IT’S A BLOG!

There are a number of New Salon Blogs that have appeared in the last couple of weeks. I’m not quite sure why they’ve all chosen to be born now, but I’m guessing a combination of factors. 1) The Holidays. People tend to be more introspective and thoughtful around this time of year. 2) Time Off from work. People have vacation time and think, “Hey, why not put all these thoughts I’ve been hoarding since High School and that my co-workers avoid onto the Internet since I have some time off?”

Well, it doesn’t quite work that way. I admit in the past I’ve had a major Pet Peeve about New Blogs who suddenly appear out of Nowhere and rack up Major Numbers. Eventually, however, I learned the Truth About Blogging Existance which is staying viable as a Blog takes alot of Time and Effort, two things Fly-By-Night Bloggers looking for an Ego Fix are eventually reluctant to invest. New Blogs may rack up tons of hits at first, and by looking at their Referrer’s List you can see the source of these hits, but seem to quickly fade into the distance.

That said, here’s a quick rundown of some New Salon Blogs I’ve recently noticed. While I do have a personal preference in regards to Blog Subject Matter (duh), I have tried to take a number of qualities into consideration.

Miss Reekins Loves Peanuts - This has been a high roller for a Current Blog Birth and there are certainly some good things about it. It already has a Graphic Logo and personal adjustments to the Template which are bonuses in my book, reflecting the author’s eagerness to express their personality. I’m not quite sure what the “Miss R.” Logo is saying (fallen Can-Can dancer?) but it’s a start. More Brownie Points for the Links List which includes "Landover Baptist", an incredibly funny Fundamentalist Christian Parody and which alone makes “Miss R.” worth the trip.

FIONA - Fiona was actually born (according to the Calender) on November 14th but I’ve just had my first look. I’m pretty sure it’s written by a woman but otherwise seems to be your typical democratic/left/liberal railing about Bush and whatnot. On December 12th she states the best thing she found in a “Blog Romp” was a pictorial essay on Kissinger. Uh, ok. Personally this puts her out of my interest but feel free to judge for yourself. Salon Blog Template - zzzzzzz....

Le Pretre Noir - Just began on December 23rd. Hard to say what this Blog is about since there’ve been no posts. The description mentions “Challenging the church...” and the Author is listed as “FatherBojangles”. This sounds like the first in a series of “Real Live Preacher” wanna-be’s where, like Reality TV, someone tries to duplicate a Hit and spin off as many similar concepts as possible. Two Words: Boot Camp. RLP has a good story and a flair for writing while thus far “Le Blahblah Noir” has neither. As of this writing, however, the Site has over one hundred "self-inflicted" hits with no content!! Whaaa?? Sounds like Jerry Falwell to me.

The 3bicle - Ok, it took me a few to figure out the title. It translates as “The Cubicle”. Get it? 3 = Cube. Yeah, me too. So far it’s a dry and technically business oriented Blog along the lines of Scott Rosenberg but not quite as droll. Not my thing but again, if that stuff rocks your boat go for it.

AUSTRALOPITHECUS - At first I was guessing this was a Blog originating in Australia which, for foriegn diversity alone, would be worth noting. I was wrong and it seems the title refers to the author’s fear of losing his sight or something along those lines. I’m still not sure what it means and he doesn’t explain so feel free to make up any story you want.

Musings From the Left Coast - Born 12/22. Musings are not something I’m normally attracted to. To me the word implies Deep Thought on the Moors or perhaps the few words you might utter at a Wake. Since the Author also specifies “Left Coast”, I’m guessing this is yet another democratic/left/liberal rant but it’s hard to tell from the small bit thus far which is about Kissinger, news which in the Blogosphere is about 400 years old . He does, however, say he’ll try to be “informative, rational and interesting.” Well, he is rational.

Blodgett - Brought to the surface on December 14th. Again, not quite sure what the title refers to - a combination of Blog and what? Clod? Who knows. The writing is varied and non-descript although he did post pictures of Lingerie Barbie which I would have definately posted had I seen them first. He, however, seems to espurn them while I think they’re fabulous. Again, it’s a matter of taste. The author’s name is Peter Savage although I’m assuming he’s no relative of Dan Savage, the clever sex-columnist extraordinaire.

Blogistics - Debuted December 17th. I was hoping this was a Blog covering the hands-on information needed to construct a Blog. Wrong. So far it’s like a Blog with Tourette’s Syndrome, the posts consisting of brief phrases followed by a person’s name and location. Is it an Internet Game? A psychic test? I give up. If it takes more than ten seconds to figure out what I’m reading, you lost me.

Reflections - I tend to avoid Blogs that sound like they were named after a line of Hallmark Cards. But hey, that’s me.

11:41:16 PM    sro home /

I'm been having Big Blog Style Issues lately which can not be a Good Thing.

When I first created the current design, I wanted it to be "kinda retro but modern and a little fifty-ish but cool", which I still like overall but now it's seems so dark. I've been going to some really grooving Sites (which are mostly run by Young Hip Queers in NYC) and feeling like SRO looks so, I don't know, heavy. Not that there's anything wrong with that. After all, I'm no longer young and I'm post-hip and I'm an ex-NYer so it's not like I feel Peer Pressure. But still.

Then again, it could just be the Holidays and me being away from my house where all my Groovy Things are and just one of Those Thoughts everyone gets now and then. Like "Gee, my butt looks big" when yesterday it looked fine and tomorrow you won't even notice it's size. Like that. Except about my Blog.

I just envision this New Clean Blog, all light and whites and sort-of spacey like the Spaceship in 2001 where all my Posts wear Velcro shoes and Fab little Corrége Hats while serving Humor to my Guests. Now I think all my Posts look like Fat Russian Women wearing Rustic Costumes and Sensible Shoes like Construction Nurses wear. Ugh.

I'm giving it till New Year's and then we'll see.

5:45:54 PM    sro home /

My sister and I got pretty drunk last night on Margaritas. This was after we made the "Dog Art" posted yesterday but before we called her Boyfriend and started screaming for him to come over. Her son was staying at his (other) Grandmother's house and my sister's BF was at a friend's watching football. Turns out he got drunk too but unfortunately not with us (although after we talked to him about six times, it was almost like we were all together).

While my family has, at some point in the past, been Yellers in the Bad American Family kind of way, last night we were Yellers in the Rosanne kind of way which is way more fun. My mother was screaming how my Sis and I were going to become alchoholics and my Sister and I were screaming about how we don't care and Peggy was barking and we slammed doors alot and the re-opened them to slam them again and then collapsed giggling on the bed.

We also made dinner for my Mother and it was surprisingly delicious. Salmon and asparagus and mashed potatoes with a hand-held blender which had blades to lick like cake batter. My mother was in her bedroom, away from the Wacky Zone, and I served her dinner like we were in a very snazzy restaurant - telling her my name, bringing water, asking a number of times how her meal was and finally presenting the desert options which I politely left her to mull over while I went back to the kitchen.

Finally everyone decided they would meet and go see the New Lord of the Rings (I passed) and then they decided not to go. When you've had a few drinks, decisions are like that and waffling is done with little of the regret which normally accompanies abrupt change in plans.

I'm not actually advocating drinking but I am advocating having an awesome and fun family like mine.

3:11:07 PM    sro home /

2:28:13 PM    sro home /