Loading ...April foolery
Posted by RaJ on April 1st, 2007
I’ve spotted a few good April Fools offerings; as a geek blogger with a mild template fetish, I like this page, and not just because it’s the most elaborate I’ve seen (so far). Be sure to follow the link to the actual “product” page, where you’ll find still more links for its awesome template and other related items.
On a slightly less frivolous note, I recently saw an interesting WordPress plugin titled Next Of Kin. This widget monitors administrator access to a WordPress weblog, and will send notification email(s) if the admin doesn’t check in after a preset period of time. In other words, if I die I can arrange to at least indirectly “bid farewell” to my blog feiends.*
Does it seem ghoulish or weird to you that I even think about stuff like this? I don’t obsess over it but these thoughts do cross my mind on occasion. I’ve seen other bloggers post on this topic (sorry I don’t have the specific post) but I think this is the first time I’ve seen a plugin try to address the issue.
I haven’t installed the plugin yet, but I might. What do you think about all this?
* Please understand I’m not talking about sending a flood of posthumous emails;† it would be more like sending admin access to a family member for an explanatory post. Or something.
† Although the potential for majorly creepy is intriguing… but no.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Movable Type allows you to do “future” posts. You write them, and they will be published at whatever date/time in the future. The one time I met another blogger in person, I wrote a full post including details, and scheduled it to post a day or so after we were supposed to meet - just in case I mysteriously went “missing.” When I got home, I deleted that post, so it never got published. It’s not the same thing as this WordPress plugin, but it reminds me of it.
The wife and I have discussed this, how she would post something on my blog or how I would post something to her online moms’ group. Nothing wrong with being prepared, I say.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:38 pm
I’ve thought about this too. I’ve thought about how it’d be nice to know what happened if a regularly-updated blog just ended; no more new posts. I’ve also thought about my blog and a friend’s blog and wondered if we should exchange information in sealed envelopes, in case of emergency. It really is a little morbid though.
April 1st, 2007 at 6:44 pm
It’s amazing what kinds of thoughts will arise from a fear of the headline “Dead Blogger Eaten by Family Cat”…
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:13 am
Didn’t you write about this before? If not you then someone I read did.
There are 6 people in my family and some family friends that read my blog. However, they don’t all have my password. Only The Wife of Sirdar knows the password. If we both go, at least I have my browser to automatically log in so my kids could do what they have to do. As long as they don’t reboot the Mac. If so, they are hooped because they don’t know the password.
Lets all hope none of use have to use any option and we live long and prosper.
April 2nd, 2007 at 1:54 am
Ah, the old “Dead Man Switch”.
Yeah, I’ve heard it talked about, but usually as a means of getting revenge posthumously, or post-something, like having something that, if you don’t log into it once a week, deletes all files off of a server at work. Or something that disables software if payment hasn’t been received, etc.
I’ve never done one… either one for revenge, or one to let my loved ones and online friends know what happened. It’s a good idea, though… the latter, not necessarily the revenge one, LOL.
April 2nd, 2007 at 6:22 am
Gawd, you could have SO MUCH FUN writing your own final blog post. The possibilities…!
“I am dead. However, I am not going to let a little thing like that stop me from posting…”
No. Perhaps you’re right.
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Omar - there’s a fine line between cautious and paranoid. Or so I’m told; me, I’m just paranoid.
Bibliophile81 - that’s what got me started: a blog I (used to) follow suddenly went silent. Did he lose interest, or…? I’ll never know.
Anaglyph - in your case the two aspects might be related, though I suspect Glitch would seem innocent.
Sirdar - it was Joy T., though I haven’t found the specific post. And yes, living long etc. is my first choice.
SithSnoopy - wow. I’ve never given any thought to the Dark Side possibilities. Hmm…
BadAunt - it’d be more fun posting now, I think. I’d want to see the comment thread.
April 2nd, 2007 at 1:04 pm
So does that mean that if a witty and entertaining ‘dead’ post turns up on your blog, and we start being rude about you in the comments, we’ll get to witness the miracle of your resurrection?
April 2nd, 2007 at 1:17 pm
A more important question might be: what if a witty and entertaining live post turns up here? Alternate response: start being rude about me in comments? (Disclaisure: I treasure such moments. Yes I need help. No I don’t want any.)
April 2nd, 2007 at 5:13 pm
This is by far the best discussion my plugin has stimulated.
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:14 pm
That would totally be the coolest way EVER to create unnecessary mind-boggling drama.