Moving on Up
Posted on Friday, November 27, 2009 at 10:50 pmCategory: My Drivel
This small, inconsequential, blog is written in Wordpress.
To precise, it is written in Wordpress version 2.2.2, an edition that, in computing terms at least, puts it in the era of Cro-Magnon man.
I’ve been thinking that the site has been looking a little dusty for a while. I like the colours (always a significant factor for me in selecting anything because I am desperately shallow), and the photo at the top was one taken by My Dear Wife that I regard as having something of the essence of the Vendée.
But I have tired of the Amazon adverts in the sidebar that I added in a fit of wild optimism. I had the vague idea that they might just generate enough commission to buy me a paperback every now and then, but in total they have generated four click-throughs and not a sou, so they are going.
Also, I have been casting covetous eyes over the blogrolls on some of the blogs I read, and I have decided that I would like one that not only shows the name of the site, but also the title of the latest post and how old that post is, which I think is rather jazzy.
However, to do this I must insert a plug-in widgity kind of thingy that requires me to be running a whizzy new version of Wordpress.
Installing this is, naturally, not a simple task, as this excerpt from the instructions serves to illustrate:
“Create a back-up of the MySQL database and backload this to your non-sever based processing configurisional virtual array. Ensure that YTR deconflibulation is enabled (utilising controls protocol 5.7.9, 2009 Esperanto version) before writing to directory clagnuts\xtc with (yourfilemane) + extension .xfnigit. Top up the oil and wash behind your ears before spontaneously combusting.”
The upshot is that I am going to be attempting to upgrade this site (a relative term, I appreciate) in the next few days and it is entirely conceivable that it might suddenly disappear and start returning a “66789553465#778g Error – Trousers undone. Pull down zip and re-insert legs” message.
Do not despair / have a small party (delete as applicable). I’ll be back.
November 28th, 2009 13:40
Hi Jon,
I saw you on the Fly in the web’s (French Leave) blog. Just dropped by to say hi to another Anglo in France.
Good luck remodeling your blog.
November 29th, 2009 15:06
How Very Exciting, Jon! Perhaps you could a Homepage that constantly changes – like those amazing digital photoframes, reminiscent of HarryPotter…
You are wonderfully blogily prolific, which fills me with guilt and inadequacy, but how I love your site, and how I shall Thrill to its upgrades!
November 30th, 2009 08:55
Dedene, welcome and thank you for your comment. I hope you find something to amuse you here.
Dolores – I’m not going to run before I can walk. Just getting it upgraded without breaking it is my main aim. I hope to do this today. Just as soon as I can work out what on Earth an “FTP Client” is.
November 30th, 2009 11:38
Well, I know FTP is File Transfer Protocol. FTP sites are unsecure, but are useful for uploading files too large to be sent via e-mail. I use one client’s FTP site all the time to send and receive huge files.
But that’s the extent of my knowledge….probably not much help to you.
December 2nd, 2009 18:15
Looks like it went OK – very brave of you to go for the absolute latest version, I’d usually wait until it’s a bit established first!
Doubtless you have noticed the main advantage of updating – the more recent versions allow you to upgrade ‘at the press of a button’ from in the admin panel without any stress or hassle whatsoever. What more could you ask?
December 3rd, 2009 12:26
I am very impressed with the blogroll and the latest post / RSS feed type thing.
Sadly you lost me at “Create a back-up of the MySQL database”
It looks very good though
December 3rd, 2009 13:23
Best of luck with your update Jon. Your old 2.2.2 version was a little bit behind the times. Wordpress have done away with the starting handle now and have advanced to four wheel drive.
I gave up on Amazon a long time back, you had four more clicks than me. Your new blogroll looks good, a much easier read.
December 3rd, 2009 21:57
Expat – you knew what the letters stood for. One up on me.
Boris – there is a newer version: Wordpress 2.9 Beta 2 (though surely “beta 2″ is gamma
) but I’m not brave / stupid enough to try that.
Lores – Thank you. I am deeply impressed with the new features. And I almost typed “functionality” then – over exposure to spod-speak over the past few days.
Martyn – have you ever met anyone who’s earned a sou from any of those associate programs?