I was going to have a post like this in the next couple of weeks, a post just to explain a few logistic blog-related stuff, but blogger.com forced my hand. They had some technical difficulties on their end of cyberspace which I figured deserved an explanation ASAP. So instead of explaining their problems today and my problems & plans in the next couple of weeks, here I am combining.
The idea is something like this: the time that I spend taking care of some less obvious blog stuff will roughly equal the time it would have taken me to write a shiny new post--unless that post is me sharing the scoop on some of those issues/plans.
1) Blogger went into read-only mode for the past few days, and blogs across the country had their Wednesday and Thursday posts temporarily removed for some reason. Blogger assures us that those posts are being put back up (I hope they have e-copies!), and I think that my Wednesday, 5/11 post has now been reinstated. However, as of now, the lone comment re: that post has NOT been reinstated, and it may never be. :( If the poster would like to re-post, she is welcome to; if not, I have a record of it in my email inbox, and it's still special to me.
If anyone else either looked for Wednesday's post and couldn't find it, or found it but couldn't post, you should be good to go at this point.
2) Blogger.com's metaphorical "safety mode" has nothing to do with my absence of posts last week. I knew at some point I would take a week off, though I had hoped it would be more proactive and less reactive than it was last week. Last Wednesday (9 days ago) ended up being a perfect storm of projects and responsibilities, the details of which I will not bore you with. Meanwhile, the short film that ended up being THIS Wednesday's post was originally going be LAST Wednesday's post, but I ran into some glitches.
Then, beginning about Thursday, I got sick. Over the weekend, I had a fever that fluctuated from below 98 to 101 and back again several times. I'm still fighting some symptoms, but am better than I was Friday and Saturday, when my hope was not so much getting a blog post written as it was being able to swallow without experiencing a sharp pain in my throat.
Anyway, my bad for not anticipating last Wednesday's chaos better than I did. Had I posted on Wednesday, I may have tried to tough out another post for Friday. As it happened, I decided to take the week off.
3) I imagine I'll do this periodically: revise, trim, or expand older posts. I did that today with Something I Thought I'd Never Write: "If I Could", a post from a few weeks back. I added my traditional pre-lyrics explanation/introduction.
4) In the next couple of weeks, I'll be finishing both the "Alien Perspectives on Baseball" and the "Rating Springsteen Album Titles" series. Then I'm going to clean them up and see about floating them out to sports and music blogs, respectively, that publish reader content. If all goes well, I will hostilely take over all sports and music blogs by the end of the summer [evil laugh]. If only some things go well, I will slightly broaden readership of WPFF.
5) I'll also likely add a widget or two to this blog. Widgets are like apps, from what I understand. Some widgets do things like link to sites like Amazon, and people who buy stuff from Amazon after linking through WPFF will provide me with a hefty kickback; unless I'm forgetting where the decimal point goes, it's 1000% of all sales. I know what you're thinking: "Selling out? First Kriss Kross, now the Hungry Preacher?" Well, if you know of some place where manicures, Revolutionary War-era tobacco pipes, and Johnnie Walker Blue grow on trees, I'd be happy to listen--in the meantime, those things don't pay for themselves. So keep an eye out for widgets.
6) Finally, it seems that certain fancy-schmancy bloggers have it so that the title headers for their blogs don't get cut off at the end. It's an intriguing concept that I may look into.
That's the scoop. See you next Wednesday.
-THP
Showing posts with label Logistics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Logistics. Show all posts
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Technical Difficulties [Roman Numeral] One
It used to bug me when people would start referring to movies that spawned unexpected sequels by adding "One" after the title, like "Rocky One" or "The Karate Kid One". Obviously, the filmmakers weren't planning on sequels when they made the first one, so fans took it upon themselves to distinguish between the first movie of a series and its sequel(s) in this manner.
There will be no retroactive re-titling of this post. I fully expect a long series of sequels to follow this post, so I am going to title it appropriately from the get-go. Hence: "Technical Difficulties I".
