Sunday, January 06, 2008

[martin scriblerus] first scribblings

The Logo

This is but a rough and everything can change. I'd like to see a parchment edge but don't have the tools. Copyright is not an issue with this logo but it was with the previous one.

Which do you like better - the pale or the bold version? Maybe you like neither.

Running this logo in your sidebar indicates you are one of the Martin Scriblerus Alliance [the name can be changed later].

The idea

The logo, such as it finally becomes when we can get a designer onto it, is to symbolize top blogging in no specific area. To sport the logo is a comment on quality. As there are no rules and it is not a club, then there are no prescribed limits to numbers. There is no specific home site but rather the discussion is shared round. This can alter as members see fit.

Criteria for invitation

Invitation is through the joint opinion of all members who care to comment. Anyone can put up a blog for inclusion, often repeatedly but this is subject to scrutiny by the alliance and to acceptance of the logo by the blogger.

You would have an established blog which is a main blog, you write excellently and enjoy fairly universal admiration for your blog in a cross-section of most corners of the blogosphere, you are also admired and respected as the person behind the blog.

On top of this, you have a point of view and a purpose to your blog of an elevated nature but not for recruiting of any nature - you persuade through your arguments. You're for the freedom of the blogosphere and committed to improving your blog all the while.

Your primary purpose on the blog is to write rather than to use any method possible to up your traffic. The writing is consistent and a broad cross section of readers come to your blog more or less regularly.

You haven't been subject to continued criticism from various quarters as to the ethical conduct of your blog - quite the opposite in fact.

You're known for caring for fellow bloggers. Apart from that, you can be as cantankerous, anti-social, individualistic and "unclubbable" as your heart desires.

Current state of affairs

We're up an running and gathering the first 10 members who'll form a "steering alliance" [there are 5 already], after which others will be invited jointly. Very small beginnings and steady and careful as she goes. Absolutely no hurry.

11 comments:

  1. James

    I am slightly confused. You say of Martin Scriblerus: "Very small beginnings and steady and careful as she goes. Absolutely no hurry." but earlier in the post you describe the criteria for joining and you invite readers to vote on a logo.

    This seems like a group in a hurry.

    If you were truly not rushing I would have expected you to have started the group quietly, got your working alliance in place and then to have posted about the group when you were ready to open up the membership.

    Despite this, good luck with this venture.

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  2. I would be honoured to hold such a logo on my blog - but feel my efforts are not worthy... they certainly are not consistent and there is not a lot of informed writing nowadays !!!!

    Good luck and I shall keep reading...
    Shani

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  3. James,

    I too would be happy to bear the logo of a soon to be esteemed group.

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  4. Not fast, Calum - has to be thought out first and the first step is a steering committee which is not all my doing. There are five in there now with opinions and I'm determined to be but one cog this time.

    This post is running ideas.

    Shani and Ian - noted.

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  5. Judy has told me that I lack the necessary qualification to belong to any group of quality bloggers. She seems to think I lack quality. However, I wish you the very best in this venture, James.

    (And surely, to do justice to the name, your logo should include a donkey?)

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  6. I like the darker logo better....looks more 'old timey'.

    It's a nice idea.

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  7. I like the lighter version.
    I wish that you would have a new and improved BP where someone of your integrity took the reigns , James.
    There is a real need for someone of your stature to oversee their members, who may run afoul to the harm of ALL bloggers.
    I know this smacks of dictatorship to you ,but one does not mind being a bit overseen if it is someone as selfless and trustworthy as yourself.
    Had that been in place in BP,then you could have done what needed to be done without the votes of the blind and ignorant.

    I believe in what you are doing.

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  8. Be dammed with committees
    Be dammed with steering committees
    By dammed with logos
    Be dammed with administration
    Be dammed with management
    Be dammed with invitations
    Be dammed with selections
    Be damed with sand in the cogs of life.
    There's already too much

    If it ain't broken don't fix it

    That's my 2 cents, I'll be dammed.

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  9. "Had that been in place in BP,then you could have done what needed to be done without the votes of the blind and ignorant."

    That reads like, "You could have gotten rid of who I wanted you too and we could rule the world" to me, but that's just my opinion.

    James: good luck on the new 'club'; remember, it will run into the EXACT same problems that BP did; what you do this time will determine whether it lasts or not.

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  10. I love Martins, especially of the scribbling variety. I also love Swift et al.

    That said, I think the logo should contain the name, yet conceal it. Make its centrepiece the quill; keep the whole thing in brown-gold-beige tones; and make the *image*, with its overtones of archaica and erudition, work to carry the message of competence.

    The actual words "A Martin Scriblerus Blog," meanwhile, ought to be on the parchment itself, written by the quill. That way, if the reader wants to read the parchment, they can, but if they don't bother, it won't detract from the image. The way you have it now, there is no image, essentially - it breaks up visually into "letters", "quill" and "background". And the letters themselves break into two colors. You could do better.

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  11. Last first - I could certainly do better because:

    1 I'm no graphic artist;

    2 I lack the tools to do that. I'm now on a Mac and have no graphics programme.

    Think your idea is cool but how to produce it?

    Ladies and gentlemen [other] - we're just running with ideas at this point and the reasn for going public like this is to attract ideas.

    Some people have seen and gone to e-mil to deliver. It's going nicely.

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Comments need a moniker of your choosing before or after ... no moniker, not posted, sorry.