When I logged into WordPress today I noticed the banner advisor telling me to upgrade my WordPress version. Again.

This time it is version 2.9. This is like the 20th time I have had to upgrade this year. Some of them have been actual improvements for the user. But most have been technical things and anti-spam or hacker tactics. This is getting so tiresome. I like the application but the constant upgrading is not just an inconvenience – it is a huge problem for people who do not have immediate access to their domain servers to install the new version when its released.

After I cleared my inbox of Spam today, I had 2,284 comments flagged as Spam. That is an incredible amount of internet traffic that was wasted, my time reporting it as Spam wasted, and all that time reading and deleting the unwanted messages was wasted.

I supposed some of these idiot messages do slip through the cracks and get approved. So it must pay off for these spammers. But it is a sad waste of time for me and hundreds of thousands of others.

My sister-in-law wants to start blogging. She says she has been reading my blog for a little over a year and that she think blogging looks like fun. Of course, I think it is great fun, plus you connect with a lot of people, including family members that you don’t see every day.

When I first started blogging, I used a free blog site and it worked OK for a few months. But then I wanted to do some more advanced things and so I looked into buying my domain name and finding a web hosting site. That was not hard to do, so then I checked around for the right blogging software and downloaded that. Then I start writing my posts. It was easy!

So when my SIL wants to start on her new blog, I can walk her through the first steps and if she needs help I am just an instant message away!

Today I noticed a message from WordPress that there is an upgrade available. Evidently this upgrade addresses more security issues. I have heard horror stories of people’s servers being hacked by people who have cracked something in WordPress that gives them access to a server.

This is really malicious behavior that needs to be chased down by authorities and stopped. It is one thing to be curious and poke around in other people’s business. But when you attack a web server and interfere with people’s livelihoods, then that is criminal.

Gosh, when I logged in this morning to write a post, I noticed on my dashboard that there is another WordPress update. This update is called 2.8.3 and I could sweat I JUST uploaded an update over the weekend. That seems like an awful fast release of another update. I’m worried that counting on volunteers to do all the work on WordPress is starting to falter and cause a lot of problems for the stability of their product. I just don’t believe that a good product should need constant updates. Once a year is plenty. Once a week and I wonder if they really know what the heck they are doing?

Wonder if anyone noticed the new theme I uploaded for my blog today? I really like the new look.

Have been surfing other blogs this evening. I have several linked here (Howdy, girls and boys!), but I have a bunch that are bookmarked that I like to read, and I’ve been too shy to approach them about a reciprical link. I should do that, though.

I spent over an hour browsing WordPress themes, too. That is fun. Then I had to get help from Gene uploading it using the FTP program. I’ve used FTP several times before, but not recently. It is funny how quickly you can forget the steps to execute the technical things if you don’t do it often.

Was reading this cool Wordpress blog written by Mandy, and I came accross this cool video about a glass touch screen computer out in a public place and was wondering if anyone knew what company sold them or where to buy them? I want one, dammit! Anyone who likes computers will love this video. I hope they make laptops with this type of screen technology one day.

Girl Geeks

Have found a fabulous website saluting women geeks all around the world with tons of great information for girl geeks. Have been reading the posts and guest authors for a couple of months now, and enjoy reading the different perspectives from other women around the world.

They also use a Worpdress blog to run thier website, which I thought was so awsome since I use a Worpdress blog, too and they have all sorts of ways to bling a Wordpress theme.

Getting together with a few friends launching a joint venture project code named Worpal which will be a half Wordpress and a half Drupal opensource project. Without the www. will be the worpdress blogs and the Drupal blogs will be with the www. so for example a a Wordpress blog will be located at wordpress.worpal.com and a drupal blog will be at www.worpal.com/drupal.

We have been scratching our heads on the best way to get this project done and have been going to some local PHP user groups here in town to learn more about PHPs and have logged into Googles webmaster counsel, only to be more confused since it lets you choose only one way for Google to look at your website (either with or without the www). And this is just the beginning it only gets more complicated as both open source projects are at their infancy compared to where they will be in 10 years or 20.

Google summer of code

Looking for something fun to do this summer? All college and university students around the world are invited to apply to get paid $4,500 USD to work on your favorite open source project this summer.

WordPress is among the 131 accepted to Google Summer of Code, out of more than 300 projects that applied

We have eight committed volunteers who are enthusiastic to mentor, learn, and make WordPress a little better in the process.

Check out our ideas for projects, or propose your own. You must apply
by March 24. Good luck!