Issue 161

Hello, you wonderful you!

We had a nasty surprise when we had our taxes done this year. Because I claim a home office deduction, we had to declare part of the sale of our home as business income, even though the money from the sale all went back into another house. I had no idea this was the law, so we had to pay in a lot more than we expected.

The government taxes us coming, going, and when we stay put. I urge everyone to check out www.fairtax.org and the Neal Boortz/John Linder book, The Fair Tax Book, as well as their follow-up book, The Fair Tax: The Truth, Answering the Critics.

It's just ridiculous that fifty percent of our income goes to pay taxes (when all the hidden taxes are accounted for). The Fair Tax would eliminate most of the IRS and the tax loopholes the wealthy and big businesses use to avoid paying taxes. It would bring jobs back to America and bring billions of new dollars into the tax base that are currently lost to the underground economy.

All the best to you,

Bullet Points
The Tips Jar: CSS Classes
Webmaster's Q & A: Site Maps
Life's Little Goodies: Individual Truths
Ask Anything: The Law of Attraction
Miscellanea

Bullet Points

• I have my reciprocal link software set up, so let's trade links! Anyone that links to my BoogieJack.com site will get a link back in my link directory. You can include a description of your site, up to 250 characters, that will be shown with your link.

  I've set up several link categories, but if nothing truly fits your site you can suggest a category with the submission form. Get the details at my Link Center.

  Bonus! I'll give a free copy of the software I use for link management to anyone who trades links with me, plus I'll give you a cool search engine tip that will make the incoming links much more valuable to you.

  Notice: If we exchanged reciprocal links in the past you'll need to resubmit your site. This is different (and better) link management software and the old database could not be imported.

• I hope to have the report offered in the previous issue ready by the next issue. Besides all the online stuff going on, my wife decided she wanted to move closer to our youngest daughter and youngest grandson, so we're finishing up some remodeling projects getting this place ready to sell. Sigh.
• Scam Alert! According to Waukesha police Lt. William H. Graham, a Wisconsin woman lost nearly $5,000 when a bogus marketing firm sent her a check and told her to go shopping.

  The woman received a $4,900 check and a letter from a marketing firm asking her to cash the check and then spend $100 at various stores. After shopping she was supposed to fill out a survey. She could then keep $300 from the total as pay for her time. She was asked to transfer the remainder of the money to a company called Service Pro.

  She learned later the check was counterfeit, Graham said. Since the check she cashed wasn't any good, the remaining money she dutifully transfered to the bogus marketing firm was her own.

  Remember the old rule, folks, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember one more thing -- scammers are getting more and more creative and increasing in numbers, be ever vigilant so you're not the first one to fall for a scam and serve as a warning to others.

The Tips Jar: CSS Classes

CSS allows you to create your own "class" of elements. What that means is that you can create several styles for the same element. By coding a class name into the element for the style you want it to have, an element can have several different looks on the same page.

For example, if I wanted to create some paragraphs of text in blue, some in red, and some in green, I could do so by creating a class for each desired style. Here's how those three classes would be created in an external style sheet:

p.red {color: red;}
p.blue {color: blue;}
p.green {color: green;}

By placing a period after the p (the HTML name for a paragraph element) and then adding a class name immediately after the period (use no space), I've created three different style rules for my paragraphs.

The way to call these styles into action is by adding the class you want to use to a paragraph tag. Here's an example:

<p class="red">

By adding a space after the paragraph element and then adding class="red" to the tag, I've instructed the browser to render the text in that paragraph according to the p.red class I created in my external style sheet. By using the name of the class as the value of the HTML class attribute with the element, the browser will use the rules you created for that class. If I wanted the next paragraph in blue text I'd just cancel the first paragraph and start a new one, only this time I'd add the class of blue to the <p> tag.

Just because I named the class for red text as red, doesn't mean I had to name it that way. I could have named the red class blue, or SillyWiggles, or Mary—whatever I wanted—but as I always say, it's easier to keep track of things if you use sensible naming conventions. If I want a paragraph to have red text, it's much easier to remember class="red" makes red text than it is to remember that class="blue" makes red text.

A class can have any name you want to give it as long as it begins with a letter. The first character of a class name cannot be a number. Also, class names are case sensitive, so a class named red is not the same as a class named Red.

To be compatible with older browsers, however, you also shouldn't name any class with a name that matches JavaScript keywords. For example, you might want to use "default" as a class name to define your normal page text, but that will generate an error in older versions of Netscape. Here are the words you shouldn't use in naming your CSS classes:

You probably won't need that list often, but it's the first thing to check if you name a class that generates an error message in older version browsers. That's all there is to creating a CSS class. In the next issue I'll show you how to create generic classes and ID classes.

Um . . . class dismissed.

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Webmaster's Q & A: Site Maps

Q: I'm using your SEOS Book, and I noticed you don't have a site map. Are they obsolete now?

- Sam M.

A: I do have a site map, only it's an XML site map. It's at the bottom of my home page, but I'll be adding it to the bottom of every page before too long.

