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The Mic is ON. It’s Thassos Island, Greece!

June 27, 2006 by Liz Leave a Comment

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.

Some things we might talk about could include

  • our favorite words.
  • whether anyone’s putting email on their blog(s).
  • whether you’ll ever do a podcast.
  • what your biggest blogging problem is.
  • why Liz had to find her own photograph.

AND THE EVER POPULAR,

What are the code-writing donkey and the drinking moose doing tonight?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles
The Mic in ON in Tuscany!
The Mic Is on in New York City!

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Filed Under: Blog Comments, Community, SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, blog_promotion, discussion, letting_off_steam, living-social-media, Open_Comment_Night

Comments

  1. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:02 PM

    Hello everyone!

    I have to run outside and do a few things first before I can hand out though – be back soon!

    Reply
  2. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:04 PM

    Trisha comes in. Trisha goes out. You gotta move fast to keep up with Trisha! 🙂

    Reply
  3. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:06 PM

    Hi Chris,
    Yeah I wrote hello to her, but I didn’t hit submit fast enough.

    Reply
  4. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:07 PM

    Hello!

    How’s things in the Land of the S-B?

    Reply
  5. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:08 PM

    I’m trying something new tonight. I turned the comments off on the other post, and I left a link to this one. That way everyone should make it here.

    How was dinner?

    Reply
  6. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:09 PM

    Dinner was most scrumptious!

    I saw the comment/link thingy. A good idea for sure.

    I’m actually looking for airfairs to your fine city for next month.

    Reply
  7. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:10 PM

    You’re coming to Chicago! Will you have any time while you’re here??

    Reply
  8. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:12 PM

    Evening folks — I’m cooking (figurately and literally), so won’t be paying total attention here.

    The donkey is doing just fine, cooking up some viral marketing techno baubles as we speak.

    How’s everyone else doing?

    Reply
  9. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:13 PM

    I’m not sure why, but it seems to cost approximately twice as much to get back to Savannah as it does to get to Chicago.

    Is there something going on up there that they don’t want people to leave?

    I’ll be up for about 10 days for work. I’ll email you the details and all that once I get them nailed down.

    Reply
  10. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:14 PM

    techno baubles . . . a techo bauble cooking donkey. Hmmm I see we’re starting early.

    I think we’re going to have a good night!

    Hi Ben, I think I like it when you come early. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:14 PM

    Hey Ben! Good to hear Jack’s well

    *giggle*

    Reply
  12. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:16 PM

    Uh-oh Chris is going for the Jack hammer again.

    Reply
  13. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:16 PM

    Happy to be onboard folks.

    My cooking is already done.

    So let me start off with a contest – Finish this sentence:

    “I cook like I…”

    Funniest answer (I’ll be the judge; I’m also hiring judges if you’re interested) wins…something that Liz donates! Woohoo! Liz is donating the prize! (Psst…Liz…you can donate a prize right? *smile*)

    Reply
  14. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:17 PM

    Oh, I’ll behave. (mostly)

    Viral marketing. Sounds contageous.

    Reply
  15. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:21 PM

    Donate a prize? Donate a prize? What do I have of value? Let’s see a box of autographed crayons, a half hour of my time, a post on your blog.

    Okay pick your prize.

    Reply
  16. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:22 PM

    I cook like…

    I cook like…

    (can I have the 65th crayon?)

    Reply
  17. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:23 PM

    Hey all,
    I’m collecting sea shells while I’m having dinner…
    What am I having???

    Reply
  18. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:23 PM

    Chris,
    You behave every time you’re here. It’s whether you’re behaving well or badly . . . of course if we don’t have spelling and punctuations rules . .. I don’t know why we should have rules about that. 🙂

    Reply
  19. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:25 PM

    Joe,
    You had seafood last week too!
    I think you’re having mussels.

    Reply
  20. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:26 PM

    Chris,
    The 65th crayon is his own being. I could get you a picture of him with is autograph.

    Reply
  21. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:26 PM

    We’ll have to wait for a few more people to come and join the fun so we can really get cooking.

    I cook like I…

    (Oh, and feel free to explain why you cook like you…)

    Those are all great prizes Liz! And I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I’ll be happy to donate a half hour of my time! I’m not quite sure what we’ll talk about…

    Reply
  22. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:26 PM

    Very Close,
    Think Gambling…

    Reply
  23. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:26 PM

    Hi everyone – here’s my entry: I cook like I golf – I’m not very good at either, and probably never will be. My dinner tonight will be in La Junta, Colorado, most likely at a Mexican place.

    Reply
  24. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:28 PM

    I’m back, I should be able to stay around longer this time.

    Reply
  25. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:29 PM

    Liz, I like what they’ve done to your design.

    Crisper. Neater. Definately even better than it was.

    What color is the 65th crayon? (I know I should probably go read and find out for myself…)

    Reply
  26. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:29 PM

    I cook like I shoot the rapids.

    Reply
  27. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:29 PM

    yeah, I like the design too!

    Reply
  28. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:31 PM

    I cook like a Clam in a Casino…

    Reply
  29. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:31 PM

    Thanks for the design comments. I’m loving it, especially the larger type in the comment box. 😛

    The 65th crayon is every color, but he mostly shows himself as a shade of medium blue violet.

    Reply
  30. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:31 PM

    Hi everybody! (I thought I had sent this successfully the first time, so if you see this twice I apologize). I cook like I golf – I do neither very well and the chances for improvement are hopeless. My dinner tonight will most likely be a Mexican place in La Junta Colorado (my latest place of respite).

    Reply
  31. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:32 PM

    Joe, What do shells have to do with gambling?

    Reply
  32. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:34 PM

    Hey, I lost a comment???
    I can see I lost it because I can see the comments as I type them…
    AND I Cook like a Clam in a Casino…

    Reply
  33. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:36 PM

    Trisha,
    What’s the status of the garden?

    Reply
  34. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:37 PM

    Ok, I lost 2 comments so far Liz,
    What’s happening to them, do they have to be released???
    Clams… Money… Casino… Gambling…
    Clams = Sea Shells… (after you eat them)

    Reply
  35. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:37 PM

    Blue! I knew it!

    Reply
  36. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:38 PM

    Its doing ok, more flowers are blooming all the time. Not a lot of butterflies yet though.

    Anyone here know much about herb gardens? My basil is doing really bad this year.

    Reply
  37. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:39 PM

    I wonder if I can put an image in a comment. I’m going to try to.

    Reply
  38. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:39 PM

    I know basil goes well with tomatoes. Other than that…nope.

    I’ll concur on the design, nice work on the new header at the top.

    Reply
  39. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:41 PM

    Wasn’t Basil on Fawltey Towers?

    Reply
  40. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:41 PM

    I’m still working on that ‘I cook like I’ thing, but I haven’t been able to think of anything clever or funny yet.

    Reply
  41. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:43 PM

    If Liz ever releases my comments, go back and read about my dinner, sea shells, gambling and how I cook.
    Joe

    Reply
  42. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:44 PM

    Sorry all Askimet got hungry. I think it gets jealous when so many comments come in at one time.

    Reply
  43. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:45 PM

    Thanks, Liz…

    Reply
  44. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:45 PM

    OKAY Time OUT
    Everyone go back and read the comments to catch up!

    Reply
  45. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:45 PM

    I see it, but I still can’t think of anything that good.

    Reply
  46. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:46 PM

    Oops. My mistake. It was Fawlty Towers

    And yes, I did remember correctly. Basil.

    {thank you very much}

    Reply
  47. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:46 PM

    Bad Askimet, Bad Bad Askimet

    Joe made it. Are you still here Starbucker?

    Reply
  48. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:47 PM

    Starbucker! GO PACK!

    Reply
  49. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:47 PM

    If this works, I’d like to introduce the 65th crayon to those of you who haven’t met him. He’s an international reporter.

    Reply
  50. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:48 PM

    Chris,
    It was Basil, but what was the Maid’s name?

    Reply
  51. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:48 PM

    A-ha! That explains why the comments didn’t post. I’m not going insane – that’s always a plus.

    Reply
  52. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:49 PM

    The maid was Polly! (first paragraph on the link) 🙂

    Reply
  53. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:49 PM

    AND what was Mr.Fawlty’s First name???

    Reply
  54. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:50 PM

    Fawlty Towers is hysterical. My Dad has the full set on DVD, nearly peed myself…twice!

    Joe: I cook like a clam in a casino

    I have NO IDEA what that means, although I sort of like clams and I really enjoy casinos (particularly in Vegas). So far that has to be tops? Liz? Judges?

