June 27, 2006
The Mic is ON. It’s Thassos Island, Greece!
ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:00 pm
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It’s Like Open Mike Only Different
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It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. . . . Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
Some things we might talk about could include
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- whether anyone’s putting email on their blog(s).
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- what your biggest blogging problem is.
- why Liz had to find her own photograph.
AND THE EVER POPULAR,
What are the code-writing donkey and the drinking moose doing tonight?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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356 Comments to “The Mic is ON. It’s Thassos Island, Greece!”
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Trisha said
Hello everyone!
I have to run outside and do a few things first before I can hand out though - be back soon!
Chris Cree said
Trisha comes in. Trisha goes out. You gotta move fast to keep up with Trisha!
ME Strauss said
Hi Chris,
Yeah I wrote hello to her, but I didn’t hit submit fast enough.
Chris Cree said
Hello!
How’s things in the Land of the S-B?
ME Strauss said
I’m trying something new tonight. I turned the comments off on the other post, and I left a link to this one. That way everyone should make it here.
How was dinner?
Chris Cree said
Dinner was most scrumptious!
I saw the comment/link thingy. A good idea for sure.
I’m actually looking for airfairs to your fine city for next month.
ME Strauss said
You’re coming to Chicago! Will you have any time while you’re here??
Ben Yoskoviz said
Evening folks — I’m cooking (figurately and literally), so won’t be paying total attention here.
The donkey is doing just fine, cooking up some viral marketing techno baubles as we speak.
How’s everyone else doing?
Chris Cree said
I’m not sure why, but it seems to cost approximately twice as much to get back to Savannah as it does to get to Chicago.
Is there something going on up there that they don’t want people to leave?
I’ll be up for about 10 days for work. I’ll email you the details and all that once I get them nailed down.
ME Strauss said
techno baubles . . . a techo bauble cooking donkey. Hmmm I see we’re starting early.
I think we’re going to have a good night!
Hi Ben, I think I like it when you come early.
Chris Cree said
Hey Ben! Good to hear Jack’s well
*giggle*
ME Strauss said
Uh-oh Chris is going for the Jack hammer again.
Ben Yoskoviz said
Happy to be onboard folks.
My cooking is already done.
So let me start off with a contest - Finish this sentence:
“I cook like I…”
Funniest answer (I’ll be the judge; I’m also hiring judges if you’re interested) wins…something that Liz donates! Woohoo! Liz is donating the prize! (Psst…Liz…you can donate a prize right? *smile*)
Chris Cree said
Oh, I’ll behave. (mostly)
Viral marketing. Sounds contageous.
ME Strauss said
Donate a prize? Donate a prize? What do I have of value? Let’s see a box of autographed crayons, a half hour of my time, a post on your blog.
Okay pick your prize.
Chris Cree said
I cook like…
I cook like…
(can I have the 65th crayon?)
Joe said
Hey all,
I’m collecting sea shells while I’m having dinner…
What am I having???
ME Strauss said
Chris,
You behave every time you’re here. It’s whether you’re behaving well or badly . . . of course if we don’t have spelling and punctuations rules . .. I don’t know why we should have rules about that.
ME Strauss said
Joe,
You had seafood last week too!
I think you’re having mussels.
ME Strauss said
Chris,
The 65th crayon is his own being. I could get you a picture of him with is autograph.
Ben Yoskoviz said
We’ll have to wait for a few more people to come and join the fun so we can really get cooking.
I cook like I…
(Oh, and feel free to explain why you cook like you…)
Those are all great prizes Liz! And I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I’ll be happy to donate a half hour of my time! I’m not quite sure what we’ll talk about…
Joe said
Very Close,
Think Gambling…
Starbucker said
Hi everyone - here’s my entry: I cook like I golf - I’m not very good at either, and probably never will be. My dinner tonight will be in La Junta, Colorado, most likely at a Mexican place.
Trisha said
I’m back, I should be able to stay around longer this time.
Chris Cree said
Liz, I like what they’ve done to your design.
Crisper. Neater. Definately even better than it was.
What color is the 65th crayon? (I know I should probably go read and find out for myself…)
ME Strauss said
I cook like I shoot the rapids.
Trisha said
yeah, I like the design too!
Joe said
I cook like a Clam in a Casino…
ME Strauss said
Thanks for the design comments. I’m loving it, especially the larger type in the comment box.
The 65th crayon is every color, but he mostly shows himself as a shade of medium blue violet.
Starbucker said
Hi everybody! (I thought I had sent this successfully the first time, so if you see this twice I apologize). I cook like I golf - I do neither very well and the chances for improvement are hopeless. My dinner tonight will most likely be a Mexican place in La Junta Colorado (my latest place of respite).
ME Strauss said
Joe, What do shells have to do with gambling?
Joe said
Hey, I lost a comment???
I can see I lost it because I can see the comments as I type them…
AND I Cook like a Clam in a Casino…
ME Strauss said
Trisha,
What’s the status of the garden?
Joe said
Ok, I lost 2 comments so far Liz,
What’s happening to them, do they have to be released???
Clams… Money… Casino… Gambling…
Clams = Sea Shells… (after you eat them)
Chris Cree said
Blue! I knew it!
Trisha said
Its doing ok, more flowers are blooming all the time. Not a lot of butterflies yet though.
Anyone here know much about herb gardens? My basil is doing really bad this year.
ME Strauss said
I wonder if I can put an image in a comment. I’m going to try to.
Ben Yoskoviz said
I know basil goes well with tomatoes. Other than that…nope.
I’ll concur on the design, nice work on the new header at the top.
Chris Cree said
Wasn’t Basil on Fawltey Towers?
Trisha said
I’m still working on that ‘I cook like I’ thing, but I haven’t been able to think of anything clever or funny yet.
Joe said
If Liz ever releases my comments, go back and read about my dinner, sea shells, gambling and how I cook.
Joe
ME Strauss said
Sorry all Askimet got hungry. I think it gets jealous when so many comments come in at one time.
Joe said
Thanks, Liz…
ME Strauss said
OKAY Time OUT
Everyone go back and read the comments to catch up!
Trisha said
I see it, but I still can’t think of anything that good.
Chris Cree said
Oops. My mistake. It was Fawlty Towers
And yes, I did remember correctly. Basil.
{thank you very much}
ME Strauss said
Bad Askimet, Bad Bad Askimet
Joe made it. Are you still here Starbucker?
Chris Cree said
Starbucker! GO PACK!
ME Strauss said
If this works, I’d like to introduce the 65th crayon to those of you who haven’t met him. He’s an international reporter.
Joe said
Chris,
It was Basil, but what was the Maid’s name?
Starbucker said
A-ha! That explains why the comments didn’t post. I’m not going insane - that’s always a plus.
Chris Cree said
The maid was Polly! (first paragraph on the link)
Joe said
AND what was Mr.Fawlty’s First name???
Ben Yoskoviz said
Fawlty Towers is hysterical. My Dad has the full set on DVD, nearly peed myself…twice!
Joe: I cook like a clam in a casino
I have NO IDEA what that means, although I sort of like clams and I really enjoy casinos (particularly in Vegas). So far that has to be tops? Liz? Judges?
Starbucker said
Chris! Only a month or so until the first exhibition game. I’m thinking….. 8-8. Too optimistic?
