I have just recently finally managed to host my blog locally, after having some grateful assistance from Wardelldesign.com (experienced blogger). Despite appearing to do the install correctly, there were a couple of things I wasn’t aware of/didn’t think of/ really didn’t know and so, ran into some trouble, despite consulting many a blog & online tutorial. I thought I would create my first local posting highlighting them and hopefully providing some necessary clarity aimed at amateur bloggers.

After initially, downloading Wordpress 2.9.1, unzipping it inside htdocs (file created in XAMPP, setup usually on the C: Drive), the Wordpress folder was created, the database was setup and managed by installing the windows version of XAMPP live (this manages the mySql successfully). I still couldn’t get the blog live. All my files ran perfectly locally, through localhost but when I uploaded through FTP to my site nothing happened. My problems were a result of:

• It appears, the Wordpress pack itself, didn’t install the default theme (check this) which is essential in the first instance. What you do after that in terms of styling is up to you but initially, those files have to be present for the blog to show. I used a template for quickness and just adapted and removed parts I didn’t require through .css – which still needs more tweaking.
• Godaddy.com does not run mySql on the localhost like some servers do, the XAMPP runs this and the PHP on the server once set up. You still have to set up a database yourself (remembering to keep your details during setup as you’ll need them later for use in the wp-config.php file) mentioned more clearly next.
• Ok, the Wordpress pack, when unzipped has a wp-config-sample.php file which is inside the wp-admin folder, this you have to amend with the database details and then save as wp-config.php in that same file (wp-admin inside htdocs). Your file structure should look something like this. Most of the tutorials tell you to name the database, ‘Wordpress’ (you may need to ignore that). Your database name is whatever you choose during the setup with Godaddy, so unless you choose and specify ‘wordpress’ in the wp-config.php file, you’ll have to amend that accordingly. If these details are incorrect, the whole blog fails to connect to the database and you’ll receive repeated messages!!. Many of the online Wordpress tutorials don’t explain this adequately intricately enough for the inexperienced developer. My details were incorrect (and so was my password but that was a stupid oversight as apposed to ignorance) and having followed the tutorial closely, I was told incorrect information to include in this file. Hence Wordpress, as mentioned above couldn’t access my database. You will also most likely need to check to make sure the file has the closing PHP tag, checking the very end of the file for (question mark & closing wickety thingy-me-bob). Without brackets – this would be (?>). Here is the file in .txt format.

Additionally, If you want your blogs URL to be similar to mine, http://mikedeveloper.com/blog you need to upload your files to the root of your server through your FTP client and rename the wordpress file, simply, ‘blog’. This file will contain all the files from the initial unzip of the download in the Wordpress folder, simply rename it. Goes without saying finally, always use a strong password for anything is adviseable, including your FTP account & Wordpress

I hope this is of some use to ’someone’ – I was almost there in my attempts but got frustrated and it just shows you how attention to detail has to be maintained.

Having broken my ankle in 2 places in a parachute jump at the weekend, I now find myself at home, in pain and plastered for upto 6 weeks and already I am utterly bored!. Daytime tv drivel is all too much for me now already, only days after my accident. Only decent telly has been Coach trip, repeating series 1 on Sky 3 @ 1.30pm weekday afternoons!. That’s entertaining!.

I am not adjusting well but am getting about hobbling. My family and girlfriend have been great in helping me also!. Many thanks to them!!.

I had planned a quiet yet socialable Christmas, which now has been hampered and should I now decide to venture out anywhere, my crutches will not be too far away!. Not the best look for the holiday season down the local but a necessity all the same!. I will depend on them for 6 weeks if all goes well. Like it or lump it!. That’s of course, should the hospital’s Fracture Clinic decide the break is healing nicely and that the pot will suffice, without the need to operate and pin the breaks. I have a half cast now which if they are happy with the healing process this week will become a full cast.

One thing I was very appreciative of naturally and thought much about after, was the NHS staff but ultimately, my thoughts were with the unsung heroes of the Air Ambulance. Without them, getting me off the drop zone (field in the middle of nowhere much like most are) would have been near impossible. I was sat in a puddle, not far from where I bounced, all cold, muddy and wet. After all in my mind I was planning to jump and then have a brief and brew in the comfort of the cafe. Uneven terrain made getting a vehicle to me virtually impossible and thankfully people at the drop zone had indirect, radio contact with the air ambulance in the event there were injured jumpers. Naturally, it’s a precaution – no suprise there – accidents do happen in extreme sports. 8 of us jumped from that lift and thankfully, only myself was injured. I am so grateful to the air ambulance and if possible, in future, will support them in raising money as I believe they often struggle with funding, yet provide a vital service. I had always had an awareness and praise for the great work they do, like all NHS staff but never truly appreciated how vital their service was until I needed it myself. Often the case I imagine. They did and do a great job!. Ok, I had just a broken ankle, very painful but certainly not life threatening and I could have been transported to hospital if need be by alternate means (4 X 4 possibly) but they improved my waiting time, comfort and and were there straight away (I was very cold having sat in said icy puddle.) Had I needed to be cut from a vehicle with serious injuries in the middle of nowhere and had time been vital as is the usually the case, with the service surely, most people stand a fighting chance, when otherwise they may not be so lucky. Paws for thought.

