As we approach the new year, that's usually a good time to evaluate life situations and projects that are going on.
For me, it's pretty simple. We have a child on the way, so much of my energy is going to go towards preparing for that child and the challenge that it will bring. In terms of my online activities, it'll still be simple.
This blog will remain largely unchanged. I've used it mostly to provide picks for the NFL season (and will continue to do so until the season ends), but occasionally I've sprinkled in other topics as well. I have a few ideas floating around in my head that I want to write about, but haven't exactly found a good way to convey those various ideas.
Yes, one of them involves the shooting of elementary kids.
I've tried to think of ways to present my ideas, whether it be in this blog or whether it be something I've put up via my YouTube channel, which has been a small endeavor to this point. Most of the content revolves around Payton, our animals, and my gameplay videos of Minecraft, which has become a favorite hobby of mine.
Yes, I have a channel on YouTube. I don't upload a ton, but I have a decent number of videos up for viewing. The gameplay stuff is still in its infancy, but I've enjoyed it thus far and hope to expand the scope of it to include my console games, not just PC. That said, the tool required to record console gaming isn't terribly expensive, but isn't a priority right now, as is purchasing a better microphone.
As of right now, I don't have any intention of doing a Christmas list like I've done in years past. Simply put, I don't know that I can come up with anything more elaborate than the things I've posted over the last several years and don't want to cheapen the entry by trying to get too cute with it. That thought could change of course, but seeing as it's the 21st, I don't see myself creating time before Christmas. The same could be said about my New Year's Resolution post that I typically do.
In short, the first few months of the new year are going to be hectic and filled with a lot of tasks as we prepare to bring a new life into this world. There are things to plan for, things to buy, and I don't want to spend a ton of time on wasted energy and projects. It's partially why I've kept my gaming time to a minimum. I'm not 18 anymore.
In the meantime, thank goodness the world hasn't ended like so many were worried it was going to, so I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.
Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts
Friday, December 21, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The social network
I took a venture back onto Google+ today.
I had originally joined it last year as a substitute for Facebook since it seemed several people were talking about jumping ship to the shiny new social network that was getting a lot of publicity.
One year after my last post, I went back and took a peek at the site that never quite took off the way Google probably thought it would. I attempted to change my profile picture on there and rediscovered why I abandoned it in the first place. The site, while laid out nicely, is clunky at best. It is nice to be able to link your profile to other Google-affiliated sites such as Youtube and Blogger, but ultimately it's cumbersome to try and do much of anything on the actual site.
It took 15 minutes, several reloads, and an act of God to get my profile picture changed. As of this point, the other sites have not recognized this profile change and are still displaying the old picture.
There are some nice ideas behing Google+. The hangout idea is nice, as is how easy they make it sound to video chat with multiple people. I even like the Your Circle concept that they bring to the table.
Social networking is a funny thing overall though. Myspace was all the rage up until a couple years ago when Facebook found its footing. Now I bet most don't know anyone who regularly uses Myspace, or if you do, it's one sad, lonely individual who just can't let go of the site. This despite how much complaining is done about Facebook and how it operates, especially when it pertains to individual security settings.
For those who complain, it's a social network, not a hide everything you put up because you're embarrassed by what you said, did, or wore. Don't want people to see it? Don't post it. Or, go in, change your settings, and go about your life. Yes, Facebook can frustrate with how slow it can be at times, how often there seem to be hiccups, but complaining about privacy on a social network is silly.
I've resisted the temptation to join Twitter thus far. It's a battle I've gone back and forth on for sometime, partially because while I'm fascinated by the ability to follow athletes, celebrities, and local friends and see what they're all up to, it sounds like a simplified Facebook that's encouraged people to talk like idiots.
I just don't think I could devote time to a social platform when I already tend to ignore Facebook on a regular basis.
But again, the temptation to see what people are saying on Twitter is immense, plus the fact that so many companies are promoting themselves through Twitter and posting contests that are exclusive to that realm.
