via Mark Byron

I don’t get to ‘talk’ about this hobby of blogging much. My family is cool, they come over to the blog and point out typos and listen if I go on about a post or a comment thread. But it’s not really interactive because they don’t blog. They understand I enjoy it and tolerate my verbal bursts of enthusiasm, pontificating or pedanticness.
Yesterday was really neat. There was an email exchange with another blogger…about blogging. Just a great back and forth where we discussed ideas, thoughts and feelings without (on my part) censoring. I could ponder at will, and hopefully they did to.
I didn’t feel like I was boring someone, and it definitely wasn’t boring to get their ideas back. What made it even better is that they are very busy and took the time to chatter.
Thanks. I needed that.:^)

The blog bandwagon
Wired News and Microsoft are jumping on the blog platform bandwagon.

29 days
A fellow Canadian blogger has started a creative writing exercise for bloggers called 29 days. I’ve been reading some of the posts from people willing to try, and they are interesting and moving. You can participate anytime the muse moves you.

DashHouse
I’ve been hesitant to point attention to DashHouse as he has gone through the process of denominational voting etc. Why? I think because in the academic back and forth, the heart cry isn’t always heard. There is a time for opinion and healthy debate, but there is also a time to just come along side and say, I hear you.
There is such a fine line for each of us, and sometimes in pushing agenda or ideas, we inadvertently cross it. Can we encourage someone on their blog without stomping through with muddy boots?

Wish I’d said that
What in Tarnation politely tells advertisers, companies and spammers where to go.

Well this has gotten to be a little much. Your e-mails that you send to me are just stupid and to put it nicely, you who send spam suck. Since October 21, I have received 891 pieces of spam from you. Persistence will not work for you. I’m not going to check my mail one day and suddenly decide that I want to buy your illegal software, your herbal medicine to enlarge my ahem…, I certainly don’t want larger breasts, please never send me pictures of other people’s naughty bits or pictures of people putting their naughty bits were they shouldn’t be, I will never get vicoden from you, I will never give you my opinion other the one I just gave you, nor will I ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever claim my free Scoobie Doo Collectible. Sorry, I don’t believe you. You are scum. And no, I’m not going to send you an e-mail to remove me from your list, that is just playing into you game.

I got some comment spam yesterday that got through the best laid filters my host can provide. What a joke. This garbage always winds up in an archived post and there is (read my lips) no way you are going to get any more of my time and attention other than to add another block so you don’t waste my time and my readers time. Targeting bloggers is really unproductive. If you are looking for gullible, this isn’t a group that is likely to bite. They are more likely to bite back.