Site Update

Well, after having the same setup for quite some time, I’ve decided to change the site to reflect what I’m doing more of, which is photography. Basically, the main change is when you hit http://deuceweb.net, you will see a photoblog. The normal blog will continue to exist and be updated at http://blog.deuceweb.net. Not a big change, but this aligns the site with more of what I’m likely to be better at updating on a frequent basis (i.e. photos). Feeds are available for both the photoblog and the blog.

This change is driven by the fact I’ve been using flickr for quite a while now, and love it. The software I’m using for the photoblog is called flogr. Using flickr’s API, flogr pulls your photos and associated info, making it easy to present in a photoblog format. It’s ridiculously simple to setup, and even comes with some themes for examples. I am using one of those themes, but with the background from the Flex WP theme used on the blog.

So….with that said….hope you enjoy the new setup.

(yes, i know i broke the original feed for the five of you that follow me on it. oh well.)

I spent some time this weekend updating pictures on the site. Also did some admin things….maybe I’ll start posting more. (0) #

inlineRSS!

Well, after messing with it tonight and late last night, I was able to get the plugin inlineRSS working. What’s even better is the developer (Cal Demaine) was willling to help me out! I was having issues with directory permissions and getting the cache files to write correctly, and Cal was nice enough to give me quick responses and suggestions to fix the issue. So, Cal, if you happen to read this….thanks!

I spend quite a bit of time wandering around the web. I’ve only recently started using a site called del.icio.us, and have been using digg.com and shoutwire.com for a while. Essentially, these are social bookmarking sites. del.icio.us is useful as a tracking mechanism for all kinds of information, and uses “tagging” to identify items that might interest others (and to remind you what was interesting). digg and Shoutwire are very similar to each other, with the main difference being digg is generally tech-related news, while Shoutwire contains all sorts of news items.

Now, how do inlineRSS and the sites mentioned above relate? Well, I thought it would be useful for visitors to find out what sorts of things I’m bookmarking and taking note of as I browse around the web. So, using inlineRSS, I was able to create a page that contains recent “bookmarks/shouts/diggs”. Check it out.

new photo manager

After an ill-fated venture into the usage of the Simple PHP Gallery (SPG) (evidence, the link doesn’t work), I’ve decided to start utilizing Gallery v2. Obviously, this will still require me to update the photos on a regular basis, which was lacking with even the previous version.

The main issue with SPG was that the caching of thumbnails and resized images would not work. Whether this was due to my ineptness with figuring out how to configure the software, or simply it didn’t work at all, remains a mystery. However, I know that Gallery does this quite well.

So, after installation of the software, I selected a theme for it, and off we went. Right now there are only a few pictures up there now, mainly from my company’s 2004 Holiday Party. Yes, I know it’s 2005, but those images were the easiest ones to get up there from the computer I’m currently using.

So, I hope no one had any very precious links that required the link structure created when I was using SPG. But, then again, there were like six pictures in there to begin with. There is a link on the sidebar for the new gallery, or you can just go here.

Mini-Posts!

If it’s not obvious, I’ve spent some time tonight wandering around the net, and working on the site. To be included now is the plug-in MiniPosts, by Morgan Doocy. After searching around on the WP Codex, and trying out a different one that ended up not being exactly what I wanted, this was the winner.

The install is very simple, and it seems that I can adjust the posts to look however I want them to. It’s not quite up to snuff yet on my site, there are a couple formatting things that I would like to do, but it does work. The hope is that this will allow me to post a little more frequently. As Matt so eloquently stated, “The format of a weblog dictates its writing.”

new reason

Ok, so that last post gave me a new reason to update to Wordpress and get on the ball with a new layout and site. I wrote some about the new phone and such, and i screwed up a tag and now my update page won’t work right and ARRRGHHHH!!!

Here’s the last entry as intended…

Well, looks like some new toys are coming my way. Today I ordered the new Treo 650 from PalmOne with service for Cingular. Granted, the phone is very expensive, but it’s a device that I’ve really looked forward to getting. And, aside from my big screen TV, I haven’t bought any technology related items in a very long time. So, I’m due :-)

I’m looking to get more into the phone once it gets here. I’ll post when it does, you can be sure. Maybe I’ll get ambitious and upgrade the site around the same time since I’ve been talking about doing that for over a year now. Hmmm…

g-mail

I have a G-Mail account! Along with getting ahold of me through the regular contact page, you can now reach me at:

joe.budzynski@gmail.com

I think I might add the g-mail address to the contact page, but probably not until I finish the CPA exam and have a little more time to do some development.

waste of time

So I’m sitting here in my “Knowledge Management” class, and I’m thinking that I could not devise a better way to waste time and lose intelligence than being here. What a freaking waste of a class. Words cannot describe how much I dislike this course…

So anyway, I have a new project for my site. Once I finish out the blog software, which basically needs to have a comments addition, I’m going to start a “miniblog.” For an example, take a look at waxy.org. Basically, it is a smaller blog off to the side, and the blog owner just posts interesting links on that one. The main blog is for large amounts of text (like this).

