Posts of the Year: 2013

Being a bit presumptuous in assuming I’ll still be here in a year, but hey: goals.

As of right now infinitefreetime.com has 234 posts. The following are my ten most popular/high-traffic posts for 2013; in other words, for the entire lifespan of the blog. Some of them are well-written and/or interesting and/or clever and/or funny. Some of them confuse the hell out of me.

(And ten is a good number to have chosen, because after ten we start getting lots and lots of ties. These stood out.)

In Which This Isn’t Quite What it Looks Like (part 1 of 3): July 5. Which happens to be my birthday. I’m glad at least one Serious Post made the list; this post, and the two that follow it, go into some detail as to how I think educators, schools, and students should be evaluated in the age of “accountability” and corporate reform. You really actually should read this.
Because God Forbid I Don’t Double-Post on Friday: November 8. Other than the picture being entertaining, I have no idea.
WHERE THE HELL IS MY STAPLER: September 10. I actually honestly wish this one wasn’t on the list, and it still gets several hits a week– in fact, pretty much all of these posts are still getting a few hits a week, and the top several are still getting hits every day. I was in an incredibly bad mood and had had an immensely bad day when I wrote this; I wish I hadn’t. But it’s on the list nonetheless.
In which something entirely unexpected happens!: October 18. This, and the post that immediately preceded it, I’m in this job for the paperwork, are both Teacher Posts, and both on the “serious” end of the spectrum. This one is also one of my ragier ones but unlike “Stapler” a minute ago I’m still willing to own it. I was at least trying for funny; hopefully I didn’t miss by too much.
Don’t read this if you respect me: September 20. In accordance with prophecy, one of my most popular posts; I have a misadventure with a new pet.
In which I fail at baking again: July 17. One of the popular “I screw up; it entertains you” series; I try to make ~~an apple pancake~~ cookies. I, well… I still do not end up with an apple pancake.
I’d part with my childhood but no one wants it: September 12. The popularity of this one, which is basically just me whining about being too much of a nerd, fascinates me. I thought of it mostly as a throwaway post when I wrote it, because I hadn’t had any better ideas. Still haven’t sorted the damn books. Gotta get to that this weekend.
In which TMI for serious: October 14. Another post that I knew would be popular from the jump because it involved me humiliating myself. I am a vegetarian for a week. There are… consequences.
In which I hurt myself and acquire toys: November 9. This post has sixty-seven more views than #3. It’s had three today! I have no idea why. It’s a mild Facebook rant. Also I brag about buying housewares. I don’t get it. It’s also the newest post on the list, which makes its popularity even more bewildering.
The 10 SF/(mostly) F works that Meant the Most to Me: October 15. This post has (whoa, weird) 67 more views than #2 does, which means it has 134 more views than the third most popular post. 250 total. It still gets multiple hits every single day and currently has 30 Likes and fifteen comments. I’m convinced it’s directly responsible for a dozen or so followers as well. Now, this makes me happy, of course, but I have to admit I do sorta wish my most popular post wasn’t directly cribbed from John Scalzi, especially if it’s gonna be number one with a bullet the way this one is.

And there you have it: my ten most popular posts for 2013. Go ahead, troll the archives: anything that should have been up here?

EDIT: Now that I’ve said that? I’m putting “On fathering” (June 16) on here. Call it honorable mention; the site wasn’t very old when I wrote it so most of you have never noticed it but it’s probably my favorite piece that I’ve written for the site. So now it’s eleven. Pbbbt.