An American blogger who rejoices in the e-identity Fat Hairy Bastard asked me to review his site, so here goes. First up, mate, are you sure you're not really an Aussie? You see, the epithet ``bastard'' is one that Australians reserve for their closest and most trusted friends. And when an Aussie tells you that you're a ``mad bastard'' that's just about the highest praise you can get.
Your choice of blog name gets the thumbs-up from me. Why? Simply because it's one that readers would remember. It ain't mundane. It ain't run of the mill. It paints a word picture in our minds. So it's more likely to stick in our collective consciousness than mundane blog names like ``Authorblog''!
Reading your blog is like being let loose in a gallery of Pro Hart paintings - and that is high praise. The late genius from Broken Hill was larger than life, he used extremely unconventional methods, his work was bold and striking and colourful and sometimes anarchic - and you simply never knew what he was going to do next.
There is an earthy honesty to your prose that makes me chuckle. I'm not a big fan of the F-word, or any profanity for that matter. But I had to grin when I saw your comment to your father, asking him if he had told his doctor to go and, er, get stuffed. There is a roguish, raffish element to your presentation that shines through in a most appealing way. In particular, when you wrote about the Fourth of July parade, the picture that really stuck in my memory was the bloke with the wheelbarrow, to mop up any steaming souvenirs left by the horses!
Do I have any advice for you? Yes. Read my lips, FHB. Get a new template. The one you have is like Sherlock Holmes' deerstalker - old hat! I understand that content and presentation are more important than window-dressing but, man, you have to look slick as well. Get out there, check out the great range of new templates and update that blog. Don't sweat it. It's easy. One click. I'll give you until Wednesday, and then I'll get your readers to sign a petition for change.
If you don't do it, we'll turn you into the Flat Airy Bustard!