    Reply
  55. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:50 PM

    Chris! Only a month or so until the first exhibition game. I’m thinking….. 8-8. Too optimistic?

    Reply
  56. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:51 PM

    Sybil.

    Reply
  57. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:51 PM

    Chris, How did you know my secret name.

    The 65th crayon came to see you. He’s at comment 49.

    Reply
  58. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:51 PM

    That was MR…
    Not MRS…

    Reply
  59. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:52 PM

    Wait. That was MRS.

    I thought we already established MR. was Basil?

    Reply
  60. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:52 PM

    Basil. I think we were already talking about him.

    What about the butler? Heh.

    And now my posts are being eaten too…yummy…

    Reply
  61. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:53 PM

    Ben, Do you mean Manuel, the waiter from Barcelona?

    Reply
  62. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:54 PM

    Ya can’t fool Mother Nature…

    Reply
  63. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:54 PM

    Yes Manuel. Si. Si.

    Now I’m going to have to watch all of the Fawlty Tower episodes again!

    Reply
  64. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:55 PM

    Liz, I thought maybe the 65th crayon might have been indisguise in that photo. (you can never be too sure what’s been Photoshopped these days.)

    I know because I read. Compulsively.

    Reply
  65. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:56 PM

    I never got into Fawlty Towers – well recommended, I take it?

    Reply
  66. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:56 PM

    Hi Starbucker – don’t think we’ve met. Just checking out your blog now.

    Also, I just changed the link on my name to go to my blog…(if anyone wants to click/re-click)

    Basil mumbles, “Yes dear…”

    Reply
  67. Rick says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:56 PM

    Hi everyone!

    I thought basil was Rathbone, at least in old movies.

    Reply
  68. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:56 PM

    This Akismet Time Warp really has a weird effect on the eating habits of Bloggers, huh?

    Reply
  69. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:57 PM

    You could name the donkey BASIL!!! 🙂

    Reply
  70. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:58 PM

    Ben, I believe you can order the entire set from Amazon.com.uk for either £12.99 or £21.99.

    I’m not sure what the difference is.

    Reply
  71. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 7:59 PM

    Starbucker – Fawlty Towers is classic John Cleese. If you like his style, Monty Python…you’ll like Fawlty Towers. A lot of physical comedy, absurd situations and great dynamics between all of the characters.

    It’s absolutely hysterical.

    Reply
  72. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:00 PM

    Whoah. Liz.

    The Askimet weirness is getting to me. I just had to go back a page and catch up on all the one’s I missed!

    Reply
  73. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:00 PM

    The donkey’s name is BASIL.

    Brilliant. I love it.

    “Basil get to work…stop chasing that carrot and code something.”

    They never did many episodes of Fawlty Towers – I can’t remember how many, but Chris is on the money – it shouldn’t be terribly expensive to see all of it. I would just watch them consecutively and you won’t stop laughing. There’s an episode with some German tourists that’ll bring you to tears.

    Reply
  74. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:02 PM

    Chris,
    That’s the might weirdness powers of the superhero weirdness Liz

    Reply
  75. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:02 PM

    Ben, Make sure you pronounce it Bah-SIL.

    Reply
  76. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:02 PM

    Hi Ben, just checked out your blog too – love the picture of the pig! A pig that likes beer – how about that.

    Reply
  77. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:03 PM

    Askimet is messing with my Spidey-sense!

    I cook like…

    Basil the Donkey.

    Reply
  78. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:03 PM

    Absolutely, Chris. It doesn’t work otherwise.

    And if people ever get rough with me, I can always tell them the donkey was named after Basic McRae.

    Reply
  79. Rick says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:04 PM

    Sorry. I can’t even spell my own email right.

    Trisha, if you’ve been getting as much rain as we have in Pennsylvania, that may be the reason for the basil problems. It likes a lot of sun.

    Reply
  80. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:04 PM

    I agree with Ben,
    It’s… daaa-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-ta-dot-da-da-da-daaaaa.

    I know Chris and Ben can hear that song in their respective heads…

    Reply
  81. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:05 PM

    It’s not too much rain – its like the plants are stunted or something, they’ve hardly grown at all.

    Reply
  82. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:07 PM

    Trisha,
    Maybe you should sing to the plants. That might inspire them to grow some.

    Reply
  83. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:07 PM

    Trisha, maybe you have to paint your thumb green??? 😉

    Reply
  84. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:08 PM

    hi all – joining late 🙁

    Reply
  85. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:08 PM

    My cooking and singing are kind of on the same level – I think it would be cruel to do to the plants.

    Reply
  86. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:08 PM

    Ben, I can go for absolutely hysterical. I remember playing Monty Python records in my dorm back in college until I had them memorized (sample – “this is not a wine for drinking – this is a wine for laying down and avoiding”)

    Reply
  87. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:09 PM

    Starbucker – glad you like the blog. Hope you’ll keep on reading…

    I enjoyed making that pig drinking beer picture. Ever since I was told I really should add pictures I can’t stop using Photoshop…

    Reply
  88. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:10 PM

    Trisha,
    I think the Basil know’s what you have in store for them… trying to improve your cooking.
    –said with stupid grin–

    Reply
  89. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:11 PM

    Ben,
    Does the pig write code too?

    Reply
  90. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:11 PM

    Maybe that’s it!

    Reply
  91. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:12 PM

    I bet the pig can do photoshop as well as do code and drink beer. Can’t all pigs?

    Reply
  92. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:12 PM

    The pig may have once been a maestro on the keyboard, but if you go look at the picture you’ll see he’s a drunk now. I’ve tried dragging him to AA but he’s incredibly heavy. I put out my back at the same time as I tripped on one of his empty beer bottles and fell, spraining my wrist. Honestly.

    Reply
  93. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:13 PM

    Hi Mike,
    It looks like no one said “HI” to you!
    We’re a bunch of drooling cretins.

    We’re trying to figure out how to get Trisha’s water-deprived plants to grow.

    Reply
  94. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:14 PM

    Ok … It’s STILL RAINING and I’m getting to the point of Building An Ark…

    Reply
  95. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:14 PM

    It sounds like Milton may have been a bad influence on the pig…

    Hi Mike!

    Reply
  96. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:15 PM

    Ben, Your description of trying to take the pig to AA is too funny. You should do comment stand up. The pig can be your sidekick.

    Reply
  97. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:15 PM

    np – was scanning the thread to see if anyone picked up on the podcasting topic…

    dealing w/ plants is my wife’s deal – i just move stuff around for her 😉

    Reply
  98. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:15 PM

    Starbucker, if you like Monthy Python, you’ll like Fawlty Towers.

    Ok that’s it – whoever wins my contest, “I cook like I…” gets the boxed set from Fawlty Towers. I’m feeling generous. I’d just get that person’s physical address, purchase it at Amazon (or somewhere else) and have it shipped to them.

    The donkey will pay the shipping, or so he’s telling me.

    Fawlty Towers boxed set up for grabs people — “I cook like I…”

    Reply
  99. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:16 PM

    Mike
    Start talking podcasting. We’ll follow anyone who can complete a sentence.

    Reply
  100. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:16 PM

    hi chris – ok, curious about this pig so will go read it

    Reply
  101. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:18 PM

    Is there money in comment stand-up? Hhhm…

    And “hi Mike” – glad to see you joining the fracas. And it’s still plenty early!

    Reply
  102. Rick says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:18 PM

    I only drool in the morning.

    Hi Mike, I’m glad to meet you.

    Reply
  103. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:18 PM

    Ben and Basil,
    I thought you said I won with the Clams in a Casino entry?????

    Reply
  104. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:19 PM

    I’ll start talking about podcasting.

    I still haven’t listened to one. I can see the potential and I see the buzz growing insanely.

    I can’t figure out how to use it for my own business yet, but I know there’s valuable content out there I can learn from. Still…I don’t spend a lot of time driving/traveling when I think listening to podcasts would be most effective.

    Reply
  105. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:20 PM

    Mike, There isn’t much here that makes any sense. We’re very poor on segues (and some of us on spellllling too).

    Reply
  106. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:20 PM

    Uh-Ohhhh,
    The Akismet Time Warp is kicking in again….

