Sadly when Write Edit Publish came to its end … understandable in many ways – the administrators have done a wonderful job over the years and I was only around for about half the time – Denise, Renee, Nila, Laura, Olga, Jemi suggested that we write something at the end of each month … as WEP: Get Togethers … which I will do next week. So to continue my thoughts on the start of blogging … posted 1st February.
In the 1500s a Frenchman popularised the essay as a literary genre – otherwise known today as blogging in a short form …
Get Together team
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| Jorn Barger |
But a question arose from Karen – where did the term 'blog' come from? I'd always heard it came from the web and a ship's logbook (hence blog) … which made 'common sense' to me …
So see the article on Jorn Barger – perhaps the first proper blogger as a blogger – he coined the term weblog ...
I found a book on Michel Montaigne (1533 - 1592) that will make interesting reading, who appears today to have popularised the essay as a literary genre.
I've been absent from the net for most of this week – the angst of not being on line was somewhat sad – I was lost - I thought I was only going to be off for a few minutes – the telecoms company informed me … well a few days later I'm back … so I was very unprepared …
Optical Fibres
I needed a weblog to record 'the doings' but I will not waste your time … I'm now on fibre broadband – which gives me comfort (I think!) ...
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| Hurricane seas |
… but the Beaufort Scale kicked in down here … yesterday it was bucketing and wind buffeting … I will not go down to the seas, it will be very lonely down there … Poem by John Cooper Clarke
Well it's now Friday … and things are still being sorted out – I seem to have done something silly re my desktop … life for the 'brainless' goes on … just had a long phone call from a friend who's not been that well … so now I'm rushed even more!!
The story of how the web
really got started ...
At least I'll have got a post up – even more muddled than usual … I hope to sort things out and attempt to catch up in the coming week … life is flexing me a little!
I bought this book back at the turn of the century ... ie 2000AD ...
Happy weekend from a chilly, blustery, heavy showery day …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Postive Letters Inspirational Stories
28 comments:
A few days without the Internet feels like forever now. And yet, thirty years ago almost no one was online.
Hari OM
If it is any consolation, it is very chilly, blustery and sleety up here too. And my first day back in The Grey. Typical.... sigh... meanwhile, glad to see you online again. I did think things had been a bit quiet your end! YAM xx
I get really angsty when the wifi goes down. As for going out and forgetting my phone - aah! Yet as Alex says, so recently it wouldn’t even have been an issue.
I know the feeling of being behind, Hilary. I've been having frustrating issues this week as well, so you have my sympathies. It's also been blowing a hoolie here and bucketing down. Not what we need at all. I'm not sure how Weblog got shortened to blog, but maybe that was Google's doing when Blogger was created as a site.
Popularising the essay as a literary genre is an interesting concept, partially because length of writing was and is important. A brief note is inadequate and a PhD thesis is exhausting. But an essay of, say, 2,500 words might be perfect.
I wonder if people count the number of words in their blog posts.
Being offline sucks, especially when it's due to technical issues. Glad you got them sorted out.
Your subtle humor and writing truly makes me chuckle. And indeed if the web is down more than an hour, we are adrift at sea. Never to be heard from again!
But thank goodness you did pull it together and this post is grand. I do hope your friend is okay...so tough when folks are poorly. (I'm dealing with my dad age 92, from TX and he's in PA - truly tough). Anyway - folks have had to reach out with thoughts forever, so I'm glad we've been "blogging" for a zillion years. Carry on and keep writing. I shall keep reading, I promise. Sincerely, a loyal fan.
It's hard to do without internet for long. I'm glad you have the good stuff now, Hilary. We got fibre a few years ago and it made a big difference. Interesting write-up on the history of blogging! I do think it's popularity has waned over the last few years, at least for personal blogs. So many people I used to connect with have quit. Not us, though! ☺
Welcome back from the wildernesss, Hilary.
Interesting poem - I read and reread it.
@ Alex – yes I know … I think back to other periods of my life and wonder how on earth we got on … letters and the odd phone call – if we were miles away …
@ Yam – life took over so thanks for your 'wonderings'; I realise it's much colder where you are. Sorry about the weather for your first day back in The Grey – my admiration for your travels …
@ Anabel – it's so strange when things we accept as 'all giving' pack themselves up and disappear. Just the time it takes to get things sorted is so frustrating and remind people of where they're at – let alone me as the customer! I've been a pillar of decency – I think!! But Alex nails the challenge we have today …
@ Val – I keep reading your blog and think I must get myself organised (last week was when it was due to be done .... so another week starts).
Whenever I see the weather here (in the north sea) I think of you on your coast in the Netherlands … 'hoolie's' a good word – today it's beautiful so far – but rain is coming!
