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Tuesday 24 February 2009

Take My Advice (Tongue In Cheek, as it is!): Neither a Follower nor a Reader be!

Well, that's it, mes chums - In the time that it took me to wolf down a modest (yes it was modest! You didn't even see it! How could you know? Don't say that - This tee-shirt I'm wearing shrank in the last wash, honestly! ) ...portion of Sainsbury's Sticky Toffee Pudding with Low Fat Custard (- an old family recipe to counteract stress - left to me by an ancient retainer, my Beautiful Auntie Gwennie), I had lost meself a follower... (Then there were 58...!)

(And I realise that there are two more lovelies this morning, but there weren't last night when I was scribbling this, I'm very sorry...)

I have searched everywhere, partout, irgendwo, mes amis... even under my beloved bed, where only the crumb-eating, Biscuit Elves flourish... And still this, perhaps silent, follower, this ardent disciple, nay, this foot soldier, is not to be found... (I knew I should have written down all their names into my blogroll book, then I could have e-mailed them, like a cyber-stalker-proper-like!)

I never wanted, nor intended, to blog about such a thing... I have noticed bloggeristas showing their irritation, even baring their teeth, when faced with yet another bloggero lamenting the lack or number of followers, the dearth of pithy comments on their blogs...

I swore I would never fall into that trap, but faced with this... This quasi-betrayal, this mystery... I am bereft - Was it something I said, a poignant pic I posted, un mot pas juste, something I nicked from their blog and didn't credit - Was it me blog on tattoos? Shurely shome mishtake?!

I know we are all trying to do too much - To blog too much and too often; There are too many wonderful blogs even to do justice to - So many talented writers, so little time; And yet I feel this apparent slight, or slip of finger on smooth steel laptop delete Pictures, Images and Photos like a smooth silver scythe cutting through swathes of corn...
scythe clown Pictures, Images and Photos

...I am soooo upset, Darjeelings, I just need to consult with my muse, et voila, there she is, before me now... in a vibrant poof of Fracas-scented mist... Can you see her?

A muse Pictures, Images and Photos

Wait, can you hear her? Hush now, for she is singing... It is a tune you may even have heard while seated on your ol' granpappy's knee in that gnarled rocker, when you were knee high to "Ah, Grasshopper!", grasshopper Pictures, Images and Photos but you will know this little ditty nonetheless, I feel...

It is Where Have All The Flowers Gone by Pete Seeger... (or very nearly, PAUSE... Ahem!)

pete seeger 2 Pictures, Images and Photos


WHERE HAVE ALL ME FOLLOWERS GONE?

words and music by Pete Seeger
performed by Pete Seeger and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger

(Adapted for the stage manager's boot by Fhina Crawford: Aka: A Woman Of No Importance)

Cyn McCurry - Sisters of the Fertile Moon Pictures, Images and Photos

Where have all me followers gone?
Long time reading
Where have all me readers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all me followers gone?
Blogs have nicked them every one

When will they ever return?
When will they ever learn?

His masters voice Pictures, Images and Photos

Where have all me listeners gone?
Long time listening in
Where have all me beauties gone?
(I had) a long time ago
Where have all me hearties gone?
Gone to blazes every one

When will they ever learn?
Will they ever return?

His Masters Voice Pictures, Images and Photos

Where have all the bloggers gone?
Long time wittering on...
Where have all the buggers gone?
Long scuttled away
Where have all me lovelies gone?
Left for pastures new every one...

When will they ever return?
You know this refrain now, right - So sing along, or just mouth the words - It works for Secretaries of State, who don't know the Welsh National Anthem, apparently!

His Masters Voice Circus The Singing Dog Pictures, Images and Photos

Where have me foot soldiers gone?
Long time trotting off
Where have me foot soldiers gone?
Gone far away
Where have me dahlink soldiers gone?
Gone outside Blogland every one...

La, la, la, la-la-la?
When will they ever learn?

