Well, it's nearly sunrise as I write this and since this is my second (or maybe third) job, I don't have anything nearly as clever to say as Josh & Josh Are Rich and Famous did last summer when they filled in for Andy. But I will say that's it's great to be here and that I'm flattered that Mr. Towle asked me to guard his brainchild this week.
I remember editing a story for the The Times Circuits section back in '03 and coming across the word "blog" for the first time. I had no idea what it meant and spent the next 10 minutes trying to figure it out. It would be another year before I actually found myself reading one when a Google search for information about one of the cute boys I'd seen on Bravo's "reality" male model search show — that guilty pleasure "Manhunt" — directed me directed to Towleroad. (You never forget your first blogger, Andy.) I remember how fascinated I was by the whole thing. It was sort of like a news site, only it was this gay guy (then) in Los Angeles talking about things he likes and doesn't like, with pictures and interaction with his readers. (I e-mailed him and he actually e-mailed me back!) I was hooked and in '05 I decided to try my hand at it. Andy had said in an interview that his blog started out as a way to keep in touch with friends and family and then slowly turned into more of a general interest site. I, on the other hand, started mine with a gay culture theme in mind and then found things turning far more personal following the death of my father and one of my best friends in the course of three months. I think that's what I like best about blogging — it can serve whatever purpose you want it to.
Anyway, enough reminiscing. I look forward to a fun week with you Towleroad guys … oh, and tips and feedback are greatly appreciated (I'm kenneth212 at gmail dot com).