Fwd: guest blog from Michaele Lockhart

Date: Thu, Jun 28, 2012 at 2:52 PM

Subject: guest blog from Michaele Lockhart

Thanks for inviting me to comment, Nan.

Your definitions of web sites vs. blogs were thought-provoking. They were good general guidelines, but often the distinction is not that clear-cut.

A web site is a first meeting, a first impression, and that encounter where we decide: "Do I want to get to know this person better?" A blog is the actual invitation to step inside, sit down, and share in a conversation. It's definitely more intimate.

A web site usually has a purpose, but sometimes graphics and trailers are so convoluted that a casual visitor might have trouble figuring out what the purpose is. The web visitor spends an average of three seconds making up her mind if she is going to stay. A precious three seconds—maybe wasted? Marketing can or may be a part of the overall site.

Here's where the distinctions get fuzzy. A good web site is designed for information sharing, but so is a blog. Are the type font and size easily read? Is the layout calming or distracting? The site or blog should contain contact information. Where can you be reached for an interview? What is your expertise? Why should we move along to your blog (if you have one)? Of course, if you're an author you'll probably be promoting your books.

Who can forget the charming movie Julie and Julia? Julie starts writing a blog about cooking and her self-challenge to create everything in Julia Child's cookbook within a year! What drew her readers in was the blog's central theme. We don't know what happened afterwards, because theoretically there would be no forward momentum.

For those who write personal blogs, ask yourself "Does my blog contain momentum?" This will ultimately help attract readers. Is there a "call to action?" No, you don't need to do anything drastic or start a revolution somewhere. In the personal journal-blog, your "call to action" will be teasers and an invitation to your readers to reflect and respond about issues that you've addressed.

Home from vacation, blog and website differences

I enjoyed the refreshing change (temperature wise and blue ocean views) that a short jaunt to the West coast (Newport Beach, CA) provided. This is the first opportunity I've had to blog. Glad to be back!

I'm motivated to do research about the difference between blogs and websites (partly work related and partly to help my readers learn what's new and good). I do need input from you out there, so hope I'll get some feedback, especially from those of you I know look at my blog, but haven't commented. Here's what I've discovered so far:

Blogs-

          content based on its timely nature

          journal format

          informal style (usual purpose is part social and partly to network)

          spans one or two topics at the most

Websites-

         content based on a structured or static basis

         professional or business purpose rather than social

         provides clear information to a specific audience and/or for a definite purpose like book-selling

         features good website navigation and is updated less frequently than a blog

See more details at the sites listed below:

How to Make an Official Websitehttp://www.ehow.com/how_5843839_make-official-website.html

http://www.intuitive.com/blog/whats_the_difference_between_a_blog_and_a_web_site.html from strategic business thinking and management consulting by entrepreneur, business and technical guru and popular writer and speaker Dave Taylor

Please let me know what you've discovered about blogs and websites. And a Big thanks for reading my blog post today.

The quote for today comes from Thinkexist.com

“It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.”

 Dale Carnegie quotes (American lecturer, author, 1888-1955)

        

         

   

Water Conservation, Protect our Water Supply

An article written by Tim Vanderpool in the May 3-9, 2012 Tucson Weekly caught my eye. Vanderpool sites a January 2012 report, “Moving Forward from Vulnerability to Adaptation: Climate Change, Drought, and Water Demand in the Urbanizing Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico (A cooperative effort of US-Mexican researchers Margaret Wilder, Christopher A. Scott, Nicholas Pineda-Pablos, Robert G. Varady, et al). This study points out that drought conditions in the Southwest areas mentioned above puts its inhabitants in a vulnerable, if not perilous place. See article “Water Ways.” www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/water-ways/Content?oid=3336059.

Water Ways Tucson Weekly

I’ve read the full report. I believe it shows that the lack of clean water and the myriad complexities that creates, rather than shortages of fossil fuel, is the biggest challenge we in the Southwest face today. Read the report and see whether you agree with me.

“A Government Accountability Office survey of water managers across the country showed that at least 36 states were anticipating local, regional, or statewide water shortages by 2013, even under non-drought conditions.”

http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/questions.html
 link to EPA Info . For Further Information from the EPA:
Helpline: (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) |
WaterSense, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management (4204M), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20460

Here are some points to ponder

What are we, as citizens, actively doing to keep clean (potable) water clean and available? Are we prepared for skyrocketing water rates in the near future? And, do we think it’s wise policy to allow those controlling the southwestern states allotment of water from the Colorado River free rein to sell this precious commodity to other states? Are we frozen in dismay or apathy, because we tell ourselves that we can effect no change as just one person or one household? Do we minimize this problem, quiver in fear, or suffer from ignorance, greed, or denial?

EPA statistics indicate, “Private homes use more than half of the publicly supplied water in the US.” Half the pie is a big chunk, so we actually can make a big difference. Look at the choices you make in your water usage, and conserve, reuse, and recycle whenever you can. Act responsibly by participating in planning for the future and express your views by contacting public officials and voting for candidates that support water conservation.

It's spring and spring has sprung!

This is a succulent growing in our garden in the southwest.

Spring is in the air-it is a lovely southwestern day! Springtime may be a great time for you to clear out the figurative cob-webs in your mind, home, closets, car, or office. Time to reduce (donate, sell, or give-away), reuse (repair), and recycle (transform) items that are cluttering your life. Clear the decks; create spaciousness in your living environment. You may be surprised to discover that spring cleaning and clearing has a ripple effect at work and in your personal life.

Check out the link below from Sue Rasmussen at Making Room for What Really Matters. Plenty of suggestions and support.

http://www.unclutter-organize-transform.com/sue-rasmussen.html

The quote for today is :  "I think people want very much to simplify their lives enough so that they can control the things that make it possible to sleep at night."
Twyla Tharp

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Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Party Blog Hop #21



Have a Lovely Holiday/Joyful Day!

In Peace and Health, Nan

Reframing My Vision, Immersion Communication

I recently discovered Frank Rose's book, The Art of Immersion  How the Digital Generation is Remaking Hollywood, Madison Avenue, and the Way We Sell Stories. As a blogger and freelance writer, his title captured my interest and I read the book. Rose's vision of media/advertising/gaming in the recent past, today, and in the future gives me much to ponder. Some salient points I discovered are that interactive stories/games can be used to provide information, hook readers, movie-goers, and web consumers and sell in the new age of "hyper-connectivity" by positioning an item, person, or concept in all the right places. In the age of "emotional connection through social media," we can look forward to instantaneous modes of communication where we are an integral part of the show.

The quote for today comes from The Art of Immersion.  http://www.artofimmersion.com


"We share information. Sometimes we overshare. But why do we share at all? Because life is a constantly functioning information exchange." Frank Rose