Tonight, I opened my browser and navigated over to the 'design' page of the old blog, and I saw something which amazed me: 1473 hits. Poking around further, I checked out my 'stats' page and found that most of my traffic has been coming from Facebook:
http://m.facebook.com/ 1026
http://m.facebook.com 120
https://www.facebook.com/ 97
I'm one of those holdouts who isn't on Facebook... back in the 90s, figuring I needed to become streetwise, I worked as an investigator, mainly of auto accident claims, in NYC's five boros, mainly Brooklyn and Queens, so I am v-e-r-y leery about putting information out on public display. Luckily, the photograph of my public spanking by a dominatrix at an S&M-themed restaurant on my 30th birthday (courtesy of smartass friends) was taken before social media was a 'thing'.
I decided that I needed to Google 'big bad bald bastard' and 'Facebook', and I found this:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10154171427204700&id=99206759699
I can't tell you all how grateful I am to Dr Frans de Waal, not only for his lifetime of research and advocacy, but for his kindness in linking to my modest little blog. Dr de Waal has worked tirelessly to connect us to our fellow Earth denizens, and I am humbled by his connecting to me.
A glance at the title of my blog is enough to show that I primarily envisioned this as a snarky, tongue-in-cheek weblog serving as a vehicle for letting off steam about current events and the state of politics, and for writing about music, art, and books that I like... oh, and a fan site for my feline co-workers. I owe a debt of gratitude to Margaret Mittelbach, Dorian Devins, and Michael Crewdson of the Secret Science Club not only for their wonderful lecture series and their friendship, but for forcing me to bring my best writing efforts to the blogging game. Oftimes, when one is writing multiple days out of the week, one tosses off posts quickly, but the lecture recaps involve note taking (basically, juggling a note pad and a beer in a darkened performance space) and enough web-surfing to verify the hastily-scrawled notes and provide links and attribution. I have an obligation to the lecturers and my readers to get things right... and I sincerely hope that I've succeeded.
So, to Dr de Waal, here's a heartfelt "Thank you", and for the benefit of visitors from the University of Utrecht, "Hartelijk bedankt!"
Funny you post this now - I was just thinking yesterday that I wanted to ask you why you don't have a Facebook page. ZRM and I 'talk' on it all the time - it's way more conversational then the blog/comment structure. And you of all people know that YOU control what you post - if you don't want people to know it, don't fer crissakes post it on the internet.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy both, and I value the hourly give and take with my friends on Facebook. You should at least dip a toe in the water...
There are a couple people with blogs who have been kind or crazy enough to link to something I've written. There is one blog that mostly posts pictures of semi clad babes but also links to some of my stories in giant weekly posts. I get a LOT of page views from that one. It doesn't change what I post. I'm still amazed that anyone reads my stuff.
ReplyDeleteYou write intriguing stuff and deserve all the eyes you can get.
congrats on the new visitors.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest bumps come from when BLKDGRD links to one of my rants, or when Tengrain takes over the Lankiest at C&L.
But never does this result in any comments. wow, there are a lot of people roaming the Internuffles while trying to leave no tracks...
Also, what mikey said (this is the second time today I've agreed with him. Very weird) Unless, of course, you don't need zombies following you IRL.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Twitter....
" deserve all the eyes you can get."
ReplyDeleteI have a bunch of extras I can let him have....
I enjoy both, and I value the hourly give and take with my friends on Facebook. You should at least dip a toe in the water...
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm afraid to find out that some people I kinda sorta know are psychos...
There are a couple people with blogs who have been kind or crazy enough to link to something I've written. There is one blog that mostly posts pictures of semi clad babes but also links to some of my stories in giant weekly posts. I get a LOT of page views from that one. It doesn't change what I post. I'm still amazed that anyone reads my stuff.
You write from the heart as well as the head, Nas, and people appreciate your authenticity. You also bring a good comedic sense to your work when it's appropriate. It's a pleasure to link to your blog, and I appreciate all of your comments here. I love having a blogroll of people from all over the world, even Texas (though for some reason, I have a whole lot of Canadians on it...).
My biggest bumps come from when BLKDGRD links to one of my rants, or when Tengrain takes over the Lankiest at C&L.
Yeah, usually it's a case of 'Tengrain was here'. I was really pleased and surprised when I saw that Dr de Waal linked... It's like a football fan discovering that Peyton Manning linked.
Those de Waal generators sure are something, aren't they>
ReplyDelete~