#8 of 10 ways to become a better blogger
by Deb Shinder
Published: 9/29/06
Takeaway:
If nobody bothers to read your blog posts, you might as well just scribble your thoughts on a cocktail napkin. But if you truly want to share your ideas and opinions, check out these pointers for crafting an engaging blog and building a loyal following.
#8: Keep it concise
Speaking of posts that aren’t particularly profound or long, don’t think you have to wait until you have something brilliant to say before you post or put off posting because you don’t have time to write War and Peace today. In truth, most readers have short attention spans and/or crowded schedules themselves and would prefer to read a short, pithy post rather than a long, complex one.
If you do post lengthy pieces, break them up into short paragraphs to make them more readable. There’s nothing more daunting to a reader than a huge mass of unbroken text, no matter how skillful your turn of phrase.
You’ll also attract more readers with common words than with obscure ones, so unless you’re writing for a particularly scholarly audience, follow the old KISS advice: Keep it simple, sweetheart.
Complete article at:
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10881_11-6120257.html?tag=nl.e138
This article is also available as a PDF download.
http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/abstract.aspx?docid=260220 (registration required)
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Why Bush is so confident the House and Senate are in the bag:
Why Bush is so confident the House and Senate are in the bag
At:
From: Poacnewsletter
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CBS’ “Free Speech,” Hannity falsely suggested Gore flip-flopped on Iraq, blamed Dems for “divided” country despite his own divisive statements
In an appearance on the “Free Speech” segment of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Sean Hannity falsely suggested that Al Gore “reversed course” on Iraq — in fact, Gore has consistently opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq — and, despite Hannity’s own history of politically divisive statements, attributed the country’s “divided” state to Democrats.
Read more
http://mediamatters.org/items/dailyemail/200610250001?src=other
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LAWMAKERS IN GLASS HOUSES…
Volume XI No. 15 – October 24, 2006
The silly season is well upon us. As the election grows close, the political divisions between the parties appear deeper than ever. In fact, as candidates define differences on issues ranging from immigration to tax cuts, there seems to be only one bi-partisan issue these days: scandal. Each party is trying to claim the moral high-ground by accusing the other of fiscal and political mismanagement. As the lawmakers throw their stones at the other parties glass house, we see only one loser: the nation’s taxpayers.
It’s hard to pick the most incredible story from the past year: Duke Cunningham’s (R-CA) lobbyist-bought Louis-Phillipe commode or cold hard cash hidden stuffed in Rep. Jefferson’s (D-LA) freezer; Rep. Mollohan’s (D-WV) land deals and federally-subsidized non-profit organizations or Rep. Taylor’s (R-NC) land deals and federally-subsidized non-profit organizations. The list goes on.
Read the rest of this week’s Wastebasket
http://capwiz.com/taxpayer/utr/1/BHCRGKBHWJ/EPIPGKBHWS/927262486
Going on at Taxpayer.net This Week
TCS Exposes Rep. Taylor’s Unethical Earmarking — TCS worked with the Wall Street Journal to expose Rep. Taylor (R-NC) who secured transportation earmarks near his land in North Carolina.
Much more can be found at our website.
http://capwiz.com/taxpayer/utr/1/BHCRGKBHWJ/KFKNGKBHWU/927262486
TCS in the News
Newspaper, watchdog group stand by earmarking allegations against Taylor (Asheville Citizen-Times, North Carolina)
Where they stand: Cantwell vs. McGavick on the issues (Seattle Times)
Rogers’ role in tourism contract draws scrutiny (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Weldon’s Ties to Serbian Businessman Part of Probe (Washington Post)
Rep. Charles Taylor focus of Wall St. Journal article (Tryon Daily Bulletin,North Carolina)
Taylor faces challenge in 4th district (Hattiesburg American, Mississippi)
Mounting image woes for Congress (Rocky Mountain News, Colorado)
Pork or Public Service? (Virginia Connection Newspapers)
Disaster center records lacking (Mobile Register, Alabama)
Robert D. Novak: Key Republicans remain addicted to pork barrel gluttony
Seat in Congress Helps Mr. Taylor Help His Business (Wall Street Journal)
Defense contractors weigh Majority Leader Murtha (The Hill)
Candidates hope to keep federal cash flowing (Scranton Times-Tribune)
COTTON BAILOUT: Allies in the fight (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Bridge to Nowhere (New York Times Magazine)
Pork Before Defense (New York Post)
A Frist by Any Other Name (Nashville Scene)
Notable Quote
“Only a voting public armed with information will be able to demand that elected officials put the next generation ahead of the next election.” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK)
From: Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS)
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Center holds in numerous states
Marianne Means:
Moderates have had a rough time, shunted aside by ideological radicals who scorn any middle way as hopelessly outdated. But this fall, the center is actually holding in lots of states. Hooray!
