I’ve noticed an overall trend in the blogosphere which involves a conspicuous decrease in link love. Blogrolls are disappearing and going the way of the hat tip.
Blogrolls are link lists often found on sidebars of blogs or websites that list other blogs. People can display recommended reads, useful website tips, show off their friends, and give some overall link love when using a blogroll. Lately I’ve noticed a trend of moving this off of the main page and having a “links” page instead. Here are some pros and cons of a “links page” that I’ve discussed before with Duane.
Thumbs Up…
You don’t have to be limited to the sidebar width, meaning you can include little descriptions of the sites under their listing.
You can add photos or icons for the bloggers on your list.
You may be inclined to add more, which is always good for those you chose to mention.
Somewhere in the middle…
Your page rankings will probably go up. Technorati (although pretty much still a mystery to me) counts your “incoming” and “outgoing” links against each other, from what I’ve heard anyway. So if you have fewer “outgoing” links on your home page it works in your ranking’s favour.
Thumbs Down…
Do people look at other pages on your site aside from your home page?
“If everyone got rid of their blogroll it would throw Google Page Rank for a loop” – Duane
Some people can get very obsessed and possessive about their placement on your blogroll. Any sudden movements might cause disruption in the blogosphere.
If I didn’t have a blogroll on my sidebar it would look pretty empty, then I would consider removing it entirely. Then I would realize I like putting things over there, I’d miss it, I’d have to code it back in and really, it would really be a big waste of time.
I’m not going to be restructuring any time soon, I simply I put this out there to see what’s working for everyone in terms of link love – actively in posts or on a static sidebar or links page. In the blogosphere honor system, should there be an equal amount of give and take when it comes to links? Are there any rules or are links just from the goodness of one’s heart and no one is really obliged to provide info for any outside websites?
“I just hope blogs, no matter how big they get, don’t forget that at one time they prided themselves on not being mainstream media, and likewise held themselves to a different standard, including a basic respect of the friendly, easy hat tip.” – [David Markland on LA Metblogs]
Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia is one of those albums you can and have to listen to all the way through in one clean shot. It’s one of those ultimate records that smoothly floats from beginning to end filling your mind with musical goodness.
That was the sophomore album by The Dandy Warhols in 2000 and since then they’ve released four more records with another coming this fall called, Earth to the Dandy Warhols (which you can download and preview on their website).
They’ll be in Vancouver playing The Vogue on June 18th and I would highly suggest checking them out while tickets are still available.
WARNING: Video contains nudity!
WARNING: Video contains nudity!
John and I will have the pleasure of interviewing them for the RadioZoom podcast. Check out our last episode in which we played two DW songs back to back.
For about two years my husband was unable to travel back and forth between his home country and Canada due to his immigration processing. At one point however, we took a drive down to South Surrey and ended up at Peace Arch Park. He walked across the “neutral” lawn and when nature called he decided to hit up the restrooms that were on the American side of the park. I swear I heard someone whistling the Star Spangled Banner…
Metrics: 9 hectares on the Canadian Side [Google Map]
How to Get There: The park is about 40 km south of Vancouver and is situated on the International Boundary at the Douglas Border crossing. This is at the junction of Highway 99 in British Columbia and Interstate 5 in Washington State. [BC Parks]
History: From PeaceArchPark.org: “The Peace Arch stands on the international boundary between Blaine, Washington, and Douglas, British Columbia. The Arch was constructed to commemorate the centennial (1814-1914) of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814.”
The American side of the Arch is inscribed with the words “Children of a Common Mother;” the Canadian side, with the words “Brethren Dwelling together in Unity.” Within the portal of the Arch on the west side are the words “1814 Open One Hundred Years 1914” and on the east side, “May These Gates Never Be Closed.”
Notes: From Dan’s Post: “Each picnic area on either side of the border has a large open space allowing for a variety of lawn games and clubhouse that can be reserved for large group gatherings. They’re equipped with full kitchens. (stove, fridge, microwave) as well as tables and chairs. The Canadian clubhouse has a fireplace with wood provided. If you’re on the Canadian side headed toward the park, turn right before the duty free to access the parking lot.”
