Soapbox Jury

A fitness plan for the whole family

2011-05-03T17:46:00.001Z

Guest post written by Betty Adams

I think that it's so much easier to work out when you have someone else to hold you accountable. Then if you have your family to hold you accountable too, then I think your fitness plan will be that much more successful!

We eat a lot of junk food in our home and I've decided to get us all to start eating better and working out too. I looked online to try and find an idea on how to get everyone fit together. While I was looking online for those ideas I found the site WildBlueDeals.com. Even though that wasn't what I was looking for, I looked through it some and after that I decided to change over our home intenret service to th! at one.

I also found this one walking and sprinting fitness plan and I think that I'm going to try that out this week with our family. Our neighborhood is really great for walking so we can try it there. This is supposed to be really good cardio, so we'll see what everyone thinks after we try it out.

Repair Your Credit

2008-12-19T16:31:00.003Z

As we all know there are gloomy economic times on the horizon. Rising unemployment, spiralling inflation and recession looming - the last thing you want is a dent in your credit rating.

Thankfully credit repair help is at hand.

DSI Solutions offers credit repair help to those who need it most - the people who need credit for a new home, a new motor vehicle to get to work or to help build a new family. DSI offer one to one support for people who need financial advice. They'll trawl through your credit history and set about the process of credit report repair. Clients receive fortnightly email updates about the progress to date. Once they've dealt with the credit problems DSI Solutions educate their clients about ways to remain debt and worry free.

For more information about cleaning your credit report visit repairyourbadcredit.com.

London Hotels

2008-12-19T16:21:00.004Z

I just love visiting our fine capital London.

The streets are so steeped in history, bustling with people and culturally vibrant. Being one of Europe's major cities it also has some of the finest dining, museums, galleries and entertainment anywhere in the world.

There's only one snag about visiting London - the price. Thankfully you can make your visit more affordable by getting organised, looking up some cheap London hotels and booking well in advance.

London Hotels is a comprehensive hotel directory and booking facility for anyone interested in visiting the great city. The site is always updated with the latest and greatest London hotel deals, with many of the hotels offering direct to client accommodation rates.

Whatever your London hotel needs, you're sure to find a great deal at London Hotels.

Biozone Ultraviolet Air Purifiers

2008-06-08T10:32:00.004Z

Looking out the window today I can tell from the glorious sunshine that summer has finally arrived. If you like lazing out in the sunshine, catching a few rays and generally relaxing in the warmth that's great news. If, on the other hand, you're someone who burns easily or has a ferociously growing lawn then it isn't so good! The warm summer sun can also signify trouble for hay fever sufferers, with all the pollen floating about in the breeze.

Thankfully help is at hand for hay fever and other allergy sufferers alike - air purification systems. The Biozone air purifiers utilise state of the art technology to break down the nasty little contaminants that trigger allergies. Ultraviolet light is passed through the air and breaks down the bonds in contaminant particles like dust, pollen and dust mite feces. The UV zapped air is much easier on the lungs, so that's good news if you're an allergy sufferer.

The air expelled from the Biozone air purifier is also less likely to harbor contaminants. This is because the UV treatment produces air of a high energy gaseous state, which helps to break down large organic particles when it is expelled from the purifier. These expelled gases sanitise surfaces 100 to 2000 times faster than most other decontamination processes, meaning your room stays cleaner and fresher for longer.

To learn more and see the latest purifiers in the Biozone range, head across to Better Health Innovations.

Online Marketing

2008-06-04T11:15:00.003Z

With the ever expanding reach of the world wide web, more and more companies and individuals are turning to the power of the internet as a marketing tool. According to the latest figures released by Internet World Stats there are 1.4 billion people surfing the internet on a regular basis - that's 1.4 potential customers for your business. It's little wonder that the use of online marketing techniques has rocketed in popularity.

One of the fundamental principles of search engine marketing is the ability to use search engine optimisation (SEO) to increase your product or service's exposure in the search engines, thereby driving more targeted organic traffic to your site. A balanced and considered approach to SEO management is essential to achieve the best results.

Another popular form of online marketing, employed by experienced and novice businesses and webmasters alike, is pay per click (PPC) advertising. PPC is a medium that displays ads of interest to your website visitors, with the intention of attracting them to the product or service featured. A small payment is received for each click a PPC ad attracts. Again, an effective approach to PPC management is essential to ensure the best conversion from the ads displayed.

With your potential customer base increasing daily, there has never been a better time to learn more about online marketing.

SEO Talk Forums

2008-05-26T16:03:00.005Z

Attention all you webmasters: there's a great new community where you can refine your online skills, share your ideas with a receptive audience and enjoy friendly chat in a relaxed environment.

SEO Talk Forums (STF), brought to you by the same people behind the popular Web Talk Forums (WTF), has just opened for business and we're on the lookout for new members to contribute to our rapidly growing community.

At STF we aim to make your membership of our community a positive experience by making everyone feel welcome and taking note of member feedback. You'll not find any of the petty and restrictive rules and infractions that typify some of the larger webmaster forums.

Better still with STF the more you post the more you're rewarded, with increasing signature rights and member privileges as you become a more established part of the community.

Come and give us a try and if there's something you don't like or you think we could do better then just let us know. STF promises to give every member's comments due consideration and will implement any suggestion that makes our community a friendlier and more efficient place.

If you'd like to try a friendlier webmaster forum then head across to SEO Talk Forums.

Arm Chair Tourism

2008-05-26T13:36:00.005Z

Aurora australis (the Southern Lights)
as seen from Antarctica.

As some of you might be aware it wasn't all that long ago I was a student. Probably one of the most important things I learned during my eight years at university (no joke) was how to look after my money. I'd go to the supermarket and buy the cheap food just coming up to its sell-by date, I'd buy all of my train tickets months in advance for the cheapest fares and I'd carefully limit the amount of socialising I did. Travelling was probably my biggest expense after tuition fees and rent. There were so many places I'd like to see but I just didn't have the finances the cover it. It's even worse now with all the airlines charging a fortune to cover their rocketing fuel costs.

Thankfully there is a partial solution to all those people who would like to travel but haven't got the time, inclination or money - arm chair tourism. The Arm Chair Tourist is a neat little blog that brings together live webcam feeds from the some of the world's most desirable travel destinations. Each post covers a different place of interest and comes with a few images, little introductory chit chat and useful links to the webcams and related information.

The Arm Chair Tourist has so far travelled to the bright city lights of bustling Hong Kong, the foamy white waters of Niagra Falls and the relaxing turquoise seas of the Carribean. Sydney, California and Antarctica are just a few of the other destinations in this action packed travel guide.

Join Stephanie as she tours all seven continents of the world and explores some of its most hidden gems.

Tidying Up Your iTunes MP3 Collection

2008-05-26T11:34:00.004Z

One of the worst things, if there is such a thing, of having a fast broadband connection is that you spend the day downloading lots of media files. My MP3 collection is overwhelming and, having diverse taste in music, I sometimes have real difficulty locating the tracks I'm looking for.

Thankfully there is an easy way of tidying up your iTunes collection in four simple steps:

The first thing you need to do is ensure that the ID3 tags on each track are correct. This is necessary because the tags sometimes get damaged when the files are transferred across to iTunes from a different medium. On rare occasions the tags can even get lost altogether during the transfer process.
Re import your tag corrected files back into iTunes.
Remove duplicated files from your iTunes collection. It is much easier to do this if the tags are correct - simply use the ‘Show Duplicate Songs’ command in the iTunes Edit menu.
Add album art to your tracks. iTunes doesn't automatically add the artwork included on CDs. iTunes artwork can be achieved by using software that transfers images across from Amazon to your CDs.

If you'd like to learn more about how to sort your iTunes collection efficiently then head over to Connected Internet and check out their articles on the subject.

Orlando Visiting

2008-05-26T11:09:00.005Z

I remember when I was younger how much I used to love all the Disney movies. We'd have a different Disney movie shown each week at school and they were an absolute sell out. All the kids and their parents went along to watch the old classics and sing along to their simple, yet melodic musical scores. Even now, as a fully grown man, I still reach for my Disney music albums and sing along to modern day classics from the likes of The Lion King, Pocahontas and Aladdin.

For Disney fanatics only one experience can surpass the enchantment and mystery of their movie back catalogue - that's a visit to the Magic Kingdom itself.

Orlando Visiting is the perfect site for people planning a journey across to the Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida. Their regularly updated blog brings you the latest Disney news, giving you an essential taste of what's happening during your stay. Unlike many information sites Orlando Visiting also includes a Disney World forum where recent visitors to the Magic Kingdom can share their thoughts on the best rides, restaurants and bars, accommodation, local tourist attractions and much more. As the contributions come from fellow Disney tourists you can be confident they'll give an honest reflection, helping you get the best out of your visit to Orlando.

If you want to experience the magic of Disney first hand then Orlando Visiting is the site for you.

Palm Beach Travel

2008-05-22T17:42:00.005Z

Imagine being in a place miles away from work, with the salty sea breeze taking the edge off the intense sun, sand between your toes and the reassuring sound of water lapping up the shore. No, this definitely ain't Blackpool - you'll not find any donkeys, candyfloss or coconut shies here because the golden sands we're talking about are in Florida.

If you've just suffered the discomfort of a long haul flight the last thing you want to do is spend hours hunting for the local amenities - the best beach venues, car hire companies, shopping malls, local restaurants, theatres and that sort of thing. Fortunately the nice people of Palm Beach Travel have done all the leg work for you.

Palm Beach Travel is an essential resource for anyone traveling to Florida's east coast. For the practically-minded there are details of West Palm Beach Hotels and for motoring enthusiasts West Palm Beach Lexus might be worth a visit.

Looking through the archive I see they have posts covering an exciting range of holiday pursuits. What better way to see the aquatic life of Florida's turquoise bays by taking up scuba diving. For people who just want to laze the days away with fine wining and dining, there are features about the local eateries and country clubs.

Whatever your holiday intentions there's no better place to start your research then Palm Beach Travel.

My Free Screensavers

2008-05-22T17:29:00.003Z

I'm just about to buy myself a new laptop and what's the first thing everyone does when they buy a new computer? Customise the appearance of course. I'm sure I can't be alone with the claim that the first thing I ever do is change the desktop and screensaver from the default settings to something with a bit more personality.

The new versions of operating systems come with quite a good range of desktop wallpapers and screensavers already, but if you're after something a bit special then better head across to My Free Screensavers.

Just as the name implies they offer a comprehensive range of free screensavers suitable for PC users of every taste. If you want to beat the crowd this December then you can even download your own Christmas screensavers now - I particularly like the look of the Nutty Santa screensaver. The site also includes a wide range of natural looking animated screensavers, including calming rippling water and violent erupting volcanoes.

Whatever your screensaver needs I'm sure you'll find something of interest over at My Free Screensavers.

Gisele Bündchen Photos

2008-05-22T17:03:00.003Z

Gisele Bündchen is reputedly the best paid model in the world, with an estimated fortune of $150 million. Looking at some of the photos of Gisele in GiseleBunchenPhotos.com it's not difficult to see how her breath taking natural looks have captivated male audiences for more than a decade.

During that time Gisele Bünchen pictures have appeared on the front covers of no less than 500 magazines and she is the face behind more than 20 global brands.

Looking at Gisele you'd be forgiven for thinking she was born to be a model. The truth of the matter is that, like so many others, she became an accidental star when she was spotted by an agency in São Paulo.

GiseleBunchenPhotos.com contains a wide range of Gisele photos in all manner of poses and costumes. My particular favourite sees Gisele lying on a golden beach, head thrust back and sun beating off her perfect tanned skin. You'll also find pictures of Gisele on the catwalk and some artistic black and white shots focusing on her exquisite facial structure.

For the best Gisele Bünchen photos pay a visit to GiseleBunchenPhotos.com.

Trucks & Trailers

2008-05-22T16:34:00.004Z

Ask a classroom full of schoolchildren what they want to be when they're older and I bet a lot of the boys reply with "train driver" or "truck driver". By some twist of nature most males have this inbuilt fascination with large mechanical objects - they just want to climb all over them, explore what's inside and try out all the different features.

Despite many years of female conditioning some males never quite lose that desire to work with big trucks, which is where Trucks and Trailers comes into its own.

Trucks and Trailers is a website packed full of useful information for any truck fanatic. In addition to the conventional issues of vehicle maintenance, truck brands, spare parts and tuning it also includes some interesting less than ordinary articles. One article that caught my eye was about how truck or SUV owners could earn a few bucks during the winter by using their vehicle as a snow plow. Of course if you're going to be out in adverse weather conditions it's important that you've got the correct kit for the job - good quality truck fog lights are a must for the gloomy winter conditions. It's also important to have tyres with sufficient grip - light truck tyres are proving popular because of their enhanced safety features.

The the latest developments on truck brands, spare parts and maintenance head across to Trucks and Trailers.

Car Tuning Central

2008-05-22T16:01:00.004Z

As most long-suffering women will confirm the relationship between a man and his car is often closer than that of a husband and wife.

Some men can spend literally hours of time washing the car, applying layers of wax, polishing out marks on the paintwork and tinkering away under the bonnet. Worse still is that if they're not working on the car then they're out driving it, watching motoring shows on TV or reading super car articles in men's magazines.

If you're a man who's falls into this fanatical category then Car Tuning Central is the ideal website for you.

As well as articles about car maintenance, auto tuning and car brands it includes details about some of the finer points of being a petrol head - for example, how your car can be used to attract the ladies and how you can use parts bought from tuning shops to soup up your wheels. It also gives essential maintenance advice on how to change brake pads, look after your engine and perform wheel changes.

For all your motoring needs head over the Car Tuning Central.

Penpals JPG

2008-05-22T15:15:00.003Z

Being someone who looks after a large network of blogs I love to write original and informative (arguably) content. I also enjoy meeting new people and learning about them, their home and their lifestyle. Becoming a penpal is the ideal way of combining all of these pastimes.

Penpals JPG is a site allowing people to form new penpals online. They offer a completely free service where you can create an online profile, browse for people with similar interests and get in touch with them via the site's messaging system.

Many of the people on there simply want to improve their foreign language skills and gain a greater understanding of life elsewhere. Some are seeking long-term friendship and maybe more with the right person.

One profile that caught my eye was for a Russian girl. She's seeking friendship with an American guy who appreciates honesty, isn't afraid to voice their opinions and can engage in deep and meaningful conversation. She also wants someone who's open-minded... whatever that means ;).

If you'd like to learn more about the wider world and meet new people then becoming a penpal will definitely help. If you're looking for free penpals then go and visit Penpals JPG.

Freshpeak - Web Reviews

2008-05-22T13:09:00.003Z

Today's post is a bit of a bus man's holiday for Soapbox Jury because we're reviewing a fellow review website.

Freshpeak is one of the newest additions to the independent web reviews sector. It's very similar to our own site apart from they're using Wordpress on their own domain. That gives them a sleeker, more-professional look and probably makes them more suitable for business type reviews than our own blog. Something else they do is categorise their reviews for ease of reference. They currently have reviews on finance, internet, sports, shopping and real estate type sites.

Some big names have made an appearance there so far, with Yahoo Finance currently featuring top of the bill. Their review goes into great detail and conveniently bullet points the key aspects of the site. There's also room for some opinion and light-hearted humour, weaved in with their comprehensive observations. Looking deeper into Freshpeak I see these characteristic features of their reviews over and over again.

For all your website reviewing needs, go and take a look Freshpeak.

Spy Phones

2008-05-22T09:56:00.004Z

Calling all you budding James Bond's and wives who want to check up on your husbands - here's a website that's going to be of great interest to you.

The Spy Phone is an ingenious website providing all manner of covert mobile phone software. Imagine the usefulness of being able to monitor your partner's or children's text messages to keep tabs on what they're really doing. Maybe you'd like to listen to the conversations they're having and find out who's really on the other end of the phone.

The Spy Phone has spy software that allows you to do that and a whole lot more. Their SMS interceptor software will send you real time copies of all the incoming and outgoing messages to the target phone of your choice. Their phone spy software allows you to be able to dial the target handset from anywhere in the world and discreetly listen in to what's happening nearby.

Maybe you're not sure what your spy phone needs are, in which case their comprehensive ALL-in-ONE package will cover all the bases. The ALL-in-ONE includes everything necessary to turn the target handset into a spy cell phone, call interceptor, SMS interceptor, GSM tracking device and much more besides. Better still it works with any GSM network anywhere in the world, so even if you're miles away you can be sure that your target is within close reach.

Whatever your covert surveillance needs you can be sure that some spy phone software will be a useful addition to your arsenal.

Get Paid for Google Searches

2008-05-21T19:47:00.004Z

My Search Funds is a scheme whereby web users get paid for completing their normal search engine queries.

