Five things about my blog and me
This little thing started out on Livejournal, I'd bet. Livejournal is a semi-free blogging domain similar to Blogger. In the GREAT INTERNET TIMELINE, it seemed to peak about three or four years ago. In January of this year, the Russian media conglomerate that purchased it in 2007 announced that it was laying off the San Francisco staff and moving operations to Russia. Welcome to the global economy! So though the questions aren't directly appropriate to the features of Blogger and "Doctor Andy Speaks", I think you'll be able to follow along.
1. My username is ________ because ________.
Each of my entries gets signed "Doctor Andy". For the past five years, that's basically how people refer to me, but it's really only used by an "old" strata of friend. These old friends were actually around Kansas City when I started, thereby being in the position of having to deal with not one, not two, but THREE trombone players named "Andy" enrolled at once. The two other guys had been enrolled the previous year, so they were "Big Andy" and "Little Andy". Big Andy was the taller of the two, as you might guess. I arrived and was taller than Big Andy, so I received the appelation "Doctor Andy", on account of my doctoral aspirations. This nickname moved beyond the small social circle of trombone players, and at times it seemed everyone who knew me addressed me that way, often in complete seriousness. Soon, I'll earn my title fair and sqaure, and will no doubt be called something else entirely.
2. My name is _____ because ______.
My name is Andrew Jacob Schwartz. I was partially named for my maternal great-great grandfather (with perhaps another "great" or two thrown on), Johann Andreas Krall. My middle name comes from my father's side. My father had always been told his middle name was Jacob, but his birth certificate only states "J", with no period. There's a lot more to this story, but I can't remember it, despite having looked through the geneological records not TOO long ago with my mom.
3. My journal is titled ____ because ____.
Well, we covered the "Doctor Andy" part in question 2. When I was trying to come up with the name originally, it was tricky. Blogger will assign you an address "xxxx.blogger.com" of your choice, but that doesn't neccesarily have to be the title of your blog. I carefully considered the non-captialized run-on form the address would take, which is one of the reasons I didn't use "Dr. Andy": drandyspeaks. "Drandy" just doesn't have the same gravitas. Long time readers may remember the blog was originally called "A Great Eater of Beef", which is a title I still love in my heart of hearts: the bookmark in my browser has never been changed from that.
4. My friends page is called ____ because ____.
The list of friend's blogs over on the left is called "Other Points of View" because that's the way I perceive blogs in general. Each one reflects the author's point of view. The process of reading what someone else writes doesn't just inform me what they're talking about, it also gives me a chance to see HOW they think and argue. What's important to them?
5. My default userpic is ____ because ____.\
It's me at a New Year's Eve party in 2001, I think. Either that or 2002. I used it because at the time I started the blog, I only had access to a scanner, not a digital camera. Unable to take a picture of myself, I scanned on from a photo. It also preserved the barest hint of anonymity. People who know me can instantly see that it's me, but it's not going to get my face plastered on the evening news.
1. My username is ________ because ________.
Each of my entries gets signed "Doctor Andy". For the past five years, that's basically how people refer to me, but it's really only used by an "old" strata of friend. These old friends were actually around Kansas City when I started, thereby being in the position of having to deal with not one, not two, but THREE trombone players named "Andy" enrolled at once. The two other guys had been enrolled the previous year, so they were "Big Andy" and "Little Andy". Big Andy was the taller of the two, as you might guess. I arrived and was taller than Big Andy, so I received the appelation "Doctor Andy", on account of my doctoral aspirations. This nickname moved beyond the small social circle of trombone players, and at times it seemed everyone who knew me addressed me that way, often in complete seriousness. Soon, I'll earn my title fair and sqaure, and will no doubt be called something else entirely.
2. My name is _____ because ______.
My name is Andrew Jacob Schwartz. I was partially named for my maternal great-great grandfather (with perhaps another "great" or two thrown on), Johann Andreas Krall. My middle name comes from my father's side. My father had always been told his middle name was Jacob, but his birth certificate only states "J", with no period. There's a lot more to this story, but I can't remember it, despite having looked through the geneological records not TOO long ago with my mom.
3. My journal is titled ____ because ____.
Well, we covered the "Doctor Andy" part in question 2. When I was trying to come up with the name originally, it was tricky. Blogger will assign you an address "xxxx.blogger.com" of your choice, but that doesn't neccesarily have to be the title of your blog. I carefully considered the non-captialized run-on form the address would take, which is one of the reasons I didn't use "Dr. Andy": drandyspeaks. "Drandy" just doesn't have the same gravitas. Long time readers may remember the blog was originally called "A Great Eater of Beef", which is a title I still love in my heart of hearts: the bookmark in my browser has never been changed from that.
4. My friends page is called ____ because ____.
The list of friend's blogs over on the left is called "Other Points of View" because that's the way I perceive blogs in general. Each one reflects the author's point of view. The process of reading what someone else writes doesn't just inform me what they're talking about, it also gives me a chance to see HOW they think and argue. What's important to them?
5. My default userpic is ____ because ____.\
It's me at a New Year's Eve party in 2001, I think. Either that or 2002. I used it because at the time I started the blog, I only had access to a scanner, not a digital camera. Unable to take a picture of myself, I scanned on from a photo. It also preserved the barest hint of anonymity. People who know me can instantly see that it's me, but it's not going to get my face plastered on the evening news.
Oh yea. I remember that....I got to UMKC and there were 2 Andys, so I deemed them Big Andy and Little Andy because Big Andy was taller and older and Little Andy was shorter and younger. Then you came along and I recall deeming you Dr Andy because you were the only doctoral Andy and you were the oldest! Tah-dah! And no more trombone Andy confusion. I thought it was funny when Dr. Davis started referring to y'alls (everyone says that down here....and yes, with the 's') that way.
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