Chris Cree said
Sybil.
ME Strauss said
Chris, How did you know my secret name.
The 65th crayon came to see you. He’s at comment 49.
Joe said
That was MR…
Not MRS…
Chris Cree said
Wait. That was MRS.
I thought we already established MR. was Basil?
Ben Yoskoviz said
Basil. I think we were already talking about him.
What about the butler? Heh.
And now my posts are being eaten too…yummy…
Chris Cree said
Ben, Do you mean Manuel, the waiter from Barcelona?
Joe said
Ya can’t fool Mother Nature…
Ben Yoskoviz said
Yes Manuel. Si. Si.
Now I’m going to have to watch all of the Fawlty Tower episodes again!
Chris Cree said
Liz, I thought maybe the 65th crayon might have been indisguise in that photo. (you can never be too sure what’s been Photoshopped these days.)
I know because I read. Compulsively.
Starbucker said
I never got into Fawlty Towers - well recommended, I take it?
Ben Yoskoviz said
Hi Starbucker - don’t think we’ve met. Just checking out your blog now.
Also, I just changed the link on my name to go to my blog…(if anyone wants to click/re-click)
Basil mumbles, “Yes dear…”
Rick said
Hi everyone!
I thought basil was Rathbone, at least in old movies.
Joe said
This Akismet Time Warp really has a weird effect on the eating habits of Bloggers, huh?
ME Strauss said
You could name the donkey BASIL!!!
Chris Cree said
Ben, I believe you can order the entire set from Amazon.com.uk for either £12.99 or £21.99.
I’m not sure what the difference is.
Ben Yoskoviz said
Starbucker - Fawlty Towers is classic John Cleese. If you like his style, Monty Python…you’ll like Fawlty Towers. A lot of physical comedy, absurd situations and great dynamics between all of the characters.
It’s absolutely hysterical.
Chris Cree said
Whoah. Liz.
The Askimet weirness is getting to me. I just had to go back a page and catch up on all the one’s I missed!
Ben Yoskoviz said
The donkey’s name is BASIL.
Brilliant. I love it.
“Basil get to work…stop chasing that carrot and code something.”
They never did many episodes of Fawlty Towers - I can’t remember how many, but Chris is on the money - it shouldn’t be terribly expensive to see all of it. I would just watch them consecutively and you won’t stop laughing. There’s an episode with some German tourists that’ll bring you to tears.
ME Strauss said
Chris,
That’s the might weirdness powers of the superhero weirdness Liz
Chris Cree said
Ben, Make sure you pronounce it Bah-SIL.
Starbucker said
Hi Ben, just checked out your blog too - love the picture of the pig! A pig that likes beer - how about that.
Chris Cree said
Askimet is messing with my Spidey-sense!
I cook like…
Basil the Donkey.
Ben Yoskoviz said
Absolutely, Chris. It doesn’t work otherwise.
And if people ever get rough with me, I can always tell them the donkey was named after Basic McRae.
Rick said
Sorry. I can’t even spell my own email right.
Trisha, if you’ve been getting as much rain as we have in Pennsylvania, that may be the reason for the basil problems. It likes a lot of sun.
Joe said
I agree with Ben,
It’s… daaa-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-ta-dot-da-da-da-daaaaa.
I know Chris and Ben can hear that song in their respective heads…
Trisha said
It’s not too much rain - its like the plants are stunted or something, they’ve hardly grown at all.
ME Strauss said
Trisha,
Maybe you should sing to the plants. That might inspire them to grow some.
Joe said
Trisha, maybe you have to paint your thumb green???
mike dunn said
hi all - joining late
Trisha said
My cooking and singing are kind of on the same level - I think it would be cruel to do to the plants.
Starbucker said
Ben, I can go for absolutely hysterical. I remember playing Monty Python records in my dorm back in college until I had them memorized (sample - “this is not a wine for drinking - this is a wine for laying down and avoiding”)
Ben Yoskoviz said
Starbucker - glad you like the blog. Hope you’ll keep on reading…
I enjoyed making that pig drinking beer picture. Ever since I was told I really should add pictures I can’t stop using Photoshop…
Joe said
Trisha,
I think the Basil know’s what you have in store for them… trying to improve your cooking.
–said with stupid grin–
ME Strauss said
Ben,
Does the pig write code too?
Trisha said
Maybe that’s it!
Starbucker said
I bet the pig can do photoshop as well as do code and drink beer. Can’t all pigs?
Ben Yoskoviz said
The pig may have once been a maestro on the keyboard, but if you go look at the picture you’ll see he’s a drunk now. I’ve tried dragging him to AA but he’s incredibly heavy. I put out my back at the same time as I tripped on one of his empty beer bottles and fell, spraining my wrist. Honestly.
ME Strauss said
Hi Mike,
It looks like no one said “HI” to you!
We’re a bunch of drooling cretins.
We’re trying to figure out how to get Trisha’s water-deprived plants to grow.
Joe said
Ok … It’s STILL RAINING and I’m getting to the point of Building An Ark…
Chris Cree said
It sounds like Milton may have been a bad influence on the pig…
Hi Mike!
ME Strauss said
Ben, Your description of trying to take the pig to AA is too funny. You should do comment stand up. The pig can be your sidekick.
mike dunn said
np - was scanning the thread to see if anyone picked up on the podcasting topic…
dealing w/ plants is my wife’s deal - i just move stuff around for her
Ben Yoskoviz said
Starbucker, if you like Monthy Python, you’ll like Fawlty Towers.
Ok that’s it - whoever wins my contest, “I cook like I…” gets the boxed set from Fawlty Towers. I’m feeling generous. I’d just get that person’s physical address, purchase it at Amazon (or somewhere else) and have it shipped to them.
The donkey will pay the shipping, or so he’s telling me.
Fawlty Towers boxed set up for grabs people — “I cook like I…”
ME Strauss said
Mike
Start talking podcasting. We’ll follow anyone who can complete a sentence.
mike dunn said
hi chris - ok, curious about this pig so will go read it
Ben Yoskoviz said
Is there money in comment stand-up? Hhhm…
And “hi Mike” - glad to see you joining the fracas. And it’s still plenty early!
Rick said
I only drool in the morning.
Hi Mike, I’m glad to meet you.
Joe said
Ben and Basil,
I thought you said I won with the Clams in a Casino entry?????
Ben Yoskoviz said
I’ll start talking about podcasting.
I still haven’t listened to one. I can see the potential and I see the buzz growing insanely.
I can’t figure out how to use it for my own business yet, but I know there’s valuable content out there I can learn from. Still…I don’t spend a lot of time driving/traveling when I think listening to podcasts would be most effective.
Chris Cree said
Mike, There isn’t much here that makes any sense. We’re very poor on segues (and some of us on spellllling too).
Joe said
Uh-Ohhhh,
The Akismet Time Warp is kicking in again….
Starbucker said
Ben, does my “cook like I golf” have a shot, or should I go on Amazon right now to order the DVDs? Not like I’m pushing or anything………
ME Strauss said
Okay then, now I have to get serious about this cooking contest. I cook like a cavewoman who hasn’t yet discovered fire and just found out that her caveman is having an affair with a wild turkey that isn’t really a turkey because cave people didn’t live anywhere near wild turkeys because wild turkeys hadn’t evolved yet. So in fact, he has been having his fun with a bird-like wild boar and now she not only has to set the idiot straight, but also has to find him food, before she kick his butt out of the cave. And that hurts her very deeply. So she gives up eating . . .