It works as follows:

Sign up to My Search Funds (all you need is your name and PayPal email address).
Install the My Search Funds search bar in your web browser (Firefox and IE are supported).
Every time you want to search for something type the query into your My Search Funds search bar and use that.
Receive a small payment, typically 3 or 4 pence, for each real search query you make.

Search queries are handled by Google. All you have to do is get into the habit of using the My Search Funds search bar every time you want to look something up.

Search Quality and Fraud Detection:
It's important to stress that My Search Funds is for genuine searches only. If you make excessive or repetitive searches just to increase your earnings then you'll probably be banned and receive nothing.

Their system flags up the following:

Multiple searches in quick succession (could be a problem if you're spelling isn't too good).
A large number of searches on any particular day (difficult to quantify but more than 30 searches a day is likely to attract closer scrutiny).
Automated searches generated by some sort of software.
Repeat searches with the same search term.
Searches where the results are not acted upon (e.g. not clicked through to another site).

So try and avoid any of these situations by remembering to click through your search results etc.

If you need to make lots of searches in quick succession I would recommend temporarily reverting to the normal Google search box.

User Comments:
I first heard about this over at WebTalk Forums. It sounded interesting so I checked it out further, which led me to the MoneySavingExpert.com forum where there are a couple of threads all about it. People are making the following general comments over there:

Scatty Student1: "I've had over £30 in two months and am due £35 next time, never had any problems with them, they are one of my favourite sites."

geordie joe: "I've just been paid."

Why oh why: "I have had a payment today for about £21.00 yippeeeeeeeee."

(Note: GBP £1 is equal to about USD $2)

Most people over there seem to be earning around £1 per day for 30 searches, although one person I noticed had made almost £3 from 96 searches in a single day.

It's only fair to tell you that a few people have complained that their earnings have been reduced, but it's hardly surprising that My Search Funds keep a close eye on the authenticity of the searches made. Overall it looks like the majority of users are happy with the system and have received payment.

Payment:
My Search Funds has a minimum payout of £20. Payment is made 45 days after the last day of the month in which you made at least £20. Sounds complicated but this payment system, known as NET-45, is very common for most online advertising and money making programs. If you don't make it to £20 in a month your balance is carried forward to the next month.

You're probably wondering how My Search Funds make money to pay out to their users. I had a think about this too and the only thing I can think of is that they're monitoring your search engine habits for research purposes. That's nothing to be concerned about because all you give them when you sign up is a name (even a first name would do) and your PayPal email address - you do give any other personal details at all.

Referrals:
Members of My Search Funds receive 10% of their referrals' (called friends) earnings with the program. Unlike most other programs they also have second (friends' friends) and third (friends' friends' friends) referral tiers, which earn 5% and 2.5% respectively.

Conclusions:
I'm trying My Search Funds out at the moment and I'll report back on my progress in due time.

In the meantime if you'd like to try it yourself please sign up as our referral using the following link: Try My Search Funds Now

Resource for UK Teachers

2008-05-05T15:19:00.001Z

Teaching Uncovered is an essential resource for all budding teachers in the UK. This regularly updated journal follows the progress of a secondary science teacher in the UK. It gives an honest and comprehensive account of teacher training, life in the classroom and the goings on behind the staffroom door. If you're the sort of person who can break complicated ideas into smaller, more manageable chunks then teaching could be the ideal career for you. The family friendly working hours, generous holidays and financial incentives mean that there has never been a better time to enter UK teacher training. If you'd like the inside story about life as a teacher then head over to Teaching Uncovered.

LBS Group Review

2008-05-05T11:20:00.003Z

It’s time for another website review and today I came across a site which sells roller shutters called lbsgroup.co.uk. while looking for home security products.

A lot of people are quite opinionated when it comes to entirely flash based sites as a lot of issues can arise, the user may not have flash player installed on there machine and it’s especially difficult to optimize for search engines. However I quite liked this one. The site introduces itself with some nice catchphrases telling you about the company. After this some shutters roll down over the LBS logo which is a very nice effect. The only thing I think that the site lacks is information regarding pricing and past projects. It would be good to know some more about the company.

I invite you all to take a look through.

Heels GOOD For FASHION But Not Your FEET!

2008-05-03T22:09:00.007Z

Heels are a great fashion statement. But they have a downside too. Women experience a lot of health issues as a result of using heels. High-heeled footwear is a great help to women. Women who are shorter enhance their height by using high-heeled footwear. Heels also make women look sophisticated. And there are plenty of varieties available too, which gives women a wider range to choose from. Stiletto heels, pointed heels and blocked heels are available for all ages and sizes. Women use heels to enhance their looks. Heels can be bought in any color. Women in high positions in their organization wear heels which are of muted colors to give them an aura of power and sophistication. Heels also add that extra touch to lingerie.

Alas! Every man-made thing has a downside, countering its benefits. High-heeled shoes are no exceptions to this rule. Women who regularly use high-heeled footwear experience back pain when they are in their late thirties or early forties. Regular use of high-heeled footwear also causes pain in the ankles. Sometimes the pain becomes so intense that some women may even require surgery to stop the pain. The damage that heels cause to the back may result in a lot of pain and discomfort later on in life. Living with constant back pain is not easy. Some women may require spinal surgery to lessen the pain. Such surgeries are always risky. Though such serious complications are rare, they do occur in women from time to time. Women who use footwear with extremely high heels are more susceptible to back problems later on in their lives. Women whose profession requires them to use footwear with heels regularly, such as ramp models, are also susceptible to back and ankle problems later on in their lives.

Ankle pain sometimes hinders the walking abilities and speed of women. When the bones and ligaments are damaged, it reduces the walking speed and affects the ability of women to walk properly. In some cases, corrective surgery may be required to lessen the pain. The pain to the ankles is caused because of the pressure on the feet. When women wear high heels, the pressure on the feet is increased. This damages the ankles slowly but surely.

Regular use of high-heeled footwear also damages the knees. The damage is not as extensive as those caused to the back or ankles, but some women experience pain in the knee joints when they grow older.

Though heels are great for fashion, women have to be mindful of the health hazards before they start using high-heeled footwear. Making a fashion statement is not as important as preserving your health. If health is at risk, women better think twice before they start using heels. If heels are absolutely necessary, they can be used in moderation. Women should avoid footwear with extremely high heels, as these causes the most amount of damage to the ankles and back. Women need not use heels regularly. Heeled footwear can be used once in a while. This will prevent damage to the back and ankles.

Free Image Hosting

2008-05-03T20:24:00.003Z

imgserver.us tries to take the hassle out of hosting images. The images are hosted on fast US based servers which provide the quality and speed of service expected from any serious image host.

The site allows guests to upload images of up to 3MB either from their computer or from any remote location on the internet. If you decide to become a member of this free image hosting site you will be allowed to upload images of up to 10MB in size and will also have your own personal gallery where you can keep track of all your images.

You don’t need to take our word for it, go check it out!

Crazy about Chickens

2008-05-02T12:59:00.002Z

Are you crazy about chickens? The author of That Blozzz is. He writes many interesting stories about raising chickens. His articles are very interesting and full of stories from living on a farm.

I found it cool that he included pictures of his Baby Chicks the day they were born. His latest post about the chickens is a collection of pictures showing the chicken coop. There are pictures from every angle so people can see how a basic coop is set up. He discusses everyday issues about his chickens including when it was time to cull the rooster. If you are thinking of raising chickens or just curious on the topic, these articles are worth reading. It sounds like fun and reading his stories makes me want to go out and buy some chickens of my own.

That Blozzz has a lot of stories about chickens but it also has a collection of stuff from product reviews to webmaster topics to earning money on the Internet. This is a great blog if you are looking for some interesting reading. It is what a blog should be, a collection of posts that the author wished to share with the readers without limits.

Upgrade Your Business

2008-05-02T12:43:00.002Z

Our mission is to create a perfect data source for our clients to share there resources with the world to generate an optimum business solution for you. Our networking team is trying to spindle a web resource through its network which will provide our client and all netizens a perfect solution from the millions of websites spread across the world.

There are millions of websites around the world and lots of them have quality resources and are willing to share it with others for the mutual benefit. We work 24x7 to interact with all such webmasters to create and best business resource. Through our shear hardwork we have created an online resource of like minded business sites who wish to associate with others and share their network with you and vice versa for mutual benefit of each other.

Our DJ Talk Forums

2008-03-22T15:47:00.005Z

Our DJ Talk is a great chat forum aimed at giving mobile DJs a helping hand with their business. The site has a diverse range of content with something of interest the seasoned DJ pro, the up and coming young amateur and people who just like music in general.

Scrolling down the packed homepage the Karaoke House forum caught my eye instantly. I'm what you could describe as rhythmically challenged but after a few beers it's amazing how easily your inhibitions slip and you turn into a crazed karaoke monster! Reading that forum it's nice to see things from the DJ's perspective - not just the chance encounters with random, out of tune drunk people but also technical aspects like converting CD-G to DVD format.

I also chanced across their Radio DJs forum where there was an interesting discussion about the excessive self-promotion of some FM stations on air and how this detracted from their broadcast quality. It appears all these advertising jingles and catchy slogans are wearing down some sections of the audience - yet they remain tuned in.

The Music forum allows for discussion of what's hot and what's not in the music charts. It also gives members the chance to comment on their favorite DJ remixes and playlists. Latin music is an area gaining in popularity by the day, which is highlighted by the provision of its own sub-forum.

One of the best sections of Our DJ Talk is the packed DJ Photo Gallery. It's here that members are able to contribute the latest snapshots of their gigs, compare notes on their equipment and share images of generally daft but good humoured carry on.

For all the latest DJ news head across to Our DJ Talk forums.

A Short History Of Gumtree

2008-02-28T21:36:00.005Z

Gumtree was founded in March of 2000 by Michael Pennington and Simon Crookall. The two men founded the site in an attempt to provide a community hub where people new to the London area, or those planning to move to London, could find an easy place to get started in the city. From housing accommodation to employment to even social events, Gumtree informed the new citizens of London about the city. Since the creation of the site, Gumtree.com has extended to several other cities such as Glasgow (Scotland) and New York (United States).

As the years have passed, Gumtree has grown into the largest job site in London and has become to largest classified advertisements site (according to Alexa) in the United Kingdom.

Due to the success of Gumtree, it was acquired by eBay in May of 2005 for an undisclosed price.

Lately, the Gumtree history has had no big additions. Besides some expansion in 2007, Gumtree has managed to stay relatively the same over the years.

The Need Of A Proxy For Facebook

2008-02-28T21:36:00.004Z

Face book is one of those websites where it is a good idea to use a proxy when accessing. There are many reasons as to why a user should use a proxy when using Facebook but this article will mention the most important reasons.

The main reason as to why you should use a proxy on Facebook is to prevent people from knowing your Facebook activities (such as parents, teachers, et cetera). Unless you want these people exploring your every move on the Face book network, it is ideal to use a proxy to deny these looking eyes access to your sacred account. You would be surprised as to how many parents discover their children's activities on Facebook due to the fact that these people did not use a proxy to protect their tracks.

Another reason as to why you should use a proxy on Face book is to prevent the company from tracing you to your actual location. While normally Face book would not worry with your location of residence, they may report this information to law enforcement agencies in some occasions (for example, if you are suspected of breaking a law and Face book could assist in the situation). Face book works with these agencies with no hesitation so it is important for you to protect yourself. If you use a proxy, they will have a hard time pinpointing your exact location.

How to deliver best online experience?

2008-02-28T21:35:00.001Z

As an internet business owner you must have been wondering many times what factors are important to online shoppers? In other words, how to differentiate your e-commerce site and store from the competition. How to draw and satisfy the biggest number of online visitors so they will keep returning. The key to online success is to enhance web-based customer support and create online experiences that increase site loyalty and drive sales. Simply, make every online experience for your customers as positive as possible by fully responding to users' needs. Only then you will avoid users abandoning the web site prior to a purchase being made or during the process. They are likely to reach their credit cards after examining your e-commerce web site. Deliver consumer experience at a higher level than the rest in digital marketplace giving your visitors much more in return. The option that online shoppers seek and will appreciate is the capability to get live shipping rates and track their shipments for major carriers: UPS, USPS, DHL and FedEx with a click right from their desktops. To enable these handy functionalities, integrate into your e-commerce application .NET rating and .NET tracking component that will transform your online enterprise site into a thriving business offering high-level customer satisfaction.

Revamp of Greenville Realty Site

2008-02-28T18:14:00.002Z

Greenville Website OurGreenville.com, a site specializing in Greenville Condos (well that's the sister site) and Greenville SC Real Estate sales has redesigned their interface for 2008. The redesign was after consideration of usability and design features. The webmaster at this Greenville real estate site used feedback from over 20,000 visitors to design a page that was usable and clean for home buyers to find their dream home. The site still has many of the same features such as a detailed Greenville neighborhood page and individual pages for other neighborhoods. Tanner Estates in Simpsonville, SC is one of the new neighborhoods featured that is still under construction. Nearby, Hollington in Simpsonville, SC is catering to high-end sales for people wanting to be near highway 14, a convenient artery for traffic to and from other suburbs. Creekwood in Simpsonville, SC is still being worked on, but does provide home buyers with some nice alternatives.

Do you know what long term care is?

2008-02-28T18:11:00.002Z

Millions of American baby boomers will be retiring soon and the need for long term care insurance is going to start growing faster than ever. But do you even know what long term care is and what long term care insurance costs and pays for? In a nutshell, long term care insurance is a type of health insurance that covers non-medically necessary health care.

Long Term Care insurance policies are held by millions of Americans already. Recent innovations in policies have made them even more consumer friendly than they were when this type of insurance was pioneered by Genworth in the mid 1970s. So how do you qualify for long term care insurance?

Well, there are six activities of daily living that you must be able to perform to qualify for the policy. For most policies, once you've had a doctor certify that you cannot do at least two of the six activities of daily living, you can then qualify for your long-term care insurance policy. In this post we have linked to several long term care insurance articles - check them out for more information on this important type of insurance.

OnlyStop.com: The One Stop Financial Comparison Site

2008-02-25T09:34:00.003Z

Having been a university student I know first hand how difficult it can be trying to balance your personal finances. There always seems to be something else to pay and finding the cash is sometimes a struggle. I'm not a financial whizz so I often need to ask advice from my friends and family, but it would be handy if all the information was in one place to save my embarrassment. OnlyStop.com fills that role nicely by collecting essential financial information into a single comprehensive resource.

Going back to my student days again one of the most important steps I took was opening some new bank accounts. I opened a new current account for my day to day transactions and a high interest savings account with my friendly mutual building society. Banking is a cut throat industry and the major players all offer incentives for signing up to their products. In the case of current accounts it's best just to take a step back and avoid being blinded by all the free cinema vouchers and cash back. It's a much shrewder plan to choose an account with minimal fees (preferably none), a favourable rate of interest and appropriate overdraft facilities just in case you find yourself short.

Insurance is another must have for any university student. It's worthwhile having your laptop, phone and other personal belongings insured because student accommodation is a known haunt for criminals on the lookout for the latest must have gadgets. Sometimes it's possible for your parents to have your belongings covered in their own home contents insurance. It's well worth asking them to get some new home insurance quotes to find out if this is possible. A lot of students now have cars too, which is an additional financial burden. Big savings are to be had by shopping around for the right car insurance deal and by driving economically using the right gears and avoiding excessive acceleration and breaking.

For more essential financial advice check out OnlyStop.com.

Swimming Pools

2008-02-24T19:47:00.006Z

It might just be me getting older but time seems to fly by nowadays. It seems like only yesterday we were enjoying a family Christmas at home. It won't be long at all until we're out in the garden drinking cool beer, eating barbecue charred food, watching sport on TV and generally lazing around in the warm summer sun. What better way to refresh yourself than by splashing about in your very own pool? A pool is the perfect addition to your outdoor entertainment and relaxation.

Getting your own pool is actually much easier than you think. Red's Swimming Pools have a good selection of above ground pools which are installed in a short time and with the minimum of fuss. A choice of round and rectangular pools are available to maximise your garden space. As well as those with a rigid construction there are also inflatable versions which can be easily drained and stored between use.

If garden space (and weather!) isn't an issue then you might prefer one of Red's inground swimming pools instead. These inground pools are constructed of heavy duty steel, aluminum or thermoplastic making them strong, durable and long lasting. A wide selection of lifeguard chairs, slides, filters and swimming pool liners are also available allowing you to personalise your pool appearance. The liners come with the piece of mind afforded by a 15-year manufacturer warranty.

Red's winter swimming pool sale makes this the ideal time to snap up a swimming pool bargain.

