CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-22 23:47:58 (2 comments, 2 reshares, 8 +1s)

Google Penguin 4 and Penguin 2.0 Are Live!

Anyone seeing any changes in traffic? Woooo, this is fun!

Penguin 4 on May 22, 2013 (impacting 2.3% of queries) 
Source: goo.gl/iQbrm

#penguin   #google  

2013-05-22 14:03:49 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Dinosaur Roar
For those of you with young children or a predilection for dinosaurs and children's books, here's me, wittering on about Dinosaur Roar to the lovely children and their patient parents in the Big Top at Storyfest 2013.
The full book is here paulstickland.co.uk/Dinosaur-Roar 
#childrensbooks   #dinosaurs   #childrensfestivals   #authorevents  
Especially for +su ann lim!

2013-05-21 20:18:16 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

+Kellianne Hutchinson Is it your birthday today?  Many happy returns!  Hope you're having a wonderful day!

2013-05-19 22:32:58 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Another May Holiday Weekend Activity - Hanging out at the Fisherman's Wharf and floating village under a perfect sky.  The little harbour ferries (one in the background) are zipping in and out.  Picnic tables are groaning under delicious local food and there's that holiday hum in the air...

BTW That's +shelley servais in the foreground!

2013-05-19 15:23:18 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

FLORAL FIREWORKS

Can you say Rhododendrons? (fast, three times in a row XD )
 They are exploding everywhere this lovely holiday weekend.

Happy Sunday!                                       #VictoriaBC 

2013-05-19 04:59:40 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

You Have to Watch This!

So. Good.

2013-05-18 23:36:07 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 24 +1s)

FIRST ROSE OF THE YEAR!

Just in time for the Victoria Day holiday (National Patriot Day in Quebec) weekend, this cheeky beauty bloomed in celebration!

2013-05-18 15:00:26 (42 comments, 2 reshares, 41 +1s)

VICTORIA DAY WEEKEND

It's a holiday weekend in Canada. Yup, a three day weekend which commemorates Queen Victoria - the longest reigning monarch in the Commonwealth.  Secularly, it marks the end of winter and the beginning of summer, a milestone to be delighted with given the climate we have in Canada.   We Canadians indulge in a large variety of activities to celebrate...  from get-togethers (always food and drink), parades, fireworks to gardening.  That's right, gardeners start planting their gardens starting this weekend... 

+Tom MacDonald +Denis Labelle +Shawna Mac +Garth Frizzell +Gord Wait +Allan Barry Laboucan +Randy Sagoo +Gord Birch +shelley servais +Suzanne Jacob  +Richard Pattee +Janice Mansfield +Chee Yow +Dustin Downs  and others, what'cha up to this holiday weekend?

2013-05-17 14:50:56 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Aussie Plussers, how true is this?  :D

2013-05-16 19:34:57 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

I wrote this piece for +Jesse Wojdylo's web site, because this is something I feel very strongly about. The world is rapidly changing, but not rapidly enough for information's sake. We currently live under the scourge of Corporate and Government interests, which determine FOR you, what, when, where and how you have access to the world's collective information. They build walls and fences to keep you captive to one or another's less than adequate solution. 

Along come Google and Samsung with technologies to free us from this data prison, and the world will never be the same. I hope you like it. 

2013-05-15 15:59:05 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Now, wasn't the 2013 BC Provincial election outcome a surprise?

Implications:
1.  Voters have no qualms lying to pollsters
      According to the polls, the NDP was a shoe-in.  Outcome - a stunning  
       defeat; the liberals gained more seats in this election!
      Overheard at the grocery store recently: "Yup, told all pollsters I'm voting
      for their candidate - gets them back for bugging me so much" 
2.  Voters care about economic issues.
3.  Voters don't like Christy Clark (her party won, but she lost her own seat) 

2013-05-14 21:02:51 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Colorado school kids' political project results in official state pet.
"Governor Hickenlooper also signed another important bill supporting dogs into law – one that requires all police officers to undergo training in dog behavior and handling to avoid unnecessary dog deaths. Many high-profile cases of dogs being shot by police under questionable circumstances spurred the new law."

