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Beer isn't free...

…and yet another site update

Ya gettin’ tired of these just yet?

Ok, looksie here kid-0’s; we’re going to try something else out for a bit and see how it works.

You’ll note that I quit posting the Afternoon Watercooler routine a week or so aog and have pretty much stuck with the Morning Coffee bit. I’m trying not to have the time during the day to accumulate links and turn them into a separate afternoon post. So here is what I’m going to do; I’ll create a post in the morning, all Morning Coffee-like, but instead of a new post later in the day I’ll just add links to it during the course of the day — the post will be updated throughout the day.

What do I want to accomplish with this? Well, I like sharing the variety of links and stories that I read over the course of the day, but for the most part I don’t have the time for any thought out and somewhat coherent posts (as if you haven’t noticed). Oh, I’ll still toss up some posts when I do manage to find some time, so you can rest easy, things like the beer and food posts aren’t going anywhere.

I like it when the conversation stays in one post, it tends to create a more vibrant dialog between various readers, so this method will help to condense the comments to a smaller amount of threads which should make them easier to keep track of.

Want to suggest a link? Something that you’d like added? That’s easy too, just use the “suggest a link” page on the top of this page. If you’re a blogger or writer and want to bring attention to something you’ve done? Just send it along and I might add it to the links — just let me know that you wrote it.

As with any changes, we’ll tinker with this and see how it goes. Probably make some additions or subtractions as we go, but we’ll get this thing settled at some point or another.

Oh, I do get one last thing out of this; no one better call me a blogger, save it for people who blog, I’ll just be a link-disseminator of sorts.

Wanna do something for me?

I don’t think I’ve ever asked you dear readers for anything, but I’m going to ask something small of ya now.

A big problem with blogs is that a lot of people still don’t read them. Ask 10 random people you know if they know what a blog even is, then to those who do know what a blog is, ask them if they read any. I bet the answer will surprise you — it’s never surprised me — for as big as the internet is, the blogosphere is still pretty small. You and I, we read blogs, for most of us, we read them everyday and are very familiar with their function and purpose — but most people aren’t. It’s easy for us to get into a bubble and forget about that world outside of our reading circle.

What am I asking of you? Simple, just spread the word. If you like what I do here and what other bloggers from around the state do with their blogs, please let some people know.

What would be awesome would be if you could email 1, 5 or 10 friends or family and just say something like “Hey, I read these blogs everyday, you might enjoy them.. check them out here…”. Not only would I truly appreciate it, but I’m sure the other Idaho bloggers would as well. Don’t want to send any emails out? What about posting a link to your favorite blogs on your Facebook account? Anything that you readers can do to help spread the word helps those of us who spend a ton of time writing this stuff that a lot of you seem to enjoy.

Heck, I might even buy ya a beer for it next time I see you.

On commenting… By my count, readers to commenters is about 200 to 1, at least for this site. Input and dialog are great things and they help make the blog a bit more interesting and a tad bit more fun to read. You don’t have to use your real name, no one has to know who you are unless you want them to. It’s not a requirement, but if you want an avatar and personality points you can sign up at IntenseDebate to comment here.

On feedback… I love hearing from readers, whether it’s good or bad. If you have any complaints or want to see something different, have a question, want me to look into something don’t be afraid to hit me up. I normally reply back to emails in a somewhat timely fashion depending on what I have going on.

Anything that you can do to help spread the word of blogs in Idaho would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Deep thought for the evening…

Why aren’t there any serious GOP or Conservative blogs in Idaho?

I do ask this in all seriousness. I mean, the only rightward leaning blog that I’d give any semblance of credibility would be Dennis Mansfield’s. Are there some out there that I’ve missed? Any flying under the radar?

The righties have HBO (no offense DFO) and the comment section of the Statesman, so at least they have those, but I just find it interesting that there aren’t really any credible right leaning sites in Idaho.

Just a heads up

Continue reading Just a heads up

More on Rep.-elect Hartgen and online anonymity

The always awesome David Neiwert writing at Crooks & Liars, also Randy Stapilus at Ridenbaugh Press and Don Day at Idaho Radio News.

