I realize I’m a little behind the press on this, but I fell out of the loop and just came across this post today: Diigo Blog » Diigo ~ Open Web Awards winner!.

The award is given by Mashable, and Diigo was not the only winner.  There are 2 different awards for each of 26 distinct categories.  The two awards are “People’s Choice” and “Blogger’s Choice”.  In fact, the award that Diigo won was the “People’s Choice” in the “Social Bookmarking” category.

What is most interesting (and suspicious) to me is that neither of the two “most popular” (read: largest user base) social bookmarking sites — Delicious and StumbleUpon, even made runner-up, when in fact they were ranked #1 and #2 respectively in the “Blogger’s Choice” award.

So what does this award actually mean?

There was no critical analysis or comparison done for the “People’s Choice” award, it was simply a popularity contest.  Each user was allowed to vote once per day over the course of two weeks.  So basically, it means that Diigo’s user base is more dedicated and motivated than are either Delicious’ or StumbleUpon’s.  It could also mean that Diigo did a better job of getting the award [word] out to it’s users than did the other two.

That’s it.

I would really like to know what the estimated user base for both Diigo and Delicious is.  It still amazes me that neither StumbleUpon nor Delicious was able to crack the top two in the popularity contest.  #2 was ShareThis.  Never heard of it.

Two and a half years ago, I blogged about a new bookmarking service that I had started using call Diigo.  Well, I’m still using it.  You can view my profile and my bookmarks, if you want.  What I really love about this service is not all of the “social” aspects of it.  I love being able to mark pages that are interesting to me but that I don’t have time to read at the time.

Along those same lines, I just recently discovered a Firefox Add-on called Read It Later.  You can add links to this specialized bookmark tool, sort of a holding place for links you want to visit later.  It has some interesting features like being able to click multiple links on a page to add to your “read it later” list, without having to following those links.  You can then “check off” the links as you read them.

There’s a danger in storing your bookmarks in too many locations.  Diigo also allows you to mark bookmarks as “unread”.  But I could see this tool being useful for articles that I want to read sometime, but don’t necessarily ever want to come back to.  Who knows?

I’m going to lose 30 pounds by Tax Day, 2009. That’s only about 10 lbs per month. It’s do-able, right?

For my Christmas present, Peggy hooked me up with a nutritionist/personal trainer. I met with her last week about the nutrition part and I start work-outs Monday morning. So far the diet is easy. We’re focusing more on how to get the nutrients I need, rather than portion sizes (for now).

So I finally went grocery shopping today and stocked up the fridge with healthy food. I’m looking forward to this new, healthy lifestyle!

My goals are simple – I want to lose that 30 pounds and get into shape so that I can hit the ground running (pedaling) when bicycle season starts. Every spring for the past three years I have had to start basically from scratch with the bicycle training, and it seems like it takes half the season to get up to speed. I don’t want that to happen again this year. I’d like to be able to do a century in May instead of September.

Wish me luck!

22

Okay, this is just wrong.  You don’t want to know what I would have to do in order to make that happen, but there it is. Click the image to find your own magic number.

I have a feeling my last post offended some people.  And even if it didn’t, I apologize anyway.  Re-reading it I realize I came across kind of harsh.  I didn’t mean it to be directed at any specific person or persons, but rather at “the system” under which we all choose to operate.  I don’t have a problem with people wanting to be my “friend”, and the fact that I may not initially be inclined to “accept” them as a “friend” is not meant to imply that I don’t like them or will never accept them as a “friend.”  Some people are perfectly comfortable letting anyone and everyone in, and I have a feeling that Facebook is very well suited for those people.  I’m more reserved and protective, and cautious of who I let in (that’s where the “snobbish stuck-up prick” label gets applied), and therefore do not feel immediately comfortable with the culture prevalent on Facebook.

Please do not be offended if I do not instantly accept your request for “friendship”.  It doesn’t mean I don’t want to talk to you.