Saturday, May 21, 2016

Hey! It's my 100th post.

I debated whether or not I should even mention reaching this very mini milestone of mine, but since reaching the century mark was my only real goal when I started this blog, I decided to bring to everyone's attention as a sort of yay me post. That being said, I'm really not looking for any obligatory felicitations (I really love that word). But I wouldn't mind some comments to some of the questions I will be getting to in a moment.

Going forward, I'm going to start making some changes to not only how I blog, but also the overall appearance of the blog itself. I feel like I have to make some changes or I probably won't make it to post #200. Up to this point I have primarily done "look what I got" posts, and honestly, I'm getting tired of doing such posts. And yes, I realize most card blog posts are just a form of show and tell for adults, but maybe I can at least start focusing more on the "tell" aspect of things (like so many of you do so well).

Another thing I'm going to be adding to my posts is music (if only for my own enjoyment). It was my intention to do that from the start, but after seeing how many other people were already doing it, I decided not to, as I didn't want to step on anyone's toes. Since a lot of you already add songs related to your topic(s) and do such a great job at it, I figure that area of music in posts is covered. So I was thinking of just adding a random video to the end of each post, just kind of as a song I dig and hopefully a few of you will as well. They will primarily be tunes that aren't heard on the radio (terrestrial, not internet) very often, if ever. I will say though that most of the videos linked from YouTube won't be of the official kind, since I am somewhat in agreement with Little Steven's opinion as to the negative impact videos have made on music as a whole. Music has had, and continues to have a major impact on all aspects of my life, so I would very much like to add it to the blogging aspect as well.

That leads me to a question. Since music seems to be a popular theme with a lot of the bloggers, has anyone started any music related posts that everyone participates in? Sort of like the best page challenge (in retrospect I wish I would have participated in that) that was going on a while back, except it would be more like a top ten favorite albums challenge or a desert island jukebox (name stolen from the Sound Opinions radio show) challenge. It seems like it would a fun thing for everyone to take part in, but I just don't know if it's been done before or if anyone else even thinks it would be a good idea or not.

I also intend to try and start adding more bits of personal information into posts where it's appropriate. Up until now I have been somewhat hesitant to do so, which is why there have only been a handful of posts or so that contain any real substance. Part of this is probably due to paranoia (some justified, some not) and my own weirdo trust issues, but I found it sort of refreshing to share some personal memories in the previous post, even if they weren't particularly pleasant memories. I tend to enjoy the posts of other's when they talk about current family goings on or weave personal experiences in with whatever the subject happens to be, so I'm hoping over time I can get more comfortable sharing similar types of info.

And finally, I think by summer's end I am going to try and have two more blogs up and running, mostly so that I may keep this one focused on just cards. One will be dedicated solely to all my other non card interests, a hodgepodge of things, from activities to collectibles. Since I'm getting close to being considered a hoarder, I shouldn't have any trouble coming up with content. And with the other potential new blog, I was mulling over the idea of doing one that is just for the 1933 Goudey baseball set( with a few Indian Gum cards sprinkled in as well). I don't know if I'm the most qualified person to write such a blog, but I would still like to give it a go. I googled to see if such a blog is (or was) already in existence and didn't find one, so if anyone knows if one has already been done, I would be much obliged if you would let me know so I don't tick someone else off by copying them.

My apologies for the wordy pictureless post, but I really wanted to just ask a couple of questions and throw a couple of ideas out there and see if anything sticks. Any answers or comments about anything in here are most welcome.


On an unrelated note: I just saw this morning that Alan Young passed away two days ago. I sent a TTM request to him a couple of months ago which came back successful, but I just hadn't got to it yet. So the next post will be focused on that.


Thanks for taking a moment to look at my page.

20 comments:

  1. Congrats on hitting a blogging milestone. I get locked into the show-and-tell posting as well. Sometimes, "Look at what I got!" is all I have to say about a batch of cards. I try to add a little more to my posts, but a lot of the time I am just trying to get a post knocked out in between real life stuff.

