Revellian

Thoughts and Fiction of Bobby Revell

Archive for August, 2007

A Look at Technorati’s WTF

Aug 13

Posted by Bobby Revell in blogging

I tried out Technorati’s WTF recently and I actually had pretty good results with it. The WTF stands for “where’s the fire” referring to that heat you feel when reading the hottest post. It’s kind of like Technorati’s DIGG. The one thing about it that I did like a lot is that I know a lot of people on Technorati but I don’t on digg. Most people use Technorati so they’re already signed up – that made it easier for me because I just don’t want to join another latest greatest craze to hit the market. Just go to: http://www.technorati.com/people/technorati/yourusername and you’ll see WTF at the top.

I have two WTF’s up right now:

Beginner Bloggers Neglected

3 blurbs � add a new blurb � view search results for this topic

Photo of revellian

Beginner Bloggers get left behind while most tips are too…

by revellian � 3 days ago

There are 1000′s of beginner bloggers who have great potential but end up reading tips from popular sources. I’ve been helping lots of newbies lately, and every detail must be explained down to which mouse button to click. And they are bloggers! Big league bloggers often won’t link to them but what they fail to see is that you never know who will rise. New bloggers are a great source of links if you help them and coach them. Don’t be so concerned with every article being on time and perfect.

Continue �

Also I have this one:

Malaysian Artist Emila Yusof

1 blurb � add a new blurb � view search results for this topic

Help a truly talented artist and blooger win the All…

3 days ago

HELP A FELLOW BLOGGER WHO DESERVES RECOGNITION My wonderful friend Emila from Emila’s Illustrated Blog has been selected top 20 out of 600 in the All MalaysianBloggers Project sponsored by Genting – the City of Entertainment If you don’t know who she is then you are missing out on one the most talented artists around today. Her artwork is so original, upon seeing it once, you will never forget her magical style. This is a chance for us as bloggers to help bring this talent to a higher level.

Continue �

To write your own WTF just click “Write a new WTF”. Write a short description of the post you’re referring to; it can be your own post or a post from someone else. Also, look at the other WTF’s and each one as you can see has the option to “add a blurb”. To really give someone extra support you can write a post about their post (a blurb). After you write a blurb or a fresh WTF go to WTF – My WTF’s and you’ll see under the title “view search results for this topic”. Click it and find a very important page for WTF’s. Lets take one of my WTF’s for example:

http://www.technorati.com/tag/Malaysian+Artist+Emila+Yusof

Now you may not have anything listed on this page, your WTF and post are new so probably wont be listed yet. Go to the bottom righthand corner and you’ll see the little java script that references your post and links. Copy and paste it the actual post on your blog – make sure you put it in using HTML view or code view etc. and make sure it’s on the bottom of your post. Save it. You will now see a little green icon that links to your technorati search page.

Lets look at this Tecnorati search result again:

http://www.technorati.com/tag/Malaysian+Artist+Emila+Yusof

Now you have this to remember as your assignment:

http://www.technorati.com/tag/

and type in your technorati tags after, like in the first example. You can use any combination of words you like. Lets say you sell internet hamburgers, delivered hot anywhere on Earth in 30 minutes or less – you type in “http://www.technorati.com/tag/hamburger” or add other words with a plus sign “http://www.technorati.com/tag/hamburger+delivery” and maybe your post isn’t listed among the topics it should be. Well, write a WTF about your post, publish the WTF and then paste in the javascript we discussed earlier. Click your new green icon to go to the newly created search result! Do you see the point? Now you’re post is referenced by Technorati. Now when you search as in my example above you’ll find the search result:

http://www.technorati.com/tag/Malaysian+Artist+Emila+Yusof

This will now bring you to a search result where you will see the people who put in the javascript. Emila herself put in the javascript and her’s is what my WTF is about. If you read my WTF, you’ll see I have three other links listed at the bottom. This is a good thing to do. You should add some links in a post that you use to write a WTF and also add those links or friends links etc. in the WTF itself. All in all I like using it, and try it out for a little while. Digg might not be the right place for a new blogger and really I think it’s mostly effective if you already have a popular blog. Of course you may be a Digg master so don’t hesitate to use it. The WTF I think would be a pretty good place for a beginner blogger to learn. You also learn to see how technorati searches work from writing WTF’s which can be valuble if you want more references to your work or to help someone. If you’ve never used Digg or anything like it, at least go have a look at WTF’s and see what you think. Or envision how your new philosophically perplexing post on transcending human consciousness could rise to the top and get you some new traffic! Don’t be confused by the searches with plus signs like in the above examples. When you look at WTF’s you’ll find your searches already have these plus signs. I just want you to pay attention to the address in your search bar and be aware of what you’re looking at. This awareness alone will help you immensely :smile: While you’re at it, just go vote for Emila!

