June 13, 2006
The Mic Is on in New York City!
ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 6:30 pm
It’s Like Open Mike Only Different
Here’s how it works.
The rules are simple — be nice.
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.
Here’s what we might talk about:
Open Comments at 6:30 Chicago Time
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Related articles
By Popular Demand The Mike Is On
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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pm The Mike Is in Chicago!
By Popular Demand The Mike Is On
Comment Night Again at 6 Chicago Time
Filed under Comments, Community, Successful Blog |
C'mon. Let's talk!
272 Comments to “The Mic Is on in New York City!”
Advice Librarian said
Well, I managed to tear myself away from conquering the world in time today - yay me
ME Strauss said
Hi AdLib!!!
Great to see you!
Which game are you playing?
Scot Herrick said
Just to let you know, SO and I are heading off to vacation (in Wisconsin!) next week. The house we’re staying at doesn’t have Internet and I won’t be able to join in on Tuesday night Mike night. If you could post a comment that I would love to be there, but can’t because of vacation, I’d appreciate it. The scoop is here:
http://www.scotherrick.com/writeblog/2006/6/8/goals-and-vacation-time.html
In any case, I’ve had fun joining in the last 2-3 weeks and I think it has been good for you too (though tiring – us west coast and Australian dudes keep you up late…).
And a nice interview series with you too going on.
I’ll be back June 19th.
Advice Librarian said
Hi, I’m the Advice Librarian, and I’m still hooked on Civilization 4. There’s just something so compelling about trying to manage the entire course of human history and balancing all the various stratecical political, economical and military considerations so that you have the right tools available at the right time - desicions you make in the year 3800 BC have ramifications for what happens in 1950.
‘course, I got hooked on the Civilization series of games way back when there was no numerals… so my jones was well established. I really shouldn’t have bought this incarnation, but sometimes I’m really terrible at managing myself.
ME Strauss said
I can see where that would really take me over too. I\’m having a hard time not wanting to get involved in it.
The writer in me is really enjoying this bit taken out of context . . .
I got hooked on the Civilization . . . way back when there were no numerals
Advice Librarian said
Heh, I got roped in before there was general Interent access for the population in the Offline World too - and one of the technologies you have to develop in the course of the game is mathematics. Along with the absolutely crucial alphabet and parchment/writing so you can construct libraries…
Any game where you get bonus points for constructing more libraries naturally gets my approval…
ME Strauss said
You are after all the Librarian of the Ages. Do you advise the troops too?
Advice Librarian said
In the game, you control your entire civilization, of course - I’m not sure I should be extolling the virtues of the game any more though. The last thing the world needs is more Civilization Zombies
CivZombies is what we were called back in the day when the game first appeared - walking around with the slightly glazed and sleep-deprived expression of having pulled another all-nighter staring at a 14″ monitor until dawn.
To sort of bring this back on topic - I’ve invaded New York a number of times recently; sometimes to get it back from the foreign invaders, sometimes because it looked like a nice city to add to my own civilization
ME Strauss said
I’m going to New York City tomorrow. But I like talking about your game. It sounds like fun. Can you name a character after me? Or aren’t there individual characters?
Joe said
It’s been a long time since I even played any reindeer games…
How do you win, keep the buildings up against the enemy from afar?
Mark Wade said
Say hello to the Big Apple for me… funny how you can miss something you never thought you’d miss.
ME Strauss said
HI Joe!
I didn’t know that’s what reindeer games were.
ME Strauss said
Hey Mark!
Did you live in New York City?
Mark Wade said
I lived out on the Island all my life almost
ME Strauss said
Ah a LonG Gisland boy.
So, do you talk that with a slight southern accent?
Joe said
Which Island? Liberty Island, Ellis Island, Long Island?
Mark Wade said
Like Liz said - LonGGGGIsland! Nope, no southern accent heeyah…
Chris Cree said
So Joe’s got a reindeer to go with the moose and the donkey!
Liz, you’re getting quite a hoofstock collection here!
ME Strauss said
Sorry for the misspelling on my part. I’m from the Midwest. I have a spelling accent.
Mark Wade said
Ah Ha - a fellow tropical storm survivor - Hey Chris.
Chris Cree said
Scot, Where in Cheezeland are you headed?
Advice Librarian said
You don’t really play characters at all, you play an entire civilization at once - though the civilization is represented by a “leader” character - Roosevelt and Gearoge Washintgton for the US for example - and you can win by 4-5 different means. Being the first civilization to send out colony ships to establish offplanet colonies, building the UN and getting elected world leader, having three cities grow so culturally dominant that the rest of the world is swayed to your side or just outright conquering the world… the diplomatic victory is generally the most difficult one.
Civilization is published by Firaxis Games - and it’s only second to the Sims in terms of games sold. That’s an interesting point, by the way…
Joe said
Now, I have to find a way to incorporate a reindeer into my blog???
Chris Cree said
Mark, You call that a storm?!
ME Strauss said
Hey, Chris,
Congratulations on your new home!
Scots not here. He just asked me to post that so you guys would know why he couldn’t come. Isn’t that the coolest thing?
Mark Wade said
You were right on Liz - it is LonGGGGIsland. One word, emphasis on the Big G as in GGGGHHHH ya’ know?
