Take a Peak
Welcome to my window.
The web is full of awe inspiring, interesting, and plain fun stuff.
Even more, since the web 2.0 revolution, the web is full of awe inspiring, interesting, and fun people.
This blog is my love letter to everything wonderful on the web.
Feel free to leave a recommendation of something you love from the web.
To learn more about the author, please visit my personal blog The Creative Nerd
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Window in the Web
Top Entrecard Droppers in June
I'm excited to link to my top ten Entrecard droppers for the month of June. I've seen many new faces when dropping card. Some of them are represented here as frequent visitors right here at Window in the Web.
I did want to note while I do not accept paid ads on Window in the Web, I do run paid ads on my personal blog, The Creative Nerd. I have no strong feeling about paid ads in the Entrecard system, however, I understand why many bloggers do. In respect for those bloggers who would rather have a paid ad free experince, I have elected to keep one blog ad free.
I would love to hear some reader's thoughts on the advertizing system at Entrecard.
Now, for your clicking pleasure, here are the dedicated bloggers who have visited me over the last month. Stop by and give them some Entrecard love.
Dropper number of drops
Crimsonsparkle.net 29
Doocci.com 29
Random Ramblings 28
Split Rock Ranch 26
Comedy Plus 26
The Chicago History Journal 26
Photography by KML 24
Wii Mommies 24
AUGUSTINIANS 24
My Meme Mania 23
Happy Blogging.
Download Software Here
My shiny new laptop has a beautiful big screen. In order to afford a big size screen and full keyboard, I opted to go without some features. The biggest missing item is a disk drive. Now, I plan to pick one up within a few months.
I'd never before contemplated the idea of not being able to pop a disk into my computer to load software. It is limiting in many ways. I've not been able to connect to my printer, because I can't load the software. It has been good for my productivity that I have not been able to load any of my usual gaming distractions. Sims 2 and Zoo Tycoon would require disks.
One relief in getting my computer up and functioning without loading any disks is ability software to download from the internet. The hardest part is finding the right program from a reputable source.
I've been browsing the selection at Download Software Here. They offer every category of imaginable from all important games to serious business programs. It's easy to securely and quickly download software here after finding exactly what you need with advanced search feratures.
I guess now that I know I can download games safely from a site were the programs are screened for viruses, my productivity may start to suffer.
Vat19 Blog and Oddity Shop
Of online stores, Vat19 is one of the closest to me. Geographically, that is. They are based out of St Louis.
Their story is as Curiously Awesome as their products. And you can't tell me a miniature drum kit for your desk isn't awesome. The business began, and continue as, a video production company. The online store grew out of a frustration with poor quality product photos and descriptions on most web based stores. So Vat19 was born.
Each product is accompanied by an informational video where you see the product in action. They don't stop there. The written descriptions are exhaustive. To top it all off, each product page includes a box at the bottom where shoppers can submit questions. All answers to previous questions are available for the curious shopper.
The Vat19 blog has evolved over the years. I love what they've done recently. They highlight both curiously awesome and curiously awful items offered for sale around the internet. Pictured above is a resent post on Smell of Books aerosol spray. Even a book worm like me agrees with Vat19's assessent of the product designed for ebook users as trash.
It's A Blu World When You Win With BluFrog
I could really use a vacation this year. Something exciting would be ideal, something out of my day to day life. That's why I've entered to win one of the prize packages from BluFrog. I entered to win any of four trips or an ultimate gamer pack to which would give me a vacation from the every day right from the sofa.
I almost think I shouldn't should help spread the word about this contest.
I'd love to be the one to win a trip to Lollapalooza in Chicago this summer. BluFrog though of everything. Airfare and hotel, plus two tickets to Lollapalooza, the world famous music festival. The hardest part would be deciding which of the more than 120 shows to see over the long weekend. The icing on the cake is your brand new iPod that comes loaded with music. Talk about the perfect souvenir to a weekend I know I would never forget.
In the name of being a genrous blogger, I'm going to give the scoop on how to enter for yourself. There are three super easy ways to enter and everyone is welcomed to enter three times. Not a bad deal.
You can check out the details at BluFrog, but I'll fill you in on the basics for entering.
Tweet your entry by including #bluworld and bit.ly/UiiJy in your Tweet.
Comment on the blog at BluFrog.
Or write about the contest at your blog.
Now, you can't say I never gave you anything.
Twitter and 140 Character Limit
Low word counts have never been an issue for me. As evidenced on my personal blog, I'm wordy. It is far more common for me to publish a post with more than a thousand words than one with less than a hundred.
One of the reasons I hesitated to join Twitter was the per message limit of 140 characters. I remarked to a friend, "What do I have to say in 140 characters?"
