P2k

It was almost exactly two years ago that I wrote my 1,000th post, and in it I predicted I would write my 2,000th in May 2010. Hey, I was only off by 17 days and that’s pretty good considering the twists and turns my life has taken since that day in June of 2008. Indeed, this is post number 2,000 for monoblogue.

To many, that may not seem such a big deal since other local sites may post over 1,000 times a month as they copy-and-paste their way onto the internet. But most of monoblogue is hand-crafted by me at my laptop or PC, depending on the post – generally I do my Shorebird of the Week posts on my PC since the pictures I use are on that computer. For this and many other posts I prefer the laptop.

It takes a lot to create the content for a website and stick with it for 4 1/2 years as I have. But since I did that 1,000th post I’ve added other sites which demand content, gotten the opportunity to become a syndicated columnist, and worked on a book (more specifically, the draft is done and I only need to figure out how to get it polished and published.) Plus I’ve had the opportunity to speak with a lot of interesting people and became a regular guest on a area radio show (including tonight.)

As proof that it takes a lot to continue doing a website day after day, week upon week, and year to year, I went to the internet “Wayback Machine” to look at screen shots of my site over the last several years just to see which sites I’ve linked to. Usually I drop site links if there’s an extended period of inactivity, and here are just a sampling of those I’ve outlasted. Some I miss more than others. and they are roughly in chronological order.

  1. Transchoptankia Gazette/Duvafiles
  2. Justice for All?
  3. Fertilizer for our Bay
  4. Crabbin’
  5. Westside Wisdom
  6. What I See And Hear
  7. Integrity Matters Only Sometimes
  8. Robinson on the Radio/Blogs
  9. A Woman’s Point of View
  10. The History of Delmarva
  11. ShoreIndie
  12. Talbot Today
  13. Go Shorebirds!
  14. GayBury
  15. Camden Neighborhood Blog
  16. Shore and More
  17. Stamping Out Stupidity
  18. Mainstream Shore
  19. The Byrd’s Nest
  20. Crisfield Crab Review
  21. Veggieland
  22. Off The Cuff
  23. Pro-Maryland Gazette
  24. Totmom
  25. Liberty Is Not Free!
  26. The Wicbury Crapper
  27.  

When I did the research last week (knowing the milestone would come up) I thought I’d be adding Right Coast Girl and Views of a Salisbury Grinch to the list as well, but both have returned. The same goes for Two Sentz as of about a month ago. And if some of the above are still active, well, I apologize for not knowing they were off hiatus. Point is, there are millions of dead blogs out there yet I continue to bring you “news and views from Maryland’s Eastern Shore.”

Unlike last time, though, I really don’t want to predict when blog post number 3,000 would occur. If the pace continued it would be in two years but I’ve sped up and slowed down my writing pace a few times in the last two years enough to know it’s a fool’s errand to make a guess. Quite honestly it’s more a question of available time rather than enjoyment because I still like to sit and write these posts.

Finally, since most observers would consider me an important part of the local blogosphere (and I’m fairly familiar with the players) I think I will give you an assessment of the whole Joe Albero v. Julie Brewington brouhaha – the “stalker” comment.

Of the pair, I’ve known Joe the longest because we’ve both been blogging for several years. Obviously he’s best known for having a camera wherever he goes and attempting to be a “news” source (although more and more his “news” is simply regurgitating whatever press releases and e-mails he gets verbatim without a lot of fact checking.) Regardless, he probably has hundreds of pictures of anyone who is someone in this area (including me) and if you’re on his bad side he’ll find the one which puts you in the most unflattering light – ask Barrie Tilghman.

To that end, it’s become a private joke between Kim and I as to where Joe might pop up to take a picture of us – if he can get a picture of us eating and enjoying some ribs at Pork in the Park you have to wonder where else he’ll find us. If you’re on his bad side – and on balance I’d say I probably am now and definitely have been – it seems to me that begrudged person will become somewhat of an obsession with him and Joe will come pretty close to the borderline between news gathering and stalking. (After all, is “caption this photo” really news or a simple attempt at character assassination?)

Before last year I didn’t know Julie Brewington – she was truly a face in the crowd to me. Stepping into the limelight as she chose to does have its pitfalls and yes, she has become somewhat of a public figure.

Saying that she is a public figure, however, doesn’t mean that we should disrespect her when we disagree. Perhaps her biggest mistake was agreeing to be Joe’s contributor for a time – many have come to regret that decision and I’m glad I turned down the chance when it was offered to me way back when (about the same time G.A. Harrison got on board.) I value my independence and what I’ve built on my own – it may not be much but I’m proud of it just the same.

Our local blog world will likely always have some sort of turmoil and drama because turmoil and drama brings attention to it. But I’d definitely prefer that it bring respectability as well and the actions of one player in particular prevent that from happening.

Author: Michael

It's me from my laptop computer.

8 thoughts on “P2k”

  1. Michael,

    You’ve really done it this time. How dare you post those lies about me I’m going to write the meanest nastiest blog post about you ever published. It will get 250 comments or more and everyone will be laughing!

    Joe

  2. Good post Michael. I agree with your assessment on this whole picture thing. I am sure I will pay for agreeing with you. Goes with the territory.

  3. Great post and very accurate. How sad is it I can’t sign my name to this for fear of a character assassination by the one who can’t be named.

Comments are closed.