The Blog Patrol

Blogs are Powerful

2007-02-07T07:13:00.000-08:00

If you think that your blog isn't being heard, then think again. Bloggers have a voice and we demand to be heard. The thing about blogging content is that it never goes away. It is nicely archived and indexed by search engines and then what we say is later pulled up when someone searches for something.

See this article for example.

And since blogs are a great way to communicate to the world then I think it is important to communicate the fact that Villas at Chase Oaks apartment are a nightmare. I have 2 more rent payments and 3 more months until I can escape from this prison. The walls are so thin that I can hear my neighbors snoring through them. Every step they take is loud and on occasion the entire apartment seems to shake when they walk. If you do make the mistake and move into this hell hole, then be sure to get a top floor apartment so that you can be the annoyance to your neighbors and not the other way around.

Also, if you move here, be sure to lock your car or it will get stolen, heck, it might get stolen anyway or the windows might get smashed for no reason. And if you like poor management then this is definitely the place for you.

Villas at Chase Oaks suck!

Marry Me... 101 Reasons

2006-08-31T13:25:00.000-07:00

Turn your blog into a book like I did!

Click on the title of this blog post and you can purchase a copy or you can click here!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eddie Renz looks at dating and relationships in a new way. Marry Me… 101 Reasons is a romantic guide for men, a romantic treasure for women. Available now at Lulu.com

PLANO, TX—AUGUST 23, 2006— Eddie Renz wows men and women with a hilarious book that is intended to help him find his soul mate. With over 101 Reasons, why is he still not married? Read the book and you’ll be asking yourself the same question.

Marry Me… 101 Reasons is more than a coffee table book, it is a romantic feast that is sure to please the palate. You will luxuriate in its humor and bask in the after glow of the post coital-like bliss. Okay, that might be overstating it a bit, but you will love it. The book has over 25 illustrations that help add to the reader’s enjoyment.

Eddie Renz wrote Marry Me… 101 Reasons to help men and women learn how to treat each other better. Eddie feels that women normally sacrifice the most in a relationship, but not anymore. With this book, men and women don’t have to sacrifice anymore, it’s not a sacrifice when you are enjoying it. Marry Me… 101 Reasons is available for purchase at http://www.lulu.com/eddo some might say, “it is like chocolate in a room full of bran.”

“Women want men to be men,” said Eddie Renz. “But they still want them to be loving, understanding and kind. That is what this book is all about.”

Link to Publication: http://www.lulu.com/eddo

ABOUT AUTHOR
Eddie Renz is a dancer for the Dallas Mavericks and an avid blogger. His ideas about relationships stem from actually listening to women, watching his parents, and 3 years of working for Song of Solomon relationship conferences.

MEDIA CONTACT: Eddie Renz, eddo at postednote.com

Why does everyone love MYSPACE?

2006-06-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

After 6 years of successful blogging I have decided to title myself "Supreme Blogger Extraordinaire". That is the great thing about owning a blog, you can say whatever you want - it is your blog.

Now, my point about being the SBE is that as an SBE I know what good blogging is and what good blogging isn't. I also happen to know a thing or two about functionality and design and with that knowledge I can deduce that MYSPACE is a crap basket. MYSPACE is an unorganized hodge-podge that could have been amazing. The idea to put your music, photographs, blog, etc all in one space is genius, but having an unorganized ad-ridden way of doing it is elementary at best.

So yes, I have a MYSPACE, but I never update it.

I also have tried Moveable Type and Typepad by Sixapart which are like the super professional versions of blogging and online publishing tools. Yes, you get better organization and more control over your data, but because of the way the site template is created your ability to control the design is limited. With blogger, you may not have the ability to organize your archives by category, but blogger organizes them for you by month and if you really want to find out if I have written about Chocoloate on Posted Note then all you have to do is Google the words chocolate and posted note at the same time and Voila! all the posts I have written about chocolate are going to come up on my site.

So my vote still goes to Blogger for blogging ease of use and MYSPACE gets no votes due to it's unsophisticated layout, poor engineering, and overuse of annoying advertisements.

Blogs Can Hurt

2006-05-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

Um, Can I get a show of hands from all the people that have said something on their blog and then regretted it later?

Okay, that's what I thought, about half of you...

You would have thought by now that I would have learned. The first instance of blog pain that I caused was with a fellow blogger who thought I was talking about his site when I posted a blog titled, "Your site is Ugly and Boring." The post wasn't directed at anyone - REALLY - and it was just a joke to get a few people riled up. It did it's job well.

Subsequent comments on that post, and other posts that I wrote continued to make this user think that I was talking about him and his site. Simple mistake, big problem. I was later blasted on his site with an enumerated lists of all the reasons why I sucked. I was shocked, apalled, hurt, mortified, indignant, emotional, confused - all the things you feel when you are stabbed in the back by someone that you trust. Later there were many apologies and the air was cleared, but that didn't change the fact that people were hurt by a simple blog post.

Later I had a chance to meet 2 perfect strangers. A girl emailed me and wanted to meet - I agreed, she brought a friend, I didn't get along with the friend. I wrote a post that I really thought wasn't that harsh, but sometimes blog posts are interpreted wrong and so you have to be careful what you write. Even after I apologized this person continued to attack me, but I probably deserved some of it.

Then recently I wrote a passive-aggressive post, which by the way is the worst type of post, which really hurt a close friend and 1/2 of me was joking when I wrote the post but the other half was being mean and trying to prove a point - a really stupid point at that and it ended up being much worse than I expected and I felt like a real heel afterward. It was very humbling having to go and apologize, but I needed to be humbled.

So, after blogging now for 6 years I think I have pretty much learned what to do and what not to do when it comes to blogging and one of the "What Not to Do's" would be to say something in a blog that could be hurtful. Have the balls to say it to the person's face, or at least in a direct email, don't blast it on your blog for the world to read. Blogs are great for showing your own dirty laundry, but there is no need to include other's as well.

CONGRATS TOMKAT!!!

2006-04-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

What a GLORIOUS DAY!!! Tom Cruise and almost-wife-yet-brained-washed-hottie Katie birthed (silently of course... "Don't say a word woman or aliens will eat you")a healthy baby girl named "Suri". Experts say the name means "One with impending childhood trauma". The baby weighed 7 lbs and 7 ounces at birth (only 7 lbs after Tommy was said to have feasted on the chord and placenta! MISSION IAMPUKINGABLE!!!) It is the first Alien for Katie Holmes and is Tom's 3rd baby and ironically enough his third Hollywood Hottie (but this one is TRUE love... Seriously... I am not joking... she IS the ONE!) Nice work Tommy Boy... Nice work

I just thought we should all take a moment of silence (ummm Katie it's just like birth... NO TALKING WOMAN!! BOW DOWN TO LORD TOMKAT!!) in respect for this child and what she will have to go through. Tom will raise the baby as a Lyingtologist and it is said that Katie has embraced the "religion" also!

