this is how i’m doing: in case you were wondering…

Notice anything different about my blogroll?  Notice those names ABOVE the normal blogroll?  This is me rewarding bloggers who blog regularly.  Thank you for blogging

Vote no to RSS feed readers.

I’m convinced that RSS feed readers are responsible for the degradation of the blogging community.  While convenient, feed readers restrict creativity and reduce the blogging experience to merely reading text on a screen. Reading the blogs of your friends via a feed reader is like reading a book on the computer — cold and mechanical — as if to say only the content (and not the form) matters.  A person’s blog, much like a book, communicates through its structure and design as well as the written word.  The templates we choose (or choose to design) are an extension of the words we write.  This is why I vow to visit your actual blog from this day forward.

Research has (probably) shown that a reader is 10 times (+/- 10) more likely to provided feedback on your blog when they visit your site instead of reading your posts through a feed reader.  Visiting blog sites has also been known to lower your risk of heart disease and increase energy levels (when done on a treadmill).

Will you join me in visiting the blogs of your friends?  Will you choose comments over convenience?  Together, we can change the (blogging) world.

Have a question and want input from hundreds of people from around the world?  Check out www.ask500people.com.  I’m addicted to feedback.

As I was taking my diploma off the wall of my office to pack it up, I stopped to read it.  It says:

“Stephen F. Austin State University
Nacogdoches, Texas

Be it known that
Paul Jeffery James

having successfully completed the Course of Study as prescribed by the
Faculty and Board of Regents and having complied with all other
requirements of the University, has been declared a

Bachelor of Science

and is entitled to all rights and privileges pertaining to that degree.
In testimony whereof, the Board of Regents, upon recommendation of the
Faculty, has granted this Diploma, bearing the seal of the University.
Done this the fourteenth day of May, Two Thousand and Five.”

First of all, I had no idea what my diploma really said, especially the part of being “declared a Bachelor of Science”.  It makes sense I suppose;  I earned a bachelor of science degree, therefore I would be a Bachelor of Science.

Can anyone now tell me what “rights and priviliges” I am entitled to?  Can I show this thing at Starbucks and get a free latte?  Did I miss something at my graduation (that I didn’t attend)?  I’m really looking forward to becoming a Master of something someday.  What does yours say?

No, not New Edition which is what first came to my mind when I typed out the title of this post. New links!

I needed another “Justin” on my blogroll, so the great JB did me a favor and started blogging. Despite his feminine stature, Justin certainly has a way with words. Check him out here.

If you’re looking for some motivation to start or continue running, check out any of the thousands of running blogs. Real people with real goals talking about their real training experiences, victories and setbacks. I added this Boston bound runner a while ago, but she’s still new to the blogroll. Check out Caitlin’s blog here.

I think that’s it for now!