What are these bell-shaped objects that we’re starting to see high above intersections with traffic lights? They’re traffic cameras. Of course. Check it out:
https://gridsmart.com/products/the-bell-camera/
Showing posts with label NaBloPoMo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NaBloPoMo. Show all posts
Thursday, November 21, 2019
What’s New on Top of Your Utility Pole?
What are these bell-shaped objects that we’re starting to see high above intersections with traffic lights? They’re traffic cameras. Of course. Check it out:
https://gridsmart.com/products/the-bell-camera/
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Cat Litter Review -- Tidy Cats 24/7 Performance
Tidy Cats 24/7 Performance clay cat litter was the first cat litter we ever used. It seemed fine while all the litterboxes were confined to the basement. But soon after we introduced the first box onto the main level, we realized we needed a product that produced less dust.
Here are what I consider the pros and cons to Tidy Cats:
Great Packaging
Tidy Cats comes in study containers that can be repurposed. Depending on the size, it comes in either jugs or pails; both are plastic and resealable. Even though we stopped using it many years ago, we still have a few pails left that we use to store bird seed, sand or spent cat litter.
Good Odor Control
Odor was never a problem unless a cat peed outside the box or didn’t bury the Number Two well enough.
Ubiquitous – even our grocery store carries it
It’s convenient if your go-to brand of cat litter is available at the local “Brick & Mortar” stores you regularly shop at. Back in the days before Internet and automatic delivery, I’d buy the stuff in a regular store. Occasionally I’d notice that it’s marked down in price at the grocery store.
Good clumping
It clumps fairly well, yet also seems to drain. It was important for us to keep up the depth of the litter in the box. Otherwise, a messy, stinky slurry of clay and cat pee would remain on the bottom of the box. World’s Best is better at clumping, but it doesn’t drain well.
Low “unit” cost
The higher cost of other cat litters was what kept me hooked on Tidy Cats for so low. But my method of comparing prices is not well-suited for comparing cat litters. I usually choose the product with the lowest unit cost, where the units are weight. However, the important unit of measure for cat litter is volume. Once I realized that, it put competing brands on a more level playing field.
What we didn’t like:
Dust
As noted above, dust was the main reason we stopped using it.
Not Compostable
Used clay cat litters either go into the trash or get dumped onto a pile in our woods.
Extremely Heavy
Even the smallest portion is 14lb. Larger sizes are 20lb, 27lb, 35lb.
Here are what I consider the pros and cons to Tidy Cats:
Great Packaging
Tidy Cats comes in study containers that can be repurposed. Depending on the size, it comes in either jugs or pails; both are plastic and resealable. Even though we stopped using it many years ago, we still have a few pails left that we use to store bird seed, sand or spent cat litter.
Flows Well Through Scoop
The individual
pellets are spherical and uniform in size, so they flow well through
even the finest scoop.
Odor was never a problem unless a cat peed outside the box or didn’t bury the Number Two well enough.
Ubiquitous – even our grocery store carries it
It’s convenient if your go-to brand of cat litter is available at the local “Brick & Mortar” stores you regularly shop at. Back in the days before Internet and automatic delivery, I’d buy the stuff in a regular store. Occasionally I’d notice that it’s marked down in price at the grocery store.
Good clumping
It clumps fairly well, yet also seems to drain. It was important for us to keep up the depth of the litter in the box. Otherwise, a messy, stinky slurry of clay and cat pee would remain on the bottom of the box. World’s Best is better at clumping, but it doesn’t drain well.
Low “unit” cost
The higher cost of other cat litters was what kept me hooked on Tidy Cats for so low. But my method of comparing prices is not well-suited for comparing cat litters. I usually choose the product with the lowest unit cost, where the units are weight. However, the important unit of measure for cat litter is volume. Once I realized that, it put competing brands on a more level playing field.
What we didn’t like:
Dust
As noted above, dust was the main reason we stopped using it.
Not Compostable
Used clay cat litters either go into the trash or get dumped onto a pile in our woods.
Extremely Heavy
Even the smallest portion is 14lb. Larger sizes are 20lb, 27lb, 35lb.
