“Water, Water Everywhere and not a Drop to Drink”
Before I jump into all the hijinks and shenanigans that is the Sunday Selection I have a couple of really important posts to discuss. Once a Year there is a Blog Action Day. This is a day when normal bloggers get together and do their part to try to raise the profile of an important issue. I came late to this great cause and missed my chance to join in with a post. Just because Blog Action Day has passed does not mean that the opportunity to give to this wonderful cause (or any cause) has passed.
This year’s theme was the need for water in developing nations. Here are two different takes on the subject from friends of the Steve Scott Site: Karen and Jennifer. I read a couple other articles on this topic that were also wonderful and I want to thank everyone who took the time to make a blog post for Blog Action Day. Furthermore I want to encourage every one of my readers to do the second part of “Blog Action” day. Read these posts and take some form of Action. If you cannot afford a monetary donation, read some of the great conservation tips and do your part that way.
This weeks selections are:
Caring…
Maria gives us an unusual technical service call that is very inspirational. Installing Love in the Human Computer. While Thu shows the love to many of her wonderful followers. -A few of whom are also wonderful followers of this blog. – This is a really nice way of giving back and showing appreciation for all the wonderful comments.
Inspirational…
Lynn gives us some information about a man named Don Miguel. He seems to be a pretty amazing man; mixing what seems to me to be modern wisdom with ancient Toltec tradition. One of the things that really struck me -in an awesome way- was Lynn’s explanation of his concepts of the, “The Four Agreements”. These 4 philosophies are both amazing and practical. Four important philosophies. My personal favorite is 2. -Don’t take anything personally- but I do not want to steal Lynn’s thunder. Go check it out.
Ralph is a really inspirational guy, and I don’t think he even knows it. He discusses some problems he had with a 12 mile mountain hike. I am only 35. I run marathons and I still do not always find 12 mile mountain hike something that is “easy”. Ralph also runs two separate and awesome blogs and is a great source of wisdom and a great guy. Truly an inspiration! Check out his story about the hike and then swing over to check out his other site where he talks about Columbus Day and derides critics of the great holiday.
Useful…
Adam talks about 11 ways to optimize your site and encourage more commenting
What can I say it isn’t every day you get hit up with a simple concept that might actually help to directly improve the way you do business. I haven’t had a chance to take this for a test drive yet, but this WordPress tool that Julius talks about seems like it could really be something I will enjoy using. He also gives some really clear instructions on how to really make the most of it. I must say it has me a little excited to try it out.
Speaking of useful plugin’s, Mike gives us a whole list of of them. 9 wordpress plugins in fact. These look like the “real deal” so check them out!
Ana has some wonderful site speed tips for us. This is an often overlooked aspect of blogging. Big fancy graphics, outgoing banner ads and latest and greatest plugins and widgets seem really cool. But like the force, there is a Dark Side.
Ben give us some hints on perseverance and understanding when and how to “change things up”
….Interesting
I will be completely honest. I found this post as I was about to finish up my Sunday Selections. I saw the title and knew I had to add it even if the writing was complete gibberish. Of course I also knew it would not be, since it was an article by Alex. This post is a collection of random thoughts by Alex. All of them containing some wisdom and a decent bit of humor; check out: The Bluebird and Cannibal Goldfish (Twitter Tips Etc. ) By the way, I would buy the treadmill if shipping costs from Australia to New Jersey wouldn’t kill me.
As always Matthew gives us a couple really good books for our reading list this week.
…Great Examples
Patricia shows the way you should run a niche website by example. She is truly the queen of all things lavender. She takes a nice small niche and defines it. She gets all sorts of comments and backlinks; not because she spams, uses crazy strategies or expensive link programs. She gets them simply because she visits many sites, leaves thoughtful and insightful comments and really participates in community. Whenever people talk about ways that you should be promoting any niche products; this is the way people!
…Self Serving
Maybe not entirely self serving. I want your opinions. If you haven’t yet commented please help me pick my next weekly series. The competition is pretty close with two of the three choices. This series will be running for at least 12-14 weeks, so please let me know what would interest you the most so I can deliver the post that the greatest majority of you all would enjoy.
Take Action. Get Results.
Thanks so much for your kind comment about my site. I feel like such a newbie Steve. I have no idea about all things techie and when people talk about the geek stuff I can only ask questions like “please explain in non-techie speak for this technophobe baby
boome ” lol
My wonderful new blogging friends help me out and I in turn visit their blogs and hopefully encourage them. It’s a great community to be a part of. What a pleasant surprise for a Sunday evening 🙂 thanks
Patricia perth australia
Patricia,
All the geeky tech stuff will come. YOU have the social networking part nailed so all is good! 🙂
Thanks for the mention Steve, appreciated. Hope your Sunday is going well. x
Hi Scott,
I was lucky enough to see the Blog Action Day topic on another site a few days before Oct 15th and had some time to research an article for it. Maybe they should have promoted it a little more since there was so much interest after the fact by a lot of bloggers who missed it. We’ll have to mark the day for next year. Thanks very much for highlighting mine and Jennifer’s article on this year’s theme of water, which is a very important topic since about a billion people do not have access to fresh, clean, safe drinking water. It’s really a shame that happens in the 21st century, while there are many actions that we can take to lessen that number.
Thanks,
Karen
Yeah,
I will have to try to get ahead for it for next year. It seems like a pretty good idea, but like you said it may have been under-advertised in advance. These things grow every year though, so I look forward to joining in next year.
