'Lean-n-mean'
Nov 25 '02 (Updated Sep 21 '04)
The Bottom Line Fight review inflation !!
'Lean-n-mean' is the way to go !!
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With the coming holiday season many of us are looking for ways to cut down the amount of clutter, 'busy-ness', hustle and bustle and all the related stresses of the coming weeks. Many of us are looking for ways to 'cut the fat' from our on-line and real lives.
In this spirit of 'less is more' I offer the 'Lean-n-mean' challenge write-off.
— What? ? —
A common complaint that I hear on the site is that 'short' reviews will not receive 'VH' ratings. 'You have to write 'long' to get a VH !!'
Well lets test that !!
Write a product review. (Sorry, no advice, no haiku, no song lyrics or other assorted Writer's Corner stuff...:-) Pack it full of 'Very Helpful' information. Make it bleed 'helpfulness'... Write the best damn product review you have ever written.
But, (and there is always a but...:-), It has to 'weigh in' at 666 words or less. 'Lean-n-mean'. Get it ??
— Why ? —
Because we all need a challenge. As a writer. As a reader. As a rater. Lets see if we can write the short, crisp, snappy Epinions review. Lets see if we can recognize quality as we read. Lets see if we can recognize 'helpfulness' as we rate.
I am not asking anyone to change the way they write. Or the way they read and rate. I am simply challenging the community to write concisely and 'to-the-point' about a product you would review anyway.
— Who ? —
Anyone, this is all inclusive. It's not about cliques or rating circles or friends. It's about challenging yourself to write a 'Lean-n-mean' review. Invite yourself, invite a friend, invite an enemy, invite your Mom. All are welcome. Step up and represent for 'your' section!
You may comment on this essay to indicate you want to participate. Or you may e-mail me from my user-page. Make the commitment now while you are thinking about it. Don't make me e-mail you...:-(
I will maintain a 'click-able' list of participants on my user-page or you may check out participants here.
— Where? ? —
Again. Product reviews only please! Who cares if you can write a short 'fluff' piece? We want to see your best product review, written short, crisp, helpful, in less than 666 words. And please include 'Lean-n-mean' in your title and let me know by comment here or an e-mail. No comment is necessary in the body of the review.
— When? ? —
Starting now! Running through December 15. Hopefully you will find the 'Lean-n-mean' style so rewarding you will want to continue the concept on your own...:-)
— How? ? —
I will log submissions to this write-off. I will provide links to reviews and/or user-pages from my user-page. I will provide an official 'word count' for each review. The 666 words will include only the body of the review. Not the 'Pros', 'Cons', 'Bottom Line', or other required sections. I will use the 'Note-Tab Light' program to perform the word count for each review submitted. You will find similar 'count' functions in 'Word' Or 'Works' or other word-processing programs.
I plan to list the submitted review in order of length, shorter reviews having a higher place. Those that somehow exceed the 666 word limit (within reasonable limits!) will still be included. But they will be included in a separate 'Nice try, but no cigar' shame list...:-)
— Miscellaneous? ? —
-- How hard will this target of 666 words be to meet ??
Earlier tonight I counted 10 'Very Helpful' reviews in several sections. I'll list the high and low and the average word count in these sections. I threw out the two longest reviews before calculating the average...:-)
Books: 574 to 1603 words...average: 712
Music: 547 to 2671(!) words...average 750
Home & Garden: 444 to 2088 words...average 622
Kids & Family: 503 to 2462 words...average 715
As you can see, some sections may find this word count harder than others to meet. But every section above has done it already !!
And if I did not do 'your' section, go ahead and 'do it' yourself and comment with your results...:-)
Remember. Every section, every member is welcome to participate!
-- How should I rate ??
Rate as you always do. These are to be normal product reviews. If they are 'VH', rate them 'VH'. If they are 'H' (or lower!), rate them that way ! Do the right thing !
-- Why did you do this here, in this section ??
Why here? I wanted to reach as many users as possible. If you feel this is an improper use of this section than rate my thoughts that way. But I challenge you, high rate or low, to contribute your review to this community-wide write-off. Challenge your friends, challenge others in 'your section' to contribute. Lets see what you got...:-!
-- Any questions? E-mail or comment...:-)
Respectfully, always...
