The Start but Not Entirely a Beginning.

I’ve been thinking about a blog for a long time. In spite of many blogs having become more commercial, I like the fact that there are still so many that have remained true to the underlying philosophy of the Internet. That is, the sharing of information and voicing of opinions. That may be somewhat of a generalisation but I quite appreciate the latter, that people can just publish just about anything that’s on their minds and some will actually read it.

Whether someone reads my commentary or finds it useful is not important, although flattering.

A blog doesn’t have to be a story but it can be. In my case, it may be simply a long-running commentary. It won’t necessarily have a start. It certainly will have a middle, and maybe, one day, it will have an end.

At the very least, let’s start with why I’m writing a blog at all.

Like many people of my generation, I started using computers in my early teens. My use gathered momentum; it was fueled easily by curiosity. By the early 1990s I had access to e-mail, early WWW and other Internet protocols. This felt like light-years past calling up BBSes. Trust me, I don’t feel that old (I’m in my 30s) but it does feel like a bygone era. I’ve always learned much from the Internet and from friends that I connect with online, and I still do.

I have, however,  grown from a more introverted and insular personality into a slightly less socially-awkward one. I think so, anyway. When I was younger, I was very happy keeping my opinions to myself. Now, I am more keen to opine and discuss with my peers. Some people call it geeking-out but whatever.

In 1996, I was involved in various things Internet-related. I maintained the unabashedly popular Gillian Anderson Home Page (which has inspired others), contributed to the Unofficial ER (the television program) FAQ, wrote comic book reviews for an online Superman-related newsletter, The Kryptonian Cybernet. Since then, I’ve gone on to work mostly in the IT industry but never quite found the time for such engrossing pursuits again. At least, until recently. When I worked on those fan-related interests, those were all labours of love. There was always material to be had to share with others. With a blog, I find there is a certain writer’s mentality that goes with it. Information or commentary comes from within. Much is created from within and only a portion – on a good blog – is culled from without.

And to finally get to the point, I now have a lot to say, and a lot more free time in which to speak.

My interests haven’t necessarily changed. Like tides, they have always been there but some ebb and others flow. What you will read on my blog are my experiences as well as my interests that are on the crest of those high tides.

If you manage to get this far and decide to come back, please bear with me as I go through the growing pains of writing. I hope to make it as unpleasant as possible for both our sakes.