130th requested review is of Kick-me
Rating out of 10: 2

layout etc. (2: 0)
This layout is all wrong and therefore I cannot bring myself to give it even one point. I know that people think that it doesn't matter what screen size they design their layout around because they use the larger screen size, but it does matter for those of us that are going to read your diary! Isn't that why the diary is online, so that other people can read it? Keep that in mind the next time you design a layout, one designed for a smaller screen size will still look GOOD on your screen, but one designed for a larger one will not look good on the rest. Remember those of us that prefer the smaller screen size please?

The first thing that is wrong is the picture is incredibly huge. Why is that? There is no need for it to be that big. I'm not even sure what the picture represents for this person anyway. And one last thing on the picture: it makes the whole thing take WAY TOO LONG to load.

Secondly the actual diary table is in turn way too small. I came here to read a diary, not stare at some incredibly large photograph. Going along with the idea that this is a diary, your font needs to be a little larger so it is easier to read.

Finally there are lots of unclear links everywhere. If I'm going to click it, please tell me where it is taking me?

The one thing about the layout I did like is the colors. I think the use of black and white was very nice.

Annoying writing habits: (2: 0)
For starters I'd appreciate it if she stopped using her diary as a means of telling me what internet tests she has taken, nothing gets on my nerves more these days. As well she writes, "haha," and "LoL" all the time. I don't like that.

I almost cringe at all of the writing habits I see repeated in journal after journal, for instance using asterisks for emphasis, ellipses everywhere, and typing actions like "*shudder*," instead of writing about the feeling itself.

One of her entries is devoted entirely to the subject of her layout. That's not really what I came to read about. Oh and have I not mentioned a thousand times that password protected entries make me want to throw shoes at my screen? Note to future diarist that request a review: please provide the reviewer with the password in the email, otherwise you will lose a point in this section no matter how wonderful your diary is.

Unique: (2: 1)
She writes poetry and I like that it is included on the website, but I'd prefer if there was more commentary about what the poem means and why it was written.

Quotes from the diary: (2: 1)
"Oh well, I guess I'm out now. Peace out, y'all. (I can't believe I just said "y'all". I've been living in Indiana too damned long- almost a year. *shudder* I feel like such a damned hick.) Tomorrow I will write a better entry, I promise. I will go back to pretending I'm a writer. It's just been a down day for me."

"All day I was thinking about tons of things I had to write about in my diary, but I didn't write them down because I figured I would remember them. I've been putting it off and putting it off all day and now I have no idea what I was going to write about. Crap. Human beings can be so stupid."

If you must write something like this, that would have been a day to not write an entry. I'm more for fewer entries than things like this.

"Let me think... what else is going on in my life? Not much, really. Everything is same old, same old. School sucks, home is boring. I want a new book to read but I never have time to go to the library."

Your life is only as boring as you make it sound, you are the writer, you write the words. Something to ponder: you can't control your life, but you can control your diary.

Would I go back for another read? (2: 0)
I looked around a bit. I stayed longer than I really wanted, to be quite honest. I wanted to find something nice to say. I think the girl who writes this must get something out of it, but I think she'd get a lot more out of it if she used it as a means of expressing herself more.

When the "Friday Five," becomes one of the interesting things about your diary, you should seriously reconsider what you are using as a means of inspiration. I highly recommend visiting one of the web sites that have writing prompts. Sit and meditate before you write, and sometimes it doesn't hurt to think about your audience; Entertain us, that is why we came to your diary.
posted by Eli Moose on Thursday, May 30, 2002

129th requested review is of Yes
Rating out of 10: 8

layout etc. (2: 2)
Although I know the diarist didn't make her own layout, she did have the choice in accepting it from the person who did make it. I think this layout really reflects the person behind the words.

If there is anything your layout should be, this is it. It should accentuate what you write. The layout should be about you too, the way your words in your diary are. I think this time it all fits; it simply comes together.

The picture makes me think of a person who is mature and cultured. She in fact calls herself a "prude" in one of her entries. Although I don't want to call her that myself I believe the simplictic, classy design fits hand in hand with the way she describes herself, which is good.

Of course there are no previous and next links at the top of the diary, but those wouldn't be hard to add if she so choose. I've never been a fan of the diaryland profile page because it is so purple and boring, but I do understand why people choose to use them.

Annoying writing habits: (2: 2)
I am at a loss for words here, it appears that she doesn't have any.

Unique: (2: 1)
Although I hate not giving two points out in this section this time, it is for good cause. She didn't design the diary herself or I'd give a huge unique point for her ability to design such a complementary layout, but I did give her points for that already.

I do find it unique that she writes well without over doing it. I find her candor heartfelt and refreshing as if she were discussing something with a friend.

