April 8, 2008
The Mic is On: It’s about the State of…
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.
… the Blogosphere!
Let’s start with:
- What’s changed since we started blogging?
- What do we miss about when we didn’t blog at all?
- What are we most grateful that we found in the Blogosphere?
- What are we most concerned won’t stay the same?
And, we’ll talk about whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and flamenco dancing (because we always get off topic, anyway.)
Oh, and bring links about the blogosphere to share!
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?
Image Source: flickr
Filed under Community, SOB Business, Successful Blog |
C'mon. Let's talk!
248 Comments to “The Mic is On: It’s about the State of…”
Search
-
-
- I help businesses, universities, and service professionals . . .
increase ROI and attract fiercely loyal fans . . .
by communicating with customers as people. 
-
-
- Updates once a week to you inbox and a free chapter from Liz's ebook!
- Keep up with SOBCon News and Events!
SOBCon - Colorado 2010! Register NOW!!
The Videos
The Podcast
What Liz Does
Buy These!! by Liz and friends
Blog Syndication
Get the blog in your reader or via email
Get the Successful-Blog Weekly Digest
Subscribe to SOBCon Newsletter
Find Liz AT:
Liz Writes For
Chicago Time
Library
- About Liz
- Work with Liz!!
- Tues. OPEN COMMENT Night
- About Successful-Blog
- POPULAR POSTS
- SUCCESSFUL SERIES
- NEW BLOGGER PAGE
- LINK LEAK VIRUS
- 1800+ Directory Links
- Library of Outstanding Articles
SOB Pages
- What IS an SOB?!
- SOB A-Z Directory
- SOB Hall of Fame A-H
- SOB Hall of Fame I-Q
- SOB Hall of Fame R-Z
- . . . a B.A.D. Blogger?
Liz Links
The Liz Manifesto
- I am a writer who uses the language to paint and to play word music, places my heart and head in the spaces, and writes in the hope that one person is better for having read what I wrote.
Chgoland Meetups & Events
- Know about Chgoland meetups!
Get info or broadcast your event!
Category
- 121 Conversation (15)
- Analysis (45)
- Audience (56)
- B.A.D. Blogger (55)
- Basics (97)
- Blog Review (26)
- Bloggy Questions (128)
- Branding (212)
- Business Book (99)
- Business Life (687)
- Checklists (33)
- Comments (275)
- Community (846)
- Connecting Dots (28)
- Content (89)
- Customer Think (92)
- Design (86)
- Great Finds (343)
- Guest Writer (128)
- Idea Bank (33)
- Inside-Out Thinking (66)
- Interviews (85)
- leadership (5)
- Links (207)
- Liz Also Writes (3)
- Liz Talks Corporate (2)
- Marketing (694)
- Motivation/Inspiration (620)
- One Way to CC It (28)
- Outside the Box (188)
- Perfect Virtual Manager (54)
- Productivity (93)
- SEO (63)
- SOB Business (1075)
- Songs of Life (1)
- Strategy (178)
- Successful Blog (4040)
- Survival Kit (57)
- Tech/Stats (97)
- Technorati (24)
- The Big Idea (47)
- Tips (60)
- Tools (108)
- Trends (301)
- Writing (276)
- ZZZ-FUN (172)
Michael Martine, Blog Consultant said
I think blogging is becoming more social. In fact, I think it is a form of social media. But when it first came on the scene, social media as we know it now didn’t exist. So even though blogging seemed revolutionary, we only had “normal” websites to compare it to.
Now that both blogging and social media have evolved, it seems clear to me that social media has grown out of blogging and has subsumed blogging. More and more, social media aspects will be added to and mix with blogging.
Look at the rise of Twitter, Pownce, and social media plugins and add-on services for blogs.
Brooke said
Hello! Am I first or in the wrong place?
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Mike!
Hi Brooke! You’re in the right place!
Brooke said
I find this whole blogging thing very interesting. You see - the only people I know who are interested in blogging, blogs, twitter etc. are you all. My internet friends. The people I know in real life just are not interested at all. I would say about only 2% actually have anything to do with blogs and social media…
Rick Cockrum said
Hi Brooke. Hi Michael. Hi Liz.
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Mike,
I’m seeing that social thing going on as well. I’m hoping that blogging doesn’t lose the “blog post” discussion while all of the social keeps going on.
Brooke said
Great! Hello Mike and Liz!
Rick Cockrum said
If Alexa is any indication, a lot of the people who are interested in marketing have left blogging and went to other places, probably the ’social media’.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Brooke!
I’m more and more convinced that the more we blog the more we forget that. It’s easy to end up just blogging for other bloggers.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Rick!
What about Alexa is telling you that?
DaveOlson said
Evening Folks…
Liz… I’m most grateful for the friends I found in the Blogosphere. Not trying to be cliche… but it’s true.
Brooke said
Yeah - that’s my concern Liz. I think that being a part of the blogging community is really fun - but other people I know aren’t a part of it at all.
