Looking back at some of the posts here, I see that I originally moved my website to WordPress in November 2010. Since that time I’ve completed countless updates from installing new themes to tweaking layouts, images, page structure, and more. That also included publishing over 300 blog posts.
In the Beginning
My personal website development habit started probably in 2000 or perhaps earlier. In 1998 I had taken over the website responsibilities for the Boy Scouts of America’s National Office. Given that, even though I’d hired a webmaster with all the necessary skills and more, I felt it important that I at least develop some personal insight so that I could better understand the issues they were encountering. Plus, I had some content that I wanted on the web.
Sharing Content
Amateur radio, of course, was one of the big ones. But I also needed to publish stories and photos of my daughter Kendal as together we journeyed through treatment options to address her severe autism. The web became an easy way to communicate with healthcare workers just who this girl was they were seeing as well as help them keep in touch with her progress.
iWeb to WordPress
That website work began with Apple’s iWeb and their hosting service MobileMe. That app and service are long gone. But they were extremely helpful in publishing web content for the uninitiated. Moving to WordPress was a massive step forward but it was perhaps the leading system at the time and I believe it has remained at that level.
November 2017 Update
This new update has involved implementing a new theme, Newspaper, one of the more popular WordPress themes, or at least that’s what the Google search claimed.
As with any step forward it comes with quite a bit of challenge. The more options available, the more time it takes to learn what they are, how they operate, and only then get them to do what you want. But it does serve as an opportunity to review overall communication goals and then better present the content to achieve those goals.
I did find that the online documentation and support forum was extremely helpful. They also provide video walk-throughs of key features. But I found that the written documentation was what I needed to better understand each aspect of this incredibly versatile but somewhat complex theme.
Communication Goals
With this blog, my communication goals are primarily about sharing insight that I’ve gained over the years moving from one area of amateur radio activity to the next. That’s included CW and RTTY DXing and contesting, ongoing equipment acquisition and integration, and now VHF-UHF and satellite QSOs. Given that, this new theme really allows me to quickly share the top-level content and, hopefully, better present the 300+ blog posts—making it more attractive and accessible for readers.
At least I hope that’s what it’s accomplishing. Let me know what you think.
Hi Jim,
and again a great theme update. In all those years you’re a great inspiration to frequently update my own blog theme. I very much appreciate your efforts to find better look and feel and new functionality again and again. I’m convinced you inspire many readers to write their own blogs and never rest in finding a better layout!
This in addition to your already interesting blog posts of course!
Thanks for your great input to the amateur community and keep on the good work!
73, Jim PA8E
Thanks so much for your kind words, Jim. This particular theme really stretched my skills. But I like the presentation and that it exposes the content much better for the casual visitor. Thanks, too, for figuring out the comment window! 73, Jim, K5ND