POD Publishing - The Slush Pile

Print on demand publishing is wonderful. If we look at the positive side of POD publishing, it is a service that makes it easy for anyone to write a book and have it published. If we look at the negative side of POD Publishing, there are a large number of poorly written books being published through such services as lulu- a print on demand publisher. It is unfortunate that so many books are making it to the slush pile. Sadly many POD publishers are in the business of solely making money. It is very unfortunate that so many poorly written and crafted books are being published. These books are giving all POD publishers a bad name.

It makes me wonder, what kind of impact will POD publishing have on the overall book industry in the next five to ten years.

Writing a book is no longer a big deal. Everyone is doing it. Someone once said that everyone has a book in them. My question is this. Can they write?

On a positive note, I’ve finally been released from my Publish America contract and all rights to my book have been returned to me. Here is to hoping that I have a better experience choosing a pod publisher the next time around. One thing I plan to do is hire a professional editor. Wish me luck!

Rose DesRochers

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Tags: Writing, book, POD Publishing, books

VibraPen - Reciprocal link exchanging

Todays-Woman.net has a page rank of 6. I constantly get reciprocal link requests. Last week, I received a link exchange request from a webmaster, who claimed that I would benefit from a link exchange with an adult novelty shop. She said that our sites were related. They are? How is adult novelty and writing related? Maybe she thought that some of our female writers would benefit from the “VibraPen- personal vibrator pen.” - Rose DesRochers

Richard Simmons on Who's Line

This is one of the most hilarious things that I've seen in a long time.

It is a segment from "ABC's Who's Line is it Anyway" featuring guest star Richard Simmons.

Rose DesRochers on Blogging - Gaining More Blog Readers

Throughout various blogging communities, a frequently asked question by all new bloggers is “how to I gain more traffic to my blog?”

1. Optimize your posts for search engines. Use your keywords in the title of your post.

2. Submit your blog to Dmoz, Yahoo Directory and blog directories.

3. Claim your blog at Technorati.com.


4. Ping the search engines and directories after you have updated your blog. Be sure to bookmark pingomatic.com, so that you can ping a number of services at once.

5. Post often. Not only will your visitors return; you’ll draw the search engine robots and spiders right in.

6. Write and submit articles to various ezine directories on the net. Include your link in your author byline. Like my example below.

About the Author

Rose DesRochers is a published poet and freelance writer. Rose has been writing poetry for more than 20 years. She is also the founder of http://www.todays-woman.net/ , a supportive online writing community for men and women over 18. She is also the Assistant Administrator of http://www.invision-graphics.com/. Rose DesRochers's blog : http://rosedesrochers.blogspot.com/


7. Use FeedBurner.com to publish your RSS.

8. Read and comment on other blogs - I spend a great amount of my time involving myself in the blogging community. I pop into a number of blogs and offer feedback and take time just getting to know my fellow bloggers. It’s both fun and rewarding. In doing so, I have managed to build a small readership and I’ve made some new wonderful friends.

9. Add a link to your blog in your email signature.

10. Add other bloggers links to your site. But, don’t beg other bloggers to link to you. If someone likes your content then they’ll link to you.

Have fun with your blog and don’t forget to use a counter to track your visitor stats. http://www.sitemeter.com/


Please feel free to add your own tips. I’m sure that there are many that I’ve missed.

Rose DesRochers

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Tags:
Blogging, Blogs, technorati, tagging, Del.icio.us, Yahoo, Search, Blogger, FeedBurner, pingomatic , Articles

Rose DesRochers Thoughts - Fair Use of Copyrighted News Materials

There is a great deal of confusion surrounding posting news articles on ones website or blog in there full entirety. Some consider it to be fair use. Posting the first paragraph, first few sentences, or a quote from the article is considered to be fair use. Posting the full article without permission from the source, is actually in fact a copyright violation. If you’re posting full articles , you may be opening yourself to a copyright infringement lawsuit. The chances of being sued are most likely pretty slim, by why take that risk. Respect copyright on the web. Link to the article, but don't reprint the article in it's full entirety without written permission.

Related reading: A California Court Shoots Down a Website’s Fair Use
10 big myths about copyright explained
Judge Rules Against Free Republic Web Site on Fair Use

Rose DesRochers

MySpace - Teens at Risk

Some parents use the internet as an electronic babysitter, while other parents are clueless to the dangers lurking on the internet.

Parent needs to realize that things happen, and it could very well happen to their child.

Educate yourself about safety on the internet.

In recent weeks, stories surrounding the popular networking site, "MySpace" have been the talk of many online blogs and news outlets .

In a press release, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal called myspace "a parent’s worst nightmare."

I agree!

Quoting from an article by Susan Shultz.

In an interview with The Darien Times on Tuesday, Blumenthal said he was encouraged by the response of myspace.com executives. The executives initiated the meeting after Blumenthal issued a strongly worded press release on Feb. 2.“My office has received numerous complaints over the last month that minors can easily post and view inappropriate and sexually suggestive material on myspace.com, possibly in violation of state law,” Blumenthal’s statement said. He added that the site posts no warnings that pornography and adult content are present, and suggested that the site’s content could be criminal. Read More


In the latest news, surrounding MySpace:

Police Use 'MySpace' Site To Nab Rape And Robbery Suspects

Predators' Web expands, need for vigilance rises

Congressman Addresses Changes in MySpace for Minors' Safety

MySpace linked to Westford rape case

Connecticut Asks MySpace to Provide Blocking Software

MySpace Arrest: Woman Accused of Harboring Runaway

MySpace is a dangerous place.

Principal worries Web sites such as Myspace.com are dangerous

MySpace Shunned by Advertising Panel

Third man held in MySpace sex liaison


Authorities nationwide have expressed concern that MySpace places children at risk for abuse. Authorities say that many parents are clueless about their kids "MySpace profiles."


Furthermore, many kids know the safety rules, but they choose to ignore them, placing themselves at risk.


Parents need to ask questions and be more concerned about their children's online activity. The problem is now a days, teens are fearless. All to often teens look at warnings as "it won't happen to me."

A situation where teens think that they can gain popularity by networking with strangers has become a dangerous hobby.

Rose DesRochers


Tags: internet, news

You too Can be an Artist

Have you always dreamed of being an Artist, well now you can. Express yourself with the Art Pad, where you can create art as unique as you are. Here is my painting.


Thank you to Evergreen Links for this fun finding.

Rose DesRochers

Storynest -Site of the Day

Storynest is an impressive collection of poetic Flash and Director works and sketches. Among my favorites were Keats, Stream of Time, and The Loading of Time.

This website is worth exploring. There is a lot there, therefore I recommend that you spend some time surfing the pages.

Rose DesRochers

Pedophiles Trolling in MySpace Raise Alarm

I read a recent column by Stephen Dick , editor of The Herald Bulletin and as a parent just let me say that I'm appalled. Steven Dick comments that MySpace and such sites are good because they allow a free flow of information and conversation.

What the?

Finish reading my thoughts at Window to my World.

Please do share your thoughts.

Rose DesRochers

Poetry Community : The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

In the case of online writing communities, you have the good, the bad and the ugly. I would like to think of myself as one of the good gals, a positive asset to writers if you would.


My Hard Work Has Paid Off

It seems that some of my hard work has paid off. It has been a long road. I have worked hard and put in many long hours at todays-woman.net and I am grateful to have the support and friendship of other individuals in the writing industry.

Results from user feedback like the review left by L. Jody Kuchar makes administrating Today's Woman Writing Community all the more worthwile.

Thank you Jody and I wish you great success with your writing endeavors.

L. Jody Kuchar wrote:


As in all of life, eLife (web based work) has its good and its bad. Recently I have had the pleasure of meeting the good through the website Todays-Woman.net and Rose DesRochers. Under no obligation to assist, Ms. DesRochers assisted myself and a number of other author/poets in 'outing' some of the bad; a plagiarist with pathological tendencies. I stumbled across Todays-Woman.net by chance while researching an out of business print publisher of poetry anthologies. Over the course of most of a week, Rose DesRochers facilitated the research of locating places where the 'poem thief' was posting stolen works. She was also instrumental in providing pivotal copyright information to myself and many others who found their words with the plagiarist's own copyright attached to them. Ms. DesRochers has also given expert and constructive advice to this novice ePublisher, for which I can not express how helpful this information has been and will no doubt be in the future. I highly recommend all writers, and possibly visual artists to explore Todays-Woman.net and join the community. Collaboration in any format is a beautiful thing, and Todays-Women.net collaborates in an administrative way that is simply unavailable except to perhaps, those willing to pay for university coursework.

Rose DesRochers

Paris Hilton - Real Beauty?

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

I feel old. I don't know why. Maybe it’s because when I look in the mirror, I no longer see an attractive young woman looking back at me.

Maybe I'm being melodramatic, but its media’s image of the female body that has made me feel insecure. In today’s society plus size and full figured women are constantly classified as unattractive. Media idea of "beauty" is Paris Hilton and Carmen Electra.

The increasing pressure for women to be slim is sickening. According to marketing executives, "physically attractive" and "sexually desirable" means anything below a size five. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but still, it is a real disappointment when women start judging their own appearance by the media’s standards of beauty. I already know what you're thinking.

"Rose, looks aren't important; it's what's on the inside that counts."

Well, tell that to media whose definition of beauty is based only on physical appearance.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Rose.”

I don't believe it.

So tell me, what it means to be attractive, desirable, and sexy, and the long list of other words that are attached to media's definition of beautiful.

What is Beautiful?

I would like to hear men’s perspective on this, as well as the ladies.

Where does beauty lie? It lies within the heart.

Tell that to the world.

Now is your chance to speak out against media’s image of women. What are your thoughts?

Rose DesRochers

What's For Dinner?

My dear daughter put that plastic fork down and step away from the stove.

