My recent nosedive into other social networking sites such as Twitter and the fairly new highly addictive Empire Avenue have weilded strong results so far when it comes to finding new blogs to list. Due to the lack of time available to search for blogs in the past, the adding of newbies mostly have come via direct request to do so. This time however, I didn't wait, didn't have to in fact. As I played around the mentioned sites, these blogs popped out at me and considering I've now collected 12 in the past few days, I figured it was time to list them... so list them I did. Be sure to go visit now ya here!
Rant and Roar
http://rantinandroarin.blogspot.com/
Republic of Doyle Dreams
http://republicofdoyledreams.blogspot.com/
Storytelling St. John's
http://storytellingstjohns.blogspot.com/
Melissa King
http://melissaking.ca/wordpress/
TA Loeffler's Adventures that Move
http://taloeffler.com/tas-view/
Voice the Understood
http://voice-the-understood.blogspot.com/
Werebears and Only Children.
http://jbarrettart.com/
Momscaping
http://momscaping.blogspot.com/
My Kitchen Adventures
http://jessicasbaking.wordpress.com/
Peter Smith
http://thepetersmith.com/
What's On My TV
http://miket72.blogspot.com/
Omar Paint
http://omar-paint.blogspot.com/
Now, I gotta get back to work on the NL Blogger's Choice Awards. Enjoy the new blogs!
Newfoundland, Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, BlogRoll
The Folly of Seat Projections
The recent surge of the NDP into Liberal and Bloc territory seems to continue without end. Despite the doomsdayers the lines will stabilize (if they haven't already.)
In the mean time we're being treated to a spate of seat projections showing such varying dizzying results. Some Tories, uncomprehendingly, have come out claiming that a Tory Majority is now out of reach. Some believe the Bloc is dead. Others that the Liberals are on life support.
All of this could turn out to be true. But much of it probably won't.
What puzzles me the most about this situation is the almost complete certainty of some with regards to just what these polling numbers actually mean.
How could anyone know what they mean? What are they gods of election prediction? Do they have some sort of crystal ball that allows them to see magically where these new NDP votes are going? Seat projections are based on certain theories on how votes distribute themselves. They have a history of working well when parties poll within a few percentage points of where they did the last time around.
With NDP support not doubling, not tripling, not quadrupling, but increasing by factors of ten or more in Quebec and lesser so elsewhere who is crazy enough to create seat projections at all?
The truth is that no one really knows (or should claim to know) what the NDP surge in support will mean. These new votes could be efficiently distributed for the NDP - or advantageously distributed for others.
Given this uncertainty, the insanity of all this news coverage is apparent. I expect (or maybe I hope) that many will be surprised come May 2nd.
If not it will stroke the already over-bloated egos of some, and turn others into blind pollster worshipers.
Harper Really Does Just Need To Survive
I was right then. And I'm still right.
Conservative optimists and pessimists alike need to take a deep breath.
The fight isn't over. It's only beginning.
The only difference is Comrade Layton, not Count Iggy is the Captain of the pirate ship Coalition.
All that means is that the Socialist/Separatist insurgency will be much more short lived.
Blogger's Choice Awards Update
As the summer rapidly approaches, I'm becoming increasingly more aware of the fact that my intended launch date for the 2011 NL Bloggers Choice Awards is coming soon. To stop teasing with the start date, I can let you know that early June is what I've been targeting, but that's all I'll elaborate on for now. I will say that this now gives me roughly one month to get everything in order... which is good because, as I become more aware of the date, I realize how much work I have to do.
Having said that, I can report that I have accomplished a lot over the past few weeks as well. One of the main tasks checked of the list being the launch of a stand alone blog to handle the awards section of our community here (which can be found using the main menu above). This is where the voting and everything else related to the awards will be taking place when we fully launch and for now, there is some great information about last years fun times found within.
