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Re: Entertainment Tonight – Shemar Moore Talks Mom’s Battle With MS

Alysson — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 03:11:18 -0000

I doubt you have the time to read all the comments you receive, but on the off chance that you do, I want you to know how much I admire your work to aid MS research.

My father, a disabled Vietnam Veteran, died from complications of MS when I was 5 years old, after having been in a nursing home from the time I was 6 months old. I was diagnosed with Relapsing/Remitting MS when I was in my early 20s. Thank you for all that you do to support the end goal of identifying a cause and cure. You're a perfect example of someone who uses their success and celebrity status to make the world a better place. If there were more people like you, the world would be a very different, and far better place.

I have no doubt that your mother couldn't be more proud of you. And we're all thankful that she's willing to share you with the world.

Re: What Makes Us

Alysson — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:26:30 -0000

I grew up in a very small town. I was never an outcast, but never really felt as though I fit in, either. Fitting in was never among my goals. I might have had to wear the same uniforms or ride on the same buses to away games, but being teammates didn't mean I had to be like them...or even like them, for that matter.

I never wanted people to look at me like a spoiled rich kid or small town assclown that would one day face the reality that being a big fish in a tiny pond doesn't translate to success the real world. Despite where I lived and the circles I appeared to run in, I was neither a spoiled rich kid, nor a small town assclown.

High school wasn't awesome. It also wasn't torture. It just WAS. I spent my entire childhood in the same small town. I often watched as new kids or those who seemed to be easy targets were picked on mercilessly by the popular kids. For the record, I'm pretty sure I ended up in "the popular circle" mostly because I was aloof & couldn't have cared less about being "one of them". I didn't bully or pick on other kids, but I never stood up for them either. Those moments of cowardice & indifference are among a handful of childhood regrets.

I never wanted to go to prom. Never. And I found myself rather relieved that I never had to say, "Um, hell no!" Because I would have, had some silly boy thought that I'd have swooned at the idea getting all gussied up in a frilly dress, drinking some cheap liquor and barfing in the back of a rented limo. "Yeah, y'all have fun. I'll see you at after-prom and you can tell me all about what an asshole your date was all night."

And that's what happened. Every time. While silly girls in hideous dresses and dyed shoes were bawling their eyes out in the bathroom because their boyfriends chose prom night to dump them, I was quite content to be anywhere but there. Even back then, I did what I wanted to do...and never cared much what anyone thought.

I suppose that's how I know those supposed rites of passage have never been important to me. I never fantasized about being asked to the prom. I've never daydreamed about a proposal or a fairy tale wedding. I've never imagined any of those moments or been disappointed that they haven't happened or will never happen. Then again, I've always had a tendency to dance to the music in my head knowing no one else could hear the tune.

Re: How Childhood Sexual Abuse Made Me a Better Coach

Alysson — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 23:00:27 -0000

It's not often that I'm rendered speechless, but...wow. What remarkable honesty. You've earned and own your place in the universe. If others were as willing to grab this life by the horns, the world would be a very different place.

Re: Who Is Bankrolling A Lawsuit To End The Ban On Foreign Money In U.S. Elections?

Alysson — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:11:30 -0000

Technically that is correct, sylhines. However, how many foreign entities own American corporations (on paper, anyway)? That's what President Obama was referring to in his State of the Union speech shortly after that Supreme Court decision.

And yes, I totally agree that the veil has been pulled off so-called "centrist Democrats". There are certain positions, like the one taken by Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas during the health care reform debate, that make it obscenely obvious who the puppeteers really are. And it certainly wasn't her constituency.

Glenn Beck is the epitome of the danger that results from unapologetic ignorance marrying paranoid schizophrenia...especially when that marriage involves having access to an obscene amount of family money (in this scenario, the role of father-in-law is played by Roger Ailes). "Am I the only one who sees it?" Yep, Glenn...you sure are. :)

Re: Who Is Bankrolling A Lawsuit To End The Ban On Foreign Money In U.S. Elections?

Alysson — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:40:51 -0000

Citizens United already opened the door for foreign interference in our political system. This is merely the next step in the extreme right wing's master plan to morph democracy into corpocracy just slowly enough that a majority of voters won't realize it until it's too late.

Voters are the victims of constant psychological deflection. GOP candidates publicly demonize special interests and accuse Democrats of being beholden to them, when the reality is that special interests are completely in control of Republican majority legislatures throughout the country and in Washington, D.C. - as illustrated by the onslaught of extreme right wing policies being considered in Florida, Wisconsin, Indiana and throughout the Midwest.

Those who refuse to acknowledge and learn from the events of history are most certainly doomed to repeat it. Sadly, corporations have figured out how to convince the woefully ignorant to actively participate in their own destruction via astroturf groups funded by the most radical forces of the extreme right wing. If there weren't so much at stake, that would be rather hilarious. Instead, it's terrifying. And it only gets worse from here...