You are right steve not because blog action day is passed we should and could still play our part to make a difference or change some ones life another good sunday selection
Thanks Gary, definitely no reason to not help because the time “has passed”.
Have a great day!
Thanks for the mention dude! Always humbling
Hi Steve,
Super duper articles here. I haven’t been by Lynn’s blog yet but enjoyed reading the 4 Agreements. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking inner peace and outward prosperity.
Thanks for sharing with us 🙂
Ryan
Almost missed this one, was in spam bin. I always go through spam looking for gravatar images. Since this one didnt have one, I actually hit next page when the “hi steve” caught my eye.
Anyway yeah. I havent read the 4 agreements, but from her description and now your positive review I may have to check it out. From what I read it sounds like something I would really like.
Never heard of “Blog Action Day”, but definitely love the idea of it and you are right, Steve, why does it have to be only once a year?
Happy to have made your “useful” section!
Ana
Ana,
Always glad to have you on my weekly roundup. I always like your stuff. I thought blog action day was a wonderful idea. I think it needs better promo before the fact, though. Maybe once it does get bigger a few suggested topics rather than one. But regardless a great idea that I hope continues to get popular. But I hope that is not the only interest people take in making the world a better place
Hi Steve:
Since I am getting very familiar with everyone in this group, Steve it feels good to read this for blog action day. I am so proud of all the people around me. All of you have a well deserved mention. Adam Thu and Patricia Karen and Jennifer, Maria, Ben, Michael and all others congrats from me.
Steve thanks for recognizing everyone.
Thanks Steve for the exciting Blog post
Fran Aslam
Thanks Fran,
Yeah there were some good ones this week, and I certainly highlighted a lot of my favorite bloggers, many of whom visit here fairly often too.
Steve,
Thanks for the kind words. I’m not sure that I deserve them but it makes me want to try harder.
Ralph,
YOu rock! and you are also a nice humble guy.
Awesome Scott!
Great selection of links, put together in a very entertaining and engaging way. I like your Star Wars take on site speed too, very fitting LOL.
As for your mention of Patricia, I could not agree more, and was actually thinking of doing something similar. She really is a great contributor to so many sites, and the fact that she was not even aware of the link building she was doing makes the whole thing that much sweeter! Or Lavenderish?
As for your comments about me and the post, I can only blush whilst chuckling heartily, because you not only gave me some wonderful kudos, more appreciated because it came from a great writer like yourself – but also because it was hilarious!
Glad to see there are 1 or 2 interested buyers out there!
Thanks again for the link love and the kind words about Pat – and of course the rest of the links, categorised nicely for the CDO in me. (it’s like OCD but all the letters are in alphabetical order like they should be)
Alex,
Glad you like the links. I am a little “CDO” myself. I looked at the older posts and it bugged me that they seemed not to flow very well. Not sure if I have hit on a week to week style I like. But definitely think I want at least some form of organization. Might play around a bit in the weeks to come until i see what I like
Your online hijinks are always welcome! They’re like some cosmic equalizer. Keep ’em comin’!
O &.. there’s plenty of thunder to go ’round this week, what w all the miracles & super-synchronicity. =)
NO one can beat a chainsaw wielding bear for pure “hijink” capability
Thanks for mentioning my water post Steve! I like the headings for the different posts – it’s like a trailer for a movie. I mean this in the best way. 🙂
I’ve read a few of these (and voted in your poll) but I’ll have to check out the rest. Looking forward to the speed tips, the hike, and Don Miguel.
Actually I take that as a big compliment. I for one always loved movie trailers. Often they can be better than the movies (well if the movie is bad) and are a good way to rev. you up for the good ones.
I know what you mean about movie trailers. They can often spin the only good 2 minutes of the movie into something that looks worth watching. I’ve often been ready to rent something and then I see it got 13% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Hi Steve,
Thank you for mentioning my post inside this week series. I can see there are other few good posts that I also have to check them out, too, so keep up with this good work.
Have a great weekend 🙂
Glad to mention your article this week Mike. Thanks for having a great article. Keep rocking it!
Great selection again, Steve. I couldn’t agree more with Alex’s words about Patricia. She is a naturally gifted relationship builder who always leaves constructive, thoughtful comments.
Heading off now to check out these other fine posts.
Thanks for sharing
Michael
Michael,
Yeah, Patricia is great she really knows the value of leaving good comments as a way to build traffic and get readers.
Great Selection here. Thank you for the mention.
Really appreciate it.
You have a good one.
Hey Steve,
thanks for mentioning my post. I am glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for mentioning all the other interesting articles and people. I just checked out Ana’s and Mike’s posts.
Steve – Thanks for some great links… and for the awesome variety. This would be a good Sunday read. Found it on Tuesday (thanks to your visit! Thank you!). So, now I’ll take your feed and I won’t miss next Sunday. I quit reading the newspaper … pretty much just radio and internet now… this is the type of content I’d love to follow on a leisurely Sunday (too bad that doesn’t really exist, but you get my drift).
SEO Watcher – cool plugin, I think. Definitely going to check it out. I voted btw – always interested in increasing traffic. Oh, and, where’s your brother’s blog? Did I miss that?
Theresa,
Thanks for dropping by, glad you liked the Sunday selection, even if it was on a Tuesday.
For now my brother doesn’t have a blog. he just posts here every so often and does a lot of writing for article sites and stuff