Clipmarks | sweetsfoods's clips

10 Prolific Bloggers Share Tips on Generating Conversation on Blogs

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:48:07 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

10 Prolific Bloggers Share Tips on Generating Conversation on Blogs

Yesterday I gave 13 tips for having great conversations on a blog. As a followup to that I shot an email to a number of bloggers that have a habit of having active comment sections to ask them how they make their blogs more conversational.

As expected - their responses were rich and full of goodness! Here are their responses.

Leo Babauta

“Conversation on Zen Habits is as important or more important than the posts themselves.

Gala Darling

“People always say that you need to start conversations on your blog in order to foster community, but one of the main problems is that some people try to do it just because they think they should —

Duncan Riley

Liz Strauss

Timothy Ferris

Jason Falls

Jeremy Schoemaker

Chris Garrett

“There are three types of conversation that I see on blogs.

John Chow

Lorelle VanFossen

The synergy of like-minds keeps the conversation going.

Tags: blogs, blogging, tips, blogger

40 Photoshop Tutorials for Lighting and Abstract Effects

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:21:36 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: vandelaydesign.com

40 Photoshop Tutorials for Lighting and Abstract Effects

Photoshop gives designers the ability to create some amazing effects that can accomplish just about anything you can image. Fortunately, there are plenty of Photoshop experts who are willing to write detailed tutorials to show off the potential. Here is a look at some of the best tutorials for using various lighting and abstract effects.

Adding Light Streaks to a Photo

Fiery Photoshop Space Explosion

Really Cool Eclipse Effect in Photoshop

Electrifying Glow Album Art

Lighting Effects in Photoshop

Luminescent Lines

Super Slick Dusky Lighting Effects

Creating Light Motion Trails and Glowing Spark

Create a Space Explosion from Scratch in Photoshop

Seriously Cool Photoshop Explosion Effect

Add a Sparkle Trail to a Photo

Space Lighting Effects in 10 Steps

Creating a Trendy Music Style Background

Advanced Glow Effects

MSNBC Style Effect

Easily Create a Beautiful, Unique Website Header

Photoshop Space Tutorial

Water Spirit - Drawing Fire

Tags: photography, photos, photoshop, technology, tutorials, tips

Special Photos For Everyone

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:19:20 GMT

clipped by: vk2yoc
clipper's remarks: Including one just for Righthand, though now I've forgotten which one.

Clip Source: uncommonpics.com

Tags: photos, eclectic, nature, funny

Ridiculously Useful Websites

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:07:59 GMT

clipped by: TwilaMarie

Clip Source: www.webupon.com

15 Ridiculously Useful Websites

Web MD

Provides a reference for anyone looking to diagnose his or her symptoms or research medical issues. It is a good place to visit before making that, oh so expensive, trip to the doctor.

E-How

A reference site for just about everything else. Want to k now how to wax snow skis? Make pizza dough? Install a bathtub? This is the place.

Bartleby

One of the better academic research websites I've come across.

How Stuff Works

A very cool website that contains explanations of those mysteries in life that you just can't figure out. A few examples are Murphy's Law, Pickpockets, and Light Sabers (Yes, light sabers).

Musicovery

Seriously, the coolest music-related site I've seen. You choose the mood, intensity, and genres of the music you would like to hear and the site will provide you with a virtual web of music to explore. The web evolves with each choice you make. You can click on any song in the web at anytime.

Tags: useful, websites

Top 10 Most Bizarre Street Vehicles.

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:52:45 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: allworldcars.com

Top 10 Most Bizarre Street Vehicles. World Auto News

The street vehicles all around the world never stop driving everyone mad. These vehicles can be seen as usual transport means on the streets of many cities.

1. For instance, the following bicycle-car is very popular on Amsterdam’s squares and streets. Maybe that is the way the Dutchmen protect the environment.

2. Do you want some coffee or a cup of hot drinking chocolate? This vehicle will bring the treatment in no time.

3. This is even crazier vehicle. There is no need to worry about finding a good place to sit anywhere. And there is no problem to change a location if a better table becomes vacant.

4. There is practically no place for parking nowadays. And that is the main reason for the next new type taxis you can find in different European cities.

