The company has also revealed a big new way to grow its audience: a button that publishers can use to ask questions on their website called “Respond.” As the name suggests, it lets visitors respond to a question posed by the publisher. The button itself resembles the Tweet, Facebook share and Digg buttons already pervasive on millions of sites across the web.

Several large publishers are already using the Respond button at launch, including The Huffington Post and IGN. Read more about this via Formspring Wants a Place Next to Twitter and Facebook Buttons.

Sue is pleased to be presenting a custom LinkedIn seminar to the Economic Developers Council of Ontario today…

LinkedIn is a fast-growing social website, connecting over 65 million business professionals in over 200 countries, with a new member joining approximately every second.  Join Sue Sutcliffe as she guides you in the first steps to getting connected on this valuable network.  By optimizing your professional profile, learning the power of groups, using LinkedIn business listings and creating a professional profile, you can build your professional network with other entrepreneurs to share valuable information and gain an advantage in developing your business.

These Team Collaboration tools are specifically designed for collective message publishing and conversation monitoring by groups. This will allow enterprises and agencies to coordinate their efforts with colleagues and clients without sacrificing control over valuable account info or compromising the timeliness of messaging.

Business and organizations can now assemble specific Teams to manage accounts, topics or projects. Plus, anyone can add their own social networking accounts without an administrator, adding even more flexibility.

Users can also save keystrokes with the highly-requested “Reply to All” option, and can spread messages auto-magically with streamlined adding of RSS feeds to any social network.

via HootSuite releases Team Collaboration Tools for Twitter, Facebook and Social Media platforms | HootSuite blog – Social Media Dashboard.

Although this speech has been circulating for years and years with credit being given to Bill Gates, a little research showed me that this is an urban myth.

Rule 1: Life is not fair — get used to it!

Rule 2: The world won’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won’t be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping — they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent’s generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.

~Anonymous

We’ve assembled 7 wonderful speakers, that will talk to you about tapping into the power of creativity fun and play into your work, knowing your customer’s buying styles and personality, developing your marketing message so that it’s targeted to your ideal buyer, effortless marketing, healthy living strategies for optimum health, getting past limiting beliefs and into the zone and finally you’ll become expert on making the most of online social marketing…

Plus you get breakfast and lunch and have a chance to network and connect to our speakers and teachers directly.

Now, I know if you’re like me…you’re wondering…why should I attend a day like this?

Well first of all…if you sign up now…you save…our regular price is $149.00 (GST) per person…but now until December 31st, it’s $109.00 (GST) per person and it’s just $199.00 if you bring a buddy…

Second of all it’s a tax savings this year…in 2009…

Third if you invest in yourself and you plan and set goals, it makes you more competitive and gives you a slight edge over your competitors.

Fourth…when you get this kind of learning it makes you better able to serve your customers…plain and simple.

So if you want to learn more about this event…log onto the website and see what we have in store for you on January 16th…the link is below…just click on it…

http://www.smallbusinessbigideas.com/CreateIgniteandInspire.pdf

Once you’re on that site…you can see who’s speaking, what the day is about, and of course you can ask me any questions about the event.

I would love to see you out on January 16th…So Jump in…2010 is looking Great!

Twitter offers the marketer the opportunity to quickly establish many of the foundational components necessary for creating an income stream. What normally would take you months to create could literally be accomplished very quickly.

1. Relationship building

2. One on one communication

3. Branding – Yourself or a Business

4. Establishing Trust

5. Recommendations by others – endorsements as ReTweets!

6. Marketing Alliances or Joint Ventures

7. Viral growth potential – Low cost “Word of Mouth” promotion

These are the Seven Foundational Components that can create your income.  Read entire article to find out How Can a Marketer Effectively use Twitter to Generate Income?.

The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father’s, but he has never collected unemployment either.

He’s a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student , pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.

He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark.

He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.

He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.

He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity.

He is self-sufficient.

He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.

He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you’re thirsty, he’ll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He’ll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.

He can save your life – or take it, because that is his job.

He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all.

He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime.

He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.

