Just the online edition.

And only because they use one of those script-generated "Headlines Around The Web" features.

But it's still funny, because next to a serious and fawning story about Oprah, is a link to my rude little post about a picture of her where it looks like she's getting felt up by Michelle Obama. Here's a screen capture (click to enlarge):

Screw you, New York Times. Serves you right for trusting the internet.

Posted by: Harvey at 10:21 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Bloggranddaughter Rave of Quid Nunc is contemplating:

A) A blog name change

B) Blogging her attempt at weight loss as a form of motivation

First, my standard disclaimer:

Rave - it's YOUR blog, and you can do whatever the hell you want to with it. Consider other people's opinions for what you think they're worth, but it's YOUR decision. Your blog is a reflection and extension of YOU, and its sole purpose is to bring you happiness. It is of use to you only so long as it fulfills this mission.

Now, my opinion, to be taken with a grain of salt.

A blog name is the name you give yourself, and so long as it reflects the essence of you, there's no reason to change it. I've only changed my blog name once - from Bad Money to Bad Example, and although the catalyst was changing my blogging software and site host, the fact is I was liberating myself, because Bad Money was a conceptually limiting title. It was perfect when I started, because my blog mostly revolved around graffiti currency. Over time, who I was expanded and evolved quite a bit, and a more broad-based, conceptually-encompassing title was appropriate.

In your case, you're considering changing your blog name from something broad to something narrow. In a sense, this might be good, because it reflects your desire to narrow your focus on a particular goal. However, I fear that over time you might find that this has a chilling effect on your desire to blog about anything EXCEPT weight loss, making your blog less useful to you in the long run.

My suggestion is not to change your blog name, but to change your tagline.

Or in your case, add one.

Because a blog name says who you are. A tagline says what you're trying to do. In my case "Bad Example: A celebration of things kids shouldn't try at home".

So consider changing your banner image to say "Quid Nunc: One Fat Chick on a Mission" or "Quid Nunc: Gee, I Hope I Don't Lose My Boobs Over This". If you want to really emphasize how important your weight loss project is, go ahead and make the tagline font larger than your blog name font. Then put all your weight-loss-related posts in a single category with a link to that category in your sidebar.

But a blog name change?... I don't think it's appropriate. You are so much more than just a weight loss program. You are a whole person. A wonderful, delightful person. Please don't change the person when all you're really doing is just changing the person's direction.

Having said that, however, I say again: it's your blog - do what you want. If you think a name change is the way to go, I will support you completely and cheerfully update your link.

Posted by: Harvey at 07:53 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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When even a jaded misanthrope like me feels a little closer to his fellow man

Checked my referrer logs for the first time in months, and found this link.

Which leads to a Bad Example post, with all the words crudely translated into Dutch by Google, but all the colors & fonts & pictures intact.

Huh.

Small world.

Hope he found what he was looking for.

It just always blows my mind a little when something I post directly affects the life of someone who doesn't speak the same language as me. Living in small-town Wisconsin, that's not something that happens very... ever.

Posted by: Harvey at 03:55 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Ogre of Ogre's Politics & Views - one of the strongest, most consistent freedom-fighters I know - is throwing in the towel:

IÂ’m not going to vanish off the face of the earth, but IÂ’m not going to be here. There is no point in it. IÂ’m done fighting. IÂ’m going to spend the rest of my days, as long as I can, just being free.

To which I say, with sadness:

Everyone's got their breaking point.

But as I recall from "When Hell Was In Session", if a POW broke, his comrades would encourage him not to STAY broken. They told him to put himself back together and keep resisting.

If you decide eventually that you can un-break - and I sincerely hope you do - I'll gladly welcome you back to the fight.

Meanwhile, if nothing else, please leave the blog. Someone who's stuggling might stumble over there and find just the words of inspiration he needs to keep going. You always had a way with words, forming them regularly into powerful, succinct arguments for what is good and right.

Sure, the idiots won't listen to you, but you've never been talking to the idiots, and idiots won't be the ones responsible for turning the tide.

And although you haven't won the war, you've inspired those who fight the battles with the ideas they need to keep them alive in the trenches.

God bless you, Ogre, and good luck.

Posted by: Harvey at 03:00 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Very much like being an artist.

And what's it like to get an Instalanche?

Also very much like being an artist.

Posted by: Harvey at 01:50 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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ColorJack: find the color you like and get the HTML code for it instantly.

[Note: works like crap with IE. Use Firefox]

[Hat tip: Twenty-Sided]

Posted by: Harvey at 04:13 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Scott of Dangerously Irrelevant has come up with an idea for publicly recognizing excellent commenters - awarding them the Fantastic Commenter badge:

Of course, you can always just do what *I* do and make blogkids out of them, but that's a personal decision you'll have to make for yourself.

Posted by: Harvey at 06:44 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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FIAR of Radioactive Liberty made me giggle with his post "12 Simple Rules Guaranteed to Improve Your Blogging", wherein he briefly yet passionately argues on both sides of six issues about which people commonly dispense blogging advice. It's only about a 2 minute read, so go read it now, because I'm about to spoil the effect by offering a serious weighing-in on the topics.

[2 minute pause]

1) Do/Don't proofread meticulously - if you're a strictly "for fun" blogger, just run it through a spell-checker once & toss it up there. Your family & friends won't care, and they probably won't even notice as long as the first and last letters are right. If you need a spell-checker, here's a nice little standalone program (very short download - 555k).

If you're a "practicing writer blogger" or just obsessive-compulsive, then go through your posts with a fine tooth comb. Personally, I find it helpful to read through them in a couple of different fonts. Another trick is to read it backwords - that way you're looking at the words instead of reading phrases. More proofreading tricks here.

2) Do/Don't have open comments - I vote open, of course. You can't feel the love without comments. The only good reason to not have comments is if you're getting hundreds of them on every post, and a good chunk of them are abusive. So basically everyone except Michelle Malkin should have comments enabled. And even Michelle is bringing them back, so what does THAT tell you?

