Microsoft And Peru

Wired magazine recently reported (on July 27, 2002), “Afraid that Peru may adopt a bill decreeing the use of open-source software in all government systems, Microsoft apparently enlisted the American ambassador in Lima to help try to convince the Peruvians to kill the legislation.”

Many people have stated they feel it was wrong (even evil) for a US ambassador to “lobby for Microsoft”. Playing the devil’s advocate for a moment, let me ask the following question: if an American citizen was having trouble in a foreign country would it be okay for an ambassador to help him or her out? What if an American company needed help in a foreign country? Is it okay then? Why would Microsoft be excluded? What is the purpose of an ambassador? My understanding is these people exist to further the goals and objectives of their country: including the government, individuals and companies.

What is the job of the US government? To support it’s citizens (a government has no other valid purpose). You could argue that supporting corporations directly or indirectly supports citizens.

Ambassadors do not exist to stop wars or make war talk. They exist to further the goals of a government, and a government exists to further the goals of the majority of it’s citizens. If I owned a company I would totally expect any US government organization to cooperate fully with my business, especially if by cooperating the goals of my country were also furthered.

This bill seems to say that the government wants to use open source for it’s systems. This is perfectly fine as a government should use whatever software it feels is the best fit for it’s goals.

Open source is not a product, it describes an idealized way to develop and maintain a product. Most so called open source is worthless junk that most people would not dare put on their computers. By far the great majority of this kind of code is never finished, poorly documented, virtually unmaintained and so full of bugs and security holes that it’s laughable.

That being said, the same is true, of course, of all other forms of software.

Now there are some great open-source products, and when people speak of open source they usually mean something like Apache, Linux, Unix, OpenOffice and the hundreds (and perhaps thousands) of tools and utilities available. These are the products that have given open source a good name.

However, I have never heard of open source accounting packages, SCADA systems (systems that control water, power and oil systems), factory control systems, military systems and so on. These things are either developed in house or purchased from a company.

Peru may be making an error because they are thinking “open-source means good programs not created by Microsoft”. It will be interesting to see what happens when they attempt to find an open source SCADA system to control a hydro-electric dam or an open source payroll system.

Personally, I don’t care whether or not something is open source, closed source, proprietary, GNU or anything else. The software must meet the needs of the project or it’s useless. The Software must be maintainable and have a reasonable promise of future maintenance. It must perform all required functions and as many optional functions as needed. The product must have a good ROI (return on investment) as well.

I’ve been managing large projects for 25 years, and return on investment is usually the part that is missed by most technical people. We look at the cost of a product and think, “wow, this is free and this is $425, I’ll get the free one”.

That equation, unfortunately, does not work. The cost of a product must be measured over it’s entire lifetime and includes many variables. These include training (teaching people how to use it and keep it going as well as changing it), maintenance, security, hardware, “fit” to the requirements, and dozens (if not hundreds) of other things. I’ve found that once ALL of the variables are factored in, Microsoft does not come out as bad as most people would like to think.

Microsoft is being a little heavy handed here, and I’m somewhat surprised that the US Government is playing along. I don’t see any vital US interests threatened.

However, one must remember that there were no vital US interests threatened in Guatemala in the 1950s. There were just the Dole banana farms, which were in danger of being taken over by the democratic government. So good old president Eisenhower ordered the CIA to overthrow that government and replaced it with a much less democratic version, which, of course, was “smart enough” to leave the Dole banana farms alone. Don’t believe me, read your history books. (This is one of the more despicable chapters in American history - aiding in the overthrow of a legitimate government so that some banana company would not be inconvenienced.)

Point being the government may not in actually have a vital interest at stake, but the officials may, or large corporations which have contributed lots of money may as well. This might make the government do things which, on the face of it, make no sense (and on deeper analysis still don’t make any sense).

So am I opposed to Microsoft’s attempt to stop Peru? Of course as it is meddling in the affairs of another country. Do I understand why it’s doing this? Of course. And do I understand why the US government is playing along? Sure, it’s pretty obvious.

January 5th, 2009

DVD R

DVD stands for Digital Versatile/Video Disc. It is an optical storage technology that can be used to store large amounts of data, high quality video, audio or games. The DVD format has only been around for a decade and has evolved incredibly fast since its launch. In fact, the development of DVD technology has far outpaced similar movement in VHS or CD technology.

Users familiar with CDs and their various applications should have a pretty good idea of what a DVD looks like and the various functions that a user can achieve with it.

