My wife yelled at me this weekend, she's been hearing me talk about wanting to have a personal site for too long. Fearing a night on the couch, I decided that waiting until I find the perfect host, software, and name is going to mean waiting forever. So I just went ahead with something that works, and am concentrating on building the content instead of nitpicking over minor details.

Normally I wouldn't start a thread here about it, but a lot of people have been asking when they'll get to see my site. Even people I don't bump into very often, so rather than PMing a few lucky ones, I thought it would make sense to post a message here, and let everyone see. Besides, feedback is always welcome!

http://alexandersarchive.blogspot.com/

I'm going to do an experiment. Now that I've announced the site, I plan to do zero seo for it. No article directories, no signature links, no dropping links. Just work on the content, and see with personal experience whether the organic linking and popularity works. Although I'm curious how other members show their latest blog post under their name, and whether doing that in my case would be cheating?

Also, the subject matter so far is a bit heavy, but I'm planning to write more light-hearted posts in the future, after I get some of the ideas that have been going through my head lately down.

WooHoo !!

Now of course you will have to keep a blog on the progress of the blog

I wonder if anyone else will find Pavlov interesting?

Originally Posted by chrishirst

Now of course you will have to keep a blog on the progress of the blog

Then a blog on the progress of the blog that is blogging about the progress of the first blog?

YOU DID IT!

Wasn't that hard, was it? Your fans are grateful. I haven't read the whole thing, but I liked the post with Pavlov's dog.

You just had to go down the pills from Canada route, dintcha John?

Nice work, John. In five post, you've already provided more unique and original content than 99.9% of sites out there. With a half-decent skin and a few months' (spaced-out) worth of effort, you'll really have something there.

OMG - I had skid-marks in my skivvies when I saw the subject of this post from John!

Get off the couch; curl up with Mama; and keep writing...

Originally Posted by travelagent

OMG - I had skid-marks in my skivvies when I saw the subject of this post from John!

Get off the couch; curl up with Mama; and keep writing...

So, am I jumping around between topics too much? There's a theme tieing all this stuff together, and I'm working on a few more posts today that should make that a little more clear. But I wonder if that's obvious to other people, that the different subjects are connected by a common theme?

Also, the post I'm writing as we speak is about search engines, so it should be more interesting to the folks here. I can see how ancient Egyptian history might not be the most fascinating subject, although it's a good tie in, and really does have something to do with the web.

Is the subject matter too abstract? This kind of stuff fascinates me, to the point I'm distracted thinking about how it affects daily life, so already it's been helpful for me to write this all down. But I wonder how everyone else sees it?

I don't think you're jumping around that much, compared to other Blogs I've seen -- you write about what fascinates you; it will most likely draw others in who share the same passion.

I think you're jumping around a little too much. I read blogs to get info about 1 subject...

I don't think so, John. You're the common thread. As TA said, you're writing about what interests you. As long as you continue to do that, you'll be fine.

Your blog post link is acting a little screwy, though. It looks like you're trying to pass the RSS feed itself to it rather than the link to your post.

I thought your blog was interesting and very cleverly written. It should appeal to quite a few intellectual type people that are familiar with the parallels you're using in your analogies.

Originally Posted by AfterHim.com

I think you're jumping around a little too much. I read blogs to get info about 1 subject...

Well, Brandon - you must not have much to talk about in real life, as your URL returns an error...does this mean you're a boring person?

That's what a blog should be. A personal viewpoint on subjects that interest YOU

And if you are interested in 100 different subjects, then it's 100 different things to write about.
You are the only common denominator needed.

First, I want to thank people for their support, and bringing home the fact that a blog doesn't need to be devoted to, say, mobile phones, or whatever, and nothing else. I've been a bit unsure about that. I'm determined to cover a variety of subjects that I think are connected, regardless, but I'm glad to hear that's not such a wild idea ( and doomed to failure ).

Originally Posted by WebSavvy

I thought your blog was interesting and very cleverly written. It should appeal to quite a few intellectual type people that are familiar with the parallels you're using in your analogies.

This really made my day. Knowing that other people see the parallels and connections I'm trying to make in my writing proves that I don't have dementia! The stuff I see is actually there.

But I think I have Mrs Savvy fooled. I have a high school diploma, but no college education, so technically, I'm ignorant. Maybe I should keep that a secret. Don't suppose you could recommend a good way to get an honorary Ph.D., can you? Figgen David Duke has one, from a university somewhere in Ukraine, so if he can get one, there's no reason I shouldn't be able to. Especially if I've managed to fool an English teacher into thinking I'm an intellectual?

Ignorant isn't exactly the first word I would use to describe you, in fact, it doesn't make the top ten.

I've finally had time to finish reading your blog ( you're prolific! ), and the only thing I don't understand is why you're working in IT and not journalism?

I wouldn't say you jump topics too much. There's definitely a common theme that ties them all together. I'm not sure exactly what that is, but
there's no question everything you've written about is related.

Also, the way you keep saying you'll follow up on an idea makes me wish you'd add a few more posts. I know most of the facts in your blog already, but the way you've pulled them together is what's unique and fascinating.

Finally, I like the occasional pop culture reference you've been throwing in your articles.

Good work!

Originally Posted by Learning Newbie

But I think I have Mrs Savvy fooled. I have a high school diploma, but no college education, so technically, I'm ignorant.

Do NOT ever, ever sell yourself short! If you sell yourself short, others will because you do!

Intelligence isn't measured by one possessing a Degree Vs one not possessing a Degree. Intelligence is measured by cognizance and ability to decipher. Wisdom, is the higher end of intelligence and is something that doesn't come packaged with a Degree.

Wisdom is earned through experience, and it's how you apply what you've learned from those experiences that either make or break, your 'intelligence.'

My Grandfather was an immigrant from Poland. He was one of 11 children. He never completed school beyond the 2nd grade but he was the most intelligent man I've ever known. He spoke 9 languages fluently, and could write with both hands. Yet, he donned me with the nickname of Einstein when I was just 8 years old, and it stuck until the day he passed away.

He made such a huge influence in my life and taught me the value of his experiences and to never sell myself short. If I treated myself like the poor little blind thing that can't do anything, others would too. I never let that happen because I needed to prove to myself that I could do it.

My cousin Craig is blind also. He went to school and earned a Degree in Medicine. He works as an X-ray Technologist in Mercy Hospital in Detroit and is the only blind-since-birth X-ray Technologist they've ever had.

He doesn't even have his own eyes anymore, he has glass eyes and has had them now for more than 30 years.

Human spirit is strong and able to overcome so much, if only we would let our minds expand to the possibilities and aspire to the Greatness God designed us for.

Just be careful, there are a lot of weirdos out there :-P and of course you might not want to say anything which someone you know might read and make it backfire somehow.

Speaking from experience... I tried it and had to change it because I figured I can't say anything personal without the possibility of someone close finding out who I don't want to know what I'm saying

I think, that this blog is very big potential.