You Have Trapped the Escapist No. 1 aka BATOM 10...

Blog-a-Ton 10 finally comes to an end. It was a sad day for Cricket India but we have bigger announcements to make.

This edition saw 58 bloggers from around India (and World) coming together to escape from the complexities and the monotony of their lives; an escape we all are so fond of, the escape that gives us a chance to share our moods, emotions and fancies with others like us, the escape we all call -------- Blogging.

Lets see who amongst us was able to touch the maximum hearts and minds. Its time to declare the Blog-a-Tonic of the Month.

But before I do that, as it is customary, let's welcome the new members of this ever-growing family:

• Vikram Pyati
• Komathi Rajendran
• Nachiketa
• Aisoo
• Gaintbook
• Lost in Thoughts
• Saad Shaikh
• Deeps
• Just some Words
• Viyoma
• Jaunty Anima
• Vijay Bankar (Please provide a bloglink to be blogrolled)
• Anuradha Khanna Pentapalli
• Zaid (Please provide a bloglink to be blogrolled)
• Binzy
• Brijender
• Shantanu Banerjee (Please provide a bloglink to be blogrolled)
• Neha Thakkar Silam
• Beneath Bedlam (Please provide a bloglink to be blogrolled)
• Ajay Tawde (Please provide a bloglink to be blogrolled)

You all will be blogrolled soon!

So now, it is the RESULTS time.

As evident, each vote from a participant =2 cheers whereas from non-participants =1 cheer

BATOM 10

In short, Blog-a-Ton 10 is Vipul Grover, the baldy guy, you all know so well by now.

Thanks a lot to all those who read my post and commented on it. Special thanks to those who voted for it. Though I have been waiting to win this badge award since the inception of Blog-a-Ton and was also fighting it out in this edition but now find myself in somewhat dilemma. But I'll prefer to be shameless for this one time.

I must congratulate Leo and Gyanban for giving such a close fight that made the results compilation so nerve wrecking for me. And do not forget that Leo managed to grab a vote for his second entry too (ok, ok, so did I).

You all can also read the voting comments now. Just click here to find who all voted for you or liked your entry and what they had to say about it!

P.S. Some votes which were highly incompatible with the rules have been discarded while compiling the results though they are kept visible in the comments section. Moreover, remember only those bloggers have valid votes who had been welcomed and blogrolled on Friday's Reminder post or who joined later but participated in the event.

And friends before I leave, I invite all of you to join our Fan Fun Page on Facebook - The Marshal, an attempt to have some fun beyond Blog-a-Ton!

The Marshal | Promote your Page too

Will be back soon with Blog-a-Ton 11

Blog-a-Tonically Yours

Vipul Grover

Lets Catch the Escapist No. 1

Voting gets over at 23:00 hrs (IST) on May 7, 2010. Remember, that means time stamp of your comment can be at most 22:59 and not 23:00.

Let us welcome the new Blog-a-Tonics before proceeding further

• Rumya
• The Painter
• Romeo
• Ayreej (Please provide a bloglink to be blogrolled)
• Hary
• Irendi3786
• Astrosunilnomy
• Archana Bhui
• Shail
• Anu
• Urvashi
• Tikuli
• Yamini Meduri
• Savira Gupta (Please provide a bloglink to be blogrolled)
• Nikki
• Sudhakar
• Cynthia
• Sushobhan Roy
• Ritwik Roy (Please provide a bloglink to be blogrolled)
• Arundhati (Please provide a bloglink to be blogrolled)
• Giri Vijayakumar

You all will be blogrolled soon!

Click here to check the fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton along with the direct links to their posts.

In this edition, 60 entries came in from 58 blog-a-tonics within the stipulated time. 

And it is a steep rise from the last time's 35. Way to go!!!


Its all thanks to the blog-a-tonics like Guria, Leo and many others (sorry for missing out your names) who pestered and pushed their fellow bloggers to participate this time. So three cheers for the whole community!

Please follow the following rules while voting. Those who did not participate last time, please read the rules carefully as there have been some important changes introduced in the last edition.

1. You can cast upto 3 votes and of course you can not vote for yourself.

This time you are allowed to vote for more than one entry but the maximum votes you can give are three. All your votes will carry the same weightage.

2. Your Voting Comment should start as follows:

---

In case you participated -

I participated - http://vipulgrover.blogspot.com/2010/05/escape.html

I vote for - 
1. XYZ; his/her post = http://ABC/xyz.html
2. DEF; his/her post = http://LMN/def.html
3. PQR; his/her post = http://RST/pqr.html

Code:

I participated - <a href="YOUR POST LINK">YOUR POST LINK</a>

I vote for -
1. NAME OF THE FIRST BLOGATONIC YOU VOTE FOR; his/her postlink = <a href="HIS/HER POST LINK">HIS/HER POST LINK</a>
2. NAME OF THE SECOND BLOGATONIC YOU VOTE FOR; his/her postlink = <a href="HIS/HER POST LINK">HIS/HER POST LINK</a>
3. NAME OF THE THIRD BLOGATONIC YOU VOTE FOR; his/her postlink = <a href="HIS/HER POST LINK">HIS/HER POST LINK</a>

---

In case you did not participate -

I did not participate but I am blogrolled by the name of Vipul Grover.

