Friday Recap: Back in Action Edition was originally published on BruceClay.com, home of expert search engine optimization tips.
It’s good to be back on the blog and to see that ya’ll played nice with the guest bloggers while I was away! Thanks so much to Kaila, Lisa, Tracy and Annie for contributing radical guest posts and setting the blog on fire. In a good way, not in the way you’d want to avoid if your little one’s at home with the babysitter.
We’re heading into a long Memorial Day weekend, and along with fun and sun, that means a few things to announce! First off, it’s the last chance for you to submit an article to the Small Biz Discovery Contest. We’ll be posting the entries on the blog on Tuesday, and if it’s in our hands before that, you’re in the running to win a full pass to SES San Francisco and a seat in SEO training with Bruce. We’ll be opening up the voting on Wednesday, so be sure to vote for your favorites. As a bonus, if you vote you can enter the drawing for a seat in SEO training!
Also, Memorial Day is the national holiday of barbecuing, and I know everyone’s got their own time-tested methods, but this BBQ cheatsheet may just come in handy. The right tools, the right sauce, cooking time and how to treat your meat are all included in this grilling guide. [Pro tip: The never fail combination of bacon-wrapped shrimp is extra delicious with lemon pepper. —Susan]
With Memorial Day comes summer, which goes hand-in-hand with baseball. Our Gary Luke took Bruce Clay Italy’s Nicola out to a ball game while he’s been in town visiting. Gary lost no opportunity to give Nicola the full Dodgers game experience! Next time, Gary, be sure to get a pic of Susan in the same attire! [My phone does my team supporting for me. —Susan]
Over at another international office, we extend a fond farewell to Bruce Clay Australia’s Marc Elison, who blogged his last blog post on the BCA blog today. Thanks for the good times and great posts, Marc! Couldn’t have asked for a better counterpart down under! We’ll miss you!
And of course, we’ll all miss actor Gary Coleman, best known for his turn on “Diff’rent Strokes”. “Whatcha talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” made a mark in pop culture and our hearts that will no doubt live on.
It’s also been confirmed that NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander, the little craft that could, has passed on to the big space in the sky. Or rather, is staying there. A little more quietly than before.
[Susan’s pointed out that I should clarify that Marc Elison is not dead, like Coleman and Phoenix. Just so we’re clear.]
Has Britain’s Got Talent discovered the next singing sensation in Janey Cutler? Immediate comparisons to Susan Boyle come to mind. Think Janey’s got what it takes to make it all the way?
Here’s an update on the Facebook privacy crazanicy. (Craziness? Insanity? Lunacy? I couldn’t pick just one!) Facebook has simplified privacy settings in response to the outcry following changes to terms of service and settings. And Lifehacker explains how to return your Facebook privacy settings to the way they were back in the day. [Just a reminder, Memorial Day is also the official Quit Facebook Day. —Susan]
Speaking of social, Follr.com may have a cool way to create social business cards for the new media world. It’s got all the usual tidbits from a business card, along with the various online channels you participate in. I plan to put one together in time for next week’s SMX Advanced Seattle, so I’ll let you know how it works out.
Oo! Pam just came in bearing delicious brownies and a much too convenient segue! Imagine that! A 26-page brownie recipe from the Pentagon has been uncovered. They’re specially designed to be indestructible, and possibly indigestible as well.
Also in the deceptive food department is the list of the 20 worst drinks in America. Did you know one can of Rockstar has the sugar equivalent of 6 Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and that’s not the worst of it. Read on if you dare to fear some of your favorite beverages from here on out. [Warning: Will definitely make you hungry. —Susan]
Slightly more encouraging is the tenuous progress being made by BP in plugging up the ocean oil geyser. While most of the world is rightly disgusted by the affront to nature, Dilbert’s Scott Adams adds his unique perspective, comparing his respect for BP to that of serial killers. In my opinion, the best thing BP’s got going for them in the realm of public opinion is the farcical Twitter account @BPGlobalPR and the people behind it. The satirical account garnered enough attention to get a spot on the Guardian, where they share the secrets of good PR in a crisis.
Yahoo! CEO Carol Bartz tried another tack to deal with bad press. You just gotta see it.
On a more uplifting note, watch this classic video in salute of the military heroes of the U.S.
Happy Memorial Day to the USA!