Right on the heels of encountering problems after attempting to migrate my blog to a WordPress only host (long story short: redirecting the name servers was producing “freaky” results), I’ve now come across another error: My wireless router is once again blocking FTP access.

I am not sure why it keeps doing this (yes, I’ve looked at the settings and they all “appear normal”) and after suspecting the firewall (turning it off, along with anti-virus) I received the same “no dice for Darnell” error.

Last time I googled around for answers and a few experts weighed in with analysis of the issue (validating that it can block FTP) but no solution.

Since I REALLY want to migrate my blog, what I’m going to do is do it all manually. Basically create all the folders and upload the data to the server “the old fashioned way” by simply importing my WordPress data and uploading the media files later.

I’ll save this for the weekend job, but fortunately this should be a lot easier thanks to VaultPress.

Note: While I do like my wireless router, sometimes I think its “too protective.”

Image Credit: Linux Home Networking

Apparently HostMonster went down and took out all of my sites with it (Colony Worlds, IsraGood, Darnell (Concise Opinions) and a dozen others).

Lets just say for the record I was VERY UNHAPPY over the lack of communication regarding the unscheduled downtime, as the company didn’t notify anyone via email or twitter (yes, @HostMonster does have a twitter account, although they have yet to use it).

After hearing rumors of a DDoS attack, HostMonster was able to clarify that they were instead upgrading their site with new hardware (and scanning files for bad data).

During the outage, I was talking to Media Temple on Twitter (@MediaTemple), as well as Rack Space (via chat) in my quest for a new host.

My plan was to simply import my blog from the VaultPress archives and export it into Media Temple. Their service starts at $20/month for 100 GB and 1 terrabyte transfer (which is expensive but you get what you pay for).

Fortunately cooler minds prevailed, HostMonster apologized and my sites are (currently) back online.

However this whole episode has inspired me to transfer my domains from HostMonster to GoDaddy sooner (I was planning to anyways in order to avoid violating the 3 laws of domains).

I still have a few technical details before the process begins, but either way I will probably be exporting most of my sites upon Media Temple by the end of this year (I’d do it sooner, but I have to increase my geek budget as VaultPress isn’t cheap!).

We broke the story that Mel told Oksana Grigorieva, the mother of his love child, “You’re an embarrassment to me. You look like a f***ing bitch in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of n***ers, it will be your fault.” RadarOnline.com had heard the tape.

Now, in a blockbuster world exclusive, RadarOnline.com is posting the audio of Mel’s disgusting outburst. You can listen to it here.(RadarOnline.com)

After previously making slurs against women and Israelis, I was willing to “overlook” Gibson’s outburst due to the fact that he was drunk and displayed some remorse for his comments later on when he was sober.

After this though I’ll be boycotting all of Gibson’s movies (past & present), since the last thing I want to do is condone his actions, especially since we both “share” the same faith (albeit I’m of the Protestant variety).

The sad part about this whole dilemma is that I actually once defended this (formally) great man after he made The Passion of the Christ.

For now I’m glad I held off seeing Edge of Darkness, as well as his Amazon flick, and despite his excellent skill as an actor (and a director) I’ll spend my money and time else where.

Farewell Mel, and as they say in Israel, Shalom! (as you really need to find some)

–Posted from my iPhone

I originally joined Facebook in order to see the latest status updates, videos and photos of my friends, frenemies and fellow geeks from various times zones around the world.

Now all I see is people growing virtual plants they can not eat, flying fighter planes they can not afford or embezzling money in cyberspace because they’re too afraid to do it in real life (note: the last part is a GOOD thing!).

While I think joining games like Farmville, Mafia wars and those apps claiming to speak for the Almighty to be silly, I’m getting tired of hiding these items from my wall (as it seems people keep finding various clones of the above mentioned games).

In order to keep my sanity, Facebook needs to create I’m a “Do Not Facebook Me” list, similar to the Do Not Call list created by Uncle Sam.

