But Wait! There’s More!

Do I like reader comments? No comment.

(An incredible 38-inch receipt I got at CVS yesterday. For real.)

My latest weekly story gets published every Sunday night. That’s why they are named “5 a.m. Stories,” of course.

Then, a couple of days later, I do a brief housekeeping note - like this one - passing along statistics about the growth of my project. You don’t need to read it. It won’t be on the test.

Once, when I interviewed TV personality Dick Cavett, he spoke with some disdain about what he called “circus questions.” That is, interview questions that simply pinned down measurable facts. How big is the fat lady, how many heads does the two-headed calf have, and so on.

Keeping his misgivings in mind, I still need to share this: two days ago, my 5 a.m. Stories recorded their 25,000^th pageview! Those are real readers, not just me sitting at home eating pecan pie and clicking 25,000 times. I have tried that, and repeated clicks from the author don’t count.

So thank you, individual readers, you did this.

But wait, there is something else even more exciting! I’m in this thing for the interaction, and I love that reader comments are rapidly growing. My newest story, Uh-Oh, They Got Lady Mondegreen, drew more responses than anything I’ve posted since I launched these stories last March 20.

Huzzah! If you’ve read my Lady Mondegreen story, you know I don’t say huzzah lightly.

I would encourage you to scroll to the bottom of each story and read what other readers have to say about it.

Some have managed to express strong feelings in as few as two words.

As one loyal but insensitive reader said last week, “I don't know, Bob. You might have to rethink this one. As much as I love it, the comments are almost better!” I’m afraid she may have a point. 

To contribute your own thoughts, look for the rectangular red “Make a Comment” button. You just hit it, and say whatever you want, and I will definitely read it. I don’t have some smart green-haired freshman at Shortridge High School reading it for me. I promise.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.