Quotes from the diary: (2: 2)
"And I also get really wrapped up in the plot. I vegetate, and it's pleasurable the same way bad movies can be pleasurable. The plot is rarely filled with twists and turns, let alone wacky stylistic or ideological flourishes, but I don't mind. It's clean. There's a way for everything to work out in the end, there's a goal to look forward to. Most of all, and this is perhaps the worst of it, almost all romance novels feature fairly helpless heroines."

I have read my share of trashy romance novels too, and yet I always feel embarrassed to admit it as well. A kindred soul.

"Vaguely related: I was on my way to the library with Marisa today and in a sudden surge of exultant singleness I affirmed happily, 'The world is my meat market!'
But then I had to add, 'That would have been better if I ate meat.'"

"It's funny that this graduating from college thing is happening right now, since my body is changing too. I feel like I'm finally growing into my adult form. I've changed shape recently. In the past couple of weeks I've grown nipples. I always used to have the nipples of a young girl, pink and soft. Now they are tingly and growing little budlike tips. My breasts have grown a little, too, and I think that I am filling out a little more around the hips than I was before. I don't look so much like a preadolescent anymore. I sort of miss it, I think."

Such bare honesty.

Would I go back for another read? (2: 1)
Big surprise this time, the answer is yes and no. I liked her writing and enjoyed my time at her diary very much. I think it is has great potential to be a very good diary. What do I think it is missing? I'm not too sure, I can't put my finger on it. I think she probably needs to do a little openning herself up from the inside out. She doesn't talk much about certain areas of her life and it leaves me wondering and craving more.

posted by Eli Moose on Tuesday, May 28, 2002

Things people are saying about The Real Diary Critic

If you're ever bored, try typing your name or title into a Google search. If you are anything like me, you'll find these results hilarious. Like always, I want to give all of you the chance to see what people are saying while providing them with a link from here. Enjoy!

"I read about this site before visiting it. A few people have expressed dislike in the reviews, saying that it's far too harsh and bitchy.

Well, yeah. That's pretty much what the site is about and it's obvious from the very beginning. Don't request a review if you can't take a kick to the ego. I'm tempted to put my diary in the queue, but I have a suspicion the reviewer gets a certain pleasure of destroying anything you may think is decent about your diary. As tough as your skin may be, someone telling you that your writing is dull and tedious and they would rather stick a pencil in their eye than continue reading... well, it's like asking to get fucked in the ear, isn't it? Just plain silly unless you like pain and an earache."
Taken from: Judge-it

This is a reviewer of review sites! How incredibly original. I didn't really appreciate the fact that she accussed me of slander in her original piece, but she made a smart move to remove it after being told what the word really means. Other than that, it did give me some traffic. You can't beat that with a stick.

"I knew I was playing with fire when I requested a review from The Real Diary Critic Mostly, I was curious to see how many different ways she could find to bash my life. And hoo boy, she didn't let me down, nosirebob!

Evidently I'm a bad episode of Jerry Springer. Well, hey, I think that myself now and then. In fact, A. and I have discussed hauling our families onto Springer just to see what would happen. It'd be quite entertaining, methinks. Oh, yes, and I abuse ellipses and make her eyes hurt. Tsk, tsk."
Taken from: Kythryne Aisling

You wanted me to bash your life? No you didn't, you wanted me to tell you what a wonderful writer/designer you are, but tsk, tsk. Things do not always happen the way we want.

"I've been by Elioise Moosehead (The Real Diary Critic). On the whole I'm pretty pleased with it. I wasn't sure what to expect as I don't always agree with Eli's opinions on journals. I suppose at the end of the day we're both looking for different things out of a journal. I agree with pretty much everything she said though."
Taken from: Tripe Writing

This was a very mature response.

"I just hope you aren't anything like 'The Real Diary Critic'. I like critisism, but try not to be too mean ok? I'm fragile....^-^"
Taken from: The guestbook of Dork Reviews

This just made me burst out laughing! I reviewed the girl who wrote this, and here she is begging someone not to be too mean and using me as an example. This just proves my point that a lot of people can't handle the truth and would rather have something with sugar dripping from it.

"I have to agree with you about "The Real Diary Critic". When I followed the link from another page, it was out of curiousity, but once I got there I was totally turned off. It was like being in high school all over again with the snotty b*tch who has to put everyone else down to make herself look good. Aren't journalists supposed to be unbiased? She seems totally obsessed with grammer and elipses that she can't get beyond them to take in the voice of the person who's writing the diary. When I'm writing for publication, I write properly, but I write how I talk in my diary. It's my views, my thoughts, my opinions and my dreams that go there. I'm not writing so that a publisher will put my words to print. I don't think she understands that...and quite frankly, she bored me to tears."
Taken from: N. Mallory on Messages to Sinnamon

Here is one from someone that likens me to a highschooler while misspelling ellipses and using profanity.

"I had my diary reviewed by the intelligent but incredibly old Elioise Moosehead. She reviews diaries and she bitches at people as a hobby. Go and read it. I guess i deserve it.

