Time to Update my Technorati Profile

Hey there.  Technorati...  here's your claim code: MKUS9AU7PYTY.  This will be a quick post.  It's pretty much to verify my account with Technorati.  I've noticed that my blog stats have slowly dwindled the past couple of weeks and I'm a little baffled as to why.  My Alexa Ranking has significantly lowered even though I show visitors staying longer on my page.  Anyways, I've decided to visit some of the blog directories that I used to be a part of and update the information.  I figured that it can't hurt to make sure my information is up to date.

My ASUS Laptop Screen is Busted... but It's OK

NOOOOOOOOO!!! NOT LUCY!!!!!!!!!!  =o(

Hey there.  You know what happened after recording an episode of the Get a Life Podcast?  My laptop screen broke.  Literally, minutes after the show.  I set my laptop down, went to grab something to drink, came back to a broken screen.  My 2 youngest (3 and 7) were running around, near my laptop, so when I questioned them about it, naturally, they pointed the finger at each other.  lol  I held it in.  I'll admit that I was pretty upset and I probably reacted a lot better than what was expected.  The kids know that the laptop is Daddy's life.  lol  Accidents happen, though.  I'm not mad... not anymore, lol,  but man was I feeling down.  I practically live off the damn thing.  I do all of my online work on my laptop and to have a busted screen was a huge bummer.  Especially since I feel pretty good about the work that I've recently done.  It pained me to think that my computer could be out of commission until I got it fixed!!!  But never fear!  A replacement screen is on it's way!  YAY!!!  I'm thinking of creating a "how to replace your screen" type post.  Create a video and all that good stuff.  I'm thinking about it.  The screen gets here tomorrow and if I'm up for it, I'll do a quick how to replace tutorial.  It'll be the first one I do so bare with me if it sucks.  lol

Goodbye 2012 and Hello 2013

Hey there.  Happy New Year friends!  I took a week off from all things blogging and now I am back!  I hope you all spent some quality time with friends and family.  I hope you got everything you asked Santa for and I wish everyone had a safe New Years Eve.  For all of us that have survived the Mayan Apocalypse and have gotten through the holidays unscathed, I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2013.

I Think it's Time to Start a Podcast

Hmmm...  What should we do next?

Hey there. I think it's time to evolve. Like Pokemon, I am ready to grow and evolve as a blogger.  Yes, I used a Pokemon reference.  lol  Anyways, come March, Metallman's Reverie will be 5 years old.  5!  Last night, I took part in a podcast for the very first time.  And you know what... it was freakin' awesome! I have contemplated doing something like that before but now, having that first taste of being with a group and conversing over topics, I now know that I definitely want to do a podcast.  I have more than a few ideas that I have already come up with and I'm with talks with friends and family about which idea would be most likely come to fruition.

I want to change it up for you guys and I also would love your opinions.  Not only do I plan on getting a podcast going, I also plan on integrating video posts.  Maybe a retro game review?  A quick video on this week's game releases?  Maybe have some kind of Q&A?  Interviews perhaps?  I would like your input friends!  Comment below and let's see what we can come up with!  Later!

GoDaddy Oct. 2012 Promo Codes

Hey there.  I just renewed my domain name with GoDaddy.com for another 2 years. I've learned that if you want to be taken somewhat seriuos in this online world, you have to have your own domain name. More opportunities come your way and it's easier to find your site when it comes to online searches. For those of you that know me, I'm always looking for a good deal so I was fortunate enough to have a Godaddy .Com domain renewal promo code  to use for Metallman.com! I added a few promo codes here if you guys are looking for a Godaddy .Net renewal promo code or even a more recent Godaddy .Co renewal promo code. I'm not the biggest of fans of the .Co since it's just one letter fewer than .Com but hey, I guess we're running out of domain names, right? lol  Anyways, I was able to find a few more GoDaddy promo codes so feel free to take them and get your domain registered or renewed!

