First, the bees.
We’ve got a large mock orange bush/plant at the front of our driveway, and there are several hedges within a block of here. When the mock orange blooms, the fragrance from the clusters of small white flowers fills the air. In the past, so did the bees. We’re used to seeing lots of bees whenever the flowers appear. But recently, no bees. Nada. Large hedges filled with flowers and not a bee to be seen.
Yesterday, though, Meda noticed a few bees attracted to fuzzy blooms on a paperbark tree just off our front deck. They looked a bit scrawny, and there weren’t many of them, but they were there. The first honey bees we’ve seen in a while. Stragglers in a losing fight, or the advance guard of a new generation? We’re hoping for the best.
Several people have reported having problems accessing the comments in the past several days, either to read prior comments or to leave a comment.
Here’s one description:
For some reason, I can’t open the comments on your blog. The words, e.g., “1 comment,” “light up” when I place my cursor there and the pointer changes to a hand when I hover, but nothing happens when I click. I am stuck with IE7 on XP Professional edition. I have closed the browser and reopended it with no success. I haven’t tried rebooting. Too many other things up and running. The problem is probably mine (altho’ I’ve never had it before) but just thought I’d let you know in case the trouble is on your end.
Another writes:
You have the same problem as Burl — when I place my cursor on “Comment,” nothing happens. The comments don’t appear.
And one reports simply:
FYI, I can’t open the comments (whether clicking on the comments or on the title of the post) Sigh…
Meanwhile, lots of other comments are being left, so many are able to get through.
I’m kind of at a loss. Any suggestions of how to fix this problem would be much appreciated. Just email me (ian@ilind.net). Sigh….
There’s another issue that I go back to from time to time: Should iLind.net continue to mix different context areas or try to remain more sharply focused?
Yesterday I noticed this comment buried in responses to a Star-Bulletin story on Kamehameha Schools’ failure to report an alleged sexual assault.
The comment was left by someone going by the name of “Ulu” from Bakersfield, California.
Ian Lind’s blog provides great background for news, as Trina indirectly pointed out. http://ilind.net/
You have to read about his cats and elderly father also, but that’s ok.
Don’t forget to mention the dogs and the sunrise walks on the beach!
It’s true that I’m going against the trend of focusing a blog on a particular subject and audience. Perhaps I could increase the number of daily visitors by limited content, or splitting up the site into several related blogs.
But it seems to me that this is a bit more like reality. Multidimensional, curious about different topics, jumping from news and analysis to artistic expression, such as it is. That’s how people are. Why not let a blog grow organically in the same fashion?
In any case, I would be interested in your comments. That is, if you’re able to access the comments!
It seemed to be a temporary — perhaps hacked — glitch in WordPress blogs…
Personally I appreciate the variety because that’s the “surprise” factor. Seeing as how your blog served as inspiration for my own, that may be an example of “confirmation bias” i.e. seeking out what you already agree with.
A blog takes a lot of energy hence the passions of the creator have to be expressed or the blog fades out, as 99.9% do. We have to write about what interests us , or else why bother?
Lastly, you are a reporter and that includes “human interest features” as well as skeptical analysis and hard reporting.
When a blog is narrowly focused then I soon lose interest because the information and commentary is just rehashed /”preaching to the choir”.
Here in N. Calif we saw honey bees for the first time in many years. I make a huge effort to keep flowering plants in the garden year round to provide an oasis for pollinators. I too hope these are survivors of the plague which killed off so many hives.
Word Press can be hacked/get buggy. That’s one reason I stay away from all platforms. I can recommend the Google Chrome browser. It’s much cleaner and faster than the others.
I agree with the other reader–let’s hear a bit more about your Mom as well as your Dad. Both are fascinating characters with wonderful histories. I’d also to know what your Dad thought of your Kahoolawe adventures.
dontgochangin
totrytopleaseme
Ian. Ignore Bakersfield (ever been there?!) and mainland haoles and their whining manini demands. Keep on keepin on exactly as you are. That’s my demand, uh… request. Ian Lind’s column is exactly as we like it.
Another reader just commented via email:
I’m on Safari. All other browsers for the dual core Mac are slow and buggy. (for me) I have no problem leaving comments, but when I clik on what looks to be a link, a pic below the italicized “latest photos” I am given a 404 page telling me “easy tiger you are trying to steal photos in a restricted are! do not pass go,,, ” etc.. yow. whadda thing to see before coffee!
