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February 25, 2005
NetworkActiv Web Server 2.0
As a follow up to The file upload dilemma, another solution for transferring files might be to run your own special web server.
NetworkActiv Web Server 2.0 is a small freeware web server that you can run from your own computer to allow you to transfer files back and fourth with those who you give the IP address to.
You can limit the files being uploaded and download to a particular directory, and require those who wish to access your server, to supply a username and password that you have given them in advance.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 11:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 24, 2005
Throw Out All of Your Marketing Books
Wanda Loskot once told me that she "would rather build one meaningful relationship today, then be in random contact with a few thousand people." Trying to get noticed by thousands of potential customers on the Internet can be likened to throwing dice. Sometimes you feel all you need to do is to model your business after someone else's.
Chris Houchens whose recent manifesto (featured on ChangeThis.com) says:
We all know that the perfect case study and the way things are supposed to work just don't happen for the most part in the real world. Here's what is happening: Today's business leaders are trying to make these textbook examples fit into the irregular holes of everyday marketing.
He suggests being careful in choosing a coach because some of them have existing strategies that they may try and plug you into... without really understanding your business. Although hiring a professional might be beneficial to some, it might not be a good idea for all. I've always felt that it helps to find someone who is already doing what you want to do, and study them. Then build a network of people who are willing to share their ideas and concepts with you.
One needs to study, of course! But you also need to have an idea of how you can apply these techniques and strategies to your business. You might find that a group of people, who you can bounce ideas off of, can help shape the ideas into a workable concept tailored to your specific needs. Some of the smartest people I know, are the first to ask, "What do you think?"
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 07:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Microsoft Gone Phishing Again
Ryan Naraine who writes for eWeek reported that:
Software engineers at Microsoft Corp.'s security research team have confirmed the existence of a bug in the Internet Explorer browser that opens the door to URL spoofing attacks.
Granted, you may have heard this before, and installed all of your patches, but the bug has been confirmed on a fully patched system with Internet Explorer 6.0 and Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.
A patch to fix this isn't available yet.
I try to convince family and friends to try out the new Fireofx browser.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 06:55 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 23, 2005
Open Source Video Software
Robin Good's post Open Source Realtime Video Editing And Effects Software: Jahshaka is a great article and description of a video editing program that could save you a few thousand dollars on "brand name applications that can do the same while emptying your wallet."
He says:
"Called Jahshaka, this grassroots real-time video production powerhouse integrates multiple fully featured modules including a frame-by-frame paint over video facility, a production titling component, full video and audio editing, animation, and a special effects lab."
Robin says it is available for Windows, Mac OSX, Linux and other operating systems.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 08:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
CSS Zen Garden — Resource Guide
This web page has numerous links to CSS resources and articles including:
- CSS Layout Techniques
- Image Replacement
- Box Model Hack
- Layout Reservoir
- Bug Fixes
If you're interested in learning to write web pages using CSS, you might want to add this site to your bookmarks.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 07:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 22, 2005
Introduction to CSS Positioning Properties Part 1
Alejandro Gervasio's, one of my favorite writers for devarticles.com, new article gives you a good introduction to CSS positioning. This might be of interest to anyone thinking of building their own website using CSS. It is an important building block.
Years ago when Table Layouts became popular with Netscape 2.0, and have since become the core building block of most website since then, many authors (and still to this day) have problems with the implementation. Really, it all comes down to a good understanding of the basic building blocks.
In December, 2004 I wrote an article called "Z-index imagination" which showed you how to layer elements on top or underneath other page elements. In essence what you do, is stack items on top of other items. But before using Z-index to achieve this you need to understand positioning elements.
If any of you would like to review "Z-index imagination" you can find it here.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 08:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 21, 2005
Useful Trackback Tuutorial for eBlogger users
Wayne Hulbert posted a good tutorial on using Haloscan for those using eBlogger. I told MaaMaw about this who says:
Okey doodle, I successfully installed trackback using HaloScan.
There is still some confusion about the difference between trackbacks and comments though. Comments are when someone is visiting your blog and leaves a short comment about your post. A trackback is a message that appears on your blog, when another website has referenced your post using the trackback feature.
Luckily it doesn't take long too long to know the difference. It is just a matter of playing with the software. When I decided to put up this blog, I was lucky enough to have Paul Short explain it to me. As a new MovableType user I found it took 20 minutes to install the program, and a few hours after that learning all the terms and how everything works.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 11:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
You are too young for a cell phone...
When my 8 year old daughter was visiting me last year, she kept asking for a cell phone. I told her I thought she was too young for it. After all, the set of walkie-talkies I bought for her are usually useless to her and her friends because one of the units is always missing.
