Taylor began learning to play guitar from a computer repairman who showed her how to play three chords.
Right after learning those three chords Taylor wrote her first song Lucky You.

She began writing songs and used it as an outlet to help her with her pain from not fitting in at high school.

Taylor became one of country-pop’s brightest and youngest faces when the 16-year-old vocalist released her first album.

Swift had been performing since early childhood, taking inspiration and encouragement from her opera-singing grandmother Marjorie Finlay.

She sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” before a Philadelphia 76ers game at the age of 11; the following year, she began practicing her guitar skills for several hours each day, only stopping when her fingers began to bleed.

Taylor’s parents realized their child’s dedication and hard work and began making regular visits to Nashville, where Taylor would perform casually and meet with songwriters in the area.

The family then decided to move from their native Pennsylvania to an outlying Nashville suburb, which accelerated Swift’s career.

While performing at the intimate Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Swift caught the eye of music industry veteran Scott Borchetta, who signed her to his newly formed label.

Taylor released her debut single, “Tim McGraw”, in mid-2006, reaching number 6 on Billboard magazine’s Hot Country Songs chart.

Released in late 2008, Taylor Swift catapulted the young songwriter to stardom, spawning a handful of hits while earning multi-platinum sales.

Taylor also received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, an award she ultimately lost to Amy Winehouse.

Two subsequent EPs – Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection and Beautiful Eyes – helped maintain Swift’s popularity while whetting public demand for her sophomore release, Fearless, which arrived in November 2008.

Fashion blogs are ranked on a 10 point scale in four areas: (1) clarity of thought, (2) timeliness, (3) relevance, and (4) degree of opinion.

Style File blog:

Total Score: 28

Style.com is a primary source and destination for where people receive their fashion news, trends, and photos of seasonal runway shows. In addition, the renown website has a chief blog site, Style File, where writers can post opinions on various aspects of fashion in a more informal setting and approach. Even though there are several writers for Style File, the writing style of this blog site is distinct and individual to Style.com’s website.

1.) Clarity of thought: 6.5. It is decent. You are able to read through it, although some postings may be a bit long-winded. Also, some entries may be difficult to understand if you don’t have a lot of knowledge of people in the fashion industry, such as Sophia Hesketh and Byrdie Bell.

2.) Timeliness: 8.5. This blog seems to lack consistency. It will have 5-6 entries in one day, and then skip three days entirely without any new posts and then continue on with 5-6 entries. This is probably because people are not working on the weekends. On the upside, it does post slightly more than the average blog, but for a blog that is on a website of considerable size and prominence, you would expect that it would.

3.) Relevance: 7. I don’t think this blog really provides any new information that is of importance or is really interesting. It attempts to draw on styles outside of the US, which can be informative, but it doesn’t focus enough fashion in the homeland. Focus of articles tends to stray away from American fashion, and stick more with foreign matters. In the past several days, there have been over five postings purely on Moscow fashion alone. This is completely unnecessary. Information can also be quite dry at times.

4.) Degree of Opinion: 6. While it does provide news, writers do not write to form their own opinions really, but just blog to create a place for viewers to post their own insights and opinions. The writers tend to say something that they feel is true, such as the “Prep School Blazer style is very trendy,” yet it still opens the discussion for debate, by asking viewers whether they agree or what their thoughts are. This makes the writer’s opinions seems inconsistent and weak. The blog would be better if the writers had a stronger point of view in their critique. It is unnecessary to ask the reader whether they agree with them or not, because the reader will post his or her opinions anyway.

Hint Magazine blog:

Hint Magazine is an online fashion magazine, where you can read fashion columns and story features with a wide ranging selection of topics including music, art, dance and, of course, fashion. It has a separate blog to informally discuss various areas of interests that cater to more independent styles and are usually humorous and entertaining to read.

Total Score: 30

1.) Clarity of thought: 8. The blog is clear to read and understand. It is written in a contemporary manner that appeals to a younger audience. There are not copious amounts of text in each entry compared to the Style File blog, and instead they include many photos and videos that go along with the postings. This makes it look less daunting to get through, which is important in today’s fast paced world of Twittering.

2.) Timeliness: 6. In an era where bloggers are uploading new entries a dozen times per day, this blog only has, on average, 1-2 posts per day. In order to maintain a blog with readers constantly tuning in, it is imperative that there are multiple entries in a short span for readers to regularly come back to.

