5/26/2013 was my first post and since then I have posted around 110 posts (112 when I counted the first time and 108 the second time). I started my website because I had found a few online resources that listed incorrect information about me and I wanted to curb what I had found. I think it is delusional for people to think they can control 100% of their online presence. You are going to get mis-information out there at some point, but you can direct it at least. So that was what the website was for. To make a centralized location for details about me. More than my LinkedIn or Facebook and a place that I can quickly direct people to if they should want to find more details about me. Also by having this centralized location, when I get searched they will find this place first and not the places that have the incorrect information.
Shortly after I started the website I decided that it might be a good time to capture the opportunity to collect my thoughts. I have said repeatedly, probably ad nauseum, that it is important for people to express themselves. Having the outlet is something that humans crave. It is why social clubs and happy hours exist. Hell, look at social media. People are lining up to invest in companies that provide the outlet for people to take/post pictures of their food. With the frustration that I, and everybody, experience with work I thought that the blog would be a good way to get my thoughts out. No one has to read it. Those that do, do not have to care. It is all about having my own little place.
Do not get me wrong though, I really like the idea that someone, anyone, might read this thing and get something out of it. And even though about 95% of my traffic is probably from the links that I embed, I hope that the others come away with something. Even if it is just the news that a new GPS satellite went into orbit. Or seeing a cool new public webapp.
Now that this milestone has come, I think it is time to reevaluate the blog and consider where I would like to go from here. Certainly I have to keep up my schedule. The schedule itself has started to keep my thoughts it order. I would love to expand on it though. I like the fact that I have the obligation to get a post out every few days. I like that the blog encouraged me to build a UAV and document it. The problem I have is that I have never been much of a writer. I am spatial, it is awesome when I am packing the back of a truck, but not so much when I want to write an essay.
I would like to write more specific and original articles. Yeah, reviewing the articles is good and it gets information out there, but I would like to push for something more substantial. I would also like to write more instructional posts. I know there are a lot of smaller CRM firms that beat their head against the wall trying to manage their data. I also know that there are plenty of companies, big and small, that keep do things manually but on a computer because they do not know the automating capabilities that they have at their disposal. I also know that there are plenty of options to fix these problems. I think getting some of that information out there might actually help CRM. Instead of killing their budget with mundane details archaeologists could be doing what they do best. I would also like to get some information out there to people who are new to GIS. Students and people early in their careers. I had the benefit of some really good education and professional mentorship. Being able to turn around and offer what I can seems like a create use of my down time. And finally, a podcast would be interesting. Even just to try. There are a lot of good GIS podcasts which is intimidating, but still worth a try.
Here is to another year!