Hello

Welcome aboard the Sane Nation Express. As I pondered how to begin my blogging career on an elevated level, I was reminded of a comment by Kierkegaard, who of course disagreed with Hegel about whether the world soul includes (pause to answer phone)...

"Hello? Oh, hi mom. Fine, you? (Pause.) Hey, can I call you back, I'm writing my blog. Biting my dog? That's funny. No, it's a blog, writing online. "Who'll read it? Oh, derelicts, misfits. Hard to say. People have got to find it. Online. Right, I know you aren't interested in computers, you've mentioned that before. Many times. "You say my readers will be strangers? I guess you're right, I never thought of it that way. But magazine readers are also strangers, and that never stopped me. (Pause.) Mom, you're probably not the only reader who felt James Michener was writing to her personally. But even so... "Right, blogging. Agreed, not very poetic. It's short for Web log. Yes, what Andrew Sullivan does. Hey, how did you know he has a blog? Oh. I thought you didn't like Chris Matthews. (Pause.) Matthews talks over all his guests, mom. It has nothing to do with Andrew Sullivan being from England. Trust me. I mean, think about it... "What do you mean, 'Is blogging dangerous?' No, I won't put my home address online, thanks for that advice. No, I'm not being sarcastic. Yes, I know you feel you don't need a computer, I respect that. Hold your ground, mom. "Yes, the Terri Schiavo story has definitely faded, I think her dying changed the whole... "Really, mom: can I call you back?..."