This Blog Comes with Special Features

As you obviously know, we live in the DVD era. Remember the VHS videotape era? I didn't think so. Well, back then, after you watched a movie on tape, you didn't get all those "Special Features" at the end of the movie like you get nowadays with DVDs. In ancient times (I'm talking early 90's), we didn't get all those behind the scenes, making of, alternate endings, deleted scenes, actor and director commentaries like we do these days. And, personally, I think sometimes the Special Features are the best part of the DVD. You know what I'm saying?

So, in keeping with the spirit of the DVD era, we are going to periodically have a Special Features section to this blog. Today will be the first. Today we will go behind the scenes to see what kind of process comes into play as Joe Soko churns out pieces for his blog day in and day out. In a future Special Features edition of this blog, we will have a running commentary to accompany some of the earlier blog entries. And now, without further ado...

Sokoblog: The Making of a Blog

(imagine the grandiose intro music of your choice)

Here we are in Joe Soko's bedroom. Joe is sitting at his desk in front of his computer, thinking about different approaches for his latest blog entry. We are privileged to have a close up look into Joe's blog writing process as we witness the creation of Joe's latest blog entry entitled "Cannibalism Amongst Consenting Adults." It looks as if he's just finished the first paragraph and now he's gathering his thoughts together as he attempts a rough sketch of the second paragraph. He looks very pensive at the moment. Now, he's starting to type something. But, no, he's deleted it. Oh, wait, he's about to type something else except...

Damnit!! The phone is ringing loudly. Now Joe's concentration has been totally thrown off. "Hello?" Joe asks after picking up the phone. It's the Police Athletic League (or PAL for short). They're looking for donations to help send underprivileged kids to basketball camp. Joe feels very torn right now. On the one hand, Joe despises telephone solicitations but, on the other hand, what if he doesn't give a donation now and someday he needs the help of the police? They might remember that he was the guy who didn't give PAL a donation. They might think, "why should we help that tightwad? Where was Joe when little ten year old Julio so desperately wanted to improve his layup but was short ten bucks? Nah, we're not going to come to his aid. Joe can fight off those rabid beavers on his own." After much deliberation, Joe reluctantly gives PAL ten bucks.

You see, Joe suffers from all kinds of paranoia and neuroses. He often uses his blog to deal with these inner dysfunctionalities but today even his blog does not seem to be helping. But, oh, wait! It looks like Joe is once again applying his fingers to the keyboard and... yes, he's tentatively beginning to type some letters. Letters that are turning into words. Words that are turning into a sentence or two. We are making progress. It's just a matter of time before he presents to the world his treatise examining the rise of new age holistic cannibalism within the fringes of the culinary community.

Yes, Joe is clearly on a roll right now but, wait...what's going on? Joe has suddenly stopped typing and is now staring out his window as if he sees something he can not believe. As we move in closer to see just what is happening outside, we, too, are struck by the emergence on Joe's quiet street of an energetic pack (flock? gaggle? tribe?) of young college women jogging down the street. Joe seems transfixed as a parade of jogging women go past, some wearing shorts revealing lovely smooth legs while others have on those tight fitting black clingy jogging pants which perfectly accentuate the buttocks as they lovingly go by.

This new development is definitely not a good one for Joe. Will Joe be able to continue working on his thesis about consensual cannibalism or is he too hot and bothered now? Even though it's been a full five minutes since the last jogger strode by, Joe is still struggling to keep from reliving the scenes of endless jogging beauties running sexily past his window.

Now Joe takes a sip of water and stares at his computer screen. It looks like he will indeed forge ahead. With his fingers firmly positioned on the keyboard, Joe takes in a deep breathe, exhales and then suddenly notices his to do list. Oh, shit! There's groceries, laundry, the post office and the overdue library books. And, hey, if Joe is going to get these things done, he's going to have to start on them right now. Turning off his computer, Joe leaps into action in order to get these chores out of the way. As he runs out the door, we come to the close of yet another exciting, unpredictable blog writing session.

We have just presented you with a small glimpse into the world of blogging and the inherent challenges, obstacles and hardships that a blogger faces on a daily basis. No one ever said blogging would be easy but that is why Joe Soko is not just a blogger, he's a Masterblogger.

(Cue imaginary grandiose finale music of your choice)