Archive for June, 2008

Here is a video I put together showing how to install both Firefox 2 and Firefox 3 so they run together at the same time on a Windows box. Mac users should be able to follow roughly the same procedures.

This was only my second time using screencasting software, so the audio is almost that of a telephone line, but due to YouTube size guidelines, I had to make it small.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vo80b1CtWA[/youtube]

For written instructions, just scroll down, or click here for a written tutorial on running Firefox 2 and Firefox 3 at the same time.

Technorati Tags: firefox 3, firefox 2, video tutorial

Im not a cook.   To even remotely call me a cook would be insulting to cooks everywhere.

So Im not sure why, after I agreed to buy store-bought salsa to an office party tomorrow, I came up with the crazy notion of making deviled eggs.  Im not a egg eater per se, and to be honest Ive never hard boiled an egg.   Ever.  Ive never liked eating them THAT much.  Egg salad yes, just plain hard boiled eggs, no.

So I slaved over a stove tonight and learned just how hard it is to make deviled eggs – or rather how time consuming it is.   I faithfully followed the instructions at http://www.deviledeggs.com and here is the result!

24 deviled egg halves ready for the office party.

Mission… accomplished!

Believe it or not, after installing Firefox 3, at least one of the web sites I had designed using CSS broke. I’m not sure if it is because Firefox 3 is more strict or less strict with the CSS, but it didn’t really matter – it was broken. So I fixed it in Firefox 3, then it was broken again in 2. The dilemna was suddenly upon me. Yes, just like IE… I had to run 2 instances of Firefox.

But it wasn’t that easy.

NOTE: This references paths for Windows, but Mac users can perform a similar task using the same commands/techniques.

Profiles

Firefox uses Profiles to contain your favorites and settings. Most people never see these profiles since they just start it up and use the Default User profile. This is usually adequate for most users but some, like me, need more than one profile.

So, first I had to make a new profile. Since I already had Firefox 3 installed and over-wrote my Firefox 2, I was going to create a new profile and use the new one for Firefox 3.

To create a new profile, I had to exit Firefox and then click on Start, Run and browsed to the location that Firefox3 was in. Then, I had to type in -profilemanager to launch the manager. so, the run command looked something like:

c:\program files\mozilla.org\firefox3\firefox.exe -profilemanager

This brought up a Profile selection screen, where I clicked on Create Profile and created the new profile. Then I double clicked that new profile, and Firefox3 launched with that profile.

Downloading Firefox 2 Again

The next task was to redownload Firefox2, which you can find at ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/2.0.0.14/

I then installed it into a separate directory than Firefox 3.

when you double click it the firefox icon, you will now get the OLD Firefox (since it tells Windows that Firefox is now in the Firefox2 directory.

Create Shortcut

Create a new shortcut that you want to use for your Firefox3 icon, right click on it and choose properties so you can change the location of the executable. Make it point to your Firefox3 directory. You might also want to rename the shortcut “Firefox 3″ instead of just plain Firefox too.

There is one little thing you have to do to the Firefox3 icon.  You need to specify the profile.

For instance the shortcut should look like:

shortcut_to_firefox.exe -P profilename -no-remote

or

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -P profilename -no-remote

Voila! You should be able to run both Firefox2 and Firefox3 side by side. You can even import your bookmarks if you want.

Technorati Tags: firefox 2, firefox 3

I was first alerted to the 6 Figure Blogging course by a tweet (Twitter) from Chris Brogan, a highly respected expert on social media, not to mention a friend and colleague after meeting briefly at PodCamp Boston 2.

I have been blogging here on TroyRutter.com for many years, and I have always been interested, fascinated, irritated, frustrated at not having the ability to actual monetize the blog.  AKA – make money.

After reading the course is presented by Darren Rowse of problogger.com and Andy Wibbels who works at Six Apart, I decided to give it a try.

Preview Call

Before purchasing the course, the pair conducted a free preview call to introduce themselves and the course. Both of them spoke well, were engaging, and most of all made sense.  I decided to go for it.

The Course

The course is divided into several (six) conference calls, each on a different topic.  Some examples include choosing a niche, monetizing a blog, working with adsense, writing good copy, etc.

Darren does much of the talking, only yielding to Andy for a couple of minutes, and also when there are phone calls or emails from participants.   Once the Q&A section is over, it goes back to Darren who continues to chat about the topic at length.

My Experience

To me, I was disappointed that the course on Six Figure Blogging was so elementary.   The advice and lessons that were given in the course were very beginner-like, and would have been the subject of “Two Figure Blogging” if not less.

