The Key to success (The art of blogging)

Have you ever wondered what is the key to a successful blog?

If you have, you probably wish you were doing more than writing just "for yourself". I mean, lets face it, if you are publishing it, it means you want it to be seen.
Well...surely there is a plethora of factors to consider, but there are some key elements that will lead you to success (amazing how the title suddenly makes sense now, right?)


"Launch in 3....2....1 .." :
So, you advertised to the high winds about your blog, your friends come by and leave encouraging messages, looks like you're all set right? Maybe not...
A very important part of a blog launch is the the way it starts. Sure, a presentation of the contents of the blog is a nice way to get the ball rolling, but you need to follow it up with a interesting first post. Something that will leave people curious about the next day. If you have people wishing you good luck messages instead of actually comenting on the contents, it probably means you failed to grip their interest.
You should also be aware that some people will fake their interest in an attempt to encourage you.


"Repetition...repetition..." :
Bumpy as a launch may be, the most important part of the blog are the next following days. Content, content! You will need to train your followers into including your blog into their daily routine. The best way to ensure this is by providing daily content. Fail this and your blog will be an afterthought in someone's activities. Until they completely forget to visit.


"Saving for a rainy day...":
Is your content time sensitive? Some information is only interesting while it's "hot", movies for example have a medium time frame, your opinion about roses is not time sensitive at all. You shouldn't create a avalanche of posts on one day....and a dry spell for the next following weeks.
Knowing this, and the importance of creating a habit out of your blog, space your information so that you constantly have something new for your readers.


"Friendship Ring...":
Have you ever came up to a group of people and said "You and your friends seem so happy talking to each other....that I just have to become your friend too!" ? Probably not, right? Getting in between a group of friends and getting accepted to it is always complicated.
Getting too personal with your posts will only ensure that your blog doesn't focus on anything other than your circle of friends (in essence...a closed group). In this same manner, your friends might hinder your attempt to reach a broader audience by their personal comments towards you. Try to direct them into posting about your actual piece of information, and not towards you as a person.
In that sense, use expressions that your readers will relate to. For example, calling your readers "my young padawans" in a star wars blog...
You will want your readers to view you as a friend, someone they share an interest with, someone who they feel they can chat up to on ocasion, as well as someone they trust to deliver an interesting view on events.


"Take off your shoes, and relax..":
This is quite obvious actually. Most people work, or have school to attend. That means they will probably only read your posts once they get home from their long day's work. Treat them as a weary traveller. Have a "warm post" waiting for them as they come home.

Space your information so it becomes easy to read. No one likes being hit by a wall of text(kinda like this one will be!)
Pastels, soft white and light gray backgrounds and a decent sized font will have your reader's eyes thank you. It will make them feel comfortable while visiting your site, and they will subconsciently associate this feeling of well being with your site. Fail this and they will postpone reading your articles to a time when they feel less tired (in other words...you will be lucky if they check your blog on the weekend).
Of course, some people check their blogs during the slow hours, at work. The advice is still valid, as the last thing someone wants is seeing a bright colored "flashy" website that will function as a "I'm not working right now" sign.


"Are you not entertained? I said...ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?..":
Like stated in the previous point...your blog will probably be one of their first steps in their daily relax routine. They will check their mail, their facebook/twitter and what not, and your blog.
So, make good use of your humor, witty comments and comforting words. After a long day's work, there is something to be said about blowing off some steam with something that makes them smile. If you entertain them enough, they will feel quite happy to show that "funny and informative post" to their other friends...which might just increase your fanbase.


A picture is worth a thousand words":

Believe me when I tell you this:
You need to include a picture in just about every post you do. It is that "Eye Candy" that will dress up your words. Plus it will make your posts look bigger and more serious, without strainning the reader's attention and available time. You can talk all you want about a concert or party/event, but nothing gives the actual feel like some pictures of it.


"Brains.....must eat...brainsss....":
Yes...that's right, you're writing for a mass of zombies. What's left of your readers brain after their day's work won't be much. They aren't in the mood for thinking, you can practically spoon feed them everything you want, as their trust in you increases. Just above, I wrote "Believe me when I tell you this", did you actually believe me, or did you even bother questioning what I said? More bottom line to it...have you not been taking everything I said so far as absolutely true?