I’m also thinking about doing a redesign of the site, making the blog into the index/homepage. I’d move the menu over to the left hand side, and it would be smaller. The main blog would be in the center column, and the miniblog would be in a small column on the right.

Of course, this will all be done when I have time, which as we know, is pretty much non-existent right now. I really have to work my arse off to complete a distance ed course so I can graduate on time, along with worrying about my other classes. I’m not worried too much about the other classes, but I still need to pay attention to them.

Well, class is almost over, and it’s time for “group work.” Yay. Off I go to try and understand what the hell the prof wants on this project…

here we go again

Well, as some of you may have noticed, there are a few entries missing from the blog. Others of you may just notice that it looks like it’s been 3 weeks since I updated this thing. My host somehow “lost” my updates to the site since September 2, 2003, so updates between then and Monday, September 15 are gone. It boggles my mind how this could have happened, since I was promised “daily backups.” Go ahead, read it here.

I’m not real sure what to do, but I feel a little trapped. I would hate to move my site AGAIN, for the second time in 2 months. The admin I’ve been talking to claims the problem is fixed, and that backups are happening correctly now, along with the original problem (whatever it was) having been fixed. Anyway, thats what’s going on with the updates.

So I was reading this article, which I got the link to from FARK. How stupid can these people be? I mean, come on, it’s a damn commercial. I don’t know anyone who would think “Gee, the car is committing suicide, so I guess I should too.” Give me a break. Too many damned interest groups in this world. That’s the problem with the world today I tell you!!!

transferring

Well, I’m finally moved into my new apartment. It’s pretty nice, lots of storage area. Phil hasn’t moved in yet, but I expect he’ll be down here this weekend. I can’t wait until I have the cable and internet installed. I’m practically going crazy without either one to keep me occupied.

I’m also changing hosts. So, if you see this entry, it probably means that the transfer is complete. There is nothing wrong with PHP Web Hosting, I just wanted to have a little more leeway on my account to do some things, and also to have more options for solutions. I’m now going to be with HostForWeb.com. Check them out, they seem like nice folks.

Sorry for the short entry, but lots of work to do before school starts up. Hopefully things will be getting back to normal after that. Later…

it’s been awhile

wow…I haven’t made an entry here in nearly a week. But man, it’s been one tough week. Lots of things to take care of at work, and enough personal problems to make it seem like my world is caving in. I’m behind on my cert and my distance ed course.

For those of you who have wondered why I never write about my “love life” or a significant other, I’ll explain it now. Up until last week, I was dating a great girl, who shall remain unnamed. Our relationship lasted just over two years, with lots of fun times. So why did it end, you ask? Well, we just weren’t meant to spend our lives together. You can work and work at making a relationship better, more open, and all that jazz, but if it’s not meant to be, then that’s that. At least, thats how I feel. It’s a tough decision, but deep down I think I’ve made the right choice.

Our relationship had been going through some rough times for the past couple months, so I chose to hide that side of my life from public display on this site. Apart from this entry, I probably won’t talk about it again, except maybe in vague reference.

Well, how about talking about something less heavy? I recently got an e-mail from an acquaintance, and it contained the following critique of this site…

….begin message….

Dude you did such a good job on the fraternity’s web page, but this is so much different. I have no clue what a blog is. It’s sort of hard to understand the point of this webpage except for the usual explaination which is “to express your views.”

I don’t mean to criticize, but it could use some work. I know that when I’m doing something I love, I like criticism because it helps me make my work better. Hopefully you understand and not think I’m a dick.

Peace,

******

….end message….

Considering this may be a common concern among my visitors, especially those who do not share the same joy that I do about technology, I’ll provide the following explanation.

This website is nothing more than my personal space on the web. It should not be viewed as anything more, or anything less. I use it to help learn new programming techniques, do a little writing, and provide some friends that I don’t talk to very often a chance to see what is going on in my life. My site is not meant to be a web portal, at least not right now, but who knows what it will be a couple years from now?

Also, my aquaintance mentions that I did a great job on the fraternity web site. Perhaps I did, but that is a page for consumption by many different interest groups, not a personal page that represents who I am. I do not need or want flashy graphics that are typically associated with sites that represent an organization.

Lastly, I think my aquaintance is simply looking for something that isn’t here, and maybe never will be. He said it himself: “It’s sort of hard to understand the point of this webpage except for the usual explaination which is ‘to express your views.’” That is the whole point of the site, it’s not meant to be tricky or decieving.

I said it earlier, and I’ll say it again. This site is nothing more than my personal space on the web. It should not be viewed as anything more or less.

The First Entry!

woo hoo!!! I have a blog!

After a couple days of banging my head against the desk, extensive reference to php.net and PHP and MySQL Web Development by Luke Welling and Laura Thompson, and general programming goof-ups, I have written my own blog. I’ll have the code published eventually, but other things call for my attention. Oh yeah, I can’t forget to thank Pat Lombardo for the advice and help he gave me in writing the PHP for the site and blog software.

I finished my MUS 150 class today…yeah…that class was easy but boring. I’m going to head to Firehouse Saloon tonight, so come out if your cool…

I think thats about it for now…maybe I’ll get an audience to read this someday :-)