It seems that for most people the war in Iraq has become a routine part of everyday life -- not something they truly think about and let affect them. I admit I too am guilty of this.
But the fact remains this country is at war and Americans are dying on a daily basis. This past weekend, the Associated Press reported at least 4,000 Americans have died in Iraq since the start of the war.
It's important to stop and remember the lives of these men and women who have died and to think about their families. On Monday, NPR's Talk of the Nation had people call in and talk about loved ones they lost in the war. Listen to it here.
I highly recommend listening to the show. It's an extremely moving segment and humanizes the numbers. It really puts things into perspective.
Mar 25, 2008
A political/journalism hybrid
Politics and journalism are merging in an all new way on Politicker.com -- creating jobs and changing reporting.
Politicker is a hub of political Web sites -- one for each state. Currently, 11 state Web sites are and all 50 should be up by the end of 2009. Jared
Kushner, the publisher of the site, told the New York Times:
The most interesting part about Politicker is the opportunities it currently has and will continue to have for young journalist. These days, the sites managing editor, James Pindell, sends recent graduates out to a state capital with "little more than a laptop and a BlackBerry" and has them create the state site.
According to the Times article, once all 50 state sites are up, each site will have one or two reporters, an editor and several bloggers employed to keep it running.
In addition:
In general I think it's a very smart idea to have this political hub. If it is successful, it will not only be an extremely useful tool for journalists but it will also be a great opportunity for journalists who want to write about politics.
Politicker is a hub of political Web sites -- one for each state. Currently, 11 state Web sites are and all 50 should be up by the end of 2009. Jared
Kushner, the publisher of the site, told the New York Times:Each site will serve as an intensely local source for political articles, speculation and scandal. (Full article here).Politicker is directed towards political-junkies and its slogan is "Inside Politics for Political Insiders." It was created based on the New Jersey political Web site, PoliticsNJ.com, which has now become a part of Politicker as PolitickerNJ.
The most interesting part about Politicker is the opportunities it currently has and will continue to have for young journalist. These days, the sites managing editor, James Pindell, sends recent graduates out to a state capital with "little more than a laptop and a BlackBerry" and has them create the state site.
According to the Times article, once all 50 state sites are up, each site will have one or two reporters, an editor and several bloggers employed to keep it running.
In addition:
The editors — who will remain anonymous, and will include lawyers, lobbyists and former officeholders — are the “secret sauce.”Kushner told the Times that the sites themselves would not have any political affiliation, but then why will they have these connections? While I understand the necessity of having insiders working for the site in order to get inside information, it seems like a basic conflict of interest. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.
In general I think it's a very smart idea to have this political hub. If it is successful, it will not only be an extremely useful tool for journalists but it will also be a great opportunity for journalists who want to write about politics.
Want to be famous? Start a blog.
These days, blogging is becoming an increasingly successful business and bloggers themselves are getting more and more recognition. (Check out this post I came across on Journerdism about the potential need for a blogger union).
The wonderful thing about blogs is anyone can have one. (Some people argue that this is the horrible thing about blogs but that's neither here nor there).
Regardless, how do you go from being a 21-year-old college student obsessed with pets -- and the occasional new media -- to being a blogging celebrity, a la Perez Hilton? (Pictured right).
According to this New York Times story, there are several steps one must take including keeping a regular posting rhythm and creating a brand name. All these suggestions were compiled from successful bloggers.
The article is a fun and interesting read especially for those bloggers who want to make a name for themselves.
Maybe one day Pause will be the new blog.
The image above is by Toby Forage (cc) and republished here under a Creative Commons license. Some rights reserved.
The wonderful thing about blogs is anyone can have one. (Some people argue that this is the horrible thing about blogs but that's neither here nor there).
Regardless, how do you go from being a 21-year-old college student obsessed with pets -- and the occasional new media -- to being a blogging celebrity, a la Perez Hilton? (Pictured right).According to this New York Times story, there are several steps one must take including keeping a regular posting rhythm and creating a brand name. All these suggestions were compiled from successful bloggers.
The article is a fun and interesting read especially for those bloggers who want to make a name for themselves.
Maybe one day Pause will be the new blog.
The image above is by Toby Forage (cc) and republished here under a Creative Commons license. Some rights reserved.
Mar 24, 2008
Interesting tidbit about squirrels
I just though this was an extremely random yet interesting Discovery News article about squirrels.
According to a recent study, all squirrels are part of a social network, kind of like the six degrees of separation but with squirrels it's only three degrees. My favorite part about the finding is that it appears squirrels have other squirrel friends -- they don't just hang out with any random squirrel on the street. Looks like they're not as brainless as I thought.
