Dispatches from the Creation Wars

Thanks to Dan Ray and to You

Posted by Ed Brayton on September 26, 2004
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I got to spend yesterday with one of my longtime readers, Dan Ray, a law professor from my home state. We went to the Michigan-Iowa football game, had a nice meal and many hours of interesting conversation. One of the things we talked about was how this blog has sort of organically turned into a little mini-community of bright and interesting people, and it was a fun day of getting to know one of those people yesterday. I want to thank him for his company, and I look forward to a continuing friendship and, hopefully, to meeting some of the rest of you at some point in the future.

The most gratifying thing about starting this blog has been the opportunity to get acquainted with so many smart and charming people. From my fellow bloggers like Timothy Sandefur, Jon Rowe, Jason Kuznicki and others, as well as from readers like Dan, Perry Willis and others who have left comments or sent emails to engage me on some issue, I have learned a great deal. You have all made this experience a lot of fun for me every day by your kindness and your willingness to contribute your learning and your intellect to this growing little community. So thank you all very much.

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  1. #1 Dan
    September 26, 2004

    My thanks to you, Ed, for your generous invitation to the game. For any of you who are regular visitors and commenters here, if you get the opportunity to meet Ed, I encourage you to do so. Our conversations were indeed interesting and enjoyable, and Ed is every bit the gentleman that you would expect from reading his weblog.

    I want to echo what Ed said about the community of folks who regularly visit here. One of the reasons I enjoy Ed’s weblog is that, while I always learn something by visiting, I appreciate the tenor of the discussions in the threads. In too many blogs, the discussion threads degenerate into flame wars that do little or nothing to advance the topic. Here, even if I disagree with Ed or others, the tone always remains civil. It is important to me that there be room for us to disagree agreeably, and I’ve always found that to be the case here.

    Yesterday was a great day. I made a new friend and, as always, I learned a few things in visiting with Ed. I, too, hope for the chance to personally meet some of Ed’s regular visitors.

    Dan

  2. #2 Lynn
    September 26, 2004

    I enjoy reading and seeing what your friends have to say too Ed. :-)
    I’m still in the middle of hurricane Jeanne so I can’t post much here. Just wanted to say that I too am so happy that Ed and Dan had the pleasure of meeting :-)

  3. #3 Jim Anderson
    September 26, 2004

    Ed, any time you want to swing up through the Pacific Northwest, I’d suggest spending at least an afternoon in Olympia, a haven for the idiosyncratic and the independent-minded. If it’s a clear day, you can see the Olympic range, Mount Rainier, Budd Bay, and the renowned Capitol Building from the same pier, all while sipping the greatest coffee in the world. Though I’m a public school teacher, I’ll scrape up enough to even buy you the coffee.

  4. #4 Lynn
    September 27, 2004

    Jim Anderson,
    That coffee looks very inviting. Since I am the coffee drinker in the family may I come too?
    (Just teasing) 3 is a crowd hahahaha

  5. #5 Ed Brayton
    September 27, 2004

    LOL honey. Yeah, if there’s any coffee to be consumed, you’ll have to be the one to do it. I wonder if the iced tea is any good?

  6. #6 Jim Anderson
    September 27, 2004

    That’d be four, since I got hitched. Can’t vouch for the iced tea, but there are several places that serve Bubble Tea–giant straws, tapioca balls, fruity flavorings. Much fun.

    I didn’t drink much coffee before I discovered Batdorf and Bronson… and now I’m a complete coffee snob. (My wife is, too, thanks to my evangelistic fervor.)

  7. #7 Ed Brayton
    September 27, 2004

    Ewww, fruity flavorings in tea! I’m a tea snob – no sugar, no fruity flavors. A slice of lemon is barely acceptable. I hear that those philistines down south actually put a bunch of sugar in their tea – if I wanted Koolaid, I’d drink Koolaid.

    I do love the pacific northwest though. Beautiful area. I hear Mt. St. Helens is rumbling again, though. Carry an umbrella.

  8. #8 Lynn
    September 27, 2004

    When I was around 7 years old I saw Mt Saint Helen’s erupt. Dad and I were on our way to Olympia Washington. We flew over.
    I still have some of the ash we swept up.
    That area reminded me of New Orleans. Very green and lots of flowers. The temp never gets extreme there. That area is between the mountians and the sea so it is a wet, moderate climate. Very nice there.

  9. #9 Perry Willis
    September 27, 2004

    Just recovering from the chaos visited on my computer by Microsoft Service Pack 2 — it sent all of my bookmarks, settings, and much else beside, to- never-never-land, and replaced it all with items Microsoft thought I would like better. I’ve always been a fan and defender of Microsoft, but I’m just about ready to make the jump to Linux and Open Office. Anyway . . .

    Catching up on all your recent posts. Excellent as always. Your blog is my favorite site. Keep up the good work, and if you’re ever going to be in Southern California, please let me know.