Review 3126

I had to have a few tries at reading this blog to review it. Why? Because it’s so information dense. News blogs like these usually take a few readings from me before I feel I can write about them.

Initial impressions? Bioethics in relations to the female. This got me thinking that it would be quite a resourceful blog for those that are interested in bioethics. Me on the other hand, had a bit of trouble reading through the various entries and links in regards to topics.

There are various entries to this blog that raise eyebrows; the one that really got my attention was the “answer to welfare is marriage” entry. Most of these things I had no idea about, mostly because I do find the reading of such issues hard going, and partly because I’m removed from it, living in Australia means that things like this do not affect me personally.

The posts on the blog do correspond to the links to various news blogs & magazines, like the American Bioethics Journal, New York Times, National Public Radio (NPR), New Yorker and even to the British Journal of Psychology.

I believe that there is only one author on this blog, but I’m not sure as there isn’t an about section for the blog or anything relating to who writes it. Although the author does seem to be able to find different things to write about so that most topics covered will appeal to different audiences.

The target of this blog I believe is to educate women on the ethical issues surrounding various aspects of our lives. I believe that the author is trying to appeal to a vast audience with the varying topics covered. The links & news items all are well thought out and written. The blog is hard reading at times, but I found some interesting and worthwhile things to read about, after I’d gotten through all the posts that I felt were hard reading. I would say that going to this blog for all bioethical women matters would be more beneficial than going to yahoo and doing a search as the author has carefully chosen the topics and I believe has kept it focused on the issues that are current and quite relevant with the links to various other news sites for further reading.NULL

Review 3129

I like websites like “zazzafooky”. It’s fun and keeps you on your toes. It’s not the same posts over and over again, and never becomes boring to read. Reviewing this site was all too easy.

When the URL first loads, readers may be confused at what they see. However, once the cookies are reset, you’re met with a very nice design. It’s a two-column layout, and keeps the general appearance of the site very clean and tidy. The colors are bright, and the overall perception I got of the site’s visual aspect was a very fun feel. A webcam link, zazzafooky merchandise, links around the ‘net – all of these can be found in the sidebar, along with some other sites within zazzafooky.com. The “Who is she?” is she links explains where the heck zazzafooky came from, and also describes who the author is. While the author information isn’t detailed, it does give readers an idea of the type of posts they’ll be reading. I love the different catagories of archives – where else can you sit and read several posts that fall into a “vulgarity”?

The author, who calls herself TJ, writes very well. She keeps her entries in fairly small paragraphs, which is very nice when reading weblogs. Her grammar and spelling don’t leave me trying to figure out what exactly she means when she writes an entry. Each entry is like a little morsel of entertainment – sometimes it’s humor, other times the posts leave you re-evaulating certain aspects of your own life.

The first posts I read were the ten entries TJ lists under “Best of Me”. What’s a better way to start reviewing a site than by reading what the author feels are her best entries? After reading them, I could definitely understand why she picked them as the “best”, but have no clue as to how she was able to limit it to just those.

I like the posts that list just small tids and bits of her life just as much as I like the multi-paragraphed prose-type entries she makes. I like that she can write about every day experiences (her pets, her family, being harassed by security at the airport) and make them seem so enjoyable. I like the creativity in the weblog’s name.

I like that for the past several weeks, she uploads several music files for her readers to download. One week I can download the South Park version of Merry F***** Christmas, and the next I can grab Coat Of Many Colors by Dolly Parton. Why aren’t there radio stations like that, by the way?

This is a fun site. I don’t know how I haven’t found it in other blog surfing. In my opinion, it’s definitely one that you should stop by and give a read. I’m willing to bet that within five entries just about everyone is going to either be laughing or nodding their head in agreement to what they’re reading.

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Review 3133

You know what I really enjoy in a weblog? Knowing who or what I’m going to be reading about. The Antique Mommy doesn’t waste any time with that by providing readers with a brief introduction to her weblog right at the top of the site’s layout: “I was nearly 44 when I had my baby. This blog chronicles the mostly joys and sometimes challenges of living in the brave new world of hot flashes, sloppy cookie kisses and trimming itty bitty finger nails while wearing bi-focals.”

The site only has archives listing back to July 2005. The very first post goes into detail on how The Antique Mommy wound up a mommy, and how she decided on this name of this weblog. It’s a really great entry to start off this weblog, and I felt like I knew quite a bit more about the “behind the scenes” life of The Antique Mommy. It’s a great way to start reading this site.

The design is simple. It’s a site hosted by Blog*Spot, and appears to be somewhat of a standard template. It’s a two-column design that compliments the site well. With her profile at the top of the site, it immediately clues readers in on the information they’re about to read. She lists her archives, recent posts, and different blogs she reads along the left-hand column. The different browns that are used in the layout – the different pattern background, the hyperlinks, and the color used behind the text – all mesh very well together. Unlike many sites, this is one that’s very visually kind and that’s always appreciated in the blog world.

