Ladies Pass This Along - Women In Charge Classes Announced

WICOE
(Women In Charge Of Everything)

Is proud to announce the opening of its
EVENING CLASSES FOR MEN!
OPEN TO MEN ONLY
ALL ARE WELCOME

Note: due to the complexity and level of difficulty, each course will accept a maximum of eight participants

The course covers two days, and topics covered in this course include:

DAY ONE

HOW TO FILL ICE CUBE TRAYS
Step by step guide with slide presentation

TOILET ROLLS- DO THEY GROW ON THE HOLDERS?
Roundtable discussion

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAUNDRY BASKET and FLOOR
Practising with hamper (Pictures and graphics)

DISHES and SILVERWARE;
DO THEY LEVITATE/FLY TO KITCHEN SINK
OR DISHWASHER BY THEMSELVES?
Debate among a panel of experts.

REMOTE CONTROL
Losing the remote control - Help line and support groups

LEARNING HOW TO FIND THINGS
Starting with looking in the right place
Instead of turning the house upside down while screaming -
Open forum

DAY TWO

EMPTY MILK CARTONS;
DO THEY BELONG IN THE FRIDGE OR THE BIN?
Group discussion and role play

HEALTH WATCH;
BRINGING HER FLOWERS IS NOT HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH
PowerPoint presentation

REAL MEN ASK FOR DIRECTIONS WHEN LOST
Real life testimonial from the one man who did

IS IT GENETICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT QUIETLY
AS SHE PARALLEL PARKS?
Driving simulation

LIVING WITH ADULTS;
BASIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR PARTNER
Online class and role playing

HOW TO BE THE IDEAL SHOPPING COMPANION
Relaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques

REMEMBERING IMPORTANT DATES
& CALLING WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE
Bring your calendar or PDA to class

GETTING OVER IT;
LEARNING HOW TO LIVE WITH BEING WRONG ALL THE TIME
Individual counsellors available

Send this on to all your girlfriends who may need a laugh and to guys who you think can handle the truth!

I received this today from one of my most favorite bloggers - FishHawk.
he actually wanted me to pass it along, so Ladies feel free to post this to your blog and also send it along to others who may have a need for it.

btw, Bluehost is off line for a while and with it our sites are too, so we'll be back hopefully later today. till then, enjoy the archives here and be sure to add yourself to our google friend connect widget.

We Always Follow and Comment back

We Aim to Please,

FAF: Reciprocity - that's the tone for the 2010

My Prayer This Year is for Reciprocity Across the Board - NO MORE FRIENEMIES

we want to start the year out right; so were starting it on Fake Ass Friday.

We've spent so much time doing for others; that  there are times when we wonder when someone will do something for us. that is why this year we will have Reciprocity Across The Board. some of our visitors may wonder what this means, and quite frankly if you don't understand; honestly we're not suprised. so much has happened and so many stood back and looked as though there was nothing they could DO or SAY.

If we gave you love and you didn't return it -  That Ended 12/31/2009 - Starting Today, Reciprocity Across the Board is how it's working here. sadly  too many adults don't seem to understand common respect. if that's the issue, expect we won't be far from your lead. people need to understand that WORDS ARE THINGS AND THEY MATTER.

We've endured enough FAKE ASS Frienemies; Little Minded Gamers; Generalized Manipulators; Cheap Ass F/Tools; Broke Ass Users and LIARS; so many that infact We've decided it's ENOUGH.  No we're not gonna call names because YOU ALL Know Who You Are. Speaking plainly, Everyone Else Does Too - so this year I'm Setting an early Tone for ALL Of YOU,
2010 NO MORE FRIENEMIES

Happy New Year - See You in 2010 without H1N1

Check out this video from Our Patient; No Mask Required

Have A Safe and Happy New Year - see you in 2010 when no mask is required

Hey Look it's KC and the Sunshine Band - Do A Lil Dance

Do A Lil Dance, Sing A Lil Song - yupper, that's the Entrecard Management
at it again.

