Category: Uncategorized

I’m in love with the Cynical Tyrant. Okay, not so much her, but her outlook on life and the amazing way she’s able to put it into words. Perhaps it’s because her thoughts on so many different things mirror my own so closely.

“Cynical Rantings” began only in early February, and the author makes it very clear the only person she’s really keeping this weblog for is herself. In her second week of keeping this weblog, the author makes an observation about all that is in the weblogging community. I’ve never really read it more accurately. So, while very new to the weblogging world, it seems like this author has made a very noble and accurate attempt at understanding WHY the world is full of weblogs.

I didn’t find a single entry that was anything less than three paragraphs. Much to the author’s credit, the entries that are several paragraphs long are very well written. Hoping to one day get her writing published somewhere other then “Cynical Rantings”, the author absolutely does not disappoint anyone stopping by for a quick read.

Reality television is a popular topic throughout the few weeks of archives available, and you’ll also stumble upon entries discussing the author’s opinions on major events like the Grammy Awards or her pet peeves like public nose-picking. One thing I like the most about this weblog is the way the author is very up front about WHY she is doing this: “This blog is an effort for me to become a better writer.” But better? In that case, I’m buying the book as soon as it’s published.

You don’t learn much personal information about the author, but you do gather great insight to her thoughts and opinions through her detailed writing – always giving opinions, and always backing them up, or sometimes just giving us all a brief, but very witty synopsis to what’s on her mind.

The design at “Cynical Rantings” is a standard Blogger template. It could have been fluorescent green with dancing pink flamingos bordering each entry, though, and I don’t think I would have noticed. I was just that in to what I was reading.

I love this weblog. I love it. It’s bookmarked and it’s a daily visit in my little world. I’d recommend popping on over for a quick read of whatever the latest entry may be. I have no doubt it’ll be a fine one.

Cynical Rantings

From time to time I’ll find a weblog that has a title I’m insanely jealous of and Journey to Confusion just happened to be one of those titles. Needless to say, I set some pretty lofty expectations before even reading a single post at this site.



The layout that’s used belongs to the current list of standard Blogger templates. It’s one of the milder designs available, and it’s used very well. The author entertains us along the sidebar of the site with every thing from a bit about her (“The Confused”), a brief quote that’s currently one by Oscar Wilde (“For the Journey”), and a whole slew of links to her archives and many other external links to the internet. “The View Beneath the Lavender Sky” slogan that’s used at the top of the site is carried out with the lavender color that’s used in the layout. Overall, there are no complains on the design at all as it all goes well together.

Journey to Confusion is still a relatively new weblog. Making its jump into the wide world of weblogging in December 2002, the different entries give readers the impression that the author’s been writing her feelings and her thoughts for a long time.

The biggest number of the posts in “Journey to Confusion” are based upon the author’s day-in/day-out routine. It’s more than just a constant “I did this, and then I did this” type of writing, but more a witty repertoire of how even every day life can be entertaining. The author’s got quite the knack for entertaining readers and it’s definitely something that would draw a person back to this Journey to Confusion.

I’m glad someone else finds John Madden to be the Captain of the Obvious like I do, and it’s refreshing to read the FUN instances of being a parent.

As I initially said, I was jealous of the title of Journey to Confusion and I’m now jealous of the wonderful writing Tam puts out on this site on a daily basis. Definitely check this site out.


Journey to Confusion

When I saw ‘Word War Bush – anti war humor”, that was exactly what I expected from World War Bush (WWB) – humor. Some George Bush jokes. I was disappointed.

Humor is arguably one of the most powerful weapons to advance your arguments, especially when you are dealing with a rather serious topic. It gets people to lighten up, become less tense and thus more open to other ideas and opinions which might normally insult and anger them. Not to mention that it makes boring issues easier to digest. That is why “Stupid White Men” became a bestseller. That is why WWB has so much potential.

If WWB sticks to humor when it sends whatever messages it wants to send across to readers, then it will be convincing, entertaining, powerful. Unfortunately, WWB frequently falls to childish anger and insults. Taking subtle, derisive jabs at the antics of a president is funny, calling him a fuckhead is not. The latter only succeeds in making you look small and bitter. Because of where my sympathies lie, I would very much like to give WWB a good rating, but after reading through the site I feel annoyed rather than triumphant. Many of WWB’s posts read more like a ranting space for the author to succumb to name-calling rather than a sarcastic and clever attempt to show us what is wrong with Bush.

No one was ever convinced by being called a fucking loser. Of course, if the purpose of WWB is only to be a emotional trash can, then fine, it has served its purpose. However, if WWB wants to make people think about the situation the world is in, wants to convince people that George Bush is really a joke, then there should be an attitude adjustment. I suggest the author take deep breaths and put off posting in WWB immediately after watching the news or receiving hate mail. Take some time to organize thoughts and think up witty comebacks. This way, the entries will sound less like the rantings of a man in rage, spitting disorganized and self-righteous words in a jumble.

There are some funny stuff on the site, most of them made up of linked articles, a few penned by the author himself. If the author will lessen the needless name-calling and concentrate on presenting his arguments in a logical and sane way, then WWB can be a great anti war humor site. Mature adults (readers of WWB probably fall into this category) will be won over by sophisticated humor and good essays, like the one about the definition of patriotism. Whereas excessive usage of the word ‘fuck’ will bring giggles only from 3rd graders (who are not likely to read WWB).