He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to ‘square-away ‘ those around him who haven’t bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home , he defends their right to be disrespectful. Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the CANADIAN Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.

He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.  And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so. As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.

Please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops in Afghanistan , sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq , Afghanistan and all foreign countries.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.
Amen.

Of all the gifts you could give a CANADIAN Airman, Soldier, Coastguardsman, Marine, or Sailor, prayer is the very best one.

~Anonymous

Feed that hunger. Lunch and learn online with writer Heather M. O’Connor from the comfort of your own office. In these one-hour webinars – or lunchinars — you can taste-test the basics of writing:
• press releases
• web copy
• 30 second introductions
• taglines/slogans

It’s easy. All you need is a phone and a computer connected to the Internet. After registration, you’ll receive a telephone number to call, and a webpage link to click on.

Heather M. O’Connor is a successful freelance writer. She served three productive years as the Promotions and Marketing Director for the Durham Home and Small Business Association (DHSBA). During that time, through the use of good promotion, snappy press releases and a targeted media list, attendance at DHSBA’s monthly networking meetings skyrocketed from an average of twenty entrepreneurs to over a hundred – the association outgrew its venue twice.

Heather has given a number of seminars on promotional and web writing. Visit her website at www.merlinwrites.com.

What’s on the menu?
Sample these four great lunch-time webinars

RELEASE ME: How to write a killer press release

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

It’s short. It’s sweet. It’s punchy. And if you do it right, it’s news. A well-written press release piques an editor’s interest enough to assign an article or news item, while still delivering all the goods for a cut-and-paste story.

Freelance writer Heather M. O’Connor takes attendees through the ingredients: a catchy headline and sub-headline, the correct format, an all-purpose boilerplate paragraph – and a news angle. She also explains how to develop a successful list of media contacts and the etiquette of communicating with them.

Tickets available at http://lunchinars.ning.com/events/release-me-how-to-write-a

SPINNING A GOOD WEB: Writing for the Internet

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

What’s the difference between writing for print and writing for the Internet? Plenty! If you want your website to capture visitors instead of sending them clicking, you’d better figure it out. After all, your competition is only a mouse-click away.

Heather M. O’Connor knows all the tricks. Sign up for her crash course in effective web-writing. You’ll discover:
• How people “read” web pages
• How to make space work for you
• Words that carry their weight
• Why less is more

Tickets available at http://lunchinars.ning.com/events/spinning-a-good-web-writing

PERFECTING YOUR 30-SECOND INFOMERCIAL

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

First impressions count. When you’re networking, you get 30 seconds to introduce yourself and ‘wow’ them with your business, product or service. Can you do it? What do you say?

A good infomercial sets you up as a confident professional, and sets you apart from your competition. Let Heather M. O’Connor show you how to write and polish your 30-second introduction. You’ll cover:
• Why you?
• Power words
• Different intros, different markets

Make your first impression a good one.

Tickets available at http://lunchinars.ning.com/events/perfecting-your-30second

SHORT, SWEET AND SASSY: Designing great taglines

Wednesday, May 06, 2009 from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Finger-lickin’ good. Snap, crackle, pop. Good to the last drop. Good taglines are memorable – even timeless.

Finding strong words — the right words — to describe your business takes creativity. Shortcut the process with Heather M. O’Connor. She’ll help you explore the recipe for a powerful tagline.

Tickets available at http://lunchinars.ning.com/events/short-sweet-sassy-designing

Since March 2nd, when I posted Don’t waste your vote!, there has been a lot of discussion in Facebook’s:

• Proposed Facebook Principles Group
• Proposed Statement of Rights & Responsibilities Group

but not nearly enough response given facebook’s 175 million regular users. What do you think of Facebook’s proposed governance?

What are The Facebook Principles?

We are building Facebook to make the world more open and transparent, which we believe will create greater understanding and connection. Facebook promotes openness and transparency by giving individuals greater power to share and connect, and certain principles guide Facebook in pursuing these goals. Achieving these principles should be constrained only by limitations of law, technology, and evolving social norms. We therefore establish these Principles as the foundation of the rights and responsibilities of those within the Facebook Service.