Best 10 Independent Non-Profit Website Hosting Reviews

2008-02-23T19:08:00.005Z

With the ever increasing breadth and diversity of the web it's difficult to know exactly which company provides the best website hosting. I know from personal experience that some of the less scrupulous companies don't always provide as comprehensive and reliable a service as they would have you believe. Ideally webmasters want a hosting company that offers a combination of great value, ample storage capacity and bandwidth, minimal down time and reliable customer support. But with so many companies out there which way do you turn?

Upperhost has taken much of the stress and leg work out of choosing a hosting company. It is an independent web hosting review site that takes a critical, in depth look at the different companies out there. Upperhost's front page contains a convenient summary of their top 10 hosting providers. Each host is scrutinised in closer detail on its own dedicated review page.

Bluehost web host is currently at the top of the list with an impressive 93% grade A. It scores well in terms of performance, reliability and customer relations. The review also give details about the Bluehost features and control panel, value for money and past customer experiences. A feature of all of the Upperhost reviews is the at a glance summary column on each review page. This makes it very easy to compare the services offered by each hosting company quickly and easily.

Web Hosting Pad comes in a respectable second place. Looking at the performance chart it's obvious that although Web Hosting Pad has many great add-ons it doesn't perform quite so well on customer relations. This probably means it's a better choice for the more advanced webmaster who requires less support.

Whatever your web hosting requirements you are sure to find a review of interest at Upperhost.

The Number 1 Resume Writing Services Online

2008-02-23T19:06:00.003Z

Applying for a new job can be a daunting prospect at the best of times. All those forms to fill in and interviews to overcome - it can be quite stressful, particularly if you're already unemployed and under pressure to find work. It will definitely help if you have a high quality resume and thankfully help is at hand.

US Resume Writers offer the best resume writing service online. This well established company has provided resumes to over 30,000 clients over the years. All needs are catered for with a comprehensive range of resume packages to suit your budget and individual requirements. The Basic package will produce a resume designed to showcase your strengths and grab the job interviewer's attention. It also comes complete with personalised telephone support and the opportunity to have minor revisions. At the other end of the scale is the Crown package which comes with full updates, rewriting and support for 2 years. This comprehensive package will produce five unique resumes guaranteed to stand you ahead of the crowd.

The site also includes several resume samples so that you have a realistic idea of the finished product and how it will suit your needs. With such great resume help at hand there really is no reason why you can't aspire to your dream job. See what's on offer by heading to US Resume Writers.

Free iPhone

2008-02-23T17:26:00.003Z

Unless you've been living in a cave for the last 6-months you can't have failed to notice that there's one piece of mobile communications equipment that everyone is talking about. With it's awesome touch screen technology, wide multimedia function and slick email and web-browsing capabilities the Apple iPhone has attracted widespread acclaim - even from those who know absolutely nothing about technology!

Unfortunately cramming all of this power into such a small package comes at a price which isn't usually cheap - not usually cheap unless you read and follow Simply Free iPhone's advice to get yourself a free Apple iPhone that is.

It's probably easier than you think to get a free iPhone online. It is done by the simple process of referral marketing. In general terms you are rewarded for signing up to free trials, thereby raising the profile of certain products. You are also rewarded if you refer your friends to take part in free trials too. If enough people follow your lead you can easily get your hands on that fabulous new iPhone.

Learn more and get the latest free iPhone news by visiting Simply Free iPhone.

Gadgets4Nowt

2008-02-23T16:53:00.004Z

If you're anything like me you'll enjoy buying and trying the latest electronic gadgets on the market. Technological advancement means that many of these items are smaller and more powerful than ever before and there's always something new to enhance your at home entertainment. Better still there are a few ways of obtaining some of the latest must haves free of charge, as Gadgets4Nowt explains.

The Sony PS3, with it's built-in Blu-Ray technology and state of the art high-definition graphics, is widely regarded as one of the best gaming machines ever made. Gadgets4Nowt tells it's readers how to get a free PS3 by the simple process of promoting a couple of websites by asking some of their friends to sign up for free trial offers. Why would anyone want to pay hundreds of dollars when they could get a free PS3 instead?

By exactly the same token it is entirely possible to get a free Nintendo Wii. The Wii, Nintendo's smallest and most powerful console to date, gives a whole new meaning to the phrase interactive game play. With it's revolutionary Bluetooth remote and vast games library Wii has taken the world by storm - so much so that many stores ran out of consoles in the run up to last Christmas.

To learn more about getting the latest electronic items for free visit Gadgets4Nowt.

Travelling Cheap on the Credit Card Companies Dime

2008-02-20T23:25:00.006Z

When you read this blog post, you are probably instantly thinking of a scam. As a child your parents always told you if it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t true at all. Well, in this case, I can assure you that this post is going to be legit and will save you a ton of money and time on your next flight out to see your relatives or friends.

Let’s think back to the last time you flew in an airplane. Do you remember how much an airline ticket cost you? If you can’t remember, it’s ok. They still are pretty outrageous. What if I told you that every time you used a credit card, you could rack up free points for a free ticket in the future? Does this still sound too good to be true? It’s not! Let’s go on.

Airline credit cards are the most underrated credit cards on the market. When people think of flying, they don’t think that they can save on something as silly as a flight. What people don’t realize is that there’s a saving solution to everything. It just takes a lot of energy to find out about these things.

Airline credit cards work in a very simple way. Every time you use your card when you purchase your airline tickets, you will receive points. Depending on the airline and the card you have, you may receive up to double or triple the points; this would be written in your terms and conditions.

The next time you think about taking the family out on a trip, consider Travel credit cards, not only will you save a lot of money, you will make your family proud as well!

Save on Gas the Easy Way

2008-02-20T23:25:00.005Z

If you’re of legal age in the United States, I’m sure you have some sort of automobile or something that runs on gas. If you don’t, well this post isn’t meant for you but if you plan on wanting to save on gas in the future, I suggest you keep reading.

Gas prices are by far, the topic you hear everyone talk about. You hear people talk about the prices at the gas stations, at the dinner table, and while waiting in line at the doctor’s office. No matter where you go, you hear people complain about the price and how it never goes down. The fact is that most people don’t use their brain and try to find saving techniques. Everything in life can be bought have a discounted price, no matter what you’re purchasing! You just have to put some time and effort into it and the savings will come.

The purpose of this post is talk to you about gas credit cards. If you’re not familiar with them by now, you should be. If you’re sick of pulling up to the pump and paying that ridiculous three dollars and some change per gallon, your mindset is about to change when it comes to gas prices. When people think of credit cards, they instantly think of debt and bad things. Credit cards are only bad for people who can’t control their spending and can’t make the best out of their credit card. If you can control your spending, you can reap all the benefits.

Gas Cards can sometimes save you up to ten percent per gallon depending on what card interests you. Generally, you’re going to save more with a card that focuses on one gas station. The next time you’re ready to fill up at the pump, remember this post and think to yourself, “I could be saving a lot more money if I had a gas credit card.”

The Laparoscopic Band Centre

2008-02-20T18:52:00.005Z

Obesity, particularly in older age, can lead to a whole range of health problems including diabetes, heart disease and sleeping and joint disorders. Sometimes a person is just unable to lose weight via the conventional route of healthy eating and regular exercise. Lap band surgery could be the ideal solution to overweight and obese people in that category.

The lap band is a small, toroidal implant which is located around the oesophagus at the entrance to the stomach. The procedure is minimally invasive and results in less scarring and recovery time than conventional weight loss surgery. Once in place the implant is carefully injected with saline, which causes it to swell and gently constrict around the stomach entrance. The reduced stomach volume causes the patient to feel a sense of fullness when they have only eaten a small amount of food, thus limiting their calorific intake.

New Bandsters (people with the lap band) are supported by a comprehensive patient care program. This includes regular follow ups where the band can be adjusted as necessary. Education is also a big priority with patients being trained to eat properly by choosing small, nutritious portions of food as they are supported with a fitness program.

With over 400,000 success stories globally the quick, efficient and hassle free lap band procedure could really put you well on the road to a healthier lifestyle. For more information visit The Laparoscopic Band Centre.

New Bodybuilding Supplements Information Site

2008-02-20T13:44:00.003Z

Bodybuilding is the process of maximising muscle tissue through a disciplined regime of exercise, weight training, controlled calorific intake and periods of rest. Higher levels of muscle growth, repair and activity require a specialised diet which is rich in carbohydrates and protein. A lot of bodybuilders also take scientifically formulated bodybuilding supplements to help them achieve their goal of peak muscular condition.

Whey protein, from cow's milk, is a readily usable source of branch chain amino acids. It has a high biological value (BV) meaning it is metabolised and gets to the site of action much more quickly than other protein types. There are few natural sources of whey protein, so supplements provide a convenient source of this essential muscle building block. It comes in two main forms - concentrated, containing around 75% protein by mass, and isolated, containing around 90% protein by mass. The isolated form is whey protein at its purest with nearly all the fat and carbohydrate removed. As well as the obvious benefits to bodybuilders and endurance athletes whey protein is also of interest in the field of weight loss and wound healing.

Carbohydrates are also a vital ingredient in the balanced bodybuilder's diet. All that extra muscle growth and physical exertion means that that average bodybuilder burns more calories than someone of normal build. There are a huge range of carbohydrate products out there, but it's difficult to know exactly which does the job best. Thankfully someone else has done their homework by writing some informative supplement reviews to give an idea of what works best.

With will power, a controlled diet and regular weight training could you be the next Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Information on Tendonitis

2008-02-20T13:07:00.005Z

Tendonitis is a painful condition where the strand of fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone becomes inflamed and sore. It can be easily treated if caught early, but if left unchecked long-term damage to the tendon can occur. Tendonitis is caused by repetitive strain on the tendon, perhaps due to sport, or as the result of injury, old age or overstrain.

Football players regularly suffer from injuries like achilles tendonitis, which is caused by sudden bursts of overstrain on the achilles tendon as the player runs, stops and turns. The tendon runs all the way down the back of the lower leg. The risk of achilles tendonitis is exacerbated by poor footwear and inadequate warm up before exercise. Women who wear high-heeled shoes are also at risk because the tendon tends to shorten due to the angle of their foot.

Just as footballers can have trouble with tendonitis due to the sudden movement of their legs, tennis players and golfers are susceptible to elbow tendonitis due to the repetitive jerky movement of their arms. The elbow is a hinged joint where lots of tendons and muscle groups come together. Elbow tendonitis is characterised by localised pain, inflammation and stiffness during or shortly after exercise.

Tendonitis prevention is achieved by warming up before exercise, using the correct equipment and avoiding overexertion. The symptoms are alleviated by resting the affected area and applying a cold compress. More advice on tendonitis can be found at iTendonitis.com.

Lose Weight Group Teaches You How To Lose Weight

2008-02-20T13:06:00.009Z

It's getting towards that time of the year when people start booking their summer holidays. Usually they want to head towards a more tropical climate with long golden beaches as far as the eye can see. But then there's an alarming thought - what will I look like sunbathing on the beach in just my swimsuit? There's no chance of hiding that beer gut or bingo wings when you're out there with the sand between your toes. You really need to take action now.

Lose Weight Group is a new online resource for people just like you who want to lose weight. It's for people who want to banish that dreaded middle-aged spread but have so far been unsuccessful, whether by a lack of will power or by inadequate guidance and support. There's no secret in the fact that weight loss can be achieved by a combination of diet control and exercise. This site is packed full of great weight loss tips to guide you along the way.

Whenever I try and lose weight I usually manage to do the exercise but struggle with the diet part. I think it's a lifestyle issue - I haven't got time to mess around spending ages making fancy rabbit food. I'd rather not spend a fortune on specialty food either - just something quick and easy with a bit of taste. Luckily the Low Weight Group's specially tailored diet plans have taken all of these factors into account. The site provides a range of diet sheets to suit the lifestyle needs of all sorts of people. There diets range from 1000 calorie a day weight loss plans, right up to 2,500 calorie a day weight maintaining regimes.

Whatever your weight loss needs head across to the Lose Weight Group and see what's on offer!

Quick Review: Farreys.com

2008-01-17T17:05:00.001Z

Farreys is a US wholesale hardware company that strives to provide the consumer with the finest range of household fittings at the best possible price.

Their range of light fixtures serves as a perfect example of the sort of quality on offer. Farreys stock hundreds of different types of indoor and outdoor lights of both a traditional and contemporary appearance. For a more elegant feel to your home check out the range of chandeliers. They also have an exceptional array of landscape lighting for illuminating the outside of your home or garden. To compliment your purchase or for running repairs there is a collection of light fixtures and fittings.

The user friendly Farreys website has simple drop down menus that allow the customer to shop by price, product type, style or manufacturer. The online shop also has a web form for any questions you might have.

Check out the Farreys website for more information.

Holiday Whistler

2008-01-03T17:06:00.001Z

Whistler, British Columbia, is a Canadian resort town set high in the Coast Mountains to the north of Vancouver. The primary tourist attraction is its world class alpine skiing, which has been recognised by the award of several prestigious prizes. It's global reputation for winter sports has led to its selection as a venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic games.

As well as extreme mountain terrain the area is abundant in natural wildlife, of which the black bear is a notable member.

Holiday Whistler is a vacation rental company providing high spec accommodation around the resort. A wide range of Whistler accommodation is available to suit the needs of the smallest or largest of skiing parties. This includes cosy apartments set in heart of the village, or luxurious log cabins high in the trees in blissful seclusion. Check out Cay Heights Chalet as an example of the rentals on offer. This stunning chalet sleeps 24 and boasts a private hot tub, sauna and is only a short drive from the slopes. A wide selection of Whistler lodging is shown on the website.

For further information check out their website or order a brochure.

Quick Review: LifeInsure.com

2007-10-27T17:44:00.001Z

This is a sponsored post. To view my policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

As Benjamin Franklin once said: "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." How right old Ben was. Unfortunately, unless you emigrate to Monaco, there's not a lot you can do about the taxes. What you can do is make financial contingency plans for the inevitability of death.

LifeInsure.com is a leading US provider of life insurance cover. First thing you notice about their homepage is handy instant life insurance quote tool. There's no need to mess about and give out personal details on the telephone - it can all be done from the comfort and privacy of your home computer.

Death is a pretty stressful event. The last thing you need to be worrying about is that those who remain aren't provided for financially. Depending on your health and lifestyle you could give your family and loved ones piece of mind and financial security for only a few dollars every month.

For further information visit LifeInsure.com.

Quick Review: Spanish Hotels

2007-10-23T22:31:00.001Z

This post is sponsored by CheaperthanHotels.com. To view my policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

Madrid, the vibrant capital city of Spain, rests right in the center of the country. It is located on the river Manzanares and acts at the political and financial heart of the nation. The city is renowned as one of Spain's most popular tourist destinations and boasts a varied array of cultural attractions. The city's 'Golden Triangle af Art' homes several famous museums including the Museo del Prado and National Archaeological Museum of Spain. For visitors more in touch with music Madrid is home to the Spanish National and RTVE Symphony orchestras. Hotels in Madrid serve as the ideal base to explore the city's historical as well as contemporary attractions.

A few hundred miles to the north east of Madrid you'll find Barcelona. The city, nestled neatly on the Mediterranean coast, boasts many exceptional live music and opera venues. The gothic quarter of Barcelona contains a huge array of iconic medieval architecture including the Sagrada Família church. The church, designed by Antoni Gaudí, was started in 1882 and is still under construction with an expected completion date of 2026. The Camp Nou stadium, famous home to FC Barcelona, and Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, venue of the 1992 Olympic games, still provide a spectacular backdrop to many sporting venues. The Spanish Grand Prix is also a regular fixture in Barcelona's busy calendar. Check out the many hotels in Barcelona (or Hoteles en Barcelona) available for last minute deals.

For all your Spanish accommodation needs check out CheaperthanHotels.com.

Quick Review: Farreys.com

2007-10-09T09:39:00.001Z

This is a sponsored post. To view my policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

It's hugely appropriate that I've been asked to write about the products of Farrey's because over the last week or so Northumberland has been getting incredibly dull in the early evening. Winter really is drawing in up here.

Farrey's are a leading US supplier of lamps and lamp shades , light fittings, desk lamps and various other household fixtures. In this post I'm concentrating on lamps, of which they have a mind-boggling array from dozens of different manufacturers. Buffet lamps, pharmacy lamps (whatever they are) and piano lamps are just some of the different varieties on offer. Whether you're after an elegant contemporary feel or a charming old rustic classic they're bound to have the idea lamp to fit your personal taste.

What better way to illuminate the dull winter nights than a Farrey's lamp? For further information visit the Farrey's website.