2013-05-13 13:34:59 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

Aren't we so lucky in G+ to have had front row seats to Cmdr. +Chris Hadfield's  experience in space!!!  We've  learned so much and benefited tremendously.  Bon voyage Chris!  Safe travels.  We'll be following your journey back home. 

Thanks very much +Evan Hadfield  for your  inspired and dilligent effort in ensuring that our front row seats were the best!   

2013-05-11 16:12:46 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Victoria's first Spotted Prawn Festival is on May 25-26!

The season for spotted prawns just began 2 days ago and will end in June.   It's time to go down to the fishing boats to see the hauls of unbelievably delicious crustaceans from our local waters.

What's your favourite spotted prawn recipe?

+Janice Mansfield are you going to the festival?

2013-05-11 14:57:03 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

Good morning!  Enjoying your coffee/tea and thinking of fun things to do this weekend?

Sam the Lab:  "I know it's not sunny today... but I wanna go swimming,,,  PUHLEEZE?"

2013-05-09 13:20:27 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Here is Today: Thursday 9, May
An interactive look at time

-> hereistoday.com

Have a great day on Google+.                                  h/t +Marc Schnau 

2013-05-04 20:41:20 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 14 +1s)

DIY Lawn Mower

http://themetapicture.com/eco-friendly-lawn-mower/

Hm....

2013-05-04 20:27:59 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

Caught my favourite Curmudgeon having coffee, plussing and waiting for the neighbourhood harbour seals at the Fisherman's Wharf today!

2013-04-30 17:22:28 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Thanks to my  Galaxy S3 I'm able to share with you this panorama from Sam the Lab's stomping grounds (closest local dog park)!   Yes, he's in the picture...  :D

2013-04-30 17:20:16 (16 comments, 3 reshares, 18 +1s)

Thanks to my  Galaxy S3 I'm able to share with you this panorama from Sam the Lab's stomping grounds (closest local dog park)!   Yes, he's in the picture...  :D

2013-04-25 16:44:01 (2 comments, 2 reshares, 8 +1s)

Google+ for Brands: 4 reasons your brand should be on G+
by +Sam Milbrath 

1. Better Brand Discovery
> People can follow and view your brand on G+ right from a google search results
2. Deeper Brand Engagement
> Google+ Hangouts
> Google+ Communities
3. Increased Marketing Performance
> Ads are getting more relevant and performing better than ever before
4. Measurable Impact
>  Google Analytics, G+ Ripples, Insights

More: blog.hootsuite.com/google-plus-for-brands

2013-04-17 15:40:36 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

This is a Sad day for Canada
She stood strong for Canada, and for the shy woman - a hairlip and shy woman she overcame it all with that Glorious voice, and filled our minds with glorious sounds that we will hear for a lifetime

RIP Rita - you are lovely :) 

2013-04-15 21:11:36 (2 comments, 4 reshares, 10 +1s)

We have launched Person Finder to help people caught in the explosions in Boston. Learn more.

http://google.org/personfinder/2013-boston-explosions

2013-04-12 21:37:06 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

I decided that the world of SEO could use a bit of a reality check with respect to businesses and organizations. I frankly tire the mis-information, the FUD (fear-uncertainty-doubt) with respect to Google and their ambitions, and thought I might comment a bit on what this SEO thing is REALLY about. Hope you like it...

2013-04-12 17:04:15 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Think Before You Tweet in an active crisis!

2013-04-12 16:41:46 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Hello GYB members,
I am +su ann lim , President of the TekPersona Corporation, where, together with +J.C. Kendall , we help our clients convert their audiences into customers.   Looking forward to getting to know you.