...tom...
' Word count on this one? 841 words...ouch! Gotta do better than that...:-) '
UPDATE: Reviews moved here from user-page Sep 21, 2004
Entries closed December 16, 2002 early A.M.
--- 78 reviews total !! ---
electronics - 1
mags/newspapers - 1
rest/gourmet - 2
on-line - 2
travel - 4
kids & family - 5
music - 5
home and garden - 6
beauty - 10
movies - 20
...and our final leader, thanks to a strong finish.....
!! books - 22 !!
The top two groups made the rest of you look like. . .
39,794 words were published in the 'Lean-n-mean' write-off. Spread over 78 reviews, the average length was 510 words. 'Lean-n-mean' indeed!
'Lean-n-mean' Completed entries
( Writers submitting multiple entries are 'bolded' )
...Reviews published 11-26...
LatteChick . . .My Teacher Sleeps L-n-M . . .522 words
elainehn . . .Like Silk for my Eyes! Eliz. Arden Eyeshadow Singles . . .527 words
drdevience . . .L-n-M Time Machine . . .485 words
mashimaru . . .A Movie for Sad Bastards (L-n-M W/O) . . .567 words
AEOakley . . .L-n-M W/O: Cultivate Your Library with Seedfolks . . .310 words
...Reviews published 11-27...
lorace . . .The L-n-M Dogmen in Flight . . .630 words
caprig . . .Black Icicle Melts Fast: L-N-M W/O . . .371 words
bops_mom . . .Thanks, but no thanks - Pampers . . .Flushable Moist Wipes . . .642 words
BeastieGirl . . ."Good-bye dry skin, good-bye to you! L-n-M W/O . . .468 words
d_fienberg . . ."Gettin' L-n-M To Catch A Thief! . . .665 words
...Reviews published 11-28...
proxam . . .L-n-M......Dat's Brooklyn Lager . . .288 words
rcalig . . .L-n-M Portrait of A Legendary American Artist . . .646 words
mfunk75 . . ."Feebles" Is Fervent; L-N-M W/O . . .598 words
...Reviews published 11-29...
lisaffire . . ."Being the only one can be a bummer... or a joy! L-n-M w/o . . .560 words
flamepillar . . ."Eminem and his 8 Mile dick... err, flick . . .664 words
lemon_lime . . ."Down by Law - L-n-M W/O . . .333 words
amyk49 . . ."Clinique Moisture Surge Eye Gel - Soothes and Softens . . .573 words
tbthorn . . ."Girls Gone Wild: Lean, Mean and Obscene . . .424 words
millinocket . . .Witness - Just Plain Lean-n-Mean . . .542 words
remnjava . . .Chicken Soup, Have Another Helping! Not the Least Bit L-N-M . . .512 words
bonniesayers . . .Charlie® Red by Revlon . . .570 words
bops_mom . . ."Simply dreadful - Revlon Skinlights® Glosslights . . .567 words
...Reviews published 11-30...
jillmkk . . .Hopping Like a L-n-M Frog . . .340 words
Simply_Crispy . . ."What Women Want": A L-n-M Mel Gibson. . . .614 words
magenta321 . . ."Ebates - Get money back when you shop online . . .205 words
mummummum . . ."On The Outside Looking In….Cliques, Phonies, & . . . . . .627 words
ed_grover . . ."It's Just Barbershop Reading . . .596 words
mjfrombuffalo . . ."Sleep, shower, shave at Super 8 . . .148(!) words
mummummum . . .Hello Reader! That Fat Hat . . .643 words
hist . . .Peace is Lean & Mean! . . .615 words
owling . . .My favorite hand mixer! . . .520 words
...Reviews published 12-01...
AuntieEmma . . .Do metallic buttocks go clink, clink, clink? . . .623 words
pianomam . . .Samsung's Combo DVD/VHS Player - What a Disappointment! . . .428 words
Granniemose . . .HAIRS TO YOU PANTEEN PRO- VO-L&M W/O . . .299 words
ifif1938 . . .La Samaritaine Dept Store | Great shopping / Viewing . . .563 words
AliventiAsylum . . .Star Trek: The Next Generation - Deja Q . . .535 words
Sordid-1 . . .Lean, Mean, and Smelling Less Obscene! . . .535 words
joe5283 . . .The Lean-n-Mean Breakdown on "Breakdown" . . .658 words
...Reviews published 12-02...
