Updated Tools of the Trade Part 1
Posted on | June 16, 2009 | No Comments
We’ve implemented a substantial number of changes over the past several months, the major drivers for this have been some vast improvements in the tools we use. Here is a brief rundown, with more details coming over the next several posts. Our primary function is the creation, publication and syndication of content, not designing websites. Therefore the tools we use for quick deployment are extremely critical to our objectives.
The first major change, is a host deployment tool. We currently have around 80 applications deployed across 50 websites, all of which are hosted on BlueHost servers. Several months ago, BlueHost implemented Simple Scripts as a replacement for Fantastico Deluxe to do application deployment. Revisions and updates are much more up to date and the installations are straightforward and painless.
Key open source applications have recently released major upgrade versions for better security, greater ease of use, and enhanced functionality. Joomla! content management (www.joomla.org) 1.5.x has major improvements over 1.0.x, which also required replacement or modifications to all the existing templates we have in use.
Drupal’s 6.x releases have been much more flexible and robust for our needs, so we’ve expanded the use of Drupal (www.drupal.org) as a CMS in a number of websites.
A major player in what we do, WordPress (www.wordpress.org) has introduced a wide variety of widgetized flexibility in verion 2.8.x and they have introduced some exciting new applications that we’re already running test configurations on. WordPressMU allows multi-user blogs. BuddyPress is bolt-on to WordPressMU to give it robust social networking capabilities, and BBPress is a new forum/bulletin board engine from WordPress. This blog was upgraded to 2.8 and a new theme installed within the past couple of days.)
Next post, we’ll give some examples of how we’re putting these upgrades to work.
Ron
Tags: BuddyPress > drupal > joomla > open source > tools of the trade > wordpress > WordPress MU
Ok – so I’m way behind
Posted on | August 28, 2007 | No Comments
Wow! It’s hard to believe that it’s been months since the last post here. Spread too thin, perhaps? It’s certainly been an interesting summer. Playing a show in Cincinnati for a Vietnam Vets reunion. A side trip to Chicago, arriving just as the blues festival was winding down, unfortunately. Playing several club dates, and a couple of benefit concerts; one for Disable American Veterans, the other for the LAM Foundation. Wrapping up the summer opening for Ty England at the Boulder County Fair, that was a gas… we had the sound guys from the Boulder Theatre… Steve and Darcy from Jacobs Audio… consummate professionals. We had zero worries, just play hard and have fun.
I made a suggestion last week to a major media company that they should offer a “sports free” television package at a drastically reduced rate. Depending on where you are and who your provider is, you’ll pay between 25% and 40% of your total cable/satellite bill for sports programming. Now you know how they can pay some guy $198 million for tossing a football. Now there is a new sports network called Big Ten that’s pressuring providers for inclusion in their lineups at a charge of $1.10 per month per subscriber. Guess they figured it’s time to start paying college quarterbacks above the table.
Along those lines, anybody using Vista yet? I’m trying to figure out how to get replacement PCs with XP… so I don’t have to do a wholesale replacement of every piece of software on the box. Somehow, the guys in Redmond seem to forget that the majority of Americans still work for small business. It’s tough to choose between $3 gas and $700 software. Maybe the $700 software is part of the reason for $3 gas…
Oh, well. Enough of a rant for today.
Ron
Another new look
Posted on | May 27, 2007 | No Comments
We’re constantly tweaking and improving (we hope) our on-line presence. We’ve just expanded the screen real-estate througout ChaliceMedia.com. We’re trying to take advantage of common monitor sizes, without making the world miserable for the 800 x 600 people still out there. The new fluid designs seem to work moderately well.
Another change you’ll see is the introduction of Google ads to most pages. We’ve placed them on the far right margin, should be out of the way of the content.
Let us know what you think.
Ron
Scary Project Underway!!!!! Presidential Candidate for 2008!!!
Posted on | April 29, 2007 | No Comments
OK, this is it… it’s pretty scary and it might just fall into the crapper, but here goes…
Em Gideon, from the Solace Creek Stories, is running for President in 2008! In a brand new project started on April 27, we’re running a fictional campaign for the Presidency. The kicker comes… anybody into performance art? Well this is kind of like that, but with words and digital images. Over the next several weeks, perhaps months. The story will be written across more than a dozen web platforms, all spontaneous, all unedited, no drafts, no revisions…. Everything will be triggered by a) current events, or b) a related item in my current book project.
The links below will tell you where you can follow everything:
EM GIDEON FOR PRESIDENT 2008!!!!
Thanks,
Ron Chalice
Em Gideon Campaign Headquarters (WebSpeeches): http://myspace.com/gideon2008
Em Gideon Web News Headquarters (aggregators): http://squidoo.com/gideon2008
News Coverage:
York Broadcast Network: http://ybn.solacecreek.net
The Solace Creek Statesman: http://statesman.solacecreek.net
The Boulder-Springs Journal: http://bsjournal.solacecreek.net
Commentary:
Three Chords to Freedom: http://threechordstofreedom.com
Nasal Oranges (Entertainment): http://nasaloranges.com
New Coppermine Gallery added to SolaceCreek.net
Posted on | April 2, 2007 | No Comments
In our continuing expansion of the SolaceCreek.net site network, which supports the development and marketing of the Solace Creek Stories, we’ve added a new Coppermine media gallery to the site.
This gallery will contain photographs, artwork, audio and other media. The visitor will also have an opportunity to see “snapshots” of works in progress… to learn how our creative process works.
Visit the gallery at www.solacecreek.net/gallery
Hadda Freakin’ Happen Sometime
Posted on | March 19, 2007 | No Comments
So there’s this guy… decides he needs a website for his business. Goes to a webgeek and gets a bid for a bazillion dollars. They cut a deal, half-a-bazillion down and the other half on delivery. Three months later, the webgeek delivers the first couple of prototypes. The customer frowns. He gives the webguy a bunch of photographs and graphics about his business. “Use these. Go away and come back with something better.”
Another three months and the webgeek is back, with more of what he brought before. Customer frowns…
Webgeek goes through his stuff…
“Hot colors! Man, the kids dig hot colors… gotta have ‘em.”
“Animation! Gotta have it. The kids dig animation. The more the better.”
“Video! Hot linked right to YouTube! The kids are gonna LOVE this site.”
“Where’s all the copy I gave you?” the customer asks.
“Boring,” says the webguy. “Kids don’t want to read all that stuff. They want pictures… ACTION!”
“About the pictures,” the customer says. “Why didn’t you use what I gave you?”
The webguy was getting frazzled. “You gotta have professional pictures. The stuff you gave me was dark… looks like an amateur took it. Besides, it had no pizzazz!”
“Pizzazz?”
“Yeah, bright colors… young adults smilin’ and dancin’ that’s what everybody wants to see. PROFESSIONAL models, girls showin’ their belly buttons.”
“Did you even bother to READ anything that I gave you about my business?”
“Whatever… a website’s a website, man. If your sellin’ something this is how you gotta go, trust me.”
The customer had all he could take… “You’ll hear from my attorney about a refund of the deposit.”
“Refund?” the webguy shouted. “What do you mean refund? This stuff sells. The young hip crowd loves it. You’re gonna regret not takin’ my advice.”
The customer stared at the webguy for several seconds before saying anything.
“I’m a freakin’ UNDERTAKER!”