Categories
Weblogging

Congratulations to the Blog Sisters

The Blog Sisters generally, and Elaine and Jeneane, specifically, have been featured in a new New York Times article on weblogging, It’s a Man’s World (Isn’t it). The article focuses on weblogging and the perceptions that men tend to dominate weblogging, especially since most prominant webloggers are men.

From the article:

If that is the case, the Venus-Mars divide has made its way into Blogville. Women want to talk about their personal lives. Men want to talk about anything but. So far the people who have received the most publicity (often courtesy of male journalists) appear to be the latter.

Though this sounds stereotypical, the author, Lisa Guernsey, does go on to say that this view is changing. She provides a new perspective, though the subject is, as we know, not a new one. If there is a lack in it, it’s that there are prominant female ‘warbloggers’ such as Meryl Yourish and others that should have been featured. Additionally, for an article about skewing of weblogging to men, the author tends to fall into this trap herself. And I would have wished for more emphasis on women in technology, politics, literature, and other interests rather than knitting, cooking, and personal journals.

Still, very nice to see the subject being addressed. And nice to see Jeneane, Jenna, and new kitten in the accompanying photo.

Congratulations to Jeneane, Elaine, and Blog Sisters.

Categories
Writing

Close, very close

Down to my last few pennies, literally, and half a book to rewrite before my next advance when fortune smiles on the Very Worried: I just got a gig that should last at least a couple of months.

Now if I can absorb all the new RDF changes into the book fairly quickly and get the advance, for the first time in almost a year I won’t be worried about money.

You’ll have to excuse me if for the next few days I turn into a blithering idiot from the relief.

Categories
Environment Political

Clean sweep cleans forests

The first environmental impact from November’s Clean Sweep is the Bush Administration’s proposal to:

… give managers of the nation’s 155 national forests greater leeway to approve logging and commercial activities with less examination of potential environmental damages.

Regional managers are easily influenced by timber interests, who tend to have as much interest in the good of the environment as the, um, oil people do. In addition, this new proposal removes many of the required environmental impact checks, and decreases visibility of the decisions being made about the public’s forests.

Have you hugged a tree today? Better do it quick, because that thing is toothpicks on the hoof.