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LordBalfor's Profile

LordBalfor
About LordBalfor
Epinions Most Popular Authors - Top 1000
Member: Ken Klein
Epinions.com ID: LordBalfor
Location: Seattle, Wa
Member Since: Sep 10 '00

I am in love with the tropics (especially the South Pacific).  more
Activity Summary
Reviews Written: 36
Member Visits: 4,186
Total Visits: 116,869



LordBalfor's Recent Opinions
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Dec 01 '03 LordBalfors' Rules for How to Write an Effective Travel Review Things to Do When Writing a Review
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Nov 29 '03 The Canadian - Crossing Canada on a Classic 1955 Era Train Canada
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Jul 09 '03 Hawaii, Tahiti, or the Cook Islands: Where You Should Go... and Why General Itineraries - The South Pacific
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 View more opinions by LordBalfor

LordBalfor's Most Popular Reviews
#98 in Travel: A Comparison of Bora Bora Resorts
 View all 7 popular reviews
LordBalfor's Author Popularity
#794 Overall
#36 in Travel

About LordBalfor
I’m a 40 something, happily married, software developer at The Boeing Company in Seattle. As a former Air Force brat I moved around a lot and spent several years in Europe (mostly Germany & France) as a child. I have a BA in History and a BS in data Processing and have now lived in the Great Northwest long enough to consider myself a native (I’m developing webbed feet).

When I rate a review, I look for clear, easily understood writing, together with some good solid information. Spelling and punctuation are not TOO important (I've made my share of mistakes too), though if there are too many errors of this kind it can be rather distracting (and I DO notice that). Beyond this, I look for vivid imagery and a human touch to the review. A little humor is ALWAYS a plus. Also, I need not agree with your opinion, as long as you make a good case.

As of now, my own reviews have pretty much been exclusively travel related (and that's mainly what I read as well), though I have considered writing some music or movie reviews. I try hard in my reviews to not only give the bare facts, but to “transport” the reader to the location I’m writing about. To date the reviews I consider my best are:

Verdun: I AM a man of science! I AM a man of reason!: An admittedly unorthodox review of a certain little city in France. For those of you who have taken the time to read this Epinion, I feel the need to let you know that I stand by the bazaar and frightening events I detail in the document. Those events (creepy and unbelievably as they are) ARE TRUE as I experienced them. If you choose not to believe me, I will understand perfectly. If someone told them to me I wouldn’t believe them either, but having lived through them, I cannot deny what I saw and felt – even though I would like to.

Love at First Sight: This Epinion documents my first encounter with perhaps the most beautiful mountain in all of North America (on my very first day in Washington State). It is a love affair that continues to this day.

The Grand Coulee: A virtual visit to one of my favorite spots in all of Washington State – the amazing Grand Coulee - and the horrific and unimaginable events that led to its creation.

The South Pacific: God Help Me I Do Love It So: My first attempt at a humorous Epinion, this review is in all honesty a little light in hard facts and I have to admit, written as a bit of self-indulgence. It is meant as poke-at/tribute-to all the terrific people that have become E-mail acquaintances because of my French Polynesia reviews on Epinions and my involvement with various Polynesian travel bulletin boards. Although some of the inside jokes are likely to pass over peoples' heads (I don't think anyone has yet gotten the "Patton" reference), the review hopefully brought a smile to a few folks out there. Note that the "Polynesian Fever" I describe is only SLIGHTLY exaggerated.

Beyond these, I am extremely fond of my other reviews of the wonderful islands of the South Pacific (especially Bora Bora) – which somehow managed to live up to my every expectation (and more).

If you’ve taken the time to read any of my Epinions, I give you my thanks. I hope I was able to bring a little extra color into your life – even if it’s just for a little while.

Ken Klein


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