1. Freedom to Share and Connect – People should have the freedom to share whatever information they want, in any medium and any format, and have the right to connect online with anyone – any person, organization or service – as long as they both consent to the connection.

2. Ownership and Control of Information – People should own their information. They should have the freedom to share it with anyone they want and take it with them anywhere they want, including removing it from the Facebook Service. People should have the freedom to decide with whom they will share their information, and to set privacy controls to protect those choices. Those controls, however, are not capable of limiting how those who have received information may use it, particularly outside the Facebook Service.

3. Free Flow of Information – People should have the freedom to access all of the information made available to them by others. People should also have practical tools that make it easy, quick, and efficient to share and access this information.

4. Fundamental Equality – Every Person – whether individual, advertiser, developer, organization, or other entity – should have representation and access to distribution and information within the Facebook Service, regardless of the Person’s primary activity. There should be a single set of principles, rights, and responsibilities that should apply to all People using the Facebook Service.

5. Social Value – People should have the freedom to build trust and reputation through their identity and connections, and should not have their presence on the Facebook Service removed for reasons other than those described in Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities.

6. Open Platforms and Standards – People should have programmatic interfaces for sharing and accessing the information available to them. The specifications for these interfaces should be published and made available and accessible to everyone.

7. Fundamental Service – People should be able to use Facebook for free to establish a presence, connect with others, and share information with them. Every Person should be able to use the Facebook Service regardless of his or her level of participation or contribution.

8. Common Welfare – The rights and responsibilities of Facebook and the People that use it should be described in a Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, which should not be inconsistent with these Principles.

9. Transparent Process – Facebook should publicly make available information about its purpose, plans, policies, and operations. Facebook should have a town hall process of notice and comment and a system of voting to encourage input and discourse on amendments to these Principles or to the Rights and Responsibilities.

10. One World – The Facebook Service should transcend geographic and national boundaries and be available to everyone in the world.

Click here to read what people have said about this and click here to read what people have said about Principles 1-5 and have your say!

What is Statement of Rights and Responsibilities Proposed?

Ted Ullyot wroteon February 26, 2009 at 8:50am

This Statement of Rights and Responsibilities (“Statement”) derives from the Facebook Principles, and governs our relationship with users and others who interact with Facebook. By using or accessing Facebook, you agree to this Statement.

1. Privacy – Your privacy is very important to us. We designed our Privacy Policy to make important disclosures to you about how we collect and use the information you share. We encourage you to read the Privacy Policy, and to use the information it contains to help make informed decisions.

2. Sharing Your Content and Information – You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook, including information about you and the actions you take (“content”). In order for us to share your content and provide you with our services, you agree to the following:
2.1 You give us permission to use, store, and share content you post on Facebook or otherwise make available to us (“post”), subject to your privacy and application settings.
2.2 You may delete your content or your account at any time with the understanding that removed information may persist in backup copies for a reasonable period of time (but will not be generally available to other users), and that content shared with others may remain until they delete it.
2.3 For content that is covered by intellectual property rights (like photos and videos), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, copy, publicly perform or display, distribute, modify, translate, and create derivative works of (“use”) any content you post on or in connection with Facebook. This license ends when you delete your content or your account.
2.4 We always appreciate your feedback or other suggestions about Facebook, but you understand that we may use them without any obligation to compensate you for them (just as you have no obligation to offer them).

3. Safety – We do our best to keep Facebook safe, but we cannot guarantee it. We need your help in order to do that, which includes the following commitments:
3.1 You will not send or otherwise post unauthorized commercial communications to users (such as spam).
3.2 You will not collect users’ information, or otherwise access Facebook, using automated means (such as harvesting bots, robots, spiders, or scrapers) without our permission.
3.3 You will not upload viruses or other malicious code.
3.4 You will not solicit login information or access an account belonging to someone else.
3.5 You will not bully, intimidate, or harass any user.
3.6 You will not post content that is hateful, threatening, pornographic, or that contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence.
3.7 You will not promote alcohol-related or other mature content without appropriate age-based restrictions.
3.8 You will not use Facebook to do anything unlawful, misleading, malicious, or discriminatory.
3.9 You will not facilitate or encourage any violations of this Statement.

