A Peek Inside the Blog

From Wikipedia - 

A blog (a portmanteau of the term "web log") is a discussion or informational site published on the World Wide Web and consisting of discrete entries ("posts") typically displayed in reverse chronological order (the most recent post appears first). Until 2009 blogs were usually the work of a single individual, occasionally of a small group, and often were themed on a single subject. More recently "multi-author blogs" (MABs) have developed, with posts written by large numbers of authors and professionally edited. MABs from newspapers, other media outlets, universities, think tanks, interest groups and similar institutions account for an increasing quantity of blog traffic. The rise of Twitter and other "microblogging" systems helps integrate MABs and single-author blogs into societal newstreams. Blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

There are any number of reasons why I continue to blog here. But the biggest reason is that I find it therapeutic. Because it's fun writing this stuff and having you read it. Reading your comments is the icing on the cake. (Hhhmm, that's kind of archaic, do people still refer to it as "icing", or is the term of choice "frosting"? I'm a frosting guy myself. Any chefs want to chime in on this?)

As to comments, I always try to answer the comments, one for one. My thought is that someone took the time to read what I posted and then actually comment on that post. It seems only polite to respond with a comment of my own. Unless it's a comment like this:

I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase..See

Obviously a spam comment or a politician answering a question. One of the two. Or both. Read it through, I dare you. Then you can "unquestionably come further formerly again". Uh, what was the question?

Today dear readers you're either in for a real treat or some mind-numbing boredom, I can't say which for sure. Today we're going to take a look under the hood at Chant du Départ. Yeah, I know pretty heady stuff isn't it? (You two in the back. Yes you. Stop talking and pay attention. And yes, RJL, there is going to be a quiz. Much of this material will be on the final as well.)

Okay, under the hood.

Oops, wrong hatch. That's actually the engine compartment in the King Tiger. This thing:

King Tiger (PzKpfw VIB) La Gleize, Belgium
(And yes, I've been there. The building in the background is a very nice military museum, covering the Battle of the Bulge.)

Here's the blog "under the hood", not nearly as exciting. But far less controversial. (Uh, that's a German tank. From World War II. You know, Nazis. So perhaps it's controversial. To me, it's history. YMMV.)

Yes, that's where I go to put together these posts, check statistics, change the layout, etc, etc. While absolutely fascinating (I know it's not, just humor me for a bit), let's move along and take a look at what you see when you arrive here at Chant du Départ. From whatever source brought you this way.

Of course, if you're on a cell phone you won't see any of this fancy stuff. Unless you go to "web view", then you'll see it but it will be as clear as looking at downtown Manhattan from orbit. Everything looks really, really tiny. So on a cell phone you'll just see the post titles with a short blurb consisting of the leading few words of the post. Which will include the caption to the leading picture. And as you all know (or should) I invariably open with a graphic of some kind.

Okay, that's enough of the "under the hood" stuff. Let's take the ten-cent tour of the "Front Page", as I like to call it. 

The Frontispiece

The Side Bar

Well, that's pretty much it for the guided tour. Perhaps it was helpful, perhaps not. But it's all I've got right now. I think my Muse slept through the alarm clock and then called in sick.

Sucks when that happens!