2013-04-12 15:28:25 (8 comments, 3 reshares, 31 +1s)

It's that Sakura time of year - a few of the ocean of blossoms along Fisgard Street, Victoria, BC.

Happy Friday smiles!

  #FloralFriday  

2013-04-11 22:55:13 (1 comments, 4 reshares, 18 +1s)

MICHAEL BUBLE FANS

In an earlier post, I provided a link to where you can stream Michael's soon to be released album "To be loved".  Unfortunately, some of you cannot access CTV.ca.  Well, perhaps you can get a sense of the album via this trailer.  Buble can be so funny sometimes!  BTW Youtube has more from this album...

2013-04-11 21:58:42 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

MICHAEL BUBLE fans!  

Guess what?  Enjoy the stream of Michael's new album "To Be Loved"  (scheduled for April 22 launch) at the following link now.  ♫  ♫ 

http://www.ctv.ca/Junos/Michael-Buble.aspx

Oh yes, Buble is also hosting this year's Canada Juno Awards on April 21!  

2013-04-11 14:57:50 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

I found this little guy last night, abandoned. Trying to find a good home for him today.


#puppies   #rescued   #pitbull  

2013-04-07 13:54:56 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 27 +1s)

SPEAKING OF SAM THE LAB...

Here's a   #BlastFromThePast !  Someone was only eight weeks old.

Sam the Lab:
"Hey, hey.... that's from MY scrapbook!  Not fair!  Wait till I post one of your puppy baby pics!"  <runs off  to look for the albums>

For those of you who don't yet know Sam of today...
https://plus.google.com/u/0/117399283230241619463/posts/W35dGPF7Q23

2013-04-07 13:46:35 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

SPEAKING OF SAM THE LAB...

Here's a   #BlastFromThePast !  Someone was only eight weeks old.

Sam the Lab:
"Hey, hey.... that's from MY scrapbook!  Not fair!  Wait till I post one of your puppy baby pics!"  <runs off  to look for the albums>

For those of you who don't yet know Sam of today...
https://plus.google.com/u/0/117399283230241619463/posts/W35dGPF7Q23

2013-04-07 13:25:18 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 20 +1s)

Happy Sunday, Googlers!  Ready for a smile, or at least a grin?  I was surprised to see the cheery faces of these determined blossoms even in April's deluge showers.  It's still Spring!  :D

It's almost time again to pull on the rain boots and get the dog wet... (We don't use that W word around here unless we want to see Sam the Lab leap a few feet into the air from a resting position.)

2013-04-05 21:50:21 (11 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

WARNING:
Pollen allergy sufferers need to zip past this post as quickly as possible!  

Yes, this is the infamous Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius).  While it's  native to the Mediterranean region, it was INTENTIONALLY brought to B.C.  in 1850 to plant at a Vancouver Island farm.

No one had any idea how invasive this plant was, for it spread quickly across the Island, the Gulf Islands and then extensively on the mainland (of North America). What exacerbated its spread were departments of highway which planted SB as bank stabilizers because these plant have deep root structures and they grow rapidly even in poor soil.  

Raging controversy:
Pollen allergy sufferers claim they find this plant to be one of the most noxious allergens vs. scientists who say the pollen of this plant is too heavy to be airborne and hence do not consider SB an allergen.  Whois co... more »

2013-04-05 19:16:19 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Valuable lessons from (others') social media #Fails (!)

In his insightful article Rashed Khan describes a few corporate social media #Fails which we can hopefully avoid if we learn from them.  In a nutshell:

1.  Make sure you keep staff assigned to talk about your brand happy and make sure you change the password before you lay them off. 

2. Although social media is an informal way of communicating, companies need to clearly define what's professional/acceptable and what's not to employees.  

3. Anticipate the range of replies if you ask for opinions publicly in social media; you don't want to be surprised by awkward responses.