4. Registration and Account Security – Facebook users provide their real names and information, and we need your help to keep it that way. Here are some commitments you make to us relating to registering and maintaining the security of your account:
4.1 You will not provide any false personal information on Facebook, or create a profile for anyone other than yourself without permission.
4.2 You will not use Facebook if you are under 13.
4.3 You will not use Facebook if you are located in a country embargoed by the U.S., or are on the U.S. Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals.
4.4 You will not use Facebook if you are a registered sex offender.
4.5 You will keep your contact information accurate and up-to-date.
4.6 You will not share your password, let anyone else access your account, or do anything else that might jeopardize the security of your account.
4.7 You will not transfer your account to anyone without first getting our written permission.

5. Protecting Other People’s Rights – We respect other people’s rights, and expect you to do the same.
5.1 You will not post content or take any action on Facebook that infringes someone else’s rights or otherwise violates the law.
5.2 We can remove any content you post on Facebook if we believe that it violates this Statement.
5.3 We will provide you with tools to help you protect your intellectual property rights. To learn more, visit our How to Report Claims of Intellectual Property Infringement page.
5.4 If we removed your content for infringing someone else’s copyright, and you believe we removed it by mistake, we will provide you with an opportunity to appeal.
5.5 If you repeatedly infringe other people’s intellectual property rights, we will disable your account when appropriate.
5.6 You will not use our copyrights or trademarks (including Facebook, the Facebook and F Logos, FB, Face, Poke, Wall and 32665) without our written permission.
5.7 If you collect information from users, you will: obtain their consent, make it clear you (and not Facebook) are the one collecting their information, and post your privacy policy.
5.8 You will not post anyone’s social security, driver’s license, credit card, debit card, or bank account numbers or other similar content on Facebook.

6. Mobile
6.1 We currently provide our mobile services for free, but please be aware that your carrier’s normal rates and fees, such as text messaging fees, will still apply.
6.2 In the event you change or deactivate your mobile telephone number, you will promptly update your account information on Facebook to ensure that your messages are not sent to the person who acquires your old number.

7. Payments – If you purchase or use Facebook Credits, or make direct payments, you agree to our Payments Terms.

8. Share Links – If you want to use our Share Link button, the following additional terms apply to you:
8.1 We give you permission to use Facebook’s Share Link button so that users can post links or content from your website on Facebook.
8.2 You give us permission to use such links and content on Facebook.
8.3 You will not place a Share Link button on any page containing content that would violate this Statement if posted on Facebook.