5. There must be too big school to have such too long bus. Maybe the bus takes not only children but also their parents and the teachers as well.

Tags: vehicles, bizarre, autos

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:27:42 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: smittenkitchen.com

chocolate peanut butter cake

Alex’s birthday was this past weekend and in case you are new here, let me give you a loose outline of a Standard Dessert Alex Politely Requests: Chocolate. Chocolate with chocolate. Chocolate with caramel. Chocolate with toffee. Chocolate with coffee. Chocolate with hazelnut cream. Chocolate with Oreos. Chocolate cheesecake with brownie chunks. Chocolate icebox cake. Chocolate with raspberries. Chocolate with white chocolate. Chocolate with dulce de leche. Chocolate with banana cake.

What, can you sense a theme or something?

This year we added one more to the chocolate cake pile: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake. Well, actually, the technical title of the cake is Sour Cream-Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze, though it is actually a Sour Cream-Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze,

Tags: chocolate, peanut butter, cake, cakes, desserts, food, recipes

For LOLCAT lovers...

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 01:53:32 GMT

clipped by: CrazyRedHead
clipper's remarks: I can't help it, I luv 'em.

Clip Source: icanhascheezburger.com

Tags: humor, funny, bizarre, cats, lolcats, animals

10 Steps to the Perfect List Post

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:48:45 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: www.problogger.net

List posts are often amongst a blog’s most popular posts

Here’s 10 step-by-step, planning-to-publication ways to make your list posts as effective as possible:

1. Decide on the number of items in the list

2. Keep each item in the list similar

3. Brainstorm more items than you need

4. Order the list Logically

Also be aware when ordering your list that you should put your strongest items first, second and last.

5. Break very long lists into sections

6. Consider making your list a series

7. Be consistent in how you write each item

8. Always number the items

9. Invite readers to add to the list

10. Choose a great title

Always spell out numbers in list post titles

Always use numerals in list post titles

Spell out numbers below ten, use numerals for numbers 11 and over

And, even though I’ve already explained this technique to you, I’m going to close shamelessly in asking for your comments. Do you have a great tip for writing list posts? Have you had any hugely successful lists on your blog?

Tags: blogs, writing, lists, writing content

50 Photoshop Tutorials For Sky and Space Effects

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:02:41 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods
clipper's remarks: To see all the links in the given url

Clip Source: www.smashingmagazine.com

Space and Planets

Really Cool Eclipse Effect in Photoshop
Photoshop master Fabio Sasso shows you how to create this lighting effect.

Space and Planet Tutorial
Create a very cool look with just some simple Photoshop effects.

Make a Real Planet
Here you can learn how to easily create a fairly realistic planet.

Deep Space Nebula
Create a colorful nebula space scene.

Space Lighting Effect in 10 Steps
This tutorial shows a colorful, creative light effect ideal for space and dark backgrounds.

Space Scene Design
Create a scene of planets and lights by starting with a simple background image.

Painting Planets
Using a texture you can create a realistic planet.

Planetary Masses
Using brushes you can create a nice, textured planet.

Planetary Rings
Give a planet an extra touch with some simple rings.

Creating an Awesome Space Effect
This tutorial makes interesting use of some images for the space effect.

The Beauty from the Outside
A combination of images and Photoshop effects create this scene.

Explosions

Tags: photoshop, graphic-design, photos, tutorials

Asteroid heading our way

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:35:16 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: www.russiatoday.com

SciTech

Asteroid heading our way

Astronomers are battling to work out the trajectory of an asteroid that will cause havoc if it hits the Earth in 2036. Called Apophis, the giant meteor is hurtling through space at 10km per second. Scientists are warning that an impact would be far more devastating than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima at the end of WW2.

At the Zvenigorod Observatory near Moscow, space researchers keep watch on cosmic bodies and study known meteorites to understand their size and inner structure. They are tracking the path of the asteroid Apophis as well. They aim to determine how real the danger is but that will only be clear in a decade's time.

If Apophis passes through a particular point in space called a keyhole the Earth's gravity may change its course for the worst.

Meanwhile, Russia has offered to launch a space probe to plant a radio transmitter on Apophis so its orbit can be more accurately tracked.

