It's that time again!!! Unwritten and some 1000 other blogs participated last year, and this year looks to be even bigger! Just like last year, I've opened up the blog to host 26 fabulous writers, with each day of the challenge representing the letters of the alphabet from A-Z. I've asked each writer to focus on something that is personal to them, so we can learn more about each other.
Please check out some of the other blogs in the challenge here:
A-Z BLOG CHALLENGE 2013
Y is for...Yahoo
(Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle)
by
Leona Pence
I let my mind wander through a whole list of Y topics before settling on one that does affect me and millions of others. I can only touch on the far-reaching branches that make up the world of Yahoo.
Yahoo was founded in 1994 by Jerry Yang and David Filo. It was incorporated in April 1995 and investors of Sequoia Capital funded Yahoo with an initial amount of nearly two million dollars. It’s an American multi-national internet corporation. Yahoo is a web portal and search engine which boasts of 700 million visitors to its sites per month. Its original name was David and Jerry’s Guide to the Worldwide Web, but they wanted a catchier name. Using the dictionary, they chose Yahoo for its meaning: unsophisticated, rude and uncouth. David and Jerry are now billionaires. They had a vision that paid off.
I’m sure we’ve all heard of Yahoo Mail and the Instant Messenger. The groups are also very popular, and I’ve just discovered there are many available to authors, even genre specific groups. We can read Yahoo news, financials, advertising, online mapping, sports, and do video sharing with ease.
My favorite Yahoo programs are the Yahoo Messenger with chat formats, both with typing or video and sound. The SMS (short message service) texting feature is very important to me because I’m deaf. I can text anyone’s cell phone if it is internet enabled, and their reply shows up on my Yahoo Messenger in a chat format. I thought it was just in the US, but I chatted with a friend in Turkey using SMS texting – completely free of charge. You simply click on a friends name on your messenger list and scroll to: send SMS message.
My friends know I am addicted to Yahoo Pool. I play on a league in the evenings to relax, and I’m good at it. Yahoo has hundreds of game sites, and many games, including pool, can be played directly from the Yahoo Messenger. I’d be glad to teach you messenger pool, but only if you can promise not to become addicted like I am.
I use Yahoo on a daily basis to stay in touch with friends and family. I’d definitely be lost without it.
****
Leona Pence started reading romance novels as a teen. She graduated from Nancy Drew stories to Harlequin Romance, and then to her favorite author, Barbara Cartland and her vast Regency romance collection. Happy endings were a must.
Leona began writing late in life after the death of her husband of forty-four years. They married on her 19th birthday after a three month courtship – and yes – love at first sight really did happen.
She enjoys reading, writing, online pool, and especially being a Mentor in F2K, a free online writing course.
She recently signed a contract with MuseItUp Publishing for her romance novel, Hemphill Towers. It is tentatively set for release in ebook format in late summer 2013.
I enjoyed reading your piece about Yahoo, Leona. I had no idea it was possible to play pool on Yahoo. I'd better not find out about it because I'm sure to get hooked. As it is I'm hooked at playing backgammon with my husband who now owes me £200! Good luck with your book Hemphill Towers. I've just liked your facebook page! :)
ReplyDeleteLeo, I just had to smile when you brought up online pool. I've heard of your mastery of that game and how you are the Paul Newman of your field. Thank you for sharing this post. I hardly ever use Yahoo, but might look into it now.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
~TJ
Trust me, TJ, I'm an average online pool player, win one night and lose the next. If you took to pool the way you did to writing, I wouldn't stand a chance as your opponent.
DeleteBe careful, yahoo chatting is addictive too.
Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you, Catherine, the games really do have a pull. I have never played games on Facebook for that very reason. There's just something about pool though.
ReplyDeleteMy late husband was hooked on Freecell. The grandkids started calling him Mr. Freecell.
I appreciate your 'like' on my Facebook page. It's still a work in progress like my blog.
I'm afraid if I check out online pool, I'll become addicted. Happy writing, my friend. I enjoyed your post!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Candace. Since pool is my only vice and I play late at night, I consider it my relaxation. Addictive, it is.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the post.
i liked your piece on Yahoo,you are so right it's been a gift to me. I'm hocked on one game myself thanks to Christy criminal case. i do love to play pool i just still do it the old-fashion way
ReplyDeletei'm also like you loved the Nancy Drew books as a kid never liked the romance books until Bert got me hocked on them after my knee surgery. now my favorite books are mystery-romance.
Sounds like you enjoy Yahoo as much as I do. I wish I could play pool the old-fashioned way, but I use a wheelchair and it would be kind of hard to do.
DeleteIf you like mystery-romance, watch for Hemphill Towers around August.
Thanks for stopping by.
Wow, I use Yahoo daily just like you said, but I didn't know the story behind the company. I also didn't know that SMS is free of charge--that is awesome. The original name made me laugh, and reminded me that names are important.
ReplyDeleteI laughed when you reached the part about Yahoo pool. I'm so glad you discovered it. I know how much joy you get from playing it AND from meeting new people through the game. I'd like to try it just once to see how it works. :)
Yahoo and all the authors loops certainly are a huge part of a writer's life. I tried the chat once upon a time but just could not keep up and the games---oh my. If I ever began that I would definitely have to check out of life as I know it. lol.
ReplyDeleteSo much online, so little time.
Thanks for the post, Leona. :)
Thanks for stopping by, Christine. I agree, not enough hours in the day. I turn a blind eye to all the other games or I'd definitely be in trouble.
DeleteYes, I've met a lot of people through the pool games. I've even talked a few players into joining F2K.
ReplyDeleteWe can shoot pool on Yahoo Messenger anytime you're free. Just send me an IM.