3) Do/Don't respond to comments - In a perfect world, everyone would be like Ogre of Ogre's Politics & Views. He consistently responds to every comment he gets, and does so in the comments section of his posts. Very encouraging to his readers.

Other bloggers (like SarahK of Mountaineer Musings) regularly respond to comments via e-mail. Some people do varying degrees of either or both. Personally, I believe that acknowledging your commenters is a GOOD thing, and you should do it whenever possible, time permitting.

4) Do/Don't have a life - Do. Unless you have a contractual obligation to provide a certain number of posts by a particular deadline, and failure to do so will cost you money, don't hesitate to turn off the computer and even completely forego posting for days on end. Your readers will survive, and the people who actually LIVE with you will appreciate the attention. Besides, if you have open comments, your readers may even keep your blog entertaining for you.

NOTE: The fact that I personally haven't had a postless day in months does NOT invalidate the preceding advice. It just means I'm an addict who is currently dodging his 12-step meetings.

5) Do/Don't talk about yourself - Who cares? Just POST, dammit!

Truth is, it doesn't matter WHAT you write about. The people who enjoy reading THAT topic, in YOUR style WILL find you. The rest... don't really matter.

Small caveat - if you're a "topical" rather than a "personal" blogger, it's still a good idea to have an "about me" category to store posts of a personal nature so that newcomers can get a feel for your experiences & motivations. Having some background on a writer adds depth and richness to your readers' experience of your topical posts. If nothing else, at least have one post of basic biographical information that's linked in your sidebar.

6) Do/Don't use profanity - As a general rule, I say no. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my 4-letter Anglo-Saxonisms as much as the next former Sailor, and I have great admiration for those who raise swearing to an art form. However, I find that avoiding curse words has two advantages:

First, it forces you to come up with clever metaphors to replace the obscenities, which makes you a better writer.

Second, you get more site traffic, because more people feel comfortable surfing to your site while they're at work.

Still, there are situations that DO call for judicious f-bombing, and I make no apologies for that, since I know my readers are adult enough to deal with it, and they understand.

Besides, it's not the swearing that keeps decent people away from my site, it's the smutty innuendo & dirty pictures.

No, wait... that's what keeps them coming back.

Nevermind.

Anyway, the important thing is consistency. If you're gonna swear, then swear. If you're not, then don't. But don't suddenly start posting Eddie Murphy routines on your Christian Mommy blog. It's a gross discourtesy to those readers you've lulled into believing that they can safely surf your site with their pre-teen kids watching over their shoulders.

In conclusion, I want to leave you with this:

It's your blog, so it's your rules. Do what you want, when you want, and have as much fun as possible while you do it. Don't let anyone tell you how you "should" blog.

Except me ;-)

Posted by: Harvey at 08:14 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Shamus of Twenty Sided, and Steven of Chizumatic are both discussing how miserably annoying it is to get nitpicky comments about a post. The kind of off-topic one-upsmanship remarks that have nothing to do with what a post is about, but rather make hay from an irrelevant point. As Robert of Creative Destruction describes it:

Example of useful nitpickery: if the actual author of the linked post was Frank Johnson [and not Shamus Young], correcting my error would be material; non-useful nitpickery would be pointing out that nitpickery isnÂ’t a word.

I've never been popular enough at Bad Example to get nitpickers in annoying quanitities.

However, I've gotten them on occasion at IMAO.

Mostly I just ignore it. I've got other things to do. And when that happens, I discover that other commenters tend to jump in and browbeat the nitpickers for me. I just sit back & watch the fun.

Nevertheless, I try not to take nitpickers personally. Part of the reason for nitpicking is that when you're reading a blog, there's an urge to make some sort of contact with the author. To let them know that you've read the post and are thinking about it. A nitpick is the quickest, easiest response outside of :-D or LOL!

Also, as a commenter - especially on a post that already has a lot of other comments - you want to say something that no one else already has. Nitpicks have this characteristic.

So what I'm saying is that - a lot of times - nitpickers are just trying to be friendly.

However, I'm NOT saying that Shamus & Steven are wrong for feeling annoyed. I mean, a big slobbery dog is also "just trying to be friendly" when he licks you, but that doesn't mean you have to pretend that you LIKE getting a faceful of warm dogspit just because he "means well". Bopping him with a rolled up newspaper (or deleting his comment, to apply the analogy) is a perfectly good response, too.

Then again, it's easy for me to be laid back about it. I mostly write goofy posts & try to make people laugh. You kind of expect a hefty dose of smart-assery in reply. If I were trying to write something thoughtful or serious every day, I'd probably get sick of people who leave 10 paragraph comments that miss the point, too.

Meanwhile, until that time comes, feel free to nitpick all you want on my posts. I won't delete you.

Although I *do* reserve the right to mock, demean, belittle, or impugn you, your ancestors, or your primary and/or secondary sexual characteristics at my discretion.

Posted by: Harvey at 08:49 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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Let's say you leave a particularly witty comment at some blog. The site owner has a clever response. Would you prefer to see that response put in the comments so that everyone can see how the site owner noticed how witty you are, or would you prefer that the response be e-mailed to you so that you can enjoy the personal attention?

If your answer is "it depends", please explain.

Posted by: Harvey at 07:19 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 Definitely in the comments section. It's nice to know that the site owner is actually reading the comments, good, bad and witty. Cindy

Posted by: Firstbrokenangel at April 17, 2007 07:46 AM (e2Zs6)

2 Both--let me 'splain. Email, so I know the site owner read it without having to wander back looking for that post; posted, so everyone can enjoy the owner's brilliance, and perhaps keep up the conversation... Personally, I usually do neither, because it's too much freakin' work...

Posted by: Susie at April 17, 2007 08:02 AM (5pgrb)

3 Hmmm...In the comments is fine with me (takes less time for the blogger than e-mail), but I'm okay with either. I was pleased to get the e-mail from you, Harv--it showed you took a personal interest.

