I found out there is so much more to Squidoo than I originally knew. It is a great community and so much fun. The people I have met here are great people and I enjoy it every day. I find it is funnest here when you get involved with the other wonderful squids. They don’t bite And many of them are quite nice.

The ideas for lenses are endless and so is the fun!   ~ Patricia ~  Jewelsofawe

Today’s Squidoo  Spotlight Interview is with 100 club lensmaster Aldric_Chang.

“Aldric Chang is a creative businessman who is active in music composing and production, internet marketing, casual games production, animation production, cartoon production and character licensing.”

Read on to learn more about Aldric_Chang!

1.   How has Squidoo.com enhanced your 3d animation Studio Mediafreaks and animation blog?

Obviously adored by Google, lenses on Squidoo enjoy a lot of organic traffic. My lenses enjoy relatively good traffic and they in turn direct
traffic to my animation studio website, Mediafreaks.com and Mediafreaks blog . On top of that, I enjoy an SEO boost for keywords I use as anchor backlinks on my lenses, for example ’3d animation studio’ for Mediafreaks.

You might also be interested to know that I am currently developing a virtual world for kids called ‘The Travels of Wiglington and Wenks‘  and Squidoo has helped a great deal. Through the analytics, I know that Squidoo has directed more than 3000 visitors to the virtual world’s pre-launch sign up since May this year. What I did was set up a bunch of informative lenses related to virtual worlds and video games. Ever since they have been attracting visitors and many of them visit my virtual world through these lenses. The sign up rates are very high because most of the visitors are highly targeted traffic. The virtual world is only launching on Christmas Eve but we have already garnered more than 10,000 signups from over 130 countries worldwide.

2.  Who, or what, brought you to Squidoo in the first place and how quickly did you realize its potential?

I read about Squidoo through an internet marketing book and I was hooked onto it since day one. It’s really an ingenious idea and an excellent platform for people who:
(1) want to share with others what they know
(2) get themselves known
(3) drive traffic to personal sites
(4) earn some pocket money through Squidooing!

3.   Which of your many lenses is your favorite and why?

It would have to be Anime Character Design . It is about creating engaging character designs and one of my very first lenses.
It made it to top 100 and Lens of the Day very early since its birth and has consistently stayed popular ever since. I’ve also received a lot of
compliments due to this particular lens. If I can squeeze in one more, it would be Aldric Chang .  Squidoo just makes it so easy and pleasurable to write about yourself and your aspirations.

4.   Batman or Superman?

Superman. Because I would love to fly, have superhuman strength and be able to save people in distress.

Since it’s a special day for a special lady I thought I’d do a special Spotlight post.

Happy Birthday Bonnie!

As you probably already know, bdkz (Bonnie) is THE RocketMoms Organizer, and the better half of our Giant Squid Organizers team but she’s also a damn good lensmaster with 330 lenses under her belt.

In honor of this special occasion I wanted to share a few of my favorite bdkz lenses.  Enjoy!

bdkz’s Best Squidoo Tips is a must read if you are interested in joining the Giant Squids.

Bonnie is also a Zazzler and again, she’s willing to share her best tips.  If you are interested in learning about Zazzle, don’t miss this lens:  Zazzle 101: How to make a profit on Zazzle

Unique Toilet Seats For Your Home is a terrific example of a great (and successful)  shopping lens.  It’s also a lot of fun to look at!

Here’s a few lenses to help you get to know Bonnie better:

Who the Heck Is bdkz?

A Peek into my Closet.  The Clothes that Define Me.

Bonnie’s Top 10 Favorite songs of All Time

My Favorite 1970′s Electronics

Collecting Marbles

Yo Gabba Gabba Fan Site

Want even more information about Bonnie?

Read this:  Who is Bonnie Diczhazy?

Be sure to stop by one of bdkz’s lenses today and wish her a Happy Birthday!

Tell her Robin sent you! 

Robin asked me four questions, all of them good. I’ll try to give a reasonable answer to each:

Q: 1.  Tell us a little about Bastiat Free University.

