Thursday, February 28, 2002

 

Quite a lot has been written in the last few weeks about blogging, the state of blogging, the technology of blogging, ad naseum. As far as I can tell, most of these articles were written by people who don't know what the heck they're talking about. (A list of many of these articles can be found here.) I don't have much to add to this discussion beyond what's here. She made just about every point I wanted to make. Jonno makes some other good points.

In case you're wondering why I keep this blog, it's pretty simple. The last couple of years I wrote for the newspaper were frustrating as hell. The reporting/writing part wasn't that bad. It was column writing that had me pulling my hair out -- and not wanting to write columns anymore. Our kinder, gentler city editor was so damn politically correct that she didn't want to print anything that could be construed as controversial. Her columns consisted of feel-good stories about beanie babies, her son's latest exploits at school and how she felt when she went to her grandmother's funeral. With that mindset, is it any wonder she didn't want me writing about why city council was screwing the city? Then we got the "we're gonna have fun" city editor. I always thought he was a bastard. He actually made me cry once. I was smart enough to do it in my car though. He made other people cry, too, but they did it in the newsroom. So, when he was promoted, he pulled all his reporters aside and, in not so many words, told us he'd changed and "we're gonna have fun." Well, he had fun. He somehow managed to work a (maxium) 35-hour week and make the managing editor believe he was working overtime. Wait. Did I say "work?" It was more like showing up. I don't think talking to your wife on the phone for three hours, then watching and commenting on whatever sporting event happened to be on television can be considered work in most cases. When he felt like it, he'd write columns on hunting, fishing and traveling to see his in-laws. Anyway, with this person as city editor, more responsibility fell onto the shoulders of the reporters who actually cared about the content and running of the newsroom. In short, there was no time to write columns. There was barely time to cover my beat.

Now I can write to my heart's content. I can write about how I feel about issues in the news. I can ignore things I don't want to write about. Most important, I don't have an editor telling me what I can or can't say. It's liberating. It feels good.

posted by Anne 2/28/2002 10:29:00 AM (0) comments

 

Heather Hamilton got fired because of what she wrote in her blog about her job and co-workers. There are a couple of discussions going on about this. Here's my two cents: I don't know about all the legal aspects of this, but it would seem to me that, as long as she didn't mention the company or any of the employees by name, she didn't do anything wrong. Personally, I think she's protected by a little thing called The First Amendment.

P.S. If you can't be honest, rant, rave and be yourself in your blog, what's the point of having one?

posted by Anne 2/28/2002 10:12:00 AM (0) comments

Tuesday, February 26, 2002

 

Why hasn't this been covered by the "big" media outlets yet? Before I started posting this, I looked several places -- CNN, The AP, USA Today, MSNBC to name a few. It wasn't anywhere. When the anthrax scare was happening, they couldn't give us enough information on it. It pretty much reached the saturation point. Now that the FBI has a suspect, no one's talking. Why? Is it because the suspect is a former government employee and if word of that gets spread too widely it will make America look bad? Makes you wonder.

posted by Anne 2/26/2002 10:44:00 AM (0) comments

 

I've been remiss in not mentioning the death of Chuck Jones. I'm a big Tweety fan (or freak, as Nick would say). The older I got, the more my appreciation for Bugs Bunny grew. Then there's the Grinch. A masterpiece. Thank you Mr. Jones for years of smiles.

posted by Anne 2/26/2002 09:25:00 AM (0) comments

Monday, February 25, 2002

 

Need a laugh? Need something to lift your spirits? Need something to confirm your belief that a lot of people who blog are sick and twisted? Have I got the place for you! Read. Enjoy. Blow milk out of your nostrils because you're laughing so hard. It's wrong, oh so very wrong, but you won't regret your visit.

posted by Anne 2/25/2002 02:47:00 PM (0) comments

 

This woman is suing Nintendo because ... well, basically because her son was a dork.

posted by Anne 2/25/2002 11:02:00 AM (0) comments

 

Hoopty is #1 on blogdex. How cool is that?

posted by Anne 2/25/2002 10:50:00 AM (0) comments

Sunday, February 24, 2002

 