Monday, November 18, 2019
Demise of Brick and Mortar Stores
Are Brick and Mortar (B&M) stores partly to blame for their loss of customers to Internet-based stores? I think so.
While it’s true that B&Ms have higher costs due to maintaining a physical presence and inventory, they also have an advantage in that customers get instant access to purchases. Also, in the case of one-of-kind product such as produce, buyers get to examine and inspect the merchandise before buying.
I shop both online and at B&Ms. Here’s why I shop online:
#NaBloPoMo2019
While it’s true that B&Ms have higher costs due to maintaining a physical presence and inventory, they also have an advantage in that customers get instant access to purchases. Also, in the case of one-of-kind product such as produce, buyers get to examine and inspect the merchandise before buying.
I shop both online and at B&Ms. Here’s why I shop online:
- It’s easier to find what I need. For example:
- Unscented antiperspirant is nearly impossible to find at stores near me. B&Ms have replaced unscented product with things called “Phoenix,” “Apollo” and “Gold.” What the heck does Gold smell like and how would it keep me dry? Maybe it’s unscented, like real gold, but I doubt it. Sure I could open each one and smell it. But the number of choices is overwhelming, and I don’t have time for it anyway!
- My shoe size is almost impossible to find, and I hate shopping for shoes. I’ve been reluctant to buy shoes online because I’ve always wanted to try shoes on before buying. But I bought my latest pair online, and it was so much easier. Plus, they were so marked down in price (probably because they were such an unpopular size) that I was ecstatic.
- B&Ms waste a lot of shelf space on different brands and flavors of peanut butter. Nowadays you can buy peanut butter that's smooth, crunchy, mixed with jelly, mixed with honey. You have Skippy, Jiff, Teddy Bear, Smuckers and the store brand. Yet how many varieties are there of plain almond butter, not mixed with sugar or palm oil or whatever? Just one – and that was only after the store brought in a machine to make it in-house.
- I love our local Barnes and Noble, but I buy more stuff at BN.com than in their local B&M. We buy our kitchen calendar from BN.com. It’s so special. It has a magnetic strip to hang on the refrigerator, and is 12” wide with large rectangles for the days of the month. Finding it in the B&M is hit or miss, so we avoid the frustration entirely and get it online.
- Online items get dropped off in my driveway. I don't need to lift a product into a shopping cart, push it to a cashier, bring it out to the parking lot and then load it into the car. It should be noted that the B&Ms that I shop at have helpful people who will load stuff into customers' cars. Some even offer to do this even without being asked.
- Repeat delivery and free delivery are so amazingly convenient that I rely on this for cat litter and pet food. These items also fall under item 2, as well.
#NaBloPoMo2019
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Chocolate Fudge -- It's About Time I Made Some
I finally made chocolate fudge. I used one of the “easy recipes” that you can find online – a combination of Sweetened Condensed Milk, Chocolate Chips and Vanilla all melted together, mixed and chilled.
Unfortunately, I have quite a lot more of it than I should have. The stuff is dangerous. I could easily eat all of it. I’ve been known to eat a 14 ounce can of Sweetened Condensed Milk in a mindless trance of ecstasy.
So I’ll do what I always do with excess decadent treats – bring it to work in the hopes that folks will take it all before lunch time.
Unfortunately, I have quite a lot more of it than I should have. The stuff is dangerous. I could easily eat all of it. I’ve been known to eat a 14 ounce can of Sweetened Condensed Milk in a mindless trance of ecstasy.
So I’ll do what I always do with excess decadent treats – bring it to work in the hopes that folks will take it all before lunch time.
Friday, November 15, 2019
Medium and Large and Nothing In Between
Look at the typical size chart1 for men’s underwear, if you will, and tell me if you
see anything wrong?
1 This size chart can be found on the following web pages:
#NaBloPoMo2019
| Size | Waist (inches) |
| S | 28 - 30 |
| M | 32 - 34 |
| L | 36 - 38 |
| XL | 40 - 42 |
| 2XL | 44 - 46 |
| 3XL | 48 - 50 |
Well?