Turning her toddler’s developing speech into a round of Jeopardy, finding out her innocent little son is ratting her out on all of their shopping trips and fast food lunch excursions, and just the general fun and hijinks that come along with parenthood are examples of some of the entertaining entries you’ll read throughout the five months of archives.

The Antique Mommy is a great writer. Her entries seem more like short stories, and whether the posts have pictures of her adorable son or happen to be about how she and her husband (The Antique Daddy) are adjusting to life with little Sean, they always seem to pull at one heartstring or another. The entries are certainly enjoyable to people that are at all entertained by little kid stories.

My biggest complaint (and I use that word very lightly) is that there aren’t more posts to read. With a little boy who has just turned two, though, I can see how the lack of free time could definitely be a roadblock. Readers should take advantage of the posts that are there and enjoy reading about this sudden change in the Antique Mommy’s life. NULL

Review 3135

A blog about dating! Sounds great. This is the kind of thing I like to read (and write) so I was eager to dive in. First, this is the only blog I’ve ever read that lives in the “bloglines” template. It has absolutely no frills, but that’s fine. A good blog is all about content and the bloglines layout is simplicity itself. It is easy to read and easy to navigate. There are no features to speak of–no links outside of the ones that are built in, no “about me” section, though the first entry gives the basic intent of the blog.

Speaking of the first entry, it is dated November 15, 2005. This is a baby blog. I read the entire thing in twelve minutes, but I’m a fast reader. The writer, as he tells us in the first post, is “a 48 year old man about to re-enter the world of dating after a nineteen year marriage, and a disasterous [sic] two year rebound relationship.” I’m able to sympathize with him until I read, “…this time I have set my sights high, and I am resolved to go after the most unaccessible [sic] women. I have decided at this stage in life, the chase is often more interesting than the catch.” I don’t like him as much after I read this. Is he just dating for dating’s sake? Looking to get laid or what? How much is he actually going to tell us about his chase? As it turns out, not much, at least not so far.

The rest of the entries give his take on a few of the more popular on-line dating services, a near-miss with a Russian bride scam, his experiences at a speed dating event and an ill-advised comparison of baseball and dating. I was bored. I feel like I’ve read all this before and there were no new insights. I don’t get a sense of who the writer is. Most dating blogs are written by younger people and women (myself included) and the potentially different perspective offered by a dating blog written by a 48-year-old man would be most welcome. Yet, it reads much like the dating blogs written by younger men–he’s looking for the same women (hotties) as the younger guys, though he is willing to date women his age and older. Yet, all the older women do is complain that men their own age only want to date younger women. Really? Maybe. He is one of these men!

I read a lot of dating blogs and this one does not stand out. However, it is very new and there is room for improvement. A more personal voice and more details about the writer’s feelings about his experiences might make it an interesting read.NULL

Review 3136

This blog is a guide to fundraising for non-profit organizations. No particular kind of non-profit is targeted. This scattershot approach caused me to wonder if the author of the site, Sandra Sims, self-styled “fundraising coach,” was selling something–perhaps her coaching services? It turns out that Sandra is not available for consulting on fundraising events, which surprised me since she says, “…and I, as your Fundraising Coach, will be with you every step of the way!” (from the “About” section.) Elsewhere, under “Services,” she says something different, “For more personal assistance beyond basic questions, I would recommend one of several fundraising consultants….”

This left me a tad confused. Is she selling links? Getting fees for referrals? She offers a book and a newsletter, but both seem to be free. Further investigation reveals that she is selling a few things. You can find them under the “Products” link on the left sidebar.

This is a business site, not a personal site. As such, I did not find it interesting. I am not involved in fundraising and have no desire to be. The main page is a series of articles about fundraising-related topics, which are not presented in any particular order. You must click on the title of a post to read the entire thing. Some of the articles are written by Sandra Sims, others link to outside sites. However, you can’t tell which is which until you click through. The sources are attributed, but not on the main page.

The quality of the writing is acceptable. The tone is perky and encouraging. Grammar and syntax are correct and there are no glaring spelling or punctuation problems. It is entirely readable if not inspiring. The design is business-like and professional. The special features include a “forum” and a monthly newsletter to which one may subscribe. You can tell immediately that you are not visiting a personal site. It looks like this site is trying to sell you something–and it is.

I find it difficult to rate this site. If I were a fundraiser, I might find it useful, but only if I were doing small-scale, low-budget work. However, those doing professional development work won’t find it very helpful. I do not recommend the site to the casual reader, but if you are planning a walk-a-thon or a bake sale, you may want to take a look.NULL