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Squid Angels may be named Spook

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Angels and Spooks

Hey Dad, how did you manage to turn on the computer by yourself? Is the type of daily comment I had to put up with from my nearest and dearest when I first started on Squidoo, but now I'm a Squid Angel. The sorry thing about all this, is that I have always prided myself on my sense of humour. I guess sometimes, genes just don't get passed on, but at least they were trying.

 

Which is the first most important point. From where I come from, trying is the most important thing. I read somewhere, "that always there will be, greater and lesser persons than oneself."

Who are you

What are you thinking of

The words in the title and subtitle here are from Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic musical, 'Jesus Christ Superstar.' However they best sum up what I am trying to do here.

I've never really got around to doing a lensography, apart from some small ones putting some of my similar lenses together. So I thought I might as well kill two birds with one stone here.

This way, for those of you who have no idea who I am. Then you can find out. Provided you wish to of course.

Secondly, I can also fill in whoever is interested, on how I feel about being honoured with the duty of Squid Angel. My thoughts on this and what it will take to get me to bless your lens

I led a normal life

Then this happened

Reasonably intelligent, played first team sports in Cricket and Hockey. Left school and decided to do National service first, where this happened.
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So now for

My first Angel tips

This is for those people new to Squidoo. Sometimes known as newbies. Perchance, some of the oldies need to remind themselves of this as well?

Read the Terms of Service (TOS)

That way you don't inadvertently tread on peoples toes.

Write your piece and be passionate.

Don't be afraid, there's a community here willing to help.

Read as many lenses as you can to get the feel of things.

Leave a lovely comment in the Guestbook.

Be yourself.

Here is an example of what I mean

Not one of mine.

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Squidoo's TOS

Just a few more of my

Deaf lenses

I came to Squidoo with the express purpose of trying to make people understand more about being deaf. Sadly, it is the least understood of all the sensory afflictions.

Why this is so and how this is so, still remains an enigma?

I knew, before I even began, what I was up against. To make matters worse, I had very limited experiences with a computer. A couple of weeks ago I commenced a computer course. After the first lesson, the teacher asked me to stay behind for a chat. Eventually, I showed her some of my Squidoo work. For the first time, somebody was mightily impressed. She started firing questions at me beginning with.

Did you type all this by yourself? Answer = Yes.

Did any of your family help you? Answer = No, but there is a wonderful community here (meaning Squidoo) and they are ever ready to help.

Silence.

My point being, one doesn't have to be a computer fundi ( means being knowledgeable ) to be OK at Squidoo. There's help everywhere. Sure, if you are already a fundi on the computer. You will do better faster, but it's not a prerequisite. Believe me I know.

Didn't somebody once say, ' patience is a virtue?'
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Who helped you Spook and

How did they help you

That is a very difficult question to answer. In simple terms, especially if you are new. Look for answers. But where? I did say earlier, read as many lenses as you can. Leave a lovely comment. At the bottom of every lens, under the lens, one will find something like, Squidoo.

About Squidoo Help & Feedback Support Charity.

Now I'm not going to add everything under those headings because it is there for all to see. So my next Angel tip would be.

Read and absorb, when you get the time.

Learning the rules

A must or not a must

Regrettably, no HTML permissible.

It is important to learn all the rules on Squidoo

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Yes of course

sousababy says:

For the first few months on Squidoo, I just winged it. I felt common sense was key and I followed up on 'how-to' stuff as I went. I actually do not view other people's lenses on a subject first, I prefer to create my own work (without even being subconsciously influenced by the work of someone else). That way, I know my lenses are all authentically my own - then, by commentary left, I tweak and revise. This formula has worked for me. However, the TOS are hugely important to know (especially in relation to the social aspect of Squidoo).

Michelle1959 says:

It's always a safer way to go - check out the rules. I feel that each individual further contributes, utilising their own parallels of etiquette, values and consideration. I've certainly learn't a great deal by reading lenses by various contributors and one learns immense and varied ideas etc. What stood out to me so far was, "be yourself".

Lisa-Marie-Mary says:

It's definitely important, because, you don't want to invest a whole lot of time and energy into any site just to have your work pulled for not following the TOS.

grannysage says:

I think it is very important to learn the rules, just as you would if you were learning a new game. The most important one I think are the rules about no spam and no plagiarism. I hate finding an otherwise good lens and then realizing that it is all cut and paste from somewhere else.

