"Notablog". Ah, now there's a word to conjure with, and a possible new departure for this site. But it will need a little help from my friends. You see, this is no longer a blog, as announced in the previous post. This scribbler has wearied of the conventional blogging ethos (but does not intend to dwell at length on the reasons).

Let's look briefly at the format of the blog, as presently understood by most folk. Somebody puts up a post, invites comments, and then it's anyone guess what happens. The comments may be friendly, and addressed to the topic of the post. Or they may be unfriendly, and have little or nothing to do with the post. Or, as frequently happens, the comments thread is an informal chatroom in which a band of regulars chews the fat on this or that, and engages in occasional cat fights in which the fur starts to fly.

What I'm now proposing is the internet equivalent of what I experienced and enjoyed while doing my PhD research at a London medical school - a drop-in Common Room. Mine was situated in the basement of a building in Hunter St. It was really no different from what I believe is now referred to, post Maggie, as the water-cooler, except it was a lot more comfortable, and conducive to conversation since we were seated around all four sides of a small carpeted room that made for intimacy.

One would arrive, find one's mug, charge it with caffeine, plonk down, and then tune in to whatever was being discussed. It might be a burning issue of the moment, but as likely as not it was Yvonne and her daring new hairdo, or whether a particular film was worth seeing or not. One decided if one had anything worthwhile to contribute. If not, one stayed quiet, and was content merely to listen. Sometimes one would sense that conversation was flagging, and if there was one of those dreaded pregnant pauses, might introduce a new topic for discussion.

So what say this site be used as a testing bed for a nonblog that is simply an online Common Room, with no set pieces, merely a drop-in centre with a rolling commentary?

It will need rules, especially if it's to be an open forum. But let's not dwell on rules at the moment, more on opportunities.

The aim is not to compete head-on with any of the better known sites - merely to offer an alternative when those places flag - or one seeks something different.

I do have some ideas about making the site attractive and workable, with a small competitive element - about which more later.

But let's leave it there for now. If anyone would like to offer comments - or, better still, begin a conversation - then be my guest!