And sadly the memory card had gotten full, and things ended too soon. But they still had a good time with it.

This weekend I discovered them making their first video newscast. I have to admit that I have laughed more at this the past few days than I ever would have expected. The following video is about the first half of their first newscast. They said they’ll probably make more in the future.

But somewhere along the way I started almost worrying about what I’d write. Would it be interesting? Would anyone care? Would it get a comment? So I’d get stuck in over analyzing things and try to think of the right thing to write about or say. And that would basically freeze me into inactivity. And I’d not post. And then since it had been a while since my last post, I thought I needed a “really good one” for my come back. So then I’d over analyze the next “really good” post. And then I’d still just think, “I should write something tomorrow…”

So no promises, but I intend just to write. And if no one reads it, well, so what? It should be fun, right? I mean, sure, still put some thought and effort into things. Each post shouldn’t just be a stream of conscious. But it doesn’t have to be the next award winning writing either.

I remember when I posted my first real post I ended with these words:

What sort of voice will the blog have? Will it focus on specific things, or anything goes? How personal will it be? Well, it’s still little more than an embryo…so it has lots of growing and maturing to do before it develops a recognizable personality. I hope you hang around with me to see how things go.

And while I know it’s no longer an embryo, I think maybe my blog is going through puberty. It’s experiencing some changes. And is trying to figure out it’s place. There was a time when I thought I’d blog mainly about MSU sports, or Christian culture, or what happened to me and my family today, or what tech stuff I wish I could own or whatever else. But instead of trying to find a niche and impress anyone in particular, I think I’m just going to write what’s on my mind. We’ll see how it goes.

So I bought statedog.com. It was name I started using in ESPN’s College Basketball Chat back in 1996 when Miss State went to the Final Four. Then I started using it on message boards. So it seemed like a good fit. I didn’t know what script to use, but I went with MovableType. It seemed like the stud at the time. I read some other blogs by now that were using MovableType. And it was free. But a bugger to install (it was Perl based back then.)

But to shorten the story, I set up a blog StateDOG.com using MovableType. I ended up running into some issues with MT. And tons of spam too. I converted to a new script called WordPress and loved it. But for a few various reasons I ended up stopping blogging. But I still had the itch. I picked it back up at ASmallTwist.com. I was able to acquire my own name as a .net so figured I must use it. So BlakeThompson.net started up as my blog. Lots of bouncing around for all my blogging, right? There were probably about five or six hosts too.

But this past week I was able to get everything together. I combined all my old blogs with my current blog. It took a few days of mistakes, broken databases, import issues, and upgrades, but I was able to finally get all the old stuff, ever way back to my first post on my own domain, here in the archives. Sadly the comments didn’t make the trip from 2003 to 2010. But I got the meat of the old blog. There are probably some broken links here and there. I know there are some missing pictures. And a lot of what used to be linked to might not even be in existence these days (blogs come and go, you know).

But sit back and look through some of the history. I know there have been some starts and stops. But my intent is to be here to stay. And I’d like for you to be here with me. So, is anyone still reading this thing?

