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November 28, 2005

Computer Problems

I'm currently experiencing some technical problems with my home computer. I may not be able to post any blog entries or respond to any e-mails for a couple of days until I get everything resolved.

Forgive me readers for I have sinned. I had been warned in the past couple days that my system would be attacked. I believe "cybersnuff" was the term used. In any event, my stupidity in not backing up MS Outlook on any other system than this one is the real culprit here.

Yesterday I received a Stop Message from Windows. I tried to reboot, but after 18 pct system complete, I received "not valid" messages regarding my Outlook. I went into My Computer and checked local settings/app data/microsoft/outlook and the files were all there, looking normal, so I tried to reboot again. This time Windows XP took over and detoured the problem to give me a fully functioning system -- with one problem: The system now has no Outlook files. Worse, I have no remote backup copies.

Going back to 2003 when I got this machine, all e-mail and contact lists have been obliterated. I feel like such a Luddite.

My upcoming vacation may be moved forward now. Forget the cruise ship; I'm off to Lancaster PA to spend some time on an Amish farm. LOL, but it's not making me feel any better.

In the hopes a data recovery company can somehow find my Outlook files this week, I'm shipping out my PC to intensive care today. In the meantime, I could continue to blog using another computer, but I have to say that my creativity has been working in reverse, kind of the opposite of Outlook.

So I decided to take the time off, read a couple books, and get caught up on other things.

One of them is that I was approached (by the right people) to write a book on Stelco, and I think the odds are good I will.

The other, which may interest you more, is that I started the process of restructuring this website, hopefully to be unveiled for January 1. An associate, who is an expert in these things, has explained that there are currently too many links available on the main page, and not enough structure to the categorization of the links. He explained that this leads to user confusion. When a reader is confronted with a mixed bag of 50-100 different links, he/she becomes overwhelmed and does not bother to investigate them.

So, the strategy I have chosen is to have fewer options available to the user at any one time and to categorize them / make them hierarchical. I now have to decide on the major topics that you readers are interested in and to then structure the content classification / navigation around this framework.

Furthermore, I am hopeful of adding a few new features:
1. Article rating/feedback
2. Reader surveys
3. Automated keyword wiki link
4. Automated interactive chart links
5. Investment reports (with daily updated charts) for topics like (i) Gold (ii) Oil (iii) Fixed Income
6. A single section for a Reader Community
7. A premium service that will be unique: Readers who wish to subscribe at a cost of say $5.00 per look, per portfolio, can get a current update from my broker account for portfolios I hold. Each portfolio will be started at $50,000 each, for (i) Cara 100 (ii) Gold/Silver (iii) International (mostly ETF), and (iv) Dow 30. If there is sufficient interest I may make other personal portfolios available too.

Right now, I am two weeks into discussion with the web developers. I hope to offer everything at once, and to use the BillCara.com2006 site to do the best I can for building a strong international community of like-minded persons.

The MarketRhythms.com project will happen, but has been shelved while I await a deal with an international trust company, which would offer it as part of a global platform for banks, brokers, hedge funds and exempt market clients. I am in discussions. In addition to the technical complexities, and the time commitment on my part, one of the problems I was having with the MR project is that I believe that services like that may have to be registered and regulated. That's a different kettle of fish than blogging or offering a non-commercial website (including letting subscribers pay to see your portfolio, if they have such an interest).

So, while I am disappointed to have my Outlook destroyed, this system crash has not changed my perspective. I will take it as a learning experience, and a sign that I have been working too hard, ignoring some things that should have been priorities.

I have always been consumed by goals and objectives, without thinking it might kill me getting there. It's time to take a few days off. I hope you understand.

Posted by Posted by Bill Cara on November 28, 2005 06:43:40 AM | Category: Blogging World

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