February 22, 2008

Well, it has been a while since I posted an update. I am assured by my blog and website statistics that I have at least one faithful follower, whom I shall affectionately call my Blog Fan. Thank you Blog Fan for clicking onto my blog every now and then.

Blog Fan and others, I could use some feedback on the video ads. I am enjoindered from watching them on my own computer by Google AdSense terms of service, so I have no idea if they are dull, mildly entertaining or downright offensive. If they are offensive, somebody please let me know. Post comments on the Science Forum.

Web hosting update:

Thank you to everybody who made web hosting suggestions. I looked into all of them. I am satisfied that a smaller paid hosting package that I can upgrade later is what I need for now.

I have tentatively decided to use Hostmonster for my web hosting. However, I cannot dip into the family funds for my website dalliance, so I am obliged to wait to until I can pay for it some other way. Besides, the idea was to see if this website could be launched on a shoestring budget and become self supporting. For the sake of the experiment I want to remain true to my original plan.

To that end I have been doing some minor freelance writing and getting paid peanuts for it. Peanuts will just about cover my web hosting though, and besides, the literary world now can enjoy my contributions on “Best Diaper Choices for Your Baby,” and a little piece about how to divvy up people's money, jewelry and Tupperware once they are dead. At this rate, in a couple weeks I will have accumulated enough capital to cover two years of web hosting and I'll feel a lot more comfortable making the commitment.

MyScienceWebsite.com update:

In the near future MyScienceWebsite.com will feature photos and descriptive captions of school science projects. The idea is to build a base of parents and students who can post pictures of their projects for everyone to enjoy. Then they are free to “recycle” or “donate” the project to a “worthy cause” thus freeing up closet or garage space, while their child feels special because his or her project is on the Internet.

While people are having fun putting their science project pictures on my site, I'll be working on

In summary, in a couple weeks look for a new MyScienceWebsite.net that is not so annoyingly amateurish (“%@&#ed up, you mean?” Yeah, messed up. That's what I mean.) and awkward to navigate; and you'll see a MyScienceWebsite.com with adorable photos of kids' science projects. After that I'll be working on additional features for the site.

Oh, I almost forgot. Here is my Google AdSense update: $9.89 gross income less expenses of $54.00, net loss to date: ($44.11). So, my situation is improving. How's that for a stab at plucky optimism? A better looking site with actual content and well placed ads should go a long way toward improving ad revenue.

Margaret Doran

Weary but Determined Website Builder