BlogRush's Traffic Jam

In mid-September, John Reese, internet marketing wizard, released BlogRush. BlogRush is a cooperative syndication widget. It's over there, in the right sidebar. It offers 5 headlines from other blogs with posts on similar topics as mine.

The basic premise is simple. I install the widget and tell BlogRush the general category into which my blog posts fall (Philosophy? Health? Fashion?) Every time a page in my blog is viewed, BlogRush puts one of my post headlines into its rotation and promotes it on another blogger's site.

Each time a reader from Very Random clicks through a headline in the widget, I get a bonus syndication credit in the blogosphere, and the other blogger has added some traffic. BlogRush redeems the credit by adding another headline from my blog to their playlist. Since BlogRush is divided by topic categories, all traffic it generates should be relevant.

There's also an Amway-style slant with BlogRush. Let's say another blogger liked the idea and installed BlogRush on his blog via a link here. Whenever his blog was viewed, he would get a credit and I would get a credit, too. Once his reader clicks through a headline, we would each earn one bonus syndication credit. And so it goes. More referrals in my network means more displays for my headlines.

The best part? BlogRush does all the work. That's ideal for the way I use my blog. I don't have to solicit new friends, work around no-follows, consider flow states or field reports. According to those who have done the math, the algorithm used at BlogRush favors smaller sites.

I'm realistic about BlogRush. My site receives an average of 75 unique visitors (first-time visitor) each week. I'm fairly pleased with that - Very Random is not The Huffington Post!

In the first week, my headlines were displayed 167 times, and 5 new readers came via the widget. Three percent click-thru is considered average performance when it comes to CTRs. (If the reason I kept a blog was to increase click-thrus, I'd put the posts in the sidebar and the sidebar info in the main section!)

Less than 24 hours after the release of BlogRush, some Probloggers (people who make their living by blogging) went ballistic about it. "It's a pyramid scheme" some posts cried, followed by the "Ponzi", "Leaking Readers" and "Violates Terms of Service" camps. Writers with 10,000-plus daily visitors to their site were complaining about delays in getting displays! (How/Where would you look for blogs that might have your headline in the widget?)

Every new technology brings out the hackers, and BlogRush was no exception. Programmers were spoofing impressions on their blogs to amass credits; making the headline widget "invisible", and using it on splogs. Some users went so far as to create new blogs with no posts and kept reloading the page to build syndication credits. I manually blocked some adult content sites from my widget. (I don't want to get a "Not Safe For Work" label!)

So BlogRush became more like blog-stall and moved to a full manual review of its members' blogs. In a broadcast email, John Reese explained that "If a blog does not meet our guidelines and criteria, IT WILL BE REJECTED from the network and not allowed to join ...They will have no access to any BlogRush services...BlogRush needs to only have members that have quality blog content."

There's no information on the criteria they'll use to assess "quality". I've been kicked out of places, sure, but never because I failed to meet quality standards. That would be quite a blow.


Tags: [BlogRush]   [John Reese]
[Blog Syndication]   [StumbleUpon]
[Ariana Huffington]   [Blog Dictionary]

Incidentally, I get Stumble-d-Upon about 60 times per month.

BlogRush Goes to Green

I'd forgotten about BlogRush.

Today, I received this email from John Reese, internet entrepreneur extraordinaire:

Congratulations!
You are receiving this update because your blog has passed our strict
Quality Guidelines and criteria -- we believe you have a high-quality
blog and we are happy you're a member of our network!

Now that I'm in, I went back to check on my stats.

      Your Traffic Today: 54 unique visits
      Your Traffic Last 7 Days: 284

Right now, that's the only data on the BlogRush stats panel, but I can check my referrals through a different analytic tool. I've recorded 8 visits via the BlogRush widget promoting my headline on some other blogs over the past week. I could probably find out the stats since BlogRush launched, but it's not relevant to me. Bottom line: I forgot all about BlogRush, and I still have around 3% CTR.

A month into BlogRush's launch and John Reese's team is still sorting out bugs in the reporting and impression system. Some Probloggers continue to warn their proteges against using the widget, saying it's a bad idea to let your readers discover other blogs.

I don't want to be that protective of my readers.
There are niche blogs, with their pillar posts and corridors of authority; and there's Very Random, a cubbyhole with a hook where I can hang my hat.

Tags: [BlogRush]   [John Reese]
[Andy Beard]   [Problogger]
[Internet Entrepreneurs]
[Blog Traffic]

Squeezing Lower Prices

I don't shop at Wal-Mart. There are many reasons.