9. Special Provisions Applicable to Developers/Operators of Applications and Websites. If you are a developer or operator of a Platform application or a website using Connect (“application”), the following additional terms apply to you:
9.1 You are responsible for your application and its content. This includes ensuring your application meets our Platform Guidelines.
9.2 When users add your application or connect it to their Facebook account, they give permission for you to receive certain data relating to them. Your access to and use of that data will be limited as follows:
9.2.1 You will only use the data you receive for your application, and will only use it in connection with Facebook.
9.2.2 You will make it clear to users how you are going to use, display, or share their data.
9.2.3 You will not use, display, or share a user’s data in a manner inconsistent with the user’s privacy settings without the user’s consent.
9.2.4 You will delete all data you received from us relating to any user who removes or disconnects from your application unless the user gives you permission to keep it.
9.2.5 You will delete all data you received from Facebook if we disable your application or ask you to do so.
9.2.6 We can require you to update any data you have received from us.
9.2.7 We can limit your access to data.
9.2.8 You will not transfer the data you receive from us without our prior consent.
9.3 You will not give us data that you independently collect from a user or a user’s content without that user’s consent.
9.4 You will make it easy for users to remove or disconnect from your application.
9.5 You will make it easy for users to contact you. We can also share your email address with users.
9.6 You will provide customer support for your application.
9.7 You will not show ads or web search boxes on user profiles.
9.8 We give you all rights necessary to use the code, APIs, or tools we provide to you, but only in connection with your application.
9.9 You will not sell, transfer, or sublicense our code, APIs, or tools to anyone.
9.10 You will not misrepresent your relationship with Facebook to others.
9.11 You may use the logos we make available to developers so long as you follow our developer branding guidelines. You may also issue a press release or other public statement so long as you follow our developer PR policy.
9.12 We can issue a press release describing our relationship with you.
9.13 You will comply with all applicable laws. In particular you will (if applicable):
9.13.1 have a policy for removing infringing content and terminating repeat infringers that complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
9.13.2 comply with the Video Privacy Protection Act (“VPPA”), and will obtain explicit, opt-in consent from users prior to sharing with Facebook user data subject to the VPPA. You acknowledge Facebook has no obligations under the VPPA.
9.14 We do not guarantee that Platform will always be free.
9.15 You give us all rights necessary to enable your application to work with Facebook, including the right to:
9.15.1 incorporate your content into streams, profiles, and user action stories;
9.15.2 link to or frame your application; and
9.15.3 place content, including ads, around your application.
9.16 We can analyze your application, content, and data for any purpose, including commercial (such as for targeting the delivery of advertisements and indexing content for search).
9.17 To ensure your application is safe for users, we can audit it.
9.18 We can create applications that offer similar features and services to, or otherwise compete with, your application.

10. About Advertisements on Facebook – Our goal is to deliver ads that are not only valuable to advertisers, but also valuable to you. In order to do that, you agree to the following:
10.1 You can use your privacy settings to limit how your name and profile picture may be associated with commercial or sponsored content. You give us permission to use your name and profile picture in connection with that content, subject to the limits you place.
10.2 We do not give your content to advertisers.
10.3 You understand that we may not always identify paid services and communications as such.

11. Special Provisions Applicable to Advertisers – You can target your specific audience by buying ads on Facebook or our publisher network. The following additional terms apply to you if you place an order through our online advertising portal (“Order”):
11.1 When you place an Order, you will tell us the type of advertising you want to buy, the amount you want to spend, and your bid. If we accept your Order, we will deliver your ads as inventory becomes available.
11.2 You will pay for your Orders in accordance with our Payments Terms. The amount you owe will be calculated based on our tracking mechanisms.
11.3 Your ads will comply with our ad guidelines.
11.4 We will determine the size, placement, and positioning of your ads.
11.5 We do not guarantee the activity that your ads will receive, such as the number of clicks you will get.
11.6 We cannot control how people interact with your ads, and are not responsible for click fraud or other improper actions that affect the cost of running ads.
11.7 You will not offer any contest or sweepstakes (“promotion”) without our prior written consent. If we consent, you take full responsibility for the promotion, and will follow our promotions guidelines and all applicable laws.
11.8 You can cancel your Order at any time through our online portal, but it may take us seven days before the ad stops running.
11.9 Our license to run your ad will end when we have completed your Order. You understand, however, that if users have interacted with your ads, your ads may remain until the users delete it.
11.10 We can use your ads and related information for marketing or promotional purposes.
11.11 You will not issue any press release or make public statements about your relationship with Facebook without written permission.
11.12 We may reject or remove any ad for any reason.
If you are placing ads on someone else’s behalf, we need to make sure you have permission to place those ads, including the following:
11.13 You warrant that you have the legal authority to bind the advertiser to this Statement.
11.14 You agree that if the advertiser you represent violates this Statement, we may hold you responsible for that violation.

12. Amendments
12.1 We can change this Statement so long as we provide you notice through Facebook (unless you opt-out of such notice) and an opportunity to comment.
12.2 For changes to sections 7, 8, 9, and 11 (sections relating to payments, application developers, website operators, and advertisers), we will give you a minimum of three days notice. For all other changes we will give you a minimum of seven days notice.
12.3 If more than 7,000 users comment on the proposed change, we will also give you the opportunity to participate in a vote in which you will be provided alternatives. The vote shall be binding on us if more than 30% of all active registered users as of the date of the notice vote.
12.4 We can make changes for legal or administrative reasons upon notice without opportunity to comment.

