Category: Uncategorized

The B-Zone has a clean, attractive layout — the format is pretty standard, with a main column for entries and a sidebar for ‘extras’ (like a tagboard, blogroll, and links to the archives). But the author, Bjoern, has done some work to give his site a personal touch, with a menu tab, photo ‘buttons’, and wallpaper that looks like… well, wallpaper, actually. The overall effect lends the site an inviting, professional feel.

So, on to the content. From Bjoern’s About Me page, I learned — among other things — that he’s an IT consultant living in Hamburg, Germany. I dug into the archives for a look at his life. Much of the content centers around his job, his musical loves, and significant events in his personal life. It’s pretty standard fare for a personal weblog, but Bjoern manages to spice up many of his entries with interesting photos and links to local sites and people. Some of his recent entries read and look more like magazine features; he appears to be experimenting with using photos and commentary to augment his personal stories, with considerable success.

In addition to the blog itself, Bjoern offers a few extras of note — several pages of original photo art, a guestbook, links to songs that he’s written, even a page of his own downloadable freeware. Some of the sections (those on ‘Coding’ and ‘Music’, for instance) are still under construction and light on content, but I appreciate his commitment to offering a variety of content on the site. It’s a nice touch.

All in all, ‘The B-Zone’ is a very attractive and interesting personal site. Those of us not familiar with Germany can gain a glimpse into the life of a young professional there, while Bjoern’s friends, music fans, and technophiles may also find something of interest. If you’re looking for ‘bits, bytes, birds, bollocks and booze’, as the tagline says, then check out ‘The B-Zone’. It’s well worth the visit. I rate the site 4.5 out of 5.The B-Zone

Between the Hedges was not what I was hoping it would be. It was not about gardening. Nor was it about hedgehogs. Nor was it about anything along the lines of a normal news/link blog.

Does the stock market interest you at all? Wall Street perhaps? Do you own shares in a multimillion dollar company? Have you lost money due to an incompetent stock broker. Does seeing “NASDAQ” send shivers of delight down your spine? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you would find Between the Hedges interesting.

For the rest of the common blogosphere, it’s utterly boring. It’s obvious this blogger is writing for a specific audience, that being people with a very particular interest in trading shares and wanting opinions on the goings-on therein.

Out of morbid curiosity I took a peek at the first entry and found the following disclaimer which mentions amongst other things “…The positions and strategies discussed on Between the Hedges are offered for entertainment purposes and are in no way intended to serve as personal investing advice…” I’d personally like to know where the entertainment lies. I read a handful of entries and found exactly the same thing in each one – nothing that interested me – and I gave up in frustration. There are no links to anything newsworthy, no political statements, no fart jokes, nothing. Very dull. Purposeful, but dull.

Anyway, the layout of the blog isn’t offensive in the slightest, a lovely shade of murky “greenback” green and easy to read (if one can understand the jargon) though I was particularly annoyed by the millions of pop-ups generated from all the java applets on display.

Now, whilst I didn’t like this blog at all, I am aware that there are people out there who would like it and find it interesting and even a helpful resource. I will give it a 2.5/5 because it does what it sets out to do, which is providing information about the stock exchange in a coherent manner, but that’s about it.Between the Hedges

I am glad I got to review this site as it is always nice to review a blog which is a bit different – has a different theme or uses the basic blogging concept in a new way. I always approach these kind of blogs with a little more enthusiasm than I would a strictly personal blog. For those who can’t be bothered to click the link, this is a songwriter’s blog. There are loads of tips, advice and insight in to how to write songs.

The technicalities of the site aren’t fantastic- the left sidebar could do with some work and the site design isn’t the most imaginative I have ever seen, but I guess, being a musician, HTML coding and visual design may not be the author’s “thing”. However, with it being a Typepad blog (which pretty much sets everything up for you), it shouldn’t take too much effort to sort things out a bit better- the links on the side for a start. There are some nice extras- albums being listened to with a bit of information about what their appeal is, as well as some links to books about song writing, (though, sadly, nothing about why these are worthwhile books to buy, apart from getting the author credit with Amazon Associates, of course).

Ok, so technically, the blog isn’t great, but this is one of those blogs where the lack of an imaginative (or even fully functioning) template can almost be overlooked because the content is so well written. Like I have said before, this is a specialist blog and whilst on the surface it may only seem to appeal to songwriters wanting some help with their craft, I will stick my neck out to suggest that in actual fact, this weblog would appeal to anyone who is even remotely affected by music in their lives (and let’s face it, unless you live in a cave without a walkman or battery operated radio to hand, it is pretty hard not to be affected by music in some form or other in the 21st Century.) If anyone one has ever wondered how someone gets from a blank sheet of paper or silent guitar to producing Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, (or whatever else floats your boat) then this website will certainly provide some insight in to how this process is achieved.

