I'm blogging. Alloo. Someone just posted a spam comment on the post before this one, so I had to remember how to log in and delete it. I like my new blog, but I kinda miss this one, where I could write about anything. (The new one is worky.)
Yeah, that's all I've got right now, I think.
Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
work blog, launched
Hey! In case I didn't catch you, dear reader, on my mass e-mail, my work blog has now launched. The URL is heymyfirstname.com, except instead of "myfirstname" it says my first name. If you do not know my first name...ok, I'm fairly certain I don't have any readers who don't know my first name. But if you are the one and only, leave a comment with your e-mail (you can delete it after you post it, I'll still see the comment) and I'll send it to you.
Monday, February 02, 2009
blog blog blog blog
Oh god, it's happened - I've become one of the intermittent bloggers. Sorry, all 10 or so readers. In exciting blog-related news, however, Tall L came up with a domain name for me on Friday (myfullname.com points to an adult personals site - sigh) and yesterday Miss S started sketching design ideas for my website. There will be an awesome new slightly-more-work-related blog there that I hope you'll come read.
Monday, January 05, 2009
oysters and stuff
This morning I asked my Facebook friends what blogs they read, and I'm getting all sorts of stuff to check out.
Here's one I like: The Oyster's Garter is written (so the blog tells me) by a marine biologist and a journalist. It's got reasonably shortish entries, and they're funny. (Two things I greatly value.) It's about...well, science. Ok, there's an emphasis on marine science, but that's still broad - lots marine invertebrates but also some physical oceanography. I love marine invertebrates. There's some musing about science journalism and, yep, a bunch more marine invertebrates. Including fabric marine invertebrates.
The musing about science journalism makes me think I really don't want to get involved in debates about science journalism. (I followed a chain of links to a variation on "science journalists are stupid and only scientists should be allowed to talk about science" vs "scientists don't know how to speak English and you don't understand journalism, you jerk.") I prefer, you know, doing stuff to yelling about it.
Here's one I like: The Oyster's Garter is written (so the blog tells me) by a marine biologist and a journalist. It's got reasonably shortish entries, and they're funny. (Two things I greatly value.) It's about...well, science. Ok, there's an emphasis on marine science, but that's still broad - lots marine invertebrates but also some physical oceanography. I love marine invertebrates. There's some musing about science journalism and, yep, a bunch more marine invertebrates. Including fabric marine invertebrates.
The musing about science journalism makes me think I really don't want to get involved in debates about science journalism. (I followed a chain of links to a variation on "science journalists are stupid and only scientists should be allowed to talk about science" vs "scientists don't know how to speak English and you don't understand journalism, you jerk.") I prefer, you know, doing stuff to yelling about it.
looking around the blogosphere
So as I figure out what kind of blog I want, I'm going to poke around and look at what other people are doing.
Here's one approach to this whole reporter-blog thing: posting notes as you work on a story. That's a blog post at the Center for Environmental Journalism. Some dude is working on a story about climate change and here he writes about an interview with a scientist. It's moderately interesting and well-written. I don't see anything that makes me want to follow it and read more, though. There's no shortage of places to read about global warming.
Olivia Judson blogs on the New York Times website about evolution. She has a nice writing style, but I get really impatient waiting for her to get to a dang point. I don't love her writing enough to keep going. Maybe in a book, but really, I have a short attention span online. (I admit, I didn't read the above post all the way through, either.) I'd be happy if she posted shorter pieces more than once a week, rather than 1,800 words weekly. Other people appear to be fans - she gets tons of comments.
So, the conclusion thus far: I apparently can't pay attention for long enough to give an intelligent critique of these blogs. Lesson: Short is good.
Here's one approach to this whole reporter-blog thing: posting notes as you work on a story. That's a blog post at the Center for Environmental Journalism. Some dude is working on a story about climate change and here he writes about an interview with a scientist. It's moderately interesting and well-written. I don't see anything that makes me want to follow it and read more, though. There's no shortage of places to read about global warming.
Olivia Judson blogs on the New York Times website about evolution. She has a nice writing style, but I get really impatient waiting for her to get to a dang point. I don't love her writing enough to keep going. Maybe in a book, but really, I have a short attention span online. (I admit, I didn't read the above post all the way through, either.) I'd be happy if she posted shorter pieces more than once a week, rather than 1,800 words weekly. Other people appear to be fans - she gets tons of comments.
So, the conclusion thus far: I apparently can't pay attention for long enough to give an intelligent critique of these blogs. Lesson: Short is good.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
SSA blog
Ooh, I really like Kumquat's idea about starting a blog now about my Spring Science Adventure. It could be about preparing for the trip, reading up on the science ahead of time, and my burning questions about the accommodations, such as "Will there be a place to plug in my ipod charger?" and "What happens if I run out of tissues?" Normally when I'm packing to go somewhere, I figure, yknow, if I run out of something, I'll just buy it. Not an option this time.
(The place I'm going isn't a secret in real life, by the way - if you're mystified, leave a comment and I'll e-mail you.)