3.) Relevance: 7. Where Style File’s subject content was entirely about the New York fashion world, this blog seems to veer slightly to the left of that direction. The information posted seems to target a more indie audience by showcasing unheard of designers, writers and artists. I found also that it seems to post a lot on Brazilian artists and designers. I am not sure if there is a correlation between the writers and Brazil for them to do so, but either way, it is a little inconsistent with balancing foreign matters. Some posts are completely irrelevant and hold no interest for me, but for those that enjoy reading about marble urinals in art exhibits and gay porn awards, this is your destination. And if you are one of those readers who enjoy this blog, good luck with letting them know your thoughts, since they have disabled the commenting feature on this blog.

4.) Degree of Opinion: 9. Writers on this blog seem to enjoy writing about what they write about. While news information can be lackluster and tedious at times, this blog tries to send out their messages in a humorous and enjoyable way. While not all of the content on this blog is PG, I did enjoy reading it, even if I wasn’t too interested in what they were actually saying.

Fashion Tribes:

Fashion Tribes tends to appeal to the average fashionista who is well versed in various areas of fashion, such as new trends, beauty and accessories. The reader is usually familiar with popular styles and substantial fashion news occurring on in the fashion world. Taking elements from various aspects of fashion, such as advertisements, magazines and events, this website is pretty solid and well rounded.

Total Score: 30

1.) Clarity of thought: 9. The blog is portioned into smaller paragraphs, which makes it really reader friendly. Also, if you find yourself done with the reading, but are still interested in the topic, it allows you to read more after the jump, which gets rid of extra writing clutter, and opens up space for more easy on the eyes photos and videos. A lot of good pictures and examples, which make the posts look lively and not overwhelming to read.

2.) Timeliness: 6. For a website that is well known across the nation as one of the top rated fashion blogs, you would think that there would be much more blog entries, but instead I was disappointed to find that it only updates only 3-4 days per week. Even though there are a good amount of entries per day, the blog does not allow readers to view older posts, since there is no backlog feature. This makes it really disappointing for those that want to continue reading the rest of the blog, but are unable to.

3.) Relevance: 9. I really enjoyed the content on this blog and thought that it had a lot of good, useful information. It draws in various news about upcoming websites in fashion, as well as information about fresh spring beauty regimes and free giveaways, which everyone loves. Considering the wide-range of topics featured on this blog, I think that it is very good for an everyday shopaholic.

4.) Degree of Opinion: 6. There is hardly, if any, critique in any of the entries posted. However, when creating a blog site, you usually write about what you like, so with that in mind, you definitely know what the writers for this blog like to write about, which explains why I gave it a more generous score, since it posts things assuming that you know that these are things that they enjoy or find pleasing, without really having an opinion about them.

Go Fug Yourself:

Combine Hollywood celebrity style with a Perez Hilton sense of humor, and you have the love child of Go Fug Yourself. Known for its uncanny humor, it leaves no celebrity unharmed or unnoticed. This blog is probably one of the most hilarious fashion criticism blogs out there in a sea of fashion blogs on the internet, but then again, I am being completely biased, since these writers’ humor is right up my alley. Warning, this blog is not for everyone.

Total Score: 38

1.) Clarity of thought: 9. This blog uses the adverb, “A picture speaks a thousand words” and makes it its central point. Uploading a photo of a celebrity in a ridiculous outfit pretty much speaks for itself, since that is mainly how it shows the reader the ridiculousness of the celebrity’s outfit choices. Using the photo as the butt of its jokes, the writers then unapologetically bash the outfit.

2.) Timeliness: 10. Finally! A blog with a little consistency! It updates well over the course of the day. You can expect around 5 entries in a day, expect on weekends, which is understandable.

3.) Relevance: 9. Depending on your sense of humor, this site may or may not be right for you. For those who enjoy reading about bashing celebrities based on their clothing choices, then you have pretty much found gold, but for the fainthearted, you may cringe a bit more when you realize how harsh some of the critiques may be. No worries though, this website is all in good fun! Luckily, for this website, I fall in the former category, and enjoyed this blog thoroughly.

4.) Degree of Opinion: 10. Go Fug Yourself has made a career by casting its opinion on what others are wearing, so if it would be difficult for me to give it anything but a full score rating.

Fashionista

Fashionista is the product of two staff writers from Nylon and Elle Magazine, and joining to give you news in the fashion world faster than most other blogs. With a combo of gossip, rumors, sale tip-offs, internship suggestions, free giveaways, editorial photos and every other relevant news in the fashion world, Fashionista is a comprehensive and delightful read. Perhaps I am just being completely subjective, because this is one of the few blogs that I actually read everyday, alongside Perez Hilton, but Fashionista combines all the New York style straight out of the city’s oven.

