Tanay Sukumar is a first-year civil engineering student at Delhi College of Engineering (age 18). He loves writing, blogging, social networking, cricket, reading and maths. He runs a site-blog called ‘News That Matters Not (NTMN)’ where he writes satirical stories based on original news. The site began in November 2009 during his holidays.

In this interview he shares with us some of the interesting things about NTMN.

Interview

Q.: You run “News That Matters Not”(NTMN) – a site which displays imaginary and funny news having relevance with the real news. What pinched your brain to go for a rarely harvested crop?

A. : Firstly, thanks for having me here. News humour and satire on internet is certainly a “rarely harvested crop” in our country, as you put it. Now that I look back, I guess NTMN began as an attempt to “use one skill I was good at (writing), to improve another (sense of humour)”. Fake news is not my concept; NTMN began as an emulation of a leading news satire site I came across. I started writing such news stories on my personal blog, after which some friends got interested to contribute, and within a month, it started taking the shape it has today, that of “a first-of-its-kind satire and humour site managed by students”. It is now an amalgam of teamwork, talent, dedication. Gradually, we became better at the skill, and “humour” turned into “satirical humour”; we want our readers to “think along as they get amused”.

Q.: Don’t you have to be careful about any legal issues as you twist the real news in a funny manner? Sometimes it may hurt the originality of it?

A: Well, we have not had any problems till now. Satire is an integral part of any modern democratic society; it is intended to bring out ugly and uncomfortable truths in an amusing, yet thought-provoking way. We have a disclaimer on our website, which is meant to neutralise any ill-feelings that may arise. No one is perfect, we welcome readers to poke fun at us if we offended them. It might help settle issues!

We can’t satisfy everybody at a time. Say, if we are poking fun at Mayawati, and the whole world is laughing with us, even then, there exists one person who is not amused: Mayawati herself (if she cares to read us, I mean)! What matters is that we don’t hurt people insensitively and insensibly. Satire consists of being sensible and taking things in the right spirit. It’s essential to be rational by thought.

As far as the originality of news is concerned, I guess it’s not a big deal. People are bored of the way news is treated in the general news media.  Moreover, sometimes some of our readers get to know the real news AFTER they have read our satirical treatment to it!

Q.: Apart from presenting your writing creativity for NTMN, where else you apply it?

A: I have recently started writing a weekly column for a new e-magazine called 21 Fools (http://21fools.com). Besides, I have this new interest of thinking up witty one-liners. I also have a seldom-updated personal blog, where I write stuff completely different from humour. Some of the other NTMNers (that’s what we call our staff) are bloggers, and they are a creative lot.

Q.: Which is your favourite subject to write fake news about? And why?

A: Rakhi Sawant, Raj Thackeray and Mayawati are all-time spoof favourites. One who frequently gets involved in eccentric activities is an easy target, you know. However, we try to avoid a feeling of redundancy among readers, and we try out variety and versatility.

Q.: Let’s have the LIVE pleasure of your satirist writing skill. Have us some exclusive funny short, satirist news from your side based on the present real story.

A.: Hmm… let’s have this news on Jats turning off water supply today in Delhi, and threatening to boycott CWG. “To keep Jats quiet during CWG, government agrees to reservation of seats for them in stadiums”

“The Home Ministry has assured the CWG organising committee that the Jats won’t be able to boycott the Games during October. The government has planned to reserve seats for them in the Games stadiums, and hopefully the word “reservation” will keep them quiet. The Jats have been revolting for reservations, a 21st century status symbol. Reacting to the government’s idea, a Jat leader said they can’t be fooled so easily. “We have other plans. We will sabotage the government’s efforts to teach citizens the art of peeing in MCD urinals. We will demolish all urinals, and tell people to urinate on the roadside and the foreigners,” he told our reporter.” More

Q.: What are your future plans for NTMN?

A: We are just engaging in writing and getting appreciation from readers right now. No concrete plans. We weren’t even sure we’ll last six months, but writing of the kind we have done every day for half a year, has transformed the way the mind reacts to stuff, and now we are sort of used to it. In future, we would like to see more young college students take up humour and satire writing; it is the most difficult, yet a satisfying and self-entertaining genre of writing. Maybe we could make NTMN a full-fledged students’ platform for humour writing in India. It will get talent noticed and appreciated.

Q.: Any special notes you would like to add at the end?

A: I wish to thank others who are an integral part of this blog, for their efforts and enthusiasm. Although I handle all the administration myself, but the contribution of regular and talented authors like Kartik (an article by him was republished by Mid-Day recently), Sugandha, Dhruv among others, is immense, all this is instrumental in our mechanism. I have my gratitude to my old friend Prateek, whose help gave the initial boost to the website, since he was the first volunteer in my venture, and the site was run by only two people for about a month. You can get to know about our staff on “Our authors” page of our website. Besides these, obviously, there is a sea of constructive comments, both criticism and appreciation, from friends, fans and readers, which tells us how we are doing.

Thanks again.

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I’m Chinthana Munasinghe, a 24 year old dreamer, born and raised in the paradise isle of Sri Lanka. Currently I’m taking some time off from work to follow my dreams and also to live life the way it was meant to be lived. I’m passionate about music, movies, travelling, exploring, philosophy, and creative writing.

I hate routines and like to try out and experience new things in life. Writing was just one of those things I thought I’ll try. Creative writing is something I enjoy and I use it as a tool to explore the elements of the mind and soul. My writing and poetry can be found at Unsilent Dawn (http://unsilentdawn.wordpress.com). Currently I’m trying to forge a path to the world of visual arts, focusing mainly on graphic design, video production and also web design.

One day I hope to look back on life and say ‘Ha! I did it!’

Interview

Q: Welcome to Speakbindas. Tell us since when blogging has been a part of your life? Was there any motive or inspiration as a backbone of it?

I started blogging in 2008. I used to write since I was about 16 but it was always in a book which was for my eyes only. I am inspired by life itself. I like to focus on thoughts and emotions and explore them further, sort of like an inward journey to listen to the voice inside my head and making sense of what it has to say. One day I just made up my mind to open a blog and share my thoughts and ideas and I just did.

Q: What is your blog all about? Which topics you cover there? Is that you alone running/maintaining the blog, or have a team?

I enjoy creative writing and my blog mainly has a lot of poetry and prose. A few personal stories and sometimes my travel experiences pop up here and there. Like I mentioned before, it’s essentially a personal journey exploring my thoughts, ideas, emotions and experiences. I like to write in a way that others can relate, and leave the interpretations to the reader, especially when it comes to poetry… And my blog is all me, I am the sole author and maintain it independently.

Q.: How important is it for the blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive?

