Squiggler

Blogging the job

His preliminary findings show a picture that goes beyond the one he says he sees emerging in the press, "that of mischief and mayhem created by disgruntled current or ex-employees of well-known employers."

Rather, he points to eight main reasons people write work blogs: to express themselves creatively, vent, make sense of a situation, fill time while working far from home, share expertise, help develop their career, bring transparency to secretive facets of their jobs, and seek association or alliances with others.

So why do you blog? Do you blog about work? ... Read the full article here, "Blogging is more than a fast track to joblessness"

My question: If you are in politics and you blog, are you blogging about work?

Heads Up to Political Web Sites

Steel Deal says, "uh oh" and I tend to agree, what say you? A must read article:

House Declines to Exempt Political Web Sites From Spending Rules

By Jim Abrams

WASHINGTON (AP) - Online political expression should not be exempt from campaign finance law, the House decided Wednesday as lawmakers warned that the Internet has opened up a new loophole for uncontrolled spending on elections. ... CONTINUE READING HERE

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UPDATE: Club for Growth here.

UPDATE: Powerline here.

Insignificant?

I have finally gotten around to signing up for the Truth Laid Bear Ecosytem. Could it be any more embarrassing and deflating than to be rated as "insignificant?" Now, I'm always surprised that anyone reads my musings and I don't ask anyone to link to The Squiggler. The links that I list either in a category list or attached to a graphic, I list because these are places I like or that I think are worth promoting. I seriously doubt that the majority of blogs that I link to have a clue that I exist, nor care. But, "insignificant" bothers me. I'm not sure what I can do to get out of this cellar. I don't write about iPods and music, I refuse to write posts with the f-word in every sentence, so that leaves out just about everyone under thirty and about half of those between 30 and 40 as potential regular readers. I try not to make personal attacks against anyone, even in posts that tend toward the rant variety. The exception to this self-imposed rule is anything to do with Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi or Cindy Sheehan, all of whom I consider as black marks against their gender and the State of California.  And even though I love gadgets and electronics, I'm not really a techie, so there isn't much I can post on in this area. My personal interests are in genealogy and archeology, but I have other websites where I handle these subjects in depth and I can't really see a blog devoted to these subjects. When I started this blog, it was really just a place for me to vent some and to publicly support the troops and I never figured it would matter what I said, but I never felt personally "insignificant." So, here I sit, not just "insignificant" but a "microbe" to boot.

UPDATE: Yea! I'm no longer insignificant. I'll take "Flippery" ... kinda cute, doncha' think?

Moveable Type Blog Conversion - yes? no?

This is an open question to anyone who might want to give advice or add their two cents.

I am considering redoing my blog using Moveable Type. I don't think there would be much noticieable change to a reader since Moveable Type and Typepad are really pretty much the same, but I would have more flexibility and could install at my own isp with my own domain name without having to use a pointer as I do now. I think I would have a little more creative flexibilty built in and as far as I can see, the costs to me on a monthly basis would be about the same and might even save me a dollar or two.

I am interested in comments from anyone who now uses Moveable Type and does their own installing or programming, but who maybe like me, is self taught and therefore need to "keep it simple."  Also anyone who has made this switch, pros and cons?

If I do this, it will be in the upcoming week. I made a switch from Bravenet and their brave.blog software to Typepad already so I know it is a big job, however I think this would be easier as Typepad has an export feature.

I had planned the upcoming week to be a light one as far as blog entries because I've been called for Jury Duty.

All comments and advice on this move gratefully accepted.

Thanks in advance.

Link to previous posts

REPEAT: As some of you may have noticed, we have changed services for The Squiggler blog. We have transferred the most recent posts. To view posts prior to last week, please click HERE. If you were using the link squiggler.braveblog.com, you need to change it to: squiggler.blogs.com. If you use the link www.squiggler.com you will be directed to this site as we have changed the domain pointers and you won't need to change anything on your links. This is mostly for BlogExplosion readers or any Braveblog readers.

We want to make clear that we were and still are very satisfied with the Bravenet Journal software and will miss some of the custom features. However, we need a little more flexibility, which Typepad will give us for the future. If you are looking for good solid blogging software that is free, Bravenet is still an excellent choice.

Thank you for your patience as we make this transition and we hope you like the new format.

The Squiggler, a.k.a. Sara

Reading those dark blogs with light print - solution

I've been on computers since 1982 and online since 1987, so why this didn't occur to me sooner must be a sign of one of those "senior moments" I'm beginning to sink into.