Posted by: Tennessee Budd at April 17, 2007 10:55 AM (Kk1xh)

4 BAH! I'm interested in no one! Stop besmirching my reputation! :-P

Posted by: Harvey at April 17, 2007 11:24 AM (L7a63)

5 I would say both! :-)

Posted by: Richmond at April 17, 2007 01:35 PM (e8QFP)

6 Both, and that's what I do. I will send an e-mail and repost what I said in the comments. I know I don't always go back and re-read comments, so that way I know that the poster appreciated what I said when I get my e-mail.

Posted by: Contagion at April 17, 2007 04:41 PM (T4WRc)

7 I say POST IT man. Good god you have the power so use it!

Posted by: Bruce Wayne at April 17, 2007 09:43 PM (Muh/v)

8 I say comments. Heck, the original comment was for the blogger's post, so it's all theirs. I think that'll encourage "fair play" by way of comments on the other person's site.

Posted by: Hapkido at April 17, 2007 11:46 PM (+cC9w)

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Being linked by a blog that I have NO idea what language it's in.

Whatever it is, it's got more umlauts than a T-shirt stand at a Mötley Crüe/Blue Öyster Cult concert.

Can anyone help me figure out where Huolestunut is from?

UPDATE: Finland!

Posted by: Harvey at 09:47 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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When you write a post and Caturo of Gladius translates it into Portuguese.

Thank you, Caturo, I am both blushing and flattered.

Posted by: Harvey at 09:19 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 Christ, Harvey... you're starting to creep me out. I mean "more than usual" creep out.

Posted by: T1G at April 04, 2007 03:46 PM (vS0hj)

2 Harvey, does your seed know no boundaries sir? Ho! I'd welcome you to the family Bruceski, but I'm a lowly clan member. I had to jump through the hoops, write something complimentary about the bearded one and convince 3 people to lie for me since I was hatched... Dude..., he bought it... I was in.

Posted by: RedNeck at April 04, 2007 06:13 PM (IqSuW)

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NOTE: This post is purely self-congratualtory twaddle and is quite likely of interest to no one except the author. If you get bored, just click away. Don't feel obligated to comment just because you're here.

On the other hand, maybe you've been in a similar position. In which case, say whatever's on your mind.

When I first started blogging, I had a dream - more of a pre-conceived notion really - that one day hundreds of people would read my blog and go "OO! Look at this brilliantly-written post!".

As it turned out, those hundreds of people were actually dozens, they came one at a time, and none of them were actually all that blown away at what they read. But they at least found my writing amusing enough to want to come back for more. After a while, a lot of them didn't even come for the writing, they came because they liked me as a person. The writing was secondary.

I've been blogging for almost four years now, and at this point in my evolution, most of the folks who stop by do it because of who I am, and not what I write.

And it's good to be loved, and it's good to have a circle of friends who give a damn.

The downside to this, of course, is that when one of these friends links something I wrote, I have to wonder... how much of this is liking the writing, and how much is liking the writer? To which question there can never be an honest answer.

So it makes me question whether my writing is worth a crap on it's own, or if I'm strictly getting by on charm.

What I've always wanted was to write something that got picked up, passed around, "oo"-ed & "ah"-ed over, and generally admired WITHOUT my having to lift a finger to do any self-promotion.

That's never really happened. Sometimes I've written stuff that I thought was very good, but in order to get it noticed, I've had to e-mail links. Other times I've written something clever, then posted it at IMAO where it would get some attention (heck, even got a link from the Puppy Blender over there once), but then I have to wonder how much of that attention was due to the sweet cachet of the IMAO brand name, which owes it's value principally to Frank J.'s comedic talents.

Recently, however, something happened to validate me that can only be attributed to good writing, and it feels heavenly.

Last Saturday, I posted a entry at IMAO called "I Am Huff Po". When I'd first conceived of it a couple days prior, it occurred to me that - if I did it right - it might resonate with a lot of people and actually generate a lot of traffic. I waited all weekend for some reaction after posting it, but outside of a few (VERY few) comments, the piece seemed largely ignored.

*sigh*

So after 40 hours of gathering dust, I do what I do with a lot of my IMAO posts - I cross-posted it at Bad Example for the benefit of those readers (friends, actually) who can't stand the insanely-long load times at IMAO.

And that's when it happened.

Blake of Laughing Wolf - a friend and reader - posted a link to the version of "I Am Huff Po" that I'd posted at Bad Example. Not at his relatively low-traffic personal site, but at the highly-visible Blackfive.

Which was VERY cool, but I didn't take it to be necessarily a reflection on the quality of the piece, since I know Blake, and that could taint his objectivity.

And that's when it REALLY happened.

Michelle Malkin linked to Bad Example. Not only linked, but linked as an update at the TOP of the post (she usually updates at the bottom).

Little Green Footballs linked to Bad Example. Not only linked, but with the enthusiastic phrase "dead-on parody alert". I also noticed that it got 156 Diggs. Now, I'm not exactly sure what a Digg is, except that it can be used as a relative measure of the post's popularity. Considering that most LGF posts get under 100 of them, I take this as favorable feedback.

JihadWatch linked to Bad Example with the giddily ego-boosting description "a terrific parody of/addendum to Michelle Malkin's magnificent "I am John Doe" piece, skewering the Huffington Post's willfully clueless Leftist jihad enablers."

It popped up on the GWRRA message board.

Bookworm Room said "hilariously funny [...] Read it and laugh."

Someone even put it on an Investor Village message board.

It's probably in some other places, too, but Sitemeter only gives me the last 100 refers, so that's all I know about.

The point is this. None of these people know me or like me or owe me anything or mistakenly think they're linking to something Frank J wrote. This praise isn't for me as a person, or for me as a member of IMAO, it's strictly for what I wrote.