Please Enjoy our Friends from Jacksonville,
KC and the Sunshine Band, then the crap.
oh yes, we do inject our comments - as per usual.




You are probably asking yourself What's KC and the Sunshine Band got to do with this ? well you know we reach for metaphors on this blog. this metaphor is simple.

This is a GREAT Band. In Capitals. These Guys are the Best of the Best. Look At Them Dancing, Playing their Instruments, Singing and Looking Oh So Fine.. Yeahhh Baaaay bay (ala austin powers)


The way they are as individuals; but as part of a group, that functions together. not perfect or precision - but functioning. they're not the tempting Temptations; all wrapped in silk and gliding past. these guys work the sweat up on your neck. and you want it, baddddddd. kinda like how pissed we get when Entrecard makes these Funky changes.. Ahhhhhhhh There You Go,

This is what we think our blogging buddies remind us of, that unconstructed FUNK.
the real Sho Nuff "Get Down Tonite Baby".

this isnt' easy to achieve; but we've been through our favorites list tonite and dropped 300 cards, before 2am. yes from just this blog.

why ? 

well partly because we wanted to see the widget in action and also to see what's going on in the entresphere with blogs departing. it's different, but not as bare as some might have predicted or feared. it's pretty much business as normal.

there are some of my favs gone, or missing. when they left, there was no doubt that they had come up with a plan to replace those hits from entrecard; and hopefully a link to keep us together.

I've subscribed and friended so-many blogs in the past two weeks; that I am reading as many of them on my desktop as I can, from my inbox google feed. yupper. we get it in the mail when we dont' feel the card game.


ok more comments after the Entertainment
- here's KC and The Sunshine Band - So Lets All Do A lil Dance -

Sponsor ads launched (beta)

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 03:59 PM PDT

The sponsor ads system is starting today. Currently, we are not taking any outside sponsors. As of now, there are only 2 ads in circulation. This first is an Entrecard ad that links back to entrecard.com. The 2nd ad is promoting Entrecard Market which is linked to entrecard.com/market. You can view the list of sponsors in your dashboard under the “sponsors ads” tab. Please note that you can disable one of the ads (not both) by clicking the button below the image. The remaining ad will run no more than 15% of your widget impressions. If you wish to opt-out completely, you can do so at the rate of $5/month or $50/ year (optional). This is also located under the “Sponsor ads” link.

Please note that this is a “beta” launch and we will carefully monitor the program. Please report any bugs, problems, and questions to support@entrecard.com. All emails will be answered within 24 hours. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Cindy
Entrecard.com

ENTREALERT* Please BE SURE to Go To YOUR ENTRECARD DASHBOARD There Click the Link in "YOUR ACCOUNT" on the Top Right Hand Column labeled "Sponsor Ads". 

Clicking this link opens to a brand new page on your dashboard. now this is interesting. how can they design this page and get this widget all up to run with ads, from entrecard - yet never take a moment to create a link on your dashboard to a page where you can see your mail between the ADMNS and YOU ?


That's just one of the simple mysteries of Entrecard.

Yesterday alot of bloggers departed from the Entrecard community - because they were afraid of what this change would reflect on their blogs. I think they may have faired well.

"Justa FYI - Subscriptions, and rss feed captures are wayyyy up all over entrecard "

there are more Please Subscribe Requests being posted on the front of blogs - and more RSS Feed Subscription Widgets appearing than every before.  this is obviously the smartest move most of these bloggers have ever made.

Leaving this cardgame will probably ensure that their blog has Live Action and Visitors.
Remember, entrecard can deliver them - but you have to keep them coming back; as well as subscribing.