I know this is pretty quirky but doesn't it make you look at squirrels a little differently?
Photo courtesy Flickr user Law_Keven under Creative Commons license.
According to a recent study, all squirrels are part of a social network, kind of like the six degrees of separation but with squirrels it's only three degrees. My favorite part about the finding is that it appears squirrels have other squirrel friends -- they don't just hang out with any random squirrel on the street. Looks like they're not as brainless as I thought.
I know this is pretty quirky but doesn't it make you look at squirrels a little differently?
Photo courtesy Flickr user Law_Keven under Creative Commons license.
Mar 19, 2008
A ‘tail’ of new blogging breed
(This is my midterm feature story for Reinventing the News.)
Monica Collins’ life changed when she met Shorty, a white-haired male who enjoys long walks along the Boston waterfront and frolicking with friends.
“He really opened me up to the world – to living,” she said.
The two met online in 1998, and Shorty was a dog – literally.
Collins said she quickly fell head-over-heels for the now nine-year-old West Highland White Terrier.
“They really get in your heart,” she said of dogs.
From then on Collins’ life was never the same. Inspired by her newfound companion, Collins, a former TV critic for USA Today and the Boston Herald, created “Ask Dog Lady,” a newspaper advice column on “dogs, love and life” in which she combines 25 years of journalism experience with “wit, wisdom and whimsy,” she said.
Questions for Dog Lady range from “Do dogs bring out the good or the bad in people?” to “Whatcha think of "The Sopranos?" Is it going to the dogs or what?”
Collins answers are just as playful. Here’s an example.
“It’s a very light-hearted column,” Collins said.
In 2003, in order to promote the Dog Lady brand, Collins created the Web site AskDogLady.com. This site not only contains Dog Lady’s newspaper columns but also her blog, links to her favorite sites and a forum to submit questions. Collins said the Web site plays an important part in getting Dog Lady noticed because the Internet is “the height of public outreach.”
In addition, the Dog Lady blog, which receives 600 to 700 unique visitors a day, allows Collins to remain in touch with her readers more than a column because she can update it more often, she said.
Designing a logo for the site played an important part in developing the Dog Lady brand, Collins said.
“I never realized how much went into creating a brand,” she said.
Working with a designer, they created the dog at the typewriter logo (left) and she said it captures the essence of Dog Lady perfectly.
Collins said the Internet, and more specifically blogs, are important tools for journalists because they allow journalists to express themselves and build diverse platforms. People can now explore different areas of interest she said.
“The web presents more flexibility,” she said.
Career changes
Although an avid dog-lover and columnist these days, Collins did not start off that way.
In her early journalism days in the 1980s, she was hired by the Boston Herald to be the newspaper’s T.V. critic, even though she had no experience in the department.
“My editor said ‘Do you have a television? Then you can be a T.V. critic,’” she said.
From there, she became USA Today’s TV critic before returning to the Herald. Collins said she loved her job. She was a “stereotypical hard-ass journalist obsessed with her career,” she said.
Collins said she did not always love animals and was the person on her condominium board who demanded strict rules for pet owners. But after losing two people close to her, Collins said she wanted companionship. That’s when she adopted Shorty and began her new life path.
In 2000, Collins volunteered to write a newsletter for her 50-member dog group in Boston’s North End. In the first issue, she had extra space and to fill it she wrote an advice column under the persona Dog Lady.
She received praise for the column and as a result, decided to pursue Dog Lady. She sent a few copies of “Ask the Dog Lady” to The Bark a literary magazine for dog owners. (“I call it The New Yorker for dog owners,” she said.)
The magazine picked up her column, but Collins said she missed the day-to-day of a newspaper.
“I always knew I wanted Dog Lady to be a newspaper column,” she said.
She began shopping around her clips in 2002 and the South End News, the MetroWest Daily News, and the Cambridge Chronicle all agreed to run Dog Lady.
Nancy Olesin, feature editor of the MetroWest Daily News, said Dog Lady is a big hit in the paper.
“Our readers love Monica’s column,” she said. “They love her sense of humor.”
The subject matter is what keeps people coming back, Olesin said.
“Pets are a universal interest,” she said.
Today, in addition to the MetroWest Daily News, Collins’ column runs in several national newspapers, including the Chicago Sun-Times and in magazines.
Inspiring canines
Shorty is not the only dog to influence his owner’s online career and consequently change their life.
Shadrach (right), a black Neapolitan Mastiff, inspired his owner, Kim Bloomer, to start blogging about natural care for dogs in 2003. She rescued Shadrach and did not feel comfortable using traditional medicines to treat the abused puppy. With a background in veterinary medicine, she said she began doing extensive research on natural ways to treat him. She wanted to share her knowledge, and as a result began Bark ‘N’ Blog, she said.
“I had never written a thing before I started blogging,” Bloomer said.
The blog led to a book deal, an online radio show and several freelance writing jobs, and inspired Bloomer to pursue a career in veterinary naturopath. She now runs Aspenbloom Pet Care, a Web site for natural pet nutrition and holistic alternatives. She also provides personal consultations for people interested in natural care for their dogs.
But “the blog came before everything,” she said.
Shadrach took over writing the blog in 2004 and started another blog, A Dogs View, about aromatherapy for dogs. Both blogs feature links to Bloomer’s radio show, “Animal Talk Naturally,” as well as video clips, and get 35,000 to 45,000 unique hits a month.
Bloomer said her success came from not only writing what she was passionate about but from the wide reach of blogs. Anyone who wants to be successful needs a blog, she said.
Karen Norteman, a technical writer for the computer industry by trade, realized this and began writing her blog, Salty Sheep Dog, after she got her dog, Duncan (left), a Bearded Collie. An avid writer, her friends said she should start her own Web site.
“I kept saying, ‘I have nothing to write about,’” Norteman said. “But eight dogs later I have plenty to say.”
“Blogging is a way – to use a cliché – people ‘harness the power of the Internet’ to express themselves,” she said.
Through her blog, Norteman got in touch with Monica Collins. Although the two have never met in person, they communicate through e-mail.
“Blogging brought me into the realm of journalism,” she said.
Norteman is also a web designer, which started as a hobby but has become a part-time job. She said the most important thing when designing a blog is to “display the information in a way so it’s accessible to readers.”
She said Ask Dog Lady is an example of a great Web site because it not only is it easy to use but it captures Collins’ message, making it a great promotional tool.
“I think it absolutely rocks,” she said. “I love the graphic design. It’s perfect. Whoever did it knew her and what she is about.”
Norteman recently started another blog, Dog Show Newbie, about her adventures with her new dog, Dinah, in the dog show world. She said this particular blog attracts more people because it caters to a specific audience.
Cyber-pet growth
Pet blogging is growing at a time when more pet owners are going to Web sites for their information, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA). Statistics on the site show 14 percent of all dog owners use the Internet to obtain information.
APPMA’s president Bob Vetere said the association noticed this trend a year ago and established a division to monitor pet blogs and Web sites.
“The Internet is such a hot-bed for pet information,” he said.
Vetere said people began turning to the Internet for information about their pets around 2000.
“People were using Web sites for their own information and realized it worked the same for their pets,” he said.
There they found other “kindred spirits” to talk about their dogs, cats, fish and other pets, he said.
Greg Majestic, a 22-year-old, physical therapy student at Northeastern University, is one of these people and found his now seven-month-old puppy, Penelope, a mutt, by researching shelters online. He also found a vet for her and consults several Web sites and blogs whenever he has a question.
“It’s easy and free to find out what you want about your dog,” he said.
But pet bloggers like Norteman said it’s important for people to be careful what sites they use and to do research about whether a site is certified.
In addition, Collins warned not to take risks when it comes to a dog.
“If your dog is sick you shouldn’t be writing for medical advice,” she said.
The Dog Owners Guide to the Internet provides tips on searching the Web and as does Karen Peak’s article, Relying on Internet Advice for your Dog.
New adventures on the horizon
While Collins and Shorty have moved out of Boston and live in Belmont, they still come to visit and reminisce, she said.
“He’s a city dog,” she said.
In the future, Collins said she hopes her column becomes nationally syndicated. She is also
writing a book for middle-aged woman about her experiences with Shorty and how he helped her see the world in a new light.
“Dog memoirs are great sellers,” she said.
She currently is experimenting with her Web site, adding advertisements and a “Mom and Pup” boutique. Collins said she enjoys writing her column and blog because she’s happy to help people, even if it’s just to make them laugh.
“I picked a topic of universal appeal,” she said. “It makes me feel good.”
Even though Dog Lady is a light-hearted column, Collins said its overall message of being a responsible pet owner is important.
“I’m helping the world one paw at a time,” she said.
__________________
Pictures from top to bottom:
Picture one: Monica and Shorty/Courtesy Monica Collins
Picture two: Screen capture of Ask Dog Lady logo.
Picture three: Shadrach/Courtesy Kim Bloomer
Picture four: Duncan/Courtesy Karen Norteman
Picture five: Monica and Shorty/Courtesy Monica Collins
Monica Collins’ life changed when she met Shorty, a white-haired male who enjoys long walks along the Boston waterfront and frolicking with friends.