Michey says:

Yes we need to know the rules, without rules will be a nightmare. Now if we need just Squidoo-restriction of HTML or we need the full HTML depends on our extended activities. If we do just Squidoo the restricted HTML is enough, but if we also have Blogs and Websites, we need the full HTML.
Regards
Michey

Michey says:

I think we really need to know the rules, but this don't mean that we don't use our imagination, be unique, and learn the tools we need (HTML included).
Now, if we need to know only the Squidoo restriction of HTML or the real HTML... depends on your activity in general. If you do just Squidoo this is great, you need Squidoo-restriction, if you have other blogs, sites, this is supper great, then you really need the full HTML.
Regards
Michey

Tipi says:

Its good to know the rules before you get in a game. Not saying Squidoo is a game, but read TOS so you know how to play nice.

nukemdomis says:

It is also important to re-read the rules from time to time also.

BFuniv.com says:

At least read the TOS once or twice.

Photahsiamirabel says:

Those rules that are written and morally corect, of course. Unwritten rules suck however! I would hope that if I did something awful I would be told exactly what is was!

The_Homeopath says:

I'd like to play devil's advocate, but in reality I do think rule compliance is necessary for success on Squidoo.

Margaret_Schaut says:

They're a teaching tool and therefore valuable to every Squidoo'r.

Ramkitten says:

While I don't think anyone has to learn all the ins and outs of lensmaking before trying his or her hand at it, I do think people should read the TOS, look through the Answer Deck, and read SquidU forum sticky notes before jumping in. Or at least go do so when someone who's been around a while suggests it.

skiesgreen says:

Most definitely, and be polite. What you give is what you get back, The more you give the more you get back. Love Squidoo and love the people in it.

stargazer00 says:

I concur!

inkserotica says:

Oh for sure! :) Although it's human nature to err sometimes ;)

aj2008 says:

Well I think we all know what I think of Etiquette on Squidoo ;)

I tend to find that people may interpret rules one way for themselves and then another way for others but if we all followed them the same way, then life would be a lot easier for all of us!

Spook says:

You are so right Nancy. I cannot think of a better example of this unwritten rule than you Nancy. You rock.

JaguarJulie says:

Oh yes indeed. Learning the rules of Squidoo, social media platforms, and life is never ending. Then sometimes there is the interpretation of those rules which can cause us pause.

dustytoes says:

Rules are always important to know, but sometimes we learn as we go and learn best from our mistakes.

Joan4 says:

Oh yes, it is very important to learn the rules -- and that is true of any group, right?

OhMe says:

Yes, the rules are very important as is the etiquette which sometimes is an unwritten rule.

Not necessary just do your own thing

LisaAuch says:

Well I am on both camps! learn as you go along for the simple reason, like Nike say just do it! but along the way there are rules and ettiquite if you would like to succeed, there are very successful lensmasters around Squidoo, Learn from them, watch how they craft their lenses, how they interact with other lensmasters, and you too will be successful

mukunda22 says:

You will learn as you go along!!

WhiteOak50 says:

I don't know..I am sort in between. I do believe the rules are important, and I do believe certain guidelines should be followed, However I also believe you must do your own thing because I am a very hands-on type of person and have been all of my life. For me I need to learn from my mistakes...

tandemonimom says:

Fortunately, I think Squidoo's rules are very common sense and courtesy based. If you're good at those things, you'll do fine at Squidoo! (Otherwise ... Read the TOS! LOL)

CCGAL says:

Common Sense & Decency will go a LONG way to keeping you out of trouble on Squidoo. That said, I'm about to go make sure I understand the TOS ... because I'm not entirely certain I've read them.

vallain says:

After making 170 lenses, maybe I SHOULD go read the TOS. So far I haven't been reprimanded by anyone or had a lens removed or rejected. It probably would be wisest to read them early on before plunging in.

Evelyn_Saenz says:

I too, came to Squidoo barely knowing how to turn on a computer. I knew nothing about writing and had never heard of html. I would say that the rules are important but not knowing them should not deter you from joining Squidoo and starting to write lenses. Most of the rules are just common sense and courtesy. As you go along the wonderfully kind and helpful Squids will help you to learn the rules and soon you will be creating wonderful lenses that are a pleasure for people to read.

 

When you were new and learning

Did anybody ever bless you

Surprisingly, yes.

Many of the lenses I first got blessed on, I have since improved. However I am doing this lens without fear or favour, just to show that there are all types of lenses. Some of these are great lenses, some are hopeless lenses. Some are short lenses, some are long lenses and some are in between.

So far I have never tripped the spam filter, or the adult filter. Perchance, I should never have said that, because no doubt Murphy's law will now work?

Squidoo has undergone many changes since I began here. A lot of the credit here has to go to Angels, who work voluntarily and tirelessly to try to improve this great site.

What's your point? My point is. By today's standards, the blessings I got when I was new here, I wouldn't get now. Are we losing sight of something here?

Whether I got blessed by Angels who just flutter by is of course unbeknown to me. However, those who left a comment and a blessing made my day. As best as my memory recalls with no offence to anybody who may have been there first. But the first one to bless my lens was ChefKeem. The thrill and the joy I felt at this is beyond my meagre capabilities to explain. Ever grateful Chef.

Consequently, I'm going to be an Angel who lets you know. On the other hand, people being people, sometimes I won't. I'm not known as a well known Irish 'eejit' and loose cannon for nothing you know.

Here's why I'm an

Irish 'eejit' and loose cannon

Believe it or not this lens reached number 1 in it's category for an astonishing period of one day. It held a top tier ranking for three and a half weeks and then went hey diddle diddle, but eventually I will learn how to hold things for longer. Hope springs eternal, even in my breast. One just has to keep trying.
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I grew up

In Africa

Politics, politics, politics. Don't I know it.

I loved my country. I was so proud to be Rhodesian and I always will be. It's that simple and it's that complex.

Here is another lens that I knew I was up against it. So far I have been proved right on this, considering the visits.

Unsurprisingly, most of the people I most admire have visited it.

Sometimes life can be lonely?

Then after living in Ireland, although the people had their say. The politicians can't take no for an answer. Eventually they got their yes. Does this mean, next year we can have another go?
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Some more of my Africa lenses

A deep abiding love of Africa

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Help in Africa

A worthwhile charity

A lot of people in my old country are on the breadline or even worse. You can help with a small donation.

Acumen Fund is a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty.

Cultural differences

People sometimes think differently ( yawn )

What I wish to say is, that there is always good and bad amongst any culture. It just depends on what you look for. Whether you just see bad or whether you just see good. That's far to simple because is doesn't bring in a myriad of other complications. Ethnic, religious, political,bright, simple, good, bad, in between, led, not led, lied to, not lied to, cheated, not cheated, rich, poor. Need I go on?

For me it's quite simple. I like what I call,'straight up people.' You can come from any culture and you can be any colour and provided you are 'straight up people,' I'm OK with that. I lived in Africa and I have always loved it's people along those lines. I also made a special effort to get to know and understand people who came from different backgrounds to mine.

Which leads to. I have no idea why, but I have always been deeply sympathetic to Native Americans, who when I was growing up were always known as Indians. Lately I came across a lens which I will feature next. I loved this lens and it gave me an insight into beliefs and folklore I never knew about. It also struck me, how odd it was, that even amongst different cultures, in times of yore, from vastly different continents, that there is a constant theme. How could this be? It's impossible but it is there.

In a part of this lens it explains about little people. Some widely diverging groups. Little people? Isn't amazing or ain't it amazing ( so Americans can understand) this common thread? Little people, faeries, leprechauns et al. One group of these people are known as mischievous people. When children laugh in their sleep, you know that these people are at work. It touched my heart.

Here is the lens

A must read

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Little people

Is it possible

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What's your point

That's the type of Angel

I want to be

What's that?

A mischievous Angel

One who makes children laugh in their sleep

Or better still

One who makes adults laugh in their sleep

What could be nicer than that?

I'll try my best

Trying is everything

Things happen

Not only to one section of people

Things happen and it is open to your question of judgement. Of right and wrong, of fairness. It works both ways.

We had our family farm overrun by a bunch of thugs and lost everything. It is open to your question of judgement.

I decided to make a new start with my family somewhere else.

I have touched lightly on what happened to us in this lens.
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A lost art

In today's world

A subject which has had great importance to me in my life. Looks like in today's world most people couldn't give two hoots about this.
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I now live in West Cork

In Ireland

Just a wee selection of some of the lenses I have made in and around the area I now live. It's beautiful in West Cork, one of Irelands famed tourist routes.
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Lovely scenes

In West Cork

Come visit West Cork

You won't regret it

powered by Orbitz

To be blessed by Spook

What will you need?

It depends.

Do you need it?

Have I noticed you posted comments in people's guestbooks?

Do you try?

Does your lensrank or tier rating need a boost?

If yes to any of the above, it's more than likely I'll bless you.

Will you ding

Again it depends.

Although it's highly unlikely.

That's just not my way.

However.

Ding I will if you breach Squidoo dont's.

Read the (TOS), Terms of Service.

Breach those and I will ding.

Finishing it off

Odds and ends

If you have got this far in this lens. Then it should be obvious that I have a wide variety of tastes. More importantly, I have always been a big sports fan and always will be. Sure I have some sports which I like better than others. So here are some odds and ends of tastes.

In my own way I do try and help Squidoo. I tried a few different templates to try and show people different things. Some I will include here.
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At long last

Introducing you to

Now one has to use a bit of imagination here. I did say I wanted to be mischievous. So go into that mode. Pretend that you are about to watch an American boxing match and the audience is vast. As the microphone slowly descends from the roof and the audience hushes, the American announcer grabs it and he says;

"" Laaaaaaaaaaaaadies and Gentlemen. It gives me tree-mendous pleasure to introduce to you tonight. The one and only, the one and only, the one and only," At this stage he pirouettes grandly and with an extravagant sweep of his left hand he accidentally knocks over lovely buxom lass in bikini ( trying to get into the limelight before showing placard of what round it is.) In the ensuing melee the announcer completely oblivious to this marches relentlessly on.

" The one and only the one and only, the Squid Angel Spook."

Tree-mendous applause from audience, gradually overshadowed by hoots of derision and catcalls.

The one and only, the one and only

Squid Angel Spook

Image made by a great lensmaster the one and only Janusz

Thanks Janusz, you're such a star.

Batting at number four

Squid Angel Spook

In the great game of cricket, generally speaking, your best batsman comes in at number four. Well this is my fourth time as a Squid Angel. Consequently I decided to make a secondary Angel lens, which I have highlighted below. This time as an Angel my category is Culture and Society but mainly politics. Lenses blessed have been highlighted here. Enjoy. Furthermore, I'm also an Angel in Sports and Recreation and also enjoy.
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Find the Angels

Please leave a comment and

Have your say

Any newbies or oldies needing a blessing are welcome to post your links here. WARNING: no chancers.

  • sousababy Aug 18, 2011 @ 7:05 am | delete
    Dear Spook, It's too bad you retired your angel wings . . perhaps you'll reconsider? I feel very lucky to have had you bless some of my work and I adore your courage to tackle issues that few will touch. Much love always to you and yours, Rose
  • OhMe Jul 5, 2011 @ 7:06 pm | delete
    Thank you so much for blessing my lenses!
  • Spook Jul 6, 2011 @ 2:32 pm | delete
    You are more than welcome and thank you for returning here and the comment.
  • Michelle1959 May 17, 2011 @ 4:04 am | delete
    What a refreshingly great read! Although I took avid note of all said, what stood out most was what we want to see in a situation, or for the purposes of this lens and Squidoo, the lenses of others - are we looking for bad or good? You normally get what you look for.... I know the feeling to have that first lens blessed! It doesn't change as I slowly continue and thank Spook amongst many others. I'd also agree that it's a friendly environment as I've experienced so far and can imagine how busy it can be for an Angel! I don't think we are all commenting enough generally speaking and this is sad as it leaves a compromised measuring system for writers. Spook, you gaffed me with the little people answers..... I do believe in them - that they did exist but fail to often now because of the individual shutting out this concept for whatever reasons - myself included for a long time. Thanks for a great read!
  • Spook May 17, 2011 @ 7:20 am | delete
    I don't think we are all commenting enough either and find this odd and thanks for noticing it.
  • Lisa-Marie-Mary Dec 4, 2010 @ 6:04 pm | delete
    Squidoo is so fabulous for meeting people around the world who may think or live differently than each other. I just love that and I've enjoyed reading this lens and getting to know some of your world!
  • jaktraks Nov 30, 2010 @ 5:48 pm | delete
    Love your lens - and thanks for visiting one of mine!
  • darciefrench Nov 24, 2010 @ 2:09 pm | delete
    Hi Angel named Spook- thanks so much for blessing November Blessings. I will list your angelography there. Many thanks for all your good work, and many blessings to you.
  • Janiece Nov 23, 2010 @ 3:26 pm | delete
    Thank you so much for the blessing on my Nature and Science Gifts for Teens and Adults!!
  • _Joan_ Nov 23, 2010 @ 11:44 am | delete
    Thanks as well for the blessing on the Classical Music Gift Guide!
  • _Joan_ Nov 19, 2010 @ 1:18 pm | delete
    Thanks for the blessing on my Christmas songs for choir lens!
  • lizziebeth Nov 13, 2010 @ 6:14 pm | delete
    I like this lens, Spook! I can tell you are having fun here at Squidoo and by being an Angel too.
  • grannysage Nov 13, 2010 @ 3:07 pm | delete
    Thanks for stopping by and blessing the Crones. I am sure they were not offended that you were a man. They like men (well most of them anyway). I had a great time on this lens but almost got distracted by following a link to the Cherokee lens. Had to find my way back to leave this comment. I am glad you are a part of the Squidoo community Spook.
  • Michey Nov 13, 2010 @ 11:16 am | delete
    Like the lens, very well done, informational, and your heart is here for sure!
    All the best Spook
    Michey
  • mukunda22 Nov 13, 2010 @ 10:57 am | delete
    This was fun! What a great angel you are!!
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by

Spook

Well here I am back again. This time in the categories of politics and sport and recreation. Try me, I don't bite.

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I have just been on a trip 

Herewith some random selections

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Down Under 

Marvelous Australia

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Then New Zealand 

Get ready for the rugby world cup

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