Blogging 101, Commenting Bootcamp, Day One: Just Start Talking!

Blogging 101, Commenting Bootcamp, Day One: Just Start Talking!

The only way to get over the fear of publishing something silly is to take a deep breath and click “Publish,” and the only way to get over the fear of being a boring commenter is to leave comments!

Today, comment on three blogs where you’ve never commented before. Not on your mom’s blog, or your friend’s blog — three new-to-you-places.

Browse the Reader, check out the latest in Discover, visit blogs your friends recommend on Facebook or Twitter, or click blogroll links on blogs you already know and love. Visit the blogs of other Blogging 101ers. It doesn’t matter how you find three blogs — go exploring!

These comments can be short and sweet, as long as they’re substantive. For tips on thinking up great comments, check out our suggestions.

(And if you’re worried that your comments are boring, (1) they’re probably not! and (2) The Commons is a great place to get a second opinion before you post.)

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“Don’t procrastinate. If you want to blog, then blog.” Fritz Chery

Just Start Talking!

Don’t encourage me! Talking is something I never had trouble with 😉

That being said, in the blogging world commenting and responding to many comments can sometimes be time consuming. Therefore a simple like is what can be given most times, indicating “I really liked the post”. Still nothing is as heartwarming as nice feedback.

My three options for today for comments were the following fine posts:

acookingpotandtwistedtales.com

“Good interpretation from the photo. Well written one shot!”

ashortconversation.wordpress.com

“A picture paints a thousand words, then again, your words do paint a picture too! Great story!”

thedisappearingisland.wordpress.com

“I can see this as clearly as a photograph, well done!”

In addition to commenting; I have also started reposting some of the posts I find to be interesting and in need of sharing. This is something I intend to continue doing in the future as well.

'Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will rip out my entrails and dance on my grave.'

‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will rip out my entrails and dance on my grave.’

Blogging 201: Day Six: Dig Deep into a Social Network

Blogging 201: Day Six: Dig Deep into a Social Network

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“The Internet destroyed most of the barriers to publication. The cost of being a publisher dropped to almost zero with two interesting immediate results: anybody can publish, and more importantly, you can publish whatever you want.” Dick Costolo

Blogging 201: Day Six: Dig Deep into a Social Network

Today’s Assignment: pick one social network you’ll use to help grow your blog. Then, outline a plan for how you’ll use it.

Why do this?

• Because blogging is about building a community, and other social networks have ready-made communities.

• Because social networks are a great place to continue tangential conversations and experiment with content. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn…where to start? A big brand might use every single one, but a big brand also has a social media department. You have the Department of You, so be selective.

I went “social media” the first day of my blog: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, 500px, LiveJournal, Tumbler, Pinterest, Google+ and LinkedIn.

All the posts published are sub-posted on these sites. I am getting followers from all these sites and even feedback given through them or email. I don’t see a blog surviving without the social media, with the good and the bad which it contains. I have said it in the past and will say again: I have a love-hate relationship with the social media, but as the old adage goes: Better the Devil you know 😉

I have also reposted several bloggers’ posts, which I have found to be something to be shared to a wider audience and intend to continue doing so also in the future.

Related posts:
Blogging 201, Day Four: Give ‘Em What They Want
Some Social Media Bullshit
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Some Social Media Bullshit (Repost for Blogging 201)

‘Connecting people – The artist formerly known as Nokia’

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Some Social Media Bullshit

You don’t have to like it, but have to be in there: The social media of the world wide web. After all, who wants to be a complete social outcast!

Here are a few examples of what can be used for keeping in touch with family, friends and even your favourite movie stars!

* Assbook: Like opinions, everyone has more than one
* Angstagram: I post photos of myself and my eating habits, therefore I am
* Bitter: You would be too if no one is following you, right?
* Benchpress: For every self aware blabber, but more artistic ;P
* Tiedup: A must for professionals, endorse endorse endorse until you drop!
* You-boob: You did something stupid, maybe flashed a body part usually hidden, it got on video and uploaded on the internet and now you are the star of your own show!

A typical modern person’s day

@In the morning
The alarm clock is going off, it’s time to get up.
What is the first thing you do?

#Pick up your phone from the night stand and:

A) Check your social media apps
B) Check your email

@Driving in the car to your place of work.
Listening to the radio and the DJ is urging you to snap a photo and upload it to their site:

#uploadfunnypic

A) You are snapping selfies and almost bumping into the car that stopped in front of you. (The other driver possibly doing the same thing as you).
B) You are twatting your social media buddies of what you just did.

@Lunch time everyone with their phones in their respective hands. Not one word is spoken to anyone ‘live’, but they all are:

A) Chatting (and oh yes, there are actually office use approved ones too: Yank!)
B) Updating statuses on various social media apps.
C) Uploading photos of what they ate (of course, a must for every self aware social medialite).
D) Someone shared a funny video and twatted the link to everyone else around the table.
E) Everyone watching the video.
F) Everyone twatting feedback to each other.

@Coffee break everyone is:

A) Uploading photos of coffee and doughnuts they will consume.
B) Chatting with the people around the coffee table.

Back home from the office.

