Posts from — December 2002
New Years Eve
"What are you doing New Years, New Years Eve?"
As the music plays in the background, I would like to recap some of my more successful resolutions in 2002:
So, with a moderately successful 2002 behind us, here's my list of resolutions for 2003:
OK. That's a pretty good start. I'm wishing you all a safe and wonderful New Year. I'm logging off and I'll see you in 2003!
Happy New Year!
December 31, 2002 4 Comments
Delete skin preference in MT
First and foremost, 1000 thank you's to Jennifer for helping me work out this code. I never could have gotten this done without you. You truly are a goddess!
I presented Jennifer with a question: How do I remove skins in Movable Type? or –to be more specific– How do I let users delete their skin preferences?
Jennifer coded away and came up with an entirely new cookie script that worked great. If a user requested, it would reassign the skin preference to the current "default" skin. Ultimately, this created one more administrative step than I already had - assigning a "default" skin within this script. So, I was hesitant to go that direction.
I explained to Jen that the default behavior is not to assign a skin at all, and then present the "default" skin to the user for that session. No cookies, no nothing. Once the user picks a skin, they accept a cookie that identifies their skin preference and that skin is shown upon every visit to the page. The user can change their skin preference, but they cannot "unring the bell" and go back to seeing whatever "default" skin I would have them see. (ie. During Christmas, I had a holiday skin as the default instead of the Buffett-esque skin)
I asked if there was a simple way to delete the user's cookie, and the following lines were born. If you want to use this in your MT, please feel free. I skin my site based on the examples provided by Brenna. Amy also has some information here and there is always good info at Girlie's site.
In order to delete the cookie, the user has to request the page that deletes the cookie. On my site, that page is http://blog.kevindonahue.com/skins/reset.php. So a link that looks like this:
<a href="reset.php">reset skins</a>
connects to a page that deletes the cookie called "skin" using this php:
<?php
setcookie('skin',$newskin,time(),'/');
setcookie('skin',$newskin,time(),'/','.your-domain-name.com');
?>
Notes: The PHP must be placed above the <HEAD> tag. I think mine appears before everything. The name of the cookie ('skin') must be the same as the cookie you are setting on when the user selects their skin preference. For me, that takes place on a page called "testskin.php".
Again, this is the solution that works for me. I would really like for other sites to consider implementing this concept, as it would save me the trouble of deleting their cookies periodically to see what skin their currently featuring. I'm not much help for configuring it to work for you, but I'll help as best I can.
Again, muchos gracias to the incredible Jen.
December 31, 2002 1 Comment
I need professional help!
I have been trying to figure out how to give you, my beloved reader, the option to delete your skin preference cookie. In doing so, you would revert back to seeing whatever skin I wanted you to see. In my completely selfish opinion, it would be better that way because you would experience the site the way I intended. The alternative, of course, is deleting all the skins and giving you no choice. But I am a benevolent despot! :wink
I read some things online and tried to accomplish this on my own. After trying unsuccessfully, I turned to a professional. Jennifer (a.k.a. The Working Mom) is helping me finish up this project. And, by finish up, I mean to say that she is doing 100% of the work. Smart, talented, and scripty to boot! What a gal!
I hope to implement this new micro-feature before too long, so be on the lookout. Hopefully it will turn out well and Jennifer will feel inclined to share it on the Scriptygoddess website. Otherwise, I will share it here (with her okey-dokey, of course!)
Thank you, Jen! I guess I owe you a Blue Moon now, huh?! :wink
December 30, 2002 Comments Off
My clock has dead batteries
I have no logical explanation as to why on God's green earth this day is dragging so!?! It's ONLY 4:15p?! What the hell?!
I absolutley hate working on days when there's no one in the office, there's no one to call, there's no one to visit. Just me and this computer being bored, bored, bored.
I wanna go home! I wanna go home! I wanna go home!
December 30, 2002 Comments Off
Cardboard is my life
Well, the Christmas decorations are coming down and that can only mean one thing: Time to start packing this house for the big move. I have tried to delay the process as much as possible, but I'm fighting a losing battle.
Yesterday, Cheryl came over to help us start packing the china cabinet. She claims she "wants" to help us pack everything, but I'm pretty sure she has been abducted by aliens and secretly replaced with some whack-job that loves bubble wrap! Seriously! She's like a packing machine! A Cheryl-bot! Honestly though, I don't know what we would do without her. I had no idea that damn china cabinet held so much stuff! Granted, there's a lot of packaging in the boxes (quit worrying Mom!) but I think we pulled nine boxes or so out of there. Gee Whiz!
Today the process starts all over again. Merrin is working so Cheryl-bot is coming over to pack the ?kitchen?. I keep reminding Merrin that we do have to live in the house over the next three weeks, but (apparently) they make paper plates and plastic service wear. Did you all know anything about this?? I tried to explain that –once the kitchen is packed– I won't have a pot to…well, you understand. Merrin & Cheryl-bot say there are always alternatives to cooking. Turns out that my wife wants a vacation from cooking so I guess it's going to be carry-out dinners for a while.