Tonight for dinner, my 15 ½ year old made home made spaghetti. It would have been delicious had she drained all the water off the noodles. She also overcooked the green peppers. With that said, please pass the TUMS®.

I'm so glad to see those cooking classes at school are really paying off.

Envy and Jealousy: Big Ugly Monsters

Cute picture isn't it? But, there is nothing cute about Jealousy.


Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harms we do, we do to ourselves. - Mitch Albom, "The Five People You Meet in Heaven"

I am sitting under the clouds of darkness, yet the sun is shining.

Why must society be made up of such hatred, jealousy, and dislike.

Though I hate to admit it, I’ve been jealous at one time or another. We all have!

However, I've never allowed my envy to turn to hatred.

Some individuals really do take the jealous thing to the utmost extremes.

I’ve seen first hand, how jealousy can develop into hateful malicious acts, abusive behavior, and false rumors.

It’s been an extremely eye-opening experience for me to see just how ugly jealousy can become.

People like this certainly don’t impress me.

Isn't it funny though that the ones who dislike you the most , spend every free moment of each waking day, talking about you. If they hated you so much, why is it that they create so much attention towards you.

You would think that they would avoid you at all cost. But, they can't and they won't. They actually think that they are getting to you. When the truth is that you are likely getting to them, more than they would like to admit.

If you weren't getting to them, then why can't they move on with their lives.

I guess some people feel the need for this unhealthy behavior because it makes them feel bigger. I guess when your life is that meaningless, you need something to fill the void.


It is a matter of jealousy and controlling really. Maybe they need someone to blame for their problems.

When you have what it takes to succeed in life and they don't, it creates jealousy. When they learn that they can't control you, it creates anger. When jealousy turns to hatred, it creates an individual who would like nothing better than to see you fail. This person will then stop at nothing to bring you down.

Further thoughts at Rose DesRochers- Web Columnist


Rose DesRochers

Brain Test: Find the Man in the Coffee Beans

You’ve seen this image before, no doubt. It’s been circulating around the internet for a while now.

Can you find the man?














Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, your right half of your brain is better developed than most people. If you find the man between 3 seconds and 1 minute, your right half of the brain is developed normally. If you find the man between 1 minute and 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to eat more protein. If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, the advice is to look for more of this type of exercise to make that part of the brain stronger!!! And, yes, the man is really there!!!

According to truthorfiction.com, they’ve not found the origin of the picture or any documentation that it is a reliable test for "brain development."

I checked snopes.com, but couldn't find anything about this. Maybe, I missed it. If you find anything at snopes about this , do let me know.

Nonetheless, I still found this interesting. It took me a little over three seconds to find the man.


Thank you Penny for the forward.

Rose DesRochers

In Memory of Terri Schiavo

Blogburst in Memory of Terri Schiavo

Topics: Remembering Terri

On March 31, 2005, Terri Schindler Schiavo died of marked dehydration following more than 13 days without nutrition or hydration under the order of Circuit Court Judge, George W. Greer of the Pinellas-Pasco’s Sixth Judicial Court. Terri was 41.

It was nearly one year ago that Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube was removed for the purpose of ending her life. Nearly one year ago her legal guardian obtained a court order in public view to purposefully bring about her death by withholding the most basic of necessities. Yes, nearly one year ago Terri began 13 days without food or water.

We invite you to join us for a Blogburst in remembrance of Terri Schiavo beginning March 18th (or earlier). Over the 13 days we are asking our friends to write about Terri's life and death, link to her family's foundation (Terrisfight.org) and affirm the intrinsic dignity of human life.

---

My Comments: Helplessly, the entire country watched this heart-wrenching, devastating story, which I feel received too much media coverage. Today, my heart and prayers go out to the Schindler family. It is hard to make an end-of-life decision for the ones that we love. However, I do believe that Terri is in a better place now. May she rest in peace and may God be with her parents as they greive the loss of their daughter.


Rose DesRochers

The Good Die Young - Poetry Shortens Life

"A poet is someone who is astonished by everything."-- Anonymous


It is said that poets die younger than any other artist. In 2003, a study appearing in a November issue of Death Studies found that poets died younger than novelists, playwriters and nonfiction writers. The study was performed by James C. Kaufman a PhD of California State University. Kaufman believes that poets die younger because they are more likely to suffer from mental illness, such as depression. The study showed that Non-fiction writers lived 67.9 years, novelists lived 66.0 years and playwrights 63.4 years, while poets averaged only 62.2 years.

Personally, I don’t think that poetry shortens one life’s span. I do believe that poetry reflects a deep emotion. Most poets that I have met have some sort of rooted pain that comes out in their writing. Furthermore, poets are able to empathize with others pain; therefore we are able to take that pain and turn it into poetry.

Maybe as poets, we feel too much.

I hope to live until I'm 70.

Though the study might show that poets die younger than any other type of writer, I’m certainly not going to start worrying.

Nonetheless, I found Mr. Kaufman’s research interesting.