Talk about a stupid way to die! Makes you wonder what was in that coffee cup. I have a feeling it didn't come from Juan Valdez.

posted by Anne 2/24/2002 09:37:00 AM (0) comments

Friday, February 22, 2002

 

As a former print journalist, I found this very interesting. What I find even more interesting is the number of newspapers that still aren't online, or those that don't use their sites as they should. My former employee falls into the latter category. The current editors and publishers have absolutely no vision when it comes to developing an online presence. Their Web site hasn't changed in nearly two years. Actually it has. It's gotten worse, if that's possible. Typos. HTML errors. Not updating their weather forecast. You name it. It's awful, and it's all just stupidity and laziness. You'd think, with the majority of people in the newsroom under the age of 35, they would have some idea of how to develop a decent site. Oh well. It's not my problem anymore. I even offered to do a re-design for them and they ignored the offer. Screw 'em.

first link via evhead

posted by Anne 2/22/2002 11:14:00 AM (0) comments

Wednesday, February 20, 2002

 

Gross! Gives new meaning to the phrase "he bit my head off."

posted by Anne 2/20/2002 11:29:00 AM (0) comments

 

Okay. How many people knew about this? Apparently the FBI has a "strong hunch" about who was behind last fall's anthrax attacks. "But the FBI might be "dragging its feet" in pressing charges because the suspect is a former government scientist familiar with 'secret activities that the government would not like to see disclosed,' said Barbara Hatch Rosenberg, director of the Federation of American Scientists' Chemical and Biological Weapons Program." Sometimes I hate the mainstream media. Why couldn't they just tell us about this?

posted by Anne 2/20/2002 11:15:00 AM (0) comments

Monday, February 18, 2002

 

Cheesy, but cool. This kid won a $10,000 scholarship for designing cover art for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.

posted by Anne 2/18/2002 05:30:00 PM (0) comments

 

I like this

I like it a lot!

posted by Anne 2/18/2002 02:17:00 PM (0) comments

Friday, February 15, 2002

 

If the woman can't count to 12, she deserves a good beating. People who bring more than the minimum number of items into the express lane are evil. Evil, I say!

posted by Anne 2/15/2002 02:50:00 PM (0) comments

Thursday, February 14, 2002

 

This scares me. Like the pet population isn't already out of control? Seriously, cloning bothers me on some level. I think it's awesome that it can be done, but it still bothers me.

posted by Anne 2/14/2002 05:43:00 PM (0) comments

 

Oh yeah. Happy Valentine's Day to those of you who celebrate it.

posted by Anne 2/14/2002 02:06:00 PM (0) comments

 

I wish I'd written this when I was still working at the newspaper. Which reminds me -- I wish PR people would realize that former journalists know what they're talking about when they give advice on what reporters and editors will/will not read. But what's even worse than people who have always in PR sending crap to the newsroom is people who used to work in a newsroom, are now PR people and send the crap. Lame. Lame. Lame. And stupid.

posted by Anne 2/14/2002 02:06:00 PM (0) comments

Wednesday, February 13, 2002

 

This is so funny.

posted by Anne 2/13/2002 10:06:00 AM (0) comments

 

Noooooooooooo! Say it ain't so!

posted by Anne 2/13/2002 09:23:00 AM (0) comments

Tuesday, February 12, 2002

 

A Romanian pensioner is facing jail after he fell asleep while listening to a telephone sex line. I wonder if there's an award for most boring phone sex operator?

posted by Anne 2/12/2002 05:04:00 PM (0) comments

 

Yeah! I'm a hooptygirl! Life just doesn't get much better than that.

posted by Anne 2/12/2002 04:31:00 PM (0) comments

 

I just knew Elvis was/is alive! Now there's proof!