Here's the pitch: A handsome, young, tragically overambitious blogger attempts to upload a video as part of his first non-introductory post on his shiny new blog. His plans go awry, however, when his computer tells him that he does not have permission to access the video file that he tries to upload. I'm just not sure about the ending yet.
But, yes, first I tried uploading the video directly to the blog. I wasn't sure why it didn't work, but I figured I'd try going through YouTube, since "post video from YouTube" is the other choice that the Blogger dashboard gave me. So I tried uploading a video to my newly created YouTube account, which is when my computer told me I did not have permission to access the file that I was trying to upload. I needed to contact the administrator, it said.
So then I said to the computer: "What? I just created this file today! What do you mean I don't have permission to access it? And who do you think YOU are? I BOUGHT you. I could reformat you if I wanted to. I mean, theoretically. I would probably need to call tech support, but what I mean is that I have the authority to. And now YOU'RE denying ME permission to access a file? How DARE you!"
I didn't wait around to see what he had to say to that; I've got a schedule to keep. Wednesday and Friday. I'm like the (part time) mailman: rain or shine, permission or denial. So instead of getting a "Family" post, here is my first "Tech Stuff" post. If all goes well, I will have everything sorted out by Friday and will get my video uploaded and posted. And this time, if the multimedia post does not work out, I will have a back up, unimedia post ready to go.
By the way, I'm still hammering out the layout of this blog, what works best, what looks best, what looks distinct but won't cause seizures--that sort of stuff. I would also like for the title box of the blog to not be cut off at the end (as it is on my laptop, but not my desktop), but by the time I figure out how to get a video uploaded, I may need to take a few weeks off from figuring out tech stuff.
-THP
There will be no retroactive re-titling of this post. I fully expect a long series of sequels to follow this post, so I am going to title it appropriately from the get-go. Hence: "Technical Difficulties I".
Here's the pitch: A handsome, young, tragically overambitious blogger attempts to upload a video as part of his first non-introductory post on his shiny new blog. His plans go awry, however, when his computer tells him that he does not have permission to access the video file that he tries to upload. I'm just not sure about the ending yet.
But, yes, first I tried uploading the video directly to the blog. I wasn't sure why it didn't work, but I figured I'd try going through YouTube, since "post video from YouTube" is the other choice that the Blogger dashboard gave me. So I tried uploading a video to my newly created YouTube account, which is when my computer told me I did not have permission to access the file that I was trying to upload. I needed to contact the administrator, it said.
So then I said to the computer: "What? I just created this file today! What do you mean I don't have permission to access it? And who do you think YOU are? I BOUGHT you. I could reformat you if I wanted to. I mean, theoretically. I would probably need to call tech support, but what I mean is that I have the authority to. And now YOU'RE denying ME permission to access a file? How DARE you!"
I didn't wait around to see what he had to say to that; I've got a schedule to keep. Wednesday and Friday. I'm like the (part time) mailman: rain or shine, permission or denial. So instead of getting a "Family" post, here is my first "Tech Stuff" post. If all goes well, I will have everything sorted out by Friday and will get my video uploaded and posted. And this time, if the multimedia post does not work out, I will have a back up, unimedia post ready to go.
By the way, I'm still hammering out the layout of this blog, what works best, what looks best, what looks distinct but won't cause seizures--that sort of stuff. I would also like for the title box of the blog to not be cut off at the end (as it is on my laptop, but not my desktop), but by the time I figure out how to get a video uploaded, I may need to take a few weeks off from figuring out tech stuff.
-THP
Monday, January 31, 2011
Introductions Are in Order (Numbered Order, Actually)
Hello, reader. I’m grateful you made it.
So, what will you be reading here? I’ve been thinking about it for the three-plus years that I have owned this domain, and I’ve narrowed it down to about 20 different topics. Back in the day, I used to preach sermons to people who didn’t know how to get plugged into their local church, and I’d say, “If you don’t know what to do, then just do SOMETHING.” I’m at that point with writing. “Write SOMETHING.”