Or do I? It made me realise why i write this diary anyway. I write it for me! I don't care if you have a 800 x 600 res. when i have the bigger one. If i can see it and you can't, I really don't care. I like it, it's what counts. She has a point, but i think she spent WAY too much time analysing it."
Taken from: Mutal Freak

I went from being "highschool," to being "incredibly old," in a blink of an eye! Plus, this girl thinks I spend too much time analyzing. Is it just me or is that not what a review is, an analysis of their diary from my point of view?

"Ive been following Eli's reviews regularly. I enjoy reading what she has to say and comparing it with the site she's reviewing, and I've come discover that I agree with a lot of what she says. Though I've heard a number of people describe her as "brutal" or even that "she enjoys tearing other people down," I rarely see a comment from her that I thought was unwarranted, and she does explain her reasoning. I wouldn't say that Eli is perfect, but I do like the attention she gives to detail and prefer her over a number of other review sites I've seen. Through her, I've found several interesting journals that I continue to visit regularly, some of which I might not have discovered anywhere else -- the new one called simply girl- comes to mind.

I also found some of her suggestions for others' improvement useful when I was redoing this journal in the switch to Greymatter. Before I read Eli, for example, I didn't realize that some people like links to previous entries at both the top and bottom. I was used to seeing them only at the top and didn't see any problem with it -- but now I recognize that people have different opinions, and have found a few occasions where I appreciated them myself. Eli also made me rethink the necessity of "disclaimers" and led me to just put a small note on the main index, which is mainly there for the benefit of relatives and exes."
Taken from: This is how I feel

Aww, how nice.

"I wavered for a long time before finally requesting a critique of my journal, because I didn't think I could handle it if I got a bad review. But now that I have done, I realise it doesn't matter. Eli's review is exactly that. Eli is entitled to like what she likes, and to dislike what she dislikes. We are all unique individuals. Life would be very boring were this not the case. If you've been reading for a while you've probably seen me say that before. Because that's honestly what I think.

It doesn't matter that I got a bad review. Because for me, this is the best journal there is. It's the one I most enjoy reading."
Taken from: The Onion

From someone that thinks her diary is "the best journal there is," and "the one she most enjoys reading." A little on the uppity side isn't she? I mean, why request a review at all if you already know you are the best there is? Obviously she has nothing she needs to change.

posted by Eli Moose on Monday, May 27, 2002

128th requested review is of Bonnie's Journal
Rating out of 10: 5

Layout etc. (2: 1)
She changes the design on a daily basis. No kidding. One day you will be seeing a nice bright text on a dark background and the next day you have a hard to read text on a dark background. The font remains the same, to paraphrase a favorite band of mine, but that doesn’t mean it works for each and every layout. Images are added almost to the point of making this a photo-journal. Sometimes this works. Other times it seems an excuse to post. The best entries, in my opinion, are the ones that are more text than images. I prefer for the text and images to have a connection. Every now and then there doesn’t seem to be a reason for the image other than the creator of the journal can add an image. Other times it makes sense. (Reading about the survival of her daughter’s nail is far more impressive when you see the image of her daughter’s bandaged hand.)

I think the changing of pages so often is distracting. Too distracting. If she were to change once a week it might be a little better or maybe if the choices were more obviously relevant to the text. More often than not there is no correlation, although a post about the death of someone she knows is dark and gloomy. (This was the page which was practically illegible, however.)

The links are few and far between which means you have to scroll all the way to the bottom to hit the previous or next day’s post, depending on which way you are heading. The index leads you to a page which offers you the current month’s posts. You have to scroll around a bit to find the rest of the archives.

On this same page you have a link to email the person. Another for Bio but this link is dead. Why have the image and offer there if you aren’t going to link it to your bio? Remove it or add a bio. Links lead to other journals and Fiesta Gowns leads to a page which shows pictures of a gown. She says where she took the pics but nothing about the gowns or their personal importance to her. I want to know why she feels these images are so important that they deserve a link all their own while so many other images are just added into a journal entry. Finally you will find the archives under a link to an entry about her childhood. (At least she has a text linked to this unlike the bio which goes nowhere.)

She has been keeping an online journal since 1998 but you can’t dig back that far. The archives only go back as far as a few months. She says this is easier for her and she doesn’t think that anyone will go back that far. Well, it isn’t like you have a choice, is it? I mean, what if someone wanted to do so? I would suggest that she change this archive page to have links for individual years. Then the person could go to the year of their choice and then pick up wherever they want. Sure, maybe very few people will take the time to explore but someone might. Why not give the reader a choice instead of making it for them?


