November 21, 2006
The Mic Is On and It’s a Thank-You Party!
ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:00 pm
It’s Like Open Mic Only Different
Here’s how it works.
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
The rules are simple — be nice.
There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.
Tonight it’s about saying thanks to the world and each other!
We might also talk about
- people we know who’ve done cool stuff
- books, movies, songs that made a difference
- things that make us glad that we’re alive
- all things we appreciate
AND THE EVER POPULAR,
Basil the code-writing donkey, and Milton the Moose.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Related articles
The Mic Is on and We’re Going Exploring!
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287 Comments to “The Mic Is On and It’s a Thank-You Party!”
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Char said
Yippee! I think I’m first!
ME Strauss said
Hi Char!
Yep you are!
Thank you for coming and thanks for that lovely “I’d rather Tuesday comment night than TV comment” that you wrote this week!
Char said
You are most welcome!
I really would rather hang out here than watch TV on a Tuesday night - there are so many cool, new people to meet, things to learn and laughs to be had.
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Evening Liz.
Char said
Oh, I forgot to mention that I invited some blogger friends tonight - I hope some of them stop in.
Trisha said
Hello!
ME Strauss said
Hi Doug,
Thanks for coming.
ME Strauss said
Hey Trisha
Thank you for coming too!
ME Strauss said
We’re trying to think up thank you gifts for office friends and bosses an coworkers. Anyone got ideas?
Trisha said
gift cards from restaurants?
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Bah, none. I’m thinking coffee for some.
Char said
I found the COOOLEST site ever for the girls! It is called Design-her Gals:
http://casualkeystrokes.com/2006/11/20/great-find-designher-gals/
You can create the most unique gifts and they support a great cause.
Chris Cree said
Did she say cool? I’m F-f-f-f-reeezing down here in Savannah tonight!
Char said
It smells like snow here, but I don’t think it is in the forecast.
Trisha said
I’m not good at picking out gifts
ME Strauss said
Trisha,
Restaurant gift cards make really cool gift. I forgot about them.
Char said
I am great at picking out gifts if I am using someone else’s money! If I have to use my own money it just takes a bit more thought.
ME Strauss said
Coffee’s a great idea, if you know they drink it. So is exotic tea, if you know what they like.
Chris Cree said
Char, The Weather Channel says the temp is 36F (and I hear it raining) right now. They say it will get down to 30F tonight (about -1C) and - get this - keep raining!
Where am I? Chicago?
ME Strauss said
Char,
That site is too fun and too funny at the same time!
Trisha said
My favorite gift to get is gift cards from book stores like amazon.
I’m much better at getting than giving, at least I know what I want better than I know what someone else wants.
Chris Cree said
Wait, Liz. I’m thinking that any gift is a great idea if you know they like it!
ME Strauss said
What? Chris? Are you outside my window?
Hey thanks for coming!
Chris Cree said
Liz, I won’t be up your way until next month.
This is just my way of getting ready for the deep freeze! (Mostly by complaining!)
ME Strauss said
Hey Chris,
I was just kidding . . . I sent you some cold weather to help you prepare. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Service Untitled - Douglas said
http://animalcoffee.com/products/ has some cool stuff.
Chris Cree said
Personally anyone who wants to give me coffee or chocolate is all right in my book. And it all about me, isn’t it?
Or is it not all about me? I forget…
Chris Cree said
Liz, next time you send me your wintry weather could you try to keep it outside?
Carolyn Manning said
Hi everyone,
This is so cool (sorry Chris) to be here before midnight.
Roger von Oech said
Hi Liz, Hi Folks.
Your intro said you were looking for, among other things, movies that made a difference (and that we’re thankful for).
As you know, director Robert Altman died yesterday, and I’m grateful for his body of work.
ME Strauss said
Doug,
The weirdest thing. Their product page is coming up blank for me .
Chris Cree said
Ouch! Carolyn. You wound me. Brrrr.
ME Strauss said
Hi Carolyn!
Thanks for coming!
ME Strauss said
Hi Roger
Thanks for coming too!
Roger Altman died? I never heard about it.
Wow! Thanks for saying something. He did some wonderful stuff.
Chris Cree said
Roger’s got me thinking about serious stuff for a moment. I’m glad that I’ve got a dry place to sleep tonight and for the modern wonder that is air travel because it is bringing my Gorgeous home to keep me warm tonight!
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Yes I know. Click one of the left navigation menus.
ME Strauss said
Roger,
Thanks for your cool “Whack Me” Creativity!
ME Strauss said
Thanks Doug,
I clicked on the wrong shade of brown. Some designers! They should realize that folks don’t discriminate as finely as they do about those things.
Roger von Oech said
Speaking of Robert Altman, earlier in this year I rented and watched 10 Altman movies in a two-week period. It was a real “Altman orgy.”
Anyone have any favorite Altman films they’d like to share?
Char said
No Altman favorites, but I have so much to be thankful for at this time of year.