Quick Review: RealTravel.com

2007-10-05T19:09:00.001Z

This is a sponsored post. To view my policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

RealTravel.com is the ideal point of reference if you're planning to go off on holiday or a business trip overseas. The general idea is that travellers sign up to the site, blog about their experiences on their trip overseas and provide valuable feedback to other members of the RealTravel.com community. The site is packed with real destination reviews by real people.

Another great feature is the built in Free Trip Planner which allows you to compare destinations selecting the most convenient travel and accommodation arrangements to suit your own circumstances. The tabbed browsing of the site ensures you can quickly find the information you're looking for and the travellers forum allows you to discuss any items you can't find the answers to on the main site.

To get the greatest deals and hottest information on your future travel plans take a look at RealTravel.com.

Quick Review: mailboxixchange

2007-09-24T12:28:00.001Z

This is a sponsored post. To view my policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

If there's one thing the US is known for it's their free standing mailboxes. Unlike here in the UK they don't need to worry so much about some little oik stealing the post from the end of their driveway - if anyone even attempts it they'll just shoot at them! And quite right too!

If you're looking to smarten up the bottom of your driveway with a new mailbox, you should look no further than mailboxixchange. This is the ideal marketplace for mailboxes and curbside decor (whatever that is) and they have a wide range of high quality products to adorn residential and commercial properties alike. As well as freestanding models they also have wall mounted alternatives, door numbers and mailbox components - mailbox components ask you? How can an object as simple as a mailbox possibly have more than one component? Well, apparently it does - check out the website to find out more.

For all your mailbox requirements visit mailboxixchange.

Quick Review: Gumtree

2007-09-11T13:20:00.001Z

This is a sponsored post. To view my policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

Gumtree is a great information portal about London and other major cities both in the UK and further afield. Living in the historic capital of the UK can be an expensive business with average house prices of approaching £400,000 and sky high rates to match. Gumtree dedicates an entire category to London jobs, so you can find the ideal position to finance the cost of living. The portal also provides invaluable information on the local community and services to give an insight into the lifestyle of London residents.

So whether it's a London job you're after, or just a bit of guidance on what's happening in and around the great city, Gumtree is a great resource to consult.

Quick Review: Australian Hotels

2007-08-16T10:07:00.001Z

This is a sponsored post. To view my policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

Sydney is the most populated city in Australia, situated on the picturesque New South Wales coast to the south east of the country. It is a popular holiday venue and has hosted the recent 2000 Summer Olympic and 2003 Rugby World Cup. The city has a comfortable average temperature of 22 degrees throughout the year. Famous landmarks include the Opera House, which is home to Opera Australia and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The Opera House lies on a small peninsula close to the impressive Harbour Bridge and is the ideal place to relax, enjoy the scenery and dine alfresco. Hotels in Sydney are the ideal way to relax and unwind and enjoy one of Australia's most cosmopolitan cities. The Darling Harbour Hotel in particular is ideally situated for the nearby exhibition centre and fine wining, dining and nightlife. Why not just take a relaxing ferry cruise while you're there?

Melbourne is situated to the south west of Sydney, on the coast of neighbouring state Victoria. It is the second most populated city and again has a comfortable coastal climate. It is famous for its contemporary architecture, fine gardens and extensive tram network. It has thrice been voted the most livable city in the world by The Economist. Hotels in Melbourne are also the ideal base to explore Australia's south eastern coast and check out the sights of the city.

Also in Queensland you'll find the state capital of Brisbane. Hotels in Brisbane provide the ideal opportunity to enjoy the South Bank Parklands and City Botanic Gardens. If you're after more adventurous activity then the Gabba and Suncorp Stadia offer a range of fine sporting activities, from the energetic pursuits of Australian rules football and rugby to the more sedate game of cricket.

For more information on Hotels in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane check the website.

Quick Review: KicksTime.com

2007-08-02T12:49:00.001Z

This is post is sponsored by KicksTime. To view my policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

Anyone knowing me will know that I am perhaps the most unfashionable person in the world. Instead of going for expensive designer labels I head for the cheap unbranded alternatives - more practical than posey.

If I'd found the KicksTime website a bit earlier I might not be such a fashion outcast. Here you'll find a wide range of affordable branded fashion. Hot for August is a brand new range of Gucci loafers - you don't get any better brand than that. Other big brands include Prada, Lacoste, Timberland and Adidas. They've also got some great deals on Nike Air Jordans at the moment.

KicksTime also stand out from the crowd in that they offer telephone support and free shipping and handling to the US. They accept a range of payment methods for their convenient, user-friendly online shop.

For all your branded fashion needs head over to KicksTime.

Quick Review: Farreys.com

2007-06-29T21:42:00.001Z

This is a sponsored post. To view my policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

As Britain is gripped in the middle of some of the worst summer weather we've seen in years it hardly seems appropriate to be talking about ceiling fans. Just incase you have found yourself in the middle of a summer heatwave you should look no further than Farrey's for ceiling fan refreshment.

Farrey's are a leading US supplier of ceiling fans, light fittings and various other household fixtures. In this post I'm concentrating on ceiling fans, of which they have over 400 distinct styles from 13 different manufacturers. As if that selection wasn't enough, they also allow you to customise your fan using their wide range of blades, motors, downrods and other spare parts. A brand new range from the Casablanca Fan Company is just in stock. Casablanca fans are built with quality and energy efficiency in mind and come in a wide range of traditional and contemporary styles. The le Grande model, with carefully-crafted veneer blades, is shown as a contemporary example in the image above. The Casablanca range also has desktop fans and fans for damp conditions. Minka Aire ceiling fans are another new addition to the Farrey's catalogue. Just as the website tells you, these things really do have a unique combination of form, function and design - some of the traditional and retro models are particularly unusual.

What better way to relax over the summer than with a nice cool beer and the cooling breeze of a Farrey's fan? For further information visit the Farrey's website.

Quick Review: Hawaiian Beach Rentals

2007-05-15T11:02:00.001Z

Imagine waking up in the morning and walking directly out onto a sunkist terrace with golden sands stretching for miles and the taste of salty sea breaze on your lips. The turquoise sea rumbles in the distance and bird chatter in the trees in your own little piece of paradise. All this can be yours if you go to Blackpool! Failing that you might like to try Hawaii instead. Poipu beach perfectly matches the little piece of paradise I mentioned before, but the weather is decidedly better than Blackpool. The ideal way of enjoying these stunning surroundings is to rent a beach front condo. You can also get a great condo rental rate kauai (whatever that means). A condo offers a style of living that can't be matched by a hotel - there's a great social interaction with everyone under the same roof with their own amenities. Best of all it offers you ultimate freedom to enjoy your surroundings any way you like.

For further information visit the Hawaiian Beach Rentals website.

Quick Review: Halloween-Store.com

2007-04-24T18:02:00.001Z

A slinky little outfit from Halloween-Store.com's collection.

This post is a sponsored post. To see our policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

Is it just me or are traditional celebrations appearing earlier each year? I use the word celebration for Halloween in the loosest sense of the term, since Halloween is a bit of a misnomer - it has no more significance than coincidentally being the day before All Saints Day. A lot of it is to do with the commercialisation of these celebrations - Easters eggs appearing on the shelves the week after New Year and Christmas gifts being advertised from September onwards.

It's now April and I've been asked to give a quick review about the Halloween-Store.com. As you may have guessed these guys are purveyors of the finest Halloween tat - Halloween which is, of course, at the end of October. If you want to avoid the rush now is the idea time to get your Halloween costumes, masks, decorations, wigs, hats and accessories. They also have merchandise from blockbuster movies like Superman, Shrek and Batman, although the relevance of these to Halloween is, admittedly, very doubtful. They seem very reasonably priced to me and, Afghanistan withstanding, you can have your orders dispatched to anywhere in the world.

For further information visit the Halloween-Store.com website.

Soapbox Jury (Temporarily) Closed

2007-02-17T11:12:00.002Z

Unfortunately I'm having to close Soapbox Jury for a while. I really hope this will be a temporary measure. The problem is that completing reviews is a very time consuming process and since Sam is now unavailable they all fall on my shoulders. As readers of my main blog, Tom Jackson Online, may be aware I'm really having to cut down my blogging due to work commitments at the moment.

I hope to be able to open Soapbox Jury once again when my current workload has decreased and I can dedicate more time to it - this isn't likely before Summer 2007.

In the meantime, thanks to everyone who has supported us and we hope to see you soon.

Blog Review: Ryan's Calamity

2007-02-03T16:42:00.000Z

Ryan's Calamity
http://ryanvelting.com

The completed review will appear here shortly.

Blog Review: Turning The Pages Of Life

2007-02-03T16:39:00.000Z

Turning The Pages Of Life
http://sweatysocks2.blogspot.com

The completed review will appear here shortly.

Blog Review: A Little Piece Of Me

2007-01-23T15:21:00.000Z

A Little Piece Of Me
http://crpitt.blogspot.com

Appearance:
Blogger standard Tic Tac template in wisps of blue.

Organisation:
Neatly organised. I like the way Claire provides a regular hello message to her new readers.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links, blog archive and tags.

Advertising:
Google AdSense and a few other directory/blogging circle advertising buttons are located in the sidebar. Nothing too garish.

Comments:
This is a requested review that has been sitting in the in tray for a few weeks now. Apologies to Claire that it has taken so long to get this thing published.

A Little Piece Of Me begins in October 2006 with a short opening post and pleasant photo of seaside panorama. The setting is a beach in Scotland and Claire's nephews splash about in the water – they must be hardy lads because the seas around Scotland in October are very, very cold! Claire also includes a photo of herself, but the background lighting is low making the detail difficult to see (although she looks kind of cute). Claire has just had a heavy session at her sister's Halloween party and judging by the gory photos in early November it seems they all entered into the spirit of things. I can't quite decide if that's a very large pumpkin or a very small kitchen table – have a look and decide for yourself. Another permanent fixture in November is Guy Fawkes night, which provides the ideal excuse for fireworks and another family get together. Claire also uses the opportunity to tell us a little more about her home life – her openness is refreshing. Claire's on a steep learning curve in mid November as she desperately tries to juggle all her future arrangements (mostly parties) and experiences her first taste of haggis. For any non-Scots readers who don’t know what haggis is, it's a mixture of ground mutton, barley, spices and seasoning traditionally encased in a pig/cow intestine, although it tends to be in a synthetic casing nowadays.

Every now and then Claire poses counselling homework questions for her readers to ponder on, which is a solid continuous theme throughout her writing although a bit cerebral for me. Something I did find very interesting was the article on Barriers to Good Listening. The Christmas period is packed full of things to do. To begin with Claire heads to Scotland to see her sister and nephews and deliver the family's presents. Next off down home for a few days before hitting London for a Hawaiian party over the new year. The new year heralds the return of some of the bloggernity's old favourites – Wordless Wednesday and Thursday Thirteen. Two other memes that are new to me – Funny Monday and Friday Feast – make their debut. January is also a very in-depth month for counselling homework, but a few light discussion points also crop up: the great Bum Bags/Fanny Packs debate springs to mind – since I'm from the UK too I side with Bum Bag because you don’t crease up with laughter quite as much when you hear the name! The final point I want to mention in Claire's journey to date is that she's a hiker and beer drinker, which rates highly with me. Her first hike in six-months takes her to the beautiful Peak District. She visits Derwent Dams, famous for the old black and white Dam Buster’s movie and Baslow.

This is a solid blog and Claire is commended for her regularity of posting, which far exceeds me at the moment. Another noteworthy point is that she has a loyal following of comment leavers, most of which are already known to Soapbox – Erika, Skittles, Ruth et al. There is a lot of counselling content which won’t appeal to everyone, but there’s also plenty of light-heartedness and vivid imagery. I wish Claire continued success with her blogging.

Rating:
8/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: My Quest To Make Money On The Internet

2007-01-19T19:43:00.000Z

My Quest To Make Money On The Internet
http://westen30.blogspot.com

Description of site:
Martin from the South East of England describes his ongoing quest to make money using a free blog.

Appearance:
One of the standard Blogger templates with a sand colour scheme and custom £20 note header. The template has been adapted to include 3 columns.

Organisation:
On the whole neatly organised.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive. The weekly progress reports have a dedicated link on the sidebar, so you can easily keep up to date with Martin’s progress so far.

Advertising:
Lots of advertising. This blog is monetised with Google AdSense, AdBrite, Adult Friend Finder, Commission Junction, Blogsvertise, Blogitive and MyLot. Martin also completes paid surveys (Ciao) as part of his project but obviously these don't feature on the blog apart from in the earnings reports. The ads are mainly confined to the periphery of the page, but more recently they have appeared between posts too.

Comments:
This is a requested review.

I have been following My Quest To Make Money On The Internet from the very outset so was very happy to oblige when Martin asked for this review. It's taken me a few days to get around to finishing this, so apologies for the delay. The author blogs fairly regularly, but has eased off (as have I) in the past month or so. Notwithstanding this, there is a large archive of interesting content and invaluable information.

As you'd expect for a money making blog there's lots of advertising. It isn't so bad having a page stacked with adverts when you know that is the whole purpose of the blog. What is much more offensive is when someone stacks their pages full of ads in a desperate bid to monetise third-rate content. Luckily, this blog does not fall into that category because it provides a valuable 'try before you buy' type service. Martin tests out all the different monetisation strategies, receives all the dodgy spam emails, fills in all the tiresome online registrations and reports back to his readers which schemes work and which don’t. He hasn't made a fortune yet but his perseverance has earned him just over GBP £100 (about USD $195) over the past 4 months. Another thing I like about this blog is the way Martin lends a hand to his fellow bloggers by his proactive link-exchanging and participation in 'Internet Money Makers Carnival' article sharing. Looking through the archive there's also a lot of return comment leavers, me included, and a loyal audience of readers.

The design of the site isn't a work of art, but it's practical and functional. With all the different HTML type elements the site takes a few seconds to load correctly, which some people may find off-putting. In my rating I also have to consider that some people will see My Quest as simply 'another money making blog' of which there are thousands already. Overall a good blog, which I enjoy reading, but the content of which wont appeal to everyone.

Rating:
6/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Web Review: Celebrity Seats

2007-01-17T21:39:00.000Z

Celebrity Seats - your one-stop shop for US theatre,
concert and sporting event tickets.

This is a requested review.

Celebrity Seats sells tickets for US theatre, concert and sporting events. They have concert tickets available for huge celebrity stars like Aerosmith, Celine Dion, Elton John, Guns N' Roses and Shakira, to name but a few. If theatre is more your thing they have tickets for popular Broadway and West End shows like The Lion King, Mamma Mia, Chicago, Les Miserables. The shows are avaiable at some of the top theatre venues in the US including St. James Theatre in New York, the Shubert Theatre in Boston and the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco. They have a wide range of sport tickets, even including the NFL Super Bowl.

Celebrity Seats, a reputable company with over 5 years experience in ticket brokering, has also negotiated special deals on airline tickets and hotel reservations for their customers, so even if you live out of town you can still enjoy the entertainment at a reasonable price.

I recommend you visit the Celebrity Seats website and check out the deals for yourself.

Blog Review: Blog-Op

2007-01-15T16:55:00.000Z

Blog-Op
http://blog-op.com

Description of site:
A collection of useful resources for the small-time blogger. This site comes from Chris who also keeps the Thermal blog, which faired so well (9/10) when we reviewed it back in November 2006. It has a promising pedigree.

Appearance:
Three column WordPress template with unusual pale green colouration.

Organisation:
Neatly organised. There are ten posts displayed per page - I think this is a lot of content and may prove overwhelming for the infrequent or first time reader.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and well hidden blog archive. I really struggled to find the archive link – always the first place I go when I do a review. It is tucked down the left hand sidebar, just above the AdSense referral buttons. It might prove difficult to find for the ad blind so I recommend more strategic positioning.

Advertising:
Left hand sidebar is an intermingle of Google AdSense ad units and referral buttons. The right hand side bar includes a few discreet directory mini banners.

Comments:
This is a requested review.

After finding the archive I hopped back two months in time to the beginning of Blog-Op. The posts quickly jump into the promised 'blogging resources' theme and we are introduced to RSS, Feedburner, pinging and Google sitemaps to name but a few. I noticed that this is a community blog and I recognise several of the contributing names – Chris has employed a sound knowledgebase here, which is reflected in the high quality of the writing. It really is insider knowledge – not canned dribble that has been cut and pasted from elsewhere. I've got quite a lot of blogging experience myself now but I never knew what a 'Favicon' was, or how to go about getting one. I'm certainly wiser having read through Blog-Op and there's not many blogs I can say that about! I draw your attention to the 'How To Set-Up A Blog' series of posts because these really do provide a brilliant overview of the process.

