Thought Patterns

I just installed a plug-in that allows folks to sign-up and be notified when a new post appears here.

There already is a plug-in to allow folks to "subscribe" to a specific post's comments.

There are distinct differences between the two.

New Post form allows you to be notified of any new post. You will not be notified if anyone comments. You can unsubscribe yourself at any time. I, the webmaster, will see the email addresses of everyone who "subscribes". I don't like this option but it does allow me better ways of unsubbing someone who needs it.

New Comments form allows you to be notified of any new comments to a specific post and only that post. You can subscribe to as many posts as you want and can unsubscribe yourself. I, the webmaster, will not see the email addresses. However, if you want to are form challenged, I can't unsubscribe you without knowing your email address.

You can "subscribe" to both options, the "new post" and the "new comment", at the same time.

The New Post form is in the sidebar near the top.

The New Comment form is below the comment form itself.

Would I write and say here what I already do if I knew my mother read this?

Yeppers!

Mom and I have a good relationship. It hasn't always been. We went through the stereotypical mother-daughter love-hate thing. But we survived and came out on this end the better for it.

I mention this because Mom asked me the other day just what is this "blogging thing". She was under the impression it is a bunch of whiny assed political freaks. Well, yeah, but there's more than that. Then she asked if I blogged. Yes, I said. She wanted to know why I would reveal my inner most thoughts for the whole world to read!? I said because.

I first started "blogging" back in December or November of '03. Then it was just an html page with tables as layout. Then I came across WordPress and have been with it ever since. Back then, I was blogging about my progress as a writer. I tossed in some Real Life stuff every once in a while but for the most part, it was only about writing. Now, it is about snails, politics, lesbianism, writing, and everything inbetween and after.

Why do I blog? I dunno. It is more than a journal. It is more than a bragging post. It is more than a soap box. In a way, it is my way to feel in touch with the rest of the world.

Personally, I dislike the advertising on blogs that I visit. Google ads aren't too bad, because they typically are geared toward whatever the site, or that post, is about. But still…I dunno. Folks make money when someone simply clicks on one of the ads. You don't have to buy anything for the owner to earn.

I have no intention of using Google's AdSense on any of my sites. I can't really explain why, I just don't want to. However, I am an "affiliate" with several software companies. I have bought their software and liked it so much I became a kind of virtual saleswoman for them.

What happens is this: you click a link on this site which takes you to a product page. That link contains my i.d. number. If you decide to purchase anything while you are on that site, then I get a small percentage of that sale. I get nothing if you simply visit.

Why am I telling you this? Simple. I don't like stealth. I am not comfortable with the idea that if I click a link on a site, that person earns a bit of change (pennies, probably). If I like and know the person, I am more comfortable with it (such as Georganna over at Writer's Edge). Why? I don't know that either. I'm weird that way. Besides, I am there to read their content, not find their content amongst all the text ads, or worse, damn banner ads. So by telling you up front, you know what you are doing when you click a link. If the link ever leads to some way that I will earn money from it, you will know. Like I said, I don't like stealth.

Below are the companies and their software I support.

From Iconico:

| Right click here to download trial version (732 KB)

| Right click here to download trial version (1.01 MB)

| Right click here to download trial version (799 KB)

| Right click here to download trial version (608 KB)

| Right click here to download trial version (868 KB)

| Right click here to download trial version (607 KB)

Color Pop (there is no trial version)

ProFantasy Software:

• Campaign Cartographer 2 Pro
• Fractal Terrains Pro

Gecko Tribe, LLC

In the sidebar, down near the bottom, is a section called "Affiliations". Those links have my i.d. attached to them. On another page, Iconica (where I moved all the graphics that were in the sidebar), are graphics and links with my i.d. attached to them. Again, they are under the heading of "Affiliations". Also on that page, as well as the footer of each page, is a little icon for Dreamhost, the company that hosts all my sites. One button will allow you to donate to the cost of hosting this and the other sites. Another button takes you to where you can find out more about Dreamhost. If you choose to sign up with them, I get a percentage of that too.

Oh, and if you see anything on a link that says no clicks or 3 clicks or some other number of clicks, that's a plug-in, not a sales thingywhatsit. It tells me how many people have clicked on any link within a post. I can tell rather quickly which post was read and utilized the most and which must've been a yawner.

There. That's all of them. Now, how about a group hug?

I am writing this in a Firefox extension from Performancing.com. So far, it is odd but I think/hope it is just a matter of getting used to it.

For those who use WordPress on their own site (versus the Wordpress.com site or other Multi-User sites), if you use this extension, there are a few things to know in order for it to work. I was lost until I visited the Performancing.com forum, read some posts, and put the pieces together.

1. Click on the button on the right that says 'account wizard' or something like that.
2. From the dropdown menu, select WordPress CUSTOM.
3. Enter in the address for your blog. I haven't a clue what AppKey is so I left it blank. But, do leave the xmlrpc.php at the end of the URL. For example, mine is http://paulaoffutt.com/blog/xmlrpc.php
4. Next window, Login Details, enter in your user name and password.
5. In the next window, even though the Next button is clickable, don't. Wait for it to finish! Select the blog you want, click Next, then Finish. Ta Da!