Interaction with the readers is important as it builds relationships with them while also providing a base to learn new things and gain constructive criticism. I try my best to respond to all the comments I receive, but there are times that I have not been able to. Still I appreciate each and every comment made on the blog as they have helped motivate me to write and also bring new perspectives to what could have originally been a very myopic point of view.

Q: What are the present statistics for your blog, i.e. number of daily visitors, visitors, geographical status etc.?

My blog is almost 2 years old but my visitor statistics are not very high as I don’t post frequently. My stats can be quite erratic at times, with the highest being over 150 visits and as few as 0 on some days. I’m not quite sure about the geographical status of the visits, but a majority is from Sri Lanka. I have received a few comments from people around the world as well, but I don’t know what countries some of them are from.

Q: Is blogging for you just a passion or a medium for earning too? Does it help you to earn enough cash to quit a 9 to 5 day job?

To be honest blogging is not a passion of mine. Writing definitely is, and I enjoy it purely for intrinsic reasons. Since the web is a free space I can share my demented thoughts, I blog. But I don’t see it as a medium for earning, and quite frankly I don’t want it to be either.

Q: Who are your favorite bloggers, whom you read frequently?

I don’t get much time to read many blogs and my Google reader is flooded with unread posts. When I read, I enjoy reading my friends’ blogs (most of whom I met on Kottu.org) and also other poetry and creative writing blogs.

Q: From the secret bucket of your blogging experiences, what tips you would like to share with the fellow bloggers?

One thing I know is that it’s important to write about what you want to write rather than what you think the world wants to read. It’s your blog and you have every right to do so. Be nice to readers, reply to comments and also try to comment on blogs that you read. It helps to bring in more visits to your blog as well as creating relationships with others. I have made quite a number of friends through the blogosphere.

Also don’t spam the blog link, because it can really turn people off. Use aggregators to promote instead of arbitrary spamming.

Q: Do you believe that blogging completes you? If yes, tell us how?

Blogging does not complete me, as I mentioned before it’s just a vehicle to share my ideas. Writing is a piece of the puzzle that completes me, but I aspire for greater things to complete me. All in all, it’s just another brick in the wall.

Q: What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

Randomly, off the top of my head, one of the happiest I’ve ever been is on a speeding motorboat in Maldives, with the wind in my hair and nothing but water around me. I was lost in my own world and that is one of the moments that I have felt the most free. There was no reason for the feeling, or the moment. It was just a total life high, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget that day.

A gloomy moment would be a time that I backed out from what could or should have been a huge part of my life, just because I was afraid and I didn’t take the shot. I’ve got no one else to blame but myself and living with that in my head was a dark and confusing time of my life. I got over it eventually, but sometimes it still haunts me a little.

Q: Say, you are sponsored to travel to 3 world destinations, where you need not to worry about costs for food, hotel or anything. Which destinations would you pick up, and why? Would you like to take someone along with you? If yes, whom?

Egypt – Always wanted to see the pyramids

The island in The Beach – just to get away from it all

Amsterdam – I heard the grass is greener there.

I would like to go with all my closest friends and my girlfriend. Would be one hell of a time!

Q: Are you into watching movies? If yes, which fills your list of favorite ones?

Ans.: Yeah I watch a lot of movies and I have a long list of favorites. Fight Club I think would be my all time favorite (yet).. American Psycho, Usual Suspects, Eternal Sunshine, Children of Men, Shawshank Redemption, City of God, V for Vendetta, Pineapple Express, Changeling, The Basketball Diaries, 28 Days Later. There’s many more… but that’s going to take a while to remember and compile.

Q: How does the slow internet speed affect your mind and performance?

I’m used to working on slow internet because it is kind of a norm here. But there are times it really gets on my nerves and I find myself cursing the connection and the service providers. At times like that, I try to do something else until the connection gets better and I can work properly.

Q: What would be the one thing you’d change about yourself?

I think I would like to have a better memory. There are many grey areas in my memory, where I can’t remember some of the easiest stuff.  I have lost many things because I can’t remember where I put them. So yes, my memory is one thing I would change about me. Oh and I also don’t want to procrastinate, but judging from the time I took to do this interview, I am a long way off from any change to that aspect.

Q: What will you do without internet?

Go crazy. I’m kidding. Well sometimes it’s hard to think of life without the internet because we spend a better part of our day on it and connect with a lot of people we would not meet on a daily basis too. But without it I think, I would probably be hanging out on the beach, travelling around the country, reading, writing or watching movies.

Q: What is your deepest fear?

Many would believe that cockroaches are my deepest fear but it’s not. I’m slowly getting over my fear (I think). I’m really not sure what would be my biggest fear, but I’m guessing it would be not being able to do what I really want in life. I guess I just don’t want to leave with a dead dream.

Q: What’s your take on the technological advancement these days? Does it make people’s life simple or complicated?

Technology has definitely made day to day life easier. It’s hard to imagine life without the internet, cell phones, vehicles and everything else around us because that is the world that I was born into and raised in. Having said that, technological advancement contributes to both a simple life as well as a complicated life. Simple in terms of the faster communication, efficiency, easy-to-use etc, yet complicated in many other aspects. Relationships are not what they should be. Everything is becoming impersonal slowly, we see it yet we deny it. People are becoming too dependent on technology and it has also created a form of ostentatious behavior in which many people try to get the best and newest of everything. But seriously, technology is bloody amazing!

Q: Any special message you would like to share with your blog readers as well with everyone else?

Dream big. You will lose out if you don’t, and life is way too short to keep putting off what you really want to do. One of the strongest quotes I have read from Paulo Coelho and which I try to live by is ‘An alchemist: A person who transforms dreams into reality. Be one.’

Also thank you very much for this interview.

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Hi! I’m Sraboney a.k.a Bones in the blog world. I’m an economics graduate with a PG Diploma in Mass Communications. I moved to Singapore six months back and am currently a home maker trying my best to raise a 5 year old daughter, look after the house and blog.

I’m a blog addict and log on whenever I can. I’m passionate about reading books and blogs, eating out and listening to music. I hate cooking, drying clothes and cleaning although I’m anal about the latter and hate when my husband and daughter don’t follow my rules regarding neatness. I blog at http://ramblingsbybones.wordpress.com/

Interview

Q: Welcome to Speakbindas. Tell us since when blogging has been a part of your life? Was there any motive or inspiration as a backbone of it?

* Ans.: I want to start by thanking you for giving me the opportunity to communicate with your readers…I started blogging in September of 2008 because I had nothing better to and had a lot of time on my hands…Little did I know that I would get addicted to it…The experience of being able to directly broadcast my own words to readers was exhilarating…I wasn’t really inspired by anything – just thought I’d try my hand at it and write whatever came to mind…

Q: What is your blog all about? Which topics you cover there? Is that you alone running/maintaining the blog, or have a team?