Rose DesRochers

Free Blog Header Graphics

Enhance Your Blog With a New Header

Invision-graphics.com has just uploaded a bunch of blog headers and will be adding four or five new ones a week. The blog headers are free for personal and not commercial use. If you decide to use any of the blog headers provided by invision-graphics.com, you must link back to invision-graphics.com. If you can't find what you're looking for, please let us know.

Rose DesRochers

Blog Addiction - Missing Blogger?

I apologize for the decline in the number of posts over the last few days. I had become physically ill and spent a good part of one day kneeling before the porcelain God. Yesterday, I had to gather myself together as we celebrated the end of March break with a trip to the arena. My children had such a good time that they skipped Sunday school today, so that they could go skating again. I think that God will forgive them. After all, it doesn't matter where you pray, all that matters is that you live your life as God attended. With that said, I survived March break, I definitely feel better, and I’m back blogging.

Rose DesRochers

Poetry as Art Form

Thoughts and Opinions on Poetry from a Mad Writer

" Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting with the gift of speech."-- Simonides

Poets use a pen in the same way that artists use a brush. A poet starts with a blank canvas and unto it he/she paints a masterpiece with words. Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, readers of poetry will have a difference of opinion as to what they consider to be works of art. Personally speaking, I admire the work of all poets.

Rose DesRochers

Kudos to Moderators

Administrating a website can be a full time job. Sometimes things just slip through the cracks and it is those small things that pose the biggest problems. I’m the founder and administrator of a writing community that has 800 + members. In addition to administrating Today’s Woman, I’m co-administrator at invision-graphics.com and forum moderator at isnare.com.

Often times when you have a community as large as Today’s Woman, you need help running it. That’s where moderators come in. In the most successful of communities moderators play a very important roll. Moderators are a great asset. They enforce rules when administration isn’t around and keep the community running smooth. No one wants to join a community where chaos is taking place.

Today’s Woman’s staff is made up of three administrators and four moderators.

One of my moderators “cparker” is a respectful young man, who is a born leader. He constantly keeps conversation moving smoothly in the forums, he goes that extra mile to assist others members, and is a frequent visitor to the website.

Recently Cparker alerted me about a member that had signed up at Today’s Woman. In this user’s profile was a link to a very disturbing website. Somehow I had missed this. However, cparker spotted this and reported it to me immediately.

Communities could only exist through the help of dedicated moderators like cparker.

Moderators deserve some credit and a round of applause. If you are the member of a community, please take some time today and thank a moderator. They are volunteering their time and deserve some kudos.

I just want to thank all the staff of Today’s Woman. It is your hard work and dedication that has made our community a success.

Rose DesRochers

Self-Publishing and the Desire to be a Published Author

Trust Me, I'm a traditional publisher.


The word "publish" is defined as "put into print." Furthermore, publishing is the activity of putting information into the public arena.

The word "Author" is defined as the writer of a book or article.

What is your definition of published author?

Since when does being published only refer to books?

I'm rambling; I'll cut right to the chase. I recently read a comment on an unmentionable blog that has sent me on a researching frenzy.

Are you interested in finding out what my research revealed?

Then, read more!

Rose DesRochers

Don't Kiss Me, I'm Not Irish - Happy St. Patrick's Day

Don't Kiss Me, I'm Not Irish. But, I would just like to wish my readership a very Happy St. Patrick's Day.

"May you always walk in sunshine. May you never want for more. May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door." - Irish Blessing

Brought to you by Today's Woman Famous Quotes , which are available in RSS format. Syndicate our daily quotes on Bloglines, My Yahoo, Blogrolling and Google .

Rose DesRochers

Growing Concern Over MySpace and Cyber Predators

At “Window to my World,” I blogged about the dangers of predators and the growing concern over network sites like myspace. I invite you to check it out. Read More

Rose DesRochers

I'm a Loser Magnet

I have come to the conclusion that I’m a loser magnet. No, I'm not the loser. I just attract losers, like a magnet.


Last Sunday, I received an article submission typed in all caps. I sent the author of the article an email asking why he had submitted it that way. I then received an email from him that was both rude and vulgar. That wasn’t even the worst of it. He then sent me an email asking if I cyber. Wow the nerve of some people.


Rose DesRochers

Woman Sells Ad Rights to Pregnancy on eBay.

There certainly are some bizarre and humorous auction appearing on Ebay.



Francis, 21, auctioned off the advertising rights to her pregnancy on eBay. The winning bid of $1,000 went to a California Internet company, giving it exclusive rights to temporarily tattoo its brand-name on Francis's belly and broadcast the birth of her daughter live on the Internet. Read More

Rose DesRochers

Weird Wacky News - Protesters Assault Officials With Manure

And now for your weird and wacky news

Two masked protesters disrupted an informational meeting Saturday at City Hall and attacked two state agriculture officials with cow manure. No one was seriously injured, and the pair of assailants escaped. Read More

Well, isn't that just crappy?


Pardon my language!

Quote: Before you get hit with a bucket of shit, be sure to close your eyes.

Protecting Your Child - Say No to Children's Pictures on the Web

Let me just repost an old post of mine.



