Friday, March 1, 2013

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!

13 comments:

  1. This blogging thang is addictive. Following other blogs has become even more addictive than posting my own stories. And the friends that I have made through blogging - really nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I echo your sentiments Lou. Especially the friends made part.

      Delete
  2. Kinda reminds me of those lectures at NTC back in '61.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm guessing that's not exactly a compliment Skip. On the other hand, I could turn the post into a Power Point presentation...

      Naw, I'm thinking that's not such a great idea either.

      Though I am happy I was able to take you down "memory lane".

      Heh.

      Delete
  3. Your spam comment brought to mind an instruction booklet that came with a whipped cream dispenser we bought for the restaurant. It came from an Eastern European country, the booklet contained English words, just not the right ones or correct tense or usage....."decorative tube two pieces plastic set FLOWER serves the right and more effective cream exhausting"..?? " Non respecting this warning notice may occur the bottle deformation"... as we watch our country swirl around & around closer the bottom of the bowl, as we listen to our Prez blame everything but his own rampant spending for the Sequester, we need a little levity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear ya on the swirl. Right now I'm trying to not pay attention to the political stuff going on. But I fear I'm just whistling past the graveyard.

      When's the rest of the country going to wake up and realize the current occupant of the White House is either a complete and total incompetent or the biggest traitor to America since Benedict Arnold? I no longer think it's rank incompetence on the Obummer's part. Most definitely bears the stench of treason.

      Delete
    2. He's not incompetent if his end goal was and is the destruction of the US. The man is downright evil.

      Delete
    3. Spam comments also remind me of the owner's manuals that came with Japanese motorcycles back in the '60s. There's some SERIOUS comedy gold lurking therein; I wish to Hell I would have saved a couple o' those.

      Delete
    4. I remember putting together a bicycle for my daughter way back. Bike was obviously "Made in China" for the instructions were so much gobbledygook. Did manage to get it together, finally. But yeah those manuals had some comic gold in them.

      Of course, just walking down the street in Korea where they catered to GIs always provided some laughs as to the locals use of English.

      Delete
  4. Wow, good numbers. You're kicking my butt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No way! Your blog is awesomeness. The photos alone are worth so much. And Kerry, your flying stories are sans pareil!

      I'll have to get my readers to go to your place, and bring their friends.

      Delete
  5. This post was pretty informative, actually, and I'm still humbled by the fact I'm on yer sidebar.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Buck. Uncle Skip's comment about "lectures at NTC" made me both cringe and chuckle.

      The fact that you're humbled makes you even more deserving of the title "Sensei".

      Just sayin'...

      Delete

Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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