* Ans.: My blog is about anything and everything…It’s a personal blog about what I find interesting and important…I maintain it myself…

Q.: How important is it for the blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive?

* Ans.: I think it is important for the blogger to interact with their readers because it shows interest and the acknowledgement goes a long way in developing a commenting culture on one’s blog …Comments also inspire posts and provide tips for better writing…I try to respond to all the comments but sometimes it’s not possible because of time constraints…So, although I maintain my blog myself, it is actually a collective enterprise…

Q: What are the present statistics for your blog, i.e. number of daily visitors, visitors geographical status etc.?

* Ans.: Don’t know…Never check that stuff and never will…Blogging is not about statistics; it’s about broadcasting one’s views and interacting with readers…

Q: Is blogging for you just a passion or a medium for earning too? Does it help you to earn enough cash to quit a 9 to 5 day job?

* Ans.: Blogging is my hobby and passion and I don’t earn a cent from it…

Q: Who are your favorite bloggers, whom you read frequently?

* Ans.: That’s a tough one…I read many blogs and have many ‘favourites’ and it would be unfair to name only a few…

Q: From the secret bucket of your blogging experiences, what tips you would like to share with the fellow bloggers?

* Ans.: Don’t write to get readers, write from your heart…I think a successful blog has to balance itself between a writer’s view of the world and other views…Also, it is imperative for bloggers to be regular…There’s no point in writing a post every 3 months – readers will lose interest…

Q: Do you believe that blogging completes you? If yes, tell us how?

* Ans.: Ah, the Jerry McGuire question…I think I’m complete (whatever that means) even without blogging but yes, it is a relatively big part of my life right now…

Q: What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

* Ans.: The happiest moment of my life was when my daughter was born and the gloomiest – I don’t know…

Q: Say, you are sponsored to travel to 3 world destinations, where you need not to worry about costs for food, hotel or anything. Which destinations would you pick up, and why? Would you like to take someone along with you? If yes, whom?

Ans.:

1) Israel because of its history…It’s the birthplace of three of the world’s major religions – imagine that!

2) Macchu Piccu or the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ to see this engineering wonder for myself

3) New Orleans for the jazz bars and food

I would like to go to all these places with my husband and daughter…

Q: Are you into watching movies? If yes, which fills your list of favorite ones?

* Ans.: I like watching movies and my all time favourite is ‘Cat on the Hot Tin Roof’ starring Elizabeth Taylor and the gorgeous Paul Newman…

Q: How has blogging helped you other than money?

* Ans.: It hasn’t helped me earn money because I write for pleasure and not for monetary rewards…The best thing about blogging is the friends I’ve made…

Q: What would be the one thing you’d change about yourself?

* Ans.: Nothing…I’m happy the way I am…

Q: What is your deepest fear?

* Ans.: I would outlive my daughter or lose her

Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

* Ans.: Paul Newman

Q: Which is your favorite television show? Favorite songs?

* Ans.: My favourite TV show is ‘Seinfeld’ and favourite songs – there are too many to list…I English pop/rock and Hindi movie songs…Favourite bands/singers are The Beatles, Carly Simon, Simon and Garfunkel, Pink Floyd and Dire Straits…

Q: How much money do you have in your purse/wallet right now (including change)?

* Ans.: $2.55

Q: What is your favorite food? Any particular dislikes?

* Ans.: I love Italian and American junk food like burgers and fries…I HATE aubergines…

Q: What’s your take on the technological advancement these days? Does it make people’s life simple or complicated?

* Ans.: Without doubt, technological advancement has made life easier and is a huge contributor to the well being of human kind…I don’t think it has made life and human relationships more complicated, it has just changed it and change is good…

Q: What do you think of “blogging is the next BIG thing”?

* Ans.: It is already a big thing…I personally feel blogging is better than FB and Twitter because it allows people to express themselves more easily and without word limits…

Q: Any special message you would like to share with your blog readers as well with everyone else?

* Ans.: I just want to thank my readers for their encouragement and support without which I wouldn’t have continued writing for as long as I have and been interviewed by you…Once again, thank you…

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Hi! Am Deepak Amembal, born in Aug 1953, completed my M.A. in Sociology from Mumbai University. My blog http://mumbai-eyed.blogspot.com is about Mumbai as I see it.

Interview

Q: Welcome to Speakbindas. Tell us since when blogging has been a part of your life? Was there any motive or inspiration as a backbone of it?

• Ans.: My 1^st blog was ‘Photings’ at http://photings.blogspot.com and the 1^st post was on 03 October, 2005. It was basically the result of a passion for photography and writing combined. Slowly the addiction to blogging grew and started my pic-a-day about Mumbai at http://mumbai-eyed.blogspot.com. Then there was no looking back and I moved on to a travel blog of my own http://magictravels.blogspot.com where I could document my travels to share this wondrous country of ours with the world!

Q: What is your blog all about? Which topics you cover there? Is that you alone running/maintaining the blog, or have a team?

• Ans.: My Mumbai blog is all about the wonderful city that is a dream fulfiller to millions who come here to dream and realize them. I try my best to present a view of Mumbai as I see it daily. No holds barred. As is where is. Her enamouring beauty and filthy underbelly and all that lies in between is reflected on my blog. My team comprises the people of Mumbai without whom Mumbai would wither and die.

Q.: How important is it for the blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive?

• Ans.: Blogging as a medium is very satisfying because of the almost instantaneous reactions of the readers and I make a conscious effort to respond to all the comments by visiting their blogs. Comments are the lifeblood for any blog to survive and grow.

Q: What are the present statistics for your blog, i.e. number of daily visitors, visitors geographical status etc.?

• Ans.: Do not dabble in numbers. But do know it has a far reaching audience.

Q: Is blogging for you just a passion or a medium for earning too? Does it help you to earn enough cash to quit a 9 to 5 day job?

• Ans.: Blogging is an addiction. Earning from it is secondary and negligible. No way that it has earned me enough to quit my regular day job! Hope it does soon though.

Q: Who are your favorite bloggers, whom you read frequently?

• Ans.: Though it is difficult to mention a few as there are plenty my most favorite is ‘Mojo’ who blogs at http://www.blogger.com/profile/03498213932233245032 This guy is amazing and prolific. Another is Sylvia at http://www.blogger.com/profile/05484577678585907669 These are 2 blogs which are a must visit for me. I could go on and on…. There are such wonderful bloggers out there…. I just love it!

Q: From the secret bucket of your blogging experiences, what tips you would like to share with the fellow bloggers?

• Ans.: Be honest to the theme of your blog and respond to all your visitors unfailingly.

