How About a Blog Carnival?

Chess Clubs
1

Many chess clubs have blogs. So do many individuals. The purpose of a Chess Carnival would be to encourage internet blogging about chess and quality blogging.

Here’s what a Carnival is.

Periodically, (weekly, monthly, quarterly) someone posts on their web site a compendium of “best of” the chess content produced by various blogs and web sites. Generally, the sites submit their content to the Host. The whole thing is like a magazine. The Host is like an editor.

The benefits to the blogs: they get exposure to a larger audience. Not just a listing, but also a presentation of one of their articles. Since their material will be standing next to the material submitted by other blogs and since, no one wants to look bad, the process itself encourages effort to produce quality writing.

The benefits to the readers: they get to see a “best of” compendium of the blogosphere of the past period. They get an idea of which blogs are interesting and which aren’t.

There is now thousands of Carnivals on every conceivable subject except one: chess.

If I started a Chess Carnival, it would be the first one - and the only one – on the internet.

Here is a website that specializes on this subject. Note that it lists all known Carnivals out there. No Chess Carnival.
blogcarnival.com/bc/p_about.html

Here is their FAQ page.
blogcarnival.com/bc/faq.html
The first two questions are the most important. “What is a Blog Carnival?” and “Who Creates a Blog Carnival?” I suggest you read those before forming an opinion.

And here is an example of what a well-done Carnival looks like. civilwarmemory.typepad.com/civil … rniva.html

This is the History Carnival. The Hosting rotates each month among the various history blogs. This month it was a Civil War blog’s turn to host it.

2

Jack, I would think the potential is unlimited. How would individuals post on it? You might interest the Chess Hall of Fame, as well as the USCF. The Chess hall of fame could do a monthly Famous Player segment, or the like. I am sure some of the antique chess collectors would also be interested.

                 Harry
3

Harry, great ideas!

BTW I’m sure you know this is no attempt to grab power for me. If someone else wants to start this, it would be fine with me.

4 
    Jack, Good ideas do not spawn, thoughts of one grabbing power. Only claims of great ideas  that never occured or never happened do. :wink:  :laughing:  I think you should take it and run with it. I don't know how I could be of help, but feel free to call on me.  It is one of the best ideas I have heard in a long time.
5

Do It!!!

Great idea.

Brian

6

First I ever heard of a carnival. cool idea. I read the 2 web sites some. I kind of understand it. Looks good to me. I am always trying to find good chess information on the web.

I will certainly read it and then understand it better as I use the carnival.

One problem I have found is some chess web sites do not update often. for example there was one that was doing weekly chess tv show in sweden I believe. I think the tv show was also on YouTube. it was great but I never got back to it. Just having the links when good stuff comes up would be a great help.

Hall of fame sounds great.

How about someone on Opening theory.

some on learning chess lessons.

Good Luck Jack

7

I just drafted an organizing document for a chess carnival. I posted it on my blog, address below.

I am interested in feedback.

8

Yesterday I was in a meeting with quite a few system administrators.

None of them had ever heard the terms “Internet Carnival” or “Blog Carnival” either.

9

Sounds like they don’t get out much. There are a lot of them around.

bizosphere.com/

blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_1963.html

jamesbrausch.com/?p=99

carnival.isfullofcrap.com/

gottsegnet.blogspot.com/2007/08/ … oling.html

10

Thanks, John and Mike for your comments. Amazing that we knew something that you didn’t, Mike! :smiley: And thanks to Harry for all his kind comments.

Here’s an update on what I’ve been up to.

Sent a lengthy e-mail to our new VP of Communications and our Chairman. Thought I’d give them a heads-up before I went any further on this.

Compiled a database in Excel of 80 chess blogs and websites. Used Weeks’ About.com as my primary source, then went down the list on Boylston Chess Clubs’ site. Time was spent trying to track down individual names and contact info. Many web sites aren’t designed with direct contact in mind. Some were available with some digging.

Then I remembered that last April Susan had listed some blogs on her site. After her listing, a number of bloggers had commented in with their blogs. So, I added those, too.

Still, a number of blogs have no contact info at all. The only way I can see to notify them about this is to leave comments in their latest posts. I’ve thought of this and it seems to me that for something like this, it would be okay to do that, even though it would be off-topic. I shall do that just once.

One thing that leaves me uncomfortable is that some of the chess blogs are by kids. I don’t like adults contacting kids on the internet on general principles. Yet, I don’t want kid’s chess and kid’s chess blogs excluded, either. So, I shall make an exception and contact them – once.

People can always get connected with this project later. My concern is that the initial roll-out the this be as high quality as possible. That means having as wide a participation as possible.

The first Internet Chess Carnival ever will take place on September 1. Good, bad, or indifferent it will be held.

P.S. Here’s one thing people can do to help. They can go over my Excel SS. There’s nothing on there that is private. If there are any chess sites that ought to be added, they can do so and send it back to me. The purpose of this database is to use it for notifying the chess community about this project.

11

Okay, here are some important links to the new Chess Carnival:

General information about it:
blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_2250.html

Carnival’s Temporary Homepage:
jacklemoine.blogspot.com/2007/08 … nival.html
Check out the Chess Carnival’s new logo!

Submit Articles Here:
blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_2250.html

You can help by recommending this carnival to your friends/contacts. Here’s a nice e-mail widget, courtesy of Blog Carnival.com.
blogcarnival.com/bc/ctell_2250.html
Send yourself a sample e-mail through this widget to see how it works. It automatically gives the particulars of the Chess Carnival as well as links to answer questions about carnivals in general.

If you have a blog, then please post on it an announcement that the first ever Chess Carnival will take place on September 1. My blog will host. See address below.

12

Good Job Jack.

You are really working fast and hard on this project. I want to say thank you.

I still am not sure what this Carnival will be like but I will be here participating. I am sure once I see it up and running I will understand it better. If you are linking all the chess sites this could turn into an important chess web site.

Keep posting reminders at the Forums since otherwise I would never come to this section to find out what is happening.

George

13

I posted the spreadsheet online. I believe anybody can update it, though I’m not sure. This is the first time I’ve ever done this. It should be able to be viewed by anybody.

This spreadsheet covers the top chess blogs - at least according to me.

Access it at
spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key= … KldgyNE1OA

14

You have performed a valuable service, Jack. This is a whole lot more fun than politics.

15

I’ve just posted a radio spot on the chess blog carnival! You can listen to it at:
jacklemoine.blogspot.com/2007/08 … -spot.html

Or else go to my blog address below and go to the August 15 entry.

16

Harry, and others who wrote in:

I fixed the link on the radio spot. Your trouble may be with your shockwave. I also got an e-mail that the ActiveX control does not work with Firefox. Try the radio spot again, this time use one of the alternate links.

17

This is a last call for entries in the carnival. This will be the inagural event.

18

The Chess Blog Carnival is now up and running! See it at my blog.