    Reply
  107. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:21 PM

    Ben, does my “cook like I golf” have a shot, or should I go on Amazon right now to order the DVDs? Not like I’m pushing or anything………

    Reply
  108. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:22 PM

    Okay then, now I have to get serious about this cooking contest. I cook like a cavewoman who hasn’t yet discovered fire and just found out that her caveman is having an affair with a wild turkey that isn’t really a turkey because cave people didn’t live anywhere near wild turkeys because wild turkeys hadn’t evolved yet. So in fact, he has been having his fun with a bird-like wild boar and now she not only has to set the idiot straight, but also has to find him food, before she kick his butt out of the cave. And that hurts her very deeply. So she gives up eating . . .

    Reply
  109. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:22 PM

    The idea of pod casting appeals to me, at least in the abstract. But I’m not convinced I would come up with enough worth saying that anyone would bother downloading and listening to.

    Reply
  110. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:22 PM

    Starbucker: Your “cook like I golf” was good – particularly your explanation behind it.

    Joe’s “I cook like a clam in a casino” though…is ranking right up there too, but I think the judges are now asking for an explanation for it before they can accept the submission.

    Any other takers?

    Reply
  111. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:23 PM

    hmmm – podcasting is such a wide topic, anyone have one right now? how about listen or watch one regularly?

    Reply
  112. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:23 PM

    Joe, it’s not Askimet. I turned Askimet off a long time ago.

    Reply
  113. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:24 PM

    No wonder there is a time warp, Liz is writing a Novel about the Evolution of Turkeys…

    Reply
  114. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:24 PM

    Hey that wasn’t about the evolution of turkeys. That was my contest entry. 🙂

    Reply
  115. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:25 PM

    Liz, that’s just not fair – I’m toast. That’s one serious “cook like I”.

    Reply
  116. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:25 PM

    Oh, I thought I already won with my Clams in a Casino entry…

    Reply
  117. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:26 PM

    Seriously, Liz.

    Turkeys. Cave women. Affairs with turkeys. Very interesting. What would Freud say? (And no, I don’t think I should start another contest, I’ll be broke at the end!)

    And Liz, I’m going to have to go back and re-read that a few times to understand it.

    “I cook like I…” -> It’s going viral. Wait till I do a YouTube video.

    Reply
  118. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:26 PM

    I’m the techie in our house. But Gorgeous has the gadgets. She’s got an iPod and I don’t. 😥

    I only download specific files for her. No recurring stuff yet.

    Reply
  119. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:27 PM

    Starbucker, Ben never said anything about “one entry per family.” Write away!

    Reply
  120. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:28 PM

    I’ve not yet listened to a podcast – I’ve been too busy typing since I started blogging six months ago. Although I do travel with my trusty I-Pod, so I could do it.

    Reply
  121. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:28 PM

    I think I have to withdraw my entry. It is my blog after all. You guys give it another shot. Now you know how wild you can be.

    Reply
  122. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:29 PM

    podcasting also can be video, pdf, or files in general – not just audio…

    i spoke at a conference a few weeks ago – and put the powerpoint in my post – feedburner picked it up as an enclosure and feed it off to my subscribers…

    hadn’t even expected that…

    Reply
  123. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:29 PM

    Now since I have built my Ark, I have
    One of each:
    Turkey
    Moose
    Donkey
    Reindeer
    Clam
    Pig
    Did I miss anything?

    Reply
  124. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:29 PM

    What does it take to record a ‘cast?

    Reply
  125. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:30 PM

    Hello everyone.

    Reply
  126. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:31 PM

    Hey Christine!

    How’s things in the hill country?

    Reply
  127. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:32 PM

    Hey Christine,
    Did you bring an animal for my ARK?

    Reply
  128. Rick says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:32 PM

    In the meantime your poor cavewoman dies of starvation.

    Hi, Christine!

    I’ve never really gotten into the idea of podcasts. I tend to be on the cutting middle of things.

    Reply
  129. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:32 PM

    A wombat.

    Reply
  130. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:32 PM

    Hey Christine!!
    You look good tonight!
    We’re talking about podcasting and Ben is running a contest– fill in the blank I cook like

    Read comment 107 for the one to beat.

    Reply
  131. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:32 PM

    that was really good – i still haven’t been able to come up with anything clever or funny yet. this is why I don’t get that many blog posts written, it just takes me too long.

    Reply
  132. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:32 PM

    Are wombats compatible with pigs?

    Reply
  133. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:32 PM

    I bet Christine could have an awesome podcast! She’s probably got all the right tools already.

    Reply
  134. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:33 PM

    Hi Christine!

    Folks – I’ve just posted on my blog about the contest. That makes it official (so I can’t sneak away into the darkness and not award a prize.)

    It’s a 1 night-only contest (i.e. tonight) so help me spread the word – we’ll get more people posting at open mic night than ever!

    Reply
  135. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:34 PM

    chris – most early podcasters use audacity – free sourceforge recording applications…

    or something like an iriver if you want a portable non-pc recorder – end result is an mp3…

    starbucker – try sampling a few in itunes and then once you get a feel for a few you like and a few you dislike – go to amigofish.com to rate the shows based on your feelings – it’ll return recommendations of shows you may also like and those you probably won’t

    Reply
  136. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:34 PM

    i actually just got interviewed yesterday into something that will become a podcast. but no, it’s a mystery to me. i’ve listened to many.

    off to look at #107. Hi Liz

    Reply
  137. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:35 PM

    Christine, I don’t think it matters, I only have ONE of EACH.
    They just have to learn to get along. 😉

    Reply
  138. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:36 PM

    Definitely can’t compete with #107. Though i did see an entire family — mom, dad, and ELEVEN babies — of wild turkeys today. Adorable.

    Reply
  139. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:36 PM

    Mike, Do you ‘cast?

    Reply
  140. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:37 PM

    Ben,
    I put your post on Reddit!

    Reply
  141. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:37 PM

    What’s Ben’s contest?

    Hi Liz! I meant to put an exclamation point there, but the post sent without me getting to finish…

    Reply
  142. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:37 PM

    OK Chris, let me give this another shot before I go have dinner – I cook like I exercise; very infrequently and when I do, I can’t do it very long or very well because of the fact that I do it infrequently, and because of the infrequency the net results of the exercise is very unsatisfactory, and because its unsatisfactory I only do it infrequently.

    Reply
  143. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:38 PM

    Trisha, I have lots of posts about ideas and how to get them.

    Reply
  144. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:39 PM

    Thanks Liz!

    Reddit is a GREAT traffic generator, btw. If anyone else wants to vote for it on Reddit, that’d be great!

    Contest: Check out my blog or very simply —

    Finish this sentence: I cook like I…
    (and give us an explanation)

    Mike – here’s a question for you: any thoughts on ideal length for a podcast? I saw one promoted recently that was 43:00 minutes long, and I thought, “who has time to sit and listen to 43 minutes?”

    Reply
  145. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:40 PM

    Starbucker, I think you have a contender there.
    Come back after dinner. 🙂

    Reply
  146. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:40 PM

    Thanks Mike for the suggestion. Hey folks, I’m going to dinner – I’ll try to check in when I get back. Ben, hope I now have a shot with that last entry. See you all later!

    Reply
  147. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:40 PM

    chris – i’ve done some in the early days, been interviewed on a few but tend towards analysing the trend – though i do a lot of video, which would be easy enough to podcast…

    Reply
  148. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:41 PM

    I cook like an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Good amount of beefsteak, lots of spice, and top it all off with a just bit of cheese.

    Reply
  149. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:42 PM

    I can get ideas for some things – but not this kind of stuff.

    Reply
  150. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:42 PM

    Starbucker – that’s a definite contender, I’d say.

    Enjoy your dinner (who cooked it, hhmm?) We’ll see you later!

    Reply
  151. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:44 PM

    Ben, I’d listen to a 43 minute podcast. but I wouldn’t “sit and listen.” driving, cooking, cleaning the house. plug the pod into the speakers that look like storm-troopers, and listen…

    Reply
  152. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:45 PM

    Trisha,
    I understand what you’re saying. I think you need a dash of smartass to be good at what that contest is about. 🙂

    Reply
  153. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:46 PM

    sure ben – i think the length depends on the topic and the listener’s preference…

    some that are under 10 minutes make a lot of sense, others up to an hour have a lot to offer…

    the couple hours ones tend to be to long for me – but some are really popular…

    itunes adds bookmarking to all podcasts – so you can pause and pickup later too…

    Reply
  154. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:46 PM

    Is there a dash of smartass among this group???

    Reply
  155. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:46 PM

    Hey Christine — I can see that. It seems like podcasts are an ideal “distraction” if you will from doing chore-like activities. Listen while driving, or cleaning, or cooking.