Q: Do you believe that blogging completes you? If yes, tell us how?

• Ans.: Blogging for me is a way of sharing with the world all that I experience. And I believe man is complete when he shares.

Q: What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

• Ans.: There are so many, cannot enumerate. Can think of the happiest (most recent) was when my daughter walked up on the dais to receive her graduating degree in International Human Relations from the Dean of London School of Economics. The gloomiest was when my dear uncle passed away when we were all gathered for a religious festival in our village.

Q: Say, you are sponsored to travel to 3 world destinations, where you need not to worry about costs for food, hotel or anything. Which destinations would you pick up, and why? Would you like to take someone along with you? If yes, whom?

Ans.:    1) Italy for all the history

2) Greece for all the history

3) France for the romance

Would want to take my wonderful wife of 26+ years with me as we share the same passions for travel and photography.

Q: Are you into watching movies? If yes, which fills your list of favorite ones?

• Ans.: No movies. Yet my favorite is ‘Fiddler on the roof’

Q: How has blogging helped you other than money?

• Ans.: Learning about the world.

Q: What would be the one thing you’d change about yourself?

• Ans.: Nothing.

Q: What is your deepest fear?

• Ans.: Lose sight

Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

• Ans.: Sushmita Sen

Q: Which is your favorite television show? Favorite songs?

• Ans.: Highway on my Plate.
• All good music.

Q: How much money do you have in your purse/wallet right now (including change)?

• Ans.: Rs.738/-

Q: What is your favorite food? Any particular dislikes?

• Ans.: Sandwiches. No dislikes in particular.

Q: What’s your take on the technological advancement these days? Does it make people’s life simple or complicated?

• Ans.: It is definitely an assist to simplify life but people love to complicate things.

Q: What do you think of “blogging is the next BIG thing”?

• Ans.: Tweeting is here!

Q: Any special message you would like to share with your blog readers as well with everyone else?

• Ans.: Be happy!

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I believe in simplicity and see that every person has a tag on their neck that says “I am special”… All of us are… Hello Mirror, this is N J… Nithin Jacob. I’m a Data Encoder who is currently working in Saudi Arabia. India always brings sweet memories… Well, I’m a 26 year old dreamer who lives in his dreamy land to see his dreams come alive.

My blog Life In A Crystal Pot is not just for me. It’s for all those people who had been through pain, ills and loneliness in life. There were times when I was all alone in life and I know how it feels like. I have learned the fact that, people do come closer to us when we show them ‘happiness’. Happiness could be in the form of money, social status or anything for that matter. I’ve had several experiences where I was in need of support, nobody turned up though I expected at least someone to ring me up and ask how I am doing. But, yeah, it never happened. The blog features articles that can be related with everyone’s life.

Interview

Q: Welcome to Speakbindas. Tell us since when blogging has been a part of your life? Was there any motive or inspiration as a backbone of it?

* Ans.: For everything we have got one cause to pick and showcase, and that’s experience. I never knew that I could write until I tasted pain. Pain is pleasure for many. I have strived many a time to get over it. There is something which took place when I completed my schooling and left to India for higher studies. Perhaps, there wasn’t anyone to guide me during my hard times or for all reasons that they acted strange to me for their well-being’s must have been inspired me to vent out the feelings buried deep within my heart.

Q: What is your blog all about? Which topics you cover there? Is that you alone running/maintaining the blog, or have a team?

* Ans.: You got to think this way. I started of writing poems… I never had any intention to write articles or of course, the book which I am currently penning. I don’t cover much through my blog. It’s all about poems and abstracts. Ah, well… If you think you can squeeze something out of it, then I am sure you going to get back to my page. Yeah, I don’t have a team.

Q.: How important is it for the blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive?

* Ans.: I personally believe that a blogger should interact with his readers. I do interact with all my readers however if I am unable to do so then blame it on my tight schedule.

Q: What are the present statistics for your blog, i.e. number of daily visitors, visitors geographical status etc.?

* Ans.: I really don’t give importance to ’statistics’. At the end of the day if my readers aren’t satisfied with what I publish, then I’m out of it. I got to keep them ticking by writing fresh stuffs, be it poems or prose for that matter.

Q: Is blogging for you just a passion or a medium for earning too? Does it help you to earn enough cash to quit a 9 to 5 day job?

* Ans.: Well, I never thought about earning through blogs. It’s just a passion for me. I haven’t sold art yet, but I’m writing a book and hope to see it real big. I have published nearly about 50 poems through poemhunter, which you will get to read through google. I have compiled all of them to get it published soon.

Q: Who are your favorite bloggers, whom you read frequently?

* Ans.: I read Paulo Coelho’s blog. I don’t have any favorite blogger as such; however I do follow random blogs since I’m following quite a huge number of bloggers.

Q: From the secret bucket of your blogging experiences, what tips you would like to share with the fellow bloggers?

* Ans.: Write straight from your heart…

Q: Do you believe that blogging completes you? If yes, tell us how?

* Ans.: Nope. I don’t think it completes me. I still have got a long way to go.

Q: What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

* Ans.: Happiest moment? Plenty of them… Gloomiest moment? Oh well, when my grand father passed away… It’s like, when you loose someone, you cannot replace them. True, isn’t it?

Q: Say, you are sponsored to travel to 3 world destinations, where you need not to worry about costs for food, hotel or anything. Which destinations would you pick up, and why? Would you like to take someone along with you? If yes, whom?

* Ans.: It’s going to be Switzerland and France… I have been to both the places… I’d love to visit these two countries again. Don’t ask me the reason and I ain’t going to name the person who is going to accompany me. *Pause* *Laughs*

Q: Are you into watching movies? If yes, which fills your list of favorite ones?

* Ans.: I don’t watch too many.

Q: How has blogging helped you other than money?

* Ans.: Money? I don’t make money out of blogging. I get to meet wonderful people around the globe. That’s a blessing.

Q: What would be the one thing you’d change about yourself?

* Ans.: I see myself as a very sensitive and intelligent person. I think I shouldn’t be too sensitive when it comes to people who take us for granted.

Q: What is your deepest fear?

* Ans.: That’s an interesting question… Well, I am exposing myself to my deepest fear. You know, I just want to conquer it.

Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

* Ans.: My grandfather…

Q: Which is your favorite television show? Favorite songs?

* Ans.: I don’t watch too many. I love music… I do listen to Psychedelic rock a lot.

Q: What is your favorite food? Any particular dislikes?

* Ans.: I like fried fish… I don’t dislike Food. I can adjust with any.

Q: What’s your take on the technological advancement these days? Does it make people’s life simple or complicated?