There are three main application formats on a DVD - DVD Video, DVD Audio and DVD-ROM(for data). These are exactly comparable with VCDs, Audio CDs and CD-ROMs.

DVD-R stands for DVD-Recordable. Readers should note that this is a physical technology and is distinct from DVD-ROM which is an application format. To illustrate this, it is possible to store DVD-Video and data(DVD-ROM) on a single DVD-R disc.

DVD-R discs are recordable only once; they are not re-writable discs. They are generally available in a standard capacity that matches the 4.7GB capacity of store-bought, pre-recorded DVDs. It is possible to find double-sided, single-layer DVD-R that can store about 8.75GB. DVD-R. They are generally compatible with all DVD-ROMs that come with home computers and are also compatible with most stand alone DVD players.

There are many competing formats of recordable DVDs. However, many compatibility issues between formats are resolved through the introduction of combo drives. A good rule of thumb is that a DVD-R disc will be read by most DVD drives and players but will only be written by a DVD-R or DVD-RW compatible drive.

The DVD-R format is supported by the DVD Forum, an industry association of DVDs led by Toshiba.

DVD-R discs are becoming ubiquitous as manufacturers have started including DVD burners as standard on home computers now sold. They can be used for numerous purposes including backing up data to creating home movie DVDs. DVD-R compatible drives currently have the highest market reach for both PCs and Macs and are a better choice than other comparable DVD recording formats.

DVDR provides detailed information about DVD Rs, DVDRs, DVD R discs, and more. DVDR is affiliated with Mini DV Tapes.

January 4th, 2009

Microsoft Certification: The New MCTS Tracks And Exams

Microsoft is revamping its certification tracks, and will eventually retire the familiar MCSE certificatons. The new certification setup is much like Cisco’s, where there are specialist certifications to go along with the more general CCNA, then mid-level certifications such as the CCNP, and then a more-advanced practical exam modeled somewhat after the coveted CCIE certification.

Microsoft’s new specialist exams are the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) exams. As of March 2006, there were five separate MCTS Tracks. Three of them deal with .NET Framework 2.0; these are the Web Application, Windows Applications, and Distributed Applications certifications. Each of these separate certifications requires the candidate to pass two exams. There is also a one-exam SQL Server 2005 certification, as well as a BizTalk Server 2006 single-exam certification.

The initial question is “Why is Microsoft doing this?” According to their website, MS feels that IT hiring managers today have a tough time deciding which computer certifications best identify job candidates who best meet their needs. I know it’s easy to take verbal shots at Microsoft (it’ll be an Olympic sport one day), but this new series of certs does have appeal for hiring managers, which can only help qualified candidates. Instead of the more-general MCSE, which does still suffer from the overcertification of NT 4.0 MCSEs back in the day, these more-specific certifications will make it easier for the job candidate to prove that they can do the job - and easier for the hiring manager to make an informed decision.

Microsoft hasn’t announced the track that will eventually replace the MCSE, but this track will be revealed with the next client-server Windows release. It’s up to you to stay informed of these changes, so I recommend you visit Microsoft’s certification website often. “I didn’t know” isn’t much help once a certification expires!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.
For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, “How To Pass The CCNA” and “How To Pass The CCNP”, visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Pass the CCNA exam with The Bryant Advantage!

January 1st, 2009

2much Hosts Webmaster Access Blow Out

(Montreal) April 19, 2005 - Live video chat site creator www.2much.net found itself in a quandary in the midst of their plans for Webmaster Access East when their annual anniversary bash was scheduled at the same hour as MyVirtualCard’s Webmaster Poker Tournament.

Originally to celebrate the Tournament winner as well as 2much.net’s 8th anniversary, the party hit a brick wall when MVC’s tournament site and schedule went online.

“I was in mid-organizational frenzy when the Poker site went up,” said 2much Media guy Greg Jones. “That’s when I saw their start time.”

The Poker Tournament had always been scheduled at 8pm, said MyVirtualCard’s Joshua Ungar. “But Greg thought it was a day-time thing,” he said.

Jones, a poker enthusiast though not a big sports fan, imagined that as a spectator event, it would be a day time event.

Eric Matis, of Adult.com, the main organism behind the Webmaster Access tradeshows, finally stepped in.

“Eric saved my butt,” Jones said. “He found out about the Saturday night opening.”

“I spoke with Fred [of Braincash.com], who told me their thing was Friday, instead of Saturday night,” Matis said.

“So Saturday is all ours,” said Jones. “Which is really too bad in a way since we’ve been looking forward to doing something with MyVirtualCard for a while now. We’re friends and practically neighbours, you know?”

After JoinRightNow, the main force behind this edition of the conference, the two Montreal-based companies have applied their weight and money behind pushing this year’s Webmaster Access East conference.

“What would you do, in our place, though?” said 2much president Mark Prince. “We had the chance to close off the show in style, in a big way, with the Saturday night slot.”

2much is expecting a large turnout at the event, since many other dinners and parties, both private and public, are either concurrent or overlapping.

“But Saturday’s wide open,” Jones went on. “It’s a chance for everyone coming to the show to get together at least for one event. It’s my big schmoozathon.”

Jones and recent 2much acquisition Alain Roy, formerly of TAG Networks, are sizing up to be a formidable PR machine, according to Prince. “Since MyVirtualCard and 2much are both getting big, it’s more fitting that our two companies have two big separate events.”

Webmaster Access East opens for registration at 3:00pm, Thursday May 5th, at the Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel. This will be followed by a Poutine and Beer orgy at local Peel Pub, organized by Gallery Traffic Service, G3X, Executive Stats and MakeFuckingMoney.

MyVirtualCard’s Poker Tournament will take place at the Sporting Club du Sanctuaire, Friday the 6th. Registration will open at 7:00 pm. Player sponsorships and preregistration are already available at http://myvirtualcard.com/poker/ .

The 2much.net 8th Anniversary, Tournament Winner’s Celebration Webmaster Access East Blow Out will begin Saturday, May 7th, at 8:00pm, at the 2much.net Old Montreal offices. There will be a networking room as well as a butt-wiggling room.

The company will require an RSVP, as well as WebMaster Access East Passes, from those desiring to attend. RSVP and info: media@2much.net .

###

About the Author

Zombay writes and webmasters iSN News - The Link To Live Video Chat (http://www.internetsexnetwork.com)

December 31st, 2008

RoboCat Rat Zapper

Do you need a cat to catch those rats around your house, but you do not want the cat to drag them into the house to eat them or to display them to you so you know they are doing their hunting job? New RoboCat Rat Zapper is almost here! If you do not have a cat then your rats will multiply and cause you problems, but if you buy a cat, that means another pet or animal to look after. Cats make great pets but they are also expensive to feed. If you spend $10.00 per week on cat food, cat litter and toys for a couple of cats then you are paying about $520.00 per year on your pet to catch and eat those rats.

You will also have to deal with the smell, damage to sofa, cat hair and a pet that you just know will not listen but rather take over the household and do what ever it damn well pleases. In fact if you tell them to kill the rats they will just look at you like you are a stupid human (no comment) and roll back over and go to sleep.

Now then, I propose you lease a new RoboCat, equipped with a high-powered stun gun. It will recharge and plug into the wall at night and hunt those rats all day. The AttackCat system, which is an up grade can be leased for $35.00 per week, which is a cost savings over the real organic model. It will purr and do all those other things, but it does not smell, actually farts out fragrance in those parts of the house it senses unfortunate smelly ordors. There are six fragrances to choose from.

Some consumers are even setting up RoboCat Co-ops and share these cat with others while on vacation, similar to a four-legged Time Share. You and your whole neighborhood can prevent the spread of disease with a few RoboCats in your neighborhood. Think of it as a organic replica run neighborhood watch program?

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

December 29th, 2008

CCNP / BCMSN Exam Tutorial: VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP)

Passing the BCMSN exam and getting one step closer to the CCNP certification means learning and noticing details that you were not presented with in your CCNA studies. (Yes, I know - you had more than enough details then, right?) One protocol you’ve got to learn more details about is VTP, which seemed simple enough in your CCNA studies! Part of learning the details is mastering the fundamentals, so in this tutorial we’ll review the basics of VTP.

In show vtp status readouts, the “VTP Operating Mode” is set to “Server” by default. The more familiar term for VTP Operating Mode is simply VTP Mode, and Server is the default. It’s through the usage of VTP modes that we can place limits on which switches can delete and create VLANs.

In Server mode, a VTP switch can be used to create, modify, and delete VLANs. This means that a VTP deployment has to have at least one switch in Server mode, or VLAN creation will not be possible. Again, this is the default setting for Cisco switches.