(link via Elise)

posted by Anne 2/12/2002 04:22:00 PM (0) comments

 

"multi-slacking." I like it. I like it a lot. Way to go Pamela!

posted by Anne 2/12/2002 08:47:00 AM (0) comments

Monday, February 11, 2002

 

This proves that "A Christmas Story" should be mandatory viewing.

posted by Anne 2/11/2002 09:37:00 AM (0) comments

 

Pennsylvania again. *shaking my head*

posted by Anne 2/11/2002 09:29:00 AM (0) comments

 

Knowing that these women got support from their town instead of even more hatred gives me hope that someday (probably not in my lifetime though) tolerance will be more prevalent than hatred in our society.

posted by Anne 2/11/2002 09:27:00 AM (0) comments

 

Congratulations to Vinnie and to "the folks down to the trailer park". You rock! I love you guys!

posted by Anne 2/11/2002 12:05:00 AM (0) comments

Saturday, February 09, 2002

 

Yet another reason I'm sometimes embarrassed that I was born and raised in Pennsylvania. Is it any wonder I needed to move to California?

posted by Anne 2/09/2002 12:33:00 AM (0) comments

 

Whose fault is it?

For years I've been saying that one of the problems in today's society is that parents refuse to believe their children can do anything wrong -- especially in school. This story is a prime example of that. In Kansas, 28 students were given failing marks because they cheated (plagarized) on an assignment. What did the parents of these students do? Of course they complained to the school board, which insisted the teacher make the assignment only 30 percent of the students' total grade instead of 50 percent. The teacher resigned. Good for her!

posted by Anne 2/09/2002 12:28:00 AM (0) comments

Friday, February 08, 2002

 

If illness is caused by sin, according to a Vatican official, then why is the Pope so sick?

posted by Anne 2/08/2002 04:07:00 PM (0) comments

Thursday, February 07, 2002

 

I'm shaking my head at this. A grocery store in Pennsylvania had a sign Sunday saying, "In honor of Black History Month, we at Giant are offering a special savings on fried chicken." *sigh*

posted by Anne 2/07/2002 11:11:00 AM (0) comments

 

Apparently, he did think twice about the Valentine's Day plan. I hope this taught him a lesson, helped him grow up a bit and realize that when it comes to pleasing your spouse/doing the right thing, you're the only one responsible for that.

posted by Anne 2/07/2002 10:17:00 AM (0) comments

Wednesday, February 06, 2002

 

Well, it seems he may have thought twice about the Valentine's Day plan. I wonder if that has anything to do with the dozens of people who responded in his forum. While most of his fans are jumping all over the chance to dole out their money to him, here are some examples of the people who think the way I do:

*all you 'fans'/'community members'. Has it been forgottent that Wil CHOSE to work on his website. Why should I, or any mature individual, pay homage to someone's (obvisouly) forgotten responsibilities/consequences???? This is so insane.

And Wil, would your wife agree to all of this??? Did you, yourself, forget that you 'chose' to work on your website, obviously putting it ahead of spending quality time with your own wife? This was 'your choice' (no gun to the head that I ever heard of). 2 months your wife went to sleep by herself??!!?? After even 2 weeks, you still chose to continue on with your actions. How dare you ask these people, some of them so poor they can barely afford to eat themselves, to help you clean up after your mess!!??!!

*It is completely tacky of anyone - especially a celebrity - to ask for money. So what if Anne puts up with all the time that Wil spends on the net? Millions of spouses do that, and I dont see you anteing up any cash for them to have a night out.

*I think there are better causes that need fund raising by people with celebrity status. This, IN MY OPINION, isn't one of them. I personally think your wife would be happier if you made her dinner at home.

*instead of donating for dinner, why don't you donate to Shave a Hoopty. No offense, Wil, but I would like to think that perhaps this would be a better way to put money towards a cause?

posted by Anne 2/06/2002 02:38:00 PM (0) comments

 

I found two more news articles on blogging. This one is about celebrity blogs. It mentions a few (and doesn't mention one), but says blogs "are hotter than ever in Hollywood lately." Five makes something hot? I wish they would have included a list of celebrity blogs. It would take a lot to be as good as RuPaul's, but it would be interesting to take a look.

The other article, Let's Take a Jog Around the Blog ... um, let's just say this columnist didn't do the research he could have/should have. Well, maybe after his blog is up and running for a while he'll understand what it's all about a little better than he does now.

posted by Anne 2/06/2002 02:09:00 PM (0) comments

 

Making sense; not making sense

I read two newspaper columns this morning that really made me think. One made some valid points. The other, while trying to make valid points, missed the mark.