....that's because I know things. Do I? Or am I trapping you in a vicious circle with self fulfilling prophecies?
Yes...you will have the power to influence your reader's minds. Do it in a way that will make them want to know what more information you have to offer.

Did these last few words made you think that I'm on to something, and are you now curious about what else I have to offer? Will you be coming back? ;)

Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray, a mais recente adaptação cinematográfica da obra de Oscar Wilde estreia no próximo dia 15 de Abril em Portugal.
O filme carrega a sempre difícil tarefa de seguir o livro que o originou. Falar em sucesso ou fracasso neste caso, seria perseguir um preciosismo. As implicações morais, e a forma como a história é narrada terá que se sobrepôr à fidelidade que o filme tem ao livro.
O ambiente encontra-se bem caracterizado, levando-nos a uma era Vitoriana, aonde a civilização se perde na escuridão dos vícios humanos.
Sem "spoilers" para quem não conhece a história, à medida que o filme avança, é nos dado a conhecer a facilidade como os mais puros ideias se deixam corromper, como tão facilmente revelamos ao mundo o nosso lado mais sombrio. Mas aí está uma contradição, porque na realidade não revelamos este nosso lado ao mundo, antes pelo contrário, tentamos esconder o monstro em nós....na cave mais escura, num sotão fechado....o reflexo de quem somos.

Mas....atribuir louvores a uma história que simplesmente foi adaptada para filme, tambem não será a atitude correcta. Quanto muito, congratular-se a maneira como se tenta narrar a história.
E nesse campo, creio que hajam pequenas falha.
O facto de o filme se inciar já a meio, rapidamente retornando a um passado aonde teve inicio a história é uma técnica em si já muito conhecida, que no caso em questão falhou ao produzir um clima mais intenso como assim tentava. Não foi um inicio mal pensado, mas....poderia ter sido algo muito mais intenso.
O elenco, no geral desempenhou o papel que tinha que desempenhar, de forma decente, mas sem sobressair . Quanto ao papel de Dorian Gray, desempenhado pelo Ben Barnes, as repentinas mudanças de humor do actor principal apesar de tentarem transparecer os breves momentos de arrependimento numa vida de pecado não se encontram apresentados de uma forma credível.
O próprio actor, parece uma nova personificação do Keanu Reaves. Falta de expressividade, e o carisma de uma tábua de madeira. Meu deus, até eu sou mais sedutor que a personagem que ele tentava representar! Ao espectador, é como se nos tentassem fazer engolir que o actor é tão belo que com a mais pequena frase de engate estariamos submersos no seu charme, independentemente da falta do mesmo.
No final, creio que é um filme interessante, sobretudo para quem não conhecer a história, se bem que um bocado extenso demais, demorando um pouco mais de 2 horas.

The Vote: 5.5 /10. Filme para se ver em casa numa noite de maior tédio.

Casshern Sins

Casshern Sins consiste num reboot de "Neo-Human Casshern", uma série dos anos 70's.
Estava bastante curioso acerca desta série, após ter visto o filme da série original em 2004. Este reboot leva a história numa direcção bastante diferente, mas creio que lhe infere uma maior profundidade.
A história revolve em torno de um mundo em ruina, populado maioriariamente por robots. Após muitos anos, Casshern aparece. Sem memória, mas acusado de ser o responsável pela devastação que varre a terra, ele tenta fazer sentido do que se passa, levando ao mesmo tempo o espectador numa viagem que explora a nossa propria mortalidade.
A profundidade das personagens é no geral bem executada, até mesmo aquelas que apenas figuram num só episódio.
O final não é telegrafado desde o inicio....aliás, nem mesmo no ultimo episódio há uma certeza de como tudo irá acabar.
Para quem já conhece outras séries de anime, esta podia-se catalogar como uma versão mais sombria de Trigun.

The Vote: 7/10. A Must See.

