We are surrounded by story.
Month: June 2017
Modern Gods
“Tender” is not the first word you think of when you think of either Northern Ireland or Papua New Guinea, each place green in its own way but also harsh in its own way. Yet Nick Laird’s new novel, set in both places, is above all tender. Which, in this case, does not mean sappy. The violent prologue to Modern Gods makes that clear. “A surge of bodies away from the door now, pushing across the lounge bar and much screaming . . . There was a loud dull pop-pop-pop-pop, and a little puff of redness erupted from the side of the head of an old man.” Two masked gunmen kill five people (“four Catholics, a Protestant”) in a Northern Ireland roadhouse in 1993, in the past that Laird goes on to show is never past.
Decades later, in quiet Ballyglass (“bacon factory, cheese factory, cement factory”), life putters along. The Donnelly family is getting ready for a wedding: Alison, schoolteacher and mother, is marrying again; Liz, the intellectual, is flying in from London; Judith and Kenneth, the parents, are keeping Judith’s returned cancer a secret. This could be the setup for a Maeve Binchy or Anita Shreve novel, and it is no insult to Laird to say that he moves things along as expertly as any bestselling novelist would. In a few exquisite vignettes, he introduces his characters and conveys the essence of love or pain, often with a simple gesture. “Something in her voice,” he writes of Judith fretting over flowers, “some new alarm, some warning — made him turn to her. He softened as he always did at the sight of sadness and stood up in his new, tentative way, and went to her. She was sobbing now and fell into him, and held him while he repeated — although he knew the answer — ‘What’s wrong, what’s wrong, whatever’s wrong now?’ ”
While Liz still smarts from her latest boyfriend’s infidelity, Alison, about to marry bland Stephen, persuades herself that “there was something attractive about a mind that moved in a straight line.” Never mind Stephen’s sectarian tattoos and his violent nightmares. Adding to the unease are glimpses of the long-dead shooting victims, captured in a few brief descriptions of their last day, their final minutes. In one flashback, for example, a man at the bar commiserates with another, recently widowed:
“Now it’s a shame.”
“It is.”
“You haven’t had to seek your troubles.”
“We all have our crosses to bear.”
In silence they looked down at their drinks and considered their crosses, then looked up at the band going full throttle.
The pub door bangs open and death enters.
Then it’s back to the present, to Alison’s wedding preparations and a perfectly timed revelation that spawns fresh anguish. As her sister’s honeymoon turns into a hostile standoff, Liz travels to the jungle outpost of New Ulster in Papua New Guinea to narrate a BBC documentary on a new religious cult founded by a woman called Belef. This sounds contrived — and it is a little. Only toward the end, however, does Laird belabor the themes of tribalism and religious fanaticism that connect two places, worlds apart. “Liz lay there now in the dark and thought she had spend her lifetime studying the differences, how one tribe does this, another that — and all the time there was no difference, not really, just tiny variations on a theme of great suffering, great loss.” Belef, a wonderfully odd creation, is disfigured by grief just as the widower who confronts his wife’s killer in Ballyglass is undone. Yet the suffering prophet remains weirdly clear-sighted. In her view, the lure of American evangelicalism, for example, is no mystery: “Before the mission came, there were many families here,” Belef explains of her village. “They grew scared of the darkness and moved to Slinga. They were all afraid of Hell, this new place they heard of. And all the villagers who went got shoes given ’em. All the others were getting on and they were not.”
In a domestic drama — and Modern Gods is at heart just that — shuttling back and forth between Ballyglass and Papua New Guinea is a risky maneuver. But Laird is an agile writer who effortlessly switches location and point of view without sacrificing the empathy we feel for each character. Even on alien terrain where “in the all-day permanent gloaming, beasts crawled on their stomachs, crept on all fours, stalked and pounced, rutted and died and rotted,” the mood remains intimate and often lyrical. But Laird is at his best on his home turf. A poet as well as a novelist, he has a well-tuned ear for the speech of his native place and a keen eye for Northern Ireland’s shifting light and brooding sky. Here’s Kenneth, for example, surveying a morning: “The sky hanging over the black hills was heavy with rain about to get falling. Sidney, his older brother, would be heading up to the cattle in an hour or so.” And here is Judith, awakened by terror, contemplating her attenuated life: “She’d wanted a nice home with nice things. On the farm there was never enough of anything. Except for work. There was enough of that . . . She wanted to sift her life through her fingers, to weigh the thing and not to find it wanting. To find that everything was worth it in the end.” Laird wisely leaves that question open.
