Robert's Place

New Tai Chi club and new website

2011-04-15T22:58:00.001+01:00

I am opening a new Tai Chi club in Minsterworth in Gloucestershire (Just a few minutes drive from Gloucester) and the new website is at http://www.gloucestertaichi.co.uk

Doomsayers beware :)

2010-06-12T10:28:00.001+01:00

Interesting how I seem to be attracting 'doomsayers' at the moment - I keep meeting people who tell me how bad things are - I hope it's because my mission is to help them to see that the world is as great a place as each of us cares to make it. I hope I am the 'doomsayers' invigorator :)

Quick Blog

2010-06-11T13:43:00.001+01:00

I now have a way to post Quick Blogs – Yippee…

Technology test

2010-05-05T21:06:00.003+01:00

Hi Just testing a new script - you should see an advert below...

Been working on my Protectics website

2010-03-31T21:39:00.002+01:00

I've been working on my Protectics website http://www.protectics.co.uk and given it a better look and feel, added some information to the FAQ and a new pricing page and added lots of links - still many more links to add...

Radio Derby and Anger Management

2009-09-14T13:38:00.004+01:00

I have been on BBC Radio Derby this morning talking about Anger Management http://bit.ly/aT9WE (My interview is at about 1 hour 13 minutes into the recording). I talked about anger management in general and my involvement with the Sky One TV program 'Football Behind Bars' which is hosted by Ian Wright.

Passed grading for 5th dan

2009-09-07T16:03:00.002+01:00

Yesterday (Sunday 6th September 2009) I took and passed my 5th dan black belt grading in Kyu Shin Ryu Karate - Very happy :)

Felix Yu Restaurant - Northampton

2009-08-23T19:20:00.003+01:00

My wife and I ate at the Felix Yu Restaurant in Northampton last night...

My starter was:
"Seared carpaccio of beef with chilli, lime and olive oil, served with caviar"
- marks 5 out of 5 (5/5) - I liked it though it can't really be called a Chinese' dish.

My wife had "Wonton soup (Hong Kong style)" the Wonton meat was not very good so 2/5

Then the main courses
Stir-fried Singapore-style vermicelli - 4/5
Stir-fried mixed vegetables with cashew nuts in spicy cumin sauce - the cashew nuts were nice - 2/5
Monkfish (fillet) wok-grilled with porcini mushroom, garlic and parma ham - The fish wasn't off but it definately wasn't fresh and at £14.80 it should be - 1/5

Overall, a little overpriced and rather poor quality - not so bad that we sent any dishes back but we did mention the quality of the fish when they asked at the end of the meal if we had enjoyed it ...

The bill included a 10% service charge - they were quite lucky that we paid it!!! We would not go back.

Sadly it seems to be another restaurant where the reputation and press coverage is much better than what is on the plate...

What have I been doing on the Net?

2009-08-09T12:05:00.004+01:00

Hi,

Since my last blog I've been having fun and working hard on Many Many things.

http://www.your-wellness-matters.com – If YOU can write see http://www.your-wellness-matters.com/topics and then contact me at ywm @ protectics.co.uk (Remove spaces from email address)

http://www.link-clicks.com/freestuff – YOU should become a member or even (for free) an affiliate for this site.

AND TODAY
Learn how the Internet Marketing gurus do their thing… http://www.link-clicks.com/gurus

I'm really busy with Internet Marketing projects and it's all good...

Be great!

Robert.

All day but worth it

2009-07-19T22:42:00.002+01:00

Well, the last 'ten minutes' worth of work on my new FREE STUFF website took nearly eleven hours but at teh end I am almost ready to let the site go live. Tomorrow will see the last phase of pre-launch testing and then the launch of a website that tells people about free offers and offers people the chance to earn some money from Amazon and Google affiliate programs by having (for free) their own copy of the website that I will host (also for free) - So all the affiliate (or owner of the site, if you prefer) has to do is to let people know about 'their' website.

I'm hoping this will be a very popular site and the technology that I've developed in order to allow different 'owners' is something that I'm going to extend to several other websites in the next few weeks...

New website

2009-07-05T20:34:00.002+01:00

Moved http://www.milliondollarsummer2009.com to a new server and installed the brand new website that we have had designed. It's cool and is based on Wordpress so I am having to get used to a new way of updating things.

Buxton Tai Chi Club - New web page for books

2009-05-17T10:30:00.003+01:00

I've just added a new page with details of a few relevant books on Tai Chi to the Buxton Tai Chi Club website.

http://www.buxtontaichi.co.uk/

http://www.qtvh.com and http://www.milliondollarsummer2009.com

2009-05-10T16:52:00.002+01:00

http://www.qtvh.com is the website which lets people join my Internet Marketing Mailing List it has had some updates this week with more on the way. I will be ading more free downloads and resources shortly.

http://www.milliondollarsummer2009.com will be up and running soon I hope (as long as it's ready for June all will be fine) it's the website that I will be using to manage the three month long summer project where I and hopefully lots of other people will be earning a little or a lot of extra money...

The FREE 'entry' into the second site is strictly by joining (again for FREE) my mailing list at the first site...

New Blog Look and Feel

2009-04-16T17:56:00.002+01:00

Hi

Playing with the look of my blog - better than it was but still a LONG WAY TO GO to get the look that I have in mind...

NEW LIST & SITE & FREEBIES

2009-04-09T20:02:00.003+01:00

I've just launched my new Internet Marketing Mailing List (along with a mention of the 'Million Dollar Summer') at http://www.link-clicks.com/go.php?250

Joining the list is a way for people to learn more about 'Health, Wealth and Happiness' and also to be informed of the 'Million Dollar Summer' opportunity that I will be running from June to August this year.

Also members of the list get access to a page full of goodies and resources (Some FREE some not) that are helpful, useful or downright essential to people that want to make money via the Internet.

Join the Internet Marketing Mailing List...

Twitter Twitter Tweet Tweet

2009-03-15T15:27:00.002Z

I find myself getting more and more drawn towards Twitter - the ability to have 'mini-thoughts' or 'mini-facts' instantly conveyed to anyone who follows me (either on Twitter or Facebook) is really clever. Add to that the fact that I can update it by sending a text message from my phone and you have a system that is addictive and VERY useful.

If you are interested in following me on Twitter, I am 'rah8'

Choosing a Tai Chi Class

2009-03-11T22:33:00.002Z

I suggested the following to someone today and then realised that they were good tips for choosing a Tai Chi (Taiji) class

1) Find a class near enough to where you are so that you will train each week.

2) Find a class where, at the end of the class you leave with a smile - it should be fun physically and mentally - it may well also be hard work but should still be fun. A lot of Tai Chi teachers take themselves and the art WAY too seriously

3) Your instructor should understand that Tai Chi is a martial art that was originally designed for combat and they should have some appreciation of how to apply the moves in the art to maim and kill - that's NOT because you want to learn those things, but an instructor who understands the HOW of combat will generally be much better at teaching the HOW of health and vitality - it's to do with understanding the correct body mechanics and efficient use of energy.

My own club in Buxton http://www.buxtontaichi.co.uk is always happy to see new peopel with or without prior martial or health arts experience.