Certainly if you are thinking at having a go at making your own SPLHCB then this blog would be an excellent place to start as it provides very specific, practical information along with perceptive thoughts about creativity and what makes a good song. In fact, although I have never read a book about songwriting, I would imagine that the information contained here would certainly be on a par with most books- the author writes very clearly and concisely and there is also no “angle” here- just her own thoughts as she has gone along with writing songs of her own.

The only major improvement I would like to see with the blog is for the author to post up some songs of her own so we can hear what she has done. Partly finished songs with annotations about where to go from here, also seems to me like an ideal addition to the content, especially with the multimedia capabilities of computers anyway. Although she consciously decided not to post up her songs (according to the earliest post in April) she has not given reasons why and I think it is a shame.

Although I have not given this site a 5, I thought it was a great read and a really interesting view on a creative process which baffles me completely. Or at least it did until I read this.
songrut

My first impressions of the site were not good. What I now know to be a negative image of Tom’s visage stares back at you looking like something nasty from a B horror movie. I imagined reading the witterings of a sci fi geek or worse the ramblings of a violent thug.

I had been looking forward to reading through the web log after seeing the title, hoping for some wit and self deprecation. Fortunately the title gives a better indication than the picture.

The design is straightforward, simple and effective. The page has black text on white making it easy to read. It has a left side panel which contains the usual archives, about me including a disclaimer and lists of his stuff, most read web logs and an active most recently updated list of web logs. There are a host of adverts too and it was a little busy for my taste. The about me section was great however and an indication that the wit I was hoping for was present. There is some use of pictures and a gallery of pictures is referred to but has now been removed.

Tom’s site has archives back to August 2003 but I sense that this site has been going longer in one form or another. The first post certainly isn’t one of welcome or introduction and there are other hints to this throughout the posts.

The theme of the blog seems to centre on Tom’s life as a working family man trying with some success to bring up his brood. The posts generally report on the tribulations of living a busy life in a busy home. He regales us with stories of his wife, kids, pets, neighbours and his days at work. He is very self aware and honest and his almost 100% daily posting keeps us up to date with life in Illinois. He collects and discards enemies over time and his latest spat with a neighbour and his lawn mowing activities are highly amusing. His vernacular style works well and the posts are enjoyable and easy to read.

There was a letter from a “fan” decrying his occasional shift into self analysis and references to current issues or interesting asides. I liked this side of the blog and found his wit and style carried over from his reportage well.

The site makes occasional use of links but they open in the same page which is a hassle. They work and on the whole the site is easy to navigate around. There are some pictures and links which do not work further back in the archives however. A space issue perhaps?

There were occasional comments and a couple of regularish commentators. He occasionally asks for reader’s input and on the whole gets it.

On the whole I found this a great read and refreshing. Given more space in overloaded schedule I might become a regular reader.

As Tom suggests stupid is as stupid does. Give him a visit. I might keep coming back and I’d give it a well deserved 4 out of 5. It’s well above average.

stupidtom.com

Another page of parchment! I could not believe my luck. Two sites in a row with my favored background. The weblog stars must be smiling on me this week!

“Other Men’s Flowers” I thought to myself, what in the world does THAT mean? Thankfully I was answered straight away by the author.

“Comments on language, literature, the arts and almost anything else. But mostly quotations.”

But my friends, trust me in this, he is too modest. There are quotations to be sure, but couched in his fascinating, quirky, if sometimes enigmatic prose. (An example of the latter to be found in the entry “Ernest” May 22, 2004.) But just because I don’t get it, doesn’t mean you won’t.

I read entries commenting on all manner of subjects ranging from how many people are injured each year opening canned oysters, to the author’s chagrin at having chided a friend years ago, for misquoting a bit of poetry and then finding out he was wrong to have done so.

A more quirky and varied and worldly wise blog, I have never encountered. Some entries had me laughing out loud, and others scratching my head. But usually if you follow the link or links supplied in the post, you may finally get the joke. It doesn’t hurt to have Babelfish from Alta Vista bookmarked on your browser so you can look up the foreign language quotes. And believe me, it’s worth looking some of them up!

In the About section he gives us a very brief resume’. I was impressed.
The page itself is clutter free, only containing recent posts and archives.
And I ALWAYS give points for straightforward simplicity! There are occasional photos to spice up the text, which is always a nice touch.

This site would appeal to the bookish among us. The lovers of multi-layered tongue in cheek writing, or commentary on the absurd in the modern world, that is presented with a liberal dose of quoted wisdom from past masters. The man is a veritable font of literary context for current events. I loved it. Every minute. Even when I disagreed with him, even when I hadn’t a clue what he was talking about. I figured the fault was my own not his, and if I kept reading, perhaps I would be enlightened.

I give this site an enthusiastic 5. The very first top rating of my Weblog Reviewing career. And I can say in truth that I am bookmarking his blog, and will return often. You will excuse me now, I am going back to read some more of “Other Men’s Flowers”.

Other Men’s Flowers