The first, Rosie, if you're really gay, come on out, studies the conflicts most gay people have. The writer's main point is this: "It's too easy and natural for most people to assume everyone's straight, to never realize that we're involved in every aspect of society and, many times, struggling against discrimination and prejudice. If gay people hold any hope for equality, then we have to be willing to identify ourselves, however we can. That's not "cramming it down people's throats." That's just honesty. And the stakes are too high to let assumed falsehoods go unchecked."

The other column, 'Sopranos' not fit for public consumption, is just nonsense. It seems the writer (priest and novelist Andrew Greeley) doesn't like "The Sopranos" and feels it's his duty to tell us why we shouldn't like it either. He writes "Some of the episodes would be a cure for insomnia if the viewer didn't know that the payoffs of graphic mayhem and prolonged nudity were about to happen." What show is he watching?

He also addresses the controversy that comes up every time there's a mob movie/television show: the Italian stereotype. Well, I'm half Italian and it doesn't bother me a bit because I know "The Sopranos" is fiction. HBO never claimed it was a documentary on Italian life in America. Give people a little credit. Most intelligent people realize all Italians aren't involved in organized crime. It's the same as knowing not all Irish people are drunks, not all African Americans are good athletes and not all female talk show hosts are gay.

posted by Anne 2/06/2002 12:58:00 PM (0) comments

 

Before I forget:
Do I annoy you? Do you think my comments are irrelevant? Have I posted something in your comments that made you think evil thoughts about me, or maybe just say "huh?" Would you like to teach me lesson and show me what a bad blogger I've been? Yes? Okay then. You can nominate me for an Anti-Bloggie in the category MOST ANNOYING AND/OR IRRELEVANT COMMENTER. That'll teach me! Don't you think so?

By the way, I updated my about me page so you'll know who you're voting for.

posted by Anne 2/06/2002 09:57:00 AM (0) comments

 

I've only heard of about half the people on this list, but maybe that's because I'm a creature of habit when it comes to my web surfing. Lately, the only new sites I've found interesting are blogs. Maybe I'm cheating myself and I should get around more. But that's beside the point of this post. Actually, the point I'd like to make was very well made by this person in this post. I think it's interesting to see how he is trying to re-invent himself, but c'mon people! Number 4 on the list? What about him, or him, or him, or him or her or him? His is a way more interesting celebrity blog than the other. We are talking about personalities here, right?

posted by Anne 2/06/2002 09:30:00 AM (0) comments

Tuesday, February 05, 2002

 

This is just wrong -- in so many ways. He's asking his fans to donate money to help him take his wife out on a nice date for Valentine's Day. I enjoy reading his blog. I feel sorry for his wife if he neglected her while he was putting his site together. But I'm not donating to the date fund. It's not my fault his priorities are messed up. When your Web site comes before your wife, there's more wrong than a lack of money.

posted by Anne 2/05/2002 03:17:00 PM (0) comments

 

I forget to mention yesterday that I added some new links. One of them is Chris Taylor's Daily Blah. I wish when I was working as a reporter I had time to maintain a blog. But then again, I didn't know about blogs 'til August and I left there in May. Anyway, welcome to blogging, Chris.

posted by Anne 2/05/2002 01:50:00 PM (0) comments

 

Six emails of separation
via Chris Pirillo

posted by Anne 2/05/2002 10:41:00 AM (0) comments

 

What the heck is going on in Peru? Transvestite prostitues destroy a police station. A gang smuggling cocaine-stuffed chickens. Sounds as if Peru's an interesting place.

posted by Anne 2/05/2002 10:21:00 AM (0) comments

 

Again:
Do I annoy you? Do you think my comments are irrelevant? Have I posted something in your comments that made you think evil thoughts about me, or maybe just say "huh?" Would you like to teach me lesson and show me what a bad blogger I've been? Yes? Okay then. You can nominate me for an Anti-Bloggie in the category MOST ANNOYING AND/OR IRRELEVANT COMMENTER. That'll teach me! Don't you think so?

