This article is from the January 2003 Issue of Update.
Do I have to put foreign language keywords into my meta tags?
If you want a search engine to give more prominence to particular keywords it’s always worth having them in the meta tag element. So, if you expect people to search for concepts that are contained on your pages in different languages, you should include those words. However, don’t rely on using the meta tag element to get a good relevance ranking, since not all search engines take notice of the meta tag.
I’m keen to start using Windows Messenger but to get the most out of it I need a microphone. Can you suggest a good make?
This utility is available from the Microsoft website (www.microsoft.com), and it’s also bundled with more recent versions of the operating system. It allows you to contact friends and colleagues in a number of different ways — you can just type text to them, which they will see in their Messenger box instantly, you can use a microphone to talk to them (a bit like using the telephone, only cheaper!), or if you have a webcam and a microphone you can hold a visual and spoken conversation with them.
The microphone that I use is produced by Creative (www.creative.com) and works with my Soundblaster card — you simply plug it into the appropriate socket. It cost slightly less than £15, and it does its job perfectly. You didn’t say what equipment you have, so it’s worth checking that first before you buy something, since other microphones can slot directly into a spare USB port on your machine. These creatures are very simple, and just about any make will work as well as any other — it just depends if you want headphones to go with it, and if you want them to clip on to your lapel or prefer a stand-alone version.
I’ve been happily using a normal mailto: on my website. However, I’d like to be able to specify the subject line to make it easier to filter the emails that I get.
This is pretty straightforward. You want to have a mailto: link that looks like this: <A HREF=mailto:you@youraddress.com?subject=title>Email me </A>
If you want to put content into the body of the mail you simply extend the command like this: <A HREF=mailto:you@youraddress.com?subject=title&body=body of text>Email me </A>
Site of the month
Given that it’s a quiet month (I’m writing this in late November and I guess you’re all getting ready for Christmas), and it’s dark and miserable, I thought that I’d forgo my usual site of the month and give you a few places that you can visit that should bring a smile to your face.
www.rit.edu/~drk4633/lah/set1.html
Pretty pictures from the stars
www.rathergood.com/punk_kittens/
If you look at this one in the library, turn your speakers down!)
www.extremeironing.info/index.html
The less said about this one the better!
www.albinoblacksheep.com/games/java/
radialpong.html
A new twist on an old game.
www.sirc.org/publik/pub.html
If you’re planning on taking a foreign colleague to the local watering hole, get them to read this first.
www.jnd.org/dn.mss/ToiletPaperAlgorithms.html
Words fail me on this one! I hope you enjoy them — thanks to someone called Chris605 from www.healthypages.net who brought them all to my attention.
Phil Bradley is an internet consultant, trainer, web designer and author. Visit www.philb.com for free information on internet introductions, search engine articles, web design tips and a host of other free information. Recently published: Getting and Staying Noticed on the Web. If you have any questions about the internet send an email to philb@philb.com with the subject header 'column query'.