Blogging

From Wikipedia: " A blog (a contraction of the term "weblog") is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog."

The north coast symbol formerly known as Ekovox. He had one of the most humorous, significant and informative blogs on the North Coast. It was always top notch, and it was always "a good read". For reasons known only to himself, and possibly "others", he deleted his blog. It was more likely to save himself time, and return his life to that of a normal functioning human being. Blogging is an addiction as sure as Heroin is to the hopelessly lost. At times I know that I should stop blogging myself. Others have dropped their blogs for various reasons. Some have dabbled in blogging and done so well that they have decided to write books instead. Or, they have just came and gone for no apparent reason. Like Bubba or what ever his name was that flew threw the north coast and disappeared as fast as he came. I miss him because some of the things that he said was so outlandish that it made me think.

Some blogs are very informative and artsy. I like Kym Kemp's blog. Her photography is exemplary. Most everything that she blogs about is Southern Humboldt pertinent. She is the Quintessential Southern Humboldty "Mom" she worries about us like a mother hen, whether we are right, or whether we are wrong. I like Eric Kirks blog, although he is far too cerebral for my simple tastes. Sometimes what he says takes me a month of studying to understand. By then the topic is past, because he is so prolific. He says that he spends about a half an hour a day blogging. He must be good because it takes me that long to read his stuff. I like him because he uses his real name, I know who he is, and he has a basic honesty. That and I like his blog because sometimes I don't agree with him, but he challenges me to try to say something anyway. There is a new blog that I have become very fond of called Lynette's NorCal History Site. It has the promise of being one of my most favorite blogs, because she talks about north coast history that I'm not familiar with. I know that I should provide links to all these blogs, but if you look over there on the left you will see listed all of the blogs that I have mentioned, under "Links To Other Blogsites"

But, I miss 299 opine and Ekovox because he was so deeply steeped in the north coast history. He and his father before him are true historians. He gave us history that we could believe and understand. Seldom do you get “depth' like Ekovox gave us. Other than by Jim Baker, who doesn't have time to blog and he wisely knows that, or others like him, that have been very active students of north coast history. They have done more than just talk about it, like me. They have walked the walk, and followed the trails that history always leaves. They have been able to follow those trails because they have the insight from being born here, and they know who is who, they know who knows the stories, and were the bodies are buried. They can pull the truth out like no others. Even though Jim claims to not have the time, I know he has traveled around the United States following the trails of some very famous local people. Just like all of the generational natives, he has decided that some history need not be shared with people that don't have the compassion to understand some aspects of local history. (My words, not his)

A blog, in order to have a readership or be on a “roll”, needs to make frequent interesting posts. When a blogger leaves their blog unattended, even for short periods, interest drops to zero.

My special interest has always been the country people of the north coast, and their inherent wisdom. I don't understand much about politics, although I find politics to be interesting to a small degree. I fail to understand why there has to be conservatives and liberals, or Republicans and Democrats. No matter what party line that you ascribe to, it ultimately becomes divisive. I fail to see why people will adhere to the “party line” even when they disagree with the issue at hand. I feel that the old saw about Divide and Conquer, is alive and well. We are all at each others throats about political issues, that we have taken our eye off the ball. Our politicians are elected with the money of Wall Street and the very wealthy. We have no say whatsoever over what decisions our politicians make. We blather on about the power of the vote, but we give it away to the slickest talking politician. When was the last time that you fully trusted anybody in office above the rank of County Supervisor?

Lets see, where was I going, oh yeah, blogging. You see how distracting politics can become? I Originally got into blogging because I became interested in Ekovox's blog, “299 Opine”. I was afraid that I had jumped into blogging a little too deeply, and was maybe dominating his blog with my own “Opines” more than I should have. Eric Kirk's blog was very active at the time. The town was in the middle of the People Production / Mateel controversy. I wanted to see if I could throw “oil on troubled waters” and see if maybe they could work out their problems for the good of the whole community. I naively didn't understand how deep, and bitter, the controversy was. Some people were engaging in open name calling, and there were many accusations, which always led to the lecture on whether it was slander or libel. Eric started deleting a few vicious posts and other people objected. In a fit of anger he proclaimed that “if you don't like the way I run this blog, start your own, it takes about five minutes. Just click on the little orange “B” up in the left corner and it will lead you by the hand to your own blog. Good-bye!” Just so I don't get sued for slander or libel, I must say that I paraphrased Eric's statement. But, it is with in the realm of possibilities of what he actually said.

I laughed that he thought that it could be so easy, so I went about setting up my own blog, just to prove him wrong about how easy it was. Five minutes later I had my very own Blog. I fooled around with it for a while, thinking as long as I didn't tell anybody that I had a blog, it would just be my little secret. I practiced writing about loggers and and a few other things, thinking that I could always delete it. I got my own “Blogger Identity”, so I could delete my mistakes without having to email someone and beg them to delete my foolish mistakes. Right after I did that, I made a horribly disgusting typo. In a panic I tried the “Delete Post” button, and it miraculously went away. I vowed then and there to always use my Blogger I.D. so I could delete it, if for no other reason. I was too naïve to know that anybody could follow your blogger I.D. back to your blog. One morning I went to check Eric's blog and he had said. “Hey, Ernie has a blog! And here is the U.R.L.” Busted! So then I decided that “I must become pertinent”. What a joke that was, I've even been known to write stories about Flying Pigs. To Swine own self be true. So, I am what I am. What you see is what you get.

I found that people can be real twits when they blog anonymously, I found that to be true about myself also, so I quit being “Anonymous”. Anybody that has read many of the “Anon's” posts will know what I mean. The thing that I always find laughable, is when “Anon” makes a very personal statement about somebody. Then when you reply in a personal way, they become insulted, and act “personally offended”. How can someone be “personally offended” when they won't even use their name. So sue me!

I have always been far more interested in what other people have to say than what I have to say. I already know what I think. I usually don't use my blog to bring someone over to my way of thinking, but I am extremely interested in what people have to say. Usually I try to inform people about the unknown, or encourage people to tell me something that I don't know. I like it when people just dive in and start talking about what interests them. Some bloggers get upset when you don't “follow the thread”. I have learned more from people that just jump in than others.
I have a few favorite commenters, in fact I have too many to mention, I would leave somebody out. So, you'll just have to assume that you are my very favorite!

I actually would enjoy printing a “Guest Column” if anybody wants to say anything. As you know it doesn't have to be correct English. I wouldn't know if it wasn't anyway. I've found it's best to write like you talk. Don't worry about the was'es were'ses, or the who and the whoms. They don't make any difference anyway. If people know what you should have said, then they know what you meant, and that is all that's important.