Blogging | Blogging news

With the 2008 presidential election just 556 days away, political parties and candidates understand that bloggers have become a critical part of the commentary on political developments "on a scale that is absolutely astounding," he said.

"Many of them have passionate followers, people who are crazy about politics," Leyden said.

"And if you legitimize them, and bring them into inner circles ...

they will get a huge new segment of folks energized that aren't necessarily reading newspapers and aren't involved in politics." Experts say the increased presence of bloggers at such traditional events will be closely watched to track their growing influence and analyze how their coverage shapes the candidates' strategies in the 2008 presidential election.

Bob Brigham, 29, an Internet strategist and blogger for Calitics, a liberal Web site that provides commentary on Democratic politics, said the intensity of the "netroots" coverage "stretches the debate in terms of breadth and depth" and has the potential to create immediate ripple effects among a hardcore dedicated political audience.

"If someo...

Have you traveled overseas?

Born in Norwich, Norfolk, where I lived until conscripted in the war.

Sent to college in Leicester on demob.

Moved around to various places when in the profession of Public Health Inspector, finally getting a post in Leicester where I married and lived for 40 years approx.

Moved to my present address some 18 years ago.

Only traveled overseas once, for a two-week holiday in South Africa.

How long does it take you to produce one of your videos, and what are your favorite subjects?

Just as long as the length of the video, since I do not script them or rehearse them, plus any time needed to [do] introduction slides.

In total probably 30 minutes.

I have of course given some thought to what the content of the video might be beforehand, but in reality they never come out in the way that I envisage, as I drift away from the point and the original conception all the time.

I would describe them as like fireside chats with friends.

Therefore I don't have a favorite subject.

How many videos have you made since joining YouTube?

I think that it is 50.

Do you read and reply to any of the thousands of messages posted on the Geriatric1927 forum?

Yes.

Initially there was a flood of over 4,000 letters that was overwhelming and impossible to cope with, and I made a video explaining the situation, but for many months now I have been answering all of my letters daily.

The amount varies but can be as many ...

I will have to save the introductions for a later date.

By “later date,” I mean never.

By “never,” I mean until I am totally pinned to the ground with writers’ block and can’t think of anything else to write.

Until then, you can rest easy knowing that you are reading the words of a true Broncomaniac.

Or is it nymphomaniac?

I seem to get that confused, though never during Broncos’ games.

Hmmm, if there was a way to combine the two… I think George Costanza tried to combine his true passions once, and that didn’t work out so well, so let me get back to the NFL Draft.

The NFL Draft is to football fans suffering through the offseason what Spring Break is like to college students suffering through the middle of the Spring semester.

Except without all the girls and nudity and stuff.

The Draft is all the drama and intrigue of watching our favorite team, without any of that pesky “action” stuff.

It is our chance to lock ourselves in our manhole, eat guy food, and pretend we are draftniks for an entire weekend.

It is our chance to talk about twenty-one year-old young men and say things like… You should check out his “upside”… A great body … A young freak… A perfect physical specimen … An absolute stud on the “clean and jerk”… A surprisingly strong “snatch” … A hi...