Beyond that, I'm trying to find the time to finalize all the single category pages which I've been creating. It was my intention to launch each one as I announce the winners of this years awards, so I have to focus on getting that done in the next few weeks. More importantly, I also have to make final decisions on the three choices per category that will be going up for vote. This has actually turned out to be the most difficult task of all. There are just too darn many great blogs here, and picking only three in each category is really tough... really, really tough. I'll have to set a deadline for myself, or perhaps recruit and outsider to decide for me. That may work...
While I decide, I'll leave you with that as another update from the land of the NL Bloggers Choice Awards. I do realize that I've been teasing you with it for months but... who doesn't like a good tease, right? :)
Newfoundland, Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, BlogRoll
Having said that, I can report that I have accomplished a lot over the past few weeks as well. One of the main tasks checked of the list being the launch of a stand alone blog to handle the awards section of our community here (which can be found using the main menu above). This is where the voting and everything else related to the awards will be taking place when we fully launch and for now, there is some great information about last years fun times found within.
Beyond that, I'm trying to find the time to finalize all the single category pages which I've been creating. It was my intention to launch each one as I announce the winners of this years awards, so I have to focus on getting that done in the next few weeks. More importantly, I also have to make final decisions on the three choices per category that will be going up for vote. This has actually turned out to be the most difficult task of all. There are just too darn many great blogs here, and picking only three in each category is really tough... really, really tough. I'll have to set a deadline for myself, or perhaps recruit and outsider to decide for me. That may work...
While I decide, I'll leave you with that as another update from the land of the NL Bloggers Choice Awards. I do realize that I've been teasing you with it for months but... who doesn't like a good tease, right? :)
Newfoundland, Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, BlogRoll
Expanded Social Network
In effort to further connect the bloggers of Newfoundland and Labrador, I've put a lot of time expanding our online social network as of late. Until now, it has always been in my mind to refrain from diving too deep into the other platforms in effort to help preserve this 'old fashioned' strait up way of blogging. As everyone knows, applications like Facebook and Twitter (and the million others) have sucked most of the 'true' bloggers away and I didn't want to help that along any faster than it was already moving.
Then I thought, there's over 200 blogs listed within this blogroll, a tiny piece of the 'interweb', one with a focus on a single province in a single country. This could only mean that there's tonnes of bloggers left out there! So with this thought in my head, I hit the social networks (and hit them hard) and instead of fear them, I embraced them:
FaceBook Fan Page
This is really something I should have perhaps done long ago but, it's better late than never. The NL BlogRoll now has a facebook fan page. Be sure to head on over there are 'like it'... if you do. :)
Empire Avenue
This is the newest network in which the NL BlogRoll has been listed and is perhaps the most exciting at the moment. It's a rather new platform whereby people actually buy virtual shares into your social network. They essentially invest in you. I'm finding it a fantastically fun way to help promote this blog and the community found within. I also whole- heartedly recommend it to any social media nut out there.
Twitter
As mentioned in one of the last posts, I do have a Twitter account which I use to help network with fellow Newfoundland and Labrador Tweeps. This is a personal account however (as a disclaimer) and not all my tweets will be NL BlogRoll tweets... just so you know.
All in all, I've been pretty busy hitting the virtual streets to try and get the word out more about this awesome community we have here. I've even created a YouTube channel associated with this place where I'm going to continue collecting random vids related to this province. This whole venture of mine is not only one to help promote blogs afterall, but also one to help spread the word about this wonderful corner of the universe I call home. Let's see how much this new social networking expansion helps out with that!
Oh, and don't worry, I'm still doing my part (we all are) to help prove that 'old fashioned' blogging ain't dead yet. Stick with it!
