Loosely Speaking

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Thursday, August 7, 2008

The difference between humans and animals...

It used to be easy: Man is more than an animal because he makes and uses tools; uses language; makes war on and hunts his own kind; reasons and remembers; laughs; loves; is motivated by altruism... In the past few decades we have come to know that not one of these things--not even several of them together are unique to human beings. In fact, they are not even unique to the higher primates. I've come to the tentative conclusion (all conclusions are essentially tentative...) that what makes us... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, August 4, 2008

For Troosha

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Is this even possible?

A 'Family Tree' of Blogiteers? Who is related to whom, in the real-world...? Who's whose buddy? Special branches for the likes o' Kabu and Wiley... with curtains. Parentheses for those who get a regular mention by a blogger, but not themselves bloggering here... Nature of the relationship, color-coded...? I know! Let's get Ariala! Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Here we go again...

It's an old story: We all have two beasts in our yard. One is angry and resentful, fearful, defensive, selfish, mean-spirited, prejudiced and judgemental, thoughtless of other's needs and feelings. The other is good-natured and loving, generous, patient and considerate, open-minded, optimistic, respectful and friendly. These two fight constantly for dominance. Which one will win? The one you feed. Blogit has these beasts in its yard, too. On Blogit here will always be the occasional fights and... Sign in to see full entry.

A word in your ears, Darlings!

There seems to be a new trend on Blogit, a trend towards extravagant endearments that are wholly unwarranted, coming in comments from other Blogiteers I barely know, and whom I know don't know me. I can't speak for anyone else, but I find it a bit off-putting. Sometimes more than a bit. Friendship in an online community is challenging enough without casual or meaningless suggestions of emotional attachment that might mislead, offend, or distress. There are a number of Blogiteers I do have a... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The story of the story--part 2

The young guy and I each wrote our characters, and mingled their stories together. It was great fun at times--we'd have brain-storming sessions and come up with some great ideas, and one notion always led to another and another... We each came up with other side characters--if you're reading what I've been posting, you haven't met too many of them yet, but they are coming... Two more will take on some of the story-telling in first person, too, in the second part of this first book. Some scenes... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Another Blogit tip: Shopping Blogit

Blogit is like a huge department store: we can't buy everything in sight, or the first things past the door: we have to be selective to some degree or another. How do you choose what to read? What brings you back time and again? What turns you off. Here's how I select: If you click on my blog, I will certainly click on yours at least once, to see what you're offering the Blogit community. Profile: Just updated my 'About Me' details this morning. I generally like to have some notion of who I'm... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

The story of the story...

I just posted the 20th segment of my novel, THE HERETICS-- I've never shared this much of it before with a group other than my original writing partner, my son, and an agent who saw it complete, but before two rounds of revisions and rewrites since. I can't thank you enough for your critical feedback and enthusiasm, whether in comments here, or emails. It's all welcome, both the critique from those who are writers and editors, and the comments from those who are the folks who simply know what... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Home again, home again, jiggety jig!

Got up sooo early this morning in Maryland, and now it is coming up on 6pm here in Washington State. Part of me is quite sure it is coming up on 9, and bed time! But--remember Davy? Davy dog is sooo happy to see me again, he just wants to play and play and play... and I want a nap. With my arrival, the Other Human takes off--going to be spending the next several weeks house-sitting for a friend up in Seattle. He goes up there at least 5 evenings a week, to teach fencing. It is a long, long round... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

What works on Blogit?

A new Blogiteer, freeflyinbird, asks about how things work here, and I got thinking about how, and what does, and what doesn't so much... I can answer best by discussing what draws me to someone's blog, and what turns me off. Though I'll speak in general 'yous' and 'theys' throughout, this is really all my own opinion, for what that's worth to you. First, of course, is writing: you have to post something. If you don't add something new fairly regularly and often, people will have no reason to... Sign in to see full entry.

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