Dan also gives this tip, “You can cross back and forth across the border with ease as long as you don’t leave the confines of the park. If you do that, you have entered either Canada or the U.S. illegally.”
I admit I don’t get passed many blog-related memes much anymore but when I noticed an incoming link from Yatter Matters I had to check it out. When I saw that he referred to me as, “the best, most consistent social blogger I’ve met,” well that just sealed the deal.
So here I bring you the Too Much Information Meme, things you may or may not already know about Miss604.
1. Who is your favorite musical artist?
I like all different kinds of music but since he’s currently on tour, is local, is my friend, and was one of my inspirations for blogging to begin with: Matthew Good.
2. Who is your favorite artist?
Van Gogh or Renoir. Although truth be told, we replaced the Starry Night print in our hallway with a Dave Olson original.
My mom like this one too it reminds her of Jen and Me Photo: AllPosters
3. Who is your favourite blogger?
Too many to choose from, I simply love reading my friend’s blogs on a daily basis everything else is a bonus.
4. If you could meet anyone (alive or dead), who would it be and what is the most interesting thing about them?
I’d hang out with my Opa in his carpentry shop and build a bookcase or something, cause the Cabbage Patch kids have all grown up and no longer need mini bunkbeds.
5. What did you want to be when you grew up?
My sister bet be $50 in 1984 that I wouldn’t grow up to be a doctor. I wanted to prove her wrong. Now I guess I owe her that money.
A Dave Olson Original
6. What is the most interesting piece of trivia you know?
I know lots of things so I share them on my blog daily, but I particularly enjoy history tidbits. Did you know False Creek actually used to be a creek? It was filled in by the railway companies to make room for their engine yards and terminals.
7. If you could live in any point in history when would it be and why?
1950s. I want to go to a sock hop, then go split a malt with Johnny. One glass two straws.
8. What is the most interesting job you have ever held?
Humble bloggers unite! Photo credit: Raul on Flickr
The gig that took me to Boston being the production manager for the world’s largest webcaster of financial information. The financial information part wasn’t too interesting but it got me my start in professional geekdom.
Of course this wouldn’t be a meme without the inevitable “tagging” of others but I’ll leave it up to anyone who reads this to decide if they would like to continue… or I could just tag everyone on my blogroll, but I’m not that cruel.
Last year I participated in Blogathon, which is an organized event for a charity of the author’s choice which involves said blog author to post every 30 minutes for 24 hours.
48 blog posts in 24 hours is quite the feat but with the encouragement of the entire Blogathon community, your readers, friends who bring you coffee, and a husband that wraps a blanket around you while you stare at your MacBook at 2am… it’s not half-bad. I even got some nice press. The big thing is that it’s all for a good cause. You get to put in the effort and produce bucket-loads of content for your readers in hopes they will pledge and donate to keep you going.
Unfortunately while looking up information on Blogathon 2008 I discovered that the official website (and pledge tracking system) will not be in operation this year. I’ve decided to take it upon myself to initiate a Blogathon on my own. I don’t have a fancy site that can track donations with a fun little thermometer but I’m working on setting something up with a local non-profit.
With that being said… would anyone be interested in joining me for such an event? Not literally joining me on my couch at 3:00am… and 3:30am.. and 4:00am, but putting in a similar effort on their site. The logistics need to be worked out, pledges need to be tracked, and you will have to blog for 24 hours straight at one point this summer. However, the warm fuzzies will abound and we’ll be able to use our blogging powers for good.
Last year my amazing readers raised over $400 for the Surrey Food Bank. I’m hoping to shatter that record this year… you know once I figure absolutely everything else out.
[poll=8]
Update: So I was thinking since it’s just pledges I need to handle, I could create like pledge AT Miss604.com, then once the Blogathon is over I’d follow up with folks and provide the link to the online donation page of the non-profit of my choice. However, I’m not sure how this would work for *everyone* as then we’d all have to manage our pledges this way/create an email account. Hmm…
Update: Some people have picked up the ball and are going ahead with Day of Blogs on what would have been the same day as Blogathon 2008, July 26th.
