Google AdSense Referrals for New Zealand to be Dropped!

I noticed the following statement on my AdSense reports recently when checking up on earnings:

"At the end of January, we will no longer support referrals to the AdSense product in New Zealand. If you are displaying referral units directing visitors to use AdSense, you will need to update your pages."


There is a "Learn More" link on this text, but it doesn't take you anywhere, other then providing the following statement:

"We are sorry but the information that you have requested cannot be found. Please try searching or browsing the AdSense Help Centre for answers to your AdSense questions."

This is going to annoy a lot of New Zealand AdSense customers!

Update: Have a look at http://adsense.blogspot.com/2008/01/follow-up-to-our-referrals-announcement.html and you will see they have modified their decision.

It appears that Google are still yet to modify the notice in my AdSense reports!

Vodafone Coverage Information at your Fingertips!

Did you know that Vodafone have really improved their cellular coverage information? In the past, you had to look though a really bad looking map with various shadings to indicate signal strengths.

Now they have improved it so you can simply enter the street address of where you want coverage information, and they will display your "predicted coverage".

The service is so wonderful that they can even email you off a report with your coverage information. Pity my 3G coverage is rated at "Marginal" and my 3G broadband coverage rated simply as "None"

Below are some of the comments that were included in this automated report:

You can check out the online tool at:
http://www.vodafone.co.nz/help/coverage/

2G/2.5G coverage in your area
Best
This location has a very strong signal, so you will definitely experience excellent quality for all services. Your mobile data connection will be as fast as a dial-up connection.

3G coverage in your area
Marginal
Your 3G mobile may not give you consistently strong performance in this area. Voice calls will be patchy and you will probably not be able to make video calls. Vodafone live! 3G services such as music downloads and Mobile TV will not be available. Data speeds will be reduced, and may need to switch to our slower GPRS service, if it is available.

3G Broadband coverage in your area
None
Sorry, this area does not have Vodafone 3G Broadband coverage. We are always improving our coverage, though, so please check back regularly.

The Good Wife's Guide - Housekeeping Monthly (May 1955)

I received an email regarding the "The Good Wife's" Guide several times this week. I felt it is worthy of a post:

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper etc and then run a dustcloth over the tables.

Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimise all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

Be happy to see him.

Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquillity where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all nigh. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgement or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

A good wife always knows her place.

Unsolicited Email from Microsoft

I received the following email recently, completely unsolicited. I don't know who this gentleman from MSN Video is:

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: Soapbox Player
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:39:03 -0800
From: David Cronshaw
To: hayden@nztechie.com

Hi!

David over at MSN Video. Just checking in to see if you are able to embed the Soapbox Player ok in your blog.

I was only seeing the link version.

Let me know if you have any problems with the player.

Thanks!

David Cronshaw
MSN Video

Happy New Year..... 5 Days Late...

Hey so this blog is still here eh! hehe of course it is cause its Superfun :)

So anyway haven't posted for a while, hmmm i'm still here in the snow ummm yeah well i pretty much already put everything thats happening on my webpage so no point repeating it here, hmmmmmm....... heres an exclusive pic for the blog, a Silverthorne Police Car, fun eh :)