Total Score: 38.5

1.) Clarity of thought: 10. The blog is written in small paragraphs, making it easier for the reader to get through it, without feeling overwhelmed. If the reader is still interested in a certain blog entry, she can click on a separate link taking them to “read after the jump.” It uses a combination of lively photos, videos and own photo-shopped writing, making the blog more personal and distinct to Fashionista. Also, as a helpful measure, if you don’t understand some fashion terminology, they have a dictionary specifically just for that!

2.) Timeliness: 10. Fashionista updates several times a day, throughout the day, to give you the most recent and important news. This blog is an archetype to how other fashion blogs should operate.

3.) Relevance: 10. The news featured on this blog involves news occurring in the New York fashion scene. While this may not include everyone, it does deal with high fashion in a very real way, something that can be understood no matter where you are. It also includes subjects from other fashion websites to give you the most relevant information, such as its “Mid-Day Snack” section. This blog also includes various areas of fashion, such as models, beauty, and editorial spreads, so the viewer can be well read in all aspects of fashion.

4.) Degree of Opinion: 8.5. While some blog entries are created just to provide readers non-biased information, other entries are made to showcase models or photo shoots that the writers really like. Either way, you will read this blog learning what is important to the creators of Fashionista. In most news, however, the writers write the entries in a critical way, with a strong point of view.

By

Randy Garsee

Let’s face it, no matter what your position, you may feel like your budget is under attack by economic terrorists determined to silence the voice of local broadcast and print news nationwide.  Budgets are hacked with mathematical machetes.  Correspondents are turned to crisp with financial flamethrowers.  Reporters written off.  Producers pushed out. Photographers flushed into the streets.

The last thing you’re thinking about right now is how to expand your international news coverage.  The idea of putting a local face on the battlefields of Iraq or Afghanistan is not even a remote consideration, right?  How can you possibly pull that off in this economy?

It’s simple.  You can do it and it’s free.  It doesn’t matter if you need video, audio, photos or print content for a web site, a newsletter, a newspaper or a television station.

In the past few years, the Department of Defense spent millions of your tax dollars to create the perfect tool for you to get domestic and international news. It’s called the Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System.  Of course, we know how the military loves acronyms, so it’s also known as DVIDS.

More importantly, this is the farthest thing from propaganda.  It’s access.  You or your news team decides how to use the free articles, video or photos.  Here’s an example of how to use DVIDS for a television station.  Let’s say your assignments editor receives a call from a mother complaining that your station never mentions Iraq where her son or daughter happens to be deployed.  With DVIDS you can request a satellite link-up and interview that mom’s son or daughter.  You can record the interview and incorporate an interview with the parent.  With little effort you’ve just localized an international story and made your audience care about it.

When you visit DVIDS online, there’s a link for media requests near the top of the page.  For more information on DVIDS, go to www.dvidshub.net or call the 24-Hour Media Hotline at 678-421-6612.  You should do it quickly.  After all, your competition may be reading this too.

A prospective user who wants to try his hands on such platform can visit the World Wide Web and he will be amazed to have a look at the floodgates opening for him. Web portals such as YouTring can give you enough satisfying solutions.

In fact, YouTring, a highly acclaimed name in the world of Internet, is the one-stop spot for every requirement one can have while sharing his memories with his dear ones.

Moreover, sharing photos and images has never been such a convenient task. Like a click connects the user to his kin, another click brings the magic of photo sharing to his finger tips. And the user does not have to worry about the quality or the number of images reaching to the other end. With YouTring, this job is as fun as it is efficient. Besides, the video clips shared have both their quality as well as quantity secured.

The portal also gives an exciting platform for both personal and group sharing. In this way, he gets connected with numerous people in one go. Further, the video clips and the images shared are safe on YouTring. One doesn’t need to worry about any unintentional interference in his personal chats. Without his permission, no one can see what all he is doing on YouTring be it sharing or just having a talk.

Furthermore, one can easily upload videos here and share it with great ease and affordability. Image sharing can prove to be a bliss for those who love photography. It helps them to get noticed through their talent thus, giving them fun and flexible options among other special features. Also, it is a fantastic way to store photographs. It also gives a medium to people living very far from each other stay connected and feel each other’s presence through the photos.

