I’ve got a fresh design for the blog (I liked the last one, but this simple, ultra-clean look is more my style), but that’s not the only change around here!
- I’m stepping down as Art Director for Gemstone Publishing’s line of Disney Comics. My last day will be Wednesday, November 26th.
- Two days later, we’re loading up a truck and moving to Columbus, Ohio! (Thanks in advance to Rae Whitlock, who’s already agreed to round up some strapping young church men to help us unload the truck over the weekend.)
- I’m looking to take on some additional freelance web design and optimization clients. If you know anybody who’s looking for that, you can get yourself a 10% referral bonus (because I’m cool like that—also because I hate cold-calling). Just go on over to the “Feedback” page and pick your favorite way to get in touch with me.
UPDATE: According to Google Maps, this might be where we’re moving:
October 22nd, 2007
Tags: blog layout, Family, Gemstone, gemstone publishing, I should listen to my wife, office, pa, real estate, Web Design, york.
I know I haven’t posted much (at all) since our OBX vacation. I’ve got a few more design/development projects in the works (which, quite frankly, are taking far longer than I had anticipated) and Nicole & I are looking at homes in the York area. In other words, busy, busy, busy!
I’ve got a few ideas planned for near-future posts, and I’m always tinkering with the blog’s design. It’s a bad habit, actually; I’m never content with how it looks, so I spend all my time polishing the layout instead of writing. Meanwhile, my wife’s favorite blog post here continues to garner a disproportionate amount of my blog’s traffic. Perhaps I should listen to my wife more often…
I live in Timonium, MD even though the “community web site” is kinda lame. I can’t really fault them for that, though; they’re a bunch of bankers and Realtors shamelessly sponsoring a glorified portal
developed by "Connecting Neighbors" ("a leader in online real estate marketing"), whose express purpose is to generate more real estate sales. To quote, “Your picture and contact information are prominently displayed on the web site, so each time a visitor logs on to the site, they will be reminded who is sponsoring this service.” Problem is, if the site’s sucky you don’t want them to be reminded who’s sponsoring it. Oh well, I’m not in the market for a home and I bank at BB&T, so my opinion probably doesn’t matter to ‘em, anyway.
Still, it’s pretty insulting that these folks are only using the “community website” as a ploy to get more business. Now, don’t get me wrong; there’s nothing bad about getting business as a side effect of a venture like this. The problem is when that is your primary motive.
For instance, if I talk about a book here, I’ll link to Amazon via my Associate ID. If you follow the link and purchase the book, I get a (very) small referral fee from them. But making money is not why I have this blog! And Lord willing, it never will! I hope someone wrings my neck if I ever stick a Google AdSense sidebar on here.
People are coming to learn that we can have community without advertising. The folks in industries like real estate and insurance sales may be some of the last to “get it,” though. They’re so used to the “what do I get out of it” mentality that they don’t seem to understand the concept of offering something to others with no strings attached.
Now, hopefully this isn’t descriptive of Mr. Ronald Annesley, Mr. Stephen MacDonald, Mrs. Kathleen F Beadell, or Mr. John E Kessler (who, BTW, bears a passing resemblance to John Piper). Still, you are known by the company you keep, and they seem to be keeping company with folks who only see you as a source of income. Here’s hoping they prove me wrong, (which is why I’m linking to their site at all).