I can't begin to express how good - how reassuring - this feels.

The funny thing is that people who read the posts that linked me are all going to wonder the same thing - "Who is this 'Bad Harvey' fella? I've never heard of him. Must be some overnight sensation."

Overnight... yeah...

2000+ posts at Bad Money

1000+ posts at Alliance HQ

5000- posts at Bad Example

100+ Precision Guided Humor posts spent honing my politically-oriented comedic ear

4- years of averaging 5+ posts a day.

Overnight...

Anyway, yeah... it feels good.

Now if the Puppy Blender will just put down his hobo-filleting knife long enough to toss a link my way, I could die happy.

UPDATE: Hot Air says "well played".

Redstate says "Read on via the link. It's worth it!" and describes it as a "riposte".

Blonde Sagacity says "Must Read!"

Posted by: Harvey at 09:16 AM | Comments (32) | Add Comment
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1 I still love you, even though you have hit the big time...

Posted by: Susie at April 03, 2007 09:32 AM (R7iws)

2 We knew it was only a matter of time ... remember your family now that your BIG! Congrats!!

Posted by: Quality Weenie at April 03, 2007 09:48 AM (BksWB)

3 Yes,....most definitly self-congratualtory twaddle. Honstly I've always thought you had away with the words and found your postings amusing,Interesting and yes sometimes even Informative....and I"m not saying this cause your my brother...you better then that If I thought your Blog sucked I'd tell you.

Posted by: Blogless Brother at April 03, 2007 09:54 AM (JfpfL)

4 OOoooo and congratulations On your 15 minutes, may you use It more wisely then Kato Kalen did.

Posted by: Blogless Brother at April 03, 2007 09:57 AM (JfpfL)

5 funny, that's pretty much how I feel when you comment at my little place. And the elation I felt when you blogrolled me!

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at April 03, 2007 10:17 AM (+MvHD)

6 All I'm gonna say is it's about damned time. Congratulations Pops. Well earned indeed....

Posted by: Tammi at April 03, 2007 10:35 AM (Bitcf)

7 Gee, all this warm fuzzy love, and all I can think of is the Simpson's episode where Milhouse says "But my Mom says I'm cool..." http://www.snpp.com/episodes/1F16.html Seriously, though, thanks :-)

Posted by: Harvey at April 03, 2007 10:36 AM (L7a63)

8 Congrats, Harvey! You earned it. Now don't forget to come back & give us peasants a little good-natured repression now and again. We're happy for you, ya old reprobate squid!

Posted by: Tennessee Budd at April 03, 2007 11:08 AM (Kk1xh)

9 First I don't read you because I like you. Second I don't read you because I know you. We met after I started reading you. I read you because you post some damn good material and I for one am glad you cross post here what you do over at IMAO... since I never, ever go there. I for one am glad you've finally gotten the recognition you so richly deserve. Now just don't go getting a big head like Grau did.

Posted by: Contagion at April 03, 2007 12:36 PM (Q5WxB)

10 I'd say you earned it... but I know you, so I guess that doesn't count. *grin*

Posted by: Teresa at April 03, 2007 12:36 PM (gsbs5)

11 Contagion - I thought Grau was BORN with that basketball head :-) Anyway, it can't be ALL about the quality posting. I had some pretty lean/lame months in the second half of '06.

Posted by: Harvey at April 03, 2007 01:27 PM (L7a63)

12 Darn brilliant post, Harvey! Seriously, you got me into blogging & for all the help you've been that post captures perfectly how I wish I could communicate my thoughts. Congratulations & I hope you continue to enjoy your success. Hapkido

Posted by: Hapkido at April 03, 2007 02:08 PM (+cC9w)

13 ... rock on, Harvey... remember us little folks now that you're famous, brah.....

Posted by: Eric at April 03, 2007 04:21 PM (NlzwQ)

14 Congrats. The kudos were well deserved.

Posted by: Jim - PRS at April 03, 2007 04:59 PM (a6/Kb)

15 Bad Example: Come for the Humor, Stay for the Love Notes!

Posted by: Temujin at April 03, 2007 06:48 PM (PgJpJ)

16 Well... I don't know you, but have kept coming back to read you. I tend to read what strikes a chord, and well, I actually like what you write. And another thing... Many of your blogfamily (blog spawn?) write well too. I have to think there is a common thread. And enjoy your newfound notoriety. Oh... Loved the I am Huff Po piece!

Posted by: jck at April 03, 2007 07:09 PM (DXAp+)

17 Congrats. Now shut up, please.

Posted by: That 1 Guy at April 03, 2007 07:21 PM (srJLt)

18 You are fjired... fjuckhead!

Posted by: ButtSnifferBillie at April 03, 2007 07:34 PM (W7KPb)

19 SWEET.... Congratulations asshole!!1!

Posted by: Madfish Willie at April 03, 2007 07:36 PM (W7KPb)

20 Oh, Harv...we always knew you were great...but the recognition by the world-at-large is well-deserved!!!

Posted by: Mrs. Who at April 03, 2007 07:40 PM (9FXen)

21 Congrats Harvey could not happen to a nicer guy and I mean that. I can remember when my blog was about 3 weeks old and I got a link from Owen at B&S and I realized my sitemeter actually worked. You were the first guy to offer me a comment saying Congrats. Finally I get a chance to say thank you

Posted by: Chris SH2 at April 03, 2007 08:55 PM (4TPRk)

22 Congrats on your 15 minutes... always intoxicating!

Posted by: Incognito at April 03, 2007 10:37 PM (0ydbg)

23 Way to go, Harv!

Posted by: Joey at April 04, 2007 12:52 AM (gS95o)

24 Kaching!!! Congrats my man!

Posted by: Graumagus at April 04, 2007 03:20 AM (pjAgG)

25 AAHHhhh!! Spam DORK alert...DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER.

Posted by: Blogless Brother at April 04, 2007 05:10 AM (oPbVt)

26 Congrats. Wow that is wonderful. Please remember us little people. GRIN

Posted by: vw bug at April 04, 2007 06:36 AM (kwlb/)

27 Blogless Brother - Spam DORK eradicated. Oh my how I HATE it when they spam on recent posts. At least it was only fake watches. The worst stuff is barnyard granny pr0n on my Love Notes.

