50 Shades of Yellow

Journalism and reporting takes on many shades of yellow. Even when telling stories around the campfire, some can spin better yarns than others. The competition to create a darker and darker story seems endless. Many think they are ‘telling the truth’ when it is usually they are simply telling their versions or ‘side of the story’. Imagine an investigator trying to solve a crime, or an arbitrator attempting to get the ‘facts’ straight. What a puzzle!

First Rule of Investigation

I know one investigator who says the first rule of investigation is that everybody lies. Indeed it is so. The words we use and their personally attached interpretations, meanings and anchors often seriously complicate our ability to lift the fog of our misunderstandings.
Let’s examine one of my favorite misinterpretation quagmires which got my attention some time ago.
So a little background first. A long time ago there were crusaders. Crusaders sure sound like good guys, but are they? Depends on what the cause is and what you believe is the right way to handle it. Near the crusaders were reformers who were surely trying to bring knowledge to those they perceived were in need of enlightenment.

Who is the Good Guy?

Continue reading

Why Use LinkedIn? Everyone Needs to Know!

Why Use LinkedIn ?Why Use LinkedIn? Find Out Here

A question that has been asked many times, by many people. People who are rock solid in their job, people who are self employed for life, or people who are retired may ask this question Why Use LinkedIn ? Well, there is  story to tell with LinkedIn. LinkedIn is an important part of everyone’s digital footprint. Here is an interview from Charley discussing just those details. What is your digital footprint and why do I care? Lets take a look here! Additionally. there is a short series of articles about LinkedIn I have placed on my social media blog as well at Charley Carlin – Social Media For Small Business for more Tips, Tricks, and Guidance.  Why Use LinkedIn ? Watch the Video and find out!

LinkedIn and Your Digital Footprint


Filling out a LinkedIn profile can be a bit daunting, or so it seems, at first. Just put in a few minutes a day or week till it is completed. Remember you LinkedIn profile is an important chunk of your digital footprint, and people are looking you up! The better your digital profile looks, the more enticing it will be for customers and other professionals to connect with you.

Please visit my profile on LinkedIn for an example profile.

Blogger of Many Things - Charley Carlin

Charley Carlin

About The Author – Charley is an avid locator of those slightly odd and a bit different places, museums, shrines and viewports that give life a bit of extra flavor. He can be found about the web on his family site – charley.net, his home town blog – Atascadero.net, his social media guidance site – CharleyCarlin.com and at the most fun site on the internet StupidVacations.com

Assassination threats against Barack Obama

Well I was digging around the web the other day and was studying my United States history, particularly Assassination threats against Barack Obama, when I came across this information. Eye opening and interesting, I wonder why this was glanced over or omitted from news events? After asking several people if they knew of any assassination attempts on the life of Barack Obama, and all but one said no. And beyond the no answer, the had a rather shocked look, as in why didn’t anyone speak up and tell us! Continue reading

Beware – Microsoft Calling Scam

Don't Be A Victim

Scam Alert – Beware

There have been continuing reports concerning this problem, so please Beware!
Beware of the Scam Calls that come in telling you that they are from Microsoft and your computer is either infected, or about to crash. These people have crafted a story that tells you about how they are from Microsoft and your computer has come up on their screens and they are here to help you and blah blah blah. They only want to rob you! Do not help them. This is a complete and total scam. So please listen up.
Number one. Microsoft does not, will not, and has never cold called you! (read that 3 or four times please) Never Connect to a Cold Caller. Never Never Never.
Number two. There is no number to call these guys back. Every Legitimate Business has a number you can call back. No matter what their story, Never connect, Never Give any information, Just hang Up. If you must, request not to ever be called, but hang up. It is amazing to me that even after people are warned, they continue to get scammed and wonder why? Please tell them you need their number call at a more convenient time or to give to the federal trade commission or the FBI or any other law enforcement group and watch how the story continues into oblivion.
Number three. Read one and two again and never, I repeat never let a cold caller connect to your computer or your credit card. (did I say never). These guys are trained like the closers at a time share sales promotion. They will tell you anything to get you to give them control and your money.
This is a Scam – Beware I am not prone to blast messages that get sent to everyone, however it is time that this message be sent again. Please share with anyone you wish. This scam has been going on for several years and has just seemed to be on the rise again. Remember there are NO EXCEPTIONS – Microsoft or one of its partners is not calling you. They will say we are Microsoft Gold partners and are doing this as a service to you. LIE LIE LIE.
A quick story of how one friend handled this. He was in a playful mood and decided to listen to these scam artists and they talked and thought they were guiding him to a particular site. Little did they know he was just doing his normal surfing. They requested him to tell them what was on the screen. He said (a complete fabrication) it says ice cream is on sale. The virus scam artist them said “oh my! You have the dreaded Chinese Ice Cream Virus. We must connect to you immediately.” So as you might expect, after a hearty laugh, he hung up. You would be well advised to do the same.

