10 Questions with Rob of Confessions of a Freeware Junkie
Ten Questions with Rob of Confessions of a Freeware Junkie
1. Describe your blog in five sentences or less.
A blog dedicated to freeware reviews, handy tips, and other items of note for an IT administrator. CFJ relies heavily upon my 14 years professional experience in the IT field with a somewhat skewed sense of humor. My blog caters to the systems administrators, home users and just about anyone else who wants to gets something done, but don’t have the money to do it any other way.
2. Link us to one post from your blog that best defines who you are.
The method to my madness…the origin of Confessions
3. What sets you apart from other bloggers?
Probably my passion for finding free solutions for people. I’m a huge fan of DIY and making something out of throw-away parts, so this mentality has bled (if you will), into my blog a little bit, especially when I feature scripting posts.
Not only that, but there is some strange humor thrown in there as well. For example when talking about the XDrive service:
“Choosing a username you can remember is not unlike drilling a hole in your foot whilst simultaneously pouring a mixture of lemon, salt, and a bucket of rabid tigers into the wound.”
4. When and how did you first discover blogging?
I had known about it from the onset, but at the time, I considered it a form of personal soap boxing. I didn’t really think of it as something I could use until relatively recently (2005), when I figured out that everyone was always asking me the same questions about “what program would you use to…?”, so I decided to make my blog a running inventory of stuff that I like to use (and the reasons why). It evolved into the blog you see today.
5. What is your biggest pet peeve related to blogging or the internet?
Bad writing and visual styles. I once came across a blog that was filling the same niche as CFJ, and English was obviously not their primary language. It was extremely annoying to read, since they interspersed badly structured personal commentary along with a biased review (you need non-bias to perform an objective review).
6. Name one plugin, blogging widget, or service that you can’t live without.
Feedburner! Can I name two? MyBlogLog is great because it puts a ‘face’, if you will, on people who just happen to stop on by, allowing me to check out some cool blogs belonging to my passive visitors.
7. If you could choose anyone, living or dead, to write a guest post for your blog, who would it be and why?
Stephen Colbert, because he would bring a truly geeky and patriotic flavor to my blog! Not to mention that, but it would be just hilarious…also, think of the traffic it would bring in!
8. How has blogging made you a better person?
I think this involves meeting as many people as possible, allowing you to see the various degrees of humanity. Blogging is a platform on which we can attract the dissenters or supporters to listen to what we have to say, and have a very safe and open conversation about topics (at least with the reasonable folks). That being said, the anonymity also offers up a dangerous aspect which we have to be aware of as well.
Either way, blogging has enabled me to take many opinions and personalities into my own subconscious, giving me the composite you see here today! The more people we meet, the more diversified and tolerant we can become.
9. What are your tips for becoming a better blogger?
Create a format for your blog – something consistent that your reader can expect from visit to visit (unless the idea of your blog is not to be consistent!). Offer up topics for discussion, and link back to your favorite blogs – it is a great way to meet friends and gain opportunities! Finally, keep an open mind to whatever your commentators have to say – you don’t know everything, even if you’ve been working in your field for a long time. People like humbleness.
10. Name one great blog that you read on a regular basis. What makes it unique?
Daily Cup of Tech at http://www.dailycupoftech.com. I like Tim’s blog not because I contribute articles there(!), but he is a normal joe-techie with lots of great information to offer, and is extremely humble. Not only that, but he shows his appreciation for his readers all the time and has a great sense of humor.
I think these 10 Questions are fascinating to read. I had recently discovered this blog (forget how) and subscribed to it. I even downloaded one of the programs he reviewed. It is a great resource! Good job on the questions Rob!
“The more people we meet, the more diversified and tolerant we can become.”… very well said – great 10 Answers!
@Polliwog – thanks! Yeah, you and I had posted a picture of “alternate universe” Spock (total geek check) within days of each other, and I had not seen your blog until coming here to blogsweluv! Freaky cool…
@Danielle – thank you for the words! Sometimes it takes life-changing events to come to the views and beliefs we have, I for one try to take each event (negative or not, I’ve had a few!) and make it into something I can use to better myself – - – maybe it’s the DIY attitude coming through there!