Check out this fantastic article on WTF’s

Dosh Dosh has a great article here -For those wanting lots of details.

Please vote for my WTF’s including one on this very post: Vote here





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14 Comments

Ten Things That happened

Aug 10

Posted by Bobby Revell in memes

Janice from This is a Miracle Tagged me on 10 Things that happened to me: link to post

This will be extremely embarrassing as I will reveal things most people would never tell anyone.

1. I was the manager of a health food store in an outlet mall. The manager from the store next to me was a very pretty girl who always came to talk to me. We ended up going out one night after work. We ate at Burger King (bleechhhh) to start our romantic interlude. After enjoying our conveyor belt steamed, machine fabricated meat patties on a bun they call hamburgers, we parked under the dim streetlight outside the closed mall (oh yeah). We fogged the windows in a scorching display that would have made my family break out their camcorders. We took a break and the light hit her face at the perfect angle to reveal a most ghastly surprise. Three very long whiskers grew from under her chin almost touching her neck. I thought hard and finally decided to say something rather then leaving with no explanation. I asked her if she knew about these three long chin hairs. She asked me if I wanted to play with them. I said, I have to go home and shave immediately. She started dating a 7′ tall albino guy who wore an Elton John t-shirt the very next day.

2. I was suspended from highschool the maximum of 27 days per semester for 3 years straight and had Saturday detention every Saturday all 3 years.

3. I helped a friend and his uncle do some work one day and made several trips in my truck with two of his cousins. The sun was setting so we called it a day. I live two miles away and while driving home a cop pulled me over. I asked why he stopped me and he said that I put my seatbelt on as I was being stopped trying to hide my crime. He asked me to step out the truck and searched me. Three cop cars pulled up and they foot-cuffed me. He walked to the passengers side door, reached under the seat and pulled out a cigarette pack. In it was a small amount of marijuana, a xanax, and a gram of methamphetamine. I was white as a ghost. They took me to the hospital for a blood test which was of course negative. I took urine tests twice a week for a while and went to court – the xanax and pot charges were dropped. It may be a few more years before I go to court for the meth. At worst I’ll have a big fine. Needless to say, I don’t talk to my friend anymore. Luckily, I have never been arrested for anything and my lawyer said 99% chance they’ll reduce it to a non-felony charge thank God. Weeks later my friend was arrested and is still in jail. Now, I ask people before they get in my vehicle to make sure they don’t have anything on them. I had no idea my friend did all these drugs, but now I know that you don’t have to look like a drug addict to be one.

4. I spent three weeks hand making a friend a custom shop bass guitar. It was absolutely immaculate. Black-cherry lacquered flamed maple finished, it was striking. One of my best builds ever. Three days after I gave it to my friend who was in tears from the gift, the bass was stolen by his roommate never to be seen again. Ouch.

5. I caught my grandmother covered in toothpaste one day. She said. “I’m so sorry Bobby, I squeezed it all out by accident – but don’t worry, I pushed and rubbed most of it back in the tube.” Her hands sheathed in what looked like melted plastic white gloves. I thanked her and gave her a hug.

6.I once got kicked in the groin so hard it ruptured one of my testicles. I did however, win the fight.

7.I have had all my toes broken at least 10-15 times kickboxing. I have had my nose broken 5 times. I’d do it all again:)

8. A girlfriend from while back came over and while looking in a cabinet, a giant tree roach jumped from a shelf onto her face. Our date was ruined. I never saw another roach in that house, only that one.

9. My grandmother, old and confused accused me of having a crying baby under my bed. I told her to slide a bowl of water under it if I came home late. I took care of her her three last years.

10. One Christmas my grandmother opened the present I gave her before my entire family. It was watermelon flavour, lickable liquid body candy. To this day, I have no idea where it came from :smile:

I haven’t picked my tagged people yet, I had to release this first as I am tired. If you want me to tag you I will. I’ll add my 5 picks tomorrow :smile:

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30 Comments

Newbie Blogging: Crucial Choices and Trackbacks

Aug 9

Posted by Bobby Revell in blogging tips

As a newbie blogger there are many choices you must make when starting out. The first choice is which platform to use. Should you go with WordPress or Blogger? I will recommend against going with a Windows Live Spaces blog because it’s not as popular and many bloggers will not leave comments if they have to have an account to do so. My recommendation is if you know nothing about it, to go with a wordpress blog at WordPress.com and I’ll explain why. The blog you’re looking at is a WordPress blog, but I host it myself and there is a huge difference between this and having WordPress.com host your blog.