I vote for - 
1. XYZ; his/her post = http://ABC/xyz.html
2. DEF; his/her post = http://LMN/def.html
3. PQR; his/her post = http://RST/pqr.html

Code:

I did not participate but I am blogrolled by the name of YOUR NAME ON OUR BLOGROLL.
I vote for -

1.  NAME OF THE FIRST BLOGATONIC YOU VOTE FOR; his/her postlink = <a href="HIS/HER POST LINK">HIS/HER POST LINK</a>
2. NAME OF THE SECOND BLOGATONIC YOU VOTE FOR; his/her postlink = <a href="HIS/HER POST LINK">HIS/HER POST LINK</a>
3. NAME OF THE THIRD BLOGATONIC YOU VOTE FOR; his/her postlink = <a href="HIS/HER POST LINK">HIS/HER POST LINK</a>

---

Replace the parameters highlighted in red with their actual values.

Remove the extra code in case you are voting for less than three entries.

Remember, in case you participated, your vote will be counted as 1 and in case you didn't, then it will just carry the 1/2 value.

All your votes, one or two or three will carry this same weightage.

Hence, do not forget to give your post link or blogrolled name (whichever is applicable as clearly visible in the above code) as it will decide whether your vote is counted as 1 or 1/2 in value.

3. While voting for a Blog-a-Tonic, use his/her name as provided by him/her in his/her participation entry.
Multiple names of same person makes it troublesome for me while compiling the results.

 4. All your votes should be posted in a single comment. So, take your time - go through all posts - only then decide your one or two or three favourites.
In case you vote separately, only the first comment will be taken into consideration.

5.  Post your vote in the comments section of this post.

6.  The Blog-a-Tonics astrosunilnomy and Blinzy  have posted the correct link to their posts after the stipulated time. Earlier, they had posted wrong links. Consider them for voting too.

Now coming to the other rules:

• Voting ends at  2300 hrs (IST) on  May 7, 2010.
• I have started moderating the comments and won’t display the voting comments till the end of this process to keep the result secret till its conclusion.
• After the voting code mentioned above, you may also add the reason, why you voted for a particular post to help others know what you expect as a reader. Moreover, you may also mention the other posts that you liked though you can vote for just one of them. 
• In case of multiple entries by any blog-a-tonic, all his/her entries will be evaluated individually while deciding BATOM, i.e., the award will go to a post rather than the blogger.

The Votes will be discarded without any prior warning in case they are not sufficiently compatible with the rules.

So, if there is any query about voting or you do not find yourself blogrolled, feel free to drop in a mail. I'll try to get back to you asap.


Remember, the time stamp of your comment can be at most 22:59 and not 23:00 on May 7.

Hoping to see similar participation in voting too

Blog-a-Tonically Yours

Vipul Grover

Rules and Reminder for Blog-a-Ton 10

Publish the post on May 1, 2010 anytime between 0000 hrs and 2359 hrs (IST)!

Date for Blog-a-Ton: May 1, 2010

Before I give you the details about posting, lets welcome the new Blog-a-Tonics

• Vikas Khair
• Demented Actuary 
• Aldeena (Please provide your blog link to be blogrolled)
• Vibushan Lakshmimarayan (Please provide your blog link to be blogrolled)
• Gyan Ban
• Harini
• Humbug
• Amity
• Sourav
• Devilzangel

You all will be blogrolled soon. I hope to see all of you participating this time.

As you already know, the topic for Blog-a-Ton 10 has been finalised as:
Escape

Please follow these rules while publishing your post and thereafter:

• The title of your post should be the topic itself; i.e. Escape
  Please do not use any alternative title or your post link will be removed.

• The post should start with this text within blockquotes and with link to this blog. Just copy the following HTML code and paste to your post in Edit HTML mode:
  
  <div style="text-align: justify;">
  <blockquote>
  This post has been published by me as a part of the <b>Blog-a-Ton 10</b>; the tenth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following <a href="http://blog-a-ton.blogspot.com/"><b>Blog-a-Ton</b></a>.
  </blockquote>
  </div>

• The post should end with this text within blockquotes and with links to the comments section of this post and this blog. Just copy the following HTML code and paste to ur post in Edit HTML mode:
  
  
  <div style="text-align: justify;">
  <blockquote>
  The <b>fellow Blog-a-Tonics</b> who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective <b>posts</b> can be checked <a href="http://blog-a-ton.blogspot.com/2010/04/rules-and-reminder-for-blog-ton-10.html#comments"><b>here</b></a>. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following <b><a href="http://blog-a-ton.blogspot.com/">Blog-a-Ton</a></b>.
  </blockquote>
  </div>

• Publish the post on May 1, 2010 anytime between 0000 hrs and 2359 hrs (Indian Standard Time)

• After publishing it, do not forget to leave the link in the comments section of this post.