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Romania: On the Border of the Real
The image of an interior shattered by outside forces could be the emblem for all Cristian Mungiu’s films. He loves to present stories in which someone’s integrity is assailed by external influences, and Graduation offers one of his most melancholy contraptions for testing his characters’ limitations.
The Hidden Advantages Of Using Nofollow Links For Your SEO Strategy
What is the ultimate goal of your marketing strategy?
For most companies, it is to increase their brand presence. In digital marketing, it is all about getting in the first few ranks of Google search results. You should push your brand towards popularity to increase your ROI.
According to the leading SEO companies, it is all about getting the right kind of links. Getting outbound links and inbound links is the perfect way to encourage new customers. This improves search result ranks as well.
The ideal number of inbound links and outbound links is yet to be found. However, 1:1 seems to be the golden ratio for blogs right now.
Before we get into the details, let’s first talk about the kinds of links that matter.
Dofollow links are the most common type of links that SEOs use to usher in search engine crawlers for site indexing. We have always perceived Nofollow links as the less useful ones. However, a recent report from Kick Media SEO is about to change that.
What are Dofollow links?
If you are aware of SEO terms and practices, we are sure you are already on the edge of your seat waiting to correct us. Technically, there are NO dofollow links. All natural links without the nofollow tag are Dofollow or followed links. These are the literal opposite of the Nofollow links.
It is a link that search engine crawlers can follow to index the content. Dofollow links are the default. Unless you add a Nofollow link, all pages have a basic Dofollow link. This signal is organic and trusted by bots.
The more Dofollow links a website has, the more Google regards the site as authoritative. They are the positive signals no bots can disregard.
What are Nofollow links?
Nofollow links make sure that Google does not pass any “link juice” to your target page. Google does not transfer any PageRank across these sites either. SEOs have always overlooked them since they considered these links ineffective.
Apparently, these links do not have any direct impact on site SEO. Therefore, all efforts on a Nofollow link are useless.
However, Google states they do not follow these links “in general.” This leaves much room for assumptions. This is where a few SEO companies jumped in for new research.
What are the benefits of Nofollow links?
It is quite apparent that using Nofollow links will not boost your page rank. However, Google can use these links to increase your user engagement, particularly organic user engagement. They can boost your visibility and credibility. They can act as an introduction to your company, brands and products.
For Rob Toledo from Moz, using a nofollow link got him hundreds of visitors. It increased CTR and user engagement. Much like his experience, an upward trend is now an expected outcome of using nofollow links.
It is all about balancing the links. The ratio does not have to be 1:1. It is more about your brand’s requirements. Using 40 nofollow links against 60 dofollow links is a standard practice. This creates a more natural link profile that keeps the link ratios almost even.
How can you make the most of your nofollow links?
Nofollow links can bring you more organic engagement. Not all these links are equal and you cannot expect all of them to put in the same kind of traffic. Here are a few ways to optimize your nofollow links:
- Make it interesting. Make sure the link leads to engaging content. People should feel intrigued by the product or service that is at the end of that link.
- Develop compelling content. This is basic for any successful digital marketing strategy. If you want the best out of your SEO strategy, you need to work your content team. Get them to write compelling content that will entice human readers and will engage bots for easy indexing.
- Blend your links. You cannot work with nofollow or dofollow links only. You also need to factor in outbound links that will lead users to authoritative sites. Conduct A/B tests to perfect the ratio according to the outcomes.
- Include freebies. People love free gifts. The only challenge of working with Nofollow links is to lure people to follow the links. For example, if someone is advertising your products with nofollow links, make sure they link to some contest. This will encourage participation and boost your online presence.
