About Vidya

"I started out as a child...."

I'll always remember that opening line from a Bill Cosby comedy routine. In the same vein, I'll begin by saying, "I started out knowing nothing..."

And yet, here I am, presenting you with a newsletter about perfecting your knowledge of "webmastering." Obviously, some time has been spent absorbing all of what I have to share with you. It's this time factor which is my real offering to you.

If I had had this information when I was a "neophyte webmaster," I could have saved myself hundreds of hours of time. Some of the information I will share with you, I deliberately hunted down, and some came to me naturally as I absorbed interesting tips.

In fact, I've been programming and working with computers since the early days of the IBM 360 in 1968. (I was one of the creators of the first nationwide "time-sharing systems" on the IBM 360/67.) I knew how to find what I was looking for.

Of course, learning to differentiate between "good stuff" and "same old, same old" was part of the learning... as it continues to be. But I can now say with confidence and assurance that what you're about to read is necessary for you to become an expert at what you do.

It's necessary because you just can't run an effective website without taking advantage of the techniques described in this newsletter. Without knowing about such things as FTP, PHP scripts, credit card accepting, and ways to track your visitors, you are severely limiting yourself.

I should warn you that lots of websites use glitz and fluff, but to me, it's practicality and usefulness that matters. Efficiency, ease-of-use and doing "what works" is how I play the game.

Have fun!


(also known as Burton Smith)

P.S. You're probably wondering where the phrase "Web Wise Sage" came from. Actually, in addition to my work as a webmaster, I'm also a teacher of a spiritual growth practice called the Ishayas' Ascension. You can see more at my Awakening Path website (with yet another newsletter.) So combining the two, I came up with the name. (Actually, it was something that happened as I looked for available domain names. I just happened to be playing with words, and that combo came up as being available. So I've been using it ever since....)