Posts in category "blogging"

I was rather hoping Disqus would be a 100% plug-in replacement for the woefully inadequate coComment so I could simply track all the comments I leave on assorted blogs and easily monitor other comment threads of interest.

An RSS feed of such comment activity would be an ideal element to feed into the Tumble dryer.

Disqus launched yesterday and as it was written in Django, looks OK and isn't too invasive or distracting (c.f BlogRush), I have enabled the WordPress plugin on this blog.

Comments can now be threaded (just like serendipity) and (thankfully) you don't need to register with Disqus to leave a comment.

Comments can be rated and the comments are hosted on Disqus forums.

Paul Stamatiou wrote a excellent review about the features in Disqus and Techcrunch also reviewed the software.

I have some minor concerns:

• I currently use Spam Karma to handle comment spam on this blog. SK2 is unbelievably efficient and far superior than Akismet. I can count on the fingers of one hand, the number of comments and trackback spam that got past SK2 so I have some concerns about reverting to an inferior spam filtering solution.
• Until every blog in the world integrates Disqus, I still won't be able to track all of my comments. Still, I am still waiting for the world to universally adopt Emacs and Supercite so email works properly so I guess I can live with that.
• Although you are supposed to be able to quickly and easily import Disqus comments back into WordPress, I need to check how this is implemented.
• It is not clear whether Disqus will currently work on hosted WordPress.

Obviously, the 'Recent Comments' widget is now defunct so I replaced that with a RSS widget for the new Disqus Comments RSS feed. I'll try Disqus out for a while as an experiment but I guess the most important and valuable feedback will be from readers of this blog. Without you, I am nothing, a lone voice in the darkness, a blog in isolation.

So if you have any thoughts, just leave a comment.

Sadly, the worlds first and most prolific blogger, the Reverend Robert Shields has passed away in America aged 89. Shields was the author of the worlds longest diary consisting of a staggering 37 million words.

Shields was truly the world's first blogger with his first recorded entry in April 1927 beating Dave Winer by 3 months. Nor was Robert Shields afraid of including trivia and useless information in his journals. For example, how many blogs (or Tumblelogs for that matter) record blood pressure readings (Shields despised silly mood emoticons), make any effort to fastidiously record every single visit to the lavatory (Shields had dozens of imaginative ways to describe the act of urination) or have the thoughtfulness to detail every single piece of junk mail ever received.

Lazy, modern bloggers (with the possible exception of Robert Scoble who, coincidentally, was named after Shields) everywhere should hang their heads in shame when they learn of Shield's commitment to the blogging cause; Shields never slept for more than 2 hours to ensure he could capture his dreams.

Here is just one example of his exceptional writing:

'9.35-9.40 I cleaned the cerumen from both my ears and from both hearing aids.'

Unfortunately, although Shields has left the 91 boxes containing his life's work to a university, he has stipulated that the full contents can not be published until 2049.

I will leave the final words to the great man himself.

'It is an uninhibited diary, It is spontaneous. I type it as it comes, I don't correct it and I don't edit it.'

Successfully upgraded WordPress to version 2.3.1 in four clicks using the excellent WordPress Automatic Upgrade plugin.

I am bored of tormenting myself, conjuring up full blown blog posts, pouring over non-existent Adsense revenues and analyzing traffic statistics so I have started a Tumblelog.

There is something very appealing about Kottke's definition of a Tumblelog as 'a quick and dirty stream of consciousness.'

A Tumblelog can be a short, snappy blog and can also aggregate different RSS feeds (Google Shared Stuff and Items, del.icio.us, last.fm, Flickr and even this blog). Why, Tumblr even has built-in support for quotes.

However, undoubtedly the best feature is the endless scope for puns in the non rotating taglines:

• Rowche Tumble
• Are you ready to Tumble ?
• Tumble Dryer
• Tumble in the jungle
• A bit of rough and Tumble
• Don't mumble, Tumble !

I have already contacted Davidville to enquire about any openings in sales and marketing.

There is currently no utility to migrate existing blog content to django.

However, conversion of an existing WordPress blog is pretty straightforward.

Firstly, simply export the following tables from the WordPress database using phpMyAdmin

• wp_posts
• wp_comments
• wp_terms
• wp_term_taxonomy
• wp_term_relationships

Import the tables into the django database.

