Rocky Mountain News last issue

Under normal conditions, I avoid abusing my blog to send out links to my articles (or at least open links); but I am going to make an exception today.

Here is the address of a piece I wrote today on the last issue of the Rocky Mountain News.

www.associatedcontent.com/article/1517731/rocky_mountain_news_publishes_last.html

If anyone else has written an online piece about it, leave your link in the comment section in return.

College newspaper articles

For those of my readers who are curious about what type of articles I have drifted into writing for the college newspaper, I have republished two of them on Associated Content.

What is Divination Addiction?

What Your Sun Sign Says About Your Study Habits

I am on the Helium Frontpage today

As I quickly check various sites before heading to class, I discovered that my humor article about filling out my taxes is on the front page of Helium today. I wonder if the IRS will want more taxes from me because of that; after all, they try to tax everything else---why not front page exposure?

It is going to be a tough day

Oy vey: today is going to be a tough day.

A couple of hours ago I learned that my application for a private student loan was rejected. So I am a little off-center.

And I need to write an article for the CCD student newspaper.

Why I moderate comments

Today, I was reminded of why I moderate the comments on my blogs (just like I would moderate posts on a public forum).

For some reason, when people realize that you are running a successful blog, they decide that posting advertisments and spam in your comment section is good business for them.

Now, I am not sure about any of my readers, but I do not need to see such nonsense in my comment section. It is bad enourgh that I have adsense on my blog according to some. I once had a person tell me that he, and his friends, would never read my blog ever again because I had adsense on it. Something about my credibility being questionable due to the fact that I had ads on my site.

It made no sense to me at the time; it still doesn't. I think that most of my readers know that I am a freelance writer. At least, I keep the ads subtle on my sites and blogs. Some people never ever notice them.

And I am open about what I am doing. I am not running around putting ads for my pages in someone else's comment section. If I leave a comment on your blog, it is because I read your entry, not because I am trying to get more business.

Only hard work is going to get you into the kingdom

Over the last few weeks, I have been watching the auditions for American Idol. Call it a guilty pleasure. But there are times that I am alarmed by the attitudes of the contestants.

Even more alarming is the fact that they remind of some aspiring writers I know.

I first noticed this when one of the contestants admitted to the judges that he had no training and never sung before, but thought that they should give him a break and send him though anyways.

It reminded me of many writers I know, and a few occultists too.

(For those who know the esoteric circles I walk in, it is like a person who have never studied the Outer Order material thinking that they are good enourgh to go directly into the ranks of Inner Order. As a lodge officer, I find that pretty silly.)

In the case of writers, it is like a writer telling me that they should not have to learn grammar or editing, nor do any market research.

"All I need is an editor to give me a break, and I know that I will be successful."

Good luck at convincing any editor that is true. Editors want writers who have honed their craft and have paid their dues already (in blood, sweat and tears).

It does not matter how good you think you can become; all that matters is how good you are today.