Category Archives: Blogging

So that’s what she’s been doing…

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Good news, blighters: Kelley at Suburban Blight is blogging again after taking a couple of months off, and boy, does she have news.

The world is a more interesting place when Kelley is blogging … not to mention funny, in your face, and a bit raunchy at times. And always, always honest. Welcome back, Chickadee.

You’re a great audience, and don’t forget to tip your waitresses!

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I’ve always wanted to say that! Here’s why:

Today I’m up to the fifth month of the six-month trial blogging period I set for myself when I started this blog. During this time I’ve had people ask me why I blog and I think this is a great question – a question I was asking myself before I even started and for which I still don’t have a firm answer.

There is one analogy, however, that I think fits: this blog is my garage band. You see, ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted to be a singer in a hot band. The problem is, I can’t sing a lick (or play one for that matter) and my sense of rhythm is such that no band would ever let me shake a tambourine (more cowbell!). For that matter, my dancing is even worse than my singing, and I have little artistic ability. But, oh, to be in a band! It wouldn’t even have to be a great band, or even a band with a recording contract. Just to be good enough to be in a garage band would be so cool.

Why do people play in garage bands? Obviously, I can’t say. Some perhaps hope to be “discovered” but I’d hazard to say that few see it as a way to fame and fortune. Some musicians may just like collaborating with others to create something. Others see it as a fun way to make some money doing something they enjoy, and perhaps for others it is just because they love to make music – whether anyone else likes it or not. Perhaps if you asked them, they’d have as hard a time finding a single answer as I have in answering people who ask me why I blog.

The only skill I have is in observation and stringing words together. I don’t think I’m a bad public speaker when the opportunity arises, but my “stage” is likely to always be obscure. Blogging gives me the opportunity to use the gift, such as it is, that has been given to me, to stretch out the boundaries of my comfort zone and appreciate whatever satisfaction I get from doing so.

Perhaps musicians of every ability also yearn for those moments when they get that perfect mix of time and place where the music transcends the mere notes themselves and touch a soul. Me too! Somewhere out there is the perfect line waiting to be written; the perfect note of irony in response to the day’s events; the sparest description that illuminates completely; the spark of inspiration that starts a brushfire in someone’s mind – the shock of recognition that causes someone to say, “Yes, yes! That is exactly what it is like to be me, and now I see myself in a slightly different light!”

Umm..okay, getting a little carried away there. I think, however, that this is at the heart of why I blog. I don’t do it to become rich and famous (though that would be nice). I don’t do it to change the world (though that would be nice, too). I certainly hope people enjoy the experience, but, essentially, it’s about my enjoyment first.

Earlier this week Joe Carter at the Evangelical Outpost wrote about the addiction he sometimes feels toward his Site Meter count and Technorati and TTLB rankings. To which I have to say, “Preach it, brother.” I check my own counts at least a couple of times a day, and I’m fascinated by the “referrals” page that shows from where people are coming to my blog. Some of the Google references have been very interesting. I suppose this is displays a weakness of character on my part, but as Joe himself has said, “If you don’t care if anyone reads you then you don’t have a blog, you have a diary.”

Like others who have gazed at their own blogging navel recently, the things I appreciate about the last few months are the many new friends I’ve met (some in person, some only electronically), the comments and trackbacks I get that show I’ve made at least a small ripple somewhere. Here’s to you, Leo, Kelley G, Emily, Muzzy, Sandy and the rest of the Squad, Bruce, Derek, the NARN, Kevin, the Saint and Roller Pauls, Doug and all the other MOBsters. Without this contact this blog wouldn’t have lasted a month.

One month – or six months – from now, who knows? I still haven’t come up with a satisfactory answer to the first question I posed to myself when I considered starting this blog: How will I tell if this is successful or not? One thing I am learning – and that I wouldn’t have expected when I started – is that success may be measured, but not defined, by Site Meter or NZ Bear. I think a large part of it has to do with the people I mentioned above, and the ones I’ve yet to “meet.”

Thank you, and good night! Rock on!

