This week in the Blogerati Files - Sally McKay - a member of "Digital Media Tree"

Describe your blog in 10 words or less.
Toronto art and other stuff (tending more toward other stuff)

Why did you start your blog?
I'm a two-headed beast: writer and artist. On the blog I can meld them without taking any of it too seriously. And I can write art reviews to my heart's content without jumping through hoops to get published. I know that's good for art, as well as good for me. Best of all is the comment threads, and the network of other art bloggers. When a few people start talking straight-up about contemporary art, it adds depth of meaning and value to the whole process.

Has blogging changed you or enhanced a personality trait?
Unfortunately, blogging encourages my male answer syndrome (I'm female, but I have the problem anyway, it's likely a hormone thing, I have excess facial hair too). I'm always happy to offer my opinion, whether or not I have any knowledge of the topic. Once in a while I will hand the blog over to a guest-poster, which is very refreshing.

Do you have a favourite post from your blog?
I like my little animated gifs. They're like sketchbook drawings for my other work and I go back to them a lot. The best thing though, is when the blog becomes a public forum, rather than just me babbling on... I solicited top ten art pics from people at the New Year. There was also a massive comment thread about art criticism, of all things, that got crazy and fractious. Art criticism really gets people hot under the collar, who knew?

Who are your fav blogger(s)?
Simpleposie is even crabbier than me! Jennifer McMackon knows a lot about art and when she gets into writing, it's super informative. I like Tom Moody's NYC art blog a lot. He inspired me to start this madness. Tino's Bike Lane Diary is my favourite photoblog, and After Birth of the Cool is my favourite music blog.

Ever met a stranger who already knew you through your blog? How was that?
Yeah, it actually happens a lot. It's what you'd expect: awkward and very flattering. More surprising to me is the fact that I keep in touch with family members through the blog. My mom checks in everyday! At first I found that a bit claustrophobic, but now I enjoy the regular, no-fuss contact. I've also made friends, like kick-ass Toronto artist Lorna Mills (aka L.M.) who was a guest poster during the Pope-fest. She's freakin' smart and inspiring, and we talk a lot both on and offline. And of course my true love showed up on the blog right before we started going out. I already knew him from before, but his appearance online was part of a re-introduction that sparked something really groovy out in the world of wetware.

Lose any friends or muck something up because of a post?
I'm sure I've irritated all my friends by going on too much about boring science stuff, and I've probably burned a few career bridges by being too mouthy about the wrong art personages. It's potentially problematic for an artist who is also a writer to piss of all the other writers. But I was already putting my foot in my mouth before the blog started, so it's not much different. I just keep telling myself "squeaky wheels get the grease, squeaky wheels get the grease." Never mind that they also get replaced by nice quiet wheels.

What's happening in Toronto right now that the rest of us should be watching?
Cyclists. Watch us, we are A: having fun, B: looking pretty, C: not contributing to smog and, D: we are the future, so y'all might as well get used to seeing tons of us on the roads.

Choose someone, living or dead, to write your biography. Why did you make that choice?
Von Bark. Because he gets it.

Anything else you'd like to tell the world?
Nope, I've said enough. For now. Wait... yes! I am in a 3-person art show about quantum physics with Rebecca Diederichs and Gordon Hicks opening at the Art Gallery of Sudbury on September 22nd with a performative lecture and a web component. Details to be announced at digitalmediatree.com/sallymckay