I don't like the way they do business. Here's how my relationship with Wal-Mart started:

When Wal-Mart came to Canada, it initiated a campaign to convince shoppers the merchandise in its stores was Canadian merchandise. It looked to me like Wal-Mart was disguising the truth. Sure, it buys merchandise from a warehouse located in Canada. That warehouse receives goods from an offshore supplier. The shipment was ordered and arranged by Wal-Mart. A Canadian truck delivers the cartons to the final destination. I know a little about Canadian content and I wasn't buying their claim. Wal-Mart hadn't demonstrated enough Canadian content for me.

Bryan Adams' album Waking Up the Neighbors was deemed ineligible for Juno award nomination in 1992. The CRTC concluded that the album did not meet Canadian Content (can-con) criteria. Amid tremendous controversy in 1991, Adams, his management and A&M Records convinced the CRTC to amend its criteria for Canadian content to include a Canadian artist who has collaborated with a non-Canadian and receives at least half of the credit for both music and lyrics. All about Bryan Adams Tags: [Bryan Adams] [Bruce Allen] [CanCon] [Juno Awards] [CRTC]

I'm all for great deals for shoppers; I absolutely support making money. I've seen corporate purchasing, and the bullying tactics of big retail on the suppliers...suppliers who are struggling to match increased volume at smaller margins and be profitable.

Sorry to put you through all this. I wanted to offer a little backgrounder before you went on to the next post. Will Work For Free?

Encyclopedia of Music in Canada

[Wal-Mart] [Everyday Low Price Strategy]
[The High Cost of Low Prices]

Will Work For Free?

The government in Mexico is concerned that Wal-Mart is exploiting local customs to increase the retail giant's profitability.

Wal-Mart is behaving a little badly? I'm shocked!

Thousands of adolescents work as unpaid baggers in Wal-Mart’s Mexican stores.
(Joseph Contreras, Newsweek, July 31, 2007)

Wal-Mart's Global Code of Ethics prohibits work without compensation.
(Click Picture to Read Excerpt)

When a company recruits teens to be volunteers, doesn't that make those teens employees?

"Wal-Mart de Mexico reported net earnings of $1.148 billion in 2006 and $280 million in profits in the second quarter of this year." Federal District Labor Secretary Benito Mirón Lince points out 'Wal-Mart has the capability to pay the minimum wage [of less than $5 a day], and this [unpaid baggers] represents an injustice.'

Wal-Mart explains that the company complies with the International Labor Organization's guidelines that prohibit employing youth under the age of 14. (At least since 2005, when "Wal-Mart agreed to pay the U.S. Labor Department $135,540 in civil money penalties to settle charges of 24 child-labor violations.")

A volunteer is "a person who performs a service willingly and without pay." Wal-Mart provides accident insurance to its volunteer baggers, and pays bonuses for academic achievement. Once you pay a volunteer, he is no longer a volunteer; he is an employee.

The government of Mexico doesn't like it, but is nervous to push Wal-Mart to change. Wal-Mart is the largest private company employer in the country. Mexico simply can't afford those 150,000 workers to be out of work.

I'm usually quiet about my preference to shop elsewhere; but I consider this too outrageous to ignore.

Wal-Mart squeezes the labor force in the name of low prices. Squeezing Lower Prices

Mexico Labor Report 2006

Tags: [Wal-Mart] [Walmart de Mexico]
[I.L.O.] [Newsweek] [Joseph Contreras]

In Other Anthropology News

Headline from LiveScience and MSNBC:

Residents of Ancient Pompeii Liked Fast Food

Quick history lesson:
Pompeii was destroyed by a violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. It was accidentally re-discovered in 1748. Pompeii is one of the richest anthropological sites because it was destroyed so quickly. Scientists are focusing on the relics in one neighborhood to better understand day-to-day living in the 1^st century.

Back to the story -

Archaeologist Penelope Allison (University of Leicester) describes some of her team's findings:

There was an absence of formal dishware sets but an abundance of small
grilling vessels (like barbecues) found in the residences studied, indicating
that people were eating-and-running on the go.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Everything old is new again.
[Pompeii]    [Penelope Allison]     [Archaeology]

Stumbling on Melons *

Dug up from The Canadian Press (June 1, 2007) :

Archaeologists in Japan unearthed the world's oldest melon. It was intact, the flesh still attached to the rind, after 2100 years. The Research Institute for Humanity & Nature in Kyoto used radiocarbon testing to determine the age of the fruit.

Researcher Shuji Yamazaki explains: the melon might have been so well-preserved because it was in a vacuum-packed state in a wet layer below the ground, an environment hostile to micro-organisms that might otherwise have broken down the remains.