I love Scientology!! Nothing like a religion based on a science fiction writer!

In the late 1940s, pulp writer L. Ron Hubbard declared:

"Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion"
Reader's Digest reprint, May 1980, p.1

WOO HOO!!! SIGN ME UP!!!

Love you Tom and Katie!!!

kisses!

Steve

Father's Day Gift Baskets

2006-04-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a fathers day gift baskets to really make your father happy. I like to put a nice one together complete with airsoft guns, a Snap-On calendar for his tool shed, a couple sticks of beef jerky and a camoflauge bandana.

Every year dad gets the same thing - a stupid t-shirt with the words #1 Dad on it. This year, get him something he will really love!

I'm in luv with a flickr

2006-03-24T07:11:00.000-08:00

It's rockin' it's rollin
These pictures are golden
I'm in love with a flickr...

When I first started using flickr I thought it was just a great place to upload and store photos, however, it is SO.MUCH.MORE!

It has all these great features so you organize your photos into sets, create slide shows, leave comments, add contacts, etc. You can even blog about a picture on flickr and it will copy what you write and the picture you are writing about on your blog! How cool is that!?!

One of my favorite features about flickr is how it knows when your pictures were taken and what type of camera the pictures were taken with. Apparently this is digitally coded on your camera and so you don't have to do any work, flickr does it for you.

So yes, I am still a huge blog addict, but now I am starting to become a flickr addict. I just browse through great photos for hours on end while I listen to music from iTunes and sip on my Cinnamon Dolce Latte. I am sure that I am starting to fit some type of stereotype - and I am De-frickin'-lighted. Next thing you know I am going to buy a Mac.

Here are some cool flickr photos

Cool 1

Cool 2

Cool 3

Blogging is Informational

2006-03-20T16:32:00.000-08:00

I like to use blogs to do my online shopping. I can learn so much about products and services from sites like engagdet or bridesmaid gifts. But I can also learn about inane crap from sites like www.justsayjes.com or www.dooce.com .

What is more important than learning? Nothing. And what do blogs help you do? Learn.

So start blogging and start learning.

Hey, I used this line on here once already.

Blogitive

2006-03-19T14:32:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know that last post was about having too many ADS, but now if you want to MAKE MONEY BLOGGING then you can do it more than just with ADS. How cool is that?

At first I thought it might be hard to include things like Vioxx Lawyer in my blog posts, but it isn't. It only makes me as a blogger have to be more creative with my blogging skills. Not only that, my readers can learn something new and I can make money without annoying ADS popping up and making my design look busy - it is a WIN-WIN!

And if you have a blog that isn't getting much traffic, then maybe you need to consider using search engine marketing consultants to make your blog more visible?

If all else fails and you still need money and your blog isn't cutting it, then you can Buy Silver Bars which tend to appreciate and are more secure than putting your cashola in the stock market or trusting in Social Security.

So go make some money with your blog and tell them that the blog patrol sent you.

Enough with the Frickin' Ads Already!

2006-03-07T22:01:00.000-08:00

Okay, the ads, which are cool for making money, should not be the template or the wallpaper for your blog.

I am so sick of going to sites and I can't find the content because there are 800 ads on the page. Even worse, is when the page is covered with ads and then you also get the combined fun of the pop-up ad.

We all want to make a little cash on the side, but take a page out of Dooce's book. Put ads up, but make the site still aesthetically pleasing and combine it with some hilarious content. Dooce has mastered this art, most of the rest of the blogospere hasn't.

So, let's use the 70/30 rule - the maximum amount of space on your site that should be covered with ads is 30 percent. If you have more than this, then I plan to send a ping attack to your hosting server as well as a series of viruses that will implode your site and will email all of your friends and tell them what a huge dweeb you are - and yes, we just used the word dweeb, we are totally bringing it back. We can do stuff like that, we are the frickin' blog patrol!

That Super Long Blog Roll Needs A Trim!

2006-02-28T13:51:00.000-08:00

I rememeber when I first started blogging back in 1999. My first site was www.thesilverchair.com and it was horrific. Poor design, boring babble, bad site name - the perfect combination to win the "Most boring blog award". Fortunately, I evolved and so did blogging.

I wrote something new all the time creating new journal entries manually. Later, I found out about blogger, but I didn't understand anything about it and so I didn't use it until 2003. "Web Logging" really started to take off about that time and soon everyone around me was getting into blogging, but blogger really didn't take off until it added the ability to leave comments.

With the ability to get instant feedback, praise junkies everywhere were, and still are, signing up for blogs. Moveable Type, Typepad, Squarespace, Wordpress - these guys came along with a fancier better way of doing online publishing, but they still don't beat the ease of use and affordability of blogger. With more and more bloggers came more and more friends and of course that "Links" bar on the side of your page turned into a "Blog Roll".

The blog roll started out with a few close blogger buddies, but before long it metamorphosed into this giant list of everyone's blog that ever left a comment on your site. Some people (Fred, Saur, Edgy Mama, Cubicle Reverend, Molicious) have really long blog rolls, but I have seen much worse.

As an avid blogger I have a list of about 15 sites that I do read religiously. However, I do have a real life and I can't spend all day and all night reading blogs and so I only put my must reads on my list. So that made me think, "Do people really read all the blogs of the people on their blog roll, or were they guilted in to adding them to the list?" "Was it a case of blog roll swappage? I'll scratch your blog if you'll scratch mine?" I don't know, but some of you guys need to trim those rolls because they are getting a little bushy.

What do you think the blog roll limit should be? Personally, I think 20 should be the max and since I created this dang blog patrol, I am going to give citations to anyone with more than 20 people on their rolls.

So let it be written, so let it be done!

Blogs that Teach

2006-01-30T09:07:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blogs is French Word a Day.

The daily entries are not only interesting, but they are used to teach the reader a little French along the way.

Another favorite of mine is Cameron Moll. His tutorial entitled "That Wicked Worn Look" is one of the best photoshop tutorials for making something look distressed.

Blogs are changing the way we live. We are expressing ourselves more and learning more every day.

So start today and blog your way to a better you!

2006 Naked Weigh-In!

2006-01-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

People all over the world, join hands, start a fat - a fat train!

Each year many Americans set out with this same goa to lose weightl, but few succeed. Why is that? I am not exactly sure why, but I thought it would be cool to browse around and find blogs that deal with dieters in 2006.

Here are some I found:

2006 Naked Weigh-In (I really like this title)

Slob Style

Fat Gecko

It pays to comment.

2005-12-20T19:38:00.000-08:00

I found Slackers With Advanced Degrees by way of a comment left here on BlogPatrol. After reading most of the posts, I can say it's funny and well-written. Of course, if this guy really has an advanced degree, one could hope for a slightly higher degree of writting. Ha! Maybe that's where the slacking comes in?

The moral of the story: Post a frickin' comment, will ya?

Merry Christmas, all!