Here’s the
problem. What do you do if your waist is 31”, 35”, 37” and so
on? Fruit of the Loom tells you to select the next larger size.
Hanes doesn’t even offer such advice, unless you ask customer
service, and then they also advise the next larger size.
I am size 35, which
is between M and L. So I bought the larger size, L. But they were
too baggy, even after one washing in hot water. They felt like boxer
briefs. M (which I bought next) was a better choice for me since I
prefer a lower rise brief. M is a bit too snug, but aren’t they're
supposed to be "tighty-whities"? So I'll continue to wash
the L briefs in hot water each week hoping they'll shrink into the
unavailable in between size.
1 This size chart can be found on the following web pages:
#NaBloPoMo2019
Sunday, November 10, 2019
NaBloPoMo 2019 Blog Roll -- Unofficial
This is the first year I’m participating in a “homeless” version of NaBloPoMo. I miss the blogroll most of all.
As I search online for “NaBloPoMo 2019” I find a few bloggers toiling away in the vast vacuum of the blog-sphere (and even one on Live Journal).
Here are some I’ve come across:
Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents
Asha Dornfest
Dannilion
Healing Through Connection
Drunk on Life
Tom Loughlin
I'm not interested in maintaining this year's NaBloPoMo blog roll, but if you'd like to be included (or removed), I'll try to find time to make the edit.
#NaBloPoMo2019
As I search online for “NaBloPoMo 2019” I find a few bloggers toiling away in the vast vacuum of the blog-sphere (and even one on Live Journal).
Here are some I’ve come across:
Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents
Asha Dornfest
Dannilion
Healing Through Connection
Drunk on Life
Tom Loughlin
I'm not interested in maintaining this year's NaBloPoMo blog roll, but if you'd like to be included (or removed), I'll try to find time to make the edit.
#NaBloPoMo2019
Thursday, November 7, 2019
The Ban on Plastic Grocery Bags
Plastic bags haven’t been banned yet where I live. However, my favorite grocery store recently eliminated single use bags. Other stores in my area have imposed the 10 cent per bag fee.
When the bags were free, I’d use them to line my kitchen garbage can and collect waste from the cat boxes. Now that I don’t get them, I’ve resorted to buying plastic bags for the garbage can. (Interestingly, the bags I now buy cost $2 for a box of twenty, or 10 cents per bag, the same as the verboten grocery bag.) As for the cat waste, I’ve found that both newspaper bags and produce bags (which are still free) work well enough for this.
According to Wikipedia, an organization has formed to lobby against bans on plastic bags.
It all seems so senseless to me. Is there really a good alternative to plastic bags for kitchen waste? What else would you use to contain used coffee filters, spoiled food, and grease-soaked paper towels? Would you expect a paper bag to remain intact long enough to be carried out to a receptacle at the curb?
Or perhaps I’ve overestimated human efficiency and resourcefulness. Maybe I’m part of a very small minority that now has to buy the same number of bags that I used to get for free. Maybe all along most folks have been buying garbage bags and would just fling the free grocery bags out a window when they got home.
I think a more ingenious solution would’ve been to somehow mark each dispensed bag with a means to identify the person who received it. Then when it’s eventually removed from where it was snagged in a tree, officials would know whose bag it was and levy a penalty against that person.
Well, in fact, these bags do have identifiers. But of course they don’t identify the bag recipient; they identify the manufacturer. If the plastic industry wants to continue manufacturing the bags, and consumers want to continue using them, why bother to fight them? Just levy penalties against the manufacturers whose bags are found littering the environment.
What do you think?
#NaBloPoMo2019
When the bags were free, I’d use them to line my kitchen garbage can and collect waste from the cat boxes. Now that I don’t get them, I’ve resorted to buying plastic bags for the garbage can. (Interestingly, the bags I now buy cost $2 for a box of twenty, or 10 cents per bag, the same as the verboten grocery bag.) As for the cat waste, I’ve found that both newspaper bags and produce bags (which are still free) work well enough for this.
According to Wikipedia, an organization has formed to lobby against bans on plastic bags.