Chris Cree said
The idea of pod casting appeals to me, at least in the abstract. But I’m not convinced I would come up with enough worth saying that anyone would bother downloading and listening to.
Ben Yoskoviz said
Starbucker: Your “cook like I golf” was good - particularly your explanation behind it.
Joe’s “I cook like a clam in a casino” though…is ranking right up there too, but I think the judges are now asking for an explanation for it before they can accept the submission.
Any other takers?
mike dunn said
hmmm - podcasting is such a wide topic, anyone have one right now? how about listen or watch one regularly?
ME Strauss said
Joe, it’s not Askimet. I turned Askimet off a long time ago.
Joe said
No wonder there is a time warp, Liz is writing a Novel about the Evolution of Turkeys…
ME Strauss said
Hey that wasn’t about the evolution of turkeys. That was my contest entry.
Starbucker said
Liz, that’s just not fair - I’m toast. That’s one serious “cook like I”.
Joe said
Oh, I thought I already won with my Clams in a Casino entry…
Ben Yoskoviz said
Seriously, Liz.
Turkeys. Cave women. Affairs with turkeys. Very interesting. What would Freud say? (And no, I don’t think I should start another contest, I’ll be broke at the end!)
And Liz, I’m going to have to go back and re-read that a few times to understand it.
“I cook like I…” -> It’s going viral. Wait till I do a YouTube video.
Chris Cree said
I’m the techie in our house. But Gorgeous has the gadgets. She’s got an iPod and I don’t.
I only download specific files for her. No recurring stuff yet.
Chris Cree said
Starbucker, Ben never said anything about “one entry per family.” Write away!
Starbucker said
I’ve not yet listened to a podcast - I’ve been too busy typing since I started blogging six months ago. Although I do travel with my trusty I-Pod, so I could do it.
ME Strauss said
I think I have to withdraw my entry. It is my blog after all. You guys give it another shot. Now you know how wild you can be.
mike dunn said
podcasting also can be video, pdf, or files in general - not just audio…
i spoke at a conference a few weeks ago - and put the powerpoint in my post - feedburner picked it up as an enclosure and feed it off to my subscribers…
hadn’t even expected that…
Joe said
Now since I have built my Ark, I have
One of each:
Turkey
Moose
Donkey
Reindeer
Clam
Pig
Did I miss anything?
Chris Cree said
What does it take to record a ‘cast?
Christine Kane said
Hello everyone.
Chris Cree said
Hey Christine!
How’s things in the hill country?
Joe said
Hey Christine,
Did you bring an animal for my ARK?
Rick said
In the meantime your poor cavewoman dies of starvation.
Hi, Christine!
I’ve never really gotten into the idea of podcasts. I tend to be on the cutting middle of things.
Christine Kane said
A wombat.
ME Strauss said
Hey Christine!!
You look good tonight!
We’re talking about podcasting and Ben is running a contest– fill in the blank I cook like
Read comment 107 for the one to beat.
Trisha said
that was really good - i still haven’t been able to come up with anything clever or funny yet. this is why I don’t get that many blog posts written, it just takes me too long.
Christine Kane said
Are wombats compatible with pigs?
Chris Cree said
I bet Christine could have an awesome podcast! She’s probably got all the right tools already.
Ben Yoskoviz said
Hi Christine!
Folks - I’ve just posted on my blog about the contest. That makes it official (so I can’t sneak away into the darkness and not award a prize.)
It’s a 1 night-only contest (i.e. tonight) so help me spread the word - we’ll get more people posting at open mic night than ever!
mike dunn said
chris - most early podcasters use audacity - free sourceforge recording applications…
or something like an iriver if you want a portable non-pc recorder - end result is an mp3…
starbucker - try sampling a few in itunes and then once you get a feel for a few you like and a few you dislike - go to amigofish.com to rate the shows based on your feelings - it’ll return recommendations of shows you may also like and those you probably won’t
Christine Kane said
i actually just got interviewed yesterday into something that will become a podcast. but no, it’s a mystery to me. i’ve listened to many.
off to look at #107. Hi Liz
Joe said
Christine, I don’t think it matters, I only have ONE of EACH.
They just have to learn to get along.
Christine Kane said
Definitely can’t compete with #107. Though i did see an entire family — mom, dad, and ELEVEN babies — of wild turkeys today. Adorable.
Chris Cree said
Mike, Do you ‘cast?
ME Strauss said
Ben,
I put your post on Reddit!
Christine Kane said
What’s Ben’s contest?
Hi Liz! I meant to put an exclamation point there, but the post sent without me getting to finish…
Starbucker said
OK Chris, let me give this another shot before I go have dinner - I cook like I exercise; very infrequently and when I do, I can’t do it very long or very well because of the fact that I do it infrequently, and because of the infrequency the net results of the exercise is very unsatisfactory, and because its unsatisfactory I only do it infrequently.
ME Strauss said
Trisha, I have lots of posts about ideas and how to get them.
Ben Yoskoviz said
Thanks Liz!
Reddit is a GREAT traffic generator, btw. If anyone else wants to vote for it on Reddit, that’d be great!
Contest: Check out my blog or very simply –
Finish this sentence: I cook like I…
(and give us an explanation)
Mike - here’s a question for you: any thoughts on ideal length for a podcast? I saw one promoted recently that was 43:00 minutes long, and I thought, “who has time to sit and listen to 43 minutes?”
ME Strauss said
Starbucker, I think you have a contender there.
Come back after dinner.
Starbucker said
Thanks Mike for the suggestion. Hey folks, I’m going to dinner - I’ll try to check in when I get back. Ben, hope I now have a shot with that last entry. See you all later!
mike dunn said
chris - i’ve done some in the early days, been interviewed on a few but tend towards analysing the trend - though i do a lot of video, which would be easy enough to podcast…
Chris Cree said
I cook like an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Good amount of beefsteak, lots of spice, and top it all off with a just bit of cheese.
Trisha said
I can get ideas for some things - but not this kind of stuff.
Ben Yoskoviz said
Starbucker - that’s a definite contender, I’d say.
Enjoy your dinner (who cooked it, hhmm?) We’ll see you later!
Christine Kane said
Ben, I’d listen to a 43 minute podcast. but I wouldn’t “sit and listen.” driving, cooking, cleaning the house. plug the pod into the speakers that look like storm-troopers, and listen…
ME Strauss said
Trisha,
I understand what you’re saying. I think you need a dash of smartass to be good at what that contest is about.
mike dunn said
sure ben - i think the length depends on the topic and the listener’s preference…
some that are under 10 minutes make a lot of sense, others up to an hour have a lot to offer…
the couple hours ones tend to be to long for me - but some are really popular…
itunes adds bookmarking to all podcasts - so you can pause and pickup later too…
Christine Kane said
Is there a dash of smartass among this group???
Ben Yoskoviz said
Hey Christine — I can see that. It seems like podcasts are an ideal “distraction” if you will from doing chore-like activities. Listen while driving, or cleaning, or cooking.
