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I decided to get into blogging for one reason: the untimely departure from this veil of tears of CAPT Carroll "Lex" LeFon, USN (Ret), known in the blogosphere as Neptunus Lex. He was a husband, a father, a naval aviator, an outstanding writer and a man I called friend. Though I never met him in person, I mourn his loss as much as if I'd known him all my life. Therefore, I created this here blog for Lex and for all of us who call ourselves Lexians. So tread carefully here, this is meant to be a place of dignity and respect. I will not tolerate abusive comments or personal attacks. Though things may get heated at times, I expect a certain amount of civility and decorum. So please, play nice. But definitely, let's have some fun with this. We'll see how it goes. For now, we're kind of "under construction" so bear with me as I decorate, elaborate and experiment wildly. As Lex would say, "Talk among yourselves" while I run down to the hardware store to get some paint and stuff to fix this place up.Over the years The Chant has become more than it was in the beginning. Tuna and Juvat have come on board and done yeoman's service. (Okay sailors, it's an old expression, and it's a different sort of yeoman.) So far LUSH hasn't been able to chip in, it's amazing how much work it is to raise two kids. And a pilot.
Here's to Lex - For Strength!
But I digress.
I've noticed that it's easy to get a lot of hits on posts with a bit of controversy. Giving Up the Gun has 384 hits and counting, the average post gets maybe 200. Yesterday's only had 76 late Tuesday. I still liked it, a lot. Perhaps Tuesday was a slow news day or something. This blogging thing has its fits and starts some days.
Now on that post that had well over 300 hits, I actually had to turn commenting off. The comments were getting a bit contentious. Remember that bit from my first post, this is meant to be a place of dignity and respect, well some folks just have to get upset and toss insults around and quote, quite frankly, bogus statistics. While that doesn't normally bug me, the other day it did.
That was the first time I ever said, "fire truck this" and turned commenting off for a particular post. I have actually deleted two non-spam comments in the time since I started this place up. One was insulting, came from some nitwit who wants to re-fight the Civil War, nope, not here, not ever. Insult one of my heroes and I will consign you and your comment to the outer darkness.
Using a racial slur to illustrate a point gets your comment deleted. Using it in another context will get you banned. Not that that has ever happened.
There was an interesting blog mentioned (in a comment somewhere) the other day, so I checked it out. Amusing in a ranting kind of way, so I added it to the blog roll. The very next day one of this guy's post titles had a racial slur, used to attack a person of a different complexion than mine. Yeah, that blog came off the blog roll in record time.
I will not tolerate racism ever. Condemning an entire group of people for the actions of a few is just wrong, short sighted too. While race relations have soured over the past eight years, things will get better. If they don't, well, we don't really deserve this country do we?
My goal here is to entertain, educate, and amuse. Sometimes I need to rant, but not all of the time.
Life's too damned short for that.
Vía con Dios, mi amigos. Mañana es otro día.
(YouTube used to have a very nice version of Ian Anderson singing that song accompanied only by his own guitar. Sadly the people who own that won't allow it to be shown in the United States. Sigh...)
This... Keeps me coming back. BZ Sarge.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's great having you here.
DeleteI like to show up now and then and throw my woman insight around. Thanks for being gentlemen, as Buck would have said.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have the feminine take on things. I try to stay polite, probably Buck's influence. (And oh do I miss him.)
DeleteLove it everyday Brother. (I used to share so my (few) friends may read and you a few extrg hits but the 'share' is no longer there.)
ReplyDeleteHhmm, the share buttons are still there from what I can see. Perhaps a browser issue?
DeleteThere are buttons for: email, Blogger, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. Plus the little Google +1 button. I swear those weren't there this morning, then while I was hunting for something they came back. Or perhaps I was just having a "senior moment." Which happens from time to time.
No 'share' for me. I've also seen it disappear from Brother Bills's Lex posts. I want to give you and Lex the widest possible audience.
DeleteAs a last resort, copy the URL for the post and paste it into Facebook. That's how I do it from my computer. I've never really used the buttons which you can't see. I have a very nice share button on my Android.
DeleteWhat browser are you using?
I, too, like to visit for the history, the occasional Navy love (thanks!) and the tone. Thank you for sticking to your guns, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteThough we live in trying times, I try to maintain a balance.