* Ans.: I guess it makes our life more complicated. I still remember walking miles to reach my college. It was fun. If I look back and see that life of mine, I would say it was more peaceful than now.

Q: What do you think of “blogging is the next BIG thing”?

* Ans.: I guess it is the next BIG thing… I am not qualified or experienced to speak further on this topic however I feel it can reach many people. That itself speaks for it.

Q: Any special message you would like to share with your blog readers as well with everyone else?

* Ans.: I just want to thank you for taking this interview. Thank you my readers and well-wishers. Thank you very kindly. God bless you.

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My name is Gerardine Baugh, I Blog at; http://gerardinebaugh.wordpress.com/. I live on the outskirts of a small mid-western farming community, Illinois, USA. My birthday is January 23. I am a wife, mother and writer. My husband, Michael, is a very supportive fan of my writing. My Blog came out of my passion for the outdoors.

I have had many different jobs over the years. I worked at a McDonalds, co-owning a sign company, was a marketing assistant, worked as an operations engineer, with T-mobile.

I am a poet, a short story writer and I am working on a novel, which I hope to finish this coming year.   My poems are on different sites on the internet.

I have always wanted to write, I wrote my first novella at age eight. My sister, Judy typed it up, she was seven. I love gardening, crafting, and all animals. I have one dog at this time; his name is Uriah, and three cats, PJ, Kenshin and Tomoe.

Interview

Q: Welcome to Speakbindas. Tell us since when blogging has been a part of your life? Was there any motive or inspiration as a backbone of it?

* Ans.: I have tried my hand at Blogging over the past few years. Nothing ever really felt right. Not enough hits to the sites. I didn’t put my heart into the words. I finally decided to write about what I love, nature, gardening and animals and my own walking path. I wrote about this subject because it is my passion. I am not making money with my Blog. I am writing for me. I believe that if you are on the wrong path in life, something will trip you up.

* I had two work injuries that damaged my back. I had to stop and evaluate what I wanted. That was when, writing came back into my life. I write poetry, short stories, and joined a writers group. My first attempts at Blogging didn’t work out. I realized I was following the crowd. I finally stepped back and let my eight year old self out for a walk.

Q: What is your blog all about? Which topics you cover there? Is that you alone running/maintaining the blog, or have a team?

* Ans.: No team. Just me! I started this Blog November 2, 2009. I was surprised how many people kept coming back. I cover a walk outside with my dog, my cats, and problems with animals. Things that cross my path on a daily basis, or just once, gardens, vegetables, fruits, stars, clouds.

Q.: How important is it for the blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive?

* Ans.: It is very important. When someone takes the time to comment, I believe it would be very rude not to say, hello back. I hope I haven’t missed anyone’s comments. So, yes I respond to all the comments I receive.

Q: What are the present statistics for your blog, i.e. number of daily visitors, visitors geographical status etc.?

* Ans.: At this moment I have over 2,000 hits. It changes constantly. I have visitors from Scotland, Spain, and The United States. I haven’t set up a statistic counter on geographical ranges, yet.

Q: Is blogging for you just a passion or a medium for earning too? Does it help you to earn enough cash to quit a 9 to 5 day job?

* Ans.: Just my passion. This has taken off so fast I didn’t even think of making money off the Blog.

Q: Who are your favorite bloggers, whom you read frequently?

http://williamm49.blogspot.com/

http://curiosityquotient.blogspot.com/

http://forbidden-planet.ca/

http://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/

http://pandabox33.wordpress.com/

http://purplesplatitudes.wordpress.com/

http://rantourage.wordpress.com/

http://www.examiner.com/x-14505-Atlanta-Pet-Health-Examiner?showbio

http://richmondzoo.blogspot.com/

http://sunnyinseattle-cadh.blogspot.com/

http://theonestopthoughtshop.wordpress.com/

http://wesingwedancewestealthings.blogspot.com/

http://whizbangwoman.wordpress.com/

These are the people on my BlogRoll on the front of my Blog. Each one has their own voice. I hope I added everyone.

Q: From the secret bucket of your blogging experiences, what tips you would like to share with the fellow bloggers?

* Ans.: Blogging experiences… Write what you enjoy. That passion will come out in your writing. Add to your Blog at least twice a week to keep readers coming back.

Q: Do you believe that blogging completes you? If yes, tell us how?

* Ans.: Completes me? I have to be able to find that inside of me, not from a Blog, or from someone else’s opinion of who I am.

* Blogging does connect me to a lot of wonderful people.

Q: What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

* Ans.: Happiest: When my children were born and when I married my husband Michael
* Gloomiest: When my sister, Judy died.

Q: Say, you are sponsored to travel to 3 world destinations, where you need not to worry about costs for food, hotel or anything. Which destinations would you pick up, and why? Would you like to take someone along with you? If yes, whom?

* Ans.: I want to go on an Alaskan cruise- I saw a documentary that showed the best way to see Alaska was by boat.
* China I would love to see the great wall.
* Paris- I always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower
* On all the trips I would take my husband, or my kids.

Q: Are you into watching movies? If yes, which fills your list of favorite ones?

* Ans.: The Philadelphia Story, staring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart

Q: How has blogging helped you other than money?

* Ans.: It has increased my self-confidence in my writing ability.

Q: What would be the one thing you’d change about yourself?

* Ans.: I really need to work on setting a schedule and sticking to it. I jump around too much.

Q: What is your deepest fear?

* Ans.: Loosing everything and living under a bridge.

Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

* Ans.: Oprah- I followed a lot of her advice over the years, I would like to say, Thank You.

Q: Which is your favorite television show? Favorite songs?

* Ans.: Right now, ‘Castle’ starring, Nathan Fillion. As for a song, any of Dave Matthew’s music.

Q: How much money do you have in your purse/wallet right now (including change)?

* Ans.: now, hold on a minute,…. $3.79

Q: What is your favorite food? Any particular dislikes?

* Ans.: I love pasta, fresh vegetables, Pizza. Dislikes- bad cooking- high in fat

Q: What’s your take on the technological advancement these days? Does it make people’s life simple or complicated?

* Ans.: Cell phones add to the complexity. Maybe you could run a poll and ask: why do you need a cell phone?

* Computers, I love them. They help me reach out in ways I never imagined. Medical advancements with technology can help a lot of people.

* I guess the answer to this question is, yes! They make people’s lives simpler and more complicated. Dependent on the technology used.

Q: What do you think of “blogging is the next BIG thing”?

* Ans.: Everything has its 15 minutes of fame. Blogging will be around and change with the times and needs of the people.

Q: Any special message you would like to share with your blog readers as well with everyone else?

* Ans.: Passion. Find that, don’t settle. You will loose out and life is way too short. Do what you enjoy. Follow your dream, the one you would do for free! Don’t look for the money; look for your passion first.

