Comments

I had actually hoped for comments, many comments, passing thoughts left by passers-by who were just passing through. Because I think it's not just me, but all of us bloggers, have the desire to hear and be heard, to have some feedback, so that we know we're not all alone here.

Let's face it - if we wanted just to write a completely private journal, we'd be scribbling on paper in a little book. Right?

So I was hoping for comments. And I don't want to be offensive to anybody who might have left these comments in an attempt to be helpful, but it seems to me that all I've received are comments trying to sell me something. Maybe someone thought my post about the movie Purgatory Flats thought that I would like to buy jewelry, and so they were just trying to be helpful.

I'd like to think that. The alternative would be that someone has some sort of "scan" device which seeks out novices like myself to pop on their comments so that I can be lured into some sort of parting with my money.

Basically, this post is two part:

One, it is a plea for some real feedback.

and Two, can that feedback include some ideas on "blogetiquette" - i.e. Is it bad etiquette to complain about comments when I think the comments are not left by honest commentators?

And please, whoever comments to this post - don't try to sell me anything, OK?

Thanks in advance

VG

Thanking God

Every once in awhile I simply stop and take a moment to thank God for our human ability to appreciate art.

That is - art as in anything. The ability to feel good while hearing a song. The ability to remember a funny line of dialogue from a favorite movie. The ability to be stunned by the colours of a painting.

I thank God just for the ability to feel.

Other Blogs and Bloglets

Throughout basic scannings of some links and whatnot, I've found some other blogs that look interesting.

ichpa.blogspot.com

paxgalactica.blogspot.com
I don't know if this person really thinks they live on the moon or if it was just a story idea, but either way they haven't posted since last December and I really think they should continue the idea. Love the picture, too!

traveldreams.blogspot.com
This blog looked really interesting, as written by an erudite, accomplished Canadian journalist who lives in Ireland - I love the idea: a spot for people to talk about combining work with travel. Again, I haven't seen a post for some months, but maybe it's just because she's so busy - think she has a small child as well. I really should delve into things more instead of just skimming the surface.

But again I thought I'd put these out here if anybody might like to check them out.

VG

Men and Women in Popular Culture

Notes for future discussion:

men and women and how they are portrayed in popular culture.

The Stupid, Clumsy Husband and the Intelligent, Caring Wife.
(quite a change from the Father Knows Best image with which we gorged ourselves in the 50's, eh wot?!)

examples:
Everybody Loves Raymond
Home Improvement


it's even in our kids' cartoons
Fairly Odd Parents (both the fairies AND Timmy's parents)
Danny Phantom

And it ABOUNDS in the e-mail jokes we send around to ourselves.

I'm going to post this for further thought, but will revise at later dates with more examples as they happen upon my brain.

(or maybe I should just ask my wife, eh? I bet she'd be intelligent, capable one!)

VG

What Can You Say Really?

I've wanted to post to each of my blogs every day, seriously, but I find I haven't. This is actually because of my reaction to what one of my five friends said to me the other day when I started all this mess (or what will eventually become a mess - trust me, it will! Most things in my life DO!)

My friend, a librarian. Let's call him Conan the Librarian - just because I think that was a hilariously funny sketch from "Weird" Al Yankovic's UHF (best seen on an old worn-out VHS tape, but again I digress . . . )

Anyway, Conan told me that you better watch what you say on blogs, because some librarians that he knew had spoken their true minds and gotten in trouble on their blogs. He didn't tell me what they had written or what their punishment was, but the implication that I got from Conan himself was that if they ever tried that with him he'd slice and dice like a good barbarian should . . . well, not really - he's more like a plush toy than a true barbarian - but still it leads me to wonder what can one actually say on a blog? Especially if it's at work?

Not to say I'm at work! No way, my work is mainly opening another bottle of refreshing carbonated soda while pulling a piping hot bag of popcorn out of the microwave and then heading out the door to sit on my back proch and stare at the beautiful North Atlantic. But I do care about the others of you who have access only at work, and perhaps use break time or even some down time to write your blogs . . . what can you say, REALLY? And who owns what you write?

Is it YOUR creative words? What if you write a really good novel on your blog, and part of it was during "work" hours? Should your employer get some/part/ALL of any profits?

And more importantly, is your blog truly your private thoughts, or are you subject to the P&P of your particular work place? Can you be fined/sued/chastised/or even terminated if you publish something offensive?

And what IS offensive? Perhaps I'm offending somebody right now, just by typing this, just by bringing up these questions? To provoke another human being to think . . . can THAT be considered offensive?

It can if it's painful. And I'm certain that being forced to think is painful to some, if not many, people out there.

I think I better stop now, as I'm getting certain vibrations that indicate I'm being offensive, and that I may be sued or censured or even fired from eating popcorn and drinking carbonated soda on the beach. Rest assured, though, I won't be making any profit to share with anybody, because there ain't nuthin' literary in this post!!

Sooooo, lemme just say, "Go'way peeps! Ya'll offend me!"