Second Anniversary Stats

Yesterday marked the second anniversary of this venture. Two years ago I cobbled together a first post and we got this ball rolling. The third year of Être ou Avoir is now upon us, but we still need to close out the second and properly transition. As mentioned a couple of posts ago, I’ve been living life lately, so blogging hasn’t been the top priority – nor should it ever be. I’m sure you won’t mind that I was not as consistent in my anniversary celebrations as I was last year at this time. Still, we all like a bit of a celebration, so I’ll try to do some regular postings – as promised – and we’ll just use them to kick off the third year, rather than say good-bye to the second.

I am a bit of a geek for stats, lists, and rankings. Perhaps this is a hold-over from following sports. Some might find my interest with numbers and sound-byte facts as contrary to what appears to be a more subjective nature. I would like to think there is a place for both facts and stats, as well as formative reflection. Quite plainly, they can also be a bit of fun. Fun is allowed in balance – but more on that another time. Thus, some sumative information that I hope we drift far from in the next postings. Drifting is allowed when trying to balance.

Snapshots from the 2nd year!

-2,845 page views (5,634 all time).
-post viewed* the most often: Sia at the Media Club (Oct 30, 2007). At 99 views, this is the most viewed post all time as well. * This means viewed on its own page the most often. Other posts may actually have been read more if they are read from the main page, and not clicked on, found in searches, or linked to specifically (as was likely the case with this post).
-busiest day: Friday June 29, 2007. One year ago today, there were 108 page views as people read the One Year Thank You. (This post is probably the “most read” post then).
-most read page: Currently reading, listening & watching: 138 views all time.
-slowest day: Sunday May 11, 2008. The only day ever to have zero page views – Mothers’ Day.
-most comments by one person this year: The Necromancer, with 4.
-most comments all time: Andrea, with 8! She also has delivered the most feedback about the blog itself – calling for more exclamation marks!
-108 photos fed on the left from flickr.
-23 times this year (37 all time) people found this blog by typing “dong dong ju” into Google or some other search engine, making it the most popular way people have stumbled here. “dongdongju” was also used 13 times.
-longest search engine term used to find this blog: “2008 international bocce championship ta”
-post that generated the most “connectedness” – Autism The Musical. This post generated a comment from the filmmaker herself, people found my blog when searching for the film, it links to the film’s sight, and one commenter used the post as a lobby point. We’ll finish with this point, a subjective one.

It is still interesting to consider that this little hide away on the world wide web gets that many views. Sure enough, popular blogs get thousands of views each hour, but there is something to be said I think for a consistent level of page views for the second year in a row. The thank you for this goes to you. I am appreciative of your engagement in this conversation, and I’ll express it more as the week goes on. Perhaps we’ll also figure out this consistnency, or some of the meaning behind the other trends on this blog. Or perahps not. Either way is acceptable here.

Thanks for reading – hope to hear from you soon.

Nine O’Clock Gun

This being the second in a series of regular postings.

On Thursday evening I was walking with a friend when I heard a low thud resonate. Our conversation was elsewhere, and there was no instinctive alarm to the sound, so I didn’t initially consider the source. Three paces later though, instincts did kick in. I glanced at my watch without even considering why. It read 9:00:35. Then I realized, that for the first time in a good while, I had heard the nine o’clock gun.

As alluded to yesterday, there’s a few things on the go right now. At times like these the old subtleties can catch us unaware, but at just the right time. People that we care about may be in unbalanced states, and we might be wondering where we fit into the balance of things – trying to help set things square. Perhaps it is comforting to consider that we just have to be who we always were, and just act the way we always would have, and that’s the best support we can offer. It is interesting that a tradition of unknown origin can serve as a reassurance of perseverance, and continuity. It isn’t always heard, but it is always there – like so many factors, be it balancing or unbalancing ones, in our lives.

As is likely apparent, I’m not entirely sure what the significance of hearing the gun on that evening was, just that I felt it had some significance. It might have merely been human nature. Just looking for something significant on that evening. There was something reassuring about it. Even more so, that I checked my watch even before I had fully realized what it was. Now wondering when I’ll hear it next.

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Sending positive thoughts to M, C, D, and their entire amazing family.

Second Anniversary Approaches

In less than a week Être ou Avoir will complete two years of existence. With the second anniversary approaching I am reminded that I have not been blogging regularly lately. This is not entirely bad. There has been a lot of life happening lately, and life is more important than a blog. That being said, writing, reading, commenting, pondering, photoging, agreeing, disagreeing; all things that come with blogging, can play a role – even a small role – in life. Taking the time to reflect, and offer up ideas to the world can be one aspect of balance in life. With that in mind I will attempt to bring a little more stability back to Être ou Avoir over the next week. I am not sure if I can promise once a day postings as I did with the first anniversary, but there will at least be more regular postings in the next little while.

I should probably revisit the whole rationale of this thing, and assess whether the venture should keep going. Looking back at the first post can help you and me with this. Yes, you’re involved in this too. Remember, this was meant to be part of a dialogue, not a monologue. Your feedback on direction, purpose, topics, layout, writing style, colour scheme, everything, is always welcome. Amount and type of feedback may also determine whether we keep going. Initially, I’d like to think we can, but a balanced assessment must begin with all options open. Thus, we will see what life has in store for us this week. If there’s a time and place for blogging let it be, if life decides there isn’t, then I am sure you won’t mind.

Hear from you soon no doubt.

HNIC Song

Is it just a song? Articles, editorials, and interviews on the street suggest that it is more than just a simple tune. Many cite it as being “iconic” or “cultural”. With words like these being tossed around CTV has boldly claimed that it has “saved the song” for Canada. Today, the private network purchased the rights in perpetuity to the Hockey Night in Canada Theme. A few days earlier, CBC, a public network, had announced that they were unable to renew their contract with the composer Dolores Claman. She claims to have been underpaid by the national broadcaster in recent years. In news stories published today she appears to be quite happy with the agreement she has reached with CTV, and feels they have respected her and her music.

No doubt some will lament this transfer of the song as an example of our national culture being sold off. However, it should be considered that the song was a mainstay of marketing for the CBC – and ultimately the private for-profit companies that advertised on the CBC benefited as well. There is no mistaking that it is a catchy tune, and that it elicits memories that span decades. However, the draw of the song is part of the marketing package to bring you in and have you watch the show and the ads. Had the song not been “saved” by the CTV our culture would have endured. The game would have gone on – as would have all the other current commercial aspects of it. CBC’s coverage needs to change to stay current. Maybe this is something that needed to happen?

Is it just a song?

Contador Wraps Up Giro

From the beach to winning a Grand Tour in a month’s time: impressive! Alberto Contador secured the 2008 Giro today and has a pink jersey to complement his yellow. The victory creates a greater sense of legitimacy around his growing stature as perhaps the best cyclist in the world today. It also speaks volumes about the professionalism and efforts of his Astana team. It is no small feat to construct a Grand Tour win after being told of your entry just over a week before it got rolling.

Levi finished 18th. No doubt slightly disappointing, but there’s still a lot of cycling left this season. Go Levi!