According to the "National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children," more than 20,000 images of child pornography are posted on the Internet every week.

Demand for pornographic images of babies and toddlers on the Internet is soaring. More babies and toddlers are appearing on the net and the abuse is getting worse. It is more torturous and sadistic than it was before. The typical age of children is between six and 12, but the profile is getting younger.-- Prof. Max Taylor, Combating Paedophile Information Networks in Europe


The U.S. Customs Service estimates that there are more than 100,000 Web sites offering child pornography - which is illegal worldwide. -Red Herring Magazine, 1/18/02

I don't consider myself paranoid, but I don't post my children's pictures on the internet and you shouldn't either.

We all have cute children and are proud of them. But parents, please use some common sense and consider what could happen. Keep your child safe and out of the arms of child predators.


Please take a moment to visit these websites.

Say no to children's pictures on the web

Stop child molestation- one woman's personal story

If you must show off those photos, please consider placing them in a protected area on your website.


Rose DesRochers

New Blog Directory

Two weeks ago we added a blog directory to Todays-Woman.net. By submitting your blog to Todays-Woman.net, you will have the opportunity to gain more exposure and increase your blog's traffic. All submissions will be reviewed by staff. You can submit your Blog by contacting me through our feedback form. Please feel free to add a post to your online diary, journal, or weblog and let other bloggers know about this new service.

Rose DesRochers

Accepting Criticism - Part of the Writing Process

People ask for criticism, but they only want praise. - W. Somerset Maugham - English dramatist & novelist (1874 - 1965) – More Quotes like this at Today's Woman Writing Community - Your one stop source for Famous Quotes.

I’m new to freelance writing and have found it to be a learning process, like any writing. I’ve also learned that an unprofessional poorly-written essay or article reflects badly on the writer.

"Being a writer" is about receiving rejection. Unfortunately, many writers are unable to accept criticism or rejection. Most of us take criticism or rejection very personally. Critique is a process. Through it we are able to identify both our strengths and weaknesses. If you are able to accept criticism, you’ll be able to get your writing to the quality that is required for publication.

It isn’t always easy to catch the mistakes that you’ve made in your own work. If you have someone that can review your writing and point out your mistakes, I recommend doing so.

A well written article makes all the difference in the world.

Don't take criticism personally. Look it as a way to improve your writing. Support and encouragement along with criticism has made me a better writer.

Mary Bucholtz, has written an excellent article on her personal experiences as an author and her professional roles as a journal editor and book series editor, with a special focus on common mistakes of first-time authors. I highly recommend reading this informative article. Read article

Rose DesRochers

MySpace Prank Results in Sex Crime Arrest

FONTANA, Calif. - A group of boys who posed as a 15-year-old girl for an Internet prank ended up helping police arrest a 48-year-old man who tried to meet the fictitious teenager for sex, authorities said. Read More

This is just another sad example of what can happen at sites like myspace. It is more the reason why parents need to moniter what their kids are doing online.

Rose DesRochers

Googletestad -What It's All About

The term "googletestad" appears to be popular in both searches and results. According to Wikipedia, Googletestad appears to stand for Google's Test Ad, which is used for live testing of their AdWords and AdSense pay-per-click (PPC) advertising system.

In my opinion, this is an unusual keyword. But surprisingly and strangely enough, according to the WordTracker keywords report for Tuesday, February 28, 2006 googletestad resulted in 1980 searches. When using Overture's free online Keyword Research Tool, the phrase googletestad had 19567 searches done in January. Some internet users believe that googletestad might be an automated software that helps you improve your ranking for some keywords. But according to agoogletestad.info the software does not exist. No one knows for certain how the term googletestad become so popular, but the truth is oddly enough googletestad is a very popular keyword on search engines. I guess for now Googletestad will remain just one of those bizarre and unsolved mysteries.

Rose DesRochers

Mardi Gras - The Rebirth of New Orleans

Unfortunately, there has been some debate over this years celebration of Mardi Gras. Some residents argued that this year's celebration should have been cancelled. I would have to disagree. I'm happy to hear that the city of New Orleans continued the tradition of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is a piece of New Orleans. The first Mardi Gras was celebrated in 1699. I believe that knowing New Orleans is being rebuilt is what helps keep many residents going. Mardi Gras was part of the rebirth of a city torn apart at the seams.

Beginning of a new tomorrow
Is everyone’s dream
Rebirth of a city
Torn apart at the seams
Hope shines in the dawning of New Orleans

Rose DesRochers

Ball Toucher - Touching Balls are Addictive

Are you bored? Are you looking for fun on the web? Brought to you by Dave Barry's blog. Ball Toucher - Some balls are good to touch. Others are dangerous!

Rose DesRochers

Ontario hikes university, college tuition fees

The Ontario government's announcement to hike college and university tuition by as much as 8 per cent this fall descended into a fiasco yesterday, as angry students shouted and jeered the end of the province's two-year fee freeze. Read More


This is insane. Many students are already struggling to afford a college degree. As tuition fee increase, more students will be unable to afford a post-secondary education due to finances. Ontario claims progress is being made to improve education, when the truth is that students are being denied their right to a high quality education.



