end kvetch

We're in the big leagues now baby! I have decided to make the move from Blogger to Wordpress. This blog will no longer be updated (like that was a frequent occurrence anyway). All new posts can be found at my new blog. You may also notice the new name. Please give your input on that and the move in general (at the new blog please!).

Now, really, my fortnight-long hiatus wasn't my fault (blame teh internets!!!1 and teh japanese!!!1), frankly I was too busy playing Puzzle Pirates and reading The Prince of Tennis (a fantastic manga) to worry about writing stuff.

I figure that in order to make up for all the missed posts I have to do somewhere between 30 and 100 today, so stay tuned!

(P.S. I guess these aren't so extended. Whatever. One down, 29-99 to go.)

So, I'll admit being an absentee blogger wasn't all R&R, there was oft a time when I felt that I should blog about something but then I got that "when you see a dead muskrat don't run an electric current through it to try to bring it back to life" feeling (you get that too, right?) and I decided to let laying lieing lying ???ing blogs lie.

Anyway...maybe I'll get back into the swing of things, maybe I won't, who knows. Just don't expect me to reanimate this muskrat again.

(P.S. I started a "Housekeeping" label to keep track of all my apologies, announcements, etc.)

Update: And when I logged into HitTail I found a plethora or keywords (most of which pertaining to Skitch or journaling app comparisons).

(P.P.S. I forget, just a sec.)
(P.P.P.S. (a minute and a half later) It may have had something to do with more productivity posts "after the jump" (aka, tomorrow) but I'm not sure)
(P.P.P.P.S. I know this is getting a little absurd, but I finally remembered it. What the hell is a "href" anyway?)

Now, as much as I love my current user icon there is a teensy little problem that I have been tiptoeing around since the beginning. Technically, using it is a little something we like to call a copyright infringement. Some people can very very touchy about copyright infringements, so to avoid legal problems I'm going to change my user icon to something unburdened by legal complications.

These are both pieces out of my own work, please place your vote and/or give me suggestions for other copyright-free icons. Thanks.

P.S. I'm leaning towards the top one.

Update: I got tired of waiting (after about ten seconds) and I went ahead and changed the icon to Option #1 and I like it...so case closed. (Well, actually, advice is still welcomed seeing as how I'm a malcontent).

In the unlikely event that one of you was paying attention both now and then you may notice that a couple things are different.  First off, we have a new motto– “The Only Place Computers and Productivity Come Together” (which although not strictly true is better than nothing).  You will also notice that the buttons are now streamined (two have been elimiminated, one has been added, and HitTail has been moved up to keep company with the plebians) and they are also colour coordinated.  I toyed with changing the colour scheme but I eventually decided against it.  On the subject of that new button, you can now sign up for a Google calender that will tell you about upcoming major posts.  I may also be adding some other stuff throughout the course of the day.

P.S. I'm working on geting search set up (other than the nav bar).

Yesterday I posted six times (which may be an all-time high) and to my delight and surprise, my hits also took a pretty big jump (over a 200% increase). So in the interest of science and full disclosure I have made a chart (well, Google Analytics made it, I just cut it out and put some numbers on it) that shows hits with a overlay of posts.

As you can see, more posts roughly equals more hits. However, the recent inclusion of more images hasn't caused a increase in traffic (I'm not saying I'm going to stop, just pointing it out).

Sorry I haven't posted for the last couple of days....you can blame HitTail, it has not given me a single idea yet. In addition to that I have a new addiction to DragonFable (from the makers of AdventureQuest)...so yeah.... I'm going to post something big(ish) later today.

So, I realized, maybe the colour (I'm American but I prefer to spell it that way) scheme is in need of a change. Right now we have this one (as you can tell):


Should I maybe go with a different set of colours from that palette?


Or how about something from a new, bolder scheme?


Or maybe an earthier, more masculine set of colours:

So, what do you think? Should I stick to the current colours? Change to one of the palettes above? Use a totally different scheme not outlined here? Change all the colours to black and post about how I hate life? All suggestions are welcome (yes, even that last one).

Recently it has been suggested that I make some changes to the blog (notably, more content and more visuals). So, supposedly growing readership, I give you a choice: would you like me to post a ten-part photo essay on the decline of African wildlife as it relates to the world's worsening economy, or would you prefer slightly longer posts with the occasional pretty picture?

Overall, remember, if you want change (or maybe just feel like heckling me) you aught to speak up (like Kat did).

Yesterday visits (not page views) skyrocketed from the area of less-than-tenish to about-fiftyish (page views were in the 120 area). Granted, this isn't suddenly the most visited site on the web but its a 500% improvement. There are two possible explanations: either I'm doing something right or my cat was sitting on the refresh key. Lets hope readership doesn't crash.

Also, I read that someone else read that the world's more successful blogs are updated 5-6 times a day, it looks like I'm right on track. (I, for one, can't stand blogs that are only updated a couple times a week, or, heaven forbid, several times a month.

Update: I got an email– from OmniFocus! I just downloaded the beta alpha, watch my productivity soar! Yes, yes, yes!!! Today is a VERY good day.