Re: Amazon’s Affiliates are not Salesmen

Alysson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:36:47 -0000

I agree with you, Peter. This likely is Amazon's attempt to thumb their nose at the Illinois state legislators' short-sightedness. However, with so much of Amazon's revenue coming from their affiliates, there is a limit to how far they can go to make a point. Another solution will need to be found before this attempt to stand on principle turns into a catastrophic revenue loss for Amazon.

Re: Amazon’s Affiliates are not Salesmen

Alysson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:23:29 -0000

My sister owns a pet sitting business. She offers her clients a referral bonus for new clients, which is fundamentally the same as an affiliate program. She doesn't, however, pay referral bonuses in cash, but in free services.

I wonder if a plausible solution for Amazon would have been to simply change their compensation structure in the states pursuing such action. Some affiliates would still abandon the program rather than being paid in Amazon gift cards/certificates, but I'd think that would be preferable to shutting down the program completely in those states.

Re: Clown Control: Managing the Twitter Circus

Alysson — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:59:22 -0000

Thanks, Antonia. Glad you liked it. And I agree. Actively managing your Twitterverse is more important now than ever.

Re: Clown Control: Managing the Twitter Circus

Alysson — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:44:32 -0000

Great advice, Antonia. All 5 of your suggestions would serve anyone looking to get the most from their Twitter experience well. "Don't Auto Follow" is perhaps the one personal best practice that I've found most beneficial. While I wrote my "Reciprocal and Auto-Following on Twitter = Bad Idea" (http://www.seoaly.com/twitt... almost 2 years ago now, it's still as true for me today as it was then.

Re: The New Google PageRank Formula

Alysson — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:57:09 -0000

I call this the "Fox News" philosophy - letting the potential popularity of woefully and dangerously inaccurate information trump a commitment facts or verifiable evidence. Icky.

Re: The New Google PageRank Formula

Alysson — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:49:11 -0000

Ya know that line people are always talking about crossing? PERFECT EXAMPLE! ;)

Re: Going Back the Way I Came

Alysson — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 19:27:10 -0000

Now and then we all face down defining moments. These are the moments that determine who we are, how we are and what we want from this thing called "life". In spite of the overwhelming tendency for the shouts and incessant noise of life to drown it out, that little voice inside is still there...whispering away. That little voice both asks the questions and gives the answers once we quiet our world enough to hear it.

On a side note, I visited Southern California for the first time when I was 8 years old. I'd never felt so at home. And that "where I belong" feeling comes back with every mile I drive up & down the PCH each time I go back. When that little voice sends you back to LA for good and you decide you want a roommate, you know where to find me. ;)

Re: The Bitch Slap: Ladies, Really?

Alysson — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:23:34 -0000

Never gonna happen. You can't introduce anything into this country that came from another country or culture anymore. Those who supported the squatters would immediately be labeled a socialist/communist/fascist and the whole thing would be spun as a conspiracy by the government - the latest, greatest threat to our freedom...to sit while relieving ourselves. ;)

Re: The Bitch Slap: Ladies, Really?

Alysson — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:19:19 -0000

That reminds me of an episode of "Seinfeld" when Jerry tossed out a shoelace stating, "It's touched the bathroom floor, so that's that..." or something akin to that. And I agree wholeheartedly with Jerry's position. ICK, ICK, ICK!

Re: The Bitch Slap: Ladies, Really?

Alysson — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:02:01 -0000

Thus the reason I do my level best to use public restrooms as infrequently as possible. I used to think men were pigs, but women seem to have seen how well being a pig works for men and have adopted the practice themselves.

Which is both disconcerting and disappointing, as I always believed that women understood that if you make a mess, say...piss on the toilet seat, someone has to clean that up. And that cleaning up someone else's piss isn't on anyone's to-do list when you find yourself doing a pee-pee dance in a bathroom stall. Inconsiderate assholes FTW! :(

Re: How to Find New Clients that Are Golden

Alysson — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:59:19 -0000

@Nate - I just meant that while being self-employed was always part of my long term life plan, it happened much more quickly and with FAR less preparation than I would have liked when I was unexpectedly fired in December 2008.

And I agree that a purpose of being in business is to make money, but it's not the only purpose. Not every self-employed person aspires to grow it into a multi-million dollar venture. So, while making money is a part of the puzzle, that's not what takes center stage in the finished image. Money is not always the ultimate goal, but the means by which they will continue being able to live the life they want - which, for many, does not include having some stuffed shirt nimrod telling them what to do all day long.