I'll also be adding an HTML site map but just haven't had time yet. Site maps are still very important to the search engines, and an XML site map is even better than an HTML site map. You can generate one for your site for free online. The site map generator linked below seems to work pretty good, and it will also kick out an HTML site map for your visitors to use:

http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/

There is one field you'll probably want to change from the default setting when the page loads. In the "Change frequency" field, change it from daily to monthly unless you make daily changes. If you set it too frequent but don't make frequent changes, it could backfire in the long run. As the search engine spiders visit and find no changes, your site will lose some trust factor.

Life's Little Goodies: The Science of Spirit

Ancient mystics told us that all is spirit. Surprisingly, some scientists are starting to come to a similar conclusion. In a Ronald S. Miller interview with physicist Fred Alan Wolf, Dr. Wolf describes the emerging physics of the spirit:

"Quantum physics shows us that matter is how spirit appears in the physical universe. The tracks left by subatomic particles in our sophisticated detecting devices reveal the presence of a non-physical reality temporarily manifesting as physical substance. When we investigate matter at its deepest level, we find it dissolving into a non-substantial reality that religion calls spirit. In fact, quantum physics teaches us that there's no fundamental difference between matter and spirit."

Quantum physicist John Hagelin wrote, "Quantum mechanics confirms it, quantum cosmology confirms it: that the universe essentially emerges from thought and all of this matter around us is just precipitated thought."

Traditionally, spiritual matters had to be taken on faith. But now, those who have demanded proof in the past are finding some interesting and thought provoking ideas about spirit from the world of physics.

For those of us who have long believed in a spiritual realm, or at least hoped one existed, this is the closest we've come to having scientific validation of our beliefs.

For those that have doubted, it gives you an opportunity to reconsider. Each of us, believers and non-believers alike, needs to dust off our world view now and then and look at important matters with fresh eyes and an open mind. It's how we grow.

Of course, some will choose not to believe in a spiritual realm no matter what evidence there is for it; and others will choose to believe no matter what evidence they may find against it. Either way, we live with our beliefs and to varying degrees we are influenced and even defined by them. That's why some thought should be given to spiritual matters.

I think most of us have heard anecdotal stories of mysterious events that seem to point to a spiritual realm. A mother wakes up in the middle of the night with a sick feeling that something is terribly wrong, only to learn later that at the moment she woke up her son was killed in a car accident. Or a man is shoveling snow when a monarch butterfly lands on his shoulder, only to learn his mother passed away at the same time . . . and the monarch butterfly, so improbably to see in the winter cold, was his mother's favorite creature.

There are tons of stories like those, but the trouble is, unless we personally know the person or persons involved, we don't really know how much credence to give them. Still, some credence has to be given them if only for the sheer volume of reports of a similar nature. Some very credible people have related incredible stories such as these.

Of course, you can make of this what you choose. I'm not a preacher nor am I religious at all, but I will tell you what it means to me. It gives me hope of life after death. It gives me hope of seeing friends and family again that have already passed on. It even gives me a greater hope for the human race knowing that there must be an overarching purpose for our existence.

I think living with hope adds meaning to our lives in many ways, but perhaps the most important one is this: believing we live on after the physical body dies gives us a higher perspective of ourselves. We know we have purpose and are not simply an accident of nature. If we choose the right attitude, it makes every day an inspiration.

Great men are they who see that spiritual is stronger than material force, that thoughts rule the world.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Every thought is energy and adds, ever so slightly, to the expansion of the universe, and to it’s gradual evolvement. For example, your science says that the chair you sit on is composed of atoms and atoms are composed of smaller particles and those particles are composed of still smaller particles. Eventually you reach the level of thought. A thought is a direct creation of consciousness and so it is the most fundamental perceivable unit or quanta.
- Kenneth James Michael MacLean

Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be...Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before.
- Erich Fromm

If you live in such a way that you are always reaching for your highest ideals, you are on a spiritual path whether you realize it or not.
- Alice Ruddy

The first act of awe, when man was struck with the beauty or wonder of Nature, was the first spiritual experience.
- Henryk Skolimowski

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Very Interesting

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Ask Anything: The Law of Attraction

In the previous issue I addressed a question from John B. about positive thinking and the law of attraction. There was only room to address the positive thinking part of the question, so in this issue, because many of you requested it, I offer a brief overview of the law of attraction.

In part, because of the popularity of the movie and book, The Secret, the law of attraction gained a lot of attention a couple of years ago, but it's far from a new concept. In fact, the law of attraction has been taught for at least 100 years. Unfortunately, a lot of what has been written in recent times has oversimplified it to the point of being little more than wishful thinking.

The law of attraction works in as much as like energy attracts like energy. But, according to many contemporary writers, if you want a mansion you tell the universe what you want, believe you can have it, and leave it up to the universe to give it to you.

Good luck with that.

I've written before that in order to get what we want in life often requires us to make changes. For example, if you want to be a software designer you must change your routines so you have the time to learn programming . . . and then you must learn programming. You can't just tell the universe you want to be a software designer and wait for the universe to dump knowledge into your head while you sleep.