Mike has said in his blog to remember your customer - people have to remember that!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Dave!
I’m feeling that gratitude as well, especially now as SOBCon08 comes closer and I think of all the folks — like you — who were so supportive last year.
Angela Maiers said
Hello All,
I still feel new at this blogging stuff even though I have been doing it for almost six months. It has been and continues to be absolutely amazing!
Mike, I totally agree with the social media angle. I am seeing more and more integration of tools within blogs. I think it enhances the power of connectivity even more. I have made some wonderful connections through my blog, but have met equally intriguing and amazing people through Twitter, Nings, etc..
I love it all! I want to do it all-if only I did not have a “day” job!
Joe said
Hey Liz, Mike, Brooke, Rick and anyone else that shows up before I get done typing.
Kelly said
What’s changed? Six months blogging, not enough time to say. Maybe late adopters finally finding out what a blog is. It took me two years of lurking and then getting into commenting to decide to start blogging, and still lots of people are two years behind me.
What do I miss? Not having to feed the beast. I love the beast, but HAVING to feed him is aaargh some days.
Grateful that I found? Super-brainy people to read. Like magazines which I still devour, but cheaper and I get to interact.
Worries for the future? Um, no. I like the look of the future.
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Brooke,
I see so many who have conversations on their blog with bloggers who do what they do . . . they don’t have paying customers.
Rick Cockrum said
Liz - I use Search Status in Firefox, so I can see the Alexa rank of any site I’m on. For the past few months almost all the sites I visit regularly have been decreasing in rank.
Since Alexa is only influenced by people who have the Alexa toolbar or the Search Status addon installed, and these tend to be people who are interested in marketing and SEO, either those people are visiting blogs less frequently, or they’re using feed readers rather than actually visiting the sites.
It sounds logical at least, because going by my own stats actual page views and visitors are increasing at the same time.
Ritu said
Here I go :-),
1. The thing that I find changing constantly is the way blogs are looked upon these days. With so many blogs out there in various niche it has become hard to find which one really offers value and is truly a unique approach. With all the information being already out there, it seems like all the blogs are just “recycling information”, same info over and over again.
2. One thing I miss about when we didn’t blog is “offline social life.” Although I love to make friends and network online, my social life seems to have taken a toll. I wish everybody realized that social life outside a computer screen is as important for your success as it is online friends.
3. Jon from FreelanceFolder.com. Without him I would be nowhere near where I am. And for that I need to personally thank you as well, as everytime I talk to him he has only good thing to say about you and how you helped him out. Thank You Liz.
4. The value of blogging itself. I for one won’t even say it’s something I am concerned about anymore because it’s already happening. With so many blogs out there copying and stealing content, it’s being seen like another make quick money scam.
Sorry for the long post, Liz. But you know me, I just like elaborate and express my views to the fullest on any matter
.
Have a great night! I am taking a break from the computer tonight so I can hang out with my “offline” friends. It will be great
DaveOlson said
Liz… Brooke,
I think I’m probably in a bit of minority of blogger types. I’ve never blogged for business, or even to support business. It has almost always been more about conversation than networking for me.
Joe said
Alexa and T-rati are both inacurate measures of a blogs effectiveness unless you are on the “main” domain name. ie… .com
If you use /blog or /WP or /articles or even a “sub”domain, you will still only rank for the .com
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Angela!
If it all becomes so social . . . I’m wondering about addiction. I know people with productivity problems.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Popping in quickly until the pizza is ready. I’m with Dave; I’d be lost without the blogosphere which has opened the world to me. I love the connectedness.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Kelly!
I have some of the same responses, especially being able to interact and read all of the incredible people I find here.
Brooke said
I agree Dave - The blogs I like the best are more social than business related!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Joe!
You’ve been a blog pal for maybe the longest. . . .
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Ritu!
Yeah, sorting sure is a problem. Finding blogs that I love has been a favorite passtime, but I find lots that are just okay now.
I’m making a point of leaving my computer in the daylight for a little while to be with humans.
ME Liz Strauss said
Dave,
I actually think you’re in the MAJORITY. It’s just that you hang out in a business corner of the blogosphere.
Do you get pressure to blog for your business?
DaveOlson said
Just thinking out loud.. but isn’t the facebook “phenomenon” kinda like blogging on steroids. It hits on the pulse of what makes blogging so appealing to people like me. Except I don’t have to know someone to get connected…
Angela Maiers said
One of the things that I see and have learned from reading business blogs is the power of extending the conversation beyond the post.
My frustration with “my field” and the education blogs is the lack of engagement. It is a monologue not the dialogue it needs to be!
Kelly said
Last week I had two of my favorite authors (like books) whose blogs I’ve been following for a couple of years, write to me to discuss things we’d talked about on their blogs. (In one day. Must have been stars aligning.) People whose names have been on my shelves for years. How cool is that? That’s something that never could have happened before blogosphere.
ME Liz Strauss said
Rick,
I think your Alexa theory has merit!