It all seems so senseless to me. Is there really a good alternative to plastic bags for kitchen waste? What else would you use to contain used coffee filters, spoiled food, and grease-soaked paper towels? Would you expect a paper bag to remain intact long enough to be carried out to a receptacle at the curb?
Or perhaps I’ve overestimated human efficiency and resourcefulness. Maybe I’m part of a very small minority that now has to buy the same number of bags that I used to get for free. Maybe all along most folks have been buying garbage bags and would just fling the free grocery bags out a window when they got home.
I think a more ingenious solution would’ve been to somehow mark each dispensed bag with a means to identify the person who received it. Then when it’s eventually removed from where it was snagged in a tree, officials would know whose bag it was and levy a penalty against that person.
Well, in fact, these bags do have identifiers. But of course they don’t identify the bag recipient; they identify the manufacturer. If the plastic industry wants to continue manufacturing the bags, and consumers want to continue using them, why bother to fight them? Just levy penalties against the manufacturers whose bags are found littering the environment.
What do you think?
#NaBloPoMo2019
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Make Your Own Sauerkraut
"Forget that store-bought stuff. It's pasteurized," my Naturopathic Doctor said. We were talking about sauerkraut.
I thought I was buying good stuff, with nothing more than cabbage and brine. But she was right, it was pasteurized. The bottling process sterilizes the jar and the product, killing off all that healthy bacteria.
So after years of putting it off, I took the plunge and made my first batch in September. I was delighted with the results! It was crunchy, snappy, tart, lively but not at all unpalatable.
Here's a beginner recipe to try:
1 small organic cabbage head
1 large carrot
dried dill weed
small palmful of sea salt (about 2 to 3 teaspoons)
Slice the cabbage thin. Then chop the slices into small bits.
Wash the carrot with a nylon brush and grate it. (I don't peel carrots.)
Combine the cabbage and carrot into a large mixing bowl. Add the salt and dust with dill until it looks right. Mix and pound with a blunt wooden spoon until a mash starts to form.
Place it into a 32oz straight neck jar, such as a clean, empty tomato sauce jar.
Pound it down, leaving about 1/2 inch room at the top. Add water to completely cover the solids. Cover the top with a coffee filter or strainer and leave it in a dark cool place for about two weeks.
After two weeks, remove the cover and skim any suspicious-looking stuff off the top.
At this point it's ready to eat. Screw the cap on and refrigerate for longer term storage.
My special additions include seaweed (after soaking in water for while I prepare the cabbage and carrot) and the powder from a few probiotic capsules.
Check this web page for more ideas: http://www.wildfermentation.com/making-sauerkraut-2/
#NaBloPoMo2019
Monday, November 4, 2019
Easy-To-Make Gluten-Free Tortillas
The topic of home made Gluten-Free tortillas probably makes you wonder, “Corn Tortillas are gluten-free. Why not just buy them?”
I did that for a while, but there are two problems with store-bought corn tortillas:
But I had my doubts. “Oh, they’ll stick to the pan.” Or, “they’ll fall apart when I turn them.”
But no, the recipe really is very easy. If you can make pancakes, you definitely can make these. It’s very forgiving in terms of how much water you use. I started with the lower recommendation, which is for thick tortillas. But as I continued, I kept adding water to see how thin I could make them. The only limit I reached is when the batter got so runny, it ran to the side of the pan. Yet, they still held together when I turned them. I managed to get them a bit over 6" in diameter. I used an 8" pan.
And despite using a “sticky” cast-iron pan, there was no sticking whatsoever when I applied a thin layer of vegetable oil to the pre-heated pan.
For the second batch, I happened to have a couple of old limes lying around. They were so hard and shriveled, my wife gave up on them. But I managed to get maybe 1/8 cup of juice out of them, which I added to the batter. The juice gave a nice tartness to the tortilla.
Give it a try!
#NaBloPoMo2019
I did that for a while, but there are two problems with store-bought corn tortillas:
- They have nasty-sounding ingredients in them (as do flour tortillas).
- Corn causes pain in my joints.
