Un-social media, hours, funds... etc...

Warning: this rare post is one of those Junkk Male 'stream of consciousness' efforts.

It has been a while. 

Make that a long while.

No excuses. Reasons aplenty... time, health, money... the usual. But at the end of the day, it's down to me that really not much has happened on Junkk.com (or other, associated parts) in a rare old while.

And while sorry is actually the easiest word, doing something takes a whole lot more.

A BIT OF CONTEXT

Junkk.com was created almost 20 years ago. I hesitate to use the term 'ahead of its time', but nice people have and do, and it is true. It has always been meant well in compliment, but also carries a sense of curse too.

The concept was pretty unique back then, and remains so in some key areas today. As far as I am aware, no other 2nd/Re-use site has the searchable database of household products and materials, detailed descriptions and data, and associated ideas.

Likewise other innovations, such as JunkkYard, that was created around the same time as Freecycle, but had images from the outset, and nice features like poster-to-beneficiary distance guide and safe intranet contact.

And it all cost.... a... mint. Yet now, most would be achievable with free scripts and/or cheap apps.

MONEY TALKS, LOSERS FUND POOR BUSINESS MODELS

I actually didn't mind the money, and was lucky to see much often at least half-offset by match-funded grants from supportive bodies.

But as with many things, especially in the world of innovation, it is easy to forget that content, maintenance and repair never go away, and carry on as long as the entity exists. In Junkk.com's case, although as much as possible has been created to evolve and endure even if I can no longer chip in, it has operational costs before factoring in the time to source and upload and administer.

I was happy and able to bear these costs at the start and for a long period thereafter. I believed in Junkk.com's potential and still do. Not just as a 'green' service, but as a possible money-earner.

At one stage we had three permanent staff, and one contracted. Me, First Lady PJ, Chief of Stuff Emma, and Head of Prose & Comms Anita. And that team achieved a lot. In our heyday we were running 150,000+ unique visitors... a month. 

I was inventing and writing. PJ was composing and designing. Emma was doing everything from creating and updating category info to fielding questions and  modding the Forum. Anita was helping with PR that got us noticed everywhere... big time.

But just as Coke and Pepsi as brands need to keep advertising even when they are at the top, so Junkk.com needed... needs this 24/7, 365/365 to maintain and grow. 

A few roles were left out at the start. My fault. There was no business management and, crucially, media sales. To be fair to myself I tried to find them, but those who may have helped (by which I mean taken a cut) never materialised. Then it was 'come back when you hit 500k visitors'. I wonder if that would be true now? many less popular sites seem to muddle along on a lot less.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impossible.com

Even those with staff and funding struggle:

http://order-order.com/2015/02/11/official-report-local-authority-websites-are-rubbish/

And those with deep pockets were seldom interested unless they had control, or things had tangibles they could grasp. Even then, green can be a hard way to turn a profit.

http://www.edie.net/news/5/WRAP-writes-off--1-65m-debt-from-struggling-Eco-Plastics/

So much of the funding we got went on consultants to tell us what we already knew; for instance that we needed specialist staff. But for which funding was not, apparently, available. And not one of scores of state-supported quango advisers appeared able to put us in touch with complementing talents.

So as mortgages needed paying and kids feeding, with no revenue, we had to cut back, in staff and hours, which on a website means content. And content on a site is king, though when this king moves on there is no new one to rise in their place.

Hence, stagnation... followed by reversal.

TIME TO SPRING FORWARD!

But not all the news is bad.

Despite the woeful support from within, the site has performed its ongoing function well, if with a few stumbles only a binary whizz could explain happening. For some reason a 'yes/no', on/off, 1/0 set of codes can and does suddenly acquire a life of its own and pull a sickie or has a wobbly.

Better still, it chugs along at its core, quietly absorbing new data like Voyager beyond the constraints of the solar system.

And, amazingly, people still swing by. Not many to contribute sadly, but for sure to visit.

