The RateItAll Blog has a New Home

We are circling the wagons and bringing the venerable RateItAll Blog in house to a new home: http://blog.rateitall.com.

Thanks to Blogger for the memories, and we plan to leave these archive posts up indefinitely.

Talking Winter Olympics

OK, here is what we have going on the topic of the Olympics:

Athletes of the 2010 Winter Games
Rate the athletes like Bode Miller, Lindsey Vonn, etc.

Events of the 2010 Winter Games
Rating and commenting on stuff like the Opening Ceremonies, The Anti-Olympic Protests, and the tragic death of the Georgian luger.

Winter Games Events
Rate the events themselves like Figure Skating, Short Track, Ice Hockey, etc.

Treatment of New RateItAll Members

For the most part, I believe the RateItAll community to be pretty fair and decent in its treatment of issues and each other.

But recently, I've been noticing a disturbing trend of a handful of regulars picking on new users.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell you that an online community that scares away new members is an online community that will struggle to grow.

As such, this is a very, very big deal to me and the rest of the RIA team, and we are moving the issue up the priority list.

To date, we've asked folks to police themselves in this area. Sure, I've sent the occasional private message or made the occasional blog post. But to date, we haven't made any institutional changes.

But as the community grows, this doesn't seem to be enough.

Effective immediately, we are going to treat the issue with a combination of "legislation" - aka, site rules, and tools.

On the tools side, we are exploring a number of member and admin controlled tools including the ability to block another member from commenting on your stuff or messaging you, and the ability to lock a thread.

On the rules side, effective immediately, anyone who is seen as harassing, flaming, or otherwise making things unpleasant for a new member will be suspended for one week. Subsequent transgressions will be treated more harshly.

Just to make it easy, this includes harassing new members who deserve to be harassed - like the folks who join just to post some wingnut political conspiracy.

New members are to be treated with kid gloves, period, no matter how wacky, tasteless, or disturbed they appear to be.

Those of you who have known me for a while know that I really hate this. I really hate to try and legislate away social issues. But I've asked, and I've reasoned, and I've warned, but folks don't seem to be getting the message. And if folks won't willingly be a part of a culture that welcomes new members, we will lay the hammer down. Nobody is bigger than the site.

Super Bowl!

Oh yeah, it's Super Bowl weekend.

Here is what we have going on at RateItAll

- Rate the 2010 Super Bowl Commercials (coming soon)
- Greatest teams NOT to win the Super Bowl
- Best Super Bowl Food
- Super Bowl Party Guests

And of course, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are very rate-able.

Improvements to Local Search

We've rolled out some small, but helpful improvements to our search results page when searching for local businesses. We've added the state or country to the breadcrumb trail, which is helpful when searching for things like Athens Bars (you can now see which one is Athens, Greece, and which one is Athens, GA), and we've also added address, phone number, and map info for local queries. Here's a pic:

If you haven't already...

... please write a review of Catcher in the Rye:

http://www.rateitall.com/i-17468-the-catcher-in-the-rye-jd-salinger.aspx

In the News: January 27

• After months of build-up, the Apple iPad has launched
• President Obama is delivering a State of the Union Address
• Howard Zinn, author of the People's History of the United States, has passed away.
• Four Arrested Trying to Tamper with Phones at the Office of Senatory Mary Landrieu
  

Trending Topics

We've just rolled in a new module that shows the titles of lists that are receiving lots of reviews at any given moment in time - we're calling this module "Trending Topics." Unlike the Featured Topics module, the Trending Topics box populates algorithmically, with no editorial input from RIA staff.

You can see Trending Topics on your logged in home page, as well as a number of other places. Here's a screenshot:

In the News: January 21

Here's what's going on in the news today with the links to the related RIA page:

• Haiti
• A supreme court decision regarding corporations spending on elections
• Scott Brown
  

Best of the Decade Product Winners

We've been working hard closing the loop on our Best Products of the Decade awards.

Here is the complete list of Best of the Decade Product Winners:

Automotive

In the ATV category, the winners were the Honda 450R, the Yamaha Raptor, and the Honda Rincon.

In the Motorcycle category, the winners were the Kawasaki Ninja, the Ducati 996, and the Honda CBR.

In the Pickup Truck category, the winners were the Ford F-350, the Ford F-150, and the Chevrolet Silverado.

In the Station Wagon and Minivan category, the winners were the Subaru Outback, the Toyota Sienna, and the Honda Odyssey.

In the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) category, the winners were the Jeep Wrangler, the Toyota Landcruiser, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

In the Sports Car category, the winners were the Chevrolet Corvette, the Ford Mustang, and the Audi TT Coupe.

In the Sedan category, the winners were the Honda Civic, the Honda Accord, and the Toyota Corolla.

In the Motor Oil Brand category, the winners were Walmart Super Tech, Valvoline, and Quaker State.

Beverages

In the Beer category, the winners were Heineken, Guinness, and Corona.

In the Bottled Water category, the winners were Fiji, Aquafina, and Evian.

