Today 9Rules is down. I don't know if it is gone, or just lost.

When my site was accepted in 2009 I was pretty happy. Even though the network had been backsliding awhile - there was hope for a fresh revamp. It didn't quite seem to ever really happen though. I'm still part of 9Rules and I'm not giving up on it. But, I'm disappointed. Tonight, seeing it come up 404, I'm not feeling a lot of faith in it.

Just for inspiration, here are the original 9 rules:

According to the about page 9rules is a collection of blogs, showcasing the best content of the Independent web. 9rules was created in 2003, around 9 rules:

Love what you do. Never stop learning. Form works with function. Simple is beautiful. Work hard, play hard. You get what you pay for. When you talk, we listen. Must constantly improve. Respect your inspiration.

Long before the Internet people used the mail service as a cheap way to protect and establish their copyrights for written material. You just make a copy of your work and mail it to yourself. If you keep the envelope sealed you have a preserved copy of your work, dated by Canada Post (insert the name of the postal service in your location).  It was a cheap and fairly good way to prove your work was your own original work.

Now we have the Internet. Publishing online is risky if you want to control your written work, your words. Copyrights are in battle with artists, governments, corporations and the public all pulling in their own directions. Each group has their own agenda and all too often they don't really seem to listen to each other. At times they actually want the same thing and yet, can't see it.

Anyway, today I found a link to MyFreeCopyright.com on a blog by Veronica The Pajama Thief. I have seen it before but today I clicked the link and went for a visit.

I thought it was funny how the basis of the copyright plan was following the traditional idea of mailing your work to yourself. Something so old is still around, just in an updated version for the digital age.

This could work for most people. You would have something to show for the date your work was created. It would be using a service not of your own making to prove the date.

However, it doesn't really do anything to control your written work online. It's still out there, waving around like laundry on a clothes line. Anyone can still come along and take what they want. Publishing online is still reliant on the honour system, old fashioned trust and good will.

Is it frustrating? Yes. Is it worth steaming and stewing about? Not really. As individual artists we just don't have the resources to do a lot about it. I have had my work taken. I've even had my ASCII Art taken and claimed to be created by the person who took it. I only know about that because she was silly and posted it to the ASCII art newsgroup as her own. I was active in that group. Everyone that mattered knew I had created the work. She looked like a fool. So, in that case I had my petty revenge and the thief did admit what she had done. From that I learned to stop focusing on controlling my work online. Once I put it out there it really is available, fully and completely. I just have to do what I can to protect it, which isn't much.

I would like to see the copyright laws made to protect artist's work online. But, I can't see it really happening for us. For the corporations... yes. The music industry, the film industry... etc. those will be protected, as an industry. As individuals... I think we really just have ourselves and an old fashioned reliance on the honour system, good will and trust. Maybe a touch of karma, now and then.

This is such a great idea. People post a list of posts are the most read, most linked to, etc. But a list like that is only so meaningful or useful to a reader. To put it this way instead is so much more inviting and appealing.

I found this on A Beautiful Mess.

Create a list of your own for your site's sidebar. Consider what you really want to share with your readers and what they seem to want from you. Try a reader survey to get a better idea about what they want from your site and yourself.

Take stock of what you want to offer. What are you creating and focusing on with your site? Have you kept to that? Have you found some interesting offshoots to explore? Those offshoots could be great links to add to your list. See how many clicks they get compared to the other links. You can create this list as an exercise in analytics.

This is an actual job post for an Online Editorial Assistant:

The ideal candidate will have consumer writing and web experience, as well as a background or educated interest in interior design. A post-secondary education is also required. Experience with a content management system (CMS) such as Drupal, WordPress, Joomla or Moveable Type are also assets. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word and Power Point for Mac computers is a must. The online editorial assistant will report directly to the Online Director, and liaise with the web team, iPad, Sales, Video and Creative Services Team and other departments of House & Home Media.

Job Responsibilities

• Research and write photo galleries, articles, blogs and other online content
• Reception relief duties
• Assist with research and production for iPad issues
• Contribute to online promotional materials as needed
• Assist with content creation and uploads for digital partners and initiatives
• Conduct photo research and crop images
• Assist with updating the online editorial calendar
• Contribute to online forums and social media communities
• Monitor site traffic, content performance and user experience
• Grab screenshots for results reports
• Review press releases/product info directed to houseandhome.com and, on occasion, attend/blog about events
• Develop content ideas and opportunities
• Other tasks as instructed by Online Director.

Contest Details: In this contest, submit your best stories that communicate lessons and wisdom about living to the rest of us. Entries can draw from your life experiences, or those of someone close to you.Submissions can be in any genre and in any form of expression that is possible using the PNN site. For example, entries can be in the form of a short story, poem, photos, videos or a mix of all of them.

via Battle of the PNNers. $100 Writing C....