Four year Anniversary of The Engage Podcast Blog: facts and figures!

Hi guys
Four years ago today (on Monday 16th June 2014), I founded this very blog with my first very understated blog post introducing you to the blog, and the podcast.
Since then me, Jamie (along with Phil) have collectively written (and published) a staggering 67 blog posts (including this one) covering a plethora of different topics.

All written in the hopes of fulfilled my whole aim for this blog, to give you a better understanding of who we are (something I feel like we've achieved). So that we (me, Jamie and Phil) didn't come across as two dimensional to you (our readers & listeners) by just talking entirely about Star Trek.

So I wanted to give you an insight into our other interests outside of the Star Trek franchise, which have included (amongst others):

• Our joint interest in history (specifically the Second World War).
• Time Travel.
• Anne Frank.
• Personal Heroes.
• Quizzes, competitions (more to come in the future) and challenges.
• Guides to podcasting (and a Trekkie's Christmas List).
• Game of Thrones.
• Dyslexia and Dyspraxia.

As the blog had a very low key Birthday last year, I thought it was about time that I celebrated it's Anniversary properly this year. So I'm hoping that by writing this particular blog post in celebration of it's fourth Birthday I'll have accomplished that!
An honour which we'll (hopefully) also bestow onto the podcast later this year (on the 3rd of October), so look out for that!!!

For this post I wanted to commemorate the event slightly different from previous years. So as you'll have guessed from the title of this blog post, I'll be talking through some of the facts and figures about the blog which I thought you might find interesting.

So I'll make it clear throughout this blog:

All information is correct as of 14:45pm BST (British Summer Time) on Friday 15th June 2018

 

Since the blog launched on 16th June 2014, it has been visited by a grand total of 17,445 people from right across the world.
With the most views primarily based in the United States (with 5,132 views), Russia (with 4,282 views) and the United Kingdom (with 2,946 views).
Although trust me when I say that those three are just "the tip of the iceberg".
As when I check the blog every so often (ok if I'm honest fairly frequently!). I always get surprised (and amazed) by some of the incredible places you our wonderful readers (and listeners) are reading our blog posts from.

All information is correct as of 14:45pm BST (British Summer Time) on Friday 15th June 2018

Which every time gets me excited to think that although I probably haven't been there (possibly not yet) at least my words have at least 'visited'!

With 67% (11,650 people) of you (like me) unsurprisingly using a Windows Operating System. Followed by 11% Mackintosh (2,024 people), 7% Linux (1,289 people), 6% Other [iPhone, iPad & Unix] (1,308 people), and 5% Android (1,306 people).

All information is correct as of 14:45pm BST (British Summer Time) on Friday 15th June 2018

In terms of the Browsers people are using it's all over the place, with 37% (6,424 people) using Google Chrome. Followed by 34% (5,916 people) using Internet Explorer, 17% (3,052 people) using Firefox, and 5% (1,002 people) using Safari.

All information is correct as of 14:45pm BST (British Summer Time) on Friday 15th June 2018

If you've been a long time reader of the blog, you'll probably already be aware of an automatically updating Blogger feature I've added to the bottom of the blog which tells you the five most "Popular Posts from the past 30 days".
As an Admin for the blog, I can view an expanded version of that function in the Stats section. Which allows me to see the most popular posts (and pages) from either that instance (in the 'Now' function), Day, Month and even from All time.

From those stats, what I'm most proud to say is that the hardest blog posts I've ever decided to write (and invested the most time into writing) have become the most successful.
Whilst one of my most favourite blog posts I've ever written, is the third most read blog posts on the site.

 

In first place, as the most read blog post is my Simon’s General Interest blog post- Anne Frank. Which has been read a total of 1,542 times since it was published on the 9th of June 2016. This alone accounts for a staggering 8.8% of the total viewership of the site in general.

 

My Simon’s General Interest blog post- Anne Frank blog post has been the hardest to write, and the most time consuming. As it took me well over three years of constant writing and 'tweaking' (since December 2013) before it got published.

Which isn't even taking into consideration, all the time that the other fantastic people (my friends Daniel, Penny and Jamie) I brought in to proof read it for me (something I've never done) and to help me by giving me constructive criticism. Something I still really appreciate them doing to this day!

 

I went to that much effort, as I wanted to make sure that I'd done the topic justice as I think you'll probably realise (from the blog post and the episode) it’s an interest quite close to my heart (as I point out at the end of the blog).

So considering all the emotion surrounding the topic of the blog post, and the extensive effort that had gone into researching it and writing it. It's absolutely amazing to see that it's a something you enjoy reading.

 

In second place, it's my Simon: My Dyslexia and Dyspraxia blog post. Which has been read a total of 1,112 times since it was published on the 10th January 2015. Accounting for 6.3% of the total viewership of the site in general.

