Apologies to visitors to this blog and my website who may have encountered an “500 Internal Server Error” message, instead of seeing my usual drivel and website boot & leather photos. What happened?
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Category Archives: blogging
Tweaking the Blog
Every now and then, I look at how other WordPress blogs are set up and explore possible additions or changes to try to make it look and operate more smoothly for my readers. One thing I promise I will never do is…
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Enjoyment In Dinosaurville
One would think that if I have a personal huge and well-developed boot & leather website and a blog on its own domain as a subdomain of my website, that I would be among those who embrace technology and quickly adopt it.
Obviously, I am not afraid of or daunted by technology, however…
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Silly Blog Spam
One of the downfalls of moving my blog to WordPress is that WP is more frequently subject to silly spammers. I have had to install six anti-spam plugins (program enhancements) that trap that crap. Then all I have to do is delete it. But man, there is a lot of it! From 20 to 40 attempts each day to add comments on many of my posts, that if I did not set all comments to moderation and have these plugins installed, these spam messages would appear.
What annoys me…
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Uncharacteristically Dramatic
I posted on this blog yesterday to say that I do not think I would be making any more videos. After re-reading my post, and receiving several emails about it, I realized that what I wrote was uncharacteristically dramatic. Usually, I’m cool and calm, but I admit, there are times when my frustrations get the best of me.
My “new” perspective on videos is–
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No More Videos
UPDATE: Read this update about my perspective and challenges with future video-making.
Some of my loyal followers have found me through my videos that I have posted on YouTube since 2006. Unfortunately, so-called “upgrades” of technology have conspired against me, so I have decided that I will not create any new videos. It is sad to have to arrive at this decision, but here’s why:
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More Boot Related Internet Search Funnies
From time to time, I take a moment to review questions that people enter into a search engine about boots. Here are some of the latest funnies:
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Where I Am and Transitions
This photo was taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station. It features the core of downtown Washington, DC, with the Potomac River on the lower left, and the U.S. Capitol in the middle, facing “the mall” and north up Pennsylvania Avenue where festivities of today will be celebrated.
Am I there for today’s ceremonial Presidential inaugural festivities?
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Blew Up The Computer
Darn it! My power supply to my main computer that I use for work and maintaining my website crapped out the other day. I bought a new one, and installed it. When I powered it on, I heard a crackle then smelled something burning. I quickly turned it off.
I tried various combinations of the connections, to no avail. “No Boot Disk Available.”
Who me? Booted Harleydude? What’s it saying — that I don’t have any boots on my disk? Ya gotta be kidding!
I brought the computer to a technician who calmly advised me, “sorry, you ‘toasted’ your hard drive. It’s gone and cannot be recovered.”
Shit.
And coming from me, that’s strong language!
I had to order a new computer. Fortunately, I kept a pretty current backup of my “old” computer so I certainly hope I’m back up and running soon. Meanwhile, I’m computing from my laptop, as I continue to be one of those guys with an “i-nothing for a no-berry.”
I see that about 30% of the visitors to this blog and my website are coming from smartphones, ipads, and other mobile devices. I think my fiance and I will be among the last to embrace mobile technology. I still prefer a traditional keyboard, wired mouse, and the full features of a “real” computer. I have no need to be mobile with it, and pay extra for data plans and the like (keeping rich companies richer. Not me.)
Life is short: don’t try to be your own technician.
No Ads Here
I’m sure many of you have been unable to avoid noticing ads on websites, blogs, or even web-based software programs that you use routinely. In my opinion, some of the worst of this advertising push is foisted on YouTube. Some of the videos require viewing at least 10 seconds of an advertisement before you can skip it. Also, Facebook presents a huge number of ads (to those who do not block them with browser extensions like Adblocker). There are hundreds of additional examples.
The purpose of ads, of course, is to generate sales that come from visits to the sponsor’s website. Website and blog owners who host ads receive a share of revenue for allowing the ads on their websites. The more sophisticated the web becomes, the more “directed” the ads will be. Ever notice, for example, that if you visit a website for a boot retailer, that the boot store’s boots show up in ads that stream on other sites you visit, such as blogs? Or suddenly boot ads show up on Facebook? That, to me, is kinda spooky, but not unexpected.
So what is my position on ads on my boots and leather website or this blog or videos on my my YouTube channel?
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