Annoying Writing Habits: (2: 1)
There is some good writing here. Not a lot of ellipses and such but the spelling and grammar errors are so frequent that the only times I noticed that there wasn’t one was in a post that was mostly images anyway. I would much rather see this person take less time changing the background every day and just take the time to do a spell check. The grammar problems are not so easily solved because they haven’t yet invented a software program that can do a decent check on a person’s grammar. So one point for not abusing ellipses but a point off for not using a spell-check and careless grammar mistakes.

Unique: (2: 1)
I don’t think that changing the background all the time makes a journal unique. Nor do images. She does write very consistently. She doesn’t get sidetracked and ramble on excessively. She knows how to look at herself and her life with some humor. I like that she adds images but I wish she would not do so quite as much. Or maybe she could make it an option for those people who would rather focus on the text. More than that, I would like her to dig into some of the darker recesses of herself. She seems to pretty much stay on the surface of her experiences. I am sure there is more going on underneath. I would like to know what these things are.

Quotes from the diary: (2: 1)
“Most of these were written in pencil and signed by her schoolmates with the date and the name of the town (Ukiah, Talmadge, Lakeport, all towns close to each other in Northern California). One of them (from her boy cousin) had a phone number just 5 digits, no prefix because all the phones in town had the same prefix and you didn't have to dial it."

This is a part of an entry about autograph books and yearbooks that I thought was pretty interesting. Clearly this woman has a digital camera but no scanner? I would have enjoyed seeing her yearbook picture and some of the handwriting instead of just reading the quotes.

“Don't misunderstand me, but when a doctor tells you to get your things in order that means funeral arrangements as well. She hasn't a clue on how many death certificates she will need and it is best to pay for them now as resubmittin a request later on is another charge for first time copies etc. Wil set last night and made a list to help her."

This is an example of the spelling and grammar errors I found. Run on sentence with a mis-spelled word. And it should be “sit" not “set." I will ignore the typo on the name because that is obviously a typo and not a spelling error.

“I keep feeling so guilty for my selfish feelings. I know we get her again when she undergoes reconstruction surgery, and I dread it. When I am old and feeble I know I will get stuck in a Nursing Home, she wouldn't have room for me. And if that dog is still around I wouldn't want to be. :-)"

A sample of her deprecating humor. More of this would be wonderful!

Would I go back for another read? (2: 1)
Yes, if I were finished reading journals that I really love, especially since she does update often enough that I would surely find something interesting to read. Or a picture you like. I would probably love this journal if the writer were able to expose herself as easily and with as much relish as she does film in her camera. This is not a bad journal, per se. It just isn’t a great journal.

posted by Talulah Lamb on Sunday, May 26, 2002

127th requested review is of The Onion
Rating out of 10: 3

layout etc. (2: 1)
Because the first things I notice about a layout are usually the things that distract me when I am trying to read the diary, I'll talk about them first.

I realise the diary is titled: "the onion," and am happy to accept that it should have some onion graphics somewhere, but right behind the diary entry is not the place. It doesn't make it impossible to read, but it is very distracting especially since the writing scrolls over the onion.

Also, the picture of the burning candle on the right hand table really makes me wonder. I'm not sure what it represents or why it is there, it looks a bit out of place amongst the onion that is down the middle of the page.

I appreciate the three-table layout she has going. Although, I prefer the diary itself to have more space per line of text, it seems to work out okay the way it is. The links at the side are not that clearly defined, but easy enough to figure out. I don't really mind there being so many links either, but something she should think about is minimizing the amount of clutter she has on her main page by making a links page.

I like the style of main page she has incorporated with blurbs from a few of the most recent entries available for one to choose which to go read. I think this is a great way to showcase your writing while letting the reader have a choice about what subject matter they want to read.

A few things she needs are previous and next links at the top and bottom of her entries and as well another link to the archive somewhere along there. It would be nice to find it easily along with the previous and next links.

Annoying writing habits: (2: 1)
I think I am the only one that finds this annoying, but I don't like it when someone randomly double-spaces between paragraphs and then single-spaces for the rest of the entry.

There weren't many annoying habits overall, but she does use asterisks to emphasize and the ellipsis, but she has gotten away from that in recent entries.

Unique: (2: 1)
For a diary it has a really interesting title and a very nice concept behind it. In the beginning of her journal she details why she choose an onion. It reminds me of the movie Shrek, although I don't think it was out yet at that time. The diary title of course leaves me wishing she put a little more of it to use within her writing. I do not see very much revealing of layers going on here.

I also like the search feature on her diary, those things come in handy when they work for you. I tried to put one on this site, but it said that blogger is unable to be searched by DMOZ. Bummer for me.

Quotes from the diary: (2: 0)
"It's Sunday night, and there's a decent looking movie on TV. So I'm going to go snuggle on the couch with Grumps and watch it. See you tomorrow."

"Our sky has gotten really really black. Oops.. spoke too soon.. it's has started to rain. Big heavy drops.. the sort that look like they are going to be a storm. Ooh.. if there is a storm, my puter might blink.. then I'll loose this entry. So it's done all of a sudden."

