Why? What Have You Heard?: 5/1/09

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Rockin' the BlogLuxe Vote: An Illustrated Guide

Posted by Mojo at 5:25 PM 8 comments

In case you're looking at this wondering WTF? you can get all the details and motivational speeches in this post. In a nutshell, Violence UnSilenced has been nominated for the BlogLuxe 2009 Most Inspiring Blog award. Voting has already opened and will run through July 6th. There are lots of good reasons for voting for VU and its contributors, but that's in the other post. this one is just the nuts and bolts of how to get around BlogLuxe. Which can a bit of a challenge.

Apparently the voting page at BlogLuxe was designed by a former employee of the Florida Board of Elections (Chad Something I believe he said his name was). Anyway, the point is that several people have emailed me saying they couldn't find the link when they got to the page. And it's really not the most intuitive path to take, which is why I've prepared this Handy Voting Guide. Together we will make your voice heard!

Step 1. Go to the Category Page. (The link will open in a new window, so you can keep me here for guidance.)

Step 2. This is the part that seems to bite most folks. When the page loads, all it gives you is the list of categories. And until you click one of the category banners, you won't see any of the nominees. This is an improvement over the original page which opened with the "Cleanest Blog" category already selected and open. You might have assumed that this was where all the votes were cast, and not even seen the other categories. The one you want is in blue -- Most Inspiring Blog.

Step 3. Once the category is open, locate the button for Violence UnSilenced. This might be a little tricky too since sometimes the category takes you to the bottom of the list when it opens. As of this writing, VU is in the #2 spot -- so scroll back up until you find it. It'll look like the illustration below -- only hopefully with lots more votes.

Step 4. This is the easy part. From here on it's pretty intuitive, but if I'm gonna do this may as well do it right, na? Here's where you fill in a name (doesn't have to be your real name, but you should probably use the same one every time you vote. Just sayin'. This is Florida after all.) And fill in an email address so they an keep track of how many times you voted today. It has to be a valid email address. It should probably be your email address, but I don't think they're checking. (Just sayin'.) If you have more than one, vote them all. And your kids, your parents, your dog -- hey don't laugh -- whoever you have proxy for.

Step 5. If everything went according to plan, you should get a confirmation that says your vote was recorded. so click the OK button and feel good about what you've just done. Then repeat for each email address and remind yourself to come back tomorrow and do it all again!

And THANK YOU for your support!

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Thematic Photographic 51: "Single" v.5.0

Posted by Mojo at 12:00 PM 2 comments

"Just a lonely gull"
Beaufort, NC - November, 2003 (Click to embiggen)

Thematic Photographic hosted by Carmi - Button Image by Smarmoofus

Hosted by Written Inc.

Sometimes the forces of the universe just gel and a moment like this plops itself right in front of my lens. The trick is catching it before it gets away.

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Summer Stock Sunday #1

Posted by Mojo at 1:36 AM 9 comments

"Well... it looks summery anyway."
Beaufort, NC - November 2000 (Click to embiggen)

Graciously Hosted by Robin at Around the Island

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Another Elf Work Stoppage

Posted by Mojo at 12:50 AM 5 comments

The Birthday Elves bitched out on me again. Something about OSHA regulations and workplace hazards and yada-yada. I tell ya, I may refuse to renew their contract. I can get scab elves just abotu anywhere these days with the economy in the shape it's in. I mean puh-leeze. But never fear, my trusty pal Tonka's still on the case. He never lets me down, and best of all he works really cheap.

So... who's the lucky Birthday Guest this time you ask? Well today marks the 47th trip around the sun for the inimitable Tiff Spiffy (nee... umm... something else. But I'm sure it was cool.) (And by the way, she outed herself age-wise on her own blog so it's okay for me to tell it here... I'm not letting any cats out of the bag okay? So shaddup.)