More on Rep.-elect Hartgen and anonymous bloggers

Kevin Richert in the Idaho Statesman.

Not only would Rep.-elect Hartgen’s law be impossible to enforce, it’d cost a fortune — not only in policing resources, but in legal challenges (with most certainly the law going down in defeat). If you think any of the anonymous bloggers in Idaho are going to start using their names or quit blogging or commenting because Steve Hartgen’s Big Brother experiment then you’ve got another thing coming.

We all have our own reasons for not using our real names, and frankly it isn’t any of Steve Hargten’s business what those reasons are.

If Hartgen can’t handle the scrutiny of public life then perhaps he should rethink his decision to join Idaho’s legislature. He also needs to understand that Idaho doesn’t have the finances to fund a bill like this — I’m just a lowly anonymous blogger and even I know that — it’s telling that a soon-to-be Idaho legislator doesn’t.

Updated

Here is the original story

Vickie Holbrook from the Idaho Press-Tribune weighs in here.

Rep. Steve Hartgen wants to know who YOU are

The editorial in last Friday’s Idaho State Journal had an interesting tidbit from Representative-elect Steve Hartgen and his view of anonymous bloggers and commenters.

(no linky, it doesn’t appear to be on their website just images of the PDF that was forwarded to me)

hartgen_1

[...]

hartgen_2

Of course the ISJ gets their little jab in there at the end — perhaps they should have asked Nixon about anonymous sources and their “credibility” or any other myriad of cases that have been looked into because of anonymous sources.

Anyway, I’d like to know how exactly soon-to-be-Rep. Hartgen plans on funding such a ridiculous idea. I mean it’s not like there is any room in the coming year’s budget to tack on some sort of fantasy-cyber squad to police the ‘tubes in Idaho. This basically smacks of censorship of the internet, something that we don’t do to the ‘tubes here in America, I frankly don’t understand why Hartgen is looking towards Cuba, Iran or China for guidance on how to manage the the internet in Idaho.

It’s easy when you’re on the majority side to say that you shouldn’t be afraid to post comments or blog anonymously — when you’re on the other side things are quite different.

If Hartgen or anyone else in Idaho politics that can’t handle the pressures of having people talk about them perhaps they need to get into another field, you know, private work vs. public work. As taxpayers we’ll be paying Hartgen’s salary and as such we can say whatever we want about him, putting our name to it or not.

Updated 12-23:

Yesterday the AP put out a story concerning Hartgen’s proposed legislation.

Wankertastic

This diary is exactly why I avoid the "Recent Diaries" section of Daily Kos, I tend to just let the regulars find the good ones and I read them once they are in the "Recommended Diaries" section.

That, and I always read the front pagers, they are some of the best in the biz — there is just too much crazy for me in the comment sections and "Recent Diaries".

Gato que come el monitor

Predators, they are everywhere.

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Thoughts for Bubblehead

One of the best in Idaho’s blogoshpere. Even though he’s a Navy guy, an Army guy like me has always enjoyed his blog and his take on Idaho politics.

Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

And another thought…

When things like this happen it is important to realize that behind every single one of these blogs there is a person, a person with a family, friends and a real life.

Blogging winemakers

Indian Creek, my favorite all-around Idaho winery now has a blog, check it out.

Observations

  • There isn’t much to do in Downtown Nampa after 8 p.m. on a Saturday night.
  • "It’s ridiculous how bad they play" — How I love Phil Hellmuth. Oh, the many ways.

Make sure you say bye

To one of Idaho’s original and best bloggers.

I’ve still got my Red State Rebel bumper sticker on the side of my fridge; do you?

Make sure you say bye

To one of Idaho’s original and best bloggers.

I’ve still got my Red State Rebel bumper sticker on the side of my fridge; do you?

School is in session

And Idaho’s own submariner Bubblehead is at the head of the class:

"Maybe This Will Convince People That Some Idaho Christian Theocrats Don’t Really Know Anything"

Read it.

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