Itisi

I did a very silly thing. When I re-did the theme, I forgot to add something very important to the sidebar – the list of ‘Blogs I also like’. A big SORRY to the bloggers I also like You will be relieved to know I have added you all. In fact, I have done away with the categories of ‘regular reads’ and ‘blogs I also like’. Many of the latter were making their way into the former, so it seemed easier to combine the two lists into one big one called ‘Jolly Good Blogs’.

There is still some thing missing from the sidebar, but I can’t figure out what it is. Oh well, I’m sure it will come to me soon.

Do you remember my post last year about an article on the Indie website in which it was claimed that women don’t blog? It seems they haven’t learnt anything from the backlash to that, and yesterday posted this little gem. So now it seems we bloggers are just a bunch of horrible misogynists – well not me obviously, I’m a woman and therefore don’t blog.

I’m not suggesting that there is no misogyny in the blogosphere – unlike Joan Smith, I don’t believe in making blanket statements about entire groups of people who may or may not be alike. However, I will say that such views are found everywhere, both on and offline. Maybe, Joan doesn’t get out much so isn’t aware of this fact.

Kathy Sierra’s experience is dreadful, but it is hardly typical. Yes, there is a sub-section of male bloggers who get their kicks by belittling women, but in my experience they are a minority. I spend a lot of my online time in a techy, male dominated environment, and for every man who has suggested that I should worry my pretty little head about something other than coding, there have been a hundred others who have helped and supported me.

Many of my regular readers are men, all are pleasant and articulate, and extremely unlikely to harass me, or any other woman. Maybe, I just struck lucky, but I don’t think so. In fact, I suspect the clue to the real reason for Joan’s rant can be found towards the end of her article.

“In this pseudo-democratic universe, the novel that has just taken me nearly five
years to finish has no more value than a blog that someone dashed off in 10
minutes. The sheer quantity of words available on the internet has prompted a
false analogy with the enclosures of common land in the 18th century, in which
novelists, poets and historians are cast in the role of wicked landlords.”

Joan isn’t railing against supposedly misogynistic bloggers at all, she is worried about her book sales and, casting around for an excuse for the lack of success of her novel, her eye has alighted on bloggers. Well Joan, I hate to break it to you, but the blogosphere has no bearing on the success or failure of your book, or at least it didn’t. (Now, you are likely to get some stinking reviews.) I have found bloggers to be voracious readers, and, being realistic, nobody is ever going to think reading a blog post is the same as reading a book, anymore than they would read a newspaper or magazine instead of a book. It’s extremely patronising and elitist for you to suggest that anybody would.

You may be surprised to hear that many, many writers, both famous and less so, are amongst the bloggers you so despise. Why? Because they recognise the value in holding a direct conversation with their readers. Maybe you should try it.

Oh, and who has cast novelists, poets and historians in the role of wicked landlords? Any suggestions? Can’t say that is an analogy I have ever come across.

I haven’t been posting here as often as I would like to. Not because of a lack of things to say, it’s more that I have so much to say, I’m finding it tricky confining it all to one tiny post. I’ll work on that and get back to you.

In the meantime, how about this: April 9th – 13th is Reader Appreciation Week. The following is an extract from my post about the event over at my other blog – ignore the bits about the contact form, I don’t have one here.

Various ways to reward readers have been suggested, including prizes and profiles. I decided against the former – it seemed a bit unfair to those who didn’t win – profiles, on the other hand could work really well. So, if you would like me to write a post devoted to you, drop me a line using the contact form and I’ll send you a copy of the questions – don’t worry, there’s nothing personal or embarrassing.

Another thought occurred to me: What about turning the blog over to you, the reader for the week. You spend enough time reading my witterings, so, for a change I thought it might be nice to have some guest bloggers. If that idea grabs you, compose a post and send it to me using the contact form and I’ll post it for you. Don’t forget to include a short byline with your name and any urls you want to share.

I would love to do the same thing here. I really do appreciate you dropping by to read my blog. Yes, I know, that’s what all the bloggers say, but it’s true! I appreciate each and every one of you. Both those you leave comments and those who don’t – I know you are out there, and if you ever want to come out of lurkdom, please do, I promise you a warm welcome.

Anyhow, if you would like to take part, please do, it would be a good way of exposing your blog and your writing to new readers.