    It's probably not too late to participate in the Best Page Challenge. You may not win a prize or anything, but I'm sure folks would be interested to see your best / favorite 9 cards.

    Music in posts is fine, even if it's not specifically related to the content in the post. I don't listen to every song that people post, but seeing a video embedded in a post doesn't turn me away or anything. I've been trying to listen to more music lately. Music was a huge part of my life up until about the time I had kids. Then I began to value silence a whole lot more and listened to less of it. I've been realizing how much I miss it, so I've been trying to have something playing when I'm at my desk.

    It's hard to keep more than one blog going. There are people who can do it, but I'm not one of them. I get burned out from time to time just running the one blog. I have another blog, but it is largely dormant.

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    1. Thanks, Raz! You have had some really tremendous social commentary posts, the kind of stuff I could only dream of writing. Not to mention the entertaining snippets of your families happenings. At least if you do a string of "look what I got" posts, you have an excuse...real life stuff! I can't say the same.

      I think it is too late. But maybe it will come back around at some point, maybe to see if anyone's page has changed after a certain period of time.

      Again, you have a completely valid excuse. If I had kids, I probably wouldn't have the want to listen to as much music either.

      After looking at it off and on over the last couple of days, I've come to the conclusion that you really need to try and post more often on your other blog. There is some really interesting stuff on there, although I have to admit that I don't fully understand how the whole war gaming thing works yet.

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  2. Congrats on making it to your hundredth post. Looking forward to reading the next hundred.

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    1. Thanks, Marc! Hopefully after another hundred, you don't end up regretting the kind words.

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  3. Here's your felicitation anyway - congrats on the milestone! As a former DJ, the thought of doing a top ten albums post is truly tempting.

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    1. Thanks anyway, Tony! You might have to start the record spinning then, since it's probably going to take someone who's more well known in the blogging game to get other's to participate. I feel like if I were to start, everyone would probably leave me hanging.

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  4. Congrats on the 100th. I also collect music so when I see videos posted I usually check it out. I visit many blogs that aren't card related. The blogs that weave many ideas together are always a great read. Looking forward to your future posts.

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    1. Thanks, Mark! Music collector, huh! Across all formats? Or, do you just have one of those mega vinyl collections that make audiophiles drool when they see it? And which genres?

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    2. Collect all formats . Vinyl collection is at about 3,000. Nothing of any great value. Have 10,000 cd's. Couple hundred cassettes along with a few hundred 8 tracks. Listen to a lot of blues and jazz. 60's and 70's Rock. Older country and all the jam bands. Big fan of the Allmans and Beatles.

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    3. Wow! That is quite a collection. I'm assuming you mean nothing of any great monetary value, as I'm sure there is tons of sentimental value (which is worth far more) attached to your vinyl collection. I can't even imagine how much space must be needed for such an accumulation. I'm always interested in seeing and hearing about what other people collect, so thanks for sharing a little bit about that collection. Someday you might have to start a music blog of some sort, or just start showing off a few albums here and there on your twitter page.

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  5. Congrats on your 100th post! My suggestion would be to do whatever you want. At least give it a try and see how it goes. If you enjoy it, then keep it going.

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    1. Thank you, Daniel! I will definitely be trying more things, hopefully they don't turn away any potential readers.

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  6. Congrats on 100. I tried to do a giveaway on my 100th post but never got the address of one of the winners, lol. (a regular in the blogosphere who in fact commented on this very post, in fact!)

    If you want to do music posts, you should. I've been getting back into music a little bit myself lately. Not like I once was, but the radio just doesn't cut it anymore so I am searching out my favorites and playing them incessantly. I prefer country music but my list of favorites is as varied as is it uniform, if that makes any sense. For instance I've got everything from OutKast to Chumbawamba to Charlie Daniels.