Merry CHRISTmas Everyone!!

2005-12-19T09:56:00.000-08:00

I (Steve from "Following God's Will/Into the Mirror") wanted to slide on over and wish everyone that happens upon THE BLOG PATROL a very Merry CHRISTmas.

yeah yeah... I made the "CHRIST" part bigger. I am "one of those people" that feels we are moving away from the true message and meaning of Christmas. Even people who don't believe in Christ realize that CHRISTmas is about HIS birth... right? Don't you? I don't think anyone can really argue that fact (fact is SUCH a good word here...)

Here is what I don't get.... If everyone knows it WHY are there those that try and change it? Did the non-believers feel like they were being left out? Truth is you weren't left out at all... the fact that you don't believe will NEVER change the FACT that Christ was sent to earth for YOU. DIED for YOU.

because He loves YOU that much.

Merry CHRISTmas

oh... and of course

God is Good!!

What if there was a Blog Apprentice?

2005-12-07T18:51:00.000-08:00

In order to be part of The Blog Patrol you have to know what it takes in order to succeed in the blog world. What is more, you have to be willing to work hard, to comment, to write, to be creative and to always put forth your very best if you want to succeed.

After looking around the blogosphere it is obvious that some people continue to miss the mark with their blogs. Ugly blogs to the left, fat blogs to the right, mommy blogs, daddy blogs, dog blogs, it is all very overwhelming and we don't like it.

If we could, we would go around and fire people from blogging. If we could Trump you with a "You're Fired" we could and would spend the rest of our lives firing people. We don't have time for that and truthfully, we really aren't as mean as we like to make you think we are...

What we are about is helping people acheive their very blogger best and so like Martha Stewart's Apprentice we will just very sweetly tell you, "you just don't fit in" and then we will write you a note telling you about all of the things that you are good at - none of which have anything to do with blogging.

So go and tidy up your blog, get your house in order - cause The Blog Patrol is coming to town and we expect more than just milk and cookies.

Merry Christmas!

P.S. If you are reading this then you might infer that I just finished watching Martha Stewart Apprentice and that I was bored as crap and felt like blogging, but really had nothing better to blog about. I give myself a citation -5 points for a boreblog post.

Ask For Help!

2005-11-16T12:55:00.000-08:00

I continue to go around the blog world and I see ugly blogs. I realize that many new bloggers want to add their own style. They want a unique header, they want personlization and individuality but they lack the ability to do either.

Some people out there are nice enough to spend their time designing templates for bloggers for free. And there are also lots of tools that can help you to design and create something for yourself, or just slightly edit something that someone else designed.

Some of my favorite blogger template sites are:

Blog Jacket
Blogger Templates
Noipo.org
blogplates

Of course BlogJacket is my side business and so I want you to go to that one and use mine, but if you aren't going to use my templates, then I want you to know where to find others that are FREE!

One thing to remember, when it comes to something new, don't expect to get it right the first time. If you like to design, then practice, practice, practice. Few people are blessed with abilities, normally their abilities are achieved through years of hard work and repitition.

Also, I use PowerPoint to design most of my images and I also use Clip Art and Photoshop to edit my images. Don't try to reinvent the wheel, just improve upon it!

And lastly, never be afraid to ask for help. There are people that will be more than happy to assist you with your design ideas and your tweaking. I am one of those people.

Happy Blogging!

New Blogs are easy. Good new blogs are hard.

2005-10-30T09:33:00.000-08:00

The title says it all, I think. It's hard to burst onto the scene with a blog that is both interesting and well written. New bloggers tend to write long diatribes that are unorganized and poorly written. There are those who will write multiple short entries that are still unorganized and poorly written.

I set out today on an internet journey for a new blog that was worthy of a pat on the back. I had very low standards for qualifying blogs: the blog must be no older than three months, no typos, pictures must be included, and the stories had to be interesting. (This is pretty much the criteria I have for most books that I buy.)

I actually found one. Bo Ba Log is funny, well written and has pictures. Granted, they're pictures of contortionist, but that's what makes them interesting. I'm not sure why Jim Bo uses pictures of contortionists. Maybe he buried the explaination deep inside his blog. Stop by and check it out.

Chad (email me)

The Erin O'Brien Owner's Manual for Human Beings

2005-10-28T13:36:00.000-07:00

Her brother wrote the book Leaving Las Vegas, she is a published author as well. She is very funny though and I find myslef compelled to read everything she writes despite the fact that she hasn't written all that much.

I love the blogosphere because of it's unique ability to allow you to meet so many new people with very little effort. A few laughs here, a new relationship there and your life is suddenly more fulfilling - and if not your life, at least your job - if you sit in front of a computer like a great many of us blog addicts do.

Click on the Title of this post to check out her site!

Can I welcome myself to the Blog Patrol?

2005-10-25T13:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you for the invite Eddo!

In honor of my first post I am gonna break it down some!!!

CLICK RIGHT HERE!!!!

Fast Eddie's Bullet

2005-10-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

A recent favorite read of mine is Fast Eddie's Bullet. Fast Eddie is not his name, his name is Len, I don't know why he titled his blog Fast Eddie's Bullet, but now that he has that name and my name is Eddie then I want that name as well as Posted Note.

Anyway, Len is a great writer, a great blogger, and he is married to the delightful Amberbamberboo. Go read both of their sites and tell them the Blog Patrol sent you.

Also, Len pointed out these statistics that he pulled from Technorati.

As of October 2005, Technorati is now tracking 19.6 Million weblogs
The total number of weblogs tracked continues to double about every 5 months
The blogosphere is now over 30 times as big as it was 3 years ago, with no signs of letup in growth
About 70,000 new weblogs are created every day
Around one new weblog is created every second
2% - 8% of new weblogs per day are fake or spam weblogs
Between 700,000 and 1.3 Million posts are made each day
About 33,000 posts are created per hour, or 9.2 posts per second
An additional 5.8% of posts (or about 50,000 posts/day) seen each day are from spam or fake blogs, on average

Blogging is the future people. If you ain't blogging, you ain't cool.

Self-serving post

2005-10-12T17:43:00.000-07:00

So it's been a few weeks, nay, months, since I last posted on the infamous pages of PostedNote. I'm sure my abscence was noted and my speedy return awaited with baited breath. Unfortunately, this is not going to be a post of my usual calibre.

A little self-serving announcment. I've finally gotten my own domain name. While it took Eddo a few days to get the spelling right (it took me even longer, something like three years), I've noticed most of the links are still outdated. So here's your chance, to not only visit, in my humble opinion, a great site, but also to capture my link for a future visit.

Not every post is a great gem of wisdom to live by, more often than not, you'll find something to laugh about and, occassionally, something to cry about. So come by and join me for a laugh or a rant. I promise you won't be disappointed. If you are, you're standards are way too high.

www.temperamentalblender.com

blender at temperamentalblender dot com.