And this is interesting because?

"I saw Dawn today. I wonder at times, why I go. I can go out now. But I want more than that. I want to be me. The me that's hidden her anger, and frustration, and felt guilt that wasn't hers to feel. The me that's felt that everything is my fault. The me that's been afraid to speak up for fear of being noticed. For fear of being thought wrong. For fear of being right, for goodness sake!"

This would be interesting if this part of the entry would go somewhere. I want more details please.

Would I go back for another read? (2: 0)
I didn't mention this earlier, but the very first line I read had a spelling mistake in it, and the rest of the diary itself went downhill from there. I went to the beginning, I read from the middle, and I read some of the current entries. I just could not for the life of me find any of it interesting.

She writes about what happened to her that day and that is fine for a daily log of events for oneself, but for an audience I have to admit its more than just a little dry. Where is all this revealing and peeling back the layers at? Maybe its hidden in there somewhere and I missed it amongst all the boring everyday stuff, I don't know for sure. This diary is like potatoes without the meat, and I'm a steak eater.






posted by Eli Moose on Monday, May 20, 2002

126th requested review is of When Does It All Start to Sink In...
Rating out of 10: 4

layout etc. (2: 1)
Not so bad as far as the layout is concerned. I actually like the darkness of it. I used to see an abundance of black backgrounds and got tired of them, but this one looks good with the white type-face. One thing though concerning the font size is that if it was larger it would be easier to read.

The picture is psudeo-goth and works well for the image that she is trying to convey. I get the feeling she wants to be gothic and clings to darkness. That personality gets portrayed in the way that she writes as well.

I do not advise designing a diary around the use of an in-line scroll just because it screws up when someone is trying to minimize the amount of mouse clicks they have to use to navigate through an entry. I read so many diaries that I like to tab and use my arrow keys to go down the entry as I read and the in-line scroll on her diary prevents me from doing that without using my mouse to click inside the frame of the in-line scroll. This really sucks because it is faster to ignore the mouse and tab through the entry only stopping to click on the previous link at the bottom. This of course is just something that I notice because I read a lot of journals, other than that it is fine. I really think though, that a regular table would work just as well, maybe better. I don't see the need to have two scroll bars, especially since there is nothing on this page except a diary.

I'm not sure about that table at the bottom of the page that says: "J Moment/Quote/Info of the day:" inside it. It says the same thing for me on every diary entry, "J is 5' 9"... dun dun DUN!" What does that mean exactly? From what I read in the entries, this "J" person is some sort of obsession. This table at the bottom needs to go. It is pointless, pointless, POINTLESS.

Annoying writing habits (2: 0)
There are so many that I almost feel like leaving this section off of the points. Her diary is written almost completely in some form of slang or another. She doesn't even bother to check her spelling, and lets not forget the use of the ellipsis. In the beginning she used capitals, but now she has stopped completely except for randomly capitalizing the "I."

She quotes things at the end of each entry. Sometimes I'm not sure if she is the author or if someone else is and she is not giving them credit.

I really dislike the way people write a diary and use initials for people. I would rather read made up names than initials, at least I could pretend that what you are writing is real. With initials it is obvious that you are trying to hide something, that isn't part of the real diary experience.

Unique (2: 1)
She has interesting link titles like, "to the painful past," and "to the hopeless future," that go along with her dark theme yet still clearly indicate where they are going.

As well, I found the java script that counts down the days/hours/minutes/seconds until her band trip interesting.

Quotes from the diary: (2: 1)
"Why must I fail to show people the talent I have within? Why does it always seem that the person who is a little diffrent and dares to be unique never gets his/her talents to show like one of a cheer quires who can't jump and tries to sing. my band teacher perfers the cheer dorks, and I don't wanna know why. I could be at the same level of playing ability, but he still choses them over me..just like he did earlier this year."

"i can't get it to stop hurting. i can't just forget about him, because i don't really want to. there is no one like him. anywhere. he's my definition of prince charming. i adore everything about him, imperfections and all. he's still my best friend, i still love him to death. "

I really like how open she is in her writing.

"as I wait for the one chance with J or *that boy* I wonder...what else have I been missing out on? what else has changed? what could have happened if I weren't waiting behind every corner, sitting behind every window, watching them walk by. what if I were walking with them instead of watching them. what if I were turning the corner with them instead of waiting for them to walk by. what if..."

Would I go back for another read? (2: 1)
I feel her pain, I really do. Yet it is not something I would go back to read again. She's a 14 year old in a confusing and sometimes painful time of her life. She's not yet an adult, yet not a child anymore. We've all been there, or still are there. I found her writing sincere and that does say a lot. You might like it.


posted by Eli Moose on Wednesday, May 15, 2002

125th requested review is of [mutual freak]
Rating out of 10: 2

layout etc. (2: 0)
Hmmm anime, I'm not sure this person read my previous reviews with it so I give them a little consideration. I am not really into anime; I think it is also acceptable to say that I do not understand the whole subculture that is devoted to it either. With that said, I will now move on to other details about the diary.