DeleteRaising a pilot! That's hilarious. There are obviously it ton of people out there who are passionate but so ineloquent that they can't speak like an adult, finding a blog to spout their backward views.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteI mean a blog to comment on.
DeleteHahaha!
DeleteI have a post prepared, to be released one day soon, that discusses much of this and in particular commentors who have a bone to pick, and pick it at every chance. The end of that post uses a phrase that was my Mom's mantra. It is the same as yours (the one in English)...coincidence, not plagiarism.
ReplyDeleteHow do you comment control on individual posts?
I don't know Joe, the phrase "one day soon" sounds ominous. :)
DeleteTo control commenting on individual posts, open the post in edit mode. On the right you should see "Post settings," underneath that open up "Options" (looks like a little gear). Underneath that you should see settings for the post you're editing. Those settings only apply to that post. Make your changes, save it and close it.
Let me know if that works for you.
Got it thanks, I was looking for comment approval not just on or off, but still good to know.
DeleteTurn on moderation for all posts.
DeleteI apologize for getting a little, hrm, fired up and mouthy some times with my posts. Maybe I do really need to get my own blog.
ReplyDeleteBut it is the wide spectrum of learned opinions that draws me to your site, like a moth to a flame. Not having to run some comment through the grammatical filter 20 times to decode the meaning due to all the miss-spellings, wrong context usage of words and bad punctuation, makes the comments here much easier to read. Hurts my head less.
And, it's Calvin Ball rules, Blogger style. He who has the blog sets the rules. Some blogs I have seen still think 9-11 was an inside job, and those blogs are going into ultra-conspiracy mode over the recent shooting, rather than consider the option that the dumbass just 'went off.' Heck, I've seen more sense made by the weird-hair idiots on the History Channel's 'Ancient Aliens' shows than on some (okay, quite a few) blogs. (I do not willingly watch those shows on the (un)HC. Mrs. Andrew does to 'engage' in conversation over 'interesting' topics. Admittedly, the first 30 minutes of every show, where they are presenting the facts, is interesting. It is when the weirdos open their fat traps and start making noise come out that my mind tries to climb out my ears and run away. So far, the epic struggle over which ear to escape from has been the only thing keeping my grey matter from making the escape.)(And I have finally gotten her yelling at really stupid comments. There is hope for her yet.)
Thanks for having us here.
"...Calvin Ball rules..." A kindred soul. How many of the Calvin and Hobbs books do you have?
DeletePaul L. Quandt
Andrew - you weren't the problem. I was considering naming you "Defender of the Faith," just seemed a touch dramatic.
DeleteCalvin Ball, I like it. And yes, while I grant the commentariat a bit of leeway, there is a limit. You're not even close. I enjoy your comments. A lot.
Calvin and Hobbes. Love those two.
Delete"Defender pf the Faith?" Oooohhh, how... Teutonic. I prefer the Hospitalers or Lazarenes, myself.
DeleteOne of the reasons I prefer to comment on blogs vs actual face-to-face talking is I can mostly self-edit what I am saying, as I tend to slip into 'frothing mouth' commenting mode. Good thing my computer, so far, is somewhat environmentally safe-ish.
PLQ. I read all the Calvin and Hobbes and especially savored the 'snowman' series. I just never owned a book. That was one of the few reasons for opening a newspaper. When that went away I pretty much stopped looking at scandal rags and mullet wrappers. And then I found, much later, the internet...
Hahaha!
DeleteIn person I need a ten second delay. What I say sometimes bears no relationship to what I was thinking. Awkward at best.
The snowman series, man, that brings back memories. I actually have a book which has all of those. Always good for a laugh.
If only our Pres had that 10 second delay.
DeleteYeah, there are times.
DeleteI have seen speculation that it's all a clever way to misdirect and confuse people, much like a magician does so you don't notice that actual trick.
No, I'm not buying that completely. But I do have this bridge in Brooklyn if you're interested. ;)
It has been my experience that really smart people, I mean 'wicked smaat,' speak in a pattern much like President Trump. All over the board while still staying on track.
DeleteAs to his 'TwitterKrieg' (saw that somewhere, canna remember from where,) well, he seems to upset a lot of people, and then later we tend to find out, well, he was right.
He has 'Insufferable Asshole' disease. He is a bit of an asshole, but the stuff he's being an asshole about is stuff he is right about, and he's insufferable about being more right than all of the people who think he's dumb or less than them. I find it refreshing in today's politics.