Posted by: Harvey at April 04, 2007 08:27 AM (L7a63)

28 Speaking for myself I knew your writing wayyyy before I ever knew you. Having met you now just makes the writing more entertaining. Congratulations either way amigo! You earned it!

Posted by: BloodSpite at April 04, 2007 08:58 AM (ZTGJT)

29 Kudos well deserved, Harvey! And it *is* about time! Brilliant piece of work. :-)

Posted by: Richmond at April 04, 2007 12:32 PM (e8QFP)

30 ... Great. Now we get to deal with the "I'm famous, and you're not, little person" crap from Harvey. What's the point of getting that much exposure if you're not going to milk it? Good job, Harv. Keep being yourself, and you'll prolly get more.

Posted by: The Humble Devildog at April 04, 2007 09:24 PM (Njev1)

31 Why do I have to be myself? Can't I be someone cool, instead? :-)

Posted by: Harvey at April 04, 2007 10:43 PM (L7a63)

32 Long over-due and well-deserved, Harvey. Congrats!!

Posted by: jimmyb at April 06, 2007 10:06 AM (v+UBf)

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Most blogs have a calendar on the sidebar.

Does anyone actually use that thing?

Posted by: Harvey at 08:27 AM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
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1 I do. Since I don't have a home office and I'm such a dizt that half the time I don't know what day it is, yes...I use my blog calendar.....

Posted by: Tammi at January 02, 2007 08:30 AM (pWX3U)

2 Occasionally, for vacations and what not to remind the rest of the Triumvirate that they are on their own for posting that week

Posted by: BloodSpite at January 02, 2007 08:33 AM (ZTGJT)

3 Yes, I have used it to check back on previous posts. I'll remember the day or close to it and it was easier to use the calendar to find it. But that is about all.

Posted by: vw bug at January 02, 2007 09:22 AM (5wNak)

4 Calendar? What calendar?

Posted by: Rave at January 02, 2007 09:50 AM (Fir0Z)

5 I was asking because I never use the darn thing on mine or anyone else's blog. I either use the search feature or click on the monthly archive link then CTRL+F for a key word.

Posted by: Harvey at January 02, 2007 10:36 AM (L7a63)

6 I've used it to check a current date, but that's only because the thought was in my head while I was on that page. I can move my mouse to the top right of my screen and get the same thing. I tried having one in my sidebar and thought it just cluttered up the landscape. Besides, no one reads me but mothers and a few people who've actually met me

Posted by: RSM at January 02, 2007 10:59 AM (IyNwh)

7 I use it to remind myself how little I actually post.

Posted by: Phelps at January 02, 2007 02:32 PM (Z1mgQ)

8 I use it.

Posted by: pam at January 02, 2007 03:12 PM (l6NIn)

9 Ditto Phelps...

Posted by: Bitterroot at January 02, 2007 03:30 PM (GValb)

10 I use mine on a regular basis.

Posted by: Contagion at January 02, 2007 04:44 PM (MsT2U)

11 I can't remember which date I've posted things anyway. I need to use the post titles for myself. I haven't found any need to use them on anyone else's blog... yet.

Posted by: Roses at January 02, 2007 08:26 PM (CEaKu)

12 I have used it on occasion. It's just another data tool.

Posted by: Bou at January 02, 2007 10:38 PM (PQFHD)

13 I use mine because when you hover over a date, it shows all the titles of that day's posts. So if I'm looking for a post and remember approximately when I wrote it, it's a handy way to find the post I want. Also, to make sure I don't miss a day blogging. I don't use it on other people's sites, though.

Posted by: w at January 03, 2007 08:36 AM (MwQOF)

14 Oh, and I'm "w" apparently.

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at January 03, 2007 08:37 AM (MwQOF)

15 What calendar? Still recouping from Hawaii.

Posted by: Tink at January 03, 2007 10:12 AM (vfIfd)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Jim of bRight and Early is the operator of the Blogiversary Database. Essentially he's keeping track of which blogs started when.

I think it's a cool idea, and I've had his little javascript thingy in my left sidebar (just below the quotes section) for some time.

The trouble is, unless you opt in by signing up, your blog won't be listed, and no one will know it's your blogiversary without you dropping some hints (like posting "it's my blogiversary tomorrow!", which makes you look like a gift-grubbing, attention-seeking little gold-digger... not that there's anything wrong with that).

To encourage participation (and hopefully hit his goal of 200 participants by year's end), he's holding a little contest which will include drawings for prizes from the pool of entrants.

Three ways to enter:

Enter your info into the Blogiversary Database: Win a free one week blogad.

Display the Blogiversary Database code on your blog: Win a free two week blogad.

Write a post pimping the Blogiversary Database: Win a free one month blogad.

Obviously, I decided to enter all three.

Anyway, all the pertinent details can be found here.

I strongly encourage Bad Example Family and Clan members to sign up, since I tend to only make it through my blogroll once a week, and this will help me to congratulate you in a timely manner on your big day.

Posted by: Harvey at 04:56 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Bloggranddaughter Rave of Quid Nunc is pondering blog lurkers.

You know... those people who read your blog that you didn't KNOW read your blog?

She's seeking definitions, and I'm not really sure what to tell her. But I'll take a stab at it.

I'd define "lurking" as reading someone's blog without leaving a comment.

I'd define a "lurker" as someone who habitually reads your blog without leaving a comment.

For example, I'm inclined to leave comments whenever I visit a blog, but once in a while, I simply have nothing to say regarding any entries posted since my last visit. So then I'm "lurking".

