Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Epic Farms Donations

Tenderness -- Buy at AllPosters.com
Epic Farms Donations is a heartwarming new lens from Lensmaster 24websurf. Epic Farms is a non-profit owned by Lensmaster Wysiwigs and is one of our Squidoo Charities...

Monday, June 29, 2009

My Journey With Aspergers

Simple Flowers on Green Background -- Buy at AllPosters.com

Although I haven't been to all of the 78 lenses from Lensmaster dc64, I can say that every one I've read has been worthwhile. She's a good writer. I like her style.

The lens I'd like to tell you about today is her My Journey With Aspergers. There, she gives us some fascinating insights into why she and others with Aspergers are the way they are.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

50th Lens!

Squidoo Lens Reviews Commentary and InteractionWell, a Sunday post is a rarity, but I just had to announce my 50th lens. I know, I know. What with my nickname being MiGrowSlow (is that right, Michelle? LOL I can never remember that) you didn't think I could do it this quarter, but I did! ...Now, to see if I am actually granted my Giant Squid status.

If I don't get Giant Squid this quarter, I am going to do just like another lensmaster did when she didn't make it. She looked for the reasons within. While others were going around blaming this or that outside force, she very calmly looked at her work to see where she went wrong. And yes, she got Giant Squid the very next time, and is now a Giant 100. I respected her before that and respect her even more now.

Introducing my 50th lens: Why Join Squidoo?

Back to the regular blog, tomorrow. :)

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Question Of The Week 06.27.09








Squidoo Lens Reviews Question of the Week


If you had to limit your social-network memberships to just three sites, which three would it be — and why?





The lensmaster who writes the best post (chosen by me) gets all of their lenses posted here next Saturday. Just like the last winner!

What is your favorite change that has taken place within Squidoo in the past couple of weeks?

This week's question of the week goes to AJ2008. Congratulations, AJ!

Thank you to Lensmasters AJ2008, mgbphoto, and Drifter0658 for participating this week!

AJ (Lensmaster AJ2008) responds to "What is your favorite change that has taken place within Squidoo in the past couple of weeks?:

The new themes are fantastic but I must admit I heaved a hugh sigh of relief when Squidoo announced that they are restricting links to a max of 9 per domain on each lens - NOTE: this only applies to non-Giants.

As a SquidAngel I see a lot of brilliant lenses that are a credit to the Lensmasters who made them. However, sadly, I also see a load of what I call TAT (Tacky And Tasteless) that are full of links to even more TAT. This can only damage Squidoo's reputation and also that of the quality Lensmasters who may be deemed to be "guilty by association".

As Squidoo approaches the landmark of 1,000,000 lenses, I believe it would be far better to have half a million quality lenses that we can all be proud of.

###

AJ has won before, and I had wondered what I would do in such a case where I had already listed the winner's lenses. Thankfully, there are some options -- highlight recent lenses (those since the latest win), or highlight the top-ranked lens, or simply link to the lensmaster page.

Today, I'd like to give AJ another link to her stellar lens, Bullying At Primary School.

Friday, June 26, 2009

RedGage

Squidoo Lens Reviews Commentary and InteractionA lot of us have joined RedGage. If you're like me, you might have joined because a fellow Squid you respect had invited you to.

Well, I joined and worked there a little bit adding some of my content. The site is not very intuitive -- lots of growing pains, and the images show up elongated, and I have not seen a way to control it -- or to choose the image I really want (it seems to have to be chosen from a few they bring up from your site).

Plus, they have sent unsolicited email asking me (some others, too) to join. What made this even worse was the fact that I'd already joined. Since I have already joined, though, after Squid Giants deadline on June 30, I will check a little more into what RedGage hopes to accomplish. I just wish they hadn't stepped on their own toes with that unsolicited mail (seriously hope they'll rectify this in some way).

On the up side, setting up your content there can earn you some pocket change, at least, and that is more than you get in most places.

Meanwhile, your experiences with it would help us all to learn. Pro or con? Any tips?