Google Adsense Account Disabled

Hey there.  When I first started this blog many moons ago, I looked around for ways to earn a few extra bucks from it.  I remember getting my feet wet in programs like ProjectWonderful and CMF ads.  When I learned that it could all be so easy if I just signed up with Google AdSense, I did and it was great.  I remember earning close to $30 my first month and I was pretty excited about that.  I told myself that my blog is still a nobody site and if I were to have better than decent traffic, my Google AdSense earnings would multiply!  Then... just like that, my account was disabled.  WHAT!?!?!?!  I was extremely disappointed.  I appealed but I got nowhere.  And the worst part is that they do not offer you an explanation.  They simply state that they cannot provide any details at this moment.  I do not like that answer.  If there is something wrong, whether it's my fault or not, I would like to know!  How else am I going to fix the problem?  Do I have offensive material on my site?  Did an inappropriate ad display on my site?  Were there invalid clicks?  Tell me what was/is the problem?!?!  I never found out.  Fast forward close to 5 years later and I reapplied for Google AdSense.  After another site review, I was accepted!  Oh happy days are upon us!!!  Then... 2 days later, my account was suspended...  AGAIN!  WHAT!?!  And again, for reasons unknown.  What really upset me this time around, though, was that my site was reviewed and got the OK from Google Adsense a mere 2 days BEFORE being disabled!  If there was something wrong with my site, why would they OK it only to disable it a mere 2 days later???

Malware Warning! IZEA Media Ads Cause 1,000s of Websites to be Flagged by Google

Hey there.  If you have stopped by my website anytime within the past 24 hours, you may have gotten a message saying that my website may contain malware and it may be dangerous to view my website.  Rest assured that if you proceeded to my site, you were NOT infected with malware.  There was no malware hosted on this site.  The problem?  The IZEA Media Ad block that I was running in the right column.  Turns out that an advertiser purchased a spot in the ad block from IZEA and somehow, someway, that advertiser managed to get through the IZEA screening with some kind of malicious code on their ad.  In effect, Google flagged THOUSANDS of webpages running the IZEA Media Ad block as hosting  malware, causing that red warning screen.

The PunchTab Loyalty Program and an Easy $5

Hey there.  Nothing anything different on my site?  No?  Oh man...  Look again?  Yeah, it's that toolbar thing at the bottom of the page.  That thing is powered by PunchTab and I've decided that it's time reward my readers and visitors by offering you guys a loyalty program.  You know, as a thanks for stopping by, commenting, sharing and what not.  The PunchTab loyalty program provides you guys points and tracks them for me.  You guys score 100 points for visiting each day, 100 points for commenting, 100 for sending out a tweet, 100 for liking a post, and another 100 for giving posts a Google +1.  With just a few actions a day, you can easily rack up points.  You can redeem those points for awesome stuff such as a Starbucks giftcard of a Groupon giftcard.  Pretty nifty, no?  But I'll sweeten the pot because, well... I'm just that kinda guy.  I was planning on starting this program next month but we'll go ahead and start it right away.  The top point scorer for the month will be awarded $5 via PayPal or a $5 Amazon giftcard.  Cold, hard cash as a thank you, my friends.

September Photo a Day - Self Portrait

Hey there.  We're going to give this photo a day thing another try.  I was doing fairly well during the month of August but the death of my baby cousin practically destroyed my picture taking mood.  I told myself that I wanted to complete a full month of pictures and since this is the first of the month, we're going to start off the month with a picture.  The whole list for the month is above and today's picture is a self portrait.

August Photo A Day - Yourself

Hey there.  I don't usually do the photo a day thing.  I've seen many friends go out and about and participate in them and they have all sorts of pictures that they have posted on Instagram, Facebook, or thier blogs.  Well, today is the start of a new month and once again I have seen the photo of the day posts go up.  The difference this time around is that I saw a schedule as to what you are to post that day.  That alone intrigued me so I went ahead and took the plunge.  Why not, right?  So here you go, the August 1st picture a day.  A  pic of me.  Enjoy.  lol  Later!

Early morning pic.  Getting ready for work.

Metallman's Reverie Has a New Look

Hey there.  Notice anything different?  No!  I didn't get new glasses!  It's my blog design!  You like?  My good friend at The Amazon Addiction made it for me.  I was in dire need of a new look and though I'm a fan of black and white, the site just needed an overhaul... and it needed it badly.  So now I have buttons, share buttons, some color, and nice scheme that works well for me.  I'm pretty damn happy with it.  I may be tech savvy and what not, but I just don't have much of the know how to mess around with the html code and get something like this done.  I feel that if I tried and spent the time on it, I would be able to do it... but I can't even find the time to play Modern Warfare 3, let alone screw around with some html code.  lol

Mini Moo Cards are Awesome

Hey there.  Look what I got in the mail!!!  My moo cards!!! How awesome are these!  Because I'm considered to be influential by Klout, I was selected to receive a free set of 100 mini Moo cards.  And you know what... I couldn't be happier with them!

I've been wanting to start the new year with a new outlook and a new direction for my site and you can't start off any better than with a new set of business cards.  There will be some changes in Metallman's Reverie in the coming weeks, which will include a blog overhaul.  But right now, let's take it one step at a time.  Check out my brand new Moo cards!