Think of writing topics as marshmallows in cold cocoa (because they would melt in hot cocoa). I’ll stir up the cocoa and see what floats up to the top on any given day. Did I mention that the cocoa is in a vase, wide at the bottom and narrow at the top? That way, the topics can mix up in the bottom, but only one will float up to the surface on any given day. Or maybe two will float up, if they’re smaller. To summarize, my picking what to write about on this blog will be like stirring up a vase full of cold cocoa with marshmallows. I know… deep. Sometimes the images just pour out of me like some sort of liquid out of a container.
Here are some probable tags that I will be using, in no particular order.
1. Family. This won’t be a family blog, per se, but the fam is an important part of my life so it figures to get some blog space. Also, people who know me (who may forever comprise 100% of my readership) might be more interested in how the kids are doing than, say, my thoughts on Springsteen. Give the people what they want, I say.
2. Music. Speaking of Springsteen. Expect an entry or two on the Boss. At least three people I know fit into the overlapping section of a Venn diagram with the circles “know Rob” and “like Springsteen”, and www.willpreachforfood will probably be their homepage within a few days. Other musical themes will get mention as well, not the least of which will be 80’s music (remind me to get my spellcheck to ignore the word “kajagoogoo”).
3. Movies. There is a gaping hole in the internet on this topic.
4. TV. See #3.
5. Keeping House. Expect all sort of tips and tricks that make you say, “Why does he do it that way?”
6. Writing About Writing. This has been called the “writingiest of all topics”, and will be a recurring theme on WPFF. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with writing, but it has always been an important part of my life. People who write often wrestle and struggle with making good use of their abilities. I’m one of those people, and I hope that as I examine my past, present, and future use of this form of communication, I can learn to make better use of writing—and maybe even help others do the same.
7. God & the Bible. At the time of this writing, I’m not a pastor anymore, but am still a Christian. It’s fair to say I’ve been struggling with God for a few years now. Maybe my relationship with God mirrors my relationship with writing in some ways; both connecting with God and writing take time, focus, and are easy to put off for another day.
8. Church & Ministry. Not sure what I’ll be saying about this yet.
9. Poems, Lyrics, & Creative Stuff. Mostly just poems and lyrics, but I can’t promise I won’t get otherwise creative on you. I’m unpredictable like that.
10. Sports. See #3.
11. What I Did Instead of Blogging. Some days I will have to choose between blogging and doing something else. If that “something else” is interesting enough, I may—paradoxically—turn it into a blog entry. This may also include texts of other things that I write instead of blogging.
12. Tech Stuff. Though I am an abacus in the world of computer technology, I am convinced computers and their technological brethren (e.g., iphones, the internet, etc.) are not just a fad. So I will observe them, engage with them, learn their ways, and blog about my observations.
13. Adventures & Field Trips. Whether I’m going hiking in the Alps or returning some extra ribbon to Hobby Lobby, if something interesting happens, I may just blog about it.
14. Reviews. In addition to movies (these reviews will receive the coveted “double tag”), I may review books, parks, restaurants, toys, websites, car shows, or any number of things.
15. Life, the Universe, and Everything Else. I may change the name of this tag, but the gist of it is something like “random observations or experiences that don’t fit into any other categories.”
16. Logistics. Stuff about this blog. Like this post!
17. ???. There may be even more tags in the pipeline.
There you have it. When can you expect posts on WPFF? Well, set your alarm for 7:00 a.m. every Wednesday and Friday. Then wait about 15 hours. At that point, Lord willing and if I live and cooperate, there will be a new post each of those 2 days. I expect to build on that schedule. Is five days a week out of reach? Seven? TBD, my friend. TBD. Until Wednesday…
-THP
So, what will you be reading here? I’ve been thinking about it for the three-plus years that I have owned this domain, and I’ve narrowed it down to about 20 different topics. Back in the day, I used to preach sermons to people who didn’t know how to get plugged into their local church, and I’d say, “If you don’t know what to do, then just do SOMETHING.” I’m at that point with writing. “Write SOMETHING.”
