I had a lot of ideas for a new blog name. I tired dozens, many based on obscure and arcane terms of art, literature and science. And it wouldn’t have bothered me to find that they were all taken and being used by other bloggers. Fair is fair.

What I found is that most of them were taken by people who haven’t made a post in years. Many by folks who never blogged at all; they just nailed down the address, made a first post which was blank or said something like “hello world.” Then nothing, for one to three years. I tried many for which there was no blog at all, just the blogger bar across the top, and a blank page. Still, the server wouldn’t let me use the address.

I’ve started several misbegotten blogs, then abandoned them for various reasons. But I always delete the blog from my account. Why hog the blog if I’m not using it? The URL based on my last name is being held by a girl with a similar first name, but no relationship with my last name, who set up her blog in December 2004 and never posted once. Hmm. Think maybe she just screwed up when she registered? Probably.

Of course, there are other blogging sites. And most internet services – for example Yahoo Groups message boards – will delete your stuff if you don’t use it in 90 or 180 days. But Blogger is just letting these things sit out there, and I think that sucks blog.