“He really opened me up to the world – to living,” she said.
The two met online in 1998, and Shorty was a dog – literally.
Collins said she quickly fell head-over-heels for the now nine-year-old West Highland White Terrier.
“They really get in your heart,” she said of dogs.
From then on Collins’ life was never the same. Inspired by her newfound companion, Collins, a former TV critic for USA Today and the Boston Herald, created “Ask Dog Lady,” a newspaper advice column on “dogs, love and life” in which she combines 25 years of journalism experience with “wit, wisdom and whimsy,” she said.
Questions for Dog Lady range from “Do dogs bring out the good or the bad in people?” to “Whatcha think of "The Sopranos?" Is it going to the dogs or what?”
Collins answers are just as playful. Here’s an example.
“It’s a very light-hearted column,” Collins said.
In 2003, in order to promote the Dog Lady brand, Collins created the Web site AskDogLady.com. This site not only contains Dog Lady’s newspaper columns but also her blog, links to her favorite sites and a forum to submit questions. Collins said the Web site plays an important part in getting Dog Lady noticed because the Internet is “the height of public outreach.”
In addition, the Dog Lady blog, which receives 600 to 700 unique visitors a day, allows Collins to remain in touch with her readers more than a column because she can update it more often, she said.
Designing a logo for the site played an important part in developing the Dog Lady brand, Collins said.“I never realized how much went into creating a brand,” she said.
Working with a designer, they created the dog at the typewriter logo (left) and she said it captures the essence of Dog Lady perfectly.
Collins said the Internet, and more specifically blogs, are important tools for journalists because they allow journalists to express themselves and build diverse platforms. People can now explore different areas of interest she said.
“The web presents more flexibility,” she said.
Career changes
Although an avid dog-lover and columnist these days, Collins did not start off that way.
In her early journalism days in the 1980s, she was hired by the Boston Herald to be the newspaper’s T.V. critic, even though she had no experience in the department.
“My editor said ‘Do you have a television? Then you can be a T.V. critic,’” she said.
From there, she became USA Today’s TV critic before returning to the Herald. Collins said she loved her job. She was a “stereotypical hard-ass journalist obsessed with her career,” she said.
Collins said she did not always love animals and was the person on her condominium board who demanded strict rules for pet owners. But after losing two people close to her, Collins said she wanted companionship. That’s when she adopted Shorty and began her new life path.
In 2000, Collins volunteered to write a newsletter for her 50-member dog group in Boston’s North End. In the first issue, she had extra space and to fill it she wrote an advice column under the persona Dog Lady.
She received praise for the column and as a result, decided to pursue Dog Lady. She sent a few copies of “Ask the Dog Lady” to The Bark a literary magazine for dog owners. (“I call it The New Yorker for dog owners,” she said.)
The magazine picked up her column, but Collins said she missed the day-to-day of a newspaper.
“I always knew I wanted Dog Lady to be a newspaper column,” she said.
She began shopping around her clips in 2002 and the South End News, the MetroWest Daily News, and the Cambridge Chronicle all agreed to run Dog Lady.
Nancy Olesin, feature editor of the MetroWest Daily News, said Dog Lady is a big hit in the paper.
“Our readers love Monica’s column,” she said. “They love her sense of humor.”
The subject matter is what keeps people coming back, Olesin said.
“Pets are a universal interest,” she said.
Today, in addition to the MetroWest Daily News, Collins’ column runs in several national newspapers, including the Chicago Sun-Times and in magazines.
Inspiring canines
Shorty is not the only dog to influence his owner’s online career and consequently change their life.
Shadrach (right), a black Neapolitan Mastiff, inspired his owner, Kim Bloomer, to start blogging about natural care for dogs in 2003. She rescued Shadrach and did not feel comfortable using traditional medicines to treat the abused puppy. With a background in veterinary medicine, she said she began doing extensive research on natural ways to treat him. She wanted to share her knowledge, and as a result began Bark ‘N’ Blog, she said.
“I had never written a thing before I started blogging,” Bloomer said.
The blog led to a book deal, an online radio show and several freelance writing jobs, and inspired Bloomer to pursue a career in veterinary naturopath. She now runs Aspenbloom Pet Care, a Web site for natural pet nutrition and holistic alternatives. She also provides personal consultations for people interested in natural care for their dogs.
But “the blog came before everything,” she said.
Shadrach took over writing the blog in 2004 and started another blog, A Dogs View, about aromatherapy for dogs. Both blogs feature links to Bloomer’s radio show, “Animal Talk Naturally,” as well as video clips, and get 35,000 to 45,000 unique hits a month.
Bloomer said her success came from not only writing what she was passionate about but from the wide reach of blogs. Anyone who wants to be successful needs a blog, she said.
Karen Norteman, a technical writer for the computer industry by trade, realized this and began writing her blog, Salty Sheep Dog, after she got her dog, Duncan (left), a Bearded Collie. An avid writer, her friends said she should start her own Web site.
“I kept saying, ‘I have nothing to write about,’” Norteman said. “But eight dogs later I have plenty to say.”“Blogging is a way – to use a cliché – people ‘harness the power of the Internet’ to express themselves,” she said.
Through her blog, Norteman got in touch with Monica Collins. Although the two have never met in person, they communicate through e-mail.
“Blogging brought me into the realm of journalism,” she said.
Norteman is also a web designer, which started as a hobby but has become a part-time job. She said the most important thing when designing a blog is to “display the information in a way so it’s accessible to readers.”
She said Ask Dog Lady is an example of a great Web site because it not only is it easy to use but it captures Collins’ message, making it a great promotional tool.
“I think it absolutely rocks,” she said. “I love the graphic design. It’s perfect. Whoever did it knew her and what she is about.”
Norteman recently started another blog, Dog Show Newbie, about her adventures with her new dog, Dinah, in the dog show world. She said this particular blog attracts more people because it caters to a specific audience.
Cyber-pet growth
Pet blogging is growing at a time when more pet owners are going to Web sites for their information, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA). Statistics on the site show 14 percent of all dog owners use the Internet to obtain information.
APPMA’s president Bob Vetere said the association noticed this trend a year ago and established a division to monitor pet blogs and Web sites.
“The Internet is such a hot-bed for pet information,” he said.
Vetere said people began turning to the Internet for information about their pets around 2000.
“People were using Web sites for their own information and realized it worked the same for their pets,” he said.
There they found other “kindred spirits” to talk about their dogs, cats, fish and other pets, he said.
Greg Majestic, a 22-year-old, physical therapy student at Northeastern University, is one of these people and found his now seven-month-old puppy, Penelope, a mutt, by researching shelters online. He also found a vet for her and consults several Web sites and blogs whenever he has a question.
“It’s easy and free to find out what you want about your dog,” he said.
But pet bloggers like Norteman said it’s important for people to be careful what sites they use and to do research about whether a site is certified.
In addition, Collins warned not to take risks when it comes to a dog.
“If your dog is sick you shouldn’t be writing for medical advice,” she said.
The Dog Owners Guide to the Internet provides tips on searching the Web and as does Karen Peak’s article, Relying on Internet Advice for your Dog.
New adventures on the horizon
While Collins and Shorty have moved out of Boston and live in Belmont, they still come to visit and reminisce, she said.
“He’s a city dog,” she said.
In the future, Collins said she hopes her column becomes nationally syndicated. She is also
writing a book for middle-aged woman about her experiences with Shorty and how he helped her see the world in a new light.“Dog memoirs are great sellers,” she said.
She currently is experimenting with her Web site, adding advertisements and a “Mom and Pup” boutique. Collins said she enjoys writing her column and blog because she’s happy to help people, even if it’s just to make them laugh.
“I picked a topic of universal appeal,” she said. “It makes me feel good.”
Even though Dog Lady is a light-hearted column, Collins said its overall message of being a responsible pet owner is important.
“I’m helping the world one paw at a time,” she said.
__________________
Pictures from top to bottom:
Picture one: Monica and Shorty/Courtesy Monica Collins
Picture two: Screen capture of Ask Dog Lady logo.
Picture three: Shadrach/Courtesy Kim Bloomer
Picture four: Duncan/Courtesy Karen Norteman
Picture five: Monica and Shorty/Courtesy Monica Collins
Mar 17, 2008
Welcome to the neighborhood
9Neighbors is a site where Boston area residents can share stories, images and videos from other media outlets as well as their own blogs and Flickr accounts.
Members can create profiles, upload images, make friends with other people in their neighborhood and follow a friend, which means they can see what someone finds interesting on the site.
The site launched Sept. 28, 2007 and Rick Burnes, the creator, describes it as the "new local news filtering service" on the site's blog, The 9th Neighbor. 9Neighbors is part of Faneuil Media, which builds online news services.
The 9th Neighbor blog gives information on the internal workings of the site and also directs readers to certain projects. For example, this March 1 post links to a Google map mash-up of potholes in the area. What makes this even more interesting and entertaining is that readers can contribute to the map, adding pothole locations, pictures and descriptions. A simple idea but one that could be useful for drivers, bikers and pedestrians.
Apparently the top stream on 9Neighbors is the MBTA, but I can't figure out for sure if it is the top stream of the day, week or just in general.
I think it is a day-to-day thing and with today being St. Patrick's Day this makes sense as the holiday causes havoc on all lines, especially those that lead drunk college students back to their campuses.
In general the 9Neighbors site does still seem a bit bare. However it has potential because it combines a variety of new technologies like social networking and blogging with the basic desire to know what is going on in your backyard.
Members can create profiles, upload images, make friends with other people in their neighborhood and follow a friend, which means they can see what someone finds interesting on the site.
The 9th Neighbor blog gives information on the internal workings of the site and also directs readers to certain projects. For example, this March 1 post links to a Google map mash-up of potholes in the area. What makes this even more interesting and entertaining is that readers can contribute to the map, adding pothole locations, pictures and descriptions. A simple idea but one that could be useful for drivers, bikers and pedestrians.
Apparently the top stream on 9Neighbors is the MBTA, but I can't figure out for sure if it is the top stream of the day, week or just in general.
I think it is a day-to-day thing and with today being St. Patrick's Day this makes sense as the holiday causes havoc on all lines, especially those that lead drunk college students back to their campuses.
Mar 14, 2008
Is this my future?
Another brief post:
In between covering call girls and the weather, NBC's Today show did a feature about animal hoarding and what causes crazy cat ladies.
Here's the video:
And the story.
On Today's home page a poll asked "how many pets is too many." The majority of people voted that three or more is over-the-top however 19 percent of people said the more pets the better.
No one knows what exactly causes animal hoarding but it is a psychological issue.
And it all starts with one dog ... or cat ...
In between covering call girls and the weather, NBC's Today show did a feature about animal hoarding and what causes crazy cat ladies.
Here's the video:
And the story.
On Today's home page a poll asked "how many pets is too many." The majority of people voted that three or more is over-the-top however 19 percent of people said the more pets the better.
No one knows what exactly causes animal hoarding but it is a psychological issue.
And it all starts with one dog ... or cat ...
A brief FYI
I read about this on Journerdism and thought it was pretty cool.
Alltop is a Web site that compiles several sites and blogs about a certain topic into one web page. It basically is a summary of the top stories of the day for that particular subject -- sort of like a RSS feed without a subscription.
It's a great resource tool and covers a large range of topics from celebrities to non-profit organizations to extreme sports. There's also one for journalism.
I think one of Alltop's greatest assets is it leads you to Web sites and blogs you may not have heard about otherwise.
I recommend checking it out.
Alltop is a Web site that compiles several sites and blogs about a certain topic into one web page. It basically is a summary of the top stories of the day for that particular subject -- sort of like a RSS feed without a subscription.
It's a great resource tool and covers a large range of topics from celebrities to non-profit organizations to extreme sports. There's also one for journalism.
I think one of Alltop's greatest assets is it leads you to Web sites and blogs you may not have heard about otherwise.
I recommend checking it out.
Mar 8, 2008
To-Do: Make blog post
Hello my name is Bianca Strzelczyk and I am a To-Do list addict.
I make them for everything.
I have a general To-Do list that includes things like homework and grocery shopping and is broken down by time of day. Then I have supplemental To-Do lists -- detailed lists of my specific homework and what exact groceries I have to buy. Furthermore, say I have a lot of homework for a class, I have a list for that too. I even have a special notebook where I write my lists (so that I don't lose them).
It's sickening and I'm a bit embarrassed to have just admitted all of that.
One would think I would be a bit more organized but I spend more time creating lists than
actually doing the things on the lists. However, I need these lists to keep me sane. They keep things structured and I like that.
To my delight, I recently found a To-Do list widget for my Mac dashboard (picture right). It's very simple, straightforward and you can create several lists at one time. Best of all, you can't lose it. It's mostly useful for general lists because I don't constantly have my Mac on me.
In addition, the Web site Remember the Milk is an online To-Do list maker. After signing up, you can create weekly and daily lists and the site lets you know which tasks are due today and tomorrow, and which ones are overdue. You can also share you list with others through e-mail and they can add or cross-off tasks.
While I admit I haven't really gotten into this site just yet, it is on my To-Do list. I'll make sure to share my results.
While my addiction may be a bit out of hand, it is quite common and the book, To-Do List: From Buying Milk to Finding a Soul Mate, What Our Lists Reveal About Us by Sasha Cagen, makes this pretty clear.
Originating from the blog To-Do List, the book is a collection of people's lists and they're not all straightforward day-to-day lists. Some are 20-year plans while others are lists of must see movies. There are also lists of past romantic conquests and lists that are written in code on the back of envelopes.
Each list is accompanied by a description from its author and includes a note from Cagen about how the reader can create their own similar list.
Recent blog posts include a list of why someone needs a job and a list of 100 things someone is happy about.
Through this book and the online To-Do list innovations, I'm inspired to write more creative lists -- add that to this week's To-Do.
I make them for everything.
I have a general To-Do list that includes things like homework and grocery shopping and is broken down by time of day. Then I have supplemental To-Do lists -- detailed lists of my specific homework and what exact groceries I have to buy. Furthermore, say I have a lot of homework for a class, I have a list for that too. I even have a special notebook where I write my lists (so that I don't lose them).
It's sickening and I'm a bit embarrassed to have just admitted all of that.
One would think I would be a bit more organized but I spend more time creating lists than
actually doing the things on the lists. However, I need these lists to keep me sane. They keep things structured and I like that.To my delight, I recently found a To-Do list widget for my Mac dashboard (picture right). It's very simple, straightforward and you can create several lists at one time. Best of all, you can't lose it. It's mostly useful for general lists because I don't constantly have my Mac on me.
In addition, the Web site Remember the Milk is an online To-Do list maker. After signing up, you can create weekly and daily lists and the site lets you know which tasks are due today and tomorrow, and which ones are overdue. You can also share you list with others through e-mail and they can add or cross-off tasks.
While I admit I haven't really gotten into this site just yet, it is on my To-Do list. I'll make sure to share my results.
While my addiction may be a bit out of hand, it is quite common and the book, To-Do List: From Buying Milk to Finding a Soul Mate, What Our Lists Reveal About Us by Sasha Cagen, makes this pretty clear.Originating from the blog To-Do List, the book is a collection of people's lists and they're not all straightforward day-to-day lists. Some are 20-year plans while others are lists of must see movies. There are also lists of past romantic conquests and lists that are written in code on the back of envelopes.
Each list is accompanied by a description from its author and includes a note from Cagen about how the reader can create their own similar list.
Recent blog posts include a list of why someone needs a job and a list of 100 things someone is happy about.
Through this book and the online To-Do list innovations, I'm inspired to write more creative lists -- add that to this week's To-Do.
Mar 7, 2008
Musical pups
Don't be surprised if your dog starts begging for an iPod.
This past Christmas the New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (SPCA) recorded a CD at a frequency only audible to dogs as part of a holiday fund raiser.
The song, "A Very Silent Night," is the first of its kinda and topped the charts in New Zealand, raising more than $17,000. It may now be sold in the United States and Australia. Read the Reuters' story here.
Here's the music video:
According to comments about the song on the Baltimore Sun Mutts blog, the CD had no effect on their pups. But according to Bob Kerridge, chief executive of SPCA, some dogs have reacted violently when hearing the song.
Perhaps the song just didn't work with YouTube or maybe American dogs are not that interested -- or it could just be one big, clever hoax.
This past Christmas the New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (SPCA) recorded a CD at a frequency only audible to dogs as part of a holiday fund raiser.
The song, "A Very Silent Night," is the first of its kinda and topped the charts in New Zealand, raising more than $17,000. It may now be sold in the United States and Australia. Read the Reuters' story here.
Here's the music video:
According to comments about the song on the Baltimore Sun Mutts blog, the CD had no effect on their pups. But according to Bob Kerridge, chief executive of SPCA, some dogs have reacted violently when hearing the song.
Perhaps the song just didn't work with YouTube or maybe American dogs are not that interested -- or it could just be one big, clever hoax.
Mar 4, 2008
Fun things to do online during Spring Break
Rate cute animal photos.
Thanks to a Facebook post, I was notified of the Daily Paws Web site.
In between watching the election coverage, I spent a good half hour ooo-ing and ahh - ing over the puppies, kittens, wild animals, barnyard animals and other pets (including hamsters, porcupine-like animals, iguanas and mice).
Here is one of today's top dogs (Mickey):
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And a top cat (Angel):
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And because I feel bad, a bottom dog (Sexy Daisy) and a bottom cat (Domino):
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The site also includes pet tips and pet contests as well as an adoption link.
Of course I'm working on submitting a photo of Pause but for tonight it's back to politics.
Thanks to a Facebook post, I was notified of the Daily Paws Web site.
In between watching the election coverage, I spent a good half hour ooo-ing and ahh - ing over the puppies, kittens, wild animals, barnyard animals and other pets (including hamsters, porcupine-like animals, iguanas and mice).
Here is one of today's top dogs (Mickey):
.jpg)
And a top cat (Angel):.jpg)
And because I feel bad, a bottom dog (Sexy Daisy) and a bottom cat (Domino):
.jpg)
.jpg)
The site also includes pet tips and pet contests as well as an adoption link.
