New York

Tomorrow morning, I embark on a Cape Town –> Johannesburg –> Madrid –> 10 days in New York –> Madrid –> Joahnnesburg –> Cape Town voyage.

it isn’t the greatest time to be going, and I get back on the same day as Net Phrophet, which I really want to go to, especially if it is half as good as last year’s event. I arrive back the same day, although I don’t know what time, so I am hoping for at least making the free lunch and afternoon talks.

The trip was originally planned as a job-hunting experience, but my new job is going to keep me busy in South Africa for another year at least, so I don’t want to move just yet. Plus, the new job will allow me to really ramp up my skills, so if/when I do move on, then I have a kick-ass CV to take with me.

I think I am looking at this trip as a voyage of (re)discovery, to see if New York has changed much since my last visit in 2005; and whether I would still want to live in that city – it currently tops my list of 3 places to move to after South Africa (NY/USA, Dubai, Australia).

I am also waiting to see how the recession/economy fairs, especially after the Japan incident as I would have thought that it would have quite hefty financial ramifications around the world. We’ll see.

I will try and run my Trackbacks on a daily basis if I get time, as I will be pretty busy doing stuff and not confined to an office 8-12 hours a day. I do have a fair bit of work to get done, so I am planning on visiting a different WiFi-enabled coffee house for at least two hours every day to trawl through work/emails/life/etc.

Bon voyage (….to me).

WordPress Updates

Logged in to my WordPress site Dashboard to be greeted with a message that an update to WordPress is available. I host my own WordPress site, and with a working life in web hosting, I choose not to have FTP open as its just not safe with passwords sent in clear text. Yes, there is SFTP, but that is just a hassle for something I won’t use regularly and it means firewall ports need to be opened. I also just don’t trusted the stability of the FTP protocol, in terms of dropped connections and file locking.

When I need to access or update any files on my web servers, then I create a VPN session to the network and make the necessary changes. It is a lot more hassle to setup, but I havent had any post-installation issues and it just works. It is also makes me feel more secure when working. Surprisingly, from SA to UK, the connection is very stable and rarely drops – even when working over a WiFi connection.

Getting ack to my point, if I need to update WordPress then I have to do the following:

• Manually download the update zip file from WordPress.org
• Create a VPN connection to my web server network
• Create website file and database backups
• Upload the update zip file to the web server
• Unpack the update zip file
• Update WordPress
• Delete the updatez ip file and cleanup
• Close the VPN connection to my web server network
• Test my WordPress site and reactivate all my plugins

I fully understand that this process is of my own doing, as I host my own site, however, is it not possible for the WordPress site to have a form of update function in the website that downloads and updates files within itself. This would then allow the archaic FTP option to be removed for the good and security of the Internet and would save me from the work above.

I don’t quite know how this update function would work, but Windows Update and SVN could offer some interesting methods.

Perhaps each WordPress-specific (wp-*.php) page has a unique identifier at the top/bottom of the page, specifying the version of the page. A basic WGET/PHP scheduled task command could check for the latest files, by comparing the version number on each page against the latest version numbers within a XML file on WordPress.org. A simple WGET command could then download the necessary files.

The WordPress site would then routinely check all the file versions against an XML file of it’s own and run any local update scripts where necessary.

The above would be able to be either manual or automatic, and would aid in faster delivery of WordPress updates – especially those that are security related. Updates could be pushed out at night, and ready for activation first thing in the morning.

I have only limited developer skills, but the above doesn’t sound too out of place. Could it be done?

Discover Your World on Twitter

I am a late-Twitter convert, although I am still not 100% convinced in to using as a primary communication tool. I did however discover this inspiring Twitter-produced video, highlighting how the platform is used around the world.

theSpoke Archive: Da Vinci Code

Ron Howard’s depiction of the wildly popular book The Da Vinci Code was eTV’s Sunday night movie. I have read the book and have never been so engulfed in a book before – so much that I even wote a blog post about it when I finished.

I have read Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, which I also enjoyed very much – my one and only criticism is that I am not quite sure if Dan Brown has the ability to write a good ending. He certainly has the skills for the plot and the middle to drive up suspense, but the endings always fall a little flat. Perhaps it’s because you start to work out the “whodunnit” towards the end and there is no longer a sense of surprise. Who knows. Still great reads.

Da Vinci Code (14/04/2005)

I finally finished this great book! It meant staying up till 5:30am to finish it, which by the end I decided to stay up all night and fresh with a shower then head down to the gym for a good workout! Aching now…

A friend who had read the book prior to me finishing, did tell me that she found it abit of struggle to start with but once you’re in, you’re in! I found this the opposite, I thought the book wavered abit once the group moved to London, rummaging around in the first church. I’ll stop there to prevent from ruining for those yet to read it.

I also found the end a little disappointing compared to the intellect put into the beginning of the book. The author just seemed urgent to wrap it up instantly and just tied up a few loose ends and ended it…letting the read finally know where the Holy Grail really is.

Well, I think I may have to try out another Dan Brown book, I think he has earned my attention for another read.

When Facebook Becomes a Book

After watching this video, it has helped me to justify why I use Facebook and Twitter as mind-dumps, and why I should probably stop untagging myself in a photo that makes me look even remotely gormless/ugly/weird.

This video was made for a French telecoms company that created a Facebook app to turn a 1000 user’s profiles into a limited edition book, but someone must turn this into a business. There would certainly be privacy issues, but that could be worked around I am sure.

Would be an amazing experience towards the end of your life, to trawl through your Facebook book, and rerun your virtual life – like your own “This is Your Life” with Michael Aspel.

Things to Buy: John Pour Home Rugs

It is more rugs, but I only just dugged this up from my archives after I posted the previous post on rugs and doormats!