Rose DesRochers

Bill Gates Doesn't Wish to Share His Fortune - Email Hoaxes and Chain letters

Yesterday, I received an email from a member of my community. The email tells users they can make money from Microsoft by forwarding the email to as many people as they can. I think that she forwarded me the email, on the off chance that it might be true. I wish!

If you receive this email or a similar message, please do not forward it to your friends and family. Don’t be fooled by this email hoax.

Companies such as Microsoft don't do business via a chain letter. Bill Gates is not sharing his fortune. The Bill Gates hoax has been circulating since November 1997.

Chain letters like this have no purpose. They are as irritating as spam and just plain nuisances. Hoaxes and chain letters are one of my biggest pet peeves.

Remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Always check out the credibility of an email at www.snopes.com before you pass it on.


Never add someone’s email address to your address book without first asking them if they wish to be added. Not everyone wants to receive these jokes, hoaxes, and chain letters.

These forwards oftentimes will have several email addresses showing in the body of the email. Please take time to delete all the addresses inserted by the previous sender before forwarding. Also, because email addresses can be harvested, please BCC send your forwards.

I have created this collection of resources that will assist you in sending a blind carbon copy of your message to several recipients.

How to BCC send in Yahoo http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/mail/send/send-01.html

How to BCC send in hotmail

Example: If you were to enter these email addresses
To: xxxxxx@todays-woman.net
CC:
BCC: xxx@hotmail.com, xx@aol.com, xxxx@yahoo.com

Each recipient will receive a copy of your email, but it will look like this.

From: "Your Name here"
To: xxxxxx@todays-woman.net
Cc:

How to BCC send in Aol http://help.channels.aol.com/article.adp?catId=1&sCId=105&sSCId=1051&articleId=217065

How to BCC send in outlook http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299804

How to BCC in Netscape http://wp.netscape.com/browsers/using/messenger/autobcc.html

How to BCC in Juno http://www.juno.com/contact/brand.html?next=http://www.juno.com/support/40/misc-bcc.html

How to BCC in MSN Explorer

To add Bcc recipients to a message in MSN Explorer:
• Click on More on the Write E-mail screen.
• Select Show Bcc
• Then use the “BCC” field like the “To” field.



Please use some common sense when sending email. Everyday consumers receive offers that sound too good to be true. With the advantages of technology, you have the resources at your finger tips. Don’t be tricked by virus myths, scams, and internet hoaxes. Do your homework.

I'll be stepping down from my soap box now.

Rose DesRochers

Commas: I Think I'm Going Insane

I'm constantly worried about where to stick the comma. I'm afraid that I'm abusing the poor thing. I'm constantly sticking her where she is not needed , and then I leave her out of places where she is needed. Commas are driving me insane.

Rose DesRochers

Moderating of Personal Messages

Pm stands for Personal Messages. If a recipient isn't online, personal messages wait in the member's PM box until the next time he/she logs in and reads and/or deletes them. Personal messages are not private messages.

Forums have become a target for trolls and unwelcomed spam advertisements. Spammers are now using private messages to spread their unsolicited messages and trolls are using forum messaging systems to harass other members. Because of this, many webmasters have had to result to installing a mod that would allow them to read and moderate private messages.

Some computer users believe that this is an invasion of their privacy. However, many computer users are also ignorant to the origins of such software. It is all too easy to rant about these things, without any thought to why mods like this are created by programmers.

Todays-Woman.net is privately owned and operated, and it clearly states in our faq section that personal messages are moderated.

The todays-woman.net community had a case recently where a member was messaging other members to persuade them to leave our community and join theirs.

We make it apart of our policy to check personal messages once a month to ensure that there is no improper activity taking place within the personal messaging system.

I believe that webmasters are within their rights to moderate such activity. It is the way that personal messaging systems are being abused that causes webmasters to moderate such activity.

As long as webmasters make you aware that your personal messages are being monitored, they are within their rights.

That is just my opinion. What’s yours?

Rose DesRochers

Toilet Paper Sparks Fight

Sometimes the biggest arguments are sparked by the smallest things.

An argument over toilet paper overflowed into a fight, sending one motel maid to the hospital and another to jail. Read More

I am amazed at the stupid things people do. That's what I call one crappy fight.

Though we may find humour in not so humorous situations, there is nothing funny about the next story.

A Central Florida man was arrested for fatally beating his roommate with a sledgehammer and a claw hammer because there was no toilet tissue in the home. Read More

Okay, we can all agree that's just sad. The world has gone mad.

Rose DesRochers

Chick Magnet - What Every Woman Wants

There are some really strange people out there. Today, everyone is writing a book. I came across an author who wrote a book entitled “Model Magnet.” I'm thinking,” this guy can’t be serious?” This guy is serious. He's claiming to know what women want.