But since I leave enough comments that the blog's author knows that I visit regularly, I'm not a "lurker", except in a narrow, time-period delineated sense of the word.

Then there's the WHY of lurking.

Various reasons:

Technical difficulties, laziness, or being short on time. Sure, you WANT to say something, but some blogs have VERY annoying spam-prevention hoops to jump through, like registration or "type in the unreadable letters". Sometimes even having to type in your name is too big of a burden when all you wanted to leave was a simple "LOL".

The aforementioned lack of inspiration. Some folks - especially non-blogging lurkers - have an incredibly high inspiration threshhold. You'd have to mention something QUITE near and dear to their hearts to get them to comment.

Shyness. I had this bad before I started blogging. I *had* responses to posts, but I felt like it'd be impertinent, intrusive, or even downright RUDE to type my thoughts onto someone else's web page. Like painting a moustache on the Mona Lisa. It took me a while to understand that ANY comment is welcome by ANY blogger.

Being an outsider. Somewhat similar, but not exactly. In this case it's not through fear of the host, but fear of the other commenters. A lot of popular blogs (and even the smaller ones) have a group of regular commenters, who obviously have a warm relationship with the blogger and each other, and leave comments full of personal references and inside jokes, often not even related to the actual topic of the post. Leaving a comment in such a situation feels like crashing a stranger's family reunion.

Distracted Thread Syndrome. So maybe the post inspired a comment, and you're not shy and you're not worried about what other people think. But then you read the comments, and 90% of them are discussing an off-topic remark left by the first commenter. It's like the subject has entirely changed. Leaving an on-topic, post-related remark at this point just seems awkward. Time to sneak away quietly.

Cold-Shouldered. You're inspired, brave, know all the in-jokes and you're the first commenter. And the last. And it happens again and again. Every time you drop something in the comments, you're roundly ignored. No acknowledgement whatsoever. You feel shut out. But the blogger still writes amazing stuff, so you keep going back. Except now you're just a lurker. And you always will be.

With those items in mind, I have advice.

For lurkers: Anyone who has comments enabled WANTS comments, regardless of quality. Nobody expects you to leave some sort of Shakespearian sonnet (although that would be TOTALLY cool!), bloggers are just looking for a little attention for their writing. Believe me, some days all it takes is one little :-) to make a blogger's day.

A good place to start is any post with zero comments. Bloggers HATE those. If you can acknowledge that post's existence I guarantee* you will earn enough good karma to get out of a speeding ticket the next time you get pulled over.

*(not a guarantee)

For bloggers: When someone new leaves a comment for the first time, try to acknowledge it in some way. Leave a follow-up comment, or reply directly if the comment is e-mailed to you, or just click on the URL to vist the commenter's page - maybe you'll find something there to leave a comment on and make THAT blogger's day. At the very least, you'll show up in their referer logs.

Personally, I don't always have time to do that, since I'm frequently distracted by shiny objects, but I'd like to state for the record that I read EVERY comment I get. So DO know that I appreciate every one of them, even when I don't say so at the time.

Now having said that I feel that I have to mention the one good reason to stay a lurker and never leave a comment:

Fear of being made into my next blogchild. A real and terrible danger. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I'm sure my blogkids can back me up on that one.

Or they would, if they weren't afraid to comment.

Posted by: Harvey at 08:25 AM | Comments (39) | Add Comment
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1 OK, OK, no more lurking...I've been reading for months, nay, more than a year. You caught me with the "being an outsider", "lack of inspiration", and "laziness". I'm turning over a new leaf.

Posted by: x lurker at December 06, 2006 08:50 AM (L+AiS)

2 *waves with great enthusiasm* HI X-LURKER!!! :-)

Posted by: Harvey at December 06, 2006 09:23 AM (L7a63)

3 You do realize "x lurker" that Harvey will now hound you mercilessly to start your own blog. He plans on having the largest blog family in the world. *grin*

Posted by: Teresa at December 06, 2006 11:59 AM (5UR9t)

4 I'll lurk where ever the hell I want to lurk. I'm terribly lacking in commentors, which makes it difficult for me to find the courage to be a commentor myself. And, why comment elsewhere when I can just blog it myself?

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at December 06, 2006 12:34 PM (MwQOF)

5 I must confess, I lurk some blogs occasionally. I read everything, but don't necessarily find the words to warrant a comment all the time. Sometimes- when I do leave a comment- it does feel like your ass is hanging in the wind. I'm with granpappy on this one- I'm not 'really' a lurker, except in the narrow, time-period delineated sense of the word.

Posted by: Rave at December 06, 2006 12:57 PM (Fir0Z)

6 I guess I should comment after reading a post on lurking. I have another reason as to why I don't comment very often. I type VERY VERY SLOWLY (1 incoorect wpm). most of the blogs I read have great posts that I would like to comment on but don't have the hours I require to type a comment.

Posted by: sherlock at December 06, 2006 01:44 PM (THj5I)

7 Caught me lurking. Now I'm obligated to say Hi. Actually it took me months to get the courage to leave a comment anywhere, and I still feel the grievous pain of cold shoulder all too often. Guess I'm not as clever as I think I am.

Posted by: PaleoMedic at December 06, 2006 04:19 PM (PQx1b)

8 GREAT post...I think I'm going to have to borrow it and give some gentle reminders to those that stop in and don't say anything at my house either...

Posted by: kate at December 06, 2006 04:39 PM (cG4Xd)

9 Excellent post, Harvey. Being an avid blog reader (before I was ever a blogger) I can totally relate to most of your "lurker reasons." I never want to be rude (unless intentionally), intrude or interrupt. But as a blogger I love comments... And Sherlock? You can sit by me typing wise. I am a *terrible* typist. Go for it anyway...

