Banner Posted for Third Annual Milbloggies Finalists
Sunday, October 12, 2008, 01:08 PM
Knee Deep in the Hooah!
Keep My Soldier Safe
What...?
Parents Zone
Kaboom: A Soldier's War Journal
A Soldier's Perspective
From My Position... On the way!
Bouhammer's Afghan & Military Blog
U.S. Military Spouse
The Life and Times of a Butterfly Wife
SpouseBUZZ
Non-Essential Equipment
My Crazy Amazing Military Life
U.S. Military Veteran
A Battlefield Tourist
PTSD, A Soldier's Perspective
13 Stoploss
Michael Yon: Online Magazine
U.S. Marine Corps
SandGram
Akinoluna
Jarhead Online
From the Halls to the Shores
U.S. Navy
LT Nixon Rants
Neptunus Lex
CDR Salamander
C.H.U.D. Busters
U.S. Air Force
Dude, Where's the Beach?
The Talon
Exile in Portales
Charlie Foxtrot
USO Girls
Soldiers' Angels Germany
Soldiers' Angels Ladies of Liberty
Gazing at the Flag
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Bouhammer.com Hosts Embedded Blogger from Afghanistan
Sunday, October 12, 2008, 12:19 PM
(Bouhammer.com) My good friend, embedded journalist and Emmy-award winner, Scott Kesterson is back in Read the entire story here.
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Museum of Americans in Wartime Involving Military Bloggers, Personal War Stories
Sunday, October 12, 2008, 12:00 PM
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Tune In: Military Spouse Blogger Hosts Radio Show on AM 690 WIST
Saturday, October 11, 2008, 09:48 AM
(Hooah Wife and friends) This week my radio show moves to a new time - Saturdays from 9:00-10:00 AM Central. Wist AM 690. 1-800-888-WIST or (504)260-0690 My first half hour I will have Toby Nunn (see below) and the second half hour, will get a call from Little Miss Atilla regarding the American Carol SNAFU. The show is live and we will be taking your calls.Toby Nunn’s website, blog and link to the documentary Bad Voodoo (you can watch some on-line). Fair warning, the first edition, which is currently available, has some typos in it. Hey - you can read this blog and all my typos - you can certainly hang with a good book that has a few:)
Read more here.
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Banner Posted for Third Annual Milbloggies Winners
Friday, October 10, 2008, 12:39 AM
The great folks at Military.com developed the Banner below for the winners of the Third Annual Milbloggies. I’ll be posting the Banner for the Finalists later this week. Congratulations again to all the Winners and Finalists!
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Urban Dictionary adds Blackfive Milblogger Matt Burden
Thursday, October 9, 2008, 10:57 PM
If you’re wondering what all the Matt Burden (Blackfive) buzz is about, your prayers have been answered. I had a chance to finally meet (and roast) Matt during my Opening Speech at this year’s Milblog Conference. He’s a good sport.Well, apparently Matt has been listed in the Urban Dictionary (a dictionary written by people like you and me). And yes, it’s the same dictionary that defines a milblog as: “We don't need more sissy reporters at the front. Just tell those pansies in the mainstream media to copy/paste from the milblogs.”
Now, if you wanna read Matt’s description, click this link. However, you have been warned --- the description is not-safe-for-work. That is, unless of course you work in an office environment where every other word that comes out of your co-workers’ mouths is “f-this” and “f-that” followed by a high-five.
I’ll wait here while you go and read it…
There you have it. I know, after reading that description, I’m pretty sure it’s time for The President of The United States to go ahead and just declare Matt Burden a National Treasure. Then issue an Executive Order declaring “Matt Burden Day” every day.
I’m actually typing this right now high up in a tree in Matt’s backyard. His wireless signal works great.
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Milblogger Troy Steward Reveals Top 10 Things He Learned in Vegas During the Milblog Conference
Thursday, October 9, 2008, 09:28 PM
(Bouhammer.com) Here is my play on the Dave Letterman Top 10 list about the things I learned while attending the milblog conference in Vegas a few weeks ago.10. You can sleep when you are dead.
9. Do all nightclubs keep wheelchairs handy to wheel out passed-out patrons?
8. Putting hundreds of milbloggers in a room with only 6 power outlets is not a real good idea if you want them back next year.
7. Having a party at the Penthouse Club is a great ice breaker the night before the conference starts.
6. What happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas when bloggers are around.
Read the entire Top 10 list here.