Rick Cockrum said
Hi everyone!
There are some photos and a filmography of Robert Altman at the IMDB .
Roger von Oech said
Of course, there’s MASH, Nashville, Short Cuts, Kansas City, and the Player . . .
ME Strauss said
Trisha, thank you for adding to the world’s butterfly population and growing things and for helping women stay healthy
Carolyn Manning said
Chris,
How much longer will the weather be bad for you?
Roger von Oech said
One thing I especially liked about Robert Altman was his relative sense of humility compared to most people in ego-driven Hollywood.
That’s because his first feature — MASH — wasn’t released until he was 45. Before that, he was making baseball instructional films in Kansas City, among other things.
That will keep you humble.
Trisha said
your welcome! and thank you for creating such a nice blog with useful information that helps many others make their own blogs better!
cat said
Nice, but I’ll wait for the male version - Design-A-MAN.com
Chris Cree said
Roger, I’m guessing I’m lacking a little culture because I had to go check out the IMDB to see who he was. The only movie of his that I’ve even seen is MASH, which of course is a classic.
Starbucker said
Hello everybody! First, Happy Thanksgiving to all, and second, thank you Liz for hosting, and third, I loved “The Player” and “M*A*S*H”.
Roger von Oech said
Chris, you may have seen Gosford Park when it came out several years ago. Wonderful ensemble cast, and he let them act.
ME Strauss said
Hey Starbucker!
Thank you for coming!
ME Strauss said
Doug,
The coffee boxes are cool thank yous. They make need keepsakes after the coffee is gone. People like those kind of things.
Trisha said
I’ll admit I’ve never heard of him either. I’ve of MASH of course though.
Chris Cree said
Carolyn, If by bad you mean cold, it looks like it will be back up to a high around 70 where it belongs by the weekend. Personally I like cold (and even cold and rainy if I don’t have to be out in it much.)
I’m only wingeing because our heat pump conked out and the repair guy won’t be in until the morning. I’ll survive just fine, though.
Roger von Oech said
Another thing I REALLY liked about Altman was his particular creative process.
He knew that it was important to have a good solid plan, but he also knew that it was VERY IMPORTANT to improvise when he was executing that plan. It was messy. It would sometimes drive other people nuts. BUT it allowed him to get the results he was after.
I can identify with that and I bet that many of you can too!
Starbucker said
Ah yes, Gosford Park - I really liked that one too Roger. He was a master at the long tracking shot, right? I remember one during the first part of “The Player”- brilliant.
ME Strauss said
Roger,
I’m feeling old, hearing all of these folks saying they’ve never heard of Altman.
Roger von Oech said
Starbucker: yes indeed, the opening of the Player is a jewel. What is it? something like 5 minutes without a cut? It’s gotta be a record.
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Liz,
I think I’m going to do those as my more expensive present. Now I need something cheaper that is also nice.
Char said
I have heard of and watched MASH, but didn’t associate Altman’s name with it immediately.
ME Strauss said
I just released Cat from Akismet moderation — She’s back at # 47!!!
Thank you Cat for you patience.
Chris Cree said
Roger, A quick scan of the IMDb entry doesn’t fire off any synapses. I’m guessing there weren’t enough explosions or car chases to get me out for that one. Sorry.
Starbucker said
Oh Liz, speaking of things we appreciate, I have to say I’ve really enjoyed the blogging experience this year, and getting the chance to personally meet many of my new online friends (in Milwaukee and Des Moines). Which leads me back to that little idea we were talking about on OMN a few weeks back….remember?
Char said
Cat - Design-A-Man would be fun too, but I don’t know if the programmers could handle all the features we would want!
Roger von Oech said
Here’s my favorite Altman film. You all might want to rent it.
McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971) — Warren Beatty and Julie Christie.
I first saw it in 1972 in college with 1,500 students at Sundaty Night Flicks.
It’s hauntingly beautiful.
When I watched it again earlier in the year, it’s still beautiful.
There are not many movies you see when you’re younger that still hold up when you see them today.
McCabe and Mrs Miller does.
Check it out!
ME Strauss said
You know Starbucker, even then, I’m not sure I knew what OMN stood for.
Joe said
Hey all,
I know I’m late, but you are only averaging 1 comment a minute. At this rate, we’ll only have 280 by the end of the night…
ME Strauss said
Doug,
What’s your low end price point? There’s a $25 chocolate box from zChocolate in my sidebar — check it out. You have to click a couple times to see the whole list.
Chris Cree said
Roger, I’ll say I was younger when you first saw that movie!
Starbucker said
Ha! Don’t you love acronyms! I have way too many in my business. They are “Short-Cuts” (that’s in honor of Altman) that have gotten out of hand.
Roger von Oech said
Yes! I’m still talking about Altman.
Altman said “McCabe and Mrs Miller” was the only film he ever made that he shot ENTIRELY IN SEQUENCE (because of the weather changes it moved from autumn through to winter).