2009-03-08T14:45:00.002Z

Hello,

The next year (or two or three) may be a bit bleak for many people - but look on the bright side - it's a time filled with opportunity.

Perhaps people will come to be both more self reliant and more caring of others (those things are not mutually exclusive) - Perhaps more people will leave the idea of 'a job' behind and figure out how to live the life they want (whilst paying the bills).

OK, I AM biased, I have been living the life I want to, for nearly thirty years and so I am a believer - most people believe that they have to do a 9 to 5 job they hate... and don't know what they really want and they don't know how to go about getting it.

NOW is the time to do some serious goal setting and planning as you and ONLY you can be trusted... Job security just does not exist for most people any more. Running your own business you do rely on others but you have SO much more power over what may happen. Government help - well maybe but maybe not...

What you need at a very minimum is your own home (all paid for) money on deposit (even at these terrible interest rates) and multiple independent streams of income some from 'real world' and some from Internet activities - oh it's also a great idea to offshore anything that you legally can.

If you are a Facebook user join my group Web Prosperity 101 at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=41423854406

or if you use Twitter please follow me, I am 'rah8'

To OUR success in 2009.

Robert.

New Buxton Tai Chi Website

2009-02-22T22:11:00.002Z

I have just set up a new website for my Tai Chi club in Buxton, Derbyshire.

The site is at http://www.buxtontaichi.co.uk/

It will soon contain video clips of practice and testimonials...

Free shares in English company - available worldwide

2009-02-15T15:20:00.002Z

A new English company is looking to 'control the Internet' - well the social networking side of it anyway and they are giving out free shares in their company...

Looks pretty cool and I've signed up for my shares...

http://www.link-clicks.com/go.php?36

A good days work

2009-02-08T21:51:00.003Z

I've just gone live with a new version of http://www.your-anger.com/ which has been a considerable task, involving me in writing content, programming, getting a new web hosting company and a sequential autoresponder to host there.

The advantage of the new site is that I can now offer a FREE download of my 'Top Ten Tips to Stop Anger" as well as the paid for web interactive eBook "How To Deal With Your Anger".

I looked at a wide range of sequential autoresponders before choosing this one.

Now that I have upgraded my technology, I will apply it to further websites hopefully with great results.

Free Stuff Group on Facebook

2009-02-01T11:55:00.006Z

I've been having fun setting up a new group on Facebook it's called:

'Get FREE STUFF now'

and is a place to tell people about real world (and some Internet) products that you can get for FREE - In these recessionary times - FREE stuff can be very good!!!

The Group's URL is http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=47882268278

and here is a sample of the sort of things that I've managed to find so far:

NOTE: If you live in a country other than the one(s) listed and you follow the links you MAY be redirected to an alternate website.

USA - Free sample of Jelly Belly - http://www.qtvh.com/la?647

USA - Free sample of Gatorade Tiger - http://www.qtvh.com/la?648

UK - Prize Draw - Win a Sony Bravia TV - http://www.qtvh.com/la?649

USA & CANADA - Lift SP - Acai Wrinkle Reducer Free TrialLiftSP offers the latest in non-surgical wrinkle reducing technology delivered to your door in one little bottle, FREE! Just pay the shipping. - http://www.qtvh.com/la?650

USA - Acai-Noni - Super Colon Cleanse Free Trial. Burn fat and cleanse your body today with Acai-Noni. - http://www.qtvh.com/la?651

----------------------------------------

Cool stuff and this is only the start - I have realised that there are LOADS of offers for free and highly discounted goods available...

If you are on Facebook, please come along and join the group:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=47882268278

Gong Xi Fatt Choy

2009-01-25T22:43:00.002Z

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR...

I'd like to wish everybody a prosperous Year of the Ox.

Have a great one...

Robert.

Life is all about balance.

2009-01-22T21:41:00.001Z

Life is all about balance.

At least I think so.So does hormone expert Dr. Holly Lucille.

Holly's idea of balance goes beyond day-planners and schedules.

She talks about "internal" balance: Balance between your natural hormones to help create energy, lower bodyfat, and jacking up your sex.drive.

Good stuff.I wanted to give you this today. It's an excerpt from Dr. Lucille's fantastic book, "Creating and Maintaing Balance."Pick it up here freee: http://www.naturapause.com/aff/robertjvpc/free-sample <--- 26 pages of Holly's book

Enjoy!

A good day

2009-01-17T23:06:00.002Z

Today has been a good day...

I'm tidying my office and did a LOT of that today...

Did a quick bit of computer consultancy for a client.

Spent a couple of hours working on a Personal Safety eBook that I'm writing - I've got a whole raft of products that I've committed to producing for my Protectics Personal Safety System website - http://www.protectics-pps.co.uk

The only downside to the day was my total inability to get an old webcam working with Windows Vista - seems like I will have to buy a new one.

So all in all a good day - here's hoping tomorrow will be at least as good...

WebProsperity Webinar

2009-01-14T22:22:00.002Z

I've just run my first test Webinar with WebProsperity - really cool - I am looking forward to doing some personal safety webinars real soon.

WebProsperity is excellent http://www.qtvha.com

Also - since I love Free or nearly free stuff I'm pleased to have found Russell Brunson's free-ish (he charges P&P) DVD "The Real Secrets That Most People Will Never Know About Making Money On The Internet... All On This FREE DVD!" check it out at http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?620

Going well

2009-01-11T15:11:00.002Z

Things are going well for me today...

I have just finished my last assignment for my degree course (2nd year 1st semester) - not the best piece of work that I have ever done but hopefully good enough for a respectable grade...

I am very happy with the progress of my involvement with WebProsperity my Facebook group 'Web Prosperity 101' is attracting lots of new members and my WebProsperity signup page at http://www.qtvha.com is getting plenty of traffic.

The week ahead will be busy with a couple of new projects to get underway including a new website and technology allowing starting an overdue video shoot for a personal safety product.

On the downside, last week had a very poor customer service experience with a company called Global Comm (of Nottingham England) whom I had bought a couple of computer monitors from - I won't be using their services again...

Still all in all I am happy and at peace with the world...

New Facebook Group

2009-01-04T16:01:00.002Z

I have just set up a new Facebook Group called "Web Prosperity 101" to discuss how best to use the WebProsperity program/service.

I am also considering setting up a new mailing list that (as far as I know) will be virtually unique - it goes against the trend and the sage like advice of most list building and marketing gurus and may indeed be a CRAZY idea - but it keeps nagging away and I think that I will have to try it... More to follow...

Collection of messages that I have posted to Facebook 'Internet and Real World Marketing Tips' Group.

2009-01-01T22:06:00.003Z

I've started 2009 by (this morning) uploading my first marketing video to YouTube...

I got the idea over the last couple of days - bought the domain last night (about 8pm) created the video (sourcing free royalty free music was tricky - in future I will use better quality music - i.e. I'll buy stuff)
Created the video using PowerPoint and Microsoft Windows Movie Maker. Registered for a YouTube A/c. Finished about 11:54 just in time to spend the 'New Year' with my wife.

This morning, got the email from YouTube to confirm my a/c details at at about 11:30am and now 12:25 it's all done and dusted...