Although Nofollow links have been around since 2005, we have started exploring them only recently. They are no longer response to spam comments and negative reviews. They are now instruments of organic SEO.
See Also: The Future of SEO – Predictions and Premonitions That Will Dominate 2017
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MAPPED: The richest person in every state
Rowland + Broughton Designed a Home in a Historic Neighborhood in Colorado, Aspen
The home that we see in these images is not the original home that was in this location. initially, a historic 1890s home sat here, part of a large property, but it was picked up and settled elsewhere, leaving the lot open for a new construction to take its place in Aspen’s West End neighborhood, a historic neighborhood in Colorado, USA. But it couldn’t be just any modern home –..
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The Owyhee River flows through the 1,000-foot deep “Grand…
The Owyhee River flows through the 1,000-foot deep “Grand Canyon” of Oregon. Named for a trio of Hawaiian trappers exploring the uncharted river, the word Owyhee is derived from an earlier version of “Hawaii.” Today this river is well-known by rafters for its remote beauty and technically challenging rapids. It’s also a protected Wild & Scenic River to ensure its millions of years of history and archaeological value will be preserved for future generations. Photo by Bureau of Land Management.
5 Tips On How To Land The Best Jobs For Introverts
If you become uneasy or anxious when you are around others, then landing a dream job may seem limited. The requirements many businesses have include working and being around others. For an introvert, this creates discomfort and may slow down your potential to achieve success.
Psychology today states that almost 50% of the population is considered an introvert. There are diverse jobs that have been created to match the characteristics of this personality. With a new perspective and by looking in the right places, it’s still possible for you to land one of the best jobs for introverts and enjoy a successful career.
Here are 5 of the best tips you can use.
Highlight your search with the ability to work alone
Not every job is based on teamwork and networking with others. There are specialized career fields that demand that you work alone. What’s important is that you’re able to take responsibility for the projects, meet deadlines and deliver great results.
Show off your skills in relation to the strengths of an introvert. It will help you to move into a higher position faster. It will also provide hundreds of new possibilities for you to strengthen your characteristics and skills.
Master the environment you work in
If you want to work in a field that requires some social skills, then balance this option with your surrounding environment. You can find a position that allows you to telecommute, work from home and balance the amount of time you are required to spend with others.
For instance, find a job that requires holding meetings only once a week or month. Often, these are listed in the job requirements, so you can examine opportunities that align with your levels of interaction before you actually apply.
If you don’t want any interactions, then search for independent styles of work.
Change your search to jobs for introverts
A secretary, customer service representative or networking specialist may not be the career field you want to consider. If you have the skills to work alone, then you should find a specialty job that can match your character.
Look for a career position that can highlight your strengths as an introvert. By shifting your focus, you will open new doors to the perfect opportunity.
For instance, the responsibilities and required skills of a software developer won’t consider your social skills. Instead, it will depend on your ability to work alone and achieve demands and goals through development.
There are many jobs for introverts. Your options include data entry, caregiving and computer work.
Mentally prepare for interactions
Meetings and the interview process require interaction with others. If you are socially anxious, then mentally prepare for these specific parts of the job hunting process.
Try practicing in front of the mirror before reporting to others. You can also practice the interview process with your family so you can study how you will respond to certain questions. While there may be some discomfort, you will find that continuous practice reduces the anxiety that many introverts face.
During the interview, don’t be shy to let your potential employer know that you like to work alone and that you are responsible and accountable. These introvert qualities are what every interviewer looks for.
See Also: 8 Interview Tips For Introverts
Find a fit for your social comfort level
Many introverts are painfully shy and don’t enjoy interacting at all. Others may feel comfortable interacting with others but only to a certain extent.
You can work with psychological tests, such as Myer-Briggs, to measure your characteristics and know where your strengths are. Examining where your line of comfort is and making this clear in your job search as well as interviews will guide you to the perfect job.
It is not only about the company finding the perfect individual for the job. It is also important that you find a job that is aligned with your comfort level and ways, particularly when it comes to the level of interaction required.
