So you will find all new entries at the NEW BLOG .. see here » Rad's new blog » Ye Olde Rad Blog III (based on Movable Type Open Source v4.1)
Test » upgrade to MySQL 5.1.51
]]>Since then, I've been working to lower our resource usage. Upgrading the forum to YaBB v2.2 was part of that effort.
Every once in a while, the support crew at Lunarpages will notify me that our usage has dipped below the allowable levels (each account is allocated a max of 1% CPU/memory), but they always wait to "monitor" the account to see if it stays that way.
So far, it never has. And I'm almost out of tricks.
They keep telling me I need to move to a VPS account, which costs a lot more (~$500/yr vs ~$100/yr for a Shared account), and which allocates more server resources to each account (2.5% vs 1%).
But unlike Shared hosting, you have to administrate your own VPS account .. which involves the Linux operating system, Apache web server, MySQL database, PHP & Perl scripting languages, etc .. which can be daunting for the uninitiated (like me).
So I've been talking to Magoo (whose guides are hosted here, such as his Intro to Linux) .. to see if .. we have to go that route .. he was still available to administer a VPS account for me. (That's what he does as part of his day job. He said, "I ain't scared of no VPS.")
Even tho having your own VPS is very cool, I'd rather stay Shared, primarily for the co$t. But if we have to go that route, I want to understand what's involved. You can eavesdrop on the dialogue here » Magoo: VPS Admin.
]]> For more along these lines, here's a Google search preconfigured for the query » upgrade to virtual private server vps web hosting from shared]]>As fate would have it, MT 4.1 was released yesterday. (Woohoo!) Actually, I really want to use the new Open Source version (MTOS), which was supposed to provide the first stable release (of MTOS) concurrent with the release of MT 4.1.
Oh, wait. Here it is! (Downloading now.) Have to admit, I've been looking forward to this release. (Download complete.)
Been watching the progress of MT4 since it was released last summer. And *this* version (4.1) is the one to get. (I officially recommend it.) It's where I've decided to jump in (at the first stable release of MTOS).
Note that this will be a new/clean install .. NOT an upgrade. Only bad thing is that the documentation for MT 4.1 isn't yet complete, especially for the things I wanna do/use, such as the FCKeditor.
I was looking hard at ExpressionEngine, but they're in the process trying to release EE 2.0, which breaks backward-compatibility (for the first time in their history), which makes the current EE 1.x a dead end. And all X.0 releases always need bug fixes. So that would involve a long wait (for EE 2.0x), while MTOS 4.x is here now. Plus it's FREE!, unlike EE.
I've also been learning lots about XHTML/CSS, so I'm very much looking forward to redesigning the site. Now that I have the skillz to do whatever I want (regarding site design), I'm looking forward to translating my ideas into design. This is what I'm *most* excited about, and where I've been focusing most of my geek-energy (learning).
I also been getting letters from folks, asking about a re-design of the Black Beast, updated for 2008. I love doing that, but it takes more time than you might imagine, so I'm still on the fence there.
]]> For more along these lines, here's a Google search preconfigured for the query » movable type open source blog software vs expression engine cms]]>This sux. Now you know why I dread upgrades. Yeah, I have a back-up. Made just before the "upgrade". Tired right now (midnight). Should probably get some rest. (A tired geek is a dangerous geek.) But too upset to sleep.
I may have to re-up files for posts & members from the back-up. The file transfer *did* complete pretty fast for 35K posts. So I think the server may've choked. I probably should've done the transfer in baby step .. instead of que'ing up all 35K at once. (Live-n-learn.)
Other than that (losing many posts and members), the new forum seems to be working okay.
Update1 » I was able to restore several thousand posts via the back-up, but it is incredibly tedious. You can't imagine how bad this suks. So long to restore only a small percentage. Too many files que'ed up choke the server.
So, there's good news. We didn't lose posts, as it appears we should be able to recover them all .. tho it will take a while.
]]> ••••• today's entry continues below •••••Update 2 (3PM) » ALL posts/threads have been restored (from back-up) .. far as I can tell, anyway. See HERE for details. Next » restore member accounts. ~500 missing. Small potatoes compared to 25K missing posts. They're already unarchived .. from the back-up tarball (1.2 gigs).
Update 3 (5PM) » All member accounts have been restored. We're back! (That suk'ed. Glad its over.)
I was up 'til 4:30 .. making sure I could restore posts. Couldn't sleep until I knew that. Now I need a sauna.
My web hosting provider (Lunarpages) says our CPU usage has decreased, but we are still using too much *memory* to be moved off "the stabilization server" .. (where all badboy-sites are banished).
I am also now forwarding the old YaBB 1.4 forum, which we were using as an archive, and cuz search engines knew it better than the new forum (this one). So that should kill a good chunk of our CPU usage .. by no longer having to service those (archived) posts. Now that new forum has been up-n-running since March (upgraded last night), we no longer need the archive forum.
Actually, the term "upgarde" is something of a misnomer here. It would be more accurate to say to we installed a new/clean copy of YaBB 2.2 .. and imported all our old posts/members (from YaBB 2.1).
Oh .. and before I forget .. on TV tonight, a Frontline special, titled » Growing Up Online. A look into the question of how radically the Internet is transforming the experience of childhood. If you miss it tonight, you can always catch it online. Souds interesting.
For more along these lines, here's a Google search preconfigured for the query > upgrade yabb forum software bulletin board message
]]>This is where I took the Bug for his birthday last week (where we threw rocks into the water) .. so you know it's a special place for me.
Nine pictures. See here » Newport Back Bay, January 2008. Hope you enjoy.
Winter is the best time to visit the Back Bay, cuz that's when birds arrive .. from all over the world, including Alaska and South America. Estimates put the number at 60,000.
Today I got within 5 meters of a giant blue heron, who obviously wasn't going to move. So I turned around.
]]> For more along these lines, here's a Google search preconfigured for the query » newport back bay california]]>I'm using the "safe" method of installing a new/clean copy of YaBB 2.2, leaving the current 2.1 forum up & running while I set-up the new 2.2 version (which takes a while).
After everything is hunky-dory (re-configured), I'll rename the currently-used directories to some other name, and rename the new 2.2 directories to those currently used by v2.1.
After editing one file (Paths.pl) to reflect these changes, we should be golden with a brand-spanking-new (upgraded) forum.
The forums contain more than 30,000 posts. People smarter than me frequent there. They deserve the new stuff.
I've already downloaded the new files and uploaded them to my server (physically located downtown Los Angeles), and chmod'ed everything (very tedious). Ready to "install" the new forum (by running "setup").
I also deleted many member-accounts (stayed up late last night). Anybody with 2 posts or less, and who hadn't visited the forums for 60 days was ax'ed. (They can always re-register.) You can glean more of the gory details » here. Upgrades suk. So many things can go wrong. Wish me luck.
Update - the new forum installed without a hitch. (Woohoo!) See » HERE. It still needs major tweaking, but we're over the biggest hurdle. Time to check out what cool mods are available.
]]> For more along these lines, here's a Google search preconfigured for the query » upgrade community forum software yabb bulletin board message]]>At first, he couldn't reach the water. His throws fell short, hitting the thick, black mud, exposed by the low-tide. But some coaching from dad showed him how to put his hips into the toss, giving him the extra distance to reach the water » Ker-plunk!
I know throwing rocks is not Disneyland, but he couldn't have been happier. We thru countless rocks into the water.
I always try to pay attention, but on his b-day I made a conscious effort to really get down on his level and look him in the eye (and make contact). He seemed to respond accordingly. He seemed happy. (Maybe the happiest I've ever seen.)
The day before he never woke from his nap .. slept the whole afternoon/night thru. (Only done that once before.) So I wasn't sure if he wasn't feeling okay.
At one point during our hike at the Back Bay, I called out for him to "Come on, Bug," cuz he was lagging back, drawing something on the dirt-trail with a stick .. and he called back, "Whadju say, daddy?" Something about that touched me.
He talks well, especially for a 3-year old. I mean, you can have a decent conversation with him. I also like that he knows what he wants.
For most parents, birthday #3 is a special milestone. But for me (given what I've been thru), you can be sure it was *extra* special.
]]>The main reason I'm waiting for v4.1 is cuz (copy-n-paste from the "What's New in MT 4.1" page):
Valid, Well-formed XHTML Post Content
Movable Type's Rich Text Editor is now completely modular allowing a developer to create a plugin to swap in the rich text editor of their choice. A plugin for the popular FCK editor which outputs semantically valid XHTML has been created by Six Apart and is available in our plugin directory.
The biggest trouble I have with MT 3.35 (which I currently use) is with the editor. (I use TinyMCE.) It strips out code I want to use for Lightbox (among other things), causing much grief.
So the option to use a variety of editors, especially the FCK editor, which outputs well-formed XHTML (which I've been studying), will be very cool. (Wonder how they came up with that almost-profane name.)