I need an iPod (gotta find a way to win one in a contest) and some chores (actually I have plenty of chores, but I also have a family hanging around, specifically a 2-year old child that would rather watch Caillou than listen to a podcast on marketing…)
Trisha said
I guess that is what I don’t have - smartass. Does anyone know if smartass can be grown in a garden?
Chris Cree said
I guess I’m still trying to convince myself that folks will actually read what I write and don’t believe they’d listen to what I might say.
I’m with Ben, though on the time thing.
A 500 word article I can zip through pretty quick. But a 20 or 40 minute podcast… It seems like a pretty heavy time investment.
I’m in the car a lot with my job. But I don’t have the right hardware to make it easy yet.
ME Strauss said
The only smartass in my garden was usually me, unless you count the humus.
Christine Kane said
Ben, I get that. I travel alone. And I’m at my house alone during the day a lot. So, it definitely makes it easier.
Trisha, Smartass would need an enormous amount of compost and mulch if you wanted to grow it!
mike dunn said
christine’s got it - its about filling voids really…
i especially like listening to conference sessions that i wasn’t able to attend…
Ben Yoskoviz said
Smartass (Scientific name: Ocimum smartassislucm)
A herb grown in the gardens of smartasses, including people who have a snarky wit and those with actual brains in their rears. It’s got a pointed leaf and the flower looks like a mouth laughing.
Chris Cree said
The only smar-tass around here I know just took the name Basil.
Trisha said
We have a big compost pile!
ME Strauss said
Ben,
I didn’t know that you know Latin. Wow and the plant name for smart ass. You never fail to astound me.
Ben Yoskoviz said
Ah bloody heck, I spelled the scientific name incorrectly…sorry! It’s Ocimum smartassilicum. Ggrr…
I like the idea of filling voids with useful stuff; but at work I still think it’s easier to read/scan something and digest it than it is to listen to something. I know a lot of people listen to music while they work, I’ve never really gotten the hang of that myself.
Christine Kane said
The bears have EATEN my compost pile.
mike dunn said
totally agree chris - it’s actually good to have choice: text, audio, video, whatever…
the neat part is the ease of media distribution - if you find someone you like, just like subscribing to a blog and reading in your reader - same thing for podcasting, except itunes is probably the easiest…
Chris Cree said
I can listen to music most any time. Those must be hungry bears!
ME Strauss said
That’s scary, Christine.
Compost eating bears . . . what will they think of next?
Christine Kane said
I find that listening to things is the best way. I’m auditory.
chris, you need to grow some Self confidence next to your smartass in the garden. People read you. And people would listen to you!
Joe said
Ben,
The problem with listening to music while I work is that it is really difficult to type while tapping to the tune…
Christine,
Bears don’t eat compost, they MAKE compost…
Chris Cree said
Are most podcasts music, “shows” (for lack of a better word), or people talking, like monologues, interviews or such?
I am quite without clue on the whole thing…
Christine Kane said
Bears are kind of importer/exporters when it come to compost.
Cat said
Good contest idea! I’ll have to give it a think and get back to you.
Dinner tonight? Most likely Indian
mike dunn said
yea, i can only listen to music while i work - so techno, jazz, blues, instrumental rock is all good…
verbal podcasts i like when traveling or hiking…
i also watch some video podcasts regularly: frederator is a cartoon related one and a guy in hawaii does video surf reports that is very cool…
Ben Yoskoviz said
Chris - I think you’ll find a wide range of podcasts. I haven’t viewed any myself, but I’ve read up on them. You’ll get a lot of interviews, a lot of “blog posts turned into audio” and then you’ll also see “shows”. I think you’ll also see a lot of “weird and whacky”, with people trying to get things to catch on virally. It runs the gamut.
Joe said
Hey Cat,
Who? Geronamo?
Christine Kane said
Chris, most of the podcasts i’ve listened to are just people talking…lecture-ish. There’s people talking about yoga, meditation, starting a business, all kinds of stuff. There are many many interviews. I love them. Especially if I don’t have a good book on tape. (Music takes more energy for me cuz i listen pretty hard.)
ME Strauss said
Hey Cat!
Everyone loves the new header. But no one loves it as much as me. It’s improved my productivity by a good 100% I can’t believe I was so lazy.
Joe said
Sorry, that sounded nastier that it was supposed to be…
Rick said
I’m glad the worst I have to worry about is the groundhogs and rabbits eating my tomatoes.
Christine Kane said
Yea, Liz. You’re the laziest.
Hi Cat…
Joe said
Oh My,
More animals for my ARK…
we now have:
Groundhogs
Rabbits
Bears
Donkeys
Moose (Meese)
Pigs
Reindeer
Wombats
Clams
and I know there is another…
ME Strauss said
Lazy Lizzie, that’s what they call me.
Ben Yoskoviz said
Liz = Lazy? Never thought I’d hear that…
Hi Cat! Good to see you around.
And I look forward to your contest submission!
mike dunn said
that’s funny christine - i’m the opposite…
i focus on verbal podcasts but the music one’s are a sort of background against whatever is my primary focus…
Chris Cree said
I generally don’t embrace things unless I feel I have a fair grasp of them or believe I can work it out fairly quickly. Perfectionist tendencies and all that.
I have no problem talking, public speaking, in front of large crowds - no problem. I just don’t feel I have much of anything to say yet.
500 words in a blog post is one thing. But writing 20 or 40 minutes worth! Sheesh! I’d have to quit my day job!
ME Strauss said
I listen to music when I write. Sometimes I need it to tune the world out. Sometimes it’s in the background. Sometims I need it in foreground to help me clear my mind out of all the junk that is unimportant.
Christine Kane said
mike, if i listen to music while i’m working, it’s usually very techn-instrumental… no melody. I get too wrapped up in melodies or words. No Miles Davis. No Chopin. I don’t zone out and put podcasts in the background… but I just get a sense of ease when I put them on during other activities. I like to hear what people have to say about things…
Christine Kane said
Chris, my blogs are always too long. maybe we could co-write a podcast for you.
Chris Cree said
If I had my way I’d have music on nearly all the time. Maybe just a few moments of quiet now and then…
Cat said
Hey, Joe. Not too bad really. I’m not quite awake yet so it took me awhile to twig [geronamo?]
Hi Liz. Improving productivity is great! I guess it’s like washing your car. You always swear it’s running faster/better/sleeker!
Hi Christina and Ben. I’ll be around for a little bit after breakfast. I’m on holiday and I’ve promised myself to do NOTHING today. YEAH!!!
Tomorrow is another thing. Rush rush rush … that’s what holidays are for, yes?
And now to think up something clever for the contest …
Joe said
I just need some background sound. It can be TV, Music, sounds from outside the window, whatever.
I can’t work in dead silence, I don’t know why.
Chris Cree said
Ben, Did my entry pass muster? (Comment #145, I think)
Ben Yoskoviz said
Christine - you must be doing *something* right with your blog — 600 visitors/day after 12 weeks. Great stuff.
I can’t get passed the 50/day mark (and some days it’s less). Today is more, but that’s cause of the contest and a couple posts on reddit…
Still, that’s very nice traffic for an “early blog” and it’ll grow from there. So even if you think you’re writing too long, it’s working!