Mark Wade said
Nahhh, that was nuthin!!!!! Not even a big breeze…
Thankful for the rain tho’
ME Strauss said
Chris
That storm didn’t get your new blog wet during the move did it?
Advice Librarian said
The number one game is about doing household chores, taking out the trash, balancing your checkbook, and inerior design. The number two game is about recreating the political and economic history of humanity, and how technology, politics and economics relate and are completely dependent on each other. The media narrative on games is all about Doom and other shooting games, but the Sims and civilization sell as many copies as the rest combined….
ME Strauss said
AdLib
Have you ever moved off planet?
Chris Cree said
Mark, We sure neede the rain, though.
And it helps if you say “LonGiland” through your nose.
Then follow it up with a “Youse Guys!”
Chris Cree said
Nah, the blog didn’t get wet. But just about everything else did today!
Joe said
I think he move ON planet…
ME Strauss said
AdLib
You should do a post on the best selling games in the world.
Yeah Chris I went to school with a bunch of LonGIanders.
Mark Wade said
Exactly Chris lol…
Wassup witch youse guys anywayzzzzz.
Advice Librarian said
Oh, I’ve won the game in every way possible - I’ve even played the followup game called Alpha Centauri set on a colony planet; which was also great fun
I think I’m beginning to come out of the heaviest phase of my addiction now though - it’s always a bit cyclical; sort of like a binge drinker.
At least I admit I have a problem with control
Chris Cree said
I went to school right across the East River from “the Island.” Half the student body was from there.
ME Strauss said
AdLib
Perhaps you should start a 12-step program for gamers.
Joe said
K, Philly,
Sup wit uz guys anywayz
ME Strauss said
Oh my, oh my, I’m just a poor little girl from the midwest out here along with these eastern boys.
Chris Cree said
So does that mean Ad Lib is from the Far East, or the Mid East?
Joe said
Not to worry, m’Lady, we’ll protect you…
ME Strauss said
I think that AdLib is from Civilization
Advice Librarian said
the closest I’ve been to New York is watching the ball drop on Times Square on TV; though I’ve lived out Liz’ way once. in High Scool I was an exchange student in Ontario, just off Lake Huron. Horseshoe Falls down Niagara way was pretty impressive, I must say…
ME Strauss said
You’d still have to drive quite a ways to get to me, AdLIb. I think that might be closer to Joe.
Advice Librarian said
Technically speaking, I’m from the Extremely Near East, we’re one longitude east of Greenwich. Which would make you all from the Far West, wouldn’t it?
Chris Cree said
Somehow I knew you’d get technical, Ad Lib!
Joe said
Yeah, I can drive to Niagra Falls (slowly I turn. step by step)
in about an hour and a half.
ME Strauss said
Direction is all relative, as one of my friends from OZ once told me. What we call the Far East. Australians call the Near North.
Joe said
BHut it’s turning Winter there and it is 80 degrees here right now…
Advice Librarian said
Huh, then you might know the place I went to school - Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton, Huron. ‘Twas a four-hour drive to both Niagara and Toronto from there….
ME Strauss said
The Three Stooges!! Now them I know.
NI A GRA FALLS . . . Slowly I turned . . .step by step, inch by inch . . .
Joe said
There ya go
Chris Cree said
Now Liz & Joe, That was before my time!
Mark Wade said
“The Three Stooges!!”
Hey - no politics…
Joe said
Not by much… even I watched re-runs
ME Strauss said
A guy who doesn’t know THE THREE STOOGES?
I thought all guys had to know THE THREE STOOGES to be in the guy club.
Mark Wade said
5 Stooges… Moe Larry Curley Shemp and… who?
Joe said
I saw his picture, he’s not THAT young
Advice Librarian said
I suppose that means I’m going to get kicked out of the club? I mean, I know OF them, but I’ve never really watched. I’m more of a Monty Python kind of guy….
Joe said
It’s…..
Dah, da,da,da,da,da,da,da,da,da,da,dah…
Chris Cree said
I’m with Ad Lib, Monty Python & the Marx Bros.
Joe said
Now, I have that sone in my stupid little head…
Joe said
SONG!!!
ME Strauss said
See one of the stooges had lost his girl friend on his honeymoon I think it was. She ran away with another guy. I think that’s how the story was. In any case it doesn’t matter because the only thing that counted was it happened at NAGARA FALLS. And since that day he couldn’t stand to hear those words. Because it all came back to him . . . So whenever anyone said Niagara Falls
And of course the other STOOGES in sympathy had the same reaction at the same time.
NI A GRA FALLS . . . Slowly I turned . . .step by step, inch by inch . . .
Advice Librarian said
Just put on some “Macarena” and that nasty little act of musical vandalism will take over your brain….
Chris Cree said
Dontcha hate it when you’ve gotta explain a joke?!
ME Strauss said
The fifth STOOGE was Joe
Joe said
Yeah, that was from their original Vaudville act…
I was transformed and put on film with the girl and car.
Onstage, there was only the three stooges.
Joe said
ha ha
Chris Cree said
Youse Guys remeber Vaudville??!!!
I am the puppy of the bunch!