Newfoundland, Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, BlogRoll
Then I thought, there's over 200 blogs listed within this blogroll, a tiny piece of the 'interweb', one with a focus on a single province in a single country. This could only mean that there's tonnes of bloggers left out there! So with this thought in my head, I hit the social networks (and hit them hard) and instead of fear them, I embraced them:
FaceBook Fan Page
This is really something I should have perhaps done long ago but, it's better late than never. The NL BlogRoll now has a facebook fan page. Be sure to head on over there are 'like it'... if you do. :)
Empire Avenue
This is the newest network in which the NL BlogRoll has been listed and is perhaps the most exciting at the moment. It's a rather new platform whereby people actually buy virtual shares into your social network. They essentially invest in you. I'm finding it a fantastically fun way to help promote this blog and the community found within. I also whole- heartedly recommend it to any social media nut out there.
As mentioned in one of the last posts, I do have a Twitter account which I use to help network with fellow Newfoundland and Labrador Tweeps. This is a personal account however (as a disclaimer) and not all my tweets will be NL BlogRoll tweets... just so you know.
All in all, I've been pretty busy hitting the virtual streets to try and get the word out more about this awesome community we have here. I've even created a YouTube channel associated with this place where I'm going to continue collecting random vids related to this province. This whole venture of mine is not only one to help promote blogs afterall, but also one to help spread the word about this wonderful corner of the universe I call home. Let's see how much this new social networking expansion helps out with that!
Oh, and don't worry, I'm still doing my part (we all are) to help prove that 'old fashioned' blogging ain't dead yet. Stick with it!
Newfoundland, Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, BlogRoll
BOTW Easter Hiatus
Frequent visitors to this blog may have noticed something missing this week; that being the Blog of the Week selection not posted yesterday. Unfortunately, because of the holiday this weekend and me being out of town, I didn't get a chance to make said selection this time around. It's unfortunate because I was on quite a roll to start 2011, not missing one week until now, and it makes me sad when I think about it... so I won't think about it. Chin up (and I say that to myself more than anyone), things will return on Sunday!
NL BlogRoll is Twit-dicted
I'm slightly behind the curve on this one perhaps but, as of late things have gone all Twitter-pated around these parts. Though having an account on the (highly addictive) social network for quite some time, it's only as of late that I've really used it... and obsessively used it I have. The good thing is that in that obsessive use, I have found a wealth of new blogs to share. Better yet, I see the opportunity for many more to be revealed as I continue to play around and as anyone who has been following this blog knows, I love finding new bloggers to add to our community!
This new Twitter addiction is quite exciting for me at the moment as it provides a new opportunity to further develop our online community of social media enthusiasts. I've already gone ahead and added a couple of feed gadgets to the sidebar here in effort to help promote the many Newfoundland and Labradorian users I've managed to find already: One feed is a list of people from our province and the 2nd is one for random provincial tweets from businesses, news organizations, entertainment folks and all things in between. If you have a twitter account, feel free to follow the lists and keep in touch!
Oh, and at this point it's important for me to note that my Twitter account is my personal account and the posting there will not be limited to all things related to this great province of ours, nor always about this awesome collection of blogs. Just so you know...
And with that said, it's time for me to stop gabbing and share the newest blogs added to the list. As always, be sure to go say hello!
NL Dads Blog
http://nldadsblog.wordpress.com/
Bigger Pants
http://biggerpants.blogspot.com/
Live Rural Newfoundland & Labrador
http://liveruralnl.com/
Candice does the world
http://www.candicedoestheworld.com/
Calling Shotgun
http://ringkeeper.blogspot.com/
We Be's Bloggin'
http://rattlingblogers.blogspot.com/
Corner Brook Running Club
http://cbrun.wordpress.com/
Brian Carey Photography
http://blog.briancareyphotography.com/
Blue Hair. Green Attitude. Off-Colour Vocabulary
http://gardenvarietypunk.wordpress.com/
Welcome aboard newbies! I'm gone to look for more...