God Blogs

2005-10-11T09:12:00.000-07:00

There are an overwhelming number of reason's to blog. Some of them are to share photos, illustrations, videos, and other forms of creative artwork. I've seen some great blogs that were instructional, I would call them, "How-to" blogs. The majority of blogs seem to be about self-expression and lately I have seen more and more "God Blogs".

What is a God Blog?

A God Blog is a blog that is not about talking about yourself so much as it is about talking about God and religion. Catholic priests are now using blogging as a way to journal. Pastors are writing devotional's online, and regular Joe's and Jane's are sharing their walk with God with hopes to reach out to others.

When it comes to God, I encourage blogging about him, but at the same time to always be respectful of other's beliefs.

One of Covey's seven habits of highly effective people is that "first you have to listen before you can expect to be heard." Don't expect people to just believe in God because you do, and don't treat them like they are stupid if they believe something different. You don't change people's ideas and beliefs over night, and you don't change them just by telling them over and over that they are wrong, you have to help them to see that your way is right - and you better have some good info to back it up.

That's all for today - Remember to Love thy Neighbor!

The Blog Hiatus

2005-10-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes people get into blogging for the wrong reasons. Like any hobby, blogging is something that you do for yourself. You should not blog to impress a girl or guy, to make money, or to get fired from your job. All these things may result indirectly from your blog, but they should not be the reason for its existence.

Lately I see people more and more taking a blog hiatus or a sabbatical from their blogging. Why? Isn't a blog a retreat from the everyday? Shouldn't your blog be your escape? Why are you trying to escape from your blog?

I have to wonder when I see people not blogging what their motives are. I often feel that they are being passive aggressive, they are trying to get their readers to scream out, "We need you, please keep blogging, we can't live without you, you are the reason for my existence!"

Here I have to borrow a phrase from Dr. Phil - "Get Real People!" There are millions of blogs out there and so if you stop blogging your readers will just pop over to another blog and fill that void in their life.

If you decide to stop blogging because you fear for your life, then you probably divulged too much information. You should never post your Social Security Number, Address, phone number, date of birth, and credit card information online! Dummy! There are crazies out there and they will stalk you if you give them an opportunity - so don't!

And lastly, if you feel like you are addicted to blogging then that is just stupid, there is no such thing as blogging too much. Just tell your wife, your children, and your friends that you will spend much more time getting to know them if they start a blog of their own! Trust me, I have learned so much more about my close friends and family through their blogs. There really is no need for face-to-face communication, no need, just tell your friends to shut up and blog!

So in conclusion, there is never a reason for a blog hiatus unless you are running for your life, and even then you can stop in an internet cafe and post smething every once in a while.

-eddo

Murder Mystery Blog!

2005-09-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

Like Red Riding Hood or Hansel and Gretel I often find myself hopping through the forest - the blog forest that is...

Sometimes on my way to Grandma's house I stop along the way for something delightful, not at the Witches house where Hansel and Gretel ended up, no, I prefer something tangy and sour and so I always stop by Saurkraut's site because she has always cooked up something delectable to eat.

Currently Saurkraut has a Mutual Murder Mystery posted where the readers actually get to comment and write part of the story. I hurried through the comments and caught up on the story so that I too could join in on the fun - and join in I did!

If you are looking for a great blog and a great story that you can be a part of, head over to her site and check out "The Murder of Crabby Crenshaw"!

Call Him Al - Albert Einsten that is...

2005-09-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

Recently redesigned, You Can Call Me Al finally looks as brilliant as its content.

Alan is an Airforce pilot and a great friend of mine. We are the most unlikely of friends, but we have a few things that bind us together: Love of God, America, and Dr. Pepper. His mom also makes some great cookies and so that is another reason to be friends with Al.

Anyway, the point of this post is that recently Alan posted a wonderful piece about gas prices, blaming of the president, and the power of supply and demand.

This post is a BP MUST READ - check it out:

Why Doesn't the President Do Anything?

The Beauty of Blogging

2005-08-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

Chad of Tempermental Blender fame posted something glorious on his site yesterday and I must recommend that everyone rush over there and read it immediately. In his post he explores the beauty of the written word and then continues to pretty up the pages with a couple of great stories about his grandmother and his brother.

Drama Mama posted a piece that was pointed out to me this week by another blogger. I read this incredibly tragic story about a girl who lost a piece of herself in an effort to gain something that we all want so badly - love. Go read this story and then go and hug your daughters and your sons and make sure that they don't feel that they need to give up something sacred just to feel good about themselves.

Each day I get up and I log on to my computer and I read about what is going on in people's lives. I laugh and I cry and sometimes I stare in wonder and awe at how people live and make through the day-to-day despite the ups and downs that life gives us.

Sometimes I log on bursting with something I can't wait to post. I love to hammer out something witty or something poignant and sad. I like to know what I say makes people think. I like knowing that what I write down on the page may be read by many, or no one at all and that even if no one reads it, the fact that I wrote it makes me feel better.

Blogging is therapeutic. Blogging is a way to meet people and to learn about people and often times more about yourself.

Blogging is Beautiful and so are you...

eddo of postednote

It's Here! A Petition to Remove Andy Milonakis from MTV

2005-08-17T11:52:00.000-07:00

Give me an inch, and I'll take a mile. I recently "found" another site that I must share because it is an issue close to my heart:

Seeing the removal of Andy Milonakis from MTV airtime.

There is a petition online to have him removed. Granted, it is a brand-new site and doesn't have much clout right now…but give or take a couple months and it should take off!! If you support the removal of Andy Milonakis from MTV, please sign the petition. You even get something for free!

What? Did someone mention the word FREE? YES! Just for visiting and signing the petition, you get a FREE BUTTON to put on your own site, which will link back to the petition. The site owner even promises to customize it to the color scheme of your own site, if you wish.

WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN THAT?!? Never having to hear the nasal, whining voice of Andy Milawankas again, AND getting a free button for your own site! I'm off to get my button & sign the petition…

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION!!!

--Jes

Bitch, please!

2005-07-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

I've found another new fave. I can't get enough of this site! The sense of humor incorporated throughout keeps me laughing, and laughing, and laughing. Out loud.

And then JJB comes into my office and asks me to shut the door, because really, is anything really THAT funny?

Bitch, please! Check it out NOW.

-jes

Better Than You Think

2005-07-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been doing some design work for pay and it has been nice. The funny thing is that growing up I never thought I was very good at drawing or design. Over the years I had people tell me that I had a good eye for design and eventually I started to realize that maybe I do.

I watched a movie once where this girl found herself locked in a basement. While in the basement she happened upon a violin and was able to play it by ear immediately. Eventually she played it in High School and ended up getting a scholarship to a great school for her playing ability.

I actually drew this in PowerPoint and edited it very little in "MS Picture It!"

http://www.postednote.com/images/yogahu1.jpg

It was never really used for anything and it's not super great, but I enjoyed the process trying out new shades of color and trying to illustrate something despite my very limited drawing expertise.