Many thanks to the Air Ambulance!. You are stars!.

29/12/2009 Update:
Having been back to the hospital, they have recast my ankle into a full cast and recommended I partially weight bear as much as possible to aide the healing of the break. Something I am not looking forward to – thought of something else snapping has me anxious. I am hoping at the end of January to be out of plaster and running around. Not driving or just pottering is very frustrating. Suprising the every day things we take for granted.

27/1/2010 Update:
Out of my cast, although still on crutches and now off to Physio but it’s very slow!.

23/2/2010 Update:
I’ve had 3 sessions of Physio to date but it’s very slow progress. I was expecting to be walking by now – since the average recovery time is 12 weeks, from injury. The experts agree!. As a precaution I was x-rayed again earlier this week (after a G.P visit for yet another sicknote) just to make sure all was well with the bone healing and it appears it is/has. I should have been x-rayed again once the cast was removed after the 6 1/2 week period (back in Jan) but due to an oversight that was missed (NHS for you!!). Also, appears I have issues with weight bearing to the weak side and my body is over compensating. I have difficulty in moving the weight mostly to the left (to my Physio’s frustration), having been in a cast and on crutches for so long – It’s a very strange feeling. I now have just one crutch to hobble about on when really I should have none!!!. That in itself is causing some problems with my shoulder, due to the extended length of time I’ve been on cructhes. The pain and discomfort around the ankle is continuing, sometimes it’s agony, moreso in the mornings when things are that extra bit stiff and harder to get moving. Usually after half an hour or so exercising the ankle is willing to move. On a positive note, I have the vast majority of movement in the ankle back in all directions now. I am hoping in the next few weeks to be making yet more progress and finally walking. I am just glad I am getting sick pay from my employer. They do after all, employ you through the good times and bad and guess what this is.. hmmm bad.

Having gathered all monies in finally, I raised just over £400 for my charity jump!. Not bad but had hoped for better. Thanks to everyone that sponsored me and for those that didn’t, be ashamed!!. I don’t ask for much. Don’t be as ashamed though, as the few that said they’d pay and didn’t. Let’s hope, they never need my help.

I completed my charity Solo RAPS Static Line Parachute jump in Lancaster at the Black Knights parachute centre on the 12th September in aid of Pancreatic cancer. Please, despite the fact I have already jumped, still Sponsor me. The sponsorship page will remain open for upto 8 weeks I am told. Any amount is appreciated, the more generous the better. Remember it is for a good cause!!.

Here are some pictures and video from the day, which was superb and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so I’m intending to jump again in the next few weeks!.

Many thanks for your support!.

Mike

I’m seeking generous people for a sponsorship event!. I do have printed sponsorship forms, although I’m using those for people I know well and see often. This is simply additional sponsorship, which I hope gets some interest online and will go straight to the charity I have chosen without a need by me to pester for cash.

I have decided to do a RAMS Solo Static Line parachute jump in aid of Pancreatic Cancer. The jump is booked for the weekend of the 19th September 2009 and will take place in Lancaster. I will undergo all training Saturday and jump the same day, or the following day weather permitting. If for any reason I can’t jump, it’ll be rescheduled but will go ahead for sure. I am determined.

There are some example videos online, like this one which should give you an idea of what the event involves.

It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while and is in aid of a very worthy cause, so give all you can, especially as this is a SOLO jump and not one of those tandem thingy-me-bobs where qualified guys do all the work for you!. I will do it all on leaving that tiny plane some 3,500ft above Lancaster!.

Please sponsor me if you can, any amount is greatly appreciated!.If you want anymore details, e-mail me

Many thanks for your support!.

Mike

I purchased a Dell Inspiron from Dell in 2007. Unknown to me at the time, the system had an analogue monitor ( I was not informed of this nor did the spec list highlight it), yet also installed was a very high spec graphics card which I had asked for during the initial enquiry and build. I also paid for and got a monitor upgrade from a 19″ to a 22″  Basically, I would never get the benefit of the card as you can’t pass a digital signal through analogue!. Dell certainly thought they could delude me and included a very ‘high spec’ £2 adaptor in order to try!!!. They failed. I had no knowledge of any of this until I had the system inspected by a technician.

