Elliott C. Back: Internet & Technology

Since Christian did it (and The Undersigned originally) I suppose now that I have to.

1. When did you start blogging?

June 2004

2. Average, how often do you blog?

A lot. There are more posts than there are days in the last two years.

3. How do you host your blog?

When my blog comes in, I offer it a drink and then we chat for a while before dinner is produced. Um, how does everyone host a blog? On a linux server! My own!

4. What blogging application/service do you use?

Variously, either Gallery, Wordpress or software I’ve written.

5. Do you use an application to blog directly from your desktop, rather than from your blogs administration?

Windows Live Writer, at times.

6. Do you use a free theme for your blog?

Yes and no–it varies by site. I’m working on an overhaul theme for this site.

7. What type of blogging do you do?

I’m confused as to what my options are. I blog out of curiosity and hobby.

8. What is your primary blogging motivation?

Self-expression, moving from medium to big pimpin’.

9. Do you care much about the amount of visitors?

Like their sum mass? No. I do care about the NUMBER of visitors.

10. Does the total account of visitors on your blog count more to you, than the amount of visitors who comment on your blog posts?

The two are statistically identical.

11. Do you use some sort of anti spam solution for your blog comments? (Such as Akismet)

Yes.

12. If you run advertisements on your blog, do you sell the ads yourself?

No, that would be more work.

13. If you earn money on advertising on your blog, how much do you approximately earn per month?

More than you do? I’d tell, but that would be telling.

14. If you are running a business blog – have it helped your business to start blogging?

N/A

15. Are you a member of a blogging network such as random shapes or 9rules?

Yes–my own.

16. If you are member of a blogging network – has it helped you noticeable in any way?

The question doesn’t apply to members of a network which contains only their blogs.

17. How many daily unique visitors do your blog have?

~40,000+

18. Do you keep statistics of feed subscribers?

No, but Feedburner and Apache both do. You expect me to write down everyone who reads my feed?

19. Do you put work into search engine optimisation for your blog?

Of course not…. that requires work.

20. Have you ever bought advertisement on other websites for your blog?

My readers do my advertising?

OK that was a total waste of time, but since I filled it out, I suppose I have a moral obligation to press the Publish button, sigh…

There’s a cool little web meme called Web2DNA which converts your website into a DNA-like electrophoresis chart:

Did you know that Craiglist postings can be voted “best of” by the system’s users? The Best of Craiglist is the perfect place to go to find hilarious classified ad rants. As a word of warning, the subject matter is often sexual or adult. Still, there’s plenty a work safe gem to be found:

For example, there’s a desperate hedge fund manager with actual barrels of crude oil in his apartment to get rid of:

Date: 2004-12-02, 8:20AM EST

Sexy UES hedge fund manager willing to s*ck/f*ck his way out of a crude long position. they told me “it would go up forever”. in any event i have barrels of crude warehousd in my apt. willing to trade s**ual favors for 54.95 a barrel … inquire within this is in or around NYC

Then there’s the naive family guy who wants to give away the doubles he accidentally ordered of family photos:

Date: 2004-06-14, 11:37PM EDT

Hi. I just accidently got doubles for my 35MM color prints which I shot with my Kodak digital camera. I don’t want the doubles so I figured someone on here would want them. They’re no nudes or anything like that. Just pics of me with friends and family, then a few pics of my cats. If you want them email me your home address and i’ll send them off to you. this is in or around bronx

Then there’s the old iPod for a fake girlfriend scheme:

Date: 2004-03-14, 12:50AM EST

Hi, I’m having my parents come visit me sometime in the next two weeks and have lied and told them I am dating someone I am in love with. You will only have to come to one dinner. In exchange for this I will buy you an IPOD – yes new – we walk into the store together and buy a new IPOD. Let me know if this interests you, and if you want to be in a loving relationship with all the benefits it brings I want to pretend we are totally in love. I am 24, swm, a grad student, italian-american, (not a guido), athletic build. Send pics and i will send you mine, note I check email basically every 3 hours. You should be in your 20’s and athletic (great butt and legs are my main interest when I say athletic).

Hilarious. If you’re an avid gamer, you might find this funny:

Level 72 Paladin Seeking 42+ Rogue, Druid, and Sorceress – m4ww
Date: 2006-06-20, 4:36AM PDT

I am seeking a level 42 or above rogue, druid, and sorceress to help me assault the fortress of Mordria, and for hot kinky s3x. I am the sole holder of the Axe of Fragyholt and am a level 72 Paladin equipped with Def+ 52 plate mail [...]

Finally, the winner of the bad title award:

TRADE: My Coke for Your Pot
Date: 2006-05-16, 6:56AM EDT

I have a 12-Can “Fridge Pack” of Coca Cola Zero. What I need is a heavy duty aluminum or non-stick cooking pot suitable for everything from making spaghetti to steaming clams. Will consider other offers!

With enough browsing you’ll find some real gems.