@Dinner table the family is sharing a meal and their respective day:

A-F apply here too.

@Midnight, bedtime:

A) Time to recap today’s event in your “blab”.
B) Latest friend updates to be checked (so not to miss any important things such as what your friends ate or what they were watching on TV, etc.)
C) Twatting everyone

#g’night!

Sometimes though, you have to be more low tech. For example in the situation, where your respective spouse is not quite on the same level of enlightenment regarding the social conventions of the social media as you are. Then you have to resort to archaic methods like the SMS.

Wishing your spouse

#sweet dreams xoxo

Lesson learnt:
Getting anything done; 3% is talent, 97% is staying off the internet.

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Oops!, or one Big Boo-boo! (Daily Post)

The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Oops!

‘Tis the season to revel in photographic (and/or photogenic) disasters.

Last week, my fellow Daily Post contributor Robyn wrote about the liberating power of embarrassing stories. It got me thinking about our collective reluctance to show less-flattering sides of our lives and personalities.

The imperative to present a perfect facade is doubly strong when it comes to our photos. Here, it’s not just the subject matter we care about — the perfect day at the beach; smiling, well-dressed toddlers; a faux-nonchalant smirk at a party. The picture itself has to be Instagram- and/or blog-worthy. Our images are always photoshopped in spirit, even if we don’t use the actual software.

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“Never say “Oops” in the operating room”

Oops!, or one Big Boo-boo!

The sounds of the beeping machines
The operating theatre in full fling
“Just don’t remove my spleen”
My last thoughts, as I felt the sting
The needle pushed into my spine
Soon, I will be feeling really fine
A long time this moment did I stall
Into a light slumber will I fall
But the sounds of the hammer in my skull
Echoing loudly, even though my body dull
Soon enough the voices are beckoning
I must wake up I am reckoning
The procedure now is done
Feelings on my body quite numb
But alas in a day or two
I finally manage to take a step or few

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Related posts (Repost):
Invincible
Fixing It
Out of Order
Replaced by Metal
Ode to Bedpans

Hidden Moon (Daily Photo 2015-12-14)

Posted in the Daily Photo series
In honour of the month of December
Poetry & Photography

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“When a dog barks at the moon, then it is religion; but when he barks at strangers, it is patriotism” David Starr Jordan

Hidden Moon

Before the rising sun
Let’s have some fun
In the darkness of the night
Not a living soul in sight
In the moonlit sky
It is hard to deny
One’s true nature
Without any failure
Singing to a different tune
When howling at the moon

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Backyard Angel (Mundane Monday 2015-12-14)

Poetry and Photography
Photo challenge for PhoTrabloggers Mundane Monday

“This is a challenge created to find beauty in almost everything. The challenge is simple : find beauty in everyday mundane things, capture the beauty and upload the photographs.”

MUNDANE MONDAY CHALLENGE #37

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“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free” Michelangelo

Backyard Angel

Snow flakes landing on the ground
Covering the land like a white crown
No stopping of seasons changing
Both in rain and sunlight bathing
The backyard angel sitting still
Feeling neither chill or thrill
A guardian of this household may he be
But not a sound nor move will make he
Rest assured your home is safe
As long as the backyard angel in his place will stay

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Ode to Bedpans (Repost for The Daily Post)

A homage to bedpans everywhere!

“A hospital bed is a parked taxi with the meter running” Groucho Marx

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Ode to Bedpans

When you are
Down and out
Then just give
A small shout
Soon enough
Before things get tough
The nice nurses
Will come a running
In their purses
Carrying the plumbing
And without a doubt
Ease your pout

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Replaced by Metal (Repost for The Daily Post)

“Life is short, fragile and does not wait for anyone. There will NEVER be a perfect time to pursue your dreams and goals”

Replaced by Metal

Today I saw it
The huge chunk of metal
Replacing my joint
I almost shifted gear
Just out of fear
Making my stomach churn
Pushing the pedal to the metal
And making u-turn
While running away
But wait, please stay
Easy as pie it would be
So at least they told me
While they operate
You get to lie in bed
Take a short nap
No mishap
While the pros
Do their chores
Unconscious, unaware
So, there really is no scare!

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Out of Order (Repost for The Daily Post)

“I’ll definitely be out of order for a few days!” Gun Roswell

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Out of Order

Out of order
Flat on my face
Semiconscious
Feeling sorer
And out of place

For the next few days
Relying on others’ aid
Hoping not to faint
Ain’t that quaint
But I am hardly a saint

Almost felt jinxed
But now my six
Is getting fixed
Add into the mix
Out of order

For a few days at least

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Fixing It (Repost for The Daily Post)

“When I told my doctor I couldn’t afford an operation, he offered to touch-up my X-rays” Henny Youngman

Fixing It

The day has arrived
In three months’ time
Finally going under the knife
Oh what a life
Facing the surgeon
Guess it was urgent
After all
This time spent
In the end
Hasn’t been a ball
Not a fan of hospitals, needles or blood
It’s such a crud
But not being in control
Is the worst of all
Lying unconscious
Body and mind
Out of commission
Please be kind
Without condition
Wish me luck
Let’s hope the doctors
Won’t fuck it up!

fixit