The Red Brick Times

Dear RBT'ers,

Blogger (owned by Google for several years now) has, over time, occasionally changed and/or updated its features, interfaces, etc. Usually this has been a good thing, though I have had a nagging feeling that Google may be going to far into forcing users into a big "one size fits all" Google world view. Whatever. Now though they've made a sweeping change (eliminating FTP posting) that will force all independently hosted blogs (ie. not hosted through their "blogspot" domain) to completely integrate themselves with, for lack of a better term, Google Corporate. This must be done by May 1st. Faced with this ultimatum tRBT has two choices; go along with it or abandon Blogger in favor of some other blog interface like wordpress, movabletype, or drupal.

Holy Moley. Moving to a new interface will be a many day ordeal for me but either choice will demand a big time investment on my part. To be honest, I just don't know if all that work is worth it. Nine years ago, when tRBT came into being, there was no such thing as Facebook, Twitter, or any of the social networking sites that exist now. Though I don't belong to any of those a lot of people do and maybe find them more relevant and useful than the limited group that is tRBT. Only a few RBT'ers post here now and, sad to say, I don't think many more than a few beyond those read it anymore. Bummer. Anyway....

I'm more than willing to put in the work necessary to keep tRBT going if enough people want that to happen. If there's really only a few of us left then maybe it's time to say goodbye. You make the call.

Love,
Whatley
Posted 9:42 AM by whatley (3) comments

       Comments:

Talk about "one site fits all." Social networking is more marketing sieve than humanity facilitator. Being small has always seemed to be the best way to avoid Borg-ism. Being large has led to overproduction of goods and an endless sea of waste. To say nothing of the trash along the (physical and metaphysical) highway because it is more convenient to eject than internalize.

RBT works best because we have a history. The human behind the tube is a known. Maybe the picture is a little out of date, with fewer cracks and tire tracks, but known and three-dimensional. This site is like a newspaper with some reporters and a readership.

I guess it remains for each of us to answer individually whether the experience is enriching and rewarding enough to impose the burden back to the master of the domain, the big "w" himself.

I am local and can assist if required. You can offload some maintenance or upgrade tasks to me if you want. It is the era of "work from home" and I can dedicate a bit of time each AM when I get up to help with the changes at your direction, big w.

# posted by  Andy : March 21, 2010 6:44 AM
 
I, for one, would be deeply saddened if this blog where to dissolve. Yes, there are many on Facebook, MySpace, etc., but the very personalness of this place has become dear to me, and the frantic free-for-all of the aforementioned 'social web sites' does not, could not compare with the intimacy of this blog.

It is for me the last vestige of the Schoolhouse Gang.

# posted by  jeichenlaub : March 23, 2010 8:52 PM
 
I would hate to lose this place. I suppose it is an issue of time, which I have little of - but it would be sad to lose this connection.
Maybe if we could get more folks to check in once in a while. Short little news bits. If I could figure out how to post photos easily and add links I might spend more time.
This is one of the few places I know I will find kindred political spirits.
Please don't go away.

# posted by  Terri S : March 24, 2010 8:21 PM
 
Post a Comment


---

In the late hours of Monday, March 15, 2010, Elyria PD Officer James Kerstetter was taken at the hand of another. This is a tribute to him and those who still serve.

A Cop On the Take ...
Posted 9:38 PM by jeichenlaub (1) comments

       Comments:

RIP Officer Kerstetter . . .

# posted by  Terri S : March 24, 2010 8:17 PM
 
Post a Comment


---

Another in the lifetime series from the collage o fart,
Or, "This is your brain on hold. Any questions?"

I have experienced bad timing with respect to my local public library lately.
As financing is uncertain for nearly everyone, they too have been experimenting with scheduling to reduce costs. I attempted Wednesday visitations and found the place dark, all the knowledge locked up against predation. So I changed my attempts to Sunday, only to find the gates barred then as well.

The little information card on my refrigerator clearly shows both Wednesday and Sunday hours. Evidently, they tried closing on Wednesdays for a short time coinciding with my attempted visits, then switched to Sunday closures after negotiation with their staff, again coinciding with my schedule. Well we got that straight. So I decided to visit yesterday, Saturday, to get some illuminating videos for a blustery March evening.

I checked the aforementioned (marked up and corrected) card. No problem. Hours on Saturday from 9:30AM to 5:30PM. Just before 5PM, gathering up books, I drove across town. The lights were on, a good sign. There were people standing waiting for rides. Promising. I bundled up my volumes and walked up to the front door. Now, the library has added a new wing. The construction and remodeling is nearing completion. The new energy efficient front doors beckoned atop the old Carnegie-endowed steps, framed by fluted sandstone pillars, as an older lady with a bad wig exited and stood in the portal like a skewed Greek oracle. She looked down her nose at me from her height atop the mount, and pronounced: "The Library Is Closed." "It's not five-thirty," I said in puzzlement. She intoned: "Today Is The Open House. The Library Was Closed All Day. Completely."
Posted 7:32 AM by Andy (0) comments

       Comments:

Post a Comment


---