Ten Questions with Michael of Big Orange Michael1. Describe your blog in five sentences or less.
My blog is all about things that I find interesting–tv shows, football (esp. UT football), my family, my friends, amusing stories from my life (at least I find them amusing that is), run on-sentence (like this one). It’s a window in the mind of Big Orange Michael and all the various things that make his world go round.

2. Link us to one post from your blog that best defines who you are.
Easy: 100 Things About Me – 100 Things About Big Orange Michael.

3. What sets you apart from other bloggers?
My blog is pretty much all about me. It’s about stuff I like and it has tons of stories about my neice and nephew. I am not really all that political in what I post. It’s all just things that I’m passionate about. (Not that I don’t like politics, mind you. But I am just not as into every nuance of it as some people are…of course you could say the same thing for me and my obsessive love of “Doctor Who” which gets a lot of time on the blog).

4. When and how did you first discover blogging?
I’ve known about it for a long time, even though at the time I didn’t necessarily define it as “blogging.” I had a LiveJournal for a number of years that I’d set up to keep up with some old friends from high school and college. In a way, that was the precursor to what would become my blog. I would post about TV shows and tidbits from my life from time to time, but I never really wrote on a regular basis. Then, my good friend Barry got me interested in having a blog after he’d had for about a year. I was at a point in my life where I needed an external outlet for some things and a way to focus on things outside of me. So, I signed up with blogger and, well, here we are now….

5. What is your biggest pet peeve related to blogging or the internet?
That people thinks the anonymous nature of commenting or blogging gives you the right to be rude or degrading to other people’s thoughts and feelings. Sometimes I think we all need to step back, take a deep breath and think before we post or comment. Yes, there are things that get me fired up, but that doesn’t give me the right to be rude or obnoxious in how I post or how I respond to your post about them.

6. Name one plugin, blogging widget, or service that you can’t live without.
I’d have to go with HaloScan. I used it for my comments.

7. If you could choose anyone, living or dead, to write a guest post for your blog,who would it be and why?
Joss Whedon. The man is a genius and he is always so funny and self-deprecating.

8. How has blogging made you a better person?
Like I said, I started my blog at a time in my life when I needed it to have an outlet for a lot of things. It helped me get through a rough patch and not become too self-centered and bitter. Since that time, it’s allowed me to practice writing on a regular basis and to have an outlet for my inner critic that desparately wants to get out. Also, it’s helped me cultivate some great real world friendships and keep up with some old friends.

9. What are your tips for becoming a better blogger?
Write about things you care about. Your interest and passion will show in the writing. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and, as always, have fun doing it. If it’s not fun at least some of the time, what’s the point?

10. Name one great blog that you read on a regular basis. What makes it unique?
Well, I am going to have to go with the blog of my best friend, Barry – Inn of the Last Home. I’ve known Barry for years (we bonded over watching TNG when it was new) and we’ve been through a lot of good times and a few bad times together. I love to read his blog to catch up on his family (I’m Uncle Mike to the kids) and to see what he’s up to. Barry’s blog is unique becuase it’s all about him and what he’s interested in. You can learn more about his passion for live theater and being involved in it, his passion for his family and his deep love for his wife and kids. It’s a great read and it’s well written. It’s what I hope my blog is on it’s best days….

Categories: Personal, Ten Questions