Recently in Site Updates Category

Yeah, I finally gave in. Don't expect too much from me. I barely blog anything of personal note anymore - as you've obviously noted.

Back when I converted the blog database to MT 4, I ran the upgrade scripts on an old set of blog entries. Thus I lost the date/time stamps on everything from August 2007 to June 2008.

Sure, I could have just knocked out re-editing all those hundreds of entries, but where to find the time? Answer? There never was any time.

So, I finally did it. A few every odd day or so, plus a concentrated push during lunch breaks and conference calls over the past couple weeks and I finally knocked out the edits. It wasn't hard, just time consuming. So they are back and searchable. Dead links and bad grammar untouched of course as I don't do revisionist history unless I really, really screwed up and need to make amends and give a mea culpa.

Anyway, more entries for you to ignore.

I missed linking this yesterday, but here's an interesting story concerning the years since Tianamen.

Alright, as you can see the blog is up and running. I haven't converted the old style and am still not sure if I actually can successfully. Also, I've got a lot of backend stuff that apparently is going to have to be manually fixed, one entry at a time.

But hey, I'm upgraded. Yay?

Well, I updated to Movable Type 4 but now most of the entries have lost their date and the template is severely jacked up. Still deciding whether to roll back or not.

In the meantime, yes, this is still the blog, it is just shattered.

Stay tuned.

For those valiant few who still come to read my ranting, I'm back.

Apparently the server I was on, named bruja (or witch in Spanish), did some funky chicken stuff to either the Apache or Perl modules and killed my ability to add new posts. I thought it was because I screwed the pooch attempting an upgrade to Moveable Type 4, which may still cause some issues here and there. Who knows?

In any case, Dave at Ion Web, my hosting provider, was way cool in testing my issue and then, when all else failed, moved the site to a new server that apparently - as I can actually post now - seems to have worked.

He's been a great help in the past with setting up my mail settings and the like. So yeah, still liking my hosting company and big kudos for getting me back online.

You poor bastiches.

Well, found out there were a couple plugins for Moveable Type that were killing the comment system. You can send me feedback on my posts now, though most of you are probably tired of trying.

That said, I *am* planning another run at upgrading the blog to the latest version and since the last two attempts have failed so miserably, we'll see how this goes.

Wish me luck.

Had to reapply the theme to get the look back normal again but am having image issues on the backend of the MT system. Oh well, I'll give it a few months and see if the upgrade goes any smoother then.

Also, for those who give a damn, here is my MySpace account link. Add me if you wish or whatever. I think I've modded the code enough to where I can stand it for awhile, but it still seems a weird and too structured way of going about things.

But at least I've caught up with some folks, so that's really nice.

I tried to update to the latest version of Moveable Type and could not get it to work. You'll notice the funky performance and visuals until I can get this fixed. Sorry.

Well, figured I might as well get a MySpace account since half of everyone I know is on it.

I'd give you the URL but there's an issue with creating a custom one that should be fixed by tomorrow or somesuch thing. When I *do* get that fixed, I'll provide linkage.

Thanks to all of you who are already hitting me with your bulletins and the like.

Hey, since I mostly did this to check on Tom and Jason's bands and to catch up with people in general, let me give you the band links right now.

Tom's band The Doods

Jason's latest project, 99 Souls

Incidentally Tom, I linked you to the Vast Empire crowd and a lot of them send their appreciation. So, you know, if you ever get some downloadable distribution going, I think you've got yourself an audience in a few countries.

I *finally* got the comment form working on the main site. So, yeah, Jeff, you can hit me with messages from there now. I was having issues with the CGI (don't know why, it's the easiest thing on earth) and finally went with some other form of scripting. Then found out my MX records were reset on the domain...again. Got *that* fixed, and now here we are.

Send me a message. See if I reply.

Lost the main page of the site and got a pile of unknown files. Looks like the 4images photo gallery needed updated. Lovely.

I will probably move those photos over to Picasa and ditch that method in the near future.

Anyway, more secure passwords in place and hopefully I stay under the radar.

'Tis the internet. Damnit.

Alright, here's the deal. I have opened up the comments again for those of you who would like to put in your two cents. I would still prefer you get the TypePad account and go that route, but let's give this a try.

I've got a few more plugins in place which *should* keep the spam comments out of the way. We'll see.

After receiving tons of spam comments, I turned up the junk filtering to a severe level. Turns out that works great as a spam filter tool but it doesn't let any of you post comments. So I've lowered the severity and turned on a "you must have e-mail to register as a commenter" thingy.

Let me know if that doesn't work.

Incidentally, I didn't know this until Stacy Whitman let me know about it. Everyone who knows her say "hi!" as she's been off in the wilds of the NorthWest working for Wizards of the Coast.

Seeing as I probably contribute half a percentage point to their bottom line with all the gaming crap I buy, I find her job to be really cool. Then again, mine keeps sending me to the Caribbean so I'm not exactly whining as much as respectfully admiring.

In any event, check out her professional LJ here. And yes, I'll pull it down if I'm asked to so don't go crazy with that people.

So yeah, two things. One, let me know if the comments work. Two, keep me on my toes. I know the main site still is dead linked to a fair-thee-well and the message board has cobwebs the size of small trucks.

And I'm really behind on getting pics uploaded.

And about ten other things I haven't done. And yeah Jacinta, I know I still haven't linked your gallery yet.

Gah. Well, at least I'm home long enough to know what needs done. Maybe I'll jump on some of that this weekend.

Have a good one.

It has been a long time since I modified the main site's look and feel. I have been playing around with building a new template and just couldn't get one I like. Actually, I'm planning on taking some classes soon and actually get good at this once and for me. Meanwhile, I grabbed a template from OpenSourceTemplates and am starting to convert pages on the main site as I go. Hopefully this looks and works well for you all.

Let me know if something isn't working right. I'll have link pages up soon so missing content that used to be there will be back soon. I hope.

As always, feedback is useful and helpful.