I found this article on google news about blogging trends. It seems that a lot more people are paying attention to blogs but one statistic that really intrigues and bothers me is this.

Though blog readership jumped, the percentage of online Americans who write blogs grew only slightly, to 7 percent in November, up from 5 percent early in the year. Blog creators tend to be male, affluent, well-educated and young; 70 percent of them have high-speed connections at home, and 82 percent have been online at least six years.

Why don't more people write blogs? It's not like the technology of a blog is so super complicated. If you can write email or type a note, you can publish a blog.

I mean programming one is slightly difficult but writing one is so easy and there are hundreds of choices of publication software, many of which are free. Take our site for example. Why is does the readership keep increasing but the number of writers slowly plateau? I really want to understand what element is missing that makes the others readers want to write.

I mean we finally have a publication medium that has a minimal hinderances from thought to audience and yet people arn't flocking to it like I expected. It makes me wonder sometimes if the rich and powerful have done such a good job convincing us that our opinions and lives are so insignificant or if people are just shy?

Do you think that most people compare their lives to people on televsion and just assume they arn't as glamorous, or that people think they have nothing important to say. Or has television just put people in the consume mode where entertainment is purely a mono-directional, non-interactive activity. It's free afterall!! What is it?

I think entertainment used to involve more effort. And effort is usually rewarding. Like games for example. games are entertaining but involve a little work. Same with storytelling, journal writing, crafts, and art making. Television seems to be so one directional. Same with listening to music. It is purely about consuming with no real effort. Unless you are a video artist like (e:robin) and (e:soyeon) or a music like the (e:northparkproje)ct dudes.

I would feel like such a loser if I just read the site all the time without contributing. It is kind of like spying on your neighbors through the window and admiring their lives. Which reminds me of a song that (e:twisted) sent me. P.S. I am so excited about her arriving tomorrow.

EDIE BRICKELL - Green

We like to spy on the neighbors.
They look so happy together.
Funny the power of strangers.
Sometimes I wonder if they got it better.
Green. Have you seen green?
Check out the view from the rooftop.
They've got a horse and a big trampoline.
Running and jumping till they drop.
Down on the ground and they're rolling around in... green.
Have you seen green?
Have you seen green grass?
So green... grass.
So green.
I'd like to be like that.
I'd like to be like that.
I'd like to be moving on a lawn... so green.
I want to laugh the way they laugh.
See all my blues get back up in the sky.
If only we had what they had.
We'd never worry and we'd never cry for... green.
Have you seen green?
Have you seen grass?
So green... grass.
So green.
I'd like to be like that.
I'd like to be like that.
I'd like to be moving on a lawn... so green.

So today I was talking to Nonna on the phone when she complained about some neck pain. The neck pain turned into a stroke and I have been at the hospital with my family all night. At first the predictions wern't so great but luckily, by the end they said she will recover. I guess she is really a strong for 89. I hope that everything is good.

The waiting rooms at the hospital are weird. The emergency room is really kind of grungy, the radiologist waiting room is a nice upgrade. But the best is the cardiologist waiting room for cardio and neurology. Leather couches, DVD movies, etc. There are so totally different.

All of our house guests have come and gone. Well, (e:twisted) is left. I am so freakin' excited. The mansion is now ready for her visit.

Here are some pics I never got to post from our night at the american falls with alex, (e:terry) 's sister.

So after being secure about asking if there would be cats in the new apartment, I was assured by the realator that no cats or dogs were allowed in the building period. I said, "great because I am deathly allergic to them to the point of hospitalization. So then we sign the lease and move in. The people in the front of the house moved in on Dec 15th. We moved in on the first and the neighbors are really nice. I actually love the apartment but I then think I saw a cat in the window and this is really going to be a problem unless the living room door and the door upstairs are hermetically sealed. I was curious as we werer all starting to get allergies.

But most importantly what is up with Delores from Holcberg on elwmood. I specifically asked her about the cats and she specifically said there would be none. So either Delores didn't really check or the tenants in front are hiding their cat. I mean I don't want to start out on a bad note when they find out I am so alergic to cats, but someone is at fault here and I want to know who. It isn't like I didn't look into it or rushed into something this time. I was very specific about it and asked directly.