It's actually amazing to me how many different ways people can express themselves anymore. There are social sites like Facebook and Twitter, blogging sites such as Blogger and Tumblr, picture sites that allow sharing through multiple avenues, and even work networking sites that allow you to connect with coworkers in a social environment.
Additionally, most online stories allow people to comment on them, giving people even more ways to express themselves on whatever they think about, even if it has nothing to do with what the story is about. This has led to things such as trolling (leaving comments simply to incite others that are usually negative or derogatory) and people arguing just because they can.
It allows someone like me an avenue to express my opinion on a number of items, although mine lately have been exclusive to the sporting world.
I could come in here and say the most inflammatory thing and get away with it. It's the beauty of the internet and the social environment we live in now.
Twitter isn't that exciting though. It seems the most outrageous tweets often are deleted within hours of being posted due to backlash caused. Twitter has also led to several parody profiles of various celebritites. Some embrace the idea that it isn't really the celebrity posting, others try to convince it is who they say they are.
In the end, it doesn't matter how you choose to express yourself. Me? I've stuck with this blog, my Facebook page, and occasionally in my Youtube videos that I've posted. Whether I expand or not depends on whether there's an audience for it. I'm sure I could boost my Youtube numbers by posting more on various platforms, but I'm not the self-promoting type.
Today I went back onto Google+, but it doesn't seem likely that I'll be back anytime soon. I'll stick with what I already have.
I had originally joined it last year as a substitute for Facebook since it seemed several people were talking about jumping ship to the shiny new social network that was getting a lot of publicity.
One year after my last post, I went back and took a peek at the site that never quite took off the way Google probably thought it would. I attempted to change my profile picture on there and rediscovered why I abandoned it in the first place. The site, while laid out nicely, is clunky at best. It is nice to be able to link your profile to other Google-affiliated sites such as Youtube and Blogger, but ultimately it's cumbersome to try and do much of anything on the actual site.
It took 15 minutes, several reloads, and an act of God to get my profile picture changed. As of this point, the other sites have not recognized this profile change and are still displaying the old picture.
There are some nice ideas behing Google+. The hangout idea is nice, as is how easy they make it sound to video chat with multiple people. I even like the Your Circle concept that they bring to the table.
Social networking is a funny thing overall though. Myspace was all the rage up until a couple years ago when Facebook found its footing. Now I bet most don't know anyone who regularly uses Myspace, or if you do, it's one sad, lonely individual who just can't let go of the site. This despite how much complaining is done about Facebook and how it operates, especially when it pertains to individual security settings.
For those who complain, it's a social network, not a hide everything you put up because you're embarrassed by what you said, did, or wore. Don't want people to see it? Don't post it. Or, go in, change your settings, and go about your life. Yes, Facebook can frustrate with how slow it can be at times, how often there seem to be hiccups, but complaining about privacy on a social network is silly.
I've resisted the temptation to join Twitter thus far. It's a battle I've gone back and forth on for sometime, partially because while I'm fascinated by the ability to follow athletes, celebrities, and local friends and see what they're all up to, it sounds like a simplified Facebook that's encouraged people to talk like idiots.
I just don't think I could devote time to a social platform when I already tend to ignore Facebook on a regular basis.
But again, the temptation to see what people are saying on Twitter is immense, plus the fact that so many companies are promoting themselves through Twitter and posting contests that are exclusive to that realm.
It's actually amazing to me how many different ways people can express themselves anymore. There are social sites like Facebook and Twitter, blogging sites such as Blogger and Tumblr, picture sites that allow sharing through multiple avenues, and even work networking sites that allow you to connect with coworkers in a social environment.
Additionally, most online stories allow people to comment on them, giving people even more ways to express themselves on whatever they think about, even if it has nothing to do with what the story is about. This has led to things such as trolling (leaving comments simply to incite others that are usually negative or derogatory) and people arguing just because they can.
It allows someone like me an avenue to express my opinion on a number of items, although mine lately have been exclusive to the sporting world.
