TBJ Webmaster's Blog

A personal contribution from the TBJ Webmaster

March was, just, another record month, with 4,643 unique visitors.

April got off to a good start, then the figures went crazy in the second week. Investigations showed that much of the extra load was caused by spam advertisers trying (using automated spiders) to get a link on the blog. They were selling insurance, viagra, casino slots etc. etc. and leaving inane comments such as "I feel like a bunch of nothing." or "Great site!" I have a comment for them: "What a bunch of wankers!"

Hopefully I have blocked these idiots' spiders and removed all of their feedback, but it will distort this month's figures. Hopefully too, genuine readers will still be able to leave feedback.

Another problem recently was that I was unable to recompile our web pages for a while. Usually when I upgrade software I take a Ghost image first. However, it was "just" MSN messenger, I needed the upgrade in a hurry and lots of other things going on. So, I missed making the Ghost copy and paid for it. MSN Messenger upgrade not only installed itself, but somehow a load of other stuff got into my very busy system. One side effect was that some desktop instant messenger system - seemed to be Google rather than MSN - captured the port I use for the web server I use for TBJ website development. Anyway, I ended up having to install a new Apache 2 instance and setting it to a new port. Then I had to rewrite .htaccess as my old one no longer worked, install PHP 5 as php 4 didn't seem to work any more, then I had to change all my php code because PHP 5 isn't completely code compatible with PHP 4. And we use computers for convenience?

I am now in the process of editing the main page, after which I will be doing a complete site upload/update. This should fix the (few) bad links.

I hadn't really thought about it before, but there is a connection between the way the collective wisdom of CALGUNS.NET (and other forums) are fighting for proper administration of the AW laws, and what we are doing at Team Billy Jack for CCW Law Enforcement.

With AW's, there is a pattern that ignorant, or deliberately blind-eyed, prosecutors pick on a single supposed transgressor and prosecute him/her/them. Then the law suits grind through, the supposed transgressor is found innocent and life continues. However, we hope and expect that the prosecutor and the associated LEO's have learned their lesson and don't try it on again. Hopefully, neighboring prosecutors learn from this and don't try it on themselves, thus giving protection to others in the same category as our supposed transgressor.

With TBJ, I would suggest that the similarities are great. An ignorant or blind-eyed sheriff/chief deliberately flouts PC 12050 and denies CCW's to people as well qualified as those to whom he/she issues. When TBJ wins (as we will), not only does the TBJ client win, but all those other potential applicants in similar situation also win as that Chief/Sheriff and their neighbors won't risk trying it again.

So, those of you who say "But TBJ only benefits their client, won't help the rest of us at all," I ask you to tell me why the Blackwater Ops case only benefits Matt Corwin, and why a win in the Bright Spot Firearms case won't help other FFL's.

Yes. February, despite a last minute glitch that stopped many people reaching the home page for nearly 24 hours, hit a new record of 4,491 visitors. Over half of our visitors come from Google, and over one half bookmark our page so they can come back again and again. January, the previous record month, hit 3,717 unique visitors.

Small beer perhaps by some website's standards but, for a very specialized website of interest only to gun-owning Californians, a very good showing.

And note the growth rate. At this exponential growth, it won't be small beer much longer!

Thank you, TBJ supporters. Introduce new friends. Post our link in websites and forums whenever you get a chance. Let's aim for 5,500 uniques this month!

Exciting month. Visitors are rocketing up. Last month was, by far, an all-time record, this month is already nearly up there with it and I shall be very surprised if it doesn't set new records within the next couple of days.

Checking through Google, I found this page, http://www.quantcast.com/top-sites-8449. It is fascinating what they say about us: "The site appeals to a rather female, more educated, fairly wealthy audience." Now, where did they get that? At least they got the "more educated" right, , but I rather doubt the others.

Furthermore, we are getting more and more enquiries. It used to be two or three a week; currently we're getting that many in an hour sometimes. Many of these enquirers have done their homework, but -- despite being as blunt as we can be on the feedback page -- we still get the enquirer who doesn't tell us where they live, what the good cause is or anything at all, and then asks "Can I get a CCW in California?" We also get a bunch of "I'm visiting (or moving to) California. Can I get a Californian CCW or will they recognize my Colorado/Arizona/Utah/Florida one?" To these people I say "It's all in the FAQ, folks."

I think that the grand prize should go to the person who asked "I have recent convictions for carrying loaded guns without a permit. What are my chances of getting one?"

We try to answer every enquiry, but sometimes it's hard to be polite.

TBJ Webmaster is sad to note that a certain, once respectible, site is now further descending into flame wars and unprofessional conduct. Whatever law enforcement personel think when they visit that site, it can't be good for the rest of us.

We have someone whose avatar looks like a lavatory bowl with a transparent water tank complaining about the unsuitable appearance of another person's avatar (a monkey showing its privates).

We have someone who claims to be a LEO "with a desk next to Melissa" publishing personal data and personal opinions about CCW holders in Orange County and threatening to have CCW's pulled from people who criticise him on the web.

That LEO is almost certainly the same LEO that branched off and created his own site, only to reappear on the original site under a new name and start referring to himself in the third person.

We have Admin, well known in the past for his draconian treatment of anyone who dared to disagree with him or the aforementioned LEO, keeping right out of it. Indeed, the header on his website hasn't been updated since he celebrated the 4th of July there.

Visitors to that site peaked at over 1600, eighteen months ago. These days, there's the aforesaid LEO, a couple of old timers and a few fleeting newbies who seem to join for a few days and disappear once they realize nothing's happening worth reading about. There used to be hundreds of posts every day, now it's down to single figures.

Enough already. Admin/Felipe, it is time to pull the plug.

TBJ Webmaster's Blog

2008-04-15

13:10:28 More site records

2008-03-12

13:29:23 Connection between Assault Weapon Laws and CCW Laws

2008-03-01

22:18:48 Yes. Another record month indeed.

2008-02-20

21:26:11 Another record month?

2008-01-23

13:32:13 Professional conduct? I think not.