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Tell Me........

by: RiaD

Wed Mar 30, 2011 at 23:32:17 PM EDT

I'm Listening

RiaD :: Tell Me........

We've been part of the Port Writers Alliance for two months now & ....

well.... I want your input. not only about PWA but other stuff too.

& i'm too lazy to e-mail everyone.
(but please feel free to e-mail your answer to me if you'd rather- Riad AT firefly-dreaming DOT com)

1- Do you think PWA has helped or hurt firefly?

2- Is there anything you'd change about the way the digests work?

3- Do you like the structured feel that the front page has become?

4- What do YOU think firefly-dreaming is lacking in?

5- What things or types of things would you like to see (or see more of) at firefly?

6- What things or types of things would you rather see less of?

7- Do you have any Brilliant Ideas to make this site better?
(explain plz. this is NOT a yes/no question!)

8- Do you promote firefly at other blogs?
(by talking about it, linking to essays, sig line, etc)

9- Do I worry too much?

***please note****
the poll is multiple choice!
pick all that apply

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Tell Me........ | 22 comments

i'm listening intensely...... (15.00 / 7)

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Thu Mar 31, 2011 at 03:38:54 AM UTC

If I wanted to read what they were posting, (15.00 / 4)

I know how to find those sites. No offense to MomCat or Edger or anyone else on our list...it is sometimes fun to follow the links & all of them are smart people and well worth reading.

_{but they aren't fireflies, exactly}

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White

by: Youffraita @ Thu Mar 31, 2011 at 05:00:35 AM UTC

yes (15.00 / 1)

i was hoping the Alliance would generate more participation also....

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Fri Apr 01, 2011 at 14:22:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I like the idea of the United Blogs, (15.00 / 4)

and to read the posts of people who aren't fireflies.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

by: mplo @ Thu Mar 31, 2011 at 14:26:29 PM UTC

tnx miki (9.00 / 2)

i like seeing quickly what's "on" at the other blogs & having links to click through to the posts that interest me

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Fri Apr 01, 2011 at 14:23:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You're welcome, RiaD. (14.00 / 1)

Isn't it cool?

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

by: mplo @ Sat Apr 02, 2011 at 12:00:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes - you worry too much - (15.00 / 4)

but understand you want to make it as good as possible. It's your baby.

I like the optics - like recipes - homey stuff. and I read the links. It was a good idea to make a consortium of blogs.

I'm not a PR person - so I don't know how to get more readers. Do you think you are getting more from the consortium?

I like you must the way you are, Ria.

(Insert Billy Joel video) -

For who could have foretold
That the heart grows old.
W.B. Yeats

by: Xanthe @ Thu Mar 31, 2011 at 15:56:09 PM UTC

(^.^) (14.67 / 3)

well, we got YOU through the Alliance- and glad i am of that!

our numbers have gone up (visitors/page hits) by appx 25% since the Alliance started
and this is with three of our "regulars" (kathleen, newpioneer, alma) being on "blog break" for various reasons.

thanks Xanthe i love you too
♥~

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Fri Apr 01, 2011 at 14:27:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It is worth it (15.33 / 3)

just for that very reason.......Xanthe I so agree! Also I am happy to see these stats that is a good thing!

by: Kathleen @ Fri Apr 01, 2011 at 15:18:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

answers (15.00 / 3)

1. helped, but not greatly

2. Not really

3. I'm agnostic

4. Money. ;-)

5. Let me think about that one.

6. Nothing, really.

7. of course, I'm just keeping them to myself.
Ok, not really.

8. I try, but I don't go too many places on the tooobs.

9. Absolutely. But that's a good thing. Firefly is your baby, and it's only natural you'd worry about its future.

by: puzzled @ Thu Mar 31, 2011 at 16:30:37 PM UTC

yeah (15.00 / 1)

i agree.
specially 1 & 4.

tnx puzzled
♥~

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Fri Apr 01, 2011 at 14:29:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ria (15.00 / 2)

I am overwhelmed with so much to read so I am in-different.

I don't have the time. I bookmarked Edgar's site long time ago and I go there everyday for a quick scan along with digby, MLW and here that is it for me, unless someone gives a link that interest me. I limit myself because there are so many other things I want to do with my day.

Trust your gut. Is the gain worth, the extra work?

by: Kathleen @ Fri Apr 01, 2011 at 00:05:05 AM UTC

truly... (15.00 / 1)

Is the gain worth, the extra work?

i'm not sure.

it takes me 30-45 minutes every day to do the digests & post them to DD & TSHG. another 15 minutes on thursdays & sunday to also post to WWL & WITR.

we are getting people clicking through, some have even joined up & started participating...

i think blogging is down all over though.

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Fri Apr 01, 2011 at 14:33:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not a major election year. (13.00 / 1)

Watch things ramp up toward the 2012 election cycle. Not that that's really our modus operandi -- we're not GOS, after all -- but I'm expecting more participation at blogs in general as election season heats up next year.