My feed subscriptions are up, up, up.
DaveOlson said
Liz… no pressure to blog for my business. Except maybe from you…:-)
Pretty well all of the people in and around my businesses are blog illiterate.
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Dave,
Though I find that Facebook gets a little too “surface” and a little not enough conversation.
Angela Maiers said
Liz - I agree. The social part can become very addicting! It really takes balance and discipline to manage myself in the blogosphere! Like Char-I am addicted to the connectivity.
DaveOlson said
hey Glenda… save some pizza for me.
ME Liz Strauss said
Angela,
That makes perfect sense . . . as an educator, myself I know, how easy it was to think of a blog post as a lesson.
Joe said
Hey Liz,
All connected for SOBCon. Talk about Blogging and Bloggers and communication and friendships built with the community.
Oh, BTW, I’m coming to Chitown on Thrusday.
I’ll be a little early but I’ll leave before I get to see all the out-takes on Sunday.
Just thought I’d throw that in since tonight is about the ’sphere.
Brooke said
I agree with Angela - blogging for business (though I am NOT consistent) does not lead to conversations. But that’s why I like to comment on other people’s blogs. Some are great at responding and keeping the conversation alive!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Glenda!
Hiya!
I often use you as a fabulous example of person I would never have met or learned from without the blogosphere.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
will do, Dave. Not quite ready.
Suzie Cheel said
It’s raining in paradise:(
I love the blogosphere, the community, yes I am addicted.
I remember trying to build a textile community back in96 as part of a research project, it was all so tiny, slow an clunky. Now i go to a conference and meet people who i probably know better than some of my offline friends as we share so much.
Des says often he fells there are things about him he would prefer i didn’t tell the blogworld. I say to him- you got me into blogging! I did sit by for 3 years and wonder what all the fuss was about!
I am really looking forward to going to blogworld this year as I will be both a better more prolific blogger and not as green as I was last year.
Like Liz so much gratitude. Here I am in Australia chatting with you all, how amazing is that. Last night I was on skype with LOA people one who I have met in person
ME Liz Strauss said
Dave,
I know I ask you about blogging for you business . . . I meant, do other blogger do the same thing. I didn’t figure the folks in your work life actually did. [grin]
Well, maybe the BIG Boss.
DaveOlson said
Liz… the blogosphere is probably more segmented than it used to be. Your comment about me hanging out in the business section of the blogosphere. Almost like geopolitical divisions within the blogiverse.
There’s still the “personal” realm, “business”, “news”, “spam” and many many other countries…
Angela Maiers said
How do you all measure blog “success”? What stats matter most to you?
Brooke said
The connectedness is the best part. Look at this group…I am not an avid blogger but you all welcome me and share a lot of my interestes. (like Fat Tire.) I love all of it!!
Michael Martine, Blog Consultant said
Wait, did I comment on the post announcing the open mike instead? Oh, silly.
Also - as far as the “state of the blogosphere” goes, the bar is higher in some ways. You can still “just start a blog” but you can’t expect to keep that blog permanently. Make a “throw-away” blog to get your feet wet and then get serious. That way you’re not reeling from all your beginner mistakes.
What else? Technorati doesn’t matter anymore. Almost nobody uses blog-specific searches. WordPress.com is the new Blogger (heh… that’s gonna upset some people, I know, but whatevs, I calls ‘em like I sees ‘em). Tumblr is the new wordpress.com.
And 99% of the population hardly still knows what a blog is at all. We’re living in two different worlds, folks.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Joe!
Glad to hear you’re all connected for SOBCon. Yea! I’ll be at Hotel 71 on Thursday. Joanna, the Fuel My Blog folks, and a few others will be around too.
Angela Maiers said
Dave,
Love Marcus Aurelius and his Meditations!
DaveOlson said
Liz… no I don’t think I ever get asked about blogging for business by other bloggers. Maybe a little in the personal growth area, but truthfully, I’m not sure I’ve shared much of my “offline” business interests with others online.
I like what you say…. “blogging is not your business”
Joe said
** TOSSING KLONDIKES TO EVERYONE **
Since no one asked I thought it might be nice to get the Klondikes out of the fridge and pass them around.
Angela Maiers said
Kelly,
I love the post on silence-what our days would be like with a little of that!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Dave,
I’ve just noticed that communities have formed around like interests and people seem to hang with their friends.
But I noticed that when I came to Successful-blog from my writing blog in 2005. The culture was different.
Rick Cockrum said
I think you’re right, Dave. I do the same thing in my feed reeder - business, personal, personal growth, general, and other folders. The bigger and more complex any culture becomes, the more it specializes. It takes an effort to maintain contact with the different parts of it.
DaveOlson said
Thanks Angela.. I like Marcus Aurelius for a whole lot of historical reasons..
Rick Cockrum said
KLONDIKES!
Brooke said
FINALLY - KLONDIKES!
ME Liz Strauss said
Suzie!
It is the communities and the way they reach around the world.
