I cannot help it -- it's in my blood

My sister forwarded an article yesterday where it is stated that, in terms of the number of blogs per Internet users, Poles are right at the top, surpassing American blogger rates two to one, and that’s not even counting those Polish blogs that are hosted on American domains, nor is it controlling for the disproportionately large number of Internet users in Poland as compared to elsewhere.

Why are we a nation of bloggers (I’m writing as a Pole now)? Why do we take to the Internet? Why do we feel the need to express ourselves in this way?

This is my chance to offer great insights into the Polish psyche. Caveat: I do not want my Polish friends/family members to jump on me for feeding national stereotypes in this post. I am not saying ALL Poles are this way, but I am saying that, errrr, some of us have, errrr, some, alright, a number, alright a GREAT number of these traits:

* We think we will all die tomorrow and so we feel compelled to hurry and put down every last word before the reaper comes knocking.

* We think we are a nation of poets; unfortunately, when we try our hand at poetry it doesn’t come out right and so we blog instead.

* We are a literate nation. We read a lot of news papers and magazines. We consume the stuff like our souls depended on it. Obviously all that reading makes us want to sound off about what we have just read.

* Our bloodline got mixed up with an Italian strain many centuries ago during years of conquest and royal travels. We are thus an expressive lot. Just like Italians. There, two stereotypes in one point.

* We have adventurous palates and we have ravenous appetites for trendy things. We’ll try anything that’s new and popular elsewhere.

* Vodka and blogging go hand in hand nicely. Have you ever tried writing a post with a chilled bottle of Wyborowa feeding a martini glass? No? Me neither, but it sounds enticing for a cold winter’s night. Or, to a Pole it does. With some pickles and maybe a piece of herring on dark rye. And cold stubby fingers sticking out wooly gloves.

But I refuse to accept the label of INSANITY levied not too long ago against those who blog or email obsessively. I put my foot down on that one. We’re passionate, but NOT insane. There’s a difference.

Thirty-sixth street pre-election diary*

even the one way arrow is twisted, warped...telling you to turn around and head back 

I’m writing from Madison now, but I’m full of New York images. The photo (above) contains three reminders for me:

First of all, we’re counting down, counting down, only thirty six days left ‘til November 2nd.

Secondly, I have come back to a messy house, yes I know it. Returns are like that – they point to omissions and deficiencies in your home and life that went unnoticed until you put some distance between yourself and them. Time to take charge and not repeat messes and mistakes of prior days!

Thirdly, yes, on so many levels, I admit that this show does stink: the election countdown, the unfinished stuff awaiting me back home, yes, indeed, it all is rather rotten.

It’s so nice to have visual reminders of failure and discontent.

Some trivial comments:

I traveled yesterday on a jet normally used as a charter for baseball and basketball teams (the words Knicks, Brewers and Bucks were mentioned. I assume I’m in the right ball park?). It was quite an experience to stretch one’s legs all the way, all the way and still not be able to come within a foot of the next row.

While our star athletes enjoy all that leg room, is this what awaits our young cadre of (high school? college?) graduates? Do they get to hang out here, on 36th street? (The glass reflects fabulous places in the garment district where they may find work; hey, at least two of the windows have an air conditioners; that’ll keep the sweat down.)

where those with diplomas congregate? 

I came home to a pile up of newspapers on the doorstep (having neglected to put a stop on delivery). Though I’d been keeping up in NY with the headlines in the NYTimes, I had not checked my local paper for five days, thereby missing the following front page stories:

Fans may get a bit puckish (Thursday)
More troops to be needed (Friday)
Ex-Texas gov Richards: Bush simple in debates (Saturday)
Kerry’s all ears (Monday)

Now, I know it is tough to write clever front-page headlines. Still, maybe I could hire a small staff of ‘bright young things’ and together we could work to help our local papers? Send us your stories, we’ll pitch the headline. There we go: Polack’s Pitches. Another money-making idea!

(*see “forty-second street pre-election diary” post, September 22, for explanation of post title)