Very much a first attempt and not very professional - but as proof of concept it's great - can only get better...

=> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NefBGCsj8ss

I think that from start to finish a GOOD video lasting say 10 minutes should only take a couple of hours to produce... Will see...

Have a look, if you want to do the same and have any questions, email me or post a message on the Discussion Board.

To OUR success in 2009.

Robert.

-------------------------------------------
Happy New Year's Eve

A friend of mine Adrian Ling posted this sage like advice on his blog today:
"Know what you want to achieve in 2009 and go for it. Buy ONLY what you need to achieve your goals, and ignore everything else!"

I soooooo agree with this - I look at on average four products or launches a day - I buy maybe one every two weeks (OK sometimes more if they are stand alone income sources or if they form part of my overall strategy to earn on the internet). BUT be selective, be focused, be confident that your efforts during 2009 will give you everything that you want.

My Internet marketing goal for 2009 (Not a resolution - resolutions tend to be weak things that are easily forgotten) My goal is by the end of the year to have increased my Internet income to $1000 a day (Yes you read that right). Of course I have sub-goals and strategies and tactics and much much more to enable me to achieve that. The main strategic improvement that I have made recently, has been a refining of the way that I plan things in my diary - it has given me more structure and a more efficient use of my time.

Maybe you would benefit from better planning, maybe it's something else that holds you back. Of course it is possible that you already have everything that you want but if you want more - more money or more free time or more stuff or greater ability to help others - then figure out what is the number one issue that stops you from getting to where you want to go...

Then fix it - if you can't - HECK that's why we have a Discussion Group - post a message - your insurmountable problem, may be the problem that another group member solved last week !!!
---------------------------------------------------
There is a new program in prelaunch that looks interesting - it was recommended to be today by three of the marketing 'gurus' whose mailing lists I subscribe to. Therefore, I went and had a look...

Will it be the next big thing? Well to be honest I don't know, however as at this time there is no cost involved, so it doesn't hurt to take a peek...

The organization does seem to have a robust background and a good product to launch (in about a weeks time) so if you are into Internet marketing or are thinking about getting started and would like a way to maybe earn some extra money - take a look....

=> http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?608
--------------------------------------------------
One of my webpages - for my eBook on Anger Management has a poor conversion rate - visitors compared to buyers - so I suspect that there is something 'sub-optimal' either in the design of the webpage or in the message - would you care to visit the site at:
http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?290
and give me some feedback.
--------------------------------------------------
Check out this webpage and listen to the presentation - don't pay too much attention to WHAT they are talking about, pay LOTS OF ATTENTION to the design of the page, the production quality of the audio and the key marketing principles that are used within the webpage and the audio presentation.

http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?267

Watch, listen and learn...
--------------------------------------------------
Earlier tonight, I wondered how many millionaires (People with US $1Million or more) there are in the world - so I did a quick Google and came up with an answer "In the whole world there are 8.7 million millionaires" - That's pretty cool.

What's interesting is that as we (in the US and UK and many other countries) enter a recession the opportunities for making a million dollars for yourself, will be INCREASING... Yes you read that right - don't believe me, go and do the research and you will see that it is the truth. A recession is an opportunity for those with guts, determination, luck, a plan, and an imagination.

Now you may be aware that at the moment there is a HUGE surge in online programs that you can buy into that will help you to gain one of the most important attributes for success namely knowledge. We live in an age that prizes knowledge above all else (except maybe beauty but hey I'm not going anywhere near a plastic surgeon so let's stick with the money).

Check this out...

This site's headline is "Amazing Secret Discovered By A 25 Year Old "Non Guru" Shows You How To Make $50,000 to $100,000 Per Day Without A Website, Product, Sales Copy Or Email List!"

Did you read that - YES 50K to 100K a day - WOW!!!! That has got to be worth checking up on...
So, look at this page - looking is free...
=> http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?375
----------------------------------------------------
I've just come across what I think is a very well crafted website - what do you think?

=> http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?252

My only suggestions for improvement would be a shorter 'snappier' headline and to disperse the testimonials throughout the webpage.

What do you think - let me know on the discussion board.
---------------------------------------------------
You may remember that a couple of days ago I chatted about John Merrick and Soren Jordansen's new program called Instant Banner Creator.

It's easy to create professional looking, eye catching graphics. You point... you click... you are done!

Remember that they have a free version that you can get at:
=> http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?187

Anyway, in the follow-up and in using it and other graphics tools over the last couple of days, I started wondering what else is out ther...

So here are a few of the programs that a quick search has revealed - I am sure that there are many more, both free and paid for and if you want to share details of any that you use, please do...

The new resources are:
http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?210 Banner Generator Pro.
http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?211 Header Templates Collection.
http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?212 Ebook Ecover Generator.
http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?213 Marketing Graphics.
http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?214 Landing Graphics Elite!

Have a look at them and see what you think - then come back to the group's discussion board and post, your ideas, comments and suggestions.

------------------------------------------------------------

I've used ClickBank for several years and I like it because they sell the product, take the money and then split the sale proceeds between the author of the product and the affiliate and they make the payments (less the small commission that ClickBank takes) - so no accounting for me as an author and just picking up the money from them as an affiliate (I, like many others, am both an author and an affiliate)

I have several products that I sell via ClickBank the main one being an eBook "How To Deal With Verbal Aggression"

If you are interested in being an affiliate for the product there are full details are on the website:
=> http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?288
at the bottom of the page click on the link entitled "Check out our affiliate program"

P.s. If you are an author with a product that you sell via ClickBank and would like more affiliates then please post a message in the ClickBank threat on the Discussion Group.
-------------------------------------------------------------
The link to the video (the first one) that I promised you in my earlier message this morning is:
=> http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?195

It's OK but the great video is No: 2
-------------------------------------------------------------
I had an email conversation about how I made and maintained some of my websites and thought that I'd share the following with the group members:

I have the following 'new' websites:
http://www.protectics-pps.co.uk
http://www.your-wellness-matters.com
http://www.gleeson-homes-complaints.co.uk

Plus lots of old sites. I used to be a Dreamweaver fan but these days I only use that when I want to edit an old site in simple 'text' (HTML) mode. For all the new and 'neat' stuff I use XSitePro - it's easy and it's quick and if you are looking for a better way to produce new websites, check out
=> http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?250
-----------------------------------------------------------
Nicole Wilson a member of this group (Internet and Real World Marketing Tips) has used the Instant Banner Creator to create a graphic for her site - Check it out...

Nicole's site => http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?190
Instant Banner Creator => http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?187
----------------------------------------------------------
I said that I'd follow up with some more PLR info and here it is.

OK, to set the scene a little, let me explain that I am currently developing a website on wellness matters and am using a variety of PLR articles therein. The site is at:
http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?602
and the PLR articles are the ones attributed to 'Pathfinder'.

The intention is that eventually subject experts will write ALL the articles, (By the way - if you are an expert on any Wellness issue have a look at the site and contact me about the benefits of writing for it) but it takes time to get people to contribute (and I have been busy with more pressing business matters) so...

I've been using some free PLR content...