* I want to thank all my readers. And I want to thank you for this interview.

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My name is Tanay Jaipuria. I am a 17 year old web designer and entrepreneur from Mumbai, India. I am currently studying in the 12^th Grade. I own TJ Dzine, and blog about web design and graphic design on www.tjdzine.com/blog . I enjoy web design, football and listening to music.

Interview

Q: Welcome to Speakbindas. Tell us since when blogging has been a part of your life? Was there any motive or inspiration as a backbone of it?

* Ans.: I have been blogging for about eighteen months now. Earlier, I used to blog largely for entertainment purposes, about football. After I started TJ Dzine, I decided to start blogging about web design, in order to gain recognition and to share my views on the world of design.

Q: What is your blog all about? Which topics you cover there? Is that you alone running/maintaining the blog, or have a team?

* Ans.: My blog is about web design, graphic design, web development and search engine optimization. I run the blog by myself, and use the blog as an outlet to share links I stumble on, and to give out advice and help fellow designers and developers.

Q.: How important is it for the blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive?

* Ans.: Interacting with readers is a very important part of blogging. Without the interaction, what is the use of a blog! If no-one comments on posts and there is no interaction, the blog might as well just be a static website. I make sure I reply to every comment I receive, as this also encourages readers to come back to the blog in the future, apart from promoting interaction.

Q: What are the present statistics for your blog, i.e. number of daily visitors, visitors geographical status etc.?

* Ans.: Over the last month, my blog has received 3800 unique visitors and 20000 page views. 45% of this traffic is through referrals from others sites(like cssdrive, smashing magazine, noupe), 30% is from search engines(mainly google), and the rest is direct traffic. In the past month, my blog has received visitors from 102 countries. The countries which have sent the most visitors to my blog are USA, India, Germany, UK, and Canada(in that order)

Q: Is blogging for you just a passion or a medium for earning too? Does it help you to earn enough cash to quit a 9 to 5 day job?

* Ans.: Blogging for me is mainly a passion. I don’t sell ads etc on my blog, and thus don’t earn money directly from my blog. However, blogging has increased my exposure and recognition, and has lead to me getting web design clients. So in a way, I indirectly earn from my blog.

Q: Who are your favorite bloggers, whom you read frequently?

* Ans.: I really enjoy www.Problogger.com by Darren Rowse. Some other blogs I enjoy reading are www.SmashingMagazine.com, www.reencoded.com, www.noupe.com, www.bloggusion.com , www.blogsessive.com, www.dailyblogtips.com .

Q: From the secret bucket of your blogging experiences, what tips you would like to share with the fellow bloggers?

Ans.: Some tips I would like to share are:

* Write about something you are passionate about.
* Write regularly, at least 2 posts a week.
* Write for humans, and not search engines. Traffic will come if you right quality posts.
* Engage your readers. Encourage them to comment, respond to their comments.
* If possible, use a self hosted blog, and use WordPress.
* Use Google analytics.
* Read other blogs in your niche. Comment on them, with a link to your blog.
* Content is King

Q: Do you believe that blogging completes you? If yes, tell us how?

* Ans.: Blogging is an important part of me now, but I don’t suppose that it completes me. However, it has helped me in a lot of ways, and helped me connect with lots of fellow web designers and developers.

Q: What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

* Ans.: My happiest moment was when I did well in exams in 10th Grade. My saddest moment was when I had just started TJ Dzine. It had been about a month, and I still hadn’t got any clients.

Q: Say, you are sponsored to travel to 3 world destinations, where you need not to worry about costs for food, hotel or anything. Which destinations would you pick up, and why?

* Ans.: If I could go to three places in the world, I would go to Switzerland, because of its beauty; Goa, to relax on the beaches; Orlando, to sit on roller coasters and other rides.

Q: Are you into watching movies? If yes, which fills your list of favorite ones?

* Ans.: I really enjoy watching movies. Some recent movies I have seen which I really enjoyed are Avatar and Duplicity.

Q: How has blogging helped you other than money?

* Ans.: It has increased my knowledge about web design and development. It has increased my recognition, and it has made me enjoy writing a bit more.

Q: What would be the one thing you’d change about yourself?

* Ans.: I would like to procrastinate less.

Q: What is your deepest fear?

* Ans.: Not following my passion.

Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

* Ans.: I really love football, and would love to me Wayne Rooney.

Q: Which is your favorite television show? Favorite songs?

* Ans.: I really enjoy 24, Monk, House. My favorite bands are cold play, arctic monkeys, keane, the fray.

Q: How much money do you have in your purse/wallet right now (including change)?

* Ans.: 669 Rs. Oh, and a 50p coin.

Q: What is your favorite food? Any particular dislikes?

* Ans.: I enjoy all kinds of food, but I particularly enjoy Pizza’s. There’s nothing that I dislike as such.

Q: What’s your take on the technological advancement these days? Does it make people’s life simple or complicated?

* Ans.: I think that the technological advancements are good for society. They make are lives much easier, and help us a lot

Q: What do you think of “blogging is the next BIG thing”?

* Ans.: I think blogging is already a big thing. It has been growing exponentially for a long time now, and I think it will continue to grow, as more people take it up and as it becomes easier to start a new blog.

Q: Any special message you would like to share with your blog readers as well with everyone else?

* Ans.: I would like to reiterate that you should blog about something you are passionate about, and something that you enjoy. Also, I would like to thank you for interviewing me and thank the readers for spending their valuable time reading this.

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My name is Vinod Dave, originally from Chital, Gujarat and now I live in New York City since last quarter of a century.  I was born in Chital just a year after India became independent. I did my primary education in Chital, High school in Rajkot and two separate master’s level graduations in visual arts from M. S. University of Baroda and University of South Carolina, USA.

I am a professional visual artist and I exhibit my work in India, USA and Europe. I operate three separate blogs of my own (http://artandchocolate.blogspot.com/ http://vinoddave.blogspot.com/ and   http://cowdungcake-theblogthatbitesback.blogspot.com/ ) for various purpose and I regularly contribute to two blogs on Indian art (  http://indianartnews01.blogspot.com/ and  http://thisishowitshouldbe.blogspot.com/ ).  I do all the blogging by my literary name “spiritualpanther“.  My full profile could be viewed at:  http://www.blogger.com/profile/00850109157304640773 .  My interests include: art, photography, spirituality, philosophy, internet, galleries/museums, music, technology, cooking, travel, reading, cinema, observation and I collect experience.

Interview

Q: Welcome to Speakbindas. Tell us since when blogging has been a part of your life? Was there any motive or inspiration as a backbone of it?

