Blogging

Blogging

Blog Cybersuit Needed

Tron-Evolution-Cover-PC

Tron-Evolution-Cover-PCI must admit that this database problem has me really rethinking modern blogging stuff (again). With each “improvement” these platforms make I end up metaphorically banging my head against my desk. Perhaps it is my lesion-filled brain, a generational technology gap, or my lack of enthusiasm to join the brave new world but seriously, way to many “you have got to be joking” moments are happening.

This blog Bifurcate In The Road is a self-hosted blog that’s owner happens to have multiple sclerosis. I enjoy connecting with others. The past few years most of the comments received have come from MS bloggers. Years of piecing together themes and changes made to accommodate the latest platform updates have played havoc with the database. It needs major cleanup. Not one that can be handled by a plug-in but the old fashioned hunt and seek sql commands kind.

The need for tech savvy folks to mess with others via hacking, spam, etc. baffles me. With each new security breach new changes to blog platforms come and with each software update new conflicts arise. Even the operating system at mission control here is due for some more updates Tuesday.

Alarms are ringing, warning lights flashing, as someone slowly beats their head on the desk. Bifurcate In The Road is out in the cold of cyber space without a cybersuit.

One of thos WT* moments

red ball on cement WT*

DSC_0961_2009_webSo, I log in to my blog and there are no posts. I mean NO post they are all gone! if any of you checked in here today please let me know when as I am determined to figure out when this happened time wise.

I checked the database and the post table is gone – yep just gone. If you no nothing about databases just imagine a filing cabinet and the whole drawer labeled posts was not there. Every file folder stored in that drawer lost. Umm

So, I went back to the last backup I had – and this is all my laziness again it was from June LOL. Good thing I did not post a lot lately hee hee something positive out of that at least. I tried the repair tools in mysql myphpsql but the table of posts was corrupted beyond repair. Other records were mysteriously gone also and my main language in my administration page items related to jetpack turned to Czech or Romanian or something while a was looking at it. Who knows maybe the news features were put out in those languages?

I have recreated the missing posts best I can – sorry all you comments are lost. I ended up going to my news reader and copying the posts before they disappeared from there.

Well, I am now off to go scream because databases frustrate the heck out of me. Maybe I will come back later and figure out the photos etc that are missing, rebuild sitemaps etc. .

and yeah I am running the backup right now. I guess that will teach my lazy arse . …

 

update: 4:27pm I am working on finding a way to restore comments from older backup to this database, if anyone knows how to do this with the post id’s having been changed?

All Your Blog Belong To Us

indexIn July, a popular blogger posted an article on a well-read site that announced Blogging was dead – long live the blog. Not the first and not the last article that has/will proclaim the death of blogging. With the cyber atmosphere full of negativity many blogs not in the business to make money, sell, promote, etc. reacted and stopped, yep stated blogging was dead and like many before them just stopped blogging. Personal blogging has been declared dead more than once.
There is the “ugh oh” when bloggers realize that everything they post is out there – and make no mistake about this it is out there FOREVER. Security and privacy issues arise. I have waffled back and forth on this one. It is getting harder and harder to keep the online me from the private physical one becoming connected by the data miners. A personal blog allows me to control what I share or do not. While I can choose what I share on the larger social sites, I cannot stop them from collecting my data and selling it. If I am going to make an arse out of myself, I prefer someone else not making money off my idiocy.
Fifteen years ago, Scott McNealy of Sun Microsystems made his notable quote
“You have zero privacy anyway. Get over it.”
Personal blogs use a journal/diary format BUT they also provide connections. If they were just diaries why have comment system? The end game (purpose?) is to make connections with like-minded people and when comments drop, it can quell ones enthusiasm. In addition, just like in other social groups (friends, family i.e.) feelings can be hurt and trusts broken.
Blogs do not guarantee an instant circle or group of friends. It takes time and effort to write a post. Personally, I am usually LAZY and the harder it gets to type, read the screen, and mentally express my ideas the less apt I am to post. It is tempting to just insta gram it, pinit, or forgo it altogether.
Blog posts do stay around longer. After awhile the importance (to them not you) of a particular conversation on the big social media sites diminishes. A blog post will be found easier for a longer period. You have control over what you can post without the “terms of service” many forget to read.
Going back to the roots of blogging and just posting interesting stuff I have found in cyber space is an option. I will continue in my belief that personal blogs really are not dead. Or I will have to see you from the far side of the moon.
I will end with a video. That inspired the title of this post. One of the earliest Internet memes “All Your Base Are Belong To Us” was about the flawed Japanese translation of the opening dialogue from the Sega game Zero Wing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vfwqvUPIRkg?rel=0

World Real Time

time period globe

time: 70's globeI watch the news, translate tweets, crazy, there is really only one common factor amongst the main players of war and strife right now – many generally dislike us if not hate. I do not wish to share my opinions on the political or religious conflicts going on right now. Maybe just convey the sadness or confusion. I do not know. I am conflicted.
The technological advances have created a new frontier. Social media plays out the details of war and conflict in real time. No immediate censorship – that is, if it gets out into the cyber space it remains. Sure, television stations, print news, and governments can delete them, fire those responsible, but if a tweet, a message board comment, or video hits the new frontier it will always be part of the record.
There are things I typed long ago using an old IBM 286 with a dial up internet connection posted on a PRODIGY board that I can still find. In the new cyber space frontier, what you type/share never disappears. Some of the opinions I held in the 80?s conflict with those I hold now.
Social networks and video sites have also created a great place for propaganda. It takes much investigation to weed through the bull. On the positive side, language translators exist in the new frontier. The happenings around the world in real time. Like any good debate it is easy to find the pro and con postilions of any situation. Then again there is a need to weed through the propaganda and untruths. As History plays out some choose to avoid, some censor, some just go for it and risk seeing or hearing the not so cleaned up, sanitized versions of what is going on around the world.
If I keep this crazy obsession with watching, listening, translating, in an attempt to understand the not so understandable I might end up learning a few new languages.
I bit of info if you choose to watch the following no guts nor blood shown video.

I also embedded it so I could turn off the related videos that can show up at the end as, well they might be disturbing to some. If you wish to watch it larger just use the full screen icon in the lower right. If you open the tube itself no such guarantee.
Slavyansk/Slavyansk, is a city in eastern Ukraine (located within the province of Donetsk) that was a stronghold of pro-Russian militants. Ukraine’s army won the battle for 100,000-strong Slavyansk a few weeks ago.
The song “The Town I Loved So Well” was written by songwriter Phil Coulter about his home town of Derry and the way it was devastated by the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The Dubliners was an Irish folk band that disbanded in 2012.
Once again I wish to make clear I am not promoting a side here. Everyone has a hometown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tVg4jR51wLY?rel=0