The two questions that you are probably wondering about are WHERE did I get this content and WHAT if I'm not interested in Wellness?

Well the articles are free from
=> http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?304
and they cover a HUGE range of topics and interests, so why not go and have a look.

PLR => http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?304
and
WELLNESS => http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?602
----------------------------------------------------------
If you are involved with internet marketing, you have probably already gathered an impressive stash of free PLR (Private Label Rights) products.

And if you are anything like me, most of that PLR stuff is just sitting on your HD collecting cyber-dust. As of today the 15th December I have used many PLR items but still have over 130 unused items in my main PLR download directory - WHOOPS!!!

But don't delete those PLR items, because some of them just became very valuable.

You see, most PLR packages contain a lot of graphics, templates, clip art and such... and with the new Instant Banner Creator you can put all that to good use.

Just upload it... drag and drop... point and click your way to making some awesome graphics.
=> http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?187

You could even take PRL graphics templates, run them through Instant banner creator and then resell them as a finished graphics package.

Definitely a lot of options with this great tool - and I highly recommend that you grab your free membership today.

Just hang on to those PLR graphics until you have checked out...
=> http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?187
---------------------------------------------------------
I have some great news today.

John Merrick and Soren Jordansen just released a new program called Instant Banner Creator.

I'm very excited about this one... It's so easy to create professional looking, eye catching graphics. You point... you click... you are done!

You should visit this page, watch the videos and screenshots - I don't think you'll believe how easy this is, before you see it yourself.

=> http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?187

And here's the real kicker, they are giving away free memberships right now! Yep, when you
join Instant Banner Creator for free you get:

* The point and click three step wizard, where you can easily create high performing banners, buttons, headers, footers and peel ads.

* Their high converting templates, clip art, fonts and all the stuff you need to create
sweet graphical music... and you just drag and drop them onto the templates, save and
you are done!

* Hosting... Yes they will even host the images you create for you. In other words
you don't even need to have your own website to take full advantage of Instant Banner
Creator.

Now I have to tell you that even though Instant Banner Creator is free to join - They do have an upgrade available and it's definitely worth looking at.

You'll get a chance to grab a massive discounton a life-time upgrade. And just one of the extra features you will unlock is worth it's weight in gold.

And that's not even mentioning the bonuses, quite frankly, they will blow you away!

But whatever you do, I strongly recommend that you go grab your free membership today.
Something this cool does not come along very often - and certainly not for free!

=> http://www.qtvh.com/la.php?187

Your Wellness Matters

2008-09-18T12:05:00.002+01:00

My new Wellness website http://www.your-wellness-matters.com is gradually coming along.

I have over a dozen authors who have agreed to write content on subjects as diverse as "Weight training for the over 50's", "Property investment tips", "Food for the menopause" and much more.

I am looking forward to the site growing into a major popular resource for information on health, wealth, fitness and a lot more.

If YOU would like to write for the site (and it can earn you some money, too) contact me at the email address of ...
writers at your-wellness-matters.com

Protectics Personal Protection System

2008-07-23T22:03:00.003+01:00

The new Protectics Personal Protection System website is now online.

Protectics PPS - teaches clients how to live their life safely and without fear. KNOWLEDGE and ABILITY equals POWER. Clients' learn how to have the POWER to live a full and safe life.

The new website is at www.protectics-pps.co.uk

Gleeson Homes Complaints

2008-07-09T20:57:00.002+01:00

I have done a partial update to my Gleeson Homes Complaints website I will do another on soon and add some photographs.

If you are thinking of buying a new home BE CAREFUL...

Testing - 'Can you hear me...'

2008-06-20T17:55:00.001+01:00

Hi

Testing a link to my Facebook account at http://profile.to/rah8/

My third and best web hosting company...

2008-06-20T15:39:00.002+01:00

Hi,

I use three different web hosting companies. My two long term companies - one in the UK and one in the US are fine but I came across a new (to me) company that offers web hosting with a twist...

Instead of me having to PAY PAY PAY this company runs an affiliate scheme which means they can pay ME - How COOL is that!!!!!!

If you want to host websites and (potentially) get that hosting for free or if you simply fancy a new small money making business proposition then please CLICK HERE

All the best.

Robert.

Do you sell on the Internet?

2008-06-19T20:24:00.001+01:00

Hi,

This is quite a short blog to sing the praise of a new software program that I have purchased - I will post more about it in future blogs...

However if you sell anything via the Internet and would like to produce excellent websites... CLICK HERE

Money for FREE :) :) :)

2008-06-19T14:06:00.003+01:00

I am using a new online marketing system - it's really cool - it allows you to leverage the power of the Internet to promote or sell anything that you like and also earn money from multiple different streams of income.

The best thing about it is that it is FREE - well it can be free or you can pay some money for some aspects of the system IF YOU WANT TO!!!!

So free or mainly free is UP TO YOU!!!!

Check out http://www.qtvh.com/linkto.php?405

3 Broadband Modem

2008-06-19T13:58:00.003+01:00

3 Broadband modem - add broadband to your laptop computer...

DON'T touch this product - the service is terrible, the customer support is the worst I have experienced in a long long while - oh yes and if you accidentally choose a wrong option when setting up your account on-line they will take money from your credit card that you ABSOLUTELY were not expecting... I think I have got that part resolved - but it will probably mean that I get a credit from 3 for some of it and then a charge-back from my credit card company - by telling them NOT to pay 3 for the rest...

Their call center is populated by two sorts of people - nice people with no power and their managers who are NON-nice people ... with no power...

Do I sound ANGRY... Well yes I probably am angry - this little episode has cost me a LOT of money and time!!!

Don't worry - it's a secret...

2008-06-14T20:13:00.002+01:00

Hi All

Don't worry too about this blog entry - it's a secret - I'm trying out a new web marketing program and I need to have a blog entry with the words Yambo Kiles Verdazxwe in it...

So there it is...

Great Indian Restaurant

2008-04-10T10:39:00.002+01:00

Hi,

About a week ago I was travelling down to London from Buxton when I detoured through Loughborough in order to get some dinner...

My wife and I ate at an Indian Restaurant called Mugal-e-Shahi.

Great food and great service in a pleasant restaurant with modern decor.

We were so impressed that we asked for a business card and from that, the details are:
Address: 40a/b The Rushes, Loughborough, Leics, LE11 5BG
Tel: 01509 216 013
6pm till late seven days a week

We will be going back - An hour and a half drive to get to a really good restaurant is (to me) worthwhile...

Defensive use of a walking stick - Cane Jitsu

2008-04-07T21:13:00.002+01:00

Hi,

Here is a link to me showing a brief demonstration of how you use a walking stick as an aid in situations where you need to defend yourself.

Cane Jitsu - http://www.p-k-j.org/cane.html

New Dojo

2008-03-28T21:22:00.005Z

My new dojo "place of the way" in Buxton Derbyshire, is nearly ready. It is a log cabin with a training area of just over 5mtrs by 5mtrs. So it's ideal for one to one and small group training sessions. I'm going to be offering Tai Chi, Chi Gung and Karate Jutsu lessons.

Private lessons will be £20 for an hour.

