The Naming of Blogs (with apologies to TS Eliot)

September 30, 2006

The Naming of Blogs is a difficult matter.

It isn’t just one of your video games;

You may think at first I’m as mad as a hatter

When I tell you, a blog must have TWO WORTHY NAMES.

For some, there’s the name that the blogosphere hits daily,

Such as livejournal, blogger, typepad or wordpress,

Such as friendster or myspace, or blogspot so gaily

All of them sensible everyday names.

There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,

Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:

Such as read roger, fairrosa, nina’s newbery

But all of them sensible everyday names.

But I tell you, a blog needs a name that is particular,

A name that’s peculiar, and more dignified.

Else how can it keep all its links copacetic,

As well as handle the comments and cherish the tags?

Of names of this kind, I can give you a blogroll,

Such as fusenumber8, Brooklyn Arden, or bookslut

Such as Big A little a, or else Oz and Ends

Names that never belong to more than one blog.

But above and beyond there’s still one name left over,

And that is the name that you never will guess;

The name that no Internet search can discover -

But THE BLOG KNOWS ITSELF, and will never confess.

When you notice a blog in profound meditation,

The reason, I tell you, is always the same:

Its code is engaged in a rapt contemplation

Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of its name:

Its ineffable effable

Effanineffable

Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

Entry Filed under: Children's Literature. .

22 Comments Add your own

  • 1. Fuse #8  |  September 30, 2006 at 4:40 pm

    And the crowd, as the saying goes, goes wild. WordPress seems to have been an excellent choice for you. And T.S. Elliot would indeed be proud. I don’t have time today, but tomorrow expect me to pull out the stops in honor of this newest blog beaut.

    Reply
  • 2. Liz B  |  October 1, 2006 at 8:48 am

    I was hoping you’d start a blog! Yay!

    Reply
  • 3. John Peters  |  October 1, 2006 at 11:14 am

    (to the tune of the Hallelujah Chorus)

    Haaapy Birthday
    Haaapy Birthday
    Happy Birthday Happy Birthday
    Haa-pp-y Birrrrthday (it goes on like that)

    The blog looks good (love the header), and the Yellow Sub is on board.

    Reply
  • 4. Kathy Isaacs  |  October 1, 2006 at 11:55 am

    Effanineffible indeed! Love the poem, love the design. Look forward to much more.

    Reply
  • 5. Kelly  |  October 1, 2006 at 12:07 pm

    I’m with fuse. An annoucement comes today. I really am so glad you’re here. Great looking blog, great poem, etc.

    Reply
  • 6. Susan Taylor Brown  |  October 1, 2006 at 12:59 pm

    I’m a silently watcher, reader of your posts on various lists. I look forward to reading your blog. Congrats on the new baby and the beautiful design.

    Reply
  • 7. kerry  |  October 1, 2006 at 1:22 pm

    oh frabjous day! calloo! callay!

    I LOVE IT!

    beautiful design!

    Reply
  • 8. Michele  |  October 1, 2006 at 1:34 pm

    I don’t think you need apologise too profusely to TSE !

    Reply
  • 9. Pooja  |  October 1, 2006 at 1:52 pm

    Woo hoo! Monica in the blogosphere!

    And Happy Birthday. Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

    Reply
  • 10. David Lee Stone  |  October 1, 2006 at 2:01 pm

    Here’s to the new blog! I already left one comment, but I can’t seem to find it….so here are more good wishes to you! :-)

    Reply
  • 11. Ellen Wittlinger  |  October 1, 2006 at 2:02 pm

    Hey, Monica, Happy Birthday to you and Alice! I’m so happy I’ll have yet another wonderful reason to procrastinate every day!

    Reply
  • 12. Kerry Madden  |  October 1, 2006 at 2:13 pm

    Happy Birthday to you and your blog! I love your posts, and I look forward to your blog too.

    Reply
  • 13. Little Willow  |  October 1, 2006 at 2:29 pm

    Welcome to the book blog world! I too am a big fan of Alice in Wonderland. Kudos.

    Reply
  • 14. Susan Taylor Brown  |  October 1, 2006 at 3:30 pm

    FYI – I set up the syndication feed for you over on LiveJournal so people there can keep up with your blog. The address is:

    http://syndicated.livejournal.com/medinger/

    Reply
  • 15. Susan Thomsen  |  October 1, 2006 at 4:09 pm

    Monica, yiippee! I just read of your blog over at Big A little a. Very exciting. Welcome, welcome, welcome!

    Reply
  • 16. eisha  |  October 1, 2006 at 5:09 pm

    you definitely kicked things off with a bang, not a whimper!

    Reply
  • 17. fairrosa  |  October 1, 2006 at 8:46 pm

    So.. all my comments and well-wishes have gone into the bottomless pit of an alternative universe that’s deeper and more mysterious than that of the Rabbit Hole!

    Let’s see if this one works…

    Bravo, Monica, for finally setting this up after much agonizing over it… just go ahead, post away. The world of children’s literature and teaching young readers will be forever enriched!

    Reply
  • 18. Kara Spencer, LMT, CD  |  October 1, 2006 at 9:20 pm

    Wonderful poem, welcome to the blogosphere!

    Reply
  • 19. Miriam Lang Budin  |  October 1, 2006 at 9:37 pm

    If anyone’s blog is worth reading, it’ll be yours, Monica.

    Congratulations and keep it coming.

    Reply
  • 20. Sally Derby  |  October 2, 2006 at 6:49 am

    Sitting here with Old Deuteronomy on my lap, I’m speechless with admiration. Congratulations, Monica. What fun it will be to read your blog.

    Reply
  • 21. MotherReader  |  October 3, 2006 at 12:03 am

    Very nice adaptation of the poem.

    You’ve made the kids lit blogs all a twitter with your arrival. I’ll be looking forward to your posts.

    Reply
  • 22. Nina  |  October 5, 2006 at 1:47 pm

    so distincly you. bout time!

    Reply

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