general questions

Frequently asked questions

Why register?: Additional content... that's right, there's more, stuff I only share with people I know.
Also, you can leave comments on my posts.
Who can join?
Chances are, if I know you, you're in. If not... maybe not.
Other concerns?
Registration is simple and quick, I don't require a lot of info.
But it's a good opportunity to give me your current email address.
I don't spam. C'mon... its me. I'm not gonna send mass emails either.
If you want to keep up to date on new posts, use my RSS feed.
What is an RSS Feed?: A what? For all you noobs, here's a more technical description than I've given below (link). Peruse briefly and return, I'll tell you why it actually matters to you.

Ok, back? Good. So essentially its Internet on your terms. It comes to you, but only when you want. Probably the future of newsmedia, in an early form.

Websites are updated all the time, this just collects all the new articles and puts them in one spot. My website supports RSS, but a LOT of websites do the same. It'll change the way you surf. You can peruse 30 pages and only actually view 2 or 3, but you can do it in a twentieth of the time. Plus, say you are really interested in my posts, I know kindof a stretch. Unfortunately I don't post daily, or even weekly sometimes, this way you can keep tabs on my latest posts without checking my site three times a day. Handy right? But its usefully for way more reasons than I've noted here. I highly recommend Google reader. Give it a try, there are RSS feeds for anything you're into.

To set it up, find this logo (only my main pages have it, i.e. photography)

right click on it and select "copy link address"

Paste it into your preferred readers "add a subscription" box.

You're done! Enjoy.
Why haven't you joined facebook/myspace?: Obviously I've been asked enough to bother to create this page.

So bro, whats the story? You're a techy kinda guy, why no facebook, or myspace or twitter or (insert trendy ____.com website here). Well the short version is because I don't believe in social networking websites.

Wha?!!? Didn't you kinda just make one? Um... in a roundabout sortof way. But like I said, I don't believe in social networking websites... Their value, their usefulness, whatever. I do the professional networking sites, but there's a big difference... Those are focused on people I do not know, clients, potential employers, etc. Social networks are based on people I do know. But by definition, if you're reading this, you do know me and therefore it isn't about you. This website is inner circle, not outer. Its the outer circle that I'm not rushing to embrace.

If some acquaintance that I used to know, but haven't heard from for some time has been patiently waiting for me to open my account so that they can get back in touch with me... They'll just have to keep waiting, or just google my name or something, I'm guessing a moderately clever search string would do the trick. Honestly, I'm not being elitist... An interesting conversation with some acquaintance and I'll probably try and tell them about my site. I even let family in ;).

Its about more than whether myFace or whatever works or not. It doesn't represent me. Ok, but what can? Its just a stupid website. Admittedly true, but this site is different. Its mine. I control this one. It displays content with a little bit of something extra that I value. Not necessarily better or worse but personalized. Custom. That means a web interface that relates to user interactively. Meaning, popular content, moves to more noticeable spots on the page. No adds for sugar coated cheese poofs. Video and images are smoothly integrated. People can comment, and interact, but I'm the moderator.

Sure, social websites improve all the time, but for me full control is critical. Maybe its because I'm a designer by profession. Maybe its just a level of visual "punch" that isn't readily available with your "for everyone" template.

I guess what I'm trying to explain is that its like what most people say about art... they just know what they like. Me too.

Even though I'm a designer, "web" design is not what I do for a living.

However this site is:
Content that I personally selected/created in a hand crafted aesthetic experience.

That IS what I do for a living. If you end up deciding that I'm someone who has an "eye" for design, then maybe it was worthwhile exercise and not just a way to keep in touch with people and express myself.

Thanks fer the interest. Goetz
What does a website like this cost?: a dollar eighty per month

Nope, not a typo. $1.80/mo. I got a smoking deal on hosting through dreamhost. Includes domain registration, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth and high-end servers with all the bells and whistles. I had to sign up for a year. I did a search and found a $95 off $117 coupon online, I know. I was shocked too.

My CMS is Joomla! (whats that? link) Which is open source and therefore free. Thats basically it.

Ok, that's a complete lie... It took me many hours to figure all this stuff out. But the dollar cost was as low as stated above. I had previous experience... pre-2000, I designed an e-commerce website. Technology changes fast, so I basically learned how to do everything all over again. I was shocked how intuitive this system is. Its all web based.

You could probably build your own too.
Why do you need a website?: In our daily lives, we have become accustomed to a continuous bombardment of light and noise in all sorts of forms. Be it TV, the internet, movies, music... It has almost become background it's so commonplace. Busy lives make busy people. Unfortunately, I am of the opinion that despite the best of intentions, important relationships between people we can be come lax and even distant at times.

It is for this purpose that I have forged a link between myself and those on the periphery of my world... as self-centered as it sometimes seems. This unintentional distancing is not my intent, nor what I would like to accept. With the time that is available to me, I've chosen to press forth in a more efficient means of expression

Thus I've hobbled together a website. A link to the only side of the equation I truly control... my end. But I've provided an option for your own involvement as well. No pressure, I promise. There are layers of interactivity available.

From the occasional visitor who browses around from time to time to see what sort of interesting things I've bothered to post.

To the more advanced user, who both knows what an RSS feed is and bothers to subscribe to mine.

Or maybe just something in between, someone who has registered and drops a comment from time to time.

The choice is entirely yours.

The choice I hope you'll make, is to find the time not necessarily to look at what I've done... But rather to find some way to share a bit of your own life. Link me up ;) I'm into it.

Goetz