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Golden Heart

Squidoo Lens Reviews Commentary and InteractionWho knew I'd be thanking Zut_Moon for something. That guy? Yes, Zut. He awarded me his first ever Golden Heart. Thank you again, Zut.

It's a serious award, for sure. I do appreciate that, and I appreciate the humor there as well. Zut, you are one funny guy!! Love.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Almost 50

Squidoo Lens Reviews Commentary and InteractionAre you applying for Giant Squid this time? I am, and today, I published number 49. There are five days left to get number 50 done, make two just-in-case lenses, tweak the entire lot......lots still to do.

At So You Want To Be A Giant Squid?, get some last-minute information to carry you through the last leg of the trip.

And goodnight to you. Very tired. zzzzz Oh! Forgot. Really need to add this lens. It's The Giant Squids Interviews II. Remember the last one? Lots of fun! Let's do it again. Visit now, and do some cheering, if you get a chance. Once Giant Squids are selected, I am inviting them all to do the interview there so we can all share in the adventure and excitement! ....goodnight aga...zzzzz

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Joan And Kate On Radio

Squidoo Lens Reviews Commentary and InteractionListening to Joan (Lensmaster Joan4) and Kate's (Lensmaster mukunda22) radio show was great tonight -- while I could hear it. I missed so much of it that I will have to download it and listen to it later.

My computer is still acting up; I never know when it will start its little temper tantrums.

Anyway, I just want to give a shout-out to Joan and Kate and thank them for having some of our fellow Squids on there.

Here is the link to the show. Tuesdays at 6pm EST. Download tonight's show if you want to. I think they had both Deborah (Lensmaster GypsyOwl) and Jacqueline (Lensmaster jacquelinestone) on there. Yes, I missed a lot! LOL

Monday, June 22, 2009

Monday Commentary

Squidoo Lens Reviews Commentary and InteractionSince it's hard to concentrate during the final leg of the race for Giant Squid, I think I shall spend this week doing some commentary.

Today, I am wondering about the new ads displayed across the tops of our pages. For the most part, the ads, though not targeted that I can tell, are not offensive.

However, there is this one that I've been seeing: What Women REALLY want. Get the Secret Now. I clicked to see. ...Apparently, we want Glam Media.

Hmmm. Not I. Not the folks who read my lenses, either — few though they may be. I must be missing something somewhere. :/

Comments welcome. I'll write again, tomorrow. Do make sure to chime in on The Question Of The Week.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Question Of The Week 06.20.09








Squidoo Lens Reviews Question of the Day


What is your favorite change that has taken place within Squidoo in the past couple of weeks?




The lensmaster who writes the best post (chosen by me) gets all of their lenses posted here next Saturday. Just like the last winner!

What lens has someone else done that you wish YOU had done?


Hard to choose a winner for Question Of The Week this week, so I'll go with the more detailed response. Congratulations, AJ!

A huge thank you to Lensmaster Spook and Lensmaster Kab for participating.

AJ (Lensmaster AJ2008) responds to "What lens has someone else done that you wish YOU had done?:

This question is easy MiMi - there's a lens that made me cry with
laughter, when I first saw it and as a result I started a "Lenses I
wish I had made" module on one of my Lensographies. The lens I am
thinking of is definitely one for the girls, but any man who has lived,
or is living with a menopausal woman may appreciate it as well.

As a woman who has often responded to the question (from my girl-friends)"How are you?", I have been known to reply:

"Menopausal and miserable."

If
my husband asked, then it would be *growl*: "Menopausal and miserable,
deal with it and if you tell me one more time you can't find it and I
find it exactly where I told you it was, then I am going to stab you."

But unreasonable? Hysterical? Rants about how useless other people are? Roadrage?

Dear sweet moi? When under the influence of raging hormones? Please don't tell anyone, but *whispers* yes!

But back to the lens. It is Correen's hysterically funny:

Menopause: you need some laughter.