Next week the floor gets carpeted (I prefer to have a carpeted floor on which to put martial arts mats - keeps the place warmer :)

Within a couple of weeks it will have electricity and lighting so evening training sessions will be possible.

If you are interested in learning Tai Chi or Chi Gung or Karate Jutsu email me at robert@p-k-j.org and if you want to know more about my martial arts background check out http://www.p-k-j.org/

Bad Burger Good Burger

2008-01-24T21:40:00.000Z

BAD BURGER:

Paramount Hotel Oxford, a four star hotel - stayed there in Jan and for dinner in the restaurant ordered a burger - wrong burger was delivered (wrong cheese and not cooked as I had asked).

Then I asked for English Mustard - not too difficult...

Waitress "English or French"
Me "English"
Waitress "Sorry, English or French"
Me "English"
Waitress goes away and comes back after thirty seconds...
Waitress "Sorry, English or French"
Me "English"
Waitress goes away and comes back after about two minutes...
Waitress "Sorry, I forgot, did you want English or French"
Me "English"

After eating the Burger I ordered pudding - it was meant to come with custard - it didn't - I asked a different waitress for custard and it only took about five minutes (I'd eaten half the pudding) to arrive...

Then just after I finished the pudding, a waiter appeared carrying a BURGER!!!! - I politely explained that I had eaten...

Needless to say I didn't pay for that meal. However I'd rather have a good meal at a fair price than a lousy meal for free!!!

Moral of the story - don't go to the Paramount Hotel in Oxford...

GOOD BURGER:
On the way back from Oxford the following day stopped off at a motorway service station and went to Burger King - ordered a burger (and got 20% discount as an AA member) it came and I went to sit down to eat...

I realised when I opened it that I had forgotten to order it WITHOUT Ranch Sauce (which I don't like) so I went back to the counter and said
"Sorry my fault, I'll pay for another burger, I didn't want any Ranch Sauce and forgot to say"
the gentleman behind the counter said...
"No problem we will do you a new one, I'll bring it to your table, no charge"

So I get ZERO star service in a four star hotel and FIVE star service at a motorway Burger King...

HP Tablet PC

2007-11-28T15:18:00.000Z

Recently bought an HP Tablet PC over the phone from the HP Shop.

When it arrived I realised that the battery life was appalling.

Spoke to HP and they agreed to send me an extra battery as a goodwill gesture.

A week goes by and I call them - no batteries in stock.

A week goes by and I call them - Battery not being made any more.

I escalate the call - and am told that the battery is still being made and I can go into a shop and buy one. I remind them that I had been promised one as a goodwill gesture - and they say - NO CAN DO!!!!

So I am left with £1100 worth of very sub-standard computer.

I have spoken to my solicitor and may go the legal route but that would be expensive...

Will I ever buy HP products again...

Let me think...

NO

Over 600,000 emails processed

2007-04-24T23:15:00.000+01:00

Well since I started using SpamArrest to filter my emails (In November 2005) it has processed (as of today) 604292 emails!!!! Of those it has let through 59228 valid emails and prevented 545064 nasty spammy emails from wasting my time... Am I delighted? You bet!!!!

Joined ecademy

2006-11-19T12:40:00.000Z

I have joined (on the 17/11/06) ecademy it seems to be an excellent place for meeting new personal and business contacts.

I have gone with a paid membership but you can also join as a 'guest' which is free of charge...

Have a look, you might find it of use...

Martial arts ( Karate Jutsu and Tai Chi ) in Luton Bedfordshire.

2006-11-11T10:18:00.000Z

I've started actively advertising and promoting the fact that I teach Karate Jutsu and Tai Chi via one-to-one sessions at my private dojo.

The sessions are designed for people who either want personal tuition or simply have very busy schedules and cannot fit into the typical 'Wednesday Night Class' regime that most martial arts clubs run. Subject to availability, sessions may be booked between 7:30am and 10:30pm Mon-Fri and 7:30am and 11:30am Sat-Sun.

I also offer classes that are tailored to the individual student's need, in so far as some people are interested in the whole art and want to take gradings and achieve a Black Belt whereas others have more specific fitness or personal security goal.

More details are available HERE.

Your Safety Matters Newsletter

2006-10-22T15:07:00.000+01:00

I produce an email newsletter (eZine) called Your Safety Matters. It is published monthly and contains hints and tips on the management of Anger, Aggression, Violence and Stress. The content for the newsletter comes from myself as well as many of the newsletter's readers.

To see a recent issue click here and to get a regular copy sent directly to you, click here.

Special Offer

2006-10-20T00:03:00.000+01:00

My eBook "How To Deal With Your Anger" has been selling at $49.95 on the 1st November the price is increasing to $79.95 - however to stimulate sales at the beginning of the forth quarter I have dropped the price down to $29.95 for a couple of weeks - so if you or anyone you know wants to learn how to 'beat the anger demon' then head over to http://www.your-anger.com

On my desktop...

2006-10-01T21:18:00.000+01:00

On my computer's 'desktop' is a file simply labeled 'aikido' it is a copy of a story (I don't know if it is true or not) that was written by Terry Dobson who was an Aikido practitioner...

The story can be read online on several websites - the one I suggest that you might like to visit is http://easternhealingarts.com/Articles/softanswer.html

Anytime I need to remind myself of the important things in life, I have only to read this story...

It's short just 6301 characters, 1428 words, 19 paragraphs - it only takes a couple of minutes to read - but in that short story is wisdom beyond price...

I commend it to you...

IATAM relaunch

2006-09-19T13:22:00.000+01:00

IATAM the International Association of Trainers in Aggression Management of which I am one of the founder members and also the web designer has just relaunched its website at http://www.iatam.org

The structure of the organisation has also undergone a major reorganisation and now, membership is free to anyone who is involved in aggression management. This includes trainers in de-escalation techniques, physical self preservation, self defense, breakaway training, control and restraint, anger management, prevention of and coping with bullying, mediation, counseling and other methods of dealing with aggression.

Elevator Pitch (USA) or Lift Statement (UK)

2006-09-16T06:12:00.000+01:00

I'm trying to come up with an 'Elevator Pitch' to describe succinctly and powerfully what it is that I do...

Currently I have:

I sometimes get paid to hit people. My name is Robert Agar-Hutton of Protectics Limited and I provide organisations and people with information products and training courses on conflict management. That includes internal conflicts like anger and stress and external ones like violence and aggression. I help my clients achieve peace, confidence, progress and prosperity. Each month I also publish a newsletter called "Your Safety Matters" which helps over two thousand people by providing them with hints and tips on conflict resolution. It's available for free at http://www.qtvh.com/ (QTVH stands for Quit Those Violent Habits).

What do YOU think, can I improve my pitch? If you have any suggestions, please email me at robert @ protectics.co.uk

Poor service from Comet

2006-09-15T22:50:00.000+01:00

My wife purchased a new dishwasher from Comet via the simple method of phoning them up. She was asked "Would you like us to deliver, install and take the old washer away?" it was a good price so she said "Yes".

BIG MISTAKE!!!!