Now Mattel will soon start selling working pre-paid cell phones alongside the Barbie doll.
In an article by Business Week it says:
The new Barbie-brand phones aren't toys at all, but real phones. Mattel expects them to appeal to 8- to 14-year-old girls and will offer them in all stores that carry Barbies, company executives told BusinessWeek Online.
So it would seem every time she loses it I would have to buy another one for $49.95? Hmmm! I don't think so!
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 08:24 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 16, 2005
What can you do with html lists?
An article on devarticles.com by Apress Publishing is really a fairly complete tutorial on using html lists. From proper structure to more advanced usage — this is a good tutorial. It doesn't include include using Lists to make buttons but it goes as far as to show you how to make navigational menus and mini-tab shapes.
You can read the article here.
If you find that whetting your appetite and decide you're ready to use Lists with CSS to make buttons, you can find a nice tutorial here.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 08:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 15, 2005
Internet Explorer 7.0
An article on eWeek announced that Microsoft will be releasing a new browser later this year.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 04:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 14, 2005
Fixing Internet Explorer
A recent article by Darryl K. Taft, eWeek, says:
Microsoft Corp. recently held a secret Webcast with some of its closest partners to discuss ways in which the company might improve its Internet Explorer browser and customer confidence in the platform.
If it was a secret it certainly isn't now. But it appears that browser competition may force Microsoft to take some action.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 07:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 12, 2005
Manitoba Telephone System (MTS) harbor spammers
My experience with Manitoba Telephone System (MTS) has shown me that they protect their spammers, and would rather have sites block their IP range then terminate a spammers account.
For roughly two months, I have continually telephoned them and forwarded the spam messages about an annoying spammer to Curtis Prystupa who works in their abuse department.
The have told me they have identified who the spammer is, but have refused to deal with it.
Residents of Manitoba need to consider this before choosing them as a service provider. This means users will find themselves unable to connect to websites as more an more companies will be blocking their IP range.
This is what ruins a service provider. Harboring known spammers is bad business.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 01:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 11, 2005
The file upload dilemma
The odd time I get a request from a client to install a script on their site so people can upload files to their server. My response to this is that it is a bad idea, for security reasons. It is probable that someone could upload code, execute it, and damage the site.
Then, my job is to do as I am told, whether I think it is a good idea or not. Some people who have requested this I have been able to talk them out of the idea. Others... well...
Robin Good's post titled How To Send Large Files Without Email: Best Services Online provides a great solution, and one of the free services, YouSendIt, offers storage of up to 1GB. One of the options includes website integration — you can include a FileLink url on your website that allows people to send you files.
YouSendIt is currently the most popular large-file transmission service. It was developed by Khalid Shaikh from Campbell, California. YouSendIt is free and does not require upfront registration. It is very easy to use.
This is a lot better solution, then allowing people to upload files to your own website.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 11:02 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 10, 2005
Who's a spammer?
Spam! There doesn't seem to be any getting away from it these days. Even with over 1500 personal email filters set in place, countless IP addresses banned from my discussion forum and blog, spam still gets through.
Then I send out my double opt-in newsletter to what most would consider a handful of subscribers and the next thing you know tech support from my hosting company is notifying me that they have received a spam complaint on my account.
I emailed them back and suggested they take a look at the opt-in process. There is absolutely no one on my list who did not request to be on it. And then I showed them them what is at the very top of the each newsletter that goes out:
You are subscribed to this list because you asked to be on it. It is a double "opt-in" list, so if you did not confirm first message that was sent to you, you would not be on this list. If you want to unsubscribe, please use link at bottom of this message. If for some reason you are unable to click the link, reply to this message with the subject UNSUBSCRIBE and I will personally see you are removed from the list.
Some people can't click a link. They can't read, and they don't have the technical skills to reply to a message. We have to suffer fools who were able to buy a computer but probably should have spent their money on a home course that teaches them how to read.
One of the people I network with in a small homebusiness group is Clarissa 'kiki' Frampton who says shes is a member of NIBA Consulting & Investigations, Blaine WA 98230, 360-371-8854 and had this to say about the group:
That's what I was saying, Bobbi Madonna who is a publisher of LOGON Ezine and the NoSpinZone who is owner of Dynavert Ad Agency and NIBA...Within her NIBA membership we ARE fighting back...but we need to do more...I am a member of the NIBA and use this in my ezine:
Please be advised that this newsletter is protected by National Internet Business Alliance and will not tolerate false spam accusations. It is a federal offense to falsely accuse an individual and/or company of sending unsolicited email. If you signed up from a website agreeing to receive 3rd party email, it is not spam. You could face a penalty of $500 per hour for downtime plus legal fees if a webmaster or publisher is shut down because of false accusations.