    I need an iPod (gotta find a way to win one in a contest) and some chores (actually I have plenty of chores, but I also have a family hanging around, specifically a 2-year old child that would rather watch Caillou than listen to a podcast on marketing…)

    Reply
  156. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:46 PM

    I guess that is what I don’t have – smartass. Does anyone know if smartass can be grown in a garden?

    Reply
  157. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:47 PM

    I guess I’m still trying to convince myself that folks will actually read what I write and don’t believe they’d listen to what I might say.

    I’m with Ben, though on the time thing.

    A 500 word article I can zip through pretty quick. But a 20 or 40 minute podcast… It seems like a pretty heavy time investment.

    I’m in the car a lot with my job. But I don’t have the right hardware to make it easy yet.

    Reply
  158. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:47 PM

    The only smartass in my garden was usually me, unless you count the humus.

    Reply
  159. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:48 PM

    Ben, I get that. I travel alone. And I’m at my house alone during the day a lot. So, it definitely makes it easier.

    Trisha, Smartass would need an enormous amount of compost and mulch if you wanted to grow it!

    Reply
  160. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:48 PM

    christine’s got it – its about filling voids really…

    i especially like listening to conference sessions that i wasn’t able to attend…

    Reply
  161. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:48 PM

    Smartass (Scientific name: Ocimum smartassislucm)

    A herb grown in the gardens of smartasses, including people who have a snarky wit and those with actual brains in their rears. It’s got a pointed leaf and the flower looks like a mouth laughing.

    Reply
  162. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:48 PM

    The only smar-tass around here I know just took the name Basil.

    Reply
  163. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:49 PM

    We have a big compost pile!

    Reply
  164. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:50 PM

    Ben,
    I didn’t know that you know Latin. Wow and the plant name for smart ass. You never fail to astound me.

    Reply
  165. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:50 PM

    Ah bloody heck, I spelled the scientific name incorrectly…sorry! It’s Ocimum smartassilicum. Ggrr…

    I like the idea of filling voids with useful stuff; but at work I still think it’s easier to read/scan something and digest it than it is to listen to something. I know a lot of people listen to music while they work, I’ve never really gotten the hang of that myself.

    Reply
  166. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:51 PM

    The bears have EATEN my compost pile.

    Reply
  167. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:52 PM

    totally agree chris – it’s actually good to have choice: text, audio, video, whatever…

    the neat part is the ease of media distribution – if you find someone you like, just like subscribing to a blog and reading in your reader – same thing for podcasting, except itunes is probably the easiest…

    Reply
  168. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:53 PM

    I can listen to music most any time. Those must be hungry bears!

    Reply
  169. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:53 PM

    That’s scary, Christine.
    Compost eating bears . . . what will they think of next?

    Reply
  170. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:53 PM

    I find that listening to things is the best way. I’m auditory.

    chris, you need to grow some Self confidence next to your smartass in the garden. People read you. And people would listen to you!

    Reply
  171. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:53 PM

    Ben,
    The problem with listening to music while I work is that it is really difficult to type while tapping to the tune…
    Christine,
    Bears don’t eat compost, they MAKE compost…

    Reply
  172. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:55 PM

    Are most podcasts music, “shows” (for lack of a better word), or people talking, like monologues, interviews or such?

    I am quite without clue on the whole thing…

    Reply
  173. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:55 PM

    Bears are kind of importer/exporters when it come to compost.

    Reply
  174. Cat says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:55 PM

    Good contest idea! I’ll have to give it a think and get back to you.

    Dinner tonight? Most likely Indian 🙂

    Reply
  175. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:56 PM

    yea, i can only listen to music while i work – so techno, jazz, blues, instrumental rock is all good…

    verbal podcasts i like when traveling or hiking…

    i also watch some video podcasts regularly: frederator is a cartoon related one and a guy in hawaii does video surf reports that is very cool…

    Reply
  176. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:57 PM

    Chris – I think you’ll find a wide range of podcasts. I haven’t viewed any myself, but I’ve read up on them. You’ll get a lot of interviews, a lot of “blog posts turned into audio” and then you’ll also see “shows”. I think you’ll also see a lot of “weird and whacky”, with people trying to get things to catch on virally. It runs the gamut.

    Reply
  177. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:57 PM

    Hey Cat,
    Who? Geronamo?

    Reply
  178. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:57 PM

    Chris, most of the podcasts i’ve listened to are just people talking…lecture-ish. There’s people talking about yoga, meditation, starting a business, all kinds of stuff. There are many many interviews. I love them. Especially if I don’t have a good book on tape. (Music takes more energy for me cuz i listen pretty hard.)

    Reply
  179. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:57 PM

    Hey Cat!
    Everyone loves the new header. But no one loves it as much as me. It’s improved my productivity by a good 100% I can’t believe I was so lazy.

    Reply
  180. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:58 PM

    Sorry, that sounded nastier that it was supposed to be…

    Reply
  181. Rick says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:59 PM

    I’m glad the worst I have to worry about is the groundhogs and rabbits eating my tomatoes.

    Reply
  182. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 8:59 PM

    Yea, Liz. You’re the laziest.

    Hi Cat…

    Reply
  183. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:01 PM

    Oh My,
    More animals for my ARK…
    we now have:
    Groundhogs
    Rabbits
    Bears
    Donkeys
    Moose (Meese)
    Pigs
    Reindeer
    Wombats
    Clams
    and I know there is another…

    Reply
  184. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:01 PM

    Lazy Lizzie, that’s what they call me.

    Reply
  185. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:02 PM

    Liz = Lazy? Never thought I’d hear that…

    Hi Cat! Good to see you around.

    And I look forward to your contest submission!

    Reply
  186. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:02 PM

    that’s funny christine – i’m the opposite…

    i focus on verbal podcasts but the music one’s are a sort of background against whatever is my primary focus…

    Reply
  187. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:03 PM

    I generally don’t embrace things unless I feel I have a fair grasp of them or believe I can work it out fairly quickly. Perfectionist tendencies and all that.

    I have no problem talking, public speaking, in front of large crowds – no problem. I just don’t feel I have much of anything to say yet.

    500 words in a blog post is one thing. But writing 20 or 40 minutes worth! Sheesh! I’d have to quit my day job!

    Reply
  188. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:04 PM

    I listen to music when I write. Sometimes I need it to tune the world out. Sometimes it’s in the background. Sometims I need it in foreground to help me clear my mind out of all the junk that is unimportant.

    Reply
  189. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:05 PM

    mike, if i listen to music while i’m working, it’s usually very techn-instrumental… no melody. I get too wrapped up in melodies or words. No Miles Davis. No Chopin. I don’t zone out and put podcasts in the background… but I just get a sense of ease when I put them on during other activities. I like to hear what people have to say about things…

    Reply
  190. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:06 PM

    Chris, my blogs are always too long. maybe we could co-write a podcast for you.

    Reply
  191. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:06 PM

    If I had my way I’d have music on nearly all the time. Maybe just a few moments of quiet now and then…

    Reply
  192. Cat says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:06 PM

    Hey, Joe. Not too bad really. I’m not quite awake yet so it took me awhile to twig [geronamo?]

    Hi Liz. Improving productivity is great! I guess it’s like washing your car. You always swear it’s running faster/better/sleeker!

    Hi Christina and Ben. I’ll be around for a little bit after breakfast. I’m on holiday and I’ve promised myself to do NOTHING today. YEAH!!!

    Tomorrow is another thing. Rush rush rush … that’s what holidays are for, yes?

    And now to think up something clever for the contest …

    Reply
  193. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:09 PM

    I just need some background sound. It can be TV, Music, sounds from outside the window, whatever.
    I can’t work in dead silence, I don’t know why.

    Reply
  194. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:09 PM

    Ben, Did my entry pass muster? (Comment #145, I think)

    Reply
  195. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:09 PM

    Christine – you must be doing *something* right with your blog — 600 visitors/day after 12 weeks. Great stuff.

    I can’t get passed the 50/day mark (and some days it’s less). Today is more, but that’s cause of the contest and a couple posts on reddit…

    Still, that’s very nice traffic for an “early blog” and it’ll grow from there. So even if you think you’re writing too long, it’s working!

    Reply
  196. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:10 PM

    Well, Joe, when one is building an ARK it’s nice to have music to calm the animals. I love silence. Sometimes I drive for hours in total quiet.

    Reply
  197. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:10 PM

    Oh, I know what I was missing from my list for the ARK…
    a CAT… 😉

    Reply
  198. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:11 PM

    Chris – I liked it.