Films are never shot in sequence.
I’ve NEVER created ANYTHING from A to Z in a linear fashion. I jump around a lot, probably like most of you. That must have been a challenging constraint.
Trisha said
Time for me to go - House will be on soon and I need to get a snack first.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
cat said
“I don’t know if the programmers could handle all the features we would want!”
LOL!
You know, someone is going to do a manly version … I just wish I’d had the time as it’d be such a hoot ;-D
Char said
I’ll be back in a bit…
ME Strauss said
Chris,
Thank you for all of the Klondike bars and the laughs and the Jack the donkey routine that still stops me cold and makes me giggle.
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Low is like $10. $25 is middle range.
Joe said
Ok, Liz.
I am caught in the Akismet Black Hole…
HELLlllllppppp….
Chris Cree said
Starbucker, You are so right about the whole acronym thing. I saw too many of them when I was in the military.
The best though was when I was interviewing for IBM a while back. The interviewer kept using all sorts of the things. I finally asked him if it was a rule at IBM that none of their acronyms could be over 3 letters long.
He said that had an acronym for that too, TLA. (Three Letter Acronym.) I nearly fell out of my chair laughing! Interesting interview, that.
ME Strauss said
Happy Thanksgiving, Trisha!
Carolyn Manning said
Hi Starbucker. Haven’t seen you in a while
ME Strauss said
Starbucker,
I think you’re trying to make me crazier. Yep!
Roger von Oech said
I guess folks are getting “Altmaned-out.”
One last thing, don’t confuse MASH the movie with Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould (1970) with the TV series that came later.
Altman was responsible for the film.
ME Strauss said
Doug,
Thanks for the blade servers that keep the telcos and cablecoms in line.
Leon said
Hey everyone. I decided to stop by since i had fun last week.
I would have been on earlier but
one “thin I appreciate” is a good burger and I just finished one.
Starbucker said
Good one Chris - I’d bet IBM is the king of acronyms. My favorite acronym story is our fellow blogger Christine Kane’s attempts to make an acronym out of the Blogger “word verification” letters when she left comments on my blog. Didn’t you try that once too Chris?
Service Untitled - Douglas said
These are gifts for the blade server people - bosses, editors, writers - most related to the industry involving the blade servers.
ME Strauss said
Hey Leon,
Thanks for coming!
Starbucker said
Hi Carolyn, and yes Liz, I can make people crazy (er). Takes one to know (or create) one!
Ah Pek said
I wanna thank Liz Strauss! She one cool baby!!
ME Strauss said
Funny, Doug, you mentioned the blade server people and I started thinking of Jessica’s sausage!
Chris Cree said
Captcha poems! Tried it once. But I really don’t have the patience to think that hard, mostly.
ME Strauss said
Roger Don’t leave out Sally Kellerman!
ME Strauss said
Captcha poems! I’m trying to think up a game that is some kind of spam roulette.
Leon said
Chris - For a while when word verification came out several blogfriends kept posting about the silly words they found. I don’t think they tried poems though.
Mike said
Hey Liz,
And don’t forget the one common thread between the movie and the show: Fred Williamson.
Hey everybody! Hey Leon (we closed the place down last week)!
Mike
ME Strauss said
Sorry to all four people stuck in Akismet at once. I just turned off.
I am thankful you survived.
Renée said
Hello everyone,
Happy Thankgiving in advance!
Chris Cree said
Liz gets the prize for best out of context quote tonight!
(And I want to personally thank you from falling on that grenade for me Liz!)
Starbucker said
Here’s another interesting thought in line with our theme tonight - what is your favorite song with “Thank You” in the title? Discuss….
Leon said
Yeah Mike, and Liz didn’t even have to call the blogcops to escort us home!
Mike said
Leon,
I remember doing word-veri-fun during the phenomenon that was “Simon of Space”. Anyone else remember that?
Mike
ME Strauss said
Hey Renée !
Hey Joe!
Hey Ah Pek!
Chris Cree said
~~~Thanks for the memories~~~~
Hope is one of my all time favorites!
And on that note I must take my leave. Have a little tidying up to do before I go retrieve Gorgeous from our wondrous local airport.
Chris Cree said
Happy Thanksgiving for all of you here in the US of A. And to the rest of you ’round the globe enjoy your days too!
‘Night all.
Starbucker said
Bye Chris - Happy gobble gobble.
Renée said
Hey Chris, hope you give Gorgeous a good warm hug in the airport.
Take care.
Joe said
Whoah, I broke the gravity well…
Hey all, I was lost in some type of Black Hole and couldn’t comment for the longest time.
Mike said
Nighty night Chris; just left a comment over at your place. I say you milk the furnace thing a bit to keep Gorgeous extra close for another day!