This may sound selfish now, but when I see a huge list of posts on the same page my heart sinks. I might be the exception because I have to read everything at one sitting, but I'm sure someone visiting Blog-Op for the first time might be overwhelmed by the huge content on a single page. I realise that Chris is trying to maximise space and navigability. I have to be critical of the colour scheme too. I'm afraid to say that I don’t find it very inspiring – it reminds me of mouldy bread, but perhaps the intention is to portray an image of new life.

In conclusion, Blog-Op is a very well written community blog which is abundant with useful blogging information. In my opinion (and I might be wrong) there are too many posts per page even though they are in the drop down format. The colour scheme and archive link positioning should also be revisited.

Rating:
7/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: Owl & Acorn

2007-01-12T14:48:00.000Z

Owl & Acorn
http://owlandacorn.blogspot.com

Description of site:
Melissa from Seattle discusses the major happenings in her life and her number 1 hobby – knitting.

Appearance:
It's our old favourite blogger template again – browning paper on top of the horrible brown and yellow flower pattern. With so many colourful templates to choose from, I can't image why anyone would choose such a dull option.

Organisation:
Short entries interweaved with photos of Melissa's handy work. Neatly organised.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
No obvious advertising apart from a small RSS feed button and Site Meter mini banner. Certainly no monetisation. A hobby blog instead of a money spinner – nice to see.

Comments:
Melissa hasn't requested this review – I stumbled on Owl & Acorn by accident and thought it had interesting niche content. I was drawn to this blog because of the creativity of the author. When I was younger I tried some knitting myself – at school we were forced to knit scarves for Romanian orphans, but sadly I never got past the first few rows of (dodgy) stitching. My knitting skills were very poor – I just didn't have the co-ordination or the stamina to see it through to the end and, dare I say it, it wasn't particularly trendy to be good at knitting if you're male!

Luckily Melissa has the knitting bug and she seems to do it well. One of the very early entries in the archive shows a picture of her first sock. She has used the Jaywalker pattern. I imagine knitting something as complicated as a sock – especially a multicoloured sock like this one – takes considerable skill. Roll on October and we have a list of 10 interesting knitty facts about the author. By the end of the month I'm beginning to detect that Melissa likes sock yarn a lot. I can kind of see the attraction – some of these yarns are a kaleidoscope of colour and quite therapeutic to look at. I'll also draw your attention to the Squirrel and Oak mittens in early November. Melissa has family in the UK (extra rating points) and she goes over there (here) to visit the in laws in late November and early December. This provides the ideal opportunity to network with some of the UK knitting fraternity and enjoy cream teas on the Norfolk coast. It also allows them to stock up on British sweet treats like Jaffa Cakes and Quality Street. Mid December brings seriously bad weather to Seattle. The wind blows out Melissa's window and a fallen tree narrowly misses her car. On a positive note a power failure does mean she gets the day off work – every (storm) cloud has a silver lining!

This blog has captivated an audience of loyal comment leavers and return visitors. I like the raw creativity of the subject – there's no fancy technology to let you down, just commitment and skill. The author is also commended on the regularity of her blog entries. The only suggestion I make is that the template be changed to something more colourful, just like the sock yarns on display. Despite this being a specialised blog with limited appeal to most people it warms to me - this is reflected in the rating I award.

Rating:
7/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Quick Review: PartyCasino.com

2007-01-06T22:10:00.000Z

This post is a sponsored post. To see our policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

PartyCasino.com claims to be the world's largest online casino. Not being a gambling man myself, I'll have to take their word for that. If you're that way inclined PartyCasino.com appear to have 6 games for you to experiment with:

Magic Man
European Roulette
Super Mystic
Blackjack
Jacks or Better
Caribbean Poker

If you're not too sure about how these games work you can take the 'product tour' before you part with your cash. Some people enjoy gambling as a bit of harmless occasional fun - others, however, get sucked in to losing more than they can really afford. PartyCasino.com are committed to responsible gambling and have a number of self-exclusion tools if you're getting in too deep. Before participating I seriously recommend you read our blog review of 'It's My Life' and see how Erin has been disadvantaged by her gambling addiction.

PartyCasino.com also have an affiliate scheme if you're the sort of webmaster that wants to profit from someone else's misery.

Another honest appraisal from Soapbox Jury.

Quick Review: Car Insurance.com

2007-01-06T20:42:00.000Z

This is a sponsored post. To see our policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

Ah, I remember when I first passed my driving test and couldn't wait to hit the open road, wind rushing through my (sparse) hair and smell of petrol fumes and burning clutch in the air. One of the things I never had the urge to do as a new driver was take on a truck. I mean, Vauxhall Corsa (that's GM to my US readers) against 40 ton Juggernaut is not really much of a competition.

GEICO, a leading US insurer, is so concerned that young American drivers are at risk from large trucks that it has commissioned specialist research on the subject. As with all good research its findings are pretty much a statement of the obvious. It includes pearls of wisdom like:

Stay out of a truck's blind spots
Do not swerve in front of a truck
Be careful when attempting to pass a truck

If you successfully manage to avoid being crushed by a truck you might be in line for a cheap car insurance quote. You might also live long enough to enjoy the saving.

Soapbox Jury In 2007

2007-01-04T00:21:00.000Z

Happy New Year to all of our readers and people who have requested reviews. I hope you've all had a very enjoyable holiday. Thanks for supporting Soapbox Jury in the early days last year.

This year is going to be a period of transition for Soapbox Jury. As Sam and I engage in new blogging adventures the time we can dedicate to Soapbox Jury is going to decrease. We still look forward to giving you feedback on your website, blog, product or service but it may take us a couple of weeks to process your review requests. The number of reviews we complete is going to fall to only 2 or 3 per week. Please be patient with us.

As anyone who has read (or had) one of our reviews will tell you, it's quite in-depth and time consuming process for us. Hopefully you'll agree that this makes us stand ahead of some other review sites that reach a conclusion within about 2 sentences.

The submission process, terms and conditions remain the same as last year. Importantly, we have no intention of implementing the review charge we speculated about last year. We'll reassess this later in 2007, when Soapbox Jury's PageRank and traffic increase.

In the meantime, keep your reviews coming. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Wishing you a very happy, safe and productive 2007,

Tom

Blog Review: Erika Jean

2006-12-30T12:16:00.000Z

Erika Jean
http://spillitnow.blogspot.com

Description of site:
The personal journal of Erika, a 21 year old student at the University of Cincinnati reading Criminal Justice.

Appearance:
Custom Blogger template with blue and white colour scheme. Attractive personalised blue header with tabbed browsing buttons.

Organisation:
Neatly organised with short and snappy entries instead of long ramblings.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive. Closer inspection of the browsing tabs reveals they aren't actually for browsing at all – they lead to things like Erika's wish list and the Cincinnati weather report.

Advertising:
No obvious signs of monetisation. There are a few directory referral links on the sidebar but nothing too overwhelming.

Comments:
This is a much more personal blog that I've read before. The archive begins in July 2006 and within the first month we have learnt that Erika is missing her sister Lisa badly. Lisa has just gone off to join the Army and her basic training is 500 miles away in South Carolina. Erika is a community assistant on campus (apologies for the UK interpretation) - a job with a large room and zero rent which unfortunately also attracts a shared bathroom. Some of her neighbours aren't so hygienic and leave the place in a mess for Erika to clean up. This brings back fond memories for me too!

At the end of August you'll find some of Erika's handy work in the form of some photos. I particularly like the black and white shots with the objects highlighted red. September heralds a change of tact on the blogging front – the appearance of the first lists. Lists are a common defence mechanism to stave off blogger's block but I'm pleased to report that instead of predictable and irrelevant waffle Erika's lists actually appear interesting. They give a nice little insight into her life. I particularly like the article entitled ‘what’s in a name?’

In October you'll find how closely Erika's photo matches that of well-known celebrities. She's pretty close to Katie Holmes and Catherine Zeta Jones according to the technical wizardry, although I am struggling to see how Dakota Fanning (whoever she is) has an 83% similarity! There's also a scary moment when Erika takes a tumble down some stairs but luckily manages to escape without any long term damage. Erika reveals the contents of her handbag in November. I’ve always thought that a handbag was a very sentimental and private thing to a lady. Not much to report on the content front, apart from Erika carries 2 name badges and book called 'The Man of My Dreams' (I’m here by the way).

The most recent entries are some of the best – Erika allows all of us 'old fogeys' (British saying) to get reacquainted with Tetris. Ahh, how those memories of Super Mario, irritating music, flashing graphic and my Super Nintendo come flooding back. Erika Jean has to be worth a visit just to play this. Overall, a solid performance from a new incumbent to the blogosphere. Perhaps lacking in content in the early days, but it's full steam ahead now as Erika attracts a large following of comment leavers. I wish Erika Jean many visitors in the future.

Rating:
7/10

Reviewer:
Sam

Blog Review: WebTipedia

2006-12-25T11:24:00.000Z

WebTipedia
http://webtipedia.com

Description of site:
An online collection of resources for computer users. The site appears to be aimed towards the internet/computer newcomer because most of the tips are pretty elementary.

Appearance:
Custom WordPress template with white and grey colour scheme. Sidebar with category buttons and links located at the right hand side.

Organisation:
Neatly organised with good classification of posts for easy location.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive. The tabbed header and sidebar category buttons allow smooth navigation between pages.

Advertising:
Monetised with Google AdSense. Ad units at the top and bottom of the sidebar, link unit on the header bar.

Comments:
This is very similar to another blog I frequent called the Useful Blog. The concept is sound – the bringing together of handy online resources to one site. However, from the few entries that exist so far, it seems there's nothing really revolutionary on here. We get handy tips about Internet Explorer shortcuts, spy ware removal, music downloads and open source software but there is nothing mentioned that any computer user worth his/her salt isn't going to know already. This leads me to believe WebTipedia is targeted at the computer newcomer, which is no bad thing but it's a somewhat limited audience for a website.

As for the site design itself, I like it. It is neatly arranged, uncluttered, with good navigation and not crammed with ads. One suggestion I would make is to justify the post text – uneven line lengths are unsightly and easily cured.

This combined with the infrequency of postings is reflected in the rating I award. I'm sure WebTipedia will increase in popularity in future months, but after 3 months and only 15 or so posts it's too early to say much more.

Rating:
6/10

Reviewer:
Sam

Quick Review: Belisi

2006-12-24T23:36:00.000Z

This post is sponsored by Belisi. To see our policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

If you're after an extra elegant treat for the special person in your life try the Belisi brand of quality neck ties and scarves. Belisi have a huge array of ties and scarves to choose from, all in the finest quality woven or printed silk and equisite contemporary patterns. Whether you're interested in modern abstract art or simple stripes, their comprehensive online store is bound to have something of interest. The price, particularly of the printed range, is nothing to be scared of either. Once you've viewed their products have a look at their blog on women's fashion - it will keep you up to date with the latest styles on the catwalk.

For silk ties, scarves and women's fashion visit the Belisi website.

Blog Review: Mustang 'N' Cowboys

2006-12-24T20:56:00.000Z

Mustang 'N' Cowboys
http://mustangncowboys.blogspot.com

Description of site:
A story charting the training of mustang horses in California.

Appearance:
Our old favourite Blogger template with the flowers on the brown background. Pictures of the animal 'cast members' on the left sidebar.

Organisation:
Neatly organised. One point to note is that in some posts the text has written over the images – it would be nice if this could be remedied.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
Google AdSense ad unit and a few directory referral banners are located on the sidebar. Nothing too over the top.

Comments:
The first few posts set the scene nicely – Travis and Tony, the author's grown-up sons, are set for a two week adventure on horseback in the John Muir Wilderness Area. We are also introduced to the horses Belle, Coal, Clancey, Maggey and Cahlibur. The sidebar pictures and notes help get a feel of what the blog is about. One of the first challenges for the horses is back-pack training – carrying around large panniers of sand to get them used to the weight before the expedition. We also get an insight into what equipment they need for two weeks of self-sustainability in the California mountains.

The rest of the blog is a rolling diary of how the trip and aftermath pans out. Both Travis and Tony contribute to the writing, and there are regular interjects from their mother Janey's perspective away from the action. It is evident that they kept a thorough journal of notes and photos as they went along – all the action is caught first hand. Their days consist of 6 am rises, feeding and watering the horses, packing their kit and either exploring the surroundings or completing the next stage of their journey. I enjoyed reading about their campcraft skills in particular – the gathering of firewood, setting up of camp, cooking and fishing. Things get off to a shaky start when the insect repellent is lost. It sounds kind of like Ray Mears Bushcraft TV programme back here in the UK. By day 6 it is becoming evident that the horses aren't enjoying the challenge as much as Travis and Tony are – Maggey is off her food, Coal has a sore back and Calhibur's girth is painful. They decide to cut the trip short to get the horses home and comfortable. Maggey's troubles persisted and she ended up collapsing on a mountain pass. After hours of trying to coax her back to her feet they managed to get her moving again but not for long. Sadly, Maggey never made it home. I shan't spoil the rest of the story but the two sons arrive back from their adventure and disappear off to do some cattle ranching (if that's the expression). Janey is left to tend to the horses and a few new furry additions to the family.

Rating:
7/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Web Review: PJ's Corner

2006-12-23T23:04:00.001Z

PJ's Corner is a small family run business that offers handcrafted dolls, books, greetings cards, stationery and the like. PJ's is based in California and run by mother and daughter combo, Phyllis and Janey Fisher. I mention it is a family run business because, as the site says itself, I get the impression that family, in particular children, is very important to these guys. The site, just like the products it sells, has a rustic and careworn appearance. The products are skillfully made to last - no cheap and flimsy plastic anywhere to be seen. I get the impression that PJ's Corner is a labour of love - making money is very much a secondary consideration to the satisfaction they glean from having their merchandise appreciated. Appreciated it certainly is, judging by the comments left in the guestbook. I think nearly all of the artwork has been done by Phyllis and she's done a tremendous job on it. Phyllis is also the main author and illustrator of children's book "Twiglet" the Little Christmas Tree. The site also includes a free colouring page for the little ones to enjoy.

Now for some practical points about the site. The pages are made of frames but unlike most frames, where you can see a distinct boundary between the elements, the frames in this case merge into one. I find that unusual - not necessarily a negative point, just kind of weird. There's a pop-up on the homepage. I'm not a fan of pop-ups because, unlike other content, you have no choice about viewing them. The link button labelled 'PJ's Store' actually points to 'About PJ's'. The ticker tape hesitantly stumbles along - not smooth scrolling like it should be. The text is all in the Times font - I think this could be varied to draw more emphasis to important paragraphs. I also think it should be justified, to avoid an unsightly mismatch of line lengths.

The pages might appear primitive to some, but I recognise that they reflect the traditional, homely feel of the merchandise. Complicated JavaScript, loud colours and animations would certainly be out of place.

This is a popular site and the traditional appearance has obviously served it well. I wish PJ's Corner continued success in the future.

I conclude by giving an honourable mention to the second site Janey asked me to review, Starlo's Cockapoos. If you like dogs and puppies I recommend having a look at this site too.

Blog Review: Sunflower

2006-12-17T12:07:00.000Z

Sunflower
http://smilingsunflower.blogspot.com

Description of site:
As Sunflower puts it herself: a site to share her rambling thoughts, experience and fun with friends. I am going to refer to the person Sunflower as 'the author' from now on otherwise, with the blog sharing the same name, it could get confusing.

Appearance:
Custom 3-column Blogger template. The left hand side bar has many, many links and several BlogRolls. The right hand sidebar has a flickr album, a few pictures and various ads.

Organisation:
Neatly organised. The central column is slightly out of proportion compared to the lengthy sidebars – the author may like to consider scaling down the central column content by including fewer posts per page.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
Amazon Associates ads dominate the right hand sidebar, but aren't imposing on the post text. The author has recently started including sponsored posts - these are irregular and greatly outnumbered by regular posts.

Comments:
I am always concerned when I'm asked to review a site like this – what right have I, a newish blogger from the UK with limited experience under my belt, to critique a blog of the stature of Sunflower? This is a quality blog – it must be because it has a Technorati ranking in the top 6000. Considering Technorati is tracking nearly 60 million blogs that is no mean feat. I am more than humbled that we have received a back link from Sunflower! It just goes to prove that just as you can't judge a book by its cover, you can't judge a blog by its PageRank. Sunflower is a PR0 site – I couldn't believe it either – they appear, at first glance, to have been robbed by Google. But when I look closer I think I can explain the disparity between the Technorati and Google rankings. Technorati judge a blog on how many links it receives whereas Google assign a value to each of those inbound links and also consider the outbound links. Sure, the number of Sunflower inbound links is huge but the number of outbound links is equally mammoth. As a rough rule of thumb outbound links cancels out inbound links under Google's PageRank system. I suspect that nearly all the links on the BlogRolls, of which there are literally hundreds, are reciprocal links and therefore of limited value in Google terms.

