Month: January 1970

The People’s Republic of Seabrook begins with “If you’re drinking to forget, please pay in advance.” The first thing that pops up in my mind is whether or not this is a weblog. Is it? Everything appears on one huge single page that takes a long time to load. In fact it is still loading after I have read through the first three screen-fulls. There seems to be little or no structure here. I start searching for it but it is difficult to find. It is obvious from the very beginning that this is a weblog in motion, still being thought out and growing quickly without form. The author has chosen to do it this way, which is his right and I can respect. However, it does not make it easy reading for people like me who expect structure. So where is the weblog anyway?

Aha, I think I have found it. Part way down I spot the following words: “Welcome to my weblog- the catalogued ramblings and hallucinations of an unchecked intellect. I love to write, and frankly, this provides me with a much-needed outlet.” Good, so I click on the weblog link and get the much feared 404-error. Bummer, what’s happening here? I skip around and see he is using a ready-made template that is pretty much unused, mostly empty, many gaps. There is even a so-called shop called “shop ecrosstexas style.” Nothing to sell there, though. Click, click and more clicks in search of the weblog. Where is it? I finally find it. However, it has cost me so much energy making it this far, that I have lost some patience for perusing the blog contents. But as a dedicated and hopefully objective reviewer of blogs, I find it my duty to continue anyway. Just in case.

The general impression is that this weblog is okay, nothing exotic or overly interesting, but enough stuff to read. Plenty of stuff. Indeed, the writer does spend serious moments of thought putting down his creative thoughts on paper. I click on the About-link. There I see “What is ecrosstexas?” but there is no answer below. Emptiness and I am still left hanging again.

So let’s get back to the question that started this review in the first place. Is this a weblog? If we mean the People’s Republic of Seabrook, then the obvious answer is no. However, if we mean ecrosstexas then the answer is maybe. There is potential there. The author is obviously working hard on creating his own piece of art, but he is not quite there yet. I think that if he used some good web tools rather than trying to do everything in raw HTML by hand he could do better. There is a good chance.
The People’s Republic of Seabrook

I like HashCakes.org. It’s one of those web logs that leaves you wanting a new entry to be posted. Sort of like watching your favorite show and then seeing a ‘to be continued.’ But my need for instant-gratification shouldn’t be dissatisfied for too long as the webmaster of HashCakes.org updates his web log quite frequently.



Sanka, the writer, has a way with words. I never did pick up on where exactly he is from (Greece maybe?) but I do know he isn’t American and for that I’m thankful. (I’m American, and so I can diss me) In any case, he brings you along with him on his daily adventures which he makes seem interesting; upon reflection, I wondered if it had been another person writing about the same situation, if I would have read the whole thing at all. I doubt it. To say the least, Sanka is a good writer.



The design was simple and very effective. I had no complaints.



This web log is excellent. It’s the ideal personal web log and for that it earns itself a 5.0.hashcakes.org

Jenny is a Libra. However, she takes on the nickname “Gemini” and I couldn’t think of a better one for her. Gemini’s are notorious, it seems, for having split personalities. I was truly lost in this web log because virtually every entry is different in the feeling it portrays. What all these entries have in common is that they are all written by the same person, oddly enough.



This web log would be diagnosed with a split personality disorder if such a diagnoses was possible. Jenny is crazy and I like it. Her posts range from the very extreme and back again. This site takes you on a roller coaster ride through the many feelings and emotions that make up one mind.



I was tempted to check this as a ‘group log’ but held back.



The design for “Gemini” is okay. There are some flaws and it’s not so easy to view but is manageable.



This web log has something for everyone and is worth your time. Enjoy.Gemini

Okay, so I’ve given a perfect rating of 5.0. But truly, “Wherever You Are” is a web log that demands nothing less.



This is the web log of Vaughan Simons, a web logger that has given me a new found hope for the web log community. He is an excellent writer and for that alone, he deserves a 5.



The design of ‘Wherever You Are’ is simple and very surfer-friendly. I adored the layout because it doesn’t spoil the writing and allows the words to be the highlight of the web log, as they should be. There is no need for Vaughan to compensate for anything as he leaves nothing to be desired.



There is no word that could describe this web log better than the word “quality.” And while quantity is no match for quality — there’s plenty of writing here, so you get the best of both worlds.



I am thankful to Vaughan Simons for sharing his gift of ‘word-compilation’ with us.



I’m captivated by this 5 and so this web log now resides in my favorites list. ;0)Wherever You Are

Care for some Snyder Cider? While the bottle portrays a ‘poison’ logo and to anyone with reasonable sense would warn them not to drink — I enjoyed the ‘cider’ quite a bit anyway.



Meet Snyder Mahler, the webmaster of Snyder Cider and the main character of this web log. He’s an interesting guy with lots to say. With a seemingly good personality and large charisma, it isn’t difficult to read his web log and enjoy every bit of it.



The design of Snyder Cider is simple and he seems to make the best of the Blog*Spot template that he uses.



This web log, in short, is a good read. While Mr. Snyder leaves quite a bit, off on some new task of his, he does provide good reading while he’s there. And in his absence, he has a few friends that fill in for him … they’re not bad either.



So this web log gets a 4.0 — and rightfully so.Snyder Cider