Christine Kane said
Well, Joe, when one is building an ARK it’s nice to have music to calm the animals. I love silence. Sometimes I drive for hours in total quiet.
Joe said
Oh, I know what I was missing from my list for the ARK…
a CAT…
Ben Yoskoviz said
Chris - I liked it.
Here it is again: “I cook like an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Good amount of beefsteak, lots of spice, and top it all off with a just bit of cheese.”
I think I laugh the most when I read the word “beefsteak”…*chuckle* Arnold the Beefsteak.
ME Strauss said
Cat,
I can’t believe you said that:
I guess it’s like washing your car. You always swear it’s running faster/better/sleeker!
we say that all of the time at our house.
Chris Cree said
Thanks, Ben. (We like our affirmations)
Christine Kane said
Thanks Ben. God…after reading all these other bloggers out there with their many thousands of visitors, I just figured that was pathetic. (I have a mailing list from performing for 12 years…that’s many thousand people. So, I had a running start with publicity!)
mike dunn said
chris - if you want to try one, just write down a rough outline and then talk freely as if you were talking to one person or a small group about some topic you find interesting - you might like it
christine - have you discovered the solid steel podcast yet - great techno mashup…
Christine Kane said
Solid steel. I’ll make a note of it. iTunes?
mike dunn said
yup - should be in itunes…
Joe said
Ok, I think we’re stuck at 200, is Betson’s Open?
Chris Cree said
Mike, I think I’ll noodle on it a bit.
It’s weird. I have no problem talking to a room full of people. But I’d always feel silly rehearsing lines alone at home for any of the drama stuff I did.
ME Strauss said
Mike,
How do people access your podcasts. Do they just download them from your blog? Or is there an additional way? Sorry if you’ve already said so and I’ve missed that.
Ben Yoskoviz said
Well 600/day is incredible if you ask me. I’d probably cry if I got that many visits. If I break 100 I may do a little jig and podcast it. If I can break 50 FeedBurner subscribers for a couple weeks I could do the same thing (so there’s some encouragement for people - you definitely want to see me do a jig, trust me.)
mike dunn said
gotta go - my son just got home a little early…
need to talk to him about his college visits this summer - night all
Christine Kane said
Feedburner is a whole different thing. I haven’t been able to convince many about that!
Chris, we BELIEVE in you! Start a podcast!
ME Strauss said
Ben,
If you do the jig with the pig and the donkey, you’d probably get those 600 visitors . . .
Joe said
I only got 250 for the Darren Rowse interview.
She must be really famous…
Ben Yoskoviz said
See ya Mike.
I don’t know if you submitted to the contest or not (I’ll have to read all the comments tomorrow) but if you didn’t, you can still submit something later (here or on my blog).
Have a good one!
Christine Kane said
bye mike!
chris, just do like marsha brady and imagine your audience in their underpants. it worked for her!
Rick said
Bye Mike.
mike dunn said
k - one more…
chris - just do it for yourself first, don’t be concerned about the thousands that might listen ultimately
liz - podcasts are part of rss 2.0, so by subscribing you’ll get it “easily” depending on what you use…
itunes has a podcast feature that makes it really easy to do and sync w/ your ipod just like you’d do w/ playlists or music files…
k - night all…
Ben Yoskoviz said
If I have to sink to doing a jig with a pig and a donkey I think I’ve got other problems. Being arrested would be one I imagine. I could just see my friends and family reading the local paper and seeing the headline, “Man sneaks into zoo, does jig with pig and donkey for a…podcast.”
Mind you, I’ve sunk low before…so…*chuckle*…
ME Strauss said
Good night Mike
Hope all goes well with the college conversations.
Rick said
I have to go, too. The granddaughter’s calling. It’s been nice meeting you all.
ME Strauss said
Hey Rick,
Thanks for beng a part of the conversation. We hope you’ll come back!
Good night, friend.
Christine Kane said
I have to leave too! It was good chatting with everyone. Thanks for the insights on podcasts!
Chris Cree said
‘Night Mike. ‘Night Rick.
Christine, you crack me up!
My issue is not in the running of my mouth. Just as Gorgeous! (”Help! I’m talking and I can’t shut up!”)
The issue is in the mass quantities of quality content that are required.
maybe I’m a little on the lazy side…
Ben Yoskoviz said
Good night Christine - nice “meeting” you. Good luck with the blog…
Christine Kane said
one more note… chris… read anne lamott “bird by bird”…she has some great ideas about writing and content. or just read liz… she does too!
bye!
Chris Cree said
‘Night Christine. Thanks for the encouragement (heckling?)
Chris Cree said
Actually, that’s my whole point in blogging - practice the discipline of writing. At this point I think I’d rather get another blog or two going before a podcast.
Joe said
Hey Liz,
Just one little point, shouldn’t that be ON Thassos Island?
I know grammer amd spelling don’t count, but…
ME Strauss said
Good Night Christine,
I won’t tell Chris that I’ve been listening to your beautiful music all through this conversation.
Chris Cree said
Gaaahhh! Liz, you torturer!
I am going to have to break down and buy a CD at the iTunes store!
Joe said
Is that all there is, did everyone give up and go home?
Chris Cree said
Joe, some folk have lives. Unlike you and I apparently…
Ben Yoskoviz said
I’m still here.
I think I screwed up my link from reddit.
I changed the name of my post to reflect that it was a contest, hoping it would attract more people. In doing that though, it breaks the permanent link from reddit, so now I’ve changed it back. Gggr…silly Ben.
Joe said
Sad, isn’t it?
I’m all alone for the week, the other half is on vacation with her girlfriends.
The sound of silence…
ME Strauss said
Joe,
I tought about the in or on thing. I almost used at. Then I just decided that In Thassos worked for me. I even thought that you’d notice.
I just noticed you changed your template. What made you decide to switch over?
Chris Cree said
Dude! I hadn’t notice the template switch. I like the gray better than the brown. (maybe because it’s closer to blue?)
ann michael said
Hello All! I just thought I’d drop in before passing out for the day. What’s up Liz?
ME Strauss said
Chris,
What do people with lives do, do you think?
ann michael said
Lives are highly over rated - don’t worry! Everyone wants one and once you’ve got one you wish life was more simple!
Ben Yoskoviz said
Joe - in Firefox, the sentence, “Using Your Computer Wisely to be…” gets cut off by the actual content of the blog. It looks OK in IE though.
ME Strauss said
Hi Ann
Come on in!
You just missed a whole discussion on podcasting. It was pretty informative, if you’re interested you might want to go back and look through things.
Then Ben needs to tell you about tonight’s contest.
Chris Cree said
It’s all relative, isn’t it?
The guy’s at work think I’m insanely busy outside of work. Yet I feel I’m a bit slack. And Gogeous thinks I spend waaaayyy too much time staring at this screen!
Ben Yoskoviz said
Hi Ann…
The contest is fairly simple:
Finish this sentence — “I cook like I…” (and tell us why)
The prize: Fawlty Towers Complete Collection DVD
You can post here or on my blog where I now realize I screwed up the blog post title by not SAYING it was a contest. Stupid, stupid me…
Chris Cree said
Ann! Hey there!
