Turn page. Big bold letters: YEAR THREE
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, friends, family, geeks, freaks, 1337’s and fellow bloggers. Today marks the beginning of Binary Bonsai’s third year as part of the blogosphere. What a ride this last year has been. Holy crap.
Let’s take it from the top
The Kubrick Effect
Where the first year cemented my relationship with the idea of blogging, this second year has rocketed it into the stratosphere. The B is a site about nothing in particular, which yesterday peaked at 9th place on Technorati’s Top 100! Keeping in mind that Technorati at the time of me writing this, tracks well over 7.8 million sites!
I can’t grok that.
Makes me proud of course, but I’m not sure what the usefulness of it is. The only difference I feel from before before and after I became a popular blog is in the amount of people who write me support mails with the line: “I know this is a support question, and that you don’t answer them, but…”. That’s a blatant lie of course. There are many upsides as well.
Now Technorati’s Top 100 list says nothing on popularity, just incoming links. Which brings us to the first topic of this anniversary entry: Kubrick.
I hadn’t hoped for, nor expected the unbridled success of Kubrick, when I made it last summer. I have no idea how many Kubrick’s are out there, but they number in the thousands; kind users have adapted it for use with 15+ CMS and blogging systems out of charity and now of course WordPress 1.5 carries it as its default theme.
So to all the users, distributors, word-of-mouthers, flickr supporters, pool posters and porters: You made this possible, I salute you!
Lesson learned: Be the first to fill a niche and many good things will come of it.
Contentment and Stagnation
Now if you remember (and if you don’t, here’s the first anniversary entry), I promised to shape up (and in no small words either):
“Life has perpetuated itself against odds of meta-biblical proportions. Intelligent life twice so, and I would hate to believe that we crawled down out of the trees so that I could waste your days with something that I cannot stand by fully. So enough of that. From here on in I won’t let myself off that easy.
I have opposable thumbs dammit; hear me roar.”
The question is, did I manage to improve the content I’ve been throwing up here since then?
I’d like to think so; at least I count 50 noteworthy entries since last anniversary (up from 38 the year before), which means that I’ve put something, which in my humble opinion is worth your time, up here about once a week. I hope that in a year’s time I can look back on an equally impressive amount of memorable entries.
Where the challenge has previously been in dealing with a growing and ever-changing audience as well as trying to find my own voice. The problem now facing me is that of contentment and stagnation.
Now I can’t make a whole lot of predictions, since my content has a tendency to change focus about once a month. But what I can say is that in terms of my Apple entries, I’m propaganda’d out. I’ve put my money where my mouth was and you can take that to the bank. I don’t really have anything to add that I haven’t already said, isn’t blatantly obvious and not being said by one of the thousands of Apple-centric blogs out there…
So expect considerably fewer Apple entries in this coming year (though I do owe a Mac mini review I believe.)
That however, is a central theme in what I’ve learned over the last year. It’s such a simple thing, but like so many other simple ideas, it’s not something you will necessarily learn by having it told to you: The only interesting thing about a blog is its author(s).
You don’t have to to be a ‘personality’ to write a good blog. All you have to do is find out what makes you unique from the next guy.
I can’t personally communicate what makes me unique, but I can point you to the entries that define me as a blogger, the entries that put distance between me and they next blog over.
I’m not the most interesting blogger out there; hell I’m not by a long shot the most interesting person you’re likely to ever meet. But I’m passionate.
Obvious, right? You’d think so.
Blogging Zen
I’ve got a shitload crappy entries in the archives. Entries that will never and should never again, be read by anyone. I didn’t know it at the time, but I think it was a necessity to get them out of my system in order for me to properly find my own voice.
Now that I’ve found it, I can calm down a little more, and concentrate on writing the entries that I know from experience will live beyond the one week mark. I am also for the time being at ease with the format of Binary Bonsai (though I am aware of a few bugs here and there that need ironing).
The result is a less hungry and more satisfied blogger, who no longer suffers from withdrawal syndrome when he misses the ‘one entry a day’ rule.
Getting Things Done
I used to not understand people who would close down their IM, mail and feedreader to get things done. It just struck me as slightly anal and a bit too productive. But then again, I always was something of a slacker.
Lately however, I’ve found it a great relief to do just that. Or rather, I’ve upped the refresh time on my mail and feedreader to 60 minutes, and I only run my IM every now and then. The result is a much improved noise to signal ratio with less “How’s it going?” messages.
(Allow me to just fill in the blanks on that one: It’s not that I’m not interested in small talk, but if you’ve ever wondered how I manage to find time for everything I do, there’s your answer. So a tip: If you want to ask me something, don’t message me a ‘hi’ and wait for an answer. Just cut to the chase. No offense, I’m just trying to get things done).
