MSNBC is reporting that Microsoft fired a blogger for posting a Mac photo. (link via Steve)

Apparently the employee was a temp working for Xerox who posted a picture of G5s being unloaded at Microsoft’s headquarters on his personal blog. All the details aren’t clear, but the story underscores the difficulty for bloggers of balancing professional concerns with personal ones.

I’ve often dealt with this, especially concerning my employment at the BGEA. I could tell you some stories. I’ve also hesitated in what I say, especially when it comes to certain major organizations (sometimes more than others).

Of course unemployment is a great solution to those disclosure concerns.

I said the other day that I’ve been wanting to comment on the comments, and today seems like a good time to do it. I’m leaving for a weekend retreat in fifteen minutes, forcing me to be brief and ensuring that I’m not around to further comment on the comments.

Comments are an awesome way to add interaction. Suddenly I’m not just talking to myself. Yeah, there’s always e-mail, but over the years very few people have e-mailed me in response to my thoughts. It happens, but pretty rarely. Comments are immediate, easy, and public. Not only can someone tell me what they think, they can tell everyone else reading my thoughts what they think.

All of that is very cool. But it’s also scary. Suddenly this isn’t just me spouting off about what I think. You can respond, and I’m not sure if I’m ready for that. Faulty logic can be burned, impassioned posts can be slammed. If I haven’t fully discovered my position, I still have to be ready to defend it in the comments.

While the comments do add immediate interaction, sometimes that interaction can be scary. It will make me think twice about what I post. I can always reserve the right to ignore the comments, and I may just do that.

I also have to decide if I’m going to participate in the comments. I see some blogs where the author writes as much in the comments as he does in the blog. While that’s certainly the interaction of community, I don’t know if I’m ready for that. Sometimes I want to say my bit and leave it at that.

So I’m still getting used to comments. For four and a half years I wrote with minimal feedback and interaction — and I can tell you it was surprising enough when someone would respond to my thoughts in person or on the phone. I’ll need some time to get used to the instant feedback.

While I do accept donations, I rarely say much about it. Yesterday Steve posted a comment encouraging others to donate. The plug and the donation were mighty kind, Steve. Thanks.

I wanted to say a few words about donating today. I’ve been writing these thoughts for almost five years now, and I mainly do it for myself. It keeps me writing and it’s a fun way to learn more about using the Internet. But it’s also for anyone who else out there who appreciates what I say, however limited that group may be.

I’m more or less asking for your support. I’ve been unemployed since July, and while I am financially stable and still able to make all my payments each month, I’m not swimming in dough. I’ve recently incurred more expenses related to these thoughts, including hosting and Internet access fees. While I took those bills on with the hope that freelance projects would pay for them, it’s always nice if these thoughts can pitch in their fair share.

A straight-up donation is the most direct way to support these thoughts. Consider it a small fee for the content you enjoy almost every day. You’ll pay $10-30 for a magazine subscription, or $15 for a book (or maybe 88 cents if you’re like me), so maybe consider donating $1-5 for this.

Another way to support these thoughts is with Amazon.com. I have a referral system set up, so any time you follow a link from this site to Amazon.com and buy anything there, I get a small cut of your purchase. It’s usually a piddly amount, but it can add up. So anytime you’re thinking of making a purchase at Amazon, please consider coming here first and clicking on a link for Amazon.

If you spend lots at Amazon, I’d encourage you to consider supporting other sites that have a referral program with Amazon. It’s like giving away free money, so spread it around. College textbooks, Christmas presents, whatever.

Finally, you can support these thoughts in less tangible ways. If you like what you read, tell your friends. Be a part of the site and post a comment (isn’t that a snazzy new feature? Speaking of comments, I’ve been meaning to comment on that new feature. Some day I will. While I don’t expect everyone to comment, it is reassuring to know that people are reading these thoughts.). When you read these thoughts, remember that there is a person writing them, and he could use your prayers.

All of these are great ways to support me in this endeavor. I don’t expect anyone to actually do them. Like I said, I write this for myself. But if you happen to get something out of it, that’s great. If you want to return the favor and support me, that’s even better.

OK, I’ll stop sounding like a PBS pledge drive.

Apparently blogging is good for the writing career. A number of aspiring writers have landed more professional jobs lately (link via Steve).

Sounds good to me.

FYI – my thoughts are now being posted at high speed. My cable modem is up and running, and this blog is now in high gear. Of couse you won’t notice a thing. But I will.

Bloggedy blog blog. These things are popping up all over the place. It’s like an epidemic among my friends. I started this thing almost five years ago. It’s not exactly a blog, but it’s close enough (and I stole the idea from someone else).

Then Tim started one about a year ago.

Then Josh started one in May, followed by Stephanie in July. Then Neal, Eddie and Jeremy started within weeks of one another.

Now Speak has a blog. What is the world coming to?

Well, I’ve made the jump. Not only do I have my own url (www.monkeyouttanowhere.com), but I’m using Movable Type for all my pondering needs. Let’s hope this is a change for the better.

The monkeys are coming.