The ancient Shimongo settlement was built near water and protected by moats, circa 300 BC to A.D. 300.

So, it looks like even 2100 years ago, people liked to have melon after they swim...Wayne didn't start that!

All I can say is that my life is pretty plain....

* Andrew Marvell (1621-1678): "The nectarine, and curious peach, / Into my hands themselves do reach; / Stumbling on melons, as I pass, / Ensnared with flowers, I fall on grass."


[Oldest Melon Discovered] [Blind Melon]
[Shuji Yamazaki] [Melon Salad]

Tales From the Waiting Room

A woman carrying a stack of papers rushed in and explained to the receptionist that she was submitting the required forms for her surgery which was to take place the following day.

"I've been trying to reach you," the receptionist said smoothly. "We need to reschedule some of tomorrow's cases. We have 3 emergency cases that must be handled. We have to move our elective cases to make room."

"Well, if it's for a different time," the patient agreed.
"Dr. K. will do your augmentation next week," the receptionist explained.
The patient became incensed. "I've arranged to go away for a vacation after the procedure and recovery. I need to have the procedure tomorrow."

She pleaded her case a little more then eventually left, her procedure scheduled for next week. She displayed her displeasure with an 'Harrumph' as she stomped away.

Was it really possible that she felt she deserved her breast augmentation ahead of someone with an emergency? So as to not screw up her vacation?

I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she meant that she had made arrangements for someone to help her with her children. Maybe she meant that she had taken time off work.

I couldn't find any excuse to justify her behavior. It was looking like she was just selfish. And not very discreet.

[Plastic Surgery] [Makeovers, not Do-overs]
[TLC Life Lessons]

Tales from the Exam Room

It was my first meeting with this specialist. He had received detailed information through the referral process. He entered the exam room and started to summarize these facts both to confirm and add to them.

The history verified, he began to scold me. "Why did you wait until you were 40 to do anything about this? You should have been seen at age 37!" And on he lectured.

When there was a break in his objurgation, I said, "Hold on a minute. I've been 40 for just 4 days! And when I was 37, none of my sisters had been diagnosed with breast cancer."

It's only been 9 months since Roni was diagnosed with breast cancer, and Michelle is just 3 weeks post-op.

There was no way I was taking heat for this. His tone changed after that.

Random on a Roll

Hey, Mother Hubbard!

Go check your cupboard

And take out the canned rattlesnake meat.

It'll give you salmonella.

(That's more toxic than rubella.)

Wouldn't you prefer to have a scotch, neat?

[Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes]   [Rattlesnake Meat]
[Salmonella]

Random At Work

Helicopter parents need to lower their landing gear!

This article,
from U.S.A. Today, states "As Generation Y enters the job force, parents of new hires are calling employers to negotiate salary and benefits, and some are even showing up at job fairs."

Parents are interfering to the degree that Hewlett-Packard has 'specially-trained recruiters' to deal with parents.

When I was in a position to hire staff, if faced with two equally-qualified candidates, I would offer the position to the one who completed his own application over one whose parent filled it out. I rarely had ads targeted to college graduates. The article refers to post-secondary grads and their parents.

To me, the distinction is clear: one applicant shows that she wants to work; the other shows that her parents want her to work.

If I was a helicopter parent myself, I'd give you the definition of the term. You need to go look it up yourself.

(By providing the link, I think I have a Limo to the Airport parenting style.)

[Helicopter Parent]   [Student Job Fairs]

Random At Random

Man's best friend can go online to find his own friends now.

Pet Palio, is a website geared to pet owners looking to find friends for their pet. Aaron Rodrigues, 17, from Auckland launched the site after he " 'contacted all the pet stores and they didn't have anybody to connect me with other pet owners. They told me to join clubs, which were offline, and it was such a hassle, I thought there has to be a better way to do this ...' "

Sure, Aaron, the better way to find a playmate for Lasie, your Bichon Frise, is to search online, rather than meet people and their pets in person. There's just nothing more fun than a virtual trip to the leash-free park!

Want to know how many playmates Lasie has found? So far, he's the only pet listed on the site from New Zealand, although the article declares him to be "taken".

[Pet Palio] [Online Dates] [Forums for Pet Owners]

Rapid-Fire V : Out of Ammo

Really, we're not lost. We're following the directions I got from the internet. We're on turn #17. You have to follow the link...the page was too large to post here directly...

This time if Laura asks, "Is that the same McDonald's?"
It is.

---

OK...this was funny before the Google™ engineer pulled over and asked for directions....If you missed it, the directions included making more than 50 consecutive U-turns at shorter intervals (which would have resulted in increasingly smaller concentric circles), to get to the destination. Some of the U-turns were after traveling just 1 ft.

