The Weblog Review

My first impression was of a plain site, default in every way. I found no “about” page or link, but I did find some links to friends, other links to other sites, and an archives area neatly on the right side of the text. That was the bad.



The good part was the content. Rebecca writes well about her life; her work at a department store, her dating a man who, after six weeks of dating, tells her that he has a son (that he failed to mention earlier on in their dating), and her car troubles. It’s really a look inside a rather normal life, one that is written in an engaging and familiar way. While not a blog that compels you to anything, it is a diversion from the standard fare. You won’t find immaturity here. You won’t find a woman complaining about her lot in life. What you’ll find is a woman who is doing the best she can, writes coherently and well about it, and is very honest with what’s going on in her life, sharing it on her blog.



While the design could use a major revamp, the content is good. With a little make-over, this site would elevate itself to a higher position in the blogging community. I hate to say it, but design does count for something in this world of sound-bites and buzz words.



I recommend this site to anyone that feels compelled to peer into the life of an average woman, working an average job, with an average life. These are good things. I wish I had an average life.

C’est la Vie!

My, what a pretty weblog we have here! The regal shades of purple, elegant glass dragon graphic, and mouseover effects can mean only one thing: This is a chick blog. Yes, it is, and it is a chic and enjoyable chick blog, as well.



Kirin, the 24 year old author of Disorganized Thoughts, posts entries that are anything but disorganized. Topics often focus upon daily life events, thus making this a true personal weblog, and entries are often rife with humor and insight. Kirin does not beat around the bush, so to speak, in her entries; she is very straightforward and convivial. Her manner of writing is such that the reader feels as if he or she is listening to a good friend detail the events of a given day. One may easily imagine sharing a conversation with the author over lunch or drinks, and this vivid style of writing is quite fresh and delightful. The author’s composition is solid, as are her grammar and spelling; and, while she does write in the vernacular, she manages to avoid an overuse of slang — a definite plus!



Disorganized Thoughts’ current layout and design is spectacular in its visual impact. Hues of royal purple mingle with touches of black and gilt to present a truly elegant appearance which views best in MSIE 5.5. Viewers who utilize NS will find that the content blocks do not expand to accommodate the content and the site’s search function will not work. Disorganized Thoughts is fully readable when loaded in NS 6.1, but the reader will lose out on the total effect of the site’s design. A bit of tweaking here and there will easily remedy the problems found when viewing this site in NS 6.1 and the author is encouraged to make the necessary adjustments. Also, note that this site must be viewed at full screen, otherwise image links will stack and the site becomes distorted. This flaw may also be remedied with a bit of code enhancement.



External links and archive links, as well as a search function, are contained to a side menu and all links appear to be in working order. Mouseover links at the top of the site lead to the author’s bio page and a “Substance” page which is not to be missed. The internal site links greatly enhance the weblog and should be explored by prospective readers.



Disorganized Thoughts is a thoroughly pleasing personal weblog which may be enjoyed by many, though it’s target audience may prove to be women in their 20’s and 30’s. This site is highly recommended for those readers who favor well-written personal weblogs filled with unique and bold perspective.



Disorganized Thoughts

DelightzNET lives up to it’s name; I was just DELIGHTED to be there! The design was fresh and inviting, conveying to me the energetic youth of the site as a first impression, one which did not let me down!



The originality and creativity of the author, Stephanie, comes out like a leaky bag trying to hold too much water. She’s clever, and is a genuine nice person. That you can discern that from her writing is an accomplishment; she delights her readers at every turn. A young woman who is finding her inner strength (and has found quite a bit of it already) and writes well about it is a delightful find, indeed. Her style is engaging and genuine, flowing with an exuberance that is being a young adult. I admire her energy, and wish she could bottle some of it; I’d surely buy some!



Be ready to be delighted; delightzNET is a worthy stop on your daily blog journeys. Good design, easy maneuverability, only lacking the “about” page (but I won’t hold that against this site). This is a site I’d recommend for anyone 18 and older.

delightzNET

Group blogs can be fun if all of the members remember to post regularly, write honestly and creatively, and do so incessantly. Fortunately for us, 1784.net does all of this in spades.



Each of the writers here are a delight to read, and I was pleased to find Stephanie from delightzNET writes here as well. She’s accompanied by Nicole, Mindy, Renee, and the sole male member of the staff, Ryan. Together, they weave a quilt of entries from different but all well-written perspectives. Group blogs work when everyone works together. They shine when there is true exuberance and energy. 1784.net has all of these.



My only draw-backs were that while each author has a link to their own blog/site, I would have liked for there to have been an “about” section for each of them, so that we get a little background about each person. Also, I didn’t see an archives link; if it’s there, it’s not very intuitive to find. Otherwise, the design is fresh, and leaves a good impression.



I recommend this group blog to anyone that’s around 16 or older, as the subject matter can move towards more mature audiences from time to time, but is a site that has great content, great writing, and feels fun.



Finally, get the archives link up and some information about the staff, and this site becomes a true gem!1784

College students fall into one of two categories so far, or so I’ve observed. They’re either smart and interesting to read, or shallow and writing solely about this party, that party, this football game, etc. Paul Cole at “Gaynor’s Passion” has done the amazing; he’s done both. He’s made reading about concerts and parties and football games interesting, which for a person that was born without the “sports gene” (me) is quite a feat, indeed.



His “about” page, an integral part of any blog, is difficult to find, but it is there (you just have to look a bit). His archives section started in August, when he first started college. I found myself reading through his past entries, enjoying his take on being “in high school, except without the parents.” The design is very basic, but there is no need for anything wild and exciting to bring you back for more. The writing is solid, the intellect intact, and observations sincere. Clear and concise writing style makes for easy digestion. I’d recommend this to anyone desiring a look into a freshman’s life at college, or just interested in a young man’s burgeoning life.

Gaynor’s Passion