Well, ain’t we got fun? I am about to start the 3rd month of entries in this blog.
Maybe it is time for some reflections; about topics, readership, my input and reactions to what I have written and some random comments which may or may not be relevant to anyone but me.
So, here goes.
I got into this blog thingy from an interesting angle. One of my kiddos gave me the nudge (not against my will obviously) and assisted me in getting things started. The topical issues, I take total blame for. They are mine and mine alone. They derive from how I live my life. I identify things that either I need to do (e.g. buy a new ATV) or from things that I feel a curiosity about in this world and thus feel a need to better understand (e.g. Yellowstone National Park) and in both cases I jump on the web and begin research until I have enough information to make an informed decision.
In fairness, I don’t believe that everything I read on the web is either truthful or unbiased. I call it an anecdotal encyclopedia. Take the information you get for what it is worth. I suspect that the real encyclopedias have similar flaws but they are much better research and studied. The flaws are due to misinformation or cultural bias. I still believe they are better researched than web information in most cases. But much like reading a newspaper, you need to take what you read and compare that to what you know to be true and draw your own conclusions. Caveat emptor. Don’t go looking for someone to blame when the information you got off of a web site makes you look stupid. Accept it as a flawed medium just like all other forums are flawed and move on. Either try to improve it or get over it!
So in 60 days I have written about Yellowstone National Park, ATV s and their selection, digiscoping, ham radio licensing, a little water fowl hunting and lots of opinions about the various and sundry goings on in my head.
I had an assumption, going into this that this exercise (writing a blog) might be cathartic. Didn’t happen! I carried in some assumptions that this would be inter active with comments and such that I would be responding to every day. Didn’t happen. I had an assumption that I would run out of topics pretty quickly. Didn’t happen.
So what really matters?
What are the reasons you read this blog? What topics are you interested in hearing about? Why do you come here and read this stuff? It would be of interest to me to understand the “market” I serve. I realize it is voluntary but none the less, you are being delivered a product and I would like it to be something that you can savor for a while rather than just a one time deal. You pay for this information with your time so let’s make it useful, or recreation or somewhat enjoyable. Jeez, this sounds like girlie, relationship building stuff rather than guy stuff. Ah well, so be it. If you wish to weigh on this or any other topic that is on your mind give me a reply.
Thanks for your time. Until we meet again, on down the log.

4 comments
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January 24, 2008 at 1:34 am
Sean
As the aforementioned “nudger” my opinion may not be representative, but I’m enjoying the variety of topics and depth of information. Every blogger develops his/her own style and I happen to like this content in it’s less frequent, deeper analysis form.
I especially enjoy posts like the recent ham radio entry for the subtle life lessons about continuous self improvement and coping with tests and challenges hidden within a basic informational entry.
As for requests I’d like to hear more about wildlife and your hunting and fishing adventures. The comprehensive analysis is great, but I also know you can be a great storyteller. I’d love to hear some of those stories.
January 24, 2008 at 1:54 am
Russ Lindsay
Sean, thanks. I can provide more stuff on wildlife and hunting fishing. As a matter of fact it is probably time to write a “let’s trout fish Iowa” entry since there are few that will even believe it is possible. Thanks for the suggestion. Stay tuned.
March 5, 2008 at 1:57 am
Chris C
I’d echo a lot of what Sean adds. Oddly enough, where I thought I would find the hunting/wildlife/mid westerner things less interesting, rather the opposite is true. Where I grew up, being outdoors meant walking the 6 blocks to school (the people I knew who owned guns weren’t hunting). To learn a bit about this stuff from someone who takes the time to provide a depth of understanding is not just interesting, but entertaining as well.
Although, the toilet post was still my favorite.
One other thing that’s fairly clear is the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Reading your posts is a lot like reading Sean’s fantasy football statistical analysis. You two give “thorough” a completely different meaning.
Keep it coming. I’ll try to remember to chime in.
March 5, 2008 at 3:59 am
Russ Lindsay
C thanks, glad to hear S has similar habits. Fortunately he takes after his mom so he not only has the gift to gab but is really smart as well. The good news is he surrounds himself with smart folks also.
Yeah we do go a little over the top in analysing everything. You should hear Sunday lunch talk. It could be a skit on SNL.
Hope you enjoy the posts. I wil try to keep them folksy but not too corny. Just comfy.
As for thorough, it is genetic. And the word games can be brutal.
Thanks for the comment. I look forward to your analysis as well.