While one may be granted sole rights as owner and agent to his intentions, said owner should always consider that each of those within his orbit should feel equally entitled to hold fast the license to her own perceptions and interpretations. As my dear old pappy is wont to say from time to time (and I hate the fact that I am actually quoting the man--30 years is coming fast!!!), "It's not what you say. It's what people hear." Mr. Huffman advises that Kritikal Mess is composed for his own entertainment, and that we shouldn't read if we are likely to be offended. I concur, but would extend the point by suggesting that if one isn't prepared to deal with the responses that are provoked, then don't post.

The preceding thus advanced, I will grant that my previous entry in this altogether entertaining bout was apt to foment a diverse body of perceptions and interpretations. I don't even know that my intentions really play into it, once I click on the "Post and Publish" button (that's Blogger-speak, for you HTML-ers out there). I will admit that I hoped to stir the cauldron, if possible. And I can never really pass up the opportunity to engage in some fiery wordplay.

Lastly, let me say that Mr. Huffman is a good friend and I certainly don't wish him any ill will as he begins a vacation. I don't really want this debate to end prematurely, however. I, for one enjoy this community as a forum for anything, including some charged exchanges. Let me be clear: Nothing posted herein shall in any way impede my desire to commune with Mr. Huffman, preferably over a cold pint of pale ale.

Warning: The ensuing vitriol may, in fact, be exactly what Mr. Huffman is hoping to elicit. Thus acknowledged, a man must stand accused of the bullshit that spews from his computer...

My general belief system, Chris, posits that one should be supportive of others' efforts to join oneself in shared experiences. How an individual chooses to engage with a given system is far less important than the fact that she actually chooses to engage. If, as the case may be, there are modes of access and communication that are more efficient than those chosen, so be it. The real issue is to motivate the outsider to learn the new skill. Does Chris really believe that he is providing a true motivational set to those who opt out of spending our time learning a computer language? Do you believe that your rant, having expelled itself from your clearly superior keyboard, will have "taught monkey's" (sic- yes, I would first make sure I know English grammar before nerding out on my ability to use task-specific code) how to be better bloggers? I cannot see how.

Let's reduce the whole affair, shall we? We all have unique skill sets. Some resident skills within those sets overlap, and others remain with our own propietary realm. This patchwork is exactly what makes us interesting, and indeed, useful to one another. If we were all equally capable of the same tasks, we would cease to rely on each other for support and succor. And it is just this reliance that makes social interactions so compelling. Otherwise, humanity is merely a menagerie of supermen, isolated in their self-built crystal palaces.

Chris, if you want to teach us "monkey's" some HTML, wonderful. I am always up for learning something new. Will I spend a great deal of time on it? No. Will I respond to teaching methodology that requires me to be belittled and embarrassed? Absolutely not.

I have come up with a new use for Jack--have him lie behind you on your chair while you are typing and he provides a great deal of lumbar support. He squirms every now and again, but clearly is content to be there....

Quite pleased to see the O-man this morning. He is gone this afternoon. Big surprise.

Speaking of cats, Ned mentions that one can't swing a dead one without hitting a married couple these days. In our discussions related to our impending journey to Utah, Pat foretells that the state is so heavily populated by Mormors that one can't swing....you get the picture. I am just a little curious as to the origin of this charming bit of midwestern vernacular. Is the circular hefting of deceased felines in crowded spaces a common occurence in these parts? I am, when distilled to my roots, a child of the suburbs. Ned suggests that perhaps the dead cat metaphor comes from more agrarian settings, where cats are barn animals--not to be fed or cared for, just tolerated. I may have never encountered such cattitudes (so sorry) in the flesh. Any perspectives would be welcomed.

I will be attending the Fashion Review at the Hamilton County 4H Fair on Friday. Natalie will be competing, and it seems she has a fairly good shot at winning. I think this is part of the Queen contest, in which N. was 1st runner-up last year. Unfortunately, I won't get to see Mary Beth, as she and my father will be in Denmark for a soccer tournament. How it came that those two got all of the responsibility and industry genes is beyond me.

Quick and dirty, coz Heather is here...

X-men was about as good a time I have had at the theater in a while. Somebody has finally made a decent superhero movie. Are you watching this, Tim Burton? I would go check it out again, just for kicks. I am quite sure there are plenty of you out there for whom this would hold no interest, but that is your loss...

Unless the duopolistic government tries to mess it up on technicalities, Nader will be on the ballot in November. Kick booty, everywhere. I fully support Tanque.org's endorsement of Nader. He will not win, but party building is important. Besides, I'd love to give Gore a kick in the shins.

Less than two weeks away from the departure....yeah.

Just heard the Buzzcock's "What Do I Get" behind a Toyota commercial. They are off the artistic roll call. I am sad.