Web Designer Ramblings Photo of the Day

A scene from a trail horse stable near South Mountain, Phoenix Arizona. South Mountain is a ruggedly beautiful park / preserve that is part of the Sonoran Desert. See more photos of this beautiful attraction here.

The Value of Textual Links . . .

Web design and search engine optimization go hand in hand. Perhaps one of the easiest search engine optimization techniques is often the most overlooked: Textual links. What are textual links and how can they improve your search engine ranking? An excellent article on this basic SEO technique can be found here.

The Optimistic Web Designer . . .

Is an optimistic web designer a healthier web designer? Yes! In a 30-year study of over 800 patients by the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, scientists found that optimists had better health and lived significantly longer than others. The researchers also noted that optimists coped better with stress and were less likely to develop depression.

One of the suggestions given for increasing optimism is to find joy in your work. No matter what kind of job it is, find some aspect that’s personally satisfying. Persons who enjoy their work are more productive and derive more satisfaction from it. Personally, I love what I do for a living!

Web Designer Ramblings Photo of the Day

Landscape photography sensitizes a person to the beauty and fragility of our planet. How long will it survive? There is mounting evidence of how global warming and climate change, caused by man, now threatens our existence. We face the peril of ruining our global home unless drastic and timely changes are made. Are we up to the task of doing so? Probably not. World leaders and business moguls are dominated by self-interest, showing little desire to make the changes needed to save the planet. Only God himself can force mans' hand to save the planets' ecosystems for future generations.

This photo shows a fishing lagoon in Papago Park, Phoenix Arizona reflecting the brilliant colors of a late September sunset.

Web Designer Ramblings - Photo of the Day

Well, as time passes my passion for photography grows. That may well be due to being exposed to a wealth of memorable visual delights here in the Southwestern United States. I continue to be fascinated with the rugged beauty of Arizona and New Mexico, and look forward to a continued exploration of all that this part of the country (USA) offers. As a web designer, my geographical location is simply no longer a factor in my work. In fact, I have not met a client face-to-face in over six years. Yet, I can provide world-class design to clients internationally. This is ample testimony to the freedom an Internet based skill-set can provide. I am deeply grateful for that. I am doing work I love and given the chance to live in places I love as well. I highly value that flexibility!

The photo shown above features the red rock of the Jemez Mountains in Central New Mexico. The Jemex Mountain Trail is a scenic 2 hour drive that shows off the best of this under-appreciated mountain area. It is worth a visit if you ever plan to be in either Albuquerque or Santa Fe, New Mexico!