I have no recent stats on Junkk.com from Google Analytics as I am a self-confessed ITiot (we had them, and they doubtless still exist...somewhere), but looking here on Blogger the Junkk Male RE:view blog alone gets several thousand visitors a month still. And that too has been pretty dormant for... too long.

Anyhoo, with great responsibility comes great ambition, so we (First Lady and I) are looking at a SWOT of what we've had, what worked, what didn't, what can't and where we can go next, to try and reinvigorate things but also draw down the running costs. 

Thanks to kids leaving the family nest we had one of those conversations with our lawyers on wills and legacies, and the subject of trusts and leaving funding to projects came up. I would like Junkk.com to endure no matter what. Calculating annual costs threw up the monthly hosting, the annual info@junkk.com fee, domain renewal, ICO licence and an amount for servicing. That still added up to a fair capital amount in trust to provide operational cost cover annually.

RUTHLESS PEOPLE

So paring down is clearly necessary.

Certainly there are vast chunks (like the forum - I dare not look at it) and things like Junkk Questions (which takes up my day winnowing out spam) that can simply be dropped, though with luck not lost if ever they need need firing back up. Doubtful as it is all pretty much older than the ark. A vast capital outlay down the pan, but the old girl is holed and hard to keep afloat on old tech. It created the brand at least, which lives on.

We're looking at creating some kind of WordPress site, with the possibility of linking a few things to it. Apparently keeping the home page and video is not a problem. Sadly, the searchable database... is.... may be. 

Would that be such a loss? Looking back, although many kind souls did share ideas, few have of late, and almost nobody has bothered ever to fill out the data fields to match dimensions or materials.

Most else can be reproduced, and now with free scripts that when the site was created cost thousands... yes... thousands. We are of course looking at other things like a tip jar at least, which seems common these days, and easily included. 

INCOMINGS, AND OUTGOINGS

Interactivity is mostly handled now by either the blog (for which this post is admittedly the first in months) or the 'Here Are Some We RE:made Earlier' FaceBook page. This latter I do keep bubbling daily with snippets, though few respond. I do always try to reply though. I did/do have a twitter feed, but need to remove that as a link as it has become more a personal, maybe too personal ramble around all my interests, from politics to music, green to the ad world, etc. 

I wish twitter had the ease of switching and linking that FaceBook has. I can find stuff online and post it in one click to the relevant category with the latter. With twitter you need to close out and sign in with the new timeline. When you have several to match varied interests, that can be a headache.

Plus, with any such direction away from a server you own and control, there is always the risk of a plug being pulled. Hard to commit too much passion to pages if it all may get lost! Plus of course revenue goes to the hosts; not the content creators. I wish I knew a bit more about back-ups, the Cloud, etc, in this regard.

But it all works and is easy, from posting to sharing, especially things like images or videos. There must be a way to auto-port new FaceBook posts to the Junkk.com homepage at least. I also have a huge backlog of nifty products as data, and a fair few of these as new ideas to upload.

I currently could not tell you how the Junkk.com admin system gets a new still on the home page, as it was and remains so complex. But one thing above all is clear on a new design... KISS!

Anyway, a lot of soul-searching, number-crunching and pondering here. And while we're at it, if anyone who knows their stuff and way around the back-end of a website has any suggestions... we're open to 'em. 

Yours in evolution....

Whatever works best

Earlier, I was tweaked by a Twitter chum to look at this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2012/jan/27/guardian-science-blog-network?CMP=twt_gu

Well, I had a ponder, and decided to apply. The rationale being that things are a bit stagnant all round (here, there.. the whole sorry soup of 'green' reporting), so why not take a punt and stir things up.

No way on God's Earth will I get it, of course, but applying was fun. And as I hate to waste anything, even a 30 minute disgorge of words, here they all are anyway... can't hurt, eh?:

Tell us about yourself  - Who you are, your academic (or other) qualifications, your day job, anything else you feel is relevant

After two years as a specialist vet science undergrad at Reading University, I eventually got a BSc in Civil Engineering from King's College, and after a brief career in that vocation entered advertising.