Newfoundland, Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, BlogRoll
This new Twitter addiction is quite exciting for me at the moment as it provides a new opportunity to further develop our online community of social media enthusiasts. I've already gone ahead and added a couple of feed gadgets to the sidebar here in effort to help promote the many Newfoundland and Labradorian users I've managed to find already: One feed is a list of people from our province and the 2nd is one for random provincial tweets from businesses, news organizations, entertainment folks and all things in between. If you have a twitter account, feel free to follow the lists and keep in touch!
Oh, and at this point it's important for me to note that my Twitter account is my personal account and the posting there will not be limited to all things related to this great province of ours, nor always about this awesome collection of blogs. Just so you know...
And with that said, it's time for me to stop gabbing and share the newest blogs added to the list. As always, be sure to go say hello!
NL Dads Blog
http://nldadsblog.wordpress.com/
Bigger Pants
http://biggerpants.blogspot.com/
Live Rural Newfoundland & Labrador
http://liveruralnl.com/
Candice does the world
http://www.candicedoestheworld.com/
Calling Shotgun
http://ringkeeper.blogspot.com/
We Be's Bloggin'
http://rattlingblogers.blogspot.com/
Corner Brook Running Club
http://cbrun.wordpress.com/
Brian Carey Photography
http://blog.briancareyphotography.com/
Blue Hair. Green Attitude. Off-Colour Vocabulary
http://gardenvarietypunk.wordpress.com/
Welcome aboard newbies! I'm gone to look for more...
Newfoundland, Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, BlogRoll
Blog of the Week : 04/17 - 04/23 2011
The Blog of the Week for the week of April 17th to the 23rd, 2011 is 'Uncommon Truths'. In keeping with the political topic due to the ongoing election campaign, I've decide to select another one of the many blogs found within this category. To provide some balance to last weeks political selection, this week's blog (which has two contributors) has a right leaning point of view. It does clearly state that it is not affiliated with any Conservative member or the party in general however, and is instead writings from the point of view of those who share similar values. Having being listed for many years, this blog is a long standing member of the Blogroll and it is definitely worth the visit, no matter what your personal political values are. So, nothing more to see around these parts; get going and check it out for yourself. Click the pic and away you go!
Personal Attacks II
"... a senior Liberal strategist, speaking on background, said the Conservatives have forgotten the first rule of politics: that hope beats fear."(link)It looks like the Liberals have had a change of opinion:
This ad is brilliant (strategically). I don't know why the Liberals haven't tried this yet. The Paul Martin and Jean Chretien Liberals toasted their Conservative opponents with the "hidden agenda" healthcare smear.
And, it worked.
My guess is that Count Iggy was finally convinced that if he wants to have a chance he needs to play rough.
What a massive hypocrite.
"These personal attacks are unprecedented in the history of Canadian democracy..."And how personal is it to accuse someone of wanting "absolute power?" I'll let you answer that one for yourself.
I will give credit to the Liberals on one front - they didn't attack Harper for his faith, being not anti-American enough, or his patriotism. I guess they've learned something after feeling the heat themselves for once.
Electoral Irony
MONTREAL - A tree fell on the former home of deceased Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau on Thursday, causing minor damage to the building.A sign of a looming Tory majority?... I kid of course.The art deco-styled house, located on Pine Avenue West, is considered a heritage site. The reason for the tree falling is unknown.(link)
Brand New Blogs!
It was only a couple of weeks ago that I added a bunch of new blogs to our community here, but I'm happy to report that we haven't found all the Newfoundland and Labrador blogs yet! Here's proof with 11 brand new ones, added just today. Be sure to go say hello now won't you!