In the Energy Drink category, the winners were Red Bull, XS, and 5 Hour Energy.

In the Gin category, the winners were Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, and Hendrick's.

In the Hard Cider category, the winners were K Cider, Hornsby's, and Woodchuck Amber.

In the Mexican Beer category, the winners were Dos Equis, Pacifico, and Tecate.

In the Orange Juice Brand category, the winners were Tropicana, Florida's Natural, and Minute Maid.

Rum

In the Rum category, the winners were Bacardi 151, Captain Morgan, and Malibu.

In the Scotch category, the winners were Laphroaig 10 Year, Glenlivet, and Lagavulin 16 Year.

In the Tequila category, the winners were Don Julio, Cuervo Gold, and Cuervo 1800.

In the Vodka category, the winners were Grey Goose, Stolichnaya, and Smirnoff.

In the Whiskey / Bourbon category, the winners were Maker's Mark, Jack Daniel's, and Old Grand Dad.

Companies

In the Airline category, the winners were Continental Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Airlines.

In the Automobile Insurance Provider category, the winners were Progressive, Geico, and Esurance.

In the Bank category, the winners were Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and USBank.

In the Car and Truck Rental category, the winners were Enterprise, Fox, and Avis.

In the Department Store category, the winners were Target, Wal-Mart, and Nordstrom.

In the Cell Phone Service Provider, the winners were Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T.

In the Insurance Company category, the winners were State Farm, Geico, and Nationwide.

In the Jewelry Store category, the winners were Whitehall, Kay, and Finlay.

In the Moving Company category, the winners were NY International, Partner Van Lines, and Moving Staffers.

In the Satellite Internet Access Provider, the winners were WildBlue, DirecWay, and HughesNet.

In the Cable Internet Access Provider, the winners were Road Runner, Comcast, and Charter Communications.

In the Satellite Television Provider, the winners were DirectTV, DISH Network, and Star Choice.

In the Executives category, the winners were Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates.

Education

In the Online University category, the winners were University of Phoenix, Capella University, and DeVry University.

In the U.S. College or University category, the winners were Stanford University, Harvard University, and
Cornell University.

Electronics

In the Mobile Phones category, the winners were the Apple iPhone, the Nokia 5100, and the Nokia 6100.

In the Video Games Systems category, the winners were Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox, and Nintendo Wii.

Fashion

In the Clothing Stores category, the winners were Victoria's Secret, Old Navy, and American Eagle.

In the Men's Underwear Brand, the winners were Fruit of the Loom, Hanes, and Calvin Klein.

Fast Food

In the Fast Food Chains category, the winners were Wendy's, Subway, and McDonald's.

In the McDonald's Menu Items category, the winners were Big Mac, French Fries, and McShake.

In the Sit-Down Dining Chains category, the winners were Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden, and Cheesecake Factory.

In the Wendy's Menu Items category, the winners were Frosty, Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, and Spicy Chicken Sandwich.

Groceries

In the Frozen Pizza category, the winners were DiGiorno, Freschetta, and Stouffer's.

In the Girl Scout Cookies category, the winners were Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs.

In the Hot Sauce category, the winners were Baboon Ass, Cholula, and Tabasco.

In the Ice Cream Brand category, the winners were Ben & Jerry's, Dreyer's, and Haagen-Dazs.

Health

In the Cold and Flu Remedies category, the winners were Zicam, NyQuil, and TheraFlu.

In the Diet Products category, the winners were Jenny Craig, Isagenix, and Weight Watchers.

In the Hair Loss Treatment category, the winners were Nioxin, Kevis, and Viviscal.

In the Prescription Blemish Treatment category, the winners were Accutane, BenzaClin, and Duac.

In the Prescription Drugs category, the winners were Vicodin, Viagra, and Ambien.

In the Non-Prescription Blemish Treatment category, the winners were Proactive Solution, ZenMED Derma Cleanse, and Biore Pure.

Home & Garden

In the Laundry Detergent category, the winners were Tide, Gain, and Arm & Hammer.

In the Vacuum Cleaner category, the winners were Rainbow, Oreck, and Dyson.

In the Dishwasher category, the winners were Maytag Jetclean, Whirlpool Gold, and GE Potscrubber.


Personal Care

In the Antiperspirant & Deodorant for Men category, the winners were Drysol, Certain Dri, and Old Spice High Endurance.

In the Antiperspirant & Deodorant for Women category, the winners were Certain Dri, Drysol, and Secret Platinum Protection.

In the Bar Soap category, the winners were Dove, Lever 2000, and Irish Spring.

In the Cosmetics Brand category, the winners were Aloette, Arbonne International, and Mary Kay.

In the Facial Cleanser category, the winners were Noxzema, Neutrogena, and Cetaphil.

In the Fragrance & Cologne for Men category, the winners were Cool Water, Polo Sport, and Drakkar Noir.

In the Fragrance & Perfume for Women category, the winners were Tommy Girl, Pleasures, and CK One.