Following a globe-trotting set of steps around the world I founded my own Ad agency in Singapore. At the height of its success, with billings in tens of millions, I sold this, and the multi-national blue-chip clientele secured, to US giant FCB.

This offered an opportunity to indulge more in developing and promoting my passions.

Now, by day, I work as a writer and designer with my creative collective, Firebird.com, which specialises in helping green and social enterprise clientele.

Then, by night, weekends, holidays and tea breaks I edit http://www.Junkk.com.

This multi-awarded and world-renowned free (to user) eco-site is essentially a ‘FaceBook for Rubbish’, matchmaking those with nifty ideas for finding 2nd uses for stuff with those who can't bear to chuck stuff away if new ways can be suggested to save time, money... or the planet (good enough to be asked by The Guardian to create and run a competition in a special insert called ‘World of Plastics’, highlighting how a potentially negative topic can be treated objectively, and also with positivity, reward and…fun).

And from Junkk was spun off RE:tie (http://www.retie.co.uk), a patented, multi-awarded packaging enviro-design that has re:evolutionised the caps of bottles and jars to turn them from being a throw-away to something consumers will want to keep. Plus now offering a real aid to those with weaker grip.

In all things I advocate savings that include via the pocket at the same time as serving the planet, and believe in motivating via 'end benefit' as the most potent sales technique that can be deployed in achieving these goals. I also created, and maintain a commitment to the principle of eniviROI+, a measure of ‘green’ with some numbers attached that means, and demands, a lot more than most from the politico-media-NGO establishment bandied about still these days.

That often means pricking a few hot air-filled balloons. Having a Science/engineering background means I can often avoid being blinded by ‘science’, but then also see smoke and mirrors, and what they are trying to obscure, a mile away.

I have engaged, politely, with such as Mariam Cook and lately Dan Roberts on blogs and twitter, gently probing in areas where I have suspected the ‘news’ is more PR, or driven by agenda. Less politely with a few others as well.

What is your favourite, must-read, existing blog?

Order-order.com - I don't believe politicians, and most tribal MSM versions of what all of them say, or do... or say they do. Mr. Staines is a vile person [having been abused by him when he did not read what I wrote to him once, I can testify to this], but a necessary evil who  delivers more than misses, or distracts. Of value in this day and age. And you don’t compete by only mixing in your comfort zone.

What subjects do you write about at the moment?

Environment, Science, Engineering, Design, Advertising, Invention, Packaging, All the 'Re's, Media, Fun, Politics, Hypocrisy, Family, Kids… Life & Work

What is the traffic on your existing blog?

No idea: a few thou. Current just <4k opt-ins on newsletter. Once had 130k when running more seriously.

What is your idea for a blog on the Guardian's science network?

Science as an Art: level-headed words on science & stuff, on the street, pitched at the interested, independent, facts-over-opinion buff.

What would it be called?

‘Junkk Male RE:view’...what else? Actually, there’s a nice concept in the two idea summary statements above: ‘Science at street level’

What subjects would it cover?

Environment, Science, Engineering, All the 'Re's'. Maybe a focus more on the things we use but have a dubious ‘green’ tag hanging off them and may not deserve it, or those that have green halos and are less wonderful than billed.

Why should your blog be hosted by us? This is your pitch: sell yourself and your blog idea but keep it pithy - no more than 150 words

The Guardian has a justified reputation for commitment to the story. However it's losing it fast as dogma overwrites fact. That’s hurting the value offered via sensible science story-telling to people who will, ultimately, make a difference: not ideologically-linked urbanites or trustafarian commune-ists, but Joe Public at large. People trying to get on, do their best but also do right... without being nagged, nannied or scolded by those a bit too insulated from reality, or too bound by peer influence to always share things straight. You need to get back some balance and credibility; I need a vehicle to help make the future better for my kids than what I have to deploy at present. Not another echo in a mirror-lined bubble. More Ben Goldacre than Tom Chivers, but even less ‘pigeon-holed’. Also, looking at the question above, I might even help with that famous Guardian proof-reading reputation... yor:)

How would you deem your Guardian science blog to be successful?

