Thursday, March 11, 2010
Question about this blog
Since my post last weekend, I've been looking at options for publishing this blog after Blogger discontinues FTP publishing. It looks like setting up a WordPress blog on my soltys.ca site it the best option. I do need to investigate how I can get my current blog content into the new blog - a quick Google search indicates it's possible, although it might involve some serious fiddling.
I've been thinking about splitting this blog into two - one for technical writing and related topics and the other for more personal interests. I'm not sure how my readers (all 150 or so of them) feel about this though, and I'd appreciate your feedback. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.
I've been thinking about splitting this blog into two - one for technical writing and related topics and the other for more personal interests. I'm not sure how my readers (all 150 or so of them) feel about this though, and I'd appreciate your feedback. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Labels: Core Dump
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Blog changes coming
I've just received a notice from Blogger that they will no longer support FTP publishing after May 1. I use FTP to publish my blog to my own domain, which is hosted by DotEasy, along with my web site and e-mail. So I'm going to have to figure out how to migrate my blog to Blogger's servers (hopefully without changing the URL or at least providing a redirect), or migrating to another platform (probably WordPress), which will likely mean changing the URL and importing my current blog into the new one.
My colleague, Scott Nesbitt, uses WordPress, so I can probably get some advice from him. If any you reading this have migrated a blog back to Blogger, or are using the current version of Blogger, I'd be interested in your comments.
My colleague, Scott Nesbitt, uses WordPress, so I can probably get some advice from him. If any you reading this have migrated a blog back to Blogger, or are using the current version of Blogger, I'd be interested in your comments.
Labels: Core Dump
Thursday, February 18, 2010
I've just hit 4,000 posts
Thought you'd like to know.
Labels: Core Dump
Friday, February 05, 2010
Featured links
Featured links for the week of February 1, 2010
- Interview with Bruce Sterling, SF author and futurist
- Use Google Map Buddy to get full-page, hi-res maps from Google Maps
- A short video with some good Google Reader tips
- University students failing because of poor grammar
Labels: Core Dump
Friday, January 29, 2010
Featured links
Featured links for the week of January 25, 2010:
- Now you can upload any type of file to Google Docs, free storage limit is 1 GB.
- The cost of health care graphed against life expectancy around the world. Take a look at where the U.S. sits and tell me their health care system is better than Canada's.
- Delete unwanted styles in Word, handy tips although you still can't get at the built-in styles
- How to save your photos, tips on which file format is best for your digital pictures
- Virtualization and the technical communicator, a good overview from my colleague, Scott Nesbitt
Labels: Core Dump
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Not a hiatus, but
Christmas is coming up. I'll be on holidays between Christmas and New Years, not travelling, but busy with all the usual holiday and family events, and busy before that getting ready for Christmas. So posts here are likely to be sparse for a while.
I'm sure you all have better things to do than read this anyway. And if you don't, you probably should.
I'm sure you all have better things to do than read this anyway. And if you don't, you probably should.
Labels: Core Dump
Monday, November 16, 2009
Comment moderation is back on
Sorry folks, but I'm getting too much comment spam again. I'm turning comment moderation back on. I'd just delete the comments, but because my blog isn't hosted on Blogger, it appears that I can't do it.
Since I can't access my personal e-mail from work, there could be delays of 12 hours or more before you see your comment appear in the blog.
Since I can't access my personal e-mail from work, there could be delays of 12 hours or more before you see your comment appear in the blog.
Labels: Core Dump
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Core Dump is six
I'm a day late on this, but Core Dump is now six years old. I started the blog on October 24, 2009.
I've enjoyed do this, but I have to admit that I am getting a bit restless with it. I have been considering splitting the blog into two - one as a personal blog and one that focuses more on technical writing. We'll see what happens, probably before the end of the year.
I've enjoyed do this, but I have to admit that I am getting a bit restless with it. I have been considering splitting the blog into two - one as a personal blog and one that focuses more on technical writing. We'll see what happens, probably before the end of the year.
Labels: Core Dump
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Thanksgiving
Just in case you thought I'd dropped off the Earth or something like that, I spent the weekend in London, Ontario visiting family. It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada - time to visit family and friends and celebrate the fruits of the harvest and all that. Posts will resume tomorrow or Tuesday.
Labels: Core Dump
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Just in case you were wondering
... why posts have been few and far between this week, I'm on holidays. I'll be back to work, and likely a more regular posting routine, next week.
Labels: Core Dump
Saturday, July 11, 2009
On holidays
I'm now on vacation for the next two weeks. We're not going anywhere this year, so I'll be probably be posting, but infrequently.
