I welcome feedback on my blog. I love praise, and appreciate criticism. I would love to see more comments on The Brown Knowser, but I'll take what I can get.
Whether you want to throw bricks or send bouquets, I'm for it; however, I wouldn't welcome trolls who want to send hate because that's what they do. I've never had a troll, which makes me sometimes wonder what I'm doing wrong.
I have, however, had to remove comments from spammers, who have sent meaningless messages that have ended with a link that I dare not click. Those messages have sounded formulaic, without any relevance to my post, and I'm not even sure an actual person put fingers to keyboards in creating them.
Recently, I received a comment that was kind, was related to the content of the particular post. I read it, and felt good, felt thankful for the nice words. But the message was ruined by a link to a business.
I saw the link and thought that the message now seemed disingenuous. The person agreed with my words, acknowledged my feelings, and thanked me for sharing the story. And while the company link was relate to the post, it didn't seem appropriate for a comment.
I have nothing against someone sending me a link in a comment, provided that the link is related to the post and may provide more information about the topic. For example, in January's Where In Ottawa post, I didn't know much about the artwork at the location for my photo challenge. The person who solved the challenge provided a link to more art by the artist and background information. I appreciated the information and welcomed the links.
If I were to write about a specific company, and if that company were to supply a link to their business in the comments, I would be fine with that (mind you, if I write about a company, I always provide a link anyway).
But if I write about how I have injured my back, I don't want someone providing a link to his or her chiropractic clinic. I don't welcome advertising in reader feedback.
If you want to advertise on my blog, contact me. Let's talk.
But you're going to have to pay for it.
I had a very nice comment sent to me, but it ended with a link to a business. I felt I had no choice but to delete the person's message.
And that made me sad. Because I love feedback.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Minto Recreation Complex
It's Ottawa's newest sports centre, in my neighbourhood, and it's the latest location for Where In Ottawa.
It's the Minto Recreatioin Complex, in Barrhaven. And, once again, my monthly photo challenge was solved within minutes of running.
Congratulations to a friend of mine, John Scott, who solved the challenge. In a way, I'm glad that the challenge was solved so quickly: being a new facility, I wasn't sure what sort of clues I could have come up with.
A copy of my book is on it's way to you, John (though, being my friend, you should have had it by now!).
(I'm kidding, of course.)
(Not really.)
The next Where In Ottawa will be on Monday, March 2.
It's the Minto Recreatioin Complex, in Barrhaven. And, once again, my monthly photo challenge was solved within minutes of running.
Congratulations to a friend of mine, John Scott, who solved the challenge. In a way, I'm glad that the challenge was solved so quickly: being a new facility, I wasn't sure what sort of clues I could have come up with.
A copy of my book is on it's way to you, John (though, being my friend, you should have had it by now!).
(I'm kidding, of course.)
(Not really.)
The next Where In Ottawa will be on Monday, March 2.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Where In Ottawa XLIV
It's not just the Super Bowl that uses Roman numerals.
Last month's Where In Ottawa was solved so quickly that I hadn't even grabbed a coffee after posting it from the office. This month, I hope the challenge goes a little longer.
If you haven't played this challenge before—or even if you have but you've forgotten the rules—here are the conditions of play.
Think you know Ottawa? Prove it!
And good luck!
Update: Where In Ottawa has been solved. Congratulations to my friend, John Scott. I'll reveal the location tomorrow.
Last month's Where In Ottawa was solved so quickly that I hadn't even grabbed a coffee after posting it from the office. This month, I hope the challenge goes a little longer.
If you haven't played this challenge before—or even if you have but you've forgotten the rules—here are the conditions of play.
- The following photograph was taken somewhere in the greater Ottawa region. Your job: locate it.
- If you think you know the location of the structure in the image, leave your guess in the Comments section of this post. Answers sent to me by Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, or any other method than by writing a guess in the Comments section do not qualify for this challenge. I will not reply to any other form of guess.
- If you were with me when I took the photo, you may not participate in the challenge.
- If you have won Where In Ottawa in the past, you may still participate; however, if you guess correctly, no giveaway will be awarded.
- The first person to correctly identify the location of the structure in the photograph will receive a PDF copy of my novel, Songsaengnim: A Korea Diary.
- You may leave as many guesses as you want.
- Starting tomorrow, I will leave clues to the location in the upper-right column of this post, adding a new clue each day until the challenge is solved.
- If the challenge has not been solved by noon, Ottawa time, on Sunday, February 8, the challenge will end and I will reveal the location on Tuesday, February 10.
- The winner of Where In Ottawa has until the end of Sunday, March 1, to claim his or her giveaway.
Think you know Ottawa? Prove it!
And good luck!
Update: Where In Ottawa has been solved. Congratulations to my friend, John Scott. I'll reveal the location tomorrow.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Photo Friday: Red, White, and Blue
I don't mean the Stars and Stripes.
It was a perfect sunset. I saw the warm glow as I crossed the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge, heading into Ottawa, and I knew where I wanted to be, knew where I needed to go to capture it.
The snow was a dirty-white, but in some untrodden spots, it was still pure. The sky above was an ice-cold blue, but the sun in yellow, orange, pink, and red, cast a false sense of warmth. The temperature was in the minus twenties, and it was getting colder with the setting light.
I captured the images I wanted and packed up. Took a last look, and turned toward the lot where my car was parked. With any luck, it would still be warm.
The white snow, the pale red horizon, and the blue sky.
And the embassy, absorbing the last of the sun's rays. It's flag was not visible, but I knew it well, had seen it many times over last summer's vacation.
Red, white, and blue.
One last shot before my fingers were frozen solid.
Happy Friday!
It was a perfect sunset. I saw the warm glow as I crossed the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge, heading into Ottawa, and I knew where I wanted to be, knew where I needed to go to capture it.
The snow was a dirty-white, but in some untrodden spots, it was still pure. The sky above was an ice-cold blue, but the sun in yellow, orange, pink, and red, cast a false sense of warmth. The temperature was in the minus twenties, and it was getting colder with the setting light.
I captured the images I wanted and packed up. Took a last look, and turned toward the lot where my car was parked. With any luck, it would still be warm.
The white snow, the pale red horizon, and the blue sky.
And the embassy, absorbing the last of the sun's rays. It's flag was not visible, but I knew it well, had seen it many times over last summer's vacation.
Red, white, and blue.
One last shot before my fingers were frozen solid.
Happy Friday!
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