Currently, there are 6.72 billion people on earth. Imagine if every single one of them had a blog – that would be serious information overload! According to Technorati, there are over 112.8 million blogs (not including China’s 72.82 million blogs) and it’s growing at an incredible rate. I remember just a few years ago, there were only 70 million blogs and experts were saying the bubble was about to burst and that blogging would become less popular. They were wrong.
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Archive for category blogging
Hello folks, I know I’ve been taking quite a long blogging break, but it’s not because I haven’t been writing. I actually wrote 17 new articles, but after reading them, I’ve decided to wait for the right moment to publish as most of them were created out of emotion and cynical anger. It got me thinking about what really makes a great blog article – not to you, but what makes a great article to me; after all, anything any of us write is just a matter pf personal taste and opinion.
If a post gets tons of comments, does that mean it’s good? Absolutely not. If a blog has 35,000+ subscribers, it must be really good…right? Hell no. Some of the best articles I’ve ever read have few if any comments at all. Some of the best posts written often go unread. If a person becomes president, they must be really smart as well as a truly great reader…right? Haha…of course not, just look at George W. Bush (I couldn’t resist a jab at George). I’d go as far to say many famous people are undeserving of fame, but that’s another story. Am I saying the highest rated blogs aren’t really that good? In many cases…yes. And here’s my favorite: If a blogger makes a million dollars per month blogging, does that mean they’re good or can help you do the same? Don’t be silly…the answer is almost always no. Then again, I don’t read money blogs very often – they are boring and unoriginal for the most part.
If there is one thing I can say in all honesty, is that my blog is very original and I write from a very opinionated stance; however, it is usually to incite good commentary and to make people think. Many bloggers do what I call re-reporting the news, where they report general stories most of us have already read. If you are doing that, I recommend adding your own personal opinion, particularly if you are emotionally invested. Using news sources like the Associated press, Reuters or many others to get stories is a good idea, but only if you have something to add to it. I approach blogging like this sometimes.
Here are some general points to add zest, fire and passion to your articles:
- Get mad about something. It’s ok to to passionately express anger, but don’t do it to personally hurt someone.
- Take a position on an issue and defend it. I’ve often taken a position I disagreed with and argued for it. Why would I do that? To learn. I often find myself changing my entire outlook on a given subject.
- Don’t be afraid of insulting or offending others (or even yourself)…be brave. I love it even more if someone proves me wrong – that’s when I truly learn something.
- If a subject seems taboo, tackle it head on. I have a love/hate relationship with religion and politics, so they are my hot button topics. Don’t be afraid to learn about any opposing viewpoints, especially if they really offend you!
- Reevaluate yourself everyday. Reevaluate your most proudly held opinions…you may learn something new. I do this every day. Change and adaptation are the cornerstones of this technological society.
- Don’t be afraid to learn and succeed even if it means you change as a person. Take yourself out of your own comfort zone. A meaningful and great article is more likely to happen this way.
- Above all, try to do something beneficial for humanity and society, not for yourself. This defines true greatness in all areas of life.
The Democratizing Effect of Blogging
Those of you who know me well, know I’ve written much on the effect blogging has on humanity. It is the most powerful form of communication…period. The reason why, is because it is written, rather than seen or heard. It’s amazing how well you get to know people through blogging. When you meet people in everyday life, you usually don’t get to understand a person as well as when you read what they have written. Blogging is a pure expression of freedom. If you are blogging, you are free to write – so take advantage of it. One day, every human being on Earth will be represented on line by a blog or website.
Try Something New
This has to be my number one good idea. Write about something you’ve never tried before. When I started blogging, I really didn’t have any solid political opinions. I wrote about it anyway, and in the process have learned much as well as developed new opinions that seem to change like the wind. I’ve read over fifty political books from differing sides because of my new found interest! I believe if you have an opinion about something and stagnantly stick to it, you don’t learn anything. Right now…go write a post about something you have never attempted or tackle something serious. It will be great…I promise.
I want to thank everyone who has been visiting during my break, it’s amazing how great people can be. I must return the energy to you. Now…excuse me while I go read a ton of blogs and leave a ton of comments.
Help Preserve Net Neutrality
Jan 22
Imagine the Internet owned and operated by huge corporations much like phone and cable companies are. Imagine the last vestige of worldwide democracy – stripped from our lives. Imagine chatting with buddies on line being just one of thousands of paid services.
This is a frightening thought, and is a very real possibility. Could you imagine having to pay for a long distance Internet service just to read a friend’s blog who lives in another country? That would ruin my life in many respects.
