December 2007 - Posts

• How do I earn some extra points?

  Many people are wondering at the end of the month, after they have demonstrated their dedication to the development community, "What else can I log?"  Well, there are a few categories that I mention in each newsletter that I will describe here: Recommend Community Credit - In the point submission page, you can "spread the word" and tell others about community credit.  This will earn you 200 points per person and you can get credit for up to 20 entries per month.  The reason that it is limited is to avoid folks from earning 100,000 points just by recommendations.  This could give you up to 2,000 points. Recommend the Discussion Board - In the point submission page, you can brag about our discusion board so that others get involved in it.  This is also limited to 20 entries per month.  But, hey, it is still another 2,000 points and that can make a big difference at times. Submit entry in Email2Face - Create a photo entry in Email2Face.com  (1,500 Points) ScrapBlog - Create a ScrapBlog. What is a ScrapBlog?  It is a very visual way of blogging that is a combination of both Scrapbooking and blogging.  I created an example of one myself. (1,000 Points) Link to RealTechnologyHeroes on your site - This is another one of our sister sites, created by yours truly.   Even if you don't link to it, you should check it out.  It is a parody of the famous Bud Light commercials with a geeky twist to it. (2,000 Points) Link to Community Credit on your site - Helping to spread the word can help you too. (5,000 Points) Link to StupidCubicle.com - Another one of our sister sites that can always use some love.  It is a site that sells Geek Gadgets and other items that are true necessities for any fellow geek.  To get this credit, add a link to your website. (3,000 Points) Become a Community Credit Moderator - To get moderator credit, you must post regularly on the community credit discussion board.   In the past, folks have become moderators, received the moderator credit and then disapeared off of the planet.  So, to remedy that, I have come up with a new way of creditting points. Average of 1 post per day - 5,000 points Average of 2 posts per day - 10,000 points Average of 3 posts per day - 20,000 points Not only that, but you also get credit for each post, so this can be a big point earner.  So far, not too many folks have taken advantage of it, but it is there for you.  On many months, it can make a bit diference.  One way to help make this easier is to go to every category and check off notification for it so that you are emailed when a discusion is posted.  You don't have to reply to each one, but at least you will know about it. Well, these are areas that can really make a difference if you are on the borderline.  Granted, the focus on many of them is really to help to build up the Community Credit Community, but that is very important because the stronger the community is, the more rewards that can be added and the better they get. Share this post: Email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! Posted Dec 30 2007, 01:49 PM by DavidSilverlight with 3 comment(s)

• Community Credit - Play By Play (two days and counting)

  There are only two days left before the end of the month and there are a few positions that are practically neck and neck.... For starters, Emanuele is pulling away and establishing himself in the top position. Karl Shifflett (80,675 points) and Marco Minerva (78,800 points) are within about 2,000 points, with Karl Currently in the lead.  It is definitely a tight race for those two spots. Chris Williams (44,568 Points)  is within 5,000 points of Scott Dorman (49,200 Points) and Rafaele Garofolo 42,700 Points  is only about 3,000 points behind... Brendan Enrick (31,550 Points) Rand Walker (31,100 Points) and Chetan Akarte (31,875 Points) are in the tightest race with only 775 seperating all of them. Well, the end of the month is closing in and it is a tight race this month. Best of luck to everybody involved....   Share this post: Email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! Posted Dec 30 2007, 01:02 PM by DavidSilverlight with 1 comment(s)

• Community Credit Play By Play - Emanuele is back on top, Marco not too far off...

  For starters, I have just finished processing all of the submissions.  Woo Hoo!!! So, if the month were to end today, the winners would be pretty much as you see them if you happened to be looking at the site right now.  Things will change a bit, though, because I have a period of reviewing submissions of the top point earners before officially announcing the winers.  Emanuele was just one example, but everybody's submissions get reviewed and there are often places that switch around at the end. Well, after reviewing all of Emanuele's submissions, it seems like the outcome is what was expected.  He lost some of the submission points, but he is still in good shape for the grand prize.  So, instead of having over 100K points, he is around 80,000, which is still a tremendous measure of his contributions. Marco is 2nd, with around 60,000 points, but knowing Marco he will be definitely fighting for that top spot.  Can he do it?.... Karl Shifflett is holding firm at 3rd place, but Rafaelle Garofalo is not too far behind with only a 5K difference between the two spots. Chris Williams is holding firm, but Deepak Vasudevan is just behind him and I expect that he will climb very quickly and may even move up a couple of spots.  Deepak is very committed and also a longtime, very active member of the development community. Below Deepak is where the tightest competition is and basically any spot is up for grabs.  Well, that is it for tonight, I wish everybody good luck and will continue on keeping everybody updated. Share this post: Email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! Posted Dec 27 2007, 12:37 AM by DavidSilverlight with no comments