It’s my hope to get even more things done this year, as I throw myself into various odd projects, which I will tell you all about shortly.
And with that, I welcome the third year.
FIRST POST! hahahah. great job, buddy!
A year and a half ago I came across the Bling Bling entry and have been hooked ever since.
Like you said, it’s not the personality that is required, but the content and uniqueness. Congratulations Michael, what did you wish for when you blew out the candles? :)
You’ve contributed a lot to the blogging community over the last year, and people recognize you for it. Some of the innovations you’ve come up with in your weblog design (and of course Kubrick) have truly made reading weblogs more enjoyable. I’m amazed to see how both you and your site have evolved over the last year. Keep making every year a better one!
:) cool.. bring it on.. another year of ‘the b’.
congrats for keeping it up
or something like that
Here’s to the next two years – keep up the wonderful work.
Two?! Here’s to the next 9. Or more. Hopefully the latter.
Im one of your regular readers from this year, and without doubt you write the most interesting blog I read. Its personal and its greeeeeeeeeat as tony would have put it… Looking forward to the next year…
Thanks for a great site. I first came upon this site while installing a wordpress theme called Kubrick about 8 – 9 months ago. I don’t remember the entry at the time, but your site has really struck me. I read your site everyday through my FireFox live bookmarks, but hardly comment (if at all sometimes).
Thanks again for some good reading and good luck for your thrid year.
–guso
Must say I greatly enjoy reading your blog, also I might add that I’ve become somewhat inspired by your passion for life, your profession and such.
I hope to someday have a blog almost as interesting and rich with content as this one, for now I just concentrate on getting my portfolio/blog up to date and perhaps later on I’ll find the time to share more of my thoughts with eventual reader. :)
Keep up the good work,
Vidar
Congrats Michael and I am very glad you will continue to blog into your third year!
Ya know what, I think I should take your advice about the IM’s. Those IM’s make me one of the most unproductive web designers out there, and maybe its time I change that…
Congratulations, and good luck for your third year.
I enjoy reading your blog, keep up your good work!
It’s an ok blog.
I mean, it is interesting to read and hear about what’s going on in yet-another-designers-life, and that’s pretty much why we all come here.
Don’t get me wrong though, my point is, it isn’t the best blog on the net, but it’s worth visiting.
One thing i believe you’ve nailed, is the aggregator-to-website visit. I hardly ever read one of your entries in my aggregator, i just hate to miss the chance to visit the excellent site and refresh myself with the style you got going on here, which is a remarkable thing not many have done.
So, congratulations, and i’m looking forward to hear about those new endeavours of yours.
Regards from your Costa Rican reader.
Congratulations!
To me, Binary Bonsai is the number one blog!
Keep it up!
By the way Michael, about your Technorati ranking.
Congratulations, just keep in mind most of the links are those in Kubrick’s footer. Which is a whole other deal.
I just feel the rank is about authoritative blogs, and yours is up there not because of that much people linking back, but because of the Kubrick links.
As the one trackback you have so far mentions, you’re even higher than Kottke and some other much more influential bloggers i feel, which just aren’t linked back by that many sites as you do, as a result of your terrific design, and not something else, yet anyways.
I’m saying your rank may be a bit biased, not saying that you don’t deserve it, just that it may not be really as authoritative as it may seem like from the list.
Just felt like mentioning it. Again, may you have a 3rd year running the site.
Cool! I did not know that Bonsai is already 2 years old. Congrats to you Michael!
It is very interesting and educational for me to listen to someone like you talking about blogging, and stuff that you have learned from your blogging experience. To me, a merely 8-month-old blogger, it is very insightful and helps me to define my own voice. I realize and I know that I still have a long long way to go, before I become a good blogger.
Anyway, your site design is superb and smoothing, my main reason for visiting your site several times a day. BTW, I am one of those Kubrick users. Thanks Michael for what you have given to the blogger community!
Josue, that’s what I said in the entry :)
This blog really inspired me and I really love it. I appreciate all you have done with Kubrick and want to wish you the best of luck. Michael is a name reserved for leet hax0rs ;)
Congratulations, Mike!
I am proud that you have once mentioned me as a person who inspired you to start.
Unlike your blog, mine has seen a steady decline in quality :)
I discovered your blog six months ago and immediately loved it.
You threw out some of the greatest innovation in weblog design, thanks.
Keep up the good work!
Congrats to tha B, and keep on truckin’ Mike.
Congrats.
yyyyyyppaaaaaa!
Congratulations dude!
“Lesson learned: Be the first to fill a niche and many good things will come of it.”
