HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

Previously, I have talked about Dragon Naturally Speaking and how it can be a breakthrough for people who are limited in their online journaling. There are many gifted voices that are silenced or very limited as far as the internet is concerned because of physical impairment. Paralysis of the upper body or severe carpal tunnel may inhibit someone from typing or typing effectively. Varying degrees of visual impairment also causes a barrier. Dragon Blogger is a tool, that with the use of a microphone, can have someone blogging as fast as or faster than they could type depending on the speed of your speech.

There is a special coupon code that will give you ten to twenty five percent off the purchase of the software. This is an after Christmas special and expires December 31st. It is the perfect thing to buy while you may have extra days off during the holidays, or keep a New Year’s resolution. In addition, the purchase will be eligible for a 2008 tax write off if you happen to be using it for your business.

I am excited to see that there is not only a Standard and Preferred Version, but also a version for MacIntosh!  Software makers are getting better at concurrently developing a Mac counterpart of their software, thank goodness.  I can’t wait to try it.    There are a few people I know that like to multitask or have an impairment that makes typing difficult and I would like to see them try it.   Just a note: you will need a noise cancelling microphone.  Those are easy to obtain online or from your favorite electronics store.

Now that I think about it, John McCain got a lot of flack for not using email.  It wasn’t because he was behind the times, but because of the lack of range of motion in his arm that makes it uncomfortable and not possible to really be effective on the keyboard with two hands.  Maybe if his staff discovered Dragon Blogger, he would have been blogging from the road and would have come across to people as more cutting edge!

• $50 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred
• $25 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Standard
• $25 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -MacSpeech Dictate

Lately, I have been reading of people who have turned to webhosts that are based overseas because the price is so much lower. The budget prices, even with very economical domestic choices available, are considerable lower and in line with the income of individuals in that country. While you may pay pennies on the dollar, choosing that type of webhosting just to save a few dollars might not be something for you. I read an informative article on Webhostinggeeks.com that explained why.

Much like real estate, location matters. The closer your server is to your clients, the faster those clients will be able to access your website. Even in a virtual existence, the physical distance between servers and end users can make a difference. Most internet marketers target United States and European citizens, so by hosting halfway around the globe, website response time for target demographics may be adversely affected.

Server location never occurred to me, as the internet seems so instantaneous and fluid, but it makes perfect sense.  There are a few other articles, plus a webhosting comparison chart with reviews that you might want to check out if you are looking to relocate your little patch of the web to a new host.  Unfortunately, they don’t have any articles about what happens when a dog gets on your lap and starts “typing.” Mine hit something and all the sudden everything on the screen was huge, but just in one internet program.  I will get it sorted out eventually.

Sometimes it takes me extra time to put my thoughts down on paper (or more properly, on blog) because I am hunting the hard drive for just the right photo to show what I mean, or to pretty up the entry.  Often I end up taking out the camera myself.

I recently found a site that has the sole purpose of providing blog pictures. All of the images are just the right resolution for blogs,so they won’t cost your site extra loading time. Since you only have three to five seconds to lure a reader in, that is extremely important. Acobox.com even asks you what alignment and image width you want and customizes the code for you to pop right in your entry without fiddling with it. So, if I were to be talking about Leopard Frogs, I could probably find a photo there that I have permission to use that shows exactly what one looks like.  In fact, I just did find one and there it is, at left.

Now, I can’t guarantee they will have a photo of every single solitary object that exists in the world, but there is enough there to get your point across.  The service is free.  All you have to do is take a few moments to register and an entire library is open to you.  Photographers can also submit photos, which they will screen for apropriateness and quality before releasing to the library.   Have fun!

HoundsGood was named one of “100 Blogs that Will Inspire You to Be a Better Person” by MassageTherapyCareers.com.  I am always appreciative of the readers of this blog, and am very flattered and surprised by the recognition.  Things like this motivate me to keep writing, even if sometimes a big hunk of writer’s block sometimes stands in my path. More so, the list is a very good resource to find some new blogs to read about personal development,  goals and dreams, giving back, and more.  I have found a few sites that I am definitely going to make a part of my regular reading.

The site as a whole is a great resource if you are looking for a school to train as a massage therapist or a practitioner of a complimentary therapy.  Having a therapist in the family, I can attest to how it can help many people who have experienced a physical trauma, or just for maintenance.  The blog is relatively new, but promises to be an informative one, with tips for health and wellness and the demystification of complimentary therapies.   I wish the new venture well and will be a regular reader.  I recommend that you check it out and add a few to your reading list!

I tinker around with my blog theme every so often, trying to streamline all the widgets or tweaking the layout here and there.  It usually takes me quite a long time to hunt around the internet for new plug-ins, and sometimes come to find out that they aren’t entirely stable.  For all of you tinkerers like me, there is now a Wordpress Powerpack that includes a variety Wordpress themes and plugins that work.