But I had my doubts. “Oh, they’ll stick to the pan.” Or, “they’ll fall apart when I turn them.”
But no, the recipe really is very easy. If you can make pancakes, you definitely can make these. It’s very forgiving in terms of how much water you use. I started with the lower recommendation, which is for thick tortillas. But as I continued, I kept adding water to see how thin I could make them. The only limit I reached is when the batter got so runny, it ran to the side of the pan. Yet, they still held together when I turned them. I managed to get them a bit over 6" in diameter. I used an 8" pan.
And despite using a “sticky” cast-iron pan, there was no sticking whatsoever when I applied a thin layer of vegetable oil to the pre-heated pan.
For the second batch, I happened to have a couple of old limes lying around. They were so hard and shriveled, my wife gave up on them. But I managed to get maybe 1/8 cup of juice out of them, which I added to the batter. The juice gave a nice tartness to the tortilla.
Give it a try!
#NaBloPoMo2019
Sunday, November 3, 2019
NaBloPoMo 2019
Back in November 2015, I started to celebrate National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) by posting daily for the entire month. But I dropped out early and haven't participated in another NaBloPoMo since.
Until this year.
Apparently the official "home" for NaBloPoMo now is the blog of Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents and can be found here: https://www.pghlesbian.com/category/nablopomo/
Thank you so much for hosting NaBloPoMo! I hope I can join in, even though I'm not from Pittsburgh and I'm not lesbian!
#NaBloPoMo2019
Until this year.
Apparently the official "home" for NaBloPoMo now is the blog of Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents and can be found here: https://www.pghlesbian.com/category/nablopomo/
Thank you so much for hosting NaBloPoMo! I hope I can join in, even though I'm not from Pittsburgh and I'm not lesbian!
#NaBloPoMo2019
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Smart Dog
My wife and I were making the grocery list.
“We need more canned salmon. I’ve been eating it, lately,” said my wife.
“Oh, do you make it like tuna salad?”
“No, I just eat it out of the can.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised. “But it has bones in it! Do you eat the bones?”
“Yes, I just mash them up, first.”
“Good. They’re a good source of calcium,” I stated.
Suddenly our dog excitedly ran into the kitchen. “What’s up with him?” asked my wife.
I smiled when I realized. He heard us talking about bones.
Smart dog.
#NaBloPoMo2019
“We need more canned salmon. I’ve been eating it, lately,” said my wife.
“Oh, do you make it like tuna salad?”
“No, I just eat it out of the can.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised. “But it has bones in it! Do you eat the bones?”
“Yes, I just mash them up, first.”
“Good. They’re a good source of calcium,” I stated.
Suddenly our dog excitedly ran into the kitchen. “What’s up with him?” asked my wife.
I smiled when I realized. He heard us talking about bones.
Smart dog.
#NaBloPoMo2019
Friday, November 1, 2019
Halloween 2019 -- The Litterbox Costume
I dressed up as a litterbox yesterday. This was an easy, low-cost outfit.
The Okocat paper litter was a good choice for this project. It’s extremely light weight, and the granules aren’t so small as to leak through any gaps in the box or in my pants. I had some lying around because I tried it out with the cats, and I found that it would quickly get saturated with pee. The entire litterbox had to be emptied and refilled with fresh litter about once a week. This reminds me, I’m planning on writing a review of cat litters soon.
So, did you dress up for Halloween? What was your costume?
#NaBloPoMo2019
1 https://www.healthy-pet.com/products/dust-free-paper-natural-litter
2 Photo credit: anonymous coworker
- Cardboard box – free (with a delivery from Petco)
- Okocat non-clumping paper litter1 – about $3 (It was marked down and I had a coupon)
- New pooper-scooper – 97 cents
- Safety glasses – free (Household item)
- Dust mask -- free (Household item)
- Zip-Lock bag – free (Household item)
- Tootsie Rolls -- about $3
- Other Assorted Chocolate -- free (Household items)
The Okocat paper litter was a good choice for this project. It’s extremely light weight, and the granules aren’t so small as to leak through any gaps in the box or in my pants. I had some lying around because I tried it out with the cats, and I found that it would quickly get saturated with pee. The entire litterbox had to be emptied and refilled with fresh litter about once a week. This reminds me, I’m planning on writing a review of cat litters soon.