As for all clients having the potential to be golden, I don't agree. Some people will always demand 2...3...10 times more than what they've paid for. The time, effort and productivity loss required to meet the expectations of some clients simply can't be justified from a business perspective. And as much as I love to educate people and make sure they understand everything 100%, not everyone will really take the time to absorb the information we give them. That's just the reality of offering any service, Internet-related or otherwise.

Re: The Bitch Slap: On Timelines

Alysson — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:51:25 -0000

Who are you and why have you stolen my childhood nickname? ;) I've NEVER met anyone else in my life who spells their name "Lysa".

Re: The Bitch Slap: On Timelines

Alysson — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:47:10 -0000

You've made an important point, Susan. I've found that often when people are accusing someone of being "unprofessional", what they're really saying is that you're being a little "more human" than they're comfortable dealing with. We're all breakable. And we don't like to be reminded of it.

Re: The Bitch Slap: On Timelines

Alysson — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:43:25 -0000

I'm not sure when it happened, but at some point in my late 20s I simply stopped expecting people to live up to the expectations I have of myself. They set their own expectations. And if they fall short of what I want, deserve and need...well, that relationship - platonic or romantic - simply wasn't meant to be.

By the way, the 10% extension fee is genius. I will be stealing that idea and passing it off as my own in all future project outlines & agreements.

Re: How to Find New Clients that Are Golden

Alysson — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:09:18 -0000

One of the hardest things to figure out as someone who was originally a member of the reluctantly self-employed is that the clients willing to pay the most aren't necessarily "golden". Before you can identify your golden clients, you must first define your goals as a small business owner.

Are you in it just for the money? Are you in it for some sort of satisfaction that comes from helping other businesses succeed? Are you in it just because you're an incorrigible geek whose bliss comes from spending 18 hours a day in front of a computer? No matter who a potential client may be, whether or not they'll be your golden client depends on how well your ultimate goals match up with theirs. One person's golden client is another person's nightmare. SEO, know thyself. :)

Re: Lost In Translation

Alysson — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:04:25 -0000

Nah, what it makes you is more likely to trade it in come the 60,000 mile mark or so. ;)

And I couldn't agree with D.T.'s comment below more. Drive that thing like you're trying to make the wheels fly off in the first 30,000 miles. Make sure if it's gonna fail, it's gonna fail within the warranty period.

Re: Lost In Translation

Alysson — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:59:42 -0000

They fed you a line of shit when they did the whole, "Bad gas...gotta break it in..." stuff. 1) Gas bad enough to negatively impact the performance of a brand new car is almost unheard of; and 2) This "break-in" excuse is something dealers use to prey on a car buyer's ignorance. One thing I have heard about Minis is that you always have to use premium fuel, so that could have something to do with the rough idle ONLY if you didn't fill her up with the good stuff.

Engines today no longer require the extended "break-in" process that older engines required. They say that just because they know, chances are, you've probably heard that term before and won't question them further on it.

However, I would encourage you to try to have at least 1000 miles of stop-n'-go city driving before you hit the highway for your road trip though. And make sure to change your oil ASAP! I always change the oil in a new car within the first 500-1000 miles and don't use synthetic oil (unless it came from the factory with synthetic oil, which I think may be the case for the Mini - definitely worth checking out for sure).

My uncle is a top-notch mechanic and that's been his advice to me every time I've gotten a new car this decade. Granted, none of this advice is specific to a Mini, so I'd certainly encourage you to take it with a grain of salt and do a little info search for yourself. Nonetheless, I've never had a problem with an engine I've "broken in" from brand new. There's my two cents.

Oh, and invoice the dealership for the time you've spent dealing with all this bullshit. When they get it they'll know for sure that the $150 isn't a sufficient resolution. Assclowns.

Re: And the Lord Said – Let there be Ponies!

Alysson — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 22:50:09 -0000

Well, that's what I get for not paying enough attention. :)

Re: And the Lord Said – Let there be Ponies!

Alysson — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:58:27 -0000

Congratulations. Very proud of you. :) So, where's a picture of the hat??

And the new pictures are awesome. Kudos to you and to the photographer with what appears to be more like a prop-filled playground than a dark, musty camera room. :) Linoleum? Really?!?

Re: The Bitch Slap: This is NOT How You Run a Blog

Alysson — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 11:20:08 -0000

Ditto, Liz. It's the exchange of contradictory ideas - ideas that challenge our personal status quo and accepted reality - that really makes a blog more than just a collection of random rants and emo outbursts.

Reading blog comments typically makes me wonder if there are any intelligent people spending time on the Internet. Redhead Writing is one of only handful of blogs where genuine and substantive discussions are encouraged. That's what keeps me coming back. And, more importantly, what persuades me to take the time to comment...even when my perspective differs from Erika's or from other readers.