This is the technician’s report after inspecting my machine…

A few months ago, my system developed a fault. Computers during bootup, check diagnostics to ensure all onboard hardware is working and if it isn’t, you know about it then. Mine simply wouldn’t boot up so being out of warranty I had to employ a technician who I had to obviously pay. On his inspection of the machine he couldn’t find anything obvious to blame but later did say, he believed the keyboard could be of fault as mine wouldn’t work and after taking it away it worked with his own.  He said that I should purchase another just to be sure.  Suffice to say, I never did after it booted up ok after and still today I use that same keyboard with no issues. He did find though on inspecting the inside of the tower, the graphics card was very high spec yet my monitor was analogue and naturally questioned this. When I went to Dell with this for an explanation with the technicians report, they said they were not prepared to discuss or even look at it as the system was 2 years old and why had I left it two years to complain?. The easy answer is, myself like most people are not a ComTia A+ technician and therefore have no interest/knowledge of what lies within the tower. I have no interested in a computers inner workings other than if the system can perform the task I ask it to. Mine wasn’t, hence the investigation by someone I had to pay. The findings I found I believed contravened the Sale Of Goods Act in that I had not got what I asked for. I should have been advised to buy a digital monitor and had I not been prepared to do that, I should have been told the graphics card would be an expensive paper weight. The point was I was never given the option yet I was charged for the graphics card regardless!.

Now, I am experiencing problems again with this computer and the system will not boot. I have checked diagnostics, the BIOS settings etc and all appears fine. I am convinced the problem is software related. Dell are now saying my system’s software warranty is out of date, yet the hardware warranty is good for 12 months more. I simply asked for a rescue disk as i am having trouble getting windows to boot and stupidly, didn’t make a rescue disk image for such occasions. Lesson learnt.

Overall, I’m disgusted the general view in the IT world amongst professionals is that Dell simply wash their hands of you once you’ve transacted with  them. They take the money and run. I know a lot of companies do this. I just expected more from such a company with a globally respected name. Afraid not. I have told Dell of my concerns and what I think they should do to rectify the problem especially as problems occured prior to my warranty expiring and they seek it appropriate to fob me off or charge for technical support.

My advice, HP, Advent, Sony and of course Apple Mac will get my undivided attention next time when I upgrade and I am convinced I will be treated far more fairly. My purpose soley by blogging this subject is to raise awareness. All good companies I expect at one time or another have their share of disgruntled customers. I’ll be the first to admit that. In my case I just want what I am owed and what is infact right and fair.

To Dell I find the whole incident poor and would rate them very negatively, naturally. Look around when buying a PC, look online and at testimonials and ratings – they are there for a good reason!

**Success with no help from dell….**

As most systems today don’t ship with a Vista disk and only sometimes with a recovery one, I managed to find a link to a rescue disk posted on a blog for both 32-bit & 64-bit versions of Vista. You just download the file, save it on the desktop and then burn it as an image to a CD/DVD using Nero or whatever you have and then, boot from it on start up. You may possibly have to adjust your settings (if the system won’t boot at all like mine wouldn’t). As the machine starts, press F2 or F12 as I recall, to access the ‘boot from option’. Once you’ve done this and the system is restored, simply reset your settings to boot from the hard drive

A few years before I went down the I.T study route I had a short career as a Police Officer in Lancashire and maybe, that’s why I have followed the G-20 incident and will also follow the subsequent IPCC investigation into it with some eagerness – well what details I have seen and have been released I should say.



I’ve read online and also seen the news snippets from the G-20 fiasco and the alleged victims. I have also seen the countless people on the news claiming Police brutality, having filmed incidents with their mobiles and generally, jumped on the “lets lynch Police Officers at the incident” bandwagon, almost as many as I’ve seen at any other public order incident. In addition to that, more seem to be emerging from the woodwork to get a pound of flesh and no doubt get a ‘claim for blame’.

What has enraged me the most is, these people attend a demonstration, peaceful the intention or otherwise and then ignore Police Officers at that incident directing them – in worst cases, these kinds of people attack a serial with weapons and projectiles. Ok not all but some. “Get back”, means precisely that!. Not “get back” if you’re a man, or you think you have a right not to or, if you’re stupid enough to think a confrontation with a PSU unit and ignoring requests will result in a win on your part. Think again. A baton hurts. Passive resistance is non-compliance – simple as –full stop. What happened immediately before in the run up and after the alleged brutality I believe nobody has bothered reporting? In any case, this is mitigation and quite likely an explanation as to why officers acted with the force they did. Here’s a thought, maybe it was reasonable?.