• Use the following code to provide direct link to your post.

<a href="ADDRESS OF YOUR POST">YOUR NAME - Escape</a>


It will look like this: Vipul Grover - Escape and will link to your post.
Please follow this rule to ensure easy navigability to your post.

• In case you post your link after the stipulated time, then your submission will not be considered for voting.

• Return on May 2 to vote for your favourite post. A separate notification for the same will be posted upon the conclusion of the event. So do not vote till then. Till then just enjoy reading the various entries, keeping in mind your favourite one. 

DO NOT USE THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THIS POST FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. If there are any queries, ask them in the comments section of previous post.

Wishing you free flow of thoughts
Blog-a-Tonically Yours

Vipul Grover

To Escape or not to Escape!!!

Date for Blog-a-Ton 10: May 1, 2010

Before I declare the topic for this Blog-a-Ton (well, I know the topic is already evident), lets welcome the new Blog-a-Tonics:

• Mohit 
• Indradeep
• Anamika
• Senthil (Please provide a valid bloglink to be blogrolled)
• Paz.
• Pramod (Please provide a valid bloglink to be blogrolled)
• Venice
• Kulwant Singh (Please provide a valid bloglink to be blogrolled)

In this edition, the Blog-a-Tonics have decided to Escape.   I hope that doesn't mean they'll escape from the event itself like the last time!  Leo deserves an escaping ovation for suggesting this topic.

While dealing with the topic 'Escape', you have the freedom to treat it the way you want. Its upto you; which genre of writing you choose, i.e. simple essay-type, article, dialogue, short story (even 55 Fiction for that matter), poem or whatever you feel like.

Moreover, its upto you; which mood or tone you choose to set it in, i.e. serious, witty, humour, optimistic or whatever that comes to you naturally.

Again, you have the freedom to choose the language of communication. However, we'll suggest you to write in English to put across your views to the maximum members which will also help you when its the time to vote for the BATOM.

I hope this clarification helps the new Blog-a-Tonics.

So, you all have ample time to write it but you'll have to wait till May 1 to post it finally along with everyone else.

Please write your posts on time as the late entries will not be allowed to participate in the voting round (though the links will be added to the participants list).

Other rules regarding posting will be conveyed to you later.

So kindly wait for that notification on next Friday rather than putting up queries right now. If the queries are regarding general pattern of the event, please go through the posts about previous events.

Wishing you all, a free flow of thoughts

Blog-a-Tonically yours

Vipul Grover

Blog-a-Ten.... I mean Blog-a-Ton 10 is here :)

Date for Blog-a-Ton 10 : May 1, 2010
Topic declaration : April 24, 2010

Hello friends, I am back with yet another edition of Blog-a-Ton. As you all must be knowing, the entertainment business is hit hard during the cricketing season. So as soon as IPL came in, big production houses stayed the release of their movies.

But we decided to go against the tide and held Blog-a-Ton 9. And well, even we were hit by IPL with particiaption dropping down by nearly 20%.  But is that bad???

Yes, it is!

So lets come together to make Blog-a-Ton 10 a success and try and cross 50 mark this time.

But first of all, lets welcome the bloggers who have joined us and will be hopefully participating this time to take us across the half ton mark -

• Bejugam Vinith
• Corinne
• Sonia Kathuria
• Karan Shah

 You all will be blogrolled soon.

So with this, I invite your suggestions for the topic for Blog-a-Ton 10. Please keep the following things in mind while suggesting.

• Each member can suggest only one topic.
• The topic should be general in scope, so that more and more Blog-a-Tonics can participate.
• Before suggesting, go through the previous ones for sure.
• If you like any of those, VOTE for them rather than giving a new suggestion.
• If you like a suggested topic but don't like the wordings, still VOTE for it and alongside suggest a new title for it.
• In case you have already suggested a topic but find some subsequent suggestion better than yours, you are allowed to vote for it. But this can be done only once.

• Rather than criticising the suggestions made by others, kindly give better suggestions.
• Give your suggestions and votes in the comments section of this post.
• Do not embolden your comment using HTML bold tag.
• Please keep these points in mind to make my job easier.

In case a comment is not posted according to these rules, it will be deleted.

Please make this edition of Blog-a-Ton a Success by inviting your fellow bloggers to this event. Just make a point to forward the link to these notifications to them and pester them to participate. I have on my behalf, pestered dozens of you in the past. Please carry on the tradition. After all this is one big happy family. Take up the responsibility to promote it further!

P.S. The introduction to this post is in lighter vein. Don't think that I have gone crazy comparing Blog-a-Ton with big Bollywood movies ;)

Hoping to receive some interesting suggestions

 Blog-a-Tonically Yours

Vipul Grover