Starbucker said
Here are my top 5 “Thank You” songs:
5. Thank You - Dido (great chorus)
4. Thank You - Led Zeppelin (gotta have the hard rock 70’s in here)
3. Thank You Girl - Beatles (sleeper track)
2. Thank You (falletinme Be Mice Elf Again) - Sly and the Family Stone (this one’s smokin!)
1. Thank You - Alanis Morissette (this one always gets me)
ME Strauss said
Happy Thanksgiving, Chris!
Mike said
Hi Roger,
I’m thankful I get to say how much I love the “Whack” work and your blog!
Mike
Leon said
Joe - we can “see” you now. That’s what a second tab or window is good for… when net lag is happening.
ME Strauss said
Thank you, Starbucker for dancing in the comment box.
Starbucker said
Always a pleasure, my friend!
Now about that thing I mentioned earlier - yes, the Chicago blogger get-together - are you game for it, say in May?
Leon said
Aw Starbucker… you have now given me more work to do at my new music blog. I might have to check these songs out.
Starbucker said
You should Leon - all very good stuff!
Mike said
How about “Thank you very much” from Oliver!
Starbucker said
Aw shucks, it’s time for me to go - snuggle time for the wife and I. Hey everyone, have a wonderful Holiday, and Liz, drop me a note on that May thing. The Des Moines blogging cartel are all in! Bye!
Mike said
So Liz, I get no greeting?
ME Strauss said
Hi Mike,
Thank you for coming!
Joe said
Hey Mike,
At least they can see you, it took almost 75 comments before they knew I was here.
Char said
Did I miss Chris handing out Klondike bars?
Carolyn Manning said
Just thought I’d pop back in for a few minutes
ME Strauss said
Carolyn,
Thank you for being a writer’s writer.
Joe said
Hey Carolyn,
Glad to see you here, I missed you last time.
Service Untitled - Douglas said
I got distracted and busy.
Anyone come up with some good gift ideas? 
Leon said
I keep coming across those SOB badges lately. I shall not get whimsical when commenting about them though.
Christine Kane said
Hello fellow bloggers!
Delaney Kirk said
Hi all. I’m trying to meet a deadline so can’t stay and play but just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Turkey Day!
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Hey Christine.
ME Strauss said
Hey Christine!
Thank you for coming!
ME Strauss said
Hey Delaney,
Thanks for coming to!
ME Strauss said
Joe,
Thanks for every Burma Shave poem you ever tucked us in with.
Mike said
Hi Joe,
Sorry you got stuck, but I’m sure it’ll come straight off any time you have coming in purgatory!
Mike
ME Strauss said
Good one, Mike!
But I don’t think Joe’s going to puratory. Joe’s headed straight for another dimension!
Christine Kane said
Hi Doug, Hi Liz. Did I see a Starbucker here on the last page??? And Joe? I haven’t seen you all in a while. I’ve been having hard drive envy after my apple turned into a curling iron and melted mine… so I’ve been a sporadic computer user at best.
BUT I’m grateful for a guy named Jerry… who put my laptop in a refrigerator and turned it on its side and it spewed most of my data back out before the hard drive got replaced!
ME Strauss said
Thanks Cat,
For every story and every cool link!
Joe said
Mike,
I hope so, I think I have a long time coming after my…
(You didn’t really expect me to say anything, did you?)
Christine Kane said
And thanks Liz for that most excellent post on the entrepreneur vs. etc etc. That was fantastic. And a great reminder for me. (even as an artist)
ME Strauss said
Christine,
That’s some description! I’m not sure I’ve heard of that cure for getting data from a hard drive before. Was Jerry’s last name Garcia?
Joe said
Aw, Liz…
I almost missed it.
Be assured there will always be a poem for you… all…
Delaney Kirk said
OK, I’m back. Need some advice. I’ve decided to use business books instead of a textbook in an Organizational Behavior class in the spring. Topics in the class include leadership, motivation, communication, organization culture, power & politics…Any suggestions on good books to use?
ME Strauss said
Aw Joe.
cat said
And thanks Liz, for you being you. Hugs
I’ve leave you with one more.
Yesterday I received a portfolio from a student designer. His opening work is very powerful. It’s one that speaks to designers (most) everywhere.
http://norgewip.blogspot.com/
I have a scar on my right wrist (three stitches) that I wear it with pride.
ME Strauss said
Flow for motivation.
ME Strauss said
Steve Farber’s Radical leap and Radical Edge for Extreme Leadership
Mike said
Joe,
Not unless I put on the collar and vestments.
And I’m with Christine on that freelancer/entrepreneur post!
So while we’re on what we’re thankful for, let me go to my prepared remarks:
I am most thankful that a woman too good for me said yes to my marriage proposal, and then felt compelled by her marriage vows to stay with me for 24 years.
So there.
Mike
ME Strauss said
I could name a bunch of blogs for communication. . . .
ME Strauss said
I’d still go with Peter Drucker on The Practice of Management
Leon said
Wow! Mike that is a hard comment to follow. Good for you.
