Publication Date: October 22nd 2004
ISSN 1445-1360
In this issue you will read:
Editorial: October 22nd 2004
Definition: Plonk
Software Savvy: PHP Multiple Newsletter
Software Savvy: Word Press
Quotable: Seneca wrote...
The Great Australian Joke: Visit to Nanna
G'Day Blokes and Sheilas!
I haven't been around for a while, so this issue may come as a bit of a unexpected surprise to all of you. I hope it is well received nonetheless!
I had a few great reasons though. Firstly the script I use to send this out broke, but as you will see if you read the later sections I solved that with a new partnership. Secondly I have been caught up in a business deal or two, but cannot say a lot about those yet. Thirdly I spent a long weekend out in Kentucky with Hayden. That was great fun!
"So why are you going to read this issues newsletter?", you ask. Well it has what I think all of you should be using for blogging software. I am very happy with my new discovery. You can also read and try for yourself the nuts and bolts that send this newsletter to you.
Next issue I am reviewing a all in one Linksys Router with Vonage service. All in one unit it is very nice so far! I am sure a few more of you will be convinced to swap to this VOIP carrier. I know I am saving a small fortune with it!
Have a bonza day!
Nathan Allan
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With the stress I am under at the moment I have turned to the plonk to take off the edge and relax! No worries about turning into an alcoholic but a glass of red or white goes down nice with dinner!
You guessed it Plonk can refer to alcoholic beverages, especially cheap wine.
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Over the years I have written NetBloke I have tried many applications that manage the list of email addresses that subscribe to the newsletter. One of the best was Newsletter Ease, created by a friend, but development stopped on it and I had to find an alternative. I had tried the likes of Lyris but the costs for this solution, even when just renting space, are large and prohibitive for a small newsletter such as mine.
So I searched high and low and tied a number of different solutions that I could try for free and then but, or were simply free. I don't like paying for something finding it does not work and then being stuck with it.
The last few issues of NetBloke were sent using PHP Multiple Newsletters. However just after the Olympics their were problems with it and it refused to send the newsletter accurately. Rather than give up I offered to partner with the developer and help take the program (or more correctly PHP script) to the next level. He agreed and now what I am using is an Alpha version that has a lot of my feedback and ideas rolled in to it.
There are many more items to be implemented still, however it all appears to be working efficiently enough to start using again, on a live server.
So if you need a web based solution to managing one or more email newsletters, please check out PHP Multiple Newsletters. It is a simple script to install and use. Has some nice functionality, and some great support forums that I am very active on.
Visit: PHP Multiple Newsletters
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I took the plunge and moved from Moveable Type (MT) to WordPress for my blog. I swapped as MT was taking forever to post entries in to the database. There must be some funky programing that doesn't allow for categories to grow beyond a certain point. Anyway it became frustrating and I needed a better solution. Also my friend Brian had suggested looking at it.
Well I beat him to it and was very impressed at the slick interface, super easy 5 minute install, and the easy to use transfer script that moved my blog from MT to WordPress.
It took me a little fiddling to get the blog to look like my site but most people would just use the template it comes with.
I really like the way it handles screening comments, allowing you to moderate them or not slip through based on the amount of links in the post.
It also has capabilities like blog by email, where you set up an email address for it to get your entries from. Not something I use but I can see its applications.
Best of all it is completely free!
Visit: WordPress
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Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.
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Last December, a grandmother was giving directions to her grown grandson who was coming to visit. She explained, "You come to the front door of the apartment complex. I am in apartment 162."
She continued, "There is a big panel at the door. With your elbow push button 162. I will buzz you in. Come inside, the elevator is on the right. Get in, and with your elbow hit 162. When you get out I am on the left. With your elbow, hit my doorbell."
"Nanna, that sounds easy," replied the grandson, "but why am I hitting all these buttons with my elbow"?
To which she answered, "You're coming empty handed?"
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