A: It all started when I decided to go for an MBA. I talked with several top notch universities in Southern California, and picked one particularly prestigious school as they offered an “Experienced Executive MBA,” based on my organizational position. The entrance exam was 100 multiple choice questions, questions like “a dog is related to a cat as a cat is related to:” obvious answer, mouse. It was the interview after the test that laid out my curriculum, and my desire for an MBA.

The school counselor, actually a salesman, explained that having successful executives with this school listed on their resume helped the school compete for new students — he said he was sure I understood. For a bit over a year, I would attend a once a month seminar with other executives and business owners. I would need to bring a position paper to each weekend, “But everyone has their secretary type it up, I was assured with a laugh.” The class structure involved hanging out and networking, a few sessions with instructors, and then I would graduate with honors.

I checked out a few other schools, they all had similar programs. Their goal was to garner tuition, and have their school listed on my public speaking brochures as a testament to their programs value. Others would see this, and pay for a full program — one I’m sure would frown on having others write their papers. Mentally I reviewed my classes from when I earned my Bachelor’s in business and finance, there were just a couple of classes where I learned more than I could have found in a weekend with a few good books.

Hence, Bastiat Free University –

Bastiat Free University

Find the wealth of centuries, comprised of knowledge, at your fingertips.

I found Squidoo while it was still in beta, it seemed it a nice way to give an overview of Bastiat Free University. It has worked well. Well enough that over the years I have created another 100 lenses on various subjects. Currently, my most read lens is on the supposed purpose of education, complete with a purple star.

Q:  You use some of your lenses to write novellas, do you think you might turn these into books one day

A: Currently I have two story projects on Squidoo.

The first is Complicit Simplicity – a Hackers End Game. It’s a vision of the future, where ethical hackers fight corrupt tyrannies. I’m done writing Complicit Simplicity, but as soon as I return from a sabbatical I’m going to do an extensive rewrite and edit. It needs to sit and mellow a while first. It’s hard to see your own errors when you are thrilled with just finishing.

The second was intended to be a weekly serial, Shirker John Leprechaun, esquire. It has a fun little prelude, and so far five chapters, each a way to experiment with different writing ideas. Right now I’m most excited by chapter six. A young lensmaster decided to write some Fan Fiction about John the leprechaun – it’s a great first effort. Alma Joy loves fantasy, and jolly old England – it’s great to read as she explores her goal to write children’s stories. I’ve set it in a lens for her, but haven’t been able to talk her into taking the lens as her own and re-working it. I’ll keep trying – she has a gift for stories, you can feel the excitement she felt as she wrote.

By the way, both Complicit Simplicity and Shirker John are open content, no limitations. If you want to use them, their back stories, and their cannon — do as you wish. I created a lens on the Complicity Universe if anyone wants to create artistic projects around it.

Q: Which of your many lenses is your favorite and why?

A: It would have to be We Are Ignorant, we only pretend to know. It was fun to write about the limitations of our knowledge, to poke fun at the highly intelligent and over-educated. I’ve re-worked it several times – usually when I’m feeling too confident of my own knowledge and need to take myself down a peg or two. At least I find that fun. I’ve read thousands of books and studied deeply in many areas – enough to know how ignorant I truly am. I’ve forgotten so much. Others seem to enjoy this lens also – it gets some interesting comments.

I should also mention my Renaissance Learning lens, for the opposite reason. It came out better than expected. When I look at it I’m amazed I had something to do with it’s creation.

Q: How do you see that proverbial glass?

A: I guess it depends on the angle. Long term I’m optimistic, I believe the glass will still be there tomorrow, ready with another drink. Short term, obvious flaws in our leader’s world views might create nightmares tonight. I’m looking forward to sharing a drink with all of you later.

Next pint’s on me, may we both be here to enjoy it.
Seek and find your best in life,
Allan aka BFuniv.com

100 Club Member SandySpider takes the Squidoo Spotlight today and shares a bit about her other online ventures, her first lens and why she made it, her favorite lens topics and she also explains the background of her interesting screen name.

1. Tell us a bit about your Zazzle store, Sandyspider Gifts?

Both Cafepress and Zazzle might still be a mystery to me, if it were not for Squidoo.

