August 8, 2009 • randomness •

Weekend Review, 8/8/09

Random updates

I was surprised by how many comments were generated by my refrigerator-magnet collection when my blogging space was featured on Kittling: Books earlier this week. It seems like there are quite a few folks who also have magnets decorating their kitchens, so I think they deserve a showcase. On Monday, I will be giving my magnets their own feature post here on the The 3 R’s, and I want to see yours too – it’s time to Show Us The Magnets! Take some pictures of your fridge (just the outside, please!) and post them on your blog next week, won’t you?

It’s a long post this week, y’all…but you’ve had a break from the Review for a couple of weeks. Get comfortable!
Dispatches from across the blogiverse

This is a chiller; I’ve met this blogger, and I’m very glad she didn’t disappear

Going home…and not sure it will feel like home any more

“People are worth more than what they can do for you,” liking isn’t always reciprocal (and that’s OK), and other lessons for “highly evolved humans”

Instant contact, at a distance

A blog’s first birthday, and reflections on how the first year of blogging resembles the first year of parenthood; but in order to get to that birthday, you have to start a blog first (which most of you readers have probably done already, but sometimes it’s worth reviewing the basics). You may not want to think too much about making money from it, though..

Parenting equation: solving for the correct variables in fostering self-sufficiency vs. protection, smoothing out bumps vs. making it too easy for our kids

Happy 10th anniversary(!!) to one of the first blogs I ever read, and continue to read today (or any time she has a new post up) – Pop Culture Junk Mail! (And still happy with its Blogspot URL, apparently…)

The more you know about it, the better you can make it: tech-y tips picked up at BlogHer’09

And again, BlogHer’09 referenced, with an apology: I was one of the people who took the “writing well isn’t enough any more” comment out of context. Megan elaborates: it’s just not enough, in this competitive blogiverse, to get readers to find your blog in the first place. A blogger who wants readers needs to put her writing, and herself, out there:

Writing well is everything.  In the long run.  But if you want anyone to read it and give you a chance at any form of a “long run,” a single soul other than yourself (and honestly, if you are publicly publishing it, I’m putting my money on that you do), then you need to let people know where to find you.

Packing tips for the long- (or not-so-long) distance traveler

Does social media – where you can see, at any moment, exactly how many “friends” or “followers” you have – just make you feel more insecure sometimes?

Going through withdrawal, or want to be really prepared for the upcoming final (sob!) season of Lost next January? Lost University has the curriculum you need. (via Connect with Your Teens)

Maybe things like this are why she never married him? Also, ick.

Bookmarks: Reading-related reading

You have the power to nominate the best book blogs for the Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW) Awards – but how do you choose (let alone who)? (BTW, nominations remain open until August 15!)

More BBAW: The blogger interviews will be back again this year! They were my favorite thing about BBAW last year, and I’ve already signed up to participate again – you can, too, and I hope you will!

Readers exchange a secret sign

Remembering learning to read makes for a moving story

If you’ve never read them (!!!), or want a good excuse to re-read them, here it is: the Harry Potter Reading Challenge!

How have you approached branding your book blog? Which reminds me…I have a logo, created by my talented graphic-designer husband! It’s on the business cards I had made before BlogHer, and it’s already in use as the blog’s favicon, so I suppose I really should put it up here too, huh? Here’s what it looks like:

How do you like it?

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15 comments

  3. I like thew new icon for the blog…lovely.

    I loved your writing space also on Kittling.

    I will take a photo of my magnets and post it on the blog…will you be doing Mr. Linky for it?

  4. Jackie (FarmLaneBooks) – I read a lot of blogs, period :-), and one reason I do this round-up is to share the variety. You're welcome, and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

    Kim – Thanks, and you're welcome. That was a powerful and personal piece of writing; I'm glad you shared it, and that you don't mind my sharing it further.

    Serena – I really do need to get that icon set up here, don't I? I need to talk to my in-house designer about making that happen :-).

    The designer is also the in-house photographer, and he's editing the magnet photos today for posting tomorrow. I've never used Mr. Linky before, but if I can figure out how to make it work, I'd like to try it for this post; otherwise, I'll just ask for links in comments. Glad to know you'll be joining in!

  5. My magnets are set to be unveiled tomorrow. I couldn't very well bow out since I'm the one that started all of this, eh? LOL

  7. I hadn't noticed the favicon – because it's not there in Chrome (none are there, actually). Just checked and saw it in Firefox though. Cute!

  9. Thanks for the link! My trip was great, and L.A. definitely felt like coming home.

    And refrigerator magnets rock. 🙂

  10. Great logo! Thanks for shouting out my post. And thanks for the as-always great roundup of the blogosphere. you always do such a great job.

  11. Liz – Welcome back; nice to know you're safely home! And it's not too late to show off your magnets :-).

    Marie – Thanks for posting such link-worthy, thought-provoking material; you've been on a roll lately :-)!

    I really do need to get that logo up here…

  12. Thanks so much for including Flyover America–http://www.readflyoveramerica.com–on your list. We started life as part of World Hum and went indie a few months back. We are three writers in love with America. Every diner and prairie and highway of it. The places that many people consider flyover territory—Lincoln, Nebraska; Lubbock Texas; Bayonne, New Jersey, and the like—grab hold of us. Flyover America is as much a state of mind as a place. Flyover America is packed with stories, discoveries and soul. And it’s got some great malls, too.

    I look forward to checking out some of the other blogs you recommended and, of course, will be back for more of your goodness in the future.

    Have a great rest of the summer,
    Jenna Schnuer

  13. Jenna – Thanks for dropping by, and not flying over :-)! I enjoy travel, even the virtual kind, and am looking forward to reading about your adventures.

  14. Thank you so much for the link! I just noticed it…I haven't been paying any attention to my WordPress dashboard in the past week or so.

    Thanks again for the shout out,
    Mary Anne