Blog

My Web site doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. I have a lack of focus in blog topics as well as a lack of focus in the web site in general. Sure it’s a personal site, but it seems so random at times. Not one area generates regular visitors, which was fine at one time when all I really cared about was having fun creating and displaying content on topics I’m interested in and not much about how many people actually visit. Okay, maybe I cared a little, but I did have an index nofollow, which basically means I didn’t want search engines crawling my site.

Now I’ve removed the index nofollow, with a different goal in mind: instead of creating a site for my own personal enjoyment, I want to create one that is useful and may in the future, generate money. This will be much of a challenge, and I’m still debating whether or not to start fresh with a new site all together or keeping this one but altering its motives. What motives though, I know not yet. What I do know is I will enjoy writing about topics like anime, web design, and possibly industrial design – something I should look into more now that I am majoring in that field. I enjoy making avatars too, though my other graphics are suffering. I decided that I didn’t like any of my wallpapers and my layouts are lacking in originality. Buttons are kinda pointless to have as are pngs. Avatars are actually useful and I use them often in my posts. The anime portion of my site is lacking as well. I’m thinking of removing it. The forum is pretty much dead as I’m the only one posting, and even then I don’t post much. My blog almost died this school year. The future for this site looks rather bleak.

I think though, in order for my site to succeed, I really do need more focus and more regular updates. I need more originality and networking as well. Below are some plans I have for the future if I do keep this site, though the domain name is less fitting now.

• Get rid of the anime section.
• Get rid of the graphics and just make avatars.
• Stop posting random entries about life and post more about anime and design.
• Maybe keep the forum going for a while and see if it revives itself. I’ve worked too long on it to give up so soon.
• Make navigation less confusing.

I don’t know if this will work out alright, but I’m hoping it will. What do you think? Should I keep this site the way it is and start a new one, or change this one to fit the needs of my future goal?

I’ve been getting canker sores quite frequently it seems, for the past two years at least. For instance, right now I have one on my top lip, one on my tongue, and one on my bottom lip. I should be used to this by now, but the pain is driving me crazy. It won’t stop hurting even when I’m not eating anything. So I decided to do some research on them. Hopefully you won’t find it boring. There’s actually a Web site called allaboutcankersores.com. You should check it out sometime if you also get frequent canker sores.

What is a canker sore exactly? Well, another term for canker sores is aphthous ulcers, and they’re small painful sores that can form on the inside of your cheek, lip, or even on your tongue. A canker sore is a bacterial infection, and not contagious. It seems that they affect mostly people from 10-40yrs, especially teens and women in their 20s. The cause is still unknown but scientists say many times they happen because of stress or eating habits.

What should you do if you have one? If you don’t do anything and just leave them alone, they usually go away from about a week to three weeks. There are medications you can take like Oragel, Anbesol, or a number of other brands that help relieve pain and discomfort. Normally, they don’t require medical attention, but if you have a large one and it stays for more than two weeks, you may want to have it checked out. Also, if you feel sick and can’t eat, you should see the doctor. Prescription medications like Peridex, Aphthasol, and Tetracycline can treat canker sores.

Some preventive measures you can take include not using toothpaste with SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), flossing your teeth daily, drinking plenty of water and not eating spicy foods. There are some home remedies as well such as rinsing your mouth with 8 ounces of warm water and a table spoon of salt. You can also take 1-2 tablespoons of Maalox and mix it with a half tablespoon of liquid Benadryl.

An article I found interesting mentions using Arm and Hammer Baking Soda Toothpaste and rinsing your mouth with baking soda and water. I bought some of that toothpaste yesterday and plan on using it everyday. The article can be found here.