Merrin keeps bringing home more boxes, bubble wrap and packing peanuts. I guess we're in it for the long haul. We are set to close on this house January 15th. (Fingers crossed!) We close on the new house a couple of days later. Keith has worked it so that we should be able to stay in this house through the end of January, but –at this rate– that won't be necessary. We'll take possession of the new house right away.
The next few weeks are going to be pretty stressful around here. We've got to seal the deal with our mortgage broker, pack up all this stuff, hire a moving company (or do this), dig all the quarters out from the sofa cushions, get this house appraised, get the new house appraised, get the new house inspected, close on our house, deposit that check, close on the new house, write a big check, move everything out there (45 minute from here), do all that mail forwarding at the post office & pray I get all my tax forms and then settle in to unpack. Of course, by "unpack" I mean let Merrin handle the indoors while I get up on the ladder and wire in the satellite!
As things move along, I will try to get some pictures of the new house and post them. I have a little video of it, but (since I did the camera work) it's not very good. Maybe I can grab a couple of images off of it. We'll see.
This family has a lot of chiefs and we're all prone to doing a "rain dance" if we don't get our way. On the flip side, we've got plenty of "fire-water" to get us all through it! If you guys need me, I'll be in the other room popping bubble wrap!
December 29, 2002 1 Comment
Internet Explorer Status Bar
So I'm going nuts for a week because I cannot get the status bar to appear by default when I launch Internet Explorer. There must be a fix, right? You betch ya!
To make the status bar appear whenever you open Internet Explorer:
1) With (only one) IE open, click View, select: Status Bar
2) Right-click on IE's Toolbar and select: "Lock the Toolbar"
3) Hold down the Ctrl key and click the close button (upper right)
4) Open Windows Explorer, click View, select: Status Bar
5) Right-click on Explorer's Toolbar and select: "Lock the Toolbar"
6) Click Tools | Folder Options | View tab
7) Click the "Apply to all folders" button. 
Hold down the Ctrl key and click the close button (upper right)
9) Open IE to any page, right-click on a link and select: "Open in New Window"
10)Verify that these Registry entries exist:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
"Show_StatusBar"="yes"
"Show_URLinStatusBar"="yes"
[Read more →]
December 28, 2002 46 Comments
Friday Five
After a long hiatus - both mine and theirs - the friday five is back @ Big Kev Online:
1. What was your biggest accomplishment this year?
Right, let's start off with something simple?! Gee whiz! Hmmm. I would say that my biggest accomplishment of the year would be that I grew into myself a little bit this year. I started losing some weight, quit biting my fingernails, updated the glasses, figured out how to dress (a little), started kicking serious ass @ work and just kind of became the "29 year old" me. I think it was the first "update" I've had in a while. This answer may not make any sense to you, but it does to me.
2. What was your biggest disappointment?
My biggest disappointment was not getting to travel any more than we did this year. Merrin & I both wanted to go to NYC and San Fran this year. We never made it. We got to go to some of the places we love (San Antonio, for example) but not the places that we've been planning.
3. Will you be making any New Year's resolutions?
Oh yes, definitely. I'd want to be a better husband. I consider myself to be in the "top third" of the husband rankings, but I'd like to be a better husband to my incredible wife. I want to get my weight down to about 165 (versus 195 at the beginning of 2002!). I would like to travel to someplace I've never been (not work related!!)
4. Where will you be at midnight? Do you wish you could be somewhere else?
Well, if things hold to form, I'll be with my wife at home. Sometimes we have some friends over, but we generally spend New Year's with Dick Clark et al. If I could be somewhere else, I'd probably be in the Bahamas. That would rock!
5. Aside from (possibly) staying up late, do you have any other New Year's traditions?
Traditions? Well, being with my wife, (usually) watching Dick Clark and toasting with Vueve Cliquot champagne.
December 27, 2002 Comments Off
"Eve" & human cloning
First, I think it's absurd for anyone to believe that these bozos managed to clone a human baby. Don't get me wrong, but anyone who claims to have met "little green aliens" and uses the phrase, "She was born yesterday at 11:55 a.m. in the country where she was born," probably isn't smart enough to even find the "on" switch on that people-xeroxin' machine! "Born in the country where she was born"?? No shit! You don't say. It just so happens that all of us are born in the country where we are born! (Except the little green aliens, of course.)
So what's the next big hoax…er…I mean "plan" for the Raelians? They claim to be planning to clone an adult and then "transfer the brain to the clone." Right. Get right on that.
Now, on a more personal note, I am 100% against human cloning. The entire concept cheapens the lives of every human. Some folks have proposed creating "farms" where body parts & organs could be grown and harvested. I think such plans are offensive to mankind and one of the most incredibly selfish ideas I've ever heard.
So, just to be clear: Cloning bad. Margaritas (as always!) good.
December 27, 2002 Comments Off
HA! Bullseye!
Tracy has ordained it and we must obey! The great Blogger Snowball Fight of 2002 is running amuck! AMUCK! AMUCK! AMUCK!
As best I can tell, the snowballs are flying fast and furious from the east coast, down to FL, and out to the "left" coast. No time to duck and cover! Just fling one in a blog's comments and run like hell!
Now, who will my first target be??? :devil
December 26, 2002 17 Comments
Mark your calendars
This post is exclusively for the boys in the audience:
Guys, make a date for ESPN on Monday, Dec 30th @ 9pm Eastern ("A Date with Anna") for a behind the scenes look at the making of Anna Kournikova's 2003 Calendar.
Note to my wife: I'm only posting this as a service to my fellow man. I have no intention of watching it myself, of course. :wink
December 26, 2002 Comments Off
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!
If things go according to plan, this will be my last post before Christmas. Of course, things rarely go according to plan, so don't be surprised if I veer from the plan. For that matter, don't be surprised if it veers from me.
I'm gonna spend the next few days unplugging the weblog and plugging in some blenders. I think "FELIZ MARGARITA" is gonna be the theme around the house for a while. I just need to spend some time with the wife, dogs, and family. That's what Christmas is all about, right? And margaritas, of course.
Since this might be my only chance to say it, here goes: Just like Jerry Jones said, "I'm telling ya, I hope you do better than you've acted under the tree this year with that stocking up there."
Well, in case that's not clear to you (or other humans), I want all of you to have a very magical holiday. I feel so blessed and so loved this year. I have an incredible wife who loves me despite all my faults. I have a great family that cheers when I do great things and doesn't boo when it all goes to … heck. I love you all so much.
I spent the last 14 months or so kinda shell-shocked. (Maybe you did, too.) Well, be forewarned: That's over. I'm storming towards 30 like a F4 towards a 1,000 sq. miles of trailer parks. So for those of you who have a Jimmy Buffett date with me in Tampa, get ready! Hell, by the time February gets here, I may be at F5 stength!
To my wife, family, & friends wherever you are, have a great Christmas. I love you all and miss ya. Feliz Navidad Margarita!
And now, for our musical entertainment:
Robert Earl Keen - Merry Christmas from the Family (play)
Mom got drunk and Dad got drunk
At our Christmas party
We were drinkin' champagne punch
And homemade eggnog
Little sister brought her new boyfriend
He was a Mexican
We didn't know what to think of him
Til he sang Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Brother Ken brought his kids with him
The three from his first wife Lynn
And the two identical twins
From his second wife MaryNell
Of course he brought his new wife Kaye
Who talks all about AA
Chain smokin' while the stero plays
Noel, Noel, The first Noel
Carve the turkey turn the ball game on
Mix Margaritas when the eggnog's gone
Send somebody to the Quik-Pak store
We need some ice and an extention cord
A can of bean dip and some Diet Rite
A box of tampons and some Marlboro Lights
Hallelujah everybody say cheese
Merry Christmas from the family
Fran and Rita drove from Harlingen
I can't remember how I'm kin to them
But when they tried to plug their motorhome in
They blew our christmas lights
Cousin David knew just what went wrong
So we all waited on our front lawn
He threw the breaker and the lights came on
And we sang Silent Night
Oh Silent Night
Carve the turkey turn the ballgame on
Make Bloody Marys cause we all want one
Send somebody to the Stop 'n Go
We need some celery and a can of fake snow
A bag of lemons and some Dite Sprite
A box of tampons and some Salem Lights
Hallelujah everybody say cheese
Merry Christmas from the family
Feliz Navidad.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!!
December 20, 2002 1 Comment
Thank you, Robyn. Thank you, Kermit.
Many thanks to the Pollmans for the heads up! The Hallmark Channel is planning to replay "It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas" on December 20th, 21st, and 24th. See this for times or just set those TiVos!
December 20, 2002 Comments Off
I can wrap a present
Thanks to the Internet, I can wrap a present. YAHOO!
December 19, 2002 Comments Off
MT/PHP Calendar
Enter.nu has a neat php/mt calendar code that we're all anxiously awaiting. I hope to be using it here once it's ready to be released. Check it out at enter.nu bits!
December 19, 2002 Comments Off
NO GIRLS ALLOWED
Tonight is Merrin's "Girls Night" over at the house. Well, I'm saying it loud & proud: "NO GIRLS ALLOWED IN MY OFFICE! My den is OFF LIMITS!"
I will, however, invoke the following caveat: If there's a supermodel lingerie pillow-fight, then it's OK to knock on my door and come on in! :wink
December 18, 2002 Comments Off