If you don’t have any experience with blogging or using FTP then go to wordpress.com and create a blog. This is a good choice, really the best choice because if later on you want to host yourself, it will be much easier to do. For instance, you’ve been blogging for a while and you have decided to get serious – you’ll be glad you’re at wordpress! You can move from a blogger blogspot account to wordpress but the move is much more difficult if you’re not experienced. I moved from blogspot to wordpress and everything was fine except I lost all inbound links and my technorati authority dropped from 368 to 0. You have to do a 301 redirect which I did incorrectly! Bottom line? Pay a professional to do it for you if you don’t truly understand how to do it. It wouldn’t cost much and you can keep your rating. This really is only to host yourself. There is no need to move from blogger to a wordpress.com blog. If your technorati rating is real low, go ahead and move to word press. You can import all your posts and comments in one click, it’s that easy. If you have a high technorati rating, follow the advice above. Hosting yourself like I do can be a big challenge. It is the best way overall, but if you’re not willing to study hard and work, stay where you are for now. When you’re ready to host yourself, you’ll know. If that makes no sense, then you’re not ready!

One great thing about wordpress is it offers trackbacks. A trackback is a remote comment on another blog that has complimentary information. You can do trackbacks on other platforms but it may be very difficult especially if you’re a newbie unfamiliar with writing html and other basics. Also, spam can be a problem. You shouldn’t fear spam, but you should learn how to deal with it.

I found the best explanation of trackbacks I’ve seen yet from Jack Humphrey’s site:
video how to do a trackback

I’ve long misunderstood what a trackback is and this has opened my eyes. Lets say your blog deals with advertising. Type your main keyword and the word trackback in your searchbar. You will see all the blogs that offer trackbacks on this subject. Basically you link to the article and write a concise paragraph about it. Then copy the trackback url form that article and paste it in the trackback box on your wordpress dashboard. Then you await approval from them. This is how you can get other blogs to reference yours and it is a very powerful way to build a network of links specifically for your niche. If you want to have your blog be associated with a particular product, etc. this is a great way to do it. WordPress makes this tool easy to use for everyone. Go watch the video and you’ll see exactly how to do it. If you are on blogspot trying to sell, market or even be a writer of non-business subjects – you will have a very tough time getting the traffic you need for your area of interest!

Here’s my post on the most basic things a new blogger should do: New Blogger Wisdom

The BrownBaron has 6 great tips for new bloggers here. The Baron is a new blogger like me but he is wise and his tips are great, so check them out!

BushMackel has a series of posts that start here. I recently found his blog through mutual friends, and it is very unique! Check it out!

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49 Comments

Revellian: Growing as a Person

Aug 8

Posted by Bobby Revell in life personal, thought

I’ve recently come to terms with something and have a clarity about myself that is both disturbing and good; I now have new goals because of this. What scares you? What is your greatest fear? Do you envy others? Are you greedy? Would you be emotionally hurt from losing money? Would losing a friend hurt more? My greatest fear is being left.

Having a friend or family member just disappear with no goodbye or explanation. Most of my relatives I grew up having in my life have all moved far away. I think this had an effect on me early on and also the death of my father.

My father and I had no relationship at all except for hatred and loathing. When he became sick from cancer with only a few weeks to live, we became friends. My father, once bed ridden, thought because of his neglecting his son – that I would laugh and tell him good riddance. I surprised him, this hardened military man had a softness buried inside that I quickly recognized.

I forgave him and instead of his dying days being filled with despair and sorrow, they were filled with the greatness of love and happiness. My sister and mother actually saw his last moment. He had been comatose for 3 days and we were waiting for his last breath. My sister said that he awakened suddenly, opened his eyes and smiled. He almost sat up reaching both of his arms as if to hug someone. She said he looked joyous and loved, his arms reaching straight up. He then fell back and was gone. She said, “Dad went to heaven.”

My best friend growing up, left me behind without even a phone call. I was told one day that he had married and moved away. I didn’t even know he had a girlfriend. He was my roommate in college and we were inseparable. We also were funny. We made people laugh, fall on the floor gasping for breath everywhere we went. We had a great time. I have an old myspace account that I never use anymore. I got an e-mail about someone trying to be my friend on myspace. I checked it out and discovered it was him.