Char said
I can be serious too, Mike -
I am thankful for my marriage of 12 years, 3 great kids, the luxury of being able to work from home, wonderful friendships and lots of hobbies!
Delaney Kirk said
Tim Johnson also recommended Farber’s books for leadership. Would love the list of blogs. In fact, what a great idea to put together a list of relevant blogs and require the students to read these/comment on/then discuss in class!
ME Strauss said
I’m going to have to think about Power and Politics.
ME Strauss said
Want to talk about this over the weekend Deleney? I can call you.
Joe said
I think all of you know what I’m thankful for.
Other than that, I’m thankful for having some great blogger friends too.
ME Strauss said
Thank you Renee,
For always listening to every question and taking it deeper. You bring meaning and insight to everthing we talk about.
Delaney Kirk said
Liz,
Would love to talk about this. I should be home Saturday. Sunday I’m leaving at 6am for Midland, Michigan to do a workshop there on Monday. Thanks.
ME Strauss said
I’ll call Saturday email me your number and the earliest time I might call you. We’ll gather a list together.
Thanks for all you bring to our blog.
Leon said
Delaney - mining the links and book reviews in other blogs may help.
Mike - yeah, blogs give strangers a starting point that encourages interaction.
Delaney Kirk said
OK. BTW, did I see that some of the Des Moines bloggers might be traveling to Chicago in May?
ME Strauss said
Yeah, we’re talking about a Successful Blog Convention!
:) 
candice said
Heard the hard drive in the fridge/freezer thing from a bunch of other sources actually. One of my friends does forensics for the DEA, and she has had to recover data that way. (Sometimes you go for the low-tech solution.)
Hello and bye and I need to keep working, sorry!
Delaney Kirk said
Thanks Leon. That’s a good idea. Send me any specific blogs/links that would be relevant if you get the time.
Delaney Kirk said
Would love to attend the Convention–can you add me to the list? I’ll be back in Des Moines by mid-May (I’m here in Florida until then).
Leon said
That harddrive fridge bit is becoming a meme. We may all post about it subconsciously this week.
Mike said
Delaney,
Here’s my short list of the best I’ve read:
Good to Great - there are many important lessons from throughout history in this book.
The Heart of Change by John Kotter. Simply the best and clearest-written book about organizational change management. His earlier book was good; this one is distilled OCM excellence.
More later.
Mike
ME Strauss said
Ah Pek,
Thank you for always bringing something to make us smile.
Mike Sansone said
::Thank you for this day being done::
Say Hey, how is everyone
Delaney Kirk said
Thanks for the suggestions, Mike. And for the link–will travel back to read more fully later.
Leon said
Delaney - will do. One thing this directory project does is get me reading lots of blogs. If I find anything I’ll send it.
Mike Sansone said
Hey there Dr. I’m compiling a list of books for ya:-)
ME Strauss said
Hey Mr. Sanone!
Thanks for coming!
Sounds like you’ve been working too hard.
Delaney Kirk said
Hi Sansone, I’m hearing there might be a Des Moines group off to see the Wiz (make that Liz) in Chicago in May!
Christine Kane said
wow… I disappeared for a second (I was buying a domain name!) and I missed out on so much discussion.
Liz… Jerry’s last name isn’t Garcia. Sorry. (it’s Falwell!)
Hi Mike Sansone!
ME Strauss said
Hey Candice,
Thanks for your drive-bys to let us know that you’re still with us!
Mike Sansone said
Hiya Liz (who dubbed me Mr?), I love chicago - count me in.
Hiya CK! How’s things?:-)
ME Strauss said
Falwell — Christine, you should have Mary Katherine write a song about Jerry Garcia Falwell.
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Hey Mike
Christine Kane said
Things are good Mike. How’s da Bread Company treating you?
Liz, I’ll be performing in Chicago next fall… (these things get booked far out, huh?) But I might be at the BlogHer convention too. We could have a girlie bloggie meeting then!
ME Strauss said
Thanks, Leon,
For so quickly becoming a part of everything and helping everyone everywhere you look.:)
Christine Kane said
Very funny Liz. I’ll discuss it with her.
Leon said
Hey Liz - with stuff like hard drives,fridges and Jerry (not) Garcia appearing in Open Comments you must get some odd links and search results.
Mike Sansone said
Dr. Kirk - The Ten Faces of Innovation is one to think about.
Mike Sansone said
Hiya Douglas, how’s the new gig?
CK - I’m lovin life in the Bread aisle:-)
Christine Kane said
And Leon, don’t leave out Jerry Falwell. That search alone could bring a congregation of new readers for Ms. Strauss!
ME Strauss said
Christine!!
Chicago in the fall AND blogher!! Too cool. Way too cool. I’m in. I’ll be your roadie.
Delaney Kirk said
Thanks for the suggestions. I’m off to work on this deadline–handouts for next workshop have to be emailed early tomorrow morning. I’ll check back later to see if there are any more book choices. Good night all.
