Category: Blogging

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Checking Out Different WordPress Themes

With the last upgrade for WordPress, they made a totally new default theme available to all users. It is called Twenty Thirteen, because it is the theme of the year for 2013. When I got the notice to upgrade my blog to WordPress to 3.6.1, I decided to check out the new theme and activated it. Here are my thoughts on the subject of this new theme.

For off, I’m not a big fan of the color orange. I don’t know why, but orange makes me think of Hardees and Burger King and not much of anything else good or pleasant. So the fact that this new theme is based on the color orange is a real turn off for me. I looked at the different options and see that you can change the header pretty easily, but you are still stuck with orange and that awful, huge and heavy black typeface.

I really have to wonder if anyone with any sense of class or refinement had anything to do with this new default theme. It is so loud, so vulgar, and so brutish that it is a total turn off and offensive to my eyes. Even after I tried to make some adjustments, I can’t get past the very amateurish feel of the Twenty Thirteen theme. But I decided to leave it up on my blog for a week or so to see if I could get used to it.

Today I noticed that someone has released a blue version of this same theme. I have to admit that the blues are a much more relaxing and welcoming color than the horrible orange. But the font is still too big and too thick for my taste. It makes me think of those very thick crayons and pencils that kindergarten kids have to use when they are learning to write their ABC’s. I hate it and cannot easily change it.

So, today I am checking out new WordPress themes for my blog and trying them on my homepage to see if I find something that is more my style. I have no idea what I will end up with.

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Computer slowing down

I sure wish I knew what was up with my computer.  It’s slowing down way too much.  I have done the usual like running a disk clean up and defragmented it but neither has done a darn thing to speed my computer back up.

Even trying to write my blog is a bit of a pain but I do enjoy blogging so I guess I’ll just have to deal with it.  Oh sure, I’ll take it in to be looked at once it bugs me enough but for now, I’ll just keep on keeping on.  Anyone know of any software that could help?

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Be a trucker

When I was young back in the 70’s it was always a cool thing to be a trucker. We watched all the trucking shows on TV like Convoy and Smokey and the bandit. My brothers and I would always hang out the windows of our car and pump our arms at a trucker trying to encourage him into honking the horn.

Nowadays, truckers are more in demand than ever. The problem is that not too many people actually want to be a trucker anymore. Living on the road is difficult and getting the proper licenses is time-consuming and expensive. I think that for the right person though, it could be a great career move. Give it some thought.

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Slow Sunday morning

One thing I really enjoy is a slow Sunday morning. Today is one of those days and I am glad I am here to enjoy it. I have the day off from work and most of my chores are done. I have some time to do whatever I want. I think I’ll use my time to watch a movie.

We have just finished breakfast and are settling down on the couch. I am going onto Netflix and downloading a movie we can all watch together. I think it will be a fine chance to rest and relax.

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The name of the game

Anyone who is in business knows that the name of the game is marketing. Letting people know who you are and what your business is about is paramount to a good business plan. That’s why I like to take advantage of new marketing techniques whenever I can. One of my favorite methods is using logo mats or a logo canopy whenever I can. It’s a simple way to get your name noticed by the public.

We recently started going to trade shows. We decided that our outlet was not up to par. We wanted our name to be prominent and found that trade show flooring was a perfect way to get our name noticed. It has worked out very well so far and we plan to take things a few steps further in the future.

We are still a small company but we feel that we will get bigger every day by taking a few simple steps. We will work hard to please our customers, we will get our brand name noticed, and we will strive to use whatever tactics we deem necessary to do so. I am confident that we will succeed in fulfilling these goals and am proud that I am playing a role in it.

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Talk radio

Lately, I have been very interested in a certain radio station called 102.1 (The Game). They talk about sports and since I am a big fan it’s interesting to me. Anyway, they gave out their phone number and invited people to call in and voice their opinion. I called and actually got through and was able to talk with (The Coach).

Though I had to turn down my radio to talk, I was able to hear myself for the last three seconds as they have a time delay. It was great to hear myself on the radio and I am still stoked about it. Thanks to the coach for listening and the station for allowing me to call in.

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Help in the future

The internet seems to be the latest way to make extra money. So many people are using it to get some extra business that it’s become necessary to take advantage of its services. The problem with that is that many people are not that experienced with starting and maintaining a website. I know how frustrating it can be. Luckily, there are people who can help you with that chore.

One item that is available to everyone is called web hosting. They are companies that will help you keep your site running at its best. You don’t have to worry about anything; they will take care of it all. All you have to do is to find the best company for you. Luckily, I found a site called http://webhostingrating.com/ that can help you decide what company to use.

When you go on the site, you can find valuable information from their hosting guide page. It helps explain what web hosting is and how it can help you. You can also check out the best hosting awards page to find the best web hosting companies to help you with your problems. I think the internet is the wave of the future and people really need to seize the opportunities provided by it. I hope this site will help you in the future.

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The Internet is Truly International

I never thought that I would need an online translation service for anything in my life, but the more I am on the internet, the more I realize just how international we really are. Even with something like Facebook, I have added new friends from a variety of countries. I have a musician friend who lives in the Czech Republic and also know a photographer there who has a wonderful photoblog.

He suggested another photoblog that is run by a French photographer, and I needed service de traduction to navigate her site. Everything on her blog is in French and if I want to make a comment on her work, I need to be able to write in French without sounding like an idiot.

These photoblogs are really interesting. Most of the photographers take a picture of something in their every day life and post it on their site. They take photos all year around, with people walking in the rain, shoveling snow, picking flowers or riding the commuter train. The German photoblog shows street scenes in Berlin and I needed Übersetzungsdienst to read his comments and respond back.

These people do amazing work and put it on the internet to share with the world for free. I admire them and look forward to learning more about life in other parts of the world through their photographs.

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Moving to a new place

Guest post written by my buddy, Aldo Mays

My family just moved to a new area and we haven’t yet found a church. We had a great church family at our old place but since Easter’s coming up really soon we decided we needed to get on the search and the only thing we could think to do is look online. We had found a good deal on Internet through one of the wireless internet providers in the area and we’ve actually found some great sites where residents can review churches, hymns, after school programs and all kinds of things we’re looking for. We’re going to try out the place up the street from our house this Sunday and if we like it, that’s where we’ll be having our Easter service! I can’t believe we’re settling in so well here and that we’ve yet to find a church home but I’m really crossing our fingers that this new place is going to feel as much like home as the old church. Moving is hard, but this has been harder!

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Family Time

Easter dinner was delicious, of course, and it was especially nice because we were able to spend time with my cousin and her family from Southern Maryland. This is a long way for them to drive and we weren’t sure they would come this far for dinner, so I was glad to see them walk in the door around 1:00 pm.

While the women fussed in the kitchen, some of us guys got around to talking about computers and the internet. I was talking to my cousin’s husband about creating a family blog so we could all keep better informed. He was very interested in learning about getting a family domain name and signing up for website hosting to get the blog started.

A good source of information for beginners is on a site that reviews, compares and rates hosting companies. I looked at their Top 10 list and was surprised to find that I am familiar with each of the names listed. I even have my blog hosted on one of the companies they reviewed, and I will agree with everything they said on their site.

I like to read blog articles on sites that I visit if they have a blog. Sometimes you get more personal information and opinions that way. They recently added an article about blog templates that even I did not already know the information in the article, and I’ve been working on my blog for over 3 years now. Just goes to show that you can teach an old dog new tricks.