My Blog – Version 3.5

Welcome to my blog version 3.5.

Blog Software Logos

I’ve been tinkering with blogging for over ten years. I started with the CityDesk tool by FogCreek Software installed on my own home server at gbjerke.com. Then graduated to a Radio 8 blog from Userland. When hosted Typepad came out I moved to it and found it very convenient. Now, after reading Michael Hyatt’s book “Platform”, I’ve moved my home base to this self-hosted install of WordPress.

I want to thank Cord Blomquist of ReadyMadeWeb for helping me successfully move my existing posts here from Typepad.

It will take me a few weeks to get this new site up to speed, with appropriate disclaimers, subscription opportunities, etc.

Stay tuned.

Trying out SnagIt

Concord2006electionresults Trying out a new screen capture utility called SnagIt by TechSmith.  What better to document then the latest results for the Concord City Council election taken from the County’s Election Department website?  Click on the picture – it’s a thumbnail that gets bigger.

There’s really no pun intended here.  The product comes highly recommended by many in the blogsosphere.  TechSmith also produces screencasting software and handy tutorials on how to use their products.  You’ll probably find more images in my posts from now on.  I know.  You can’t wait.

Citizen Journalism

Halfway to Concord is a blog I regularly read.  Although I don’t always agree with the opinions expressed by it authors – I am appreciative of the fact that it covers things in Contra Costa that rarely make it into the Times (aka Main Stream Media or MSM).

That’s why I think it’s appropriate that the latest post is about citizen journalism.  I also applaud the site’s new tag line – "Citizen Journalism for Contra Costa County".  I think the most important point in that post is that citizen journalists provide as reliable and accurate information as practical.  I would add that I think it’s also important for the citizen journalist to be as open as possible in declaring their biases.  If I know a particular blog comes at stories from a certain point of view or the author has a strongly held political view I take that into account as I read and enjoy their content.  Disclosure improves my ability to assess credibility, understand the author’s sense of humor and fully appreciate their effort in writing the story.

Halfway to Concord has recently undergone a design change with one particular new content piece – Asides – that I find interesting and helpful.  The other interesting thing about the design changes is – after the paragraph above – I can’t find any direct reference to its author(s).  I know Bill Gram-Reefer (his wife is an occasional contributor) and I know he’s justifiably proud of his blog.  Give it a read.

Posting from the Treo 650

Put the mobile Typepad app on the 650 to give it a try. It was easier to download the app and hotsynch then try and get it directly to the phone over air.  I’m really happy to see a new GSM Treo is coming out using the Palm OS. (680)  I just wish they’d decide when and where and how much already!

Boy, the posts are going to have to be special to get me to thumb type for very long…

Vorderbrueggen’s New Blog

Lisa Vorderbrueggen, the political editor of the Contra Costa Times, has started a new blog on politics and public policy that can be found here

Clearly a lot of thought has gone into her debut – as it’s been in the rumor-mill for months.  Most bloggers just start writing and tweak things along the way.  Often in fits and starts.  Lisa’s blog has a designer banner and she has a number of worthwhile links to other websites and blogs in her sidebar.  It will be interesting to see what information makes the paper, her column, the eye or her blog.  Will it make her coverage of the primary and/or other elections more "real-time"?

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