You have enough anniversaries, I guess you start forgetting them. November 15 would have marked the 5th anniversary of this blog. I think the quality ebbs and flows, but I’m still enjoying having a place to spout off and perhaps, occasionally, pass along pieces of information folks find valuable. The writing is fun and helps me crystalize my thoughs on a subject. But, mostly I enjoy the comments. For whatever reason, a fine group of commenters have made this a regular stop.
I’m not up for putting together a retrospective at this point, but just by way of reference, when I started this thing, John Kerry had just lost an election to George W. Bush, my son was barely a year old, and my daughter was still 8 months away. That feels like a long time ago – but, in a lot of other ways, it feels like we’ve been doing a lot of treading water in the past 5 years. For anyone interested in such things, according to my WordPress stats, there have been about 4,400 posts and 34,000 comments.
In any case, thanks for reading and commenting, and maybe we can do this for another five years.
I’m sure I write for so many of us that enjoy this place to visit and exchange points of view. Thanks for all your posting and connections to important sites both in and outside Indiana.
Thank you Doug.
I learn a lot here, not just info I want, but stuff I didn’t yet know I want. (not sure about my grammatical tenses there, but hoping you know what I mean)
Your blog is the second stop every morning following my local news site. I don’t make many comments because you frame most stories in the same manner that I would. Keep up the good work.
Name Withheld by Request posted:
“I don’t make many comments because you frame most stories in the same manner that I would…”
For me, too, the issue is how is an issue categorized or framed.: Is the ‘public option’ in healthcare ‘freedom for the individual’ or is it ‘government control’. The mere asking of the question also answers it..There are countless other obvious examples in today’s political debates.
Leave nothing to chance or someone may actually ‘think it out’ before they answer.
There’s a French saying that has much validity: two Frenchmen=3 points of views. It’s the culture clash foreigners have to deal with.. The discussion is the goal, not the answer.But the downside afterwards is when all the options are exhausted,nothing is done. I see America trending towards the French model.
Enjoy you various posts and whether I agree or disagree there is usually something to “chew on” about the issue. To the point of some posters: democracy is a messy form of government but expect that most of those who desent with extreme reaction/action just doubt that they would trade it for any of several situations that exist at the present around the world (or has existed since groups of people came together in small groups or nations.)–current situations of North Korea, China, and several other nations where seeking to be different can be very serious.
I was trying to find some up-to-date information on the time situation in Indiana and I saw a reference to Massons blog,stating it was the most current and accurate on the time issue. Memory isn’t always accurate but the first post I remember reading was about the loss of Shady the family dog. But I must not have read that first.It probably was the first entry that really stuck with me.
ibid and ibid – all true. Wishing you any more!
Doug, I have to credit you with being the catalyst that started my personal quest to re-examine many of my views.
When I started reading this blog, I was very sure I was right about a great many things, because I have been surrounded by a lot of small-minded people other than my wife. There just were not too many people that enjoyed debate or would dare challenge my views.
I’ll give just three examples:
-Politics: I used to just about pull the “R” lever when I voted 10 years ago. Today, I spend much more time learning about the people I’m voting for. I don’t let Republicans grab my faith like a leash.
-Abortion: I am still certain that abortion is morally wrong. However, the time I have spent here has tempered my views on how we are to have laws about it.
-Faith: Your discussions about your own faith (or lack thereof) has actually made me examine my reasons for my faith. That process has deepened my beliefs and caused me to be even more thankful for my God, but at the same time, I don’t view all atheists as carbon copies of Richard Dawkins.
To everyone else here, thank you for your comments as well.
Now, that being said, *please* don’t latch onto one of my topics there and go off-thread. Normally I like a debate, but let’s just enjoy having such good company for the moment. :)
Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary. We have to get you on the morning show sometime.
Always a good read, Doug.
You’re likable enough, no doubt about it…
Thanks Doug. Your place is always an interesting stop for me.
Keep up your excellent efforts to enlighten us. Thanks.
Hadn’t noticed any quality ebbs. Always a good blog. Congratulations.
thanks for doing this, Doug. i remember you from your time at LSA.