MarsEdit, blogging software has a lot to offer. I have been testing it out the last few days. The software testing focus has been so intense that there was no notification of the last entry:
Testing new software is a lot of fun, but it can be a dead end experience; there is not always a good fit between what the user wants to do and what the software is designed to do. The program is easy to use with a few exceptions, the spell checking function comes and goes, not sure why, probably something in my settings, but fiddling hasn’t revealed what prevents the spell checking function from working as I type. Another issue I had was with uploading images, but that issue was on my side and had to do with server permissions, something that a casual user would not encounter unless they changed permissions on the server, which is unlikely. I am using the 30 day demo, and if I find that I actually use the software for the next 30 days, then I will purchase it.
The only real advantage that MarsEdit offers to a single blog author, like me, is that posts can be written and created offline, very easily and in full, with images and special html code, and uploaded at any time. So, for instance, when I am at the little house in the city, I can author a journal entry or entries, sitting in the kitchen; and wait, until I can get to a McDonalds restaurant for a coffee and wifi, to post it.
Authoring several blogs would make MarsEdit a “must have” piece of software, in my view. And if it interfaced with Facebook and Twitter, an earnings oriented blogger could not function efficiently without it, or other software like it.
I began a personal journal as a written diary as a teenager. That little book was burned without my knowledge, as were all my childhood keepsakes. As an adult I have kept hand written journals for years, these were never meant for anyone’s eyes but my own, and chronicled a difficult journey.
In 1999 I began an online journal by purchasing a domain, coding my own website and manually uploading my files to the host server. That process became easier when I purchased and taught myself to use Dreamweaver, which I still use today for authoring several web sites. The original online journal remains on the server, just as it was when first created: Maggie Turner, Page by Page Archive.
In May of 2010 I decided to install WordPress on my server and begin posting my online journal entries in that format. The new format means that the entries are stored on the server, and backed up on my computer at home, as database files, which cannot be read by simply double clicking on a file. The database files must be displayed via software, such as WordPress, which is a UNIX based environment and not really user friendly. So I have my reservations, because things evolve so quickly that I can see these files becoming completely inaccessible in the future. I haven’t found an easy way to get the journal entries into another format, such as text or even PDF files. There are solutions but the ones I have tried are flakey and excessively time consuming.
On the domestic front, yesterday Attila prepared a wonderful turkey dinner. We will be eating leftovers for weeks, and are looking forward to “turkey dinner” meals, casseroles and soup.
Early this morning I washed the trays for my new dehydrator, in anticipation of the first drying experiment. The racks have to be completely dry to begin, and are left to dry near the masonry heater.
Mist continues to sit forlornly yowling, where the Christmas tree used to be. She may have spent time yowling during the night, but we didn’t hear her, we shut the door so that we could sleep through the night. I can see that we have rocked Mist’s world, and will have to tolerate her grieving process, as she deals with the loss of her beloved Christmas tree. The pain of loss is a very real pain and must be respected.
The sun is shining. I have moved the furniture around so that when I am sitting, I am sitting in the sun. It feels wonderful!
Worldly Distractions
Weather
-18 °C
Condition: Sunny
Pressure: 101.5 kPa
Visibility: 16 km
Temperature: -17.8°
Dewpoint: -21.2°
Humidity: 75 %
Wind: NNW 8 km/h
Wind Chill: -24
Quote
“It is easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them.”
Alfred Adler
1870 – 1937
I’ve been reading your journal since the beginning entry! I tested making a pdf of your entry. I told the browser to print it, and it made a pdf file via my Adobe standard 9.0. However, it turned a mostly text file into 405 KB. (I’m still one of the few hand coders left, I think.) I didn’t realize your entries could not be accessed offline.
I hope Mist is more used to her Christmas tree less environment.
Thanks Joan, the blogging software definitely reduces author control of content storage, in my opinion. I am experimenting with Anthologize, but so far it is really clunky and time consuming, but I haven’t tried the new version yet, so here is hoping.
Mist is adjusting slowly. This morning she spent a few minutes sitting where the tree used to me softly complaining, rather than yowling angrily. I think she has given up hope that we will respond as requested and is taking to herself about the injustices of the universe. I’ve been trying to compensate with extra milk and lots of attention.
Poor Mist. Nine or 10 months to wait till the next tree comes indoors must seem like forever, to a cat!