posted by Anne 2/05/2002 09:46:00 AM (0) comments

 

On Jan. 15 I wrote "Can news be sexy?" -- a little rant about a CNN ad calling news anchor Paul Zahn sexy. Now I hear that former CNN personality Greta Van Susteren had plastic surgery to get rid of bags under eyes. She had the surgery during the month she had off between leaving CNN and starting a new job at Fox. If it makes her feel better, good. But if she did it because of peer pressure and the focus on looks in the television news business, I feel sorry for her.

posted by Anne 2/05/2002 09:26:00 AM (0) comments

 

I'm also going to have to make time to read Ten Days in September, a series in The Washington Post about the days following Sept. 11.

posted by Anne 2/05/2002 09:16:00 AM (0) comments

 

Now that Ken Lay has apparently disappeared, I may have to start paying attention to Enron again. I don't remember exactly where, but I've heard the company described as a large pyramid scheme. That's what it looks like. I'll have to read a little more and try to make some sense of it.

posted by Anne 2/05/2002 09:12:00 AM (0) comments

Monday, February 04, 2002

 

This is a strange, strange story. Two years ago "a man swallowed his false teeth while he was sleeping. He had them removed a couple of days ago. Why, you ask, did he wait two years to see a doctor about this? He "thought they could have passed naturally out of his body." What?!?!?!? Even if they could, why on Earth would you want that? I'd much rather go through the pain of surgery and the embarrassment of telling someone what happened. *cringe*

posted by Anne 2/04/2002 03:36:00 PM (0) comments

 

From the "carrying the politically correct thing a bit too far" files: People in Rockton, Illinois want a "dead end" sign removed because it's close to a cemetery and they say it's in bad taste. The sign has been there for 25 years. Why didn't anyone object before now? I think it's because before everyone was trying to be so pc, city officials would have told them to grow up.

posted by Anne 2/04/2002 03:27:00 PM (0) comments

 

*shaking my head* Isn't having a statue of Punxsutawney Phil just a little strange? *sigh* Gotta love northern Pennsylvania.

posted by Anne 2/04/2002 03:22:00 PM (0) comments

 

I repeat:
Do I annoy you? Do you think my comments are irrelevant? Have I posted something in your comments that made you think evil thoughts about me, or maybe just say "huh?" Would you like to teach me lesson and show me what a bad blogger I've been? Yes? Okay then. You can nominate me for an Anti-Bloggie in the category MOST ANNOYING AND/OR IRRELEVANT COMMENTER. That'll teach me! Don't you think so?

posted by Anne 2/04/2002 01:08:00 AM (0) comments

Sunday, February 03, 2002

 

Until a few minutes ago I couldn't have cared less who wins the Super Bowl. But the New England Patriots did something that makes me want them to win. They opted to be introduced as a team instead of individually. That's cool.

Speaking of cool, I should have mentioned this yesterday. Jim Kelly has been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame! Why, you may ask, did a guy who lost four straight Super Bowls get named to the Hall of Fame? No other quarterback in the history of the NFL has gotten to four straight Super Bowls. Aside from those four (heartbreaking) games, Kelly rocked! What's the sweetest thing about this (for me, anyway)? Bill Parcells did not get voted into the Hall. Bills fans will understand that.

Here's a little bit more about why I like Jim Kelly, and it has nothing to do with football.

There's Hunter's Hope, the foundation he and his wife Jill established after their infant son was diagnosed with Krabbe disease (Globoid-Cell Leukodystrophy). The Kellys were told that their baby, Hunter, wouldn't live beyond the age of 14 months. Thanks in part to the efforts of the Hunter's Hope Foundation, Hunter will celebrate his 5th birthday on Feb. 14.
Also, there's Kelly for Kids, founded in 1987, is a not-for-profit organization committed to providing funding and support to those organizations tht operate for the benefit of specially challenged youth. He's raised literally millions of dollars for special needs children in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania.

posted by Anne 2/03/2002 04:08:00 PM (0) comments

 

This is so cool!

