Site Update 2, 07/19/2007

OK, if you use a newsreader like Google Reader to read the site, I apologize for the flooding of old posts this morning. I’m trying to get Technorati to recognize my recently-implemented tags.

Also, I recommend not visiting the site itself at the moment, as things are a bit slow until that’s done. I recommend trying later this afternoon…

Update, 4:20 PM: I’m done playing with  the site. For now.

Site Update, 07/19/2007

As you may or may not have noticed, I’ve updated the look and feel of the site. I think this new theme is easier to read than the old one. I’ve also spent the past few days going through and cleaning up some old posts. I haven’t changed any content, but I have…

• Updated broken links where I found them, particularly internal ones from when I migrated the site to WordPress
• Fixed old pictures (baby pics!) that were lost in the migration also
• Updated all Bible links/references to use the cool ESV plugin. I also hacked the plugin to be able to use the Flash player for the “Listen” link at the top of each Bible excerpt. Try it out, and listen to the Bible being read to you as you read my posts.

And that’s about it for now. I’ll be tweaking the sidebars over the coming weeks, so keep an eye on those. Until next time…

John Calvin’s Ghost

My friend Jerry has just joined the blogosphere. He starts with a review of Iain Murray’s The Forgotten Spurgeon. Welcome, Jerry!

Blogging Challenges, Part 1: “First Season Jitters”

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the challenges of blogging, and the first one I’ve identified is this…

“First Season Jitters”

What does that mean? Well, let me tell you.

Have you ever noticed how bad the first season of TV shows are? Especially shows that turn out to be really good. You go back and watch the reruns of the first season and ask yourself, “How did this ever turn out so good?”

Examples:

Star Trek: The Next Generation.
When this show started, I was 14, a huge classic Trek fan, and a geek. (I’m no longer 14, but that’s about all that’s changed.) I was ready for new Star Trek on TV. And… it stank. It was wooden, contrived, and, amazingly boring. Check it out. You can identify any first season episode of ST:TNG by this – Riker doesn’t have the beard. Compare any episode with a beardless Riker with any later episode, and you’ll see what I mean. The show turned out to be pure gold, but what a shaky start!

Seinfeld
When Seinfeld first came on the air, it was good, but not as good as later. What was missing? The interweaving story lines. Character development. Elaine wasn’t even in the first episode, and Jason Alexander spent most of season one acting not like George Costanza, but Woody Allen.

So… I’ve got the First Season Jitters.
Yep. No doubt about it. I’m worried that my “first season” of blogging will turn out like a beardless Riker. Or an overly nervous Woody Allen wannabe. Oh, I’m sure my writing will grow to the later, better developed Number One. Or the more mature “my life stinks but I’m not going to be neurotic, I’m going to relish it” George. But until then, things might be a bit bumpy.

What to do? I will press onward. I will let my writing (hey, it’s been 13 years since college) redevelop naturally, and through consistent practice. And I’m confident things will work out OK.

Bear with me, my friends. Bear with me…