When you go to set up your first blog though it, you will notice that it supports a wide variety of services. You can blog through Windows Live Spaces or set it up to work with an external service – like an installation of WordPress on your web hosting account.

The fact that it downloads part of your theme to show you how your blog post will look on the Web (via the Preview tab) is also a really nice touch.

Here are some of the other features worth mentioning:

• Image border treatments (including Instant Photo)
• Crop and tilt photos
• Insert multiple photos
• Toolbar alignment commands enabled for images
• Insert and upload Windows Live photo albums
• Insert and publish video to YouTube
• Server-side tagging (for supported blogs)
• Type-down filtering in the Open dialog
• Twitter, Digg and Flickr Plug-ins
• Improved blog account setup

If you are using Windows, there really is no better blogging tool out there.  I have tried a lot of them, and time after time I keep coming back to Windows Live Writer.

Pick up Windows Live Writer today and give it a shot.  If you have a better suggestion, I’d also love to hear about it in the comments.

Are you looking for a way to spark your creative fuse?

“Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.”

- E.L. Doctorow

I love to write, and have done so semi-professionally for the past seven years or so.  Sometimes though, a good topic to write about it hard to find, or you might be out of creative muses to inspire you.  That is where the web site Write for Ten comes into play.

This web site serves as a writing sketchbook. Writers from all skill levels and of all types can come any enjoy this resource.  It is handy for a number of reasons.  It can help inspire you with an idea.  It can keep you in writing shape, if you have a hard time finding the time in the day to do so.

Via the Write for Ten web site, here are several ways you can participate:

• Take ten minutes now and write! Grab a notebook, open a text editor, sign up for an account, or post a blog.
• Write a ten-minute post using the Write for Ten site. Your posts are published at http://writeforten.com/users/username.
• Grab a timer and write a blog post for ten minutes. Add our badges to the bottom of your posts.
• Make a habit of writing everyday. Use this site or your favorite blogging platform (e.g., WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, Posterous )
• Tweet your posts with the hash tag #writeforten or #wf10.

This free writing exercise is an excellent way to get over writer’s block.

Want to join in on the fun? Point your browser towards writeforten.com.

The way I see it, if there is anything I need to invest well in – it is a good mouse and keyboard.  With the freelance contracting and writing that I do, it is my proverbial nails and hammer to get the job done.  So when my old mouse died off, I saw it as the perfect chance to grab the Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro.  I have been using it a little less than 24 hours, and thus far I love it.

That is one wacky looking mouse!

The first time you see the mouse, you might think it is the ugliest computer add-on you have ever laid your eyes on.  Once you put your hand on it though, you understand that ugly feels pretty damn good in the palm of your hand.  Also, this thing has more buttons on it than I have ever seen before.  For browsing on the web, the two side buttons are nice – because by default they are used as backwards and forwards buttons.  The big thumb button on the side is cool too, even though I don’t use the Windows Vista 3D flip all that much (and I can change what it is programmed to later of course).

Keyboard fits like a glove!

The keyboard has a really nice feeling to it to.  The keys are waved in a way to make typing on it feel more “natural”, or so it says on the box.  I can’t complain yet.  The keys have a good feeling when they are pushed too.  It feels good.  I also usually hate all the programmable keys that come across the tops, bottoms, and side of many keyboards – so nice to see this one doesn’t have that many. 

All in all, I am very happy with the purchase, and I would give the Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro two thumbs up for any other web hosting guru, freelance contractor, writer, and geek out there like myself.   If you don’t trust me, Cnet has also put out a nice video review of the combo.

This is a ‘bit of a good surprise (well it was for me at least). Just found out that the latest edition of Ping! Zine should be in your mail boxes soon and I’ll have two featured articles inside. Be sure to look out for The Web Hoster’s Tool Belt and Firefox for Webmasters while reading this month’s edition. If you don’t have a subscription, you can always pick up the free digital version over at pingzine.com.

I am looking at finding one or maybe even two jobs that would keep me busy with anything from grunt work to article writing. You can take a look at my full resume if you wish, but let me pick out some of my favorite parts.

Here are a few testimonials that have been said about my work:

“Mitch is a very passionate cheerleader for the Web hosting industry. He brings a unique personality and perspective to the latest news and information regarding what some call a boring industry. The Web hosting industry is better off for having Mitch around!”

George Roberts (Executive Director, Hostingcon)

“Since joining the Lockergnome team, Mitch’s contributions have always been easy to understand, packed full of information and entertaining to read. He’s a great asset to any team, and we are more than happy to have him as a part of ours.”

Chris Pirillo (President, Lockergnome.com)

“Mitch is one of those people who you can always count on for clear, thoughtful, and caring, help. He is one of the finest tech writers, and is noted for his ability to explain complex tech concepts in layman’s terms that puts any novice at ease.”

Pinny Cohen (CEO, BrowseHosts.com)

“Mitch has proven to be a fantastic reflection of the web hosting community. His interviews and reviews of the industry as a whole are great!”

Vito Ceniti (Owner, Netasis Internet Inc)

Anybody who is interested in giving me a serious offer can drop me an E-mail at mitch@mitchkeeler.com and we’ll get down to business!