In the Shampoo Brands category, the winners were Thermasilk, Pantene, and Herbal Essences.

Pets

In the Cat Litter category, the winners were Swheat Scoop, World's Best Cat Litter, and Feline Pine.

In the Dog Food Brands category, the winners were Blue Buffalo, Orijen, and Innova EVO.

Sporting Goods

In the Rifle category, the winners were Remington Model 700, Remington 7MM Magnum, and the Ruger No. 1 Standard.

In the Running Shoes category, the winners were Nike Air Structure Triax, New Balance 702, and New Balance 803.

In the Shotgun category, the winners were Remington Model 870, Mossberg Model 500m, and Ruger Red Label.

In the Skateboard (Decks) category, the winners were Element, Zero, and Alien Workshop.

In the Skateboard Truck category, the winners were Thunder, Independent, and Tensor.

In the Snowboard category, the winners were Burton, K-2, and Lamar.


Tobacco

In the Cigarettes category, the winners were Newport, Malboro Blend No. 27, and Newport 100.

In the Cigars category, the winners were Black and Mild, Philly Blunts, and Swisher Sweets.

In the Smokeless Tobacco category, the winners were Grizzly Smokeless Tobacco, Copenhagen, and Skoal.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Get ready for your trip to the snow

This is a must have check list for your skiing/snowboarding trip:

For skiers:
Boots - For him and for her
Gloves
Helmets
Jackets - For him and for her
Pants - For him and for her
Skis

For snowboarders:
Bags
Bindings
Boots
Goggles
Ski Wax
Snowboards
Tuning Tools

On MLK

Lots of places on RateItAll to reflect about Martin Luther King Jr. You can read reactions to his life and work as a leader, as an orator, and of course, the day named in his name.

RateItAll Best of the Decade Awards

For the past few weeks or so, we've been heads down on a very ambitious project - making sense of ten years of data to determine the RateItAll Best of the Decade Awards. The awards were given over 157 different categories, loosely broken into "Products" and "Culture."

We hosted a small, invitation only event to unveil the data at RateItAll's headquarters.

Here is the presentation from that event - RIA old timers will likely get a kick out of the RateItAll timeline on one of the slides:

RateItAll Best of the Decade Awards Slides

View more presentations from lawrencecoburn.

And here are a few photos that RateItAll's Automatt snapped from the show:



RateItAll's Cimbrel30, who is from Spain, arranged for Tapas to be brought in. They were delicious.

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• Consumer Rating Website RateItAll.com Announces its Best of the Decade Awards (prweb.com)

In the News: January 13

Two big stories today:

- a devastating earthquake in Haiti
- The Google / China showdown

In the News: January 7

Here is what we have going on in the headlines today, with links to the appropriate RIA page:

- Gilbert Arenas' suspension (note: don't mess with David Stern)
- Google's new "superphone," the Nexus One
- Chris Dodd's planned retirement
- Byron Dorgan's planned retirement
- A pending debrief on the underwear bomber fiasco
- Andre Dawson to the baseball HOF

Camping Gear

Is your New Year's resolution to get out of the city and enjoy nature a little more? If so, here is a check list with the equipment you need for a safe camping trip:

Camping Chairs
Camping Cookware
Hammock
Lantern
Stoves
Camping Tables
Compasses
Portable Generators
Sleeping Bags
Water Microfilters
Hiking Poles
Tents

Claim Those 2010 Lists

Word has it that it's a new year.

It's time to crank up those 2010 lists before other people beat you to the punch.

I'm returning with my two mainstays:

Top News Stories of 2010
Top Sports Stories of 2010

And for gosh sake, can somebody please help me with 3 more French beers? It's embarrassing having a list of Top Ten French Beers with only seven beers on it.

(sort of an odd related content selection below, but I'm going to run with it)

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• 50% More Worcestershire Sauce! (neatorama.com)

Cleaning up some indexes, site might be a little sluggish

RIA is dragging a bit right now, as we are rebuilding some database indexes. We have more cleanup work planned for later this evening, so tonight might be a good night to take a little RIA breather.

What am I saying?

Soldier on - the site will be functional, if sluggish.

Thanks to the RateItAll Community

Hi All, just a quick thanks to everyone who participates on RateItAll for a great 2009.

The site went through a lot of changes. Despite how hard it is to adapt to a new site, just about everybody met the changes head on, gave great feedback, bore with us as we worked out the kinks, and went on to master new and improved V3 version of the site.

For those of us regulars that are on the site every day sounding off about movies, drinks, politics, and of course pet food, more people than ever read our reviews. More than 15M people read RateItAll reviews in 2009, and we hope to bump that number up significantly in 2010. Click through to read our year end press release.

We promise not to make any huge changes to the site this year, but also promise to keep tweaking away and making the site tighter, faster, and easier to use than ever. Please, keep your feedback coming.

Thanks again for all of your support, and I hope each and every one of you has a fantastic 2010 (complete with plenty of reviews!).