We've decided to stick it out for the long haul, and we're back to dropping cards, leaving comments and buying ads. we figure that Bloggers will visit to see what you've written; clickfarmers - well they do what they always do, click and run. that's expected from them anyway.

the new bloggers will subscribe if they realize the transiency of entrecard's membership.
most of the blogs here would pass by each-other unnoticed;
were there not a forced socialization mechanizm in place.
That Mechanism - Entrecard, drives traffic; and unfortunately Paid Ads..

the twist is this, Why is entrecard running impressions on the widgets without adjusting their impressions into the cost of the EC PAID ADS that Are Running on the widget during that time peroid ? Ah Ha ! We Have Found the Perverbial Fly in the Ointment

As you can see, we're thinking about it again,
and trying to figure out what this move means,
not figuratively but financially to entrecard.

Are they using this display time of their impressions; as their sales bait to their new advertisers ?

hmmmm ? only time will show us. but until then, I plan to collect as many EC's as I can
and to advertise on as many blogs as possible - since this is Blogging High Season.
lots of people are new to blogging at this time of the year,
and entrecard plans to take full advantage of it, believe that.

SO SHOULD YOU

we should expect to be seeing our next crop of new bloggers
in full force before the end of the year, no doubt; and probably
more than a few of them will become subscribers, just watch.

but until then, we suggest you start stacking those ec's
because it's gonna be a long cold winter at entrecard this year.
and you are gonna neeeeed lots of ec's
to make those widgets Work For You.

Lets All Do A Lil Dance and See What Happens,

It's Virus Season - Have You Seen the Entre Doc Yet ?

The Entrecard Virus Season has started again - Oh Wait, when did it end ?



Has This Happened To You, Browsing and BAM a Pop Up ?

Queen Katherine has written on her blog about the latest round of "Virus Baiting - Thanks Pranks" as we like to call them.

there are widgets displaying Thanks as though they've been dropped on, even when they haven't. it's caused mass confusion and havoc with lots of Entrecarders computers. many of these Entrecarders got the same virus that appears to be again making it's rounds on Entrecard - by way of some very unscrupilous characters.

my statement to them is the same as it was the first time I made it " If You Hate Bloggers So Much - Stop Blogging and and Get Out of Entrecard".

now undoubtably someone with really sore little balls will see this and think I am specifically targeting them. well Lil Balls, to quote my mentor Bob " Jah Rastafari" Marley - "If The Cap Fits, Let them Wear It". so to you today We dedicate this post.

This is the Doctors Prescription for Entrecard Virus Protection :

If You're In the Drive Through Lane - Click Here Fast

Check out Our Podcast of This Post, complete with a Bangin Reggae and Ska Soundtrack - Entrepod Has the Prescription

First Get Your Copy of these three free pieces of software -

1. Malwarebytes Anti Malware Software
2. Ad Aware Anti Adware Software
3. Spy Sweeper Spybot Remover Software

Next Take a Day Off of Entrecard -

Clean Up Your Computer; Clean and Detrash Each Hard drive Separately. then run Defrag to get your space back.



This Video will tell you HOW To Fix This Mess

Next Take a Good Look at your drop pattern - Seriously Doh,

is it consistent ? do you visit the same blogs daily ? if you have more than 150 blogs in your friends blogs list on entrecard, maybe it's time to really look at what's on those blogs that make them Your Favorites.

Somewhere in this list of Friends who drop consistently is a blog that somehow you enjoy, but maybe they don't think the same of your blog. Yes I'm speaking of " Blog Envy". many folks don't admit it, but there are many blogs that we visit and wish that we were that popular; or our template was tweeked just so. yeah, I said it. Blog Envy.

take a few minutes and look at those blogs you envy - what is it about that blog that makes you like it ? is it the design, the layout, the amount of interaction and comments ? You're looking at your growth plan when you examine these elements.

Next take a look at your inbox and see who from this list of Blogs You Envy drops on you consistently. this is what you want to assess. why do the folks who drop on you comeback ? if you don't know, drop them a comment or even a note and ask them - what keeps them coming back.

next look at those blogs in your drop list who consistently visit, but don't update or comment - These Are The Problem Blogs - or as I call them the Coverts who are covering up why they are visiting you and others regularly, without interacting.

there is one thing Entrecard needs to do - create a way to Block Drops from those who may have possibly been in some way a bad blog experience for you. if Entrecard allowed this - do you think it would stop this Blog Envy and present the ability to really enjoy Entrecard for you ? I'd say YES.

there are clickfarmers still raping our blogs and many of them are doing it with bad intention. Entrecard still has not owned up to their part in enabling this behaviour. until they look at it as an abuse issue, instead of ignoring it - the problem will only intensify.