In Jorn Barger's article it says that “blog” was coined by Peter Merholz in 1999 – he's an author and still has a blog …
@ Hels – I'm looking forward to reading the book about Montaigne … while thinking about essays – Orwell wrote many during WW2 … which I must also read. Theses are dedicated to one subject area … I'd rather read a book, or an essay.
I look at the number of words in each of my posts and will cut them back – but I don't get too 'agitated' about it …
@ Liz – I wanted to get fibre in … but didn't expect it to be quite so drawn out … still I'm on line now – but have messed up other aspects that I need to sort out – pain!!
@ Joanne – well I can't disappear … I've way too much to 'talk to you and others' about!!! I'm never short of a word or two …
My friend, husband and her family are ok … but they've got tiny grandchildren – so need to protect them and things have been, on occasions, going awry – however I was pleased to hear her and their news … perhaps Spring will allow us to get together soon …
Yes – you do well with your Dad up in PA, while you're down in TX – like my mother in Cornwall and us three around the country it's challenging …
Blogging has been an amazing connector – that I never thought would happen … but I've learnt so much and been supported through many journeys – a positive life it definitely can be. Thank you so much for your 'desire' to read more of my tip-top words!!!
@ Debbie – if I know I'm going to be without it – it's fine … one can plan – but when the plug is not reconnected it's really irritating … I tried to remain calm – I managed I think! They've put fibre into the easy properties … and are now catching up elsewhere … of which my request triggered mine.
Blogging – yes I think it has waned … people seem to be more ethereal – wanting to be noted they've been 'there' rather than write and wait for pertinent comments to what's been posted. As you say – not us though … I'm grateful for everyone who comes by and drops a note for me.
@ Janice – thank you … I wasn't even in the wilderness – just left out to dry! Glad you read the poem … I was pleased to have found it … I must read more of his work.
Cheers to you all – thanks for coming by … makes blogging a delight to have salient comments – have good weekends - Hilary
The Essays of Michel de Montaigne make wonderful reading; I read them very often. He writes about all sorts of subjects in a very open and honest way. His topics include friendship, cannibals, the uncertainty of our judgements and.... farting!
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s tenderly turgid Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
The one thing I don't like about the essays is the large amount of quotations in Latin!
Hi Bazza - how wonderful to know you've read his essays and continue to do so, advising us about the honesty of his authorship. I shall read the Englishness of Sarah Bakewell's book with interest ... and having looked I see she notes about Montaigne's early life - that everyone in the household is banned from talking to him in any living language!
Thus Montaigne mentioned that in due course everyone benefited - they all Latinised themselves in giving instructions or talking in Latin ... so he was older than six before he understood any more French or Periogordian than Arabic. (see p53/5 in Sarah's book). (via the index).
I can't see 'farting' in the index ... but I'll keep my eyes open when I get to read the essays. In August 2016 I wrote an A-Z post on Shakespeare ... which included Farts of Portingale ...
Portingale refers to Portugal, of the Farts there's no description, except that 'Fists' are larger than 'Farts' ... and to note there are sweet farts, savoury ones ... probably rissole type patties ...
Well - that gave me an opportunity to write a long reply to your comment on Michel de Montaigne's essays - thank you so much - enlightened me a great deal. Now to read the book sometime I hope before the summer ...
The book doesn't apparently include latin quotes up.
Cheers and great to see you - Hilary
Internet outages are scary things these days. So much of what we do is tangled up on-line. I hope it remains stable.
You'll find Montaigne's essay are good for dipping into rather than reading straight through. Incidentally the 'farts' comments were a part of an essay on another subject - I'm not sure which.
Muddled maybe (your word for your post) but fascinating as usual. You're on fiber just in time for the switch to satellites! I haven't made that jump, but hope to before I die.
Sorry you had internet issues. So frustrating.
Weblog. I love it!
Cheers,
@ Dan - it was such a nuisance, as I wasn't expecting it ... all should be well now unless there's a general outage ... unlikely I think.
@ Bazza - thanks for the prompt - yes I was thinking that anyway take a chapter at a time probably.
Re 'farts' I think perhaps under food ... or meal times - but when I come across the reference I'll make a note and let you know.
@ Jacqui - muddled head probably too!! Still very happy to read you enjoyed it. Oh dear ... I wonder when satellite will reach the British Isles - we tend to be a little different ... being a small island. I hope we both experience that transfer before we die ... let's hope ...
@ Sandra - yes especially as I'd in negotiations since October - as you say : so frustrating.
I'm looking forward to reading the Montaigne book ... and see those early 'blog- essays' ... namely an early weblog ...
