Baxley, OneMann, Key2life, Angela, lilyslore, RichK, Marsha, pioneer and all other frequent online users...

Lamar Thames General Manager 904.366.6370
I concur wholeheartedly with read44's comments.
I have been amazed and stunned at the level of literate and highly informative blogs that can be found on this site. But try as I might, there are times when I just become bogged down in those longs streams that seem to go on forever.
One of my objectives with the web site is to reverse publish them in the My Clay Sun newspaper so that subscribers who may not indulge in the internet can have access to some of the wonderful blogs that are available. It is difficult to use many of the blogs because of the long strand of thought. One person might make a good point but then refer to something that a person four or five blogs back might have said.
At any rate, I applaud read44 for the blog. If there is a way to keep focused and keep some of the comments shorter, more of them could make it into print.
Thanks.

This is what has been making me crazy!  I cannot keep up with all the tentacles on the Clay Octopus.  I think at least two of my responses have had the word "Focus" in it. 

It's refreshing to know that I am not so dense that it is a singular feeling.

Thank you!

Marsha et al,

I don't think it is being dense.  It is sometimes difficult to keep track of some conversations for the reasons listed above.  I think it will be a continuing challenge.  What if someone gets sick, goes on vacation or for some other legitimate reason misses a segment of time for a particular subject or is not able to blog?  Yes, it might be a challenge, but it's just one of those things in life we may have to slog through. 

Personally, I think it's a small price to pay for what one can learn from these blogs.  Mr. Thames was absolutely right.  The subject matter and level of intelligence, not to mention community concern, shown in these blogs is almost like going back to school.  I certainly have learned a great deal from you people. 

So it's something we might have to put up with, but I look on the positive side.  Keeping up with multiple conversations on multiple subjects helps to keep my old grey cells busy & alert.  Just another tip from uncle Rich.  Keep up the great work.

RichK 

Bloggers,

I think with reminders every once in awhile, we'll do better. But I notice these threads replicate what happens in real life. Many times I start a conversation with someone only to watch it morph into something different. It's a very fluid process.

I agree with Uncle Rich that it might be difficult to stick to the rule but if we're cognizant that other people - who aren't actively blogging - are looking in, maybe we'll more often remember to stick to the subject at hand.

Key2life = Focus

I concur! The recent blog threads seem to go on forever with no end to its means. I don’t mind reading about county government, or any other form of it. I am one of the charter members of this blog site, along with, R.K., Baxley, Lillyslore, Marsha, Ghostwriter, Freespeech, yes and even smuncey. I have really enjoyed bantering back and forth, along with some of the most thought provoking dialog that I have been able to have in quite some time. I truly do miss it. With my time constraints it is virtually impossible for me to keep up with the blog’s. In order for me to do so; I would have to go back reread the blog before I would feel comfortable trying to make any kind of intelligent response on the topic.

Even If I have not gotten involved with a blog, I have always found the time to at least read them. But lately I find myself loosing interest in reading them; and only because as I said, it is a bunch of topics placed in a rambling manner. Marsha has tried to bring this too the attention of you guys several times, and no one has picked up on it. I applaud Read44, and Lamar for reinforcing what Marsha has been bringing to your attention with no avail.  I hope that will change. Please stay on topic, and if you have another topic write it in a different Blog. I would love to jump back in and give my three cents worth. There is nothing wrong with bloging about county government, it has been very informative. Let’s not forget that variety is the spice of life. It would be nice to read and blog about other topics also. I would venture to guess that the reasons stated are why we have lost so many of the other blogers to this site.  

It takes an unsatisfied person to make things satisfactory! Winn1955    

Winn, how appropriate: "It takes an unsatisfied person to make things satisfactory."  I think your suggestion of starting a new blog is best.  It is frustrating & confusing trying to follow the rambling, but it is sort of like mining for gold - you have to dig through a lot of dirt to find the really good stuff.  I know I'm guilty of blending topics and back-referencing.  I do try to seperate local and national issues.