4. And we all know too well, people are more prone to post negative opinions rather than positive ones.

2013-04-05 18:18:50 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Woman overboard this morning off a BC Ferry! Being a regular on the ferries between Vancouver Island and the Mainland, it's hard to imagine how one can accidentally clamber up high railings and lean out far enough...
Glad she survived the traumatic long fall and the immersion in rough, frigid water.  Hat tip to the Spirit of Vancouver BC Ferry crew for their rapid woman overboard response! 

2013-04-05 18:04:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

A Favorite Android App 

Package Buddy is simply awesome. If you send or receive lots of shipped packages, YOU NEED THIS APP. All of us get tracking codes when we buy or ship stuff, and you probably just click on it and have Google find your package for you.

This gets old if you have 10-20 packages in transit at one time. The paid version of this app is $2, so you have no excuse. I can confirm that this app can track your stuff all over the globe, and update your tracking at an interval of your choosing. 

It countdowns your deliveries, placing each package in order from the next to be delivered, it lets you include a note, so you can write what is in the package. You simply cut and paste the code from your email into Package Buddy, and in most cases, it detects the shipper automatically. 

I use it everyday, because when I buy stuff or ship stuff, I wantto... more »

2013-04-05 16:23:52 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Executives at Ford were as shocked as the public when distasteful ad mockups featuring the Ford brand were posted on the Internet, and quickly went viral.

2013-04-04 14:21:54 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 23 +1s)

Good morning!   Had to save this recent image of daffodils from my friend Carolyn's garden for a grey Spring day.  Tell me you didn't smile when you looked at these cheery faces...  feel better?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=smile-it-could-make-you-happier

early #floralfriday

2013-04-02 00:39:40 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 26 +1s)

There... back to myself.    :D

2013-04-01 18:45:08 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 4 +1s)

Thanks to +Cybele Negris for the late breaking news about Canada's new start-up visa program for entrepreneurs.  It's an example of changes being made to the immigration system to be fast(er), flexible, and focused on Canada’s economic needs.   

2013-04-01 18:36:56 (13 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

NATURE'S CELEBRATION

Tip toe-ing around the daffodils in Beacon Hill Park.  That's right, the entire hill, and more, is covered with these dancing spring flowers.   Wait... Sam, stop nibbling them!

2013-03-31 07:57:11 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Write me a poem?

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Poems are hard...

...Bacon.

Inspired by +Damian Sanchez 

2013-03-29 20:59:09 (8 comments, 1 reshares, 33 +1s)

Okay, I'm not mentioning where, but somewhere in the world, trees in public places are looking like this today.  ;)

#floralffriday  

2013-03-29 19:52:57 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

'Fess up, who's getting ready for an Egg Hunt this weekend besides this fine fellow over Shelley, Elaine and Evelyn's?  :D

TY +shelley servais !

#easterbunny  #easteregghunt

2013-03-29 15:39:05 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

  
YOU Don't have to pretend YOU don't know who took that picture!

Let the Google Image Search help you find out just who took that photo...!

How to search by image

Search by image allows you to do a reverse image search and discover all sorts of content that's related to a specific image.

There are SEVERAL ways to search by image

Drag and drop
Drag and drop an image from the web or your computer into the search box on http://images.google.com/imghp?hl=en

Copy and paste the URL for an image
Found an image on the web you’re curious about? Right-click the image to copy the URL. On http://images.google.com/imghp?hl=en click the camera icon, and “Paste image URL”.

Right-click an image on the web
To search by image even faster, download theChrome e... more »

2013-03-29 13:02:52 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

Not all lions are scary!

2013-03-28 16:38:14 (6 comments, 6 reshares, 16 +1s)

Special ALT Characters for Google+ ツ

Add some character to your posts & comments: ❤

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2013-03-27 16:42:14 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

now this is funny......  I don't know how these guys can even talk...

2013-03-27 15:24:59 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

This June, The Digital Detox offers Camp Grounded, where grown-ups go to unplug, getaway and be kids again