So what is my point? My point is that you may need to unlock your inner design child by branching out and trying some design of your own. I started with Microsoft Word and started creating "Word Art". I then moved on to PowerPoint and only recently have I played with Photoshop 7.0.

I used to get frustrated because I wasn't good at something and other people were better. Now I realize that the reason they are better is because they worked hard at it, or they were naturally gifted. For those of us that weren't gifted, we have to work hard and in the end you might find that you are better than you think.

2005-07-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

I'm a little distressed that I haven't discovered this blog before. Working in the legal field, I am well acquainted with law-office drama. Thankfully, I work for a corporation and am no longer involved in the drama. However, I do have friends still suffering in firms, and occasionally I live vicariously through them.

A young woman moved from NY to TX with her boyfriend. She was working for a firm, and while she somewhat masked it for her site, I have no fears about being obvious and revealing which firm she worked for to everyone.

In the fall she will begin law school; but in the meantime she is working as a temp and chronicling her life as such.

The blog, while new, is a great read. Visit her here: KIM PLAINTIVE.

-jes

Not amused with your Muse?

2005-07-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

I have to write. It's in me. There's no escaping that itch. I'm one of the lucky ones, or cursed ones (depending on your perspective), in that I always have something to write about.

But what if you don't? What happens when you can't quite scratch that writing itch? Have no fear. I've come across a few sites that may provide that tickle of spritus to breathe life into your blog.

What to write:

Essay this!

Blogging for Books (Thanks, AF)

Write Source

Can Teach

Writer's Digest

What not to write:

Query Letters

Some of the links above are intended for grade school teachers. Who cares? Make the topic work for you. Good luck!

Chad

The Tease

2005-07-06T05:44:00.000-07:00

A great marketing strategy, the tease, has been implented over at:

http://apartyhappening.blogspot.com

However, I had to cite this blog today with the TEASEBLOG citation because a good tease cannot be left up for more than 3 days unless it is stated in said Tease that the new post will not be posted for "x" number of days.

Could you imagine if a grocery store advertised that it was going to have steak on sale... eventually! People would go to the store repeatedly hoping to get this quality meat at a discounted price only to find NO MEAT AT ALL! Livid, they would march right to the manager and lodge a complaint. Soon there would be protestors and quite possibly riots.

This is why the Blog Patrol is here. We don't want your blog to start a riot in the blogosphere. Unsatisfied readers can be angry readers and angry readers leave hurtful comments. We at the Blog Patrol don't want that and so when we leave a blogger a citation it is merely for their own good.

At the Blog Patrol - we're bloggers too.

eddo

NEW BLOG ALERT.

2005-06-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you have to just love PURE arrogance. A case in point:

Johan Bach

The name of his blog you ask?

SoFreakinHot

Somehow you just have to respect a guy who is both (aparently) "So Freakin Hot" and humorous. I am sure the girls are swooning all over him... although I am not sure he can see it. It's hard to notice these things when you are arrogant and in love with yourself.

Needless to say, I am interested in seeing how this blog develops. Believe me... I think we are in for a ride.

Comma, Comma, Comma, Comma, Chamelion

2005-06-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned The Phantom Prof on this site before, but if you haven't been over to her site let me tell you - it is a must read.

Not only does she have great college tales that no one else has dared to tell, she also gives great advice.

Recently I emailed her after reading one of her posts. I mentioned in that email that I have no idea when to use a comma and that oft times I use the comma splice like Emeril uses seasonings. I just throw them in willy nilly - bam - a comma, here, bam, a comma there - bam, bam, bam. You get the idea.

Elaine a.ka. The Phantom Prof was nice enough to respond with an email that has some really great tips. Please pardon her lack of capitalization, in the emails she always types everything lowercase and she had no idea that I was going to share this information with the rest of the internet.

commas are simple. they represent a pause. they break up items in a list. they serve as separators between nouns and sometimes between adjectives. the main rules are just a few.

in direct address, as in "Eddo, you need to use a comma," you need a comma after the name of the person you're addressing.(this is one NO ONE seems to do correctly
anymore.)

you need commas when you use month, date and year: He was
born January 7, 2005, in Dallas. (note the commas before AND after the
year)

ditto when you mention city AND state within a
sentence: Eddo traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii, on his recent
vacation.

put commas and most other marks INSIDE punctuation marks.
as in: "Eddo, we'll eat at five," said Martha.

in a list of adjectives, you use commas to separate them only if you could substitute the word AND instead of the comma. for example, you'd use them here: He wore a yellow, red, white and blue bandanna on his head.

But you wouldn't need the commas if you said, "His head was covered by a ragged red cotton bandanna." Because you'd never say "ragged and red and cotton
bandanna."

does that make sense? really, it's easy. pause. list.
dates. city/state. adjectives/AND.

I hope that all of this is helpful.

Blog on my blogging brothas and sistas!

contributed by: eddo of posted note

Be Perry Mason, in five simple steps.

2005-06-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

The ability to effectively construct an argument is essential to many different tasks. A writer or speaker must know how to construct a sound argument in order to be successful. Customer service, teaching, sales, or even waiting on tables can all benefit from the skills of argumentation.

I was taught five steps to an effective argument. These have nothing to do with the actual delivery of an argument, such as speaking or writing the argument. These steps take the audience of your argument from one position, either support or opposition, to the opposing position. In some ways, you can effectively argue a subject before an audience that knows little of the subject matter and convince them, through your preparation and systematic approach, to support your point of view.

Houston, we have a problem.
The first step in any argument is conflict. Tastes great or less filling. Peanuts or plain. Mounds or almond joy. Conflicting ideas are essential to creating an argument. Otherwise, everyone would agree and there would be no need to argue. What fun would that be?

You should first establish that a problem exists. This is the point of your argument where definitions are presented. Let there be no ambiguity about the meaning of terms or variables. Define the terms in a manner that is supportive of your final position. Use statistics sparingly. Use the rule of three: Three facts in support of each point. Statistics should be, at most, one of the three facts to support your point.

I just cleaned up this place!
It is not enough to establish the existence of your problem. The next step of your argument is to prove that the problem will continue unabated. Who cares if there are too many unemployed computer programmers? Will it continue, or more importantly, will this problem get worse? Why would anyone be spurred to action if a problem won’t continue? Any opposition to your position will attack this portion of your argument with the tenacity of a cockroach.

I always over prepared myself with statistics and facts for this part of my argument. I would rarely use more than one or two in the initial presentation of my position. I found joy in tearing my opponent apart with fact after fact after fact when they had the gall to pick on this portion of my argument.

Of course, I have a plan. I always have a plan.
Once you have firmly established the existence of your problem and the continuity of the problem, you must now present a solution. This is the longest and most detailed part of any argument.