I've finally figured out the solution to reading all the great things written on those very dark background blogs that have very light and very small print. Duh!!!!!! All I need to do is highlight the selection I want to read. Sometimes the solutions are just way too easy.

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COMMENTS TRANSFERRED FROM SQUIGGLER BRAVEBLOG:

Posted by Slapinions:

The better question would be why anyone bothers making their writing invisible?

Tuesday the 3rd of May 2005 @ 8:29 PM

Posted by cafeRg:

i just figured that (highlighting) out too, as way to read blended text. also if the type is small you can change it, make it larger, via your 'view' button (then font) on your browser menu bar.

:o

Thursday the 5th of May 2005 @ 7:46 AM

Posted by hterry:

Ya I try to figure out some of those people who do that as well and have gotten to the point where if I cant read it I move because I shouldn't have to hilight something to read it to begin with.

Friday the 6th of May 2005 @ 7:15 AM

Comments on Comments

Anonymous writes in a comment:  >> This is the most shameful blog I have read.

Saturday, January 29th 2005 @ 9:34 AM <<

This is a pretty amazing statement, but it got me to thinking. According to my Random House Dictionary, something shameful is something dishonorable. I may lack many things in my long life, but lack of honor isn't one of them. On this Blog I honor my brilliant Mother, recently deceased, I honor our brave military men and women every chance I get and encourage every reader to do the same, I honor history and tradition, I certainly honor common sense and intelligent opinion, I honor my country, my community, my family and hopefully my readers and I honor the human spirit as the spirit of God. As a libertarian who happens to approve and respond to what is called the "Bush Doctrine," I advocate for what I believe to be not only a good course of action, but the necessary course of action. I come to all my conclusions based on my own interpretation of events based on the facts I have on hand. I am open minded in my conclusions as new facts emerge. When I take a stand on an issue, I do so because I believe it is right, sensible, practical and good. I generally could care less what the conventional wisdom is or what the so-called pundits have to say before I make up my own mind. I don't trust Democrat politicians and I make that crystal clear, so you know my starting point is definitely anti socialist/secularist-elitist hypocrisy.

I suppose I could ask the question, "do you think my blog is shameful?" But, since I already believe it not to be shameful and I could expect to get bombarbed with idiotic comments and Deaniac left wingers, I won't ask. Instead, I would be interested in a more general discussion of what you consider to be shameful whether it be any blog, TV, behavior, sports, etc, etc, etc.

I'll start off with ... a blog I won't name, purported to be written by a woman in her mid forties about a TV program. First of all, I only read the first paragraph because every sentence included at least one use of the F-word and sometimes several uses in the same sentence. It read more like a locker room discussion of fifteen year old boys with raging hormones than a mature mother and wife. I'm not offended by the language just bored by it. The shameful part is to think that a grown woman and someone's mother would publicly express herself in such a low class manner and clutter up the bandwith with pure drivel. If indeed this is a forty-something wife and mother, then she dishonors her children and her husband in a most shameful way. If it is a kid pretending to be his Mother, God help him, he is definitely in a dysfunctional family.

What's on your shameful list?

3 total comments.

Posted by Tvaddictgurl:

Well definitely your blog is not on my shameful list. I certainly am not saying that I agree with all of your opinions. But everytime I have happened upon your site I feel that you articulate your opinions in a clear reasoned manner, which I appreciate.

If someone is going to make a statement like that they should at least be honest enough to include their name and not be 'anonymous'. If you're not willing to put your name on your opinion then keep it to yourself.

Wednesday the 2nd of February 2005 @ 3:00 PM

Posted by UV:

I find it shameful when spouses diss each other in their blogs or parents make fun of their kids.

Thursday the 3rd of February 2005 @ 1:14 PM

Posted by Jean C:

On my list? Anonymous twits who diss other people and their journals. If you want to diss people, at least own up to it and tell the world who you are, not hide under anonymous.

Thursday the 3rd of February 2005 @ 5:10 PM

Gripes and good of a blog surfer

I enjoy surfing the blogs and journals of others and will frequently kill a few spare moments scrolling through BlogExplosion or looking at some of the Bravenet journals online. I find all kinds of new and interesting things this way. Like today, I discovered that there is now a heated ice scraper available. I don't really have a use for a heated ice scraper since I live on the edge of the Southern California desert, but in another lifetime I lived in Buffalo, New York and so I have an appreciation for a useful Winter product. I also enjoy coming acrosss new techie products and tips. There are lots to be found on very diverse blogs. I'm a wannabe geek who never quite made it, but I do love my gadgets. I proudly salute fellow bloggers for their quick attention to the latest worldwide disaster and I think that this past election cycle was one of the most interesting I've participated in due to the blogging community.