DaveOlson said
Rick… yeah that’s what I do too. The larger something grows and the more complicated it gets… we tend to act to simply so that it doesn’t overwhelm us.
ME Liz Strauss said
Angela,
More and more my sense of success comes from individual connections.
Kelly said
Angela,
Thanks! Jump right off the bandwagon for a few hours and try silence, it’s beyond golden these days!
Michael,
“99% of the population hardly still knows what a blog is at all.” SO TRUE! I use this example a lot, but here goes again: My Mom won’t read my blog, because she thinks blogs are all about porn. My Mom. I mean, really.
Brooke said
Good to know Liz! I agree that my success comes from that too!
DaveOlson said
that was supposed to be “simplify” not simply
Brooke said
Kelly! That is tooooo funny!
Angela Maiers said
Joe,
Thanks for the Klondike! I needed a snack.
Mike,
To build on your stat of 99%- another scary stat is that 99% of those teaching our youth have never read a blog, do not know what a blog is, and are terrified of social medial! It is really scary!
Joe said
Liz, I know I never mentioned that I was staying at 71, did I?
Rick Cockrum said
Kelly - they both have four letters. But then, so does work.
ME Liz Strauss said
Sorry . . .
Angela and Kelly,
I was just looking for the coolest “silence” link, but it’s not there anymore.
Suzie Cheel said
Hi Glenda,
OF topic- how did you like A New Earth yesterday- I had a great breakthough
Michael Martine, Blog Consultant said
Angela, Kelly, others: I KNOW. Frightening. I can’t even tell people what I do for a living.
The revolution will be BLOGGIFIED!
Kelly said
Brooke,
It’s pathetic. Especially when she knows what I do for a living and why I blog, and especially when I’ve explained the blog to her a thousand times.
Rick,
So does Mom, when I say it after one of these conversations: Mo-om!
Joe said
I don’t know bout you guys, but I try to keep only business reading in my RSS reader.
For people who’s writing I appreciate and started reading just for the sake of good reading (whatever the topic) I keep in my “Favorites” folder.
I know just a different degree of separation, but it seems more personal to me with my “real” reads.
ME Liz Strauss said
Glad to hear that you’re at the 71 Joe!
I think we’re doing Open Comment Night on the River right outside it’s door.
Angela Maiers said
Brooke -
This is off topic, but where in Mexico did you go? I just got back from Cabo, and it was AMAZING!!!
ME Liz Strauss said
Dave,
I’m looking to simplify.
simple is elegant.
Rick Cockrum said
Joe - i like Sage because it’s a feed aggregator, but when you click on a post title it takes you to the actual page. more productive people than I would find it too slow, but I like going to the sites.
ME Liz Strauss said
Kelly,
I tell my mother-in-law I write spy novels. I started that when I was in educational publishing. She doesn’t believe it, but it’s easier than saying I’m a web publisher — blog?
Joe said
Liz, do I get a mic again this year??? I like going around and meeting new people and introducing them to everyone at the same time.
DaveOlson said
Question;
Do you ever go into the supermarket and get somewhat overwhelmed with the choices? It always takes at least 5 phone calls home to get the grocery list my wife sent with me. “which green tea did you want?” “Is organic okay or does it have to be certified?”
I’ll vote for simplicity every time… as long as I can customize it.
Nick Schmidt said
Wow. interesting stuff everyone..
one thing about the blogsphere that I’m sure we call can agree. It’s geting huge and hard to follow!!
But it is becoming more of a niche market and becoming more personable. You can start to met people like Liz and more people. .
You can start to get more involved with things.
Just recently I did a video about a t shirt my friend made for me. So many people liked it, I had to start up an online shop so my other friends could purchase it too.. But I’m not really making money from it.. It’s just fun!!!
Angela Maiers said
Joe, RSS is a life savor for me. I just recatagorized, and I am much more efficient!
I have been stumbling my favorites, so they are easy to find and share with others!
ME Liz Strauss said
Dave,
I’m with you. Please get me out of the “Mall of America.” I’m a boutique shopper.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Nick!
That t-shirt thing has become your community. How cool is that?!!
Brooke said
WOW Angela! I am so impressed that you remembered! We were in Playa Del Carmen (an hous south of Cancun.) We had the BEST time!!!
Michael Martine, Blog Consultant said
What I miss from when I didn’t blog at all is doing nothing but listening to music for its own sake. I almost never do that now, it’s just background music.
DaveOlson said
Liz… I think the diversity of choices will actually bode well for boutique shopping. Probably the same goes for the blogosphere.
The thing with a boutique is that it is usually a fairly local phenomena. Known primarily by word of mouth. I wonder how that translates into the blog world.
ME Liz Strauss said
Rick,
I like going to the actual page too. I like to read words in their natural habitat!
Kelly said
Liz,
Spy novels. LOL. I might as well try it…
Whenever I talk to my Mom about a new client she says, “Is this that design-y thing again?” as if I haven’t been doing the same thing (Experience Design) for YEARS. Or perhaps, as if this time I might be talking about heart surgery.