Each part of your plan is referred to as a plank. Think of a plank as a board in a deck. You have to have a complete plan, else there would be holes in the floor and your argument wouldn’t hold any weight. Each plank has to be supported by documentation, either examples or statistics. Remember, anybody can come up with statistics to back their argument. In fact, 67% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

Yeah, but can we get dental with that?
Here’s where you point out all of the benefits of your argument. Whether it’s decreasing global warming or reducing the number of mismatched socks, everyone needs a little bright spot in their lives. Never underestimate your argument’s contribution to society. Pick a particular plank of your plan an exhaust the possibilities of how that plank can improve the problem.

I once heard an argument that by decreasing the number of people who smoke tobacco, war could be averted. The argument followed a simple logic that went something like this: smoking causes diseases, which increase medical costs, which increases insurance costs, which increases the cost of living, which increases poverty, which increases the deficit spending, which leads to war. Avoiding war is a great reason to decrease the number of smokers. After all, who really wants war?

A similar advertisement campaign was launched after 9/11, which compared buying drugs to supporting terrorists. I believe the ad was aimed less at drug users than to convince people to inform on drug users.

Because you weren’t really paying attention . . .
The last part of any argument is the summary. Here’s were you get your chance to play a highlight reel of your best points. They’ve heard it all before, so you can skip being really detailed. If you use an outline, this would be the opportunity to reiterate your main points, without restating the supporting documentation.

When I worked for customer service, we lived by the credo of “tell them what you’re going to do, tell them what you’re doing, and tell them what you did.” Politicians call this “staying on message.” Go back to the Presidential debates in both 2000 and 2004. Count the number of times Al Gore said “risky tax scheme.” Or count the number of times in 2004 where George Bush accused John Kerry of saying, “wrong war a the wrong time.” That was the message they wanted people to hear. This is your opportunity to have people hear your message. Use it.

Make it work for you.
So there you have it, a simple look at a sound argument style. You can make this work for you in writing persuasive papers, putting together a compelling speech, or even just winning an argument with your spouse. Well, maybe it won’t work on your spouse.

Now go pick a fight,

Chad

You HAVE got to be kidding me folks.

2005-06-21T07:06:00.000-07:00

Are you kidding me? I can't believe all the uproar in the blogoshpere about "The Blog Patrol." Can any of you not see the humor in all of this?? Here are a couple of people that have gotten together to have a little fun. Not to insult anyone... but to encourage people... at least after my first entry and then we (as some have said, "the elite" of the blog patrol) had a discussion to ensure that there were ground rules because our goal was not to offend others but to have a little fun. I made the mistake of handing out a citation that was interpreted as mean spirited and I felt bad. I appologized to the guy and explained that that was not my intent. Notice to the right of us that not one blog is listed under the "Craters" probably because we are being over cautious on offending others. Again, this is not our intent. It IS a website that has some useful tips that WILL improve your blog if you follow them. If you don't then, well, you may continue to have an ordinary blog in our "humble" opinion. We are just a group of friends... some in real life, some on the web... that are trying to help others improve. If you label me as "elite" come read my blog and you will soon find out that I get (on average) about 9 comments per post... not stellar by any length of the means. People are upset because we have an opinion? Give me a break... isn't that what all blogs are about... sharing your opinions... right or wrong, we are entitled to an opinion. Lighten up folks... or the "elite will hunt you down." (In case you missed it... that was sarcasm.)

Have a great day everybody... Blog on my friends!

Ben of MiM

A promising entry into the world of blogs...

2005-06-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

Every now and then, there is the birth of a new blog that makes people turn their head and say, "Wow. That blog has potential." Such is the case of a new blog that recently happened into the neighborhood. With a smooth creative style of writing and a slightly fun and twisted perspective on life, impatientchicken is just such a blog. While it is only her second day of writing, she has captured my loyalties and has intrigued me already. I am excited to see how this blog unfolds. Her next step is to hire blog jacket to "spruce" the place up a bit... although, with her writing style, I would come back and visit often... even without the "bells and whistles." Stop by and visit her... you won't be let down.

More than Words...

2005-06-13T16:12:00.000-07:00

Patrolling the blogosphere today I ran across some photo blogs that I really liked. I decided to do some searches to see if I could find some really great photo blogs and these are the ones that really impressed me.

sensitivelight

jimbus

brownglasses

lowresolution

I only placed these 4 here because I know everyone is busy blogging and commenting and you don't have time to go out and look at 50 different websites. I looked at about 50 myself today and found these were my favorites.

Johan d'Anvers of Holland was on my list, however, I lost his blogspot address and I can't seem to find it no matter how I input his name into Google. Johan, if you stop by, please leave your site address so we can stop in and say hello.

If you see a great photo blog, or you know of others that are as amazing as the ones above, then please leave the addy in the comments section so we can explore them.

Next on my list to patrol - Illustration Blogs.

Happy Blogging!

Read, Learn, Create

2005-06-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

The Blog Patrol is, I think, about helping the blogsphere along to excellence. We point out bad blogs to encourage them to become better. It's not an ego trip nor is our endeavor mean-spirited. The Blog Patrol is akin to pointing out the spinach stuck in your teeth. It's for your own good. It's what friends do.

How exactly do you create excellence if you've never known what excellence looks like? I've always felt that I couldn't be a good writer without reading good writers. I don't want to copy or mimic anyone's style, but reading a great story often shows me the basic steps to writing my own great story. The problem becomes finding great writers.

Over on the right side of this blog is a good resource for great sites. Read those sites for great writing and content. If you don't see anything that tickles your fancy, check out their links. It's amazing what you can find by following random links in the blogsphere.

I found another great site in just such a manner: Lightning Bug's Butt. The design is plain, but the content is edgy and funny. I've come across a few things that I didn't like while reading the Lightning Bug's Butt. That's ok. Controversy is a great way to lure people from lurkers to posters.

So go out there and see what you can find. You never know how it will make you a better blogger.

One Blog, Two Blog, Red Blog, Blue Blog

2005-06-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

I've decided to actually contribute to the BP. I wasn't sure what to rights and responsibilities came with membership to the BP. Being a guy, i.e. never reading/getting directions, I charged full steam ahead into Blog Patrolling. I was hoping to find a blog of note and a bad blog. Let's face it. Finding a bad blog is like finding a hair on a dog. There are so many to choose.

Teachers make the best bloggers.

I found this link by using the random blog button on my site. I read the first few posts and browsed some of the older posts. Overall, this blog is well written and entertaining. Punctuation and spelling were within tolerable limits. So stop by and check it out. Those of us with children, or spouses who act like children, will appreciate the content of "Big A little a."

Somewhere there is an opening for Village Idiot.

I'm not sure what citation to give this guy. I decided to load this guy up with as many as possible. Good grief, what a travesty.

"Albert, you are being issued three citations for your blog. You are being issued a BoreBlog citation for lack of interesting content. You are being issued a TypoBlog citation for lack of spelling and grammatical prowess. Lastly, you are being issued a NarcissBlog citation for making yourself more important than you really are. You have 21 days to respond. Should you fail to respond within the allotted time, we will come after you. Thank you for your cooperation. Please, Blog safely."