But surfing blogs can be a real test of patience as well. I don't know if it is an age thingy or something else entirely, but I just CANNOT read the blogs with black (or very dark) backgrounds and light white or grey print. Some of them look really stunning and deserve awards for layout and graphics, but reading the words is near impossible. Is this just me?

Another thing that gripes me is how many religious blogs don't know that God is a proper name and therefore should be capitalized unless it is being used to refer to gods and goddesses. When referring to the Biblical God, it is a proper name.

And, probably like many others in my advanced age range, I get frustrated and annoyed at so much use of foul language. Now I'm not a prude and I have been known to swear like a drunken sailor when I'm mad, but to fill up a post with reptitious F-word references or worse scatological references seems like the sign of an empty mind.

14 total comments.

Posted by EJ:

I do my 30 seconds time with most of them. I also have the same problem with those dark colored back grounds. Found you through BE...love to surf! Great blog...and easy to read! ;)

Tuesday the 4th of January 2005 @ 7:54 PM

Posted by jem:

Well your blog is easy to read. Take care.o:)

Tuesday the 4th of January 2005 @ 8:30 PM

Posted by marie b.:

I swear up a storm, but I'm far from having an empty mind.

Wednesday the 5th of January 2005 @ 3:59 AM

Posted by Tina:

I agree with all three! :)

Wednesday the 5th of January 2005 @ 9:56 AM

Posted by mai:

I understand what you mean, even though I don't have problems reading them.

Also, although I can see why it might offend you personally to read it that way, but not everyone believes in the same god, and some don't believe in one at all (no, the word above does not refer to any god in particular -- no capitals here), so to capitalize wouldn't make sense to them.

Just a thought.

Wednesday the 5th of January 2005 @ 4:40 PM

Posted by Animesh:

Yeah! I totally know what you're talking about. I find them impossible to read too. Same for advertisements, too.
Have you read "Ogilvy on Marketing" by David Ogilvy? He says that the biggest blunder you can make is write on a dark bacground.

Thursday the 6th of January 2005 @ 4:17 AM

Posted by suanie:

swearing : it's not the quantity, it's the quality. but i understand what you mean. thanks for the bit about God being a proper name in the meaning you meant... *spins back* i never knew that :)

Friday the 7th of January 2005 @ 4:17 AM

Posted by Toni:

If you think some blogs on BE are bad, don't ever venture into MySpace or Xanga. Most of the sites/blogs there are created by teenagers who have the most atrocious design skills. You think dark text on dark background is bad? Try white text on a giant Lilo and Stitch background. AnD lEt'S nUt FoRgEt DaT mOsT oF dEm tYpE n SpEl LyKe DiS! Aaagggggghhhhhh!

Friday the 7th of January 2005 @ 6:20 PM

Posted by Redolent Repartee:

Most bloggers could benifit from a good course in graphic design and a couple of comp classes in college (oh a thesaurus and a dictionary may be useful as well). Aside from that, I'm just tired of reading blogs by people who are uninformed or angry. It's not that I don't have days when I rant, but who wants to listen to someone else complain all the time?

Saturday the 8th of January 2005 @ 4:31 PM

Posted by Old Whig:

I find that bright white background hurt my eyes, but I've always preferred twilight or darkness. I have better than average night vision.

Saturday the 8th of January 2005 @ 4:40 PM

Posted by bryanboy:

I agree re: black backgrounds. I just find them irritating. I like my blog simple and sweet. Plain, solid text, images here and there, and no special bells and whistles.

Sunday the 9th of January 2005 @ 7:41 AM

Posted by Isaac:

Capitalizing God: my rule is not to capitalize god, since it's a noun, like cat or dog... unless I'm writing about God.

Monday the 10th of January 2005 @ 8:49 AM

Posted by Jonathan:

I have to admit I was once one of those with a dark background and light text. It looked great, but as I believe content is most important I changed it. Nice blog, by the way.

Friday the 21st of January 2005 @ 6:26 PM

Posted by Tinkerelli:

Hiya! Just wanted to say I grew up outside of Buffalo and now live in the south.
I remember all those COLD COLD days standing at the Bus stop or going outside to smoke! BRRRR. But of course now the South has been getting hit with lots of cold weather, what's up with that?
Have a nice weekend, glad I came across your journal.

Saturday the 22nd of January 2005 @ 11:09 AM