Anything that leads to information and education on matters of waste reduction and efficiency enhancement, with a growing and better engagement in these areas by the public, would be a victory for the environment... and folks' pockets. Win-win. Getting people to actually think about practical & pragmatic issues, less swayed by often over-idealistic intangible tribal dogma, would be a plus, too. OK, and numbers, as well. Preferably more agreeing and chipping in with ways to enhance and evolve than spitting bullets, demanding closures and having hissy fits or sniping with no constructive alternatives.

Anything else you want to tell us?

*What would it be called?

*If you had a blog at the Guardian, would you aim to keep your existing blog going too?

Further to that last question; there would be no point. I would simply link to it. That would serve both our profile and traffic aims.

Actually, to that last, on reflection I'd need to reflect on that. Eggs in one basket, 'n all. Especially if (though assured otherwise) any threat was made to pull unless toeing a line, by which time the other audience would have been lost, or at least absorbed.

Not that I expect it will come to that, considering some of the answers/input proferred.

When in doubt, reuse!

I have not written for a while.

So easy to say... 'so much to do; so little time'.

Not really true, but when push comes to shove, you prioritise.

For some reason I am happier in the shed (there is also the slim possibility of a money-making opportunity being created), especially with the sun shining.

And twitter seems to fit in with that better, though she is also a demanding mistress, if not a seductive, addictive drug. If a I miss a few hours' worth, I can convince myself I am missing the seam of gold I search for daily.

That is actually possibly accurate, but a route to madness.

So in penning this rather short post to an infrequent blog series (will try and keep the ideas topped up more, and hope the efforts are being noticed), I now practice what I preach and share this heartfelt posting, with which I fully empathise:

All change!

It is not easy, but it can still be worth it. But sometimes you have to look into the mirror, and after No.1.

Strategic Thinking

As I write ( I may post later to let the last entry have an 'outing'), twitter is 'down'*.

Actually, it's down, out for the count and the towel is on the ring floor.

It is busted. An ex-medium. You get the picture.

I am sure it will be back, of course, but my trust factor in its reliability is further dented.

No biggie in the great scheme of things, and churlish to get too snitty about a free service, but it has set me to thinking.

Quite a lot of creative content eggs in a few baskets that I don't own, and have no control over. Not just when it comes to accidental issues, but also more direct policy ones: if the guys who own the pitch take exception, you lose not only the future, but also a ton of blood, sweat and words & images from the past.

And while twitter has inspired this introspection, I am well aware that what I am writing this via is pretty much in the same boat. And at 4,000 odd pages of thoughts and wisdom over several years, that is sobering.

Now I know that there are back-up options out there, and I really should start trying to figure out the best and engage asap, but my ITiocy does intrude.

Plus that gosh-darned laziness thing. Because, in addition, I am thinking that all source material should start at the website and radiate out (preferably automatically) from that. At least I own i, and can blame no one but myself if things get lost on its watch.

*Mashable Explains

TWEET ME SEYMOUR

The problem with online experiments is that the positives can be matched equally by the negatives.

So for all the advantages of speed, ease of creation, etc, there is that slight worry that the minute you hit 'send', it's out there, for all to see, with its flies open.

And one thing I have discovered is that few in the blog, and especially twitosphere seem of a mind to sidle up and say 'Psst... actually, this doesn't really work [for this reason....]. Maybe time to think of a wee review?'

Anyway, nothing ventured, etc.

Following some truly appreciated support, I am beta-testing (ok, trying out) a new twitter regime.

Basically, I am going to use the new twitter retweet button to scoot throught what comes my way, morning, noon and night. And as the system permits no comments, I can't and hence won't. So if the content delights... or enrages... with luck the twitocrats will realise that to get context they need to follow the trail, to bouquet or brickbat the authors accordingly for their <140 masterpieces.

Meanwhile, the plan is for me to go back over the day (if I have time... most likely next morning) and do a quick review of those that tickled my fancy.

Working title: TWEET 'N LOWDOWN (see who salutes:)

Well, that's the theory.

