Even paying $16 here in San Jose, I've experienced a lot of flakiness on the assistants' parts.

90 resumes sounds about on par. 80% of them crap sounds about on par. Neither number is indicative of the economy. I have posted many similar postings for entry-level jobs in the 2005-2007 timeframe and we typically got just over 100 resumes for each.

-Erica

Re: While blogging in crisis job #1 is listening

Erica Douglass — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:57:43 -0000

Hi Robert,

You are taking an arbitrary standard and saying that if bloggers don't do that, they are not listening. I could not disagree more.

I could just as easily take an arbitrary standard and say you're not listening to your readers. Here's one: You don't have the CommentLuv plugin installed on your blog. (CommentLuv puts a link to the commenter's latest blog post underneath their comment.) Therefore, it's obvious that you don't care about what your readers have to say.

Except that you and I both know that whether or not you have a plugin installed doesn't mean anything about whether or not you listen to your readers.

So why do you assume that if a blogger doesn't have a Google Reader shared items feed or a FriendFeed "likes" feed, that that blogger is not listening?

If you insist on going down this path, why not use more commonly-accepted methods like commenting on other blogs, linking out to other bloggers in your posts, and participating in relevant forums as measures of whether bloggers are listening?

This post comes off as "Most bloggers don't do exactly what I do; therefore, they aren't listening." This is a bizarre assumption.

-Erica

Re: While blogging in crisis job #1 is listening

Erica Douglass — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:35:47 -0000

Robert writes: "Several well known bloggers told me recently they are unsubscribing from people they don’t agree with."

That's interesting. But you didn't mention it in your post! Your post came across as "If you don't have this or this, you're not listening" instead of what may be the more interesting point: "Why are big bloggers unsubscribing from those they don't agree with?"

A more interesting post might have been to talk to those bloggers and find out more -- even if they wished to remain anonymous.

Also, @David K: Don't give up on blogging just because of something someone else says about it. There is always room for another thoughtful writer in this world.

-Erica

Re: The #1 Reason People Fail to Earn Money Online

Erica Douglass — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:37:04 -0000

Hi Clay,

This is really hard to read due to the overuse of italics, underline, and bold. (BTW, on the Web, please don't underline things unless they are links. Oldschool rule.)

-Erica

Re: You Are Your Product (Or. . . “Johnny Didn’t Tell Me What to Name This Post, so I Picked a Name Myself”)

Erica Douglass — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:55:54 -0000

I don't just remember it, but I ALSO have "Informer" on MP3. Do I win the "least cool" award? ;)

-Erica

Re: The #1 Reason People Fail to Earn Money Online

Erica Douglass — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:37:04 -0000

Hi Clay,

This is really hard to read due to the overuse of italics, underline, and bold. (BTW, on the Web, please don't underline things unless they are links. Oldschool rule.)

-Erica

Re: You Are Your Product (Or. . . “Johnny Didn’t Tell Me What to Name This Post, so I Picked a Name Myself”)

Erica Douglass — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:55:54 -0000

I don't just remember it, but I ALSO have "Informer" on MP3. Do I win the "least cool" award? ;)

-Erica