LaShawn Barber is giving advice about blogging, and I think it’s good advice. She says,

Everyone and his mother are blogging. To stand out, individual bloggers will need to “niche blog.” That is, pick a topic you know a lot about or want to know more about, find out what’s currently out there, and more importantly, what’s not, and start filling in the gaps.

The problem is that I don’t want to blog that way. Is this a litblog or a homeschooling blog or a political blog (yes, I air my views on that topic sometimes) or a Christian inspirational blog or . . . Well, it’s all of the above and none of the above and more. I know that if someone comes here looking for a book review and finds me blogging about a day in our homeschool or vice-versa, that reader might be less likely to come back. Or what if a young guy who’s interested in a Christian perspective on the news reads one of my mommy posts? Or a movie buff finds my list of 105 Best Movies Ever and comes to Semicolon expecting more of the same, only to find me talking about books, books, and more books.

Well, sorry, guys, but I do this for enjoyment, not for stats or for the money (what money?). So I’ll just keep blogging about whatever suits my fancy and hope that it suits some of you, too. I just don’t fit in a “niche”—so I guess I’ll remain an insignificant little semicolon. However, everybody needs a semicolon every once in a great while.

Excellent post at VariFrank on Cindy Sheehan, the mother of U.S. soldier, Casey Sheehan, who was killed in Iraq. He manages to combine sympathy with clear thinking–not easy in such an emotional mine field.

Cute list of 25 Reasons We Homeschool. A couple of good ones:

“Socialization is overrated. If the socialization you get in public schools is so gosh-awful important, how did modern humanity survive its first 4,850 years without it?”
“Learning never ends — not at 3 p.m., not after homework is done, not on weekends and not on vacation.”
Thanks to Carrie at Mommy Brain for the link.

Abigail at Stones Cry Out gives all the pertinent information on how to become a Soldier’s Angel for someone serving in Iraq. You can commit to write letters or send care packages or just send an email or two to encourage an American soldier.

The Anchoresss is promoting civility and asking that other blogger do the same. Sounds like a plan to me. I’ve seen a lot of ugly incivility in the blogosphere lately, and it’s not limited to the political blogs. Christians are berating one another, using sarcasm, and basically just being nasty to one another. It’s not a pretty sight. C’mon folks, let’s do Ephesians 4:32 and disagree pleasantly.

Speaking of communicating love, encouragement, and joy, (Pollyannas of the World Unite!) Adrian Warnock of UK Evangelical Blog wants to start a meme: everyone spend a day smiling at as many people as possible and report the results on your blog. I’m going to do it. I just have to pick a good day when I’m going to be out of the house and seeing the world. Maybe Saturday–or Sunday at church. That would shake the place up, don’t you think? Especially since I’m a certified introvert, and I probably don’t smile as much as I should or even as much as I think I do.

This guy is reading the Encyclopedia Brittanica and blogging about it. Not a bad idea.

Mexican Protestants are converting to Islam? I don’t get it. From Mere Comments.

Those of you who love words may want to consider joining The Vocabulary Reclamation Project. I’m going to join as soon as I figure out how to do the code for one of those classy buttons.

Jollyblogger is Wrestling with Forgiveness. He draws a useful distinction between the obligation to forgive and the expectation that privileges will be restored to the offending party in a relationship.

We are to extend forgiveness to others in direct proportion to the amount of forgiveness Christ has extended to us. We may withhold forgiveness from others in the same way that Christ withholds forgiveness from us. And the point of that is very plain, Christ does not withhold forgiveness from His people, therefore we have no right to withhold forgiveness from others.

BUT we are not obligated to restore privileges to someone who has sinned against us: trust a thief with our money, give marital privileges to an adulterer, etc.

Carmon at Buried Treasure blogs about what’s wrong with HP. Although I think she has some valid concerns, and although I don’t plan to read the books, and although this blog was supposed to remain an HP-free zone, my older urchins are reading the books and enjoying them immensely. That’s all I’ll say about the matter.
Well, one more note: Go to Jollyblogger again for a different take on HP. And neither I nor Carmon nor Jollyblogger has even read the books we’re discussing so freely.

Debra is surprised to find herself watching a reality-TV show, something called Brat Camp. Read about it here. Has anyone else seen this show, do you have an opinion? Does the experience really help the kids to change or not?

Adrian Warnock is asking: Who Are Your Favorite Well-Known Living Preachers? I commented on R.C. Sproul, as did several others. I really didn’t realize how many pastors and preachers have audio versions of their sermons available on the web. It could be very helpful to listen to one or two sermons a week from a variety of Godly men. Who are your favorites? Are their sermons available via the web? Where?

Marla and firends are discussing “quiver full” again. My short response is: “You keep using that word (QF). I do not think it means what you think it means.” My long response will have to wait.

Themes revolving around the persistent conflict with Islam crop up in the oddest places, it seems. They intrude on William Shakespeare’s plays and Walter Scott’s novels. They make prominent appearances in the great poetic works of Dante, Milton, Chaucer. They form the backdrop for the stories of Robin Hood, Richard the Lionheart, Wallace and Bruce, Don Quixote, St. Francis, St. Louis, El Cid, Marco Polo, Henry the Navigator, Columbus, Magellan, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. They even make appearances in Pilgrim’s Progress, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Huckleberry Finn, Moby Dick, The Talisman, Greenmantle, and Ivanhoe. George Grant at Grantian Floregium

What does Islam have to do with King Arthur or with Pilgrim’s Progress? I’m sure I just don’t remember.

Much of the British public is snorting with derision every time a senior public figure repeats the mantra “it’s nothing to do with Islam.” Apparently, Islam has nothing at all to do with the global terror camaign. It’s just a coincidence. If one points out the fact that millions of Muslims believe things about Jews, women, and the rest of us infidel humans that would make any self-respecting English liberal blush, then there must be something wrong with you. George Miller at London Calling

Barbara from Mommy Life is posting this week from the Christian Retailers’ Convention in Denver.

Joe Carter of Evangelical Outpost writes about Lessons of a Recovering Statistics-Addicted Influence Seeker . He has the right perspective on this whole blogging thing.

Waterfall on the birthday of poet John Clare. Waterfall is going to be teaching English literature and writing this next year, and I’m looking forward to reading about her adventures in teaching.

The guys at In the Agora celebrated Bastille Day by engaging in a favorite American pastime that dates back to the time of Ben Franklin—French-bashing. Sixty Million Frenchmen Must Be Wrong?

Edward Champion links to Author Commencement Speeches, including Solzhenitsyn’s famous speech at Harvard in 1978 and one by Madeleine L’Engle at Wellesley.

Joe’s Eleven Commandments for Worship Leaders

Ariel at BitterSweet Life reviews Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain–while driving to the mountains. This book is on The List, but I’m having second thoughts.
Charmaine Yoest at Reasoned Audacity is featuringfoster children in need ofadoptive parents. She says she will be blogging about a different child each week.. What a great idea. Maybe you could give Payton a home?