Then run the following SQL statements which migrate posts, comments and categories and assume a WordPress 2.3 schema and a blank django blog. If you have already created content in django, minor changes will be needed. My WordPress blog only uses categories which simply get converted to django tags.

    insert into blog_post
    (id,
    slug,
    title,
    pubdate,
    moddate,
    body,
    draft,
    closed)
    select
    wp_posts.id,
    wp_posts.post_name,
    wp_posts.post_title,
    wp_posts.post_date_gmt,
    wp_posts.post_modified_gmt,
    wp_posts.post_content,
    0,
    0
    from wp_posts
    and post_type = 'post';

    insert into comments_freecomment
    (id,
    content_type_id,
    comment,
    object_id,
    person_name,
    submit_date,
    is_public,
    ip_address,
    approved,
    site_id)
    select
    wp_comments.comment_id,
    14,
    wp_comments.comment_content,
    wp_comments.comment_post_id,
    wp_comments.comment_author,
    wp_comments.comment_date_gmt,
    1,
    wp_comments.comment_author_ip,
    wp_comments.comment_approved,
    1
    from wp_comments
    where comment_approved = '1';

    insert into blog_tag
    (slug,
    title,
    description)
    select
    wp_terms.slug,
    wp_terms.name,
    wp_terms.name
    from wp_terms;

    insert into blog_post_tags
    (post_id,
    tag_id)
    select
    wp_term_relationships.object_id,
    wp_terms.name
    from wp_term_relationships, wp_term_taxonomy, wp_terms
    where wp_term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id = wp_term_taxonomy.term_taxonomy_id
    and wp_term_taxonomy.term_id = wp_terms.term_id;

Finally, delete the WP_* tables from the django (and not the WordPress) database.

The problem with installing typo is that, during the research for hints and tips to get the software installed, configured and running on a shared server environment at Bluehost, you Google across like-minded ~~obsessives~~ individuals who have also successfully installed typo in 30 seconds flat.

These people are technical types who sneer at PHP and lie awake at night, worrying about Ruby's scalability. These geeks tend to be obsessive characters who have now tired of typo and have subsequently migrated to a brand new exciting platform called django.

Django is a Python Web framework - not a blogging platform or a CMS - but you could use django to create your own perfect blogging platform.

Django has a endearing, minimalist administration screen and although the finished product looks like a 1980's HTML page or the stripped down WordPress sandbox theme, it's pretty impressive for 10 minutes and 100 lines of Python and HTML.

I was going to write a superb article, with lots of screenshots and poorly formatted code blocks, detailing all the obstacles I overcame before finally claiming success. However, as always, the very clever aforementioned people have already been there and done that.

So, if you are interested in installing django on bluehost, consult this thread. One quick note: my preferred method of installing into a sub-directory failed (403 permission denied) so I used a sub-domain which worked fine.

For a more generic django tutorial about how to create a project, add models and templates, read (and bookmark) this excellent article. This gentleman has a rare combination of technical skills and a brilliant, light hearted, humorous writing style. His site also serves as a brilliant example of the potential appearance and functionality of a django powered blog.

In fact, if I could summon up the time and energy to master HTML, CSS and Python, I would create my very own unique, stylish and distinctive blog but I don't so I won't.

I was about to say there was no Wordpress to Django import utility until I just discovered this.

Am I the first blogger to have more blogs than published articles ?

I have upgraded this blog to the recently released WordPress 2.3. However, I have deep rooted concerns that the new tagging functionality will simply overload my tiny brain.

The WordPress upgrade went smoothly enough although the editor now reports a missing table (wp_post2cat) which is slightly irritating.

Also, I sense increasing disquiet amongst some long standing, intelligent and loyal WordPress users so I took the precaution of installing YABP (Yet Another Blog Platform). Please put your hands together and welcome Typo (powered by a delightful lady called 'Ruby on Rails').

Update: The Google Sitemap Generator plug-in was causing the error. The problem is resolved in the latest version.

Im not normally a sucker for these free, pyramid style, link exchange schemes to drive more traffic to your blog but as simply everyone is not just talking about it but actually doing it, I thought I'd better add BlogRush to this blog.