So, did you dress up for Halloween? What was your costume?
#NaBloPoMo2019
1 https://www.healthy-pet.com/products/dust-free-paper-natural-litter
2 Photo credit: anonymous coworker
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Dropping Out of NaBloPoMo 2015
Just a quick note to make it official. I'm dropping out of NaBloPoMo.
This year, unlike all others so far, I am so incredibly tired. I fall asleep so easily. So I didn't bother to go near a computer on Sunday.
I suppose I could bang out three quick posts and back-date two of them. But I'm supposed to doing other things right now -- things that people pay me to do. So I'll do those things and not this thing.
Thanks for reading!
Look for a Weigh-In tomorrow.
This year, unlike all others so far, I am so incredibly tired. I fall asleep so easily. So I didn't bother to go near a computer on Sunday.
I suppose I could bang out three quick posts and back-date two of them. But I'm supposed to doing other things right now -- things that people pay me to do. So I'll do those things and not this thing.
Thanks for reading!
Look for a Weigh-In tomorrow.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Blogher and the Male Blogger
This is the first year I've been cross-posting on Blogher during NaBloPoMo. I confess that I feel like an alien on that site.
Before I ramble on, I want to make it perfectly clear that I am grateful to Blogher for hosting NaBloPoMo. And I admire the team of talented writers that contribute to the site's content.
But, the reason I feel like an alien on Blogher is because of the predetermined set of tags I have to choose from. They're so... gender-skewed toward the feminine that I feel a bit stifled.
The complete list of tags is given below.
A few of the main categories are typical of a content provider or message board: Food; Health; News & Politics; Entertainment. Yet the sub-categories under them seem incomplete. For example, "Food" could use "Desserts" "Paleo" and "Outdoor Grilling". "Health" could use "Vaccinations" and "Exercise" rather than "Infertility" and "Pregnancy". "Entertainment" is fine except that "Sports" should be a main category all on its own.
DIY really should be called "Hobbies" because its sub-categories are essentially hobbies, and because it lacks such real DIY subjects as "Flooring" "Electrical/Lighting" "Plumbing" and "Automotive"
And then there's the most feminine main category of "Style," which includes: Makeup; Nails; Shoes; Fashion; Hair. Oh yes, I'm so looking forward to writing about makeup.... Hmm, then again, it might be a fun challenge to write about each sub-category of "Style," from a guy's perspective, of course. Maybe Melissa Ford will make me write Style posts for the remainder of NaBloPoMo as punishment for dissing the tags.
The list of predefined Blogher tags, as of Monday, November 16, 2015...
Before I ramble on, I want to make it perfectly clear that I am grateful to Blogher for hosting NaBloPoMo. And I admire the team of talented writers that contribute to the site's content.
But, the reason I feel like an alien on Blogher is because of the predetermined set of tags I have to choose from. They're so... gender-skewed toward the feminine that I feel a bit stifled.
The complete list of tags is given below.
A few of the main categories are typical of a content provider or message board: Food; Health; News & Politics; Entertainment. Yet the sub-categories under them seem incomplete. For example, "Food" could use "Desserts" "Paleo" and "Outdoor Grilling". "Health" could use "Vaccinations" and "Exercise" rather than "Infertility" and "Pregnancy". "Entertainment" is fine except that "Sports" should be a main category all on its own.
DIY really should be called "Hobbies" because its sub-categories are essentially hobbies, and because it lacks such real DIY subjects as "Flooring" "Electrical/Lighting" "Plumbing" and "Automotive"
And then there's the most feminine main category of "Style," which includes: Makeup; Nails; Shoes; Fashion; Hair. Oh yes, I'm so looking forward to writing about makeup.... Hmm, then again, it might be a fun challenge to write about each sub-category of "Style," from a guy's perspective, of course. Maybe Melissa Ford will make me write Style posts for the remainder of NaBloPoMo as punishment for dissing the tags.
