A poem(?) written during a case of insomnia. Continue reading “The World Is Broken And So Am I”
The World Is Broken And So Am I
Monday Morning Grievance: Trolling
It’s Monday & I haven’t had my coffee.
Blogging 201: Hub, Buddy, & Poll Walk Into A Bar
Sounds like the beginning to a bad joke, doesn’t it?
In reality, I’m catching up on three Blogging 201 assignments.
Make Your Blog a Hub
Create a page or section on your blog to display links to your online presence elsewhere, and make sure your other presences reflect the brand you’re developing on your blog.
Based on previous feedback, my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram followers seem pleased.
If you aren’t following me, check me out!
[Seriously, check out those social media icons in the sidebar.]
Since it’s come up before, let me clarify that
The Facebook page is not my personal page. In addition to blog posts, I also share others’ blogs and various and sundry ephemera I find online.
The Twitter and Instagram feeds are my personal feeds and I don’t mind others following my adventures on those sites.
The Buddy System
Find a blogging buddy.
If appropriate, plan to publish guest posts on one another’s blogs.
Apparently, the duties of a Blogging Buddy can include any or all of the following:
Give Feedback
Promote Each Others’ Blogs & Posts
Provide Moral Support
Guest Post [When Appropriate and/or Invited]
So, who wants to be my Blogging Buddy?
Give ‘Em What They Want, II
Create a poll and/or a survey to collect feedback from your readers on your site and its content.
This one is easy: using the handy dandy poll I’ve created, select the type of posts you most enjoy.
Select all that apply!
Blogging 201: Digging Deep into Social Media
Today is another day devoted to Social Media on Blogging 201.
Thank you to everyone who’s following me on Twitter and Instagram.
Most likely, I’ve followed you back, especially if you post pictures of books, food, or animals.
However, I’ve had issues with my Facebook page.
My Facebook page is more than just my blog.
I share other blogs, news articles, and other things that catch my eye.
It’s my magpie of social media.
However . . .
I’ve already invited all my friends
I consistently direct my readers to it
I just don’t know how to increase readership and likes/shares on what I post to the newsfeed.
Thoughts?
Blogging 201: Archives and Scheduling
Thank you all for your patience as I [once again] make my way through Blogging 201.
This is a two-for-one post!
Archives
If you haven’t noticed, I’ve adjusted the sidebar widgets.
Specifically, I’ve changed how you the reader can find my other posts.
Delve the Archives via the monthly calendar or search everything I’ve published using your favorite keyword.
See my what other readers like [i.e. top-viewed posts or pages].
At the bottom of my posts, you’ll still see related topics.
I’ve enabled WordPress’ large and dynamic option for a more interesting view.
Scheduling
I’m still working on a routine blogging schedule.
In addition to the stuff I write because I want to, I’m in the process of developing
Sunday Snapshots where I show you my week in pictures.
Monday Morning Grievances where I explain my pet peeves.
Teaser Tuesday where I share what I’m currently reading and give short reviews of what I’ve read.
Photo Challenge Thursday where I participate in the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge.
Free Write Friday where I use prompts supplied by you the reader to produce a post.
Currently, I have nothing for Wednesday or Saturday.
What do you think of these themes?
Do you have a favorite – or least favorite, as the case may be?
Finally
What do you think of my post ending, encouraging readers to drop a note in the prompt box or follow my other social media sites?
Should I keep this or get rid of it?
For the record, the Facebook page is not my personal page, it’s the page I set up specifically for the blog.
Thanks for your valued input!
Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?
Drop a note in the prompt box!
Don’t forget to follow me on:
Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.
Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?
Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.
Riddles in the Dark Redux
[inspired by ellarend on jumbleskine]
Gollum was disappointed once more; and now he was
angry, and also tired of the game. It had made him
very hungry indeed. This time he did not go back
to the boat. He sat down in the dark by Bilbo. That
made the hobbit most dreadfully uncomfortable and
scattered his wits.
. . .