A picture is worth a thousand words and it is a medium which even during silence can convey each and every emotion efficaciously. And you need to attain an alluring medium to share all that you have be it photos or videos and convey all the unexpressed emotions with great ease. So, start sharing your preserved photos now.

Blogs / “weblogs” or blogging are the newest gift of Internet technology to people all over the world. These are updated posts, crop up entries or personalized life snippets, of mundane or bizarre in nature. For most, a “blog” is a personal, unedited, and authentic journal meant to be shared in an online community. Blog site is a place where bloggers can publish anything; his thoughts, feelings, photos, special events, experiences, comments on issues and so on. It is more of an online diary with videos, links, documents, newsletters and opinions on just about any topics you are interested.

Blogs are made to welcome the insights and opinions of all and therefore, should not be written to sound intimidating and too formal. This kind of blog is a sure way to put off the readers. In the basics of blogging, conversational tone would be more appropriate to reach the desired audience.

Blogging is all about individuals reaching out to other individuals. Having a blog has its own set of advantages:

* Freedom of Expression. If you want people to hear you out and give their own opinion, this is the best way to create a line of communication;

* Networking is at its best. Having a blog is a good platform for exchanging genuine ideas from consumers to you as marketer of a certain product. Sound opinion and point of view is better than just showing the price quote;

* Excellent advertising platform. Blogging is a new way to advertise products, a refreshing change from the traditional advertising outlets and it is cost-effective.

* Gauging public opinion on products and services. The key is nice and catchy titles with new ideas presented in your content. This is an assurance of quick and repeated responses from your readers. Blogs is an excellent spot for the exchange of ideas between the seller and the consumer. Good for measuring public opinion regarding services and products, even political and business matters alike.

* Useful tool for internal communication. This will help your company to build a knowledge-based community of employees. Also good for harnessing employee relations and identifying human resource issues in advance.

* Other benefits like search engine optimization (SEO) will help your blogs to be seen often by as many people as you wish. This is very good exposure for your products and services.

Many blog hosting services are available on the Internet. But the basic question is which one of the services will be the best to start off your business blog program? Business people are usually clueless to recent technological innovations which would help them maximize their marketing potentials. For these beginners, it is best to study first the services offered by blog hosts. An ineffective business blogging program may damage marketing opportunities instead of enriching them.

A company may decide to do the following depending on its capacity and needs: 1) Host their own blog service, 2) Pay someone else to host the service, or 3) Setup a “blog aggregator page” and ask the employees to select their blog hosting services individually. There are paid and free services available for individuals.

For business blogs, they are required to have the latest blogging features; if not, this will prevent them from maximizing their marketing, public relations and SEO potentials.

Keep in mind that blogs should have the following basic essentials:

COMMENTS. Welcoming comments provide opportunity for dialogue. In business blogs, they are a good customer feedback mechanism. This helps develop better customer relations based from loyalty and trust. Blogging is an innovative way to converse with your customers.

TRACKBACK. This helps in maximizing company and product exposure. Through this service, consumers can get back to you for more posts and updates without the difficulty of locating you. If your blog is popular in a specific online community chances are links going back to your blog site are everywhere online, other blog sites or even websites.

CATEGORIES AND TAGS. These both help in classifying blog searches for ease of navigation and on site search. Categories act as libraries because it classifies posts by subject matter such as business, distance learning, e-commerce, online auctions, etc. Tags, help in the classification, especially in the blog search engine Technorati. Possible customers and new clients locate blogs about certain topics of interest by just clicking the tags.

RSS FEED. Really Simple Syndication is the feed from your blog that is sent out over the internet, and collected through the various newsreaders and aggregators.

If your company is to establish a business blogging program, considerable options should be made available by the hosting companies shortlisted for the services. Free blog hosting services are popular but they are much appropriate for individual online journals. Paid blog hosting services offer unlimited packages best for your company’s needs. You may want to suggest checking out some blogs that use the host first, read and examine their layout and design. Another important thing to consider is a reliable technical support the host has.

After, choosing the blog host, a team should be ready to plan the design and structure of the blog: The team should:

* create a style that meets the needs of the audience;

* establish an open, credible tone;

* schedule weekly updating of blog – ideally, a few times a week;

* include weblinks of other website and blogs;

* blog post should be in the “first person;”

* focus on the business blog objective; and,
maintain an honest, engaging conversational quality.

Remember, whatever the look, style and content found on your blog is a reflection of you and your company.