You have to admit, this whole blog experience is intriguing.  Good solid information about a variety of topics.  I look forward to seeing what was posted, and think about what we've been writing during the day.

I often wonder if a public event were planned so we could all meet face to face, if anyone would show up.  We could all walk around with bags over our heads.

PS - After more thought, and starting to review today's posts, it occured to me that if we title our "Comments" to match the Blog we are commenting on, it would possibly help.  Just a thought.

There are a lot of good ideas that are presented in the blog’s, but many of them get lost in the shuffle of inspiration.  It is only rambling when they are all jammed together. It would be so much easier to keep track of  all the good Ideas if they were presented in a new blog, Instead of a continues thread. Yes you do have to dig through a lot of dirt to get too the gold. But for the sake of time I prefer to buy my precious metal. Back referencing is not that hard to keep up with, as long as one goes back too the reference to copy and paste it too the topic being presented to make their point. Put the back reference in Italics too distinguish that it is a reference.

 I also look forward to the postings. I wake in the am; make my coffee, boot the computer, and go too M.C.S. to see if I have missed anything. I save the news paper until I talk to john. The variety of topics has seemed to dwindle to the county issues,  don’t get me wrong I think it is important topic, I just wish there was a little more variety like there used to be. I too have wondered if it would be wise to show our faces too one another. Baxley you cracked me up about the bag Idea. For some reason I had another vision about putting a bag over ones head. I haven’t thought about the bag thing since high school. Baxley what happened to the cool pic that you used to post with your blog’s   

Once again you get the "Me too" chorus from this side of the net. Some of the threads do run on and on but I really do try to be patient because I know it is more a sign that people are truly involved and caring about whatever that issue may be and I like to think everyone is contributing in a positive manner if at times I am throwing my opinion in heavily laced with humor. My only regret when I do that is when the joke goes unnoticed. Ah well. As for meeting with bags over our heads, If it was good enough for The Unknown Comic, who are we to carp? :>)

But I prefer the allure of the unknown. Giving up one's anonymity invites familiarity and we all know what that breeds.  But, keep digging, there Winn, my lode o' pyrite may not be gold, but it will be fun. (I hope.)

Lily's Lore "I don't ever want to be rescued And I don't ever want to be saved I got a feelin' that I'm gonna be alive forever Dancin' on the edge of a grave..." Jim Steinman

Winn,

I'm trying to decide if I should start a new blog or not. Just kidding.  It is too easy to read and then write a brief (sometimes) comment instead of starting a whole new blog.  Uncle Rich is right, I'm afraid these long, winding roads are part of the deal.  I've never participated in another blog so I don't know if this is par for the course.  I know some blog sites are topic-specific, so that would cut down on the jumping all over the place.

Thanks for noticing the avatar (a new word to me too) was gone.  I watched the movie "V is for Vendetta" just a few days before joining the site and on the registration page they asked for a photo or avatar.  I hopped on the web and searched free avatars and wha-la, there it was.  The movie was good in a weird sort of way, and the main character, V, wore that mask (a Guy Fawkes mask - an interesting story in itself).  I thought it was perfect.  But as time has gone by, few others have bothered with an avatar, and I began to feel like a 15-year old with a super-hero type avatar.  (Sorry you asked yet?) So I deleted it.  I'm torn between coming out and staying behind the big curtain, but that will definitely need it's own blog.

RichK and Key2life,

I have identified part of the source of my swimming head.  Don’t get me wrong, you are either terrific leaders or wonderful at slight of hand.  I say that because you so easily direct the regular MCS online users to your new Blogs.  Congratulations.   We are now on the world’s problems.   Bless your little hearts.  I think we have developed the old age version of an attention deficit disorder. 

Every survival kit should include a sense of humor. 

Every time I close the door on reality it comes in through the windows 

Every private citizen has a public responsibility

Read44,

I doubt if I could be considered a terrific leader, or a leader in any sense.  Be that as it may, let me inform you on another one of my many philosophies.  To wit: "Life is much to important to be taken too seriously."

Just another philisophical tip from uncle Rich.  Badda Boom, Badda Bing Baybe.

RichK