100,000 Hits and Other Business
September 28th, 2006 | by Scott |–Sometime in the next week this humble blog should hit 100,000 on the ole stat-counter. To properly celebrate this august occasion I am offering a special promotion. The individual who is that lucky number will win a copy of either Lee Camp’s Mere Discipleship or Jimmy Dorrell’s Trolls and Truth. Good luck to you and thanks for being a part of my blog world.
–I have taken some hits in the last few weeks for my nonviolent/pacifist leanings. I am preparing a series of posts that will deal with the objections to what I feel is the best way for the church to behave. I will begin by looking at some biblical arguments often proposed to discredit non-violence: war in the OT, Jesus in the temple, etc. I’m hoping for a reasoned discourse that takes into account all of the initial reactions against peace. I look forward to discussing it with you. Any thoughts before I launch into it?
–My church fantasy football team needs help. I own Shawn Alexander and Terrell Owens. It’s been a tough week. I also own Larry Fitzgerald. I was sweating the threat of Matt Leinart being handed the ball. That would have been a trifecta of bad news.
–Anybody ever taken the GMAT? I’m taking it next week and getting paid to do it. Any pointers or things to look out for. I’m expected to fail the test but it would be cool if I didn’t.
–What’s the right way to “do” church?
–And finally, this guy is everything I hate about politics: mean-spirited, ad-hominem and hyperbolic attacks on others. Check out the dreadful ads. “Jesse Helms is back, and this time he’s black.”
19 Responses to “100,000 Hits and Other Business”
By John on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
That’s tough on the team, I had the same thing happen with baseball last year and lost like 4 guys in a week or so.
When’s the GMAT, I most likely am going to see my wife’s Uncle who use to write part of the test this weekend and can try and get some pointers for you. But won’t be able to post any of them before Sunday night at the earliest.
By Scott on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Next Thursday.
By jasonk on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
I have a question or two for you:
1. How did you get to 100k hits? I just started my blog, and have had four or five, I think. But I don’t want to do like some, and plug my blog on everyone else’s. Advice would be appreciated.
2. Why are you taking the GMAT? PhD? I never took it, but I took the Series 7, 66, and insurance exams. They were hard.
3. When did you become a pacifist? I was one until I was too old to draft (just kidding).
Maybe I’ll win!
I’m going to give a prize to the tenth person to go to my blog (did I mention that I don’t want to promote my blog on others’ sites?)
By Mike the Eyeguy on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
jasonk–
I’ll go ahead and answer that (pardon me, Scott).
The way you get 100,000 hits is to announce to the world that though you were once a right-wing, war-mongering, race-baiting, torture-loving Republican bigot, you have “seen the light” and now read and quote Yoder and Hauerwas, vote Dem, sign Evangelical Global Climate Initiatives, know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was an Anabaptist and that the church went to hell-in-a-handbasket after Constantine.
Oh, and whatever you do, don’t block your own IP address on the statcounter.
By jasonk on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Well thanks for clearing that up Mike!
Another way I thought of was to criticize the Dixie Chicks. Those fans that are left are militant. They would blitz my blog. It would all be negative and hateful, but they would be hits nonetheless. That way, I wouldn’t have to destroy my reputation as a right wing war mongering race baiting torture loving Republican bigot. A conservative Christian, right wing Republican, straight white American male.
But I do believe the church went to hell in a handbasket after AD 310.
By Scott on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Jason, some of what Mike says is true. My series on how I got to where I am now really helped to spur my readership. I got a little recognition for signing the aforementioned Evangelical Climate Initiative. I got picked up on a few other blogs with big readerships during that period and the rest is history.
At the risk of sounding like I have no sense of humor allow me to take issue with a couple of things (this coming after I took a few cheap shots from a member of my own family over the last week or so):
–I’ve never indicated that I have it all figured out.
–I’ve never said that I vote Democrat, nor have I said I am a Democrat (although I probably lean more and more in that direction).
–I’ve never drawn the definitive line-in-the-sand that some of my fellow non-violent bloggers have in this debate.
I would like to think that the quality of this blog has helped. Although I could be wrong. Feel free to correct me if that’s the case.
Mike, what makes you think I haven’t blocked my ISP?
Oh, and I’ve never mentioned when I’ve gotten hits from interesting ISP’s *cough, cough Mike*
By jasonk on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Scott,
Quality blog? Absolutely. As formal as others I have seen? No, and I like it that way. Random thoughts. The best part about it is the (mostly) lack of religious/denominational battle stuff I see on other sites. That does get old. And I think many people post on that just to get more readers.
I don’t give a rip who you vote for. Vote your conscience. As Barney Fife said, “when a man steps inside that voting booth, its him, and his conscience, and that’s the American way, and I’m FOR that.” I generally like meeting people who don’t tow the company line, which is one reason I like your site.
Also, you have impeccable taste in music.
On a technical side note, I read much about pings and trackbacks, but I have no clue what they are or how they work. Any suggestions?
By Mike the Eyeguy on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
“Mike, what makes you think I haven’t blocked my ISP?”
You mean you have?
Man, now I’m really jealous…
By Scott on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Controversy with civility–that’s the key. I probably let my mood rise and fall way too much on blog traffic and comments.
I’ve never really mastered the whole trackback thing. As much as I can tell it’s pretty worthless.
But pings? That’s a good thing. Jason, the best thing I would tell you to do is get a good host for your blog. I know a great place that will set you up like a champ for $4 a month.
By jasonk on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
I’m already set up through my web site provider. Seems like a pretty good one, kind of like a blog for dummies kind of thing. Explain how the ping works.
By Scott on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Pings let blog aggregator and other sources know that you have updated your blog. It’ll help drive traffic your way through search engines and the like.
By JTB on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Also it helps when other bloggers think enough of you to link to you…and I’m commenting to let you know, Scott, that I just added you but if you’d prefer not have your blog linked to by a self-avowed heretic I absolutely will take you off my list with no hurt feelings whatsoever.
By Scott on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
Jen, I am honored to be linked to your blog. Does this mean that Rude Truth is now open to the world?
By hermit greg on Sep 29, 2006 | Reply
On your other question: I never took the test you mention above, but I did proofread 20,000 items on it last year. That probably doesn’t help, though…
By Scott on Sep 29, 2006 | Reply
Welcome Hermit Greg. It probably doesn’t matter anyway. I notice that it’s blocked off for a 4 hour test. No way I’m staying that long. I’ll get my 25 bucks and leave.
By Pat on Sep 30, 2006 | Reply
I’m pleased to hear that you will address the pacifist/non-violence questions. Since I’m involved in my study group with Mere Discipleship, I know that it will be one of the hardest subjects to talk about. Your perspective will help me with my thoughts on it, I’m sure.
By JTB on Sep 30, 2006 | Reply
Oh, someone outed me awhile back and destroyed my illusion that I could keep my blog as a silly little secret known only to a select few. And then I started commenting on kendallball, and once on Mike Cope’s blog, and wow. The traffic those guys pull in! So yeah. It’s open to the world, for those who want to risk the dangerously maternal posts mixed in with the theological rambling.
By hermit greg on Sep 30, 2006 | Reply
I appreciate the welcome, SF.