Each of us has a choice to create any site or blog we want and we are all equals! We must decide what we are here for. I’m here for the people. I am not here to make money or to sell anything (though that’s your right, and what a beautiful right that is). I am here to fight for and stand up for what is right. The web is built on open principles, but that is in jeopardy.
I am asking all of you to become aware of issues beyond yourself, and do something about it. Learn about the government where you live and vote for candidates you agree with. In America, most people don’t vote. We are about to have a presidential election, so be sure to participate. It really freaks me out to see people who don’t vote. It is your responsibility.
My friend Euroyank has a post entitled The American Idiot Box. I highly recommend you check this post out. Make sure you watch the 1st video on that post with the words ‘Independent Media in Wartime’ beneath it. You should look at his site thoroughly and read all his latest posts. They are getting better every day.
The Power of Blogging
“As Bloggers, we create our own media. We are a powerful force in the global environment. We cannot let that power be taken away from us.”
I found two sites today I think every blogger should read. The first is:
Each and every blogger and site owner should display a badge from this website. Just because you aren’t from America doesn’t mean you cannot help. Display the badge so everyone who comes to your site will see it. Join Save the Internet.com and read the information there. Watch this video and learn:
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Another great site is Democratic Media.org. Navigate to ‘issues’ and read. It presents a fantastic overview of things we need to know about digital media. As bloggers, it’s our responsibility to become aware of this information so we can help preserve our rights.
My good friend Aaron Cook let me know he had written a post about this back in 2006. His post is entitled Network Neutrality – Keep the Internet Free!!! I read it and it’s a great post with many additional links. Though Net Neutrality is not a current hot topic, it is far from over. Big corporations will fight to own the web! Imagine the profits they would make by owning the most lucrative business on Earth.
I am learning more and more about what I can personally do to help. A world with a privatized, corporate owned Internet would be a world without all of us together. Like I have said many times in past posts:
“Blogging is doing more for world peace than any other single factor in the history of humankind. Let’s keep it that way.”
Why I’m Not a Money Blogger
Jan 19
Blogging has evolved just as societies have throughout history. What makes blogging unique, is that it encompasses the entire world, all of us together under one technology; worldwide communication with everyone using the written word.
I’ve been blogging for almost one year and I have explored intensely, learning all I can. Blogging is the only “society” where we are all together and still, we separate ourselves into cliques, groups and hierarchy. Already, bloggers are divided which is such a shame.
After looking at all of my options in what I choose to express…my chosen identity, who I am as a blogger and what is truly important; I choose to be a personal blogger who tries hard to initiate and cultivate worldwide friendships.
I’ve met just about every type of blogger and have tried to become friends with them all. One thing that stands out is that it’s very difficult to become friends with a “money blogger”. This is why I am not one. If someone makes $15,000.00 per month and has a highly ranked blog…they don’t read my blog.
Why don’t they read my blog or maybe your blog? Because we have nothing to offer them in the way of making more money. We are insignificant and the ones they prey on to earn a buck. I have yet to successfully become friends with a money blogger, yet I have tried!
“If it’s impossible to become your friend, I will probably not read your blog.”
The one thing I feel great about is that I have kept most of the friends I met when I first started. To me, a true money blogger isn’t a blogger…they are websites using the blog medium to disguise themselves as friends. Does this statement offend some of you?
We, the blogging masses have all the real power, which is universal friendship. Friendships free from the constraints of religious, political and geographical separation. This is the most incredible attribute inherent to this technology. When you throw money into the mix, it changes things.
Money doesn’t inspire me. It doesn’t excite me and it never will. People and life inspire me. Art, literature and good friendship inspires me. Blogging has inspired me to be a better person. The Internet has become a place of education to me, I use it to learn something new everyday.
Some of you may be thinking, “I’m a money blogger and I thought we were friends!”
Haha…we are friends, but you aren’t making $10,000 per month with your blog either. If you were, chances are, you wouldn’t be reading this blog! Making money with your blog doesn’t make you a money blogger. A money blogger is one who writes exclusively about how to make money on his or her blog…the most uninteresting subject I know of.
However, I could be friends with a money blogger…that’s up to them, not me. I’ll be friends with anyone willing!
Saturation Point of Blogging
Dec 19
The Evolution of Blogging
Blogging is much like a microcosm of real life in so many ways. The natural progression of how the Internet and blogging are evolving reflect how things really are. In the beginning of almost anything, the individuals count the most.
Growing up in my home town, small family owned stores and restaurants were very prevalent. Then, McDonalds and Walmart opened…making it much more difficult for the individual to move ahead. In the very beginning of the web, it was similar for individuals becoming successful.