Joe said
NOW, name all Five Liz
Mark Wade said
Hmmm, just checked it out and believe it or not there actually was 6 Stooges! Three Shemps! The Original actual Shemp, then Joe Palma (a stand in) and lastly Joe Besser who replaced Shemp after Shemp passed away.
Joe said
Mark,
I was a little quick on the enter button, you are right about Shemp Howard.
Moe and Curley’s Brother…
Joe said
Doctor Howard, Doctor Fine, Doctor Howard…
ME Strauss said
See Joe, I wasn’t pickin’ on you. There really was a guy named Joe. I didn’t know there were two of them!
Joe said
I did, but I can take a joke, after all a baby kangaroo is called a joey…
Chris Cree said
We got Joes coming out our ears!
Joe said
Hey Joe, what ya doin with that gun in your hand?
Mark Wade said
How about this - try 7 yep, seven! When Joe Besser’s wife got sick Joe Derita joined them. He was otherwise known as Curly-Joe.
Feeling kinda dumb I am LOL…
ME Strauss said
Chris, OH NO!! Not your ears!!
ME Strauss said
Joe,
No weapons on this blog
Joe said
What did you do, look it up???
Joe said
IT’S A SONG… JIMMIE HENDRIX…
Chris Cree said
Joe, you gotta be careful. This is a highly skilled technical bunch. Some are even trained professionals… Internet savy and all that.
Mark Wade said
Yep! Right in the Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Stooges
Advice Librarian said
I’m getting a wikipedia vibe here - anyone else harboring a deep suspicion that Mark has the Wikipedia entry on the three stooges open?
ME Strauss said
OH NO! OH MY! He said that W word. I’m shaking!!!!!!!
Mark Wade said
Oh My Lord!!! Someone mentioned Jimmie!!! You’ll have to pardon me while I go meditate hehe
Joe said
AdLib, I thought you of all people would have had the answer…
Mark Wade said
Wikipedia!
Wikipedia!
Wikipedia!
Wikipedia!
Wikipedia!
Yeah - I’m just naturally contradictory
ME Strauss said
The THREE STOOGES ARE Bad American Humor. Give AdLib a little credit.
ME Strauss said
Mark,
I’m having apoplexy.
I’m coloring all over my computer screen of Wikipedia.
Joe said
Ok, what about Fawlty Towers?
Mark Wade said
Laurel and Hardy!!!!!
Chris Cree said
I’m a Wikipedia fan.
I like the Wiktionary too.
And Wikispecies…
Joe said
Fred Wynn?
Joe said
See, Somebody used the Wiki word and everybody disappeared…
Joe said
Not to worry, I have had more than one conversation with myself…
Mark Wade said
Have we developed superstitions on Open Mike Night?
Chris Cree said
Nah, Joe’s just in a hurry to converse.
I’m propagating ads through my blog in the other tab.
ME Strauss said
No superstitions yet that I know of.
Joe said
This is the 13th… do-do-do-do
Ben said
Hey folks … how’s everyone doing this evening?
Advice Librarian said
Heh, I don’t know everything - it’s why I run the Library. I rely on collecting the wisdom of everyone who has some advice to share, trusting that if what they’re saying makes sense to me it’ll help people who’re looking for advice on specific topics. Facts are in abundant supply - between the CIA world fact book, endless reams of academic research, Wikipedia, and all the other sources it’s easy to look the basics on anything. It’s harder to transform the “fact of what is” into “what this means to you” - it’s the difference between knowing who’s been a Stooge and evaluating their performance in terms of skill.
Since I read everything I’m sendt before approving it, well - I’m getting an education on topics I wouldn’t get into on my own. I still wouldn’t touch MLM with a 10-foot pole, but I know a lot more about it now, for example…
Joe said
“and I feel so alone… every body must get stoned”
Ok, who sang this song?
Chris Cree said
BEN!!
Did you bring Jack tonight?
Mark Wade said
Here’s a little controversy for y’all.
“GAO Probe Finds U.S. Doled Out As Much As $1.4 Billion in Bogus Assistance to Hurricane (Katrina and Rita) Victims.”
Yep - including this gem -
“FEMA made about $5.3 million in payments to registrants who provided a post office box as their damaged residence, including one who got $2,748 for listing an Alabama post office box as the damaged property.”
ME Strauss said
Propagating ads, Chris. That sounds evil.
Ben said
Joe — Bob Dylan sang that. I think.
Jack’s on vacation. Sorry Chris.
Mark Wade said
Joe - in those days I was too stoned to pay attention to who the singer was…
Chris Cree said
Nah, Liz.
They’re AdSense. Google says they aren’t evil.
(and you know I believe everything I read…)
ME Strauss said
Hey Ben!!!
Don’t let Chris start that Jack stuff again. Mark will probably join him.
Chris Cree said
So, Ben.
Are you saying your donkey’s…. off tonight?
Joe said
Ben, right.
Mark… way to serious.
AdLib… I always knew there was a reason you hung around the library.
HART (1-800-HART) said
~waves to everybody.
So .. what’s with wikipedia anyway? Are we allowed to quote stuff from wikipedia .. without referencing back to it? I always do, but after I use stuff - I always wonder …
and.. while I’m wondering
Personally, I’ve stopped using margarine on my toast and just use Peanut butter - because it gives basically the same effect = plus, you don’t need any topping on your toast because - well, you’ve got peanut butter on it already.