• Celebrating the win by the Miss State Bulldogs! Now we get to face Memphis 10:16 PM Mar 21st from web
• Just paid a WHOLE LOT for a tranmission rebuild. Ouch! 12:40 PM Mar 31st from twhirl
• meeting up w/ the Goolsby’s in Oxpatch today. Should be fun! 8:23 AM Apr 5th from twhirl
• PowerHouse, Proud Larry’s, Hollie’s Sweet Tooth, Square Books Jr, The Clay Canvas, and Avent Park! What a full day! 5:45 PM Apr 5th from txt
• @boomama, think Jamont comes back? I think he should. Both for himself and my selfish desires. 1:10 PM Apr 7th from twhirl in reply to boomama
• Tis an overcast day. But one with lots of promise. Listening to Kidd Kraddick while I drive 8:23 AM Apr 9th from txt
• American Idols all singing Shout To The Lord? By Hillsong. Interesting 9:08 PM Apr 9th from txt
• @tapdraw No need to make fun. You’re drinking the KoolAid… Nice picture by the way 4:10 PM Apr 10th from web in reply to tapdraw@tapdraw D is in. Lyle seems to be in a minor resistance, but he will cave. 10:34 AM Apr 11th from twhirl in reply to tapdraw
• Almost bought a car. Got sacred of all the radiator fluid scattered everywhere under the hood.12:33 PM Apr 14th from txt
• Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. CAN’T LOSE! 11:15 AM Apr 18th from im
• Grocery shopping at WalMart with all 3 kids. What an experience. 2:45 PM Apr 19th from txt
• Looking over tomorrow’s sermon. Looking for it to stick in my head. Then come out quite smoothly in the moring 10:05 PM Apr 19th from im
• Heading to Domino’s. Then to Small Group. I ate a whole medium pizza yesterday. Did i learn my lesson? 5:27 PM Apr 22nd from txt
• Sitting on the porch at Square Books is a peaceful place (unless a big backhoe rumbles down the street) 4:59 PM Apr 23rd from twhirl
• Looking at a possible house to buy. Looks nice. We’ll see. Might look at another too. I need a lottery. 1:27 PM Apr 24th from txt
• I fine myself looking at my watch wishing LOST would last longer. It is intense tonight. Ben is BAD! 9:55 PM Apr 24th from txt
• Just finished editing and publishing our first podcast here in Oxford. 12:53 PM Apr 28th from txt
• Lunch at Ajax Diner. Always good. I can hear my arteries already screaming at me. But i block them out! Meatloaf? 11:40 AM Apr 29th from txt
• Out of deodarant. Had to use The Wife’s. Smells like Sweet Pea and Violet. How manly! 8:00 AM May 1st from txtHeaded to Proud Larry’s for lunch with some Clintonians! Good times on the Oxford Square.11:52 AM May 1st from txt
• Time to get my LOST on 11:35 PM May 1st from txt
• Tornados all around now. Sirens and trees falling. Crazy lightning. 6:59 PM May 2nd from txt
  
• Driving from new albany to Oxford. Tons me huge trees uprooted and tossed around along hwy 30. Esp in Enterprise. 8:10 AM May 4th from txt
  