I see this type of natural evolution taking place at an incredible rate right now. Look at Google for instance. In the beginning, Google was the coolest thing around. Now that it has become so huge, the individuals, like us bloggers, have become numbers rather than people. When you work for a small business, the owners know your name. Work for a giant corporation and you are a number. The bigger you are, the less you are expected to care.
Being a blogger right now is totally different than when I started only a year ago. If you are wanting to make money, putting up a bunch of ads and hoping is not going to get you there…hahahaha!!!! Listening or following the way someone else says is NOT going to lead you to the promised land either.
The Art of Blog Sales?
Making money with a blog is based on your ability to sell…period…that’s all there is to it. The only reason the big money bloggers make big money is because they have convinced you…or sold you on the fact that they have the answers. This is the biggest lie in blogging. You just need to sell people on the idea that YOU have the answers they need to make money. In other words…you have to SELL them. You have to sell yourself…if that’s what you want. There are plenty of followers out there that will follow those on top or those who want to be!
Whatever you do in your blogging…do it honestly and know who you are…know what you want. I used to care about traffic and stats…but now, I do not care. I let go of all that. I make enough money to run this blog free.
Blogging is reaching a saturation point. With so many bloggers doing the same thing and trying to do things the same way…the common methods for doing anything are becoming more and more useless.
If you want to make money…you have to get out and SELL. I don’t read any of the big blogs anymore. I no longer need to read 500 articles on how to gain traffic. It is redundant. It’s all been written already. I feel so much better about blogging now that I don’t care about traffic.
I became a member of the upcoming money making machine uVme, perhaps you’ve heard of it. Basically, it’s on line gambling. I lost respect for uVme because they claimed that because their on line games (for winning money), are based on skill, thus is not gambling…hahaha!!!! Well…poker is based on skill, so I guess it’s not gambling either. I cannot stand a business that lies to suck people in. Especially a business that will destroy the credit of millions of people by getting them hooked on gambling. On line gaming for money is GAMBLING…no matter what they claim 
Enjoy Your Blog
I am just here to write whatever I want and have fun. It took a while but I am so much happier!!!!!!! I don’t want to sell anything. I just want to relax and enjoy. So many of you fight for traffic and check stats over and over. I haven’t even glanced at mine!!! I quit doing that. Maybe I’ll check it next year (or the year after next). If you want loads of traffic…ask yourself why.
I am just over any “How To” type of articles. Been there…read that, a million times. As many of you know…I have had some serious problems, but I feel GREAT right now. I lost sight of my original intentions and got all caught up in stats and other stupid competitive stuff. I got so pissed off about Google dropping my pagerank…that made me truly let go, for the first time.
It feels good to be free. It is my nature to be good at whatever I do. I have to learn every aspect and understand all of it from every angle and perspective. When I truly realized that pagerank made no sense and was ridiculous…I laughed. It’s not worth understanding. No matter what anyone thinks…it is just a theory. You don’t know and you cannot explain exactly how or why it works.
HAVE FUN BLOGGING!!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!!!!
Trinity
I am really late in the completion of my Blogging For Friendship project so I have decided to do it differently than originally planned. I will cover a few participants at a time so I can really give them some much deserved attention!
Starting in no particular order, I choose Trinity! Trinity is a relatively new friend of mine but I feel like I have known her for years. She writes a wonderful blog titled, Rooms of My Heart. It is both a personal and business blog that covers just about everything you could think of.
Her post was Thank You For Your Friendship, which was a delight to read and was written with a lot of love. Here’s a quote from her post:
There’s also a really special room for my friends, in real world as well as in blogsphere. God has given me so many special friends to make my world more beautiful and meaningful.
Trinity defines being a friend every day with all of her readers. If you want to make a great friend, go visit her and you will meet one of the most wonderful women in the blogosphere!
She created a wonderful badge in honour of her friends and I really loved it, check it out! Thanks Trinity 
Bobo
Next, my very good friend Bobo really surprised me with her great posts, that’s right, two posts! Her Blog is BrainyBimbo and it is one I just can’t miss! She is a beautiful girl with a big heart who writes with a style unlike anyone. It’s funny, sad, exciting and everything in between.
Bobo has really become a great friend to me and she really cares about her readers. Her posts are, Part One and Bobo’s Contribution to the Blogging for Friendship Writing Project. Here’s a quote:
We prioritise differently, love different wonders and admire different people. We have different problems, think of different solutions and experience different backlashes.