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In the News: Log on to marine's war blog on life in Afghanistan
Wednesday, October 8, 2008, 11:09 PM
(mirror.co.uk) A brave young Commando today gives Sunday Mirror readers a stark insight into life on Afghanistan's frontline in the first instalment of an exclusive internet blog.Royal Marine Steven Townsley, 21, who arrived in the war zone last week, will give the inside story during airborne operations against the Taliban.
Steven, from Berkshire, tells how he and his colleagues from 42 Commando go through their final drills before battle.
Before flying out to Kandahar with the 8,000- strong 3 Commando Brigade Marine Townsley said: "We're trained for all-out war - but I'd rather be out there building a school or providing medical help for people.
"I'm looking forward to writing for the Sunday Mirror. It's important people know how committed we are to succeeding."
Read the entire story here.
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Blogger Sells His Website for $15 Million, Mentions Military Blogs During Interview
Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 11:24 PM
The one person blog Bankaholic was recently sold to Bankrate for $15 million. During an interview with WebProNews, the author of Bankaholic Johns Wu was asked, "There's been a lot of criticism of blogs as credible news sources. What is your position on this?".His response was:
"I trust blogs WAY more than mainstream media. Some people will say that corporate media is more accurate b/c stories are screened by editors and lawyers, but this is also one of the flaws. I like to read articles that are raw and unedited by people who are qualified to write about the topic. The perfect example is the Iraq war. Who would you trust more? an article from Fox News or a blog post from a Marine on the front lines?”
It's nice to see notable bloggers like Johns Wu take notice of military bloggers and their importance. $15 million is a massive deal for any blogger and shows just how valued blogs can be. As most of you know, back in early 2006 I sold Milblogging.com to Military.com, and like Johns Wu arrangement with Bankrate, Military.com has kept me onboard to continue blogging. And before you ask, I can’t share the details of the price I was paid for Milblogging.com, because I signed a non-disclosure agreement. But I can say this: it wasn’t nearly as much as $15 million.
Honestly. It wasn't even half that. And I certainly haven't allowed it to change my life.
I mean, just like you, I still put my pants on one leg at a time. And believe it or not, I even kept my day job. In fact, I somehow find time to run this site and blog after hours. Albeit on my diamond-studded laptop...
Because, let’s face it people, how can anyone be expected to blog on a dull computer? That's why I go with a 24-carat gold plated laptop with diamond-studded keyboard. Computer accessories include a sparkling emerald mouse, a 3D holographic screen...
Oh, and don't forget the 2 Faberge eggs with built in surround sound speakers.
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Doonesbury's Garry Trudeau Interviewed about Military Blogs
Monday, October 6, 2008, 10:15 PM
(Mother Jones) ...MJ: How did "The Sandbox" come about?GT: I'm a reader of milblogs, but as with all blogs, the wheat/chaff ratio makes it a poor investment of time. So I decided to set up my own page, open it to everyone serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and post the best of what we receive. Our authors seem to be thrilled to be part of "The Sandbox," because they had been laboring in near obscurity—writing milblogs that only family and friends saw...
Read the entire transcript of the interview here.
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In the News: Soldier's diary teaches children about Civil War
Monday, October 6, 2008, 08:44 AM
(Macon Telegraph) The words of Confederate soldier William E. Killen spanned 144 years Friday to captivate fifth-grade students at Hunt Elementary School.
Read the entire story here.
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English Student Reflects on Military Blogs, War
Sunday, October 5, 2008, 12:29 PM
(Eng W140h) I have believed from the start that the war in The thing that I noticed from the beginning about these soldiers is how amazingly similar they are to the average, everyday, mainland American. They play video games, they write, they joke, surf the net, etc. In a big way this is a wakeup call for me. Seeing how similar these people are to me caused me to question, “What if I was in the army?” I never thought about this before because I always thought that it took a different, disconnected sort of person to join the army, but that is not the case. A lot of these people have close family and relatives that miss them; they are not disconnected. They just see a certain appeal to the army that most do not. There is the money, healthcare, free meals, free lodging, the regimented lifestyle, and even fitness that the army offers that could all appeal to a person. Heck, if I was not worried about having to stay or die, the army would appeal to me.
Read the entire story here.