 

This was another hard blog post to write, as it was through my Simon: My Dyslexia and Dyspraxia blog post that I decided it was time that I finally dealt with my own 'personal demons' (Dyslexia and Dyspraxia) head on (something I don't like doing). As I'd felt as though they'd controlled my life and held me back all those years (as I point out in the blog's introduction). But since I started the blog I've felt as thought I'm now in control over them.

Writing this blog post made it public knowledge, which meant I felt quite vulnerable. But I thought that it was well worth it, if I could help people and raise awareness of Dyslexia and Dyspraxia along the way. 

 

In third place it's my Origins of famous Starfleet ship names blog post. Which has been read a total of 758 times since it was published 5th of August 2015. Accounting for 4.3% of the total viewership of the site in general.

I'm so pleased that you find it interesting too, as I know that a lot of you out there aren't total Ship Geeks like I am!
Which is why I give myself a challenge before I wrote it. Not to make my Origins of famous Starfleet ship names blog post too technical (as I point out in the blog's introduction) talking about "teching the [fictional] tech" (see Mission Log Podcast).
So I decided to infuse a little bit of history into it, by talking about real famous people (and things) behind the starship's names I thought would be interesting to research and to write about.
I really enjoyed writing this blog post, as each starship took an awful lot of painstaking (in universe and real life) research.
Which was really interesting to read, as it took me in all different directions... and taught me a lot of things I didn't know before I wrote it!!!

All information is correct as of 14:45pm BST (British Summer Time) on Friday 15th June 2018

We would just like thank you all for your continued support, you have no idea how much we really appreciate it!!!

Even though it's another Anniversary blog post where I haven't done an awful for it...
This is Simon from The Engage Podcast signing out!

My First Blog – Philip Tuck

My First Blog – Philip Tuck

 

As this is my first blog I thought I would introduce myself. Hi my name is Phil…ok that was quick and over err what do I say now?

I guess I should tell you a little bit more about myself.

I guess the best way to describe me is that I’m an enthusiastic, energetic young man who at times can be know to be a perfectionist as well as very OCD on certain things (don’t get my started on a clean desk at work with everything where it needs to be!!!).

 

  

Put that aside, I would also say that I’m a loving caring person who will do anything to protect the ones I love. Including doing anything I can for them at a moments notice. I was not sure where this first blog would take me, I guess I really just wanted to let you know who I am and where I come from. This is so that future blogs I write will make sense to you.

I would have to admit at this stage that I’m severely dyslexic as well as having a unique way of working things out. So what I’m trying to say is that you will need to learn the way I think…which might confuse you as well as make you smile!To give you an example I will explain things in such a long twisted way as I always feel I have to explain myself before giving an answer…. Yep just notice it’s taken me a paragraph to say this, what did I say, done it again!!!   

 

 

So to tell you some more? I guess hobbies are a good place to start, obviously my big passion is Star Trek…but that is evident from listening to The Engage Podcast!

I  also enjoy TV shows such as Only Fools and Horses, Band of Brother, Game of Thrones and anything with Ronnie Barker in. Such as Porridge and Open all hours, and on top of all of that I’m also a big Lost fan. I am also a huge Lord Of The Rings Fan, I guess its because I love being encapsulated by a story and love the mystery and depth of the world.

Outside of TV my other passion is my work, yes I’m a workaholic and I’m going to include this to one of my hobbies. As if I could work from sunrise to sunset…I would! Because of that I need a gentle reminder from my friends and family to stop. But I guess we all need that?

 

Sports! Owe that’s a good one!

I’m a big Rugby fan and I’m not talking about the silly monkey league. I mainly watch/cover the internationals, but have started following the Leagues games and am keen on the Wasps. I’m not sure why but I think it’s because I went to see a final between Harlequins and Wasps and they won!

This was back when Lawrence Dallaglio was still playing, I was sitting on the 5^th row up and still had to look up at him, that man was huge!!! I used to play rugby for a local team in Essex and still think back to them days as I have some of my best memories of my life. But that’s enough of that….someone get me a bucket.

 

Music….well anything really, as long as it had a great beat, Rock, Classical, RNB, Rap, Kisstory, etc etc.

 

 

 

Other interests: I’m a big gamer give me any strategy game or complicated adventure as well as shootem ups and MMORPGs such as Warcraft and Star Trek Online.

 

As well as Gaming I love history but only certain parts… I know that’s biased but hey this is about me.World War 2 really interested me especially the 101^st Airborne and the D-Day landings, I guess it’s because I appreciate that the brave men of the battlefield died so that I could be free, this I will always be thankful for till the day I die.

 

Where In the world am I?