One of the drawbacks of having a basic shop on Cafepress is that you need several different shops (URLs) for each product design. Basic shops are “blah” looking. This is one of my many shops. Election Canine Merchandise

Then I found Zazzle! They offer several sharp looking headers to use or you can upload your own header and make it all your own for free. I have seen some very professional looking shops on Zazzle, where on Cafepress you would have to be a premium shopkeeper. Though there are plus and minuses to both shops.

Sandyspider Gifts started when we were setting a winter record. Snowfall Records for December 2008 It look like there was no end to this bad weather. Immediately a picture of an evil snowflake came to my mind. I created it, uploaded the image as the first product on Zazzle and called it Snowflake Zombie In the product description, “Winter weather can be harsh! If you are not careful…snow can kill!”

Sandyspider Gifts has expanded in a variety of product lines. Products about animals, Hawaii, Wisconsin, flowers, Halloween, chocolate, Favre, spiders, artwork of my daughter’s and her friend, and the list goes on. I would like to say that there is a little of something for everyone.

sandyspider’s Zazzle Gallery Showcase has a list of the many product lines and some of the lenses that are inspired by it.

2.. What is your favorite topic to write about and why?

At first it was about The SpiderWeb and letting everyone know that I have an ebook site. Ebook Tree Saver

A favorite topic is hard for me to define (still looking for that niche.) I just love to write and Squidoo is addictive. My dog Buddy has inspired me to write the many pet lenses, then there are the Travel Wisconsin lenses, not to mention Zazzle.

I found that recipe lenses are fun to write. My first recipe lens has a special meaning for me. It was my introduction to CSS. The first time I wrote my secret recipe down. I was able to get my family involved with making the recipe. Put it on YouTube and add it to the lens. Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup I’m still hoping that (someday) it will make LOTD and a Purple Star.

3. Which lens was first and what inspired you to write it?

In May 2008 I had became a member of the SpiderWeb Marketing System dishing out money on Adwords and countless hours on traffic exchanges promoting this free opportunity. I had read an article from someone on Squidoo before, but thought it was their own personal site. Then I went back to find that this was a social networking site and I could write my own articles. I decided that this was a good way to get the word out about the SpiderWeb Marketing.

I joined Squidoo on July 4, 2008, but it was July 15, 2008 that I wrote my first lens. The SpiderWeb Black Widow Venom At the time my convictions of The SpiderWeb Marketing System were strong. I had planned on making a fortune on this. Many people have done quiet well. But as anything, you get what you put into it. What is successful for one person isn’t always successful for another. Otherwise, we would all be doing the exact same thing.

I am a totally free member of the streams of opportunities it has to offer. The SpiderWeb has changed completely from when it was in Beta. Some of the membership sites that I have joined are no longer part of the system. I still think The SpiderWeb Marketing System has its merit; it has helped me along the way. At times there are some valuable marketing webinars that are beneficial for any entrepreneur. I would still recommend it to anyone who wants to try it.

FYI…the name sandyspider came when I signed up with the SpiderWeb and I have been using it since on other sites.

4. Hawaii or Alaska?

If my husband were to answer this, he would say Alaska. I have always wanted to go to the Big Island of Hawaii

In closing Squidoo is the country club of networks. The community is one of the best out there. Thank you to so many helpful people along the way. Squidoo is a place to be creative, go outside your comfort zone and distress your life.

Today 100Club Member CoolFoto takes the Squidoo Spotlight and tells us about her passion for photography, her favorite lens, and even talks a little about the birds and bees.

Tell us  about your Zazzle store, and your passion for photography.

My husband and I are freelance stock photographers and opened Kphotos at Zazzle, in May 2009. We had been happy selling products at Cafe Press until they changed their shopkeepers agreement this year. When we could no longer make a fair profit on our work we moved to Zazzle.

Animal, bird, and flower pictures are silhouetted out from our photographs and used to decorate clothing and household products. Some travel and animal pictures are available as posters and framed prints. We have designs for mothers, grandmothers, and Christmas, too. POD income from Zazzle supplements money received from direct photo sales to magazine and book publishers. Our publishers and the publications in which our photos appear are listed on our website Kuyper Photography .