When I began using Twitter daily, I have discovered the beauty of Twitter is the format. Limiting thoughts to 140 characters makes for creative use of language. Posting a link or replying to a fellow Twitter user? The URL or @yourfriend counts against your limit.
Very often, I find myself typing out my Tweet and hitting the limit long before I have made my point.
The process of editing my Tweets down to it's essence is a valuable writing exercise. I find myself cutting adverbs in favor of stronger verbs. I cut out padding that doesn't add meaning. I haven't done so much brutal self editing since I took poetry workshop in high school.
Will I abandon my wordy ways? Not bloody likely. I've been writing many, many words for two decades. But using Twitter has made me rethink my word choices when composing blog posts. Being a better writer is was one of my primary goals when I began blogging, so maybe it will be my adventures @TinaKubala will lead to better writing, and maybe a novel or two.
So, How Did You Guys Meet? Horse Lover Edition
More often these days, the answer to "How did you guys meet" is online. The practice of meeting potential mates on the web has become positively mainstream.
The best thing about meeting people online, for friendship or dating, is finding people who share our deepest passions. After all, having the same interests makes planning dates so much easier. Not to mention an actual relationship if it blossoms.
Your basic options for meeting new people don't screen for what is most important. Think about it, coworkers rarely share what you love. Friends and family will set a person up with anyone single in your age bracket. Let's not even talk about the bar scene. Does anyone really troll for dates in bars anymore?
Did you ever consider going beyond the ordinary dating site? Instead of looking at head shots and reading a description of how a prospective date values honesty and likes sunsets, how about finding a site catering to something so important, it is part of who you are?
For people who love horses and horseback riding, it's a hobby that can be time consuming. Why not look for love on equestrian cupid? Finding someone who'll understand and share your relationship with your horse is priceless. With FREE sign-up there is no risk. Maybe you can find someone to go along for the ride.
Software For Students
Books, lab fees, exam fees. It all adds up. I feel the cost is a worthwhile investment in my future, but the numbers are daunting.
One expensive item required for many classes is software. For personal use, I don't need much beyond a browser. I'll need to buy, at the very least, Microsoft Office 2007 for professional looking word processing.
What I have found about buying licensed Microsoft products is that students, school staff, and even home schoolers qualify for discounts when purchasing through a Microsoft Authorized Education Reseller.
At CostCaptain, Microsoft Office can be had for $99 with proof of academic eligibility to name one great value. Those kind of prices makes the prospect of back to school software shopping much less intimidating.
Categories Cleanup
I've put off cleaning up the categories on my personal blog, The Creative Nerd. I meant to do it a year ago. It was a mish mosh of ideas I'd come up with as a new blogger, many of which I didn't use or didn't mean anything to readers. Take a look at what I mean:
One reason I'd put off making a change, besides the time involved, was that GoDaddy's Quick Blog didn't offer tags. The feature was added a few months ago. With the ability to add tags to group posts, I felt better about whittling down my categories to a handful of high level ideas. Tags are much better at details.
I found a useful article over at ProBlogger on how to effectively use categories and tags. Don't forget, there is also a SEO element to tagging posts with what they are specifically about. The take home message from the artical for me personally is pick tags you'll use again and again, so a reader can click on a tag under one post and get other relevent posts to read.
I'm still in the process of going back to my 400 plus post to add the correct new category and relevent tags.
I am happy to report, I have narrowed myself down to a dozen categories. These twelve areas fit just about everything I could possibly write on my blog. And I feel much better about my sidebar.
Are your categories neat and useful? Or do you have other issues on your blog you've put off fixing?
A Search Alternative with Benefits
The one thing everyone does on the web is look for things. We all look for products, people, and information. I've been checking out new search engine called AAfter Search which includes some unique features.
One unbeatable benefit is a cash back option on purchases made through the site. This is accomplished with use of a simple Facebook application. A percentage of what you spend is available via PayPal or check 60 days after qualified purchases. Not a bad way to get a discount on everyday items.
Another great feature is the search engine's adept ability to background check your date or nanny. AAfter pulls from multiple sources to give you the information in one easy place.
When information is what you are need, AAfter has your facts covered. I'll be sure to use it to find the right learning tools when I start college math classes in a few months. Typing an algebraic expression will yield results on how to solve it. Trust me, I'm going to need it.
Next time you're looking for something, give AAfter a try. You'll like what you find.
My First Dictionary: Cute Pictures, Dark Humor
The vintage children's book illustrations look sweet. They are charming reminders of more innocent times.
But, the nostalgia holds only if you don't read the text. Each caption is inspired by the picture exposed to the darker side of the human soul.
Try this twisted entry for Abandon:
I visit My First Dictionary to get my dose of surrealism. I promise, if you join me, you'll be disturbed and captivated.