Now, I must hurry into town and join the lengthy queues at Northern Rock to withdraw my 1 million pounds life savings. To be honest, I think this media fuelled panic is a little overblown and as I have a contrarian investing style, I have just purchased £5,000 worth of NRK shares at £3.10 waiting for the 'dead cat bounce'.

The shares are currently trading at ~~£2.93~~, ~~£2.80~~, £2.69...

I like Robert Scoble. While I dont always agree with him and I have a love-hate relationship with his laugh, his blog is worth reading and he posts some varied and interesting videos but one thing is obvious.

The guy has a real passion for technology and writing. On occasions, he is subjected to vitriolic comments, hurtful criticism and abuse that is completely unjustified but he calmly takes it all in his stride and rarely retaliates.

Scoble is a family man and has a lovely wife. Indeed, he is a very lucky man. As I recall, my wife didn't have the forethought and love to buy me an expensive digital camera hours before she went into labour. Inevitably, Scoble will be posting live updates of his wife's lengthy and arduous labour via Twitter. I'm surprised he isn't live streaming the whole event.

Another 'A' lister recently admitted to hospital was Dave Winer. Unfortunately, Dave repeatedly broke rule two, regaling us all with updates on his state of health.

3 September - The saga begins...

'Had to take a break, I got a really bad cold, the flu, not sure what -- but it knocked me down. I had a fever, nasty cough, wheezing, and it was getting worse so fast that I went to the emergency room at a Berkeley hospital, where they gave me something to control the cough and help me sleep, and today I feel much better.'

6 September - Our hopes are briefly raised. Don't laugh. This is a disease !

'Yesterday was the first feel-good day after a horrible bout with whatever it was that hit me and dragged me under. But Naked Jen, who said she had the same disease, warned against believing you're better when you start feeling better.'

8 September - Our hopes are dashed but at least Dave received my email of support.

'I've gotten email from people who are concerned. Thanks for the concern. Yes, I have seen a doctor, even went to the hospital to get chest x-rays. I don't have pneumonia. Just a realllly bad cold. A monster proportioned cold. It attacks everything but my sense of humor.'

9 September - My diagnosis is that this is not merely a heavy cold. This is a life threatening bout of man-flu.

'It's been a really interesting morning, in a sick kind of way (that is, I'm still really sick, coughing and wheezing, rasping and sneezing).'

10 September - Dave manages to summon the strength to type a blog post with no mention of his health.

11 September - A nation sighs with relief.

'Feeling much better today. Health is beginning to return. I owe it all to patience, lots of sleeping, drinking fluids, and not trying to be healthy before I actually am. Today I'm going to take a 20 minute easy walk in the sun.'

Winer by name. Whiner by nature.

One of the reasons I decided to put Adsense on this blog was out of sheer curiosity. There are plenty of Google sponsored case studies available from American shoe shops that significantly increased sales and revenues using Adsense.

Successful blogger John Chow is totally and refreshingly transparent with all his various revenue streams but I didn't have a clue what income (if any) a small-time blogger might expect.

So, here - drum roll, please - are the revenue figures for this blog for the first 3 months

• July - $8.31
• August -$8.33
• September - $8.77

Not a massive amount but certainly more than I expected and enough to cover my hosting costs with Bluehost. This is from a blog with around 100 daily visitors (mainly one-hit wonders from Google). I used a simple wide banner (Leaderboard) with 3/4 adverts and blended the background into the theme. Initially the banner was on the footer but after a few days, I moved the ad to the header section ('above the fold').

What is quite interesting is that, for various reasons, I hardly posted to the blog in August (5 posts versus 25 and 23 in July and June respectively) yet the revenue (if you can call it that) was consistent for each month. Also, the trend is upwards for each month - just !

I briefly experimented with a 'Adsense for Search' box but it didn't integrate well with my current theme (plaintxtBlog) so I abandoned it.

Another fun element was watching the Google AdServer try to present suitable adverts based on my content. Because I don't really signpost things with flashing lights, at times Google displayed a fairly bizarre and esoteric mix of (in)appropriate banner ads.

Some more facts and figures:

• Most clicks in a day: 4
• Most lucrative click: $1.64
• Least lucrative click: $0.01 (yes, 1 cent)
• Best day: 5 June 2007 ($2.16)
• Worst day: $0.00 (too many to mention)