Here are AJ's lenses to date:

Friday, June 19, 2009

Dave Patten

Music -- Buy at AllPosters.com

She starts out by telling you that if you don't know Dave Patten to "please, allow me to introduce you." She does it well, too. Lensmaster 24websurf does this young talent a great service with this lens. Check it out.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Cow-A-Bunga Bingo Raffle

Milk -- Buy at AllPosters.com

Cow-A-Bunga Bingo Raffle came to my attention because Lensmaster janices7 wrote to tell me that she is featuring my lens, Hungry In America, on it. I, of course, had to see this lens. I must say that I am proud to be there and I thank you very much, Janice.

Cow-A-Bunga Bingo Raffle is a Purple-Star lens about the first annual Cow-A-Bunga Bingo Raffle (being chaired by Janice herself). Monies raised will fund the CAER Food Shelf in its mission to provide to Elk River and its surrounding areas. Learn all about it — what it is, how it's played... Click over, and let Janice tell you the rest...

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Health Care Reform

It Dawns -- Buy at AllPosters.com
What can I say except that this is probably one of the most important lenses I've ever featured here. Lensmaster mukunda22 gives you Health Care Reform.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Forever A Teen Mother

Priorities - Child -- Buy at AllPosters.com

Congratulations, Crystal, on your 50th lens. I am proud to feature it here today.

Forever A Teen Mother is the story of how she, Lensmaster luvmyludwig, experienced being pregnant and 17. Crystal goes through a hellacious time. By now, if you know her, you know that Crystal is a survivor. My hope is that other teens will learn from this. It's lenses like this one that really, really need to go viral. I so hope this one does.

To Big Bunz and other judgmental folks: I am deeply offended by you; you should be ashamed of yourselves.

Monday, June 15, 2009

A Colorful Collection of Tips & Tricks

Brightly-Painted Beach Huts, Brighton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia -- Buy at AllPosters.com

A Colorful Collection of Tips & Tricks is just what Lensmaster WindyWinters says it is — a collection of tips and tricks about color. She's linking out to some Squidoo lenses about such topics as using color in general, using it in making frames and borders, and with making the sometimes too generic black box stand up and be noticed. You just may want to bookmark this one.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Question Of The Week 6.14.09







Squidoo Lens Reviews Question of the Day

What lens has someone else done that you wish YOU had done?


The lensmaster who writes the best post (chosen by me) gets all of their lenses posted here next Saturday. Just like the last winner!

Besides the text module, what other module do you favor, and why?

Once again, some very thoughtful responses. Going to have to go with Spirituality this time. Congratulations, Katinka!

I chose Katinka's response not because her post is the only one I agree with. I agree with all of the responses and think very valid reasons are given for choosing each favorite. It's just that having been at lensbuilding for a while, I think it's time to pay more attention to what I am selling and to even actually TRY to sell something. The Amazon Spotlight module gives us a great opportunity to make the best recommendation we can make for our readers.

With that said, I've already started implementing more of Alex's featured lensmasters idea and will keep Jimmie's and luvmyludwig's ideas in mind each time I build a new lens. All very nice responses. Thank you!

Spirituality responds to "Besides the text module, what other module do you favor, and why?:

I love the featured lenses module too - but I really appreciate the Amazon Spotlight module as well. It works so well: gives a nice big picture (got to love pictures), and room to describe that specific product. And it forces you to really pay attention to what you're selling.

Here are Katinka's lenses to date:

Friday, June 12, 2009

Return To Gratefulness

Vietnam Reflections -- Buy at AllPosters.com
After another day of computer troubles, I was feeling pretty frustrated — to say the very least. That is, until I came to Veterans of War, from Lensmaster Tipi. My heart is now back to gratefulness. This is an inspirational lens honoring our Veterans — some of whom you will recognize from Squidoo.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Pendleton Fire Department

Firetruck -- Buy at AllPosters.com
Lensmaster OhMe promotes her hometown with a love that shines in every lens she does about Pendleton, SC. The lens I write about today is no exception in that regard, but it is exceptional in that her Pendleton Fire Department is a wonderful salute to the volunteers in her town.

Photographs and videos of the firemen and the townsfolk help to make Pendleton come alive more than ever here on Squidoo.