• @tapdraw HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 8:08 AM May 5th from txt in reply to tapdraw
• About to eat some meatloaf at Ajax Diner. 6:21 PM May 6th from txt
• Crazy tornadoes coming through the area again. Tupelo has some damage and it’s stormy all around. Pontotoc county too. 9:24 AM May 8th from web
• Kicking it back easy tonight. Going to take The Wife out for a date. Been married 9 years today!4:16 PM May 8th from im
• Looks like we found a house. Now it’s all paperwork to be done. Sweet!! 5:12 PM May 9th from txt
• Crazy tornadoes looking like they’ll be all around again in North Mississippi tonight. Crap! 9:47 PM May 10th from txt
• Sometimes babies are really cute. Sometimes they scream and it feels like an icepick in your ear! 8:05 PM May 14th from txt
• Joey Beachum from Mississippi State just won the Jeopardy College Tournament! Woo Hoo!11:26 AM May 16th from im
• Why don’t my kids realize you’re supposed to sleep late on Saturdays? 7:53 AM May 17th from twhirl
• I think i just finished the last paperwork to buy the house. Now we wait for everything to get put together. It cant be too soon 3:25 PM May 17th from txt
• About to have church in Amory for the first time in years. Will speak at the grad lunch in a matter me hours too. That was me 16 years ago. 8:43 AM May 18th from txt
• Daughter still has a 101 fever. Doc said it was contageous. That means we get to do this a few more times. Awesome! 6:54 PM May 22nd from twhirl
• Sitting on The Square in Oxford. Watching the traffic go round the Courthouse. Sunny. Waiting on my boy to finish eating his lunch. 2:30 PM May 23rd from web
• At the Ghettro Mall in Jackson. South Jackson is fun if you have your glock. 6:52 PM May 23rd from txtEating at El Sombrero in Clinton for the first time in months. But there’s a raucous lingere party going on here too. 8:38 PM May 23rd from txt
• Starting to get packing. Supposed to buy a home in 2 days. Then gotta move 11:47 AM May 26th from twhirl
• Just spent my first night in my new house. Now it’s time for a SHORT drive to church instead of a 40 min drive. 8:16 AM Jun 1st from txt
• Trying to make another round with cleaning out the garage of boxes. I want to keep everything. The Wife wants to throw everything away. 3:21 PM Jun 13th from web
• I was outside Square Books putting up a poster and a man stopped me to ask if there were any restaurants nearby. Must have been a visitor. 3:01 PM Jun 17th from txt
• Eating a bowl of ice cream at my kitchen table. Listening to The Postal Service. Life is good.3:39 PM Jun 24th from web
• Pat has a new iphone. Color me jealous. Will i get one sometime? 9:47 AM Jul 11th from txt
• Good to be home. My bed was awesome! But i really miss that pool and beach outside my back door. And there were no flies there. 3:30 PM Jul 12th from txt
• Eat drink and be merry. For tomorrow we diet. 1:14 PM Jul 13th from txt
• Getting gas for 3.64 a gallon in Pontotoc. Lowest I’ve seen in a long while anywhere. 7:49 PM Jul 25th from txt
• When i watch movies set in England it makes me want to spend time there. Bourne is the worst. 6:32 PM Jul 30th from txt
• This weather is crazy. High of only 83. Seems the temp is coming down like the gas prices. 8:09 AM Aug 11th from txt
• preparing for sunday’s sermon and it’s raining like mad outside. i don’t mind. vanilla coke is keeping me company 10:46 AM Aug 20th from web
• Why does my wife rent movies that are not good over and over and over and over and over and over again? 9:48 PM Aug 21st from twhirl
• I have found my new favorite music artist. OWL CITY. Simply Amazing. http://is.gd/ARu Anyone else like him? 4:19 PM Aug 26th from twhirl
• The girl at the TacoBell drive thru had her name tattooed across her neck. Quite strange. 12:04 PM Aug 28th from txtI’d never heard of Bristol Palin 5 days ago. Now her and baby news have been all over the place the last day. I feel sorry for her right now 12:29 PM Sep 1st from TweetDeck
• Things on the Oxford square are def hopping tonight. First week of classes & game day weekend = mucho beer & cigs on the Square. 10:30 PM Aug 29th from txt
  
• Is there a gas craze again? A station here with 3.54 a gal had about 20 cars waiting in line. One had 3.99. I’m getting 3.64 now. 1:45 PM Sep 12th from txt
  
• Weedeating and The Violent Femmes. What a brilliant combination! 4:34 PM Sep 16th from txt
  
• Sitting in my hotel lobby because I can’t get into any hotel room. The manager is supposed to be here in a few minutes. Maybe I’ll get in? 2:02 PM Sep 17th from TweetDeck
  
• The Tonight Show and David Letterman come on too late here in the EST. Not sure I’d ever get used to it. 10:35 PM Sep 17th from TweetDeck
  
• #innovate08 If we are pursing things that arent’ bad, but not what God made us for…it is sin. It is poop. @shawnwood 10:35 AM Sep 18th from TweetDeck
  
• @robwegner is a passionate teacher. “most people in churches would have a different answer than Jesus on ‘what is the gospel?’” 8:09 AM Sep 19th from TweetDeck in reply to robwegner
  
• @robwegner said “We decided we’d rather be 30’ deep in 3 places than 3inches deep in 30 places” #innovate08 8:23 AM Sep 19th from TweetDeck in reply to robwegner
  
• Just watched Notre Dame Men’s soccer team the St. John’s 0-0 after dbl OT. ND is #3 in the country. 8:27 PM Sep 19th from txt
  