His Masters Voice Pictures, Images and Photos

Where have all me commenters gone?
Long time talking sense
Where have all the beggars gone?
Long time away
Where have all me followers gone?
I'll send you flowers every one
White calla lily bridal bouquet Pictures, Images and Photos

When will I ever learn?
Oh, even I'm sick of this now... And you've got your fingers in your ears, I can tell...

...When will I ever learn?

His Masters Voice Pictures, Images and Photos

©1961 (Renewed) Fall River Music Inc
All Rights Reserved.

©2009 (Never Registered It Doesn't Really Exist!) Wild At Heart Music Corp.music Pictures, Images and Photos

I found details on Pete Seeger's visit to my other muse (''Er Indoors'), la goddess Wiki. In fact, here is one of the Temple's chalices : Wiki Answers Mug Pictures, Images and Photos

"Peter "Pete" Seeger (born May 3, 1919) is an American folk singer, a key figure in the mid-20th century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 50s as a member of The Weavers, most notably the 1950 recording of Leadbelly's "Goodnight, Irene" that topped the charts for 13 weeks in 1950. In the 1960s, he re-emerged on the public scene as a pioneer of protest music in support of international disarmament and civil rights and, more recently, as a tireless activist for environmental causes.

As a song writer, he is best known as the author or co-author of "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?", "If I Had a Hammer" and "Turn, Turn, Turn!", which have been recorded by many artists both in and outside the folk revival movement and are still sung throughout the world.

"Flowers" was a hit recording for The Kingston Trio (1962),
MARLENE DIETRICH BY SONIA RYKIEL Pictures, Images and Photos Marlene Dietrich, who recorded it in English, German and French (1962), and Johnny Rivers (1965). "If I Had a Hammer" was a hit for Peter, Paul & Mary (1962) and Trini Lopez (1963), while The Byrds popularized "Turn, Turn, Turn!" in the mid-1960s, as did Judy Collins in 1964. Seeger was one of the folksingers most responsible for popularizing the spiritual "We Shall Overcome" (also recorded by Joan Baez and many other singer-activists) that became the acknowledged anthem of the 1960s American Civil Rights Movement, soon after folk singer and activist Guy Carawan introduced it at the founding meeting of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1960".

"As of 2008 Pete Seeger is still actively performing and recording.
david letterman Pictures, Images and Photos On September 29, 2008, the 89-year-old singer-activist, long banned from commercial TV, made a rare nationwide appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, singing "Don't say it can't be done, the battle's just begun... take it from Dr. King you too can learn to sing so drop the gun...

Bruce Springsteen Pictures, Images and Photos
On January 18, 2009, Seeger joined Bruce Springsteen, grandson Tao Rodríguez-Seeger, and the crowd in singing the Woody Guthrie song, "This Land Is Your Land" in the finale of Barack Obama's Inaugural concert in Washington, D.C."

"There is hope for the world." - in Pete Seeger: The Power of Song".

Pete Seeger Pictures, Images and Photos

(p.s. I'm not really upset - I do understand... So please don't worry about daft old batty me! This was a poor excuse for a blogging piece!)

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Poor dear, don't worry, you are loved.

Liz Wilkey (a.k.a. A Mom on Spin) said...

They disappear like stealth fairies into the night. . .

Yes, blogger is a cruel, cruel, Goddess!

Jinksy said...

I'm amazed that you are the second blogger today, mourning the loss of a follower! What do you do if you invite guests to a party, and some don't turn up? Do you dissolve in a heap, and drag in somebody off the street to make up the numbers? Surely not. Isn't Blogland big enough, and big hearted enough, to let people come and go with no more than a 'Nice seeing you!' parting wave as they drift into the ether? ( Tongue also firmly in cheek) xxx

Jinksy said...

P.S. Go see Carolina at Brinkbeest in English - you may be able to cheer each other up! xxx

Unknown said...