Night Vision, Part 2 (Great Google-y Moogly)

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This morning I read Muzzy’s post at Blogizdat and was startled to see that he too is feeling some ambivalence over the traffic his blog has received since he first posted about Terri Schiavo (see 7 Days of Screaming Into the Wind). He’s been blogging a few months more than I have, but we’re both relatively new and I suspect that the combined amount of traffic our sites typically get in a month would barely compare to a slow day for the Instapundit or Hugh Hewitt.

Imagine my astonishment last Sunday evening when I looked at my Site-Meter report before shutting down and going to bed – 110 visits! What the…? With a couple of clicks I discovered that almost all of these were people following links from Google and other search-engines to a post I did last Thursday about Terri Schiavo. The next several days brought more than 250 visitors each and the number still far surpasses anything I experienced in my first month of blogging. Great news, right?

Then why do I feel like I’ve got the binocular concession at the Coliseum for Christians vs. the Lions?

Traffic is an affirming tonic for bloggers, though not quite the same heady elixir as having someone comment on a post or link back to your site. After all, as Joe Carter at The Evangelical Outpost has said, if you don’t care if anyone is reading your blog, then you don’t have a blog – you have a diary. The fact that this surge in visitors comes as a result of a tragedy, however, is sobering.

When I started blogging I had in mind urbane commentary on current events, poking fun at the deficiencies in liberal thought and maybe being able to start some spiritual brushfires in people’s minds. Then a real issue comes along and a topic I never wanted or expected to write about dramatically demonstrates the connectivity of this new media and my own responsibilities.

Readers came out of a desire to know more about the subject at hand, not to see whatever wisdom I may have, and I’m so happy that the main point of entry for them was the “What You Don’t Know About the Terri Schiavo Case” that linked to the National Review Online article detailing the shortcomings in her diagnosis and therapy. I’m glad that once I learned that this was the most requested story I could make it even more effective by adding updates that lead to even more information, such as the affidavit from Dr. Cheshire. I’m satisfied that many people have had a chance to get more information about this travesty. And I’m just so damned discouraged that this was ever necessary in the first place.

I couldn’t tell you whether or not anything that was posted here had an effect on those who visited. I can assure you, however, it has had an effect on me.

The Keegan’s Cure

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Now this is a week where I can really appreciate some trivial distractions. I’m heading to Keegan’s this evening, and will have the First Daughter in tow. She’s been wanting to check the scene out first hand, and we’ll see if her lungs are up to it. She may think she’s well prepared for the contest because everything I’ve ever told her is pretty trivial.



If you’re there as well, please introduce yourself. I have no idea what color my daughter’s hair might be from one day to the next, but I’m sure we’ll stand out (and no, Kevin, you may not buy her a beer.)

Check These Out

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It’s been a busy week this week and I haven’t made it around to check out the rest of the MOB as much as I’d like, but among the fine efforts I did see, two stood out.



I loved the brief but evocative comments from Bogus Gold after the Rather retirement; especially the line “Anchors like Rather are conductors on passenger trains in the era of the automobile.” Take a look if you haven’t already.



Then, you’ve got to read the report from SpruceGoose at the University of Minnesota about the taped message the group Students for Family Values received when applying for a portion of the Student Services Fees budget. I’d like to know just what the tape said, but judging by the report and the links to related articles, it sounds like it was vile, revealing – and actionable.



Read the Goose and the articles. Then you might want to get a call in to Bob Davis, Joe Soucheray, Michelle Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty and the NARN.

I Used to Wallow in My Iniquity; Now I Just Spritz

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I guess I’m still a little abashed at the Gematriculator rating of The Night Writer blog as 47% evil, and the subsequent ranking by Sisyphus at Nihilist in Golf Pants showing this blog to be the third-most evil in the MOB. It was even more disheartening when I “gematriculated” several recent Nick Coleman columns and discovered he came out consistently less than 20% evil.



Oh, what a world! What a world!



Then I got to thinking about it, and 47% evil is still 53% good – but by who’s standard? If I were to compare what percentage of my daily thoughts actually came close to matching God’s thoughts – whether about myself or others – I don’t think I’d come off even that good. Ah, sweet Grace!



I’m not saying I’m some worm (or “slithering reptile,” per the TTLB) to impress you with my pious wretchedness. I believe it is what Jesus did, not what I do, that affects how God sees me. I know for a fact, however, that I spend the bulk of my day doing things my own way (iniquity). Sometimes that may actually line up with God’s way, perhaps by accident, and there are those few times when I consciously try to do something his way.



