You will never have to pay to be listed as a top neighbor. Period. That important detail clarified, let's discuss how we arrive at two "top neighbors" for a given region:
Localism is a bustling collection of hyper-local communities, and the top neighbors should reflect those members who are most active. When ranking users in a given region, several factors are considered. To get your foot in the proverbial door, you need to have posted at least one "Localism" article or photo for the region.
The very best way to quickly rise to #1 is to post high-quality local content. Keeping a steady strem of incoming posts and photos will massively tilt the scales in your favor.
What doesn't count toward the top neighbor ranking? ActiveRain points and community sponsorships. The top neighbor spots will always go to the most active members in a region. We want to create a level playing field that encourages the growth of communities — talent and dedication are required to win the day.
Leaving south Tacoma this evening, I’m headed back to Interstate 5 and north for home in Renton. I’m anxious, it’s been a busy weekend and I still have things to do to get ready for work on Monday. It should be about a 45 minute drive...
“Duh... it’s summertime, what was I thinking?” Every-one’s headed north this Sunday evening, back to the Seattle megalopolis after a weekend escape.
I get off the freeway ASAP at the next exit opting for the back way home, River Road into Puyallup, then up the valley on Hwy 167 to Renton. Most likely I won’t save any time but the drive should be easy. The shadows are long just before sunset. I'll enjoy some great views along the way.
I’m in the shadows now and notice there's almost zero traffic. The sun is still lighting up Mt. Rainier (at 14,410 feet) after 8:00 pm in the background. (This photo doesn’t do it justice.) There are several places along this route where the mountain looks so huge, the illusion is you’re going to drive right up to the base.
I talked about early settlement in the Pacific Northwest in a former post July 8, 2011, It’s all about the land. Puy-al-lup [pyoo-al-uhp] is one of these places where settlement began in the 1850’s. Ezra Meeker married Eliza Jane Sumner in 1851 and in 1852 with a newborn son Marian, came across the Oregon Trail by ox cart for a donation land claim to the Puget Sound area. They settled in Puyallup in 1862, where Meeker grew hops for making beer and made a fortune at it.
Ezra Meeker lived to be 98 years old (so beer can't be all that bad!). He was very active for numerous worthy causes to the very end of his life. Also, my X's grandmother ran a retirement home at the Meeker Mansion for several year's before it was designated a Historical Landmark.
Puyallup, translated from the native Salish language to English means, The Generous People, and they were and still are!
I have a weakness (or two), I admit. One is finding old photos, or looking through my digital pics on Picasa, Flickr, my CD's, or my 1.5 terabyte external drive. Often, when I find a treasure, off I go on down the rabbit hole. What's next?
I was looking for that special'Kodak Moment' and grabbed at least 40 pics I liked and these two photos stayed near the top almost to the very end. I came back to them many times, yet I couldn't formulate why? The universe was trying to tell me something but I wasn't listening.
Taken at the Puyallup Fair back in September, I had a great time playing with these guys and we had some great laughs. Their antics were so authentic.
"There's that word again, authentic... It keeps coming up lately." I'm building up to something, but later... One rabbit hole at a time.
Anyway, since then, Laurel & Hardy have been stuck in my mind.
My brother Steve and I watched Laurel & Hardy on Saturday mornings along with cartoons. Mom ran a tight household. Often, we got up early so we could get downstairs, grab something for breakfast, and head for the television before chores. It's amazing the appeal totally silly slap stick comedies have on 8 to 10 year old boys. We loved Laurel & Hardy, The 3 Stooges, the Marx Brothers, and of course, Looney Tunes.
In my curiosity I went to YouTube and found hundreds of video snippets from Laurel & Hardy movies. I also checked the official website and Wikipedia. I didn't realize they made 106 films together.
