Category Archives: blogging

I blog about blogging sometimes, it seems redundant, but it’s not. Except when it is.

Speaking of Ben and Mena

Posted on May 17, 2004 | Leave a comment

Go listen to a great interview with Ben and Mena from Six Apart (Movable Type). ben and mena trottThey have an interview with Doug Kayeat at IT Conversations. It’s very enlightening since it took place before last Thursday. Anyone who thinks they backpedaled after their announcement would be wrong (maybe a tiny bit right, but not much), they pretty much say it all here (a week or two before). Listen to the recording (it’s 39 minutes) you need to hear it, not read it. They say how they (the company) are changing, what people aren’t going to like and what the changes are and all sorts of interesting things. I think I like them even more now…

IT Conversations is a great web site. Lots of interesting interviews and conversations.

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Friends and more… – RE: Blogs

Posted on May 17, 2004 | Leave a comment
1. Have you made lasting friendships via your blog that grew into a ‘real life’ friendship?
No, but I’m feeling like I’m getting to know some of the other people better. Which is kinda silly, I know details, but I don’t really know them. I hope someone organizes a Michigan Blogger Happy Hour (Detroit) or something to meet some of these people.
2. How many of your offline conversations with friends, family, co-workers contain the words, “I blogged about that the other day….”?
Generally never. I don’t usually mention it unless someone asks. I talk about the web and bloggers but I don’t generally mention it’s me. Anyone who finds it (or whatever) is fine, but I don’t advertise… Not sure exactly why. Probably ’cause I don’t think they’ll “get it” and by the time they ask they’ll understand better?
3. Regarding blog templates – have you made any cool updates to your digs?
Just yesterday. I did a lunar theme and it should change automatically as the moon phase does.
4. Have any blogs given you inspiration this week – – good, bad or ugly?
All the complaining about Movable Type just made me think about UseNet/NetNews and the whining that always went on there. Asking a few questions, reading all the information really would have gone a long way. It was more a dis-inspiration. All the blogging about the torturing and beheding has pretty much had some bad karma too. I’ve actually had a good week reading, it’s just been tainted by some of the stuff. Actually Katie has been pretty geeked about her new apartment which has been a nice read and has put a smile on since she’s SO happy about it…

From RE: Blogs

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MovableType part 3.0

Posted on May 16, 2004 | Leave a comment

It’s a little later since my earlier MT posts (one and two) and people have calmed down a bit about MovableType’s new pricing structure. Which for individual personal use really isn’t that different than the previous versions. I like that some of the big names in MT blogging feel the same way as I do/did. (Of course I didn’t list the few big names that disagreed with me.)

  • BradChoate
  • Kotte
  • Jay Allen

    Here’s the problem. It might be enough of a fiasco to have really hurt the company. If for no other reason that bloggers heard about all the alternatives; some of the less expensive (free) alternatives. I’ve been a little blinded from the beginning in loving MT so much I wasn’t exploring all the alternatives but I’m happy with it, so why switch?

    Continue reading →

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    More Movable Type

    Posted on May 15, 2004 | 2 comments

    This is a bit of a followup to my earlier entry on the new pricing scheme at MT (which could have be subtitled “whiners begone”). Read Melissa’s post, she made it pretty understandable when she summarized up Mena’s followup post (which clarified a few things and even retroactively removed a thing or two from the EULA). I’m sure they lost some business, there were too many upset people yesterday.

      Highlights of the update

    • Some of their choices were made due to results of a survey (which I failed to answer). If you combine two or three blogs into one (and they aren’t used sepratly) it only counts as one.
    • The dual processor rule should not have been in the EULA.
    • You are not required to upgrade to 3.0 and you only have to obey the liscence as to when you agreed to it.
    • You can add individual author/logs to the personal license for $10.
    • Old archived blogs don’t count.

    Mena says: “Furthermore, it is not our intention to stiffle the creativity of our users. So, if you have a great weblog that uses 11 weblogs seamlessly to appear as one site or weblog, you should not be penalized.”

    I feel bad, I bet Mena and Company lost some sleep yesterday (or maybe they keep a bar at the office).

    2 Comments

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    MovableType 3.0

    Posted on May 13, 2004 | 4 comments

    MovableType released their new version of blogging software and just about everyone has gone through the roof. They’ve got a new pricing scheme and guess what? It’s not free any more. And everyone is whining. The software has only been out for a few hours, it’s not like everyone is desperate for an upgrade. Many folks seem like they are going to jump ship immediately?!? The biggest feature seems to be the registration for comments which not many people seem interested in.

    My favorite whine is: “it doesn’t have that many more features and it costs too much”, well, keep using the version you’ve got then.

    I probably won’t upgrade unless it’s got some great feature in it. But I don’t rush out and buy the latest version of anything the day it comes out either… I might switch over to a different product and I might rave about it when I do, but I don’t think I’ll whine about MovableType when I do (especially if the only thing they screw up about it is the price/marketing).

    I love MovableType, it’s the only blogging software I’ve tried but it seems that’s what all the cool kids (i.e. smart) are using. I mean I really like it, it’s great. I have see a few other things but they seemed a little more complicated but I may peek into it some more. It’s fun from a programming standpoint, it’s flexible and I really have been having a lot fun with it.

    I gotta ask again. “What’s wrong with your current 2.661 version of Movable Type that would make you migrate to another piece of software?” I haven’t noticed anyone complaining that 3.0 has (crucial) features they want and can’t afford.

    4 Comments

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    breakdAwn

    Posted on May 6, 2004 | 1 comment

    So I mentioned to Dawn the other day that I really thought blogging is something that she’d like to do. That was less than 24 hours ago and she’s up and running! So far four entries and she’s been already changing the layout!

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    Posted in friends + family

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    A geek in the family – Thursday Threesome

    Posted on April 22, 2004 | Leave a comment
    1. A geek– Hey, who handles tech support at your place? You? …the six year old? …or someone from outside? …and how about in your web space? No, we’re not looking for techs; we’re just curious . I’m it in my family, I do all my own web space (including my own Movable Type installation stuff). I’m the house that relatives call/visit when upgrading stereo or computer equipment.
    2. in the– computer? Just a curiosity for the designer types: what Operating System are you running? …and which browser? Since sites can show up differently in different browsers it’s more than a casual question. Macintosh OS X mainly (sometimes Windows, sometimes Linux). Mostly using Safari.
    3. Family– Do any family members read your place? Do they care? Do they have a clue? …and how about your ‘off line’ friends? …or do you supply a little bit of separation there? My mom stumbled upon it when visiting a relative, they decided to send me mail (and found my ‘blog). She didn’t say much about it, I have no idea if her and/or other relatives read it. I don’t mention it to friends generally. If they find it they find it… I usually don’t complain and I always avoid talking about dating so how much trouble can I get into?!?

    From Thursday Threesome

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    Movable Type is SO versatile!

    Posted on April 22, 2004 | Leave a comment

    So I just did a demo of Movable Type for the technology coordinators in our county (Wayne, Michigan). It was focused around the ways that I use it for school (work) for to help our staff. It’s at http://techliterate.net/ if you are interested, there are three categories (Tech Help, Tech Tips and Reference Information). You’ll notice the Tech Support and the Tech Tips are cross-referenced together in the right-hand column (I love how great Movable Type is!). It’s a (very) boring background, but it’s consistent and the colors change as you go from area to area (and it I think it looks mostly the same in all browsers). My point of this isn’t so much the demo as that Movable Type is great software.

    And of course I had to mention how crazy I thought friends (i.e. Heather) were when they first mentioned it to me. And now, here I am looking for a 12 step program to help me…

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