I’ve noticed that my gematriculator score changes with each post I make – for “better” or “worse.” Likewise my iniquity ratio changes with each decision I make. By whatever scale, I hope I can keep getting better!

Night Vision, Part 1

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The one thing that everyone should object to is being fed a constant diet of predigested mush and being told “trust us, it’s good for you.” Most folks want a smorgasbord they can keep going back to and where they can sample and experiment and even see their tastes change over time. Naturally the ones peddling the mush aren’t going to like this, and will warn you that you’ll burn your tongue or get indigestion, but it’s really their own heartburn they’re worried about.






MOB Behavior

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A certain amount of copycat behavior is to be expected within a group. Church members adopt doctrines, street gang members favor certain colors, and the left wingers continue to wear their sunglasses at night (apparently). Even among the iconoclasts and libertarians in the Minnesota Organization of Bloggers (MOB) you’ll find a degree of synchronicity.



While I don’t know that I’ll jump in with all ten fingers on the Nick Coleman “Fiskwah” (because it would mean having to pay attention to him), I’ve noticed a couple of fun interactive items being passed around the MOB that I’ve decided to try out here (each can be found individually in several places, but I picked up both in one place on Eckernet).

I blame the Minfidel



This site is certified 53% GOOD by the Gematriculator

This site is certified 47% EVIL by the Gematriculator

The Gematriculator has devised a way – perhaps a nefarious one – to evaluate the words on a blog or in a document to determine its percentage of “good” and “evil”. Being pure of heart, I had no qualms about running this blog through the process. Egad! Only 53% “good”? It’s gotta be the Minfidel’s postings that are bringing down the average!


Shall We Play a Game?



Name the first five movie or television quotes that come into your head (must be from different movies/shows). The first five things that come into my head really depend on what’s happening around my head at that moment, and since it turns out I’m one of the MOST EVIL blogs in the MOB (HT Sisyphus) I’ll go with these for now:



“Nee!” From…oh, do I really need to write it out for you?



“You gotta ask yourself…do I feel lucky. Well, do you, punk?” From “Dirty Harry.”



“Don’t tug on that. You never know what it might be attached to.” From “Buckaroo Banzai.”



“Ah, this is obviously some strange usage of the word “safe” I wasn’t previously aware of.” From “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”



“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” From “The Princess Bride.”



Wave files downloaded from Frogstar.

Aggregation Day

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A little “Casual Friday” blogging today as I catch up on stories that I think are important but where I don’t think I can add much that is original:

Free Speech, Get Your Free Speech Here…While You Can



The consequences – unintended or perhaps intended – of McCain-Feingold Act may be moving from an infringement of free speech to a direct assault after a recent court decision overturning the Internet exemption and comments by a member of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that bloggers can be prosecuted under the act have stirred a lot of attention. Whether it’s as dire as it sounds, or an attempt to whip the blogosphere into a froth in the hopes that it might discredit itself in some way (a dubious strategy if so), here are some interesting perspectives: from Jeff Jarvis at Buzzmachine, and a great letter and call to action from Captain Ed, some excellent analysis from Bogus Gold (be sure to read the Don Singleton comment), and an authoritative take – in the words of James Madison – provided by Jay Reding.


MOB Hits



In the short time since I started this blog I’ve had to explain to many friends and family members what blogs are. I’ve also been checking in with “the neighbors” – the other members of the Minnesota Organization of Blogs (MOB). Those of you trying to familiarize yourself with this new media, below are some posts from MOB blogs that caught my eye this week (besides Bogus, Captain Ed and Jay already listed above).



A sharp comparison of public vs. private education by Craig Westover.



A dead on translation of Dan Rather’s comments from the Letterman show by Sandy on the MAWB Squad site (who also earns a special place in my heart for being the first to post a comment to the Night Writer site).



Astute observations from the Ice Palace by Psycmeistr on two multiple homicides.



There have also been many, many excellent and moving posts on the Terry Schiavo story throughout the MOB. One that particularly caught my eye is here, from Shock and Blog.