I can not for the life of me remember where I came across this site, but either way, these are the coolest and most unusual rugs you are likely to come across! You can pick from a variety of styles and colours, and even provide custom images. The order page also mentions that you can specify  sizes, so you can get the perfect rug cut to your own door way.

I have picked out a few of my favourites below.

Things to Buy: Rugs & Doormats

I have been holding on to links for these two items for a long time.

Finish Line Doormat

My parents have always had a doormat at the front and back of the house for as long as I can remember, so this doormat that I came across this item on Swissmiss is a stylish way to carry on a family tradition.

The doormat is from Feet First, designed by Ken Goldman.

Amazon are stocking it for $32.00, which seems pretty reasonable. Although, you could be creative, and pick up a cheap green one and some white spray cans and create your own.

Keep Calm and Carry On Rug

Our house has only recently been populated in the last 5 years with rugs, after my Dad bought two Persian rugs home with him from a business trip in Iran. Beautiful as they were, not really my cup of tea. However, this is:

The rug is described as:

Highest quality rugs to complement our range of products carrying the iconic Keep Calm … slogan.  Hand-made exclusively for us in Uttar Pradesh, India. 100% New Zealand tufted wool & 100% Cotton backing.

It does however come at a whopping £445.00 from Pedlars.co.za, so I won’t be getting one just yet.

A Day Made of Glass

This concept video is produced by Corning, showing how a family will live through the day, interacting with futuristic screens, sensitive to sound, touch, weather, heat, visuals, and pretty much whatever your imagination can come up with.

This can’t some soon enough!

Setting up a Samsung B7330 Pro

I am still one of the very few that is clinging on to the old warhorse that is Windows Mobile 6.5. As pretty and functional as all the new phone OSes are, a QWERTY keybard with Windows Mobile works for me. I could probably get a lot more use out of any mobile device like a phone, bu I just don’t. I don’t tweet, I don’t update Facebook on the go; I just send/receive calls and SMS. I will admit that I am still on a PAYG setup on Vodacom, and perhaps if I did go on a contract and get Internet airtime then I would make use of the online services available. I did make full use of Exchange ActiveSync when in the UK, using my Samsung i600 (before I broke it!).

• BACKUP THE PHONE
• Power off the phone
• Remove the SD card
• Remove the battery
• Clean the phone
• Insert the battery
• Full Charge the phone

• Hold the 5 button, and then hold the End Call button to turn on the phone
• Select 1 for Master Clear, and press Y
• Wait for the phone to finish Preconfiguration (will ask to reboot)
• Power off the phone
• Hold the 5 button, and then hold the End Call button to turn on the phone
• Select 2 for Master Reset, and press Y

• Power off the phone
• Insert the SD card
• Power on the phone
• Verify the SD card is detected

• Configure Calendar

• Set Month View
• Start in Month View
• 7-day week
• Show week numbers

• Configure Organizer\Alarms
• Configure Organizer\Tasks

• Show Start and Due Dates

• Configure Internet Explorer

• Home Page: http://www.google.com/m

• Configure Applications\Camera

• Zoom sound off
• Brightness sound off
• Set Storage to Storage Card

• Configure Podcasts

• Update Period Manually
• Location Memory card

• Configure RSS Reader

• Delete all feeds

• Configure Settings\Phone

• Band Selection GSM900\1800
• Call Options Country code +27

• Configure Settings\Sounds

• Waterdrop Tone ringtone
• Reminders Vibrate
• Emails Vibrate

• Configure Settings\Profiles
• Configure Settings\Date and Time
• Configure Settings\Connections

• Enable Wi-Fi Always On

• Configure Settings\Security

• Device Lock for 1 minute

• Configure Settings\Owner Information
• Configure Settings\Error Reporting

• Disable

• Configure Settings\Customer Feedback

• Disable

• Configure Settings\Device Name

• Samsung-B7330

• Configure My Files

• Delete MUSIC
• Delete all sub folders in My Documents
• Delete unused shortcuts in \Windows\Start Menu

• Download and install WMDC
• Connect to the phone to the computer with the supplied USB cable
• Select Setup Your Device in WMDC (don’t select any items to sync)
• Run SDA Unlock to ensure the phone is unlocked from any restrictions
• Power off the phone
• Power on the phone

• Create Bluetooth connection (Turn on Bluetooth visbility)
• Create  WiFi connection

• Install  PHM Registry Editor

• Create a folder called Outlook on the SD card, with a sub-folder called Attachments
• Open PHM Registry Editor, and navigate to HKLM\System\Inbox\Settings
• Create the follwoing String values:

• Name: AttachPath
• String: \Storage Card\Outlook\Attachments

• Name: PropertyPath
• String: \Storage Card\Outlook

• Power off the phone
• Power on the phone

• Install the Exchange OWA SSL certificate
• Configure ActiveSync
• Sync Calendar, Contacts, Email, Tasks, Mobile Favorites

• Configure Microsoft My Phone
• Install Lookout Security

• Install Clock On Top
• Install File Explorer Extension
• Install Google Maps

The remaining applications to configure are:

• Windows Live
• Facebook for Windows Mobile
• Ilium eWallet

That’s pretty much it!

IIS 7.5 with ARR and Shared Config Web Servers

I am trying to build a web farm, based on IIS 7.5, with a front end web server running the Application Request Routing module, feeding content from two backend content web servers with a Shared Configuration. The web content is hosted on a NAS device.

I can pretty much get things working with one ARR server and 1 backend content server, however the moment I add the second content server, everything goes pearshaped.

The problem seems to be the second content server losing permissions to the Shared Content share, even though it works from the get go. The moment I start adding web sites, then I get an issue.

Any help would be appreciated!