Brief Technical Note II

Posted on | January 8, 2010 | 34 Comments

by Smitty

We had our greatest traffic day yet on 07Jan at the new digs, and still have some growing to do. I’m going to have to train Stacy to do post drafting at the old Blogger site, so he can get the words drafted and edited, and then post them here, so that life moves along with a bit more vigor.
Also, the offline version of the site is operational. Despite terrifying DB connection errors, I was able to tinker with the stylesheet. Those browsing at 800X600 might notice that the content is not longer slammed against the port side of the screen. We can now prep entire makeover versions of the site, and then push them out for special occasions. Stacy wants to do a raging hot pink “OMG P0N1ES!!!!1!” version of the blog for April Fools day, but I’m trying to hold him back.
Sophisticated readers may also notice the “Really Should Subscribe (RSS)” button below the recent posts in the middle column.
Also, as it’s Friday, we need to collect URLs for the FMJRA. The trackback feature works well, and I’ll enjoy some afternoon geeking with that. However, if you’ve been a naughty blogger and

Failed to link us in the first place, or
The unsophisticated comment form hasn’t done the back end work (I’ll happily take suggestions for better comment forms) then do send me your URLs for inclusion

Use the comments to suggest backronyms for the FMJRA title. Clearly the ‘A’ is Alabama. The ‘J’ ends up requiring some thought, but Journey comes to mind. Off to work. Keep it warm, people.

Category: Blogging

Comments

34 Responses to “Brief Technical Note II”

Ran / Si Vis Pacem
January 8th, 2010 @ 1:21 pm

Er, training Stacy might wait until the, um, the glow of victory has receded.

Suggestion: Comments could use a ‘preview’ function. I, for one, ain’t fluent in HTML. Other suggestions shall be made off the air, as it were.

Thanks: We’ve linked Rule 5 here.

Wishes: I hope you and Stacy get a zillion hits this year.
Ran / Si Vis Pacem
January 8th, 2010 @ 8:21 am

Er, training Stacy might wait until the, um, the glow of victory has receded.

Suggestion: Comments could use a ‘preview’ function. I, for one, ain’t fluent in HTML. Other suggestions shall be made off the air, as it were.

Thanks: We’ve linked Rule 5 here.

Wishes: I hope you and Stacy get a zillion hits this year.
smitty
January 8th, 2010 @ 1:32 pm

Excellent point on the preview. I’ll locate something and let Stacy nod approvingly. 😉
smitty
January 8th, 2010 @ 8:32 am

Excellent point on the preview. I’ll locate something and let Stacy nod approvingly. 😉
Bill Eilmes
January 8th, 2010 @ 1:51 pm

If there is any chance you could increase the font size of the comments, it would make this old man inclined to read more of them.

Thanks in advance
Bill Eilmes
Bill Eilmes
January 8th, 2010 @ 8:51 am

If there is any chance you could increase the font size of the comments, it would make this old man inclined to read more of them.

Thanks in advance
Bill Eilmes
Mike
January 8th, 2010 @ 2:07 pm

Feisty McCain Judges Roses, Alabama
Mike
January 8th, 2010 @ 9:07 am

Feisty McCain Judges Roses, Alabama
steveegg
January 8th, 2010 @ 2:40 pm

I’m going to have to train Stacy to do post drafting at the old Blogger site, so he can get the words drafted and edited, and then post them here, so that life moves along with a bit more vigor.

Or you could tell him about the “Save draft” button 🙂
steveegg
January 8th, 2010 @ 9:40 am

I’m going to have to train Stacy to do post drafting at the old Blogger site, so he can get the words drafted and edited, and then post them here, so that life moves along with a bit more vigor.

Or you could tell him about the “Save draft” button 🙂
steveegg
January 8th, 2010 @ 2:42 pm

For the “comment preview” plugin, I recommend Filosofo Comments Preview because I use it.
steveegg
January 8th, 2010 @ 9:42 am

For the “comment preview” plugin, I recommend Filosofo Comments Preview because I use it.
Robert Stacy McCain
January 8th, 2010 @ 9:46 am

Why should I draft in Blogger? Makes no sense. Please explain?
Robert Stacy McCain
January 8th, 2010 @ 2:46 pm

Why should I draft in Blogger? Makes no sense. Please explain?
Dave C
January 8th, 2010 @ 3:45 pm

any chance of a ‘Follow the comments by email’ feature? How Blogger use to have and Little Miss Attila features?
Dave C
January 8th, 2010 @ 10:45 am

any chance of a ‘Follow the comments by email’ feature? How Blogger use to have and Little Miss Attila features?
Adrienne
January 8th, 2010 @ 5:06 pm

How about having him use Livewriter? Does it work with WordPress??
Adrienne
January 8th, 2010 @ 12:06 pm

How about having him use Livewriter? Does it work with WordPress??
smitty
January 8th, 2010 @ 5:19 pm

@RSM,
There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.
Working on posts at http://theothermccain.com isn’t such a big deal, except when
a) There is a high-interest post like the BCS liveblogging, and
b) You’re in there every minute or two making tweaks to the post.
At that point, you’re taking the loaded web-server camel to the edge of the cliff and reading David Brooks to it, with predictable results.
smitty
January 8th, 2010 @ 12:19 pm