So now what? Luckily, we have radiator hear. I am going to speak with Delores on Monday and see what happend. According to the neighbors in front, Holcberg also told them the backyard grass where we park was mixed with gravel. Well, it isn't either and now it is a mudpit where no one can park. My car got stuck yesterday!

What is the point of using a realator if the information isn't accurate, might as well just go with advertisements in the paper.

Occasionally readers ask me why I don't allow reader comments on user's journals. It has been under discussion for a long time, as most other journal sites allow for commenting. My feelings are that your journal is your special place and doesn't need to be commented upon by anonymous others.

It's not like readers don't have options to contact the author or write a response online. They simply can email them using the form based email system, or go ahead and start a journal and inlink to the entry.

[size=m]Main Point[/size]
Here is an example of what I never want someone to have to experience on their journal. Check out the comments on this site where people have uploaded pictures from the tsunami disaster. You would think that tsunami pics would be a place where people woulld not act that way.

Check this out

Here is the excerpt in case the link goes down

From: Jizsaw (Mon Dec 27 00:53:50 2004)
Hope many Israelis were drowed and killed horribly.


From: riddaren 78 (Mon Dec 27 10:46:42 2004)
And I hope Arafat is being fucked in heaven by israelis

From: Right Brain (Mon Dec 27 12:52:55 2004)
Uh Jizsaw thats "drowned" not "drowed" you illiterate skunk.

From: pacer (Mon Dec 27 15:30:17 2004)
Yeah, piece of shit, fucking goats while you should have been at school?

From: tim (Mon Dec 27 18:41:02 2004)
even at tthis horrific time, there are muppets flaming at each other! fuck war you fuckers! be peaceful, is there any excuse not to be peaceful?! religion? fuck off, which religion promotes hostility and bigotry!?!?!? die fuckers! :P ironic? yer

From: unknown (Mon Dec 27 19:41:57 2004)
It's called compassion. If this hit you, how would you feel?

From: Duap (Tue Dec 28 02:37:30 2004)
To think I once thought of visiting Phuket this week.

From: horny (Tue Dec 28 04:39:54 2004)
by the way guys, did u all miss the nice thai chick in the picture, i wonther if she was one of the hores i fuck last summer i thiland?

From: US Ranger (Tue Dec 28 13:44:18 2004)
jizsaw your momma just swallowed my load. then i cut the bitches head off and fucked her skull!

From: Disgusted (Tue Dec 28 16:13:36 2004)
You children all need to grow up and clean up your filthy language. Would you talk like this in front of your parents? I think not. Pathetic, ignorant, classless, childish, and disgusting.

From: me (Tue Dec 28 18:26:23 2004)
wud u all talk like this when u had such a tsunami on the face?

From: FR-Dabest (Tue Dec 28 19:48:21 2004)
Loads of pricks, you deserve to be among the deads over there.

From: right mind (Wed Dec 29 22:29:12 2004)
anyone who can wish death on another human being is not worthy enough to be called a human but a terrorist and should be locked away


From: clear conscience (Thu Dec 30 00:32:17 2004)
Oh my God! In all this tragedy,some people can still be worse than animals. Ashamed to even have to write this

From: baghdadforayear (Thu Dec 30 05:46:46 2004)
I thought this was for the world to see what mother nature can really do, and to pray for the people that were lost..not to make asshole comments about shit that doesn't matter.

From: yamm�´finnish (Thu Dec 30 19:05:50 2004)
how stupid to talk like that. that is something i cannot understand. Finnish nor Scandinavians would never behave like that. i am so upset because of the first few comments. is this how English-speakers are? i am glad i am a scandinavian one with heart and head.

From: CAROL B (Sat Jan 1 10:22:19 2005)
THESE POSTERS sending nasty comments WANT A REAC
TION - DON'T GIVE THEM THE SATISFACTION . They gloat on it. May they gloat on their on vomit !

From: (Aussie131049) (Sat Jan 1 21:01:52 2005)
No yamm'finnish, not all english speaking people are like these brainless self centered idiots who have nothing nice to say. I really wonder what sort of an upbringing they had and are their paren ts proud of what they have produced. The world would certainly be a much better place without them.

From: (Aussie131049) (Mon Jan 3 00:51:21 2005)
I FEEL THAT ALL THIS HATRED IS ORIGINATING FORM ILLITERATE USA IDIOTS ARABS AND JEWS