One Year, Y'all!

I've been incognito for a few weeks. But I decided to post because one year ago, on March 29th, I opened this blog.

Hello World!

Over the past year, I've done some reviews. I have two followers. I made a few mistakes. I was thrilled and then dismayed by a post, and thrilled by yet another post. Thank you, Japanese people and Rizonesoft and Blog Glue! Thank you all my readers. Please read more and comment!

I've learned some things and regretted a few things.

I talked about Yogi Tea, here and here. Yeah, I've since stopped buying Yogi, and will do a post on Bigelow and Celestial Seasonings. Particularly a comparison between similar flavors.

I wrote on what I am watching this TV season. I may not like The New Girl, but I am loving Awake, Ringer, and Person of Interest. And Grimm and Once Upon A Time are even higher on my list.

Then I spoke on my substitutes for yogurt and coffee. While Cafix and Kaffree got high praise, thanks to other complications I wrote about, I just have a half a cup of coffee when the mood hits me, but never more than once a week.  Again, ladies, if you are pregnant or have issues, chicory should be avoided.

I was going to write about how Yoplait's Greek yogurt was not good for the lactose intolerant, and it was creamy but not thick and and nothing like Chobani or Dannon Oikos. But Yoplait did everything one better: Yoplait has created a lactose free yogurt. It's good. As far as I know, there are only four flavors. Just today, I bought Oikos on sale, but then thought why when Yoplait has the lactose free brand for cheaper. Every now and again, I'll buy Greek yogurt, but those days are done. Thanks Yoplait!

As far as rants go, I am adding my two cents to this Trayvon Martin debacle: the truth will come out. The only thing this whole thing has showed is the United States of America still has a race problem. And the "Stand Your Ground" law is flawed. Let's attack that and not the man. Sanford police cleared him, thanks to that law and an ineptness I've only seen on TV.

This grieving family is not going to roll over and let this get swept under the rug. They are in pain and were not getting answers.

I understand a few people don't want to sign the petition or have been burned one too many times, cool. But what if it was your family? It happened to Emmet Till. It happened to my family. It happened to Trayvon. It will happen again. Don't fool yourselves. 

(©The Grasshopper Group)

As for this blog and its future:

I had so many ideas and plans, but work has gotten in the way. I also came to some conclusions.

I am pretty sure that I will continue blogging (you need to see the recipes/meals I destroyed!), and making it yet more attractive. I will get that underway in a few months (or a few weeks cuz ya never know). I will probably host my own site.

But work will always come first, both actual and potential. And I got to get back to work.

Happy Birthday, Well-Informed Typist! Go, on with yo bad self!

My favorite post is still this: Go Mr. President!

Pinterest: Internet's Newest Sensation

 ©Pinterest.com

I decided to join Pinterest. It's such a fun site, and who doesn't love looking at pretty things?! Well, according to Mashable, 82% of Pinterest's users are women, but I think that will change. I have a couple of men who I follow.

I tend to follow people who post funny things, recipes, and natural hair styles. Oh, and let's not forget quotes. Pinterest was my place du jour for finding quotes for my other blog.

Pinterest works with the visual. You create boards and pin images that you find on websites to these boards with a little note, and then your followers or people in your category, see your pins, and either click the like button or re-pin to one of their boards or they can choose to follow your board. Pinterest is a social media site, but it's very different from Facebook and Twitter. Though it's been around since 2009, its popularity continues to grow.

In January, Pinterest had over 11 million unique users. Of course, people around the Internet are taking notice. The amount of sharing is tremendous and there have been many articles written about the site. Some like it. Others don't.

Blogher talked about how Pinterest brought new traffic to your blog or website, but I haven't seen that, even though I have 13 followers. I commented on Logallot's post about the site, and she brought up a good point: It showcases your personality. Yeah, I know. That could work against you, but that is why Pinterest is so appealing. It organizes what you've found across the web, and now you have a place so you can find those things in one place. Remodeling a room? Create a board on Pinterest for that. Planning a party? Pinterest got you covered.

The detractors worry about copyright infraction or that if you are found in violation, Pinterest does not protect you. Just because you find the image on a website does not mean you should use the image. Even though clicking the pin will lead back to the original website (and even that is iffy), people re-pin without clicking through to the website. Media Bistro wonders if Pinterest's terms of use are overreaching, and according to LLSocial, 99% of Pinterest users are violating are violating the site's terms of service (sadly, that includes me until I clean up my boards--Yays, another task to get done!).

Writer and blogger Gwendolyn Gage brought up that if the user is found in violation of anyone's copyright, Pinterest cannot be held liable. And perhaps the most valid point of all--Pinterest is a great time waster.

I debated before joining Pinterest because I knew I would spend a lot of time on it. I haven't because I'm working a lot of hours. But if I wasn't, I would spend a lot of time there. For me, Pinterest is better than Facebook. I don't mind looking at the pretty, but hearing about what an acquaintance or former co-worker is having for dinner doesn't move me. But when it comes to pinning for myself or from other websites, I need to follow certain tips.

*Find public domain or Creative Commons licensed images

*Create my own images and allow others to use them or monitor the images closely

*If I do repin, give credit! 

Is it time-consuming to find the original website? Yes (seconds-ten minutes)! Is it time-consuming to type out the original web address or mention the creator? Yes (seconds to a couple of minutes)! Is it time-consuming to ask permission? Yes! But it keeps you in the clear. Plus for every person that won't allow you to use their images, there are dozens who want you to. With Pinterest growing in popularity, the company is taking steps to cover themselves, and each user should do the same. Go back through your pins, and give credit. If you find yourself in trouble, Pinterest wrote this page to help you.

Is Pinterest for you? Only by checking it out will you know for sure! Here's a few interesting facts to help you decide.

©mdgadvertising.com Copy-pasta'd from Mashable**

 

**Took me three minutes.

You can follow me on Pinterest: AtheWriter.

Green Eggs And Ham

*This is not a sponsored post. I will get nothing for fawning over the Green Eggs And Ham from IHOP.

Going out to eat is a no-no for me. My budget simply won't accommodate that. But IHOP has piqued my interest.

©IHOP

I want to try the green eggs and ham. I am pretty sure it will taste much better than the green eggs I got almost daily during college. If you try it before I do, let me know.

Brings up good memories.