Bilbo pinched himself and slapped himself; he
gripped on his little sword; he even felt in his
pocket with his other hand. There he found the
ring he had picked up in the passage and
forgotten about.
"What have I got in my pocket?" he said aloud.
He was talking to himself, but Gollum thought
it was a riddle, and he was frightfully upset.
I doubt that riddle would work today.
[Nearly] everyone has a phone in their pocket.
A better brain teaser might be:
What apps have I got on my smartphone?
In addition to those pesky factory-installed apps that Apple refuses to let me remove,
Facebook allows me to stalk live vicariously through keep up with friends who no longer live in my general vicinity.
Sometimes they make me laugh.
Sometimes they make me cry.
Sometimes they make me want to kill someone.
It’s like they’re actually in my living room!
Twitter condenses thoughts to 140 characters.
Sometimes that’s 140 characters too many.
Instagram lets me share and view pictures without the commentary of Facebook.
I also use to it to share quotes created on my next app . . .
InstaQuote contains a variety of fonts and backgrounds suitable for sharing quotes I find interesting.
On Tuesdays I share quotes from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels [#TerryPratchettTuesday].
On Fridays I share philosophy quotes [#PhilosophyFriday].
Manual is my preferred camera of choice.
Afterlight is my preferred photo editing app.
Podcasts keep me sane.
The Christian Humanist
Three Christians, teachers, and intellectuals gather digitally to hold forth on literature, theology, philosophy, and other things human beings do well. Taking the question at hand utterly seriously and ourselves not at all, the Christian Humanists attempt to record weekly during the school year and take on some interesting questions.
Stuff You Should Know
Join Josh and Chuck as they explore Stuff You Should Know about everything from genes to the Galapagos in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com
Wait Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me
NPR’s weekly current events quiz. Have a laugh and test your news knowledge while figuring out what’s real and what we’ve made up.
Stuff You Missed in History Class
Join Holly and Tracy as the bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed in History Class in this podcast by HowStuffWorks.com
Science Friday
Science Friday, as heard on PRI, is a weekly discussion of the latest news in science, technology, health, and the environment hosted by Ira Flatow. Ira interviews scientists, authors, and policymakers, and guests can call in and ask questions as well.
Ask Me Another
Ask Me Another blends brainteasers and local pub trivia with comedy and music into a rambunctious hour-long show. Play along as host Ophira Eisenberg invites in-studio guests and listeners alike to stretch their noggins, tickle their funny bones, and enjoy witty banter and guitar riffs from house musician Jonathan Coulton. What you’ll hear resembles the casual intimacy of game night at a friend’s house: one where scores are forgotten in favor of hilarious gaffes.
News from Lake Wobegone
Garrison Keillor’s signature monologue, The News from Lake Wobegone, a staple of the live public radio program A Prairie Home Companion.
Pandora provides the background to my reading and writing. Stations include:
Philip Glass
The Vitamin String Quartet
Bedrich Smetana
Berlin Philharmonic
Richard Wagner
Broadway Showstoppers
SoundHound identifies songs I hear on the radio so I can look them up later on iTunes or YouTube.
WordPress helps keep me connected with the blogosphere while on the go.
Goodreads keeps track of my reading progress; it’s also handy for reminding me what page of a book I’m on when I’ve forgotten a bookmark.
BBC News is the only source I trust for news.
Olive Tree Bible Study lets me see parallel versions of the Bible; while my pastor uses the King James, I can see Luther’s translation and the ESV at the same time. Three versions at once isn’t as confusing as it sounds.
LEO is the app of the best online German-English dictionary.
PennyFinder helps guarantee I won’t miss adding a squished penny to my collection.
The Weather Channel supposedly tells me what the weather will be. My back and arm do a fairly decent job; it’s interesting to compare the two. So far, I’m winning.
My Verizon lets me keep up with my data usage and pay my bill.
Bank of America tells me how much I can’t afford to go out.
How many of these would you have guessed?
Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?
Drop a note in the prompt box!
Don’t forget to follow me on:
Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.
Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?
Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.