I already make four figures blogging and on my personal web sites, so I was looking to take it to the next level.  While I did find some tips and tools that I didn’t know before, the majority of the course was “old hat” to me, and I felt very disappointed when the course was over.

One of the things that was extremely disappointing was the way the Q&As from the audience were handled, and the call ended.  At times it seemed like Andy couldn’t wait to get off of the call and do something else.  He would quickly ask for questions (sometimes forgetting to answer the ones submitted through the web site) and quickly ask again for questions and then end with “I guess there aren’t any questions… goodbye!”

It was this rushing through user’s questions that I felt damaged the course.  Also, the interaction in the forums was there, but it was more reactionary than participatory.  I expected Andy and Darren to use the medium to elicit conversations, not expect the “class” to start them.

Did I learn anything?  Certainly – a few tools.  Would I recommend the course?  I would recommend it for the beginner blogger who has either just started or is looking to start their first blog.  But if you have 1 or more years under your belt, I would seek a course better suited to your knowledge level.

Find Out More About The Six Figure Blogging Course

Technorati Tags: six figure blogging, andy wibbels, darren rowse, troy rutter, course review

I haven’t had a summer reading list since Elementary school, but as I have become painfully aware over the past few months, web technologies and methodologies are changing quickly, and if I don’t want to get left behind, I really need to not only look at the “new” coming out, but also catch up on what everybody was talking about the past few months.

Web Developer Magazine
This is a great magazine from the UK that has a lot of tips and tricks, including a “redesign contest” every issue.  To my surprise, Iowa’s own Chris Pirillo appears with a wonderful 2 page spread in this issue.

The Long Tail
I knew there was a new, revised edition of the book coming out in about a month, but I wanted to get caught up now.  From what I heard it is a great book on how the world is turning to niche web sites, TV programs, etc. instead of consuming information that was meant for the millions.   Im really looking forward to reading it.

The TIpping Point
I haven’t heard as much about this book as I have The Long Tail, but from what I have heard and the book jacket I read, it is a book about how little things can change the world.  Not necessarily the much hyped “viral videos” but real-world examples of how to change mass behavior.

The Google Story
I started another book, “The Search” a few months ago and still haven’t finished it.  I had heard about this particular book and am always looking for inspirational stories to try and rekindle the fire that I felt while working at Warner Bros. Online back in the late 90’s.  This one should be a fun read.

The Design of Sites, 2nd Edition
This was a hard one for me to buy, partly because of the $60 price tag.  While I consider myself a fairly competent designer and developer, just looking at the pages in the book gave me even more ideas, and pointed out some things that I had forgotten or had been doing wrong, resulting in counter-intuitive web designs.  This is one I will probably reference, but may not read cover to cover, but I look forward to the examples.

So there is my reading list for this summer.  I will try and post a review of each book as I finish them off.

What are you doing to expand your skillsets in your job or workplace?

Technorati Tags: web development, troy rutter, the ti pping point, the long tail, design of sites, google, chris pirillo

When news of impending flooding first trickled in over news reports, web developer Andy Brudtkuhl of 48Web, LLC didn’t get his shovel and start sand-bagging, he went to his computer and started blogging.

Minutes later, iowaflood.com was born.

Hours later, it had teen angst -  as over 15,000 people visited the site within 24 hours, and over 30,000 different people logged into the site within 24 hours, causing Brudtkuhl to have to change where the site was hosted due to the increased number of visitors.

News of the site was communicated to other bloggers and even The Des Moines Register through a computer service called Twitter, which allows users to send short messages to other users who subscribe to another person’s updates.   Soon, stories, photos, videos and updates were appearing on the iowaflood.com web site automatically thanks to new technologies available on the Internet.

As the week continued, the front page of the site changed often, with requests for help sand-bagging appearing first on the page, followed by the most recent photos from the Iowa City flooding and notices of what bridges are underwater throughout the state.

Local residents aren’t the only ones tuning in to the new web site, either.   Brudtkuhl says he has done an interview for WNYC, a New York City public radio station about the web site and flooding in Des Moines.  There is no accurate way of telling how many radio and television stations are currently monitoring the site for news, since anybody can subscribe to the site’s news feed and be automatically notified of new photos and videos.

As threats of more flooding continue in Des Moines and around the state, the web site will continue to automatically update with the latest information, almost by itself.  For the most up-to-date “Floods of 08″ coverage, you will be hard-pressed to find a better source than iowaflood.com.

Technorati Tags: Iowa flood, #iowaflood, social networking, twitter, flooding