Sometimes (I guess) you should be careful of what you wish for’right?
On our website this week, I lobbied for and got a new thingamabob gizmo added. (How’s that for computerese lingo?) When you go to our website (www.oxfordleader.com), on the left hand side of your computer screen, under the heading ‘Columns? you will see a ‘Blog Don Rush? listing.
It’s pretty cool seeing your name on a computer screen and knowing that any Tom, Dick, Harry, Frank, Joe or Freaky Susan can look you up for whatever creepy or nefarious reason they may harbor. I’m getting the willies just thinking about that?
That aside, I’m still not sure what a blog is, but it doesn’t matter — now folks can blog me. If I think really hard, it seems a blog is some sort of glorified ‘sound-off? section found in community newspapers across these fruited plains. A blog sounds like a place where folks can go to add their two cents to any discussion and do it with total anonymity.
Do you think I’ll get anything like: ‘Don, I just read your last piece of bleep. You suck??
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So, if I don’t really know what in the world blogs are or what masters they serve, why get one? Those are valid questions.
I can tell you this, I did it not because I am abreast of all modern technological and/or social trends. No, not me; it just seemed the thing to do at the time. Come on daddyo, all the cool cats are doing it, I want to, too.
Blog, blog, blog, blog.
I keep hearing from the ‘big? media types blogs are changing the face of news gathering today. That blog ‘reporters? are getting out stories which never would have left the fingertips of any self-reporting muckraker of yesteryear (well, of the last 30 years).
Hey, I want to be a cool muckraker, too.
So I got me one, Martha. Let the public blogging of Don Rush commence! Writing that, reading that, and now sounding that sentence out, I am not sure I am going to dig this blog scene, baby. Public blogging sounds too much like public flogging — which I am sure in today’s politically correct world is still illegal.
Hmm?
Regardless, I invite all to add their comments to the new ‘Blog Don Rush? blog. You can add your pithy and witty remarks about anything I run in my column or anything that was in the newspaper. Heck, you can blog me about something that wasn’t in the paper, but should be.
We can make our blog serve the Force — all things good. We can fight the Dark Side. We can have fun and once in a while, for you poor sods who ain’t yet as computer savvy as your hero (that would be me), I’ll report in print what was reported online.
I just have one request: Please be gentle with me. I’m very fragile.
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Now that I have started down this whole blogging path, curiosity has gotten the better of me. I ‘Googled? this question: What is a blog?
Here are some of the answers:
n A blog is information that is instantly published to a Web site. Blog scripting allows someone to automatically post information to a Web site. The information first goes to a blogger Web site. Then the information is automatically inserted into a template tailored for your Web site.
Interesting?
n A short form for weblog, a personal journal published on the Web. Blogs frequently include philosophical reflections, opinions on the Internet and social issues, and provide a ‘log? of the author’s favorite web links. Blogs are usually presented in journal style with a new entry each day.
Don’t count on it from me, folks, that’s your job.
n An online journal, published frequently (often daily). Readers can post comments on each journal entry. Some blogs gain a wide readership?
Maybe this one can, too.
Okay, okay — maybe the Blog Don thing isn’t exactly a blog. Maybe it is more of message board. But, let’s call it a blog, so I can be cool. I promise add journal entries if you promise to add comments.
How should we start? Comment on this: What needs to be done to fix public schools? Or, if you don’t like that, what is your favorite BBQ recipe?
You can comment any way you wish, by phone, by letter, by e-mail (dontrushmedon@charter.net) or (our new preferred) method by clicking on the Blog Don Rush listing.
Good luck!