Fhina! You should worry with 58 (+ 2). I've only got 18 and two of those arrived recently (oohhh!). Well, never mind. I enjoyed singing along (for a bit) and now I'm looking forward to the arrival of my flowers! And as soon as your back's up to it, run the vacuum under your bed!

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Dedene - Bless you, dahling - I feel such a fraud, apparently it's a fault with Blogger! Gah!

lizspin - 'Tis true, 'tis true - Maybe I ought to be leaving small food sacrifices to Blogger, rather than la Wiki!

jinksette - You are such a cheeky minx, jinks! Diane has been rambling on this very subject too - We take it all to heart - I know, we are too soft to be here! Note to self - Develop an even thicker skin! x

Derrick - You have made me laugh out loud, Sir! I am certain your flow of followers will grow exponentially!

By the way, I left an award for you on yesterday's blog - I hope you like it, and the flowers - Oh, and next time you're in over here, can you just run the duster through?! It'll be just like being in your lovely shop, taking care of all those wonderful giftettes! x Can we have some more pictures of it soon, please, to whet our appetites?

Carolina said...

Hi, well, we seem to have something in common ;-) Jinksy sent me over (I love Jinksy) to find some consolance and it worked! Yippee! I will visit your blog more often now
(at least you gained more followers than you lost).

French Fancy... said...

It always amazes me - when I see followers on my blog. I wonder why Blogger don't incorporate the Follower button with the blogroll facility. In fact I think it's better to be on someone's sidebar because then they come to you very quickly as they see a new post up there (well, that's the theory of it). As followers they might declare allegiance but one hardly ever sees some of them.

Didn't Marlene look petite in that photo.

Carma Sez said...

Don't panic about the loss of followers, from what I've seen/heard there was something up with Blogger yesterday. I lost 5 of my precious followers yesterday morning. (And I barely have any to begin with). I visited two other bloggers sites and the bloggers were saying the same thing. I am still down three followers :-(

Michelle said...

Yes something is/was up with blogger and fellow bloggers were losing followers left and right so IT'S NOT YOU dear FHINA!!!

They will come back to you I am sure!!!

How are you doing pretty lady!????

Chairman Bill said...

If Jesus had 12, then anything more than that is a bonus.

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Carolina: And I am so pleased that Jinksy has brought us together through the Ether! You must, in fact, be my Dutch twin - I seem to have one on every continent - All Dorises!

French Fancy: I keep not being able to read people's updates, unless I go to the Dashboard - My blogroll doesn't seem to keep up with how often you bloggeristas update! I recall reading something which said if you're still blogging after 3 months, leave Blogger, for its machinations will drive you berserker! x I think it was a tweaked pic of Marlene, something to do with Jean Seberg, according to Photobucket? I loved the cat-hat!

carma: Bless you, I know! It just makes us get our knickers in a twist, is all!

Michelle: I am fine, poppet - Hope your tootsie (toe) is getting better? x

Chairman Bill: You made me laugh out loud, Sir, and that's very dangerous for a woman of my age! Aleister Crowley had more, 'though!

Everyday Goddess said...

I don't know what is going on. I think there was some kind of blogger meltdown, because I have lost followers as did Vodka Mom and some others. What is up?

♥ Braja said...

Yeah Vodka said she lost 26 and I lost 13, it's all across the board. No big deal. People want to read you, they read you. Simple...

Diane said...

It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt. I never dreamed losing a follower would hurt! Silly, really, as the people who truly count are always there, aren't they? At least I know (and now you do, too) that it wasn't something we said... it was Blogger. Silly, frustrating, confounding, lovely Blogger... XO

Saz said...

well funny you should say that, becos...I tried to follow someone on the gadget thingy, last night. ANd it refusnicked me!! It told me that I can only follow 200 blogs per account, and as I have 4 blogs of my own l guess then they are spread out some.. So l went about and deleted some, god l hope l didnt delete YOU...could it be ME the pahntom disfollower??

