I would agree that you might want to get your own hostname. I don't think we are far away from when this will become a standard practice for academics who blog and/or want to put various materials up on the web.

Try dotster. They are fairly inexpensive for everything. Or, if you wanted some fancy software such as what's running Kairosnews, I know of a reputable host who will install open source software as part of the initial setup for free.

I'll do it for a $50 setup fee and $30 a month thereafter. Of course, I'll give you tech support and customize the setup! ;-)

Thanks for the info. Another issue, although maaaaybbeee I'm thinking too much about this is own name vs. screen name, interest area-type name. I'm still thinking that over. It's related in some way to the old using your initals in the phone book or on your mailbox syndrome that is kind of a security thing in RL. It's part of the lore passed on to me by my father who also didn't like my soft-top MG Midget convertible because he just knew some froth-mouthed rapist was going to peel that top off at a stop light and drag me out of the car. Not reasonable, I know, but colorful enough to stick with you.

I see good things about both choices. "Own name" would make eportfolio access easy and logical while "interest area name" would free up the site for more potential uses.

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I noticed a lot of the domain/ hosting sites had graphics of this generic looking
navy-suit and glasses woman, usually in the upper right corner, a strategic
sweep-and-scan position if I remember my advertising layout theory correctly.
She looks both competent, yet ready to pay setup, registration, and anywhere
from $12-$50 a month for no FTP and their templates. *sigh*

I think I'll muddle along using Dreamweaver, Matt. I like creating my own backgrounds
and images also. Since I know in RL (we met at C&W) you're a good feminist,
I'll also assume that you wouldn't want to take away all the fun with that "help."

you know, i was hesitant to use my own name, mostly because i wanted to create an online identity (for instance, i really like clancy's hostname, culturecat). i went with cyberdash because it seemed to me that it allowed me to create my own identity (although later i found that there is a video game character named lord cyberdash).

sorry i'm not more help with this decision. maybe clancy or matt would have more thoughts.

I seriously considered using my real name as my URL, but people have SUCH A HARD TIME SPELLING IT that I decided not to. I am very happy with CultureCat. :)



CultureCat

Well, as I said earlier, I'm not very experienced with designing backgrounds and layouts. Really, I just want an excuse to play with more scripts and setting up a CMS, blog, wiki, or whatever. My system has gotten big enough that I'm hesitant to just throw it all out and start over from scratch. If someone else, though, wanted my "help," it'd give me a chance to see a new type of setup working.

Funny thing about us techacademics. Those of us who know enough about the stuff to know what CMSes, blogs, or wikis are, are always determined to do all the hoodwork ourselves. Where are those dreamy-eyed folk who would just love to jump in but lack the willingness to tinker with code? :?

By the way, be careful with those companies that want you to use their templates (and forbid FTP). I've seen some of those setups; it's unbelievably BAD..

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I think most of us see this as play rather than work, even though some of it is
painstaking. I'll probably get serious during the break and don't worry--no templates.