(The place I'm going isn't a secret in real life, by the way - if you're mystified, leave a comment and I'll e-mail you.)
Friday, January 02, 2009
what is this blogging the kids are doing today
I'm starting off the new year, professional-wise, by ignoring my many deadlines in the next two weeks and trying to figure out this whole "blogging" thing. This seems ridiculous, as I have been blogging nonstop since June 2005, when I first claimed not to be interested in blogging. (Actually, July is even funnier - read from the bottom, as I transition from explaining why I'm not blogging to writing obsessively.)
But now I'm considering actual professional blogging. A blog about my book topic, for one; a blog about science and being a science writer, maybe; a blog about knitting...probably not. These blogs would be under my real name (I know! shocking!). I'm thinking WordPress, because people seem to be happy with that. And I hope that it would find readers.
Very few people have actual pre-built interest in my book topic, but as soon as I tell them about it, they're like, whooaa, cool! So the hope is that my blog would attract people with the "whooaa, cool!" response and get them to keep reading and eventually, oh, buy copies of the book for themselves and everyone they know. I guess I know more or less where I'm headed with that blog. I'm just waiting to hear from, um, the guy whose family it is about to see where he stands on this whole "book" issue.
So, what about this science/science writing blog I might want to start? I actually don't read any science blogs, mainly because I don't like any of them enough to go back regularly. Do you read any? Which should I read? I'm going to start surveying them and seeing which ones I should read, who I could learn from, just how mean and awful the commenters are, and why I dislike so many of the blogs. (I suspect a lot of my problem is that I have a really short attention span when I'm reading on the computer, which means a post as long as this one is pretty much not going to work for me.)
I suppose it could all be the same blog, with BookTopic posts tagged as such and other posts tagged as something else.
Help? Anyone? Insight?
But now I'm considering actual professional blogging. A blog about my book topic, for one; a blog about science and being a science writer, maybe; a blog about knitting...probably not. These blogs would be under my real name (I know! shocking!). I'm thinking WordPress, because people seem to be happy with that. And I hope that it would find readers.
Very few people have actual pre-built interest in my book topic, but as soon as I tell them about it, they're like, whooaa, cool! So the hope is that my blog would attract people with the "whooaa, cool!" response and get them to keep reading and eventually, oh, buy copies of the book for themselves and everyone they know. I guess I know more or less where I'm headed with that blog. I'm just waiting to hear from, um, the guy whose family it is about to see where he stands on this whole "book" issue.
So, what about this science/science writing blog I might want to start? I actually don't read any science blogs, mainly because I don't like any of them enough to go back regularly. Do you read any? Which should I read? I'm going to start surveying them and seeing which ones I should read, who I could learn from, just how mean and awful the commenters are, and why I dislike so many of the blogs. (I suspect a lot of my problem is that I have a really short attention span when I'm reading on the computer, which means a post as long as this one is pretty much not going to work for me.)
I suppose it could all be the same blog, with BookTopic posts tagged as such and other posts tagged as something else.
Help? Anyone? Insight?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
welcome marshall
Check it out, Tall L got a dog. And if the pictures do not lie, he is way cute. And she's blogging about him! Woo!!
Monday, December 29, 2008
testing again
This is a good "before" picture of my desk corner.
UPDATE: Hey! It totally worked! That's good to know.
testing...testing...
This expedition I'm going on (which doesn't start til April) will
involve no web access. Shocking, I know!! But I will be able to send
text e-mails. So I'm trying out the thing where Blogger lets you
e-mail web posts. Does it work? Would it work better if I knew a
little basic html? Probably! Let me try a link...<a
href="http://mellificent.blogspot.com/2008/12/woooooo.html">here</a>.
involve no web access. Shocking, I know!! But I will be able to send
text e-mails. So I'm trying out the thing where Blogger lets you
e-mail web posts. Does it work? Would it work better if I knew a
little basic html? Probably! Let me try a link...<a
href="http://mellificent.blogspot.com/2008/12/woooooo.html">here</a>.
Of course, since I won't have web access, I also won't be able to look
up links to include in text-only blog posts...man, this is going to be
a whole different world.
UPDATE and either I'm really, really bad at html, or that little experiment failed. I coded it right, didn't I? I think it just doesn't work. Well, just as well I'll only be sending text.
because it's a dog?
Weirdest search to get someone to my blog in the last month:
"Why my 2.5 month chihuahua doesn't like to put clothe on"
"Why my 2.5 month chihuahua doesn't like to put clothe on"
Thursday, December 18, 2008
uptick in blogging
I just did the math and I'd have to write 62 (now, 61) posts between now and the end of the year to average one a day for 2008. (For a total of 86 posts in December.) Man...I just don't know that I have 61 more things to say. I'm not sure what I'm saying is entertaining enough to be worth the effort.
I'm pretty sure that even if I *do* accomplish that, my goal for this blog for 2009 will be more like one a week.
I'm pretty sure that even if I *do* accomplish that, my goal for this blog for 2009 will be more like one a week.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
blogging up christmas all night long
Ok, three more posts by strangers about the Christmas show, but really, the blog pickins are thin this year.