MT4 now comes in three different versions:
People are grumbling (see comments) cuz *only* the Commercial version (which costs $235) will come with a feature called Custom Fields, a feature which moves MT in the direction of Content Management (like Drupal, for example), and away from pure blogging software.
I'm also interested in Expression Engine, (which supports Custom Fields natively). But EE is not free for personal use (like MT4). If they would comp me a license, I'd go that route (especially if they release a version with a WYSIWYG editor). Maybe I'll ask. Can't hurt, right?
For more real-world insight into this question of Movable Type v4.1 vs Expression Engine v1.6, see this thread titled > Six Apart Releases Movable Type Open Source! (v4.1) for why I feel MTOS is a better choice than EE (at least, right now).
]]> NOTE that Expression Engine *does* have a free (stripped-down) version they call Core. See here.For more along these lines, here's a Google search preconfigured for the query » movable type vs expression engine blog cms
]]>I feel good about his development, especially considering the challenges we've faced. So I won't say it's been easy. But he's pretty cool. (Big fan of Lightning McQueen.)
While picking him up last week, he said (while sitting in his mom's lap, as she tied his shoes), "I'm so glad I got you, dada." That stuff makes me melt.
He's entered the "Why?" phase. Everything is, "Why?" Of course, not all answers are easy to explain. But I try my best.
Along these lines, a friend recently told me, "'Because I said so,' .. is *never* an acceptable response." (Advice *my* parents obviously never heard.)
Sometimes I tell him, "I don't know." To which he asks, "Why don't you know?" =)
Sometimes I even say, "You're still small, and you probably won't understand .. but this is how it works..." Then I proceed to explain things .. in terms he can understand, cuz kids understand more than we give them credit for. And I finish with, "You'll understand better when you get bigger."
My biggest regret is that he'll never be able to spend more than a short time with *both* his mom & dad .. the two people who made him. But (as Tom said), "It's better than seeing those two people fighting all the time."
]]>Kinda weird .. if you consider *when* I had that dream (more than a year ago) .. and what was going on, politically, at the time. I mean, Obama was barely in the picture. He hadn't even announced his candidacy (which was still months away). And now I read he's favored (9-to-1) to win the New Hampshire primary (this Tuesday).
Obviously, the more viable he becomes (and he just became very viable), the more likely someone would be to "intercept" that viability. On this subject I read (end of 7th paragraph):
Reflecting Obama's new-found eminence, security around him has been stepped up.
Obama has Secret Service protection, but whenever you push for change, especially when that change affects the powers-that-be .. it's not unreasonable for those in power to .. uh, resist. Especially when much is at $take. And being black, it would be easy to pawn off as the work of a racist.
Speaking of the New Hampshire primary, let me interject an observation. I lived in Maine .. ~ an hour from the NH border .. for 4 months (summer), and got to know the people there (many from New Hampshire).
The most prominent thing I remember about these people .. is how hard they work. I mean, they have the strongest work ethic you'll find anywhere.
Having lived & worked in many different states over the years (such as Hawaii, Maine, Florida, New York, Illinois, Idaho, Connecticut, Washington, Pennsylvania, and now Kalifornia), has given me an idea of the differences that exist around our country.
For example, the nicest ppl? » Oregon. Sweetest girls? » South Carolina & Tennessee. Funniest sense of humor » Massachusetts. Hardest working » Maine & New Hampshire. Biggest jerks? » (I should write a book.)
]]> For more along these lines, here's a Google search preconfigured for the query » barack obama assassination]]>Andy Budd takes you straight to the cool stuff. The concepts he presents are straightforward. Yet the execution is far from intuitive. But Budd excels at presenting examples, which teach as much as (if not more than) the narrative.
So you have this synergistic thing going on between the narrative and example-code he provides .. techniques you'd never think of on your own. And he provides multiple solutions to accomplish each effect (such as rounded corners). So I'm learning lotsa cool stuff.
It's going slower however, than I expected. Cuz I keep breaking to research the graphics techniques he references (but doesn't explain), which involve learning how to use Photoshop. So I'm learning image editing at the same time. But CSS is even cooler than Photoshop. (So I'm always eager to return.)
And as you might've noticed, I've been lagging on site updates .. while focusing on learning CSS. Along these lines (of learning more about technology), I leave you today with a link to an article I found particularly interesting, which discusses The Paradox of Expertise vs Creativity.
]]> For more along these lines, here's a Google search preconfigured for the query » css mastery book andy budd learn cascading style sheets]]>I like hanging out there cuz both he & his wife are very understanding (of my limitations). I was feeling blue last night (still am, actually), and that did not bother them. They've both been down this road, so they understand the challenges associated with my situation.