I rarely long for simpler days. I get bored too easily. I need continual mind challenges.
ann michael said
Hmmmm…I’ll have to chew on that one (no pun intended).
Joe said
I did notice, and so did you.
I couldn’t get the Post Title to be any larger than the post type itself.
When I did get it to change, it make every link on the blog larger.
I really did like the template userability on blogger better, or maybe I was just used to it.
I like the look of this template, but small things like the blogroll and forums etc that I had, all disappeared on this one.
I think this transition is going to take a lot out of me.
Chris Cree said
Joe, it may take a lot out. But I’ve found these kinds of things put much more back in before they are over!
It’s all good, my friend.
ME Strauss said
Yeah, Joe
Getting to know the code that controls the links on WordPress is a little tricky, but it’s done the way it is to make sure that you have good design when it’s over — at least that’s the theory. I can help with some questions.
Ben Yoskoviz said
Manipulating the theme/design/layout in WP is definitely trickier, cause they break it up into separate sections for you, Blogger it’s all in one place. But the publishing features of WP are better.
Chris Cree said
Well it’s nearly pumpkin hour for me. I need to turn in. Thanks for the conversation all!
Liz, we never go the snacks out tonight! Greece must not be an eating place!
Enjoy!
Ben Yoskoviz said
And Joe - if you want some help with the CSS and testing I’d be happy to help (tomorrow though cause I’m beat now…)
ME Strauss said
Yeah, Word Press is much better in the long run. Once you have your design where you want it. It’s definitely a breeze in comparison.
ann michael said
Liz how about some feta cheese! what about baklava (not sure how you spell it) - that stuff is awesome!
And ouzo!!!!!
ME Strauss said
Oh, sure thing Ann.
You guys want anything?
Ben Yoskoviz said
Have a good night Chris…
If I have some ouzo now I’ll be under the table.
I have to turn in soon too, but I can’t resist waiting for a few more contest submissions. Lurkers, you out there? *smile*
Joe said
I hope everyone likes the new template, I think that is the one I’m going to stick with. It was actually my first choice, but I couldn’t get it to load the first time and I wanted something other than the default.
Now, I just have to learn how to manipulate the code… just a little.
ME Strauss said
Steve said he would probably be around about now and that he’d try to bring Milton.
ME Strauss said
I like that template, Joe. It’s not one that’s over use and it’s fun to look at.
Ben Yoskoviz said
I’ll take some feta cheese. My wife probably won’t be too happy when I crawl into bed smelling of stinky cheese though. (Sorry for the visual.)
Starbucker said
Back from dinner - nice enchilada plate at this quaint Mexican place. Everybody having fun? Any winners declared in Ben’s contest (saw the Arnold S one - good stuff).
Chris Cree said
Joe, is that template widget compatable? All my sidebar stuff is widgets and I love it. Very easy to rearrange at the drop of a hat.
Easton Ellsworth said
Hello all! Am I late to the party? Blame it on Arizona time - no daylight saving time, go fig.
Trisha said
Ok, this is the best I can come up with: I cook like Betty Crocker writes Cliff notes.
I hate cooking or any food preparation - so I only cook if there is some simple, easy way to do it.
Ben Yoskoviz said
Starbucker — no winner until tomorrow.
Liz slapped my blog post about the contest on reddit, but I’m learning a good lesson in titling posts properly (more on that tomorrow too I think).
Easton! Good to see you. You’re far from late, we just broke into the feta and ouzo.
Trisha said
Its time for me to leave now too, for some reason I am really tired tonight.
Easton Ellsworth said
http://gabbly.com/http://www.successful-blog.com/?p=795&cp=11#comments
Ben Yoskoviz said
Not too shabby Trisha! Betty Crocker’s cliff notes. Now I want some moist chocolate cake…hhmm…(and I just saw something on the news about portion sizes being too big in restaurants. Feta, ouzo, chocolate cake…*burp* Excuse me…)
ann michael said
Hey Easton - how’s yoda doing in the heat - he’s more used to a “wet” heat isn’t he?!
Easton Ellsworth said
By the by, blogtipping day is this Saturday. And isn’t July 1st also Canada’s Independence Day?
Shoot, I’ve got to get my three posts up tonight or lose Yoda. But chatting is so fun!
Starbucker said
I love feta - not a good companion though to what I just ate. How ya doin’ Easton! Trisha, good one - way to step up to the plate (sorry, bad pun).
Joe said
Chris,
There are two versions, one (the other one) has a widget folder, this version doesn’t.
I don’t know why.
I have both versions on the hard drive, I may be able to upload the widget folder to the server?
Anyway, thanks to all of you guys, I know you will see me through this.
Easton Ellsworth said
Hey Starbucker :). Ann, Yoda is baking - he needs some help so the PEZ candies don’t melt!
Ben Yoskoviz said
Easton - Canada Day is July 1st that’s very true. I’ll be celebrating up here somehow…
And I’ll celebrate all over again on July 4th for my southernly neighbors!
ME Strauss said
Hi Easton,
Did you bring Yoda with you?
ann michael said
stick him in the freezer - it will remind him of Hoth
Cat said
“I cook like I…â€
I cook like a I dance (both of which I love).
So at times it may be slow and easy. Others, fast, fast, fast.
Btw - I love cooking, but only if it’s not daily food OR if it’s a quick meal due to lack of time.
Cooking standard meat and three veg bores me to tears, but I’m quite happy to spend a day or three preparing a feast.
ME Strauss said
Starbucker,
That was 2/3 of a pun. p-u
Easton Ellsworth said
So thanks in part to moving lately from UT to AZ, I’ve come twice withing four seconds of losing Yoda. Crimanittly - didn’t I learn anything in high school? What’s that P-word? Oh yeah, procrastination. A blogger’s worst enemy.
ann michael said
OK - next week Cat brings the food!
ME Strauss said
Cat,
You cook like a designer. That’s not cooking. That’s producing a meal.
Ben Yoskoviz said
Cat, can I come over for dinner then?
And your explanation almost inspires a reverse contest, like Jeopardy:
“So at times it may be slow and easy. Others, fast, fast, fast.”
Alex Trebek asks, “What’s the question?”
(Btw, Alex Trebek is Canadian…)
Easton Ellsworth said
All I can think of here in the desert is ice water and ice cream. So Yoda might as well be on Hoth. That’s hilarious.
ME Strauss said
Ben,
If Alex Trebek is Canadian, then you and HART must know him. Right?
Joe said
OH, NO…
Not Cat Food…
Ben Yoskoviz said
Of course I know him. My uncle’s sister once dated him. He was born in Sudbury I believe, where an old university roommate of mine was from. We’ve hung out plenty.
I’m sure HART knows him too.
When you’re with Alex you always speak in questions. It’s the law.
Easton Ellsworth said
Funny, tonight we were watching Wheel of Fortune at my parents’ house and my dad and I thought it would be funny if Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak had a conversation together.
ann michael said
Cat food!!! Now that’s funny - maybe it’ll be a Fancy Feast!
Ben Yoskovitz said
Explain THIS to me…how long have I been mispelling my name tonight? *laugh*
It’s “Yoskovitz” not “Yoskoviz.” Wow. I should stop typing now…
Starbucker said
Yep Liz, 2/3 is right. Sometimes I just can’t control what flows from my head to the keyboard. Must be my insouciant attitude tonight
Easton Ellsworth said
Thanks to AutoComplete probably …
Cat said
Ann, I’d be glad to. For starters, how about durian, dark chocolate and red wine?
Liz, I’ve never thought about that, but you are most likely correct. Creating a good meal is similar to putting together a balanced and pleasing design.
Btw - I have ‘Designers who Blog’ and other bloggers have jumped in with ‘Designers who Cook’ as well as ‘Designers who Garden’. They are not up properly yet due to the same old ‘time’ problem. But both should be fun to join in on (I’m an avid gardener). And both involve the creative mind.
ME Strauss said
Spelling doesn’t count on open comment night, Ben. Well just blame it on the donkey.
ann michael said
MMMMMM - sounds great to me!
Joe said
Cat,
It sounds like you have a Designing Mind…
ME Strauss said
Starbucker,
It’s only okay to go for the easy ones on open mic night. Other times you have to leave them there or you look like you can’t think of the clever ones.
Ben Yoskovitz said
Not that I can enter my own contest, but I’ve been mulling some ideas:
“I cook like I pee…a steady stream of waste.” (perhaps a bit gross)
“I cook like I work…frantically, multi-tasking and always getting it right.” (egotistical and not entirely true)
“I cook like I watch hockey…always dreaming I could actually be a star.” (sentimental and not terribly funny)
“I cook like I sneeze…violently and messily.” (very true, but the word “messily” doesn’t quite make it funny enough: how about, “I cook like I sneeze…spewing a mess everywhere.”)
ME Strauss said
Not to mention Ben, that cooking and sneezing shouldn’t really be in the same sentence.
ME Strauss said
Cat.
those new Designers who . . . blogs sound like so much fun.
Yeah cooking is a design thing. Send some of that chocolate down this way to Ann and me.
Joe said
Ben,
How about, I cook like I have sex, it’s great until you get to the final portion.
Sorry, if that offended anyone. (my disclaimer)
ann michael said
Well guys - I’m signing off - got to make sure the kids are going to bed!
Easton Ellsworth said
I just sent one of Ben’s funny newspapers to my wife - I look forward to the look on her face when she reads it - thanks Ben for coming up with such a wacky tool!
ME Strauss said
Sweet Dreams, Ann. Thanks for coming.
I’ll try to check in with you tomorrow.
Joe said
Ooops, I think I may have offended ann…
Sorry, if I did…
ME Strauss said
Easton,
What’s your wife’s perception of blogging?
Ben Yoskovitz said
Joe - I was waiting for someone to compare cooking and sex. Glad you did it.
Easton - thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it. I hope your wife gets a good laugh from it, and let me know how it goes. Hopefully she doesn’t throw your stuff on the lawn…unless it’s already there since you’re moving still.
Bye, Ann. Nice to meet you.
Easton Ellsworth said
Have fun trying to get ‘em to sleep, Ann!
Cat said
“OH, NO…
Not Cat Food..”
LOL! that’s great! Yes, ‘Cat’ food is on the menu.
“Cat, can I come over for dinner then?”
You betcha!
Actually, I wish I could invite more of my online friends over for dinner. I’ve known people around the internet going on ten years now, and just started meeting up these past several years.
A couple of months ago I flew to Seattle and met up with 20 designers from all over the US. You can read about it here –>> http://www.creativelatitude.com/articles/article_200605_schultz.html
One designer I met online years back and we’ve been working together for several years and just met up last year. She’s now been to Bangkok three times, meeting for the first time last year.
Two weeks ago, we flew to Brunei and met up with another person we met online. (The person just happened to be there so we connected).
Going further back, one other came over to watch footie and eat chili about three years ago.
All fun, and I wish I could meet up with more of my ‘invisible’ friends.
Ben Yoskovitz said
Liz - here’s a more serious question for you - why aren’t b5media blogger’s email addresses more prominently displayed? I can’t even find them in most cases.
I just clicked a few of the links to the left for blogs that sounded interesting. I always look for an email address, but there’s none to be found. I’ve noticed it a few times so it can’t just be an anomaly…
ME Strauss said
Joe.
Ann wasn’t offended. She had to leave.
ME Strauss said
Poor training. I’ll mention it in the b5 forum. Do you know how to put up a contact form on a word press blog? Kean from last week was asking me how to do it.
Joe said
I didn’t really think she was, but I would rather apologize than offend.
ME Strauss said
Cat,
I’d love to find a way to meet you. Let’s find a way to sponsor a contest and then win it. The prize can be a trip to somewhere we all want to visit.
Ben Yoskovitz said
I’ve never put up a contact form via WordPress, so can’t help you there.
A simple “contact me” or “email” link would suffice though. I know it might be hijacked by spammers, but decent spam control software is easy to get, and it seems to me being “available for communication” is more valuable than the damage of some extra spam.
b5media should just hire me…*chuckle*
Easton Ellsworth said
Okay, I really have to go save Yoda now. May the Force (of blogging) be with you all! Till next time.
ME Strauss said
I agree with you on the contact information. Darren even says to do it on his blog. i didn’t realize that most folks didn’t have it.
Ben Yoskovitz said
See you later Easton. Good luck, and keep in touch!
ME Strauss said
See you, Easton.
Good Night, Yoda!
Cat said
Spammers … I use Spamstopper for my emails on web sites. It’s free, and easy to use.
Joe said
See, now that’s just something else for me to worry about…
I also want to put at least an E-mail address for contact.
Starbucker said
I gotta go too - long day of traveling today and I need some shuteye - thanks everybody!
Ben Yoskovitz said
Hopefully I wasn’t sounding snarky back there. I’m certainly no guru on blogging (as my 20-50 visitors/day will attest) but I think the contact info is critical. Perhaps even moreso when it comes to a blog network like b5media — I know after reading a good handful of b5media blogs and not seeing contact info I got the impression that the network was being a bit “standoffish” with its readers. I’m sure that’s not the case, but it was my impression…
Ben Yoskovitz said
See ya later Starbucker — good to make your acquaintance…
ME Strauss said
Good night Starbucker
Hope to see you again soon.
Cat said
Liz, I’d also love to meet up with you at some point.
The discussion ‘where in the world would you like meet’ has been going around with my online friends for such a long time. The problem with the US though is it’s just so darn big! Also, flying internally is at times the same cost at flying to another country.
ME Strauss said
No worries, Ben.
You didn’t sound a bit snarky to me. I agree with you. I think that a writer should have a way to contact him or her posted. I want to be able to get in touch with a blog’s author if the sidebar falls down or if I want to schedule an interview.
ME Strauss said
Hey, I’m not totally American. I have a passport.
Ben Yoskovitz said
All b5 needs to do is add everyone’s email address to their bio pages.
Take these 2 random examples: http://www.b5media.com/aaron-brazell
http://www.b5media.com/jason-bean/
At the top of each profile have contact info - including email and any other means (Skype, AIM, Gtalk, etc.)
I also noticed a few b5 media blogs where the author(s) isn’t readily apparent. I’m not sure what others think about that but I’m always a bit skeptical of blogs with no obvious authors and no “about me/us” section…
Cat said
Well, then, come on over!
Right now I’m in India, staying at the Taj Lands End. Soooo, race you to the beach!
(well, it’s raining so we may just get wet
ME Strauss said
Ben, You’re echoing my own words. I don’t like blogs where I don’t know who writes them.
ME Strauss said
Cat you seem to be getting rained on a lot these days.
Joe said
I have all the animals in my Ark
and see the lightning as a spark
No night to dark for ye to see
it will light the way for thee.
Berma Shave
‘Nite Liz,
‘Nite All
Ben Yoskovitz said
Alright, I have to call it a night.
The contest will run till tomorrow (at some arbitrary closing time that I decided, since it was an unplanned contest to begin with!)
I hope we’ll get some more submissions…poor Chris’ 1 comment on my blog makes it look a wee bit silly. Hehe.
But I DO love the idea of spontaneous contests like this. And open mic was once again a great learning experience for me and tons of fun.
Good night everyone. Thanks Liz.
Cat said
You are right. In Bangkok it’s the rainy season, but apparently not here (the driver from the airport said) so it’s a treat for me..
I love rain. REAL rain. Crashes. Booms. Bangs. Wimpy rain is boring and still manages to get me wet so it’s tedious in my books.
ME Strauss said
Good night Joe
Good night Ben
Thanks for coming to see me
ME Strauss said
A real storm is a fun thing to watch. But It’s a hassle to walk around it I agree.
Cat said
I’m going to take off too. I’ve requested a room change and have to pack.
(arrived after dark last night. Woke up with a view of huge cranes and a bit of water)
Bye all!
ME Strauss said
See you later, Dear Friend.
Have a wonderful Day!
ah pek said
*squeezing me big butt in*
Hi guys! I’m from Malaysia! Ever heard of it?
Hey Liz, this is fun!
Cat said
Liz,
I know I’ve said my ta’s, but I just wanted to share a quick resource for bloggers who need to do a bit of research on their subjects.
http://www.ipl.org/
It’s the internet Public Library. Great stuff! I’m checking out their section on writing now.
Again, it was a nice time chatting with you. As every, you are a gracious hostess.
ME Strauss said
HI Cat,
Thanks for sharing that resource. It sounds like a great one. You know I’ll share it in big letters with your name on it.
ME Strauss said
Hi Ah Pek,
I was just sweeping the floor!
We have some fun. Don’t we?
Glad to see you came. Of course I know where Malaysia is.
Cat said
Thanks Liz. I’m a resource hound and can’t wait to get my new project going so I can share.
Patience is NOT a virtue of mine so I’m chomping at the bit to start populating.
ME Strauss said
No worries, Cat.
I’ll make good use of them.
HART (1-800-HART) said
~waves.. Sorry I missed all of the fun, but thought I would say hello anyway and ramble a bit, then get back to work (doing another alnighter getting out some deadlines)
Re: Emails .. you are just asking for trouble placing your exact email on your blog. I just use the (at) instead of @ and (dot) com instead of .com … EG hart (at) PetLvr (dot) com … Some use graphics with the real email address and then hotlink so the listed email address becomes something like .. hart@REMOVETHISPARTpetlvr.com if they do click on the graphic.
It doesn’t matter much to me - when you get over 500 spam emails a day .. Between my server spam control, my own Spamnix plugin and filters .. I rarely see spam except to empty the trash folder.
In other news … our local fresh fruit and vegetable stand opened up for the summer season and their Mandarin Oranges are tasty. It’s about time .. since mandarin season was over (after Xmas) .. all that’s been around are these half-breed mandarin oranges, that aren’t mandarin oranges .. I eat a lot of salad, and BBQ chicken all the time and have Mandarin Chicken Salad every day. Although, before it was just those juicy #4012 Orange and BBQ chicken Salads.
I didn’t read any of the previous comments .. I might tomorrow if I have time, but I have been clicking on CAT’s links that has been posted. Did I miss anything?
kean said
Hmm I don’t know If I am too late but I need some help?
I would like to put a contact form on a page in my blog, does anyone know where i could get the code for one???
Thanks
-Kean
HART (1-800-HART) said
Kean .,. I think you are screwed because you can’t add plugins to your hosted wordpress.com blog. Now, if you had a wordpress blog on your own domain, you can get .. THIS PLUGIN
ME Strauss said
Everybody HART!!
Thanks for the information about the email addresses. I have been really lucky with all of mine, but I guess I should not rely on that.
Your Manadarin orange story is in keeping with this weeks Tuesday Comments Night get together. Ben is running a contest to win the complete set of Fawlty Towers DVDs. To participate you need to finish this sentence
I cook like _____
ME Strauss said
Kean,
Glad to see that you dropped by and I knew as soon as I saw that you were here when HART was you would get your answer. Unfortunately, it was the answer that I was afraid of.
The dreaded plug-in.
Wish that I could help more on that one.
Liz
Kean said
Hey HART thanks for your help, maybe one day i’ll have my own hosted blog then I can get my contact form
I found a Bravenet contact form, but it just goes wacky after you place the code. I guess wordpress doesn’t like it.
Also thanks Liz for your help
ME Strauss said
Hey Kean,
In two months folks will be asking you questions. You’ll be passing the knowledge on then.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Keen .. in the meantime, in the hosted wordpress - you can still create PAGES .. just create one and write some text how people can contact you via email (see my comments above to avoid spam)
“I COOK LIKE ….”
Does that have to have a Fawlty Towers reference? The only trivia I know .. is that in the Spanish version of the series, Manuel is not from Barcelona but from Mexico.
There’s a line in the Little Shop of Horrors .. I cook like Betty Crocker and look like Donna Reed .. but, I must say that wasn’t from my memory - but from google search. I suck at trivia and/or tend to cheat if I can
I could make up my own saying .. I cook like my wife cleans .. when it comes to Stir Fry and HART’s Famous Chili Recipe
ME Strauss said
You can cook like Dudley Do Right if you like no rules about that Fawlty Towers is just the prize.
timethief said
I haven’t a clue what time it is where everyone else is or if I’m sending this after the whole damn thing is done. Greetings from the west coast of Canada where it’s 4:45 PM and we have yet to eat supper. Fireworks today nha not here we did that last Saturday. Happy Independence Day to the US from a we’ll never be the 51st state canuck. [grin]
ME Strauss said
Hi Val,
This is last week’s post. Right now it’s 6:50 in Chicago. This week’s conversation will be starting in 10 minutes on the front page. I’ll send you the link — in case you want to know.
Scot Herrick said
Well, right now it is 9:08 PM here on the West Coast near Seattle. The fireworks here won’t even start for another 50 minutes or so.
Of course, it is a local legend that it ALWAYS rains on the 4th of July here - and it did at 5 AM this morning and showers this afternoon. After the weather people all said that it would be sunny for last week and this week (14 days of sun!).
Thunder and lightening are fireworks in and of themselves, don’t you think?
I’ve taken the last four days to take a serious look at what I am doing and where I am going - it has been a great experience. Some great links have showed up in my blog subscriptions - and good comments ALWAYS show up on open mic night.
Hope your Independence Day here in the states was a good one - and hope that we can make the place one to want to come to again for those readers outside the US.
Ah….but that was commentary…..
Scot
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