Updates and FAQ

Well, we're coming up on almost two years since our first few members started the Indianapolis Bloggers. The numbers are quickly and steadily climbing, which is great. There are a few things to remember and a few things you may not know if you're new, so I thought it would be a good time to share.

Non-Members:
If you would like to join the Indianapolis Bloggers, please click any of the "join" links on the right-hand side bar. Then follow the instructions. It's really easy. If you ever have any questions, just email me and I'll help (art3dp at yahoo dot com).

If you have already followed those steps and have not received your membership, make sure that you have the proper links set up on your homepage. Also, make sure you have been blogging frequently for the past few months. We've had to tighten up our requirements, due to the large number of bloggers wanting to join.

If you've done that and you still think you deserve your membership, email me and we will look into it and let you know what the delay is. Remember that we are looking for quality blogs and we reserve the right to deny your blog for whatever reason we pull out of our... heads.

Current Members
Ringsurf (which powers the actual ring portion of Indianapolis Bloggers) has gone through a massive overhaul. They've made a lot of changes, which means you can too. I believe you no longer need to have links to the "Prev, Next, Join, etc." As long as there is a link to this webpage and to Ringsurf, you should be okay. You can also delete the text that currently shows up next to "Powered by Ringsurf." If you ever have any questions about this, just let me know.

Also remember that if you want a small picture to be posted next to your blog's link (left hand side bar), you need to email the url to me and we'll get that set up. If you have no idea what I mean by that, but you're still interested, email me and we can walk you through it.

If I've forgotten anything, feel free to ask. Thanks for being a part of the Indianapolis Bloggers and be sure to spread the word.

Another Mass Joining!

Due to the increase in requests for blogs to join our little community, it's become much easier to accept people in large groups. So, please join me in welcoming our four newest members:

First up is Karissa, who has the blog alphabet by design. Karissa says the blog is, "my thoughts on some words and some words on my thoughts." Here's a bit more about the blog, taken from her about page:

hi. i'm karissa. a twenty-something living in my adopted hometown of indy. i work in communications and my job happens to be to promote the city. my job is pretty fun, but this blog is all my own.

Next is Brian, who is determined to become Indy's Biggest Loser. About the blog:

The journey to being healthier, fitter and leaner by an Indy resident. I share recipes, tips, hints, exercises and my journey!

Next we have the blogging duo of Greg and Allison, who bring us everything nagel. Here's a bit about them and the blog:

We are Gregg & Allison. We met in 1998 when Gregg's band was playing in a little bar called Dad's in the Chicago suburb of Geneva, IL. Gregg dropped his guitar pick and Allison jumped up to get it for him. We were married in Las Vegas in 2001 and celebrated our 7th anniversay this year, and a decade of being together. Needless to say, we're the bestest of friends. We are now living and working in Indianapolis.

Next up is King Tiger, the blogger behind The Tiger's Eye. This pretty much says it all:

One man's view from the heart of the Midwest. Kind of like watching a ballgame thru a knothole in the left field fence.

Last but not least is Carol with Juggling Plates. About her blog:

Perspectives of a feminist mom after leaving a career in IT to stay at home with her kids.

Thanks to everyone for joining! Be sure to check out all the other bloggers in your area and keep up the blogging!

Four New Bloggers to "Ring" in the New Year

Sorry for the extended wait on this batch of new bloggers. Things have been a bit hectic and we actually have quite a large list of people waiting to join the ring now. Remember, if you've applied and still haven't been admitted, either something is wrong with your code, or you haven't yet met the requirement of being an established blogger (at least 2 solid months of blogging). Just be patient and keep up the blogging!

Now, on to our newest members. First up is Neastrith, who has dubbed himself "The Movie Slut." Here's a bit of an explanation about what that is and what this blog is about:

Movie Slut: a person considered cinematically promiscuous. "I watch bad movies, so you don't have to."

Boy, I could've used this one before I watched A Walk to Remember.

Next up we have Joh Padgett who brings us the Hoosier political blog Monticello. Here's a bit about the blog:

Monticello is the home of left leaning "liberaltarian" philosophy. The overriding principle of freedom is prevalent throughout and the blog has a focus in particular on Hoosier political culture of the blue persuasion.

And a quote from the title page: "The time to guard against corruption and tyranny is before they shall have gotten hold of us." - Thomas Jefferson

Next is Josh Woody who is a professional recruiter and has started a blog to help facilitate his recruits for internet marketing. His blog is called Web Marketing Recruiter.com and here's a bit more about it:

WebMarketingRecruiter is a blog dedicated to facilitating the introduction of talented internet marketing professionals to employers eager to hire such talent!

Last but not least is Jason Marcusan's "idea sanctuary:" Naptown Jams. Here is a blurb that will tell you all you need to know about Jason and his blog:

I’m a National Account Manager at John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Since 1995 I’ve worked in the book publishing industry in sales & marketing. Thanks to Wiley’s leading position in the computer book publishing world, I’ve immersed myself in some groundbreaking technologies. Every day I help sell and promote bestselling brands like For Dummies, Visual, Betty Crocker, MTV, Pillsbury, Webster’s New World, Cliffs Notes, and Extreme Tech. And, I’m fortunate to have partnered with some of the biggest retailers in the world. So that’s what I do. It’s not just because I have to though. Mom brought an Apple computer into our home in 1980, so technology has always been around. And some of my other interests - music, sports, gadgets, friends - have taken on new lives thanks to technology over the years. I like being an information sponge, absorbing what’s what as quickly and efficiently as I can. Naptown Jams is my own little information sanctuary.