My engineering background has programmed me to try and understand problems (in order to engineer an effective solution). But I really don't understand *why* I'm feeling so blue.
I mean, I miss the bug, but that doesn't explain how far down in the dumps I feel. I was able to spend 3 solid days with him last week (after he returned from visiting relatives back-East).
I was excited driving over (Friday morn) to pick him up. Could actually feel myself getting happy. Then, after he left » bummer city. Haven't been able to shake it.
Didn't want to be a drag on my friend's New Years eve, but they assured me they understood.
]]> ••••• today's entry continues below •••••The Bug left Sunday eve. Here it is Tuesday and I'm still trying to shake these blues. Ugh! Feel unsettled.
Seems the more time I spend with him, the more I miss him. Weird, huh? Opposite what you'd expect. After 3 great days with the Bug, I should be feelin' happy as pie, no?
Anyway, I don't understand the dynamics of why I'm feeling so blue, and why I can't seem to shake it. I'm just grateful for friends who understand and don't expect me to be upbeat all the time.
I've had other friends who were not able to deal the sadness that come when I have to give him back. Can't blame them, cuz I don't like it myself. But I haven't been able to shake it. Which is why I'm trying to figure out what's going on (and why).
Anyway, I'm going to go for a walk .. around around the Back Bay. This tends to induce a meditative mindset which sometimes yields insight .. cuz this can't go on much longer.
Speaking of meditative, after dinner last night, Tom & his wife served Kung Fu Cha .. which means » The Art of Tea. If you've ever experienced this "mindful" ceremony, you know how special it is. They learned about it from a Buddhist monk. Maybe I'll elaborate more on this ancient ritual, but right now I need to go for a walk.
I'm not worried; I always recover. Just wish I could figure out how to expedite the process. Didn't feel this sad when he flew back East. So why do I feel so blue after spending 3 great days with him? (We sang Xmas songs in church Sunday morning. The previous night, he was enchanted by the fake snow spewing from the roof of the Zim house on Balboa Island.)
]]>Spent my Christmas learning about new technology » TTS, or Text-to-Speech.
Specifically » TextAloud, a program which touts itself as the World's Most Popular Text to Speech Tool (not to be confused with Speech Recognition software, a completely different animal).
I learned that sound-fonts are the things that really make a TTS program sing. The best sound-fonts are reportedly made by AT&T, called AT&T Natural Voices, altho many others compete in this emerging market.
Unfortunately the demo version of TextAloud does not come with any premium sound fonts. And the sound-fonts cost more than the program.
The AT&T Natural Voices sound-fonts weigh in at ~600 MB each .. whereas the TextAloud program is barely 3 MB. Premium sound-fonts use 16-kHz frequency. (By comparison, CD audio is 44-kHz.) Older sound-fonts use 8-kHz (low-quality).
]]> ••••• today's entry continues below •••••With a TTS program, you can record an entire eBook (or *any* text, for that matter) to output an MP3 file (one of TextAloud's supported file formats) and listen to it (on your favorite MP3 player) during your commute.
In fact, I noticed a copy of the LAME MP3 codec sitting in the \TextAloud program folder, so you know they're using the best available.
You can open any PDF file in TextAloud, and let it read to you. I do this when my eyes start to get tired.
I outputted 3 (MP3) files for you to compare, by copy-n-pasting text from the site's splash page into the program's text window. The first uses the default cheapo sound-font, which comes standard with the TextAloud demo. This voice goes by the name of Sam.
The last two use the highly-touted AT&T Natural Voices, which are supposed to be "the best". These files are posted here (Crystal) & here (Mike). Each file is ~20 KB (very small).
You can test your own demos here, with more voices. I especially like the British voices (Audrey & Charles). They sound more elegant than US voices.
By the way, your standard Adobe Acrobat PDF reader (I use v8.0, the freebie) can read text to you, by selecting Read Out Loud from the View menu. Not as good tho, as importing the PDF into TextAloud and using the AT&T premium sound-fonts .. but not bad, especially if your eyes start getting sore from reading too much Rad material (a bad case of Rad-eye).
For more along these lines, here's a Google search preconfigured for the query > text-to-speech program software att natural voices
]]>The exact time (when the sun reached its southern-most point and began heading back north was 1:08AM EST, which means winter actually began Friday night (10:08 PM) for those of us here on the Left coast.
To celebrate the event I rode my bike around the Back Bay, with Tom, his wife & daughter. My first bike-ride since getting thrown off & landing on my cranium. Nice day. Lots of sunshine.
