Birthday Time

Today was my birthday!

Unfortunately, that means I will not be posting any blog reviews. Sorry. Updates will continue as normal next Wednesday, so just keep your pants on until then.

Hasta miercoles ('Until Wednesday' for those of us who are espanol-illiterate),
Randall A.

The Kingston Lounge

"Guerrilla preservation and urban archaeology. Brooklyn and beyond."

Many of us who live in the city don't really get curious about those cordoned off, abandoned buildings, or the condemned structures just outside of town. We routinely pass them by, not even sparing a glance in their direction; to us, they are just another spacewaster that need not take up room in our thoughts. For a small few, however, these locations are almost irresistible.

It's somewhat well known by the name of 'urban exploring.' This type of exploration involves finding old, abandoned, condemned, or otherwise interesting and relatively recent man-made structures, and exploring them like one would a cave. Often, it is a personal hobby, and pleasure comes only to those willing to physically seek it. Once in a blue moon, though, the rest of us get lucky to find people like Richard Nickel, Jr., the writer and photographer of The Kingston Lounge.

"The gantry crane at sunset..." -Richard Nickel, Jr.

Mr. Richard Nickel likes to rediscover those urban settings that have so recently been lost to us. He captures images of these places with stunning, yet subtle, precision and artistic prowess. These are not just the Kodak disposable-camera pictures of a hobbyist, but rather the incredibly professional and beautiful captures of a seasoned photographer.

The big question that seems to arise in the comments section of this blog is just how he garnered the permission to enter into these usually prohibited sections of the world. Two thoughts come to mind: he is either an exceedingly good talker, or he's an menacingly sneaky photographer. Regardless, the work Nickel produces is sure to pique your curiosity, and intrigue all the way to the last paragraph.

Interested yet in seeing a part of your world that you didn't even know was there? Then check out The Kingston Lounge, and see just what you've been missing out on.

Template Faerie

"Blog add-ons and advice for hobbyists"

Most 'web surfers' (a phrase I'm sure is outdated even now) have at least read a blog. Many of them have made one, as well, even if it was unsuccessful. There's so many blogs out there about this topic, or that -- but what about a blog that helps you make your blog?

Surely it's not the only blog of this kind out there. In fact, a cursory Google search will net you quite a few. So, for Sarah, the writer of Template Faerie, the blog is not about a perfectly unique niche, but rather about perfecting it. Sarah strives not only for a well-done blog about blogging; she adds her own (sometimes abrasive) flavor to her posts.

Everybody knows a little controversy here and a little controversy there can go a long way for readership, especially in the Internet Age when we're all so jaded that it has become our sustenance. This leads many writers to think that they must curry the favor of their disloyal readers with offerings of tasteful dissatisfaction, and Sarah makes it clear that she is often dissatisfied with the blogging world.

Whether that attracts you, or scares you, is obviously up to you -- sometimes it's a fresh read from those overly nice writers that praise everything they can without acknowledging the bad (a trait I, myself, have been guilty of once upon a time). However, there's more to Template Faerie than just abrasiveness, of course; there's helpful information.

If you're not a blog writer, you won't find this particular blog particularly useful. If you are, though, you'll discover that there's quite a few useful add-ons and bits of advice. From "5 Reasons Why I Won't Read Your Blog" to "How to Feed your Blog to Twitter", there's much help to be had.

There's no reason your blog shouldn't make the grade, so why not get some advice from Template Faerie?

Bored Olives

"An email love story"

'An email love story' - that so aptly describes the blog that I think anything else would not have done perfect justice.

Bored Olives is written by the warm personality of Stephen Davis, who claims he was constructing a computer from secondhand parts when he realized the hard drive had not been erased. He says he began to peek through the contents of the previous owner, finding saved e-mails that unfurled a bumpy romance between the nihilistic Stacey Marchenkova and the witty Dom Borax.

Stephen Davis posts one to several of the e-mails every Sunday and Wednesday, depending on the size of the e-mails involved. What's even more surprising than the luck Stephen had when he stumbled upon a complete record of the quirky e-mail romance is the conversation that happens below the post.

Readers comment by the dozens, leaving their own opinion on what they think about the particular e-mail, and how the relationship has played out so far. They speculate where it will go, and even form 'teams' - Team Stacey, Team Dom, Team S&D (Stacey and Dom), etc. Even I must confess that I have a tendency to relate myself to Team Dom, but that may be because I'm a guy and I get where he's coming from much of the time.

There was a slight controversy over how real this whole thing might be; understandable, considering it makes the reader quite emotional to go through all of these e-mails at once. However, this blog is more than just whether or not Bored Olives is a facts-based account or a clever tale. It's a story about just what romance can do to people, such as the way Stacey's outlook on the world is distorted by her feelings, and Dom is consumed with winning over Stacey with his intellect, his wit, and his subtle hints.

Get on reading at Bored Olives, and witness the e-mail love story for yourself.

Tips for Saving

"Please join me for a journey to learn unique ways to save money, maintain your health, help the environment, and get things for free! Subscribe, follow, and enjoy the journey."

Who doesn't like to get free stuff?

Certainly you've seen your fair share of blogs about thrifty mothers -- I know I have. Most of the time we shrug them off as just another nitpicky blog that will provide more waste of time than we'll actually be saving.

That couldn't be farther from the truth with Tips for Saving, though.

The author of the blog, Rose, is indeed a thrifty mother blogger. There's no denying that. It's the concise style of her posts that makes the blog so worthwhile when it comes to this category, and you can see it for yourself when you visit the blog.

That doesn't mean that she's always making short posts -- she has her fair share of lengthy, but detailed, posts on products, such as her review on the Boon, Inc. Flo. Rose's powerful skills lay in her ability to post about useful products in a useful fashion. Mothers don't have time to be on the computer all day, after all.

The blog does have a few drawbacks, however. On a slower computer, the sheer size of the blog becomes a lag-inducing nuisance. The post limit seems to be six full posts; coupled with all of the images and links in each post, less-than-optimal computers will be in for a difficult time scrolling through. In addition, there are quite a few ads on the sidebar of the blog, and this contributes to the slowing power of the blog, and the clutter.

The layout, despite the key difficulties created by the front-page post count and sidebar ads, is simple and pink, which matches her post style and general theme. Rose has repeatedly improved upon her layout over time, and hopefully she will continue to do so as her blog expands its readership, and its quality.

Go on and visit Tips for Saving today, and put a few extra dollars in your pocket.