* Ans.: If I remember correctly, I am blogging since October 2005. In fact, I started writing comments on Indian Art News blog after there was so much hulla gulla about Tyeb Mehta’s painting was auctioned for over 1.5 million dollars in New York. Immediately following a long run discussion on that topic, Sidhant Bhagchandani started Indian Contemporary Art blog and invited me to join. Then eventually I started my own blogs and I have not stopped.

Q: What is your blog all about? Which topics you cover there? Is that you alone running/maintaining the blog, or have a team?

* Ans.: Though they seem to be about art, they actually include more than meets the eye. They are about criticism, politics, sarcasm, black humor and realities of life.

Q.: How important is it for the blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive?

* Ans.: Readers are the main reason anyone would do blogging. I would not do it if it was not for my audience. It is very important to interact. I answer to all comments that require a response.

Q: What are the present statistics for your blog, i.e. number of daily visitors, visitors geographical status etc.?

* Ans.: I do not maintain a counter on any of my blogs. But if you view my profile and profiles of all the contributors to all the blogs I am involved with, you could check how many profile views are there and that should provide some insight into the number of visitors to these blogs.

Q: Is blogging for you just a passion or a medium for earning too? Does it help you to earn enough cash to quit a 9 to 5 day job?

* Ans.: I personally have not made any money doing this, but some of my co-contributors are generating extra income doing this. One day I might do it too when time is right.

Q: Who are your favorite bloggers, whom you read frequently?

* Ans.: There are too many of them. But Deepak Shehdadpuri and Sidhant Bhagchandani are two bloggers I read regularly more than others.

Q: From the secret bucket of your blogging experiences, what tips you would like to share with the fellow bloggers?

* Ans.: Well, I have no secrets. I am still learning. I think anyone who does blogging is smart enough to lead his/her own way.

Q: Do you believe that blogging completes you? If yes, tell us how?

* Ans.: No, it does not complete me. Nothing completes me. I am not perfect or complete at all and never will be.

Q: What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

* Ans.: I have more gloomy moments than happy ones to count. I have seen many deaths in family and many losses in life. However I have gained spiritually from all those and I could count that as a blessing. But in the end all seems to be worth encountering in a lifetime.

Q: Say, you are sponsored to travel to 3 world destinations, where you need not to worry about costs for food, hotel or anything. Which destinations would you pick up, and why? Would you like to take someone along with you? If yes, whom?

* Ans.: Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Giza in Egypt and areas Mayan remains South America. I am struck by the mystical aura around these places and I would definitely take with me Sue Lian Chin a-k-a Joanne Rivera. I do not have to give reason for whom I take with me, right?

Q: Are you into watching movies? If yes, which fills your list of favorite ones?

* Ans.: I am a big time movie fan. Some of my all time favorites are (but not limited to) these movies: My Dinner with Andre, Sholay, Scarface, Thelma & Louise, Devdas, Run Lola Run, Pakeezah, Carmen, Fargo, Psycho, Mirch Masala, Pixote, Garam Hawa, In the Realms of the Senses, Teesari Manzil, Pather Panchali, Apur Sansar, Aparajito, Jalsa Ghar, The Pianist, Deliverance, The Midnight Cowboy, Calligula, Dancer in the Dark.

Q: How has blogging helped you other than money?

* Ans.: Blogging has not helped me in monetary terms, but it has helped me in networking. People from all walks of life know me by my sprirtualpanther literary name and most even know me personally now due to blogging.

Q: What would be the one thing you’d change about yourself?

* Ans.: Nothing. Even though I have regrets, I do not think changing anything could change anything. All is pre-set, karma, destiny.

Q: What is your deepest fear?

* Ans.: No, not death, but one thing I fear about it is: what if it is physically painful? I fear physical pain.

Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

* Ans.: JFK.

Q: Which is your favorite television show? Favorite songs?

* Ans.: TV sucks. My favorite music is: Indian classical music, select Bollywood music, Gujarati Bhajans of Sati Pan Bai, “Candy Colored Clown” by Roy Orbison, and select mantra chants.

Q: How much money do you have in your purse/wallet right now (including change)?

* Ans.: $28.25 in cash and several thousand dollars in form of credit cards and debit cards.

Q: What is your favorite food? Any particular dislikes?

* Ans.: Pani Puri, Sada Dhosa, Idali, Bhindi Masala, Gujarati rotli bread, Bhajia (pakoras), Undhiyu, Dhokla. I do not like French and Japanese food.

Q: What’s your take on the technological advancement these days? Does it make people’s life simple or complicated?

* Ans.: It does both. That is unfortunate. It should only make it simpler.

Q: What do you think of “blogging is the next BIG thing”?

* Ans.: Well, I do not know. It could be or may be not. Tech world has many possibilities.

Q: Any special message you would like to share with your blog readers as well with everyone else?

* Ans.: I would like my readers to know that they are special to me. I would also like Richard Gere to know that I am not only his fan, but my apartment window in New York faces his apartment window. So, Richard, next time you see me looking into your window with a binocular, know that it is me!

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My name is Zach Dunn. I run Build Internet (www.buildinternet.com), a blog on web design, development, and business with my twin brother Sam. Sam and I are twenty years old, and are in our third year at the University of Hartford. At school I major in “Multimedia Web Design and Development” with a specialization in media arts.In addition to being a full time student, I do client work and other projects through my web design and marketing company, One Mighty Roar (www.onemightyroar.com). We’re based in Holyoke, Massachusetts USA.

I fill my spare time with photography, personal projects (e.g. You Rather / www.yourather.com), and a thorough obsession with LOST (http://abc.go.com/shows/lost).

Interview

Q: Welcome to Speakbindas. Tell us since when blogging has been a part of your life? Was there any motive or inspiration as a backbone of it?

* Ans.: I started blogging in December 2008, and have been at it regularly for the past 13 months. Our first blog, Build Internet, was founded as a way to keep track and share our web design knowledge. It’s also been a great way to fuel discussion on new technologies or business philosophies.

Q: What is your blog all about? Which topics you cover there? Is that you alone running/maintaining the blog, or have a team?

* Ans.: Build Internet focuses on a combination of web design, development, and business. We focus on new ways to design websites effectively, and how to interact with clients successfully. As I said earlier, the blog is run and maintained by my twin brother Sam and I.

Q.: How important is it for the blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive?

* Ans.: Since our blog has almost 200 posts, we receive too many comments to respond to on a regular basis. I try to engage in several conversations per day, but the community tends to take care of itself. Especially on tutorials, readers will talk amongst themselves to solve problems.

Q: What are the present statistics for your blog, i.e. number of daily visitors, visitors geographical status etc.?