But i guess one can follow 200 per account, plus add blogs to the side bar also....

no more tactical following then??!! oopsss, does that happen l guess it might??

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Comedy Goddess and Braja - Thank you for finding the time to drop by - I was not really concerned, but the song came into my head and I just couldn't stop it! I know it was carp!
Thanks for your lovely advice too, B!

Diane: It is just so strange that we both posted on exactly the same thing with the same feelings - Carolina in Holland did too - Please go visit her - This might be another of our lost relatives, on top of Braja! Lots of love all x

FFF: If it were you, my lovely, I would be over to the west of the country like a whirlwind, checking to see if you were still breathing! You and I, we're going down together!

Tactical following?! You see I'm so naive such a thing would never enter my little pink head! How could you ever follow 800 blogs? You might wish to, but it would drive me even more mental, never feeling I could devote enough time fairly... xoxo

Rosaria Williams said...

My dear, it is a game. And as games go, they have rules. Now, the way I see it, if you want to major in marketing, then, learn the game, and play it hard, to the exclusion of everything else. But, if you want to major in writing/sharing, self expression, or whatever, (frankly, we are all going to disappear soon, the minute the blog=people begin to charge us for each word we write)-------WRITE ON!

Aleks said...

Strange,I lost 2 of them too last night,is it some kind of a bug or someone from Google is playing with are sensitive souls,(If I see empty spaces think that someone died or something like that at first,and then I chek,dubbelcheck all of my postings and replays in surch of a something that I may have been wrongly doing but I could not find a thing.Then I have to make a conclusion that for some I was only a number on the blog,not a friend or something like that.!!!
So.
Take care love,and try not to be sad for a long time,so long Mariane,aha,will meet again ouuuuuuhuu,(leonard singing very beautifully)ciao,great greatingz from me! *:O)=<:::::::

Jewels said...

Well, now you have a new follower!

Cynthia Pittmann said...

Woman of great importance, Fhina, I am in the university library and am not allowed to laugh...they will ask me to take my blog chat elsewhere! I can hear it now, "Where has the Cynthia gone? Short time passin'..." I enjoyed your rif and am sure the blogger deal will resolve itself...Oh goodness what a glitch! How dare they toy with our emotions!??

Expat mum said...

I have been sent over by FF and Fifty, as I blogged about the same thing. I didn't lose quite as many but percentage-wise, it was HUGE. At least I don't have a stat counter up to torment me further.

Suldog said...

We all lose them. Nothing to get upset about, really. Folks move on, they change, stuff happens. More often than not, it's not our fault that they stop following.

That's what I tell myself while I'm crying, anyway.

Reasons said...

Their loss xx

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Jewels: And I am now following you - You write very well, Jewels - I am sure I am going to enjoy meeting you!

Cynthia: Glad you are having fun, C - You can tell I am joking, right! I thought the pics were particularly grin-inducing meself, but I have a slightly strange sense of humour at the best of times! I liked your new lyrics!

Expat mum: And I have thought your blog is so good I would follow it twice, thereby more than making up for your loss of numbers! In fact, I am following both your blogs.

How did I elect to follow you twice, on one blog, you ask? At one point, I found I was even following my own blog - I am heartily not that desperate - Honestly, Expat mum!

Suldog: Have you finished with that hankie, yet, Sir?! I've just got something trapped in my eye - Must be an eyelash!

Reasons to be Cheerful 1,2,3: Too true, friend! x

A Woman Of No Importance said...

What's with all the blogging bloggery that's going on - It told me it could not post my comments, and gave me a reference number, and then I find it has!!!

I will be in my strait jacket, rocking against the sofa tomorrow, mark my blog-words!

Lakeviewer: You know everything, my darling - You amaze me, you are so right! I have no wish to be a marketeer or play games, so I shall remain as I am, unbesmirched... And please don't say they are going to charge us for reading and blogging - I shall chain meself to some railings somewhere, I will...