??????? . . .The writer gave up...:-(. . . .784 words
pambo . . .Make Tracks for This Vacuum . . .469 words
marinermoose22 . . .Lean-N-Mean, The Starbucks Way . . .545 words
...Reviews published 12-03...
annecal . . .A Great Cup of Joe! . . .402 words
robynkoz . . .Harry Potter LEGO:Aragog in the Dark Forest . . .476 words
rcalig . . .Lean-n-Mean Riveting, Mercurial Memoir . . .619 words
panguitch . . .Making a buck off the dearly departed. . . .312 words
arathi . . .YogaKids for a Lean-n-Mean Body . . .439 words
lynus . . .Changing Lanes Veers and Fails to Yield . . .602 words
unhappycarrie . . .My Hair - Amplified . . .524 words
...Reviews published 12-04...
iwannagrowup2b . . .SUPER YUMMY Teether by Discovery Toys . . .566 words
angel011 . . .Teen Angst Forever . . .644 words
...Reviews published 12-05...
gfg12 . . .Cut Your Foil Without Fear . . .194 words
jankp . . .Lean 'n Mean Corrie ten Boom: Dutch, But Not Deutsch! . . .628 words
...Reviews published 12-06...
drdevience . . .Lean-N-Mean Time Machine too . . .433 words
DrFaustus . . .Take Time Out for the Lean 'n Mean Write Off . . .652 words
jackai . . .Pulp's Lean-n-Mean Hardcore . . .337 words
...Reviews published 12-07...
...Reviews published 12-08...
melissasrn . . .~~SUAVE BABY CARE CONDITIONING SHAMPOO . . .639 words
ned1 . . .How vogue is your vanity? . . .585 words
beckytcy . . .A Lean 'n' Mean Review of a Voluptuous Film . . .661 words
...Reviews published 12-09...
elainehn . . .One Bear, One Dog ... one happy Skye Baby! . . .475 words
wivabef . . .The Nature of Giving -- the Snow Tree . . .496 words
...Reviews published 12-10...
deenaf . . .Curious George Gets Lean-n-Mean! . . .610 words
DrFaustus . . .A Cold Fish in My Stereo . . .653 words
...Reviews published 12-11...
deenaf . . .Toby's Lean-n-Mean Rainbow Clothes . . .497 words
SurgRN911 . . .18 Big Band Hits, In A Lean-N-Mean W/O Fashion . . .279 words
...Reviews published 12-12...
Horswispr . . .Lord of the Rings: Scooby Doo Gone Gothic . . .659 words
...Stealth 'lean-n-mean entries...
jillmkk . . .When Winter Comes is a Great Book for When . . . . . .669 words
AEOakley . . .Make Fair Weather Friends with this book! . . .620 words
mountainhigh . . .Rival Single Burner - . . .That Fifth Burner You . . . . . .365 words
panguitch . . .Every toilet needs a good home . . .361 words
lorendiac . . .Getting back to basics: Bruce Banner (Hulk) . . . . . .627 words
AinsleyJo . . .Gerber's Meat Sticks--They're Not Just For . . . . . .314 words
lemon_lime . . .Earphoria (2002) . . .462 words
leveleth . . .Almost as easy as giving them a bowl of cereal . . .451 words
Hypotenuse . . .The Pleasure Was All Mine, Mr. Feynman . . .612 words
amykhar . . .Did You Know That Dick Van Dyke was . . .? . . .378 words
msmarques . . .Great value . . .545 words
msmarques . . .Quietly, subtly enjoyable . . .236 words
elainehn . . .Hamilton Beach HealthSmart 13 Cup Rice Cooker . . .641 words
popsrocks . . .Leaning Tower of Pisa and more . . .704 words
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Epinions.com ID:
sleeper54
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Member: ...tom...
Location: "Is this Heaven?"......"No. It's Iowa."
Reviews written: 494
Trusted by: 548 members
About Me:
Back-in-the-heartland...brief respite before real-world work begins. Hopefully less intensive than I imagine it will be..!!
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