My final bit of advice is to avoid blogs that offer you NO Interaction - No Comments, and nothing but using Your Blog as a source of credits.

Entrecard needs to mature in the sense that bloggers should be Respected. Blogs should also be given a fairer assessment in terms of credit value.

how can a blog which updated 3 months ago still be valued at 512 credits per day - when they have nothing to offer different than the last 89 days you saw it ? STUPID and one of the causes of Extreme Blog Envy.

Instead of asking for more realestate on blogs - Entrecard needs to learn to manage what space they have already on your blog more effectively. Do Not Allow a Blog which is more than 25% Ads INTO Entrecard - Simple.

if you are not a Blogger - Become an Advertiser. Stop Ruining the Blogging experience for so many others who consistently find time to write, interact and comment. those who've found friendship and like mindedness in bloggers who they visit daily, because they Enjoy The Writing and Experience, Not because they want to raise your bouncerate and devalue your blog by infecting it with a virus, on your return visit to them.

Courtesy is important, but Safety is Much More Relevant in this case

If You've dropped on me and I haven't returned the drop - stop dropping on me. it's because you aren't writing about anything I find interesting. probably I've read your blog the first time you milked me, and felt the drop fever, not the love. that means I won't be back.

why not take the hint and be a good egg and find somewhere else to deposit your clicktrash like on a fellow clickfarmer.

Ever Think Maybe. Entrecard needs to invent a category just for Clickfarmers

We think if they did, no one would willingly join it - but maybe if you were caught clickfarming or virusbaiting - you could be put there by fellow entrecarders; who would then know Who You Are and What You've Done.

Check out Our Podcast of This Post, complete with a Bangin Reggae and Ska Soundtrack - Entrepod Has the Prescription

As SmartCarders, Isn't it time We Started Dropping Smarter instead of being Baited Harder ?

Aww do it baby, do the humpty hump, do the humpty hump

We're starting a new Friday Tradition on BadGalSays - Fitness Friday.

We Believe that Friday calls for a Lil Booty Shakin - so lets do the Humpty Hump.

Most of the week we sit behind our desks and work, with little time to shake that body. that's just not right. so why not spend a few minutes with us Every Friday - and Shake That Funky Body. did you realize that if you danced for just one four minute video you could burn approximately 300 calories, and have a bunch of fun doing it.


I hope that by starting this tradition we'll encourage more of us to get up and Move Around. it's important to keep that body moving and to do it in ways that are fun, not like work. Your Heart, Your Back and Your Booty will Thank You - Trust Us.the endorphins released from dancing with Humpty are Healthy Benefits.

For Our Kickoff Today, we picked one of our most favorite Old Dance Videos from youtube.com - Humpty Hump From Digital Underground.

The Band was from Oakland Ca. They worked really hard for a few years but this was their biggest hit in the early 90's.

Okay Lets Do The Humpty Hump.

Just a lil HipHop Fyi * Tupac Shakur was one of the back up dancers in Digital Underground - 

Yes I said Dancers. he got his start in Digital Underground as a dancer; before anybody would give him a break as an aspiring rapper. see if you can spot him in the Humpty Hump Video, it's not easy but he's there. (click the picture to open it in it's own screen to see the pictures more clearly. it's well worth it)

now for those of you who are unfamiliar with the dance, we've included the original Digital Underground video of Shock G and the Humpty Hump in action. this should help you to get your booty in gear and your attitude funky.