ME Strauss said
Chris,
Lay down a link to your new blog . . . so everyone can go see it and so that I can put it in the post in the morning.
Ben said
Hey Liz…I know, with Chris it’s “donkey this and donkey that…” Crazy!
So what’s the mood like today? We kvetching? Cheering? Laughing? Crying?
Mark Wade said
I don’t know Joe. I find $2,748 for an Alabama post office box as the damaged property pretty hilarious.
ME Strauss said
EVERYBODY: HART !
Love your toast story. Thanks for reminding me . Here’s the snacks and beverages you guyszz.
Chris Cree said
Liz, I’d be happy to oblige (even if I can’t spell it).
You may check out my humble new home at the following address:
http://www.ChrisCree.net
Joe said
Ben,
Everything is normal round here…
Pick a subject (not Jack) and let em fly
ME Strauss said
Mark,
Who’s got all of that money and the infamous $2billion?
Chris Cree said
“I saw a horse fly. I even seen a house fly…”
ME Strauss said
Ben,
What going on with your contest and where the heck is Steve. You’ve been officially appointed as his keeper.
Mark Wade said
Peanut Butter on toast! A Man after my own heart! Wow, PB and Toast, Jimmie, Bob Dylan, stoned, this is a great Open Mike Night! LMAO
Ben said
Two subjects (not really) — just two “things”:
1. Has anyone ever used reddit? I’ve boosted my blog traffic significantly with it versus digg and del.icio.us.
2. If you’re interested in advertising your blog or business, check out http://www.text-link-ads.com. I’m not affiliated, but they have a special $100 off, so you can spend only $25. So far I’ve been getting a lot of traffic from one of my text ads (although no purchases: so maybe it’s NOT good *chuckle*).
ME Strauss said
Yeah, only cool and incredibly intelligent people hang out here.
Chris Cree said
Mark, I think the wind outside is getting to you!
Mark Wade said
Liz,
Matt from The Only Republican came by today to let us know that “You can’t find that $200b because it’s an entirely fictional number. Excess profits? What’s that? Also, one does not “collect†a tax break. Those aren’t real $$, they are imagined dollars which never changed hands.”
Ben said
Liz — contest is plugging along.
I got a new prize recently: Limerick book from a guy on MySpace. Pretty cool.
We still need more submissions, not sure how many we’ve had, but the prizes are pretty cool, although mixed between business stuff, t-shirts, blog stuff, etc.
I wish there were more ways of PROMOTING the contest, but I haven’t found that many except for a few writing websites.
Chris Cree said
By the way, I prefered Hendrix over Dylan.
Advice Librarian said
Heh, Wikipedia is licenced under the GNU free documentation licence: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Free_Documentation_License - in essence, you can do whatever you want with it as long as you provide the source code when you distribute it….
Ben said
I prefer Pink Floyd myself…actually, not sure I prefer them over Hendrix and Dylan, but I’m a fan…
Joe said
“Tax Break” is a tax you don’t have to pay leaving cash in hand.
Mark Wade said
Aaaah Chris - there was another life. As long as I don’t romance it too much I’ll be okay
Ben said
Oh and Steve’s busy I think - he announced recently he’s having another kid and will be blogging just a bit less. He’s looking for volunteer bloggers for his site http://www.whymyblogstinks.com in case anyone’s interested.
If I see him online though I’ll drag him and Milton over…
ME Strauss said
I think Hendrix and Dylan should have done a
inna-gada-da-RainyDayWomen
Mark Wade said
“Hendrix over Dylan”
Absolutely! Definitely! No Doubt!
Purple Haze!!!
Mark Wade said
Ooooh - wadda sacreligious - ooooh - I could just - ooooh…
In A Gada Da Vida!
Joe said
I always liked CTA… I know some of you don’t remember, but that was the original name of a group from around Liz’s way…
ME Strauss said
Ben’
Thanks for mentioning Steve’s need.
That just reminded me.
I know of a paying gig. A man who’s looking for a business blogger. New blog. Anyone interested should email me. lizsun2@gmail.com
Ben,
Feel free to post the rules of your contest here.
Chris Cree said
Inna-gada-davida wasn’t Hendrix, was it? I seem to remember something about a buterfly, but it’s fuzzy.
ME Strauss said
Hendrix WAS Iron Butterfly.
Chris Cree said
Sorry. Didn’t know…
Ben said
IGotNewsForYou Writing Contest Rules — http://www.igotnewsforyou.com/contest.asp
The rules are pretty simple:
1. Write a short, funny fake news story. Short = 100-150 words.
2. Style of humor: any (raunchy, high brow, play on words)
3. Send as many submissions as you like to byosko@gmail.com
NOTE: Please read the samples available on the contest page. The reason this is important is because the stories we need end up getting personalized by our system. So when writing them you need to make sure that at least 1 character in the stories could be anyone. For example: a satirical news story about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie is fine, but there has to be a way of getting you, me, Liz, HART or anyone else into the stories. If that sounds confusing just check out the contest page or go directly to the home page: http://www.igotnewsforyou.com to see how it works.
