When you run your mouth on a blog

as long as I have, it has to happen. Eventually, a reporter will decide to balance out a piece on the blogsphere with a interview with a loveable State crank. In this case, your’s truly. Anyway I got this in the email.

"Hi Chuck,
I'm writing an article about Alabama bloggers for the Birmingham News.
Basically it will answer the question "What's out there in blogland from Alabama and who is writing and reading it?" I came across your weblog and I would love to talk with you for the article."
Vivi Abrams

Naturally, I replied

To: Miss Vivi
Subject: Re: Birmingham News blog article
Hmmm
It's against my better judgment since I feel that Reporters like government officials are best avoided unless it's me that's doing the poking.
But...
Before I answer some of your questions let me ask a couple. Have you been reading the blogs that you are going to interview or write about? Or is this one of those "answer these ten questions, double spaced, spell checked and returned before my deadline" interviews?

Best
C. Myguts
Senior Gadfly
redneckin

Miss Vivi's answer was rather long

"Subject: RE: Birmingham News blog article
Hello Mr. Myguts,
..... Answer: I will do the spell checking for you.
Just kidding. (dang)
I read a lot of weblogs, although I didn't find yours until I was assigned this article and began searching for good candidates for it last week. I chose to write to you because you are not only in Alabama but you write about it and have a unique viewpoint - your blog is also very quotable. I've been reading back in your archives. but if you have any specific posts you think I should read before we talk please let me know.

.... Basically, I'm interested in hearing how and why you started the blog, whether you think it's accomplishing what you were hoping, and what you think is the state of blogging in the state. I think it's interesting that you write about Phenix City government and I wonder if you have a lot of readers in Phenix City (and Columbus). I'm curious about your thoughts on the power of blogs, and the future of them.... write back and let me know if you'd like to speak with me and if so, when would be a good time and phone number for me to get in touch with you. Or, you could just email back with your thoughts. I want to write an interesting story, so I need to talk to interesting people, so I'd be very happy if you agree. This is for next Sunday's newspaper. Thanks very much, and I hope to hear from you soon!
Vivi"

Now it makes me naturally nervous when anyone to include reporters say things to me like “unique viewpoint” (Heck I didn’t know I was unique, I thought everybody thought the way I do. Or should.) “Your blog is very quotable” (like in depositions?) and “I've been reading back in your archives” (Dang, like Nixon, I should have known better)

Naturally, I piled it on till you needed hip waders.

At the start, Redneckin started mainly as a way to keep me entertained while I vented . I’m not a very articulate speaker and I don’t think very fast on my feet. I’m usually about 5 minutes behind in thinking of some clever response in a verbal conversation. So I write. Or try to.

I met Karma, who for some strange reason loves my Tales, especially Uncle NoPass.
She constantly praises and encourages me, so I suppose you could blame it on Karma. (Didn't think I was going to forget dear Indigo, did you?)

I didn’t set out to accomplish anything. Part of it was a desire to see if I could string two coherent sentences on the fly and to tweak a few noses that aren’t used to being tweaked in public

I don’t use my real name (see above) and I don’t have skeleton’s in my closet, I have the whole dang graveyard,...

The name “Chuck Myguts” was selected on a whim since I didn’t expect to last long. Just while it was fun. Let’s see, I’ve been posting since January 02, starting on Blogspot. Seems a little late to change the name now. Besides I use that name at news sites that require registration.

I wish I had more local and state readers. I haven’t been able to get much traction. Lack of exposure, lack of advertising, lack of working in various blogger unions, heck, maybe even lack of ability. Though I invite the readers to visit and poke around before forming an opinion.

Very limited email and comments from in State or in city. Mainly Tennessee ( a hot bed of bloggers and blog readers) and North Carolina. A few Georgians. Like I said I'm not active in a web ring and I‘m not a link whore, pardon my French ))

It is rather ironic that a blog named “redneckin” would become the goto page for blacks on the Shooting death of an Unarmed Kenneth Walker.

Power of blogs? As a collective of arcane and not so arcane information? On news stories? Huge in the fact checking department. Huge in the ability to shape and move the debate. Like to run your
mouth? Get a blog.

Hmmm Phenix City government? Yeah, well, we have a fabled history.

MY TURN
The main thing right now is a clarification of an audit that that says part of the money from a previous foray into regionalism, the Columbus Water Deal, was spent building a walking bridge in Georgia.......
(You didn’t really think I’m going to let go of this, did you? lol)

After Miss Vivi digested this she emailed back

Subject: RE: redneckin
great! These are excellent answers, and that is really interesting about Kenneth Walker. I am still working on the article, which is coming along nicely. Now I have another request of you. Can you send me a picture of you at your computer?

I'm compiling shots of all of the bloggers I have been talking so the art department can make a photo graphic to go along with the story. If you have a digital camera and could email me the photo as soon as possible, that would be best. It can be from the side, or it could also be a shot from the top of your monitor (with the glow on your face, etc.) If you want to send me a few to choose from that is fine too! Thanks so much!
Let me know if there are any problems with this. I appreciate it.
Vivi
PS also if "Chuck Myguts" is not your real name (which, looking at it now, I should have realized that, heh) what is your name? thanks!

I wonder if she really read my last email? I sent the two pictures I posted here. I wonder if they used it in the dead tree. Read the article for my unique, very quotable quote.