No mountains, tho. I rode mostly with Tom's (7-yr-old) daughter, who's pace I found comfortable.
Good news » the library (Newport Beach) is gonna buy the books I recommended (both of them) » Bulletproof Web Design (2nd ed.), as recommended by Nate here » Best Book for Learning Cascading Style Sheets » CSS Mastery by Andy Budd, ..
.. and also Dreamweaver CS3: The Missing Manual. (I only have the electronic version of this one, which is harder on the eyes than paper.)
I do my homework when researching which book is best for a particular topic (since a good book can make a big difference), so I shouldn't be surprised. (Tho I am.)
]]> ••••• today's entry continues below •••••Finished another chapter in CSS Mastery today. Hadn't really noticed before the word Mastery in the title, at least not consciously. I merely knew it was supposed to be a good book on CSS.
But it's becoming clear the term mastery includes notions of advanced & sophisticated (concepts which this book on CSS is presenting). I mean, advanced selectors are discussed in the very first chapter, along with other sophisticated concepts.
Regarding the topic of style, I've been playing with a (cool) program called Color Schemer Studio. Design skills have never been my strength, so I like that the site contains (literally) thousands of pre-configured color schemes, contributed by users and subsequently rated (by the community).
Each color scheme can be downloaded (*.cs file) and loaded into the program (to learn the hex value of each color). But this is not really necessary .. if you have a program like Color Cop (freebie).
So I've been perusing hundreds of different color schemes I might like to use when I redesign the site .. putting into practice my new web-stud skills. Sorry I can't link to the schemes I really like, but I posted a few here on this page, and anything (done by someone with design skills) is likely to be far better than what I have now.
Lastly, the bug is gone. Left a few days ago. Flew back East, with his mom, to be with her family for the holidays. I signed off. (Always do.) Altho this time he didn't seem eager to go. "I wanna stay with you, dada," he said. Actually, the first thing he said was, "I want you to come, too." .. after I tried to put a positive spin on the situation » "You're gonn a have a fun time on the big airplane."
So I've been sad. More so than expected. Got the blues. Gave up some of my days with him, so he could go. Friends don't think I should be so accommodating, considering. But he'll have a good time, and that's really what counts.
The Bug will be 3 next month. And I'm finally starting to learn a few things about this parenting thing. The *reason* parenting is such a powerful thing .. is cuz it deals with the issue survival. Nature programs us with powerful instincts that ensure the species survives.
And our offspring (in terms of the species) is even more important than the parent. This is why we find ourselves "sacrificing" for our kids. We may not make the ultimate sacrifice, but we do so in ways more subtle. Which is why our actions often bypass the decision-making process. We simply do what we must .. as dictated by our species' genetic hard-wiring.
Yes, the act of parenting has an influence on the survival of the species. If you were God, would you leave it to chance? Probably not. We have (as you know) powerful incentive to procreate, and once this is accomplished, other priorities take precedent.
Anyway, figuring out *why* I do & feel certain things, as a parent, and why the Bug always comes first .. even when I don't consciously *try* to adopt this perspective .. is a curiosity that's always intrigued me. I see it happening, but never really understood the dynamics. Now, I feel I've gained some insight. It's about survival (but not mine). This is my theory.
If you don't hear from me before then, I want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
For more along these lines, here's a Google search preconfigured for the query > html hex web color scheme design
]]>Felt good to throw around some iron. Everybody came up, asking, "Dude, where you been?"
Felt stronger than I expected. No major problems. Neck is still stiff, but no longer painful. My left hip however, felt a little weird on some exercises. Same with my right shoulder.
Fortunately I was in decent shape before wiping out, having mountain-biked regularly prior. But after a month or so of inactivity, the body begins to lose tone. Endurance wanes. You start to feel yucky.
A trainer there, who used to be a physical therapist, said I "need to get increased blood flow" to my neck .. to promote healing. "You can do that," she added, "by applying heat or massage. Both techniques dilate."
So afterwards, I hit the sauna—first the steam, then the dry (dry is hotter). The neck definitely feels better today. I also been getting regular massages, twice weekly.
Ran into my physical therapist at the coffee shop last weekend. "Call me this week," she said, "and we'll schedule an appointment. It's fine if you need to bring the bug."
]]> ••••• today's entry continues below •••••I've been reluctant to do that cuz therapy is painful (& exhausting), but maybe now I will, since my massage therapist left for vacation.
On a geekier note, here's a neat, little tool you might enjoy » Launchy. Read the short PDF that comes with the installer. The program is accessed by pressing ALT+Spacebar. Pretty cool (and free).
]]>