Switches running in Client mode cannot be used to create, modify, or delete VLANs. Clients do listen for VTP advertisements and act accordingly when VTP advertisements notify the Client of VLAN changes.

VTP Transparent mode actually means that the switch isn’t participating in the VTP domain as Servers and Clients do. (Bear with me here.) Transparent VTP switches don’t synchronize their VTP databases with other VTP speakers. They don’t even advertise their own VLAN information! Therefore, any VLANs created on a Transparent VTP switch will not be advertised to other VTP speakers in the domain, making them locally significant only. (I know you remember that phrase from your CCNA studies!)

Devices running VTP Transparent mode do have a little something to do with the other switches in the VTP domain, though. When a switch running in Transparent mode receives a VTP advertisement, that switch will forward that advertisement to other switches in that VTP domain.

Configuring switches as VTP Clients is a great way to “tie down” VLAN creation capabilities to switches that are under your physical control. However, this occasionally leads to a situation where only the VTP clients will have ports that belong to a given VLAN, but the VLAN still has to be created on the VTP server. (VLANs can be created and deleted in transparent mode, but those changes aren’t advertised to other switches in the VTP domain.)

In the next BCMSN tutorial, we’ll take a look at the details of VTP.

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNP and CCNA tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.
For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, “How To Pass The CCNA” and “How To Pass The CCNP”, just visit the website! You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Pass the CCNP exam with The Bryant Advantage!

December 28th, 2008

Count Rumford - VIP Spy

Why did FDR say Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Count Rumford were the three most important Americans? (1) Why did the Holy Roman Empire and the Hapsburgs make Benjamin Thompson a nobleman? James Bond had nothing on this man of mystery.

FDR lauds their intellect and does not say why they were truly all that important. He is part of the same ‘octopus’ but at a lower level or ‘front’ for political purposes. Jefferson was a politician as was Franklin too, but that is not why they are so important. Ben Franklin might have been an agent or double agent for the plutocrats and oligarchs who were playing both sides of the freedom fence while expanding their power. He was a member of the Rosicrucian Council of Three along with Paine. Jefferson was a Newtonian alchemist or scientist who was selected and trained very early in life as part of the Merovingian genetic program and he went on to do a lot of miscegenating himself. Clearly none of this will be laid before you in any exam to pass your citizenship tests. But Rumford was given a Royal title by the Hapsburg or Holy Roman Emperors and worked with the British Royals they are part of a Holy Alliance (see Treaty of Verona etc.). Here is a little dribble about him that also makes mention of ancient electricity even though it does not detail Numa’s machines which are in the British Museum.

“Two thousand years ago, a number of Greek and Roman philosophers (notably Thales of Miletus and Pliny who was killed while trying to study the eruption of Vesuvius of the year 79 when Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried beneath the ashes) had noticed the strange antics of bits of straw and of feather which were held near a piece of amber which was being rubbed with a bit of wool. The schoolmen of the Middle Ages had not been interested in this mysterious “electric” power. But immediately after the Renaissance, William Gilbert, the private physician of Queen Elizabeth, wrote his famous treatise on the character and behaviour of Magnets. During the Thirty Years War Otto von Guericke, the burgomaster of Magdeburg and the inventor of the air-pump, constructed the first electrical machine. During the next century a large number of scientists devoted themselves to the study of electricity. Not less than three professors invented the famous Leyden Jar in the year 1795. At the same time, Benjamin Franklin, the most universal genius of America next to Benjamin Thomson (who after his flight from New Hampshire on account of his pro-British sympathies became known as Count Rumford) was devoting his attention to this subject. He discovered that lightning and the electric spark were manifestations of the same electric power and continued his electric studies until the end of his busy and useful life. Then came Volta with his famous ‘electric pile’ and Galvani and Day and the Danish professor Hans Christian Oersted and Ampere and Arago and Faraday, all of them diligent searchers after the true nature of the electric forces.” (2)

The Delanos of FDR’s heritage are involved with the drug and other illicit enterprises. His family were aware enough of the British financing of the American War of Independence and I think his high Mason status and involvement with the Oak Island Salvage & Wrecking Company are most telling as well as the people he appointed to reconstruct Europe. Time Magazine chose him as the Man of the Century. He was if you are a Merovingian such as those who own the major media. His gift of Eastern Europe to Stalin effectively ensured the continued genocide and de-population or cover-up efforts of the true New World Order that he was involved with putting proudly upon the US greenback that became the true government of the whole world. You know what walks while money talks and I could give you a tip about ‘walking softly and carrying a big stick’.

