It's Our Birthday

Today is significant in a number of ways. It's leftovers-day in the U.S.; it's so-called "Black (?) Friday," allegedly the #1 retail shopping day of the year but actually not—generally it ranks 5th or 6th or so, most of the days in the week right before Christmas beating it; and it's the official start of Christmas-Music Season, an annual blight upon my existence. I don't know why retailers think playing Christmas music nonstop will put anyone in the mood to part with cash, unless they simply want to drive them mercilessly to finish up, pay, and leave, vacating the aisles for the next throng. It's not that I have anything against Christmas music, in principle; it's just that I prefer to listen to it sparingly, when I choose to. I won't go into a Menards because of that horrible jingle they inflict upon their customers at water-torture intervals, and I have gotten so leery of the gratuitous assault of Christmas music that venturing into chain stores over the next month takes on the character of high-stepping through a minefield, not that I should make light of minefields, a tragic problem in many parts of the world. Anyway, I even stay out of bookstores in December, and it takes a lot to keep me out of bookstores.

Oh, and today is our birthday—we are three. The Online Photographer first booted up on November 28th, 2005. This is the 2,242nd post since then, and we have averaged just about 10 comments per post over that time and received some 13,054,835 visits not counting today's.

All that, and we're apparently not done yet.

Cheers,

Mike

Featured Comment by Dave Kee: "Congrats! I haven't read all 2,242 posts yet, but I am up to May, 2008. I can't wait to find out who our new president will be."

Comments

[Miserere]

Happy Birthday on a one-horse open sleigh, Mike!

(Keep 'em coming!)

[Paul Hion]

I'm really glad i have read all of the 2,242. Keep up the good work and congratulations!

[charlie]

Happy Birthday TOP

I always play this song on my birthday (which was none too long ago) I think it saddles up nicely with a big dose of Christmas music cynicism.

Cracker: Happy Birthday To Me

I was having a good sleep
In my car
In the, parking lot of the
Showboat Casino hotel

I say, "I remember you
You drive like a PTA mother"
You brought me draft beer
In a plastic cup

I'm feeling thankful
For the small things, today
I'm feeling thankful
For the small things, today

Happy, Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
And to you

Happy, Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
And to you-ah

I'm feeling thankful
For the small things, today
I'm feeling thankful
For the small things, today

I remember you
I crashed your wedding
With some, orange crepe paper
And some Halloween candy

A sometimes
I wish I were Catholic
I don't know why
I guess I'm happy to see your face
At a time like this

Happy, Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
And to you-ah

Happy, Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
And to you-ah

Happy Birthday baby, to me
Happy Birthday, to me
Happy Birthday, to me
Happy Birthday, to me

[Rich Read]

Congratulations!
As a,now 65 year young, artist/artisan who returned to photography a few years ago I must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your verbalisation on a daily basis.

Although I have experienced the low income that comes with 40 some years of sticking to the arts I do make it a point to use your links whenever Liz and I have need of a purchase.

Although I haven't seen every "photo blog" I certainely find yours the best by far.

Thank you for all your diligence and persistence.

[Tom]

Happy Birthday!

Oh, and don't go here ...

http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/

[Bryce Lee]

"Today is our third birthday. The Online Photographer first booted up on November 28, 2005. This is the 2,242nd post since then, and we have averaged just about 10 comments per post over that time and received some 13,054,835 visits not counting today's."

All through my own personal crisis situation
T.O.P. is there to humour, enliven and put a positive spin on my world.

One can not have doubts about anything when
Dr. Mike is there dispelling problems.

Mike, you and your young son...enjoy the
success you deserve.

Bryce Lee
Burlington, Ontario
Canada, eh?

[Jason Anderson]

Happy Birthday to TOP!

An occasion most deserving of notariety. Many blogs endeavor to produce the same quality of content that TOP does. Many also endeavor to produce the same quantity of con tent that TOP does. I have yet to find another resource online that produces both the quality and content that TOP does with any regularity. While the Strobist does come in as a close second, but when you look at the sheer breadth of content, TOP takes top accolades in my book each and every time!

[Eolake Stobblehouse]

Congrats, dude. Your blog is two months younger than mine, but for some reason, much more popular. And perhaps the best blog anywhere, after mine. :-)

[mwg]

In Madison some or all of the Stop-N-Go gas stations played advertisements while you pumped your gas. I would have stopped going there, but they were the closest stations both to my home and my office that had diesel. Fortunately for my sanity, it had a mute button.

Since I've moved to Toronto, I ran into that at one gas station way out in Mississauga. No mute, though. Fortunately I don't drive very often here (so far, anyway).

[Juan Buhler]

Happy Birthday TOP!

I'm off to Amazon via your link to shop a bit in celebration!

BTW, it's "black" Friday because supposedly from now on until the end of the year, it is all earnings for retailers--i.e., they were in the red until now, and from now on they are in the black.

[Dennis]

Happy Birthday TOP !

On a shake-your-head note, I just read (in an article about a Walmart employee on Long Island trampled to death by a crowd of shoppers) that Black Friday was so named because it was the day that many retailers broke into profitability for the year.

There's a radio station in my area that starts playing Christmas music 24 hours a day early in November. I guess since one conglomerate owns most of the stations in the area, they don't really care if they drive some listeners to one of their other stations.

[hughlook]

Many happy returns!

I hope someone can find you for either your birthday or for Christmas a magic pocketable gizmo that brings all sound-emitting electronics within a 30-metre radius to a grinding halt. I've long dreamt of such a thing. The downside might be that it brings major computing systems to a halt as well, but it's a small price to pay for peace & quiet.

[ShadZee]

Great Mike,

I bet I've read at least 2000 of them, if not more ;-)

I come back several times a day, just to read the new comments!

[Riis]

Mike: As an intermediate-amateur, let me say THANKS A BUNCH for this blog. I read it almost every day, and it provides needed sustenance to my world-weary brain. This blog, luminous-landscape, and Lenswork are my regular go-tos for maintaining at least a bit of artiness in my life. With great appreciation...

[Dennis Allshouse]

Happy Birthday to TOP!!!

[Lois Elling]

Congratulations to TOP!
I just had to add a note to say how much I enjoy and appreciate reading your blog every day. There's always something interesting. Thanks and keep it up.

[Bahi P]

Best place on the web! Congratulations.

[Kainnon]

Happy Birthday!

[robert e]

One more thing to be thankful for. Happy Birthday, T.O.P.!