The list of predefined Blogher tags, as of Monday, November 16, 2015...
Blogging
Social Media
-Tips, Tricks & Tools
-Blogging Events
-BlogHer Publishing Network News
-NaBloPoMo
Food
-Food Politics
-Baking
-Drinks
-Cooking for Health
-Frugal Kitchen
-Gluten-Free
-Quick and Easy
-Recipes
-Special Occasion
-Vegetarian and Vegan
Games
Health
-Body Image
-Mental Health
-Diet & Fitness
-Infertility
-Wellness
-Pregnancy
DIY
-Crafts
-Style DIY
-Home & Garden
-Knitting, Crochet & Sewing
-Photography
Work/Life
-Childfree
-GLBT
-Grief and Loss
-Humor
-Midlife
-Career
-Pets
-Finding Balance
-Caregiving
-Spirituality
-Travel
-Green
-Money
Love & Sex
-Dating
-Divorce
-Marriage and Commitment
-Sex
-Weddings and Anniversaries
Family
-SAHMs
-Working Moms
-Tweens & Teens
-Adoption
-Empty Nesters
-Grandparents
-Home Schooling
-Multiples
-Special needs
News & Politics
-Science
-Current Events
-Politics
-Media and Journalism
-Race & Class
-Feminism
-Technology
Entertainment
-Arts & Culture
-Astrology
-Books
-Movies & Television
-Music
-Pop Culture
-Sports
Style
-Makeup
-Nails
-Shoes
-Fashion
-Hair
Advertise and Market with Women
BlogHer Conferences
-#BlogHerFood16
-BlogHer Food '15
-BlogHer 2016
-BlogHer 2015
-BlogHer Conference 2012
-BlogHer Entrepreneurs '13
-BlogHer PRO '14
-BlogHer Conference 2014
-BlogHer Food '14
-BlogHer Food 2013
-BlogHer Conference 2013
-BlogHer PRO
-BlogHer Pro '13
-HealthMinder Day 2013
-Pathfinder Day 2013
-Viewfinder Day 2013
-BlogHer Entrepreneurs '12
-BlogHer Food 2012
-BlogHer Handmade
-BlogHer Writers '11
-BlogHer | bet
-BlogHer Conference 2011
-BlogHer Food 2011
-BlogHer Food 2010
-BlogHer Conference 2010
-BlogHer Business 2010
-BlogHer Conferences
-BlogHer Food '09
-Reach Out Tour 2008
-'06 Conference news
-'06 Podcasts
-'06 Sessions/Speakers
-'06 Sponsors
-'07 Conference news
-'07 Sessions/Speakers
-'07 Sponsors
-BlogHer Business 2008
-BlogHer Business 2009
-BlogHer Conference 2008
-BlogHer Conference 2009
Web site
-From the 'hood
Friday, November 6, 2015
The Importance of Deadlines
To all of you participating in NaNoWriMo and NaBloPoMo this month, this quote is for you:
Founder of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
in "No Plot? No Problem!", page 19
The biggest thing separating people from their artistic ambitions is not a lack of talent. It's the lack of a deadline. Give someone an enormous task, a supportive community, and a friendly-yet-firm due date, and miracles will happen every time.- Chris Baty
Founder of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
in "No Plot? No Problem!", page 19
Thursday, November 5, 2015
NoBloPoMo 2015 Blogroll Neighbors
With National Blog Posting Month under way, I'd like to call your attention to the NaBloPoMo Blogroll, which is the listing of all the official participants. In particular, I'd like to promote the two blogs that my blog is sandwiched between (if I may be allowed to do so by ending with a preposition). At number 370 there is The Moxie Bee, by the lovely Maura Alia Badji. At number 372, there is The Everyday Elegance, by the young and elegant Courtney.
I am suddenly feeling very inadequate and amateurish surrounded by these two talented bloggers!
I am suddenly feeling very inadequate and amateurish surrounded by these two talented bloggers!