Labels: Core Dump
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Going to the STC Summit - posts may be sparse
On Friday, I leave for Atlanta to attend the STC Summit. I'm taking a two-day management training course before the conference, so I'm not going to get much of a weekend. I will be taking a laptop, but I don't know what connectivity will be like, so posts could be sparse for the next week or so.
If I have time and a good connection, I'll try to blog about the conference. I'm also on Twitter now (ID is ksoltys) but I haven't been using it much so far.
And I will be washing my hands a lot.
If I have time and a good connection, I'll try to blog about the conference. I'm also on Twitter now (ID is ksoltys) but I haven't been using it much so far.
And I will be washing my hands a lot.
Labels: Core Dump
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Now on identi.ca
I've taken a tip from Scott Nesbitt, and set up an account on the identi.ca micro-blogging service. It's essentially a Canadian version of Twitter. I'm going to use it mostly for posting links to interesting sites, rather than doing that through this blog. A lot of the posts I've been making here recently have been just pointers to interesting links, and it's easier to use identi.ca to do that.
You can view my page and subscribe to the feed here.
I'll add a link to the side bar too.
You can view my page and subscribe to the feed here.
I'll add a link to the side bar too.
Labels: Core Dump
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Merry Christmas and bye for a while
I'd like to wish all of you reading this blog a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the coming year. I'm on holidays starting tomorrow, and what with all of the usual holiday season events, family get togethers, and general relaxation, I've decided to take a brief respite from blogging. I'll be back after the New Year, I promise.
Until then, I'll leave you with this.
Until then, I'll leave you with this.
Labels: Core Dump
Friday, October 24, 2008
Core Dump is 5 today
I almost forgot about this, but I should note that Core Dump is 5 years old today. I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.
Labels: Core Dump
Sunday, August 31, 2008
3,000 posts
The last post was something of a milestone -- number 3,000, in just under five years.
Labels: Core Dump
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Added labels to sidebar
I've added a list of labels (what Blogger calls tags) or post categories to the sidebar of the blog. They should show up on any new posts, but I'm not sure about the label pages - at least not until the whole blog republishes, which may take a while. I've only tagged posts back when Blogger started offering this feature, about a year ago.
Labels: Core Dump
Monday, May 26, 2008
20th anniversary
Today is my 20th anniversary - Nancy and I were married on May 26, 1988. And we're still happily married and very much in love. I can't imagine life without her.
Labels: Core Dump
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Skimpy posts for a while
I'll be heading off to Vancouver on Sunday for the DocTrain West conference. I'm looking forward to the trip - the conference looks really interesting - and I'll be travelling with Nancy, so we have some badly needed time away from home together.
So posts will be sparse for the next 10 days or so. If I can find the time, I'll use Blogger's new scheduling feature to set some up while I'm away. I'm not taking a computer, so I probably won't have much Internet access while I'm away.
So posts will be sparse for the next 10 days or so. If I can find the time, I'll use Blogger's new scheduling feature to set some up while I'm away. I'm not taking a computer, so I probably won't have much Internet access while I'm away.
Labels: Core Dump
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Sorry for the November post
In modifying my blog template to make the heading a link back to the main page, I messed up and uploaded an old copy of the main page, from November of last year. Hopefully republishing this post will regenerate the main page.
I've also added a search toolbar to the top of the page so you can search the blog.
I've also added a search toolbar to the top of the page so you can search the blog.
Labels: Core Dump
Monday, February 11, 2008
I've turned comment moderation off
In a possibly misguided attempt to encourage more comments, I've turned comment moderation off. Hopefully, I won't get inundated with comment spam.
Labels: Core Dump
Monday, February 04, 2008
Readership up
I don't know why, but readership in this blog has taken a big jump in the last couple of weeks. I've been averaging around 100 per day or a bit over that (about 70 reported on Site Meter, and 34 Bloglines subs), but starting around January 20th, Site Meter reported my daily readership well up above 100 (currently 134). Which means the daily readership is now up around 170. It may be higher if there are a lot of people using other aggregator sites, like Google Reader.
I wish I knew what I did, so I could do it again.
I wish I knew what I did, so I could do it again.
Labels: Core Dump
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
What ... happened?
I have no idea why Blogger published only the first word of the heading from the previous post, but I've fixed it. Sorry for taking so long, but I can't post from work.
Labels: Core Dump
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Core Dump is four today
Today is Core Dump's fourth birthday. Since October 24, 2003 I've made about 2,300 posts. It's been fun and I'll probably keep it going, though perhaps not as intensively - I do need to spend more time on my web site, which has gotten pretty stale.
Labels: Core Dump
Friday, October 12, 2007
Atom feed link fixed, I think
Someone pointed out that my Atom feed link has been broken since June. That's when I switched servers at Doteasy.com, and I had to move the blog. I moved the atom.xml file, but forgot to tell Blogger the new location. Duh.