• Holy Cow! McCain is asking for the Friday night debate to be postponed! Oxford will go nuts if that happens. http://poprl.com/13g 2:17 PM Sep 24th from TweetDeck
  
• I wonder what McCain’s aproval rating is in Oxford, MS right now? This possible debate cancellation might hurt him 2:47 PM Sep 24th from TweetDeck
  
• There comes a point in time when a baby is screaming in the car seat where you either cease to hear it or it is in your head. 7:10 PM Sep 30th from txt
  
• The turkey and cheddar croissant is wearing off. It was good while it lasted though. Time to restock my belly. @tapdraw is a lame punk. 3:04 PM Oct 2nd from web
  
• Gas is falling all over Mississippi except for a few places. Oxford is one of those. It’s 2.85 in Hattiesburg. 3.49 here! 12:17 PM Oct 7th from txt
  
• I’m riding around with 2 Chinese guys. Not sure they know how to drive. I’m in the back. Looks like we’re headed to B atesville. Now turn 11:48 AM Oct 8th from txt
  
• Saw Snatch the other night. Maybe one me the better movies I’ve seen in a while if not for all the British cussing. 8:40 AM Oct 9th from txt
  
• Eating ice cream in my backyard while the kids play on the fort I put together. 2:15 PM Oct 12th from txt
  
• Time to go get FAMILY FLU SHOTS! Should be a fun day. Three kids w/ shots. 12:13 PM Oct 13th from TweetDeck
  
• Headed to Amory. Still recovering from having to watch Another Cinderella Story with my wife last night. 10:50 AM Oct 17th from txt
  
• Tahoe sales drive? Some middle easterners coming from Alabama to look/buy this evening. Hope for sale! 12:10 PM Oct 21st from txt
  
• Should middle school children hanging out in High Point Coffee be outlawed? I’m think my vote is “AYE!” 4:18 PM Oct 21st from TweetDeck
  
• I think VIMEO is better than YOUTUBE. But YOUTUBE has lots more visits/viewers. But I love www.VIMEO.com 6:33 PM Oct 21st from TweetDeck
  
• Friday Night Lights is like crack. [not that I've ever had crack] 7:50 PM Oct 21st from txt
  
• I’m giving my 7month old boy steroids. He’s sleeping now. Will this disqualify him from the 2012 Summer Olympics? 6:47 PM Oct 22nd from web
  
• Disney On Ice begins in FIVE minutes. But no one seems excited. Me either. 6:58 PM Oct 30th from txt
  
• I wanted to vote Coach Eric Taylor for president today. And Tami Taylor for VPrez. 3:59 PM Nov 4th from TweetDeck
  
• Had to pull over once and throw up twice on the way home from work today. But all is well now. 7:57 PM Nov 10th from txt
  
• Changing out of my Clinton First Methodist Church clothes and into my The Orchard Oxford evening service clothes. 3:54 PM Nov 16th from TweetDeck
  
• Four years ago today I watched my wife give birth to my 2nd daughter in the passenger seat of our Ford Explorer. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLA! 9:04 AM Nov 17th from TweetDeck
  
• I’m realizing one of the greatest things about Fantasy Football is the fellowship during the draft and camaraderie the playoff teams. 10:26 AM Nov 17th from TweetDeck
  
• I went to the bathroom. Came out and my 7yo girl was putting the dining room table together. I shoulda stayed in there longer. 3:46 PM Nov 23rd from txt
  
• Turkey is now in the bag. In the pan. And in the oven. Now we pray it turns out well. 6:59 AM Nov 27th from txt
  
• Going to the Egg Bowl the day after T’giving is much better than going to a mall. 8:14 AM Nov 28th from txt
  
• Jack just gave the Sonic Drive Of The Game… And it was his drive from Ox to Tupelo. You could tell he was smiling when he said it. 2:46 PM Nov 28th from txt
  
• Hey @stephenbond Croom already resigned today. Get with the times, mi amigo. There is rejoicing in Starkville. 12:01 PM Nov 29th from txt
  

Yes, life has kept me on my toes with a few Christmas parties and family duties. But the main thing that has seemed to be on my mind was the coaching search at MSU. And after the “resigning” of Coach Croom the Satruday after Thanksgiving, the whole Bulldog Nation has been astir. But two days ago it seems we finally put the rumors and speculation to rest in the hire of Dan Mullen.