Tags: science, space, astronomy

The 7 Secret Foods that Only the Healthiest People in the World Eat

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 20:38:06 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods
clipper's remarks: Good advise for eating better......

Clip Source: www.buzzle.com

Superfood #1: Cacao (Raw Chocolate)

Superfood #2: Goji Berries

Superfood #3: Maca

Superfood #4: Raw Honey

Superfood #5: Spirulina

Superfood #6: Sea Vegetables

Superfood #7: Pumpkin Seeds and More...

There is some mystique about them, isn’t there? Imagine a food--or a group of foods--that alone can elevate moods, enrich your body with almost hundreds of minerals and taste great all at the same time?

The 7 foods I want to talk about do all this and more... and are not just the "ordinary" superfoods like the cherry, the avocado or extra virgin olive oil. These foods are from the corners of the world and they will pack a super-punch into your everyday diet.

You’ve heard the buzz about superfoods.

Tags: food, health, nutrition

50 Firefox Add-Ons to Achieve Private and Secure Web Surfing

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:01:22 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: www.internetservicedeals.com

50 Firefox Add-Ons to Achieve Private and Secure Web Surfing

Firefox is generally considered a secure web browser, but if you’re interested in keeping your activity on certain websites private or giving yourself extra protection against phishing, hackers and viruses, you may want to consider beefing up your Firefox’s security in general. Thankfully, there are lots of options available that make achieving privacy and security online as easy as downloading a simple add-on or application that was designed just for Firefox users. Here are some of our favorites.

Secrecy and Encryption

Keep prying eyes and hackers at bay by encrypting e-mail messages, hiding your identity and erasing online history with these add-ons.

Add-Ons That Beef Up Security

Cookies

Testing Your System

Passwords

Protecting Your Privacy Online

Tags: firefox, security, web, surfing, add-ons

13 Mexican ingredients that changed the world…

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:24:55 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: whatscooking.us

13 Mexican ingredients that changed the world…

…or are changing the world. First I want to explain that when I say Mexican ingredients I am talking about ingredients native to the part of the world where now Mexico sits. When these ingredients were discovered/engineered/domesticated there was not a place called Mexico. That would come many centuries, and thousands of years, later. So here they are, 13 Mexican ingredients that changed the world:

Let’s start with my favorite one, cocoa. Can you imagine a world without chocolate? I wouldn’t like to live in a place like that.

Maize (Corn, Maíz) was first domesticated in what is now known as Oaxaca, Mexico, almost 9,000 years ago (according to some scientists).

vanilla

Tomatoes

Squash and all its varieties (zucchini, pumpkin, chayote, etc.)

chillies

beans

Papaya was cultivated in Mexico and Central Americ

Nopal

Annatto

Tobacco is not a food ingredient

Now it is time to introduce to you one of the best kept secrets of Mexican cuisine: huitlacoche

Tags: mexican, ingredients, food, recipes, chocolate, cooking

Pictures of Cute Bears

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:53:51 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: geniusbeauty.com

Pictures of Cute Bears

Tags: animals, pictures, pics, photos, photography, photo

The Guide to Italian Aperitivo and Drinks in Italy

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:33:13 GMT

clipped by: sweetsfoods

Clip Source: www.msadventuresinitaly.com

The Guide to Italian Aperitivo and Drinks in Italy

If you’ve ever wanted to know more about Italian aperitivo, or Italian aperitif in Italy, or to host one in your own home, this series is for you.

What is Aperitivo Italiano in Italy
Ordering an Aperitivo Drink in Italy
How to Host Your An Aperitivo at Home
Where to go to Aperitivo in Milan

If you have read my blog before, you know that I love aperitivo in Italy. Getting an aperitivo in a bar or hosting aperitivo at home, it’s one of my favorite things about living in Italy, especially in Milan which I proclaim the “Capital of Aperitivo in Italy.”

If you’ve ever wanted to know more about Italian aperitivo, or Italian aperitif in Italy, or to host one in your own home, this series is for you.

What is Aperitivo Italiano in Italy
Ordering an Aperitivo Drink in Italy
How to Host Your An Aperitivo at Home
Where to go to Aperitivo in Milan

What is Aperitivo Italiano in Italy

Ordering an Aperitivo Drink in Italy

Tags: drinks, aperitivo, italia, food