Today's Mary Katharine column -- A Week With the Left -- featured my favorite comment for the day.

I think from time to time, I will highlight a funny, or memorable comment, just because I want to show off just how witty and intelligent are our conservative readers here at Townhall.com. Then again, from time to time I may highlight the stupid comment of the day, featuring a regular visiting lib, or troll.

This was from GunnyG:


Not magic, Gunny--faith! Didn't you read Coulter's book? It's their religion, except their faith is a million times blinder than any faith I ever practiced--oh,ya, and Godless!

I just read a comment by a user here on Townhall.com that I thought I would use to illustrate the kind of thing that will easily get you banned here at Townhall.com. Because I have decided to not ban this user, I will not include a screen name--though the original comment was removed from the site.


Now, let's take that statement apart, and see what about it will get a user banned. The first part, "Hispanics are, by and large, Extremely RACIST" while being an ignorant statement and a wide generalziation without merit, is an opinion. I'm ok with that--you are free to express your opinion even if I don't like it.

I'll skip to where it says "they aren't even a real RACE" Again, this is actually in a way true (in my opinion). The term Hispanic refers more to a language category--a way for the IRS and our growing government to categorize this growing group of people with Spanish language heritage. Many Americans of Latin American heritage don't like the tag Hispanic, specially those of Caribean descent, but hey--no one category or name is perfect. Other commonly used tags include Latino, or many of Mexican descent use the term "Chicano."

The part that just went overboard, and is blatantly ignorant, racist, and just plain stupid was the statement saying that "Hispanics are, by and large ...intellectually inferior." I'm not going to even bother trying to rebutt that statement--I think the millions of highly intelectuall, talented, and VERY succesfull Hispanics (Latinos, Americans of Spanish descent, whatever you want to call them) speak for themselves. But, this IS this sort of offensive remark that will be promptly deleted, and the user may be banned for repeated offenses.

We are a community. And though this is a public forum to openly discuss ideas, Townhall.com is a for-profit corporation with a responsability to its stockholders and to the rest of the reading community. To allow offensive statements is a detriment to the community, and simply doesn't ad anything of value to the rest of us that are reading.

Disclaimer: I am an American born citizen, with Cuban-born parents (also American citizens). I consider myself an American, and enjoy my Cuban heritage. I am married to an American. Some would consider me a Hispanic. I do check that box "Hispanic" when doing government or other forms, for "category" purposes. If you disagree with any part of this post, feel free to comment.

I've had several of you email me asking about ways to get more readers to your blog. My last post was about inreasing readership through commenting, but I thought I would provide some specific ideas and more details on how to get more readers to your Townhall.com blog.

First of all, to get readers, you must have a compelling product to offer--good writing. And while you want your blog to be passionate and at times hard-hitting, if you allow your emotions to carry you off, you will end up with a Kos-like ranting blog that no one will care to read. So, lesson number one is "keep your cool." It will keep you out of trouble.

For a great blog, and to bring in more readers you need to: 

1. Write well. Work at it. Spell check every time. Bad spelling will cause you to lose credibility. (I know...it happens to me)
   
   
2. Write Often and consistently. It shows a commitment to the readers. They want to know that when they come back, you will be expecting them and will have provided new material to read. Consistent writing (once a day in the evenings, for example) will send a clear message to your readers that they can come back and expect to see fresh content.
   
3. Leave comments in other Townhall.com blogs. They will notice and appreciate that your dropped in on their blog, and will probably do the same for you. Make sure your comments are on topic, and ad value to that user's blog. The idea with commenting on someone's blog is to ad-value. This is done by either providing more information about the topic, or respectfully disagree with solid arguments that encourage readers to think more about the issue.
   
   
4. Write about, and link to, other blogs. Same as #3, this will bring appreciative readers who may also link back to you. 5. You can do blogroll link exchanges. Email your favorite townhall.com bloggers and ask them to exchange blogroll links with you. I would send link exchange requests to regular bloggers, not the big-time famous ones. Those guys tend to be more exclusive as to who they put on their blogroll.

An additional way to get more readers is to write something that the big-shot bloggers will want to link to. Now, you have to balance your interest in more readers, with your commitment to the issues you care about, so what you want to do is find other large-traffic bloggers that are writing about the issues you are writing about. Use www.Technorati.com or www.TruthLaidBear.com to find other related blogs.

When you find the large traffic blog that is covering issues you are, leave a comment either disagreeing or providing further support through arguments and evidence. It CAN be a disagreement (I happen to know that Hugh--and most bloggers--likes good, smart, respectful and compelling disagreement) or just extra information about the topic they wrote about that they are missing. Make sure to leave a link to your related blog post in the comment. With the Townhall.com bloggers, the best approach is going to be to leave a comment. They read the comments, and many times, will also do a search on the Townhall.com user blogs to see what you guys are all writing about. If you have written something that is compelling, they will link back to you.