ME Strauss said
Mike DeWitt,
Thanks for your productive irrevernce!
Christine Kane said
Liz, I require a big bowl of green m&m’s in my dressing room… other than that, I’m easy to roadie for! Will you be at BlogHer?
ME Strauss said
Good night Delaney. It will be fun talking to you this on Saturday!
ME Strauss said
You betcha, I’ll be there if you’re there! Wanna share a room?
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Which gig, Mike?
Liz, the chocolate site causes my computer to crash.
ME Strauss said
Mike Sansone thanks for your voice on the telephone and every word that it says.
Leon said
Oh lordy Christine we mustn’t forget Brother Falwell.
Just a thought: At least this is “using” keywords honrestly - one blog I read used to have all sorts of famous adult terms and famous names in his template to attract readers.
ME Strauss said
Really, Doug! Huh! I’m sorry about that. I’ll have to check into what the problem is there that’s just not good.
Mike Sansone said
Night gang, just wanted to come in and say thanks for this community (and it’s HOF conductor).
Glad to be a caboose on this lincomotive
candice said
Thanks, Liz.
(And for the record, events like blogher tend to have me running away screaming. Cannot deal with that many women. I’m at home at conferences like Usenix.)
Service Untitled - Douglas said
I’m heading out guys. Talk to everyone next week!
Christine Kane said
Liz, I’ll let you know about room-sharing. I’ll know more in January. (You live there… are you really going to get a room??)
bye mike! see ya in West des moines!
Christine Kane said
So Candice… I won’t look for you there! (I get a little wonky at ANY conference where there’s too many of one thing. Songwriters, for instance… zoinks.)
Christine Kane said
bye doug! say hi to your mom!
ME Strauss said
Candice,
I know what you mean, having gone last year. But this one’s in Chicago, so I know how to get away.
Christine,
You can’t enjoy a conference if you go home every night. So when I can I try to stay where the conference is. It’s easier on me and on my husband too.
ME Strauss said
Bye Doug!
Bye Mike!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Christine Kane said
Okay, y’all… I need to run, too. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Liz, thanks for what you do, and being who you are so fully and beautifully! And thanks to fellow bloggers because it’s so much fun to read you!
ME Strauss said
Christine,
Thanks for every bit of you. I meant every bit of that.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Leon said
Are we in a lull? or is akismet being boistrous again?
ME Strauss said
Leon,
I think we’re all taking a breather.
Akismet is being punished. (I turned it off.)
Leon said
Maybe not. My finger is clicking too much i think.
Char said
Time for some new questions I guess! Anyone have any good vegetable recipes? We are going to my brothers for Thanksgiving and he wants us to bring a veggie dish that we have never tried before.
ME Strauss said
What me cook???? Eh Heh heh. Shh. My husband will laugh so hard you will hear him.
Leon said
Hehe. I think my fingers want a break. Why do we never have short email addies or URLs? bob@bob.com is so much easier than mine.
Leon said
Sorry… I can boil water and nuke stuff.
Char said
Well Liz - I am no cook either but my brothers are. I did not get the domestic goddess gene.
ME Strauss said
So Leon, Wanna cook for me? j/k
Jonic said
Is the open mic still going on?
If anything goes, am I allowed to say how much I hate everything?
Just throwing it out there… It’s 0344 here (UK) so I guess it’s still in full swing…
Perhaps you hate breathing too… Maybe we could be best friends…
ME Strauss said
Jonic,
There’s only one rule. You have to be nice.
Joe said
Sorry, My AV was trapping my EM in the BH with the AS running interference for the IM I was trying to send.
Lleon said
Liz - nope
- Idid create some great microwave rice once… I was so proud I documented it for Flickr.
Jonic - nice to see someone from the other side of the pond - and from a place i have been to.
Char said
WOW Joe, want to make my head spin?
Joe said
Sorry Char,
I was having so much trouble with my Anti-virus, I just started typing when it cleared up.
Jonic said
I’ll try my best…
Char said
I’m working on my new laptop tonight and I am still trying to get used to the keyboard and touchpad speed - I’ve had to retype a handful of comments tonight.
Jonic said
So what do we all think of this music television?
Leon said
Has anyone been to a ‘Blog MeetUp”? They used to have one here and it was okay but it died when fees were introduced.
ME Strauss said
Jonic,
I have faith in you!
But I don’t know what you mean by music television.
ME Strauss said
Scot Herrick went to a Blog Meetup and no one came.
Leon said
Jonic - Do you mean stations like MTV? If so i never watch them. I get my music off of the web.
Joe said
My horrible-scope
said I’d be up late tonight.
To prove it wrong
I must say Good Night.
Happy Thanksgiving to all
from the US of A
To everyone else
have a really Great Day.
Berma Shave
Nite Liz
Nite All
Jonic said
Blog Meetup? Is that like an official gathering, or is it strictly bespoke?
Would it be acceptable to furnish yourself with a set of brass knuckles for such an event?
