I have wandered about Xanga the Blog a bit here and there and have observed a thing or two:

eProps seem to act as: 1) attractors—if you have a lot of them, others are interested in knowing why you’re so popular. It could be that your content is really that good..or not. It does appear that there is some correlation between a great number of eProps and what I consider great content, but I wouldn’t consider it a high correlation. Moreover, I have found what I consider some truly great submissions going totally unrecognized. So, in my opinion, they are not a very good indicator of all that is excellent. 2) currency?—look at the graphic for the eProps: you can contribute your “two cents worth”, but what is the recipient to make of it? If currency, it is, as of yet, unredeemable. So Genius or someone needs to provide a Xanga store for members to spend their eProp savings/accumulations, or run the risk of what? a run on the Xanga Bank? 3) detractors—by “giving” 0 eProps, you actually diminish the “average” eProp value. So 0 is not just “not any,” it is an overall average diminisher, a decrement.

There are approximately 1600 (1595 by count at 1700 EST) current members, and obviously growing-- though I haven’t calculated the rate. Who knows how many are “active” members? The “oldest” member (Al) I’ve yet found dates from 11/7/99! Which brings up another question…when was Xanga established? Could Al possibly predate Xanga? Or is Xanga already more than a year old with only 1600 members? If the latter, how viable can it be?…unless its rate of growth has accelerated drastically with the recruiting by Bianca. Such recruiting may then have been (or yet be) an act or desperation. But perhaps Al was just the creation of one of the founders—floating around out there is pre-public beta-land….and Bianca’s recruitments a successful strategy floated at the public Grand Opening!

Although names must be at least 4 characters long, there are some that are merely 2 or 3 characters (Al, Ki,…).

Also, although there is a provision to search names that begin with the numbers 0-9, such names are not currently allowed.

Although some readers may be attracted to the assignment of Top eProps and the supposed popularity that abides, I like to track the Newly Updated. I have found, however, that you don’t really need to update anything but the time stamp itself to reattain “Newly Updated” status. So if you were really a nerd, you could sit perpetually updating your time stamp on an entry thus assuring yourself of a constant top listing in Newly Updated, thus catching the attention of people like me surfing by and wanting to see what’s most current or even happening in “real” time.

It sure would be nice if site management could provide more info on STRUCTURE in FAQs! More than just as a matter of curiosity, I want to know more because I want Xanga to succeed and I want the assurance that my efforts in contribution are not for nought--which would be nearly the case if it just one day went…POOF!…

People are too freaked about the weather, for sure. Taint so bad, really. Last night, for instance, more snow, variable winds, more cold, more dark. Left work, got home and the lights on the street were out. So decided to stay out where it was actually lighter from all the miscellaneous incidental exterior illuminations and shovel the driveway snow--about 2 inches newly fallen. Well, I go into my snow-shoveling robotic "he's-going-to-have-a-heart-attack" routine just to knock it out and build up a sweat and, in the midst of that whirl of activity, envision myself running in and embracing the blinding blizzard. So what the hell are such visions for, if not to live out? Hence, after shoveling, I take that visionary run--and thoroughly enjoy it! Came back with more energy and mental acuity than I departed with. If only every seemingly-senseless whim in life worked out so well! Motoring on impulse power, live-or-die!