The intro Welcome to The Digital should suffice as an introduction to my new technology blog on AL.com.

Brief overview:

I have three goals for The Digital:

1. To educate the more casual gadget and technology readers.
2. To discuss timely Internet issues.
3. To provide insight into Alabama’s technology startup scene.

The first true article is titled Someone Might Be Accessing Your Personal Information Right Now. Why? Because You Told Them To… which some might see as a little over the top, but it’s not, actually. Here’s the opener:

Right now, at some computer at some office, someone you and I have never met probably has access to your information and mine.

Who is to blame for this?

You are. I am. We both individually sign-off without thinking twice and never look back. Today let’s look back.

I never knew how much you enjoyed my writing the random links until I quit writing posting the random links.

I’m as sad as Kanye that I’m neglecting you.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m at one of the happiest points in my life.

Back in Alabama.
Closer to friends and family.
Working for a company I’ve been in love with for 18 months.

…and all of those things have pulled me away from blogging. It’s a good, bad thing to happen because, you know, things are pretty good.

That said, you’ll see more activity around here soon. Daxko (my new employer) fully supports an online presence (such as a blog or Twitter account) and I’m excited about discussing more serious topics in a detailed and jovial manner.

Until then, I’m as sad as Kanye that I’m neglecting you.

And now, I’m off on a cruise for a week.

Toying with the code within the blog over the last 48 hours. Chelsea told me her browser is showing a different view than what her browser should be displaying.

This is how the blog is supposed to look. If it doesn’t look like that in your browser, your browser isn’t working properly. As always, I cannot say enough about Firefox. It’s the best web browser in the world. Just make the switch.

I’m 30-years-old. Why am I writing about Christmas, again?

Five years ago I started this blog to continue my writing exploits while shedding myself of my beloved JuiceeNewsDaily. In an effort to write to a diverse audience, I chose to spend the entire month creating daily posts dedicated to Christmas.

Why Christmas? I love Christmas. Love it. I love Christmas for all the clichés attached to the phrase “I love Christmas because…”. This is the time each year where most of us reflect on the year that was, as well as the Christmases that have been. I get a kick out of finding and posting videos, songs, and links that remind us of why we love this season so much.

Sentimentalism isn’t refusal to move forward. Sentimentalism is appreciating the past all over again.

Maybe we’re all guilty of romanticizing the Christmases that were, but that’s what Christmastime is all about: overindulgence of family, friends, food of course, and for many of us, faith. It’s quite difficult to combine the greatest things in life without looking back on it with spectacular memories.

Therefore, I choose to write, again, about Christmas and what it means to us. I appreciate any feedback, and as always I ask you to contribute links, videos, ideas, etc.

I’m trying to figure out the culprit. My apologies for spamming your feed.

I will be posting a live video feed at 3 PM Eastern today. In the video I will be juggling live cats during my lunch break.

If you do not see the video, just hit refresh until it appears.

Received this little diddy last night:

Please tell me you’ve been to Cowgirls Espresso in Seattle? I want a blog post with pics.

You know who you are.

No, we haven’t. With a Stump down the road and Victrola around the corner, it’s hard to justify going anywhere else.

Cowgirls Espresso [maybe not safe for work, especially if you are a nun]

I love blogs. Good blogs. When I find good blogs, I love to learn from them and share them.

FlyThroughOurWindow.com is a website run by a Southern mother who seems to spend her days making pastries with her three unbelievably adorable children.

Friend and blogger Laura Pickard, post-braces.

I started my journey in online writing in October 2001. This website didn’t start until November 2005. My wife’s began last week. {…psst} is the spot.

She also has a second site, great find which displays only photos, which link to the artists’ websites.

Doing some coding adjustments on the website last night to discover that ~36% of you use Macs vs. PCs. Really? Really.

If the Apple Tablet is all it’s supposed to be, I’ll be joining you soon.

It’s cheesy. It’s kinda stupid. It’s about time.

Become a fan of LandonHowell.com on Facebook.

[No idea who that child is.]

It’s been 4 years since I launched the blog. Honestly, I didn’t expect it to last more than a couple of years. But here we are, and though the daily posts are not as numerous, it’s more of a reflection of life happening than it is laziness. Increased responsibilities in both marriage and career will do that, though I continue to find the blog as a source of release and relaxation.

We’re on the verge of 250,000 hits, and recently passed 500,000 page views. I appreciate your viewership. I never really did the blog with a specific goal in mind. Simply chose to write whatever I found entertaining, with the hopes that you would as well.

Happy Birthday, blog. You’re 4. Go get a job.

John & Amy Byars (Jasper natives, now Gardendale residents) have a new blog. Those at our wedding might remember their daughter Sallie.

Seriously… the picture at the top of the page is the cutest thing you’ll see today.

My computer is back. Hard drive fried (had a back-up) and ready to rock.

I know you were all terribly concerned. Back to more frequent blogging.

Crazy busy week + conference preparation in Orlando next week + Mariners suck + planning vacation next weekend + return to the soccer field = the blog sucks this week.

Sorry. I love you and I bought you a Popsicle – left in your freezer.

Hate that I missed it, but 3 weeks ago the blog had its 225,000 hit. Thanks.

Yes… the blog turns 3-years-old today. Just 4 weeks ago we had our 200,000th visitor.

It’s been an incredible year for the blog, though it was not without some bumps in the road. Remember when the pages wouldn’t load and you’d spend your workday sending me emails and facebook messages and I’d try to fix it when I got home but it wouldn’t work and you’d start to cry and you wouldn’t be able to function? ‘Member that?

Thank you for a wonderful year and your continued support. I believe that Christmas season is always the best time of the year on the blog so the last 7 weeks of the year should be incredible.

[As for the picture... it's the first thing I got when I googled 'Happy Birthday 3'. I laughed... so I thought you would, too.]