13. Termination – If you violate the letter or spirit of this Statement, or otherwise create possible legal exposure for us, we can stop providing all or part of Facebook to you. We will generally try to notify you, but have no obligation to do so. You may also delete your account or disable your application at any time. In all such cases, this Statement shall terminate, but the following provisions will still apply: 2.2, 2.4, 3-5, 8.2, 9.1-9.3, 9.9, 9.10, 9.13, 9.15.1, 9.18, 10.3, 11.2, 11.5, 11.6, 11.9, 11.10, 11.13, 11.14, and 13-16.

14. Disputes
14.1 You will resolve any claim, cause of action or dispute (“claim”) you have with us arising out of or relating to this Statement or Facebook in a state or federal court located in Santa Clara County. The laws of the State of California will govern this Statement, as well as any claim that might arise between you and us, without regard to conflict of law provisions. You agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of the courts located in Santa Clara County, California for the purpose of litigating all such claims.
14.2 If anyone brings a claim against us related to your actions or your content on Facebook, you will indemnify and hold us harmless from and against all damages, losses, and expenses of any kind (including reasonable legal fees and costs) related to such claim.
14.3 WE TRY TO KEEP FACEBOOK UP, BUG-FREE, AND SAFE, BUT YOU USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK. WE ARE PROVIDING FACEBOOK “AS IS” WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT FACEBOOK WILL BE SAFE OR SECURE. FACEBOOK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OR CONTENT OF THIRD PARTIES, AND YOU RELEASE US, OUR DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS FROM ANY CLAIMS AND DAMAGES, KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH ANY CLAIM YOU HAVE AGAINST ANY SUCH THIRD PARTIES. IF YOU ARE A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT, YOU WAIVE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE §1542, WHICH SAYS: “A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.” WE WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR OTHER CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS STATEMENT OR FACEBOOK, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF THIS STATEMENT OR FACEBOOK WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100) OR THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID US IN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS. APPLICABLE LAW MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN SUCH CASES, FACEBOOK’S LIABILITY WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

15. Definitions
15.1 By “Facebook” we mean the features and services we make available, including through (a) our website at www.facebook.com and any other Facebook branded or co-branded websites (including sub-domains, international versions, and mobile versions); (b) our Platform; and (c) other media, devices or networks now existing or later developed.
15.2 By “us,” “we” and “our” we mean Facebook, Inc. and/or its affiliates.
15.3 By “Platform” we mean a set of APIs and services that enable applications or services to retrieve data from Facebook and provide data to us relating to Facebook users.

16. Other
16.1 This Statement makes up the entire agreement between the parties regarding Facebook, and supersedes any prior agreements.
16.2 If any portion of this Statement is found to be unenforceable, the remaining portion will remain in full force and effect.
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Hats off to talented writer and author Heather M. O’Connor of MerlinWrites who presented “RELEASE ME: How To Write A Killer Press Release” to a capacity crowd today at Writers Circle Durham Region today.

Anyone who has has the pleasure of reading Heather’s material will attest to her talent with pen and words, and today was no different. Heather shared with us her ‘Checklist for Success’. We learned:

• What news is, and how to make it more interesting
• How to write the lead and make the editors love your press release
• How and where to distribute our press release distribution

I was surprised to hear that $500 was the standard rate for a press release as I have always had a sweet deal on them – thanks Sis! Although I enjoy contributing to the creative, in my mind the investment of having you do them is well worthwhile since I’ve far more ROI from your press releases then any advertising I’ve ever been involved in – except TV, but that was years ago. Need to get attention? Invest in a press release. Invest in href=”http://www.MerlinWrites.com”>MerlinWrites. You’ll be glad you did!

Watch www.LUNCHINARS.com for Heather’s next performance! For those who haven’t been reading, LUNCHINARS are lunch time seminars you take from the comfort of your own office. LUNCHINARS are interactive and easy and coming to your computer on March 24, 2009. Why not feed your body and your business at lunch?