• Uncategorized

    Search-building: custom or Google

    Until earlier this week, I had a lousy site search in place. It was one of Google’s Custom Search Engines, barely configured and only on its own page, due to it’s hefty (and blocking!) JavaScript. I’d long since disabled WordPress’s search since my stories aren’t being run in WordPress, and I didn’t feel like trying to chew on the internal search mechanisms to include the stories. Last week, I started playing around with a project to create my own (Python) site search, including a crawler and Whoosh-based search. I’d seen the implementation of a Lucene search in Zend go fairly easy-peasy, and liked the idea of a self-hosted search. Problem…

  • On Life and Love

    Weekend linkage

    Just a few, since I’m so far behind on my reading (down to 425 unread items!) and I just posted a set on Friday. Enjoy. How to Help Your Kids Build $25,000 Stock Portfolios – This is a tempting idea even with regards to something like weddings. "Help us retire together without having to eat pork-n-beans." …Naw, that doesn't work as well as with kids. 18 Five-Minute Decluttering Tips to Start Conquering Your Mess | zen habits – Since I haven't dedicated a full weekend to clearing out junk in a while, stumbling across this article was quite nice. Baby steps. Designing Microsites: Factors To Consider – Again, this is…

  • On Life and Love

    Chapter 10 of Witches posted!

    Chapter 10, “Opening Salvo” is posted: “What brings you to my world, little bug?” the colorful woman asked Hardi and Robert. Her glance flitted between both of them before settling on Hardi. “Well?” she cooed, head tilting. Her accent was much lighter than Lucia’s. Hardi straightened in her seat. “We’re looking for the people who have been attacking your world.” She paused briefly as six guards entered and took up positions in the corners and framing the door. “Are you hiding them here?” Not much longer on Witches–just a few more chapters. I’ll probably spend some time with my lovely arties before starting another close-ended piece like Witches. I miss…

  • On Life and Love

    Weekly linkage

    This week’s internet cruising: A Beginner’s Guide to Website Feedback – If I can wrap up and launch this damn character sheet app, stuff in this post will be handy for when it betas, especially the surveying. I suspect the LARPing audience will be sufficiently… opinionated to speak on it. Six Useful CSS3 Tools – Some of these are pretty slick, if you're moving into CSS3 development. Sharpening the blade, part MCMXVII: Nine Amazing Hours. – This is incredibly cool, and I plan to use it for a bit and see if it helps me focus. Amazing Examples of Paper Art – I almost hate to link to this, in…

  • On Life and Love

    “Pursuit” posted and character sheet news

    Chapter 9 of Witches, “Pursuit” is live. Actually, it went live yesterday, I just neglected to post here for it. I was busy having my ass handed to me by some type of hydra. Damn D & D 4e hydras. It had seven heads by the end. “But how do we get you out of here without anyone noticing?” Robert asked absently. Satisfied that her hand was fine, he pulled his hands back out of the attached gloves. Hardi tamped down a grin of victory. “Nice and easy. You’re going to create a distraction, and we’re going to slip out.” A small smile played on his lips as he asked,…