* Ans.: We average between 10-14K pageviews per day, with slightly lower traffic on weekends. These visitors represent over 190 different countries from all over the world. Monthly pageviews are just about 500K average.

Q: Is blogging for you just a passion or a medium for earning too? Does it help you to earn enough cash to quit a 9 to 5 day job?

* Ans.: Blogging has covered almost all of our business expenses, but it is not enough (yet) to run as a full time operation on its own. The real value of the blog is networking. It’s this kind of networking with blog readers that has led to some larger client jobs. In another year or two we may be able to support a full time job on the blog alone, but the current system works just fine in the meantime.

Q: Who are your favorite bloggers, whom you read frequently?

* Ans.: I’m a big fan of the Envato network. Collis has created something that everyone in the design community should be inspired by. When we were starting up, the work of bloggers like Jacob Cass of Just Creative Design and David Leggett of Tutorial9 were instrumental in guiding our own direction.

Q: From the secret bucket of your blogging experiences, what tips you would like to share with the fellow bloggers?

* Ans.: I’d like to focus on just one: Blogging is not as competitive as you may think. Your goal should never simply be to “best” another blog. Blogging is a community, and giving credit for good work on other sites is instrumental to building your own.

Q: Say, you are sponsored to travel to 3 world destinations, where you need not to worry about costs for food, hotel or anything. Which destinations would you pick up, and why? Would you like to take someone along with you? If yes, whom?

* Ans.: I would take a trip to three different continents. South America, Asia, and Australia. Even though I live in New England, I’m not a big fan of cold weather. I’d be sure to keep to warmer spots and stick to the usual tourist outings for photo opportunities. I’d be happy to bring along my girlfriend.

Q: How has blogging helped you other than money?

* Ans.: I’ve met hundreds of inspiring people. If it wasn’t for blogging, I wouldn’t have a contact book filled with people who share my passion for the internet. I’ve also learned how to write plainly for different audiences. Being professional and being concise are not mutually exclusive.

Q: What would be the one thing you’d change about yourself?

* Ans.: I tend to underestimate how long it will take me to finish tasks. I’m constantly trying to stay realistic with timeframes and deadlines.

Zach Dunn with twin brother Sam

Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

* Ans.: Honestly have no idea how to field this one, but Thomas Edison seems fascinating.

Q: Which is your favorite television show? Favorite songs?

* Ans.: I watch LOST religiously, along with The Office. My playlist right now has Kings of Leon, MGMT, and Passion Pit. I’m eclectic when it comes to music.

Q: How much money do you have in your purse/wallet right now (including change)?

* Ans.: I’m carrying $40, which is surprising because the holidays season usually drains wallets.

Q: What is your favorite food? Any particular dislikes?

* Ans.: Since I’m from Massachusetts, seafood is a given. I rarely turn down food.

Q: What’s your take on the technological advancement these days? Does it make people’s life simple or complicated?

* Ans.: I’m a firm believe in the idea of simplicity as a blessing. The less you have to worry about one thing, the more time you can spend on bigger and better things. Simplifying tasks today just opens the door for dealing with more complicated topics tomorrow.

Q: What do you think of “blogging is the next BIG thing”?

* Ans.: I think blogging is an example of how literally anyone can gain an audience. Blogging has already proved itself as a powerful education tool over the past decade. I think the internet will continue to empower the opinions of average people in the coming years, and old media will have to adapt.

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I was born 16 years ago, am in high school and live currently in New York. I love entrepreneurship, computers, skiing, swimming and visiting foreign countries.

Interview

Q: Welcome to Speakbindas. Tell us since when blogging has been a part of your life? Was there any motive or inspiration as a backbone of it?

* Ans.: I have been blogging for about 5 months, I converted my site to a blog after noticing how popular blogs were becoming.

Q: What is your blog all about? Which topics you cover there? Is that you alone running/maintaining the blog, or have a team?

* Ans.: My blog focuses on young entrepreneurship. We also cover blogging tips and social media and host contests often. I run the blog on my own but I have many guest posters who contribute posts to the blog.

Q.: How important is it for the blogger to interact with their readers? Do you respond to all the comments that you receive?

* Ans.: One of the most important aspects of a blog is interaction. I respond to every comment individually and make sure that no comment goes by unappreciated.

Q: What are the present statistics for your blog, i.e. number of daily visitors, visitors geographical status etc.?

* Ans.: For right now I have on average 100 visits per day. I’ve reached 500 hits in one day which was my peak.

Q: Is blogging for you just a passion or a medium for earning too? Does it help you to earn enough cash to quit a 9 to 5 day job?

* Ans.: Since I’m in high school, advertising covers most of my own costs. All I need money for is for going out with friends so it’s not that much of a cashmaker.

Q: Who are your favorite bloggers, whom you read

frequently?

* Ans.: My favorite blogs are Mashable, Techcrunch, Makeuseof, Webdesignerdepot, Sitesketch101, CreatewithNate, Robswebtips and I have many more. They all have posts on information that I use for my everyday blogging.

Q: From the secret bucket of your blogging experiences, what tips you would like to share with the fellow bloggers?

* Ans.: I believe that community, design and content are the most important parts of your blog. Cultivating a community contributes to people commenting and sharing your posts. Readers will only do this though if your design is nice and your content is helpful.

Q: Do you believe that blogging completes you? If yes, tell us how?

* Ans.: No but I really enjoy it. For right now blogging is my main business. But once I graduate I plan to expand into other businesses.

Q: What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

* Ans.: The happiest moment was when I was interviewed on TV for my eBay business. Channel 12 came to my house and set up an interview to display on TV 24 times.

Q: Are you into watching movies? If yes, which fills your list of favorite ones?

* Ans.: Yes I love watching movies. I like action movies such as Avatar, The Departed, and many more.

Q: How has blogging helped you other than money?

* Ans.: It has helped me make connections to more bloggers and internet gurus.

Benjamin LangQ: What will you do without internet?

* Ans.: I would have a tough time but I would spend more time outside.

Benjamin LangQ: Which is your favorite television show?

* Ans.: My favorite is Prison Break but the season has ended. Now its 24 which is starting soon!

Benjamin LangQ: How much money do you have in your purse/wallet right now (including change)?

* Ans.: I have $24, that’s because I don’t really need that much money in school.

Benjamin LangQ: What is your favorite food? Any particular dislikes?

* Ans.: Favorite food are crepes, a French pancake that you fill with Nutella, whipped cream and other sweet toppings.

Benjamin LangQ: What do you think of “blogging is the next BIG thing”?

* Ans.: It isn’t because it’s nothing new.

Benjamin LangQ: Any special message you would like to share with your blog readers as well with everyone else?

* Ans.: Thanks for this interview, I really enjoyed it. Keep blogging everyone!

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