BTW, did you see that there are already enough sigs on the recall thingie to recall at least one WI pol? If only the voters who loathe the GOP policies actually vote...aye, there's the rub.

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White

by: Youffraita @ Sat Apr 02, 2011 at 07:59:07 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

answers (15.00 / 2)

1- Do you think PWA has helped or hurt firefly? I don't know really, I just skip over it.

2- Is there anything you'd change about the way the digests work? No

3- Do you like the structured feel that the front page has become? What you do Ria is always spot on.

4- What do YOU think firefly-dreaming is lacking in? I can not think of a thing honestly, it fits the vision perfectly.

5- What things or types of things would you like to see (or see more of) at firefly? No sure because I haven't had the time to read most of what is posted these days, there is so much here worth reading I just think I will get back to it later.

6- What things or types of things would you rather see less of? Not sure

7- Do you have any Brilliant Ideas to make this site better?
(explain plz. this is NOT a yes/no question!) I am so sorry but I have no ideas Ria except I would like to find a way for the site to bring in money for you. Something fun that people would want to participate in, like everyone contribute an item to auction. I have some fun stuff I got in Bolivia that I could donate to an auction. We all have thing around the house, or people make things (I bet Miki would donate a silver piece we could all drool over). OR a game of some kind. You spend a lot of time creating a lovely home for us and I just know we all have something around the house we could donate for an auction. The only cost would be to ship to who wins the item.

8- Do you promote firefly at other blogs?
(by talking about it, linking to essays, sig line, etc) This is a good idea I will do this more.

9- Do I worry too much? Yes sweetie

by: Kathleen @ Fri Apr 01, 2011 at 00:26:16 AM UTC

thanks kathleen (14.50 / 2)

fund raising is something i really lack skilz in.
i'm much mo' better at spending
(^.^)

i'll try to come up with something

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Fri Apr 01, 2011 at 14:35:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I will help you (11.00 / 3)

with it Ria.

Right now the 2 things that concern me the most is your health and staying float.

I am not sure how to create an essay where people can bid with out it getting too complicated or confusing. Maybe on the side bar pics of items up for bid and can be there for say a 2 week time (trial).

Here are 3 items I have that are one of a kind treasures:

Both of these items are Maracas (sometimes called rhumba shakers) are simple percussion instruments (idiophones), usually played in pairs, consisting of a dried gourd shell (cuia - kOO-ya)(the top pic) or coconut shell (the bottom pic) filled with seeds or dried beans. They are made by descendants of the Inca people, hand carved and tell a story of their family and village. The Andean peoples speak Quechua and Aymara language and sell these items they make in open air markets. I bought them in small village in Bolivia that was 13,000 feet above sea level.

This is called a pan-pipe (Zampona) which is the most common musical sound you hear everywhere you go in the Andes. From the youngest to the oldest it is played by everyone. This pan-pipe was made by children who live in an orphanage and the proceeds from the sales go to support the orphanage. The children are very proud of their skills of making and playing these instruments. The beads on the pan-pipe are hand made in Boliva.

by: Kathleen @ Fri Apr 01, 2011 at 16:09:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Kathleen: agreed. (11.50 / 2)

Right now the 2 things that concern me the most is your health and staying afloat.

Ria should not have to settle for OTC meds b/c she can't afford her prescriptions. Nobody should: but especially not our RiaD. [Rhetorical: What have we as nation become?]

I don't really want to see ads here...but if they'd pay the virtual rent, I'd deal with them the same way I do at GOS: I'd ignore them.

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White

by: Youffraita @ Sat Apr 02, 2011 at 08:07:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you and I agree with you Youff (5.00 / 1)

but something has to pay the bills and take the stress/worry about keeping the site going off Ria. Firefly is a gift that the world needs more than ever right now.

Would you be willing to write a letter asking for sponsorship we could send to places that sell organic seeds or other businesses that could benefit from being advertised here? This is just me speaking Ria doesn't ask but we need ideas. It could be a win win for businesses we like.

by: Kathleen @ Sat Apr 02, 2011 at 13:03:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ria, I think your Get Growing (10.50 / 2)

cross-posts to GOS are probably the best thing you can do to get more eyes here. I was in the Onions diary this morning before work, and the enthusiasm was palpable. (Didn't occur to me until right now to check out your second post today...so sorry...I was at work & forgot by the time I got home.)

I have been a BAD firefly...I could do more to promote this site & promise to try to do better.

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White

by: Youffraita @ Fri Apr 01, 2011 at 06:33:21 AM UTC

tnx youff (15.00 / 1)

it's why i'm posting the Get Growing there.
i'm amazed at the enthusiasm. i guess a lot of people really want to learn more and have no one to ask. it's kinda cool (but also time consuming)

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Fri Apr 01, 2011 at 14:37:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh, that place (10.00 / 1)

is a time-sink for sure! But I've met a lot a great people there, too. Some of them are even here, now! Something the Dog Said, for example: I met him there first -- before I even joined Docudharma, iirc.

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White

by: Youffraita @ Sat Apr 02, 2011 at 08:11:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Tell Me........ | 22 comments

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