So maybe now my life can go back to semi-normal. I won’t have to be checking the message board and blogs and twitter feeds quite as religiously. It seemed I was a hawk for information, and a purveyor of it as well. I’d have people telling and asking info a lot. Now I guess we just figure out who the rest of the coaching staff and signees will be!

But that was partly to blame for the absence. The other parts were just staying busy with a family of five in the midst of holidays. Fun stuff. But I’m really looking forward to it. The tree is up, gifts are under the tree, some more gifts need to be bought, and weight is being put on I think.

But I’m back to blogging again. My wife checks here often and tells me “When are you going to post something new!?! (she asks the same of Pat‘s blog too), so I expect to flex the blogging muscles as we plow through the holidays and into a new year.

But his First Word column in the magazine is usually a well thought out perspective on some important issues. The column in the Sept/Oct issue is a real thought provoker I believe. You can read the entire article here, but I’ll include a few quotes below as well. Let me know what you think.

I’m someone who tries to think independently and objectively, rather than simply follow what the pundits tell me to think. Because of that, I’ve realized I cannot fully embrace either political party. Both sides of the aisle have some great ideas and goals. But both also have areas where they simply get it wrong…

<snip>

The problem is, many Christians vote these convictions, but that’s largely where their personal involvement in the issues stops. Are the government leaders we vote for meant to do our job for us?

<snip>

I’ve heard that only 5 percent of people who attend church regularly actually serve in any way. I’ve read that if every Christian in America actually tithed 10 percent of their income, we would have enough financial resources to wipe out global poverty.

There’s more power lying dormant in pews around the nation than any government could hope to provide, and that’s where our focus should be.

<snip>

If you have a passion for an issue, rather than judging someone who doesn’t share that passion or viewpoint, just go do something about it. Give your life to it. Be the change you want to see.

It’s not up to Washington, it’s up to us—and I say it’s time we step up and lead the charge. But that means with our lives, our finances and our actions every day. Not just Nov. 4.

Last night The Orchard was a host for a screening of the new Invisible Children Video, GO. You probably remember me talking a bit about it last week.

Suffice to say it was pretty amazing. The turnout was less than we expected and hoped for, but the event itself was a blast. The roadies from the IC were great. Very helpful, knowledgeable, and genuine. The movie was inspiring. It told the stories of three out of 15 high school students who were allowed to go to Africa and see the effects of the money they raised. 

In turn it inspired some of them to make an even deeper commitment to helping the cause of children in northern Uganda.

And The Lyric Theater….it’s freaking amazing [or freakhog amazing]. It’s a great venue for a movie for sure. And I look forward to seeing some bands in there soon. But even the Roadies said that normally while the movie is showing they hang out at the merch table because they’ve seen/heard it so many times. But they said that The Lyric Theater in Oxford was by far the best venue they’ve been to in terms of video quality and sound quality. They said it was like watching the movie almost for the first time again.

All in all it was great night. Hope to have a better attended event next time. I think we learned a few things about getting the word out too.

Lastly, here is an older video from Invisible Children. It shows a bit about their Displace Me Campaign from a couple of years back. The more I see from these guys, the more I’m amazed with their video production skills. Plus, this video has one of my favorite songs in it too.

But something he said today was pretty profound. It was at the close of a post he made about catching some kids messing up his neighborhood. This is what he said:

…the mothers and fathers of today should be paying more attention to the mothers and fathers of tomorrow.

Wow. Very true words.