I am amazed that such a young blog has had almost exponential growth in its popularity and following. I think the reason for Sunflower's success is very effective, although not necessarily efficient, link exchanging. The author must have worked 24 hours a day promoting her blog and exchanging links. Even more surprising for a blog with such high Technorati ranking is that content is so thin on the ground – I had to double check the archive but there really are no posts in June or August 2006. There is only one post in each of May and September 2006. I could be mistaken here, and apologies to the author if I am, but has some of the content got lost in cyberspace?

Now for content. When I review a blog I always skip to the beginning of the archive and read the introductory post to develop an expectation of what lies ahead. Sadly Sunflower has the briefest of introductions and doesn't reveal much of the background story. Apart from that I like April – it is contextually broad, ranging from art (van Gogh's Sunflowers) to science and nature (the life cycle of the plant) to cookery (green papaya salad). I also learn what a baby shower is – I've heard of one before, but never had the gumption to ask. We learn that the author is busy looking for employment, which would explain why she was distracted from blogging. May consists of one post, charting the author's lack of job hunting success but trying to remain positive. Skip forward two months to July and we have a single post on the Tom Hanks movie, The Green Mile. It's a tremendous film and I know it word for word. The author writes a detailed, descriptive and accurate review of the movie. Fast forward to September and the movie Contact is kind of reviewed. The review this time isn't so much about the movie, more of a reflection on how it relates to the author's life. Our next encounter occurs in November. November gets off to a good start with a solid, educational post on the Amazing Journey of the Salmon. Between now and then the author has really been getting in the blogger groove, with daily posts and regular participation in 'Wordless Wednesday', 'Thursday Thirteen' and 'Click and Comment Monday'. The numbered lists that typify so many musing blogs also make an appearance. The final Christmas touches are added by some nice wintery photos of Vancouver – wrap up warm before looking at those.

I am awarding Sunflower an 8/10 based partly on the people's Technorati vote - democracy in action! I can't award a 9/10 because I don’t think the inbound links give a true indication of Sunflower's popularity – more a reflection on how many blogging circles and link swaps the author has engaged in. Another consideration in my rating is the lack of content in the archive, which can't be compensated for by the flourish of recent activity.

There is no doubt at all that Sunflower is a quality publication with a loyal following. It has really taken off in the last month or so and I wish the author perseverance and success for the future.

Rating:
8/10

Reviewer:
Sam

Blog Review: Honey Bryan

2006-12-17T12:04:00.000Z

Honey Bryan
http://honeybryan.blogspot.com

Description of site:
The personal blog of Bryan (AKA Kit), a freelance IT consultant from

Singapore

. Along the way Bryan hopes to chart his route to becoming a millionaire. The power of positive thought.

Appearance:
One of the standard Blogger dots templates. The author has tried to customise the header by inserting a 'dribbling' honey image annotated with the words Honey Bryan. The image is really the wrong size and doesn’t occupy the header correctly.

Organisation:
Neatly organised, but not difficult to achieve owing to the lack of content.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
Google AdSense ad units present at top, bottom and sidebar. AdSense link unit located half way down the sidebar. AdSense for search box located towards top of page.

Comments:
This blog starts off slowly with a few one line entries and pictures. It's difficult to decide which entries are one liners because the author seems to start a new paragraph after every sentence. After only 4 posts and no more than 10 (full) lines of text Kit kindly points out the donation button on his site. You'd be forgiven for thinking this is a bit cheeky, considering the scarcity of his material, but you've got to admire the guy's audacity – after all, you don't become a millionaire without walking over a few people! The weird thing is that there isn't actually a donation button there – just some AdSense ads. Hmmm suspicious.

The first post that draws my eye, it being Christmas and the fattest time of year, is about an Iced Tiramasu Latte from the Coffee Club. This thing looks absolutely gorgeous and stands about 30 cm (6 inches) tall, with three distinct sickly-sweet layers. It's the sort of thing you can enjoy at Christmas without feeling too guilty. That post also includes a photo of Kit and his Beauty Queen enjoying a Kit Kat – spot the play on words? In quick succession we have another good post – this time a YouTube embed. The video shows the John West tinned salmon commercial where the bear does a kung fu style defence of his fish – worth a look if you haven't seen it already, although I suspect most people have. He also delves into a YouTube Karaoke moment with a 50 Cent song. I particularly like the way Kit introduces the blogs of his friends and tries to get them a bit of traffic by providing a mini-review.

October heralds a change of tact – the focus now is funny imagery and, give him his due, Kit starts with a classic – see 3^rd Oct entry. Some other funnies towards the end of the month too, with P Skool Maths springing to mind. The list of Men’s Rules is also noteworthy for its humorous dig at the fairer sex. November is a quiet month with irregular posts – a few more funny images like JussiPussi bread rolls.

Despite Kit saying he was going to chart his progress to becoming a millionaire, this isn't really the main focus of his blog. It isn't a 'get rich quick' kind of blog, which is nice because there are already too many of those. It's more a mix of humorous pictures, music and movie reviews and a few personal comments about his life.

I don’t know if Kit is aware that there seems to be some formatting problem which means I can only see some posts as a mass of question marks – this, and the fact original content is irregular and limited, is reflected in the rating I award. I wish Kit and his Beauty Queen happiness in the years ahead and continued success with his blogging.

Rating:
5/10

Reviewer:
Sam

Blog Review: The Million Dollar Experiment Heads Down Under

2006-12-14T15:36:00.000Z

The Million Dollar Experiment Heads Down Under
http://millionnzdollars.blogspot.com

Description of site:
New Zealander Rob StGeorge has set out on a quest to see if it's possible to make a million dollars using a free blog site. This blog is record of his progress to date.

Appearance:
One of the standard Blogger in beta rounders templates with a custom header.

Organisation:
Neatly organised with a good flow of focused posts. I particularly like the regular progress reports.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
Just as you'd expect advertising is a very key part of the Million Dollar Experiment. This blog is monetised by Google AdSense, Blogsvertise, Blogitive and Money4blogs. Rob also includes a donate button at the end of every regular post.

Comments:
I've been following Rob's experiment since the outset and have been intrigued by his different money making strategies and hooked on his regular updates. He's not quite a millionaire yet, but he's slogging away making a little every day. I hate to sound negative, but I think even Rob would acknowledge that the chances of him becoming a millionaire are somewhere between slim and non-existent. At least in the meantime he is providing a valuable testing service and feedback on the different monetisation schemes available. If you would like to earn a little from your blogging – not a fortune, but enough to cover your hosting and other expenses – you could do a lot worse than checking out his recommendations. Some people will disagree with this type of blog on principle but at least it is open, honest and does exactly what it says on the tin.

Despite being regularly updated Million Dollar Experiment is still fairly new, lacking in content and progress is slow. Notwithstanding this it has a regular following of loyal comment leavers and is well publicised in the directories. Its new status, lack of depth and slow progress to date are reflected in the rating I award. I am also mindful that some readers will see it as just another distracting money making blog. I wish Rob every success in his continuing mission and hope he has the perseverance to see it through.

Rating:
6/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: The Broken Cup

2006-12-12T22:49:00.000Z

The Broken Cup
http://thebrokencup.blogspot.com

Description of site:

A collection of inspirational Christian poetry, some short stories and Bible passages.

Appearance:
One of the original Blogger templates. Sepia tones with background repeating floral pattern. Although it isn’t one of the more colourful or exciting templates, it serves its purpose well on such a serious, dignified and purposeful blog.

Organisation:
N/A

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
There are a few directory referral buttons and freestanding ad banners located on the sidebar. Two banners and a WebRing search bar are located at the foot of the page. The site does not appear to be monetised.

Comments:
This is a requested review.

This blog is a collection of short poems (mainly), stories and Bible readings. The blog is fairly new, but the inspirational postings have attracted a wide following and frequent comments already. The poems are the personal work of the author unless stated otherwise. The message they convey is crystal clear and food for thought. Notable poems that struck a chord with me are ‘The Unwelcome Visitor’ and ‘Upon Awakening’. It’s definitely worth a look if you are a Christian who likes poetry.

Since this is such a new blog, with religious content and a targeted Christian audience it is not appropriate for me to award a rating.

Rating:
N/A

Reviewer:
Tom

Quick Review: Seasoned Trades

2006-12-12T11:32:00.000Z

This post is sponsored by Seasoned Trades. To see our policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

Despite this being a sponsored post I think this one is going to fall foul of the Soapbox Jury honest, down to earth approach of product and service review. Seasoned Trades is a service that claims to be able to improve your credit rating after financial difficulties. They mention bankruptcy in particular. The theory is that if your credit rating is restored, you'll have no problems in the future when you want to gain more credit. As Season Trades puts it 'prime credit is priceless' - this is just before they reveal their prices, which are anything but priceless. A vicious circle I think the expression is. If you want to enter a downward spiral of paying money to be able to borrow more money, which you'll then have to pay back as well, then Seasoned Trades might be of interest to you.

Despite the critical review, at least they got their link in Soapbox Jury - that really is priceless!

Blog Review: Fantasy & Sci-Fi Lovin' Blog

2006-12-08T16:20:00.000Z

Fantasy and Sci-Fi Lovin' Blog
http://sqt-fantasy-sci-fi-girl.blogspot.com

Description of site:
The author gives comment, opinion and review on a wide range of contemporary literature, movies and TV programs, mainly of a fantasy genre.

Appearance:
Custom Blogger template with three columns. The site has a brand new animated banner – very flashy.

Organisation:
This is a very busy blog. There are a lot of elements crowded on to the page and I find the amount of sidebar clutter disconcerting. Maybe it’s the fact that sidebar content is raining in from both directions – it is overwhelming relative to the average post length.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive. Three columns means lots of links and the tabbed browsing is very functional and Firefoxesque.

Advertising:
Amazon associates book ads located on each sidebar. Google AdSense link unit, ad unit and Picasa referral button located on the left sidebar. I'd be interested to know if the author is making much money from AdSense – I suspect not. Referral buttons don't attract too much revenue because most people can't be bothered to install the program. Link units don't attract any payment for clicks – you only get paid if someone clicks on a link from the list that appears (eg. people need to click at least twice for the publisher to get any payment). Much better to focus on ad units – one click equals one payment. There are also a few stand alone advertising banners dotted about the page.

Comments:
This is a requested review.

The author is what I would describe as a prolific poster. Despite this being less than three months old there is a lot of material to get your teeth around. It's going to be difficult to write a comprehensive review because I’m at odds with some of the subject – literature is not really my thing. Luckily there is some talk of Sci-Fi TV programs and movies and it isn't long before Star Wars features – now you're on my wavelength! The author provides a short breakdown of the first three movies which, naturally, aren't as well filmed or story lined as episodes IV – VI. You'll also find lots of comment on the big novels that made it to the big screen – the Harry Potter stories, Lord of the Rings trilogy and Chronicles of Narnia to name but a few. Comic book super heroes are also the order of the day, with appearances by Spiderman and Superman. For TV fans there are also lots of interesting musings about Battlestar Galactica, Lost and Buffy.

The high number of comments is reassuring to see. The author has obviously been working overtime to promote the Fantasy & Sci-Fi Lovin' Blog and has attracted a loyal following of regular comment leavers.

An interesting site if you’re in to literature, movies, fantasy and science fiction. Sadly it drops a mark because of the towering sidebar situation.

Rating:
7/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: Payne by Name

2006-12-08T16:16:00.000Z

Payne by Name
http://www.paynebyname.com

Description of site:
A bit of a hybrid really. Payne by Name has a diverse range of content - on the one hand we have a rolling journal of the author's comments and opinions, on the other reviews of niche subject areas such as 'women' and 'relationships'. Perhaps not a blog for women's libbers!

Appearance:
Custom design. Cork-like background with a white page overlaid. Topped by a navy blue header bar with a pale yellow sidebar to the left of the page.

Organisation:
Neatly organised and comprehensive entries.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and journal archive.

Advertising:
None.

Comments:
This is a requested review.

Wow, where do I start? This blog is rich in detail so apologies once again for my brevity of review. It has taken me an absolute age to read and my stamina was flagging by the end. It appears to be a consolidation of the author's previous work online.

I’ll only concentrate on the journal section of the site in my comments – you can have fun exploring the rest of the site yourself, but beware the tongue-in-cheek style of writing. The author is a humorous guy, but I think the dry wit and spontaneity of some of his remarks could be misinterpreted by members of the fairer sex. The author makes entries maybe 3 or 4 times every month, chronicling his life since the previous situation report.

The first few months describe the author's battle to get back into shape following an over indulgent Christmas. He takes regular trips to the swimming baths, gym and dances the night away in clubs, but I fear this aerobic exercise is cancelled out by his apparent shareholder status at McDonalds and affinity for cheeseburgers. He also likes lazy mornings, reminiscing about the past and scoping for attractive young ladies with ample bosoms.

We learn about his minor altercation with the law, the cute WPC who gives him a producer and chavish, popcorn slinging disorder in the local cinema. The entry of 27 March 2006 leaves me with a wry smile on my face, because I completely empathise with pee shyness – the overwhelming urge to take a leak, but not being able to when people are queued behind to use the facilities.

The next few months are a fairly routine mix of gym visits, swimming, clubbing and Italian dining. Nothing particularly noteworthy, although I am draw to the rant about firemen misusing public resources. The entry about Filmharmonic, billed as a musical extravaganza, which actually transpired to be a medley of obscure movie and television soundtracks, was also an educational read.

As summer approaches it’s the ideal opportunity for outdoor pursuits, sporting events and barbecuing. Paintball is also the order of the day and the author, obviously keen on the sport, recounts his skirmishes in rural Kent. We also get regular bloke's talk on football (the World Cup) and F1 motor racing. All these lazy afternoons, barbecues and beers in front of the TV is probably not the best time to be watching you diet, but the author is desperately trying to reduce his calorific intake to compliment his aerobic exercise.

The autumn nights are drawing in and the author settles down to cosy nights in front of the TV, wining and dining at Italian eateries (I see a pattern) and eyeing up a mystery girl on the way to work in the mornings. It's also a good opportunity to dig out the DVD collection and play on the games console. Next on the agenda for Payne by Name is a trip to Barcelona to check out the sights, restaurants and girls. Stay tuned for the next instalment.

I apologise that I have barely scratched the surface of Payne by Name. There is plenty of good reading, but it's not for the feint-hearted or those lacking in stamina. It's not the sort of blog you can skim over drinking a coffee – it requires attention to detail to follow all the unfurling intricacies. I personally would try and cut down the entry length, make them more focussed and post more regularly, but the author has had this advice from other reviewers already. One thing's for sure – Payne by Name is very distinctive and gives a genuine insight into the author's inner-workings and lifestyle. A solid performer, which you need to check out yourself.

Rating:
7/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: Random Encounters of We

2006-12-06T19:29:00.000Z

Random Encounters of We
http://randomencountersofwe.blogspot.com

Description of site:
Short posts mainly of a technology nature. Some personal opinion and humorous photos are also included.

Appearance:
Blogger in beta rounders template with blue/green hybrid colour scheme. Customised to have an extra sidebar on the left hand side. The colours just don't work for me. The layout also seems a bit lop-sided – it would look better if the header and footer bars stretched the whole width of the page. The page has a falling snow effect at the moment – might just be a seasonal thing.

Organisation:
N/A

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
Google AdSense: skyscraper in the left hand sidebar, link unit at the top of the central column and half banner at the foot of the page. The ads aren’t blended very well - maybe the complimentary ad colours are intended, but I would go the blended route every time. There are also a lot of blog directory mini banners on the right sidebar – they look rather like and American General’s medal ribbons, but this blog is no veteran. This blog is also monetised by Creamaid.

Comments:
This is a requested review.

The author provides open access to her Site Meter stats. From the stats I can tell that a lot of visitors come from traffic exchange programs like BlogMad and Traffic Echoes. I recommend avoiding these programs – AdSense don't like them – they class them as giving an incentive to visit your site and consider the impressions invalid. Traffic exchanges are also time-consuming and counterproductive – people spend all day surfing from site to site trying to accrue credits, paying little attention to the content of the sites they actually visit.

Since Random Encounters of We is less than 2 months old there isn't much content to review. The posts are mainly technology related. There are opinions on web resources, animations and computer games. There are a couple of classic flash games embedded in the posts, to take you back to your childhood and keep you occupied as you browse from one post to the next. Something distracting from my point of view is the flamboyant spelling, punctuation and grammar throughout. Fundamental principles like sentences and names begin with a capital letter seem to have been overlooked. Too many sentence start with the word 'and' which is a serious grammatical faux pas.