    Here it is again: “I cook like an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Good amount of beefsteak, lots of spice, and top it all off with a just bit of cheese.”

    I think I laugh the most when I read the word “beefsteak”…*chuckle* Arnold the Beefsteak.

    Reply
  199. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:11 PM

    Cat,
    I can’t believe you said that:

    I guess it’s like washing your car. You always swear it’s running faster/better/sleeker!
    we say that all of the time at our house.

    Reply
  200. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:12 PM

    Thanks, Ben. (We like our affirmations) 🙂

    Reply
  201. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:12 PM

    Thanks Ben. God…after reading all these other bloggers out there with their many thousands of visitors, I just figured that was pathetic. (I have a mailing list from performing for 12 years…that’s many thousand people. So, I had a running start with publicity!)

    Reply
  202. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:12 PM

    chris – if you want to try one, just write down a rough outline and then talk freely as if you were talking to one person or a small group about some topic you find interesting – you might like it 🙂

    christine – have you discovered the solid steel podcast yet – great techno mashup…

    Reply
  203. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:13 PM

    Solid steel. I’ll make a note of it. iTunes?

    Reply
  204. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:18 PM

    yup – should be in itunes…

    Reply
  205. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:18 PM

    Ok, I think we’re stuck at 200, is Betson’s Open?

    Reply
  206. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:18 PM

    Mike, I think I’ll noodle on it a bit.

    It’s weird. I have no problem talking to a room full of people. But I’d always feel silly rehearsing lines alone at home for any of the drama stuff I did.

    Reply
  207. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:18 PM

    Mike,
    How do people access your podcasts. Do they just download them from your blog? Or is there an additional way? Sorry if you’ve already said so and I’ve missed that.

    Reply
  208. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:19 PM

    Well 600/day is incredible if you ask me. I’d probably cry if I got that many visits. If I break 100 I may do a little jig and podcast it. If I can break 50 FeedBurner subscribers for a couple weeks I could do the same thing (so there’s some encouragement for people – you definitely want to see me do a jig, trust me.)

    Reply
  209. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:20 PM

    gotta go – my son just got home a little early…

    need to talk to him about his college visits this summer – night all 🙂

    Reply
  210. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:20 PM

    Feedburner is a whole different thing. I haven’t been able to convince many about that!

    Chris, we BELIEVE in you! Start a podcast!

    Reply
  211. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:20 PM

    Ben,
    If you do the jig with the pig and the donkey, you’d probably get those 600 visitors . . .

    Reply
  212. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:21 PM

    I only got 250 for the Darren Rowse interview.
    She must be really famous…

    Reply
  213. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:21 PM

    See ya Mike.

    I don’t know if you submitted to the contest or not (I’ll have to read all the comments tomorrow) but if you didn’t, you can still submit something later (here or on my blog).

    Have a good one!

    Reply
  214. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:21 PM

    bye mike!

    chris, just do like marsha brady and imagine your audience in their underpants. it worked for her!

    Reply
  215. Rick says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:22 PM

    Bye Mike.

    Reply
  216. mike dunn says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:22 PM

    k – one more…

    chris – just do it for yourself first, don’t be concerned about the thousands that might listen ultimately 😉

    liz – podcasts are part of rss 2.0, so by subscribing you’ll get it “easily” depending on what you use…

    itunes has a podcast feature that makes it really easy to do and sync w/ your ipod just like you’d do w/ playlists or music files…

    k – night all…

    Reply
  217. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:23 PM

    If I have to sink to doing a jig with a pig and a donkey I think I’ve got other problems. Being arrested would be one I imagine. I could just see my friends and family reading the local paper and seeing the headline, “Man sneaks into zoo, does jig with pig and donkey for a…podcast.”

    Mind you, I’ve sunk low before…so…*chuckle*…

    Reply
  218. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:23 PM

    Good night Mike
    Hope all goes well with the college conversations.

    Reply
  219. Rick says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:24 PM

    I have to go, too. The granddaughter’s calling. It’s been nice meeting you all.

    Reply
  220. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:25 PM

    Hey Rick,
    Thanks for beng a part of the conversation. We hope you’ll come back!
    Good night, friend.

    Reply
  221. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:25 PM

    I have to leave too! It was good chatting with everyone. Thanks for the insights on podcasts!

    Reply
  222. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:26 PM

    ‘Night Mike. ‘Night Rick.

    Christine, you crack me up!

    My issue is not in the running of my mouth. Just as Gorgeous! (“Help! I’m talking and I can’t shut up!”)

    The issue is in the mass quantities of quality content that are required.

    maybe I’m a little on the lazy side…

    Reply
  223. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:27 PM

    Good night Christine – nice “meeting” you. Good luck with the blog…

    Reply
  224. Christine Kane says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:27 PM

    one more note… chris… read anne lamott “bird by bird”…she has some great ideas about writing and content. or just read liz… she does too!

    bye!

    Reply
  225. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:28 PM

    ‘Night Christine. Thanks for the encouragement (heckling?) 🙂

    Reply
  226. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:32 PM

    Actually, that’s my whole point in blogging – practice the discipline of writing. At this point I think I’d rather get another blog or two going before a podcast.

    Reply
  227. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:32 PM

    Hey Liz,
    Just one little point, shouldn’t that be ON Thassos Island?
    I know grammer amd spelling don’t count, but…

    Reply
  228. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:32 PM

    Good Night Christine,
    I won’t tell Chris that I’ve been listening to your beautiful music all through this conversation. 🙂

    Reply
  229. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:36 PM

    Gaaahhh! Liz, you torturer!

    I am going to have to break down and buy a CD at the iTunes store!

    Reply
  230. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:37 PM

    Is that all there is, did everyone give up and go home?

    Reply
  231. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:39 PM

    Joe, some folk have lives. Unlike you and I apparently…

    Reply
  232. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:40 PM

    I’m still here.

    I think I screwed up my link from reddit.

    I changed the name of my post to reflect that it was a contest, hoping it would attract more people. In doing that though, it breaks the permanent link from reddit, so now I’ve changed it back. Gggr…silly Ben.

    Reply
  233. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:41 PM

    Sad, isn’t it?
    I’m all alone for the week, the other half is on vacation with her girlfriends.
    The sound of silence…

    Reply
  234. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:41 PM

    Joe,
    I tought about the in or on thing. I almost used at. Then I just decided that In Thassos worked for me. I even thought that you’d notice. 🙂

    I just noticed you changed your template. What made you decide to switch over?

    Reply
  235. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:43 PM

    Dude! I hadn’t notice the template switch. I like the gray better than the brown. (maybe because it’s closer to blue?)

    Reply
  236. ann michael says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:43 PM

    Hello All! I just thought I’d drop in before passing out for the day. What’s up Liz?

    Reply
  237. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:44 PM

    Chris,
    What do people with lives do, do you think?

    Reply
  238. ann michael says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:45 PM

    Lives are highly over rated – don’t worry! Everyone wants one and once you’ve got one you wish life was more simple!

    Reply
  239. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:46 PM

    Joe – in Firefox, the sentence, “Using Your Computer Wisely to be…” gets cut off by the actual content of the blog. It looks OK in IE though.

    Reply
  240. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:46 PM

    Hi Ann
    Come on in!
    You just missed a whole discussion on podcasting. It was pretty informative, if you’re interested you might want to go back and look through things.

    Then Ben needs to tell you about tonight’s contest.

    Reply
  241. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:46 PM

    It’s all relative, isn’t it?

    The guy’s at work think I’m insanely busy outside of work. Yet I feel I’m a bit slack. And Gogeous thinks I spend waaaayyy too much time staring at this screen!

    Reply
  242. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:47 PM

    Hi Ann…

    The contest is fairly simple:

    Finish this sentence — “I cook like I…” (and tell us why)

    The prize: Fawlty Towers Complete Collection DVD

    You can post here or on my blog where I now realize I screwed up the blog post title by not SAYING it was a contest. Stupid, stupid me…

    Reply
  243. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:48 PM

    Ann! Hey there!

    I rarely long for simpler days. I get bored too easily. I need continual mind challenges.

    Reply
  244. ann michael says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:48 PM

    Hmmmm…I’ll have to chew on that one (no pun intended).

    Reply
  245. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:48 PM

    I did notice, and so did you.
    I couldn’t get the Post Title to be any larger than the post type itself.
    When I did get it to change, it make every link on the blog larger.
    I really did like the template userability on blogger better, or maybe I was just used to it.
    I like the look of this template, but small things like the blogroll and forums etc that I had, all disappeared on this one.
    I think this transition is going to take a lot out of me. 😉

    Reply
  246. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:50 PM

    Joe, it may take a lot out. But I’ve found these kinds of things put much more back in before they are over!

    It’s all good, my friend.

    Reply
  247. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:53 PM

    Yeah, Joe
    Getting to know the code that controls the links on WordPress is a little tricky, but it’s done the way it is to make sure that you have good design when it’s over — at least that’s the theory. I can help with some questions.

    Reply
  248. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:53 PM

    Manipulating the theme/design/layout in WP is definitely trickier, cause they break it up into separate sections for you, Blogger it’s all in one place. But the publishing features of WP are better.

    Reply
  249. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:54 PM

    Well it’s nearly pumpkin hour for me. I need to turn in. Thanks for the conversation all!

    Liz, we never go the snacks out tonight! Greece must not be an eating place!

    Enjoy!

    Reply
  250. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:54 PM

    And Joe – if you want some help with the CSS and testing I’d be happy to help (tomorrow though cause I’m beat now…)

    Reply
  251. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:54 PM

    Yeah, Word Press is much better in the long run. Once you have your design where you want it. It’s definitely a breeze in comparison.

    Reply
  252. ann michael says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:56 PM

    Liz how about some feta cheese! what about baklava (not sure how you spell it) – that stuff is awesome!

    And ouzo!!!!!

    Reply
  253. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:57 PM

    Oh, sure thing Ann.
    You guys want anything?

    Reply
  254. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:57 PM

    Have a good night Chris…

    If I have some ouzo now I’ll be under the table.

    I have to turn in soon too, but I can’t resist waiting for a few more contest submissions. Lurkers, you out there? *smile*

    Reply
  255. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:58 PM

    I hope everyone likes the new template, I think that is the one I’m going to stick with. It was actually my first choice, but I couldn’t get it to load the first time and I wanted something other than the default.
    Now, I just have to learn how to manipulate the code… just a little.

    Reply
  256. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:58 PM

    Steve said he would probably be around about now and that he’d try to bring Milton.

    Reply
  257. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 9:59 PM

    I like that template, Joe. It’s not one that’s over use and it’s fun to look at.

    Reply
  258. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:00 PM

    I’ll take some feta cheese. My wife probably won’t be too happy when I crawl into bed smelling of stinky cheese though. (Sorry for the visual.)

    Reply
  259. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:00 PM

    Back from dinner – nice enchilada plate at this quaint Mexican place. Everybody having fun? Any winners declared in Ben’s contest (saw the Arnold S one – good stuff).

    Reply
  260. Chris Cree says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:00 PM

    Joe, is that template widget compatable? All my sidebar stuff is widgets and I love it. Very easy to rearrange at the drop of a hat.

    Reply
  261. Easton Ellsworth says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:00 PM

    Hello all! Am I late to the party? Blame it on Arizona time – no daylight saving time, go fig.

    Reply
  262. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:00 PM

    Ok, this is the best I can come up with: I cook like Betty Crocker writes Cliff notes.

    I hate cooking or any food preparation – so I only cook if there is some simple, easy way to do it.

    Reply
  263. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:01 PM

    Starbucker — no winner until tomorrow.

    Liz slapped my blog post about the contest on reddit, but I’m learning a good lesson in titling posts properly (more on that tomorrow too I think).

    Easton! Good to see you. You’re far from late, we just broke into the feta and ouzo.

    Reply
  264. Trisha says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:01 PM

    Its time for me to leave now too, for some reason I am really tired tonight.

    Reply
  265. Easton Ellsworth says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:01 PM

    http://gabbly.com/https://www.successful-blog.com/?p=795&cp=11#comments

    Reply
  266. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:03 PM

    Not too shabby Trisha! Betty Crocker’s cliff notes. Now I want some moist chocolate cake…hhmm…(and I just saw something on the news about portion sizes being too big in restaurants. Feta, ouzo, chocolate cake…*burp* Excuse me…)

    Reply
  267. ann michael says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:03 PM

    Hey Easton – how’s yoda doing in the heat – he’s more used to a “wet” heat isn’t he?!

    Reply
  268. Easton Ellsworth says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:04 PM

    By the by, blogtipping day is this Saturday. And isn’t July 1st also Canada’s Independence Day?

    Shoot, I’ve got to get my three posts up tonight or lose Yoda. But chatting is so fun!

    Reply
  269. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:04 PM

    I love feta – not a good companion though to what I just ate. How ya doin’ Easton! Trisha, good one – way to step up to the plate (sorry, bad pun).

    Reply
  270. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:05 PM

    Chris,
    There are two versions, one (the other one) has a widget folder, this version doesn’t.
    I don’t know why.
    I have both versions on the hard drive, I may be able to upload the widget folder to the server?
    Anyway, thanks to all of you guys, I know you will see me through this. 😉

    Reply
  271. Easton Ellsworth says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:05 PM

    Hey Starbucker :). Ann, Yoda is baking – he needs some help so the PEZ candies don’t melt!

    Reply
  272. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:06 PM

    Easton – Canada Day is July 1st that’s very true. I’ll be celebrating up here somehow…

    And I’ll celebrate all over again on July 4th for my southernly neighbors!

    Reply
  273. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:06 PM

    Hi Easton,
    Did you bring Yoda with you?

    Reply
  274. ann michael says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:07 PM

    stick him in the freezer – it will remind him of Hoth

    Reply
  275. Cat says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:07 PM

    “I cook like I…”

    I cook like a I dance (both of which I love).

    So at times it may be slow and easy. Others, fast, fast, fast.

    Btw – I love cooking, but only if it’s not daily food OR if it’s a quick meal due to lack of time.

    Cooking standard meat and three veg bores me to tears, but I’m quite happy to spend a day or three preparing a feast.

    Reply
  276. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:08 PM

    Starbucker,
    That was 2/3 of a pun. p-u

    Reply
  277. Easton Ellsworth says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:08 PM

    So thanks in part to moving lately from UT to AZ, I’ve come twice withing four seconds of losing Yoda. Crimanittly – didn’t I learn anything in high school? What’s that P-word? Oh yeah, procrastination. A blogger’s worst enemy. 🙂

    Reply
  278. ann michael says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:08 PM

    OK – next week Cat brings the food!

    Reply
  279. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:09 PM

    Cat,
    You cook like a designer. That’s not cooking. That’s producing a meal.

    Reply
  280. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:09 PM

    Cat, can I come over for dinner then?

    And your explanation almost inspires a reverse contest, like Jeopardy:

    “So at times it may be slow and easy. Others, fast, fast, fast.”

    Alex Trebek asks, “What’s the question?”

    (Btw, Alex Trebek is Canadian…)

    Reply
  281. Easton Ellsworth says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:09 PM

    All I can think of here in the desert is ice water and ice cream. So Yoda might as well be on Hoth. That’s hilarious.

    Reply
  282. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:11 PM

    Ben,
    If Alex Trebek is Canadian, then you and HART must know him. Right?

    Reply
  283. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:11 PM

    OH, NO…
    Not Cat Food…

    Reply
  284. Ben Yoskoviz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:12 PM

    Of course I know him. My uncle’s sister once dated him. He was born in Sudbury I believe, where an old university roommate of mine was from. We’ve hung out plenty.

    I’m sure HART knows him too.

    When you’re with Alex you always speak in questions. It’s the law.

    Reply
  285. Easton Ellsworth says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:14 PM

    Funny, tonight we were watching Wheel of Fortune at my parents’ house and my dad and I thought it would be funny if Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak had a conversation together.

    Reply
  286. ann michael says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:14 PM

    Cat food!!! Now that’s funny – maybe it’ll be a Fancy Feast!

    Reply
  287. Ben Yoskovitz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:14 PM

    Explain THIS to me…how long have I been mispelling my name tonight? *laugh*

    It’s “Yoskovitz” not “Yoskoviz.” Wow. I should stop typing now…

    Reply
  288. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:14 PM

    Yep Liz, 2/3 is right. Sometimes I just can’t control what flows from my head to the keyboard. Must be my insouciant attitude tonight 😉

    Reply
  289. Easton Ellsworth says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:15 PM

    Thanks to AutoComplete probably …

    Reply
  290. Cat says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:16 PM

    Ann, I’d be glad to. For starters, how about durian, dark chocolate and red wine? 🙂

    Liz, I’ve never thought about that, but you are most likely correct. Creating a good meal is similar to putting together a balanced and pleasing design.

    Btw – I have ‘Designers who Blog’ and other bloggers have jumped in with ‘Designers who Cook’ as well as ‘Designers who Garden’. They are not up properly yet due to the same old ‘time’ problem. But both should be fun to join in on (I’m an avid gardener). And both involve the creative mind.

    Reply
  291. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:16 PM

    Spelling doesn’t count on open comment night, Ben. Well just blame it on the donkey.

    Reply
  292. ann michael says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:17 PM

    MMMMMM – sounds great to me!

    Reply
  293. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:17 PM

    Cat,
    It sounds like you have a Designing Mind…

    Reply
  294. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:18 PM

    Starbucker,
    It’s only okay to go for the easy ones on open mic night. Other times you have to leave them there or you look like you can’t think of the clever ones.

    Reply
  295. Ben Yoskovitz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:18 PM

    Not that I can enter my own contest, but I’ve been mulling some ideas:

    “I cook like I pee…a steady stream of waste.” (perhaps a bit gross)

    “I cook like I work…frantically, multi-tasking and always getting it right.” (egotistical and not entirely true)

    “I cook like I watch hockey…always dreaming I could actually be a star.” (sentimental and not terribly funny)

    “I cook like I sneeze…violently and messily.” (very true, but the word “messily” doesn’t quite make it funny enough: how about, “I cook like I sneeze…spewing a mess everywhere.”)

    Reply
  296. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:20 PM

    Not to mention Ben, that cooking and sneezing shouldn’t really be in the same sentence.

    Reply
  297. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:21 PM

    Cat.
    those new Designers who . . . blogs sound like so much fun.

    Yeah cooking is a design thing. Send some of that chocolate down this way to Ann and me.

    Reply
  298. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:22 PM

    Ben,
    How about, I cook like I have sex, it’s great until you get to the final portion.
    Sorry, if that offended anyone. (my disclaimer)

    Reply
  299. ann michael says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:22 PM

    Well guys – I’m signing off – got to make sure the kids are going to bed!

    Reply
  300. Easton Ellsworth says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:22 PM

    I just sent one of Ben’s funny newspapers to my wife – I look forward to the look on her face when she reads it – thanks Ben for coming up with such a wacky tool!

    Reply
  301. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:23 PM

    Sweet Dreams, Ann. Thanks for coming.
    I’ll try to check in with you tomorrow.

    Reply
  302. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:24 PM

    Ooops, I think I may have offended ann…
    Sorry, if I did…

    Reply
  303. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:24 PM

    Easton,
    What’s your wife’s perception of blogging?

    Reply
  304. Ben Yoskovitz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:24 PM

    Joe – I was waiting for someone to compare cooking and sex. Glad you did it.

    Easton – thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it. I hope your wife gets a good laugh from it, and let me know how it goes. Hopefully she doesn’t throw your stuff on the lawn…unless it’s already there since you’re moving still.

    Bye, Ann. Nice to meet you.

    Reply
  305. Easton Ellsworth says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:25 PM

    Have fun trying to get ’em to sleep, Ann!

    Reply
  306. Cat says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:25 PM

    “OH, NO…
    Not Cat Food..”

    LOL! that’s great! Yes, ‘Cat’ food is on the menu.

    “Cat, can I come over for dinner then?”

    You betcha!

    Actually, I wish I could invite more of my online friends over for dinner. I’ve known people around the internet going on ten years now, and just started meeting up these past several years.

    A couple of months ago I flew to Seattle and met up with 20 designers from all over the US. You can read about it here –>> http://www.creativelatitude.com/articles/article_200605_schultz.html

    One designer I met online years back and we’ve been working together for several years and just met up last year. She’s now been to Bangkok three times, meeting for the first time last year.

    Two weeks ago, we flew to Brunei and met up with another person we met online. (The person just happened to be there so we connected).

    Going further back, one other came over to watch footie and eat chili about three years ago.

    All fun, and I wish I could meet up with more of my ‘invisible’ friends.

    Reply
  307. Ben Yoskovitz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:25 PM

    Liz – here’s a more serious question for you – why aren’t b5media blogger’s email addresses more prominently displayed? I can’t even find them in most cases.

    I just clicked a few of the links to the left for blogs that sounded interesting. I always look for an email address, but there’s none to be found. I’ve noticed it a few times so it can’t just be an anomaly…

    Reply
  308. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:26 PM

    Joe.
    Ann wasn’t offended. She had to leave.

    Reply
  309. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:30 PM

    Poor training. I’ll mention it in the b5 forum. Do you know how to put up a contact form on a word press blog? Kean from last week was asking me how to do it.

    Reply
  310. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:30 PM

    I didn’t really think she was, but I would rather apologize than offend.

    Reply
  311. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:31 PM

    Cat,
    I’d love to find a way to meet you. Let’s find a way to sponsor a contest and then win it. The prize can be a trip to somewhere we all want to visit.

    Reply
  312. Ben Yoskovitz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:31 PM

    I’ve never put up a contact form via WordPress, so can’t help you there.

    A simple “contact me” or “email” link would suffice though. I know it might be hijacked by spammers, but decent spam control software is easy to get, and it seems to me being “available for communication” is more valuable than the damage of some extra spam.

    b5media should just hire me…*chuckle*

    Reply
  313. Easton Ellsworth says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:32 PM

    Okay, I really have to go save Yoda now. May the Force (of blogging) be with you all! Till next time. 🙂

    Reply
  314. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:33 PM

    I agree with you on the contact information. Darren even says to do it on his blog. i didn’t realize that most folks didn’t have it.

    Reply
  315. Ben Yoskovitz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:33 PM

    See you later Easton. Good luck, and keep in touch!

    Reply
  316. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:34 PM

    See you, Easton.
    Good Night, Yoda!

    Reply
  317. Cat says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:34 PM

    Spammers … I use Spamstopper for my emails on web sites. It’s free, and easy to use.

    Reply
  318. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:34 PM

    See, now that’s just something else for me to worry about…
    I also want to put at least an E-mail address for contact.

    Reply
  319. Starbucker says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:35 PM

    I gotta go too – long day of traveling today and I need some shuteye – thanks everybody!

    Reply
  320. Ben Yoskovitz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:35 PM

    Hopefully I wasn’t sounding snarky back there. I’m certainly no guru on blogging (as my 20-50 visitors/day will attest) but I think the contact info is critical. Perhaps even moreso when it comes to a blog network like b5media — I know after reading a good handful of b5media blogs and not seeing contact info I got the impression that the network was being a bit “standoffish” with its readers. I’m sure that’s not the case, but it was my impression…

    Reply
  321. Ben Yoskovitz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:36 PM

    See ya later Starbucker — good to make your acquaintance…

    Reply
  322. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:36 PM

    Good night Starbucker
    Hope to see you again soon.

    Reply
  323. Cat says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:37 PM

    Liz, I’d also love to meet up with you at some point.

    The discussion ‘where in the world would you like meet’ has been going around with my online friends for such a long time. The problem with the US though is it’s just so darn big! Also, flying internally is at times the same cost at flying to another country.

    Reply
  324. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:38 PM

    No worries, Ben.
    You didn’t sound a bit snarky to me. I agree with you. I think that a writer should have a way to contact him or her posted. I want to be able to get in touch with a blog’s author if the sidebar falls down or if I want to schedule an interview.

    Reply
  325. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:39 PM

    Hey, I’m not totally American. I have a passport. 🙂

    Reply
  326. Ben Yoskovitz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:42 PM

    All b5 needs to do is add everyone’s email address to their bio pages.

    Take these 2 random examples: http://www.b5media.com/aaron-brazell
    http://www.b5media.com/jason-bean/

    At the top of each profile have contact info – including email and any other means (Skype, AIM, Gtalk, etc.)

    I also noticed a few b5 media blogs where the author(s) isn’t readily apparent. I’m not sure what others think about that but I’m always a bit skeptical of blogs with no obvious authors and no “about me/us” section…

    Reply
  327. Cat says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:44 PM

    Well, then, come on over!

    Right now I’m in India, staying at the Taj Lands End. Soooo, race you to the beach!

    (well, it’s raining so we may just get wet 🙂

    Reply
  328. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:46 PM

    Ben, You’re echoing my own words. I don’t like blogs where I don’t know who writes them.

    Reply
  329. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:47 PM

    Cat you seem to be getting rained on a lot these days.

    Reply
  330. Joe says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:51 PM

    I have all the animals in my Ark
    and see the lightning as a spark
    No night to dark for ye to see
    it will light the way for thee.

    Berma Shave

    ‘Nite Liz,
    ‘Nite All

    Reply
  331. Ben Yoskovitz says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:52 PM

    Alright, I have to call it a night.

    The contest will run till tomorrow (at some arbitrary closing time that I decided, since it was an unplanned contest to begin with!)

    I hope we’ll get some more submissions…poor Chris’ 1 comment on my blog makes it look a wee bit silly. Hehe.

    But I DO love the idea of spontaneous contests like this. And open mic was once again a great learning experience for me and tons of fun.

    Good night everyone. Thanks Liz.

    Reply
  332. Cat says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:55 PM

    You are right. In Bangkok it’s the rainy season, but apparently not here (the driver from the airport said) so it’s a treat for me..
    I love rain. REAL rain. Crashes. Booms. Bangs. Wimpy rain is boring and still manages to get me wet so it’s tedious in my books.

    Reply
  333. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 10:59 PM

    Good night Joe
    Good night Ben

    Thanks for coming to see me

    Reply
  334. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 11:01 PM

    A real storm is a fun thing to watch. But It’s a hassle to walk around it I agree.

    Reply
  335. Cat says

    June 27, 2006 at 11:01 PM

    I’m going to take off too. I’ve requested a room change and have to pack.
    (arrived after dark last night. Woke up with a view of huge cranes and a bit of water)

    Bye all!

    Reply
  336. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 11:02 PM

    See you later, Dear Friend.
    Have a wonderful Day!

    Reply
  337. ah pek says

    June 27, 2006 at 11:53 PM

    *squeezing me big butt in*

    Hi guys! I’m from Malaysia! Ever heard of it?

    Hey Liz, this is fun!

    Reply
  338. Cat says

    June 27, 2006 at 11:55 PM

    Liz,
    I know I’ve said my ta’s, but I just wanted to share a quick resource for bloggers who need to do a bit of research on their subjects.

    http://www.ipl.org/

    It’s the internet Public Library. Great stuff! I’m checking out their section on writing now.

    Again, it was a nice time chatting with you. As every, you are a gracious hostess.

    Reply
  339. ME Strauss says

    June 27, 2006 at 11:57 PM

    HI Cat,
    Thanks for sharing that resource. It sounds like a great one. You know I’ll share it in big letters with your name on it. 🙂

    Reply
  340. ME Strauss says

    June 28, 2006 at 12:07 AM

    Hi Ah Pek,
    I was just sweeping the floor!
    We have some fun. Don’t we?
    Glad to see you came. Of course I know where Malaysia is. 🙂

    Reply
  341. Cat says

    June 28, 2006 at 12:22 AM

    Thanks Liz. I’m a resource hound and can’t wait to get my new project going so I can share.
    Patience is NOT a virtue of mine so I’m chomping at the bit to start populating.

    Reply
  342. ME Strauss says

    June 28, 2006 at 12:24 AM

    No worries, Cat.
    I’ll make good use of them. 🙂

    Reply
  343. HART (1-800-HART) says

    June 28, 2006 at 1:30 AM

    ~waves.. Sorry I missed all of the fun, but thought I would say hello anyway and ramble a bit, then get back to work (doing another alnighter getting out some deadlines)

    Re: Emails .. you are just asking for trouble placing your exact email on your blog. I just use the (at) instead of @ and (dot) com instead of .com … EG hart (at) PetLvr (dot) com … Some use graphics with the real email address and then hotlink so the listed email address becomes something like .. hart@REMOVETHISPARTpetlvr.com if they do click on the graphic.

    It doesn’t matter much to me – when you get over 500 spam emails a day .. Between my server spam control, my own Spamnix plugin and filters .. I rarely see spam except to empty the trash folder.

    In other news … our local fresh fruit and vegetable stand opened up for the summer season and their Mandarin Oranges are tasty. It’s about time .. since mandarin season was over (after Xmas) .. all that’s been around are these half-breed mandarin oranges, that aren’t mandarin oranges .. I eat a lot of salad, and BBQ chicken all the time and have Mandarin Chicken Salad every day. Although, before it was just those juicy #4012 Orange and BBQ chicken Salads.

    I didn’t read any of the previous comments .. I might tomorrow if I have time, but I have been clicking on CAT’s links that has been posted. Did I miss anything?

    Reply
  344. kean says

    June 28, 2006 at 2:15 AM

    Hmm I don’t know If I am too late but I need some help?

    I would like to put a contact form on a page in my blog, does anyone know where i could get the code for one???

    Thanks
    -Kean

    Reply
  345. HART (1-800-HART) says

    June 28, 2006 at 2:23 AM

    Kean .,. I think you are screwed because you can’t add plugins to your hosted wordpress.com blog. Now, if you had a wordpress blog on your own domain, you can get .. THIS PLUGIN

    Reply
  346. ME Strauss says

    June 28, 2006 at 5:58 AM

    Everybody HART!!
    Thanks for the information about the email addresses. I have been really lucky with all of mine, but I guess I should not rely on that.

    Your Manadarin orange story is in keeping with this weeks Tuesday Comments Night get together. Ben is running a contest to win the complete set of Fawlty Towers DVDs. To participate you need to finish this sentence

    I cook like _____

    Reply
  347. ME Strauss says

    June 28, 2006 at 6:00 AM

    Kean,
    Glad to see that you dropped by and I knew as soon as I saw that you were here when HART was you would get your answer. Unfortunately, it was the answer that I was afraid of.

    The dreaded plug-in.

    Wish that I could help more on that one.
    Liz

    Reply
  348. Kean says

    June 28, 2006 at 9:15 AM

    Hey HART thanks for your help, maybe one day i’ll have my own hosted blog then I can get my contact form 🙂

    I found a Bravenet contact form, but it just goes wacky after you place the code. I guess wordpress doesn’t like it.

    Also thanks Liz for your help

    Reply
  349. ME Strauss says

    June 28, 2006 at 9:29 AM

    Hey Kean,
    In two months folks will be asking you questions. You’ll be passing the knowledge on then. 🙂

    Reply
  350. HART (1-800-HART) says

    June 28, 2006 at 9:55 AM

    Keen .. in the meantime, in the hosted wordpress – you can still create PAGES .. just create one and write some text how people can contact you via email (see my comments above to avoid spam)

    “I COOK LIKE ….”

    Does that have to have a Fawlty Towers reference? The only trivia I know .. is that in the Spanish version of the series, Manuel is not from Barcelona but from Mexico.

    There’s a line in the Little Shop of Horrors .. I cook like Betty Crocker and look like Donna Reed .. but, I must say that wasn’t from my memory – but from google search. I suck at trivia and/or tend to cheat if I can 😛

    I could make up my own saying .. I cook like my wife cleans .. when it comes to Stir Fry and HART’s Famous Chili Recipe

    Reply
  351. ME Strauss says

    June 28, 2006 at 10:44 AM

    You can cook like Dudley Do Right if you like no rules about that Fawlty Towers is just the prize.

    Reply
  352. timethief says

    July 4, 2006 at 6:48 PM

    I haven’t a clue what time it is where everyone else is or if I’m sending this after the whole damn thing is done. Greetings from the west coast of Canada where it’s 4:45 PM and we have yet to eat supper. Fireworks today nha not here we did that last Saturday. Happy Independence Day to the US from a we’ll never be the 51st state canuck. [grin] 😉

    Reply
  353. ME Strauss says

    July 4, 2006 at 6:50 PM

    Hi Val,
    This is last week’s post. Right now it’s 6:50 in Chicago. This week’s conversation will be starting in 10 minutes on the front page. I’ll send you the link — in case you want to know. 🙂

    Reply
  354. Scot Herrick says

    July 4, 2006 at 11:12 PM

    Well, right now it is 9:08 PM here on the West Coast near Seattle. The fireworks here won’t even start for another 50 minutes or so.

    Of course, it is a local legend that it ALWAYS rains on the 4th of July here – and it did at 5 AM this morning and showers this afternoon. After the weather people all said that it would be sunny for last week and this week (14 days of sun!).

    Thunder and lightening are fireworks in and of themselves, don’t you think?

    I’ve taken the last four days to take a serious look at what I am doing and where I am going – it has been a great experience. Some great links have showed up in my blog subscriptions – and good comments ALWAYS show up on open mic night.

    Hope your Independence Day here in the states was a good one – and hope that we can make the place one to want to come to again for those readers outside the US.

    Ah….but that was commentary…..

    Scot

    Reply

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