Name Change

LIAM LOOKS

What is in a name?  So much more than ever before. Your name is everywhere, Just Google it and you will see.  This is Liam talking.  I am a dog. I have not googled because my paws are not made for it.  I  have a blog.   Our blog is entitled LiamLicks.  It came about because I was a licking pup.  I still show my affection with a lick here and there. In fact, my tongue gets a workout licking lattes and lotions on hands and the like.  Really, I never stopped licking.  According to my mother Carol, the alliteration of LL was part of the cuteness in the name -no apostrophes also a plus. You read it and the meaning is there.

I do not know some things as I am just a dog, so some of what I am telling you is coming directly from  Carol.  I also know some stuff because I have been listening and sitting by her as she types LiamLicks.
Something new happened last week when we published.  I will tell you about it.

Thursday is publishing day. The excitement builds all day as we ready our story.

It goes this way. When the story is done-edited, proofed, previewed, spellchecked, all that, Carol pushes the button to publish our blog story on Blogger. Of course, hours of work go into it before but that is not this story. This story is about what happened when we published last Thursday.

I am always summoned to sit by the computer when the button to publish is pushed.  It is my blog.  I am told that my presence lends credence.  I like feeling so important. The button is pushed. There is always a moment of anxiety because we are always afraid a computer glitch will cause a problem. But last week it was smooth. Our blog is successfully published.  

Woof, woof!

The blog offers options. One is called "Share." Since I am an "only" dog and well as only a dog,  I do not know much about "Share" but it seems something that Carol wants to do with LiamLicks. The blog offers sites with who to share- FB and Twitter are our favorites. We always do both.   We are Leos and love a big audience.

We tweet our link to Twitter successfully.  It is disturbing for a dog to tweet but barking is not offered, so I go with the program.  Tweet, tweet.  I pretend to myself that we barked it to Twitter. Then Carol pushes "Share" to  FB.  A response comes back. She gasps.  I know this is not good.  I hate when she is upset.  The message says, "this link has been tagged for abuse cannot be published to FB."  Abuse!  LiamLicks!  How can this be?  Who did this to us?  A FB friend?  Carol feels so sad that someone would do this.  I want to tell her it is just a machine saying this, not a friend.   It does not understand LiamLicks  Stupid machine.  Anyway, I lick and nudge Carol to remind her that our readers have not yet received the weekly email  and we must send it.  We do. 

LIAM LUNGING

I am just a dog but I have come to understand that words have different connotations and that possibly LiamLicks could lead the computer to think bad thoughts or maybe think it is something else.  Anyway.  We explain to FB.  They are reviewing their ban of our link-lick. I do not think the review will change anything. The machine was very cold in its message.  Carol spoke aloud so I could hear.

LIAM LEVITATES

LIAM LAUGHING

This got me thinking. I am now 3 and one half years old.  Maybe it is time to come up with a new title. LiamLicks was a puppy title. If my link is flagged then perhaps a preemptive move is in order.  Drastic?  We have received a few inquiries from unsavory folks thinking I am not just an innocent dog. They are looking to meet up. Meet up?  Do What? A playdate?   I am ready. Let's play. Not the play date I am thinking of- Something I do not understand.
Carol always deletes these solicitations before I see them.  Changing our name might be just the  answer
We have many ideas but will be careful to be safe and cautious so as not to offend anyone. BTW, in my dog mind, Carol is my Mommy and will always be, but as a grown up dog I refer to her as Carol for blog language.


Some ideas
Liam Tails -might be the same problem as LiamLicks, is a tail a euphemism for another thing in someone's world?
LiamLore- is lore too fancy?
Liam Leaps- that is true, but every week?
Liam's Life- no, the appalling apostrophe!
Life with Liam- there are other stories, not all are about Liam
Life of Liam- possible lawsuit by Monty Python
LiamLoves oh no, too suggestive again
LiamLooks -at what?
LiamLikes -oh, down the salacious road again
LiamListens- hears
LiamLunges -sounds too fierce
LiamLaughing-smile maybe
LiamLevitates- not true, the ball does
Of Life and Liam
and more.............

LIAM'S LARDER

That is the story as I know it.  I watched Carol go through a gamut of emotions. She thought a FB friend had tagged us, a friend of a friend .............

disbelief

betrayed

hurt

sad

angry

injustice

cyberbullied

then

red wine

Carol was told that it might be a computer software program that flags links with certain words and links with licks are a prime target.  I tried to convince her that no one would hurt LiamLicks. 

Humans are so complicated. I don't get all this. I just know that I have to make it right. I want to protect our blog.  Name change. That is it.

We are taking a spring break next week--see you April 28th, with a new name. We have stories ready. And more will be created. Not to worry

Happy Holidays to those celebrating, Happy spring break

Woof, woof