The author says this: Personally however, I like to talk with a complete idiot so that I am reminded I am at least smarter than someone. You know what the characteristics of a complete idiot are? They include resorting to calling people ‘fuckheads’ when they can’t win arguments. WWB has issues. The author has some good points. It’s all just a matter of presentation – to come across as a mean, angry person, or a clever, angry person. So stop being daft and start the serious work of showing us why Bush is ridiculous. A lot of us are willing to be convinced here.

WorldWarBush

Before I begin this review, I have to state that minishorts is a blog I have been reading
regularly for quite a while, and the owner is on my ICQ contact list. That being said,
I’ll try to offer a review that’s as unbiased as possible, and one that may offer
additional insight into the site which is afforded by knowing the author. Minishorts
has been online since September 2002 and the first post involves three pieces of
poetry which the author wrote. I particularly enjoyed the one entitled “Dearest
Mother” which manages to be touching without being clichéd.

The weblog is a mix of the author’s thoughts about everything and also her
personal issues, with occasional posts which provides a very intimate view into the
author’s life. An example of this is the January 14th 2003 post which has pictures of
her bedroom, complete with photos of the bed, her wardrobe (with clothes) and the
author herself. Minishorts is a 23 year old Chinese Malaysian doing her Masters in
Linguistics and the blog is representative of what personal weblogs in Malaysia are
all about. The author aspires to be a writer and she occasionally posts bits of
ongoing stories in the blog.

The entries are updated consistently, and the author manages to post even while
on vacation in Hong Kong, using the hotel’s business center’s net connection. The
posts have a nice smattering of photos at appropriate intervals and this manages to
prevent the monotony in reading an all-text blog and provides a window into the
author’s world. There are plenty of pictures of the author’s and her friends and one
can’t help but feel like they’re with the author as she goes through her life. There are
photos of her trips, her convocation and so forth and reading the blog feels like
watching one of those time delayed footage of a plant going through the growth
process of a bud to a flower. This and the always entertaining posts is what keeps me
going back for more.

The design of the site has recently been changed into one featuring a Matrix
layout, with a non-standard horizontal scroll bar. The content of the blog is featured
in a window of the left side, followed by a large Neo, and leading into the tagboard.
The tagboard is dynamically replaced by things like minishort’s bio, links, credits
and so forth when one of the navigation buttons is clicked. However, the links are
images which doesn’t provide anything to suggest where it leads to, except when the
hover text comes up. This “mystery meat” navigation does not seem to be a good
design strategy.

Someone pointed out in an email that there are essentially two kinds of weblogs
– the personal ones and the ones that provide social commentary on current issues
and news. This blog belongs to the first group and if you like those, you’ll love
minishorts. If you don’t, well I guess you won’t, but click on the link anyway and
see if the site will change your mind. I’m giving it a 4.5 because I honestly think it’s
a very interesting site. This would be interesting for you too if you’ll like a voyeuristic
look into the life of a 23 year old in Malaysia.minishorts@urban-flirt

You know that anyone that can point out a typograhpical error in a Harry Potter novel (found in the entry called: “a muggle’s appreciation of HP”) isn’t going to be the type of person that throws a ton of incorrectly spelled words or obtrusive grammer your way — that’s always a bonus when reading any weblog.

An entry I found right smack in the middle of “The Daily Post” sets a very somber mode for a person that decides to start at the beginning and work up to the present. In a post that very seriously deals with alcoholism, one might think “The Daily Post” will be nothing but very personal, serious topics. That’s not the case at all, and you find out by reading the next topic at hand – “e-mail behaviour”. I’m sure anyone reading about the different kinds of email behavior will be able to relate to one of those. Personally, I know I was able to pinpoint several different people to each of the four varieties of behavior.

Each entry isn’t some profound statement about philosophy or current events. There are the stereotypical test results and an update on regular ol’ daily life from time to time just like other weblogs. As the number of people posting to the site increases, the variety of topics that are touched upon grow, too.

In only four months time, the number of Daily Post-ers has grown from two to six, and this is what gives the site the tagline: “A group blog with an international flavour”. You find out a bit more about those participating at the site by clicking on the “About” section, and by clicking on each author’s name, you’re subject to a new way of writing an autobiography on your website: the Alpha-Bio. That alone would be a great incentive for joining the team at The Daily Post.



The layout isn’t anything spectacular, most importantly it works for the site. The chosen colors blend well together, and the entire site is very easy to navigate. It loads quickly, it’s easy to read – not a negative thing to say about the visual appeal of the site.



The overall feel I get of this weblog is that it’s been created to form some type of a community, where people can throw out their feelings and not be attacked if they happen to be different from the next person’s ideas. Group weblogs seem to be a popular trend recently, but I think this is one that will definitely outlast the rest.

It’s got a good start thus far, and if the same writers stay with it, people will be coming back because they like reading what these folks say. They know what they want to say, and just say it. I like knowing how much potential this site has and can’t wait to see it explode into how big it can really be.

The Daily Post