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Milblogging Tip: How to expand your Military Blog to Podcasting
Saturday, October 4, 2008, 02:18 AM
Expanding your blog is really a matter of having the time and in many cases, the resources. But if you’ve been watching the trends lately in the blogging world – more and more bloggers are podcasting.If you’re interested or have questions about getting into podcasting, I’d recommend contacting Military Blogger CJ of A Soldier’s Perspective and You Served. He’s been hosting a weekly radio show on BlogTalkRadio discussing military topics. You can also check out BlogTalkRadio’s About page to learn more how their service works.
I don’t actually have my own podcast yet, but it seems easy enough. I mean, if there's one thing I know, it's CJ. We’ve been friends for years online and I finally got a chance to meet him in person at last month’s Milblog Conference. So believe me when I tell you that if he can host his own podcast show, so can you. In fact, I’m pretty sure a box of rabbits could host their own podcast.
Note: I have no evidence to support my claim that a box of rabbits could host their own podcast. I, do, however, have evidence that a box of rabbits travels a lot further when you use two arms, instead of one.
I’m just saying.
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Milblog Conference Photo: My friend, supporter, and fellow blogger Wendy of ChromedCurses.com
Saturday, October 4, 2008, 01:26 AM
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Blackfive’s Pick for Best Write-up of the Milblog Conference
Friday, October 3, 2008, 03:29 AM
(Blackfive)...Is here and it's dead on. Of course, I'm a fan of TTG. Although I'm not sure about the call to not have the conference in Vegas...I'm no fan of Vegas, but if we don't get involved in the bigger blogosphere, we (milblogs) will continue to be insular...Read the entire story here.
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In the Army News: Secretary of Army encourages MilBloggers
Thursday, October 2, 2008, 03:11 AM
(United States Army) Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and Chief of Public Affairs Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner participated in a live blogger's roundtable panel at the 2008 MilBlog Conference held Sept. 20 in conjunction with the Blog World Expo. The live blogger's roundtable was an inaugural event for the conference, providing military bloggers with the opportunity to ask questions of Army leadership.
The 3rd annual MilBlog Conference brought together key military bloggers, including active-duty Soldiers, military supporters, civilians and veterans who blog about military issues.
Read the entire story here.
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Working on Important Bug Fixes to Milblogging.com
Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 11:30 PM
Because I haven't written much since the Vegas Milblog Conference, I thought I’d let you know I've been working on a few bug fixes and some improvements to Milblogging.com. My plan is to release them in the next couple weeks. I've been testing a few of the fixes and they actually seem to work okay. I mean, my computer only shutdown twice. And sparkles only jumped off the screen about eight times. So I'm pretty sure the fixes are just about ready to be released.I know you can't wait to see the finished product. Just imagine...in a few short weeks when you try sending a message through the Contact Us form, I might actually receive it. I'm serious.
Keep in mind though, the enhancement doesn’t actually include me “reading and responding to your message”. That’s an enhancement I’m saving for the Spring of 2009. You know -- something to keep the hatemail coming in. Cause this website just wouldn’t be the same.
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Milblog Conference Photo: Me and Boohbah (Thanks to Melissa!)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 02:04 AM
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In the News: Army Secretary Pete Geren Supports Military Blogs, New Media
Monday, September 29, 2008, 09:10 AM
(Star-Telegram.com) To understand how established military blogs have become in the halls of the Defense Department, just check Army Secretary Pete Geren’s computer.Geren, a Fort Worth native who assumed the top civilian post in the Army last year, browses several each morning, just as he reads coverage of the Army in the nation’s major daily newspapers.
"It’s part of my effort to understand what is going on in the communications domain, particularly for the age group that is the heart and soul of our Army," Geren said during a phone interview as he returned from a recent trip to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Just a few short years ago, the military seemed unnerved by the ruminations of its creatively inspired young service members, citing concerns about operational security and the rough and uncensored reality of combat stories.
But particularly beginning last year, the military has altered course and now offers bloggers regular access for interviews with top leaders, reflecting the changing role of both bloggers and public affairs.
Geren, a believer in the power of new media and one of its leading proponents within the Pentagon, held a question-and-answer session at a recent gathering of military bloggers in Las Vegas, a stamp of approval if there ever was one.
Read the entire story here.
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Photo: Me and My Internet Idol Guy Kawasaki (Friday before the Milblog Conference)
Sunday, September 28, 2008, 04:14 AM
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