The news has reported one fatality, although not believed to be the result entirely of that incident – I read it was a heart attack. Another a woman was slapped and battoned around the back of the legs. She and they, choose to be there lets be said. People cause trouble and then wonder how an incident can result in this way. Well, it does people and it’s not usually a good ending is it?. Then again as I consider myself to be a reasonable man, if I were caught up in the madness regardless of my initial intentions, I’d be looking for an exit at the very point of trouble. The woman in the news who considers herself a victim had in the footage, fluid in bottle, which looked like juice. Or was it? Was it acid? Was it a propellant for later disorder??. No ones knows but then again, I’m sure no one has asked. Also nobody knows, just what was said or if she disobeyed police instructions. It’ll be interesting to see what comes of this and what the version the officer(s) gives. I believe in her case he is a Police Sergeant and I’m sure no fool who would make rash and unlawful mistakes with eyes watching him. It was no secret the press vultures were there.

As for the Police and the imminent investigation, I would be most eager to look at the evidence gathers (Police video person) tapes to ascertain just who is at fault. I know now, they think they have a culprit, in this case. I think a scapegoat but then again having not seen the official footage, who knows,. There could be a rotten apple among the Police in that situation as their is daily but I bet the evidence gathers tape would paint a much clearly picture of the route cause and action, lawful or otherwise which the Police took. Looking at Joe public’s footage and the BBC poses the question if there could be some rather clever editing going on to dramatise further an already unfortunate incident. After all, the Police daily do a great job and rarely, get praise, yet one slip sees them in the dock to answer their actions entirely before you and I and worst still the media vultures!.

I’m not saying it’s cut and dry and I believe this or that. I’m open minded. I just have a more insight than the average person having been on that side of the fence catching bottles!. I’m just saying in spite of such a tragic incident questions and actions taken must be based on informed decisions and all evidence, being gathered. Police officers regularly get seconds and minutes to take action in their frontline duties nevermind public order situations, yet the public gets a lifetime to criticise their actions.

If wrongdoing is the case, people need to be accountable for their actions. Just don’t blame the Police from the outset is what I would say as we are all aware we tend to need them on a regularly basis to stabilise society and right wrongs. Even if you don’t need them personally, they are there making sure, unnoticed in some cases we can all sleep in our beds at night, taking sometimes life risking chances to execute their duties.

I’ve found a new forum (new to me anyway) which specifically caters for us people!.  Check it out. Looks good to me

After intially struggling with Javascript, I was keen to network with other Skillstrain & CIW students doing the same course. There must be plenty of us out there, although finding them has been a task in itself. So far, I have found only 3 of us unfortunates!. During my hunt, I managed to find another guy who has done the very same course, through the very same provider and has some prior IT experience also which interested me (figured for him it should be a breeze). It was interesting to read his website and get his overall take on the matter and the issues he’d encountered along the way. It’s a true insight from what I have seen so far having not really spoken to anyone else. Also, it appears he has had a considerable amount of time on his hands due to ill health and still, he’s managed to do the course in a repectable timeframe. From what he says also, it wasn’t something he found easy, given his skillset. Take a look. His site is here

I’m now in the process of learning Javascript (version 6) as part of my course, something I’ve long awaited and looked forward to due to it’s ablility to enhance an (X)HTML page. It’ll also increase my overall knowledge of the DOM.

I have to say from the outset though, I am finding getting my head around the syntax extremely difficult at this point!. Being a compulsive reader of blogs and having an interest in networking generally, I have spoken to people and scoured various sources online in an attempt to find some opinions and other peoples takes on how difficult this great language is to grasp. Many have learnt successfully and also go on to script server side also. I found in my hunt a lot of conflicting opinions, mostly by VBScripters & Java programmers. Here’s Paul Thurrott’s take on the matter. I’m looking forward to using this language should of course, I finally manage to get my head around it which am sure I will. I have taken on other, what i consider difficult tasks during my life so I’m assuming realistically this is no different. This however is difficult and requires logic. I am unfortunately, a part time student, through a correspondence training provider, and I have no programming experience and this will be my first insight into a programming language, subet. Here goes…. :-/

Having struggled so much on the styling of my blog, I resorted to a few online sites which offered what they called free themes. They also implied these themes were easy to work with.. Some looked ok, others weren’t free and required downloading software, then you’d find out you needed to pay. One of the ones I tried to use was, Artister, here. You’ll need to pay for this or your theme will have ‘trial’ stamped all over it. I found it all a tad complicated too.

It’s worth a look but overall I have come to the conclusion, you have to have some knowledge of CSS, not what this site implies anyway, or you’re sunk. As styling and design are relatively new concepts to me and as my course is in it’s infancy I have had numerous teething problems.

Be interesting to see if anyone knows of any free theme sites available