Just Google ‘Microsoft calling scam’
If you Google Microsoft Calling Scam you can read lots of articles from Microsoft about the scam. These crooks are the like a virus, they continue mutating and taking advantage of people who are gullible to their pitch. Beware Beware Beware

Tibetan Monks Sacred Art 2015 Tour of the Central Coast

The Sacred Art of the Drepung Gomang Monastery

A group of Tibetan Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery Art Tour of 2015 is arriving in Central California for a four week stay, April 13 – May 8. They will be exhibiting Tibetan Crafts, creating large beautiful sand paintings and presenting cultural pageant performances that include: dance, song, chant and a fascinating example of the debate monks use to train their thinking. All donations at any event will go toward their monastic work with the poor, hungry and infirmed. There will be many varied appearances in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Oceano and Santa Maria

There will be sand mandalas created at the following locations:

Steynberg Gallery in San Luis Obispo April 13-17 1531 Monterey St.

Earthtones Gallery 1319 Park St. Paso Robles, April 21-24.

Oceano Train Depot 1650 Front Street, Oceano April 29 – May 3rd

 Allan Hancock College Art Gallery, Santa Maria May 4-7.

Green Tara MandalaThey begin their tour of the area with a Green Tara Mandala created at Steynberg Art Gallery,1531 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. Monday through Friday 10:00 AM till – 4:30 PM  April 13th – 17th.  The incredible closing ceremony for the Green Tara Mandala will take place at 2:00 PM on Friday the 17th.

chenresig mandala 2Following the SLO appearance, the Monks travel to north county to Earthtones Gallery 1319 Park St. Paso Robles, April 21st – 24th.  The opening ceremony will begin April 21st at 10AM.  The mandala created at Earthtones will be The Chenrezig, Buddha of Compassion, Mandala.  The amazing closing ceremony will begin at 2PM on Friday April 24th

The 5 Cities area will enjoy a five day Continue reading

Learn another language for free!

DuoLingo - Language for Free

DuoLingo – Learn a Language for Free

Every once and awhile I come across an incredible tool that I must share with everyone. Duolingo is just such a tool. To communicate with another person we need a common language. Did you ever want to learn another language? Did you ever want to sharpen up those skills that may have not been used in a while? I know I do. Well now you can, you can do it on your own schedule and more! And get this – with no cost. You already speak another language? Help tune up the translations on the web, and be a prat of making the world a better place.. The site www.duolingo.com enables one to be a part of something big. Millions of people are already using www.duolingo.com today.  Whether you want to learn French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Danish, Italian or Hungarian, Duolingo can help you! Watch this short overview video and jump with an account to help the world and you communicate better.

Our April 2014 Flowers

The Roses and the Iris hit wonderful notes this April surrounding us with the beauty of mother nature everywhere we look. We are so grateful.

I see little tomato flowers too. Can’t wait for those big vine ripened tomatoes, and we will have four different types!

Enjoy

Microsoft is not calling you!

Hello Everyone,
Beware of the Scam Calls that come in telling you that they are from microsoft and you computer is either infected, or about to crash. They have a story that tells you about how they are microsoft and your computer has come up and blah blah blah. This is a complete and total scam. So please listen up.
number one. microsoft does not will not and never has cold called you! (read that 3 or four times please)
number two. there is no number to call these guys back. Please tell them you need their number to give to the federal trade commission or the FBI or an other law enforcement group and watch how fast they hang up.
number three. Read one and two again and never, I repeat never let a cold caller connect to your pc or you credit card. (did I say never)
These guys are trained like the closers at a time share sales promotion. they will tell you anything to get you to give them control and money.

I am not prone to blast messages that get sent to everyone, however it is time that this message be sent. Please share with anyone you wish.

This scam has been going on for several years and has just seemed to be on the rise again Continue reading

Web TV Awards

While at COMDEX in Las Vegas in January, I went to the International Academy of Web TX awards. It was a gala to honor the wonderful work being done on the web. It was a hoot! Just like the Academy awards, but a bit smaller and it was dressy. I could meet many of these people who are creators, writers, actors, and cinematographers face to face. I wish you all could have been there. Too Much Fun. Well I decided to look up and view as many of the winners as I could stand. Continue reading