Run with God

Even Churches admit...

Even Churches are starting to admit my geekiness. Yet some of you still have not voted.

Thanks to ChurchSignGenerator.com for creating a really cool, really useless tool.

...then Google heard my cry...

(Google Analytics + Feedburner = HAPPY JEFF")

Several weeks ago I blogged my glee (people never use that word anymore) over Google's webMonitoring software, Google Analytics. However, my glee was not complete. As happy as I was, Google Analytics does not monitor RSS feeds, which is a major shortchange in my book. Instead of solely using Google's Analytics software, I have to go back and forth between Google for HTML monitoring, and Feedburner for RSS monitoring. That's two different logins, and who wants two when they can have one?

Well, Happy Jeff is coming once again. Rumor on the blogosphere is that financial giant Google is going to buy Feedburner for $100million.

Yeah for me!

Thanks to TechCrunch for breaking the story, and Terry Storch for giving me my smile back.

(Yet again another prime example of how I should be KING OF THE GEEKS. Vote now!)

Diagnosing Anakin Skywalker

From the "thank you very much, Captain Obvious" column, the American Psychiatric Association announced at their annual meeting that Anakin Skywalker may in fact be bi-polar. Or Narcissistic. They're not sure yet.

Carolyn Kaufman, a clinical psychologist in Columbus, Ohio

"Anakin could be said to display symptoms of both depression and mania, especially since mania is often irritability instead of the stereotypical happiness."

Dr. Eric Bui, a psychiatrist in Toulouse, France

"I thought to myself, 'That guy is crazy.' But he's not crazy. He's borderline."

Jeff's Take: Are you kidding me? Get a bunch of shrinks from around the world into a room and then analyze a fictional character? Even if you're going to do a fictional character, at least do one that is currently in Pop Culture... Jack Sparrow, Shrek... not someone that is old news by now. Wow. I'm a Star Wars fan, but even I think this is crazy. Since they are shrinks, though, they probably already knew I was crazy.

I don't know what's worse. That they did this, or that I'm taking the time to blog this. I'm a bigger geek than I thought.

SPEAKING OF GEEKS! VOTE NOW TO MAKE ME KING OF THE GEEKS. As of right now I'm in the Top 30 Geeks in the Nation, but I know I'm Geekier than some of those beating me.

Confused? Get caught up here.

Oh, and thanks to Wired.com for the Anakin article.

Google Analytics

I've already established I'm a cyber-stalker... just not a creepy one! Google just re-beta'd their Analytics software. I gotta tell you, this is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. If you find this boring, just go ahead and vote for me to be KING OF THE GEEKS!

I've been doing websites for almost twelve years now, and I've used all sorts of tracking/reporting software. I've used Sitemeter, WebCounter, WebTrends, HttpPhaser, Feedburner, and another dozen that aren't even around anymore. I don't know what it is about Google, but they do things that other people do, they just do it better. A lot better.

Google Analytics works off of your GMAIL account (another way Google will take over the world). -- If you need a GMAIL invite, let me know. -- Analytics is similar to most other services. It tracks visits, page views, location, time, where'd they come from, where'd they go to. Fun stuff like that. But what Google realizes is the more data you have, the better data you have.

Their reporting feature is, well, Googlesque (is that a word?) The interface is simple, yet the amount of data it stores rivals any PAID service I've ever used. Oh, and this one is free.

Create all your reports the way you want it, and stick it on the dashboard (homepage) so it's right there when you log in. Don't want to look at the web page daily? It will e-mail you the data, in the format you want, at the time you want. Export the data to PDF, Excel, CSV...

I've got two negatives (Google, listen up):

1) The data posts every 24 hours. Come on, Google. If someone is on my site at 9:51pm I want to know about it on 9:52. Don't make me wait till the next morning!

2) It doesn't cover RSS Feeds. Of my website, RSS Readers (Google Feeds, Bloglines, etc) are roughly 2/3rds of my traffic. Google, support your blogs!

All things considered, Google does what it does better than anyone else. Keep it up!

The Goatee'd Wonder?

Not sure where this would fit on the "creepy meter" but you all know my love of Wii/Mii. So, once again I got creative with Photoshop after an insomniac session last night. I'm torn... I don't know which I like more, the real goatee photo or the Mii'd goatee photo.

You gotta admit, though, it is a little weird that I'm still talking about this after so many weeks. I guess that's another reason why I SHOULD BE DECLARED KING OF THE GEEKS! IF YOU HAVEN'T VOTED YET, VOTE NOW!

For the record, RUNwithGOD.com is now 51st out of almost 500 blogs! Keep it up!

KING OF THE GEEKS: Blogger's Choice Awards

My good friend RC @ Strange Culture nominated me for a Blogger's Choice Award for Best Geek Blog. It's an honor and a priveledge to be considered for such a prestigious award.

Of all the categories Blogger's Choice is collecting nominations for (including but not limited to: Best Business Blog, Best Religion Blog, Best Blog of All Time) I do feel I best qualify for the Best Geek Blog Award. In fact, I think this award is my new calling in life. Why?

Wikipedia definition of geek:

A geek is an individual who is fascinated by knowledge and imagination, usually electronic or virtual in nature. Geek may not always have the same meaning as the term nerd. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word geek as:

1: a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake

2: a person often of an intellectual bent who is disliked

3: an enthusiast or expert especially in a technological field or activity

Thankfully, due to my summer internships with Barnum & Bailey, I stand before you saying that all three of the above points define who I am. I am, at the heart, a GEEK. And you know, as my readers, that this is a GEEK'S BLOG!

Seriously, though, please take the time to vote. And I'm not talking about the Presidential Election that's 18 months away. I'm talking about making me king of the Geek people! Tell your friends, your family. Tell random people on the street. I need your help. Help me become KING OF THE GEEKS!

Rock the Vote: RUNwithGOD.typepad.com for Best Geek Blog.

Thank you for your consideration. Boo-Yeah