Versus the 'Same old, same old Assholitis,' which most of the rest of the politicians show (such as Hillary, et all.)
Mr Trump certainly was a far better than what else was on offer.
Delete(The morning after the election I was singing a line from that song in The Wizard of Oz, "ding dong the witch is dead!"
Nice opening shot.
ReplyDeleteI see my namesake's tower in the distance.
You won't get me to take the bait and reply about trolls, MSM, and spammers.
Life is much too short.
Spoken as one who's been there, done that. (BTDT)
DeleteNice tower you've got there. I knewd the pic was from the Emerald Isle, didn't know it was on your turf. So to speak.
Skip's Tower? The tower from U.N.C.L.E? Towering Skip?
ReplyDeleteKidding, of course.
8)
DeleteJuvat - nice riff.
DeleteSkip - I like the googly-eyed smile.
DeleteThanks for the post. One thing: "I will not tolerate abusive comments or personal attacks." Lex did. There was one commenter there who would write with an extremely different viewpoint. He and I had a number of exchanges; some so heated that I once called him a communist. Lex allowed it. However, when he and I met at Lex's memorial service gathering at the O Club, he said that he did that to 'stir the pot'. He also said that he was surprised that Lex let him write some of the things which he wrote. He also turned out the be a pleasant fellow. I'm sorry that I don't remember his ' handle '.
ReplyDeleteTell LUSH that we ( or at least I ) would like to see any little thing that she might write. Even if it's just in the comments. Thoughts on the tribulations of raising a " Nasal Radiator " ought to be quite amusing. Child rearing also can lead to bon mots.
Well, enough of running off at the fingers, thanks again for the post.
Paul L. Quandt
You have to be talking about Fliterman. I don't recall his comments descending to a personal level or being abusive. Lex had no patience for trolls, that's for sure. But yeah, "Flit" could be annoying as Hell. Super nice chap in real life.
DeleteI shall pass that along to LUSH. She does have a lot on her plate right now. When she's home for Thanksgiving I plan to talk her through her first post. She used to read Lex but she's a relative neophyte compared to us grognards.
It wasn't his comments being personal, but mine. Thanks for giving me his " handle ". Any idea of what's become of him?
DeleteWere you at Lex's memorial?
Paul
Flit lives in Sandy Eggo last I knew. He's made a couple of the gatherings at Shakespeare's. Still alive and well.
DeleteDid you know he flew Phantoms in Vietnam? A good man.
I didn't make Lex's memorial, though I've been there a few times since. I'll bet you're in the pictures I've seen. I need to find those. I have FbL's post on that day somewhere...
She (FbL ) is also someone with whom I used to exchange comments. I miss her too. Any number of people who I no longer virtually see because I will not do facebook.
DeletePLQ
I totally understand Paul. You're one of the Old Guard, like Virgil and Buck, who just can't stomach Facebook.
DeleteI have every confidence that one day, hopefully not too soon, we'll all be able to sit down together and chat with Lex.
I am also confident that there is Guinness and Jameson's in Heaven. For the Strength and Courage that be in them!
:)
"I will not do facebook".
Delete"You're one of the Old Guard, like Virgil and Buck, who just can't stomach Facebook."
Well, then Paul, we're in good company. Neither will I. (Although I did several years ago.)
Yes, that's right. (I forgot.)
DeleteI do respect the attitude. With me, it's a way to stay in touch with the kids and grandkids.
Paul, I will let her know she is missed.
DeleteShe's a good person. I have met her and her husband at Shakespeare's.
Delete"...so I added it to the blog roll" Happened to me not too long ago. A guy commented on the blog, said he was adding my blog to his roll. I checked out his, and he seemed squared away, so I added his blog to the blog roll. The very next time I visited his site, he was off on some wacky conspiratorial nonsense. I didn't want to offend him, but I certainly didn't want to link to that sort of stuff, so he had to go.
ReplyDeleteYeah, isn't that fun? I guess it happens to us all.
DeleteI like your blog because it causes me to think, as do some of the comments. I blog because I can, and I like to run my mouth.
ReplyDeleteYou make some good points over at your place WSF. It also keeps me in touch with Colorado where I was stationed twice and also went to college. Shame what the progs are doing to the place.
Delete