Turn Your Speakers UP LOUD And PUSH THAT CHAIR BACK, Lets Get It In Gear MY Fellow Funky Bloggers

Awww Do It Baby, Do The Humpty Hump, Do the Humpty Hump

(words from the first verse, so you can sing along confidently; and impress your officemates and friends who are close by. yes you too can look like a dancing fool who KNOWS The Words)

Now stop what ya doin, cause I'm about to ruin the image and the style that you're used to. I look funny but Yo I'm Makin Money See so Yo World I hope ya ready for me. Gather Round, I'm the new fool in town and my sounds laid down by the underground. I'll drink up all the hennesy you got on your shelf. so let me introduce myself. my name is Humpty - prounounced with a umpty. yo ladies oh how I like to funk thee. and all the rappers in the top ten, please allow me to bump thee. I'm steppin tall yal and just like humpty dumpty, you're gonna fall when the stereos pump me. I like to rhyme I like my beat funky; I'm spunky, I like my oatmeal lumpy; I'm sick with this, straight gangsta mack. sometimes I get ridiculous.. Oh Do It Baby Do The Humpty Hump, Do The Humpty Hump.

yes we know it's 911 but we think the whole scenario was a fraud; so we don't play the game.

How To Be a Real Smart Carder - Clean Up and Use That "Friends Feed"

Lets Finally Get Over the Temptation.. and Become SmartCarders

Some favorites of the author

today we offer our weekly PSA in a post to help you get more use out of your Entrecard.

This is our All Powerful Friends Feed. you get in in the Newsfeeds Tab on your dashboard.

http://entrecard.com/feeds/news/TG2KYY929M/rss2.0


Going Here Means basically You take your time and look at the posts.
no toolbar and no bs - just the posts that have been Recently Updated, VOILA ! 


We read on a certain blog recently in the comments that if we
didn't bitch we'd have nothing to say. wow - powerful words indeed.

But we're not Thirsty, or Hongry. we're phat enough that we
don't need to go Buyin Hits and PR; Begging for comments 
or drops; let alone Donations.   so what we planned for our response
post is this - A PSA On Being a SmartCarder

Lets Learn How To Use Entrecard Like SmartCarders.
Uh Huh - that's not bitching or complaining - or pointing
the finger at anyone else, as we've been accused of doing.

First off the reason you want to consider this approach is
"Entrecard is supposed to be a Bloggers Social Network" - Not A Job.

Uh Huh - sorry we can't help but toss stones at them thirsty teams out there; who boast such high drop figures daily, but rarely make a Real substantive post. Sorry but IN My Opinion - posting pics of your kid,
your house and your car are not only dangerous, but outright asking for trouble. 

Recently those of us who read, saw the headlines about the break-ins that happened because folks twitted about being away from home. Please, think about your personal security and the crime rate; if not how many fools are out there waiting to kidnap your adorable blogging star subject. common sense ain't common, mom always said. today we are seconding that as fact.

Sorry - but there should be a link that connects when a blog appears in front of you - if you see politics, or
adult subject matter, that's not your thing ? why not move on -

We Are Here for The Reality of Politics and Entertainment. 

many of these blogs are serial droppers (clickfiends).
We've learned from watching them come up in our Inbox Day
After Day. We've stopped JUST dropping back on them;
but they still continue to drop on us for some reason...

Here's An Open Question to the Click Fiends -  
(you know who you are)

Why is One EC So Important when there is obviously nothing of interest to you here ? my bouncerate is the real issue to me, but not to you. hmph...  

please read this clickfiends, and those who want to make
themselves contributors to our daily gift ec pot -
"We see it as a gift, And We Say A "Hearty Thanks" for supporting our entrecard advertising fundage.

fyi - you too may have an EC Gift Pot - it works like this, if you get drops that you do not return, they are still counted remember. the dropper gets a point and the droppee gets a point. Niiiiccceee..

Ahhhhh That Dirty Inbox and Temptress Toolbar..

yeah. those are the two real culprits. If you want to have a better focus on
who you really visit on Entrecard, take a trip to your own profile.

Being Good Carders - We went to the Entrecard book last nite to see if there was a page on it; Only to be shown NO Entrebook ANYLONGER.   uhhhh yeah..click and see for yourself.