For one thing, the picture (no matter what it is of) is incredibly too big for a diary. On my screen (the standard 800x600) the diary is literally two or three words long per line. Something needs to be done about that. I understand that the writer is very into illustrating, but this is a diary. I feel that the words of a diary provide enough illustration sometimes, if written well.

I've spoken of links that are not clearly defined in the past, but this diary has some that are, as well as some that aren't. Like for instance, she has the links "before," "now," and then the word "after," which is clear enough, and the word "frisky" is the archive. How is an archive "frisky?" I'm really not sure. Also, her links at the bottom to a ring look a lot like previous and next links that I've seen everywhere on other diaries. Does anyone else begin to see what I have been talking about yet?

Annoying writing habits: (2: 0)
She writes with a lot of slang with words spelled the way she chooses, and other like "dunno," which we know I loathe. She also uses writing trends such as ellipses in every other sentence as well as sentence fragments.

There are a typos here and there which you can see in the unedited quotes.

Unique: (2: 1)
She has an illustration homepage that I ventured into briefly. I am a bit glad that I do not review those sorts of things. I have no idea what to look for, but I do know that it seems to lack a lot of innovative design that would probably give an "illustration" homepage some kick.

Quotes from the diary: (2: 0)
"What makes a popular diary? I dunno, ti seems, cause i read my stats and well, i don't get them. So skip the stats part, it doesn't mean a thing."

"Me and my bro have no shcool today, so we have to clean the whole house and make a card and buy her flowers before we go out at one PM...After that, the whole gang was going at Jasmines and to the movies, but i can't go..family stuff."

Please note: An ellipsis is not a period, and when used as such it is a run-on sentence to my eyes.

"If i'd try, i'd be great. I'd be a genius. I'd be stronger, faster,better, prettier, smarter, richer...all these things are accessible to me..right there..but i don't want them. Or, i don't want to WORK for them. I'm lazy. I know how to get these things...i know i could get them..i'd just have to put a bit of effort into it. Push myself a bit further."

Would I go back for another read? (2: 1)
Probably not, but I give her a one because I can tell she is trying hard. I know that there are those of you out there that would find her life interesting to read about, but I don't believe I am one of those that would. Granted, I am one person and there are zillions of diary readers out there. It doesn't mean she should ax her diary just yet. But I do suggest she try to write more clearly and for a larger audience than she does at the moment if she wants to enlarger her reader base. Oh and please do something soon about the size of that diary table, it is so hard to read at the moment. Thanks.


posted by Eli Moose on Monday, May 13, 2002

124th requested review is of Bev Skye's Journal
Rating out of 10: 8

Layout etc. (2: 1)
Blue background with large white font give a very clear site for reading. No sidebars for links etc. Each entry is uncluttered with images, offering a few links and such but nothing more. Quote at the bottom of the entry. And if you are reading the more recent entries you can link to the same date one or even two years earlier. I have never seen this in another journal. That doesn’t mean it has never been done before; only that I have never seen it before.

I would prefer a little more ease with the navigation. Scroll all the way to the bottom and you can go to the next or previous journal entry or enter the archives. I would love to see the links offered at both the top and the bottom of the entry. I also prefer when going into an older journal entry that it open in a new window so I don’t have to always hit the back button to return to the archives. I don’t know why this is such an issue for me but I do prefer it. But I am not taking off any points because that is more my issue than anyone else’s. Just a couple of suggestions for future reference.

Annoying Writing Habits: (2: 2)
None. Amazingly enough. I suppose if I searched and searched I would find a spelling or grammatical error but why bother. Does having to search for links count as an annoying writing habit? Nope. Darn!

Unique: (2: 1)
Yes and no. The style of the site itself is definitely not very unique. But she posts every day and not just mundane life events but her thoughts and feelings filtered through entries that include descriptions. It is nice to read about a woman who is having a rich and lovely life. A pleasant change from the ubiquitous teenaged angst filled journals. I like the daily quotes although not enough to give a point for that. I do, however, like jumping to a post from the same date a year or more before. I don’t know why I like this so much. I just do.

Quotes from the diary: (2:2 )
“My collection of books about Judy Garland alone has its own shelf (this photo is missing a couple, which are here in my office for reference). I became a Garland fan in 1954 when I first saw A Star Is Born. I've been a fan ever since and even met her once.?

I would love to hear more about this encounter with Judy Garland but she is writing about her books in this particular entry so I won’t begrudge her the focus.

“When I found myself doing nothing this afternoon but sitting at my desk, holding my head in my hands, trying desperately not to listen to those voices in the kitchen whispering "eat me! eat me!" I finally figured out I must be depressed..?