There is a guide to 118 of the best plug-ins (I didn’t even know that there were that many), plus a variety of themes to choose from, which appear to all be the same basic layout customized for various blog subjects like technology and shopping.   The themes are MyBlogLog enabled, and are not only adsense ready, but they have adsense and ClickBank built in to the template.  I don’t use adsebse, but I know many of you out there too, so perhaps this would be very helpful for you rather than fidgeting around with your current template.  One other feature is that the titles are search engined optimized as well to help people find your page through organic searches.

The feature that I know I wouldn’t use is the Blog Content Generator that pulls updates from search engine spiders.  I enjoy writing my own blog posts, and get disappointed when I find that my link backs are from sites extracting my material.

The asking price is $24.95 for the guide and the themes.   If you have tried it out, let me know what you think.

I don’t normally post entire press releases, but I think this is very worth your time. Dragon NaturallySpeaking is a tool that I think can really break barriers for people who are visually impaired.  In the past, voice recognition software was clumsy at best and frustrating at worst. The limitations were many: lack of recognition of even the most subtle regional accents, and the lack of agility. If you have a midwestern or Great Lakes States accent and your plosive consonants are weak in your speech, old voice recognition software would be grossly inaccurate. Of course, the software just could not keep up with someone speaking at a reasonable speed.

My first instinct about the product is that it would do much to help the visually impaired.   There are people who are blind, but many more that experience varying degrees where they are not legally blind, but have challenges where they cannot write for long periods of time.  The other idea I had was the story of John McCain.  Much has been said about his lack of technology use, but many don’t consider that the limited range of motion of his arms impedes him as well.  I think that the software would do a lot to help those that can’t operate technology as well due to physical limitations.

From Brett Bumeter:

In this YouTube video, you can see a blogger using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred to write a blog article with in WordPress.

The author of The Love You Make, is using this voice recognition software after having the software for just a few days. She writes this great little article that’s about 280 words long in about two minutes and 45 seconds. That translates into about 165 seconds of typing, or 1.7 words per second. That means she’s typing a little over 102 words per minute with Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

Plus, she’s just getting started with the software!

Dragon NaturallySpeaking has come a long way over the last decade, and now can enable people to type at 150 words per minute. I myself, have clocked version 9 at 167 words per minute, and I’m seeing even better results out of version 10. The software is extremely accurate, and can make many of your typing chores exceptionally easy.

As a blogger myself, I am able to write longer articles, with more complete thoughts on a subject in a significantly reduced amount of time. I have been working to challenge bloggers to try Dragon NaturallySpeaking and see if they can use it to help improve their writing. I think bloggers have an enormous amount of potential, and I always look for tools that will help them unleash that potential.

I think that Dragon NaturallySpeaking is a great tool that can definitely help bloggers increase the value that they offer their readers. I can envision a blogosphere where bloggers are able to take the time and provide insights into their wisdom and experience and ideas easier and faster because they can get their thoughts out quickly and completely using Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

I hope you will consider using Dragon NaturallySpeaking. It has a price point that starts at about $99. This is the version that you would use if you only use the software with your computer. If you intend to use the software with a pocket voice recorder, which could enable you to have your MP3 files of your voice transcribed into text, then you may also want to consider opting for the Preferred version of the software. The Preferred Version starts at about $199 and has many options.

I personally recommend the preferred version, but I do understand that times are a little tough financially for many people including myself. I still recommend it, because I do believe that you will see a significant return on your investment. Spending $100 or even $199 on Dragon NaturallySpeaking will enable you to type at 100 to 150 words per minute. It has been my experience that you will not get as tired from typing, you will not suffer from eye strain as much and as a result will experience fewer migraines or headaches, and you will be able to move around your office, your home, or your work environment because you will not be locked in front of your computer sitting in a chair typing and mousing around with your fingers.

I do believe that Dragon NaturallySpeaking can help you to be a better writer, to write as a more in-depth blogger, to produce better content, and to produce more content. I believe this because I have seen it myself.

Please consider watching this Dragon NaturallySpeaking video so that you can see for yourself just how well Dragon actually speaking works.

Sincerely,

Brett Bumeter
Softduit Media

PS I wrote this 575 word article using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10. It took me about three minutes to write and about three minutes to edit. Even with editing time, that’s 95 words a minute!

I read an article on a webhosting blog that I have found very enlightening. While some industries are declining, web hosting services are plugging along. There are always predicaments when one sector does well when others are declining, but I didn’t begin to think about hosting. Perhaps, more people are branching out or just considering keeping their name on the internet one of the essentials to keeping afloat.

