Why did you start blogging in the first place?

It was actually a grad school project. I was learning HTML and the professor said we had to create a website that could maintained on a daily basis and be proven to be daily. I thought I’d create an online journal. I kept writing a journal in code and FTPing it to a host for seven years before jumping to blogware in 2005.

What platform are you using to manage your blog and why did you choose it?

I’m on Typepad and have been since 2005. A bunch of people I knew were using and loved it so I did too. It has its issues and it’s paid-for software but I’m more happy with it than not. 

Have you blogged on other platforms before?

I’ve used Blogspot, Wordpress, Tumblr, Vox, HubSpot, and some others. I know I could be using something “free” like WordPress, but given the cost of hosting and domain registration and the headache of backups and updates and security configurations and that I do this for three blogs (primary, TakeMoreToyPhotos, and my sandbox test site), I’m more than happy to pay what little I do. Typepad includes hosting and is also my domain registrar. They do my backups, updates, and provide security.

Believe me, I’ve tried others and they were more frustrating than they were worth.

How do you write your posts? For example, in a local editing tool, or in a panel/dashboard that's part of your blog?

I login directly to Typepad and just write in the editor.

When do you feel most inspired to write?

Any time. No restrictions.

Do you publish immediately after writing, or do you let it simmer a bit as a draft?

95% is published immediately. Political stuff or anything else controversial I tend to let simmer to make sure I’m not just flying off the handle irrationally. You should see my backlog of draft posts that never made the cut.

What are you generally interested in writing about?

Anything. Again, no restrictions. 

Who are you writing for?

Mostly me. Recordkeeping. I think that’s morphed a bit into being for my son so that he’ll have a record of who I am from age 24 on.

What's your favourite post on your blog?

I honestly don’t have one. 

Any future plans for your blog? Maybe a redesign, a move to another platform, or adding a new feature?

I’m currently working on yet another redesign. I do this every five years or so.

Who else do you want to tag?

I usually never do this, but I’m gonna tag Marty Mankins to give him some blog fodder.