I think the broken link you refer to is fixed. It’s funny what a simple dropped quotation mark will do!
I enjoy the variety,and comments work fine
on Firefox for me
Politics (local and global), history, the reality of aging, photography and animals, I love it all, thank you.
Variety is the spice of life.
And a belated Happy Birthday to you!
How about the “Politics of aging photography?”
I enjoy the variety too, but I’d rather see each topic have its own post. Besides immediate convenience for readers, this would also make it easier for people looking for specific topics in past posts.
But, you know, it’s your show, so proceed as you wish.
i like your journal just the way it is. however — if splitting it up into separate journals meant — hypothetically — that Feline Friday could be EVERY DAY — then that could be really cool … but that might take away its specialness …
Sorry, I was pointing people to your blog, not writing a review of it . I greatly enjoy the variety as well as the harder news. Your blog is best read over a cup of coffee as it gets round to things when it is ready to, but it sounds as if Kimo needs to restrict his caffeine intake.
Ulu
I had the comment trouble earlier using IE8. But I had so many tabs open that there wasn’t much memory. A reboot fixed it, and here I am commenting without problems.
On cats, if I still had cats I would run pics also. You seem to have a winning combination. Your investigative articles keep me coming, and the cats decorate the experience. Your pics of Hawaii past are awesome, and so is your narrative of the stuggles your family is currently facing. I would vote for “keep it up” if I had a vote. Change or keep the same, you have the right instinct for what will work.
I’m an animal lover and Ian has (among obvious others,) two things goin’ for him. Beautiful, intelligent looking cats all with distinct personalities and photographic expertise that conveys it well. (and those that tell others to alter their diet may instead, ignore the dietary deviant’s posts.) It’s all part of the blog experience.
Don’t change! Love your blog just the way it is. All mixed up just like life.
IE7/XP Pro is letting me comment now.
I like the variety of the blog, look forward to finding nuggets of interest, in fact. I can see some merit, however, to the suggestion that the posts be broken up by content/category. You kind of already do that with the parenthetical numbering, e.g. “Sunday (3)”.
I haven’t see many honey bees of late, either. I seem to be seeing (or perhpas just noticing) more of those big, all-black, bumble-bee like bees, ‘tho. I wonder what that’s about?
I enjoy your blog as is – love the mishmash of subjects. Especially love the cats (I only have one) & old pix of Hawaii – some of them bring back memories, some are before my time.
I did have trouble the other night accessing comments but it seems to be working now.
Hi Ian,
I like your blog as-is, but if you change it, I wish you the best of luck!
Varroa mites sucking bees dry represents a major problem world-wide. Fortunately, some mainland researchers appear close to solutions that we can all hope will help. Bees are important little beasts when it comes to agricultural pollination.
Do you know much about mock orange? After ten years of good and consistent growth, a mock orange hedge has been struggling for a year or so, with very little or no new growth and what new growth appears is often stunted. Numerous branches simply drop all their leaves and die (become brittle and internally dry). We live mauka of Kahalu‘u so it’s fairly rainy here. I’ve tried baking soda dissolved in water to kill moss on branches; tried anti-fungal sprays, enriched iron/acid irrigation solutions and Vioxx systemic bug killer (hate to use it, but don’t want to lose the plants). Nothing seems to help, but only recently tried systemic bug killer. Any help appreciated!
“You have to read about his cats and elderly father also, but that’s ok.”
If you “have to” read about it then it’s not ok. If it’s ok, then you don’t “have to” read about it. In fact no one has a gun to yer head. You don”t “have to” read… about…ANYthing.
I can now access the comments, Ian. I discovered that DOUBLE CLICKING the word Comment brings me to the comments. A single click won’t.
I like the site. Still, it is your insight and finding out what others are saying that draws my attention. BTW, I love the old Hawaii photos. J.L.
Ian,
I’ve been reading your blog for at least 5 years now and if you changed it… I might think the sky was falling.
Your blog is the best in the State and I’m sure there isn’t anything you could ever do to ruin that.
I have also been reading for at least 5 years and enjoy it and appreciate it just the way it is (especially 3-post days!) Love the cats, am educated and inspired by your reporting, and appreciate hearing about your father.
Also noticing fewer honeybees and LOTS more carpenter bees – the big, black bumblebee looking ones. Which were called “termites on steroids” by a pest control person I met.
Please keep your blog as-is, Ian. Yours is the first and most consistent blog that I follow. You do a wonderful job!