…
Complete article at:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/289674_means24.html
Marianne Means is a Washington, D.C., columnist with Hearst Newspapers. Copyright 2006 Hearst Newspapers. She can be reached at 202-263-6400 or means@hearstdc.com .
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Top US general says Rumsfeld is inspired by God
Thu Oct 19, 3:35 PM ET
MIAMI (AFP) – The top US general defended the leadership of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, saying it is inspired by God.
“He leads in a way that the good Lord tells him is best for our country,” said Marine General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Rumsfeld is “a man whose patriotism focus, energy, drive, is exceeded by no one else I know … quite simply, he works harder than anybody else in our building,” Pace said at a ceremony at the Southern Command (Southcom) in Miami.
Rumsfeld has faced a storm of criticism and calls for his resignation, largely over his handling of the Iraq war.
But he got a strong show of support from the military establishment at Thursday’s ceremony, where Navy Admiral James Stavridis took over Southcom’s command from General Bantz Craddock.
“He comes to work everyday with a single-minded focus to make this country safe,” said Stavridis who was a senior aide to Rumsfeld before taking on the Southcom job.
“We’re lucky as a nation that he continues to serve with such passion and such integrity and such determination and such brilliance,” said Stavridis, 51.
…
Complete article at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061019/pl_afp/usmilitarypolitics_061019193550
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Election Protection Efforts
A nonpartisan “election protection” coalition, led by the People For the American Way Foundation, the NAACP, and the Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under Law, has announced that it is launching a
national 1-866-OUR-VOTE voter-assistance hotline and the poll-location web site www.MyPollingPlace.com. The hotline is staffed by live call-center operators trained to provide state-specific assistance to all voters.
BARBARA R. ARNWINE, kalton@lawyerscommittee.org,
http://www.nationalcampaignforfairelections.org
Arnwine is the executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under Law. Alton is the public policy director for the organization. Arnwine said today: “This election poses significant challenges for voters more than any time in recent history, with an estimated 30 million voters using new machines for the first time. The 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline serves as a lifeline to voters and is available now to help navigate new requirements as well as answer questions about voter eligibility or [the] location of the polling place.”
From: Institute for Public Accuracy
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A Pennsylvania miner was killed yesterday. His death came just days after a West Virginia miner died in a mine shaft—and less than a week after Bush made a recess appointment of a coal executive to head the nation’s mine safety agency.
Complete article at:
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Borowitz Report – Amnesia Shocker
White House Courts Vote of Amnesia Victim
Rove Masterminds Latest Electoral Strategy
A man who found himself in Denver with absolutely no memory of who he was or how he got there has now found himself at the epicenter of the midterm election campaign, as the White House moved aggressively today to court his vote.
The amnesia victim, who was known only as “Al” and could not recall any recent events, was instantly pegged as an “ideal voter” by G.O.P. political strategist Karl Rove, who flew the man to Washington today for a private meeting with President Bush in the White House.
“Here’s a guy who has no memory of Iraq, Tom DeLay, Jack Abramoff, or Mark Foley,” Mr. Rove told reporters today. “From where I sit, I think we have a chance at getting this guy’s vote.”
According to White House aides, the amnesia victim’s meeting with the president went well, and was capped by Mr. Bush presenting him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“The guy didn’t seem to know exactly why he was getting it,” one aide said. “But then again, the same could be said of a lot of past recipients.”
Mr. Rove said that given the president’s success with “Al,” the White House was currently putting together a national database of amnesia victims to help get them to the polls on November 7.
“Our message to the amnesiacs is clear,” Mr. Rove said. “You may not remember anything else, but please remember to vote.”
Elsewhere, a new Labor Department study shows that Americans with no skills, talents or job prospects will eventually wind up on “Dancing With the Stars.”
http://www.borowitzreport.com/
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three to see
Scott Bateman: bring back lobotomy
http://www.batemania.com/sketchbook/11597.jpg
Jeff Danziger: China Loans, US Debt, Bush
http://danzigercartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/dancart2947.jpg
Matt Wuerker: Mucked Up