Alan Gutierrez

Reading the Copyblogger, Brian Clark, who makes Seth’s point, in Why Emotion Matters, as well as Seth does in It’s How You Tell It, regarding the Chris Bliss three ball juggling routine, and the five ball parody created by Jason Garfield.

The point is that Chris still puts on a better show. Why? Because, Jason makes juggling look boring.

Bloggers, what a useless lot. We are a community of critics. All we ever make are observations. Seinfelds one and all.

This is what happens when people set out to be clever in their observations, they state the obvious, but with an inflection that says, “Do I get a cookie now?”

Obviously, the purpose of Jason’s performance was to make Chris’ exertions look especially comic in light of Jason’s display of skill and ease. It was brilliant showmanship.

Yes, it does tell a story. Not with the maudlin sentiments of corporate communication, but with panache.

Moreover, the video he released on the heels of Chris’ viral distrubtion, meant that his video is now everywhere where Chris’ video is found. I tip my hat to such opportunism.

By far, my favorite overinflated bout of observational bather, the one that so clearly displays the lofty contempt the observer has for the specimens du jour is Sue Pelletier in Technical Brilliance is Not Enough.

As I watched Jason juggle, it was obvious that he is fantastic at what he does. But I wouldn’t hire him for a corporate event. He’s just not engaging. He looks alternatively show-offy, bored, and angry. Bliss seems totally engaged in what he’s doing, excited about it, even a little worried. He pulls us into his experience through his showmanship and makes it ours. Jason seems to be doing it all for Jason.

At breakfast, in the morning, after the day that I offer my opinons on the talents of complete strangers in terms of which complete stranger I would hire for a corporate event, feel free to put however much arsenic in my scambled eggs as you see fit.

The two distinct flavors of blogging. The previous aside, The Mexican Fisherman, is an example of kitsch. The next one is one from before my better blogging days, and old post that is an example of snark. I search for a voice that is other.

From here on out, I’m go avoid telling you all that I’m unimpressed. I’ll tell you about the things that impress me. There’s no need to ape the opinionoids on the tee-vee. This monkey see. This money will not do.

Thank you for reading my blog Dave, Ric, Ryan, Paul, and Jenny. Thank you to those who’ve subscribed. I’m responding to your feedback. Please help me in my campaign to become a better blogger. For starters, I’m giving up coffee.

Recently esetablished blog for Southwest Airlines. I trust that Southwest will get it right.

Over the next few days, you are going to watch me purge my drafts. Coffee addled commentaries about blogging bruhahas of months past.

My current blogging quandry is that I have no time to read other people’s blogs. I can’t create the outbound hyperlinks necessary to draw attention to by blog.

Most of my socialization takes place on the street or on the phone. No one in my New Orleans life likes to spend time in front of the computer. I don’t blame them.

I much prefer to converse with people in the coffee shops or on the street. It is not good for blogging, however. It means I’m all talked out when I’m at my computer. I do not feel like communicating, especially in this message in a botttle format.

Change of pace? First, create a Google Reader account that contains only the weblogs of recent commentators, so I don’t lose touch with people whe are making an effort. Second, do not write drafts. Write asides until you’ve gathered enough of an idea to create proper entry.

Why put a person in your blogroll, when there’s nary a chance they’d put you in theirs?

It’s smirkworthy to stumble across a blog with a blogroll that is basically a copy of the Technorati 100. There is the A-List. Someone has painstakingly recreated the A-List. Either a list of blogs of technical luminaries, or else a list of blogs from one side of the red/blue divide.

Must be a newbie.

There’s no need to post your blogroll if that’s all there is too it.

What good is a A-Lister reading list? An A-Lister heavy reading list has got to be wicked dull. The echo must be deafening.

I’m a fan of the Indie Virus. It is an effort to promote the common blogger. The everyblogger. Is is one of many efforts.

Here’s a suggestion.

Cull your blogroll. Remove any blog that is a brand.

Keep only the blogs that have a body behind them. People who you know. People you might well consider friends.

Keep it small. Take it seriously. Let it reflect upon you.