I love making Squidoo lenses that use my photography. My SLR has its own lens My Nikon D700FX. Last Christmas I received a tiny Flip Mino camcorder. It has its own lens Customize a Flip Mino. A flat tire that occurred while on a shopping trip resulted in HowTo Fix a Flat Tire. Well, you get the picture. Every week I find something to video, upload to YouTube, and include on a lens.

My Squidoo lenses reflect the fact that I am primarily a photographer and secondarily a writer. It took three tries to become a Giant Squid. The criticism was made that there are too many pictures and not enough writing on my lenses.

Unfortunately, search engines can’t see pictures, so I try to add enough words to describe them.

Which of all your lenses is your favorite?

Myakka Park Wildlife is my favorite lens. My husband and I have been making late afternoon visits and seeing wonderful wildlife. There have been families of wild deer, pigs, and turkeys all scavenging for food. Yesterday a turtle was covering her newly laid eggs by the side of the road. A red-shouldered hawk perched for five minutes on a tree top while a group of black vultures sat in nearby trees. We will continue to visit the park and digitally record more of its creatures eating their dinners.

The light is too poor to make the high quality pictures used in the print market. And wildlife rarely poses long enough to set up a tripod. But, the
results still work well on the internet and make a good Squidoo lens.

Birds or Bees?
I have photographed many more birds than bees. One special place to photograph wild birds nesting hasn’t made it to a lens yet, but, thanks to this question, it soon will. It took four separate trips to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm to capture the complete egg to chick cycle of wild night heron, tri-colored heron, ibis, roseate spoonbill, giant egret, cattle egret, wood stork, and more.

The alligator farm has an extensive raised boardwalk winding around ponds and mangrove trees. The wild birds have chosen to use the trees as an aviary. Some species like cattle egret build nests within a foot of the walkway. Herons, ibis, and spoonbills prefer the tree tops. The steady stream of bird watchers and photographers doesn’t bother the birds at all.

Here at home in Sarasota County, Florida, we have two bird feeders outside our kitchen window. Migratory birds visit us as they escape the northern winter chill. Sandhill Cranes often walk down the street forcing cars to stop or swerve around them. Two varieties of woodpecker have nests on our street. And vultures can be seen circling high in the sky overhead at least once a day.

Today’s Squidoo Spotlight interview finds us talking to 100 Club Member MeltedRachel.

1.   Talk to us about your fascinating textiles art and specifically about melting.

I’m a full time textiles artist (well when I’m not doodling, writing or making lenses) and wanting to show off my textiles art is what brought me to Squidoo in the first place. This was my first ever lens when I only wanted to use Squidoo for pimping my art (shame on me):  Rachel’s Melted Fabrics

Basically I create layered, sewn textiles pieces and use heat to melt through the layers. It’s enjoyable to walk through fabric stores and ask “do you think this would melt?” and watch the shop assistants’ expressions.

I’ve been creating these melted fabrics since I finished my degree in costume (which you can find out more about here:  Costume Degree Year One

After unpicking a seam for the fifth time I decided that costume construction wasn’t for me. I can’t sew or draw in a straight line!

I first discovered “melting” by accident when I was experimenting with a fabric sample for one of my costume designs for this costume project: Revelation Costume Designs

I was using a medium called “puff binder” on my fabric sample – basically this is a medium that’s used for creating raised printing on fabric, but if you dollop it on it creates a popcorn effect. You need to use heat to make the binder puff up and that’s how I had my little melting mishap.

Several burnt textiles pieces and a nasty cough later I had perfected the art!

This sounds pretty nerdy but one of the most valuable reasons for making lenses for me now is evaluating my work. When you work for yourself it’s hard to take a step back and look at things from the outside but once I started making lenses I had to analyse things I’d done and why I’d arrived at certain points or design ideas. I’ve even had to evaluate the way I run my business whilst making this lens: Online Craft Business Tips I hadn’t been following my own advice, but setting it out in a lens brought to my attention the things I needed to work on to be more successful.