Our first blogger promises details to follow, so watch this space.
This blogger reminds me that I never spend enough time checking out the merchandise tables.
This blogger writes out the audience version of "Lord of the Dance." This is an amusing phenomenon. The lyrics are right there in the program - "Dance, then, wherever you may be..." but the audience sings "Dance, dance, wherever you may be...." Always, without fail. That's how tradition works - they're learning it from each other and that's kind of beautiful. I certainly sang "Dance, dance" when I was in the audience. But it's one of the first things you learn when you join the chorus: The correct words are "Dance, then."
Our first blogger promises details to follow, so watch this space.
This blogger reminds me that I never spend enough time checking out the merchandise tables.
This blogger writes out the audience version of "Lord of the Dance." This is an amusing phenomenon. The lyrics are right there in the program - "Dance, then, wherever you may be..." but the audience sings "Dance, dance, wherever you may be...." Always, without fail. That's how tradition works - they're learning it from each other and that's kind of beautiful. I certainly sang "Dance, dance" when I was in the audience. But it's one of the first things you learn when you join the chorus: The correct words are "Dance, then."
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
blog drought
Huh. I just went looking on google's blog search for posts from audience members who saw the Christmas show last weekend and found...exactly one. Here it is: A fan tells you to go see the show. Last year I found a ton. I wonder if facebook is killing *everyone's* blog?
Monday, December 01, 2008
welcome yule
Here's a very nice description of why the Christmas show is so great. It opens this Saturday!!
Sunday, November 09, 2008
366 this year
The last few years I've managed to post exactly 365 items on my blog - one per day. (Some days with zero and some days with five, of course.) Today is the 314th day of 2008 and this is post 295...so I'm totally behind! I'm spending way too much time on facebook and obsessive knitting and stuff.
facebook is killing my blog
I know I haven't been blogging that much lately. You know what? Now whenever I have a funny thought, I put it in my Facebook status line. Instant gratification, no space for exposition, and way more comments than the average blog post. Here are some recent updates:
[my name] enjoyed High School Musical 3, but Ashley Tisdale's old nose was cuter.
[my name] is writing on [high school acquaintance]'s and [high school acquaintance]'s walls and wondering what the heck year this is, anyway? 1992?
[my name] saw Doctor Atomic and High School Musical 3 today. Talk about contrasts.[my name] values niceness highly.
[my name] didn't go to [university] or study math. But her brother did.
[my name] is singing at Glen Echo tonight. Just as soon as I put some clothes on.
[my name] is ready for the weekend to start. But trying to do a rewrite first. But not really all that enthusiastic. And not allowed to start sentences with And or But.
UPDATE, 11/10: T.Hand points out that I totally stole this from her blog. I would like to say, in my defense, that it was completely non-intentional! I read her post a month ago and forgot about it!!
[my name] enjoyed High School Musical 3, but Ashley Tisdale's old nose was cuter.
[my name] is writing on [high school acquaintance]'s and [high school acquaintance]'s walls and wondering what the heck year this is, anyway? 1992?
[my name] saw Doctor Atomic and High School Musical 3 today. Talk about contrasts.[my name] values niceness highly.
[my name] didn't go to [university] or study math. But her brother did.
[my name] is singing at Glen Echo tonight. Just as soon as I put some clothes on.
[my name] is ready for the weekend to start. But trying to do a rewrite first. But not really all that enthusiastic. And not allowed to start sentences with And or But.
UPDATE, 11/10: T.Hand points out that I totally stole this from her blog. I would like to say, in my defense, that it was completely non-intentional! I read her post a month ago and forgot about it!!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
yay, karl pilkington has a blog
If you know him at all, it's because you've listened to the Ricky Gervais podcasts, in which Ricky Gervais, Steven Merchant, and this other guy sit around and chat. Hilarious and not to be missed. Here's the other guy's blog: Karl Pilkington.
It is a week ago today that they turned on the big bang machine. I only found out this morning that it’s still on, and will be left on for a few years. Seems a bit unfair that they are allowed to leave that massive thing churning away, yet I keep being told by EDF to save energy by making sure I turn off the standby light on me telly before I go to bed.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
funny olympics blog
If you are not a regular reader of Sophist and WoR's blog, you might not be aware of the existence of the funniest blog ever: All Night Olympics. It's this guy in Ireland who sits up all night watching the Olympics and writing things like this:
02:14: The voice describing the BMX is confused by the colours sported by an Italian rider. Mysteriously, he is kitted out in the very hues of his nation’s flag, green, white and red. BMX Man expected him to be wearing the blue traditionally sported by the Italian national football team. No, BMX Man, if he were any good at football, he wouldn’t be riding a child’s bicycle over a series of speed bumps.and this:
03:08: Taekwondo. The analyst keeps referring to ‘the etiquette’ of the sport. Unlike in most areas of life, the etiquette does not preclude landing a hefty kick on someone else’s cranium.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
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