    I run 4 blogs but most of my focus goes to Cardboard History. That's where my main passion lies so it's where I spend the most time and effort. It's not easy to write out meaningful posts on multiple blogs, of course to the outside world probably none of the hobbies I cover would be considered meaningful, but I suspect you know what I mean. The hardest thing is to get readers. Cardboard History has a bit of a following, but most of my other blog posts are basically just going into the wind. I do it for me more than anything else, but it can get a little frustrating thinking that nobody is seeing what you have to say, let alone caring about it enough to throw up a comment. Good luck!

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    1. Was I the negligent contest winner? I am sometimes bad about keeping up with that sort of thing. I do enjoy your blog, as your interests are varied and mirror many of my interests. There aren't a lot of other folks out there who will post basketball and NASCAR cards.

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    2. Thank you, Billy! I was toying with the idea of doing a contest, but I couldn't think of anything interesting to do. So I think I will try one at the one year mark. (Note to RAZ: For shame!)

      I totally understand your opinion of current radio playlists. I have a great interest in the history of radio and because of that I begrudgingly still listen to it quite a bit, but there is a heck of lot better music out there once you get away from the mainstream programming.

      I already have trouble keeping up with just this blog, so I imagine trying to keep a couple more going might not be an easy task. But, I also think doing one that has nothing to do with cards might actually end up being easier for me to write. I just don't know how many people will actually find anything on there, to be of interest to them or not. And I do know what you mean about people possibly thinking your hobbies and any discussion of them, are meaningless. But to be quite frank, if anyone thinks that about any of my interests, there probably not the sort I want to have any contact with anyway. I also understand the frustration that comes with minimal views and no comments, it's especially difficult when you put a lot of effort into a post and ends up getting like seven views. There have been a few times after a post like, that I have thought about stopping altogether. But of course, when a post gets what I consider to be a fair amount of views and multiple comments, it can have a different affect on my outlook. I guess that is just part of the ups and downs that come with blogging.

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    3. RAZ, yes it was you :)

      One thing I've noticed, which is very odd...the more a post matters to me and the more time I put into creating it, the less views and comments I get. For instance, my NBA 20th anniversary countdown is probably my favorite thing I've done and the most meaningful for me, yet it get very few views and hardly any comments. Same with my Uniform History series...these take hours to make, and yet I average 50 views and 2 comments. The Knicks one I just did a week or two ago took 7 hours to write...the link got shared on uni-watch (I think) so it got over 600 views, but only two comments. None of my other posts have even hit 300 views, and only one or maybe 2 have hit 200.

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  7. A. Congratulations on the milestone.
    B. Love it when people add music videos to their blog posts.
    C. I always take my digital footprint into consideration when I blog... and was weary of getting too personal on my blog in the beginning too.
    D. Look forward to reading some Goudey posts on your new blog.

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    1. A. Thanks, Fuji!
      B. That is good to know.
      C. At least I'm not alone then.
      D. It might be a couple of months before it's up and running, but I will definitely let everyone know when it's ready to go.

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  8. Just catching up now here, so a couple of things:

    1. Congrats on 100!
    2. I'm with Billy -- the "Meet the Brewers" series are my favorite posts that I have on my blog because of how much I enjoy baseball history, but they are also my least read posts. I figure that I'm blogging for me and if people read it's cool, so it's all good.
    3. I love putting music into my posts, as you may have seen on my blog.
    4. I try not to share too much information about myself in my blog posts too. There's enough out there about me as a lawyer -- I've edited a book, I'm in leadership in the American Bar Association group for my practice area, and I've written a bunch of articles about it as well -- so it's tough for me to stay "under the radar."
    5. I'd love to know more about the Goudey set. I started the 1982 Topps Blog, but I set too high of a standard for it when I first got going. I need to kick start myself and get it back on the rails.

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    1. 1. Thank you, Tony!
      2. I really need to try and adopt that sort of mind set.
      3. You, put music in your posts...that's news to me :)
      4. It doesn't sound like it would even be possible for you to stay "under the radar".
      5. Yes, you should make an attempt to get back on track with your '82 blog. I didn't even know of it's existence, but now that I do, I will definitely check it out.

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