Newfoundland Political Junkie
http://www.blogistics.ca/
Newfileaks – Newfoundland Secrets Leaked!
http://newfileaks.wordpress.com/
Zombies Wearing Helmets
http://i-brain-zombies.blogspot.com
Postcrossing Journal
http://postcrossing-nfld.blogspot.com/
Conversations
http://www.jonreid.ca/
Harry Tucker - Observations and Musings
http://harrytucker.blogspot.com/
Four Little Dreams
http://apps.fourlittledreams.com/Blog/
Colin Peddle Photography
http://www.colinpeddle.com/
Felicie's Blog
http://www.babyfriendlynl.ca/felicie/
Mary Ellen's Blog
http://www.babyfriendlynl.ca/mary-ellen/
Librarian Mom
http://librarianess9723.blogspot.com/
If you know of any more, be sure to send them our way. You know we love our NL blogs around these parts, so keep 'em comin'!
Newfoundland, Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, BlogRoll
Newfoundland Political Junkie
http://www.blogistics.ca/
Newfileaks – Newfoundland Secrets Leaked!
http://newfileaks.wordpress.com/
Zombies Wearing Helmets
http://i-brain-zombies.blogspot.com
Postcrossing Journal
http://postcrossing-nfld.blogspot.com/
Conversations
http://www.jonreid.ca/
Harry Tucker - Observations and Musings
http://harrytucker.blogspot.com/
Four Little Dreams
http://apps.fourlittledreams.com/Blog/
Colin Peddle Photography
http://www.colinpeddle.com/
Felicie's Blog
http://www.babyfriendlynl.ca/felicie/
Mary Ellen's Blog
http://www.babyfriendlynl.ca/mary-ellen/
Librarian Mom
http://librarianess9723.blogspot.com/
If you know of any more, be sure to send them our way. You know we love our NL blogs around these parts, so keep 'em comin'!
Newfoundland, Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, BlogRoll
G20 Costs VI
I honestly didn't think I would ever write another G20 post. Little did I know, Sheila Fraser had other plans.
However, it should be said that this couldn't have been that surprising to anyone. When a summit costs upwards of 150 times the value of similar summits held recently something was misspent.
The interesting part of this whole affair is that the report was leaked now. I find it hard to understand how this would inflict maximum damage. If I really wanted to hammer the Tories over this I would wait until the day of the debates, thereby ensuring that the Tories are caught off guard.
Yet at the same time, I don't think the opposition will get much play over this issue. The G20 summit happened a long time ago now. The public has well over forgotten.
Moreover, financial scandals have hard time sticking to governments. Just ask Jean Chretien. It has to get really really REALLY bad for people to take notice. One billion dollar boondoggle alone is not enough.
To make matters worse for the opposition, they are unlikely to convince many that they would do a better job. Fiscal responsibility is just not a core winnable issue for the left in general. It would be the equivalent of the Tories criticizing Liberal policy on healthcare. Would Canadians really believe the Tories are the defenders of public healthcare? Regardless if it's true or not - the prevailing bias is what it is.
I believe that the Tories will most likely emerge from this and survive. And (I hope) learning some hard lessons.
Blog of the Week : 04/10 - 04/16 2011
The Blog of the Week for the week of April 10th to the 16th, 2011 is 'The Fighting Newfoundlander'; a politically inclined blog from the mind of Shannon Reardon, who is a self professed 'passoinate Newfoundlander'. With the federal election campaign in full swing, I thought it pertinent to focus on a political blog this week and Shannon's is a delightful one within the bunch. Her passion for our province is indeed quite evident within her frequently updated posts and her knowledge of politics, both federal and provincial, provide a delightful point of view no matter which end of the political spectrum your values lay. So, here's the point where you stop reading and start visiting. Be sure to say hello and perhaps a respectful debate or two may even be welcomed; click the pic and find out!
Categorically Speaking
In further preparation for the coming NL Bloggers Choice Awards, I've decided to simplify things a little more within the categories. As they say, 'less is more' and with that thought in mind I've gone ahead and cut the number of categories from 14 down to 10, combining some logical choices. Each mini blogroll in the sidebar for the new listings have been updated, and if you're curious the final list is below:
What this now means for the awards, is that we will now be selecting only 10 of the best (as voted by you) blogs found in our community of over 200.