Think of writing topics as marshmallows in cold cocoa (because they would melt in hot cocoa). I’ll stir up the cocoa and see what floats up to the top on any given day. Did I mention that the cocoa is in a vase, wide at the bottom and narrow at the top? That way, the topics can mix up in the bottom, but only one will float up to the surface on any given day. Or maybe two will float up, if they’re smaller. To summarize, my picking what to write about on this blog will be like stirring up a vase full of cold cocoa with marshmallows. I know… deep. Sometimes the images just pour out of me like some sort of liquid out of a container.
Here are some probable tags that I will be using, in no particular order.
1. Family. This won’t be a family blog, per se, but the fam is an important part of my life so it figures to get some blog space. Also, people who know me (who may forever comprise 100% of my readership) might be more interested in how the kids are doing than, say, my thoughts on Springsteen. Give the people what they want, I say.
2. Music. Speaking of Springsteen. Expect an entry or two on the Boss. At least three people I know fit into the overlapping section of a Venn diagram with the circles “know Rob” and “like Springsteen”, and www.willpreachforfood will probably be their homepage within a few days. Other musical themes will get mention as well, not the least of which will be 80’s music (remind me to get my spellcheck to ignore the word “kajagoogoo”).
3. Movies. There is a gaping hole in the internet on this topic.
4. TV. See #3.
5. Keeping House. Expect all sort of tips and tricks that make you say, “Why does he do it that way?”
6. Writing About Writing. This has been called the “writingiest of all topics”, and will be a recurring theme on WPFF. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with writing, but it has always been an important part of my life. People who write often wrestle and struggle with making good use of their abilities. I’m one of those people, and I hope that as I examine my past, present, and future use of this form of communication, I can learn to make better use of writing—and maybe even help others do the same.
7. God & the Bible. At the time of this writing, I’m not a pastor anymore, but am still a Christian. It’s fair to say I’ve been struggling with God for a few years now. Maybe my relationship with God mirrors my relationship with writing in some ways; both connecting with God and writing take time, focus, and are easy to put off for another day.
8. Church & Ministry. Not sure what I’ll be saying about this yet.
9. Poems, Lyrics, & Creative Stuff. Mostly just poems and lyrics, but I can’t promise I won’t get otherwise creative on you. I’m unpredictable like that.
10. Sports. See #3.
11. What I Did Instead of Blogging. Some days I will have to choose between blogging and doing something else. If that “something else” is interesting enough, I may—paradoxically—turn it into a blog entry. This may also include texts of other things that I write instead of blogging.
12. Tech Stuff. Though I am an abacus in the world of computer technology, I am convinced computers and their technological brethren (e.g., iphones, the internet, etc.) are not just a fad. So I will observe them, engage with them, learn their ways, and blog about my observations.
13. Adventures & Field Trips. Whether I’m going hiking in the Alps or returning some extra ribbon to Hobby Lobby, if something interesting happens, I may just blog about it.
14. Reviews. In addition to movies (these reviews will receive the coveted “double tag”), I may review books, parks, restaurants, toys, websites, car shows, or any number of things.
15. Life, the Universe, and Everything Else. I may change the name of this tag, but the gist of it is something like “random observations or experiences that don’t fit into any other categories.”
16. Logistics. Stuff about this blog. Like this post!
17. ???. There may be even more tags in the pipeline.
There you have it. When can you expect posts on WPFF? Well, set your alarm for 7:00 a.m. every Wednesday and Friday. Then wait about 15 hours. At that point, Lord willing and if I live and cooperate, there will be a new post each of those 2 days. I expect to build on that schedule. Is five days a week out of reach? Seven? TBD, my friend. TBD. Until Wednesday…
-THP
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