The delivery was on time but the driver / installer could not remove the old washer and in trying to do so tore two holes in the kitchen lino. Comet have been to take pictures of the holes and we WILL get compensation in due course - I am fairly sure of that.

We called a builder friend of ours and without the need for any tools at all, he removed the old washer and fitted the new one in under twenty minutes.

One of the flooring firms who have quoted us for replacing the lino said "I give four or five estimates a week to people whose floors have been damaged by people like Comet and the others..."

I think that the moral of the story is that it's better to get goods delivered and then get an expert in to fit them.

I also think Comet should look at either training their delivery men better or cease offering an installation service - which in this case - is probably going to LOSE them somewhere in the region of £200!!!!!

A review of "How To Deal With Your Anger"

2006-08-01T10:42:00.000+01:00

A review of my web-interactive eBook "How To Deal With Your Anger" has been published on the 'Circles of Light' website. To read it go to http://www.circlesoflight.com/brainwaves/anger-ebook.html.

Another use for my blog...

2006-07-31T20:49:00.000+01:00

The last two entries in this blog about Vistaprint and 1899 mark the start of a new use for this blog - on top of all the other stuff that I intend to use it for I'm going to post positive and negative reviews of organisations that provide me with either GOOD or BAD products or services... Read and enjoy :)

Cheap Telephone Calls

2006-07-31T20:45:00.000+01:00

Hi,

If you are in the UK check out 1899 for cheap telephone calls - I've been using their service for a couple of months and it seems really good... Not sure how long the rate of 3p for a UK call of any length will last but...

Also good for some international calls...

Their website is at http://www.1899.com

Vistaprint sends me a deceptive email...

2006-07-29T13:17:00.000+01:00

Vistaprint are in my bad books after sending me what I consider to be a deceptive email asking me to fill in a survey and then they will give me a free gift...

This is the email that I have just sent to them...

---START
Hello

Received an email that stated:
"Thank you for your confidence in VistaPrint. We are grateful for your business and promise to do everything we can to not just meet, but exceed your expectations for a long time to come.

"With that goal in mind, I would like to ask you to click here and complete the VistaPrint 60-Second Survey.

"As a token of our appreciation for your time and input, we would like to offer you our top 6 Products for FREE. As soon as you have completed the survey, you'll receive a link to this special offer.

Filled in your survey, chose postcard - spent time designing card - then went to complete order and...

NOT FREE

'FREE' means without charge!!!!

Postage charge of over £3 is NOT FREE...

Guess what is going onto my blog and into my monthly newsletter to over 2000 people...

Yours.

Robert.
---
Robert Agar-Hutton, FFIATAM, FFA, MIAP, MICM.
Protectics Limited - +44 (0)1582 400111

Products, Training Courses and Trainer Training in the management of Anger, Aggression, Violence and Stress.

http://www.protectics.co.uk - http://www.verbalaggression.com - http://www.your-
anger.com - http://www.breakaway-training.co.uk - http://www.angercoach.co.uk

For your FREE monthly email newsletter with hints and tips on the management of Anger, Aggression, Violence and Stress, visit our website at http://www.protectics.co.uk/ma

p.s.
Putting the fact that postage is payable BELOW the signature is deceptive!!!

---END

Another new Anger Management website

2006-07-11T22:29:00.000+01:00

I've just launched another Anger Management website. This one has details of all the Anger management products and services that I provide. It includes various things that are NOT on any other of my websites like Anger Management TRAINER training.

Trainer training is for organisations that want me to train trainers who can then train coaches who can then perform anger management coaching. This adds an extra 'level' of expertise...

The website also includeds a system that lets the site automatically recommend Anger Management coaches or groups depending on where a client wants to have coaching, this system works but will be developed further as time goes by...

The website address is http://www.angercoach.co.uk

Ironic???

2006-06-26T14:15:00.000+01:00

Is it somewhat ironic that today the BBC website reports:

"The inventor of the infamous AK-47 assault rifle has backed stricter gun controls as a key small arms conference gets under way on Monday in New York."

Apparantly there are "about 100m AK-47s and variants in use."

WOW that is a lot of guns.

B•Tect Breakaway Training DVD Preview

2006-06-23T14:32:00.000+01:00

I had a bright idea on Wednesday - spent most of Thursday turning the idea into reality and today, Friday, completed and posted onto the website a NEW preview for the B•Tect two DVD training course.

The preview is available from the following webpage http://www.breakaway-training.co.uk/btect-dvd.php - Just click on "Clip 3: A longer preview of the DVD course." to see it...

The original idea was to make a preview that I could (will) send out on DVD and putting it on the website was an afterthought that I hope people will find useful.

2006-06-22T11:29:00.000+01:00

If you are interested in my free monthly newsletter on the management of Anger, Aggression, Violence and Stress then go to http://www.protectics.co.uk/ma

Breakaway Training

2006-06-15T17:58:00.000+01:00

I've just launched a new website that is going to be dedicated to the Breakaway Training Products and Services that I offer. The site is at http://www.breakaway-training.co.uk

My intention is to add content to the site so that over time it becomes a repository for advice on Breakaway Training, Safe Handling and related topics.

Affiliate program

2006-05-27T10:17:00.000+01:00

I've launched an affiliate program for my web-interactive eBook "How To Deal With Your Anger" - Details are on the site at www.your-anger.com/aff

The program allows anyone with a website, blog or mailing list to refer visitors to the eBook and to earn 50% commission from Clickbank (less ClickBank charges) which is a great way to earn money as Clickbank allows you to also sell your choice from THOUSANDS of other products as well.

New Anger Management website

2006-05-10T16:40:00.000+01:00

I've just launched a new website for the "How To Deal With Your Anger" eBook the website is
http://www.your-anger.com

a recent testimonial said:
"My hats off to the book. It has helped me in ways you cant imagine. I have succesfully read it 4 times and it has changed my life and outlook on life itself.

Tai Chi and Karate Jutsu Website Update

2006-05-03T19:25:00.000+01:00

Just finished a minor update to my Protectics Martial Arts website - the largest change being my decision to start offering private lessons again - I stopped taking private students a couple of years ago as it pays so poorly when compared to 'real work' - However I have had a couple of requests from people who want to take lessons and have decided to start teaching them... So I thought maybe a few more students... I will see how it develops.

So many changes

2006-04-28T18:01:00.000+01:00

I've made sooooooooo many changes to the website for "How To Deal With Your Anger" that virtually nothing from the first edition has remained unchanged. Hopefully the many many changes explain in more depth all the aspects of this wonderful eBook and anger management programme.

It's also been fascinating as I've had to improve (again) my programming skills so that all the back end technology that manages the on-line members only website works the way I want it to.

One of my talents (or problems) is that I tend to do EVERYTHING myself. So instead of getting some young whiz-kid web expert - I do it myself. Instead of getting a professional copy-writer - I do it myself. In fact the only help I had was with the design of the graphics and there I paid someone to do them - but got involved with a change here and a change there... It would probably have been quicker if... Well you know.

The eBook is currently selling for $39.95 though I'm putting the price up on the 1st June to $49.95 - so if you EVER have problems because you get angry please check out www.protectics.co.uk.

After Midnight

2006-04-20T14:02:00.000+01:00

It was just after midnight and I was thinking about the main webpage for my eBook on "How To Deal With Your Anger" - I decided that it needed a couple of minor changes...

Isn't that always the way - finally finished the webpage mid morning (Yes I did get a few hours sleep) and the new version is now up. Hopefully it's a bit easier to read and more straightforward. The page is "How To Deal With Your Anger".

Google Page Creator

2006-04-18T13:12:00.000+01:00

Google Labs have launched a new 'toy'

You can see my embryonic new Google web page at http://rah2004.googlepages.com/home

It may turn out to be another 'must have' from Google. Currently it's featured on the Google Labs website - see here.

How To Deal With Your Anger

2006-04-08T02:50:00.000+01:00

Well it's finally gone live.

The How To Deal With Your Anger eBook started selling yesterday 7th April.

This eBook is in a new format (for me) that allows the eBook to interact with a website that I have built so that the readers can download extra material - it also means that I can add new material to the 'eBook+'.

The website is currently part of my Protectics site but I may set up a unique domain name - haven't decided yet...

The eBook details are at www.protectics.co.uk.

New martial arts website

2006-04-01T22:54:00.000+01:00

Well, after months and months of prevaricating, vacillating and being downright lazy I rewrote my Martial Arts website yesterday - It went live early on April 1st - and I spent several hours today tidying it up.

There is still LOTS to do but hopefully in time it will come to match the picture in my mind.

The site is at http://www.p-k-j.org

It has details of my Protectics Karate Jutsu class, the Luton Tai Chi Club and the various martial arts seminars that I'm going to be teaching. It also has a large number of links to many of the people I've trained with which I hope makes for some entertaining web surfing.

Nearly ready...

2006-03-31T17:10:00.000+01:00

Well I've spent most of this week working on my eBook How To Deal With Your Anger and the website that interacts with it - it's a large and complicated task but has enabled me to improve my knowledge of .php programming quite a lot. I also had to learn how to design an icon so that when my eBook is sitting on a computer screen it looks pretty...

I really enjoy learning new things and programming certainly stimulates my creative juices...

The eBook itself is at what I call the difficult stage, with several people proof-reading it and suggesting improvements/changes. All good but it does get a little bit repetitive repetitive repetitive....

Still it's almost the weekend and I hope to take a bit of a rest. I've got my monthly newsletter ( http://www.protectics.co.uk/ma ) to finish (IT'S LATE) and get out - but hopefully that will be done and dusted by this time tomorrow.

Mysterious - the sequel...

2006-03-27T02:30:00.000+01:00

I have published my blog but a post I've just made is not showing up... SPOOKY...

I have re-edited and re-published it and still NO SHOW... VERY SPOOKY...

So I'll copy it here and I'm betting that the minute I do that the original post will show up too - just to annoy me... That's blogging for you...

Is it any wonder that there's sometimes months between my posts.... Of course maybe it's a punishment from the blogging gods...

It's a mystery - I've just checked the sales stats for my eBook on How To Deal With Verbal Aggression and sales are down to zero for the last three weeks...
It's very strange, sales do vary and sometimes a week will go by without any sales (Best week ever was 43 eBooks) but three weeks in a row...
I've checked the website http://www.verbalaggression.com and it's working fine - and I've also checked several of my affiliates' sites (I sell the eBook via Clickbank http://www.clickbank.com) and they are fine too...
Oh well the mysteries of marketing and sales are dark arts beyond my understanding...
It's probably the Universe telling me to get my finger out and launch my new eBook on Anger Management... Soon, Universe, Soon...

Mysterious

2006-03-27T02:20:00.000+01:00

It's a mystery - I've just checked the sales stats for my eBook on How To Deal With Verbal Aggression and sales are down to zero for the last three weeks...

It's very strange, sales do vary and sometimes a week will go by without any sales (Best week ever was 43 eBooks) but three weeks in a row...

I've checked the website http://www.verbalaggression.com and it's working fine - and I've also checked several of my affiliates' sites (I sell the eBook via Clickbank http://www.clickbank.com) and they are fine too...

Oh well the mysteries of marketing and sales are dark arts beyond my understanding...

It's probably the Universe telling me to get my finger out and launch my new eBook on Anger Management... Soon, Universe, Soon...

Spam

2006-03-26T10:55:00.000+01:00

Well I decided today that enough is enough - some 'dweeb' posted a comment that had a link to porn... So I enabled comment moderation and deleted those comments on this blog that were ONLY spam - I don't mind creative marketing but sometimes people are simply taking the 'michael'...

So, what was I doing before the spam comment got emailed to me - Oh yes, altering my newsletter subscription script so as to try and track down why once in a while we get a void signup for the list with no data in it - very strange....
The signups come from (it seems) only the home page http://www.protectics.co.uk Oh well hopefully the new changes will highlight when it happens then I can begin to figure out why...

What did I actually set out to do this morning....

Hmmmm - I was going to work on the webpage for my forthcoming eBook on Anger Management - guess I'll get around to that soon....

God a Kolb

2006-03-24T12:12:00.000Z

Got a head-cold or flu and in true manly fashion 'IT HURTS'...

Really finding 'blogging' hard work - I would like to post entries regularly but can't find the time - am busy at the moment with some new products/websites.

Spam Filter

2005-11-24T12:45:00.000Z

I have been using a spam filter for a couple of months - check out a free 30 day trial at
http://www.protectics.co.uk/linkto.php?21

2005-11-24T12:32:00.000Z

I publish a monthly free newsletter on the management of anger, aggression, violence and stress - if you would like to receive it then visit http://www.protectics.co.uk/ma

Six month gap...

2005-11-24T12:23:00.000Z

Well no blog entries for six months - got a lot of catching up to do...

I've been very busy with a lot of things. One of the main ones being training and developing a training system to train independent trainers in our Anger Management system. This is now 'live' and is attracting a great deal of interest.

Also been getting enquiries for trainer training from various countries including the USA and Australia. I'm happy to work abroad and there is also interest from some potential clients for us to run courses in the UK for their overseas staff.

What else... Busy trying to get a book on Anger Management finished - but it's taking longer than it should...

Martial Arts training - the first seven months of the year were quiet with my training dropping to - in some weeks - less than two sessions a week - happily I'm now back up to five sessions a week.

Weight-loss I've lost about a stone in weight (14 lbs 6Kg) during the year - which is good both from a health and martial arts point of view - I want to loose about another half stone...

GOT BACK

2005-11-24T12:10:00.000Z

Finally figured out how to get back into this blog - I thought that I'd lost the username - but I remembered it - YIPPEE...

So now I can continue blogging...

Had a nice weekend

2005-05-31T11:27:00.000+01:00

Tuesday morning...

A nice Bank Holiday weekend spoiled only by the fact that I had to do a little work...

A small update to my Protectics Website at http:www.protectics.co.uk

The main task was setting up a webcam and working out how I'm going to be ble to add streaming video to my websites (and maybe to my monthly newsletter). It's not too difficult but will require some reorganisation of my office so that the lighting is balanced and the background is suitable.