A whole set, mind… Both hands and that…
Liz: Censor where necessary… I’ll probably have a swear soon, and although this is the first open mic I’ve entered into I still feel like I might say a swear… Edit as applicable, or tell me in advance that I shouldn’t…
Oh… I just re-read you first reply to me…
I will try my best, but I may have to jettison myself from the discussion. As one would jettison themself from a ship populated by shits, dicks, pricks, twats, wankers and braying corpse-eyed puppet people…
Ahh shit… There go the swears…
Infinite apologies…
To those of you that don’t know me: I am a good writer, honest…
Jonic said
Shit… Sorry…
I think that’s the reason why no one reads my blog… Although I am a two time successful/outstanding blogger…
I can’t for the life of me understand why, but I have been gifted with such an accolade and it suits me just fine…
Char said
Good night all! Thanks for another chance to meet new bloggers, Liz. I have found a few new blogs tonight, too.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Jonic said
Someone must have something to say to shut me up…
C’mon… Anything…
Let’s talk about… I don’t know… Pumice… Or Jimmy Ruffin…
ME Strauss said
Good Night Joe
Sleepy swell
ME Strauss said
Happy Thanksgiving
Char, Thanks again!
ME Strauss said
Jonic,
You don’t need attention.
So stop talking like that. You’re here and things are fine.
Jonic said
No? No one?
I feel like I have gatecrashed and ruined this party…
Further apologies…
Leon said
Night Char.
Jonic - what is exciting in York right now? I visited the city ages ago.
Minic Rivera said
Happy Thanksgiving!
ME Strauss said
Hey Minic!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Great to see you!
Jonic said
Leon: Did you really come here? How long ago was it?
York is pretty boring to be honest… I can see the Minster from where I’m sitting (if you’re at all religious you’ll get a kick out of that WikiPedia entry), and I am sick and tired of seeing the thing…
I’d rather raze it and build a skate park…
It’s nice to meet you though Leon, where are you from?
Liz: I am so sorry… I just can’t help it sometimes… I feel especially bad because you and I haven’t spoken in months and all of a sudden I’m making profane on your blog…
It’s unfair and uncalled for…
HART (1-800-HART) said
Here’s an easy vegetable recipe for Char … Clubhouse Hollandaise sauce over steamed Broccoli .. (it’s the one in the yellow dish
~waves to Everybody!
Thank-You
Carl Chapman said
Gosh I hate being the last one here. Thanks for everyone being here!
Liz, thnaks for holding open mic night!
Everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday, and travel safely!
ME Strauss said
Jonic,
Enough. You can help it.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Thanksgiving? What are you guys talking about? Thanksgiving was October 9th!
Leon said
Jonic - in 1980 for a week. Remember you can edit your comments before hitting send.
Liz - this session is going to make blogwork for me. *Sighs*
ME Strauss said
Hey HART.
Thanks for coming. You know us Americans we’re always late with our holidays. We decided that your Thanksgiving was such a good thing that we would try one of our own.
ME Strauss said
Hi Carl!
Thank you! It’s nice for you to stop by after the game. Did you win?
HART (1-800-HART) said
Hi Liz
It’s not that you Yanks are late .. us Canucks are early - it’s colder up here in the Great White North and the harvest comes earlier.
I hope everyone is well .. I caught a little bug last nite and have been sniffling all day .. went to lay down for a ‘few moments’ around 4pm and just woke up .. at 10pm!
Leon said
HART - Thanksgiving is one of the few times us Canucks get ahead of Americans.
Jonic said
Liz: My (further) apologies…
It is not, and has not been, my intention to annoy anybody (least of all yourself)…
If you say “enough” then I shall respect that by stepping away from “the vehicle”, so to speak…
The truth is I really can’t help it, so I’d better leave while I still have…
I can’t think of a single thing that I have…
I’m still sorry though…
HART (1-800-HART) said
Hi Leon .. how’s the weather out on the island? It’s about the same temp as it was on Grey Cup Sunday here in the mid-west
ME Strauss said
Leon,
At this blog, there are often more Canadians than Americans. We have a saying that Canadians know EVERYONE!
Leon said
Hart - Well. I am not sure of the exact temp but it’s probably like a cool Winnipeg summer evening. lol. But rain-cold is different from snow-cold.
We missed the floods that hit other cities but we got wet. Gotta love rain on The Island.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Liz .. that’s for sure - that it’s a SAYING in the USA .. because, in Canada - it’s just the facts . we REALLY DO know everybody .. Right Leon? How’s your mom doing?
Chris Cree said
It’s easier to know everyone when there are only a tenth the number of people to know. But then our friends from the north aren’t seeing quite the same southerly influx that we are either.
Leon said
Liz - and yet most of my blog contacts are American.
Hart - yep. Mom is fine - she may take up blogging soon and find this post so we better hush-up about her.
ME Strauss said
Okay, guys, time for this Thanksgiving Turkey to pack it in.