I think you “created” a niche. I’m new to WP but I never heard anything similar before kubrick. Who was thinking about design before Kubrick?
I agree with Tom Werner, your contribution to the blogsphere is great!
I wish you thousands more of these anniversaries ;)
Well, it was your honest and heartful words on recieveing your PowerBook and switching to this crazy “Just Works” world that got me hooked.
And then I discovered Kubrick – I knew what I had to do. Keep blogging, and inspiring Michael!
Viva la b.
Oh yeah, my bad. :)
After thinking about it again, i realized i was actually quite wrong with my statement. Sure, it’s up there thanks to Kubrick links, but it is also as autoritative as that position shows. You’ve contributed to the blogosphere with K., and it has had an amazing impact. It has made the web a better place, and therefore, your position is completely understandable. Power simply expressed in a different way than the others. Congrats dude.
By the way, i found something interesting in a german site today about Kubrick. Seems not everyone likes it.
Cheers!
The default WP theme doesnt link back to the b though, its commented out.
Almost a relief :)
Congratulations, Michael!
As for Kubrick… I wish it would go away! Haha. Seriously, it looks great… and the template structure is fantastic. I’m just sick of every single freakin’ site I visit these days looking the same 8)
Happy Birthday to the B. And long life to it too !
Congratulations on two great years.
Never personally using Kubrick, I cannot comment on it other than to say it brings new users a much nicer welcome than the standard “swamp green” layout wp came with prior to 1.5.
The updates made to the site not only contribute to the appearance we know and love, but also urge the rest of us to stop slacking off and try new things with our sites as well.
Keep doing what you are doing, I know I’ll be reading many more of these posts.
“Kubrick?” Never heard of it! :p
Many happy returns, Michael. I’m looking forward to seeing K2 and the Shuttle as well.
Best to you and yours.
I have only read your blog for the last four days, but I really like what you’ve written so far :)
Runa, I’ve hardly written anything these last few days :D
Congratulations Michael! Keep the good stuff coming.
I would be pleased to read a bit more about your working life and game development, other than that I have no requests for the year to come.
I would imagine saying too much about work is a no no, its certainly got a few bloggers in trouble lately.
Yeah, it’s kind of a touchy subject. I’d love to talk about it more; but I like my job too much to loose it over something like that :)
Sounds like the Deutschers are bitter against the Danskers for jealousy?
pffff
Congratulations, Michael.
Just remember, post what you want, when you want. You don’t owe us anything.
Thanks for Kubrick. You’ve done more than your fair share to help pretty up the web.
Congrats my friend, glad to be on-board for the ride.
Congrats, my friend!
Congratulations on your two year anniversary. It is definitely something to be proud of. Especially considering what it was, and what you molded it into.
Binary Bonsai, not only in the design, but most certainly also in the writing and general “vibe”, is a constant source of inspiration to me.
Praise aside, I also owe my personal thanks for your help through the past year, not to mention the great discussions we’ve had here. Looking forward to seeing how this will evolve from here.
Congrats man. :)
Felicidades! :)
happy birthday, Miguel
w00t!
I have absolutely no f*ckin’ clue as to why I keep coming back day after day after… I don’t even think I have squat in common with you… Must be something hidden… Secret underlying messages in patterns only my stupendously ehm… stupid brain can decipher…
Mike, great work on this site, congratulations on the much-deserved success. I’ve seen this site grow from way back when it used to have multiple layouts/stylesheets, I can even recall the yoda inspired thing. Or was that really yoda? ;) Of course there were other graphic-styles you had, though I can’t remember them now. We’re getting old. :)
Congratulations
I’m a relatively new visitor to your blog. I came because Kubrick seemed interesting, and don’t really know why I regularly check back.
I did appreciate your post about over use of the word “that” in writing. I checked some of my posts and found they were riddled with superfluous thats. It was a truly hideous case of thatitis.
Have a good one.
congrats, don’t stop!
I remember visiting this site when it had the STAR WARS theme going on. I had to create one similar using the rotating banner! Thats what I have on my site right now using your amazing kubrick template. Forget the TREKKIES! Star WARS OWNZ! Episode III in 58 days and counting! HAHAH!
BTW, thanks for KUBRICK! How could I blog without it!
Here’s to blogs that turned 2 in March, although of course you’re doing it much more visibly than I am!! Great post. Isn’t it interesting how blog birthdays, like people’s birthdays, are a time for reflection and introspection… Happy Bloggy birthday to us both, anyway!!
Happy B-Day BB :) !
Don’t salute us.. We’re saluting you and we’ll keep saluting you for creating the Kubrick blog user interface !!!
// ingels