@RSM,
There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.
Working on posts at http://theothermccain.com isn’t such a big deal, except when
a) There is a high-interest post like the BCS liveblogging, and
b) You’re in there every minute or two making tweaks to the post.
At that point, you’re taking the loaded web-server camel to the edge of the cliff and reading David Brooks to it, with predictable results.
Patrick
January 8th, 2010 @ 6:12 pm

sigh I was afraid of that. You all might just need dedicated hosting; for the benefit of RSM, dedicated hosting is when one actual server is dedicated to your blog and your blog alone. Shared hosting, is when your blog is on the same server, as say, 5000 other people’s websites. In ya’ll’s (is that a word?) case, it might not be that many, but still, even when you’re peaking traffic, you are going to notice slow down. Are you guys using WP-SUPER-CACHE? That helps tons, during traffic peaks. Smitty can answer that one. Anyhow, if you need help, for the 45 millionth time, ask. I can help with the plug-in installs. I can do back end crap, now pretty front end, lookie loo stuff, I’ll leave to smitty, but the back end, plug-ins and such, I can do, for free… yes, I am a cheap whore.

Hope this helps.

-pat
Patrick
January 8th, 2010 @ 1:12 pm

sigh I was afraid of that. You all might just need dedicated hosting; for the benefit of RSM, dedicated hosting is when one actual server is dedicated to your blog and your blog alone. Shared hosting, is when your blog is on the same server, as say, 5000 other people’s websites. In ya’ll’s (is that a word?) case, it might not be that many, but still, even when you’re peaking traffic, you are going to notice slow down. Are you guys using WP-SUPER-CACHE? That helps tons, during traffic peaks. Smitty can answer that one. Anyhow, if you need help, for the 45 millionth time, ask. I can help with the plug-in installs. I can do back end crap, now pretty front end, lookie loo stuff, I’ll leave to smitty, but the back end, plug-ins and such, I can do, for free… yes, I am a cheap whore.

Hope this helps.

-pat
Ran / Si Vis Pacem
January 8th, 2010 @ 7:38 pm

Oh! Oh! Steveegg has a neato avatar. Hey pal, where can I get one too?
Ran / Si Vis Pacem
January 8th, 2010 @ 2:38 pm

Oh! Oh! Steveegg has a neato avatar. Hey pal, where can I get one too?
Joe
January 8th, 2010 @ 8:24 pm

Off topic, but what the heck, Stacy’s on a protein high from those tasty angus burgers he slid down while watching the Tide wash away the Longhorns.

Sarah Palin is ditching CPAC because the Birchers are a co-host. Smart move, dumb? My guess it is the smart move, given that the Birchers, while I sympathize with their little “l” libertarianism, are a bit odd. Plus, it is probably wise for a conservative to quietly ask themselves before an important decision: “What would WFB, Jr. do?” (Christopher Buckley might consider that). I mean, I may have disagreements about Ike, but I do not think he was a Communist.

Meanwhile the racism is so tasty!
Joe
January 8th, 2010 @ 3:24 pm

Off topic, but what the heck, Stacy’s on a protein high from those tasty angus burgers he slid down while watching the Tide wash away the Longhorns.

Sarah Palin is ditching CPAC because the Birchers are a co-host. Smart move, dumb? My guess it is the smart move, given that the Birchers, while I sympathize with their little “l” libertarianism, are a bit odd. Plus, it is probably wise for a conservative to quietly ask themselves before an important decision: “What would WFB, Jr. do?” (Christopher Buckley might consider that). I mean, I may have disagreements about Ike, but I do not think he was a Communist.

Meanwhile the racism is so tasty!
Mike in New Hampshire
January 8th, 2010 @ 11:49 pm

I second the windows live writer idea. Great offline blogging tool. And yeah, it works fine with wordpress blogs.

Gratz on the ‘Bama win.

Mike
Mike in New Hampshire
January 8th, 2010 @ 6:49 pm

I second the windows live writer idea. Great offline blogging tool. And yeah, it works fine with wordpress blogs.

Gratz on the ‘Bama win.

Mike
Adrienne
January 9th, 2010 @ 12:59 am

Mike re: Livewriter – I actually said something half-way intelligent??? I’m shocked!

Confession: I haven’t even downloaded Livewriter yet but people way smarter than moi have said it was great (plus I did go to their website)
Adrienne
January 8th, 2010 @ 7:59 pm

Mike re: Livewriter – I actually said something half-way intelligent??? I’m shocked!

Confession: I haven’t even downloaded Livewriter yet but people way smarter than moi have said it was great (plus I did go to their website)
Patrick
January 9th, 2010 @ 2:09 am

I do not recommend Windows Live Writer with WordPress, at least not anything over 2.8.x as it coughs up some oddball error.

Just use the back end… what I use here.
Patrick
January 8th, 2010 @ 9:09 pm

I do not recommend Windows Live Writer with WordPress, at least not anything over 2.8.x as it coughs up some oddball error.

Just use the back end… what I use here.
Ran / Si Vis Pacem
January 10th, 2010 @ 6:25 am

Hey, lads… one more “technical” glitch to report: Something’s, er, missing from the side bar. [cough]
Ran / Si Vis Pacem
January 10th, 2010 @ 1:25 am

Hey, lads… one more “technical” glitch to report: Something’s, er, missing from the side bar. [cough]