What's the birthday girl want for her big day? Followers. That's it. Hey, how often do ya get to make somebody happy with a couple of mouse clicks that don't involve a long string of pseudo-random numbers and a password? I mean seriously. This rocks as far as I'm concerned, 'cause I'm just notoriously ~~cheap~~ thrifty (and trustworthy and loyal, clean and reverent. Okay, trustworthy loyal and clean. Happy now?)

Oh... her blog? Yeah, I suppose that would help. You might have seen in yonder blogroll and corner of Blogaritaville known far and wide as No Accent Yet. Presumably the title comes from the failure of the lady to acquire a Southern drawl despite living in the sunny South for a number of years. But we don't hold it against her down heah, 'cos we're just good that way.

The Tiffster (as she's known to some) is one of the first bloggers I ever met both in cyberspace and in the three-dimensional world. In fact it was the Tiffenator (as she's known to some) who, along with her faithful companion (and now husband) Biff Spiffy (whose 40th we celebrated earlier this month you might recall) who conspired with me to launch "Bloggin The Square '08" last August. An event which brought together several (okay, three) local bloggers for an evening of free music, overpriced consumables, and loads of fun (if you missed it, there will be others).

So ya'll stop on by Tifferina's (as she's known to some), say howdy, have some cake before it immolates and if you're in a generous mood, you might even thrown the ~~old gal~~ lady a bone and follow her around. (C'mon, would it kill ya?) And in the meanwhile, you can read of the adventures of the Spiffy's in the Tiny House (or TH as it's known to some) which are ~~occasionally~~ ~~frequently~~ always amusing. And if life in the TH isn't enough, you might find life in the cube farm chortle-worthy.

Okay, you want more. I get it. So here's a humorous little gem found on YouTube that Tiff herself would have brought to you had she found it before I did. So Tiffer, Happy Birthday girl... this one's for you.

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Saturday, May 30, 2009

Did You Vote Today?

Posted by Mojo at 10:15 PM 16 comments

This just in: Violence UnSilenced has been nominated for the BlogLuxe 2009 Most Inspiring Blog Award, to be presented at BlogHer 2009.

Updates: First off, thanks to The Bumbles for finding out that the voting closes July 6th. Much appreciated! Second, several people have told me they've had trouble navigating the BlogLuxe voting page, and frankly it's not especially intuitive. So in the interest of making the process as non-stress-inducing as possible, I've compiled a detailed guide to navigating the page, complete with illustrations. Hopefully, this will make it easier for you to get to the right place and cast your vote. But if you're still having problems with it, just let me know and I'll address any questions you have the best I know how.

Personally, I can't think of a blog more deserving, or an award more fitting.

Because it's impossible to read any of the stories shared on VU and not be inspired by them. And this is your chance to say so. This is your chance to give the contributors that have so courageously shared their most painful memories the validation they deserve, and to do it in a very public, very emphatic way. Because VU isn't about a blogger, or a couple of bloggers. Violence UnSilenced is about survivors, and their will to not only break free themselves, but to try to help others to break free from the prison of domestic violence as well.

The authors who contribute their stories to VU do it with only one possible "payoff" in mind. They do it because they know that someone out there is living the same story. Someone is suffering the same abuse and degradation and humiliation and shame they did. And if that someone knows that she or he is not "different", that someone else has come out the other side, it just might be the thing they need to finally summon the courage to get out of their situation before it's too late. That is first, last and always the mission of Violence UnSilenced.

Inspiration is what VU is all about, and as such I know of no more appropriate way to recognize it than with an award for Most Inspiring Blog. So get clicking my friends. Follow the link form the badge at the top of this post, then scroll down to the Most Inspiring Blog Category. Click the banner to open the list of nominees, then find Violence UnSilenced and hit that vote button. You'll be asked to provide a name and email address for auditing purposes, and you can vote once per email address per day.