We cook differently, eat different food and name the same dish differently. We sing different songs, tap to different tunes and play different instruments. We draw different things, paint with different colours and embrace different cultures.
We’re all different. Truly unique. and because of that…We’re one and the SAME.
Her post was very creative and sparkles with personality. I had really just met her shortly before the project began and I didn’t know if she would participate or not. She took it seriously and wrote two wonderful pieces which made my day
Thank you Bobo, you are a great friend!!!!
I’ll be dedicating posts to everyone who participated for 3-4 weeks. Friendship in the blogosphere is something we can never write enough about. We bloggers have taken the idea of on line friends to a level beyond what any of us could have dreamed.
We need each other and bloggers take friendship very seriously. I know firsthand how wonderful it is to have people that care from every place on Earth. Thanks to Trinity and Bobo for their dedication to nurturing meaningful relationships with everyone who comes their way. Please go visit these two beautiful, intelligent and caring ladies, please say hello. You’ll be glad you did 
Blogger Buddies Are Awesome
Nov 18
Thank You
To each and every person who has come by and helped me through this month, Thank you. I really wanted to at least answer every comment on the previous two posts before writing another but I had to.
I have so many people to visit and thank personally, it may take a little while to get it done. Many people who have really helped a lot, are folks I don’t even know! It is unbelievable the amount of love in the blogosphere. I may not have replied to all of you yet but I have been reading all the comments. It has helped so much, I am without words.
Lessons From Experience
Every blog and author is unique and each have their own tempo and personality. This blog gets a ton of comments and many are long and detailed. I love long comments and I love replying to them. I have been increasing the amount of good friends I have for some time. As a result, I was blogging at the same pace as when I only had a dozen or so friends.
When you are dealing with that many people, it is impractical to visit all of them everyday or even every other day for that matter. That is one thing I struggle with. I think if I visit this person, all their visitors will know I was there and so I feel a need to make sure everyone is visited so everyone is getting the same attention.
I will no longer be doing that! I do suffer depression which I have come to realize is not something I can control all the time. I always thought I could and such is the reason I have never tried medications for my condition. I was sure I didn’t need to even consider them. I am trying some and I hope they help.
New Approaches
The way I have always dealt with depression isn’t working. For the last 3 months, I have felt great and positive. Then the depression took hold. It has disappeared just like it arrived, out of the blue. One day I am in a world of despair and the next I’m feeling normal. I am thankful that my readers understand. It’s been a life saver.
I feel fine now and will be pacing myself and not letting my blog become a source of stress. My blog is my retreat from stress, thus it will be much more relaxed. I am taking the wonderful advice of my readers. I will be by to visit you all.
An Idea
I think I need a reader management system. A program that lets me know who I visited and commented on and who I maybe neglecting. Wouldn’t that be a great thing to have? If you have a friend based blog, it is impossible to not let some people become visited less frequently. I like everyone so I really wish there was something that could help manage that.
I am back and will be visiting EVERYONE. All of you are amazing and friendly. I have some 30 new friends too. I can’t wait to get to know you all.
Here’s to you all with a lotta love,
Bobby
A Project To Promote Our Community
This project was born out of necessity. I am fully against Google and their page rank system. I believe it is the people that count, not Google. I use Yahoo for all of my searches now and I will ask all of you to do the same thing (any search engine but Google). This project is to promote blogging friendships and the betterment of humanity.
My site is considered completely irrelevant by them. Is what I write irrelevant? Be warned that answers.com also uses Google. I am done with Google. I will keep my Gmail account and that�s it. I will publish a post listing all the posts on Saturday, October 27th.
The rules are simple. Write a post promoting goodness and friendship in the blogosphere. If some of you have any ideas on how or why Google should be boycotted, by all means, please do so. Keep in mind this isn�t about hating Google, it�s about solutions and friendships.
Once you are done, leave me a comment with the url of your post. Be creative and show your love! I am tagging a lot of you! Feel free to double tag the same people. That�ll make it even better. You don�t have to tag anyone if you don�t want to. Write something positive for our friendship and the betterment of humanity. Don�t do it for me, do it for everyone! Here�s my contribution:
Why I Love My Blogging Friends
I was going to write a post full of little stories about each of my blogging friends. Inevitably, the post would be 30 pages and someone would be left out. I have written a more general post to avoid length. I will be dedicating individual posts to and about all my friends regularly in upcoming articles.