2.    On your lensography you mention several artists who inspire your work, which of those do you most admire and why?

With regards to my textiles work specifically I think it has to be Gustav Klimt. I’m a great fan of things that look pretty and what’s better than lots of gold sparkly paintings? I love patterns and fuss too and he’s the King of patterns and fuss. I also “borrowed” a couple of poses from his paintings which you will find in this lens, where I compare my work to his: Klimt Inspired Textiles

I’m working on a few lenses about Frida Kahlo at the moment. I think I find her very inspirational because she spent most of her life in a great deal of pain and yet still kept on painting. I’ve been very lucky *touch wood* with my health which is good because I have trouble being creative if I get a splinter! Well these are the three occasions where I sewed through my finger but I won’t go into that now!

3.   Which of your many lenses is your favorite and why?

I’ve got a soft spot for my Tower of London lens.

I think this was the first lens where I thought “OK, I’m making a lens about the Tower of London and I’m finding it excruciatingly boring. What can I do to amuse myself?”

If I was finding it boring then there was no way anyone else would find it interesting.

I decided I’d go “mad” and just write (and draw) about what I’d thought the tower was going to be like and how it disappointed me, and write an irreverent summary of some of the more interesting aspects.

I’ve always loved those drawings you get in kids’ books where there are cut away sections of buildings so I thought I’d make a doodle of what I thought the Tower should look like.

I suddenly had one of those “Aha!” moments. I could make doodles for my lenses! If I couldn’t find the perfect image then I could draw it!

4.    Prince William or Prince Harry and why?

Prince Harry definitely! He strikes me as being more fun and also I could fake as much A level Art coursework for him as he wanted.

Learn more about MeltedRachel by visiting her lensography:  The First 100 Melted Lenses

1. Tell us about your blog, “Life in a so-called Strap of Steel“

It is something personal to me where all my hopes and fears that I don’t usually had the chance to say or talk about in person it was all in there. When I started it about a year ago, it wasn’t in my intention to update it as much as I’d like to. It was just some sort of an online journal of what goes through with me at the end of the day and whatever issues I’d face in this journey due to a genetic bone disorder “Idiopathic Carpotarsal Osteolysis” I struggled for twenty-three years now. For what I am now today, I owe this gratitude to my Mom, my family and friends. About the title (of this blog), it just eventually bumps into my head one day after waking up from my solitary confinement while recovering after a series of reconstructive surgery a few years back.

2. What is your favorite topic to make lenses and why?

I actually don’t have any favorites that I entitled to I just don’t want to limit myself. I’ve always been a random person that is what I guess reflect in all of my published lenses so far. But if I had to choose one topic I enjoyed creating that would be my foodie lenses since I love eating and it is something close to my heart. I can easily take pleasure in eating good food no matter how simple it is.

I was just starting making lenses two years ago, I tend to psyche myself if I was still doing the right thing in all that jazz. Sometimes, it feels like I’m not quite sure how to start with the things I end up like I did last time. It is somewhat a hard deal for me on how to keep up with a major fall back of ideas when I badly needed it. So when all else fails, I tried to stick on my guts as they say, I often turn on to the things which is passionately I know about or at least close to my heart. And the more you are persistent and willing to learn and enjoyed what you are doing in the end it will soon reflect in your lenses. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the person who first introduced me to Squidoo, thank you GramaBarb!

3. Which of you lenses did you make first and why?

My first ever lens that I did was about my mother country, the Philippines. I really wanted it to be simple and since I live here it’s my way of showing my country to some of my overseas friends through my lenses. There I realize how I’m inclined to love everything about Asia, its people and its fascinating culture. I also love writing about entertainment, book reviews and music and movie lens since I’m a self-confessed movie freak.

And not all that, I love foodie lenses too! How many times I have to say that?! Even though I’m not a heavy eater or a chef, my foodie lenses are surprisingly a real hit. It is obviously seen in my Easy Homemade Empanada Recipe lens as my top ranked lens overall. I just love creating lenses almost about anything that comes to my mind!

4. Cats or Dogs?

I can’t choose one which is which. I’d just love all my dogs too. Oh my! I’m more of a cat person too. What about both? Oh well.