Sticks, stones, words...

I got a compliment just now from a fellow blogger I respect.

On a blog that is important, but I am always conscious how often I take the author to task.

Newsnight - Can climate spending save money?

In thanking her, I ended up writing a fair bit (which might see the snipers cocking their rifles..., so sod 'em), but I am proud of what I wrote and the sentiments that inspired it.

Sadly I find my contributions on a few blogs to err a tad too often at eyebrow crankings when I honestly prefer the rewards of positivity and incentivisation, but I am cursed by an odd mix of an education and early career in the sciences and engineering, followed by an even longer one, to date, in the dubious world of persuading the masses, that is advertising and design. So I tend to detect BS masquerading as fact, especially when gilded with some unsubtle smoke and mirrors swirling around to make it palatable.

Combine all that with a passion for environmental common sense in making this planet better for my kids than I inherited (not looking great so far), and I often slam into problems of detail when it comes to what I have coined the enviROI of various 'eco initiatives' (namely, even if the £/$ financial return still sucks, it can still be OK, unless it so out of kilter money is being simply poured down a green hole and away from better projects). Plus I do find that some self-appointed messengers bearing certain messages they deem vital (often with cause), either don't seem to have noticed (or are bothered) that the vast majority who DO matter either don't care for their pitches, or are a tad offside on the often multiplicity of standards between what they say (others should do) and what they might actually inspire by way of example (exemption by believing one is acting in the public interest is a fair conceit, and epic delusion, at best). I think many do register this discrepancy (often aided by those pushing other agendas I find equally discomfiting) and at best ignore, or at worst kick back. Which, IMHO, is not helping much.

Hence I like to crank the odd eyebrow, and often suggest the odd sharp object may be directed at overinflated sacks of hot air, in the hope that a more measured, moderate dialogue based on fact, objectivity and compromise might see us drift to truly productive shores than just trying to win often unwinnable debates.

There is so much that can be DONE, but talk is still vital to coordinate valuable efforts. I like them civilised and intelligent, and by way of a 'backatcha' have enjoyed reading your posts not just for the content, but the manner of their delivery. It is possible to disagree with style, and maybe in so doing change a view that a knee jerk will only make worse. And humour is well, harder to resist. Funny (not ha-ha) how some keep failing to appreciate that.

Green is good, but only if you really think about it, and in debate it is also worth recalling that green can rarely be viewed just in black and white, as some often seem to forget. Or don't seem to care.

I think the human race will work this whole thing through, but possibly not to the satisfaction of the many who see life as a series of absolutes, be they through dogma, idealism or a bunch of other rather restricting standpoints.

And as I learn or am persuaded by new information, links or just great arguments from the likes of your goodself, and many others here (who you seem to tease the best from), I often find my views can and do evolve and even change. I hope for the better. For my... our kids' sake.

GULP!

Bear in mind... you are reading this on a blog.

Blogs are big business…just not here

Not sure if I am in the wrong business... or country.

Going too far. Literally as well as figuratively.

Sometimes, I think the 'green' media rather lose the plot.

What's the carbon cost of the online reaction to Michael Jackson's death?

When they are not being, possibly, total hypocrites (and a tad insensitive).

Maybe the BBC could get on the case?

I think Newsnight's Ethical Man has a colleague well placed...

Next time, Jacko, try to die in London*

Bless.

I know it was just a question. But the irony of online eco-breast beating about the online costs of 'stuff' being reported was rather rich.

And yes, I see the irony of me adding to this still further. But I think there are areas that, just possibly, set back the notion of sensible environmental progress.

*The further irony of which publicaion has penned this is also not lost on me.

Oh, blog off!

Or... how not to mess with your blog.

I'll let this set the scene as it is pertinent: quirky-social-product-development

I came here specifically to post to you, and was going to apologise for being O/T as the thread more appropriate to my intended comment (follows below) - the green gadget one - is no longer so enabled with this spiffy new system.

However, I think I can kick off by still being being relevant.