There are quite a few prizes, so there’s something for everyone. Ok, maybe not everyone, but there’s a lot of neat prizes.
Thanks Liz.
Joe said
Only 1/4
Advice Librarian said
Tax breaks, tax credits and tax refunds/rebates are fictious? Does that mean that the roughly 1000 nKr I’ll be getting back on my taxes this year doesn’t exist? Funny that….
Telcos are infrastructure/public utility providers - and any profits over what the average public utility makes is excess profits, neh? As long as the public are subsidising them by not charging for land use, they’re getting cash breaks - compared to, say, what the cable companies are paying for their land use, neh?
Chris Cree said
Must… Say… No… to Politics…
Resist…
Joe said
Nobody like the CTA question???
Mark Wade said
“Hendrix WAS Iron Butterfly”
?????
ME Strauss said
Sorry, Chris, didn’t mean to sound like that.
Hendrix was a member of the band, Iron Butterfly.
Will you be so kind as you put a link to your blog in the comments now that I’ve been mean to you?
HART (1-800-HART) said
thanks Adv.Lib. (133) for that reminder
The first 45 I ever listened to, which - by the way was in one of those yellow little portable 45 players you carried around, with batteries in them .. was “I am the God of Hell Fire” by Arthur Brown .. but, my older brother’s Van and 8-track player in the year that released Queen (I) and Supertramp (Crime of the Century)
BTW - I’m just rambing here - I’m watching Last Comic Standing now too
Joe said
Ok, I guess I’m talking to myself again, I’m used to it… ;-(
Chicago Transit Authority… aka Chicago.
Liz, I’m supprised you didn’t answer that one…
HART (1-800-HART) said
um .. I’m with Mark Wade on that one ..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Butterfly
Chris Cree said
Liz, I don’t think you are capable of being mean. We’d have to check with your husband to be certain of that though…
From comment #121
Mark Wade said
Sorry Liz, but they only appeared on stage with Jimi (I knew that spelling was JImi).
Here:
http://www.ironbutterfly.com/biography.php
I don’t know about Chris but there’s a chance I’m about to lose power here in good ole Savannah! A whole troop of power trucks just passed the house and the other side of Sav lost power Chris!
HART (1-800-HART) said
off-topic … // on one of my blogs - i put a new design last week, one with 1000px width … my traffic hasn’t changed much but it was crappy in the first place. My stats only showed that 6% of browsers/visitors had screen monitor less than 1024 wide .. personally, mine’s on 1152 x 864
Chris Cree said
Yeah, Mark. The lights just flickered a touch. Ours tends to be a little more stable out here than where you are. Newer subdivision and all.
Tropical Storms…
Mark Wade said
Oh No! More Wikipedia!
Advice Librarian said
hmm - CTA? Doesn’t ring any bells - I know of the band “Chicago”, and I’ve got this vague notion that Jefferson Ariplane/starship was from out that way - but then, I’m the baby in this group, I think. There’s a bunch of Dixie Chicks I’m really enjoying at the moment, but mostly my musical tastes run to Iron Maiden, Rammstein, Metallica, Korn, and similar hard rock fare… with the occacional Lizard King song thrown in…
ME Strauss said
I hang my head in Jimi shame. God–Mean to Chris and wrong at the same time. I’m condemned to nice one hell.
I did like Chicago CTA a little.
I’m a MAJOR Supertramp fan. Crime of the Century. YES!!
Ben said
Hey HART - going to 1000px is fine. Your stats are probably pretty accurate in terms of averages for screen resolutions.
1024×768 is the most common now I’d say.
I would have gone with that width for my site but didn’t really need the space, and the paper (i.e. the product) fits neatly at just under 800 — that’s why I stuck with that, although it definitely has limitations.
Chris Cree said
Heart, My template’s 900px wide. I was going to stretch it to 1024, but I haven’t figured out how yet.
Mark Wade said
Forty lashes with a wet noodle for Liz!
Chicago Transit Authority and 8-track players??? - boy are we goin’ down memory lane for me tonight!
Joe said
HART,
Visitors at my site that are on the lower end of screen res is only around 4%
You shouldn’t have any problems with1000x if yours is at 6%
Ben said
Joe - I wanted to ask you - what were the results traffic-wise from your interview with Darren @ problogger?
Open up other interesting opportunities / ideas?
ME Strauss said
8-track players!
Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older and we didn’t have to wait so long?
Joe said
Ben,
I was going to give stats in a post but it makes every other day look like I don’t have anyone visiting.
I’ll probably post something on it tomorrow or Thrusday. If you look at % it looks good, but actual numbers were lower than I thought.
Mark Wade said
Older? Nice if we were older? Okay Liz Strauss, apparently there’s some Jack here we don’t know about eh?
I’m old enough! Laffin’
Wait? Wait? For what? An 8 track? I couldn’t get them to stop jigglin’ the darn music!
ME Strauss said
Mark, I was just singing an 8-track Beach Boys song.
ME Strauss said
Hey Ben,
Are you still around here?
How do I get this crayon off my flat screen.
Mark Wade said
Oh - blushing and somberly - I suppose you want an apology now huh? Well - darn it - I’m sorry.
Wow - Beach Boys too!