Posted by: Richmond at December 06, 2006 06:10 PM (e8QFP)

10 Oh and hey, you should include this post in your "how to blog" series. Just sayin'...

Posted by: Richmond at December 06, 2006 06:14 PM (e8QFP)

11 LOL

Posted by: Tiffany at December 06, 2006 06:33 PM (BO1P2)

12 I'm just lazy... I try to keep up with anywhere from 10 to 20 blogs a day, but I only comment MAYBE about 5% of the time. Is this my comment of the day? Hmmm....

Posted by: pam at December 07, 2006 08:21 AM (l6NIn)

13 Yeah, don't worry Teresa. After Harvey reads a few of my comments he'll see just how unimaginative I am. That's probably why I love reading so much...I get to live vicariously through other people's imaginations.

Posted by: x lurker at December 07, 2006 08:24 AM (L+AiS)

14 *hands congratulatory adult beverages to Sherlock, Paleomedic, Kate, and x-lurker in honor of their bravery* Kate - you can re-post the whole thing if you want, or any salient parts. Just make sure the linke works :-)

Posted by: Harvey at December 07, 2006 09:27 AM (L7a63)

15 You should be thankful that I lurk. People could actually lose I.Q. points by reading any comment that I post...I AM NOT KIDDING! stop reading now! Oh great, there goes 5 points. Happy???

Posted by: Peety at December 07, 2006 10:50 AM (dN9TR)

16 Horse!

Posted by: Tammi at December 07, 2006 10:56 AM (Bitcf)

17 ...and a very swift one, I might add. As swift as the best thoroughbreds at the track. Certainly not like the type I bet on, as they are anything but "swift". It seems like they know that I placed a bet on them.

Posted by: Peety at December 07, 2006 11:18 AM (dN9TR)

18 "If you can acknowledge that post's existence I guarantee* you will earn enough good karma to get out of a speeding ticket the next time you get pulled over. *(not a guarantee)" I'll guarantee it. If I pull you over and you mention this blog, I'll let you off with a warning.* *I am not a police officer.

Posted by: Kevin Porter at December 07, 2006 11:55 AM (jqVOv)

19 Well thought and well said. I agree, and I think that shyness and lack of one's confidence in his or her writing ability tops the list.

Posted by: Jim - PRS at December 07, 2006 03:18 PM (a6/Kb)

20 I get the stalker kind of lurkers, or I used to at least- a couple of stupid ex-boyfriends who had nothing better to do than to dig around the Internet and find my new haunt when I abandoned my old blog. Either they got smarter about how they lurk- or they finally got lives. Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not after me, you know.

Posted by: Pandy at December 07, 2006 04:55 PM (k7t5s)

21 ... lurking....

Posted by: Eric at December 07, 2006 06:00 PM (NlzwQ)

22 Fuckin putz...

Posted by: Inigo Montoya at December 07, 2006 06:53 PM (ewDFv)

23 "Shpxurnq!!1!" (to all you lurkers out there... THAT was an inside joke)

Posted by: Inigo Montoya at December 07, 2006 06:54 PM (ewDFv)

24 D'oh! Forgot to change my nom de plume... and fuck you if I spelled that incorrectly.

Posted by: Madfish Willie at December 07, 2006 06:55 PM (ewDFv)

25 Found your blog from: http://kateskafe.blogspot.com/ Sometimes I'm cruel and will "out" a habitual lurker in one of my posts. For example if I see someone visiting fron an IP at UC Berkley over and over. I'll make a post about Berkley and thank all the visitors from there. This will either scare em off or induce them to post something. Mean huh?

Posted by: Hammer at December 07, 2006 08:43 PM (MSVH4)

26 I am President of Lurkers Anonymous... CRAP!!! I broke rule number one.

Posted by: Dazd at December 08, 2006 12:20 PM (Qq7C7)

27 Hell Harvey, you're 'bout the only one who leaves comments for me anymore. (Thanks for that, btw!) :^) And as for Cold-Shoulder... well, chances are this'll be the last comment... Not bitchin', just sayin'. ;^)

Posted by: Wes at December 08, 2006 02:30 PM (+waxI)

28 I'm a notorious lurker. I rarely comment unless I really have something I want to say.

Posted by: Contagion at December 08, 2006 05:44 PM (MsT2U)

29 I'm not a lurker here-I've never been here that I know of. I'm here because Dazd has a link to this post. But I want to say this post is right on! I might start lucking here.

Posted by: Janet at December 08, 2006 09:15 PM (YyZCl)

30 Lurking, not lucking. Geez.

Posted by: Janet at December 08, 2006 09:16 PM (YyZCl)

31 Wes - apparently you're a dismal failure at killing comment threads :-) Janet - glad to have you by, typos & all :-)

Posted by: Harvey at December 08, 2006 10:33 PM (L7a63)

32 way to make a first impression, Janet-I strive not to leave typos behind!

Posted by: Janet at December 09, 2006 10:00 PM (YyZCl)

33 Yeah, but now you'll have a great story. "So I went to this guy's blog, and I'm trying to be all classy and stuff, and then I left a freaking TYPO!" You'll get a lot of mileage out of that one :-)

Posted by: Harvey at December 09, 2006 10:28 PM (L7a63)

34 I lurk, therefore I am. And I catch-up when I can - usually my "timeliness" leaves a little to be desired. By the time I get around to reading/posting, even I have forgotten why I'm there. Fear of being made into my next blogchild. A real and terrible danger. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Bah. I'm the same bastard I've been all along - doesn't faze me. (Still, I anticipate a paternity test will be ordered.) Of course I can't very well be "=HC=" (a.k.a., "HubbyCubby") on my own blog - I'll have to undergo a name-change... No, what really worries me is the fact that I threw-down the gauntlet on effing memes at the HoZ.* Well, that and how you'll explain my presence at the next family reunion... Nope. I won't be "outed" until I'm ready... (i.e., when I figger-oot template modifications without xhtml errors in WP - damn Firefox, but I hate IE7 even more!) =HC= *NEVER say "Never" - Damn! ;o)

Posted by: =HC= at December 10, 2006 03:07 AM (ororX)

35 How 'bout now? ;-)

Posted by: Wes at December 10, 2006 01:21 PM (+waxI)

36 Apparently, I can only kill a thread when I'm not trying. *stomping over and over again* ;-)

Posted by: at December 10, 2006 01:23 PM (+waxI)

37 I don't think I have ever been here before either but I am here via Dazd's blog. I can totally relate to all the different reasons for lurking. I have experienced all of them. Wow you sure do have a lot of blog children!