Cheers to the four of you - Hilary
Hope the fiber broadband works out well. Cheers
I'm glad the WEP is staying in touch. It was a very worthwhile endeavor that the group undertook, and I understand how much time everyone contributed to make it a success.
I've stepped back quite a bit from social media and have concentrated on my in-person connections since losing a good friend to cancer. Her death reminded me how important it is to sit down with someone and talk.
Glad you had time to get your post up. Always a pleasure to read!
Wow, that's cool about Jorn. I'd never thought about the early days.
Sorry about the net issues. In the modern world, even business want to do business online.
@ Sandra - at least it's in and up and running: thank goodness!
@ Lee- Yes ... I'm glad WEPpers are staying in touch ... it was fun to write a story from the prompts - while the administrators were brilliant - and helpful ... always cheering us all on.
I've never really done social media - yes I blog and I check in on some FB pages - whoever pops up, but I don't go searching. Like you being with people is more important ... and keeping those connections going ...
Yes - I had to do something for February - now to get my act into gear for March onwards!! Thanks I'm very happy you enjoyed the read ...
@ Holly - thanks ... it was fun to find out about Jorn Barger, while also those early days 500 years ago ...
I'm grateful for the net issues - without the net this blog would never have appeared - but I do enjoy knowing it's safe and up and running.
Cheers to the three of you thanks for visiting - Hilary
I knew about weblog. I started blogging in 2007 but I was never that committed. Went on it on and off like now. Got to know many people and in 2 weeks' time I am meeting a blogger from Austria Quite fun.
When I hear the word essay, I always have to think about the extensive essays we had to write for school.
Good that you are on fibre now. I had expected that everyone in the UK would already be on it.
Hi Marja - I started blogging in 2009 two years after you ... but have kept at it - much to my surprise and thoroughly enjoyed the process. Yes - you're right about 'getting to know people' via the blog ... oh how wonderful that your Austrian blogging friend is coming over to NZ and will meet up with you ...
Oh yes - I know ... I was useless at English at school - both varieties of ... language and literature - I'm catching up now - so 'essay' has challenging connotations ... the advantage about blogging is we can put in as much as we want ... and occasionally (or quite often) people add to the story ... which really helps.
Fibre here - they've done quite a lot in separate properties I think ... but it's difficult where houses have been converted to flats and each might be owned separately ... so now when asked 'they' switch us over ... we need to be changing contracts - which I have just done.
Cheers Hilary
I recently didn't have wifi at home for a week and it was a real struggle. I love living in the moment- but there are so many things I need to do online as part of work and life. Glad you are back on too!
I had no idea where the term blog came from. How interesting!
~Jess
@ Jess - if one knows about it ... it's ok - then one can plan, but this was meant to be unplug, and re-plug in and off I could go ... so frustrating! If I was working or had one of my committee things going on I'd have been lost - thankfully that wasn't the case. So pleased you've got through your time away too ...
Glad you've been enlightened as to where the term blog came from - I guess I've been there since the beginning ... so picked up these snippets - but learning about Jorn Barner was a find ... let alone Montaigne back in the 1500s - live and learn I say!
Great to see you - cheers Hilary
Aha! Interesting article about Jorn Barger who apparently coined the phrase ‘weblog' in 1997 -Well, far be it from me to protest but here’s a tale: Here in Britain, in 1995 I was an honorary member of America Online Writer’s Club. In exchange for publishing essays and letters online and as a thank you for judging essay competitions, I was given free access to America online (this at the time was about a £100 per month)
Well, as a member of various writer’s chatrooms and writing platforms, we kept a log of all chats and indeed, of all contributions, essays and letters. My letters were then known as Letters from Britiain, as I was the only Britain in the group at the time. This log was known as a web log. It was thus just a short step to shortening it to ‘blog’ a few years later. So, I am pretty sure Jorn Barger cannot claim to be the first to coin the phrase. But, hey, we were all in it together! :-)
Hi Deborah - Actually I don't think so either ... but there's definitely no definitive date stamp for the coining of the word 'weblog' - and I'd have thought Tim Berner's Lee et al at the very start of the internet coined it ... but who knows. Jorn Barger was an interesting character to add into the mix on my blog post ... and I'd never heard of him.
How very interesting about your time with American Online Writer's Club ... I must have come on just before the Millennium ... but wasn't part of a group of any sort - til my blogging days started in 2009, after looking around in 2008 - but I'd been emailing for 8 - 10 years by then.
As you say we're all in in together ... and what a great group of friends I've met via blogging - without doing FB ... I visit - but that's it.
Thanks for the comment and being here - always interesting to see who pops up! Cheers Hilary
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