Conclusion
There are many jobs for introverts that can help you maintain your comfort level while building a successful career. Start by looking at your strengths and skills and search for a career that isn’t fully dependent on socialization. With that, you’ll be able to find the perfect job.
See Also: 8 Hustle Tips for Introverts and Creative Souls
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A Private Residence in Northern Italy Designed by Bergmeisterwolf Architekten
This private residence is the work of Bergmeisterwolf Architekten, completed in 2014. It is located in Bolzano, the capital city of the province of South Tyrol in northern Italy, and covers a total area of 456 square meters. The home is surrounded by stunning rolling hills covered in green grass, and accompanied by a back garden lush with bushes and flowers. Its gabled roof is meant to echo the home’s..
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Best Business Books: The First-Time Entrepreneur’s Reading List
Many of recent history’s well-renowned entrepreneurs are well-read. Take, for example, Elon Musk and Richard Branson. They have an extensive list, ranging from science fiction and fantasy to historical and business books.
While reading is just one factor that may contribute to success, it is a habit that heavily influences the mind. So, for someone who’s starting out in the business world, you should choose which ideas inhabit and influence your plans, goals, and strategies.
Carve some time this weekend and snuggle with a good book, beginning with the following best business books.
The Lean Startup
Author: Eric Ries
First published in 2011, the book and its central topic remain relevant today. To make launching an enterprise a less risky endeavor, Eric Ries introduces the methodology of the lean startup. As this Harvard Business Review article puts it, the lean startup “favors experimentation over elaborate planning, customer feedback over intuition, and iterative design over traditional ‘big design up front’ development.”
Pick this up from the shelf if you want to learn the techniques that will help you spend less time, money and energy in building up your business idea. Though the goal of the Lean Startup is to present alternatives to traditional business practices. It can also help boost your confidence to fail fast and continue learning.
The Art of the Start
Author: Guy Kawasaki
If you are busy and you have to choose just one book to digest this year, this should be it. If you are at the stage of preparing a pitch and meeting with potential investors, the concepts that Guy Kawasaki outlined in this book will be of much help. Kawasaki, a former chief evangelist at Apple, even shared a list of top ten entrepreneur lies that you can avoid.
Complement it with the Art of the Start 2.0 or devour it as a standalone material. Some readers describe the Art of the Start as fun and comprehensive. Kawasaki’s writing style is clear, instructive and insightful. I am betting you will enjoy this book as much as I did.
REWORK
Authors: Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
“If given a choice between investing in someone who has read REWORK or has an MBA, I’m investing in REWORK every time. A must read for every entrepreneur.” That comment is from serial entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
Indeed, for a startup or small business owner, this book is gold. It’s written for people like you in the first place.
REWORK is composed of short essays. Each of them is one to two pages long and uses plain language throughout. Mainly, the essays rework certain prevailing mindsets regarding topics, like workaholism, meetings and competition. You’re in for a ride as this book challenges conventional wisdom and the status quo. Plus, instead of illustrations, it contains artworks to complement the text.
Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remember Everything
Author: Joshua Foer
“Our lives are the sum of our memories,” says Joshua Foer, a freelance journalist who studied and wrote about memory improvement. There’s a good review here of his book, Moonwalking with Einstein, which details his journey from following mental athletes to learning ancient mnemonic techniques himself.
Moonwalking with Einstein does not fall under the category of business books. But, it is an engaging read for anyone who wants to improve his ability to remember things, including entrepreneurial concepts and ideas. The techniques are easy to learn if you have the time to devote to them.
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for A Fantastic Future
Author: Ashlee Vance
The only biography on the list, Elon Musk will take you deeper into the life and mind of the man behind some of the world’s most advanced technologies: spacecraft and electric cars. Far from being a sci-fi read, it relays the beginnings of Musk’s venture into space and automotive territories. Journalist Ashlee Vance covers necessary grounds for the readers to understand the nerdy kid who was designing video game codes at 12 years old.
If anything, it can provide you with the necessary push to start, endure and keep moving forward in your entrepreneurial journey. The book will tell you that even Elon Musk, with his demi-god status in Silicon Valley, did not go this far without stumbling many times.
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Sig Nordal 