As of this writing, I don't know when the voting closes, but it could continue through July 23rd, 2009 when the awards are presented at BlogHer 2009. But for as long as the voting is open I hope you'll support the writers at VU with your vote. (If you would like a reminder sent to you by email, send your name and email to me at: jbengel [at] brandenburg3 [dot] com with "Subscribe: BlogLuxe Voting Reminder List" in the subject and I'll add you to a mailing list to be distributed daily.)

Thank you all for your continued support of Violence UnSilenced and the writers that make it happen.

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Thematic Photographic 51: "Single" v.4.0

Posted by Mojo at 12:00 PM 1 comments

"Giving Up Forever"
Raleigh, NC - April, 2009 (Click to embiggen)

Hosted by Written Inc.

Yeah it might be cliche, but every time I see an iris (especially a white one for some reason) that song comes flooding back. Flowers often don't make the translation to black and white very well. But red and white ones seem to do okay with the transformation. I liked this one anyway.

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Nicole B's Scavenger Hunt II (The Sequel)

Posted by Mojo at 9:53 AM 17 comments

Nicole had so much fun with her first scavenger hunt she decided to do another one. And you know I couldn't pass on the opportunity.
Check out the other players and vote here.
Click to embiggen any of the thumbnails. All images open in a new window or tab.

1. A Souvenir

Tiki idol from Coco Joe's in Hawaii, carved from lava rock. I had a whole collection of them at one time, but this one is the sole survivor I think.

2. A Fish

Taken at the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. Not sure what species it is, but it's not very big.

3. A Religious Building

Technically not a "building", but certainly a place where religious observances are... observed. You probably wouldn't see it if you weren't looking for it (possibly even if you were looking for it) and no, I'm not going to say where it is. (Because there's no way to know what small-minded people might read this.) It's not "owned" by any of them, but at least three earth-based religious groups use this as a meeting place. And don't they deserve representation as well as anyone?

4. A Fire Department

If my house caught fire, this is the station that would respond. At least I hope it would be since it's the closest one.

5. A Manhole Cover

Yeah, and you should've seen the looks I got while taking this shot. At least there's no shortage of them.

6. A Postcard

I'm pretty sure my brother and his wife sent this one from their honeymoon in Toronto.

7. Water

Surf on the Rocks. The house brand is just fine with me.

8. A Communication Device

Satellite array at WRAL TV

9. A Life Event

One of the only two weddings I've ever shot. And if I don't shoot any more I'll be okay with that.

10. A Foreign Stamp

I was really scrambling to find this one. Decided that Canada was foreign enough for me.

11. A Tree

This tree survived a couple of hurricanes and who knows what else. It must be over 200 years old. It's up the road from my house at the home of one of our former mayors.

12. The Living Space of a Non-Human

I finally found out what olives in this hole. Chipmunks. Beats some of the things that could be down there for sure.

13. A Street Mirror

We don't have a lot of street mirrors here. I guess nobody's seen the need. This was the only one I could think of in fact.

14. A Decoration Fixed on a House

I almost used this as my "Foreign Flag" entry, but I already had one of those.

15. A Foreign Flag

And this was it. The Union Jack flies over the "Antique British Car Show" at North Hills Mall 5.16.2009. But I have to question the "antiquity" of some of the cars on display.

16. A Fire

No photo can do justice to this cozy bonfire at Tiff'oween '08. But people kept throwing stuff on it that made ashes float everywhere and they wound up in everything.

17. An Antenna

Transmission tower at WRAL TV. At least I'm assuming that's what it is. It's got a bunch of bling on it that I can't identify, but their "Dual Doppler 5000 Weather Radar" is outside of town, so I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with that.

18. A Phone Booth

After running all over the place trying to find a phone booth (they're getting rarer by the day I swear!) I found this one at the grocery store half a mile from my house. Figures.

19. A "Verboten" Sign

And right over the phone booth is this proclamation of verboten-isms.

20. A Beach

Beaches are something we have in abundance here, and this one is one of my favorites. The rip tide where the inlet meets the ocean makes it too dangerous to swim here, but if you get lucky you can see the dolphins at play.

21. A Cityscape