Thanks for joining everyone! Be sure to check out what everyone else in this fair city is blogging about. Go Colts...I mean...aww fudge.

3 New Indianapolis Bloggers!

Alright, it's time for another batch of Indianapolis Bloggers to join the ring. If you're still waiting to be accepted, just be patient and keep blogging. Chances are, you're still too new. You'll get there.

Our first blogger is Emilee, who is the creative mastermind behind Dire Mirth. Her words are better than mine, so here's a bit about the blog:

A lot of fortuitous, seemingly disjunctive stories, reviews, and thoughts that make up the life of one mid-20's Indianapolis woman. By day, and often by night, Emilee is a law student in downtown Indianapolis. The rest of the time she is a runner, traveler, chef, sci-fi geek, bookworm, venture web-developer, gamer, and on and on. If you enjoy random, geeky, and often silly forays into life - then you will probably, maybe, in all likelihood enjoy Dire Mirth.

You don't find that combination everyday. Be sure to go check out the blog!

Next up is TeeCee, who writes about the glorious culture of Indianapolis in the blog, Trifles. More about the blog:

Witty and often inane banter about design, fashion, jewelry, books, film, and Indianapolis culture (or lack thereof).

The fact that these things exist in Indy is worth going to check out.

Last we have Chad, who blogs at superwick.com. Here's a bit about his blog:

Since 2003, I've been blogging about lots of different stuff. Most of it does have a technology flavor to it, but no subject is really off-limits. Music, gadgets, Indy life, design, politics, and opinion - It's all me.

I recommend starting at his "About" page.

Alright, thanks to everyone who joined us today. Be sure to go check out the blogs. In case you were wondering, you are a part of the biggest blog ring in Indianapolis. Now there's something to go home and brag to your family about. Keep up the blogging!

Indy Bloggers Join En Masse

Well, we've got six new bloggers joining us today. If you've recently applied to join the Indianapolis Bloggers and still have not been added to the ring, it's probably because the code is wrong on your site, or you haven't been blogging long enough. Please email me if you have questions. Now, on to our newest members!

First we have Jason, who brings us The Be All, Blog All. Here's a bit more about the blog:

The Be All Blog All is like that junk drawer that you have in your kitchen. It's full of all kinds of random crap, but any time you're looking for something, you can find it there. I’m a 25 year old married guy with a kid on the way living in the suburbs of Indianapolis, Indiana. I love me some Indianapolis Colts football, football in general really, Texas Longhorns football, and some other sports. I try to keep the blog updated whenever I can find something interesting to talk about, so bookmark the site and check back often.

Next up is Ryan, The Bass Geek. About him and the blog:

Ryan is a 33-year-old aficionado of low end frequencies and digital gadgetry. He and his wife make their home in the lovely Fountain Square neighborhood of Indianapolis, where they tend to their old house and their almost-as-old pug. Ryan has written books on subjects including the aforementioned bass guitar and digital music, as well as podcasts, MySpace, eDiscovery, and real estate software (listed in order of interest to the author). He plays for several acts in the Indianapolis area, both live and in the studio.

Next we have Erik, who offers up his humor in Laughing Stalk. More about Erik:

Erik has written a weekly humor column since 1994. He is published in six weekly newspapers in Indiana and Oregon, as well as the largest online daily alternative paper in the U.S. He writes businesses articles, speeches, and stage and radio plays. His play, "Cabin Fever U." was named Best Comedy in the 2005 Frank & Katrina Basile Emerging Playwrights competition. He is the Director of Sales and Marketing for a direct mail/direct marketing printing company.

Alright, next up is Brian. Brian is the brain behind B. More about B:

B... well, it’s my first initial, and I guess it could represent B -ing yourself - or myself. Who am I kidding, I thought chic was spelled sheik, but apparently that’s an Islamic patriarch of a tribe or family. You’ll probably see posts mostly about music and web sites, as I am a web developer professionally and a musician amateurtionally. I was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, where my wife and I just purchased a home, so I don’t think we’re going anywhere for a while.

Okay, last one for the day is Cindy who brings us Writing for Reading. Cindy's blurb:

When’s the last time you read something all the way through just because the author was some high-ranking official within a company? Do you read the newsletter of an organization you care about if the writing is excruciatingly dull? Why, then, do so many intelligent people spend time producing written materials that no one wants to read? Why not make what you have to say compelling?

Thanks to everyone for joining the gang. Be sure to check out all of these new blogs. I'm sure you'll enjoy them and it's nice to see what everyone else in our fair city is up to. A reminder for all newcomers- if you'd like to see your picture next to the link to your blog (on the left column), just send me the url for the picture you want to use and I'll hook it up. Keep in mind that it will be as small as all the others.

That said, GO COLTS!!!!!