Self-hosted microblog
The open source microblogging platform StatusNet has two interesting options for users.
Microblogging, for the uninitiated, is online publishing of status updates within a limited space, normally 140 characters. Think Twitter or the wall on Facebook.
StatusNet offers its software for download, which can be installed on any PHP/My SQL server. This gives the user control over branding, design and access.
I have installed the program at gorey.com.au/miniblog/.
For people who don’t have a domain or access to a server, StatusNet offers a hosted account. (more…)
Comments deadline ticking
I’ve adjusted my site settings to stop comments being made on posts that are more than one year old.
It’s a neat WordPress feature that you can stipulate a finish date for comments.
I’ve previously allowed open commenting indefinitely, but sometimes strange remarks come through on issues that I’d either forgotten about or no longer feel strongly about.
AdBrite experiment
I’m currently experimenting with AdBrite to deliver advertising on this site.
I’m not so precious to believe a blogger shouldn’t be able to reap some revenue from the content they have published, in my case over a period of nearly six years.
In addition to text and banner ads, AdBrite offers advanced options like a full-page ad and inline text ads.
I’m a little uncomfortable about these, but will let them run for a few days to see what the revenue is like. I feel that inline links ads might confuse people (although it’s a different link style) and the full-page ad might be annoying.
If anyone would like to comment from a user perspective, please do so. (more…)
Blogging block
I’ve struggled to write anything here over the past couple of weeks. I feel I need to “use it or lose it” so I’ve pushed myself a couple of times to write a post.
Writing is a good habit to maintain.
A couple of my other sites like Australian Newspapers are virtually dormant.
I’m enjoying the brief format of Twitter at the moment though and Short Say.
Maybe that’s part of my problem here.
If you haven’t visited Short Say yet, take a look. Anyone can register and comment or post.
The best blog posts of 2008
Everyone will have a subjective view on the best article they have written or read in a given year.
I had trouble remembering all of my posts from 2008, but spent a few minutes browsing through the WordPress index to recollect.
Because I cover a range of topics it’s hard to single one out, so here are some that still amuse or resonate (with me at least): (more…)
Shifted to a new server
I shifted this domain to a new server today, which means I will make a flurry of posts over the next couple of hours to catch up with what I had intended to file.
Unfortunately, the site was down for at least 12 hours.
What happened was Site5 migrated all their accounts to new servers, including mine. It was supposed to be a seamless transition, but I had trouble with several of my sites.
I had been thinking for a while about moving this domain and www.borderwatch.com.au to an Australian host. (more…)
The must-have (apparently) keyword post
The Girl Who Wished She Was Australian did a keyword post. She has seen other people do it. I haven’t seen it before, but I lead a sheltered life.
These are the top 10 keywords driving people to my site, according to Google Analytics:
- kalgoorlie miner
- google finance
- y7mail
- cloudstreet
- AFL drugs
- michael gorey
- yakedi
- mathemagic
- meet a mining man
- the day we went to bangor