The regular use of polls encourages the site visitors to give feedback on the issue of the day, which is a nice touch. On the downside I think that people, being naturally lazy and following the path of least resistance, will vote instead of commenting meaning the value of their feedback is limited.

I am sorry that this review has been negative but with an improved layout, increased content and a loyal readership I’m sure it'll make good progress in the months ahead.

Rating:
5/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: That Amazing Person (TAP)

2006-12-03T18:34:00.000Z

That Amazing Person (TAP)
http://www.go2tap.com

Description of site:
A collection of short, informative reviews mainly technology related. Links to useful online resources and some free downloads.

Appearance:
Wordpress custom template with pale blue and white colour scheme. The header logo is a blue feed symbol, indicative of the technology and web related content.

Organisation:
N/A

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive. Check out the site features in the sidebar.

Advertising:
Some RSS subscribe buttons located on the sidebar. There are no other obvious signs of advertising. I suspect that some of the articles are sponsored, but this in no way detracts from the quality and usefulness of the blog.

Comments:
This is a very nifty little blog. There isn't much content – the posts are irregular, short and to the point – but they are detailed enough to be informative, not overwhelming. Many of the posts take the form of mini-reviews about an item of technology, website or piece of software. As an added bonus there are free downloads of e-books and graphics – that little bit extra that makes TAP stand out from the crowd. There is a very handy post that links to blogging tools – essential reading for anyone new to the blogosphere looking for a few tips. The Swiss Army knife of blogs and well worth a look. It's a shame I have to mark it down due to the irregular posting.

Rating:
7/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: It's My Life

2006-12-03T18:14:00.002Z

It's My Life
http://itsmylifeasuninterestingasitmaybe.blogspot.com

Description of site:

The frank, expressive story of the life of Erin - a soon to be single mom, from Raleigh, North Carolina,

United States

. It’s happy, it's sad, it's ME (well not me, but Erin).

Appearance:
At one with nature. I seem to say that a lot about blogs because I have a natural attraction to greens and blues myself. The customised Blogger template looks very elegant. It has an image of autumn (fall) leaves fluttering in the breeze as a man walks his dog. I’ve seen this template somewhere before – can't quite put my finger on where, but it is distinctive and jogs my memory. Pleasant, but not a one-off original – or maybe it was the original and others have jumped on the bandwagon!

Organisation:
N/A

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar recent posts list and drop down blog archive. Scrolling BlogRoll.

Advertising:
No monetisation at all. There is a BlogExplosion ad button but that's all. Nice to see another blogger more interested in blogging than advertising.

Comments:
This is a requested review.

The first thing I notice is that It's My Life is a continuation from elsewhere – the first post in the archive says "it's been a while since I posted". It’s a pity there isn’t a quick recap on the story so far – or maybe it just got lost from the archive and is drifting about in cyberspace. Another piece of evidence that lends itself to the drifting about in cyberspace theory is the fact that the archive list goes back to Jan 2005, whereas the posts begin in mid Feb 2005.

Despite the lack of introduction I manage to pick up the storyline within the first 10 or so posts. Erin has just moved to North Carolina from Rhode Island – she is trying to start a new life with her husband Michael and young son Matthew. But she can't. She is trapped in an abusive relationship with no job, few friends, unfamiliar surroundings, little money, an addiction to gambling and ever dwindling self-esteem. To add to her woes she is distant from her mother and twin sister. Erin hatches a plan to leave Michael – to get a job, some security and a place of her own – to get a life. To plug the gap she earns a few dollars doing mystery shopping (see her informative guide) until she gets the permanent position she's after.

But the break from Michael never quite comes – there is a grim acceptance that both parties are at fault – him for his erratic, drunken behaviour and her for her wreckless gambling fixation. Reconciliation is in the air, but times are still tough – not least because Michael, a painter by trade, is having trouble holding down a permanent job. After many soul-destroying set backs, angst over where the next dollar will come from, Michael gets a job as a flood/disaster refinisher. For a while life is rosy once again. The family move to a more comfortable apartment in North Raleigh and Michael is bringing home a decent wage. It doesn’t take long before Michael, fuelled with drink, reneges on all the promises he has made and assaults Erin. It's the end of the road.

The rest of It's My Life concentrates on the developing relationship of Erin with her son, the trials and tribulations of job seeking and how she settles into life as a single mom. Not just another mommy blog - a truly gripping read.

As for making adjustments, I'd leave it just the way it is – it's a reliable, well-tested format that I know attracts a large following of regular readers.

Rating:
8/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: Blog About Your Blog

2006-11-30T22:59:00.000Z

Blog About Your Blog
http://blogaboutyourblog.com

Description of site:

As the title kind of implies this site allows fellow bloggers to blog about their blog. It is still early days for Blog About Your Blog, but the contributors so far have mainly come from the field of online money making.

Appearance:
One of the basic original Blogger templates. This particular specimen is white in colour, with side bar text links to the right of the main body.

Organisation:
N/A

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
Adbrite banner with network delivered ads at the top of the page. Assorted affiliate type advertising buttons are interweaved in the posts. There are a few blog directory and traffic exchange referral buttons on the sidebar.

Comments:
Blog About Your Blog is a brilliantly original idea. Like a lot of good ideas, it involves very little time and effort to maintain. The blog owner sits, waits for articles to arrive and then cuts and pastes the text into his template. A natural stroke of genius not unlike one of our previous reviews, Name That Tube. Blog About Your Blog will never run out of material to publish, and doesn't need to worry too much about the content of the articles. Furthermore, it's a self-propagating advertising machine - those who have had articles published feel obliged to link to them, which in turn spreads the word about this novel advertising source.

Unfortunately, as novel and resourceful as Blog About Your Blog is, it is still early days. This is reflected in the rating I award. The archive contains only a handful of articles all of which, naturally, have a strong bias toward the contributor's blog. I can imagine some readers being sceptical of the article contents. It is a solid idea and I’m sure this service will be in great demand in the future.

Rating:
6/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: Fantasy Football N' Stuff

2006-11-30T22:56:00.000Z

Fantasy Football N' Stuff
http://ffnstuff.blogspot.com

Description of site:
An online resource for Fantasy Football enthusiasts. Fantasy Football N' Stuff provides regular tips about team line-ups and strategy.

Appearance:
One of the basic original Blogger templates. This particular specimen is white in colour, with sidebar text links to the right of the main body.

Organisation:
N/A

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
AdSense ad units are positioned at the top, side bar and foot of the page. There are also a few referral buttons at the bottom of the page. The site owner has gone for a complimentary AdSense colour scheme, instead of the usual blending most people seem to prefer. If it gets clicks great - if not I'd consider blending the ads in with the background colour scheme.

Comments:
As I've warned the site owner already, this blog is hugely difficult for me to review. Being a Brit I don't know the first thing about American Football of the real variety, let alone the Fantasy version. From what I can glean from Wikipedia it's a game where participants (called 'owners') acquire a team of real life football players. The owners score points based on the statistical performance of their players on the real field. There are also virtual leagues for the owners to pit their teams against each other.

All I can say is that if you like Fantasy Football you might like this. It really wouldn't be fair for me to give a rating, when I’m so unfamiliar with the subject area.

Rating:
N/A

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: Second Effort

2006-11-29T15:24:00.000Z

Second Effort
http://secondeffort.blogspot.com

Description of site:
The author, The Curmudgeon, a self-confessed crusty correspondent and dinosaur from Chicago, offers his views on just about everything.

Appearance:
One of the basic classic Blogger templates. Plain, minimalist, but effective. This particular example is white.

Organisation:
N/A

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
Google AdSense ad unit located at the top of the page. AdSense referral button located at the base of the side bar. Again, the ads are discreet and there is no sense that The Curmudgeon has set out solely on the quest for internet entrepreneurship.

Comments:
Second Effort is more diary-like than a lot of the blogs we've seen. It tells the unfolding life story of The Curmudgeon, from Chicago. The Curmudgeon is a lawyer by trade and this is reflected in the tone of his initial few, informative posts about life in the office, previous cases and humorous anecdotes about his colleagues. This is a lengthy blog and it has taken me about an hour just to skim through all the posts – please excuse my comparative brevity of review.

The Curmudgeon was slightly stressed about his impending office move and this story slowly unfurls over the first couple of months. One humorous anecdote that springs to mind is the tongue-in-cheek account of bank customer service in the post entitled 'Life after death, maybe, but credit cards are forever' (Feb 2006). It just goes to reinforce what I've been thinking all along about banks – give them a computer and they lose the power of commonsense! Skip forward to March 2005 and we encounter the tail familiar to every father, the indecisiveness and bathroom hogging antics of The Curmudgeon’s daughter. Another post that I remember well, details the 'remote control rivalry' between father and son as they sit watching a White Sox baseball game on TV – this is a familiar occurrence in my household too.

Topical news snippets are also prevalent in Second Effort – whether it is Paul McCartney's impending divorce (interesting for us, the other side of the pond), the latest baseball news or pot-smoking KFC diners being lifted by narcotics detectives. There are also a few moral dilemma/guidance type posts related to The Curmudgeon's experience as a father – some thought-provoking stuff that’ll be of relevance to most parents.

A well-written and comprehensive account of The Curmudgeon's life, mainly from the angle of a lawyer and parent. Well worth a visit.

Rating:
8/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: Thermal

2006-11-29T14:53:00.000Z

Thermal
http://www.thermalblog.co.uk

Description of site:
The author of the site, Chris, provides regular posts mainly related to technology, trivia and cartoons.

Appearance:
Looks like a WordPress template. White background, topped by functional deep red header. Simple, but effective left hand side bar with text links.

Organisation:
Very good. The short posts and concise wording means there is a natural flow to this blog – no rambling or waffling.

Navigation and Functionality:
Left hand sidebar with text links. Browsing by post category is quickly achieved using the tabbed header. Very handy search bar located on the header.

Advertising:
Themal is monetised by Google AdSense and Amazon Associates. There is an AdSense skyscraper towards the bottom of the side bar. Amazon ads appear under each post. The Amazon ads appear to be contextual in nature so could contradict with AdSense – maybe the author should seek more advice on this. The AdSense skyscraper is unobtrusively tucked away. The Amazon ads, despite being widespread, aren't particularly 'in your face' because they are that well blended.

Comments:
This is one of the best blogs I have reviewed so far. I am instantly attracted to the short, topical and informative posts. Many of the posts are about Chris’s discoveries on the web – different file sharing sites, graphic resources and the like. There’s some good tips to be had. Chris also has an eye for a good photograph – I saw the November 16^th entries and was in awe at the beauty before me.

A very helpful, functional and attractively designed blog which is well worth a visit. The regular updating also means there is something fresh for every visit. I may pad this review out slightly more time permitting!

Rating:
9/10 – the blog’s bollocks.

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: Not The Girl You Think You Are

2006-11-28T22:19:00.000Z

Not The Girl You Think You Are
http://liss76.blogspot.com

Description of site:
The author, Liss76, provides short snippets about her everyday life and routine in Canada. Occasional comment on current affairs, politics and entertainment but predominantly another lifestyle blog. A recurring theme in these lifestyle blogs is a love of cookery and Not The Girl You Think You Are is no exception. At the very top of the sidebar you’ll find a list of recipes. The title comes from one of Liss76’s favourite Crowded House songs.

Appearance:
Light green and yellow columns on a sky blue background. Blurred floral header. I like the dashed borders around the page elements - it reminds me of making cut-out models while watching Blue Peter (a UK TV program) when I was much younger.

Organisation:
Yellow sidebar to the left of a green central column. The author is to be commended on her regular, often lengthy entries. A slight negative is that in some parts of the archive too many posts are showing per page. The result is that the posts run much longer than the sidebar and there is a lot of wasted space as you scroll towards the bottom. I recommend posting only 4 or 5 entries per page to keep the sidebar in proportion.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links. Blog archive at foot of page.

Advertising:
None. A totally organic and wholesome blog, which is nice to see in these days of venture capitalism.

Comments:
This is a well-established blog, dating back to March 2004. The author continues to post fairly regularly, at least twice a week. There are a few months in the archive where she has only managed one or two posts.

The first few ‘10 year catch-up’ posts provide a very useful foundation for the reader. From these we learn that Liss76 lives in Ottawa, Canada in a house and location she adores, with a husband she’s shared rocky times with, has two young children and likes cats. She met her husband at university and it was pretty much love at first sight.

The early archives are dominated by posts about her children, as you would expect from a doting mother. These are also accompanied by regular posts about cookery, book reviews and comments about the family. There is an educational element too – Liss often gives motherly advice on topics like breast-feeding and weaning. Liss76 is also partial to a good rant once in a while - these usually stem from house related troubles like when the shower breaks. Health-related posts also feature highly throughout, probably because of Liss76’s concern about her kids, particularly the youngest.

In conclusion, this is a solid ‘hobby’ blog. It is pleasing to see no commercialisation whatsoever. Liss76 only writes entries when she has something worthwhile to write about, leaving the uneventful/uninteresting days bare. Despite the attractive design, high-quality family type posts and educational nature I can’t give too high a rating because of the sparse entries in the archive.

Rating:
6/10

Reviewer:
Sam

Quick Review: londonnights.com

2006-11-28T20:55:00.002Z

This post is sponsored by londonnights.com. To see our policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

London is one of the thriving tourist and economic hubs of the world. Visitors are attracted from far afield to explore the historic streets, view the famous landmarks and experience the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city. The popularity of London makes cheap hotel rooms few and far between. Londonnights.com cuts out the stress of tracking down affordable hotel rooms in the great city. The website gives you have access to a vast choice of carefully selected and generously discounted hotels in London. When you search londonnights.com for hotels, thousands of discounted room prices are presented to you in a simple and clear format. All hotels can be booked (and cancelled) instantly - there is no waiting involved. For discount London hotels, why not give londonnights.com a try?

Quick Review: YouTube Karaoke

2006-11-27T21:54:00.000Z

Those of you reading my other blog, Tom Jackson Online, a few days ago will have heard me talking about how much I like to blast out karaoke tunes, especially when slightly inebriated and surrounded by an audience of cheering (or jeering) friends. The fact that I'm a crap singer is irrelevant - it's the satisfaction of being able to raise a smile and a giggle from the unfortunates within earshot.

I mentioned the idea of posting the occasional YouTube music video and song lyrics on my other blog. It was the Girls Aloud remix of 'I Think We're Alone Now' that spurred me into this decision. The more I thought of the idea the more I liked it. After a quick Google I discovered that there is actually a gap in the market for YouTube karaoke. There is a site called YouTubeKaraoke.com but it is just a bunch of sponsored link, with no real content - certainly nothing to sing along to!

To this effect I have created a new blog called YouTube Karaoke. The tag line reads as follows: YouTube Karaoke is a collection of YouTube music videos and lyrics. The idea is that you press play, scroll to the lyrics, sing and be merry. Alcohol and an audience are optional!

So next time you've had a few drinks, a nice meal and are in the mood for a bit of a sing song, why not check out the timeless classics over at YouTube Karaoke. The site is still in development, but I'll be regularly adding to the collection. You can also submit requests by visiting the site.

Blog Review: Self-Proclaimed Supermom

2006-11-25T23:25:00.000Z

Self-Proclaimed Supermom

http://selfproclaimedsupermom.typepad.com

Description of site:
Musings of a self-proclaimed Supermom. Supermom talks about her daily routine, home and family.

Appearance:
Soft pink shades, soothing and oozing with loveliness. I like the Typepad template. I know the author has considered moving to Blogger, but my advice is ‘if it isn’t broken don’t try and fix it’. I can also confirm that Blogger has certain reliability issues.

Organisation:
N/A

Navigation and Functionality:
Blog archive and sidebar links. The archive links do not extend back to the beginning of the blog, which could be confusing for some readers.

Advertising:
Directory advertising buttons on left hand sidebar. The blog doesn’t appear to be monetised at all.

Comments:
This is a requested review.

This is a well established, regularly updated blog. Just as the title implies the main content are lifestyle issues including the home, family, cookery, health and daily routine. The author talks about her children a lot which adds to the homely feel of this place.

When I review a blog one of the first things I do is go to the beginning of the archive and look at the first few posts for an introduction. The archive on the sidebar only goes back as far as February 2006, but a little deeper exploration reveals posts as far back as December 2005. Most blogs I read have an introductory post about the main characters and purpose. Sadly, Self-Proclaimed Supermom doesn’t – it’s straight down to business and not long at all until PMS and funerals are mentioned!