ME Strauss said
Aw heck, Mark. I was being 8-track romantic. Next thing you know I would have mentioned the Association. Ew
Ben said
I’m still here Liz.
Crayon on your flat screen?
There’s crayon on my TV…I haven’t bothered removing it, the kid will just put more there when I’m not looking.
Some water might do it? Windex?
Mark Wade said
OhMiGawd! You have absolutely just got to see/hear this!!!
http://www.savetheinternet.com/broadband.html
Joe said
I’m not sure if I’m in the twilight zone or the “5th Dimention”
ME Strauss said
I scribbled on my flat screen when Mark said the W word out loud.
Chris Cree said
I think WordPress must have a crayon plugin somewhere. Maybe we could find out on Wikipedia!
Advice Librarian said
Microfiber soft abrasion cloth with some specialized screen cleaning fluid should do the trick - no water on flat screens if you can help it, I’ve been told.
Ben said
Hhmm…I just noticed that my exit rate on the home page of my site is 59% — higher since I changed it…damn statistical analysis. What are you telling me!?!?!
Scribbled on your own flat screen eh? What’s the W-word?
ME Strauss said
There’s that W word again! I can barely see what you guys are saying!!!
Thanks AdLib. You’re a true friend.
Joe said
Ben, just don’t say it…. Oh, Noooooooo
More crayon on the flat screen…
Chris Cree said
Seriously, though.
I need to scram off to sleep. Been waaay too many late nights this week already. I’ll take a peek in the AM to see what hijinx I missed.
Enjoy!
Chris Cree said
Wikipedia!
Joe said
Nite Chris…
ME Strauss said
Good night, Chris. Love your new digs!
ME Strauss said
That IS so Cool.
http://www.savetheinternet.com/broadband.html
Chris Cree said
Thanks, all! Good Night! *waves*
{Am I doing this right, Heart?}
Advice Librarian said
Your exit rate is 59% - what’s your bounce rate? Is that up or down since you changed the design?
Ben said
Bounce rate before: 44%
Bounce rate now: 65%
Not sure I can really get much from that though…still interesting, somehow, somewhere…
Mark Wade said
Taking a break to watch some of the NBA finals… later guys
ME Strauss said
Check in later Mark!
Enjoy the game!
Advice Librarian said
Hmm - bounce rate going up is mostly a sign that people aren’t liking the new design. Though that can be deceptive in a way - is your overall traffic similar? If the absolute numbers/conversion numbers are up or stay the same while the bounce rate goes up, that’s a sign of having an unproductive traffic source in the system. The thing then is to look at where your visitors are coming from.
Ben said
*nods* Thanks AdLib. Traffic has gone up, so I suspect it’s more an issue with where traffic is coming from versus the site itself.
I still think the home page might be a bit overwhelming for people - I gotta crack that nut!
ME Strauss said
AdLib
Keep talking you’re really good at this.
ME Strauss said
Gosh Ben,
Selling a concept is a tough thing.
I guess you know that.
Much easier to sell something tangible.
Ben said
Selling a concept is hard, that’s very true. I guess I perceive it as more tangible than others do, but that’s probably cause I’m *in it* all the time…
I do appreciate the feedback though, as always…
For now though I have to call it a day, a bit early, but I need to rest it was a long night and early morning!
ME Strauss said
No worries, Ben,
I have an airplane to catch in the morning.
Tell the donkey hello!
Advice Librarian said
Yeah, with traffic up and bounce rate up, what you wanna do for traffic analysis is look at your sources of traffic. What’s the sources of productive and unproductive traffic? What is it that the visitors from unproductive sources aren’t seeing that they expect when they click through to your site? Can you change the adverts that are bringing you the unproductive traffic? Can you find more sources like the ones that are currently producing for you?
It’s a little bit intrusive, but you might think about adding an exit poll tied to the back button on the browser, asking politely what they didn’t like - offer them a free fake newspaper for an answer, for example. Though that might be a bit over the top for a first step - I’d be looking at the traffic sources first and thinking of polls second.
HART (1-800-HART) said
*back* // ~waves goodbye to those leaving and hello to newbies .. // I am now back full time, on computer (no TV) ..
Ben .. 59% ? is that good? I used to watch all my statscounters but, I have over 30 projects and was taking too long - and you have to login. I then moved to sitemeter so I can just see a graph without looking in. I have a network sitemeter code in the network code, because I’m even lazier than that - and just want to see the bigger picture.
K.. last time posted was on Page 6 .. reading pages 6 & 7 now.
Right now - I’m having fun with a new statscounter.. ClustrMaps .. you can see it in the footer of http://PetLvr.com/blog/ (trying to see if the all the earthlings in the world reads my blog) and http://1800HART.com/blog/ (seeing if general people read my blog, or canadians, americans, etc - which could affect type of content I use)
ME Strauss said
My worry with Ben’s site is that I don’t think they get what the fake newspaper is.
HART (1-800-HART) said
I dunno, the title and the front page for Ben’s site is pretty obvious. Personally, if I were to recommend something to Ben - It would be to convert his format into a suitable and workable WORDPRESS theme - because it’s pretty cool looking template, if I could imagine it as a template. Then, it could be widespread use to give it away for free ..etc etc
ME Strauss said
You’d make the format a template, but not the stories, HART?
You should tell Ben that.
Brian Clark said
How can this be going on during a Mavericks Finals game? Log off, and turn on ABC.
How’s that for contrarian?
ME Strauss said
Hey Brian,
Come on back when it’s over!
Brian Clark said
OK, but I’ll either be drunk and happy or drunk and mad.
HART (1-800-HART) said
No .. if they want the stories - they have to subscribe .. Ben shouldn’t give that away .. I like the template. Can it be converted or modified into a useable blog template? I have no idea, but like I said - I like the layout
And, speaking of tips .. Liz .. I’ve got another “Great Find” for you or some others … it’s a script that I’ve added on all my blogs, in the same subfolder .. here is one in action .. http://PetLvr.com/refer/ This is in continuation of my laziness for looking at statistics - I look at this everyday to see where people are coming (change week =7 to =60) and the keywords (queries)
HART (1-800-HART) said
sorry - wrong URL … http://PetLvr.com/blog/refer/
Advice Librarian said
Can I point you New Yorkers over to New Orleans for a moment? Hurricane season has already started and - well, the damage from the last one still isn’t cleaned up. The levees are repaired in the nick of time, but… they’re not remotely ready for another Category 5 - and this year looks to be as warm or warmer than last year…
Joe said
Everyone is leaving early tonight,
there must have been a terrible freight.
Wiki, Wiki one has said,
Drove a stake right through the head.
Never again must that word be said,
lest we all shall lose our head.
Berma Shave
Nite, Nite
Joe
ME Strauss said
Sweet Dreams,
Joe
PS. I’m going to see Seth Godin
Joe said
K.
Best to ya,
Let me get an exclusive… Just kidding, knock ‘em dead.
ME Strauss said
Oh HART,
Now that IS very cool.
You should write up a little post on that and I’ll GREAT FIND you.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Great! So I just figured out why the N.Y. reference - you are hopping a plane tomorrow to see Seth? What time is your flight? How long you going? Seeing any shows?
ME Strauss said
Thanks, Joe, it’s a small room seminar. You’ll hear all about it.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Liz .. good idea for a post
more work for me, but ok!
Advice Librarian said
Huh, did Wordpress just eat my last comment?
HART (1-800-HART) said
Advice .. wordpress gets hungry after hours. Maybe it did. maybe it did. lest we all worry about our posts.
Damn You Wordpress (in his Charleton Heston voice he said) Damn You Wordpress!
Advice Librarian said
Hmm - I don’t suppose it would like some of my pepper-stuffed olives with lettuce instead of my comments? They’re way healthier than the junk food diet some wordpress blogs are on.
ME Strauss said
I rescued it Charleton. Damn Askimet. It’s up at 210.
ME Strauss said
That New Orleans thing doesn’t look very good at all. Does it?
HART (1-800-HART) said
D’oh! I just noticed … Adv.Lib … how long have you had your template up? I was meaning to thank someone where I found that .. I’m using the “wide” version on my picks blog … http://1800HART.com/picks/ That’s the one over 1000px I was talking about earlier - same version as yours, except wider.
Advice Librarian said
Ah, there it is, back up the page at 210
Maybe it didn’t like the link? It’s probably a less chatty subject than we’ve been talking about here usually, but the New Orleans people could use some positive attention, I think.
ME Strauss said
Yes. It was Askimet that was hungry. But I tossed Askimet those olives you mentioned.
Advice Librarian said
I’ve had mine up since the “I’ve been tidying a little” post - that’s when I switched out the templates
HART (1-800-HART) said
I’ve been getting spammed on all my blogs, by the same people with different IP’s .. and akismet is NOT catching it - I have to end up adding the IP and blacklisting it with the Spam Killer 2 plugin, and then manually delete the comment .. most look like this:
E-mail : Milano9605@yahoo.com
URI : some spam search engine site
Comment:
luogo interessante e bene-organizzato. Devo avere soltanto buoni contrassegni alla scuola;)
~~~
The WHOIS is all over the map, in the above case .. is from :
OrgName: Consolidated Communications, Inc.
OrgID: CONSO-8
Address: 121 South 17th Street
City: Mattoon
StateProv: IL
PostalCode: 61938
Country: US
ME Strauss said
Mattoon, Illinois!
There is nothing there, but farmland.
Tracy said
Did I miss all the fun?
ME Strauss said
Hi Tracy!
I think you brought the fun with you!
What have you been doing?
ME Strauss said
We’ve been talking about music, the Three Stooges, spam and New Orleans.
Tracy said
Work work work - That’s what I do for fun!
ME Strauss said
Hey, you sound just like me.
Are you guys going to say HI to Tracy or not?
Want a beverage, Tracy? Here’s a cold one.
What kind of work do you do? I write mostly.
Advice Librarian said
Hey, me too! when I’m not out conquering the world, that is….
Tracy said
I just investigate fraud. Nothing special. *grin*
Advice Librarian said
I’ll take a coffee, if you don’t mind - straigh black, the way the Lord intended it….
ME Strauss said
Ah, forensic accounting I knew that. You didn’t sign in with your URL. So I wasn’t sure that was you.
My son just started an internship with Navigant in DC.
ME Strauss said
AdLIb.
You are the world. You have no need to conquer it.
Tracy said
I drink my coffee straight up as well!
Tracy said
So how is sonny’s life as an intern?
ME Strauss said
Two coffees, served European with dark chocolate on a nice separate saucer.
ME Strauss said
Tracy,
I very much like the new template at your blog. It’s clean and crisp. Looks very professional.
ME Strauss said
He’s loving it as an intern. He’s chasing those details . . . feeling very grown up. One more year of school and he’ll be real.
Tracy said
Thank you - but it’s not new.
Tracy said
Good for him. I was abused as an intern and still have nightmares.
ME Strauss said
Ahhh too much standing at the copier?
Ad Lib were you an intern?
Advice Librarian said
Internship - that’s that curious american custom of unpaid student slave labour? I’ve never been an intern in that sense - all the jobs I’ve had, I’ve been paid for at industry rates…
HART (1-800-HART) said
~waves to Tracy .. Howdy.
Are you really a forensic accountant? I’ve worked with a few. I have many stories.
Adv.Lib.// Trackback coming!
ME Strauss said
No, my son is being paid for his work, quite well actually.
ME Strauss said
Tracy,
I think I just missed your “front” page before when I’ve visited your blog. That’s what it is.
ME Strauss said
HART
Are any of your stories nice or entertaining? We don’t want to be mean to Tracy or tell your sad tales tonight.
HART (1-800-HART) said
haha! Just saw that .. Mattoon .. Farmland! Of course! I wonder where the other spam is? Let me find another in IL .. maybe you know it too
//
I believe the SAME spammer sent me the identical comment spam message from this host.. in the Queensland.
OrgName: Asia Pacific Network Information Centre
OrgID: APNIC
Address: PO Box 2131
City: Milton
StateProv: QLD
PostalCode: 4064
Country: AU
Tracy said
Ohhhhhh - yes, you didn’t see the front page. That would explain it.
Hart - I’m either a forensic accountant or a person who spent hours and hours creating a website about forensic accounting. *wink*
Internship - unpaid and for a government agency. How much worse could it get?
Advice Librarian said
Heh, what’s your best forensic accountancy story? I’m not real up on the intricacies of accounting beond the basic “how to talk to bean-counters” courses in my engineering curriculum - though I must say I appreciate a scene in the “Komarr” book by Lois McMaser-bujold where her protagonist unleashes his forensic accountants
ME Strauss said
Have to ask Martin about Queensland. I’ve only been to Victoria and New South Wales.
Tracy said
Well my very first paying client when I started my company Jan 2000, will be heading off to prison in August.
And the client who left the biggest unpaid bill is currently in prison.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Tracy .. Gotcha
*winks back*
Liz .. have I ever told you a story that wasn’t entertaining? WAIT! DON’T ANSWER! ..
Well .. ok then .. here’s one. I used to work with an ‘auditor’ who was still taking courses to be a Forensic Accountant. He is a C.A. .. he sworn me into secrecy (as if I really give a damn now) .. that his “best” secret audit technique is..
He looks in your middle desk drawer.
Yup. You have it. All of you con artists out there committing fraud and trying to hide a secret set of books - seemingly keep all the discriminating evidence in your middle office desk drawer .. presumeably underneith your bagged lunch bag.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Oh, the shame from my peers in my industry they shall give me for revealing that secret technique.
Tracy said
Sad but true…. many leave the evidence in the desk.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Oh no Brian! 93 to 94? ut-oh
Tracy said
OKay I must go to bed now. Have to be up early. Ick. Until next time….
ME Strauss said
Thanks for coming by Tracy!
See you again soon I hope!
Sweet dreams
HART (1-800-HART) said
G’nite to those leaving .. ~wave
(I’m watching ABC btw .. even though I am not a fan, nor care much about basketball - but it is a close game!)
ME Strauss said
You guys I have to pack it in too, i’m afraid.
I have a flight in the morning. I’m on my way to see Seth Godin for a tiny seminar.
*tosses blog keys*
Ad Lib. Stay away from Civilization. We like you as a Wild Man.
Sweet dreams.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Have a safe journey Liz. G’nite to you and all - I will be off in my own little world too, as it quiets down in here.
Advice Librarian said
Heh, I’ll try, but I have this really interesting setup right now where I’m right next to George Washington - and I was just thinking of taking my army along to visit New York
I know, I know - normal tourists don’t bring their hordes with them when they come calling, but since I’m still in the Classical Era, it seems like the thing to do
ME Strauss said
Thanks HART for the send off.
ME Strauss said
You, George Washingto, (and ssssh, Ann Michael) and me with Seth Godin in New York City. Now there is one Motley Crew. I think we could take the city by storm. Perhaps one day there would even be a Broadway musical. “Blogging Broadway” HA!
Keith Dsouza said
Wowwwwwwwwww Liz 250 comments in one post ( including mine and like always your sweet one ), I am getting to New York soon just hope you pass the Mike back there.
Truly one hell of a Successful and Outstanding blog, I hope likewise I hope many would that you sport that logo out here, this place truly deserves one.
I would be glad to shout out loud.
Cheers
Keith
ME Strauss said
So that trip to New York is a reality. That sounds exciting. I’m already in Chicago. Let me know when you’re on American soil.
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