Thoughts on a Decade of Blogging

Thoughts on a Decade of Blogging

A grumpy friend of mine once described social media as “having a conversation with oneself, but with the dubious expectation that others will join in.” The same week I came across the following quote: “books are the medium through which we commune with the dead.” It...
The Carlsbad Marathon

The Carlsbad Marathon

It was about five o’clock in the morning when Cindylu, with her sweet little voice — all chamomile and honey — says, “Oso, you should probably put some vaseline in your butt crack.” That’s when I knew I was in for more than I had...

More Open, Less Hypocritical

Over the past couple months I have met two people for the first time that – in some ways – might know me better than some of my closest friends and family. Adriana and Elena Mary. I can’t tell you much of what they’ve been up to over the past...
Getutza

Getutza

When I was in Romania last September I had the distinct privilege of meeting Getutza, one of the bloggers trained as part of the Blogging the Dream project in Campulung Moldovenesc, a small town in the north of the country. Eddie profiled Getutza on Rising Voices...
HIV Positive Bloggers Defy Stigma and Silence

HIV Positive Bloggers Defy Stigma and Silence

Wherever you may be reading this – at the kitchen table with a spoonful of cereal in your mouth, at the office while you should be working, on your cell phone as you wait for the bus – please stop and consider this: what if your doctor calls you in the...
Ballot Fraud, the Blogosphere, and Fame-Seeking Intellectuals in Russia

Rest in Peace María Amelia

I am subscribed to about 2,000 RSS feeds and on the rare days that I’m able to read through even a fourth of them I always feel that every thought that could be said already has been said, and probably a million times over. And so, weighed down by so much...
On Crowdsourcing Country Branding

On Crowdsourcing Country Branding

My time in South Africa, sadly, came to an end a couple days ago. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long, long while. And I met some new friends on the We Blog the World tour who I hope will soon enough become old friends. Depending on how you count, this was my...