It may seem a bit of a stretch, but I see a connection and relatedness with good social media practices, particularly blogging. Yes, movies are one way communication, but through an exaggerated simple premise they connect with their audience. They pull us in and never push. They never explain, leaving lots of room for us to include ourselves. It's a wonderful asynchronous conversation that engages us internally. It's never about agreement no matter how ridiculous the circumstances. It's about story telling and we get to go along for the ride. Last weekend I spent a couple of hours going through their movies online. I laughed so hard my stomach muscles cramped and my eyes teared up. You would have thought I met Buddha.
Laurel & Hardy were so good at it
that despite super corny plots, questionable scripts, really primitive filming technology, cheap sets, and sometimes lack of artistic control, they transcend the medium and their message skilfully shines through big and bright, even to this day.
That's like social media to me...
The insight and reminder? I love technology, yet what's more important is what those tools allow us to do and understanding how those platforms shape and define the landscape in which we communicate.
I see the need to sharpen my skills every day, and yet, not far off in the future, no matter how hard I work, I will be dated, old fashioned, and obsolete. I'm not defeated by that. It's a fact. I get it. If I tell a good story, my story, and connect, the tools I used won't matter, it's about what I said. My story is part of all stories.
Wouldn't it be cool if 10 20 50 years from now someone going down their digital rabbit hole discovered me and I touch them somehow and it makes them laugh? Or, something I wrote about the old neighborhood provided an important clue to their research. Or maybe they were looking for something totally different but I showed up in the search and they read a story by a guy from way back when in Renton, Washington.
"Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!"
I was at the Puyallup Fair on the last day this year, September 26, 2010. The weather was “iffy” to say the least and we did have a couple of showers. We saw a few patches of blue sky but for most of the day it was overcast, which has its pluses and minuses when you’re taking photographs.
Late in the afternoon I ventured into Sillyville, an area of the Fair just for kids. I could hear this amazing banging noise that was now louder than the cacophony of sound around me. I followed the noise and came upon this huge Sound Sculpture surrounded by kids.
I was so impressed how special it was that this sculpture had nothing to do with computers, electricity, or technology. Yet, it was a kid magnet and they were having a blast. Nobody had to explain what to do. They didn’t have to be a certain size or age. Just walk up, grab a pair of drum sticks, and join in the fun. Big kids and little ones were all in it together. A couple of Dad’s walked up to it with toddlers in their arms. It was just so cool, the little one's had to check it out too!
The Sillyville Drummer... a Kodak Moment.
It was truly a chance music happening and there were no wrong notes. Some of the kids were really characters and it was fun watching them let loose and clown around. Essentially unsupervised, they were all having a wonderful time sharing, exploring, and playing off each others improvised noise making. I had to laugh to myself thinking of all the time and money I spent studying ‘new and experimental music’ by the modern masters back in college, and here it was spontaneous, new, and happening right before me. I imagined John Cage listening with a big smile of approval.
The Kodak Moment for me was capturing the look on this boy’s face. He was laying down the groove, in the zone and truly exemplified the spirit of what was taking place in the moment.
This post is written as a submission to the ActiveRain 'Kodak Moments' contest. I have the chance to win the KODAK EASYSHARE M580 Digital Camera
At the end of September I went to the Puyallup Fair with camera in hand. It was a great day even though the weather was iffy. I was pleased that a lot of the theme rides were freshly painted. I love this kind of mural art.
In the spirit of the season.... "Booahh ha ha ha ha ha"...
The Haunted Mansion, Puyallup Fair... September 26, 2010
Okay, a little corny good old fashioned Pacific Northwest humor... We're a different Northwest now days all grown up and sophisticated. A world leader in many arenas like technology, software, airplanes, coffee, and online networks like Active Rain.
Yet, the entrepreneurial spirit here dates back a long time. The Northwest has always been a place where people with ideas implemented their vision.
One of the many reasons I like to go to the Puyallup Fair is to witness that lively maverick spirit and its history. Most of the vendors of food and product are family owned and operated.
We never let a little weather stop us from our dreams...
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