As an international Gold Medal-winning, multi-awarded, all-the-PR-you-can't-pay-the-bills-with-yet inventor of an eco packaging design, I gave quirky a gander.

Sadly, as most of us are, they are in competition with a horde of others, and I have lost count of the number that will charge one 'just' $99 for an intro to some folk they might know who might help.

Which may explain the lack of decent entries? I'd be hard pressed to see it as worth it, especially as my design is for mass marketing and really won't fit the model. I am seeking to licence about a billion a day. And moving from design to prototype to short-run moulds to full-blown seems a stretch at first glance.

However, the value of the PR and market research may tip the balance, especially if the founders have some IT scores on the board that gets PR from IT types like you. Reflected glory and all.

Now, on to the reason for seeking you out. Not easy as you and some other valued (to me) colleagues don't seem to be quite as valued (by the head honchos) in this spiffy revamp, and took a bit of locating under all the politico, sporty & opinion big guns who I will now be sparing my blood pressure by mostly passing on in future.

Just wanted to say that where I used to surf, skim & select all in the main scrolling version, I no longer have the time to do what the system demands and cherry pick, but will make a note of checking back here specifically as the odds of a green post are good. Maybe not as often as I did,but there you go.

A real pity, as I have found worthy enviro posts in odd places across many of the blogs, but will have to forgo most as there really is not enough time.

Seems an odd way to drive viewing figures, but there you go.

What this does not do is fully address the horror of what these clowns have done to a system that seemed to work pretty well, and by not being broke as far as I could see, didn't need fixing.

For those that don't know, all the blogs went up chronologically in a massive scrolling page, broken up by 'back' & 'next' breaks. Hence you could see exactly what was new simply by starting at the top and working back to where you left off last. If it was of no interest (such as sport) you skipped by. But there was usually a headline, subhead, picture and first para to scope to see if it was worth delving further.

No they expect me to check a few score specific thread channels..in case there might be a new or interesting piece? Numpties. Just waiting for a page to load takes 30". Multiply that by the number of channels and there's my tea breaks gone before I see anything.

And I am not sure I am alone in not thinking this has been a real advance.

But at least I got a blog out of it. Though I will miss the odd green avenue I stumbled across, often from non-tech or green authors.

And as we try and make this blog and Junkk.com better, boy, do I have some great examples of what not to do!

A new look

Welcome to the new Telegraph blogs

Thank you for your feedback

Some of the ostrich/'hear no evil' monkey responses from the Telegraph's great and good puts one more in mind of the current Government. And such as 'listening' and 'responding' to minor stuff and ignoring dirty great elephants in the room. Which is odd, as this is just what they seem to mock them for.

I can live with a light grey type. I have no time to devote to scores of separate threads. Which one are they now 'urgently looking at'?

Addendum 1 -

Of course, one constant drip from the 'professional', 'quality', paid, establishment media is that you can't trust what Bloggers write. If they say so: Press Association and Big Media Fail to Double Source

I can't afford the resources of these guys. But I do have a well-primed eyebrow and tend to slap a few caveats in if the sources are dubious, such as the Government, the BBC, any press spokesperson, 'scientists', quangos, charities, 'research', 'polls'....

Addendum 2 -

Just scoping the Indy. Their 'system' is called Live Journal, and it sucks too. Just looking at some major stories and they have no comments. This seems unlikely. So it's not just my Mac OS and Safari browser then. I wrote to the web, IT and editors to tell them, but no reply. They really are an insular bunch who don't take well to customer feedback.

Guardian - Telegraph relaunches blogs, now powered by WordPress

Two blog, or not two blog... THAT is the question

Let it never be said that, if there is a bad pun to be found, I will find it, chew it up and make it even worse.

Still trying to get my head around how what I write here ends up automatically elsewhere (like twitter), and also in spiffy truncated URL form.

Plus, where it doesn't.. yet... as it should... could.

In the course of discussions with the various IT gooroos helping make Junkk.com and this blog better integrated and more useful, an issue has arisen that, ironically, involves potential greater diversification.