So we decided that the easiest route is to go to Your Blogs Profile Page. Just click on the Entrecard E on your widget on your page. 

It will Instantly Transport You to Your Profile page.

on that page is the most important tool you have access to - 
Your Favorites.

Your Favorites are hand selected by you; as you are dropping.
First thing you should do is to take a look at how many Favorites
you have saved over your months on Entrecard. count them.

Early this morning I went through mine, and was totally amazed at the blogs
that I like and favorited. some of them, I've visited once or twice - and I've
never seen them again. could there be some housekeeping needed ? oh yes indeed..

First I clicked the link at the end of my favorites column 

I was magically transported to the page which shows my Favorite Carders.
a huge list of approximately 400 cards opened. yes 400 - far too many to viist regularly.

upon closer inspection, I found that many of them were removed from entrecard
or even dead. I also noticed many marked clearly no widget; or ads disabled.
Our sister blog Recycled Frockery disabled ads for a few months during our redesign

deliberations; only to finally return and take ads again a few weeks ago.

the blogs which I wanted to take a peek at that - were mostly blogs that
I hadn't seen in a long time.  I clicked on the cards and loaded them in multiple tabs; exactly as the tool bar would. -
This is done by using the control key while I clicked the card.

As they loaded I got to see their profiles and to see our relationship played out..

many had no feed - so hence no blog

If i liked it, I clicked the url to visit to verify if the blog
was a keeper or a tosser. when the blog loaded I could
almost make an immediate decision. many were dead,
moved or just so old that there was no point in keeping
them on my favs any longer. I clicked that remove from favs
link on their profile page, instantly removing the card and the
feed from my friends list - poof. easy instant housekeeping.

How Did It Feel - Ooooohhhhhh let me tell you..

many of the blogs I visited this morning actually were just no widget,
but still great blogs. some of them like Junk Drawer were still listed - even without a widget. I let them stay because they are locked into that feed;
and I can still read them, regardless of if they are Active in Entrecard
or Have A Widget - get it now ?

the blogs who have no widget, may have left entrecard,
but their feeds are still available to me on my friends feed.
that makes it oh so great.

so I did the housekeeping judiciously - removing dead blogs,
and others that I know I have no real interest in. somehow I
felt bad removing some which still drop on me; even though I rarely drop back.

that's the beauty of this housekeeping. you make the choices based on what you want.

Keep that friends feed clean. use it to drop from, instead of that volitile clickfarm called the Inbox.

we're stepping back into our respectable position of avoiding the Inbox Totally.

we're going to keep our friends feed as our primary point of drop origin;
knowing that we're keeping it clean and useful. that's what we need entrecard
to do for us. keep it clean and useful.

this is our PSA for the Week of August 5-12th, 2009.

Please feel free to post comments, and to discuss the methods I've outlined
to help keep dropping interesting; and be a smart carder.
this post was inspired by a question asked by My Friend Cher on AskCherlock.

Hope You All Put This To Good Use and Start Enjoying Being a Smart(entre)Carder Again,

Cheers,

Entrecard Has Massed OUT - Smilies Requested

Well Well Wellllll. Entrecard now has a staff - as we say in Jamaica "Dem Mass Out"


When we got the blog tonite, we noticed an immediate improvement. just the fact that we know what may or may-not be happening behind the scenes, makes us happier. There was a Professional air to blog, and the announcement of a New Director of Business Development. That means stuff is getting done.
She indicates that there is a plan being developed. Can You Imagine, Entrecard working with the rules in place, instead of changed to meet mood or needs of the previous owners.

A Couple of the most important changes were announced tonight. I belive they will have an immediate impact on the entrecard economy, and the morale or it's many members. I'm looking forward to seeing the categories finally cleaned up of dead blogs; and a real count put in place. This would allow for proper credit of popularity. that would be like a cherry ontop of the cake.

maybe if they finally get around to it, they'll also look at a system to allow user ratings and utilize that data to better assess the quality of a blog, instead of the ridiculous points system that is presently in place.  trust me, no blog should be in top place if they don't update at least every 7 days. how could they be current if they didn't. Blogs that get lots of comments should also be recognized for their popularity. this would I believe help to cut the problem we all see in bounce rate. You would read to be able to rate and then get the points;
extra points for leaving a rating and a comment. that's what blogs rely on. Comments and Return Visits.

Mostly the interaction with visitors is what we want, and what makes a blog's true popularity measurable. there must be some way to recognize the blogs that set trends as well, and that serve special populations. We do think that their first initiatives are spectacular; as they read with clarity; what Graham ignored vehemently.

The elimination of paid ads and the cashout programs are totally correct for a new startup. this is basically a new start up, because the owners are taking a barely functioning social network / virtual advertising company - and attempting to revive it;

to the delight of the users

We Wish Cindy Ung - Director of Business Development; and the new owners nothing but good will and fairness in their changeover process. it takes alot of grit to build a company from the ground. Graham had a vision, and maybe Andrew can make it a reality. We Sure Hope So.

So Did you hear about the changes to Entrecard, and how do you feel about them ?

HEY LEAVE US A SMILE And Tell Us Please, as we're lonely without your comments :.(

here's the note we received tonite,

Goodbye, Paid Ads

Posted: 22 Jul 2009 08:18 AM PDT

Dear Entrecard Members,

My name is Cindy and I am the new Director of Business Development for Entrecard. I will be representing the Entrecard team in future posts and will be relaying information about new Entrecard changes and updates to users. I am excited to be working for Entrecard and look forward to reading your opinions and comments about Entrecard services.

We are making great progress with the transition and have come up with several ways to refine needed Entrecard services. I would like to inform you about two important changes.

Effective immediately, we will no longer accept applications for “paid ads” on your widget space. Based on user comments and blog posts, users have not been happy with the “paid ads” that was implemented a few months ago. Although a good portion of the revenue (75%) is given back to the users through the “credit cashout program,” we have found that most users would prefer not to have “paid ads” on their widgets at all. As a result, we have decided to eliminate “paid ads” on your widget. We are no longer accepting new “paid ads” and any ads currently in the system will continue to run until they are completed.

Second, we have received many user requests to redeem credits for cash through the “credit cashout program.” Some users have been paid while many users have not. Since we are ending the “paid ads” program, we are also eliminating the “credit cashout program.” As promised, we will continue to pay as many users as we can with the remaining funds from the “paid ads” system. Within the next 3 days, we will distribute the remaining funds from the “paid ads” to users on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once these funds run out, we will reissue credits back to those users who applied for the cashout program but did not receive money. An email notification will be sent out to our users.

We understand that eliminating the “credit cashout program” may upset some users. However, Entrecard is actively developing ways for Entrecard users to use, sell and trade their credits. This is on the top of our priority list.

Once again, we feel that ending the “paid ads” and “cashout” program will benefit Entrecard and its users in the long run. We understand what your concerns are and we intend to address them. Thank you for being a valued member. Stay tuned for updates.

Cindy Ung
Director of Business Development
Entrecard

Can Each One Reach One - We Think So

“Guilt has never been part of it,” he said. “It’s excitement instead, presenting people with an opportunity — ‘you have an amazing chance to build a well!’ ”

We Think this guy is one of the smartest guys in the world. Scott Harrison took his place in history and our hearts when he gave his heart to Clean Water. We've written many pieces on water and fundamental rights of humans to clean water; but this guy gave it his all, by dashing his millionaires life to become a photog for a charity who focuses on Children, and of course Water.

All of us could do more to help, and we can all certainly help by spreading the word.

We're suggesting our blogging buddies make themselves a part of the effort. Do One Day a Week of Public Service Blogging and Feel the Rewards Instantly. Each One Reach One; and Each One Can Teach One.

Use Your Power Bloggers - Lets Save The Children,

Clean, Sexy Water

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

People always ask: What can I do to make a difference?