Blogging to me is about sharing and caring. The incredible people I have met are some of the the finest people I have ever known. I have three new friends that have touched my heart so much this week, I have to mention them. All of you have touched my heart! I am already feeling guilty for not mentioning hundreds of you 
My friend Rolando from RPlayground has been so heavily influential on me I am without words. He inspires me to be a better human being. My friend Jamilla from What I Feel, I Just Blog It is so giving to everyone she meets it is truly heartwarming. She�s a shining star! My friend Opal Tribble|Vegan Momma is a great woman who just lights up the blogosphere with her kindness!
If you don�t know these people, go meet them! The visit will leave you filled with warmth and happiness.
The people who are changing the face of blogging are super friendly, kind and caring! WOW! I am so excited right now it is amazing. We are helping make the world a better place. It�s happening right now. I�m going for a new niche because it is now the time. Blogging Ethics|Blogging Friendships!
My first good friend on line was Adria from the blog InCinq. I didn�t really have any friends when I met her. She just stepped into my world and changed my entire view of blogging. She is a great, talented blogger who is definetly worth knowing! Thanks Adria! If it weren�t for you, I wouldn�t be blogging.
The next person I became friends with is Marzie (Genie Princess) from Mariuca: Wishing on a Falling Star. Marzie is very giving and has been so good to me. She taught me how to comment and I look up to her for being so nice to everyone! Again, I wouldn�t be blogging if it weren�t for her! These two women are some of the web�s finest!!!!!
Alright, I wasn�t going to write about these people originally but it is just coming out this way.
The Nafasg team are the finest group of people running one blog on the entire Internet. I cannot say enough good things about them! If you visit them, they will not disappoint you! They are helping lead the charge for helping humanity! We are all helping in our own way.
I have decided to not take this blog in a financial direction. The truth is, it doesn�t fit. It doesn�t feel right. Maybe I will start a money blog but it will not be this one. I am officially giving up on Google. I�m here for my friends. It�s all that matters to me. Blogging isn�t about money. it�s about community.
It�s time to get serious about Global change for the betterment of humanity. NOTHING is more important than that. I don�t care about money. I cannot care about a piece of paper. If you do, get some help. We need money but should not care about it. You care about people and kittens, not money!
There are over 100 million bloggers. We should support each other and make a group effort to spread love, not war. We can complain about the World�s issues but it won�t help. Instead of writing a 1000 posts about why George Bush should be impeached, promote positivity instead.
This blog promotes goodness. I try to avoid pointing out problems.
We Are One People
Instead of writing about how different we are, I am about how similar we are. It’s great to be proud of your heritage. What I am telling you is that I am proud to be a human being from the planet Earth. Being a white guy from the United States gives me a responsibility. I am part of the majority here. That’s why I support all races.
I’ll say it like this:
There are hardly any white Americans supporting the minorities here. That’s a big problem. I hear white people complaining about how there are too many immigrants. WE ARE ALL IMMIGRANTS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!! This is America. We are the melting pot. It makes me sick that people think they are special or better than others.
Who’s fault is it that minority based neighborhoods have high crime rates? It is the white Americans who display the disease of racism. We are not making everyone feel welcome here! They are welcome here. I stand here and proudly say I love all people from all races and religions. We are all equals.
If you think I’m wrong, please get some help. Make some friends with a blog. You will find how much alike all of us are. Before blogging, I was missing out on so many things. We are all here together. This blogging platform is such a powerful medium of communication it is unbeliveable.
Who would have ever dreamed how much of an impact blogging would have? It is simply awesome. I stand as one person with all of you. We are in this thing together. Let us all stand together, regardless of where were from. Let’s join as one race. We are the human race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m not feeling very well right now and I have to cut this article much shorter than I want to. There are lots of my friends not listed. I love each and everyone of you. I think I may have the flu so I will get some rest. I always feel guilty for not writing a hundred page post about all of you’I will be dedicating posts to all of you coming up.
I am asking the following people to participate in this project. There are really no rules. Do what you want. It’s about the community as a whole and all the wonderful individual people in it. Thank you all for being my friends. The following list of great people are all great bloggers whom I will support until my last breath 
What can we do to change the world? Why are your blogging friends important to you? How can bloggers help to prevent wars? These are just a few questions to consider when writing. Try not to write a super long post. Bloggers tend to like shorter more concise articles. If you do want to write a 200 page thesis, go ahead! I will read it but I can’t promise you that every one will.
I didn’t want a linked badge when starting this project. My friends Nafasg made a nice badge but it only linked to them. In lieu of these cicumstances, I felt terrible telling them that I couldn’t use it. I buckled down and a little html to fix everything! Thanks Nafa! Here’s to humanity! Trinity also made one! ThanksTrinity!
Badge By NAFASG