Kudos, Nancy — and congratulations on your 50th lens! (#50 — another wonderful Pendleton lens — Senator Graham's New Regional Office)

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Fabric Painting

Loveseat 3 -- Buy at AllPosters.com

My old loveseat gets more decrepit every day. I want to spruce it up, though -- I just love it! Lensmaster Laniann offers the perfect solution with Hand Painting Fabric. ...Now, to get the time to actually make it a reality!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Monday, June 8, 2009

About Me: Barbara Ling

Bob Marley - Positive Day -- Buy at AllPosters.com
The first of the new RocketMoms lensmasters for Session 2 to show up on my radar screen is lingstar. You'll see why once you read her About Me lens, Barbara Ling - Maverick Mom, Dynamic Trainer, Moose Wrangler, More!

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Question Of The Week 6.6.09







Squidoo Lens Reviews Question of the Day

Besides the text module, what other module do you favor, and why?

The lensmaster who writes the best post (chosen by me) gets all of their lenses posted here next Saturday. Just like the last winner!

What three improvements could Squidoo do with right now?

Thank you to this week's four respondents: Drifter0658, Spirituality, Carrie, and Sojourn

The winning response is from Sojourn. Congratulations, Erica!

Sojourn responds to "What three improvements could Squidoo do with right now?:

I say anything that cuts down my time on a lens is a must-have:

1. When I pick a topic, I'd love it if Squidoo would give me keyword suggestions right on the create a lens page. Let me put in a topic, a targeted search volume, and competition rate and Squidoo could give me some options to pick from that are not already used as a lens title. Just a little bit of coding, I'm sure. LOL

2. I'd love to do Creative Commons searches right in the lens. Give me some options and upload them right to the module's pic box. Oh, and give the proper credit in the right format so I don't have to do it manually each time.

3. Put a URL shortener right in the workshop so I don't have to toggle back and forth 20 times for affiliate loaded lenses. (I cheated. I saw Gil's tweet the other day saying he was working on this. I wanted to tell him to hurry up as I was headed over to tinyurl at that exact moment.) :)

Here are Sojourns's lenses to date:

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Old Time Radio

Radios -- Buy at AllPosters.com
Each one of the 34 lenses from Lensmaster TheWhistler is about Old Time Radio. TheWhistler wants to keep the "Golden Age of Radio" alive, and there's good reason. It's quality entertainment. On the lenses, you'll learn lots of interesting facts and nuggets of information.

Here's the TheWhistler's bio page where you can check out what titles you may find interesting — and have yourself a listen.

The Old Time Radio Flyer #14 previously reviewed here.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Evelyn's Bed and Breakfast

Cars Parked in Front of Buildings, South Royalton, Vermont, USA
Our very own Lensmaster Evelyn_Saenz has a bed and breakfast in Vermont. It's an 1850s farmhouse that's been in her family since the town of Royalton, Vermont was founded.

Her lens, Evelyn's Bed and Breakfast, makes me want more than ever to visit one of my absolute favorite states!

There are photos, descriptions of attractions, and an abundance of nature. If you click over to her listing at AirBnb.com, you'll learn some more about what is offered. At the AirBnB site, how lovely to read, "Our rates include breakfast. Let us know what you like and we'll do our best to provide your heart's desire." Doesn't that sound just wonderful?!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Real Ice Cream

Ice Cream Sundae -- Buy at AllPosters.com

Another lensmaster pointed out by Lensmaster OhMe (thank you, Nancy) is Lensmaster puzzlemaker. You'll surely get in the mood for a good old-fashioned ice cream party with puzzlemaker's debut lens, Real Ice Cream.

Monday, June 1, 2009

RocketMoms Graduate!

This is the graduation class from the first session of the RocketMoms Group!

Hooray! Congratulations to my fellow RocketMoms!

I want to thank Bonnie again for her great leadership. Can't thank her enough, really. Kudos! (She's Lensmaster bdkz on Squidoo.) And a special thanks to Seth, Megan and SusanVillasLewis for their parts in helping this group to become all that it has become.

Visit some of these lenses. My fellow members have made some very interesting pages from their own unique perspective.