All subscribe requests are kept with IP address, date and time stamp.
NIBA Consulting ∓ Investigations
Blaine WA 98230
360-371-8854Protecting your business is our business.
http://niba4u.com/consultBobbette Madonna, CEO/publisher
Steven Boaze, Chief Investigator
Patricia Creasy, Research Manager
Apparently this group will go to bat for you if you have been shut down and try to find out who complained and if they can't get your account restored they will try and find you a different but suitable provider.
You know... if you got shut-down, and it took you a week to find another provider, get your domain name moved to different DNS servers, and install your website on this new account...$500 per hour for downtime could turn into a signigicant amount. What I don't understand is how you would go about finding legal representation that could have this enforced.
Still, I think rather then deleting subscribe requests, I will setup a filter in my email program and save each one. If nothing else, you can forward these to your host when you receive a spam complaint.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 09:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 09, 2005
CSS Shorthand at a Glance
Alejandro Gervasio has a new article published by devarticles.com called "CSS Shorthand at a Glance" and it is important to note that for some elements, like font properties, don't have any particular order they need to be specified in, while others do. Propeties for margin and padding, etc., always start at the top and move clockwise around the page.
ex: <div style="padding: 0px; 10px; 0px; 10px;">text</div>
This pads both sides, but not the top or the bottom becasue we have those values set to zero.
If you're already getting comfortable writing CSS this article might save you some time, and extra bytes in your stylesheets. You can read it here.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 08:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Interview with Craig Newmark
In December I posted about Craig Newmark's website, www.craigslist.org, that has:
"...cost the newspapers millions more in merchandise and real estate advertising, and has damaged other traditional classified advertising businesses, according to a report published by Classified Intelligence."
In a ChangeThis exclusive: The craigslist founder reveals the values that made craigslist a success.
Craig says:
A lot of people say that the internet is about technology. For me, it's about people, and people connecting with each other in their day-to-day lives. In that way, the internet hasn't changed at all since I started craigslist ten years ago. We help people to find each other and we give them a voice, and somehow, people really do feel a sense of community that they belong to. Ten years on, now we're just connecting more people in more places: we think of ourselves as a family of community bulletin boards that helps people connect to get everyday stuff done. We've said that often, and it's true.
I was attempting to run a classified site 10 years ago too. It was fairly popular at the time. Sometimes I received over 2,000 new ads a day. But I failed to see the potential in it, and later abandoned the idea. The point is, don't let negative people tell you something can't be done until you've tried it. Just because your neighbor says it can't be done, doesn't mean YOU can't do it.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 07:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 07, 2005
Open Source Web-based Learning Content Management System
If you're interested in offering lessons or classes of some type you might be want to check out ATutor.
ATutor is:
"...is an Open Source Web-based Learning Content Management System (LCMS) designed with accessibility and adaptability in mind. Administrators can install or update ATutor in minutes, and develop custom templates to give ATutor a new look. Educators can quickly assemble, package, and redistribute Web-based instructional content, easily retrieve and import prepackaged content, and conduct their courses online. Students learn in an adaptive learning environment."
If you're not sure it will run on your server you will see on the introduction screen an installer checks that your system has all the requirements needed to run ATutor.
This software is available for free under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL).
Harold Jarche, a freelance consultant, has a more detailed post about it.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 07:55 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 04, 2005
My Kind of Hosting Company
I was surfing past Willie Crawford's Discussion Forum when his post, Free Ebook — You Make A Difference caught my eye. The first short story in the eBook told a story about telling people just how much you appreciate them. It made me think, AMS Computer Services, which is the company that owns the servers where I place clients who need hosting, deserves special recognition after this week.
I'd like to present AMS Computer Services with this virtual ribbon for all the great help they have provided me on behalf of my clients since 1997. I understand it hasn't always been easy for them, because I demand the best possible service from them. No... I mean it! I have been very demanding at times. I have expected them to treat my clients with the top most priority and professionalism and they have continually delivered. This past week... they went well out of their way to over deliver.
The problem started when the client went out of town for business and asked me to keep an eye on his web based mailing list software that was sending out to a few thousand people. Piece of cake! Right? It was just about finished when I had to retire for the evening. Woke up the next day to check the status and found the account had been suspended.
What the heck?!!!