posted by Anne 2/03/2002 10:35:00 AM (0) comments

 

Do I annoy you? Do you think my comments are irrelevant? Have I posted something in your comments that made you think evil thoughts about me, or maybe just say "huh?" Would you like to teach me lesson and show me what a bad blogger I've been? Yes? Okay then. You can nominate me for an Anti-Bloggie in the category MOST ANNOYING AND/OR IRRELEVANT COMMENTER. That'll teach me! Don't you think so?

posted by Anne 2/03/2002 12:09:00 AM (0) comments

Saturday, February 02, 2002

 

Okay. You wondered why we still don't know what mlife is? Well, here's the answer. No one will know 'til tomorrow. I'll keep you posted though.

posted by Anne 2/02/2002 03:58:00 PM (0) comments

 

I didn't even think about this until I saw it at easily amused, probably because numbers scare me. I'm a word girl, not a number girl. Be that as it may, today is 02-02-02. Isn't that cool?

posted by Anne 2/02/2002 03:35:00 PM (0) comments

 

"Wacky warning labels" always make me, uh, shake my head. You know the ones I mean: A warning label found on a baby stroller cautions the user to "Remove child before folding." What makes me shake my head is the necessity for these labels. Who the heck is the moron who tried to fold the stroller with the baby still in it then sue the manufacturer for the baby's medical costs, thus forcing the company to use the label? Anyway, Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch is now taking submissions for this year's wackiest warning label. Should be interesting.

posted by Anne 2/02/2002 03:23:00 PM (0) comments

 

Groundhog Day

Yet another difference in culture between Pennsylvania and California. I used to live a little over an hour away from Punxsutawney and its most famous resident, Punxsutawney Phil. Usually, about a week to 10 days before Feb. 2 ol' Phil was a major topic of conversation. This year, the big fat rodent didn't even cross my mind until I saw a clip of the movie "Groundhog Day" on the "Today" show. Anyway, Phil saw his shadow so we'll have another six weeks of winter. Call me crazy, but I think when Phil doesn't see his shadow that also means there will be six more weeks of winter. How 'bout that?

posted by Anne 2/02/2002 01:18:00 PM (0) comments

Friday, February 01, 2002

 

Random Acts of Kindness

President Bush on Thursday said Americans can fight evil at home by doing acts of kindness. It might seem silly. It might sound like another Bushism. But if you've never tried doing a random act of kindness, you'll never know the impact it can have.

There are lots of way to do raoks. If you'd like to know how, go here to get some ideas.

posted by Anne 2/01/2002 02:31:00 PM (0) comments

 

The Friday Five

1. Have you ever had braces? Any other teeth trauma? I never had braces, but several years ago I had to have dental surgery to have two teeth removed. Talk about trauma! But at least the codeine was good.

2. Ever broken any bones? Yes. My sister broke my finger when I was 16. Last year I cracked a rib (does that count?)

3. Ever had stitches? Yes. I had two on the back of my head. I think I was 8 years old. I was standing on a stool to see in the bathroom mirror while I was brushing my teeth. I lost my footing, fell backwards and banged my head on the corner of a drawer. Ouch!

4. What are the stories behind some of your [physical] scars? There's a scar on my right shoulder where I had a smallpox vaccine when I was five. I have one on my right knee where I fell and got glass and gravel in it. I have what looks like a burn mark near my left wrist that happened during the fall in which I cracked a rib. I'm sure there are more but I can't think of any right now.

5. How do you plan to spend your weekend? I'm going to try to not let my sinus problems get the best of me. I'm not doing a very good job so far though. I was so messed up earlier that I couldn't go to lunch with Nick.

posted by Anne 2/01/2002 02:15:00 PM (0) comments

 

Time flies

It's hard for me to believe that David Letterman is marking the 20th anniversary of his late night show. I remember the first show. I was a senior in college and had my whole life ahead of me -- although I had no idea what I was going to do with my life.

A lot of things have happened in those 20 years -- for me and for Dave. I'm happier than I've ever been in my life. I hope Dave is, too.

posted by Anne 2/01/2002 02:04:00 PM (0) comments