I was born and bred in Essex and I live with my wife-to-be Sam (wedding booked for April 2015), getting excited now!!!  I don’t think I would ever leave Essex, think it’s because I’m too family tied, as well as loving the area I’m in.

So this is me, Phil, I hope this has enlightened you, and I hope you enjoy my future Blogs.

 

Type to you soon!

Simon: My Dyslexia and Dyspraxia

Hi everyone!
Firstly I have to admit that this blog post has been the most challenging to write, as it has meant that I have had to deal with something quite personal and something I don't like facing head on.
So making it public knowledge adds a bit of jeopardy to this blog post unlike any others I have written or will ever write.
As it makes me feel quite vulnerable.

As the title suggests this post is all about Dyslexia and Dyspraxia a couple of conditions quite close to my heart, as I suffer from both. I am hoping that by the end of this blog you'll be able to recognise the symptoms and signs for Dyspraxia and Dyslexia in your friends and family...so that they can be diagnosed.

For all those that don't know, Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty (or spectrum disorder) that affects the skills involved in the reading and spelling of words. Dyslexia tends to have difficulty with:

Verbal memory
This the ability to remember a sequence of verbal information for a short period of time. Such as a set of simple instructions or a short list.

Rapid serial naming
This is the skill of being able to name a series of colours, objects or numbers as quickly as possible.

Phonological awareness
This is a key skill when it come's to someone's early spelling and reading development. You become Phonological aware once you can identify how words are made up of phonemes (smaller units of sound). Changing a phoneme can lead to changes in their meaning.

Verbal processing speed
Is the speed in which it takes someone to process and recognise familiar verbal information, such as letters and digits.

Along with:

Physical coordination problems (Dyspraxia)

Poor short-term memory

Problems concentrating and a short attention span

Poor organisation and time-management

Difficulties with numbers (dyscalculia)

 

While Dyspraxia (also known as Developmental Co-ordination Disorder or DCD) is also fairly common, although it affects a persons physical co-ordination and movement.

Fortunately, I don't really suffer from the associated problems you get with them. This is only because, as times gone by I've found different 'Coping Strategies' to solve the problems I face due to Dyslexia and Dyspraxia.
Even as I write this blog I've had to use my 'Coping Strategies'. One of those techniques is having to effectively forcing Spell Checker to correct my misspelled word for the correct spelling...that happens quite often whenever I write a blog post!
Let's take the last the last paragraph for example, in this instance I couldn't remember how to spell the word strategy. If that happens I have to 'try' and sound out the phonics on the word (difficult for Dyslexics). You might think that's easy considering it's written right in front I should get it right first time round...but the word I've spelt is statergy.
As you know the Spell Checkers red line has appeared, so I can  right click on it and go to the Spell Checker window and select the correct spelling.

 

I also want to tell you an antidote describing what can happen when you have a bad case of Dyspraxia! I had to go back three years (back to 2012). When I got my first car (which I nicknamed "Little Donkey"), a car I've reluctantly had to change since...

Anyhow back to what I'm suppose to be talking about, at the time I was working in a local school as a Teaching Assistant. So I had to compute the 2.5 miles into work each day. On the 2nd day of term eager to get into work, I leave for work at 7:45am and 'somehow' manage to bang my head on the top of the door frame of my car!

Instantly I start not feeling very well...but thought nothing of it! After another forgetful 20 minute compute I get into work. Where I mention what has happened to the other staff, which results in me having a Cold Compress put over my head.

After 'trying' to do a full days work, with symptoms of a unknown and undiagnosed illness (at that time). I go home (around 4:00pm), fortunately after talking to the teacher I was working with (Hi Penny!) I decide to play it safe and get the bus home (leaving my car where I parked it).

A few hours past by (around 6:30pm), and my Mum gets home from work (local hospital). After a couple of seconds she's looked at me, and knows with out asking that I'm not feeling well.
Within 10 minutes she's on the phone to Phil asking whether he can pick us up and take us to Accident & Emergency (A&E). A little while later, Phil comes and takes us directly to A&E.
After spending 3 hours (Taking us to around 10:30pm) being looked at my a couple of Doctors I am finally diagnosed with Concussion.
Then after a short wait, Phil came and picked us up again! Instead of taking us straight home he went and picked up my car and drove it back to our house, before going home!

I would just like to finish by saying that I am internally thankful to Penny (the teacher I was working with) for being very supportive on that day, Phil for coming to the rescue and to Mum for getting me to A&E!

I know that's a quite lengthy antidote...but I think it just shows you how Developmental Co-ordination Disorders impacts people's lives. I know there are going to be people out there saying "Simon, you can't put that experience solely down to Dyspraxia?!"
In answer to those people, I have to say that I don't think it's the whole reason it happened...but I don't think it helped matters!!!

This is Simon from The Engage Podcast signing out!