A distant cousin of my OH's mother was the one who threw herself under the King's horse, (allegedly!) so there's history! x

DAB said...

I'm still here honest m'dear.

I've tried to leave some comments but your blog keeps bumming me out. And then you blog appears on my screen triple triplicate (well actually 10 fold) BUT tonight it's back to normal. (I blame my new specs or the wine)
;-) TFx

Jan said...

Yoo make I larrff as they say in parts a little to the south of us. I'm staying - pass the wodka

Anonymous said...

I am still here :).

A Woman Of No Importance said...

AlekSandra - Bless you - and your English is just fab, you know!

TF: Do keep taking the Chanel tablets I posted about a couple of days ago, dahling - Take to your bed for a couple of hours and all will be normal once again! Please don't take the tablets with the wine tho'! I keep trying to make comments elsewhere, and it's all falling apart too! x

Jan: Do you come with a simultaneous translation - or subtitles perhaps?! You are lovely, I know, Jan... x

Meredith - Take care, darling - Thank you for checking in - Roll call is almost complete and I will finally be able to go to bed in a darkened room! x

Beth Kephart said...

I so believe that this is about finding what is real, finding the people who would be your friends if they were standing right there beside you. Clearly you have about you some wonderful friends. And they'll stay true.

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Beth Kephart: You are very right, my friend - Have I said already that I love all of them? All of them - Even the dastardly clever and curmudgeonly ones...

And I do not give my love lightly... xxx

Tom Atkins said...

Ah, if your blog is like mine, only a few followers, but when I began to see how many visited, I realized the vast number of lurkers - those who read but never announce themselves in any way, there are. Like me with your blog.

Andrea said...

What a wondeful, witty post!! Just discovered your blog...so glad I did!! Nice to "meet" you..I enjoyed spending time here today! :)

Ruby Isabella said...

I loved the dog in the trombone, or trombone like instrument. Hey, maybe that's why he was there, he only heard the bone part of its name.

Hell hath no fury like a blogger scorned.

blognut said...

Your followers will figure out what to do and fix the problem. Have no fear, my friend. Who doesn't love your blog?

Kate Coveny Hood said...

I saw something similar from Vodka Mom today. And one of her commenters explained it. Here is his comment:

Your followers need to check that they are following publicly. Google made some integration changes hooking in Friend Connect. From the blogger help group:

There is small set of users that already use both Blogger Following and Friend Connect. To avoid linking the profiles of Blogger and Friend Connect users without their permission, we have set these users to "anonymous". They are still following privately and will able to make themselves public again.

With the official launch of the Friend Connect integration, we will
communicate with the affected users to encourage them to reset their
relationship to public. To reiterate, the number of Followers has not changed, and we believe that the launch will improve the visibility of your blog and community. We will post more details on Blogger Buzz and
here as the launch approaches.

So that was kind of long - but hopefully it makes you feel better. I don't worry too much about "followers" since not everyone uses that system. I have of yet to break 30, but I have several times over that many readers that have subscribed to my feed. Who knows....it's a fickle audience...

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Tom Atkins: Who is it, who's there?! You're new, Tom - I will come and see your etchings shortly - Please have a Long Island Iced Tea waiting for me? I must admit that I lurked for months, before plucking up the courage to sign up and follow myself...

Andrea: Hello you! Good to have you with us! Come back any time...

Ruby Isabella: What a lovely name! Glad you liked the dogs - I thought they were very fitting, and have always liked the dog used in the HMV branding - Nipper, he's called! You are very funny - Welcome back any time!

blognut: I shall be taking names later of those who do not love my blog, a little like that episode of Dad's Army with Philip Madoc! x

Kate Coveny Hood: I can always rely upon you to come and talk sense in to me, when I am standing on the flat kitchen roof looking down - Only kidding, honestly, and thank you for your always reliable and splendid support and assistance! x And, 'a fickle audience' - I do not want to believe it! Never!

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Something I wrote earlier...

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