Hmmm . . . if my food were rude enough to be saying, “Eat me?that would depress me too. Or is that bite me? Either way, talking food is depressing.

“What I have not mastered, however, is dismounting. I watch normal folks glide to a stop, stand on a pedal and swing their leg effortlessly over the seat to dismount. My dismount involves finding a place where nobody can see me, and tilting the bike down until it almost touches the ground and then hoping that I don't trip on the bar as I drag my leg across the body of the bike.?

This entry is called, “The Awkward Dismount.? I like her ability to laugh at herself.

Would I go back for another read? (2: 2)
Yes. For one thing she writes every day so even if one post is not particularly interesting you could check it out the next day and see what is happening. Or visit the same date a year earlier. It was hard to resist reading every entry because when you go into the archives and read some of the titles you end up wondering what the entry is about. (Albeit some of the titles are a little trite but that is better than the writing being trite.) I would definitely want to continue sharing in this woman’s stories. Hopefully I will either find her entry about her meeting with Judy Garland buried in the archives or she will write about it in the near future.

posted by Talulah Lamb on Sunday, May 12, 2002

123rd requested review is of guileless.net
Rating out of 10: 8

layout etc. (2: 2)
I really like this style of layout and am sorry that I don't see it used more often. Setting off the most recent entries on the main page with a small blurb from each one is a very neat and usefull idea. I like it mostly because it allows the reader to choose in a somewhat magazine style.

I like the picture she uses a lot, perhaps it is because I am very fond of the sea. The colors work well and as a whole the page is very attractive.

I think the font used for the title is quite classy. The entries look decent as well but there is one thing missing and that is a previous and next link at the top. I know there is one down there at the bottom indicated by symbols used for arrows, but it would be really convienent for there to be one on the top as well.

On the entries I suggest coming down a bit in the font size of the date, I'm not sure why it is that big, but it is not really necessary.

Annoying writing habits: (2: 1)
I'm not sure what it is about the ellipsis that has a hold on people, but I shall try to combat it whenever possible.

Unique (2: 1)
She uses a lot of pictures to go along with her entries and I like that very much. It is nice to illustrate with words, but when you can add a picture to the mix it makes it that much better.

Quotes from the diary: (2: 2)
"Sometimes I hate these hands. These hands that always seem so slippery, that drop things and fumble things and never seem to work quite right."

This was a great beginning to that entry.

"But seriously, Diane Sawyer is surreal. When she was standing on the stage, waiting for the show to go on the air, I heard someone behind me say, "It's like she's not even human. Like she's above human." And for a second, I believed that too.

But then I saw her pulling out her wedgie and I realized that all of us, including Diane Sawyer, are only human."

I felt like I was a part of it. She really writes well.

"I had to try really hard not to laugh. But, really though, you would've thought the guy was talking about the evils of drunk driving or the dangers of keeping a loaded gun in a house with small children. But it's a good thing that he gave me that important speech, because I was obviously completely reckless and an unredeemable criminal, seeing how I was brazenly crying into my spiced cider."

Would I go back for another read? (2: 2)
Reading through her diary was like a breath of fresh air. It did occur to me that she is a lot older than the diarists that I've reviewed lately, but that also doesn't mean that the younger diarist can't get tips from the way she writes.

Even entries that were about mundane things were more interesting because she uses descriptive words that bring life to them. Not only did I enjoy my time at her diary, but I felt like I was getting to know her and that we were chatting over coffee instead of me sitting at my computer reading her journal.
posted by Eli Moose on Monday, May 06, 2002

122nd requested review is of cerulean spiral
Rating out of 10: 4

Layout etc. (2: 1)
The layout is very bare. You have a black background with white letters. Journal entries on the left. On the right small comments about what she is reading and whether or not she has exercised. These bite sized updates or not intrusive nor distracting. I would be interested in reading some book reviews so that I can know what she has enjoyed. I am not sure why she has a splash page at all. It just slows down the process.

I don’t think the links are very convenient. She does keep things like quiz results and poems separate from her journal entries. But once you are in the journal, going back and forth between entries is a matter of reading all the way to the bottom of the page. The archives are not much better. I think links for the previous and next entries should be available at both the top and bottom pages. However, there is not a lot of clutter in these posts in general There are photos and links shared often enough to add flavor to the posts but not so heavily that you lose focus on the entry.

Also, once you are inside the entry, there is no date to indicate “when” you are. I would definitely make sure that this is added because it is not always easy to follow along with the timing of posts when the dates are only offered on the main journal page. If I were to go forward and backward in the journal entries it would only be a matter of two or three clicks before I wouldn’t know what month I were in.