New Blog Patrol Member

2005-06-07T10:17:00.000-07:00

It is with great pleasure, nay, extreme delight, no that is not good either...

It is with great pleasure, extreme delight, and with honor that I bring to you the newest member of The Blog Patrol - Tempermental Blender - Chad Smith

Why did I invite him to join? Because I really enjoy his poetic writing style, his blog is simple and clean and... and he paid me to add him - Just Kidding!

I am delighted that the Blog Patrol contines to grow and with new growth and diversity we will be able to reach more people, more blogs, and the blogging world will be a better place!

Welcome aboard Chad!

Viva La Blog!

That "Blog Star" Look

2005-06-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

What constitutes a Blog Star? The question has been posed on numerous occasions and today I am going to answer it.

1. Great writing style. I love to read a well-written blog - who doesn't? Vivid descriptions, nice use of metaphors and simile's, and well written anecdotes are all things that the Blog Patrol looks for when assigning Blog Star status.

2. Design. If you are forced to use a standard template, no big deal, but try to infuse the design with some of your own creativity. See http://thesquareslant.blogspot.com for example. And if you can get a custom template, then by all means - do.

3. Consistency. I like to go to a blog that is updated frequently. There is nothing more irritating to me than going to a favorite blog only to find that they haven't updated in two weeks and they haven't given a reason for not updating. Unless you are dead, you need to update - consistently.

Those are the core ingredients to a Super Star blog. If your blog hasn't been nominated for super star status then perhaps it is time you took a look at your blog, get out the turtle wax, shine it up a bit, and then bring it to our attention - we might just give you the very coveted Blog Star Award.

Nomination for a Super Star

2005-06-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

We have a new Super Star amongst us. Miz Peg of "A Senior Moment" is our newest Star.
She has been nominated because not only does she have to keep her daughters, Square Slant and The Staff Sergeant's Wife , in line as they fight about "who mom loves most", she is also my (our) favorite 67 year old blogger. Taking a risk and joining the world of "youngsters" she can hold her own.

The only thing that would make her blog better is LL Cool J singing in the back ground... "I'm gonna knock you out... Mamma said knock you out..."

Stop by and congratulate her... (you won't be disappointed.) Don't forget to tell her the blog patrol sent you!

Miz Peg-

Feel free to use one of our buttons on your site to "tell the world" that You are a Blog Patrol "Blog Star." Congrats once again!

Aloha from the Blog Patrol

2005-06-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

While in Hawaii I wasn't able to do as much patrolling as I would have liked. What I have noticed, however, is that there have been more people patrolling the BP. That is the thing about being in a position of power, everyone is watching to see if you will fall. We are not silly like Martha Stewart doing insider trading, nor are we like Donald Trump over-leveraging our assets and almost going bankrupt.

Fortunately, the Blog Patrol is like a cat and when we fall - we always land on our feet.

I am thinking about getting some Blog Patrol T-Shirts and even having some Blog Patrol contests that involve actual prizes. However, the Blog Patrol is very busy patrolling and so we have very little time implement many of our wonderful ideas.

On a side note: Has anyone seen any great blogs lately? Perhaps one that you would like to nominate as a "Blog Star"? If so, please drop us a line in the comments section of this post.

Just Blog it!

Blog Maverick - Mark Cuban's Blog

2005-05-31T10:57:00.000-07:00

While patroling the blog neighborhood I ran across a blog that peaked my interest. It is Mark Cuban's blog - Blog Maverick.

Considering the amount of cashola that he has I was surprised to find that his blog is really plain and filled to the brim with geek links. I guess it is true what they say, "Once a geek, always a geek". (Do "they" really even say that? I don't know, but they should.)

I then read his current blog entry and I realized why he didn't take up writing as a career. Plagued by grammatical errors and an inefficient writing style - Blog Maverick should receive a "grammo-wammo" citation - the newest citation being delivered by The Blog Patrol.

The only reason I didn't give him the "grammo-wammo" citation was because I am sure Mark is very busy and I am actually quite surprised and pleased that he is blogging at all. Like Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson I will allow Mr. Cuban's celebrity status to allow him to skirt the law this time. However, if he keeps breaking the blog laws then I will be forced to reign down on him with BP fury.

As for the rest of you out there in the blogosphere - keep blogging and remember that big brother is indeed watching.

Blog Killers

2005-05-25T13:57:00.000-07:00

Today is a sad day for me. I just went to theordinarydad.com and found that he is no longer blogging. At first there was denial. I said "No, No, this can't be happening, I WON'T BELIEVE IT!" And then reality set in and I started to accept it - but I sure as heck didn't like it.

Bloggers, if you are going to kill your blog then you need to give a darn good reason for doing so. You can't just kill and run leaving us all left feeling cheated and hollow. I need closure people.

Blogging is about relationships and when someone finally decides to end that relationship they need to give at least 10 reasons, when they first felt that the relationship was breaking down. Why, were they feeling threatened? Were they actually threatened? Were they bored? Were we not giving enough feedback? Was it too much feedback?

If I don't get the necessary closure then don't be surprised if I don't hound you with repetitive emails and phone calls, leaving long emails on your answering machine, and begging you to come back.

And... don't let me catch you killing your blog while I am on vacation either - that is a huge "NO No!"

A Nicer, Kinder Blogosphere

2005-05-19T01:51:00.000-07:00

As I’m coming up on six intense months of blogging, I have decided that I now qualify as a Blog Etiquette Queen (see what happens when you give me power, Eddo?).

Here are a few thoughts on blogging etiquette that, if followed, should contribute to healthy long-term relationships between you and other bloggers:

1. Comment. It’s okay to lurk a few times to see if this is a blog you want to flirt with, propose to, or marry. Don’t be wishy-washy, though. After a few visits, it’s rude not at least say hi. Give feedback. Give good doggies. We’re all looking for a little love.

2. If someone comments on your site, at least take the time to look at their site. This is the flirtation stage, and it can be just as exciting in the blog world as it is in reality. Lurk a bit, see if their latest post is worth commenting on—or, just go ahead--leave a comment thanking them for visiting your site—and see if they come back.

3. If someone lists you in their favorite sites (blogrolls you), return the favor (unless you have no desire to read their blog, in which case you may report them to The Blog Patrol, and we will cite them—see earlier post for list of undesirable blogs). This is the proposal stage of the relationship—say yes, please!

Once you read them and they read you on a daily basis—you’re married. And the great thing about blogging is…you can be married to as many blogs as you want!

4. Finally, be edgy, be funny, be risqué—but there is no reason to be mean or ugly (unless it’s about Britney
Spears). Your Mama says, “Treat others the way you would like to be treated.”

Thus is today’s lesson over. Feel free to add your own etiquette ideas (see point number one).