The blog is authored by WebHostingGeeks which offers articles and ratings. I have looked at a few review and rating sites lately. There have been quite a few that have been sent to me regarding webhosting. For the most part, all of theses sites tend to be very basic, and are clearly aimed at trying to funnel affiliate business to the site owner of the review site. Recently, i stumbled across Webhostinggeeks.com. The site is a pleasant surprise. It is well organized, has a simple star rating system, and has enough user reviews to be useful. When you work at a nonprofit, or are spreading the word about your cause on your own dime, it is important to choose wisely.

There are some pretty funny reviews. They are not comical, it is just that I have definitely “been there” and can related to the same frustration of having technical problems. Luckily, the site helps find the best web hosting for your situation. I recommend you take a look at Webhostinggeeks.com before you settle on a new host.

I have been looking for more ways to spread the word about this blog, and one popular choice is Pay Per Click advertising.  For the uninitiated, a site owner contributes a certain amount of money to purchasing ads on websites and are charged according to the number of clicks an ad gets.   This is very popular on Google.   Recently, Network Solutions, who is the domain registrar with one of the longest histories, got into the internet marketing game.    The jury is still out for me on this, but I admit the Network Solutions name makes me turn my head a little.  In fact, the very first domain we had registered in the 90s was purchased through them.    In reviewing their  program, it seems that they offer a more comprehensive plan, such as keyword research, site analysis, and ad copy.  You don’t want your whole campaign crashing and burning based on something only you think is catchy.    The other positive is that if your site deals with a local business, you won’t be placed on sites that will bring you calls for a plumber from five states away.

The  service may seem a bit pricey for sites that revolve around personal hobbies or blogging, but if your site is also about your livelihood, such a high percentage of business comes from the internet these days, it could be well worth it to you.

Sometimes I don’t have a lot to work with when it comes to some of the photos on this site. There are some that I take myself, but others I receive from charity evets and shelters were sometimes taken on the fly.  Often, even tweaking the color doesn’t work.  There are a lot of Photoshop Brushes to download and add to make the best of things.  There are brushes that create “old postcard stamp,” effects, fairy dust and more.

This is how it works:  A programmer can submit brushes and patterns if they follow the resolution and thumbnail criteria. Then, anyone can download the brush and use it.  The creator can ad their identity to the brush, just like individuals who create blog templates for free download can.   This way, someone can share, and get the benefit of promoting themselves at the same time.

Here is a photo of Anastasia, a dog that had been stuck at a shelter.  Don’t worry, she was rescued and is on her way to a happy home.   The photo was very dark and there wasn’t much I could do with it.     My current version of Photoshop had a cut out that I used to add visual interest to distract you from the unflxable lighting problem.

Bookmark this page, as later (tomorrow!) I am going to reveal how I transformed it once again with one of the patterns or brushes that I found at Brusheezy.com.   I have been playing around all afternoon with them like a kid locked in a toy store. It is definitely worth downloading a few and using them to pretty things up, or to create a background layer.  Remember to keep coming back to watch this photo come to life.

Better yet, download a few toys yourself and challenge me to a “photo-edit-off.”  I know that’s not really a word, but their are Cook Offs aren’t there?   You have my permission to copy Anastasia’s photo if you want to try your hand at it and challenge me to a Photoshop dual.   (Walk ten paces and draw!)  Let’s see what we come up with.

Maybe it is because I have been on the phone a lot, but my hands are at least starting to uncurl finally. They we really bad when I used to do secretarial work, but sometimes the telltale hand pain kicks up when I have busy weeks. I was always afraid of having to have carpal tunnel surgery or needing other radical procedures for carpal tunnel relief.  It is definitely a workplace hazard when you type or blog. What adds to it, is that I type on an angle because of my challeneged eyesight. The screen is slightly to the right, which causes one hand to extend farther than the other. That can’t be ergonomic.

They actually have gloves now that can help you get some carpal tunnel relief, not only if you it, but as a preventative measure. I do think I have never learned the “correct” positive for my wrists or hands to write or type in, and it has created a world of bad habits and pain.   Of course, in the old days, the styles of supports would actually cut off your circulation and cause other problems.  Nowadays, Imak has several different types of gloves and supports.  You can just use one, or wear one on each hand.

I have had different supports for different aches and pains, and I usually end up only using them for a little while. Imak has a comfort guarantee where if their product doesn’t feel quite right, they will accept a return up to one year from purchase date.  If the store that you bought it from won’t accept it back, they will.  You then would receive a replacement, or a product of similar value.

I think I am going to impress people who ask about them that they are falconing gauntlets. They are heavy duty so my pet peregrine. They will be impressed that I am a bird whisperer and won’t feel sorry about my aching wrists and hands.