I've also started preparing for a major training course that we are running for four days at the end of June, teaching people to be Anger Management Coaches. Details: http://www.protectics.co.uk/content/pages/angersignup.php

So all in all lots of fun...

QTVH.COM

2005-05-08T22:24:00.000+01:00

Well I've had a busy few days turning an idea into reality...

I needed a short domain name. When people signed up for my monthly newsletter of hints and tips on the management of Anger, Aggression, Violence and Stress at www.protectics.co.uk they had to fight the confirmation email that they received. It's a double opt-in system that asked them to click on a very-long-url that often got cut in half by email programs and thus might not work...

I registered a short domain name so the confirmation email address could be short too - and it is - it's now just 30 characters long which is a lot better than the 74 characters that it used to be.

Anyway, I started thinking - what other things could I do with QTVH.COM - and one idea that I had was to allow people to use qtvh.com for their own email.

You can register your own name - so someone called 'Fred' can be 'fred@qtvh.com' - I am charging a simple one-off fee of US $20 to cover set-up and admin and it's working fine.

The fun part about the project was automating as much of the process as possible - I have to manually set up the actual email account but the availability checking and payment is automated for the service user and the welcome email (that has to hold custom information for each user) has been automated as well.

I used to do a lot of computer programming and one of my aims this year is to bring my programming skills back up to speed. I am involved in a number of projects and so far things are going well. It amazes me how powerful a website can become with just a little bit of back-end computer programming.

P-K-J update

2005-05-04T01:24:00.000+01:00

Managed to spend a little bit of time updating my martial arts website at www.p-k-j.org there is still a lot more work to do on the site but I'll leave that for another day...

A good friend

2005-04-26T18:39:00.000+01:00

A good friend, David, at The Nettle told me about Feedburner and so I signed up for it - it adds 'stuff' to your Blog...

One of the things it provides is a button leading to your Blog that you can put on a webpage - so I put it on the 'About Protectics' page - it's cute!!!!

The quest for efficiency

2005-04-25T10:02:00.000+01:00

Well the weekend is over and it's back to work...

First on my to-do list is a massive restructuring of the way we store information on our computer network to make it more centralised and efficient.

Then I've got to look at redesigning the site index that I have on the Protectics website, I've decided that it is one of the most ugly webpages I've ever produced. To see what I mean, have a look at http://www.protectics.co.uk/sitemap.html - The only problem is that I know that whilst this is important it's not critical - so if more urgent matters crop up there is a chance that it will slip down my to-do list.

However there are plans afoot to tidy up the to-do list. I'm upgrading from ACT! v6 to v7 and I should get delivery within a day or two. I'm gradually implementing a plan I decided upon a week or so ago to put EVERYTHING into ACT! - so the theory is - no more papers on my desk awaiting further information or action - they will be indexed and filed and then totally managed by ACT!

In case you wonder why I'd want to do all this, it's because I think that it will make me a % point or two more efficient - that translates to about three to five days a year FREE from admin and available for work or play...

My monthly newsletter

2005-04-16T00:37:00.000+01:00

Since May of 2001, I spend a couple of days every month writing a newsletter with hints and tips on the management of Anger, Aggression, Violence and Stress. It goes out via email and is published on my website.

It's hard work but very rewarding. However I am thinking of changing the format to make it a smaller newsletter which is published more often...

I find it really interesting that in running a sucessful business there is a constant striving to improve what you do. It's no good being excellent, that's yesterday's blog entry :) you have to be better...

Oh, by the way if you are interested here's where you signup if you want the newsletter.

Tidying my desk

2005-04-15T15:40:00.000+01:00

So the weekend is fast approaching and I have decided that during the weekend I will tidy my desk.

It's a strange thing...

I have this resolve to deal with things as they arise so as to keep my desk neat and tidy. However many of the letters and brochures that clutter my desk at the moment fall into the category of interesting but complicated...

I hope that you know what I mean, things that you want to deal with but they require research or deliberation - so they get put on the desk, then it becomes a pile of things on the desk and then it becomes a nightmare... I get to the stage where I figure that if I leave it alone it will pass it's 'sell by' date and then I can just throw everything away...

Of course the downside is that you miss good opportunities.

So, I'm going to try something new...

I am a great devotee of a software PIM called ACT! which I've used for many many years (indeed before Windows back in the days of DOS) and from now on every piece of pending mail is going to get filed into an ACT! record called 'To Action' so that I can put in a dated reminder (to myself) to look at the particular item and action it...

Will it work? We will see...

Lots of work

2005-04-14T13:12:00.000+01:00

Been busy with lots of things the last day or so...

Updates to the way I market and promote my websites and a rewrite of my website at www.linkcloaker-express.com

I've also been looking at some software that lets me turn PowerPoint presentations into interactive flash animations - but it's not quite what I'm looking for

Anyway I'm looking forward to a hard physical workout tonight - I teach Karate Jutsu on a Thursday night and it's a wonderful reliever for business pressures.

GONG and FOOD

2005-04-13T00:44:00.000+01:00

My wife and I spent the evening at a meeting of Gary Outrageous's GONG and heard a great presentation by Guy Levine on how to make money on the Internet via the niche products and Google Adwords route... Guy is very clever and talks a lot of sense.

On the way back we had an EXCELLENT Indian meal in Northampton at Indian Paradise - check it out if you get the chance.
We had
Poodina Gosht - Minted lamb cooked with honey, lemon juice and selected spices .
and
Samber - An old favourite from Southern India, Chicken cooked with a lentil base. Using an arrangement of spices that are blended together with crushed pineapple and lemon, to give a sharp and distinctive flavour of Madras strength.

YUM YUM YUM!!!!!!!

Recent projects...

2005-04-12T13:41:00.000+01:00

I'm quite proud of a recent project - a software program called Linkcloaker-Express which I wrote in the .php language. It allows people who use links (especially affiliate links) to cloak links to stop people stealing from them or more simply to allow them to use shorter links. It also features some nice reporting options so that the user can see which links are getting clicked on.

I originally wrote it for my own use but then realised that it was useful enough to sell. So I set up a website at www.linkcloaker-express.com and it's started to gain a following...

One thing that I have done - which I wish more software authors would do - is to guarantee lifetime updates for free. If after you buy and register the program I make any changes (which I am doing) then registered users get the update for free.

I get really irked when you have to pay for a program over and over and over again...

Business as usual

2005-04-12T13:30:00.000+01:00

After spending the last few days trying to fix a problem that had stopped Word and Publisher working on various PCs on my network I finally fixed things by deleting ALL my printer drivers and then reinstalling them. YIPPEE Word and Publisher back to normal and not a minute too soon as I needed to print out some leaflets promoting my business Protectics Limited for a meeting tonight.

The error looked like a virus or worm as it spread to multiple computers - it must be a function of Windows XP networking that each machine on the network checks all resources and if a printer driver is corrupt - then you have TROUBLE!!!!

Now I can blog

2005-04-12T13:22:00.000+01:00

Yippee...

Sorted out the usr name and psw problem - now I can start to blog...

1st post

2005-04-12T13:15:00.000+01:00

Well here I am...

Small problem - don't know quite how I got here or what my user name or password are - but no doubt I'll find a way to retrieve them...