Beginnings are hard.

Well, yes they are. I accidentally closed out the tab where I had started this post, and it apparently didn’t auto-save. So I’ve decided to just answer the questions and follow the instructions in the template substack provides making minimal changes.

1. Why this, why now

I am launching this substack for a few reasons, with the primary being as a platform re-broadcaster. I want to share my story, and eventually I will write a book. But in the meantime, there’s just too much slipping away too quickly. I document a lot of things on my work and cycling blogs, but nobody reads them any more. The algorithm is most definitely NOT in my favor.

The second more nebulous reason is to serve as a potential landing spot for “premium” subscribers to a “podcast” that I might eventually start up. But that is not the main point.

The third even more nebulous reason is as an attempt to gain earlier access to the Blue Sky web3 twitter replacement.

2. What kind of community are you looking to build here

The main point is to serve as a collection point and intro to my latest computer science work and my latest cycling adventure musings. People can subscribe to see those posts individually or just this one place (for free, too, no need to pay to subscribe).

3. Be specific

I don’t post that often, but perhaps I will start posting a little more frequently, i.e., a few times a month instead of once every few months!

4. Use an image and “subscribe” buttons

I will share my Faculty Directory picture from Samford, which perfectly captures the intersection of my life as a professor and my life passion for cycling. In this picture, I am wearing a t-shirt from a cycling event promoted by my university and held for the very first time, the very first semester I started teaching at Samford almost 20 years ago.