If the blogger does not allow commenting (like Instapundit) then, send a short, to the point, non-sales email to them saying:

Make sure to send the direct link to the post itself, so they don't have to hunt for it. Also, remember that large traffic bloggers get hundreds of emails a day--you want your email to be to the point.

Do feel free to offer a compliment about a particular post, if you have one--it never hurts to be nice. Now, be warned--if you email a blogger to many times, they may get annoyed with you and the effort will have the complete apposite effect. I happen to know of a very popular blogger who has a rule that if someone emails him asking to be linked, he effectively "bans" the requesting site from his blog for 3 months, before considering it again.  So, you want to be sensitive to the feedback.

Finally, make sure you take the opportunities they give. For example, Hugh Hewitt features blogger contests all the time. Sometimes its a Photoshop contest through radioblogger.com. Sometimes its right on his home page. Just last week, Hugh started the The Blogger's Middle Earth, 2006 Edition contest. This is an open invitation to  participate and possibly get linked!! A few days later, Sheepdog--one of our great townhall.com user blogs--posted his entry for the contest and got linked! Sometimes its that easy, but like I said before, you do need to have a compelling product--good quality writing thats fun to read.

Notice how Sheepdog made sure to mention that he is military. Don't be afraid to make your blog a part of who you are--whether you are a teacher, doctor, lawyer, at-home mom, salesman, or plumber. This will help your readers relate to you and connect, improving the chances they will come back again.
 
Try these out, and see how well it works. Be patient--it takes time and consistency to get noticed. Be respectful, and don't set your expectations high. If you don't get a link, don't get upset. Just keep writing, and keep making your blog better.
 

Every blogger's secret--or not so secret--desire to to know that many people are reading one's opinions. One of the many advantages of starting your own Townhall.com blog is the various features we have incorporated into the site that facilitate increased readers for your blog. Let me tell you about one.

Each time you leave a comment on a news story, audio clip, or columnist, your comment is recorded with your screen name, and a link is automatically inserted that points to your Townhall.com blog.

So, after posting your latest and greatest blog post, make sure to spend some time reading through the daily columns and news articles for related content. Now, the key word here is related--we will not allow unrelated comments that are 100% self-promotion and irrelevant to the column or articles it was posted under.

Feel free to leave controversial or discussion-starting comments, as long as you stay away from insults, personal attacks and bad language. Passion and conviction in your comments will attract the attention of readers and make them curious to read more. Poor manners and immature wording will only communicate shallowness of thinking, and will not be enticing to other readers.

You can browse through the What's Hot page--these are going to be the articles, columns or blog posts that are getting the most readers at the moment--and if something matches your blog post, you can share a short thought, and conclude with "you can read more of my thoughts on this by visiting my blog at yourblog.townhall.com" Now, you want to avoid annoying readers by copying your entire blog post into a comment post. So, the best approach is to give a key point--tantalize--and then invite to read more on your blog.

Some of our columns get thousands of readers each day, and by joining in respectful discussion, you can highlight your contribution to the conversation, and potentially influence the minds those readers.

Of course, don't forget that each time you post on your blog, your headline and link shows up on the main Blog page where Mary Katharine and Hugh Hewitt blog, so the more you blog, the more often other readers will see your headlines and potentially click over and check out your work.

I've been offering tips and tricks on what makes a great  blog, but now, if you readers will endure, I would like to offer the most common blogging mistakes I have seen out there.

1. Copy/Paste entire articles from other sites into your blog post. Besides that this is a copyright infringement, the whole idea of a blog is to share your opinion. Keep the quotes to no more than 2 or 3 sentences, and like I have said before, make sure to ad your perspective. Summarize. Don't be afraid to say "I'm not sure what to think about it, but it caught my attention." Some of your readers may be able to articulate some feedback and the article might be a good discussion starter. But, just make sure to highlight the important or provocative part of the article.
   
   
2. Pasting real long URL's right into your blog post. There are few times where this is necessary. First, most readers won't remember the whole address, so what's the point. Second, this may cause your blog layout to stretch out and look bad. So, what you want to do is select a relevant word--try to find a verb phrase--and create a hyperlink using the top right link icon on your blog editing tool. For example: ...this is the must-read article for today. You can check it out here.
   
   
3. Using italics for quotes instead of the blockquote control. Italics is difficult to read when used in a full paragraph. So, use it with restraint when you are trying to highlight a phrase or word. For quoting, use the blockquote control above. (It looks like a small blue arrow pointing to the right...just like in Word)
   
   
4. Shading or selecting a different background color for your blog posts. This makes reading your post difficult. Other than on one blog, most of the Townhall.com blogs have a white background. Its done that way to make your work easy to read. If you are going to experiment with text backgrounds, make sure there is a good reason (highlighting something) and do it minimally.
   
