Category: reflections

Starting all over again

So back in March of 2005 I decided to start a blog.
I researched, I did lots of reading and decided Blogger was my best bet. And for nearly two years it has served me well.
But recently Google decided to make some changes to their software. They made some updates. That’s fine I said. I was excited to see where they would go with their new system.
I tried to migrate over to Blogger Beta right away.
But I was denied. I was told my blog would have to wait.
Sure it was frustrating, but I’m not going to pout. I just kept on keeping on.
I even made some changes to my template and changed my blog, Stranger in a Strange Land, (which will now be referred to as SSL 1.0), from a two column template to a three column template.
Then I get word that “Blogger Beta is dead. Long live the new Blogger.”
Ok. Great, now I can switch to the new Blogger.
Not so fast I was told.
We’re still not ready for you. Ok. I’ll keep pushing along using the old Blogger.
But then Friday morning, everything changed.
I went to login and was told I had to make the change. All right I thought. They’re making me change, they must be ready for me to use the new blogger.
Fat chance. I was still told they weren’t ready. The worst part of it is — they won’t let be back to my old site or login.
Sure its still there floating on the Internet, but I have no way to access SSL 1.0.
So, thus begins SSL 2.0 Beta.
I have none of the old posts (yet), but I have a new domain, new look, new feel and maybe a new direction.
Some have told me they only want to read “personal” entries. Some have told me they only like keeping up with politics on my blog. Others have told me they like the technology. But thanks to a new “back-end” powered by WordPress 2.1 there are categories on the right hand side of the screen and you can pick and chose what you want to read about.
It won’t hurt my feelings if you skip over certain posts.
Really. I’m being honest here.
But to be sure you’re up to date, please update your bookmarks with the new URL for SSL 2.0 Beta: www.casadeblundell.com/jonathan.
For those of you who have paid attention and subscribed to our RSS feed, powered by feedburner.com nothing changes for you — unless you want to take a look at our new site and watch the progression as SSL 2.0 Beta moves into completion.
Also within the next month we expect to launch casadeblundell.com with a new website for mine and Laurie’s wedding. We’re also considering a new blog and site for Laurie at: www.casadeblundell.com/laurie — but more on that later.
So for now, sit back, relax and be thankful that you subscribed to our RSS feed or someone was nice enough to tell you where we moved to.
Let me know what you think. Drop me an e-mail to my new address: jonathan (at) casadeblundell (dot) com.
Take care and God bless.

Oh and shameless plug here: This transition has been about as smooth as it can be. A new domain, spam filters, hosting, FTP and everything else I need less than $200 a year. Zip me an e-mail and I’ll let you know how you can get the same setup.

Build your family tree online

You can now track your family tree and watch it grow online as your family adds to their tree/network.
Geni has several impressive features, like collaborative family tree building and editing. If you add a new branch to your tree and include an email address, that person can visit your tree and build branches directly related to them. Geni is flash-based, so all of the tree-building is done dynamically with a really nice drag-drop-and-zoom interface for moving around your branches.
Check out the software here: http://www.geni.com/tree/start
Via Lifehacker

Thought for Monday

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”
Romans 12: 11-19 (The Message)

Thanks for the reminder Thomas

30 in 2007

Well I have 2 new goals for 2007, I’ve actually cheated a bit and started counting already.
But goal number one is to read 30 books in the next 12 months.
I started on one last night, Love for a Lifetime: Building a Marriage that Will Go the Distance, my parents bought it for Laurie and I for Christmas. I guess they think we’re getting married soon or something ;-).
It’s an easy read and I’m about halfway through it as of this morning.
If anyone has any great reads, let me know. I hope the reading will make me a better person overall, as well as a better writer and blogger.
Secondly, I plan to lose at least 30 more pounds by April 28. I’ve lost 25 solid pounds since late May last year and I’ve pretty much stalled out between 230 and 240 since going to Nigeria in October. My goal was to get to 210 or lower when I started so I need to lose at least 30 more pounds to be sure and I’d like to look my best for the above mentioned wedding on April 28, hence the goal. What are you’re goals/resolutions/hopes/dreams for 2007?