So many people in poor countries desperately need assistance. So many people in rich countries would like to help but fear their donations would line the pocket of a corrupt official or be lost in an aid bureaucracy. The result is a short circuit, leaving both sides unfulfilled.

That’s where Scott Harrison comes in.

Five years ago, Mr. Harrison was a nightclub promoter in Manhattan who spent his nights surrounded by friends in a blur of alcohol, cocaine and marijuana. He lived in a luxurious apartment and drove a BMW — but then on a vacation in South America he underwent a spiritual crisis.

“I realized I was the most selfish, sycophantic and miserable human being,” he recalled. “I was the worst person I knew.”

Mr. Harrison, now 33, found an aid organization that would accept him as a volunteer photographer — if he paid $500 a month to cover expenses. And so he did. The organization was Mercy Ships, a Christian aid group that performs surgeries in poor countries with volunteer doctors.

“The first person I photographed was a 14-year-old boy named Alfred, choking on a four-pound benign tumor in his mouth, filling up his whole mouth,” Mr. Harrison recalled. “He was suffocating on his own face. I just went into the corner and sobbed.”

A few weeks later, Mr. Harrison took Alfred — with the tumor now removed — back to his village in the West African country of Benin. “I saw everybody celebrating, because a few doctors had given up their vacation time,” he said.

Mercy Ships transformed Mr. Harrison as much as it did Alfred. Mr. Harrison returned to New York two years later with a plan: he would form a charity to provide clean water to save lives in poor countries. But by then, he was broke and sleeping on a friend’s couch.

Armed with nothing but a natural gift for promotion, and for wheedling donations from people, Mr. Harrison started his group, called charity: water — and it has been stunningly successful. In three years, he says, his group has raised $10 million (most of that last year alone) from 50,000 individual donors, providing clean water to nearly one million people in Africa and Asia.

The organization now has 11 full-time employees, almost twice as many unpaid interns, and more than half a million followers on Twitter (the United Nations has 3,000). New York City buses were plastered with free banners promoting his message, and Saks Fifth Avenue gave up its store windows to spread Mr. Harrison’s gospel about the need for clean water in Africa. American schools are signing up to raise money to build wells for schools in poor countries.

“Scott is an important marketing machine, lifting one of the most critical issues of our time in a way that is sexy and incredibly compelling — that’s his gift,” said Jacqueline Novogratz, head of the Acumen Fund, which invests in poor countries to overcome poverty.

Mr. Harrison doesn’t actually do the tough aid work in the field. He partners with humanitarian organizations and pays them to dig wells. In effect, he’s a fund-raiser and marketer — but that’s often the most difficult piece of the aid puzzle.

So what’s his secret? Mr. Harrison’s success seems to depend on three precepts:

• First, ensure that every penny from new donors will go to projects in the field. He accomplishes this by cajoling his 500 most committed donors to cover all administrative costs.

• Second, show donors the specific impact of their contributions. Mr. Harrison grants naming rights to wells. He posts photos and G.P.S. coordinates so donors can look up their wells on Google Earth. And in September, Mr. Harrison is going to roll out a new Web site that will match even the smallest donation to a particular project that can be tracked online.

• Third, leap into new media and social networks. This spring, charity: water raised $250,000 through a “Twestival” — a series of meetings among followers on Twitter. Last year, it raised $965,000 by asking people with September birthdays to forgo presents and instead solicit cash to build wells in Ethiopia. The campaign went viral on the Web, partly because Mr. Harrison invests in clever, often sassy videos.

One popular video (Posted at the top of this blog post ) shows well-heeled Manhattanites stepping out of their luxury buildings and lining up to fill jerrycans with dirty water from a lake in Central Park. We watch a mother offer the murky water to her small children — and the upbeat message is: you can help ensure that other people don’t have do that, either.

Mr. Harrison’s underlying idea is that giving should be joyous, an infectious pleasure at the capacity to bring about change.

“Guilt has never been part of it,” he said. “It’s excitement instead, presenting people with an opportunity — ‘you have an amazing chance to build a well!’ ”