As the mother of a nine-year-old, I am worried. When will I become that woman?
ME Liz Strauss said
Michael,
Thanks for bringing up music. I’m not listening to it nearly as much as I used to. I’m thinking I should make it a point to do that more.
Joe said
Ok, to bring up a sore point…
Has anyone notice how LONG the Spam comments have gotten lately?
Some are longer than my posts!
If only someone could stop them, not just block them. It takes up so much bandwidth with all the links it’s nuts.
Nick Schmidt said
yea but the community isn’t big.. and it just fun..
but it could get big because, it is fun..
that is the whole point of the blogsphere.. FUN!
Rick Cockrum said
http://musicovery.com/
ME Liz Strauss said
I agree, Joe, but I don’t think anyone has a solution.
BTW, you haven’t commented on how fast my blog is loading.
DaveOlson said
Liz… yeah what did you do? Your blog is loading lightning fast!
ME Liz Strauss said
Rick,
That is one very cool link.
Rick Cockrum said
Now that you mention it…
I don’t have to hit refresh!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Dave!
I personally complained again and again and a really cool tech figured out the problem was the out-of-date sitemap.
Rick Cockrum said
It’s one of the best internet radio stations I’ve found.
ME Liz Strauss said
How do Internet radio stations make their money?
Rick Cockrum said
Maybe I should regenerate my sitemap. Shards has been slow, too.
DaveOlson said
Liz… hmmm… I’ve been having tons of problems with my site running brutally slow. I thought it was the MySQL server… I was going to change providers but maybe there’s a solution.
Rick… cool site!
Joe said
Ok, Ok, your Blog seems to be loading a little faster. What did you change to accomplish this feat of pheonominal freedom from foolish phobias of feet-dragging folley?
Nick Schmidt said
Hey Dave.. Who is your web host? i have lunarpages.. They have been pretty good..
but i don’t know much about how fast its running or anything..
Timothy Johnson said
Hi Liz! Hi all!
Sorry to come late to the party.
Angela Maiers said
Liz-
Great talk on a great topic! I feel so blessed to have met and learned from so many like you in this blogging journey. Everyday brings new connections. Happy Tuesday everyone and have a super week!
Brooke said
Okay - see ya all later! Have to put kids to bed! Great conversations and enjoy your night!!
ME Liz Strauss said
Rick,
So you know, it was an out-of-date sitemap plugin.
Rick Cockrum said
You’ve got me. On musicology I see ads and they have a members channel. It may be paid. I’ve never checked.
DaveOlson said
Nick… I have accounts with several providers. Some are great and others not so much…
The company that hosts my blog site has been making a lot of changes in the last 5 months and I’m sure it will be good in the end. I had to move some of my business sites, but my personal blog just doesn’t have a high enough priority… yet!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Tim!
Welcome to the conversation!
Glad to hear you’re bringing friends to SOBCon!
DaveOlson said
Nite Brooke. Nite Angela
ME Liz Strauss said
Bye Brooke!
Excellent to have you. Kiss the kids for me!
ME Liz Strauss said
So long, Angela!
Thanks for coming! I love taking to another educator.
Guess Tim will have to take over.
Joe said
BTW Liz, we are only getting 1.626 comments per minute so far.
Just in case you thought I forgot to count commente currently.
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe,
I feel you found out the folly was a frivolous sitemap.
Timothy Johnson said
State of blogging… hmmm, my life is so different today than it was 2-3 years ago, and a lot of it has to do with blogging and with the relationships formed.
ME Liz Strauss said
It’s good that you’re calculating the comments, Joe.
My brain is too fried for higher mathematics.
Rick Cockrum said
You’re an angel, Liz! My sitemaps weren’t writeable. Fixed that, updated, and the site seems to be zipping along now. Thank you!
Rick Cockrum said
Good night Angela. Bye Brooke. Be well.
Suzie Cheel said
I still have to reload?
I listen to Voice America and Oprah and Friends- you can get a free 1 month subscription for that
ME Liz Strauss said
Ah Rick!
Excellent!
Nick Schmidt said
ha ha!! Timothy agrees with me!!!
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Tim,
I think that blogging changes who we are — exponentially. It has something to do with thinking about ideas every day, just for the fun of thinking with friends.
DaveOlson said
ME Liz Strauss said
Dave,
The new sitemap I’m using is
XML Sitemap Generator for WordPress 3.0.3.1
DaveOlson said
Well…. gotta say goodnight! Have a meeting in the offline world.
Nite all!
ME Liz Strauss said
Suzie!
Everything seems to work well at this end. I wonder why you’re having to reload still.
Where are you listening to Voice America and Oprah and Friends- with a 1 month subscription?
Timothy Johnson said
I can’t even imagine how things would be different now if I hadn’t started blogging 25 months ago. I know that my business wouldn’t be nearly as fulfilling.
Rick Cockrum said
Bye Dave.
