OK, well, that was problematic...

So now I have decided to use MacPorts to reinstall all -- using this guide:

http://trac.macports.org/wiki/howto/MAMP

First thing I did was run

sudo port -f uninstall installed

...to get rid of everything I had installed earlier this evening!

Downgrading PHP from 5.3 to 5.2 on Snow Leopard

Tonight I am following these instructions to downgrade my installation of PHP from 5.3 to 5.2, so that I can reliably develop Drupal and WordPress on my Mac:

http://trikks.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/downgrading-php-5-3-0-to-5-2-10-on-snow-leopard-server/

I'll let you know if I run into any snags...

First thing I needed to do was to install the latest version of MacPorts, which I got from here:

http://www.macports.org/install.php

The package installer was fine. One thing to keep in mind is, if you have a Terminal window open before you install MacPorts, you've got to restart Terminal in order to use it!

"sudo port install php52 +mysql5 +sqlite" takes a LONG time...

I tried this, but it did not work:
http://trikks.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/restart-all-running-services-in-os-x-server/

sudo: serveradmin: command not found

WordPress Custom Post Types + Custom Fields

Here are some resources to aid in understanding how to implement custom post types, and, more significantly, custom fields in WordPress 3:

http://codex.wordpress.org/Custom_Fields

http://justintadlock.com/archives/2007/10/24/using-wordpress-custom-fields-introduction

http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/add_meta_box

http://wefunction.com/2008/10/tutorial-creating-custom-write-panels-in-wordpress

http://kovshenin.com/archives/extending-custom-post-types-in-wordpress-3-0

http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/query_posts

Inserting Membership Types into CiviCRM

I reject repetitive tasks!

Here is the query I am using to insert new membership types into CiviCRM:

INSERT INTO `civicrm_membership_type` (name, domain_id, member_of_contact_id, contribution_type_id, duration_unit, duration_interval, period_type, visibility, weight )
VALUES ('Sponsor', 1, 2, 2, 'year', 1, 'rolling', 'Public', 2)

Obviously 'domain_id' and 'member_of_contact_id' need to be based on pre-existing conditions, so make sure you add one membership type to establish the pattern, then use this for the rest...

Linux list and delete fun

To display:
find . -name "cron.php.*"

To delete:
find . -name "cron.php.*" | xargs rm -rf

Yay!

What is with all these "smarty" errors in my CiviCRM installation?

http://sca-roadside-local:8888/civicrm/admin/uf/group?action=add&reset=1

user error: Smarty error: [in CRM/UF/Form/Group.hlp line 91]: syntax error: mismatched tag {/htxt}. expected {/ts} (opened line 90). (Smarty_Compiler.class.php, line 2338) in /Library/WebServer/Sites/MAMP/sca-roadside.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/packages/Smarty/Smarty.class.php on line 1093.

etc., etc., etc.!

Running CRON jobs on a Mac

Finding this helpful:

http://www.alvinpoh.com/how-to-add-cron-or-cron-like-jobs-to-mac-with-mamp-or-otherwise/

however, I am confused. You launch the job cycle like this:
sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/yourfile.cron.plist

But how do you UN-launch it, say, to restart?

4x4s at the two evil empires...

LOWE'S
12525 AURORA AVENUE NORTH
SEATTLE, WA 98133
(206) 366-0365 (press 5, then 5 again for lumber)
M-SA 6-10, SU 7-9

4x4 untreated
8ft $6.23
10ft $7.67
(no 12 ft)

Home Depot
11616 Aurora Ave N
Seattle, WA 98133
(206) 361-9600 (press 3, then 2 for lumber)
Mon-Sat: 6:00am-10:00pm
Sun: 8:00am-8:00pm

4x4 untreated
8ft $6.23
10ft $7.67
12ft $9.23

The price of 4x4 lumber

My apologies to anyone who might subscribe to this poor excuse for a blog.

Today I am exploring the possibilities of building an arbor to support my (finally) thriving wisteria and grape vines.

Called Limback Lumber for prices on 4x4 lumber, doug fir, nontreated:
4x4 80c/ft 8, 10, 12 lengths
4x4 treated 8ft 8.95
10 1.40/ft
12 1.40/ft

Blackstock's prices are:
77c/foot

North City Lumber's prices are usually the best; but they are not answering their phone... Oh, closed for their annual golf tournament. Wow, golf on the hottest day on record!

How about my local favorite, Dunn Lumber?
Jeez, $1.30/foot!