Despite the lack of introduction I’m sure regular readers become quite engrossed in the evolving storylines, particularly with regard to the children. The posts are well written and I think most of us can relate to the experiences of Supermom. There are names that crop up time and time again in the comments, indicative of a loyal audience hungry for the next instalment. A good mommy blog worthy of your attention.

Rating:
7/10

Reviewer:
Sam

Blog Review: Letters I Wish I'd Sent

2006-11-25T19:19:00.000Z

Letters I Wish I’d Sent
http://bfwg.blogspot.com

Description of site:
Bob, the author of the site, has the urge to write letters every now and then. Mostly he writes about niggling irritations in his life, but sometimes he writes complimentary letters too. Quite often he realises there is no point in sending his letter, for fear it will simply get tied down in bureaucracy, failing to reach the intended recipient. Even if it does reach the intended recipient, there is a realisation they might just ignore his offerings. These are Bob’s thoughts on different subjects he feels strongly about.

Appearance:
One of the basic original Blogger templates. Sepia tone with background flowers. I can understand why the template has been chosen – to project an air of formality in his letters. I personally find the colour scheme slightly bland and recommend an alternative. As this is a collection of letters there are no images posted.

Organisation:
N/A

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar to left of page. The archive is broken down into individual days instead of months – I would change the archive format to show less detail.

Advertising:
Google AdSense ad units at the top left of sidebar. AdSense half-banner at base of page. The ads are well blended and don’t disturb the appearance of the page. A point to note is that Public Service Ads (PSAs) were showing when I viewed the site. The author will struggle to make any profit by showing PSAs. There might be a problem delivering targeted ads because of a lack of keywords in the content.

Comments:
This is a requested review.

The author has struck on a good idea here – a definite and novel theme that will run through the blog fairly timelessly. It should work well in the long term but sadly, due to the young age and limited content, it is difficult to comment in too much detail. Letters are a very personal matter and the idea of making your innermost thoughts available electronically is bound to attract a loyal audience with similar views.

The writing is of a high standard, although slightly Canadian bias – not a criticism, but it may limit the appeal of the blog outside of North America. To compliment the quality serious content there are some nuggets of humour. I particularly note the letter to Dona Highstone, commenting on how she managed to lose an election to a deceased rival and the letter to the author’s friends for asking stupid questions.

As I eluded to in the appearance comments above, I understand why the colour scheme and template were chosen – to project an air of formality in the same vain as the letters were written – but it isn’t too pleasing on the eye. I recommend migrating to Blogger in Beta for a few reasons – it has a greater range of templates, it is easier to use, has greater functionality and requires less understanding of code.

Bob, please submit this for re-review in a few months time when I can probably give a higher rating. In the meantime, at least you’ve got a little extra publicity for your work.

Rating:
5/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: The Foo Logs

2006-11-25T14:56:00.000Z

The Foo Logs
http://thefoologs.com

Description of site:
As the tag line puts it: a blog about life, technology, sport and just about everything else. From my glance over the archive The Foo Logs seems to have a particular propensity towards technology and sport related posts.

Appearance:
Attractive greens and blues with funky ‘Lost in Space’ style robots at the top of the page. I have a slight obsession with green and blue myself, so any page with this colour scheme gets off to a good start. Right hand side bar with expandable buttons.

Organisation:
Neatly organised. Generally short, bite-sized entries complimented by an image or embed.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links on expandable buttons. The expandable buttons are a good choice because of the large number of links given.

Advertising:
‘In your face’ advertising is limited to only one affiliate type button at the foot of the sidebar. The Foo Logs includes regular sponsored posts, but most of them are discreet and there are no hard-sell tactics involved. Most of them I only spotted because I dabble in sponsored posts too!

Comments:
This is a requested review.

This blog has been floating around cyberspace since May 2006. It has high quality, well-written and regular postings. The high number of comments reflects the attention it has received, and it obviously has a following of several loyal readers. The Foo Logs has been very unlucky to still have a PageRank of 0. Don’t let the low PageRank put you off – Google has obviously screwed up somewhere because The Foo Logs is a good contender. It started off slowly with half a dozen posts in the first 2 months, and it took 3 months before the first image appeared in a blog entry but since then it’s been full steam ahead. The Foo Logs is now updated nearly every day - quite often two or three times a day.

The Foo likes to weave random humour into his posts. Quite often his dry wit makes you question ‘is this or isn’t it a joke?’ and you need to think around the subject to work it out. Another key component of the blog is the use of cartoon images. He also includes educational posts – whether it’s comments about abstract art, or tricks to help your maths. The Foo is also a regular participant in ‘Wordless Wednesday’ and has posted some very thought-provoking images in that role. There are also regular YouTube embeds (the Borat and Letterman collection brought a wry smile to my face) and guest posters.

Overall this is a well-written, diverse blog which is interspersed with humour and images to keep the reader’s attention. I shall definitely be book marking it for future reference.

Rating:
7/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Quick Review: National Payday

2006-11-24T21:04:00.000Z

This post is sponsored by National Payday. To see our policy on sponsored entries click HERE.

If you are short of cash leading up to Christmas you might like to visit National Payday and see what they have to offer. National Payday offer cash advances and payday loans to all sorts of people - even those with a bad credit history. As a first time borrower you can get a loan of up to USD $300, which increases up to USD $600 if you use the service again. If you complete the simple online application form you can be approved and receive your payment the next business day. If you could do with a small injection of cash National Payday could be for you.

Blog Review: Aeowolf Online

2006-11-22T21:58:00.000Z

Aeowolf Online

http://aeowolf.blogspot.com

Description of site:
The author gives his personal opinions on the day’s events, art, literature, current affairs, politics and lifestyle issues. A magazine type blog with diverse content.

Appearance:
The original Blogger’s plain template with royal blue and white colour scheme. Bite size chunks of text normally accompanied by an image.

Organisation:
N/A

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and drop down blog archive. The drop down style is archive is a good choice because the side bar is already quite busy.

Advertising:
Google AdSense for search bar and ad units on right hand side bar. Adbrite ad unit at base of side bar. Various affiliate buttons confined to side bar and foot of page. In general the ads are well blended and do not interfere with reading or appearance.

Comments:
Aeowolf Online represents quite a milestone for Soapbox Jury because it is our first requested review.

One thing that instantly attracts me to this blog is the easy reading. The author concentrates on one topic per posting, usually achieving this in only one paragraph and one image. Again we are confronted by a diverse range of content covering current affairs, art, literature, religion, computing and even politics. By far the biggest contribution is personal ramblings, exactly as it says on the tin. Unlike other personal blogs I’ve read there isn’t a particular theme – posts tend to flit randomly from one extreme to the next instead of building up a slow and progressive story over successive days. The posts are well written – short, concise and if necessary well-reasoned. One minor criticism is that the author posts quite irregularly – sometimes only once or twice a week. It’s possible returning visitors are confronted by the same post on several occasions. It is always a good idea to post several times a week so that the content is fresh – a trick I have used is to keep a few pre-written short posts in reserve for days when I am too short of time. Overall, a good blog with sound presentation, well written and researched content and a steady readership.

Rating:
7/10

Reviewer:
Sam

Blog Review: Mad Baggage

2006-11-15T20:53:00.000Z

Mad Baggage

http://madbaggagerambling.blogspot.com

Description of site:
Daily snippets of life from Cheryl of East Sussex in the UK. Cheryl mainly talks about general lifestyle issues and occasionally posts trivia, poetry and political comment.

Appearance:
Blogger’s standard rounders template with violet and light grey colour scheme. Small chunks of text with the odd image thrown in.

Organisation:
N/A

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
Google AdSense leaderboard at very foot of page.

Comments:
The first impression of Mad Baggage is that there is a lot of text and very few images. Cheryl’s style of writing is very thought provoking and descriptive. The main content seems to be lifestyle issues – family, health, pets and the home. When it comes to current affairs it’s a serious blog that makes mention of topical issues – however, every so often there is a real nugget of humour. There are some particularly funny YouTube embeds lurking about in here too. I also like the ‘Free Association’ series of posts – Cheryl thinks of a few random words and writes a few comments about them. Kind of word brainstorming. With a varied range of content and regular updating this is a sound blog.

Rating:
7/10

Reviewer:
Sam

TV Preview: I'm A Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here!

2006-11-13T10:10:00.000Z

Celebrity deadbeats - luckily the producers had the
presence of thought to put names to faces on the picture above.

There is a famous quote by Paul McCartney: asked something like what are the chances of the Beatles getting back together? McCartney replied "you can't reheat a souffle". Excuse the absence of the French accent above the 'e' in souffle. Never has a truer word been spoken in relation to I'm A Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here! Brain rot telly hits the screens of ITV1 tonight at 9 pm. If you're not in the UK, lucky you - you can watch the Paint Drying Channel instead with equal gusto.

The original concept was solid enough - take some celebs, strip them of all their worldly possessions then dump them in a forest somewhere with primitive equipment and basic food. Every so often make them do humiliating tasks, usually the consumption of creepy crawlies or animal testis, to earn extra food and a warm glow of satisfaction that they have fed their fellow celebs. The first series wasn't too bad either, but it's gone down hill ever since then - now in series 5 we hit rock bottom.

The show now recruits has beens who are desperate to rekindle their fame and fortune. They are less interested in the participative spirit of the programme, more interested in making unreasonable demands of the producers and hogging the limelight.

So which 'celebrities' have ITV wheeled out for the latest outback jungle adventure? Well, we have Toby Anstis, a famous TV presenter who reached his pinnacle about 10 years ago on Children's BBC; Jason Donovan, the ugly part of the Neighbours duo, former coke head and untalented singer of the late 1980s; David Gest, plastic faced Michael Jackson impersonator and ex-husband of singer/actress Liza Minelli; Jan Leeming, BBC News reader from the Frank Bough era; Lauren Booth, outspoken loony-lefty half sister of frog-faced Prime Minister's wife Cherie Blair and Myleene Klass, sex kitten of the now defunct manufactured pop group Hear Say and now classical solo singer. There's two others who I've never heard of.

Apart from Myleene Klass (possibly, but maybe I'm biased because she's hot) I don't know how any of them can be described as a celebrity - a celebrity to me is someone who is in the public spotlight, frequently in the papers and whose name and face 95% of the population will recognise.

There is far too much of this microwave TV on the airwaves nowadays. The TV companies think that if a format has worked before you can reheat it, serve it out to the public and it's a hearty meal for the viewer's hungry appetite. Actually it's a load of bollocks. The BBC and Channel 4 are doing exactly the same thing with Strictly Come Dancing and Big Brother respectively. What they should be doing is investing in novel British drama and documentaries - supporting the local up and coming television industry instead of buying prepacked tripe.

End of rant. I think you get the gist that I'll not be watching it.

Blog Review: ducking for apples

2006-11-11T22:49:00.000Z

ducking for apples

http://duckingforapples.blogspot.com

Description of site:
Daily musings of Ally, a 30 something year old self-employed IT consultant from North Wales.

Appearance:
A recurring appley theme – many half eaten apple pictures. I’m sure there must be some significance to Ally although I can’t quite tell what it is apart from she likes the countryside, garden and outdoor lifestyle. Perhaps she likes eating apples too?

Organisation:
Spartan. Neat layout. Very few images in the posts, but this is compensated for by the high quality of writing.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
None.

Comments:
This is a top blog - no mistakes about it. The first place I headed on my whistle-stop tour of ducking for apples was the first post, right back in July 2004. It is a true veteran of a blog – long-lived, hard working and dependable with a few interesting tales to tell. In her very first post Ally introduces the ‘crew’ – all those people likely to crop up in her adventures in the coming months, which is a marvellous stroke of foresight. The cast includes a Polish lodger, Polish lodger’s ex girlfriend, new Polish lodger, invisible lodger, Polish lodger’s ex-girlfriend’s cousin and several other intriguing characters. After all this Cluedo like build up I was absolutely itching to see what lurked in the depths of the archive. I wasn't disappointed.

Ally has written some absolutely side-splittingly funny posts. Most of them aren’t about subjects that are funny in themselves, but the way she interjects punchy comments, nicknames, side swipes and double entendre is hilarious. There are too many quality entries to single out any one in particular, but I like those where she recounts funny conversations she’s had earlier in the day. Ally has a real gift for holding the reader’s attention and I can’t recommend this blog highly enough.

Rating:
9/10 – the blog’s bollocks!

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: Olivia's London Dispatches

2006-11-11T21:57:00.000Z

Olivia’s London Dispatches

http://artmeliana.blogspot.com

Description of site:
An insight into the everyday life of Olivia, an art history graduate finding her feet in London. Olivia guides the reader through an eclectic mix of art, poetry, literature, partying and shopping.

Appearance:
Pale lavender shades with elegant floral header.

Organisation:
The page elements neatly arranged on a left hand side bar. There is a balanced mix of text and images in the blog entries.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
Some discreet affiliate advertising buttons are located at the base of the side bar. These don’t interrupt the continuity or appearance of the page.

Comments:
This is a solid blog – pleasing on the eye, good writing, a few interesting photos and, particularly important from my point of view, some educational value. The ‘enrichment’ on the sidebar is a nice touch. It gives details of a word of the day, article of the day, birthday and quotation of the day. The blog entries are mainly about Olivia’s daily routine but these are complimented by frequent mentions of poetry, art, literature and entertainment. The blog is updated two or three times a week.

A minor observation is that some photographs and enrichment elements overspill from their frames. Even though this doesn’t detract from the appearance of the page it would be nice if this could be corrected, although I’m not sure if this is possible.

Rating:
7/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: adformula

2006-11-10T23:30:00.000Z

adformula

http://adformula.blogspot.com

Description of site:
A collection of posts vaguely related to advertising.

Appearance:
Very, very basic monotone template. Page elements in no particular order.

Organisation:
Very poorly organised. Blog archive positioned at foot of page well away from main content. No use of a sidebar.

Navigation and Functionality:
Very basic. Links and blog archive located at bottom of page.

Advertising:
Google AdSense in various positions. No effort has been made to blend the ads to the underlying page background. Quite often the ads are obtrusive and distracting.

Comments:
We go from one extreme to the other in today’s reviews. This site is absolutely diabolical – there is no other word for it. The first thing that hits you is that the most boring template ever, a delightful snot green monotone, has been used. After only 5 seconds of reading you realise the posts are off-subject, poorly written and full of grammatical errors. No consideration has been given to the position of page elements – a classic example is the archive list right down at the bottom of the page, miles away from any post content. The author has also gone way overboard with the advertising – AdSense all over the place, none of which is blended. As if things aren’t bad enough already my eyes get sore from trying to read the unequal length lines of text. God knows how it managed to get a PageRank of 4 - the author must be spamming forums and message boards all over the place. I’d confine this blog to the recycle bin to put it out of its misery.

Rating:
1/10

Reviewer:
Tom

Blog Review: Green - A New Beginning

2006-11-10T22:39:00.000Z

Green – A New Beginning

http://peaceful-catastrophe.blogspot.com

Description of site:
Daily musings of a Bristol nursery nurse in her early 20’s called Rachael. Rache gives a candid, down to earth insight into the trials and tribulations of her everyday life. She also keeps her readers informed of her daily routine, aspirations and innermost thoughts.

Appearance:
As the title suggests, quite green. Soothing appearance which is natural and easy on the eye.

Organisation:
Neatly arranged with short paragraphs interspersed with images.

Navigation and Functionality:
Sidebar links and blog archive.

Advertising:
None.

Comments:
This blog was originally on Tom’s to do list but he told me he was ‘unable to give an impartial opinion because of Rache’s beautiful long red hair’ – well, whatever floats your boat Tom! As I sit down and read the entries I see a refreshingly honest account of Rache’s struggle to find a permanent job, security and long term happiness. It’s really more of an online diary than log – she endears herself to a loyal following of readers by her chatty, quirky and punchy comments. The posts cover a diverse range of topics, all of which can be related to by the reader. There are also a surprising number of cooking tips and ideas! I think Rache has a slightly mischievous streak and a warm, dry sense of humour is evident in her style of writing. Green also floats my boat – I can see how Tom instantly warmed to it.

Rating:
9/10 - the blog’s bollocks!

Reviewer:
Sam

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Repair Your Credit

London Hotels

Biozone Ultraviolet Air Purifiers

Online Marketing

SEO Talk Forums

Arm Chair Tourism

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My Free Screensavers

Gisele Bündchen Photos

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Car Tuning Central

Penpals JPG

Freshpeak - Web Reviews

Spy Phones

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Resource for UK Teachers

LBS Group Review

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Free Image Hosting

Crazy about Chickens

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Our DJ Talk Forums

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Revamp of Greenville Realty Site

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Save on Gas the Easy Way

The Laparoscopic Band Centre

New Bodybuilding Supplements Information Site

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Lose Weight Group Teaches You How To Lose Weight

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