This is insane. I did not know that I shared my own birthday, but I do think I'll take up Phil Wadeomancy, which is the art of telling the future with Phil Wade. That's why I'm always right mostly.

I learned many important things about my business

You should always open Blest's Beads at least an hour before drinking it.

Never store Blest's Beads at room temperature.
In Japan, Blest's Beads can only be prepared by chefs specially trained and certified by the government.

Blest's Beads became extinct in England in 1486!

Blest's Beads cannot jump.

Tradition allows women to propose to Blest's Beads only during leap years.

The number one cause of blindness in the United States is Blest's Beads.

About one tenth of Blest's Beads is permanently covered in ice.

Some people in Malaysia bathe their babies in beer to protect them from Blest's Beads.

The first domain name ever registered was Blest's Beads.com

I'm not sure any of these will make good advertising slogans though.

And Jared... Did you know

If the annual Australian Black Dog Man crop was laid end to end, it would stretch around the world seven times!

White chocolate isn't technically chocolate, because it doesn't contain Black Dog Man.

Black Dog Man can be very poisonous if injected intravenously.

Birds do not sleep in Black Dog Man, though they may rest in it from time to time.

Europe is the only continent that lacks Black Dog Man.

Only one person in two billion will live to be Black Dog Man.

If the Sun were the size of a beach ball then Jupiter would be the size of a golf ball and Black Dog Man would be as small as a pea.

Black Dog Man is the traditional gift for a couple on their third wedding anniversary.

Black Dog Man can usually be found in nests built in the webs of large spiders.

Black Dog Man cannot swim.

Sorry, but I just don't get it. Humorous? I am reminded of a third grade joke I still remember:

"Hey George, Watch out for that clothes line!".

"What Clothes line..ine...ine...ine...ine..."

Or perhaps:

"Hey George, watch out for that man hole!".

"What man hhhooooooooooole?"

Well, perhaps this post was for the kiddies here.

Sorry, this comment is not meant to be taken personally, it's just that amongst such high brow intellectual contributions as are made here, this post seemed---for me anyway---to try and further the humor previously supplied by one of the now "missing" Thinklings that was instrumental in bringing to my attention this blog.

Certainly, I should add that it is one of very few blogs that I read. You see, it is my belief that the nature of this new "age of information" may better be known as the "age of too much information". Which of course leads me to the next point.

In this new age, with so much "information" one may pick and choose what one reads. If he disagrees, then he has three choices:
1. face the wrath of those in control of the information...or,
2. be condemned by those he disagrees with...or,
3. quit reading such information as is dissipated by those providing such information.

I suspect I may be "shouted down" by the Thinklings. In my last comment regarding my belief that President Bush would be recorded by history as a laughing stock, I was answered with belittling statements that I felt were impossible for this layman to refute! So it was that I choose option # 3.

I may perhaps even be accused of being any number of things. Some of which may be true. And yet, I will gladly risk banishment from both this blog, and the very thing that truly lured me to the "Thinklings" in the first place. Their "private" chess club.

As to this wonderful thing the Thinklings are in possession of---their own private online chess club---it seems it is dying! And though I have a couple of people there that I may call virtual "friends"---one of whom I was responsible for inviting---the forum there seems destitute, and bereft of the camaraderie and fellowship anyone would expect from fellow Christians! Just more on line bull droppings! And a take it or leave it attitude.

As a matter of fact, after having been first enamored with the articulations and seemingly insitefulness of the author of this particular post it was with great enthusiasm that I challenged him to a game on Thinklings Chess! After having the good fortune of a win in our game I sent a chat message to Jared, extolling his play and offering a virtual "handshake" and waited for his response. There was none!

Furthermore, after the "disappearance" of Thinklings Bird, I took the opportunity of taking advantage of the "contact us" link on the blog, to query him about this subject, I was careful to AGAIN offer my condolences for his lose and a "handshake" in the manner any gentleman would surely understand. Again, Jared, was reticent. Not a word!

Well, let me try again, in this---what I may perceive to be an even more public venue---gg sir. well, played. Handshake!

Now, I may await the response and hope that this little fishing expedition will garner for me the real truth about what this blog site--that regards itself as the "nexus of the intellectual Universe"---may offer in way of response.

Wow slumberjack!

Slumberjack,

One reason I hope we Thinklings refrain from too many political posts is because they cause acrimony. That being said, I was the one who responded to you in the post you mentioned and I didn't mean to come across as a jerk. But I must have, and for that I apologize.

We know this blog isn't currently what it's supposed to be. It may be that it's time has passed - I don't know. As always, you will choose to read or comment or you will choose not to read or comment. I'm sorry it's not doing it for you anymore.

I will say that I think your assessment of this post is a bit rough. It's just one of those quirky posts - not everyone will get it.

Your assessment on the response/non-response from various members of the group is a bit more harsh. We have all, to varying levels, been going through a lot lately and I hope can be excused from not responding to every comment or email. A little grace, please.

You're right, the chess club is waning. Just like the first time we put it up, years ago. It went great guns for awhile, then petered out. It's ok. Taking part in the chess club takes a lot of time and thought - those who want to are welcome to, but I found that it was taking more of my time than I could give, so I bowed out. Others probably had similar experiences. It is not the purpose of the Thinklings, just a sideline.

Finally, the nexus of the intellectual universe thing is meant to be taken tongue in cheek.

Slumbergjack, how 'bout some grace?

I haven't been getting email notices from the chess program. So if someone makes a move or starts a game with me, I don't see it unless I log in to chess and look.

I don't often log in to chess and look, because:
a) I forget. Chess isn't one of my passions and when I'm online I have other interests and just forget to think to log in to chess.
b) I have a real life that limits the amount of time I can play online.

If you sent me an email about a chess game, it's possible I missed it. I don't remember receiving one. If I did, and didn't respond I apologize.

Please remember that the Internet and our blog on it is not the whole of our lives. I know Phil and Bill are swamped with real life stuff. I am too. There's just so much going on in my little world it becomes difficult to give the blog priority.

This post is "just for fun." It's a throwaway. It's using an online "trivia" generator. I'm sorry if it offends you or strikes you as too silly.

Finally, I sense you are hurt about the "missing" Thinkling. His absence was not our choice, but his. For what it's worth, we miss him too.
I was under the impression you know him in real life. Maybe I was mistaken, but if you do, why not talk to him about this?

If you think Thinklings stinks now, that is your prerogative.

In the future, I would hope that rather than a sarcastic, accusatory complaint masquerading as a blog comment, you may ask gently, "Say, I sent an email to such and such and didn't hear back. Is he okay? Did he get it?"

That would do more for community than complaints and accusations and sarcasm.

I want to say as a MoonPiest and a know Dem in these parts I’ve enjoyed the banter of politics. I walk away when I think it’s going in a bad place. Sometimes not soon enough. These guys and those who comment are nice enough to put it out there for us so if one has dropped out because he needs to then we owe him our prayers for what ever reason he is taking a break/gone. I miss Big T Bird also and wish him the best. It’s non of our business as to why he left.

I have to wonder if when a blog has reached the height that this one has if their aren’t folks who forgot that these are people with real lives. Take Jared for example the dude preaches, writes, and is a stay at home daddy. On top of that he is a husband. I see a very full plate for the man and if he can hold on to all of those special ones then he truly has the key.

Blogging is just for fun so enjoy it and drop it when you don’t.

God bless ya’ll

Milly, I appreciate that. Thank you. :-)