12 JUL 05: BLOGGING WITH THE STARS
On some days, we strain for a local topic to discuss. But on other days, things build quickly like.... well, I was going to say like a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, but some of you still may have damage to clean up.
Our Monday item about Hurricane Dennis brought a surprising e-mail:
Funny how great minds think alike. I titled my Sunday blog post "Dennis the Dud" as well. Guess that's what it was, a dud, not that I'm complaining. Hope you have a good week.
This was NOT a case of blog copycatting, because this came from a Columbus blog I never knew about before. New bloggers don't tend to be like new restaurants -- hiring public relations firms, and holding grand opening specials.
The similar title came from "The Kaos Blog," which was started about a month ago by a well-known Columbus personality. I know who it is -- but since the blog author seems to be keeping his/her name anonymous, I won't give it away. But here's a hint: the drawing of an author with blonde hair does NOT mean it's Councilor Skip Henderson.
The top items at The Kaos Blog Monday involved the weather -- including yet another potential tropical storm. Maybe if this person had The Tranquility Blog, we wouldn't have so much to worry about....
The Kaos Blog has pictures showing water damage from Hurricane Dennis to his/her home - and an unusual photo of three guys who went to Lakebottom Park during Sunday's rain with surfboards! Some folks need to be told NOT to take the names of Columbus parks literally.
This blogger apparently moved recently to the Bibb City neighborhood, because scenic shots of that corner of town are included as well. For some reason, the Pop-a-Top Lounge on 32nd Street was left out....
Shortly after I looked around The Kaos Blog, another e-mail arrived. It was sent to alert me to that blog, as well as another which was new to me:
Chris Sweigart's keeping one too: SwagTV.blogspot.com
This is the Chris Sweigart who's a WRBL reporter. For those of you who think we're obsessed with that station - apparently other people are, and that station can use every viewer it can find.
You may recall the message we received recently from Chris Sweigart, [19 May] after we mentioned one of his TV stories here. In June he started a blog of his own - but "Swag TV" is NOT all about his news stories. It has mostly personal items, including a picture of Sweigart aiming a military weapon. Thankfully, it's not pointed at us....
Chris Sweigart's blog has the title, "That's Life in the 125." This can cause confusion right away. I'm not sure if the 125 refers to the TV market ranking for Columbus, compared with other U.S. cities - or how much Sweigart is paid each week.
(While Chris Sweigart's blog has "125," The Kaos Blog has the numbers 897 prominently displayed. So maybe there's some online contest going on, to pick winning lottery numbers.)
Chris Sweigart offers some interesting inside stories about his work at what he calls "The Warble." I guess this makes him a warbler - but consider this. If Sweigart worked for WLTZ NBC-38, he'd be a waltzer.
Chris Sweigart also focused on hurricanes at the top of his blog Monday. Farther down, he mentions a recent story in East Alabama -- and describes the trip there as "a boring drive." Smiths Station and Ladonia simply can't open nightclubs fast enough....
As I pondered my new blog competition, another amazing coincidence happened. A blogger in Buena Vista posted this: "Newscasters are charged with the sole responsibility of presenting the 'facts' of the news.... let us draw our own conclusions. In other words, leave the blogging to us." After all, pro golfers don't enter Michelle Wie's amateur events.
Bubba in Buena Vista seems most concerned with blogs set up by Fox News Channel journalists, but I suppose it can apply locally as well: "Theirs is a vocation of presentation, it should not be mission oriented." Does this mean bloggers should ramble on and on, not expecting anyone to take them seriously?
I'd like to think there's room in the "blogosphere" for all sorts of journals about all sorts of topics, from all sorts of viewpoints. And remember, professionals in one area of the media do NOT always obliterate amateurs in other areas. If they did, Matt Drudge would have disappeared five years ago.
Before we stop blogging, let's do some Instant Messaging....
+ To Tarren Bruce: Yes, I know you're innocent until proven guilty. But if you really did smack that Columbus Police officer in the face several times with a motorcycle helmet, be thankful he didn't have a Vietnam flashback.
+ To Port Columbus: Did I read it right - your "School of the Sailor" summer camp teaches young people how to handle a cutlass? Aren't they a little young to be driving Oldsmobiles?
+ To Walgreens on Wynnton Road: About your sign which says, "WE ARE NOW TOTALY DIGITAL" - well, maybe you forgot one thing. It's called a SpellCheck.
+ To the Columbus Public Library Café: To say you're moving up your closing time to 7:00 p.m. is one thing. To have your attendant walk out and go home at 6:45 is something else. Oprah Winfrey never would stand for this....
+ To WCGT "Final Edition" host Jerry Laquire: I heard what you said about hurricane reporters on WRCG Monday. May you someday have the privilege of standing on the Gulf Coast amid 130 mile-per-hour winds, driving rain and billions of dollars in damage -- and THEN claim there's "nothing to report."
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