Metallman is Looking Forward to 2012 and Giving Thanks

Hey there.  With the year almost over, I wanted to touch base on where I am headed and where this site is headed.  I've had my share of personal posts, which I wanted to do more of, and I've lagged it in the poetry department (sorry poetry enthusiasts!).  I've added my brother as a writer, which I hope he continues to produce content and I've passed through the gates of giveaway land.  That's really where I have made some decent traffic this year.  My giveaway posts have landed me thousands of pageviews and I'm grateful for it.  That's why I've decided to keep that going for as long as the site is up.  I've also added a game each month so instead of just one game being given away, I'm giving away 2 games.  I'm hoping that the increased pageviews will bring attention to other posts.  I lack comments on this site and I blame myself for it.  Maybe I need to change from using Disqus and try a different comment system.  I don't know just yet, but considering the size of Metallman's Reverie, I need to have a decent layout and a great comment system working.  All of that is looking to be changed in the coming year.

My Christmas Story - Banjo Kazooie, N64, and a Snitch

With Christmas being literally around corner, we all have our christmas stories. Whether it'd be getting that special gift, giving that special gift or just remembering the times you've had with your family and friends. I got my own Christmas stories to tell, maybe too many, to be honest. There's one I remember the most, its the one that makes me laugh and it reminds me of how much the memories of family means to me.

Metallman's Reverie: Blog Income and Traffic October 2011

Hey there.  October is in the the books and it's time to report on how well on (or off) pace we are in reaching my $2500 goal for the year. Let's take a look at the numbers:


SocialSpark - $50.00
SponsoredTweets - $30.02
Dad Central - $100.00
Blogsvertise - $10.00
Dragonblogger - $10.00
Mylikes - $1.99
Total for October - $202.01
YTD Total - $2317.39 (+$234.06 ahead of pace)

Metallman's Reverie: Blog Income September 2011

Hey there.  September is in the the books and it's time to report on how well on (or off) pace we are in reaching my NEW $2500 goal for the year. Let's take a look at the numbers:


SocialSpark - $76.35
SponsoredTweets - $26.01
Dad Central - $75.00
Blogsvertise - $41.50
Total for September - $218.86
YTD Total - $2115.38 ( +$240.38 ahead of pace)

Metallman: The Committed Blogger

Hey there.  I'm ready to declare myself back!  I have been MIA for the last couple of weeks and I have been doing some on and off blog work while I was off but I am on step 1 of getting back into blogging form!  It's been a rough, few weeks and I think that the rough patch is now in the rear view mirror and I'm ready to devote more time to my blog and other commitments that I have made online.  I've slowly been inching my way back into Twitter and Facebook and now I'm ready to continue with my daily posts.  I've been a while since I've done a personal post and I have a few lined up.  I have my son's B day post, my wife's b day post, my dad's B day post, and several others that I have started and hope to have up in the coming days but first I want to discuss getting back into writing form.

Finding the Time to Update Your Blog

Hey there.  There simply is not enough time in the day for a blogger to write all that goes on in their heads.  How do the pros do it?  I have ideas, I have thoughts, I have reviews, I have giveaways, I have poetry, I have randomness...  The thing I don't have?  Time.  How am I to get it all down?  By the time I have a chance to breathe and finally get a chance to post, some of those ideas have withered away or have gone with the wind.  Maybe if I had some sort of portable device?  Any suggestions?  Blogging friends, how do you guys do it?  Do you spend hours in front of your computer to write content for the week or are you more like me and spend an hour at a time (or whatever time permitted) or so for a single post?

What if you guys just followed me around and write the posts for me?

Metallman's Reverie: Blog Income August 2011

Hey there.  August is in the the books and it's time to report on how well on (or off) pace we are in reaching my $1700 goal for the year. Let's take a look at the numbers:


SocialSpark - $62.85
SponsoredTweets - $26.65
PayPerPost - $43.00
Dad Central - $250.00
Blogsvertise - $40.00
MyLikes - $2.11
Total for August- $424.61
YTD Total - $1896.52 (GOAL EXCEEDED!!! New Goal - $2500)

Metallman's Reverie: Blog Income July 2011

Hey there.  July is in the the books and it's time to report on how well on (or off) pace we are in reaching my $1700 goal for the year. Let's take a look at the numbers:


Squishy Cash - $19.37
DragonBlogger - $23.67
Dad Central - $75.00
Blogsvertise - $64.00
Reach Network - $18.51
Total for July - $200.55
YTD Total - $1471.91 (+$480.24 ahead of pace)