If you decide to submit a post, it can be on any subject (maybe you could choose something you wouldn’t usually blog about) as long as it is legal and decent. If you have been reading for a while you will know that my definition of decent is pretty loose, (in other words, write what you want, I’ll let you know if it is too OTT) but I do need to be strict about legal, so don’t send anything about hacking NASA or where to download the latest films. Oh, nearly forgot, contact me at kateDOTblogsATgmailDOTcom.

And that’s it, except to say, I do hope you will take part – go on, it will be fun!

ps: If you want to write about writing, or anything techy, you are welcome to post over here.

An apology from a spammer. It’s true! Look:

If the pic is a bit small, you should be able to see the full sized version by clicking it. I wonder if he/she is playing for the sympathy vote and hoping that by apologising I will think they are an ok person and visit their sites. Or maybe, they are being forced to post spam by this Mike character, who, desperate to pursue a career in the adult film industry, has resorted to forcing innocent passers-by into posting junk on his behalf.

They’re both rubbish, ho ho.

Fortnightly, rubbish collections, grrrr! I have felt this way for sometime, but today I discovered that I’m not alone. Timbo feels the same – and he hasn’t even begun to suffer the hideousness that is having your rubbish loitering about the place for 14 days. For anyone who is wondering the what the heck I am waffling about, I will explain.

Many local councils in the UK are introducing a system of fortnightly rubbish collection. The idea is that it will encourage us all to recycle more. In theory this is a really great idea. I’m a keen recycler, and feel that we should all do our bit for the environment. However, while some councils have put thought into their systems and adopted practices which are both practical and realistic, others have thrown together a plan which is completely bloody useless. I live in one the latter areas.

This is our current bin collection system: We have two (full sized wheely) bins and a box. The box is not particularly big (about the size of one of those boxes which are used to display fruit in supermarkets) and it is supposed to take all our glass (clear) and drinks cans, although not at the same time. (To be honest, the drinks can thing is irrelevant, we rarely buy canned drinks). One of the bins is green, this is for garden waste; grass cuttings, hedge trimmings and so on. The other bin is black and this is for all other rubbish. The box is emptied every week, the bins are emptied once a fortnight.

You may be thinking that sounds like a pretty good system – I can assure it is not! For a start the box is far too small (remember, we are not allowed to fill it above the level of the rim because the lid won’t fit and the bin men won’t empty it unless the lid is on). It may be adequate for one elderly person, for everyone else, it is a complete waste of space. Secondly, having a full sized wheely bin for garden waste is a stupid idea, who accumulates that much in the space of 14 days? I don’t! In addition, I already compost garden waste, so the whole thing is hypothetical, and the bin just stands empty.

The black general rubbish bin was only ever 2/3 full when we had a weekly collection, so, logically, now (even with the absence of clear glass) we have more rubbish than bin space, which means once a fortnight, my FIL comes down, picks up our excess rubbish and takes it to the tip – this is the same tip the bin men take it to. The alternative is leaving bags of horrible, smelly rubbish lying around which would be bad enough now, but even more unpleasant once the hot, summer weather comes along.

All this is meant to help the environment. Precisely how I have no idea.

I have noticed a number of houses which now have permanent black bin bag features in their front gardens (I don’t know how many people are hiding them in the back). Surely, leaving rubbish lying around is a health hazard. The council and government say it isn’t, I’m guessing they have taken little interest or notice of the history of sanitation and organised rubbish collection and the effects of these practices on the improvement of the health of the inhabitants of this country. Furthermore, I’m also guessing that they lack the ability to do basic maths.

We used to have one bin lorry coming around once a week – now there are two. Plus, there has been a large increase in the numbers of people taking their rubbish to the tip by car. It’s out in the middle of nowhere so transport is essential. How is this good for the environment? We have rubbish all over the place and an increase in carbon emissions. Surely, that is a bad thing? No?

I remember reading an article some years ago, which explained that there is a very good reason for having weekly rubbish collections because it breaks the life cycle of flies which go from eggs to fully formed flies within fourteen days. When bins are emptied weekly, all those maggots are transported off to the local tip – not pleasant for the people who work there, but at least it reduces the numbers within residential areas. If bins are left for a fortnight, those maggots have the chance to become flies, which then hang around the areas we live producing even more flies. And flies are not the only problem. What about rats, and the diseases they often carry, or the bugs that can breed in bags of decomposing rubbish? I’ll shut up about this now because it’s making me itch and feel slightly nauseous.

If local councils in the UK are serious about recycling they should follow the lead of other countries in mainland Europe and provide separate bins for specific materials and empty them all at least once a week. But, I suppose that would involve them actually spending some money so it will never happen.

OK rant over, back to my usual serene self.