Interview with Blogger Mireille (Life Geeked)

By The Pakistani Spectator • May 19th, 2008 • Category: Interviews • No Responses

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

I am Lebanese Girl, a Geekette, 23 years old , I make living from “working with computers”, the tech term would be Software Engineering
As for www.lifegeeked.com it is a fairly recent blog that I created since 2 and half months or so. It is about life but in a geeky way. It is somehow comics stuff but even with comics I try to make some points. It is also to present life as geeks see it and just to smile and make my friends smile
(and oh friends and readers do submit ideas to the blog that i make into comics , i put the inspired by XXX to give them credit, so i guess everyone deserves a mention in here, they also help in tons of way with traffic, advices, ressources and such )

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?

I believe that the more I write the more I learn, and I intend to continue in writing in my blog because I express my opinions through it, and I learn along this process. This also, develops my creativity of writing and drawing my thoughts and ideas through familiar and unusual everyday cases.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

The fact that of being marked as favorite blogger by complete strangers and having feedbacks whether positive or negative has improved my way of thinking being contacted by a stranger for an interview is a memorable experience for sure

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

Most of the times I comment on the blogs that intrest me, I put links to interesting blogs, I let fellow bloggers know when I really like something… cuz nothing brings joy to a blogger heart more than nice comments and traffic , I try to point out some bad things And sometimes the communication goes further where we become internet friends or even real life friends .

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

Well I think that now with the available technology platform, it is easier for everyone to publish thoughts and ideas and be seen and heard in the whole world.
The cost of publishing information became lower, the challenge now is in getting the attention
Polls and online statistics can be made to retrieve data opinions from users and maybe put pressure when it comes to a certain topic. And now I think it is harder to hide facts… it is harder for the media to get monopolized… the “if you don’t publish it… someone else will” rule

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

Of course, now people have a way to shout out their opinions !. it is a 2 way communication now, not like TV for example.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

Well I think the geeky way of seeing things and expressing things is fun and somehow not so redundant on the internet.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

I think working on the things that interest me and putting my heart and effort into the things I enjoy

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

Ummm.. so many so far

Do you think [the use of Twitter and other social networking tools by politicians] is bandwagon jumping or what?

Just another tools for politicians to make themselves heard .

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

In fact, I am very fond of traveling; somehow I am starting to plan those trips
1- Europe
2- South America
3- Far East
The Europe planning is on, the plan is to use one of those students rails tickets and go backpacking thru Europe (up to 30 countries per ticket  )

What is your favorite book and why?

Le petit Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery.
What i like is its simplicity, the set of values it presents and it just gets to my heart every time I re-read it

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

The whole “package” the way he/she interacts with his/her surroundings.
But when it comes to guys, it is a whole different story with a lot of more details

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

Ummm… No… btw I don’t really write or consider myself a professional writer.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

By Ads, selling products, search engines, sponsors, making a popular blog then selling it, selling their souls and writing good stuff about who pays more

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

I know couple of friends with good blogs, all have tons to do and few free time.
I think it is the opposite somehow… usually the ppl busy with life and its experiences are the ones who get more intresting ideas to share.
Blogging out of boredom is pure boredom itself

What are your thoughts on corporate blogs and what do you think the biggest advantages and disadvantages are?

Advantages: it may give more insights about the company culture
Disadvantages: the info given may be totally fake and misleading to the readers.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?

they just have to communicate and read each others blogs, communication will help make the cultural gaps closer and surely will do good

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

1- Jeff Attwood ( www.codinghorror.com )
2- Rami Fayoumi ( www.zerohoursleep.com, www.plus961.com )
3- Farah Soubra ( www.noisythinking.com )
4- Antoine khater ( www.shifeshil.com , www.adidap.com , www.catchingzlight.com )

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

Personally I really like : Congo tin soldiers on CNN’s World untold stories

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

Well I think the media is only portraying only one aspect of that country. I would really love to explore that country more and maybe travel there

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

Rundall Munroe !

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

The value of the human life… it is the cheapest thing in the developing countries and the most valued and cherished in the developed ones

What is the future of blogging?

Future of blogging… eumm.. well I think everyone will be blogging from his/her cellphone in the near future

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

I can’t say that I have a blogging life, lifegeeked is the only blog I have and it doesn’t take that much time to qualify as a “blogging life”
But thru lifegeeked I have met some interesting people with the same interests on the blogsphere.

What are your future plans?

Have more fun while writing on lifegeeked, maybe do some fun products like mugs, shirts stickers and such in order to sponsor some charity activities or organizations and some open source projects

Any Message you want to give to the readers ?
To keep on open mind and to blog in case they are not into it yet because it is self developing and opens a lot of learning criterias.
in case you have a blog.. share it with me, i want to read urs
if you don’t…. what u waiting for ?