All Posts Tagged With: "Writing"
A 1964 Christmas Story
It was 1964. Life hadn’t been great. This particular year had been mostly a nightmare. My Mother and Stepfather had separated. Finances were next to non-existent. Me being able to attend school became a burden for my Mother. At only fifteen, I was resigned to possibly, never finishing high school. I was the oldest of, […]
12Dec2016 | Nancy Belle | 1 comment | Continued
Refried Beans In My Chili
OK – right up front, I am an anomaly. Just about every group of people that I run across eventually figures this out. This reality struck me yesterday when I was thinking about supper. Bored and not willing to invest the time in some cuisine of taste and health I rummaged around in my pantry, […]
22Jun2016 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Perceptions and Homemade Bread
Before I get much further, I just want to say this is not, a crying in your beer or milk, sob story of a life in poverty. Now that’s out of the way and here we go. I am the second child of the nine children my mother gave birth to. If my mother was […]
4Oct2015 | Nancy Belle | 1 comment | Continued
Why Bother With Grammar?
I write. But that does not mean that I write correctly. I am a college graduate, but that does not mean that I use proper grammar. I write intuitively – meaning that my sense of grammar drives my structure – and I am sometimes wrong. Any sophisticated endeavor requires both art and science. The late […]
4Dec2013 | Gary Clark | Comments Off on Why Bother With Grammar? | Continued
Writing as a tool of personal development
My son and I began this magazine almost three years past. I have personally written over eleven hundred (1,100) posts. That is more than one a day. Why would anyone do such a goofy thing? I write because I am compelled to write. Every thought that crosses my mind must be written – and examined. […]
22May2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Writing as a tool of personal development | Continued
Bread or Circus Journalism
Bread sustains our lives, while circus entertains. We stand at the precipice of change in journalism – debating the choices of bread or circus. There have not yet been any Pulitzer Prices awarded for blogging – and this writer does not see this happening in the near future. Pulitizer Prizes in journalism are reserved for […]
7Jan2009 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
The Internet: From Organized Reporting to Organic Journalism
On the internet, articles are typically written and distributed by persons rather than organizations, Organizations tend to be intimately involved with issues, where people tend to be intimately involved with other people. Some think that this devalues the articles or the authors online, but one cannot deny that internet material is typically apologetically about the […]
6Dec2008 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
Subliminal Bush
In a previous post here on The Fireside, we mentioned the press conference with the President where he discussed WWIII in the context of Iran. I thought it might be beneficial to see the clip for ourselves: [wp_youtube]94LtRZ3urWY&feature=related[/wp_youtube] “I take the threat of Iran with a nuclear weapon very seriously.” I guess that would account […]
26Sep2008 | bryan | 6 comments | Continued
Bloggers in the White House? What is that about?
Son, I’m not sure Hillary Clinton understands the narrative nature of blogging. But she does understand the value of interactive media – and the need for unedited content. She was asked a question recently – well, here is the video. Dad
28Jan2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Bloggers in the White House? What is that about? | Continued
Hard Copy News Papers –
Son, It was a cold Saturday morning, about 4:00 AM, in November of 1963. I was sitting on a street corner on a bundle of newspapers, reading by the streetlight. President John F. Kennedy has been assassinated the day before. That is my first recollection of the value of the print media. Those were memorable […]
18Jan2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Hard Copy News Papers – | Continued
Bloggers are Parasites
Son, There is a big dog casting a shadow across the world. His name is Internet. Bloggers are fleas on the dog, looking for a warm nest in the forest of hairy information. Some of us are on the head, some on the tail, some under the tail, but we are all parasites. We are […]
11Jan2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Bloggers are Parasites | Continued
Blogging – Journalism with attitude
Son, This morning, Sunday, November 4. 2007, CNN’s Reliable Sources is having a discussion on blogging. You and I have been grappling with the issues of blogging and journalism for months. The professional journalists on CNN all write blogs. It seems the major news outlets are beginning to embrace the world of blogging. What are […]
4Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Blogging – Journalism with attitude | Continued
A Bag of Slime –
Son, A day or two ago I wrote a piece I called “Bloggers – Op-Ed on Steroids.” My notion was that bloggers, including myself, are uninhibited writers – absent the politically correct urine and vinegar. Bloggers come right out and speak their mind with no editorial over site. I continue to believe there is an […]
27Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on A Bag of Slime – | Continued
Blogging – Op-Ed on steroids
Son, This world of blogging is fascinating. Large audiences can be reached with the push of a button. Bloggers rarely report the news – rather we just comment on the news. Sometimes the word ‘comment’ does not quite describe what is really happening. Blogging has become a vent for the anger of a frustrated populace. […]
26Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Blogging – an artform
Son, Art has influenced human endeavor since the first cave man scratched his charred stick on the cave wall. This spark of imagination, ignited by primitive desire, generates the energy of human change and growth. Homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Hebrews wrote the Pentateuch. The Ancient Greeks knew the value of art […]
23Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Rush Limbaugh – the need for acceptance
Son, The human condition of social acceptance has overridden basic moral values. For centuries governments, churches, and the literary/art community have served to help define a set of moral standards, to articulate them, to promote the clarity of civilized man. There is purpose. As social creatures by nature and nurture, we all have a need […]
20Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Rush Limbaugh – the need for acceptance | Continued
Excellent Blogging
Son, So we have been talking, and I wrote a post this morning, about where to take our blog. It occurred to me that we should be aware of fundamentals of excellence in whatever we do. Last summer (2006) I attended the National Rural Institute on Alcohol and Drug Abuse at the University of Wisconsin […]
19Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Excellent Blogging | Continued
The bloggers market, finding a niche’
Son, You and I have had some success with this blog. First and foremost to me is the opportunity to talk with you every day – no father is more blessed. We started this thing so others could join in our father and son chats. It may be difficult for some to believe – but […]
19Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Blogging Ethics – Internet Ethics
Son, Historically, the common denominator of civilized man has been the rule of law. Without law we have anarchy. Without law we have chaos. Without law it is every man for himself. The internet is governed only by the laws or limitations of technology. The internet is a vast and open frontier. People like to […]
18Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
To the solicitors of pornography: What do you want with us?
Dad, So far, we have managed to create a nice blog that people read, without soliciting the help of sex or pornography. We talk about issues, faith, about our children and our family, we even share recipes and kitchen tips. We seem to be able to manage our blog with a reasonable readership without prostituting […]
16Oct2007 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
Collecting on Soviet Debt – adventures in email
Son, Do you like the title. It is a come-on. Wal Mart would call it a loss leader. Anything to get the customer in the door. So this is really about getting someone to come look at us, and I’ll try to work in something about the Soviet Union to validate the title. It struck […]
15Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Collecting on Soviet Debt – adventures in email | Continued
Writing, Blogging, Journalism
Son, I am trying to get this sorted out in my own mind – so I’ll just think out loud right here. Writing has many forms, creative, essay, informative, technical, and business to name a few. Each form has a function. With creative writing we expect to see plenty of colorful adjectives expounding on the […]
14Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Blogging – Breaking Rules of Journalism
Son, We are in a time in history of rapid change; and some folks don’t like it. They don’t like it because change often requires challenging, if not breaking, established rules and protocols. Bloggers are struggling to get the respect of the professional journalist community. I think that is a mistake. I am not interested […]
13Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Blogging in China
Son, So I have been blogging with you for less than two months. Actually, I never read a blog before two months ago. But I think of myself today as a blogger. I write things and I watch the statistics. It is about 2:00 on Friday afternoon. There has been about a three hour lull […]
12Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Blogging in China | Continued
Ben Afleck on Hardball
Son, Writer, actor, director – So he gets to comment on world events. Chris Matthews is asking him about Senator’s votes for or against the Iraq War. Afleck notes the Youtube video about Cheney arguing against an invasion of Iraq. So Chris Matthews plays some clips from the Republican debate and the authority of the […]
11Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 9 comments | Continued
Barack Obama – Mr. Cool
Son, I’m watching Morning Joe again. They are talking about Barack Obama – Mr. Cool. The reference is to his image versus the manner he is displaying. Barack Obama hit the national scene with the stature of remembered charismatic leaders of the past. People talked about the intelligence of Bill Clinton, the charm of John […]
11Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Bill Maher on Morning Joe
Son, I am listening to MSNBC’s Morning Joe. Bill Maher will be on, but first a few comments about last evening’s Republican debate. How did Fred Thompson do? Joe says ‘…you would expect him to be more prepared.” He didn’t make any major mistakes and that is a good thing. I watched the debate and […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Barack Obama, attacked by skeeterites
Son, Barack is being attacked – and the campaign risks spiraling into trivia. But there are important points to be made. Barack does not wear one of those American Flag Lapel pins. Some have said that he is not patriotic because of this. Whoeee! Someone is nuts or something. Barack responded with a long soliloquy […]
5Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
how debt, spirituality, and corruption are shaping our conversations…
Dad, This format, the fireside, is a wonderful way for us to have the kinds of conversations that we have always had. We meander through subjects, we get excited and passionate, and we have small talk and sometimes just take a nap. The difference that we are running in to here is that the format […]
5Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on how debt, spirituality, and corruption are shaping our conversations… | Continued
Insanity on the internet – dismissing wackos
Son, Bill O’Reily uses the term, ‘insanity on the net.” He is mad because of criticism that he cannot pinpoint so he casts his blanket curse. Shawn Hannity refers to Congressman Murtha as being insane. He is mad because a respected congressman does not agree with him. Are these guys nuts or something? If we […]
4Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Hannah Montana – Skeeterites victim
Son, You and I have been talking about the possibility of commenting on some particular celebrities. Bill O’Reilly had a segment this evening on that very topic. The world of celebrity blogging apparently is very big and popular. The problem is that they have crossed the line with fabricating stories. We have compared blogging to […]
4Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Anonymous Blogging – is there value?
Son, Words – are they the same if you know who said them than if you do not know? Do words stand on their own? Does an idea stand on it’s own? Or is in necessary to put everything in the context of who said it? I write as Ohg Rea Tone, a nom de […]
2Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 5 comments | Continued
Bloggers blog! a New age of Journalism.
Son, Everybody wants to be something. We tell people that we like to read, or we like to paint, or we like to write, or we like computers..we all want some identity with what we think we are. Here is the reality – writers write, painters paint, potters pot, and bloggers blog. But bloggers use […]
28Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Sarcasm – a toxic elixir
Son, I can be thoughtful – and I can be sarcastic. The sarcasm is a strategy learned many years ago while growing up. It is an old recipe, handed down through generations in my family. I have used it well to win fights – and I have lost many wars. You have heard me say […]
28Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Sarcasm – a toxic elixir | Continued
Blogs versus real journalism
Son, We are having fun with this blog, but we sometimes write about serious stuff – and we want to be taken seriously. If we want to be taken seriously then should there not be some due diligence on our part – Some standard by which we hold ourselves accountable? The blogosphere is viewed by […]
26Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Betty Bowers: oh, so clever…
Dad, I sent you that link about Harry Potter. I didn’t really read it because I have heard enough of all that, but I knew you were reading one of the books. You are right, though, it is funny. Actually, its very funny, and it is powerfully real. Betty Bowers is one of my new […]
25Sep2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Betty Bowers: oh, so clever… | Continued
Cursed by Clever Harry Potter Humor
Son, Someone got to us. That web site previously referred to as some wacko fundamentalist is actually a spoof on on wacko Christianity – it is very well done! Here it is again! I love a good joke – even if it is on me. Now why would I be so ready to believe all […]
25Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Cursed by Clever Harry Potter Humor | Continued
Publishing A Novel
Son, I have written a novel. Now – how do I get it published? I finished the novel last February. I wrote a goofy synopsis and sent it to about fifty agents. Most of the agents curtly responded, ‘Uh…No thanks.” Some of them wanted to see more samples of the story. I have received several […]
23Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Publishing A Novel | Continued
Marxism and McCarthyism
Son, Conservative commentators are out of control. I am on a toot about the irresponsible comments of Michael Reagan! Because there are some of us who believe in the merits of health care for all Americans, Mr. Reagan calls us Marxist. This type of name calling discredits the history of noble discourse, also guaranteed by […]
22Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Marxism and McCarthyism | Continued