Disappearing/Re-appearing Dispatch

Passing readers may have noticed that the Astro Dispatch "widget" which carried links to the day's output by astrology bloggers has disappeared from my sidebar and from many other astrology blogs. Elsa, who initiated and has administered the service for four years, now needs to call a halt.

Elsa explains that the amount of traffic currently generated has been crashing the Dispatch site along with her own personal blog - the two share a server. She has tried to work around the problem, but finds there's no solution. "We have simply outgrown our server and so have to pay for a dedicated server in order to keep the widget running - this would cost $150 per month". Elsa tells us that discussions are ongoing to find a solution, but she doesn't seem optimistic.

Elsa's words:

People have suggested I charge people to be on this site because it sends traffic that would be very costly to buy via google but frankly, I don’t want to do it. I won’t want an accounting job, basically.......

Bottom line - I *cannot* check the feeds without crashing the site(s). The upgrade is non-negotiable at this point and I simply can’t afford it. We need $150 a month to run this site - each month every month and there is no one to pay it.

The need for Elsa, and for those helping her, to dedicate time and effort has grown and grown until the thing has become untenable, financially and physically. While we are sorry to see the end of Astro Dispatch we understand and echo her feelings that the situation is unacceptable on all fronts.

All astrology bloggers, myself included, owe a debt of gratitude to Elsa. Her dedication has helped our blogs to become established and to grow. I recall at the outset that she said "a rising tide lifts all boats" - and it did, but now the tide has surged too high.

Thank you Elsa!!!!!

I, and I'm sure the other astrology bloggers in my list of links in the sidebar - under the heading "Trines"- will continue blogging, until we run out of steam. Even so, it still seems like the end of an era.

Uranus, often considered to rule astrology, will shortly move to Aries from Pisces, where it has been transiting since 2004. So an astrological era is ending too. And a new one begins, perhaps bringing in with it some new ideas.

UPDATE ~~~ e-MAIL RECEIVED FROM ELSA THIS MORNING
"We're back up. We found a technical fix. :)the widget is broken though... that is hosted off site."

Not sure about the widget, for now, - but clicking on "Astro Dispatch" in the "Trines" links in the sidebar will lead to a list of today's astrology blog posts.

UPDATE #2
Widget back up - seems to be working!
Uranus = expect the unexpected!!

Blogging - Astro and Otherwise.

While searching for something else I came across this piece, The Blogosphere 2.0 written in mid-2009, discussing the way the blogosphere has evolved during the last decade or so. The piece refers mainly to blogs several levels of "ooomph" above my own; the basic points put forward should hold good for any blogger at any level though. Updates were added and, along with comments are all interesting and worth investigation.

I've noticed a distinct change in bloggery out in the wider blog-world, but this hasn't affected astrology bloggers quite as much, which is good. As is mentioned in the linked piece or comments, niche areas seem to be where independent blogging survives best. Astrology is nothing if not "niche"! As my own view of astrology isn't always in line with others, I'm a bit of a niche within a niche, I guess.

Learning Curve on the Ecliptic receives many more hits/visits than I'd expect, often just over or under 1000 per day, but a good percentage of these is accounted for by hits on illustrations or archived posts, rather than on what appears on the current page. If anything I've posted in the past assists anybody out there in their studies or interests, then it's all good! I'll continue to write about aspects of astrology as I see it until I run out of steam. In order to conserve what steam there is available, there might well be some slowing down from time to time.

I don't read as many blogs these days, and I guess other people could be following the same pattern. As a break from astrological matters, to "clear the palate" as it were, I do still like to trawl through a scant handful of the type of blogs I think of as "hit-and-runners", where no great concentration is needed - just a quick look, a chuckle or a hmmmm! or ahhhhh!... and away again....these for example. A couple of them are rather clever marketing ploys (I suspect), but as long as they offer interest or humour - fine!

http://catalogliving.net/
Quirky bite-sized fun takes on catalogue photography/home decor. (Thanks to Wisewebwoman for having pointed me towards this one).


http://nerdboyfriend.com/
I don't know why I find this fascinating, but I do. They take an old photgraph of a movie star/celebrity (male) then find current versions of the exact clothing he's wearing, and where to obtain it today, linking to relevant websites.....just in case some bright spark wants to ape that vintage "certain style".

http://www.sexypeople-blog.com/
Another "hit-and-runner" - no long blocks of text to wade through, just pics. In this case photographic portraits from past decades. I enjoy the facility available via links in the sidebar to view the portraits in groups/categories: by nationality, or by relationship, siblings, styles, hair-dos, etc. etc.


http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/
I've mentioned this one before. It's the blog of a professional photographer, who shoots real-life fashion as he comes across it in the streets of various cities, on his travels throughout the world.

http://theoasisofmysoul.com/
More to read on this one. Travel by motorctycle in the USA, gorgeous photographs, beautiful words, and a spot of spirituality,

Noblesse Oblige ? Are you kidding?

