Where have all the blogposts gone? First time we've gone over a week without blogging since launching our little flagship into the blogosphere 5 3/4 years ago on December 12, 2003, with "The tidings that dare not speak their name." We've never veered far off the pro-freedom-of-speech course set for that first outing, but why now the silence? Has the cat got our tongue? Tiny, above and below atop the dining room table the other day in the countdown to supper, isn't talking.
We've been twittering up a storm of late (check out the column at right just below "Pope Teddy Mug" for a running stream of our latest tweets). As suggested in one of the questions in Technorati's "State of the Blogosphere Survey," which we took this morning, twittering itself — often referred to as microblogging — may be a culprit. Both our own and others' tweets can be a catalyst for expansion of whatever's festering in the febrile blogging brain, but just as easily, Twitter's requirement that the writer condense expression of her ideas into 140 or fewer characters can be a refiner's fire that leaves ideas clarified with no need of further exposition. One example from a series of tweets plucking out highlights of Sarah Palin's historic keynote yesterday before a room full of world-class investors at a conference sponsored by investment firm CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, her first public-speaking engagement outside North America:
"There is no justice in taking from one person and giving to another," she said. "History shows it simply does not work."
I loved Sarah Palin from the first day: "We're not interested in government fixes, we're interested in freedom."
"We got into this mess because of government interference in the first place," says Sarah Palin in Hong Kong speech.
A gratifying contrast to President Obama's usual "now-is-the-time" — first time? — speech before the UN this morning, also billed as historic. We agreed with twitterer Zener39's assessment:
Bolton: Obama's speech "unpresidential."
As we said in a retweet, "The man with the mustache that repels bullets has Obama's number."
Update: More delicious and nutritious Bolton fare: “a post-American speech by our first post-American president. It was a speech high on the personality of Barack Obama and high on multilateralism, but very short in advocating American interests … It was a very naïve, Wilsonian speech, and very revealing of Obama’s foreign policy,” said Bolton.
Update II: "Good one, doll, but you leave us non-twitterers lonely," writes our imail correspondent:
We: I will try to get back into things. So many worries the last period of time. A breather today. Just got word from vet that Tiny's bloodwork is normal. With her being on steroids, one has to keep watch. I've gotten the dose down as low as possible. [Goomp's pussycat] Purrky is fine. Cold almost gone. Freezer now working again with new timer.The little things add up.
She: Yes, constant low-level anxiety is a real energy-drainer.
Sigh.
Update III: "I am out of touch since the advent of the tweet," imails Goomp poignantly. "I'm hoping to get things back on an even keel," we imail back.
Update IV: Unholy alliances: The Anchoress is in the same boat. "She cannot come out to play until she has finished her work":
Apparently, she spent an unholy amount of time last night, playing on something called Twitter, which sounds insipid, flightly, unhealthy, sinful and vulgar. She did this, furthermore, after being expressly forbidden to enjoy herself until her assignments were completed. Because she is a slothful, inattentive, disobedient and lazy flittertigibbet of a girl, she will not be permitted to play here with you on this devil’s machine until she has done her work, or I will beat her until you hear her high c’s from Shanghai to the Aran Islands!
And you get to work, too, young masters and mistresses, or I will find you! Don’t make me use this ruler!
Lord help us.
Update: All things bright and beautiful now boarding Modulator's Friday Ark #262.
Hee! I love "The man with the mustache that repels bullets".
Can he be president next time? Please?
Posted by: Stoutcat | September 23, 2009 at 04:00 PM
If wishes were mustaches . . . :-)
Posted by: Sissy Willis | September 23, 2009 at 04:12 PM
"Wish in one hand and pish in the other; see which one fills up first." - Poppa d'SWMBO
Twitter, Gawd love it, is blogging for people with ADHD. But the Twitter 140 word limit, while forcing posters to carve away unessential verbiage, also forces the elimination of so much evocative language. It is like an Instamatic compared to a 4 x 5 Crown Graphic.
Brevity may be the soul of wit... but sometimes I like my wit with a little meat on its bones. To use a feminine metaphor, give me Sophia Loren over Calista Flockhart any old day.
Posted by: Elisson | September 23, 2009 at 04:40 PM
I'm nobody! Who are you?
Posted by: Sissy Willis | September 23, 2009 at 04:47 PM
Like Wilson liberals tend to be ignorant about how things are and what made America great.
Posted by: goomp | September 23, 2009 at 05:04 PM
Perhaps Tiny isn't talking because she's contemplating a Palin/Bolton ticket in '12.
Posted by: Connecticut Yankee | September 23, 2009 at 06:07 PM
She DOES seem to have a smile playing about her lips . . .
Posted by: Sissy Willis | September 23, 2009 at 06:21 PM
I haven't quite glommed onto twittering yet, and I am not sure that I will. I agree with Elisson - there is something intellectually delicious about starting out in one place, and coming out of a post with an entirely new perspective, something less likely to happen in 140 characters.
Certainly there is a discipline of thought required to express oneself in only 140 characters. But to journey though the wonders of the English language, with real grammar? Ah, that is a true art. Combining the thought discipline (but not necessarily the 140 character limitation!) with the art? Priceless. And what I like about your blog.
Glad to hear all is starting to return to a more even keel. Who was it that said life wasn't going to be easy? I think that was you!
Posted by: C Ward | September 23, 2009 at 06:26 PM
I miss the blog posts and the pictures....Glad you are all right, was about to miaow "Where are you,Sissy?" Not a Twitterer myself (tho the discipline of pruning verbiage would be good for me!) One mercy for my readers: finally found a new Blogger tool that allows one to insert a break in long posts w/ a Read More link.
Posted by: retriever | September 23, 2009 at 06:51 PM
I wish I could say I was busy twittering, but the fact of the matter is, while I manage to get blog posts out (sorta), I've been so darn busy working I haven't had time for much of anything *sigh*
That's what I get for taking a 4 day vacation (how dare I!). I have to say that 4 days without the constant bombardment of the computer monster was pretty nice. :-)
I'm glad Tiny is doing better. Sending some soothing pets her way.
Posted by: Teresa | September 24, 2009 at 09:37 PM
I'm nobody... but I like to tell my tale
To an admiring blog.
Posted by: Emily Ridiculous | September 25, 2009 at 11:29 AM
I don't twitter because the first 4 letters are twit and I refuse to self-identify in such a manner! Besides on twitter how would we have the pics of the supremely beautiful and lovable Miss Tiny.
Have a great weekend y'all!
Posted by: Gayle Miller | September 25, 2009 at 03:05 PM
Put down the Twitter machine. Your fans and admirers miss you!
Posted by: Gayle Miller | September 29, 2009 at 05:01 PM