My best friend who left me behind with no explanation, after 6 years, tried to be my friend on myspace. I cannot believe that he would do that. I didn’t accept. If he wanted to ask me for forgiveness he should have come to see me face to face and asked. I can tell you that he would never ask as he could never realize that he needed to. He cannot see a reason. That’s a good enough reason for me to forget about this person and finally move on.

Now I am realizing I cannot walk around fearing that friends will just leave. I have discovered that most people aren’t like my friend. Most people talk things through. I am working on this issue, and writing this is good therapy. I feel great today and I feel happy. I am putting more and more behind me everyday and growing as a person for the first time:)

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30 Comments

My Funniest E-mail

Aug 7

Posted by Bobby Revell in Humor

My friend Don sent me this e-mail:

AN URGENT FRIENDLY WARNING




ATTENTION
ALIENS ARE COMING TO ABDUCT ALL THE GOOD LOOKING AND SEXY PEOPLE.

 

YOU WILL BE SAFE, I’M JUST EMAILING TO SAY GOODBYE.

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28 Comments

Blog Tips Meme_Collective Cognition

Aug 5

Posted by Bobby Revell in memes

This is a really great meme for anyone who participates and is really one of the most useful and socially responsible I have seen. Make sure, even if memes aren’t your thing to add a little wisdom and pass it on, it really is a beautiful thing:)

-Start Copy-

It’s very simple. When this is passed on to you, copy the whole thing, skim the list and put a * star beside those that you like. (Check out especially the * starred ones.)

Add the next number (1. 2. 3. 4. 5., etc.) and write your own blogging tip for other bloggers.

Try to make your tip general.

After that, tag 10 other people. Link love some friends!

Just think, if 10 people start this, the 10 people pass it onto another 10 people, you have 100 links already!

When this is passed on to you, copy the whole thing, check out the blogs on the list and put a * star beside those that you like. Add the next number (1. 2. 3. 4. 5., etc.) and write your own blogging tip for other bloggers. Try to make your tip general. After that, tag 10 other people. Link love some friends! Just think, if 10 people start this, the 10 people pass it onto another 10 people, you have 100 links already! Here are the tips:

1. Look, read, and learn. ***
-http://www.neonscent.com

2. Be, EXCELLENT to each other. ***
-http://www.bushmackel.com/

3. Don’t let money change ya! ***
-http://www.therandomforest.info

4. Always reply to your comments. ***
-http://chattiekat.com

5. Spell check is your friend. **
- http://thingsbymike.com

6. Be the blog. ***
- http://www.meandmydrum.com/

7. Your readers are your treasure.
- http://www.brownbaron.com/blog/**

8. Blog about what you know & love.

http://sugar-queens-dream.blogspot.com/****

9. Don’t use filthy language-buy a dictionary.

http://shinade.blogspot.com/*

10. Whenever possible, spread some positive thoughts and love. The world needs more of them.

http://ailema4ever.blogspot.com/****

11. Write down from your heart or head. Either way asks yourself why you ever get started.

http://chocmintgirl.blogspot.com/**

12. Try to make your template something unique and easy to look. Your template gives the blogger identity as much as the post content.
http://psychosomaticwit.blogspot.com/**

13. Take risks creatively with your writing. You’d be surprised how little it takes to bring out the poet or novelist in you.
http://remedialrumination.blogspot.com/**

14. Find your own voice! Your writing should reflect your unique personality. Don’t ever try to be something you’re really not just because you think you have to in order to get people to read your blog.

http://gazing-into-the-abyss.blogspot.com/*

15. When you’re trying to think of a new great post, or deep in thought on how to make it better, just remember – trying is crap. Trying to think is worthless. Thinking is the greatest single hindrance to a writer. Relax, don’t try to think. Let go of your thought and ego. Only then is real thought able to naturally flow on it’s own, without being consciously driven. Just a little something not to think about:)
http://revellian.com/*

16. Don’t offer opinions that are not based in the realm of personal knowledge, share yourself and your experiences, they speak louder then words The MiracleProcess

17. Write for yourself first. Remember that it takes time, effort, patience, and above all, daring. The Laidback Buddhist

18. Unless I’m a huge fan of your blog, keep your posts short & sweet. Mariuca – Wishing On A Falling Star

30. Don’t be shy to make friends, open yourself to others and you’ll be amazed with the tremendous responses. A Great Pleasure

31. When you look make sure you SEE, When you listen make sure you HEAR, and when you talk make sure you SPEAK! First Time Dad
–End Copy–