In the window pane to the left, select which blog you want to post to (if there is more than one there) and Post away. Cool beans, eh?

For those of you who use other blogging programs/sites, this extension works with Blogger, LiveJournal, TypePad, and Moveable Type. But you do need Firefox of course.

NOTE: I just found out the hard way that the extension does not play well with html tags. When I figure that part out, I'll let you know.

Okay, let's see if I can 'splain this.

Forward Motion has a year long marathon. Folks keep track of their word count and aim for one of three goals: 250,000; 500,000; or 1,000,000.

Last year I was well on my way to getting the prized million. Before the year was halfway there, I was already in the 400K range. Then I hit a major slump, did some editing, and some other silly real life stuff and ended the year with 650,433. Still a good count!

This year, because of editing, my word count has been lousy. My goal for this year is the 500,000 one and I am well on my way.

This marathon allows all words to be counted, including blog entries. Other shorter marathons, like the two month ones, only allow words that go in or toward something that may or may not be published.

I have 28106 in various writings.
I have 177864 in writing in WIPs.
And as of this morning, I had 125366 words in posts (the day to day entries)and pages (stuff like my freewriting and all the image pages).
I had to take out those posts/pages that do not fall into this year which brings the blog count to 113822.

That brings the grand total to 319792. Not too bad, although it means I need to write a minimum of 1733 each day for the rest of the year to come out even at 500,000. Today I got 1646. Eh, it'll even out.

I like having goals such as word counts. I feel as if I have accomplished something. The word count is tangible proof I do more than just sit on my ass playing Zoo Tycoon 2 or Shape Shifter.

I'm doing lezbo web surfing today. And of course, having an absolute blast!

Was reading a new blog (new to me that is) Freelance Lesbian, and came across a post about an upcoming sitcom that has a lesbian character. The post, titled That's Doctor Dyke to You…, led me to an article at AfterEllen.com: New Fall CBS Sitcom Out of Practice Features Leading Lesbian Character;

After reading that one, I went to AfterEllen.com's main page and found another TV article about a reality show: Lesbian Contestant on America's Next Top Model 5.

From there I read an article about openly gay model Amanda Moore.

From there I read an article on Angelina Jolie, who appearantly is bisexual. The four page article ends with a quote from her, one that has put her on my 'good girl' list.

…In Jolie's interview with Barbara Walters on the July 11, 2003 edition of 20/20 (ABC), she talked about her bisexuality and the fact that she is still open to a relationship with a woman, saying "I consider myself a very sexual person who loves who she loves, whatever sex they may be."

This whole things started when I cruised over to the Blogs-By-Women and their directory and went through the Lesbian/Bisexual/Queer listings. The Arts and Entertainment part of the directory has several writers.

The purpose of weblogs, now called blogs, has been changed over the years. What was once taking place in chat rooms and forums both on intranets and the internet, morphed into online journals of projects, opinions and diaries.

Professionals use blogs to share their progress, make announcements or to give official statements. Some professionals have begun to incorporate personal aspects into their articles. Various websites such as WeatherUnderground, have begun offering blogspace to their own staff, weather professionals and individuals.

If I visit the blog of Dr. Jeff Masters on WeatherUnderground, I expect it to pertain to weather, to be professional and all that. Or do I? The post I just read, World's Largest Weather Instrument, refers to "the ultimate tacky weather object–the world's tallest thermometer. ". He gives background information about it which is interesting. But it is also personal. He mentions he is on vacation and he refers to the thermometer as being 'tacky'. Do I, as a visitor to the site, want his personal opinion?

Amy Gahran has set up a survey to ask just those kinds of questions. I urge all of you to go take it (only 10 questions). The post in which she discusses it is interesting indeed.

My own opinion on this issue is that we’re all human, and it’s futile to try to ignore or disguise that fact – especially online. I also think that the “Berlin Wall” that’s become commonplace between our business and personal selves has reached a level of dissonance. It’s starting to do more harm than good – to business, society, and individuals. It also helps maintain the marginal status of various communities or minorities.

Whether you share that viewpoint or not, go take the survey.

As for me, I use this blog, Thought Patterns, to share my process as a writer, to reveal that process as raw as I can make it. I also use it to share my opinions, news I feel is worthy, and to bad mouth GW Shrub (the one thing I am going to cut back on in an effort to lower my blood pressure). I have my direct writing information, such as snips and bits, over at the main site, which is more for content management than a blog, relying more on pages than posts. My amateur radio blog is currently into the hurricane season although I also include news items and solar flare updates.

Another writer I follow, DJRedhawk, keeps hers to writing only. Rarely have I read anything outside of that. I at first tried to do so, but was bored to tears. For reference, read some of my entries from before I used a software program, doing my blog in plain html, from Dec '03 until Dec '04. You can find links to them in the sidebar, just above all those little graphics. (although I have only transferred only Dec-April so far).