Sleepless in Midland

Blog readability

Just how smart does someone have to be to read this blog?  Not very.  No advanced education required here.

Check your blog's readability level.  Link.

Via Volokh.

The Big Gold Dog gone but not forgotten

I'm a little late arriving to this wake, but there's been a bit of attention paid recently to the death of Wallace Craig's dog, that's Wallace of Streams.  The loss of a pet is such a terrible thing to endure, and for some people it probably rivals the loss of human loved one.

A dog can give the unconditional love that even one's mother probably couldn't give.  So when a loyal pet passes on it can be gut wrenching.

I attended a session today in which a speaker talked about the standard end of life documents, the health care power of attorney, the physicians directive, etc.  And in thinking about some of those things I began worrying about what would happen to my dog if I died.

He's not a youngster, but he's got a few more years left in him.  He's a great pet, but it might be hard to place a nine year old dog in another home.  And it's possible that my own death could mean a death sentence for the dog.  Goodness, that's depressing.

Hmmm, maybe I should make a provision in my will to leave a few bucks to a "no kill" shelter on condition they take him in.  It's worth a try.

Lookee who's back!

After a long absence Jessica's Well has returned to the scene.  Welcome back!

Local Blogger to Blog One Day for Charity

Eric at The Fire Ant Gazette has requested that the other local bloggers help in bringing as much attention as possible to his participation in a fund raising event described as a blogathon in which he has agreed to write in his blog once every half hour for 24 hours beginning at 8 a.m. on August 6.  The hoped for result is that people will be so moved as to donate money to his charity of choice, Midland Fair Havens.  For a more details about of his charity work go here.

A Fatwah against a Blogger

Gullyblog writes in Resistance is Futile that a fatwah was issued against a fellow blogger, AnarchAngel.

Technically, a "fatwah" is issued by an Islamic scholar or religious lawyer -- see definition of "fatwah" here --  but let's not get overly technical.  What seems to have happened is the FBI has contacted AnarchAngel about a possible threat against him.  AnarchAngel tells all about it in Fatwah.

So why would anyone want to threaten AnarchAngle?  See for yourself at Team Infidel where a viewer can see MPG clips of a Koran being shot full of bullet holes along with other things done to a copy of the Koran that would likely get screaming headlines in the New York Times had they occurred at Gitmo.

In "This guy does HORRIBLE things to the Koran" AnarchAngel explains why he did it:

Actually, I've recived surprisingly little negative reaction to it. Almost disappointing really, because I know how most of us freedom and gun lovers who read me every day feel about that stuff, so I'm preaching to the choir as it were. I got a lot of GREAT negatives on some of my other controversial essays, like "Homophobia is Offensive". Great negatives means your message is getting out beyond your social mirror, and into the hostile intellectual world out there.

I want to see your negatives people. I want you to THINK about WHY we did this.

Careful what you wish for, AnarchAngel.

But, AnarchAngel probably doesn't have anything to worry about.  While his actions may have been a bit more overt than simply writing a book critical of Islam like Salman Rushdie or even the harsher criticisms of Theo Van Gogh, Islamic radicals will probably steer clear of him.  Their modus operandi is to make a surprise attack against people who aren't in a position to easily defend themselves.

And that's what sets AnarchAngel apart.  He's ready.  And he's armed to the teeth!

Deepest, Darkest Secrets, For All to Read

There are weblogs for all sorts for reasons.  And here's one that serves as an outlet for people with secrets they need to share.   The blog owner invites people to mail in a postcard with their secrets on them for posting.

Some are funny.  Some are sad, and some are downright disturbing.  See them at PostSecret.

(Via slapdummy.)

Carnival of Cordite #21

Attention gun enthusiasts and 2nd amendment supporters:  Carnival of Cordite #21 is up and running, and there are some fascinating articles linked there.

Blogging Midland Expats

There are a couple of blogging Midland expatriates out there who deserve some attention.  Trey Barker is a deputy sheriff in Bureau County, Illinois, who's an excellent story teller, in fact, he's an author.  And although he has just gotten started with his blog, Bullets and Whiskey, it certainly has some great potential.   His latest book, "2000 Miles to Open Road," is due out this month.

Then there's Aunti Cracker.  What can I say about Aunti Cracker?  Perhaps I should just let her speak for herself:  "Aunti is a politically incorrect psychopath and Midlander stuck in Liberal Land."  Be sure to let us know when the Oregon turns into a red state, Aunti C.

Too bad they had to move away, but how are you gonna keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen Paree?

Freakonomics, the blog

Although I haven't yet read Freakonomics, I'm riveted to the tv every time the author, Steven D. Levitt, makes an appearance.  His research has bought to light some information and theories that just aren't available elsewhere; the economics of drug dealing gangs, for example.

What a thrill it was to learn that he and co-author Stephen J. Dubner have a Freakonomics blog.

It's a fun site in which to browse around.  And it's not all economics.  The little bits of gossip, such as speculation that Al Franken has taken up residence in Minnesota in anticipation of a run for senate, make for juicy reading.

Texas Blogfests

There's an Alamo City Blogfest taking place in San Antonio this June 25.  And replies to my inquiries about it resulted in news about another -- possibly rowdier -- Hill Country Blogfest that will take place in New Braunfels that whole weekend.

Thanks to Christina at Feisty Repartee, who today is blogging about swimwear, and Jerry at Confabulation, who today is blogging about his his bucket garden, for all the info.  I almost made plans to go to one in San Antonio, but as it turns out, I won't be able to make either of them.  Maybe next year.

In the meantime, some local bloggers had a blogfest of their own.  See a photo at Streams.   (What?  No pocket protectors?  No green eyeshades?  No pajamas?)

Navel Gazing for Bloggers

Here's an interesting question for bloggers to ponder:  Who knows you better, the people who read your blog?  Or the people who know you in the physical world?  [Found at Pull My Finger.]

And at the same site, the The Blogger Lifecycle:

1. "Start reading blogs."
2. "You start a blog."
3. "You become a stats whore."
4."You become really personal on your site as the online and real-life worlds start confusing you."
5."You faux "retire" from blogging."
6. "You cave back into blogging in less than 72 hours."
7. "You decide to "get serious" about blogging."
8. "You have a pseudo flirty im/blogging/flickr flirting relationship with another blogger whom you have never met."
9. "You decide that you must meet other bloggers."
10. "You take a step back and metablog about blogging and what blogging has done about your blogging."
11. "See step 5."
12."You decide that as a result of step 10 and having repeated step 5 more than 3 times in the course of your lifecycle as a blogger, that you need to sanitize or reinvent your blog."
13. "You either lose your job because of blogging, are afraid of losing your job for blogging, or join a company that builds blogging tools."
14. "You decide to start an anonymous livejournal blog."

Carnival of Skeptics

Just discovered.  However, it appears that there have been nine of these already.  And The 10th Skeptics' Circle is up for viewing.