• Community Credit Play By Play - Top Guy drops to 2nd spot and Marco Rises

  Some interesting changes in the top spots.  For starters, Emanuele has dropped from the top spot.  He actually seemd to be running away far beyond anybody's chances of overtaking him.  He was well beyond 100K and then something went terribly wrong.  After reviewing some of the submissions of new articles, it seems as though they were actually created a while back and submitted as articles rather than article reposts.  So, to remedy the situation, we have put his submissions back to an unprocessed point and will review them and check that they were actually created on the submission date entered.  If they were not actually created in December, they will be categorized as reposts.  My prediction is that they some will count as articles and some won't.  Emanuele will probably not be at the over 100K point that he was at earlier, but will do pretty well and may still claim that very top spot. Marco Minerva has actually moved into the current top slot.  Congrats Marco!  I can't say how long he will be there, but for the moment, enjoy the limelight. Raffaele Garofalo is shooting up the ranks with some great activity, including a brand new english blog website just published this month, http://www.raffaeu.com/ Deepak Vasudevan is also climbing the ranks pretty quickly.  Deepak has a history of being one of the most active members of the development community that I can think of and he is sure to make a good showing this month. Chris Williams continues to keep in the top ranks, but the curve makes it 4 times more difficult than it would normally be.  I do believe that he would be securely in the top spot if the curve was not in place.  Still he maintains what may be the highest spot ever for somebody under a curve. There are also a number of new faces that I am always happy to see and Italy seems to really be representing this month, holding 3 out of the top 4 spots.  Go Italy!!! The last few days of the month are upon us and ANYTHING can happen... Share this post: Email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! Posted Dec 26 2007, 04:02 AM by DavidSilverlight with no comments

• Community Credit Play by Play

  As the end of the month draws near, the fight for the top spots is getting pretty tight.   This month has been alot of fun with many different folks contributing from countries all over the world.  In fact, just in the top 20 positions you will find contributors from the US, Italy, India , Israel and Malta.   Each person's contributions has a rather unique characteristic to them, so let me give some feedback and thoughts on how the competition is going.  Well, let me at least give my thoughts on the top four..... a) Karl Shifflett - At the time of this writing, Karl is in 2nd place.  For a brief period, Karl Ruled the boards and had the number one spot with his name on it.  Since then, he has dropped to number two, but let me say a little bit about his contributions because they raise a very helpful point for those who are pursuing an MVP designation.  Looking at his profile and the quality of his articles, I would have thought for sure that he was an MVP.  The first thing that I noticed is that he has a very well rounded set of contributions.  He doesn't just limit his contributions to blogs or discussion posts or presentations, he does a little bit of each, okay alot of each.  An important aspect to becoming an MVP is to do just that.  He also just posted a really inspirational blog about mentoring which I highly recommend that everybody read. b) Emanuele Mattei - He is just a maniac when it comes to contributions.  He has really pulled quite far ahead of the pack and will be hard to knock off of that top spot.  I actually met Emanuele when I was in Italy and he is a pretty good guy.  If you look at his contributions, you can not help but notice how his enthusiasm toward technology shows.  To reach the level of contributions that he has, you really have to eat, drink and breathe technology and community.   This is not the first time for him, actually, as he was a past grand prize winner with a similar record of contributions the last time around. d) Marco Minerva - Marco has been very active in Community Credit for as long as I can remember.  His contributions weigh heavily on the blogging side.  Not solely blogging, though, but blogging, giving feedback to blogs and making announcements through blogs.  One category that you will notice that he has earned alot of points in is in announcements.  If you are wondering about the value of announcements, it really comes down to announcing what is going on in the community.  This is really an important aspect of supporting our development community.  If you get a chance, follow Marco's lead and tell your fellow geeks about an upcomig event, a good tool that just came out, a software release, something that a fellow geek is working on or anything you find useful.  It helps to make the development world go round. d) Chris Williams - Chris has done a truly amazing job this month.  He is currently in 4th place, but the one aspect that seperates him from the rest of the pack is that he is on a 75% curve.  This means that he is only getting credit for 25% of his contributions to the development community.  Earlier in the month, he had his sites set on that grand prize, even knowing that he is on a curve.  You really have to admire that kind of ambition.  I made the offer to him that I would send him a "How To Spot a Cylon" poster if he won the Grand Prize.  He is a hard-core contributor to the development community, so if anybody could do it, it would be him.  Nonetheless, the chances at grand prize are slipping away pretty fast, however just the fact that he is up so high even, especially under a curve,  demonstrates his level of dedication. Well, that is the current standing for now.  I find myself to be very active in the development community and these guys just make me feel like a lazy bum in comparison. More "Play By Play"s Note: You can see more Play By Plays here  Share this post: Email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! Posted Dec 23 2007, 03:16 AM by DavidSilverlight with 4 comment(s) Filed under: Community-Credit