Here’s the link!

Joy Behar\’s Real Ass on the View

I watch the View on ABC, I admit it. I think Whoopie Goldberg is one of the most fascinating, creative and intelligent women on TV, in entertainment, actually. Maybe just in general. I’m beginning to become a fan of Joy Behar. Very witty woman. Can’t stand the blond dingy - uhhhh, oh right, Elisabeth Hasselbeck. She’s a whining one-trick pony with a very narrow mind.

Today, the View did one of the funniest bits I have ever seen on television. And I have watched a lot of television! The bit had to do with Hasselbeck fauning over Dubya at the Whitehouse as he left office. The punchline of this clip is very much worth the two minutes it takes to get to it. I don’t care what your politics are - this was a riot!!

The economy has tanked. What goes down will probably come up. The pundits say depression - human or economical - can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s time for all Americans, indeed, the world’s people, to act as if. See Ten Good Things About the Economy.

Acting as if is a mental health technique. Your counselor encourages you to act as if a certain set of desireable circumstances is true. Example: You and your mate are falling apart. You want the relationship to survive, but you have gotten so distant neither of you risks rejection by reaching out to hug, or kiss, or compliment or support.

So therapists have you list small actions you could perform, or used to perform, that help you reach out. Like this” “I could give a quick goodbye kiss each morning.”

Then act as if you’re in love, and do those things.

You don’t feel like giving that kiss. You might recoil from the thought. You are so far apart emotionally. But remeber, you want this relationship to survive, to heal. Quick cheek peck.

It’s the same with this economy. New York Magazine sees it in their new positive news blog. If business people, bankers, entrepreneurs and consumers act as if the end is near, we will bring it about. If we fear living our normal life - do no spending, wise or otherwise - we add to the problem. If banks refuse to loan money because they are busy buying other banks to make bottom line look stable, we can’t grow. If fearful employers lay off people before that is really needed…

Act as if the economy is ok. Make thoughtful purchases if you can afford to. Take one step toward making your business grow just a hair - even if it feels slightly risky. Don’t give up on your loan application until you find a bank that will lend to you, if you can afford it. Buy a home, if you need it and can afford the mortgage.

Act as if we will face an economic upswing, and we will, you know, soomer or later. Act as if the new U.S, government has and will take sound steps to recovery. Act as if we don’t choose to live in fear or to profit from that fear in others.

Web design - something I’ve done on and off for many years. Remember when we used Gopher? I do. Remember TalkCity? I do. Often website development technology gets ahead of me - I am not a computer programmer or web programmer. But I am a kick ass content developer and I understand how websites should work, what websites should do and why entrepreneurs, especially women entrepreneurs, spend time and money on their sites.

I am now proficient with four content development systems, including Joomla and Wordpress. I have taken training in both Joomla and Wordpress. I’ve built a couple of sites with each and I have used other systems for years. I’m going to work on WomenDayByDay and make changes so this site is easier for you to reach, easier to comment on and contains highest quality content. I’ll be looking for women to contribute articles to the site as we move ahead. At first, I’ll offer prizes for articles submitted. Later, it’ll be money.

I feel warm and powerful when I can engage in the wonderful task of empowering women.

Keep an eye here, at DigitalGrandparent.com and at OnText.com. Let me know if you’d like to be involved.

Maryan Pelland, visible at DemystifyingDigital.com and at Suite101.com , has a brand new website just launched. It’s called, of course, DigitalGrandparent and represents a three-year journey to create and enhance a personal brand. Thanks to Jerry Grossman of DemystifyingDigital for coming up with the term “Digital Grandparent.”

Take a look at the site, let me know what you think. Thanks for reading me here and there, and all the other places I blogg and write for.

My generation is the baby boomer gen. My grown children’s generation can be called Boomerangs. Many of you 20- and 30- somethings find yourselves in the predicament of having to go back home, to a parent’s house when life slaps you upside the head. Here’s a guest writer - very bright woman with her fingers on the pulse of the generation gap.

Top Ten Topics to Consider with Boomerangs

by Dotsie Bregel

The Boomerang Generation describes the generation of young adults born during the 70s and 80s. The term refers to the children of baby boomers who are finding it tough to make it on their own so they are landing back in their parents

If Valentine’s Day just sucks, don’t feel like you’re a lone. ABC news said about 15% of American women send themselves flowers for Valentine’s Day. I think that kind of woman-spirit is wonderful and I encourage all of us to do whatever we need to do to make Valentines Day and, indeed, all holidays exactly what we want them to bo to mee tour own needs. Isn’t it easier then to meet other people’s needs?

Hop over to this piece I wrote for Suite101 and see some other ways to make yourself a happy little Valentine holiday!

And then read a different point of view on Valentine survival.

I’m an entrepreneur. I see everything, or nearly everything in terms of revenue streams and I’ve got one if I can only figure out the best way to make use of it. First, read my blog post at DemystifyingDigital.com about electronic books and the demise of the newspaper and paper publishing industries.

Now, work with me here. I’m looking for the best way to adjust my business so this idea of electronic and self publishing works for me. I’m thinking a series of short books - one idea things like, how to publish your own ebook in 12 easy steps. I’m thinking an online course for aspiring writers. Stuff like that.

But I’m also thinking there are a lot of women out there who could leverage this ebook idea into a cottage industry that would augment their income or even allow them to quit their day job. Like this - you like to cook? Write a cookbook of 100 recipes your family has passed down for eons. Call it, oh I dunno, “100 Recipes My Family Has Passed…”?

Are you crafty? Ok. An ebook, or series of them, that show beginners some really cool projects, tips or techniques that will make their hobby cheaper or simpler.

If you kick ass at accounting, or Web design, or nursing, come up withan easy-to-write but invaluable short book with great illustrations and then market it online. It costs nothing to almost nothing to sell an ebook. It costs a fortune to self-publish a print book. It is next to impossible to get one publsihed by a publishing house unless you have a platform - a ready-made, built-in way for the publisher to be sure they will make money fast off your book. Like, say, you’re Madonna or Billy Crystal or someone with a name. You’ll get something less than 10% and be expected to market the book anyway.

I’m trying to motivate you, sisters. This is a goddess-given opportunity to jump on a bandwagon coming down the pike at a furious pace. Rememebr pet rocks? And the other gee-I-wish-I-had-thought-of-that ideas. Well, this is your chance. Now, get out there.

Want an editor or a writing coach? Contact me.