You can learn more about NAIZA by visiting her lensography:  My Untold Squidoo Story: A Lensography

1. Would you mind telling us a little about your Reiki business?

Kolnza Reiki Healing is the name I have given my Reiki business. Koln-za, one of the spellings for the Kanza tribe from which Kansas gets its name, is reference to my place of birth, and also refers to where I live now in the south of England. Our family coven name, Circle of the Southern Wind, also refers back to the Koln-za tribe.

I’ve been a Reiki Practitioner since 1992 and received my Master’s training in 1998.

I offer a mobile Reiki service. Meaning I will go to people at their home or office to provide Reiki treatments. I also do long-distance healing sessions. Most sessions last 30 – 60 minutes and leave a person feeling well-rested and relaxed.

I’m trained as both a practitioner and as a teacher and do occasionally take on students wishing to learn.

2. Your lenses cover an amazing range of topics. What is your favorite  topic to make lenses about and why?

I think more than anything this shows what diverse interests I do have. I’m a firm believer in the idea that one should write about what they find interesting. I consider myself to be more than anything a learner. I love learning new things, just for the sake of learning.

As for my favourite topic to write on, that’s a tough one. It’s like asking me which of my children I like best. If you went by categories, it would probably be food and cooking. That one has the greatest number of lenses, including both my recipe lenses and my lenses on various herbs and spices. I like all of them though.

3. Which of your lenses did you create first and why?

Looking back, the first one I wrote was “British Roast Beef Dinner”
The why is easy. We’d had a roast beef dinner that previous weekend, and it was fresh in my mind. This is still one of my most visited lenses.

4. Coffee or tea?

Definitely tea. Herbal if you’ve got it. But, if you’ve only got tea then make it weak with half a spoon of sugar and a bit of milk. Ta.

Learn more about NanLT and see more of her wonderful lenses by visiting her lensography, Writing Fool.

100 Club Spotlight interview with Sojourn.

1.  Tell us a little about your blog.

My blog, Desert Pond was actually launched just before I found Squidoo. I was looking for something to do online, grabbed a domain name and started a blog. The next week, while continuing to do research on just exactly what one does with a blog, I found Squidoo. The blog then took a back seat for several months. Now, Desert Pond is really just a place for me to write about little pieces of my life. It’s mostly a way for my mom to keep tabs on me. In fact, if I don’t write a little post in there every now and then I get little reminders from her.

2.  What is your favorite topic to write about?

My kids are my favorite topic to write about – my six year old, in particular. While all of my children are adorable and entertaining (of course!), I had my six year old a little later in life than the other two and as a result my perspective on the antics of small kids has mellowed. Sometimes I’ll work at home for my regular job and the boys understand that they are not to disturb me “unless blood is involved” (my husband is a stay at home dad so it’s not like they’re abandoned…just so know one gets concerned). The other day, there was a knock on the door and my six year old is standing there with what looks like a nose bleed. I immediately run to him only to discover he has taken red marker and colored in a bloody nose so that he can come chat with me. His creativity amazes me. How can you not laugh?

3. Which of your many lenses was first and why did you write it?

My first lens was Macro for Online Contests . Last year, a friend of mine had asked if I wouldn’t help his daughter participate in an online singing contest. He’s absolutely not a techie type of person and was concerned about his daughter being able to set up her profile, load videos, etc. So, I helped her get started and then helped promote her in the contest by raising votes, voting endlessly myself, and trying to figure out how to start some sort of viral campaign around her. While I understood computers, I did not understand social networking nor just how competitive online contests can get. This lens was sort of an overview of a few of the tools that I discovered during that time.

Just a few weeks ago, someone emailed me through this lens about helping his niece and her fiance in an online contest. They had been selected as one of five couples eligible for a radio contest for the grand prize of a free honeymoon to Bermuda. I gave him some tips and then I used every little social networking connection I have to try to get the word out. I tweeted, I posted in forums, I posted on one of my other blogs. A few days later, this couple won the contest and the uncle sent me a very nice thank you note.

4. What is your favorite Matt Damon movie?

My favorite Matt Damon movie? Easy – Ocean’s Eleven. Or Rounders….no, wait, The Bourne Identity…darn. I can’t choose just one.

Visit Sojourn’s lensography to learn more about this great lensmaster: Sojourn Lensography