Coming Around, Full Circle

Matt’s Musings, or more accurately this blog plus its forerunner, “The Article Writer,” has been my main way to connect with readers since December 2005. Back then, I was simply trying to find a place to consistently write about freelance writing, my chosen career path since November 2002.

I’ve strayed from my original mission and, in the past few months, have turned this site over to contributors or I haven’t posted at all. That means I’m no longer the “voice” of this blog, allowing surrogates to dispense advice, though I must admit that some of the contributors have done a stellar job in conveying useful information. Thank you one and all.

Still, my contributors are just that — guests who have something to share, but not representative of who I am. Thankful though I am for everyone’s help, I’ve decided to come around, full circle, and return this blog to its roots. From this point forward, I’ll be sharing my thoughts here from time to time, musing as in day’s past and without too many constraints. I’ll write in the first person, jumble up some of my sentence structures and violate a few style sheet rules in the process.

Baby, I’m home! And it feels good too.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch, I see that I’m not the only one who has abandoned or neglected his or her blog in favor of actively engaging people via social media, particularly Facebook and Twitter. This is understandable, but distressing: I’ve gleaned so much from some people through their blogs that I’m not able to take away much from 140 character tweets or we’re just not connecting on Facebook.

I’m much more open with touching base with people on Twitter, but not so with Facebook. I’ve since limited my FB involvement mostly to family members, as a way to keep up with what everyone is doing. Even then, staying connected is done purely in a “surfacey” way — much of the information shared is of small value. Other information is strictly TMI and not something for a broader audience.

In many ways, writing has been co-opted by corporations which have established websites with the sole purpose of gaining top position in Google’s search engine result pages. Top position means selling prime advertising space including getting those coveted clicks on text and image ads.

User-generated content, as sent to Facebook means that this social media platform is the de facto point of contact for many people online. Even Google is getting squeezed as some people go straight to FB and stay put all day.

That means my audience has likely changed dramatically, with a number of my contacts no longer participating here or managing their own sites. I began to blog when the novelty was still apparent, but those days have since passed. These days, WordPress is a much more robust platform, but it seems that even with an improved content management tool, its effectiveness is being undercut by powerful, external forces.

None of that will stop me, however, as I’m committed to bringing this site back to its roots, perhaps enabling me to reach a new audience. Or at least allow me to muse as I see fit. And thank you for following me here on Matt’s Musings.

Random Thoughts & Occasional Musings

Today is one of those days where I have a lot of my mind, but not one thought that is dominate above all. This means that you’ll get to read a smattering of what is going on in my head instead of having me target one topic.

Pity you.

Let’s get started:

• I’m amazed that there a very few voices who are speaking out with passion against the pork-laden “stimulus” bill. I’m sure that they are out there, but they are not getting the air time needed. Nor do Americans seem to really care.

• George W. Bush must really be enjoying his life away from the White House. I sincerely wish him well.

• Why do the people who insist on getting their own way seem so very unhappy? Not that I want Pelosi or Reid to crack a smile….

• It will be a long, long time before people with money decide to risk it or invest it in ways that might court government scrutiny.  The Bible doesn’t say that  ”money is the root of all evil.” Rather it says, “…the love of money is the root of all evil.”  I thank God when wise people invest in capital projects that offer a benefit far beyond what they reap for themselves.

• Crude oil is trading for less than $38/barrel, but I’ve noticed that gas prices have climbed by about thirty cents per gallon since bottoming out late last year. I wonder what that is all about. More importantly, I wonder what “crisis” will be manufactured come this Spring to drive prices skyward yet again.

• Our new president has quickly abandoned hope and has embraced catastrophe as his mantra. Just weeks ago he was comparing himself to Lincoln and Reagan, but he is now starting to make Jimmy Carter look pretty good.  Imagine that!

• General Motors and Chrysler must submit plans to Congress by this Tuesday to let the federal government know how they plan to “make it” long term. Clearly, both companies have gotten in over their heads by going to the federal trough for relief. The more the feds get involved, the uglier this whole matter will be. Kudos to Ford for resisting the government dole.

• Angering our trade partners seems to be the recipe of fools. Kind of like grabbing a cat by the tail, pulling it hard and being surprised when she gives you a deep scratch.

• It has been said that life begins at 60, but it seems that insanity precedes that age by several years.

• The Book of Proverbs is an excellent resource for teaching us in the way that we should go, while the Book of Ecclesiastes shows us the vanity of those ways when God is left out of the equation.

• Never has a generation of people espoused to be so spiritual, while having absolutely no idea what God wants from them or what He has already done for them.

Thank you for reading my many and varied thoughts. A happy Valentine’s Day to all — may the love of God keep you at peace this weekend.