Even if this was a premium feature (say between $1-$5 per month), this would be worth it, as it would clear Facebook of the noise that often plagues the social network (at least for non-gaming geeks like me).

Will Facebook do this? I don’t know, but right now I’m looking for alternative hangouts. (hint: Twitter and Google Buzz)

Welcome to my world ladies and gentleman!

Back in the day when someone stole my content (which happened weekly), I would simply send a cease and desist order, or if they were anonymous I would contact their host (who more often than not shut down the scum’s site).

That was when people who were stealing my content were from nations that acknowledged copyrights.

Fast forward to today: there are now dozens who are daily stealing my content (sometimes very brazenly), with many being hosted in nations that either do not recognize US copyright laws or if they do recognize it, refuse to do anything because they currently hate my government (think China).

Since I am getting tired of this “cat and mouse” game, I think I’m going to embrace TechCrunch‘s policy and instead focus on creating great content (translation: ignore the thieves).

Will this work in the long run? Who knows! But until I can build an army of robots to lay the vicious smack down against these thieves skulls find an affordable solution, I’m going to stop sending cease and desist orders (as I’m not too sure how effective they are in English overseas).

– Posted from my iPhone

Here’s one example (as there are plenty more):

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

~Matthew 5:43-45

I’ve heard people talk about these verses forever, but I have seen very few actually live this out as if it were a natural way of living.

I mean if you met someone you REALLY didn’t like, would you want to bless them with a Christmas gift? Or a happy unbirthday present?

Perhaps I should use an exmaple here.

Let’s say this man below…

Despite the fact he is screwing over the economic future of America by spending (tax payer) money faster than a drunken sailer at Vegas? (can you say deficits!!)

Perhaps.

But unless I somehow obtain 10% of Jesus’s love for humanity, there is no way on I can fully live up to this commandment.

– Posted from my iPhone

Okay, before this reaches Techmeme, I just wanted to let everyone know that I am not suing Google, rather I am VERY frustrated that one of their online office suites, Google Calendar will NOT stop sending me text messages reminders despite the fact that I sent the STOP command, and even turned off reminders in my gCalendar event.

I thought this was an isolated case, but it seems that numerous folks are experiencing the same thing, on various carriers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile).

Since these texts are costing me money, I am going to ban Google indefinitely until this problem is either resolved, or Congress grants me a personal bailout.

Note: For those of you suffering under the same thing as well, just simply call your provider and have them block 483-68.

Sigh…and I needed to go online to finish up some work tonight too. I'll call AT&T tonight to see what's up, although I may consider switching to cable (or satellite).

Update: It’s back up, but “spotty.” I’m definitely going to look into another carrier, as I am not “too thrilled” with AT&T’s service lately.

I am really getting irritated with Firefox lately. Although the browser is awesome, its major weakness is the fact that it is a glutton when it comes to memory use.

Today alone I had to restart my computer three times because I couldn’t satisfy its hunger with my computer’s resources. Even with the various hacks employed.

I am sticking with Internet Explorer 7 for now, although I may consider using Opera.

And thus begins my search for a new browser again. Sigh…

Update (5/22): I discovered (yet another) useful hack that may solve my Firefox woes.

I seriously hope the Mozilla team finds a fix to this in Firefox 3, as this is getting to be quite annoying.

(Reaganwuzthebest on Free Republic) Here you go, THIS is what you need to change, VERY SIMPLE!

Find this line using the about:config in the URL = browser.cache.memory.enable

Click or double click on it so it reads: FALSE It should turn Bold also, to note the change.

I tried it, loaded up on as many pages as I could find and WHAMMO! Memory never exceeded my limits and dropped down to the 22k evertime a page would finally complete loading!!!

I’m still testing out Opera as a back up alternative, although I have to admit the web looks a lot prettier in IE7 and Firefox than Opera. Yeah, I know, I’m picky…