Annoying Writing Habits: (2: 1)
I really don’t know why she needs to have so many aside comments but I really cannot understand the need for making the font smaller. It is distracting, to say the least. The asides are simply too many. Add to the small font asides you have the EMPHASIZED words. Thankfully she doesn’t seem to think that she needs to make the font larger but she over- or under-emphasizes too much.

Unique: (2: 0)
Not really. I am not saying that it isn’t a good journal. After all, to be unique for the sake of uniqueness would probably be annoying as well. I think I would like some more emotions or something. You get the details of her life and her rants do border on communicating her frustration. Other than that her passion seems to be missing from her entries. What is going on inside this girl’s head? Your guess is as good as mine.

Quotes from the diary: (2:1 )
“I hated “language arts”. All my teachers ever made us do was copy sentences. I never did grasp the whole proper grammar thing. (This grammar check thing in Word is a bit cracked out I think, it tells me to use the wrong “there/they’re/their” all the time. There are other examples, but I don’t remember them right now.)”

In order to fully appreciate this you have to realize that the parenthetical remark is written in a smaller font. An example of one of her many asides.

“After he was too drunk to continue, he left with some friends. I gave him my number (and he DID call) before he took off, and he plugged it into his phone. I’m surprised he was able to do it without messing up. He was pretty far out there. Says he remembers the pants though.”

She describes things like what she was wearing and other little things. Not as much as I would like but at least there is a little detail in these posts.

“I also have a picture of a little piece of plastic that holds some significance. It’s the little plastic loop that fit the back straps of my bathing suit top together. I was able to take a picture of it, alone, because it broke. I caught the sides of my suit as soon as it snapped, but I suspect not before some of our neighbors saw a little nippleage. Man, I didn’t even get any beads! And there were beads there, trust me.”

She usually posts pictures as well. Not in this case. At least not of the strap or her nipples. I was thinking that maybe if she hadn’t been so eager to snatch her top so quickly she might have gotten some beads. But we will never know now.

Would I go back for another read? (2: 1)
My first response: No. But then I went back and looked at some of the pictures she has drawn and thought about it a little more. This is a creative person. You can’t see that reflected in her writing but there is potential for more. I would love this writer to dig deeper and let us share what she is feeling other than the usual day-to-day frustrations of life. I know there is something more going on inside this woman. I just wish she would let it out.

posted by Talulah Lamb on Saturday, May 04, 2002

121st requested review is of glimmer
Rating out of 10: 3

layout etc. (2: 1)
I like the picture she has as her main graphic. The drops of water go along well with the title, "glimmer." I feel akin to her in that we both seem to have a thing for the color teal. I do wish she had previous and next links at the bottom and top of her entries, but the ones on the side seem to work well enough since her entries are not usually that long.

Although I do admire the style of having three tables with links on either side of the entry, I feel like she limits the entry too much by making it more narrow than I would. I also don't see why she has one gif as a link all by itself on the bottom right, it looks a little out of place with all that white space.

All and all it is very simple and works well for me.

Annoying writing habits: (2: 1)
She randomly double spaces between paragraphs and uses the dreaded ellipsis too much.

Unique: (2: 0)
I didn't find anything out of the ordinary.

Quotes from the diary: (2: 1)
"I’m at home with the stomach flu, and it’s absolute shit, literally. I have to shit every few minutes, it seems. I should be working on my Spanish project; I must have an outline in tomorrow. And the notecards for AP lit that were due a couple weeks ago."

"However, I want to kiss someone. Not just anyone, obviously, and not Jerry in the middle of some strange cafeteria where a bunch of strange people are crowding around. That situation has little prospect. Linda was saying how she wanted her first kiss to be perfect, but people responded by saying that it never is. They said it’s always a bit awkward and if you’re lucky will make a funny story."

"The Phenomenon happened in the cafeteria. We were standing, each on the opposite side of the table. He leaned forward and stared at me, and I stared back, grabbing his shoulders. I could kiss him I thought. I could kiss him right now. But I knew it would only lead to chaos. I turned the stare into a glare.
"Hey now!" Jerry said.
I stopped glaring. "I can see my face in your pupil."
"I can see myself in your eye."
We laughed and I took my hands of his shoulders. I was safe again."

She needs to write more like this. I like how she draws it out to tell the story.

Would I go back for another read? (2: 0)
I felt like I was reading a continuation of the previous journal I reviewed; that could be because they have friends with the same names, or because they are in the same age group and have very similar writing styles. I didn't see her individuality in there as much as I'd like to see.

It has been far too long since I've found a journal that I could sit down and read every entry of. Sometimes I think I'm too picky, or that people just do not write diaries the way they used to. It is too popular, everybody wants to write one. The web is too saturated with people writing down the boring details of everyday life. I yearn for diamonds in the rough to be quite honest. I want to read diaries where people pour out their innermost thoughts. I can deal with the occasional, "I don't have much to say today," but I'd rather them write less with more content.




posted by Eli Moose on Wednesday, May 01, 2002