I am always looking for interesting...primarily European (though sometimes international) diaries to post on the front page. I also raid Fran's Breakfast thread for articles. And one of the things that helps me in my frontpage search is the way diaries are formatted. As far as I can remember, the gnomes have never even discussed this, but it has evolved in the front-page scheme of things that it is nice to be able to see at least two story titles on the page. Its a pleasing esthetic to me...more news to look at. Other blogs will have huge front page stories...we don't tend to do that...we give the opening paragraph or two, then its below the fold. But...some people who write really well, and interesting, informative stuff have a very long first page, before moving "below the fold"...often I will see if I can change where the fold is, and if I can easily, I just do that. But some people's work (like yours) I don't feel like I should touch it...it would require too much editing, and I don't feel that would be right of me. Like your recent Russian and Polish pieces. So I end up not front-paging it, though I'd really like too, because they are good.

Also the problem I see with too long front pages is that it is often hard to get the point of the  message (though this is generally not an issue with your writing, Poemless)...I think it is best if you can look at the first paragraph and get what is being said, because then you have a persons interest. There's a lot of stuff I just don't read because it didn't grab me right off...and I believe it is why many diaries slide down the page, no opening message that tells the reader what it is about (and also timing is an issue)...but, maybe I'm just lazy.

Let's see...my point, oh...I'd like to front page more of your stuff, but would like to ask for a shorter first part (I mean, if you are interested...).

Oh well, maybe it wasn't interesting after all...


"Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia