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Tuesday, January 9, 2007 |
Moving to WordPress
I have decided to move my Fluid Flow weblog to a new location and in the process change my base software from Radio UserLand to WordPress. The primary reason for the change is that Radio isn't changing. After five years, it is still the same products with the same glitches. While I am comfortable with Radio and its underlying scripting language and database, its time to learn some new things. WordPress with its PHP and mySQL underpinnings seems like a good place to start.
The new URL for Fluid Flow is http://fluidflow.es-designs.com. I have migrated all of my radio content to the new site. The only thing that is missing at this point are the various comments that have been made. I will try to add them back, but won't make any promises. I am also going to be working on the design and making Fluid Flow a more attractive site.
I will keep this site for as long as UserLand lets me, I don't know if it will disappear if I don't renew my Radio license. But it will probably be here for at least another year.
Go to Fluid Flow.
4:31:15 PM 
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Saturday, January 6, 2007 |
Web Site Tracks Birds' Worst Enemies: Cats:
Experts say outdoor cats may kill hundreds of millions of wild birds each year -- but they aren't exactly sure how many. They're now asking the public for help. If your household pet brings in a treat, experts hope you'll visit a new Web site to fill in all the gory details.
(Via NPR News: Health & Science.) This is an interesting idea and I am looking forward to seeing the results, though the survey results will provide little more than anecdotal evidence. I am not sure how successful cats are at getting birds. We have lots of cats in the neighborhood, but I rarely see evidence of bird attacks. The evidence, loose feathers on the ground with no body parts, could represent a failed attack or could result from other neighborhood predators such as coopers hawks. I also do not see a drop in bird populations. This is probably the result of living in an urban setting where cat and bird populations have stabilized. I think that cats are a much greater problem for reptiles and amphibians. They are much easier for cats to catch and are virtually extinct in the neighborhood (I have seen a couple of salamanders and one lizard in the eight years I have lived in San Jose). Still, there is great need to reduce feral cat populations, especially those living in fringe environments. Feral cat populations place greater stresses on indigenous species already stressed by encroaching human populations. Here is a link to the survey
7:30:28 AM
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Tuesday, January 2, 2007 |
I joined up again on one of Tom Mangan's holiday hikes, this time to the top of Black Mountain above Los Altos. This was the third time that I have been there, but my first time with a camera (prior to this trip I have run and biked).
Tom has his write up here.
I have posted more photos here.
12:00:34 PM
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Wednesday, December 13, 2006 |
Well, it's that day again. The one where you mark your time on the the planet. It's generally a good time to reflect on your state and the state of the planet (even though the state of the planet is more likely to impact you than the other way around). So, here goes.
The planet and I continue to degrade at an accelerated rate. Apparently we have both blown through more than our share of tipping points and are now dealing with the affects of positive feedback loops. This is the sort of stuff that is best examined in theory, experiencing it first hand is a little harsh.
The result of all of this is that once cherished laws, theories, and observations are no longer valid. So my idea of a six pack and a hockey game as good evening is wrong.
I can understand that. I might miss it but...
If the survival of the planet is on the line. I am ready to make sacrifices.
Is anyone one else ready?
9:07:14 PM
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Thursday, December 7, 2006 |
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Wednesday, December 6, 2006 |
This was my second bobcat sighting in three weeks. My previous sighting was over 25 years ago while running on trail up above Rancho San Antonio. At least this time, I had my camera and the cat stayed around long enough to see more than its stubby tail.
More pictures here.
9:16:16 AM
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Comments are back
One server meltdown later, I think that I have a handle on comment spam posts. I have implemented a challenge that should stop automated comment spam posts (my apologies if the challenge is a challenge, arithmetic was never my strong suite either). I have been monitoring the server since installing the challenge and can report that while there have been numerous attempts to post comment spam, the installed challenge has thwarted these attempts. As a result, I am returning comment capabilities to Fluid Flow. While I realize that this is one of the least read weblogs in the universe, feedback is important for me and I missed it when comments were turned off. I am hoping that my few readers will resume making comments. I look forward to hearing from you.
9:01:31 AM
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Friday, December 1, 2006 |
Almond Rustlers Nabbed in California:
Robert Siegel talks with Dave Phippen, one of the owners of almond growers Travaille and Phippen of Ripon, California, about the break-up of an almond theft ring in California this week. Trevaille and Phippen had 88,000 pounds of almonds stolen this summer. Only 5,000 pounds of their almonds were recovered, but Dave Phippen says they are still very happy about this development. He says most of their almonds had already been shipped out, and that the recovered almonds had been re-packaged in small, generic packages.
(Via NPR News: Top Stories.) For the geographically impaired, Ripon is the first town south of the 120/99 interchange north of Modesto. Obviously, this isn't the first time that Ripon has made the NPR Top Stories list (this was a follow up story), but it is good to hear that it is, once again, safe to grow almonds in the central valley.
4:14:41 PM
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© Copyright 2002-2007 Tom Clifton.
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