Hyaku Shiky

The Hyaku Shiky as seen in Zeta Gundam. As far as I know...it's the only mobile suit ever controlled by Char Aznable that is not Red (Ok...the Zeong doesn't count!). Being the slacker that I am, bought a gold plated version, so no painting involved as far as the external armor goes. Painted the internals in GSI Creos Dark Iron, and used some Aluminium color for the pistons. Since I had already used the Cobalt blue on the RX-121 and Quel, which wouldn't suit the Hyaku Shiki so well...I darkened with a mix of black and Midnight Blue. It's a bit of an older model, which you can tell by the posability range it offers. Nonetheless...it is possible to strike a good looking pose with it. I would say it was a enjoyable experience, a fast and fun build, even though I did ruin one of the dry transfer decals. Need to be more careful next time.

RGM-79Q Quel

The GM-79Q Quel. Yes....another GM, this one in Titan colors. Added a bit of dry brushing for that worn look, but not too much.
Never really liked the ideia of the fingers in red on the RX121 Hazel, but I found that they would suit this one. Who says GM's don't have a charm of their own?

RGM 79 FP "Striker"

Finally took the time to take some photos of this kit. The Striker is a 1/144 High Grade Kit and as far as I know only featured in videogames, so it might not have a particularly interesting story.
It's a GM at it's core with a fancy weapon and shield. The armor seems to fit it's intended purpose, close combat. To that extent it's armor is better than a standard GM but without the bulkiness of some of the other models.
The cool gimmicks are as stated before it's shield with extendable spikes and a twin spear who also converts to a scythe like weapon. Not only that but the spear/scythe is in fact composed by 2 beam sabers which can be detached, so it really is full of surprises.
Regarding the actual model building, I decided to use a more fictional approach and paint a more vivid type of green, instead of using military tones. I'm also finding I really much enjoy orange and white tones in the models, I'll have to do something in that nature in the future.

Portugal, terra de ladrões...

E agora um pequeno boletim informativo...ou até dois (duas simples regras, que se calhar até vos poupam algum tempo, no caso da regra 2):
Regra 1- Se comprarem um tlm roubado, garantam que apagam os antigos números todos e que não mandem por engano(?) mensagens de engate a uma das pessoas da lista do antigo dono. Graças ao incumprimento dessa regra, à facilidade com que convence a outra pessoa a aparecer num encontro (há que saber engatar...claro), e à policia à paisana de Lisboa, a minha irmã recuperou o seu n97.
Regra 2- Caso o vosso seja roubado, não se dêem ao trabalho de o mandar bloquear. Dito por um amigo que trabalha na TMN e até pela Polícia quando a minha irmã reportou o roubo, "eles não bloqueiam o tlm roubado porque assim perdem um cliente".Afinal de contas, seja roubado ou não, o que lhes interessa é que o ladrão gaste dinheiro em chamadas. No entanto, dado o facto da minha irmã o ter recuperado...foi uma história gira:
-"Boa tarde, venho desbloquear o tlm que recuperei que...oh.....surpresa, afinal nem estava bloqueado!"
-Oh...(silêncio)....é que....recebemos um pedido para o desbloquear dia.....14....
-É curioso que diga isso, porque eu já recuperei o tlm a semana passada, só tive foi tempo de cá vir hoje. Por isso gostava de saber quem é que fez esse pedido visto que nessa altura o tlm já estava em minhas mãos.
- Ah...é que (silêncio).....estamos com problemas na base de dados....sabe...err..bem...não é possível consultar...
-E então como explica que eu para o bloquear tive que trazer a minha identificação, prova de compra, documento da polícia comprovando que o tlm tinha sido roubado, mas uma pessoa qualquer possa chegar cá e pedir para o desbloquear?
-Ah....(novo silêncio)...pois...de momento não lhe podemos disponibilizar essa informação....

Cá está meus amigos, Portugal no seu melhor. :)

A Unicorn is born...

Working on my first Master Grade kit. 1/100 Unicorn Gundam. So far only painted the inner frame with Mr Color Iron color. Was kinda worried that the results weren't that good. Had some problems with the paint, which was already dry from the start(had to use some alchool/Gunze Thinner, so I wasn't sure the paint was "ok" judging by the result. Polished with a soft paper cloth and voilá!, the color came alive. Considering the actual armor of the Unicorn, since I hear everything is very "tight fit" and that parts brush against each other on the transformation to Destroy Mode. I will just be using Tamya White primer Spray. It has a really nice matte finish and it should resist well to the friction when transforming. Plus, the less amount of paint coats, the lesser the chances of parts friction.