There are some people who will say there was no British Royal involvement in the funding of America and it would be counter to their own best interests. But the Royals were not increasing their wealth as much as they wanted or as much as their cousins the Rothschilds were doing. It was not long after the Second War of Independence in 1812 that we saw immortal corporate entities with increasing rights beyond any of the individual come to pass.

About the Author

Author of Diverse Druids
Columnist for The ES Press Magazine
Guest ‘expert’ at World-Mysteries.com

December 24th, 2008

MORAL ARMOR’S The Artist and the Observer

The author of Moral Armor offers a glimpse into the psychology of romantic art; the artists, the observers and it’s enemies.

A romantic artist shares the reward of his own mental state, revealing his deepest images of our stature and our environment. What he has chosen to present in colors, in landscape, in words, in musical harmony or in form is what he has trained his senses to focus onwhat he finds most significant. To the extent that an artist is rational, his work will reflect living values. His choice of subjects is guided by his acceptance of existential reality. His style will reflect his own cognitive power; his skill reveals the effort and devotion he brings to his values. The highest art properly integrates subject matter, technical skill and meaning, idealizing the use of Man’s perceptual and cognitive tools in the work’s every detail. As an artist and a man, he has the capacity to generate, to create new depth and new ways of positively affecting the senses and of impacting the intellectual and emotional pool of his audience. At its best, romantic art helps Man to recognize what matters most, leading him to find deeper meaning in the range of his vision. By integrating the most prized attributes of a work’s subject, the artist displays the order, structure and meaning behind moral awareness. The deepest and most moving pieces require the most pleasant concentration to enjoy, and it is proper that they be the most gratifying. Art is the most potent medium for exposing the essence of an artist’s character, as well as that of the observer.

A man’s sense of life determines his response to arthis view of himself in relation to what he accepts as possible to Man. All human beings take romanticism seriously. Their reaction to it, positive, negative or neutral, simply reveals the consonance or contrast of their accepted premises. From a consonant standpoint, listening to a symphony he might think, “This is how happiness or sadness (some particular emotion or cognitive action) feels to me.” Observing a sculpture, he might think, “This is my image of what a man should be and can be.” Watching a romantic movie he might think “This is how I want to feel about someone, and how I want them to feel about me.” Reading literature he might think, “This describes me,” or, “This represents my views.” When art is disconnected from the real world or our current possibilities, he might respond with, “If I had superhuman traits, this is how I would use them,” or, “If such a diabolical evil existed, this is how valiant men would fight it.” In acceptance, his ultimate response is, “This is a reflection of life as I see it. In worship of life, this expresses my tribute.”

Imagine observing the milky smoothness of a shapely woman’s statue, then to feel the startling contrast of touch to discover it’s marble. Imagine the tautness in the statue of a Herculean figure and its texture, which comes as no surprise. The highest art always projects the strongest man, the most stunning independence, the most beautiful physical form and poise, the purest confidence, and the most concentrated purposeattributes that serve the challenge of life, which we admire and wish to acquire. The next time you walk through a gallery, by holding the moral standards of life and comprehension as your frame of reference, the artgood or badwill make much more sense. Devoted to human life, I care for only one style, which is the subject of this chapter. The Self-made pattern of cognition is the means to create romantic art, as well as the means to achieve its projections in real life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ronald E. Springer is the Author/Philosopher of Moral Armor, the world’s first fully-integrated moral philosophy based on the nature of Man. Featured on The Mitch Albom Show, NBC and FOX News radio affiliates, Mr. Springer is available for interviews, speaking engagements, philosophy workshops and seminars. Please contact RonaldESpringer@MoralArmor.com or visit http://www.MoralArmor.com for details.

December 7th, 2008

The Manufacturer Profiles Bolt-on Solutions with Insight by Chuck Stewart of Encompix Manufacturing

The November issue of The Manufacturer reviewed Bolt-on Solutions. It noted, some boutique ERP providers cautiously embrace the bolt-on model. “Our software supports engineering intensive companies,” says Chuck Stewart, founder and executive vice president of Cincinnati, OH-based Encompix, an ERP provider for companies in the engineer to order, make to order, and project management industries. “Sometimes there is functionality that is needed where it makes sense to use a bolt-on application. We don’t want to reinvent.” Stewart uses the example of project management software as a realistic bolt-on application. “Microsoft Project is an industry standard and most, if not all, of our customers use it. It behooves us to make sure that it integrates easily into our ERP system.” It is an application that Stewart has no desire to reinvent.

Stewart advocates an open relationship with third party software providers so he can keep his service levels high and provide support to his installed base. “I’m happy to see an improving relationship with software providers that allow us to identify integrations issues and advise the customer,” says Stewart. “Customers grow weary of tight integration processes and the trouble they cause, both in cost and time, is unacceptable.” He also sees an evolving open standard developing across the industry that is helping ERP companies and third party providers alike. “The architecture is changing and integration is becoming easier,” says Stewart. “We are much more in the loop when it comes to upgrades and changes in software, including being invited to conferences and having access to design teams when necessary.”

Encompix has filled the manufacturing software requirements of Engineer-to-Order companies since 1992. The company name reflects the commitment to developing business application solutions that encompass the complex areas of project-based and job-based manufacturing.

Encompix www.encompix.com Roger Meloy 513-733-0066

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November 18th, 2008

Be Inspired to Create a More Humanistic Presence on the Inte

Being a writer, when I was asked to do some research into what makes a good website, of course I straightaway went to check out all of my favorite authors. After sifting through a few standard sites I remembered to look at one of my all time respected writers-Paulo Coelho. Judging by how many books he has sold he is obviously a lot of people’s favorite, and his website is exactly what you’d want to keep the fans happy.

If any of you are familiar with Coelho’s work you will know how prolific he has become all over the world. People love the simplicity of his stories about the spiritual quests of all people and the idea that the magical happens in everybody’s lives, even the so-called ‘ordinary, normal’ person. He to me comes across as a perfect example of the power of human connection, his books having affected millions across all national boundaries. As an Internet writer, to me he symbolizes the possibilities lying in the future of the Web. Like a good book, the Internet too can cross all imagined ideas of separation bringing people from all walks of life together in the context of positive thought and action.

Coelho’s website’s homepage starts off with a simple black screen, and a large photo of the man smiling-a very humanistic approach to this new medium. It then has many different sections as well as links to relevant sites, even his own web log (on-line journal) entitled, ” Warrior of the Light Online”. I think I could spend innumerable hours reading over his personal thoughts and pieces of information he has integrated from elsewhere. Having this added website of an on-line diary gives the site even more humanistic qualities, as any person can truly connect with Coelho’s innermost feelings and thoughts.

The sections on the main site are separated into categories like: Biography, Paulo Coelho Institute, Photo Gallery, Road to Santiago, Agenda, Books, Editions, Free downloads, Meditation, TV on-line (videos), Warrior of Light, To journalists, FAQ, Message for the author, and Recommend this site. We are talking about a very extensive and well thought out site. Any type of individual or business, especially writers, could learn a lot from this example.

Just to touch on a few aspects of the site’s categories I’ll focus on the one’s I had a good look at. The biography was excellent, an extremely in-depth look at Coelho’s life from childhood until present day. No holes barred, he’s not ashamed to tell of all his low points as well as the usual list of one’s achievements. It is very honest, he tells of how his parents institutionalized him several times thinking he was crazy, as well as stories of being tortured as a political prisoner and of his ‘dark’ experiences with drugs and black magic. This humanistic perspective gives the site a much more personal feel as well as eliciting reactions in readers, much more powerful than a bland website that solely focuses on a writer’s books and how to purchase them.

The photo gallery is another dimension I have not witnessed on many other sites. He again gives vision to his whole life with photos included from areas entitled, Childhood, Transition, The crazy years, 2000/2001, 2002, and Today. You see, this website isn’t just a shop front or a facade for a business. It gives the individual an opportunity to share his identity with the whole world, a courageous act only taken by people who aren’t afraid to put themselves on the line, sharing their spirits with all of humanity. This is the key to why the website is so powerful, one needs to take risks to achieve success in life.

I could write extensively on the other categories of the site but I think you could just go and check them out yourself. Me telling you what is a good website isn’t going to teach you much, you’ve got to experience things for yourself to truly gain the knowledge you are looking for. Maybe you’ll be so inspired, one day it’ll be your website I’m writing about!

About the Author

Jesse S. Somer
M6.Net
http://www.m6.net
Jesse S. Somer is a human who wants to help uncover the underlying unifying power that lies in the future of the Internet.

November 10th, 2008