It should be OK now.
It should be OK now.
Labels: Core Dump
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Globe quotes Core Dump!
Core Dump has made the big time - a post on this blog got quoted in the Globe and Mail, although they didn't name or link to the blog, unfortunately. The post was written by Michael Bryans and was a rant about office birthday parties. Patrick White, from the Globe emailed me last week about the post and both Mike and I talked to him about it. You can read his article in the Globe's Personal Tech column.
Three years ago, a mass e-mail blipped across Michael Bryans' screen summoning every cubicle drone in his department to another office birthday celebration.
And don't forget to chip in for cake and streamers, it reminded.
In nearly a decade of working at Hummingbird, a Toronto-based software company, Mr. Bryans had watched hundreds of these birthday messages pile into his inbox. This time, he decided to take a stand, or rather, a seat. For the entire 15-minute ceremony, he didn't stir from his desk, or clumsily lip sync Happy Birthday to You, or make uneasy small talk with the birthday boy or load up on a plate of sugar and lard.
The blowback was immediate.
"I got all sorts of strange looks," the technical writer said. "After something like that, you sort of become the office curmudgeon. But I didn't even know the person having the birthday. They'd been there a couple months. I just got fed up with this stupid ritual and I blew a gasket."
Mr. Bryans' release valve was a blog post where he lampooned office birthday celebrations as a "department-wide tyranny."
Labels: Core Dump
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Archive links fixed
I noticed a while back that the links to my most recent archive pages weren't working. Back in June or thereabouts, I upgraded my hosting plan on doteasy.com and was moved to a new web server. I updated my Blogger settings and republished the blog, but totally forgot to update the archive path. It is now fixed.
Labels: Core Dump
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
On holidays
Just in case you're wondering why posts have been spotty the last few days, I'm on vacation. We're not doing any major travelling though we do have some day trips planned, including a visit to the Ontario Science Centre to see the Titanic exhibition. So I'm taking it easy.
Labels: Core Dump
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Web site upgraded, I think
I've upgraded my web site from Doteasy's free web hosting service to their UltraHosting plan, which is not free, but offers much more options, including PHP and Perl scripting. I'm planning to update the web site over the summer, and I may switch Core Dump to WordPress or another blogging tool.
I think the site is now published on the new server. I ran into some problems with FTP choking on me at various points while republishing, so it's possible that there may be some missing files. If you come across anything missing, please leave me a comment.
I think the site is now published on the new server. I ran into some problems with FTP choking on me at various points while republishing, so it's possible that there may be some missing files. If you come across anything missing, please leave me a comment.
Labels: Core Dump
Possible site disruption
I'll be upgrading my web hosting service sometime in the next couple of days. According to the information from my hosting service, DotEasy.com, I may have to move the site from one server to another, which could mean a temporary disruption. So if you have trouble connecting to Core Dump or the rest of the site, be patient -- it will be back.
Labels: Core Dump
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
20 usability tips for your blog
Considering that this my 2000th post on this blog, it's appropriate that it be about blog usability. 20 Usability Tips for Your Blog offers a smorgasboard of ways that you can make your blog more readable and useful to users.
In looking it over, I realize that Core Dump has a long way to go. I don't think that I'd implement all of them in any case - and Blogger doesn't make some of them easy - but there are a few tips that I'll take a closer look at.
In looking it over, I realize that Core Dump has a long way to go. I don't think that I'd implement all of them in any case - and Blogger doesn't make some of them easy - but there are a few tips that I'll take a closer look at.
Labels: Core Dump
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Correction to ATOM feed link
As someone pointed out in email today, the site feed link in the sidebar was wrong. The correct URL for the ATOM site feed is http://www.soltys.ca/coredump/atom.xml. I've fixed it, and hopefully I haven't broken anyone's readers in the process.
Labels: Core Dump
Thursday, December 21, 2006
On holidays
I'm now officially on vacation. Posts will be infrequent or sparse at least until after Boxing Day.
Have a very Merry Christmas!
Have a very Merry Christmas!
Labels: Core Dump
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Blog updated to new Blogger
I've updated Core Dump to the new Blogger Beta. One of the new features is support for labels, so I'm going to start using them now. As time permits, I may go back and add labels to older posts -- though I probably won't have time to do a lot of that. I don't even remember what most of the other new features are -- I guess I should look at the online docs too.
Update: I'm trying to apply labels to some of the recent posts, but I keep getting 502 server errors -- I guess that's why it's still a beta.
Update: I'm trying to apply labels to some of the recent posts, but I keep getting 502 server errors -- I guess that's why it's still a beta.