Here's what you'll find inside the book:

• Exactly what characters women look for in men and who we will sleep with and who we won’t.
• How to get beautiful women to notice you and approach you when they rarely (if ever) did before despite your own quirks.
• How and why you have been inconsistent in the past (you will see for yourself) and how to be consistent and score a higher quality (and quantity) of women.

But Wait, there's more. I can just imagine your excitement. His about page is almost as funny as the book. He says, “I have been with women from about two dozen countries or nationalities as well as many American women in varying relationships. I am a pretty good looking guy who has strong direction and purpose. HotorNot scores range from 7.7 to 9.9.”

Voting for yourself doesn’t count. Just a little more self esteem and he’ll be ok. Mix in a lot of self-esteem with a huge ego and you know what you get? You get a self- centered, egotistical male who thinks that he is better than Casanova. Now, he has gone and written a book that will teach men how to become self-centered, egotistical jerks.

I’m reading this and I’m laughing hysterically at the wanna be Will Smith. The sad fact is that many men today will download the book. Oh look, there’s more. He even has videos.

Anyone who takes this guy seriously needs to get out more. Men, you don't need a special formula, and you don't need to read no book. Just be yourself, and you'll be fine. When the time is right, you’ll find that right person for you.

Rose DesRochers

"Give Credit" Remember the Author

I wish webmasters would display a bit of common decency. It seems to be a common behavior for them to remove our author's byline. So far, I've been able to solve this problem by writing the webmaster and requesting that they add my byline or remove my article. Today, I found my article on telonica.com, again with the byline removed. When you work on an article and make it available for reprint and they remove your byline, well that is just a lack of morals if you ask me. Webmasters, if you are using our reprint articles, please do not remove the byline. Give credit where credit is due.

Rose DesRochers

A McDonald's Wedding

Ohio Couple Tie the Knot at McDonald's


Do you take this man, and do you want fries with that? Book your Mconald's Wedding here.



The delightful seated wedding dinner consisted of happy meals complete with the toy of the week. They topped the meal off with slices of chocolate Ronald McDonald cake. The bride had a hard time finding gifts for members of the wedding party, so she gave them all McDonald's Gift Certificates. What fun!

Rose DesRochers

Step Right up Gentleman: Tailor-made condoms

Oliver Gothe is making tailor made condoms. Just let the computer scan your Mr. happy for the perfect fit. Get your tailor-made condom here.

Rose DesRochers

Tough Love - Mom Busts Son

Being a parent can be a joy, but it's also a tough job. When a teen is rebelling it is often hard to get through to them. Sometimes a tough approach is the only one that works.

This is what I call exercising tough love.

Mother Busts Her Son For Alleged Breaking And Entering

Police say a crime-fighting mom busted her own son for breaking into a neighbor's house. Read More

Rose DesRochers

Bridge Over Trouble Water

Today is one of those days. You know the kind that I'm talking about. I wish life could be full of happiness, but it' not. Today I just want to go back to bed and crawl under the covers.

There'd be days like this, Momma said.
Momma said there'd be days like this,
There'd be days like this my momma said.

I just need to remind myself of that every once in a while. Especially on days like today, when a certain offspring has made me want to run away from home.

I am in the most depressing of moods. I feel like crying. Have you ever had one of those days, where you take every thing said to you, as an insult. You're just waiting for someone to say something to you, so you'd have an excuse to go postal on them.


If I've been snarky with you this week and chances are good that if we talked, I have been. I apologize.

Losing a child is the hardest thing that any parent has to go through. When you loose a child, you attend to become over protective of your other children for fear it will happen again.

My daughter died. I can’t bear the thought of losing another child.

I love my children more than anything, but it feels like that love just isn’t getting through.

These days the gap between my oldest daughter and I feels unbridgeable. I’m reminded of the song “love can build a bridge” by Naomi & Wynonna Judd.

I feel like we’ve come to that bridge, but there is a toll that one must pay to cross it. I am willing to pay whatever it takes to get across that bridge to her.

Sometimes, I wish that I could run away. I long for the harmony that was once apart of this household. I feel worn out trying to get her to understand that the relationships that she is putting herself in are unhealthy ones.


There'd be weeks like this, Momma said.
Momma said there'd be weeks like this,
There'd be weeks like this my momma said.

If only children were born with an instruction manual. I know that there will be rougher waters ahead. I just hope that she crosses that bridge. I know that I'll be here waiting on the other side, when and if she does cross it.

Rose DesRochers

Women Sex Abusers Face Double Standards

In courtrooms nationwide this month, at least seven women — four of them teachers — have been charged or sentenced for having sex with boys, mostly teenagers. One of the women is pregnant. Read full article

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Just last week, I was discussing this very topic with an individual. He believed that women who sexually abuse, were far and few between. He is wrong.

This is a highly emotional topic. Worldnetdaily.com compiled a list of women who have been accused or convicted of having illegal sexual activity with children. I remain shocked and angered by this disturbing imformation. Yet there are a greater number more cases then this, that don’t even see the light of day. There should be a cause for concern here. It would appear that there are some double standards being played by the judicial system.