I Tag:
http://www.mariuca.blogspot.com/

http://janiceng.blogspot.com/

http://agreatpleasure.blogspot.com/

http://myuniquelifespace.spaces.live.com/

http://www.nafasg.blogspot.com/

http://nihalsanythingneverything.blogspot.com/

http://www.peopleinthesun.com/

28 Comments

Choices Galore Food Meme

Aug 5

Posted by Bobby Revell in memes

I was recently tagged by a very well known Perfume Mogul recently to write about 5 really good places to eat in my neck of the woods. To keep from being drenched in gallons of reject perfume which didn’t meet her criteria for scent euphoria, I must comply as she is very rich and powerful! The post from which I was tagged is link to Mariuca’s post :)

Before you come to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to have a delicious meal I must tell you what it’s really been like here. After Hurricane Katrina, there wasn’t much here as you can see in the photo below. This is pretty much how everything looked as far as you could see no matter where you went!

p1010317.jpg

For around four months following the storm I dined on a most nutritious food source called the U.S.government MRE or meal ready to eat! Each has a little packet you place your food pouch (main entr�e pouch) in and add water to heat. Each MRE has around 3500 calories and I ate six every day for four months. To tell you the truth, they actually very good (except for the morbidly disgusting breakfast of scrambled eggs if you were unlucky enough to get that particular one). It had a poptart in the box so it wasn’t too bad. That was it unless you like insects!

mrejpg.pngmre-case.JPG

Eventually we welcomed this site for sore eyes, known for scrumptious delights the world over:

cat-2005-box-of-food-2-c.jpg

Here’s the restaurant:

126.jpg

 

 

Now we have real food finally! Yes!!!!!

big-mac-extra-value-meal.jpg

We now have casinos back in full swing. I was a bartender working in casinos for several years before the hurricane!

1186288922_1186288914_screenshot003.jpg

So, if you come here, the place to eat is at one of the massive casinos – the food is excellent!

According to the rules of this meme, I’m to list others who have done this list and tag some other friends for this meme, before listing my own name (see below). Here are my victims for this mouth watering meme (which means me,me,me – it’s all about me)

Blur Ting
ac2369
Rachel
Kissing the Dogwood
Seiche
JaniceNW
Huma B

 

 

 

Nicole (Sydney, Australia)
velverse (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

LB (San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy)
Selba (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Olivia (London, England)
ML (Utah, USA)
Lotus (Toronto, Canada)
tanabata (Saitama, Japan)
Andi (Dallas[ish], Texas, United States)
Todd (Louisville, Kentucky, United States)
miss kendra (los angeles,california, u.s.a)
Jiggs Casey (Berkeley, CA, USA)
Tits McGee (New England, USA)
Joe (NE Tennessee, USA)
10K Monkeys (Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA)
Big Stupid Tommy (Athens, Tennessee, USA)
Newscoma (Weakley County, Tennessee, USA)
Russ McBee (Knoxville, Tennessee, USA)
Atomictumor Mrs Eaves (Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA)
Oh Really? LissaKay (Oak Ridge, TN, USA)
Mark Steel (Knoxville, TN, USA)
Fracas (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Sugar Queen�s Dream( Palm Coast, Florida,USA)
Christy�s Coffee Break (Ontario, Canada)
Ordinary Folk (Nowheresville, NY)

Mariuca (Malaysia)

This is a miracle (Singapore)

Emila�s Illustrated Blog (Malaysia)

Revellian (Mississippi Gulf Coast)

A Great Pleasure (Malaysia)
JaniceNW (Washington)
Blur Ting (Singapore)
ac2369 (New Jersey)
Rachel (Pennsylvania)
Kissing the Dogwood (Anywhere)
Seiche (Cleveland, Ohio)
Huma B (midwest)

20 Comments

Still I Wonder

Aug 3

Posted by Bobby Revell in poetry

I see your face in the silken waves of a summer shower
perfumed mist
her scented warmth
her lovely breeze
as only I dream what it must be like
a kiss so tender, so pure
to love her I will never know
Her sweet skin into which I melt
cinnamon eyes into which I stare and still I will never know
Thunder! run for shelter! my footing lost and I fall
Lightning! come with us they cry
I lie face down on searing streets
her aroma of still lingers
my storm floods cities taking lives
Please they scream
do not stay
I remain behind
drowning in tears wishing that I could be loved
but alone I am washed away
I only wonder if I were ever in her dreams
stranded forever within my heart
as forever I will love her and still I dream still I wonder
what heaven must be like to stare into her eyes. . .

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29 Comments