Kisses, Edgy Mama

Phantom of the Blogpera

2005-05-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know that every single one of my titles does not have to be so cheesy, but hey, I can't help it sometimes!

My newest blog crave is http://phantomprof.blogspot.com

This blog has behind-the-scenes stories about college students, actual letters from students, and stories from other professors about college students! Weee! And the stories are well written and very enjoyable to read, so I suggest stopping by.

I will admit, I spoke with Phantom Prof about the site design and the errors and she agreed to let me fix it for her. Then out of the blue I was offered a Starbucks gift card for helping and I was shocked and delighted. 15 template designs and no one has offered me anything other than a "Thanks" and sometimes not even that.

So, I created a new template for Phantom Prof despite my new rule of "No More Free Templates" and it is located here at my test site: http://www.postednote.com/happy.htm

I hope everyone realized that the minimalist piece of art at the top of the screen is a graduation cap. I am not an artist and so when I draw something I always worry about what it looks like to others. Obviously the artist sees what he wants to see, but when you are doing something for someone else, you want everyone to see the same thing!

I have to cite myself on this post, it seems that today I am in "RambleBlog" mode.

Oh, and I noticed that I got a porn spam comment on this site - Genuine are you behind that? Just Kidding G-man...

Bad Blogs, Bad Blogs, what you gonna do...

2005-05-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

While out patroling this weekend, I found some bad blogs and I felt that I needed to leave them citations.

After a myriad of citations, I came across this quiz that lets you know if your blog owns you:

http://wannabegirl.org/quiz/owned/

I took the quiz ,and it appears that my blog owns 68.75% of my time. Which is fine, I don't mind so much--I think that if more people took the necessary time working on their blogs then I would have to spend less time giving out citations! I was actually disappointed in my score--I thought it would be closer to 80% as it seems that 80% of the time I am blogging or designing blogs.

Unfortunately, this (uunoeiluurffeu.blogspot.com) particular blog gets the Annoyblog award, as I couldn't leave the site. I had this super annoying java script pop up thingy that said, "Do you love me," and no matter what I typed in the box, it wouldn't let me close the page or leave the page. I plan to find some way to hack this blog site and delete it along with all of the entries.

If your blog makes me kill a process in order to leave it, then I will make it my personal goal to rid the blogospere of your site.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

Eddo of Posted Note

Blog Citations – Don’t be caught with your blog pants down!

2005-05-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

Clutterblog – this citation is given to bloggers who have too much going on with their blog. Too many ads, too many links, and overall lack of organization and a preponderance of clutter.

Boreblog – long-winded blogs that ramble on about nothing of interest. This type of blog normally works as a great sleeping pill.

Annoyblog – does your blog have pop-ups or make the end user have to install software? Is your blog nothing but one big advertisement? Then this citation will be given to you.

Uglyblog – So perhaps you are new to CSS based design and html. You toyed around with your code and jacked up your template so bad that it has turned into blog soup. Go get a new template! We will not take pity on you.

TypoBlog – Your blog is spelled glob, you have incorrectly written your own name, and you have so many typographical errors that the reader can’t understand what you are trying to say.
DirtyBlog – You may get a DB Citation if your blog content is always adult themed and inappropriate. You may also be cited if you have links to offensive material on your blog and/or you are misogynistic and you objectify the opposite sex.

I am sure there will be more... but this is a good start.

Buttons, Buttons, Buttons

2005-05-11T10:57:00.000-07:00

I created a Blog Star button for those sites that want to proclaim their blog star status.

More to come...

The Rules of Blog Patrol

2005-05-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

1st RULE: You do not talk about the founder of Blog Patrol.

2nd RULE: You DO NOT talk about Eddo - the Founder of The Blog Patrol.

3rd RULE: If someone says something bad about the founder of Blog Patrol, Hell is coming to breakfast for them and their blog.

4th RULE: Only leave comments that talk about the coolness of The Blog Patrol.

5th RULE: Only Blog Patrol is allowed to be called The Blog Patrol.

6th RULE: No dorks allowed in The Blog Patrol.

7th RULE: Only interesting people will be allowed to be part of The Blog Patrol.

8th RULE: If this is your first time to be patrolled by The Blog Patrol, consider yourself very lucky, we will be back, and we expect changes.

Blogging 101: The Fundamentals of a Great Blog

2005-05-10T10:55:00.000-07:00

1. Be yourself, but if “yourself” is boring, then learn to embellish.

2. Write consistently. No one likes to visit a blog that isn’t updated frequently.

3. Try to be efficient in your writing. No one wants to read for 30 minutes in a single post, unless it is about sex, and then you will have only perverted male readers for an audience.

4. Reread your work and try to correct spelling errors and punctuation. The more intelligent readers will be annoyed by frequent mistakes and simple grammatical errors.

5. Know your target audience. You can’t appeal to everyone, so be firm in your ideas and beliefs--people might not agree with them, but if you stand by them, people will respect you for it.

6. Enjoy your blog. Don’t blog because you feel like you must--blogging is your personal outlet. Enjoy it, and allow it to stretch you mentally and creatively.

7. Allow people to see the real you. It’s okay to talk about personal information, bodily functions, relationship woes, etc. Just remember to always be tactful and know that what you say can hurt others, so if necessary, use pseudonyms or be creatively vague.

8. By now most bloggers have heard of Heather from www.dooce.com. She lost her job a few years ago because she was blogging about her co-workers. I avoid talking about my job if at all possible, and if I do write about it, then I don't mention my company name or the names of people I work with.

9. Self-Promote. Go to others blogs, leave comments, compliments, and questions--like you, they want to be noticed and validated. Most likely they will return the favor.

10. Part B of number nine: drop a celebrity name every now and then' talk about a hot topic; be highly opinionated. Search engines and search blogs too. You never know who will find your blog as a result of a Google search.

11. Design. People like coming back to a site that looks put-together and is creative and unique. If at all possible, personalize your template, and keep it clean, simple, and uncluttered. Keep advertisements to a minimum and don’t let them distract. Yes, they can help generate funds, but they can also turn people off.

12. Pictures, Pictures, Pictures. If you can post them on occasion, or daily, post them. People enjoy looking at pictures--pictures of you, your family, your home. MTV’s show “The Real World” is a hit because we get to see how these people live their lives--we are voyeurs on the outside looking in. Isn’t that basically what a blog is? Let us have a look-see!

Blog Patrol Update

2005-05-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

Since the Blog Patrol was created, we have had very little time to update the site as there have been many, many criminals out there in the blogoshpere, and we have been rounding them up and placing them on probation or worse--in quarantine.

We at the BP must practice what we preach. So this site will be updated more often--people will be watched more closely, and citations will be given.

The Blog Patrol is here to promote creativity and better blogging, so we will also be giving out awards as well.

Now get back to blogging!

We are Totally Watching You!

2005-04-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, the new world of blogging has begun. Embrace the change.