LIMBACK LUMBER CO INC
2600 NW Market St
Seattle,WA 98107
(206) 782-3487

BLACKSTOCK LUMBER CO INC
1039 Elliott Ave W
Seattle,WA 98119
(206) 284-1313

NORTH CITY LUMBER CO INC
1221 NE 175th St
Shoreline,WA 98155
(206) 362-6200

DUNN LUMBER CO
1108 N 185th St
Shoreline,WA 98133
(206) 542-2164

Installing WAMP

http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi

"Apache HTTP Server 2.2.4 is the best available version"

apache_2.2.4-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi

http://www.php.net/downloads.php

http://us2.php.net/get/php-5.2.3-win32-installer.msi/from/a/mirror

Bare-bones W2K installation

OK, I have created a bare-bones instance of Windows 2000 Server.

I made sure to NOT install IIS, as I feel it will be best to use non-Microsoft products for this.

I have installed Service Pack 4, and upgraded to Internet Explorer 6.

Now I am going to save this configuration before installing anything fancy...

Deciding to learn Java

OK, so, well, I have decided it might be time for me to learn some hardcore programming, and that learning Java might be the best choice for me as a web developer.

So, I have begun setting up an environment dedicated to achieving this goal.

I am running Windows 2000 Server (SP4) over Parallels Desktop on my MacBook Pro running Tiger, and it is there that I will begin my adventure.

Why, you might ask, don't I simply run a Java web server on Tiger itself?

Well, very simply, I don't want to risk messing up my native system. Since I am pretty green when it comes to server setups to begin with, I would rather work in an environment that is easily backed up periodically, or trashed entirely if necessary.

New Web Site Now Up!

Come enjoy my Junk Drawers at: http://www.junkdrawerphotos.com/

Junk Drawers at the Secret Garden!

I am launching a month-long show, Junk Drawers, at the Secret Garden Bookshop in Seattle.

The show will be hanging from January 5 through February 5, and will therefore be featured in this month's Second Saturday Artwalk (January 13).

It is a series of ten 20" square color photographs of, well, people's junk drawers.

Enjoy!

Honeycrisp Pollinators

According to Sky Nursery's handy apple tree list (pdf file), Honeycrisp requires one ofthe following companion trees as a pollinator. I don't live in the vicinity of any other apple trees, so I have got to choose from among the following:

• Rosey Glow
• Chehalis
• Akane
• Spartan

Of these, Rosey Glow and Akane are the most attractive to me.

Rosey Glow ripens very early -- mid-August -- so it would be a nice foil to Honeycrisp's mid-September fall.

But, I can't find much information about Rosey Glow -- Akane might be the best choice, in spite of its later harvest.

http://www.applejournal.com/use.htm

Which Apples?

I want to plant two apple trees.

For the past year, maybe two, I have been moving two concrete blocks around in my yard, trying to find the perfect spot for them.

I feel I have settled on good locations, and I am ready to go.

The only potential issue is that they will be within 15-20 feet of two very large douglas firs, which could potentially monopolize what little water falls over the summer.

This summer is supposed to be wetter than usual, however, so they'll probably be ok for the critical first year.

And so, the question: which apples?

Honeycrisp (one word) is possibly the tastiest apple I have eaten, so that has definitely got to be one of them:

http://www.honeycrisp.org

http://seattlebonvivant.typepad.com/seattle_bon_vivant/2004/11/honey_crisp_app.html

Sky Nursery has semi dwarf and dwarf varieties on hand, $32.97 each.

Thoughts on photography

I believe I may have finally come to terms with my equipment wants and needs. For the past year or two, I have been agonizing as to whether or not I should "go digital," convert my darkroom into an inkjet room, and never again buy a roll of film.

In truth, this might be the best route to take in continuing my Junk Drawers project, as it would allow a higher degree of control over some aspects of these images.

In general, however, I do not feel that the amount and type of photography I do (sporadic black & white landscape hobby photography, for the most part) warrants spending upwards of $1500 on a camera alone.

If I were a professional event photographer, this would probably be my tool of choice:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Nikon/nikon_d200.asp

But, every 6 months or so, somebody comes up with something new, that renders all year-old cameras obsolete!

Besides, I have gotten so spoiled by my tiny little digital snapshot camera, that I am loathe to carry anything much heavier.

Therefore, for the time being, for "fine" photography anyway, I am sticking with silver... and, yes, gelatin...

For snapshots, my little 3.2 MP Canon digital camera is just fine:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_sd110.asp

And now, I am on the lookout for a vintage Zeiss Ikon. More to come on this subject...

Jessamyn, June 2005

I open my web log with a view of Jessamyn experimenting with a new hairstyle.