Sunday, November 1, 2015
NaBloPoMo 2015
National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) has started yet again. I hope to participate by posting every day in November. I don't know yet how I'll find the time, especially since my daughter is a senior and applying Early Action to a Certain College, whose deadline is December 1. I have even less free time than ever (and I had none before). So I'll have to be even more ruthless when shuffling priorities, eating less, getting less sleep. Maybe no one at work will notice that I'm blogging?
November is the month when I appreciate how difficult it might be to be a journalist, to come up with content for a new column, day after day, year after year. Right now I have more content in my head than I have time to write it, so it's not so bad.
Anyway, if you'd like me to write about a certain subject, please let me know. Now would be a good time for me to fulfill your request. Here are the topics I had planned to write about last year but never did:
November is the month when I appreciate how difficult it might be to be a journalist, to come up with content for a new column, day after day, year after year. Right now I have more content in my head than I have time to write it, so it's not so bad.
Anyway, if you'd like me to write about a certain subject, please let me know. Now would be a good time for me to fulfill your request. Here are the topics I had planned to write about last year but never did:
- Gender wage gap
- Why is Thankfulness a Challenge?
- From Christian to Pagan
- The Right to Vote and Serve on a Jury
- When We Use "We"
- How I Actually Spent My Staycation
- Photos of the Views from My Drive to Work
- Things I've Not Done But Would Like To Try
- My List of Must-See Movies
- A Really Bad Lollipop
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
NoBloPoMo 2014 Wrap Up
I completed this year's National Blog Posting Month, or NaBloPoMo 2014. I felt that this year was more challenging because: I had less time than ever before; I no longer participate in "Shadow Shot Sundays" (which essentially gave me four, easy, thought-free posts); and I'm much more lazy than ever.
Nevertheless, I have some unrealized ideas for posts as I do every year. Here are some of the topics I had planned to write about:
BTW, I was very impressed with my next-door neighbor's blog, "Being Weirdly Awesome" as well as Snoskred's own NaBloPoMo blogroll.
Nevertheless, I have some unrealized ideas for posts as I do every year. Here are some of the topics I had planned to write about:
- Gender wage gap
- Why is Thankfulness a Challenge?
- From Christian to Pagan
- The Right to Vote and Serve on a Jury
- When We Use "We"
- How I Actually Spent My Staycation
- Photos of the Views from My Drive to Work
- Things I've Not Done But Would Like To Try
- My List of Must-See Movies
- A Really Bad Lollipop
BTW, I was very impressed with my next-door neighbor's blog, "Being Weirdly Awesome" as well as Snoskred's own NaBloPoMo blogroll.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
NaBloPoMo 2014
National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) has started, and I plan to participate by posting every day in November. I don't know yet how I'll find the time. I have no free time, so it's a matter of shuffling priorities, eating less, getting less sleep, perhaps taking fewer and briefer showers. Ugghh.
I'd like to call your attention to the NaBloPoMo Blogroll, which is the listing of all the official participants. In particular, I'd like to promote the two blogs that my blog is sandwiched between (if I may be allowed to do so by ending with a preposition). At number 568 we have an awesome blog called "Being Weirdly Awesome". At number 570 we have "The Lipstick Memoir! oX: A kiss and tell composition of life as I know it...so far that is!"
November is the month when I appreciate how difficult it might be to be a journalist, to come up with content for a new column, day after day, year after year. Right now I have more content in my head than I have time to write it, so it's not so bad.
Anyway, if you'd like me to write about a certain subject, please let me know. Now would be a good time for me to fulfill your request.
I'd like to call your attention to the NaBloPoMo Blogroll, which is the listing of all the official participants. In particular, I'd like to promote the two blogs that my blog is sandwiched between (if I may be allowed to do so by ending with a preposition). At number 568 we have an awesome blog called "Being Weirdly Awesome". At number 570 we have "The Lipstick Memoir! oX: A kiss and tell composition of life as I know it...so far that is!"
November is the month when I appreciate how difficult it might be to be a journalist, to come up with content for a new column, day after day, year after year. Right now I have more content in my head than I have time to write it, so it's not so bad.
Anyway, if you'd like me to write about a certain subject, please let me know. Now would be a good time for me to fulfill your request.
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