Posted by: Cindi at December 11, 2006 02:42 AM (gqZ7h)

38 Cindi - I'm still waiting for the FDA to approve a reliable blogcontraceptive :-)

Posted by: Harvey at December 11, 2006 02:32 PM (L7a63)

39 Just Lurking

Posted by: FIAR at December 12, 2006 12:16 AM (R0pVX)

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You may have heard the term "A-list blogger" before. It's the tag granted to that uber-cool clique of "been-there-done-that-buy-my-T-shirt" bloggers whose names are ubiquitous and who sit around talking with their uppity friends about how wonderful they all are.

Not that I'm jealous or anything.

But if you've ever wanted to find out just how inadequately you stack up against the rest of the blogosphere, well, now you can:

The Blogebrity Widget (aka the Total Perspective Vortex)

Just plug in your URL and find out how devastatingly unimportant you truly are.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta go out and kill a grizzly with my bare hands to try to reclaim my manhood.

Posted by: Harvey at 10:30 AM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
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Got nothing to post?

Going out of town, but can't find a guest blogger?

Wish you had something new on your blog every day, but don't want the hassle of daily posting?

No problem.

Word of the Day
Article of the Day
This day in history
Today's birthday
In the News
Quotation of the Day
Match Up
Hangman

All available - just need to slap the code in your template, and you'll give people something to do while they're waiting for you to post.

Or you can just ignore your readers and hope they'll go away, like I do.

[Hat tip to blogdaughter Michele of Letters From New York City for sending me the link]

Posted by: Harvey at 09:19 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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Blogdaughter Tammi of Tammi's World ponders a bit on how blogging changes for you after you've met some of your readers:

I find myself holding back on what I write. I don't speak my mind as easily. [...] I don't always hit publish. I worry about what "people think". Some how, some where it became more about other people. Worryin' about how they saw me, how my feelings were being viewed. I actually worried about what people were saying about me.

I know the feeling. When I first started blogging, my posts were sort of an open letter, but I did have an "ideal reader" in mind. Someone who would just accept my words and not use them against me personally. A good, non-judgmental friend.

As I've met some bloggers in real life, the target of my "open letter" has become more concrete and less ideal. I know who's reading this, and I know that some things I write may touch sore spots.

It sometimes makes things a bit uncomfortable. And maybe I avoid harsh treatment of certain topics out of courtesy.

But I will say this: there have been times when I've thought "Should I post this? Is this too much?", yet every time I've hit "publish" on one of those, the reaction has been one of understanding - of "I've been there too".

It's scary while you're waiting for the comments to arrive, not knowing if someone will take you to task over what you've written, but you grow from pushing through that fear.

And you find out you're not alone.

My short advice on the topic is this. Write what you want. Then go ahead and imagine the possible objections you think certain readers might have to it. If you're willing to face those objections and you're willing to explain and/or justify what you said, go ahead & publish, then wait for the outraged responses.

You probably won't get them.

If you do, well, you're already prepared.

And if you explain your position calmly and rationally, you might even win some people over. It's happened to me before.

However, if things go horribly wrong and there's bickering and trolling, all is not lost. You still have friends to watch your back. As AlliCadem of Can I Have Some Whine With That Cheese? said in Tammi's comments "when you get an intruder, your blog family comes to the rescue".

Thank God for blog family...

Posted by: Harvey at 08:54 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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1 I've been reading your stuff for a long time... and I can't think of anything you've written that I've ever had any issue with on reading. For that matter I can't think of anything you've written that would insult anyone (other than Michael Moore - and we're all good with that *grin*). Does this mean you're holding back? ;-)

Posted by: Teresa at September 26, 2006 09:21 PM (o4pJS)

2 :-) Thanks faddah!

Posted by: Tammi at September 27, 2006 04:52 AM (3UQTn)

3 Teresa - Looks like I'll have to try harder to offend you. Maybe I should rant about how unimportant computer security is :-D

Posted by: Harvey at September 27, 2006 05:06 AM (L7a63)

4 The day I start not speaking my mind is the day I delete my blog. No matter what I say, people seem to think I'm not as big of an asshole as I do, so it's been working out OK for me so far

Posted by: Graumagus at September 27, 2006 06:25 AM (50gt2)

5 This concept is rather foreign to me. Then again, I hate people, so I'm not sure what this whole "care what other people think" thing is...

Posted by: Ogre at September 27, 2006 09:37 AM (oifEm)

6 Y'all are nuts. I write exactly what I feel and think. I long ago stopped worrying about offending people. But maybe that's just me.

Posted by: og at September 27, 2006 10:38 AM (N99bh)

7 Thanks for the linkie, Mr. Harvey. I'll be polite seeing that we're just *meeting*~

Posted by: allicadem at September 27, 2006 05:45 PM (SmA1V)

8 People read this tripe? Huh, who knew!

Posted by: Jake Jacobsen at September 27, 2006 09:37 PM (0XPi8)

9 I think it's scarier not to get any comments when you post something you "question". Leaves your mind to wander...

Posted by: Sissy at September 28, 2006 08:48 AM (afJvI)

10 Sissy - I know what you mean... I just picture people going "I'm keeping my mouth shut on this one" :-)

Posted by: Harvey at September 28, 2006 09:26 AM (L7a63)

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As soon as you post that blogging will be light, you will immediately post more entries than have in the last month :-/

Posted by: Harvey at 08:56 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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