Ahh, AmhPub. What another wonderful forum for discussion, musings, connections, and purposeless ramblings. (Ok, seriously we all know it is simply another wonderful procrastination tool.) However, as it appears to be a procrastination tool with a purpose, meaning, and soul (or at least some attempts at intelligent observations and witty commentary,) I’m officially hooked.
As I currently have an absolutely insurmountable amount of work to be completed in the next 188 hours, 42 minutes and 13 seconds (not that I’m counting or anything), the best use of my time is of course creating a blog on AmhPub. However, this inspiration left me with a dilemma that almost inspired me to return to my paper on obscure theories about lead poisoning as the cause of the fall of the Roman Empire. (Yes, I did choose the paper topic. Please shoot me!) This dilemma looked more daunting than writing a paper for Austin Sarat, more confusing than a Ditzy Mitzy lecture, more obscure than a the practical uses of an Amherst class, and more nauseating than val scrod. As my fellow bloggers probably have realized by now, it is the dilemma of course choosing a blog title. (By the way, I’m both mildly amused and mildly repulsed by the fact that I just used the expression “my fellow bloggers”)
In attempt to find inspiration (and of course to further procrastinate), I did a “quick” perusal of the variety of blogs on the site. They seem to fall in a number of distinct categories.
1) The Official Staff Writer Blogs. These have a title that simply states the broad and distinct category and purpose that each blog is attempting to fill. As far as I know, these were pre-chosen titles by the editorial staff who are paying the staff writers for their thoughts. (Doug Eickman’s “Catch the Fever” (Sports) appears to be the only one that has been changed from the original title.*) As I lack any category or purpose for this blog yet alone a distinct one (and of course because I fully expect that no one will read much less pay for my writing), an “Official” title is not for me.
2) The Unoffical Purposeful Blogs. While these blogs are not official staff writers, they have a self selected category and purpose that their author is attempting to fullfill. Thus they generally have a title that illustrates their purpose but lacks the bland nature of the offiicial titles. Good examples include Anna Brenner’s “Dirty Word” (Feminism), , Rachel Edelman’s “Words, words, words” (Writing), and Gregory Campeau’s “From the Old Republic” (Conservative Thinking?).* However since I lack inspiration or cause, this clearly won’t work for me.
3) The Campus Group Blogs. These blogs are generally run by the leader of a campus group discussing what the group is currently doing. While many of these affinity groups are constantly doing something new and interesting (as they attempt to save the world) and should be blogging about it, I don’t think anyone want to hear about the Sailing Team. (Very few people follow the regular varsity sports, fewer people know we exist, and no one cares what we’re doing.) (Random Plug: We have lots of fun. If you know how to sail or want to learn how to sail, we’re constantly looking for new members. E-mail me at dmccune09.)
4) The Clever Title Random Blogs. These blogs have a clever title that involves a play on words, an interesting reference, or some type of witty inside joke. (Sarah Zimmerman, will you please explain what the spiky ball refers to?) These blogs generally appear to lack an overarching purpose, but involve observations on all types of things.
5) The My Name Blogs. These blogs are titled with their author’s name. They are also virtually all blanks. As I really hope that I will have the wherewithal to actually post once in a blue moon, I can’t do this one. (Note, this is not an insult to these bloggers. I fully expect that we will have exactly the same number of readers, but you will have spent your time on much more important pursuits such as passing your classes, having fun, drinking, picking your nails, or writing “I need to stop blogging and do my homework” 10,000 times while I will have spent hours perfoming a meaningless analysis of AmhPub blog titles.)
As I am definitely hoping to fall into the “Clever Title Random Blogs” (thought it will be more likely be the “Stupid Title Useless Blog”) category, my study of AmhPub does nothing to solve my dilemma, but instead adds to it as my title must now be “worthy” of the rest of this category. (But perhaps the time spent looking at blog titles will spare someone else the same futile examination?)
This left me with no option except a brain storming session. Ideas such as “The Edge of Sanity” (my current state), “Something Crazy This Way Comes…”, “I Don’t Know How to Blog (But I am Anyway)” (Notice a theme yet?) floated through my head.
Finally, Scott Smith’s blog inspired me with an idea. His use of “Don’t Panic” (was that a Douglas Adams reference or not, Scott?) made me think of the excellent, hysterical, and profound (yes, profound) Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Adam’s irreverent and humorous search for the Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything (which is 42, for the unenlightened) was the exact inspiration for what I hope to accomplish with this blog–an interesting and funny (or at least in my case an unintentionally and pathetically humorous) look at a wide variety of topics (politics, Amherst, photography, movies, humor, books, booze, etc.) as I attempt to find some sort of meaning (and sanity) in this crazy world. (And yes, there will be a plethora of parenthetical side trips for bites to eat and obscure references along the way.)
With that, I must return to working on finals. (Shiny!) I’ll conclude with a set of quotes from the master himself that sum up my approach to finals (and maybe will provide some inspiration?)
“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”
“The point is, you see, that there is no point in driving yourself mad trying to stop yourself going mad. You might just as well give in and save your sanity for later”
And the most important….”Don’t Panic” (Printed in large friendly letters).
So in summary, go have a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster and get back to your work, you hoopy frood!
Correction May 9, 2008: This post originally listed Doug Eickman’s “Catch the Fever” (Sports) as an unofficial blog rather than as a staff writer.