I wrote in May about a Google dance in progress.  Jay even declared that the Google dance was over.  How wrong everyone was!  On June 27, the Google index suffered a major catastrophe and tens of thousands of websites were in deep trouble.  These were all so called white-hat websites that have been around for years and have ranked extremely.  One of our media properties became a victim as well.  Since Google does not comment, there was only speculation on websites like the Webmasterworld.  There were conspiracy theories including scenarios of being blacklisted by Google.  However, magically on June 27th, it all came back to normal.  It appears that nothing happened at all.  Except that for people like me our jobs were on the line and our companies suffered huge losses simply because Google screwed up.  So after a month, I can hopefully have a more peaceful, stress free weekend.

Here are some useful resources for webmasters:

Search engine results algorithm

Organic search results

How to design a website for your readers - not spiders

How to improve your ranking in search results

Traffic quality is key to success

How to increase your Page Rank

How to grow traffic

Success tricks for websites

How to grow your business online

Has it happened to you that you misplace the jewel case or certificate of autheticity for a software and then need to reinstall the software on your computer? In fact if you do not have the product key your software is useless. Well, I had this problem for my Office 2000 (installed by Dell) software and did not know what to do but after trying a bunch of things (Windows 98 machine), here is how I got it:

(1) First, downloaded the free software Belarc Advisor. It does a few tricks but does not give the product key. It was a waste fo time.

(2) Then I downloaded a software called Product Key from Insaneware by paying about $6. The software simply did not work and did not give me the product key. Had a very tough time getting any tech support and the company refused to give me refund. Don't use it - I am amazed that there are so many crooks on the Internet.

(3) Called Dell. They were totally unhelpful. Gave a lot of BS and essentially the woman wanted me to buy a new software telling me not to bother with an old software. I had to hang up.

(4) Called Microsoft. Boy, what a delight it was to talk to them. They were so helpful. While numbers may change but here is the number to call and you may be asked to pay for the call (though the woman was nice enough not to charge me - it only took her a minute and I was a genuine customer any way). If you are calling about an office product, this page has all the information including the telephone number. In any case, the first place to start is Microsoft support page and from there on just follow the links. Due to Microsoft's help I do not have to buy new software.

A piece of advice: Once you install any software, keep everything in the safe together in one neat bundle.

I wrote in June 2005 that the so called reality television was not real.  My wonderful friend Paris Hilton now agrees with me.  She says that in The Simple Life, she is simply a character based on Legally Blonde and Cluless.  "Simple Life is a reality show, and people might assume it's real.  But it's fake."

Thanks for clarifying, Paris! 

I am sure that like most of you I have those moments when I can just talk about my problems without the fear of being judged or ridiculed.  It is not easy to share your problems because everyone is your friend when things are going great but hardly anyone out there who will be there when you have problems.

That's when people like Alison Taylor come in. For a small fee, you can ask her for help and she is there for you.  Even if you don't follow exactly what she tells you at least you have someone who will listen.

In August of 2005 I wrote about men in thongs and so it was nice to see that in the movie John Tucker Must Die , there are a whole bunch of guys in thongs playing basketball.  Courtesy:  Movie homepage.

In response to my post If we should get married , I have got an email from Stan and I thought it will be nice to reproduce it here.

"I see a big disconnect with the modern day personal ethics of being truthful, having integrity and  the stategy of having an affair to maintain the family unit without the disruptions of divorce.The reality seems to be if it is not in your wife's face, an affair is the sane solution to a mariage that is incomplete for at least one of the partners.The solution seems to address the main issue for men that they seem to need variety sexually whereas women in the main do not.  Women may like to but do not need to.  Men pay for sex; women rarely do unless they are unattractive or old." 

What do you guys think?