Welcome to the weekend! It's Friday evening - I have much to do - but looking forward to every second of it. Once I'm done with this initial weekend post I'm off to the gym. When I get back I have some other stuff to do online.
After reading an article today on Ana Hoffman's blog, I came to the conclusion that everyone who keeps a blog should have an emergency plan - a "contingency plan" if you will - to deal with anything unforeseen that comes your blogging way.
A contingency plan is a plan devised for an exceptional risk that, though unlikely, would have catastrophic consequences. Contingency plans are often devised by governments or businesses.
Years ago, I learned the hard way that you cannot take anything online for granted. Yes, it's nice to have a free blog*spot or WordPress account. But those who giveth, can also taketh away. Oh, and don't think your stuff is safe if you are operating a "hosted" blog. I've seen these go down fast when either the host company goes out of business or gets taken over by another company... I have also seen bad things happen when bloggers rely on small 3rd party companies for image hosting. No room for "entitlement mentality" when you put yourself and your blog at the mercy of others.
I've also learned not to become too fond of "services" things like "SideBlog" and "MyBlogLog" and "HaloScan Comments" --- all great things that went up in smoke when the providers pulled out. (Add Google Friend Connect to that! Oh, and PostRank too!)
If you really like a particular service, find a similar one and employ it as a back-up.
This is my first weekend beginning to blog heavily using Raven and Deepest Sender. The crazy thing about these two programs is the ease and speed with which I can use them via my old WinME Packard Bell PC which accesses the Internet via dial-up! No sluggy "new blogger interface" needed. At least not until the powers that be cut these two fine alternatives off. Which admittedly, could happen. I also use "Google desktop" which is no longer officially supported, but works.
I do not believe in anything "Cloud." You'd be wise to follow my lead! I keep copies of my blogs on harddrive, CD and USB. I recommend that you...
Formulate a CONTINGENCY PLAN of your own. Make a list. Check it thrice. Figure out a way to safeguard and preserve everything you do online (that's if it means anything to you - you are the only one who can decide the worth of your stuff), unless you really don't care if it gets erased.
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