   
5. Not using links to references or other blogs. The power of blogging is in sharing the traffic as much as possible. The research has shown that linking to other blogs only helps create more traffic, because other bloggers will like you more (for the links) and link back to you. Of course, you still need to have something good to link back, so work on making your posts intelligent, focused, and passionate.
   

So, I'll leave you with five. Can you think of other common mistakes--leave me a comment. For my next blog post, I will share some of the top articles or blog posts about blogging that are must-reads for new bloggers. Until next time...

One of the things I love about blogs is that they introduce me to books, magazines, and people I otherwise would have never heard about. In a world saturated with information in a way to many mediums, blogs can help you find other like-minded people (conservatives, faith, etc) who despite the similar backgrounds, have completely different experiences.

Many bloggers have read books I have not had the time to read (or maybe I shouldn't waste my time reading...). They go to movies I haven't had the time to go see. They know people I have never met.

If you want to be a good blogger, find those elements that are unique to your own life, and write about that. Here are some ideas:

1. Tell your readers about that great concert you went to.
   
   
2. Share a funny or memorable quote from that book you are reading this summer. Double points for you if you can connect it and apply it to current events. There is something about wisdom--it always applies no matter how much the times change.
   
   
3. Write about someone you know--family or friend--who's life, attitudes, or character is worth mentioning and of learning value to others. This can include a military veteran grandfather, a stay-at-home mom doing a great job with the kids, or a teen who is standing out above the rest. You get the idea--share the story, and use it to make a point about the conservative values that matter to you, and to many of us.
   

The key word is unique and memorable. Have you noticed the sort of stories that Readers Digest carries? The great thing about blogs is that the best blog posts are short and to the point. You don't have to be an eloquent writer to contribute great blog posts. All you have to do is be "you" and share it in your own way.

These are just three ideas--can you come up with more? Share them with the rest of the Townhall.com blogatorium by leaving your comments below. Remember that when you post a comment, the subject of that comment is displayed on the main Your Opinion page, so you never know who's going to be dropping in on the conversation.

Yesterday, the Senate gave us all an opportunity to make use of the Townhall.com tools. It seems that a majority in both the Senate and the House are more concerned about appearing "in favor of Science" vs. "in favor of moral standards"--enough so that  H.R. 810 — Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 was able to pass. Thank God we have strong leadership in the White House that understands the social and civic implications of this unethical practice.

So, here is the important information (HT CitizenLink)you need to take action:

This here is the important stuff. Click on each one of the two links provided below, and make note of who are your Reps. and Senators. If you don't know, make sure you have signed up for a Townhall.com account, and go to Action Center. Under the "Contact your elected official" tab, you will find contact information, including email and fax, for each one in your district according to zip code and State.

Now, here is the important part--taking action. You need to contact each one of your elected officials and let them know you are either pleased (if they voted against it) or VERY displeased (if they voted in favor) and that you are taking a note of it, and that you will let your friends and family know about it.

You may also want to email the President and thank him for his veto.

Did you do it? Great! The one last thing you can still do, if you haven't yet, is to make sure to create your blog. If you are reading this, and if you are a regular Townhall.com reader, then you are probably more informed about politics, our government, and other important issues affecting our nation that most other people in your family. So, start up a blog, ask your family and friends for permission to share it with them, and do so by putting in their emails in your very own blog email list. That way, every time you have an event like yesterdays, you can make sure YOU are not just a helpless bystander--you can be an influencer! 

Anyone can do it! All it takes is 10-15 minutes every few days, and a regular visit to Townhall.com and the Townhall.com Blog to stay on top of the latest news. So, what are you waiting for--go create your blog!

Once you do, come back here and post your URL in the comments area. I'll make a note of it, and give it a look--who knows, you might end up featured on the Your Opinion main page, or even on the Townhall.com home page.

As hundreds of new Townhall.com blogs are getting started, I thought I would share some tips on what is a good blog post. We are committed to giving exposure to our townhall.com blog community, and for that purpose we have:

• The home page "quote" box on the home page--featuring a memorable quote from 2 or 3 different user blogs per day and a link back to the blog.
• The Featured Blog "box" on the main "Your Opinion" section, and the "Blog Directory" page that includes a link back to the featured blog.
  
• The featured user created blog post on the main Your Opinion page. This will feature a particularly good blog post on the top of the page with a link to the blog post and the main blog URL.
  

So, here are some tips to help increase your exposure on townhall.com and help show off your blog to the world. These give you an idea of some of the things we look for in the blogs we feature and link from the three above mentioned places.

