True Grit

With a certain social media website constantly changing their own rules when it comes to group pages -- yes, Facebook, I'm looking at YOU -- it seems appropriate to try another means of mass communication.

Few know this but blogs were first invented in ancient China. Confucious wrote the first blog, carving out his thoughts on that morning's breakfast on a piece of bark which he then carried around Beijing on his back. Later, in the 19th century, authors such as Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins, revived the concept, but used paper and printing presses. Thin pamphlets were produced and passed by hand from gentlefolk to gentlefolk. One such popular blog, written anonymously but thought to be the work of a young Joseph Conrad, consisted entirely of commentary on east London pie shops. In truth, while they had a certain following among the cognoscenti, they never really caught on with the hoi polloi. They only reached a wider audience with the coming of the computer age.

According to my copy of Blogging for Dummies, a blog will allow an informal yet close knit group such as the My Best Friend is Martin Amis to post on such subjects as the books we are reading, books we hope one day to read, and books we wished we'd never heard of. We will also be able to post photos and links... indeed, all the things that Facebook lets us do, but - hopefully - without the irritating friend suggestions and with the inclusion of such social media refuseniks as George and Lisa (assuming they have a computer).

I'll send you details of how to contribute posts to the blog just as soon as I figure out a way. In the meantime please feel free to post your comments below and berate me in any way you feel reasonable.

Also... a reminder:

Next meeting is March 21, 8pm, to discuss True Grit. The venue is most likely the Chip. Western clothing is encouraged but not expected.