I could come in here and say the most inflammatory thing and get away with it. It's the beauty of the internet and the social environment we live in now.
Twitter isn't that exciting though. It seems the most outrageous tweets often are deleted within hours of being posted due to backlash caused. Twitter has also led to several parody profiles of various celebritites. Some embrace the idea that it isn't really the celebrity posting, others try to convince it is who they say they are.
In the end, it doesn't matter how you choose to express yourself. Me? I've stuck with this blog, my Facebook page, and occasionally in my Youtube videos that I've posted. Whether I expand or not depends on whether there's an audience for it. I'm sure I could boost my Youtube numbers by posting more on various platforms, but I'm not the self-promoting type.
Today I went back onto Google+, but it doesn't seem likely that I'll be back anytime soon. I'll stick with what I already have.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
catching on
Whenever I start a new blog, which isn't very often, it often takes me a while to get all the settings down the way I like them.
I'm also prone to changing how the blog looks several times over until I find something I like.
I can't help it. I'm OCD about certain things.
For instance, when Rachel read my first entry, she noted that it had been posted after 1pm, when in actuallity, I had posted after 4pm. This reminded me that I had forgotten to change the time zone setting in here, something I did when I started my work blog as well.
I'm someone who likes to tweak things overall though.
When I was writing in my web site (which can be found at http://www.oocities.org/wservo9; keep in mind I can't edit the site anymore), I used to change the background, the font, the layout, and the names of the pages quite regularly. In fact, you can see how it evolved over the years if you read from start to finish.
When I began using Myspace, I used to change the blog settings all the time.
If I could in Facebook, I would have at least 3 times, but they won't even let you punctuate the damn thing anymore, so why bother trying?
Another thing I won't do is promise I'm going to write as much as I can because, well, I never do. I usually write a lot initially, but then it tails off, so I'm not going to promise a damn thing this time.
One, I want to make sure I'm clear to write about a lot of things since much of my free time outside of work is spent with Rachel and Payton. I don't want to put something up here that Rachel maybe wanted to keep between the two of us and end up upsetting her. Two, I tend to forget stuff when I actually sit down to write, which right now is only at work until my internet is back up again.
In fact, the first month or so will probably be a lot of posts going back and remembering things that have happened up until this point, so if you know me really well, it'll end up being really boring at first.
Not that it will get very exciting in the future. I'm not exactly known for excitement.
Oh well. See how much I care?
I'm also prone to changing how the blog looks several times over until I find something I like.
I can't help it. I'm OCD about certain things.
For instance, when Rachel read my first entry, she noted that it had been posted after 1pm, when in actuallity, I had posted after 4pm. This reminded me that I had forgotten to change the time zone setting in here, something I did when I started my work blog as well.
I'm someone who likes to tweak things overall though.
When I was writing in my web site (which can be found at http://www.oocities.org/wservo9; keep in mind I can't edit the site anymore), I used to change the background, the font, the layout, and the names of the pages quite regularly. In fact, you can see how it evolved over the years if you read from start to finish.
When I began using Myspace, I used to change the blog settings all the time.
If I could in Facebook, I would have at least 3 times, but they won't even let you punctuate the damn thing anymore, so why bother trying?
Another thing I won't do is promise I'm going to write as much as I can because, well, I never do. I usually write a lot initially, but then it tails off, so I'm not going to promise a damn thing this time.
One, I want to make sure I'm clear to write about a lot of things since much of my free time outside of work is spent with Rachel and Payton. I don't want to put something up here that Rachel maybe wanted to keep between the two of us and end up upsetting her. Two, I tend to forget stuff when I actually sit down to write, which right now is only at work until my internet is back up again.
In fact, the first month or so will probably be a lot of posts going back and remembering things that have happened up until this point, so if you know me really well, it'll end up being really boring at first.
Not that it will get very exciting in the future. I'm not exactly known for excitement.
Oh well. See how much I care?
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