When I started BoogieJack.com 11 years ago I wanted a home business that would support my family. If I'd have waited for the universe to deliver a home business while I went fishing every day, in all likelihood I'd still be waiting. I probably would have caught a lot more fish though. :) It could be said the universe brought me the home business I wanted, but I had to do my part, it wasn't just declaring, believing and waiting. I had to build my business piece by piece. As I did my part, many things did fall into place that might best be explained by the law of attraction in action.

That's what's missing from so much of the writing about the law of attraction these days—action. You can choose your target, apply the principles of the law of attraction, and the universe will bring what you need in order for you to reach your goal, but I'd say much more often than not, you have a role to play other than simply waiting for a universal delivery service.

What's needed could be a learning situation, acting on the right opportunity, a mentor, or any number of seeming coincidences or circumstances that come your way. You may stumble across a book or article online that changes your thinking, you may meet someone that steers you in the right direction—whatever—but what comes next is that you must recognize and do your part.

It does all begin with applying the law of attraction. This keys to this are these:

• Visualize
• Energize
• Intensify
• Recognize
• Act

Briefly...

Visualization is deciding what you want. In your minds eye, picture the color, the feel, the size, the smell . . . whatever is relevant to your desire. Fuzzy notions lacking in detail have no fulfilling energy. What you want must be believeable to you.

Energize your desire by holding it before your mind repeatedly, day after day. Everyone has wishes, but wishes largely go unrealized because they only come to mind occasionally. Patient persistence is required.

Intensify your desires by infusing them with your emotions as you energize them. Imaging how it will feel to have your desire. See yourself as worthy of receiving it. See yourself as having achieved it to quicken the manifestation of your desire.

Recognize the opportunities that come your way. An opportunity may not appear to be connected to your desire at first, but by following through on the opportunities we're given we may be led down unexpected paths that do lead to where we want to go.

Action is the binding that ties everything together. Action equals expectation, inaction is doubt. When you recognize an opportunity, acting on it is a strong confirmation of your desires even if you don't immediately see the connection. Action is a show of faith and an opportunity to sow positive energy to reap positive results. You can't just sit in a closet and expect a kingdom to be delivered unto you. You must be an active participant in your future.

One final point...

Be careful what you wish for, you may get it. One fellow I knew years ago desparately wanted to win the heart of his dream girl even though she wasn't interested in him in the same way. He ignored the signs that it would be a difficult relationship, and after many years of wooing her he finally won her over. The marriage was doomed from the start. After several years of intense turmoil and battles they divorced. Two of his three children will have nothing at all to do with him. He's not even invited to his son's upcoming wedding.

That's why I usually qualify my desires by adding, "this or something better" to them. This allows the Universe to bring to you that which will better suited for you. Often we don't know what will best make us happy because we can't see the future consequences and complications. By authorizing improvements to our stated desires we have a better chance of ending up in the best situation for us.

Featured Site: PicAnswers

This is kinda neat and could come in handy. Users post a picture of something they have a question about and hope other users will have the answer.

Recent picture questions on my last visit include:

• User wonders what kind of fish a strange looking creature is.
• A couple users wondered what kind of dog they had.
• A couple users wondered what kind of plants they had photographed.
• A user wonders where a palace is he had a picture of.
• A user wonders if a Google Earth photo shows a UFO.
• A user wanted to know what happened to two-headed cows (someone answered, "McDonalds?"

Browse by recent entries, most popular entries, or category. Good fun, and if you need an answer, give it a shot.

Featured Site Link: PicAnswers

Reader Feedback

Reply: Thanks for the kind words, Jon. I learned to make web graphics by simply playing around with Corel Photopaint. There was nothing more to it than experimentation (playing with the software) and learning what all the tools do. Other than that, it's all imagination and learning what to keep and what to delete.

As for the coding, I'm self-taught. I learned by reading the HTML and CSS specs at the W3C web site and peeking at the source code of sites where I'd find things that sparked my curiosity. I'm a little biased, but the best way to learn coding is to join this site as a member or pick up a copy of my book, Web Site Design Made Easy. Even though I'm biased because I created this member site and wrote the book, many members and book owners have told me how easy both are to learn from, so I come by my bias honestly. :)

Reply: To be honest, I'm not working on any new products right now because of all the work I've done creating this web site and then remaking BoogieJack.com, but I will be starting on a new product within a week or two. Only thing is, I haven't decided on which one. In the plans are a small ebook on how to choose a good web host, a pro version of Seo Lite, an updated version of eBook Farming, and a brand new ebook I can't divulge yet.

I'm also going to be opening a couple new web sites, but I don't know when. If we sell the house and move again, that will get put off a while. And, I have a couple ideas for new software programs I'm going to be looking to develop, but I don't want to give that away either or someone may beat me to the punch.

Note: If you were thinking of purchasing Seo Lite or eBook Farming but are hesitant because newer versions will be coming out, don't let that stop you. Everything in both ebooks is still valid, I'll just be adding more to them that I've learned since those products were created. Owners of either product will receive a nice discount if they want to upgrade, and in the meantime you could be getting started instead of waiting.