Originally Posted by Ryan Bailey

Thank you, friends, for the courteous tone of your collective welcome which well befits a group of scholars dedicated to legitimate endeavours in high modes of discussion and academic achievement. For the part of this writer it is here attempted wholeheartedly to do no disappointment.

Following on this thread; we shall mark a beginning to our experience with The Board (if you forgive the omission of the acronym 'WAB' due to our avoidance of acronymisation wherever possible) by recounting something of the history of our profession in journalism, not the least of which has been involved with the beautiful addition to the estate in late time; the so called inter-net (further discussion on the merits of the popular label "internet" & the ARPANET, infernal acronyms followed to this thread after all) and the web log journalism which we find a saviour not a menace to the body of journalistic endeavour.

This brief overview shall consist primarily of recountings with some linkage or cross-referencing to previous logs and archives from the prior works of this writer in the field of blog journalism, to the ends of better acquaintance between us. As the said blog career is now duly ended by the joys of retirement so may all writings here be more to the effect of diplomatic effort, educational inquiry and worthy discussion than journalism. Morerover it is here promised that our processes will be brief in the same as our time is increasingly precious. The care with which our words will continue to be crafted is a reflection of nothing less than our respect for yourself, dear reader. Inasmuch as you have sacrificed of your own precious allotment of momentary blessings in this life you are owed the credit of our thoughtfulness. Still we find it now appropriate, without your contestation, to dispense with use of the editorial, not the majestic, "we" form (relation to the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha line -presumably the "Royal Family" to the which our friend refers- is quite remote indeed: you might observe that our Family is of British extraction and theirs is not) and occupy a more familiar place among friends the world over through the blessing of modern technology.

Look forward to such important details here as our BLOGSOPS, argumentation on the dialectics of the English language, reasoning on our ethnology as well as other essentials which you may well find a welcomed relief for your insomnia.

We begin our studies here with a quote from the American Hero, Burke Peirce, "Lord be present in this and every encounter of mine". And as this autumn begins here seeing our initial enrollment in this forum of lifelong education, and our lives are brought to brief occassions of intersection with one another, we begin this diplomatic episode by praying Almighty God that the words exchanged here may continue to be thoughtful, courteous and useful to the body of global diplomatic undertaking, Amen.