Fellow-blogger, R.J. Adams of Sparrow Chat, has done me the honor of presenting me with a "Noblesse Oblige" award. It's very gratifying when a guy as talented as RJ considers me worthy of an award which someone has also presented to him! Paul Simon's lyrics spring to mind: "I would not be convicted by a jury of my peers...." -or at least by a jury of one of 'em! RJ and I would probably find it hard to consider ourselves very "noblesse" (i.e. possessors of nobility), socialistic left-wingers that we are. But that's splitting aristocratic hairs.

This genteel award doesn't come free. There's no such thing as a free lunch, or a free award! I am obliged, by the terms of the award, to comply with the following:

1. -Create a Post with a mention and link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award.

2. -The Award Conditions must be displayed at the Post.

3. -Write a short article about what the Blog has thus far achieved – preferably citing one or more older posts to support.

4. -The Blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the Award conditions.

5. -Blogger must display the Award at any location at the Blog.

The first requirement has been complied with. Second requirement: to show Award conditions (presumably so that readers can see what the award is all about):


Noblesse Oblige award is for the following:

The Blogger who manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervade amongst different cultures and beliefs.

The Blog contents inspire; strive to encourage and offer solutions.

There is a clear purpose to the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding of Social, Political, Economic, Arts, Culture and Sciences and Beliefs.

The Blog is refreshing and creative.

The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.

Well, on a good day, and with a following wind, I might manage to rise to a couple of those challenges - but all at once - a tall order! Let's just say I'm taking this as a carrot to urge me on to do better. Maybe once in a very blue moon I'll have a "Bingo!" moment and manage to check all of the boxes above.

For the award's third requirement, my thinking cap needs to be firmly in place:..."a short article about what the Blog has thus far achieved – preferably citing one or more older posts to support."

I opened this blog in the Fall of 2006. At the back of my mind was a vague notion of writing about astrology, but in a style which might appeal to people who know nothing much about the subject, as well as to some who do know the basics. It was an extension of my girlhood fantasy. I'd wanted to be a journalist, writing articles for magazines.

A bog-standard Blogger template sufficed as a start. Later I learned how to customize it to its current style. Slowly gathering confidence, I registered the blog on a few networking sites; soon some established astrology bloggers kindly lent me their support.

Fantasy turning to reality?

Then came statistics software. "This'll be useful(not)", I told myself, "how difficult is it to count to four?" After a while daily blog statistics began to climb, but painfully slowly. On a very good day the blog would rack up 40 hits. I'm guessing that Google gathered up Learning Curve on the Ecliptic around this time. A sudden spurt of hits hauled numbers above 100, occasionally to 200 some days. I don't, and didn't, pretend that every "hit" equals a reader, but if 5% or 10%of hits represent readers, I'm more than happy within my fantasy, and look upon it as an achievement of sorts.

It's hard to say exactly "what the blog has thus far achieved", other than in statistical terms which, when you get right down to it, is fairly meaningless. In terms of my own satisfaction, I'm satisfied. Some kind commenters have indicated that they've enjoyed what I've written. The blog has achieved that much.

A further surprising statistical spurt came from what has turned out to be my most visited post of all: "Are We Human or are We Dancer". It's a post about a song. There's a stray mention of astrology in it, but it's not really about astrology. That post alone continued to garner upwards of a hundred visits a day for many weeks, and still, even after more than 6 months, brings in over 30 a day and the occasional comment. The post comes up on Google second only to Wikipedia's entry about the song.

A lucky break indeed!

Blog statistics are now on a gently descending curve, as visits to the "Human" post decrease. Numbers remain well-boosted by other Google searches though, which is pleasing.

Two tasks remain: To display the award - it'll remain permanently in the sidebar.

And...finally, I have to award "Noblesse Oblige" to one or more bloggers of my choice.