Rapid-Fire IV : Crossfire

Very Random approved by internet censors in China!

Source: Sitemeter
Recent visits (to Jan 20/07)

Great Firewall of China

Open Net Initiative

Sitemeter's been down for 2 days on this site.

Rapid-Fire III : Under Fire

A new survey out of Britain indicates that
Breakfast in Bed Improves Mood. Respondents reported that their day got off to a better start if they were brought breakfast in bed.

I guess it's the sound of me laughing so hard that raises your spirits.

Rapid-Fire II

If you lost your job in 2006,
you need to update your resume.

Remember to include
Person of the Year (2006)
in your list of accomplishments and achievements.

Rapid-Fire

January 22 is the Most Miserable Day of the Year.
(with a mathematical formula to prove it)

It's also Answer Your Cat's Question Day.
Q: Meow.
A: Meow.

Yesterday was Squirrel Appreciation Day.

Fast Snacks

It's a conspicuous silence when I'm not updating the sites, sending email, or offering more than a few lines in response to an email I receive. I'm grateful to have you checking up on me. Nothing and everything is happening:

I have been suffering with symptoms of low iron for a month, which, I can track back to be almost one year, to the day, of when we started arranging iron infusions last year. Until my levels improve, my energy is low. When I stop 'doing' and pause my mind and body, I fall asleep. Never for very long, but basically, when I stop and relax, I drift off to sleep. Guess I wasn't into the conversation around the dinner table this evening...stood up, rolled the IV to the couch, laid down, went to sleep.

We are lucky to know terrific people. A couple of weeks ago, I put a call out asking friends to drive the afternoon carpool for me one day each week. Together they implemented a plan whereby Kathy, Shari, Gloria or Arlene is driving the after-school carpool for us three days each week. These guys are no slackers! Each wears the hat of Professional/Mother/Sports Fan/Daughter/Sister/Wife/Neighbor/Friend throughout her day. They've got it all under control. More proof that when something needs to be done, just ask a busy person to help out. Thank you. Really, truly.

I can sleep right through the IV Pump alarms, but the dog's snoring is pretty disrupting. Before we check him out for apnea, we've got to try a nasal strip or something!

I am beginning to notice that Christmas is approaching. No, the house isn't decorated. No, the shopping's not done. Obviously, no presents are wrapped. I do not wish to discuss Christmas baking, thank you very much. We kind of have a plan to get everything taken care of. Fourteen days can be a lot of time. Especially if we skip that whole baking thing.

Part of The Plan: John and I spent the day together to shop for Christmas. One problem: Medication did not reach the correct temperature to infuse before we left. Nature of the day was stop and go, so running it in the car wasn't going to work. Just moved ahead.
Another problem: John and I shop alike. We look for the present that you didn't know you wanted/needed. We know what we're looking for, we just need to find it. We ran into Kari and caught up a bit. We found some unique stores, but after several hours we had 2 raffle tickets, 1 gift card and something on hold at a different location. We saw a lot of the same same-ness in a hundred stores.
Shortly after we arrived at the new location, we had a bag to carry! We hunted around a little more.
Another problem: I don't need to stop to eat. I don't get hungry. My stomach doesn't growl. I was still nursing the same drink from when we left the house. I didn't deny John the opportunity to refuel...It's just that I sometimes forget that other people eat.
Unresolved problem: THE GIFT is out of stock...everywhere...across the country...I hesitated and missed the chance to scoop it online. It's gone from there, too.

Andrew has almost completed his shopping. We committed to hitting a few places in particular tonight to try to wrap it up. Andrew is a great shopper. Last year, on the Saturday before Christmas, we went to Sherway together (yes, on the Saturday before The Big Day) and, using his eagle-eye, we quickly found everything we were looking for (and you didn't know you wanted).

It's a two-part process to subscribe to this blog. You enter your email address in the box in the sidebar, verify the letters on the screen and then a confirmation email is sent to you. The reader clicks the link in the email and Presto! You're in. My Mom hasn't confirmed her subscription...I'm going to need therapy.

Speaking of...my Mom, not therapy...We spent yesterday together. She stopped me as I was about to get into her car. "Wait. The phone," she said, referring to her Nokia 2100 floor-mounted car phone, circa 1987. "It interferes with your pacemaker."
"Ma! I don't have the pacemaker anymore, remember?"

We think we'll survive without the ooey-chewy-double-chocolate cookies we make each year, but are we ready to give up the fudge?

Make fudge or take up knitting? Fudge.