Blog Archives

Map Service APIs

Jul012005

Both Google and Yahoo! have announced APIs for their mapping services. I’ve already gotten a developer key for the Google service. But it doesn’t support address searches, only lat/lon coordinates. So I’m thinking about applying for a Yahoo! key, using their service for geocoding (translating from street addresses to coordinates), then using Google’s mapping interface with all of its Ajaxy goodness. Google Maps API Yahoo! Maps Web Services I don’t know what I plan to … Continue reading →

WordPress 1.5.1.3

Jun292005

An important security issue was brought to our attention which required an update for our users. You should update your blog as soon as possible to WordPress 1.5.1.3. If you are unable to do the upgrade in the short-term you may protect yourself by deleting the xmlrpc.php file from your WordPress directory.

New Van

Jun232005

Chrysler Town & Country LX Yesterday morning Susan took our 1996 Ford Aerostar van in for an oil change. Last night, we drove home in a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country LX. How do these things happen? The Aerostar had served us well, but at 10 years old, it was getting a bit long in the tooth. Plus, we were able to pay off our Explorer by folding it into the financing for the new … Continue reading →

I’m a statistic

Jun222005

I’ve participated in an online blogging survey being conducted by the Media Lab at MIT. Actually, it’s about more than just blogging, as the questions also cover use of email, instant messaging, and texting (cell phone SMS). This is part of a PhD project by Cameron Marlow, so if you’ve got 15 minutes to spare, sign up for the survey and help the guy graduate. There’s only a few days left, so head on over … Continue reading →

Top Unwired Cities

Jun222005

Intel has a list of the top 100 Most Unwired Cities. They’re referring to availability of wireless networking. “Unwired” probably wasn’t the best word to choose, since the word “wired” has a long tradition of indicating the acceptance of new technologies. Anyhow, I see that my stomping grounds, Atlanta, comes in at #6. I was pleasantly surprised to see Mobile, Alabama make the list at #72, and Birmingham at #86 (I was also surprised that … Continue reading →

More on microformats

Jun212005

There is now a dedicated site for information about microformats: microformats.org I’m working on a movie review using the hReview format. I’m hoping that we’ll see one of the big search engines start correlating microformat data soon. I’d guess that Technorati might be the first, but I’m sure that Google and Yahoo! are looking at it, as well. via: Eric Meyer

Warnings and Promises

Jun202005

Glenn McDonald has written an excellent open letter to the music industry titled Warnings and Promises, explaining what he’s been “stealing” from them, and why. I have been one of the last independent apologists for a moral kernel, elusive now to perhaps the point of imagination, in your corrupt and desperate retreat, but now even I have given up. I still buy, but now I also steal. You have forfeited your right to my loyalty. … Continue reading →

Spam on the rise again?

Jun172005

Has anybody else noticed a sharp increase in blog spam activity lately over the past couple of weeks? The number of firewall rules on my system generated by SpamValve was down below 40 not too long ago, but now it’s back up to over 100 again. The worst of the attacks still cause some brief hiccups on my server from time to time, but now that I’ve got a good set of automated countermeasures in … Continue reading →

Blogs of the Day

Jun162005

I meant to mention this previously, but Blogs of the Day is the latest link popularity site. It’s rather nifty in that it ranks sites and articles based on actual readership, and in the fact that it’s an opt-in system. It also only keeps statistics for 24 hours, in keeping with the ephemeral nature of popularity on the internet. Various lists are provided, including Top Posts in the last 24 hours, the BuzzList (most popular … Continue reading →