1. - Blog frequently and blog on things as they happen. Internet news readers react to events around the world and come online to hear what others are saying.
   
   
2. - Watch the grammar: If its not readable, or understandable, we can't feature it.
   
   
3. Be civil. It's ok to be passionate about your opinions, but you want to avoid personal attacks, and arguments that are not focused or on-target with the issue being discussed.
   
   
4. - Present both the facts and your opinions on a story or issue. Blog's greatest value is the reflections of the author on current events. Of course, don't ever be afraid of saying "I'm not sure what to think about this" or "I don't know the answer to this one." If you are an expert on a subject, please share it.
   
   
5. - Keep the blog posts relatively short. Give it only what its worth. If it feels like its dragging, it probably is and needs to be cut down. Blog posts need to be to the point and easy for a "quick read before the boss walks in" sort of reading.
   
   
6. - Personalize it. Whats your personal experience on the issue? Tell short stories that illustrate. Give your perspective.
   
   
7. - Make introductory and final thesis and conclusion statements. For example:
   
   "...thats why, I think the best approach to this issue is..." Make sure your point is made in one clear sentence.
   
   
8. Finally, write catchy headlines. The headline is the first thing readers will look at. Make sure it tells the story on its own, and draws readers into your blog.

I hope these tips are helpful. To all the new readers and bloggers: welcome.

Today's column, The Pretense of Knowledge by Walter Williams, is worth the time to take a pause in your day, and read it. Every citizen needs to have a basic understanding of Economics, and more specificly the ability to see the unseen. To many politicians are making economic policy based on feel-good emotions, and causing countless of lives and holding back the economic prosperity of millions.

A co-worker emailed me this interesting article on user-generated media. Considering my role here at Townhall.com as Online Community Manager, I found it very interesting. Basicly, for those not in the marketing or web world, UGM is content that is created by you--our bloggers and readers. Famouse examples of this include YouTube, MySpace, Blogger.com, and now, of course, Townhall.com blogs like this one.

Some companies are going beyond allowing consumers to create content, to involving customers in the creation of marketing or advertising ideas and concepts. It's interesting.

Check out the article here.

Additionally, companies like Dell are using blogs to connect directly with users, and more specificly, to interact with critics in the online world. Check out Dell's new blog--interesting read.

Found a great blog post on the issue of what is the American way, brought about by the change in the Superman tagline. I had not heard about the Superman "controversy" if it could be called that.


Perhaps a better way to see it is to say that the American way is the way of truth, justice, Liberty (not freedom..but thats a whole different blog post) and prosperity for those who work at it. This, truly, is universal. Interestingly enough, America is perhaps the only country that has done all of these relatively very well all together.

Great post. Interesting thoughts. Make sure to check it out. 

Just noticed Barone's new collumn covering the latest on the immigration reform bill and the battle between the House and the Senate. I have come to appreciate Barone's perspectives and tone.  Life for immigration reform

It is surely not beyond our technological capabilities to secure the border and to provide legal worker identification, at least if we subcontract these tasks to the private sector, which is so much better at these things than government. Neither the House nor the Senate bill seems likely to achieve those goals. So it's good to note that there's a chance, maybe only a small chance, that a conference committee can come up with a bill that does.

Robert Myers will be writting a series on Honduras, and is traveling in that area. Head on over to PubliusPundit.com to check it out, and make sure to note the tip jar at the bottom--this is independent journalism at its best.

It's so sad. I lived in Honduras for over 14 years. There is so much potential. The Honduran people want something better, but corruption and injustice kills their hope.

This was the one story that illustrates a part of the Honduran culture much to well--a unhealthy facination with brands and looks and apperances. Liike I said--its sad.

We arrived at the entrance, ready as ever to eat. But, again, there was a problem. We were underdressed. T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers didn’t impress the bouncer and he was refusing to let us in. This was apparently one of the more exclusive, ritzier night clubs in Honduras; a place for young millionaires and the children of the country’s wealthy elite to blow their allowances. There was no way we’d get in.

But Phillip has a big mouth and wouldn’t have that.

“Do you see this shirt? Do you see this shirt?” He pulled the front side of his collar toward the bouncer’s face. We were going to get our asses kicked. Applebee’s was looking really good now. “This shirt is Emporio Armani!”

Are you serious? Did he just say that he’s wearing a $400 t-shirt?

“Buena, pasan.” He frisked us and let us inside. I still can’t believe that it worked. He must not have known better.

Keep the stories coming Robert.

Welcome! This is my first Townhall.com blog post. Here, I hope to expand on the subjects I have been writing about at Latino Issues (http://latinoissues.blogspot.com/ ) and engage with others on the conservative issues of importance.

I'll have more soon. For now, I hope you'll join me in checking out the rest of this cool new townhall.com.