Because of the amount of spam coming into the account, and the amount of messages going out, the technicians at the NOC (datacenter) have instructions to disable an account in emergency situations. This looked like a lot of spam so they shut it down. I contacted the technical support team and made them understand that there had been a mistake. This was a respected business person, not a spammer, and they were welcome to test the signup process to check (if they didn't want to take my word) that it was a double opt-in list, which had been continually growing over the years. They re-installed the site immediatly.
They looked into it a little more and sent me this message:
It seems so much mail is going through this account that it is causing problems on the server. It is actually filling up mail ques and hard drive partitions causing some mail not to be delivered to the server. I assume they have a large mailing list if they have been accumulating addresses since '97 or '98. It is probably time for this account to start consider upgrading to a dedicated server.
They said they would see what kind of deal they could get the client for a dedicated server, which wasn't a bad deal, but there would be other problems moving it. You see the software that most servers use to move sites isn't perfect, and things get broke. On a site this size, having the client pay 3-4 times more for a website, and then having to pay me for maybe days of work to fix the programming, would be unacceptable. I told support, we could consider this offer if they would guarantee that nothing got broken. Well... software to move sites is only so good... so what to do...?
Two days later they sent me another message:
We wanted to let you know that this server is doing much better so the upgrade for this account can most likely be delayed. It may be something that will need to be considered in the future, but for now the mail issues on this server have been resolved.Administrators have moved a couple of other busy accounts to other servers and put some safeguards in place to limit the amount of spam going through the server. These steps have stabilized the server for now, since the amount of mail going through the server has been reduced significantly, the large amount generated by the clients account is no longer an issue on the server.
This is only one example. There have been other situations where these people, I feel, have risen above the call of duty to help make sure my clients get the best possible service. Their dedication, commitment and hard work has really been a GREAT help to my business, and they always provide the exact same kind of service that I would want to be able to provide if I was running their company.
Kudos goes to AMS Computer Services for continually providing my clients with the type of top quality service that I want them to have.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 07:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The Difference between Luxury and Status
I was reading an article on The Business 2.0 Blog, Fakes and Status Marketing where it talks about 2 handbags almost exactly the same, except one costs $12,000 and the other costs $70.
Damon Darlin goes on to say:
"It used to be that "luxury goods" were actually luxury. A Rolls with polished burled walnut interiors, precisely fitted doors, and a hand-made engine was actually a better car than a Chevy. A Steinway was a better piano than a Baldwin. So you paid more. But the two Vuitton bags are nearly identical. Quite often these fakes come from the same factory that makes the real thing. Which tells you, these aren't luxury goods, but merely status goods and are priced precariously."
You know... I had to read that article twice!
It would seem to be that this doesn't only apply to handbags. I might suggest some well known Internet marketers have read this article, and they challenge you to be one of the top elite to buy a high priced status info-product that they have created.
One reviewer who shall remain anonymous said about one of these:
"...it's not perfect, it's not the "be-all-and-end-all" marketing product, but it does deliver the info it promises on and in a way that's palatable, easy to understand.
The DB Bistro Moderne, in midtown Manhattan sells hamburgers for $59 and $99.
Kitsy Battle, 48, a bookkeeper visiting New York from Atlanta said:
"They're not selling food, they're selling status."
Point is, if you're trying to start or run a business, there isn't harm in having the odd luxury item like a Rolls. Spending money on luxury items isn't the same as spending money on status items.
If you buy the $99 hamburger you will be hungry tomorrow. If you buy the expensive info-products, you will just need more knowledge tomorrow. Save your money. Buy the Rolls.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 07:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 03, 2005
Building Friendly Pop-up Windows
Pop-up windows can be accessible, search-engine friendly and non-invasive, when they’re properly implemented. An article at devarticles.com shows you how to build these, without ticking off your site visitors. Believe it or not, pop-up windows can server another purpose besides just annoying your site visitors.
What I like about this article is that shows you how to build them using a workaround, using target="_blank" so that if your site visitor has Javascript disabled, the content will open in another browser window. This is a very sensible approach... one I've used for years on clients' websites.
You can read the article here.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 08:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 01, 2005
TrackBack Spam
I deleted a lot of TrackBack Spam from my blog today. I thought I was special until I read I wasn't the only one having this problem. Tris Hussey said:
"Yesterday I had 42, this morning I had 99."
Cindy from www.candygenius.com/spampop seems to know what is going on, who it is and how to block this individual and suggests putting this in your .htaccess file:
# pineapple baby - comment spammer - shhhhh
RewriteCond %{HTTP:VIA} ^.+pinappleproxy
RewriteRule .* - [L,F]
Hopefully that will put a stop to it for now.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 02:59 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack