intro
What's a BLOG? It's a Weblog.
What's a Weblog? If you already know, then you can go directly to my new BLOG at http://chake.blogspot.com
If not...or... if you want to know how and why I decided to do a BLOG, read on:
Here's a definition:
weblog: Typically a collection of regular journal-like entries with links and commentary. Usually produced with the help of small content- management system. The first known use of the term, in context, was by Jorn Barger in 1997 where he posted interesting links daily on his Robot Wisdom page. In the beginning of 1999 there were about
50 weblogs. By the end of that year, “blogging” opened to the masses when the easy-to- use weblogging software was released. Though original weblogs focused on the culture of the Web itself, they now range in style from personal diaries to journalistic columns. Although there is some debate about whether they are indeed weblogs, Slashdot-like sites are often
referred to as community weblogs. Also known as: Weblog, Web log, though the most common term is blog.
Source: saila.com
Chuck @ China began in March of 1998 shortly after I came to China. It pre-dates the heyday of weblogs. Through the years, I have purposely avoided turning this website into an online diary or a personal journal and so I disdained turning it into a weblog. I have fought the temptation successfully since 1999 when weblogs first appeared on
my radar screen.
Weblogs do serve another more important purpose - and that is to filter vast quantities of information about a particular subject through a weblog so that people with similar interests can read, consider and comment about the subject.
I have toyed with the idea for more than a year and finally have come down on the side of setting up a weblog. There are a few reasons for this:
First, the size and complexity of Chuck @ China renders even the simplest addition to the site an administrative nightmare. Adding or simply changing a page requires changes to all the linked pages. With more than 100 main pages (113 at last count) and hundreds of picture files, a simple change requires hours of work and hours of upload
time. So I tend to err on the side of laziness when new ideas or stories come to mind. With a Blog, I can simply add the information in seconds.
Second, I run across many articles on the Net which I think others who share my interests may, likewise find interesting. A Blog allows me to share those.
Third, Chuck @ China gets hundreds of page hits a day but there is little interaction with those who visit my site.
Fourth, the pace of change in China today is frightening. Things change so fast here. One day I'm shopping in a small shop-the following day it has been turned into a construction site. I look back at the early Chapters of Chuck @ China and it feels as if I wrote them 20 years ago.
SO, I have decided to implement a Chuck @ China Weblog in addition to the regular site. I'm calling it ch-ch-ch-ch china (with apologies to David Bowie's "ch-ch-ch-ch- changes" because I hope it will be a vehicle where the incredible changes in China can be reflected in a more timely manner.
As my students would say, "Welcome You to ch-ch-ch-ch-changes - the Chuck @ China Weblog".
But don't forget this main site. It's still my baby and a good vehicle for my photography, pictures of friends and students, and, of course, my longer pieces.
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