I have removed all the URLs in my ping list and will now post this and check the CPU utilization during and after the post to see where the httpd process ends up. It seems odd that posting would cause this, but nothing else on the server causes this, including other Wordpress installations. The only difference that I know of outside of a few plugins is the ping list contents.

Tweet This

I just updated the previous post by simply changing the title from Mblogging to Moblogging. Needless to say I ended up with about 30 httpd processes, three of them going defunct and two of them eating up 98-99% of CPU availability. Hmmm…..

I am going to try something, as when I post from this blog (I host several other blogs and they seem to be working just fine) I have a rather lengthy list of ping services that I send pings out to. I am wondering if maybe this list has some bad entries in it that is causing the traffic to bounce back and forth or something otherwise causing it to start trying to load several processes to handle it, thus bogging the server down by utilizing the CPU.

Tweet This

Moblogging -
my attempt at writing a post from a windows mobile based phone. the wordpress interface does not scale to the tiny screen well….but the theme I have right now does make the posts fairly readable.

Tweet This

One of the things I have noticed on my aging server, which is going to be replace as soon as I can get my new one delivered to the data center where I do the co-location, is when I make a post from within WordPress, the HTTPD process seems to spawn anywhere from 5-8 children. These each then eat up 4-5% cpu process and 7.5-15 MB memory.

I am not sure why this is, but it then makes the server slow to a crawl on serving web pages, as the HTTPD process is completely maxed and running many children. I can understand that during the post it may need to do this, but after the post is done, and the page is reloaded the processes should go back down, but they are not doing that. And it is only when posting through WordPress that I find it does this. All of the various forum software I have ran on the server has never done this, nor has anything else that I have tried on here. And it seems to have only started after I did the upgrade to Wordpress 2.2.3 at the beginning of the year.

Case in point - I just made a post, and I now have close to 23 instances of HTTPD running on the server and it is not loading any pages (I am restarting the httpd daemon before hitting publish on this post). So I will be glad to get the new server online and get past this, since I have not had the time to find out why it is doing that.

Tweet This

Well, Saturday April 26, 2008 I purchased my first Harley-Davidson motorcycle, which consequently is also the first vehicle purchase I have ever made that was for a brand new (aka showroom) never before used vehicle.

Which one did I get? 2008 Sportster 883 Custom. Not a big V-Twin, but it is a Harley and it gets an estimated 60mpg, which since I drive about 70 per day to get to and from work, it will save me a couple hundred a month on gasoline, which makes up for the payment.

So, as I pointed out on ProBlogger in a comment - if I can make enough with the whole blogging idea - this blog a couple others I write on - to make the payment, that would be great. If not, I can still afford iit, but it would be nice to make enough blogging to pay for the bike, and to get my wife and daughter a horse. Speaking of which - I may very well take the time to start a blog about how to find time and do things, such as blogging, when one is married, has 5 kids (3 teenagers and 2 younger), a full work-day, chruch activities, plus everything else that life brings at us.

I may start that one on one of my other domains I own…….still not sure yet…I can’t even keep up with this blog, you know!

Tweet This

So I am looking at putting my new server online in the next few weeks finally (after some unforeseen difficulties outside the server). I was thinking about offering WordPress hosting - $3.95 per month, with email, 5gb storage for images etc, and 1g bandwidth - it would be ideal for users wanting to host a proprietary domain WordPress (as opposed to a free hosted one) and should prove cost effective. If the bandwidth limit is exceed it would be a nominal charge to purchase additional bandwidth as it becomes necessary to do so.

What does anyone who read this think about the idea? I would sell them as an annual package only for the main account - $47.40 with no setup fees. Then if the bandwidth is exceeded it would be an additional $1 per GB per month. Anyone think it is a good idea? Bad Idea? Any suggestions? Leave a comment and let me know.

Tweet This

Just completed the upgrade to Wordpress 2.5. If you notice something amiss or off looking, let me know.

Tweet This

Update:

According to my first post of the new year, I should be updating this blog more than I am. However, several things have happened that have prevented that. The most notable is some issues with the server it is housed on currently. Other things, such as working full time, finishing my bachelor’s degree and family have also impeded my commitment to this blog.

The good news is that I have acquired a better server that will offer better speed and more reliability. As for the other commitments, well, they will at this time continue to come before the blog. I hope to start a new series soon on “casual blogging” which is more of what I do at this point in time.

Anyway - the new server should go online sometime in the next month or so and hopefully the transition will go smoothly and down time will be kept to a minimum.

Tweet This

As a developer/designer I often times find myself trying to find ways to generate ideas for design. Whether it be for graphics, layout, color schemes or even writing code to tackle a new problem, sometimes the dreaded creative block sets in. So what is it that I do to help spur the creative juices flowing? I will give a list of things I have done in the past, things I current do and things I have been thinking of trying. Hopefully you will find this list helpful.

1. Gallery & Design Sites
   These sites are nothing but a collection of great designs (most of the time) that can really inspire the creative process. Here are a few that I visit now and again, and in no particular order of importance.
   • http://www.templatesfeed.com
   • http://www.noupe.com/design/101-css-techniques-of-all-time-part-1.html
   • http://www.ndesign-studio.com/
   • http://bestwebgallery.com/
   • http://www.webdesignerwall.com/
   • http://cssmania.com/
   • http://cssremix.com/
   • http://www.cssdrive.com/
2. Nature
   I am lucky to live close to the Rocky Mountains, so it is rather simple to get away on a Saturday afternoon and take a drive through some absolutely amazing country. Spring and autumn are full of amazing colors in the mountains and provide a great way to get away from the hustle of daily routine, while providing great inspiration. Don’t live close to mountains? How about taking a drive or bike ride around a local lake, or any other outdoorsy place. If you are city bound and cannot get out to the country side, take a trip through a local botanical garden. An aquarium can also provide spectacular sites that may help generate some great creative ideas as well.
3. Architecture
   Go visit historical building around town to get inspired by that of old. Or checkout some modern architectural designs for inspiration of creating a good flowing layout. Museums can also help in this area - you can get some classic color schemes from studying relics of the past, color schemes that aren’t in common use today, but when used wisely can create a great design.
4. Libraries

   Take a trip to the local library and peruse some books. It may be a travel book full of great photos from a foreign country that inspires you, or it may a book about art, technology, science. It may even very well be that the people you encounter can give you an idea for a design - libraries are full of colorful people, children, punks, goths, grand-parents. It could be the library building itself.

5. People

   As mentioned in the Library section, watching people can bring about a creative idea. People are absolutely amazing, and simply sitting at a local coffee shop and observing them may very well stir something. You find all types of people, from all walks of life everyday, creating a diverse field of inspiration that you can leverage to stir up the creativeness.

While not lengthy or all inclusive, these are somethings I have done, still do or have thought to do to help the creative process. If you have something that you do to help jumpstart your creative juices, drop a comment and share it for others to read.

Tweet This