Of course I'm working on submitting a photo of Pause but for tonight it's back to politics.
Mar 3, 2008
Fantasy versus reality
I do not comprehend the obsession with fantasy sports.
My boyfriend and his friends for example have a baseball, hockey and football fantasy league. There was once a basketball league but that wasn't as successful and "amateur" in comparison. (I was in it but I did not do a single thing except name my team).
Their leagues are no "five-by-five" (no idea what that means but this is what they tell me with a chortle) and during draft day, they all sit at their computers all day long ... drafting and what not.
I've learned there are many Web sites for fantasy sports fanatics to keep up with stats like Rotoworld, and CBS sports has a fantasy section in addition to their regular sports news. There are also magazines specifically for fantasy sports.
The details of fantasy athletics have been explained to me several times by extremely excited parties but it's in one ear and out the other -- I prefer my sports live and in-person, and even that in moderation.
However, I've always been intrigued about this die-hard dedication to virtual sports so when I heard about a celebrity fantasy league last year, I decided to try it out.
Fafarazzi is aimed towards die-hard celeb followers. I'm not die-hard by any means but I do know my gossip-journalism quite well.
What you basically do is draft a "team" of celebrities who you think will be mentioned the most in the news.
According to Fafarazzi:
In addition, you can either join a pool or make your own pool with your friends. Basically this Celeb-style March Madness will determine who is the ultimate celebrity.
The Web site also has a ton of stories about celebrities compiled from gossip magazines
worldwide. You also get an e-mail that lists by points the top celebrity of the weeks and it's probably no surprise Britney Spears is the top scorer this week. (I am pretty excited to include a picture of her on this blog).
The basic league I attempted with my friends last year failed miserably. No one was really into it (including myself) and it seemed silly to spend a ton of time with our celebrity league.
But it seems as though the site is doing quite well and Entertainment Tonight even has their own league.
As fantasy baseball season is starting soon, I'm tempted to try Fafarazzi again -- but then again, maybe I'll better off just watching gossip T.V.
Photo courtesy Creative Commons user Disier.
My boyfriend and his friends for example have a baseball, hockey and football fantasy league. There was once a basketball league but that wasn't as successful and "amateur" in comparison. (I was in it but I did not do a single thing except name my team).
Their leagues are no "five-by-five" (no idea what that means but this is what they tell me with a chortle) and during draft day, they all sit at their computers all day long ... drafting and what not.
I've learned there are many Web sites for fantasy sports fanatics to keep up with stats like Rotoworld, and CBS sports has a fantasy section in addition to their regular sports news. There are also magazines specifically for fantasy sports.
The details of fantasy athletics have been explained to me several times by extremely excited parties but it's in one ear and out the other -- I prefer my sports live and in-person, and even that in moderation.
However, I've always been intrigued about this die-hard dedication to virtual sports so when I heard about a celebrity fantasy league last year, I decided to try it out.
Fafarazzi is aimed towards die-hard celeb followers. I'm not die-hard by any means but I do know my gossip-journalism quite well.
What you basically do is draft a "team" of celebrities who you think will be mentioned the most in the news.
According to Fafarazzi:
Scoring is based on Fafarazzi.com's automatic scoring method. Each time a celeb's full name is mentioned in the selected gossip blogs & entertainment news sources they will earn 1 point. You can read more about the scoring method here.Currently, there is a "March Madness" Fafarazzi league where:
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- 64 celebrities split into 4 sections (Movies, Music, TV & Socialites and Weirdos).
- Celebrities are ranked 1 to 16 in each section based on their historical points on Fafarazzi
- The tournament will begin on March 18th at 8am and end on April 5th at 8pm. (To coincide with the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament)
- The tournament has 5 rounds, semifinals and finals. Each round will consist of 3 to 5 days of scoring. Scores will be tallied from 8am to 8pm Eastern Time.
In addition, you can either join a pool or make your own pool with your friends. Basically this Celeb-style March Madness will determine who is the ultimate celebrity.
The Web site also has a ton of stories about celebrities compiled from gossip magazines
worldwide. You also get an e-mail that lists by points the top celebrity of the weeks and it's probably no surprise Britney Spears is the top scorer this week. (I am pretty excited to include a picture of her on this blog).The basic league I attempted with my friends last year failed miserably. No one was really into it (including myself) and it seemed silly to spend a ton of time with our celebrity league.
But it seems as though the site is doing quite well and Entertainment Tonight even has their own league.
As fantasy baseball season is starting soon, I'm tempted to try Fafarazzi again -- but then again, maybe I'll better off just watching gossip T.V.
Photo courtesy Creative Commons user Disier.
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