This is the part I really shy away from. I dislike singling out one or two from a body of people who all do such terrific jobs, and are unpaid at that! With the "unpaid" bit in mind, I'm nominating only non-professionals. I do enjoy reading blogs written by professionals, of any ilk, but for this particular purpose I'm sticking with non-professionals. I like to think that blogs originated to give anybody and everybody their chance to write, and show off a bit; professional astrologers already had that chance.

Without more ado, I'm offering this award to two astrology bloggers whose blogs fit the award requirements. Whether the two bloggers decide to participate fully in the "Noblesse" scheme is entirely up to them. I'm implying no obligation whatsoever, and offer it with sincere admiration.

GEMINI and... Blog
Out the Comet's Ass Blog

PLANETARY AWARDS

The Oscars, with customary razzamatazz, are to be awarded tonight. I'm rolling with the flow, and as much razzamatazz as I can muster. Below are my personal blogland awards, based on ....what else? The Planets! Hugh Jackman offered to come and present these, but then, sadly for me, found he had a prior engagement.




I'll avoid allocating Sun and Moon Awards - too contentious by far. I will say that ELSA deserves a strong nomination for both, for her stirling and on-going efforts on Astro Dispatch, throwing light on all our work.
See widget in sidebar.







My Mercury Award for enabling communication and learning at no cost to us goes to Blogger and Google both of whom we often take for granted. Without their continuing efforts we'd be much the poorer.






My Venus Award for beautiful writing style:

The Other Side of Sixty (Wisewebwoman) Link
Crow's Feet (Michelle) Link

My Mars Award for fighting spirit and unflinching opposition to the wrongs of this world:

Sparrow Chat (R.J. Adams) Link

My Jupiter Award for volume, quality, and quantity of excellent, thought-provoking content:

Beyond the Blog (Anthony North) Link

My Saturn Award for limiting the risk of virus and spyware contamination to our computers goes to all Anti-virus and Anti-spyware software developers.
Without the safeguards they provide, we'd be a mess!





My Uranus Award for reaching out beyond the obvious, putting a new twist on ancient materials goes to:

All those who blog, write, practice or teach astrology in whatever capacity.

From the communal work of these people, I'm confident that Carl Sagan's "something incredible waiting to be discovered" will, one day, emerge. Links to many of these astrologers and bloggers appear in my sidebar; many more are available via the Astro Dispatch widget.



My Neptune Award for imaginative, creative content often linked to photography:
Lost Gallery Link
Thinks Happen Link
(Both are by Anyjazz, who is aka The Husband/Himself )




My Pluto Award for penetrating insight, occasional dips into darkness, a tinge of the mystical:

Robert Phoenix- Astrology For The Now Age Link

Awards (and something completely different.)

I thank blogging colleague Anthony North of Beyond the Blog for his beyond kind award to this blog as a "Brainy Blog". I've added the little graphic to my sidebar. I am embarrased, but also appreciative of the kind gesture. I comfort myself that in a literal sense this blog is "brainy": see brain in small header sketch, drawn by my husband.

I've never nominated any blog for any award - not because I don't rate any as deserving - all those I read regularly (and you know who you are) deserve any and all awards I could possibly find to bestow upon them.

All the astrology bloggers in my link list , and any who are missing from there, are all Brainy Blogs, in my estimation - without exception. It'd be a big job to go around them all though, so I choose not to name any blog individually. I'll just say here a simple thank you to all of them, astrological and others for the informative and entertaining, thought-provoking, and only occasionally aggravating ;-) offerings. A big thank you too, to any who regularly read my own scribblings - you also deserve an award - for bravery!

The idea for the Brainy Blog award originates at Mommy Brain Reports


"Mommy Brain Reports is on the lookout for some Brainy Sites! Do you know of any?

Perhaps they have some really interesting ideas, super cool content, or they have some incredible posts that make you really think… Maybe they are your inspiration, or they have helped you out in your quest to be an awesome blogger yourself. Are they someone you can turn to at a moment’s notice for help or advice? Maybe they’re just someone who has encouraged you to be.. well.. You!

In any case, you have to know someone who you would deem a Brainy Blogger! You should let them know how you feel!!!

THANK THEM FOR BEING BRAINY!
Think of at least 5 bloggers that you believe to be “Brainy Bloggers”
Post it on your blog for all to see! Let them know you’ve awarded them by email, twitter, etc or via a comment on their blog!
Share some linky love and link back to both the person who awarded you and back to http://www.mommybrainreports.com
Come back to the Brainy Blog Headquarters".

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AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT (something I could not resist)