Also, just to keep you in the loop on some of the other items I've been working on; sometime in the near future I'll be launching stand alone pages for each of these new categories. I'm mainly doing this for a better browsing experience within the full site but, this also impacts the choice blogger awards. By that I mean, for each of these categories, the winners will gain a full year of promotion on their corresponding stand alone page: 'ads, links, RSS feeds and whatever else I can think of. Each page will essentially facilitate a new way to promote the choice bloggers and you gotta love that!
Now... if I could only find the time to get all this done. That's always the struggle but, as I push through it, I'm sure I'll keep you in the know as I always try to do. Stay tuned!
Newfoundland, Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, BlogRoll
- POLITICAL / COMMENTARY
- PHOTOGRAPHY
- MIXED BAG
- PERSONAL / JOURNAL
- SPORT / RECREATION
- ART / CRAFT / FOOD
- ENTERTAINMENT / MEDIA
- SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY
- EDUCATIONAL / BOOKS
- BUSINESS / TRAVEL
What this now means for the awards, is that we will now be selecting only 10 of the best (as voted by you) blogs found in our community of over 200.
Also, just to keep you in the loop on some of the other items I've been working on; sometime in the near future I'll be launching stand alone pages for each of these new categories. I'm mainly doing this for a better browsing experience within the full site but, this also impacts the choice blogger awards. By that I mean, for each of these categories, the winners will gain a full year of promotion on their corresponding stand alone page: 'ads, links, RSS feeds and whatever else I can think of. Each page will essentially facilitate a new way to promote the choice bloggers and you gotta love that!
Now... if I could only find the time to get all this done. That's always the struggle but, as I push through it, I'm sure I'll keep you in the know as I always try to do. Stay tuned!
Newfoundland, Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, BlogRoll
Laytonisms
"If Mr. Harper is in charge of the future of health care in our country then Canadians should be very, very worried..."That's cause it aint a federal issue. That's what tick's off most provinces - especially Quebec. Oh well - Layton will just zap those pesky national unity issues with laser beams from this manly moustache!(...)
"They don't believe it's a federal issue. They want to leave it to the provinces knowing that the provinces don't have the resources that are necessary and privatization will become the only option."(link)
Also, Mr Moustache, you're wrong about the Tories. Not wrong in the sense that a lot of Tories would like privatization. Not in the sense that we do believe it isn't a federal issue either.
You're wrong in believing that the Tories will do anything that you wouldn't do on the healthcare front.
The Tories fear one word more than anything (even the "A" word) : healthcare. It's been the beating stick used by their opposition over and over and over... To the Tories, whatever their personal opinions, no one will ever ever touch healthcare. Even worse - if you propose to do anything to healthcare I would be willing to bet that Harper would come out the very next day and say "us too!"
Be wary as we travel into a political parallel universe, with the same party leaders just ideologies switched!
SURREY, B.C. — NDP Leader Jack Layton is promising to get tough on crime, particularly gang violence.I bet there's some sort of pro-hippie fine print in that policy - but in the meantime the NDP get kuddos from me on joining the fight.The party's strategy would put an additional 2,500 police officers on streets across the country and double funding for programs that try to keep children from joining gangs.(link)
Blog of the Week : 04/03 - 04/09 2011
The Blog of the Week for the week of April 4th to April 9th, 2011 is the self titled personal blog of 'Elizabeth "Tshaukuesh" Penashue'. This space is one of very few listed on the roll that are from the Big Land, Labrador and the first one from there to be featured in this weekly initiative. Elizabeth is an Innu Elder and passionate activist living in Sheshatshui who has dedicated an abundance of her life to protecting not only the environment, but also the Innu way of life. Her blog takes us on this journey with her as she passes along her passion and knowledge to her children and grandchildren in effort to never lose the Innu identity, culture and lifestyle. All in all, Elizabeth's blog is an incredible perspective and definitely worth a visit... so get goin'; click the pic!
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