The sentences that women receive for sexual crimes, are no where in line with those that a male would receive.

Rose DesRochers

English Wikipedia reaches one million articles

Congratulations to Wikipedia. Today, at 23:09 UTC, wikipedia published their one millionth article. Wikipedia the free encyclopedia has become the second-most visited reference site on the internet. According to an article by Gerard Meijssen, Wikipedia now is more popular than Microsoft's Encarta or The New York Times Company's About.com.

Tags: Wikipedia, Encyclopodia, Wiki, Wikis

Parenting Teens

I’ve read several comments regarding taking to your kids openly about sex. My husband and I have always talked very openly to our children about sex. One thing that we’ve always believed in is keeping the lines of communication open. We take an active role in their lives and the truth is that it doesn’t matter how active you are in their lives. Our children are bound to make the odd unhealthy decision. We all did as teens.

There are a great number of people that believe if parents educate their children that they are less likely to make unhealthy choices. That's a bunch of hog wash. It just isn’t true.

I do my best to foster healthy and responsible attitudes in both my children. But Mom and Dad can't always be around 24/7 to protect them.

Stop blaming the parent. Teens need to be held accountable for the decisions that they make. Don’t stereotype all parents. Teenagers often rebel against their parents. Teens care more about what their peers say then their parents. Don't assume because a teen makes an unhealthy decision that it's the result of their upbringing.

Raising teenagers is difficult and we just have to hope that we have taught them well, and that they will take everything that we’ve told them and make good healthy decisions for themselves.

Rose DesRochers

I Don't Even Know Your Last Name, but Let's Hook Up!

I’m not sure, but I think courtship is dead. The left over ashes are said to be the power of a changing time. Technology alone has it made it to easy to randomly hook up with someone. What happened to getting to know the person? I've been out of the dating scene for a very long time, but I do remember quite well what dating and the dating scene was like. It was nothing like today's culture. Call me old fashioned, call me what you will, but I believe that a young man should earn a young woman's respect. Be sure to read my latest essay entitled " I Don't Even Know Your Last Name, but Let's Hook Up!: Teen Relationships."

Rose DesRochers

Next Mood Swing: 6 Minutes

Ah, another blog entry. I know I'm a blog addict, maybe I'm even a blog whor- oh my let us keep this G- rated. Fans of Mickey Mouse may be reading. I am very moody lately and snap at the smallest things. If you don't believe me, email my husband. I'm so moody, that he's been hiding. I'm just joking! I mean, seriously though. Don't you just hate rapid mood swings. You go from laughing, to crying, to eating a bunch of hostess chocolate ho ho's. It could just be the winter blues or it could be the stress that I'm under. Maybe I just need to vent more.

My daughter has ate my last chocolate ho ho. Kyros wants to know if I purchased my comma protection today? He says that he understands comma condoms go on sale today. Oh yes, everyones a comma-median. Go ahead, laugh it up. I'm just having a nervous break down because I'm stressed, out of chocolate and commas are driving me insane.

Next mood swing: 6 minutes.

Rose DesRochers

Cartoonist Randy Glasbergen

Laughter is nature's best medicine and Cartoonist Randy Glasbergen has no trouble keeping his viewers laughing. Randy is one of America's most popular cartoonists. More than 25,000 of Randy’s cartoons and comic illustrations have been published around the world. I met up with Randy via online interview, where he shared with me some of the experiences that got him into the cartoon profession. Read more

One of those Priceless Pictures

Cat thoughts: If you’re going to stick that camera in my face, at least get my best side.

Rose DesRochers

Anonymous Coward

I received two anonymous emails through my feedback form concerning the website motherinlawstories. The first message came as an invite to submit my story there. I registered at the site. However, after careful thinking, I decided not to post, as I don’t have to tolerate my mothers-in-law. Therefore, I do not need a support group.

Now the second email that I received today upsets me. Again it came as an anonymous email. The email mentions how this website hates Christians and anyone who is pro-life. The anonymous individual suggested that I join under an anonymous name so that the members there would be unable to attack my website.

They mention how this community needed someone who would debate controversial issues and not back down.

I guess they believed that I would be that person.

Today I want to tell you three things about me.

1.I believe in God
2.I’m pro-life
3.I do not hide behind anonymousity. What’s the point of stating an opinion if you won’t stand behind your word? I tend to believe that anonymous debaters are cowards.

Whatever you believe, you cannot make people believe the way that you do. I do not wish to get into a debate regarding abortion. I've voiced my opinion on this topic again and again. I have no desire to engage in a debate with pro-choicers. My aim is to educate as many people as I can about abortion.

I cannot outlaw abortion. I cannot change the opinion of pro-choicers. But, perhaps one young girl will decide to keep her baby on account of something that I've written.

Anyway, feel free to comment on this blog post or disregard this as you see fit.

I’ve voice my opinion. One must take the steps to prevent abortion and that is through education, not forum debates.

Rose DesRochers