There is a lot of debate about what a blog is, and/or should be. And as much opinion in turn on what 'people' want. Or don't. Frankly I think there are probably as many preferences as there opinions, and of those, well, at least one per reader.

However, it is clear that this blog is at the very least a tad schizophrenic.

On the one hand there are such as the growing number of, and ever-evolving Categories. Usually these are pretty factual and objective, mostly limited to the addition of a NEW url and possibly a line of my thoughts on it. I find them useful reference sources, and great at spotting trends by virtue of tracking the chronology (last posted at end, though I am thinking of reversing that as some get a tad long to scroll to the fresh meat), and hope you do, too.

Then there are the topic-specific eco-opinion pieces, usually inspired by an article. And thanks to the Labels facility on Blogger, these can easily be tied to a Category for archive research purposes.

And finally there are the more personal blogs. I've hived off onto other blogs those that have no real bearing on matters green, but these can also not really address these either, being more concerned with matters arising from things that happen in the course of running Junkk.com, and lately RE:tie, including matters of IT.

I am just wondering if, to most readers, these latter add or detract from the value of the blog. If so I'll keep on doing them; just elsewhere.

Or might it be that (as I understand it might) folk appreciate the more personal ups and and downs of running the business, written from the heart, and certainly not farmed out as just another 'aspect of the marketing mix'.

A matter of degree

I love blogging... evidently.

It can be, and mostly is, a great experience, and usually a learning one.

However, just as Peter Parker found, with great power comes great responsibility.

And, often, sadly, challenges.

One is moderation, which is a very difficult line to walk. One which, if you are not careful, can lead to censorship, which is the gateway to objectivity going out the window, and bias and control coming in.

G20, Bonn and the climate of opinion

Not from the author, but I do find such suggestions creeping in these days, and feel the need to at the very least challenge the thinking. I worry about those who think they 'know' 'right' more than others can hold more sway than they deserve, simply by being vocal:

(I don't know if the technology allows it, but it would be good to impose a limit on the length and number of posts)

It exists, and has since time immemorial. The problem tends to come with the humans behind it who set and police the 'rules', and where their skill sets, influences and/or sympathies lie. So I am unsure how 'good' that would be.

While I agree that the blogosphere can get prone to 'distractions', trying to explain or debate science via Twitter-feeds is indeed a worthy discipline to encourage, and may be great for those seeking sound-bites, but may lead to incomplete and hence inaccurate posts. I think most blogs do have a limit anyway, and seem to work as a consequence.

As to number of posts, what if I agree? And suggest this should be the last on this issue? Shame you might not get to have any further opinion on that, at least in the same thread:) I also find that when the mods call a halt often leads to suspicions that an over-arching agenda is at play, and when things are not going in a favoured direction impositions can get applied. Not great for free and open debate.

I agree it can be frustrating, but on balance simply skipping over those that seem to be going in a poor direction still works best for me.

Numbers games

I debated a wee while before plumping for this blog to post upon.

It's nothing to do with enviro issues (well, a tad), but does go to reaching audiences.

Americans get the internet, and are British bloggers' best market

I just found the numbers interesting.

Not just the ones quoted (which is how they attract, and get paid by advertisers), but just a few observations of my own in complement.

I blog prodigioulsy here, but I also often get moved to comment elsewhere.

It just seemed intriguing to me that the author got/gets 65k weekly visitors, yet only 7 commented here for instance. Meanwhile over at the Guardian blog I posted a few days back on the Clean Technology 100, so far... zippy. OK, maybe my crass punt was a put off, but no one else reading felt like lobbing in a wee hello too?

All these folk lurking, with so little to say.

I just have to figure out how to seduce them over here... and then how to make a crust having doen so.

...OI

Not really worth adding to the Hydrogen category (but it will be linked via Labels), I add this for the glimmer that enviROI and even ROI is getting an airing.

Boris: no more energy for sustainability?

Not by the activists and the media that support them, of course, but the beauty of the blogging system is that casually thrown out rallying cries can now be challenged to support the practicalities behind the headlines.