Char said
Wow! It’s hopping here tonight~ How is everyone?
Rick Cockrum said
One thing I don’t like about WordPress 2.5 is that it doesn’t give you your total comment count on the front page. In fact, I can’t find the count anywhere.
Joe said
I mention comments per minute and everyone leaves?
Is it something I said?
ME Liz Strauss said
See you later Dave!
Thanks for your visit!
Timothy Johnson said
Joe, it’s always something you said… but in a very positive way.
Rick Cockrum said
But Tim and Char came, Joe!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Char!
How’s this Tuesday?!!
Joe said
Rick, I know how you feel.
I’ve written so many post on changes messing things up when upgrading I think I’ll have to upgrade the posts to confuse everyone just to keep up with all the changes that the programmers change for the sake of change.
Char said
This Tuesday is busy! I think I was on phone calls most of the day and then spent this afternoon/evening driving the Mom taxi with one child having to be a swim practice and the other having ice hockey practice
ME Liz Strauss said
Rick,
I swear I saw something like that on Matt Mullenweg’s blog when he was doing the 2.5 demo. I know I saw that he had over 2million spam.
Joe said
Now I know why I keep coming back here week after week. It’s like family, just when you think all is said, someone says something to make you feel good about yourself.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Back again. Pizza was ok, not great.
Suzie, I found yesterday’s class a little harder to follow; perhaps I wasn’t present enough. I’d love to hear about your breakthrough. FEEL free to email me.
ME Liz Strauss said
Char!
Ice hockey in April. We’re sick of ice by then here.
Char said
It’s that whole indoor rink, year round kind of thing. Ice hockey is the only sport my son will play so April is fine.
Rick Cockrum said
Look at your blog, though, Liz. If you can find a comment count, I’d love to know. Maybe the spam count came from an Aksimet widget on the home page.
Hmm. Maybe there’s a comment count widget.
Joe said
Liz, speaking of ICE, do you think it will all be melted by 5/1?
I don’t want the plane to skid off the runway or anything.
I think you know I HATE FLYING, so a nice smooth landing would be nice.
Rick Cockrum said
Someone committed arson on our indoor rink.
The county is rebuilding it already, though.
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe,
The ice is gone already.
ME Liz Strauss said
Rick,
I’m not on 2.5 yet. I just saw Matt demo it at WordCamp Dallas.
ME Liz Strauss said
Char,
That kind of focus. Does that mean he’s going to be a ice hockey pro?
Joe said
Rick, (I was going to make a joke about being time for a swimming pool, but thought better and changed my mind.)
Who would do such a thing? No Penguin fan, for sure.
Timothy Johnson said
Hi all… hate to shove off so early… have a great night
ME Liz Strauss said
Welcome back, Glenda!
Tim’s here!
Rick Cockrum said
Good night, Tim. You have a great night, too.
Joe said
Glenda, I think Mr Tim left already, but if you wouldn’t mind a substitute, I’ll cut the rug with you!
Rick Cockrum said
Joe - All I know is it was senseless vandalism.
ME Liz Strauss said
Good night, Tim!
Go be a leader!
ME Liz Strauss said
Setting fire to an ice rink. It’s pretty juvenile.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
drat, missed my dance with Mr T.
Rick Cockrum said
I’m just a lone blogger with only two sites left on WordPress. Upgrades are fairly easy. It’s quite a bit more complicated from your end.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Speaking of music several comments back - feel out of sync tonight, sorry about that folks - I fun writing this post http://www.doitmyselfblog.com/2008/my-lifes-soundtrack/
ME Liz Strauss said
Ah Glenda!
We can boogie without Tim. Joe offered to spin you around the dance floor a time or two.
Char said
No aspirations of hockey greatness - just for fun and teamwork. He just doesn’t like many sports.
Joe said
Rick, speaking of senseless…
Last year I took the el to BlogPhilly and had a great time, but after recent events I won’t go near the subway or the el.
Killing someone for fun just because he happens to be on the platform or attacking a woman or beating up someone else for the same “reason” is senseless.
I doubt I’ll be going to BlogPhilly this summer.
ME Liz Strauss said
So Char, your kids do sports, a lot. Were you in sports as a kid too?
And do you think your kids will blog?
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Sure Joe, what’s your musical pleasure for our first dance?
Rick Cockrum said
Here you go Glenda.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vnRqYMTpXHc
Joe said
Glenda, ladies choice.
I prefer slow, but if you would like to tango that’s Ok too.
Char said
Liz - 3 kids - 3 different sports. I did sports as a kid too. And my son already does blog. My daughter wants to also.
ME Liz Strauss said
Another excellent link, Rick!
I remember my dad singing that to me when I was a kid.
ME Liz Strauss said
Char,
What does your son blog about?
I always wondered when I kill my spam what I’d do about it if I had a kid. Do you clean his spam for him? Some of it is so disgusting.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Joe, let’s LIVE and go with a tango!
Joe said
SOME?
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Thanks Rick! How are you doing?
ME Liz Strauss said
A Tango!!
I see it now!
Joe said
RICK!
You are the Disk Jockey tonight, you always know where to find the right music.
Miss Glenda and I would like a nice spicy Tango, Please…
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
An interesting image, isn’t it , Liz? Oh, why not!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Curtsies to Joe…
ME Liz Strauss said
I see Glenda throw her head back!
ME Liz Strauss said
I wonder how to blog a tango.
Barbara Rozgonyi, Wired PR Works said
Landed back home in Chicago tonight after taking an intentionally unplugged 5 day trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico: no email, no blog, no Internet.
What did I miss when I didn’t blog at all?
Creative expression - so I worked around that with photography, journaling and informal interviews that I use in future posts. And, of course I didn’t miss the icy thunderstorm like we’re having now.
Rick Cockrum said
The only tango I know Joe.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3UDQqLkoJ7A
Suzie Cheel said
@ Liz listen to Michael Losier, but there is lots of other stuff there, besides Oprah on Oprah and friends
xmradio.com free trial came via oprah and a New Earth I think
voiceamerica.com
I listen to some LOA stuff and haven’t checked out other stuff FREE
I also occasionally tap into Hay House radio
@ Glenda– I found my pain body- wrote about it on my blog http://www.abundancehighway.com- last post I have done
Joe said
* Bows to Miss Glenda*
“Thank you so much for this dance” he said.
(What a grand night it is to be dancing with the the Queen of Tango, he thought)
*Smiles Broadly*
Taking her hand they danced through the night as if they were the only two in the room.
ME Liz Strauss said
Welcome home, Barbara!
I have fantasies of doing what you just described. I have to make them realities. Hmmm.
ME Liz Strauss said
Rick,
You’re fabulous at that!
Suzie Cheel said
Hi Barbara,
I am soooo envious I just love Santa Fe and to do a photography course is a dream of mine
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Suzie,
Everyone talks like finding this stuff is so simple. The Internet is HUGE!! I’ll go looking.
Rick Cockrum said
Aw shucks.
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe,
You ought to consider writing fiction. You’ve got the description down perfect.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
re 179 - Liz, isn’t the tango about heart, spirit and overflowing pass? That’s what you do on your blog, using words!
ME Liz Strauss said
Barbara!
I think it’s only raining down here. Did the icy storm make your arrival awful?
Rick Cockrum said
Excellent,Glenda!
On that note, it’s time for me to say good night. Y’all take care.
Thank you, and have a wonderful evening, Liz.
ME Liz Strauss said
Thank you, Rick,
Have a great evening!
Joe said
Glenda, I told you Rick was the perfect DJ, he found something we could dance to within minutes (and it’s pretty cool too, from RENT).
Liz, it’s not necessarily fiction, it is just a good imagination.
Char said
Liz - he blogs about Lego, robots/robotics and radio controlled things - you know, real boy stuff.
Akismet catches most of the spam and I do the comment moderation. He hasn’t posted in a while - he is intent on learning how to customize his theme.
Apologies in advance if I suddenly disappear again this evening. Its that multitasking thing.
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe,
but you write it well. Fiction is imagination.
Barbara Rozgonyi, Wired PR Works said
Landing was good, adjusting to sunny/glorious/enchanting from cold/rainy/dreary takes some getting used to.
Wanted to pass on this post about musicovery - saw a reference earlier:
http://tinyurl.com/3938g4
@Suzie - let me know if you need any photography recos - really incredible natural landscapes/sunsets/sunrises there!
ME Liz Strauss said
Char,
His blog sounds wonderful!
It’s great to hear about how it works. Bet he wouldn’t let his teacher see it in a million years.
Michael Martine, Blog Consultant said
On WordPress 2.5: I haven’t upgraded yet. Too many problems reported by others!
One bit of advice, though: UPGRADE PLUGINS FIRST!
ME Liz Strauss said
Barbara!
I bet you’re all reignited and refueled. Beautiful sunsets and sunrises do that.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
[lightly places a kiss on his cheek] “Thank you, Joe. What would we do without the blogosphere?”
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Glenda,
What would we do without the blogosphere? None of us would be here and I’d be living outside of your computer.
Joe said
Char, you son sounds a lot like a lot of other bloggers I know (including me) it is more fun to mess with the code than write real words.
That’s what Tuesday night is for…
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Michael!
Thanks for the advice. That makes total sense. Things “break the Internet” so easily these days.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
And we would miss this friendship and connectedness every Tuesday night.
Suzie Cheel said
@Barbara,
I know , I have been there twice , was amazing. once in Winter and then in Summer. What was amazing for me was that i had painted images on silk of ladders going into the sky from red earth- I wondered had i been there in another life! would love to see some pics- have you put them up on FlickR?
ME Liz Strauss said
It’s pretty special, isn’t it?
Joe said
But I, for one, am grateful for the friends I have made, the dances I have danced, the lessons I’ve learned and the good conversations I’ve had in this new and wonderous blogiverse. (It’s much bigger than a sphere.)
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Joe,
me too. Me too.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Michael, are you a WP plugin guru? I have some questions. May I email you?
ME Liz Strauss said
Barbara,
The storm just got here. Whoa. Lightning!!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
I totally agree, Joe.
Suzie Cheel said
@ Joe
“”"”"”"”"”"
@ Glenda @ Michel or anyone
I cannot get related post plugins to work- have tried 3
any ideas- I probably should head over to Linkedinbloggers
ME Liz Strauss said
Wish I could help, Suzie, but I’m useless on that one.
Joe said
@ Suzie ????????????
Char said
Liz - Once he has it looking how he wants it to, I bet he’d let any of his teachers look at it - especially his History, Intro to Technology and English teachers.
Joe - I really enjoy both aspects of blogging. Maybe that explains why I have 6 blogs and do WordPress customizations for clients, too.
Barbara - I am looking forward to a good thunder and lightning storm. Some people hate them, me - I think they are cool.
Char said
Liz - I screwed up my own email address and my last comment went into moderation…
Char said
The other plugin that doesn’t work in 2.5 is Popularity contest.
ME Liz Strauss said
Char,
As you can see, your comment has been rescued.
It’s very cool that your son wouldn’t mind showing off his blog. I’ve read that kids go either one way or the other when it comes to teachers.
Joe said
Char, you forgot where you live in the blogosphere?
If you look under your feet, follow them to the front door, open it, look to the right and left, you might get an idea of where you are.
Start there…
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi, sorry,
Had to change the batteries in my “infamous” wireless mouse.
Suzie Cheel said
@ Jo ditto to you comment
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Suzie, I’m still searching for a Recent Comments plugin, so I’m not the one ask I’m afraid. I find this stuff verging on my limits of techiness, actually, its nearly icky.
ME Liz Strauss said
Glenda,
Icky Tech . . . sounds like a great blog title.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
lol the funny thing is Darrell is the techie-geek, but he doesn’t get html, blogs or wp, so I’m left figuring out that stuff on my own. Ick.
ME Liz Strauss said
We’ll just have to get Darrell blogging.
Barbara Rozgonyi, Wired PR Works said
Char -
re: the Lego blog - what’s the URL? I have a 13.5 year old son who lives for Legos. Has your son seen this site: http://www.nitro-toyz.com?
My 18 year old is the most prolific blogger in our house - she puts me to shame.
re: thunderstorms - fun to watch when the storm hits 22 miles east of here via twitter; we get it first.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
He kinda is at http://www.enablingabilities.com/wordpress/index.php but wifey helps with the techie stuff. His blog desperately needs pimping, wifey just doesn’t get around to it.
Char said
Barbara - I’ll tell him about that site. His site is http://www.bricksandbots.com/ but it needs more content and a header. He only gets to work on it on weekends, and hasn’t posted in a while. Hopefully he’ll have more time this summer.
ME Liz Strauss said
Ah Glenda!
I had no idea that Darrell had taken on a blogger’s role!
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe,
Did you leave us without a good night poem?
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Well, he considers himself a podcaster rather than a blogger. Its only a label, right?
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Char, that’s so cool!
ME Liz Strauss said
I think it’s interesting that podcasters don’t think of themselves as bloggers. I think of them as bloggers who talk.
Joe said
What do we do
For a living or for fun?
We blog we blog
And we are never done
When we write
As we are driven to do
What kind of reward
Do we all feel is our due?
A simple comment
Is all we really need to keep going
To have all the words
And to keep them all flowing.
A Blogger’s life
Is nothing new and amazing
Authors for generations
Have been doing all the blazing
And new and cutting things
Have they given us until this day
We are given by their example
A path to a bright and wonderous way.
Berma Shave
Nite Liz
Nite All
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Char said
Thanks Glenda. He’s the only one in the house that gets what I do. He and my husband built his new computer this weekend: http://www.wearyparent.com/my-tween-techie/
ME Liz Strauss said
Wonderful!
Good night, Joe!
Sleepy Swell!
ME Liz Strauss said
It’s fascinating how we think of ourselves and what we make room for.
What’s so hard to “get” about blogging? I know. I know.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Awesome, Char. Hopefully he’ll figure the homework and shoe thing soon.
ME Liz Strauss said
Char,
That blog post is excellent!
Char said
Glenda - I’m not holding my breath on that one.
Thanks so much Liz. See why he needs to play hockey?
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah! I see the hockey thing clearly.
ME Liz Strauss said
Well, you guys, I think it’s time I pulled my keyboard. I have SOBCon08 meetings in the morning. Devilish plans and all.
ME Liz Strauss said
Sweet dreams everyone!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Mom gets the basics. With Dad, I tell him I write for website. I don’t bother trying to explain it.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Good night, Liz. Thanks for the conversation.
Suzie Cheel said
I Like that bloggers who talk:)
Joe did you write the poem, I love it
what is berma shave