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Getting Blogged Down
The last three days have been interesting and frustrating. What began as a simple upgrade by the company that operates the blog website for the Press-Republican ended up a mini-disaster, with confusion across the nation.
The Press had been told that the upgrade would have no effect on the operation of the blogs. One P-R internet staffer told me that the upgrade was supposed to be "seamless, but instead it fell apart at the seams." Anyone trying to read the On the Sly blogs met with a blank page and frustration.
It caused me and many of the regular visitors to On the Sly to question our own computers and immediately search for a remedy. I tried different computers, contacted friends with computers, switched browsers from Firefox to Explorer to Netscape and back again, all to no avail. I restarted, cleaned my desktop and deleted history and cleared cache. Still no blog.
As frustrating as it was for me and others, it was especially frustrating to the internet staff at the Press-Republican. At one point on Wednesday, the problem was seemingly solved, because in the Press-Republican office the blogs were working fine. For whatever reason, the blogs still were down for the rest of the world.
E-mails and phone calls kept me busy on Wednesday and into Thursday as I worried that the entire blog site might have to be rebuilt, and I feared that all of the blogs I have written would be lost forever. Several regular readers e-mailed wondering if the problem was with their computer or the actual site.
Finally today, Thursday, On the Sly and the other blogs were up and working. Much to my relief all of the blogs remained intact at the site, except for my most recent one, which was published on March 23. It was titled "Sometimes You Can Just Give Up" or something like that, and it was about the Lenten season. That blog seems to have floated into blog purgatory, and may forever remain outside the world wide web.
If anyone happened to have bookmarked that blog or made a hard copy of it, I could use it and republish it. In the meantime, I'll be working on an easy way to save all of my previous blogs, just so I can have them for my files.
Anyone who knows me knows that I save everything, and I even have every graded college report I did while working towards my degree at Plattsburgh State.
Otherwise, On the Sly is back up and running. Thanks to all who expressed their concerns during those confusing days. Hey, we were only blogged down a few days. It's not like we had to give it up for all of Lent!
Comments
Jeeez...all this time I thought I was only addicted to coffee and M&M's!
Welcome back!
I'll be in the 'Burgh a little more frequently to visit Mom, so lets plan a meeting at Gracie's.
Posted by: Kern | April 2, 2007 12:34 PM
I glad you’re up and running again. I also thought it was my computer and ran several scans. Reading the blog is so much more enjoyable then reading the daily violence and traffic reports here in Atlanta.
Posted by: T | April 1, 2007 1:28 PM
My first blog entry try was on your blog and, of course, it was when you were having problems. I figured it was my computer. Ok, I'll be honest. I actually thought it was most likely my son or daughter doing SOMETHING ELSE AGAIN on my computer. I'm glad I didn't say anything to them about it, phew. I just kept trying and eventually my first-ever-blog-post was posted. I'm psyched to see it there and will continue to follow, learn and contribute. Thanks, Foxy!
Posted by: Becky Leonard | April 1, 2007 10:40 AM
Foxy,
I'm glad you're back.There were some rumors that the problems were pony tail related.
Craig Mathews
Posted by: Craig Mathews | March 31, 2007 6:45 PM
Hey Foxy...thank goodness you're back! Since my wonderful young looking sister miss d (she scolded me for all the "old" jokes, and she is my elder so I must comply) got me hooked on staying in touch with my north country roots I can't get through the day without checking in. :) Hey miss d...glad you made it south of the Macon Dixon line..welcome! Can't wait to see Ya'll...here?
(Foxy's note: Chief, hopefully you and I get to meet this summer. Miss d says that you might be headed to the North Country.)
Posted by: Chief | March 31, 2007 12:53 PM
Foxy; I was lost not being able to read your articles! I am glad everthing is working again!!!! Keep up the good work! Lenny
Posted by: Lenny Smallacombe | March 31, 2007 5:52 AM
When I saw a new blog coming up, I figured that was the cause of the problem. We are headed south and checked you blog today from S. Carolina where it is 72 beautiful degrees. Hope all is well in P'burgh - we'll be checking in!
(Foxy's note: Great sunny day here, miss d, but nowheres near 72. Lucky you!)
Posted by: miss d | March 30, 2007 5:57 PM
I was frustrated, but I didn't blame my computer.... I was sure it was Road Runner (my ISP) messing things up yet again! I guess I owe them a mental apology. At least I didn't call their "National Help Desk" and rant & rave as I sometimes do.
I'm sure glad you're back! And Road Runner should be thankful as well.
Dianne
Posted by: Dianne Scott | March 30, 2007 4:08 PM
Welcome back Foxy!!! I felt a void in my life for a few days. After all, I am a Blogaholic you know.
(Foxy's note: Thanks, Crusher!)
Posted by: crusher | March 30, 2007 4:05 PM
Foxy:
Glad to see that the blog is again up and running. On Tuesday am, I managed to read (but didn't save) your blog regarding 'giving up'. I typed up a lengthy response but when I attempted to post it, everything fell apart. I hope that you manage to recover that blog 'cause I did save my posting in case I'd need it.
FYI, the address, feedback@pressrepublican.com, didn't work for me but the additional address, sitefeedback@ottaway.com did get through and I received a couple of kind emails from the folks at the PR explaining the situation.
Again, glad to have you back!
Ron
Posted by: Ron Turbide | March 30, 2007 10:05 AM
I'm thinkin Msgr. Brisson and Sr. Genevieve probably didn't like your last blog... and confiscated it.... have Carr check in the "Chanting Room" in the old OLVA school basement.... probably find it neatly tucked away down there with Carr's old Canadian girlfriends from the secretarial school days! while he's down there have him look for "old Timer", "Bullet" and "W" - they seem to be missing in action too??
Posted by: the carver | March 30, 2007 9:33 AM
"Houston, we have a problem"! Glad you folks got it fixed as I thought it was my computer also. I changed "pop blocker", reset my secruity settings and rebooted several times and still got "that" page.
Glad you didn't have to rebuild and were able to retrieve all but one blog. Keep up the good work and I'm glad you are back on line.
Paul
Posted by: Paul Shirley (Class of 1963 - PHS) | March 30, 2007 8:45 AM
You're right, thought it was my computer as well. Enjoy reading your blogs, and the comments. Glad you're back!
Posted by: Juan | March 29, 2007 8:47 PM