HART, thanks for everything you do — especially your stories. I like them most of all.
Leon, thanks for coming and becoming part of Successful-Blog.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Chris .. Touchee~ How’s it going, eh?
Leon said
Nice chatting Hart.
Bye all.
Thanks Liz, it’s been a blast.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Well .. time for the grand finale scene (where the fat lady sings) in Independence Day .. nothing else on - so may as well watch this finish.
THANKS TO LIZ - for hosting these outting … and Take care .. (going to do a little posting now too)
~waves Cya
Chris Cree said
‘Night HART. Doing fine. Better even. Just trying to re-connect Gorgesous’ laptop to the wireless network. Dang thing is fighting me. But resistance is useless!
cat said
For all of you who have to cook on Turky Day, I ran across 101 Cookbooks at MyBlogLog
http://www.101cookbooks.com/
Talking about MyBlogLog … For all of you who like to network, MyBlogLog is very comfortable. It even has pictures for the graphics inclined (below is the DWB community)
http://www.mybloglog.com/buzz/community/designers-who-blog/
Happy holidays …
candice said
Cat, I thought I saw liz on there a while back, but I’m not sure she’s using it. (I am, though.)
Liz, you might want to get with the whole nifty faces-on-comments thing that mybloglog offers, too.
Meikah Delid said
Hi, Liz! Hi, everyone! I’m late!!! But hope not too late to say, “Thank you and you’re welcome Liz!” and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
When you think about it, “thank you” is so easy to say. But when I say it, people often would get embarrassed. I wonder why? Is “You’re welcome!” so difficult to utter? hahaha…
cat said
I also saw Liz step in for a bit. It’s a great networking site and the potential (now anyway) seems pretty good.
I don’t have the faces on my blog sidebar, but what I have done is create a page so I can visit those who have taken the time to visit DWB.
Hans said
sorry Liz, I’m new here and I’m still laughing thinking I went to the announcement part instead.
So let’s see what time it is there in the US through the comments and let me hope that there’re still people buzzing in here
Hans said
@ cat
hello you there, are you still around?
Hans said
hey at anybody still roaming around:
how do you fight spams on your blog ? During this week, my blog was crammed full of them. Akismet wasn’t up to the level and now I’m using upto to 2 plugins to fight them. Any idea to be on the safe side?
cat said
Hans,
Yes, I’m here. At the other end of the email alerts anyway.
Hans said
@ cat
hey Cat what have you been using to fight spam on your side?
HART (1-800-HART) said
Hans .. I use both Akismet and Spam Karma 2
Don’t delete. Mark as spam.
Hans said
@ Hart
would you be using both of them activated at the same time? wouldn’t they consume much resources?
candice said
I don’t have a sidebar, actually, but I recently put them down below the posts before the archives.
cat said
I use Ultimate Spam Killer for WordPress and have no problems at all.
Hans said
@ cat
can you hand in the link please? For my part, I”ve been using Spam Karma 2 with Akismet integrated with it through a nice plugins. No need to have another Akismet among my plugins then.
cat said
I’m also using Spam Karma for DWB http://unknowngenius.com/blog/wordpress/spam-karma/
Pretty much on it’s own though. In the next two projects we’ve go them together.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Hans .. both work fine together. The thing with Spam Karma - if you mark the posts as spam - you get less of the similar type of posts - but, it stays in your MySQL database I believe. If you click my link URL and scroll to the bottom, it shows 58000 spam caught. At first there was time spent marking the ones as spam (vs just deleting) but it pays off - and that was the biggest resource spent for me. Time. Now I do nothing.
Hans said
I’ve also had Bad Behavior on but it was denying access to some real visitors and they couldn’t use my contact form or my comment one. I just deactivated it.
Hans said
@ Hart
thanks for this tip pal. Yeah I think the spammers got me aimed through their cross-hair since my blog is mostly of teens stuffs. So you can’t think of what they have been dropping by my blog. Some even wrote a complete story, no kidding and I just kept reading it since the language was so good and the story so captivating but in the end, they didn’t get my click………. would you remember any funny/crazy spams like that?
Hans said
I’ll be going now.
For anyone that would be wanting to get a look at the Ultimate Icon’s collection, feel at ease to drop by.
See ya everybody……
ME Strauss said
Oh, My!
3:03 a.m. I was long asleep by then. I’m glad you all keep the Thanks going and made a lovely night of it. Here I am two hours later reading what you wrote!
Happy morning to you all!
Delphine said
I must be really out of it!! I came here tonight (Wednesday!!!) wondering what was going on and why everyone stopped talking!
Anyway, I plan on being here next week. My name is Delphine and I”m kind of new on the block. I don’t know if anyone will see this but I just wanted to leave you all wanting more. HA!
Happy Thanksgiving, See ya next week…
ME Strauss said
Hi Delphine!
No worries. People are always doing that sort of thing around. Here.
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