Aaron gave me a great suggestion for the WordPress MU update script: pull the latest version directly from the download page. So I’ve added that as an alternative method. If no specific version is passed in, the script will pull down the latest, determine what version it is and check to see if it already exists before continuing with the installation (upgrade-wordpress-mu.sh).

I haven’t actually had the chance to fully run it through its paces yet, so we’ll see for sure when the next update is released.

I’m happy to report that I just had the chance to test my WordPress MU upgrade script, and everything went off without a hitch! One simple command and all of my blogs got the update to 2.6.5. Glory be!

Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m really bad about upgrading my WordPress MU install in a timely manner. And that’s a pretty big disservice, especially for others (like my brother) hosted on the same install. So tonight, I put together a new directory structure for my WPMU installation, and with my brother’s help, wrote a wonderful little shell script to handle future upgrades for me.

Originally, I had WordPress MU file sitting in a WPMU directory. With each upgrade, I’d have to make sure I didn’t disrupt the existing important files (like those in wp-content).

My new structure involves a version-specific directory within the WPMU folder (eg wordpress-mu-2.6.3). Alongside that is a directory named const, to hold all of the files that remain constant between upgrades. Finally, there’s a symlink named current that points to the current version-specific directory. I then create additional symlinks within this directory back to files and directories in const.

I’ve attached a sanitized copy of the final script (upgrade-wordpress-mu.sh) for your pleasure. It first checks to make that it’s running as root - my WPMU installation is outside the scope of my home directory, so that’s a necessity. There’s a few more checks to make sure the user has specified a version, and that there’s an archive of the WordPress MU files for that version. Then it goes to town, extracting the files, and symlinking the relevant items in const. I won’t go into the nitty-gritty, since it’s all pretty self-evident from the script.

If you do choose to use this yourself, just be sure to change the path on line 27 (unless that really is where you want your files).

While talking to my brother today about my American Express card, I ran across something in their frequently asked questions that I’ve been trying to find:

What if a merchant does not accept my American Express Card?
To report incidences where merchants do not accept your American Express Card, please click here. American Express Customer Service will then follow up with the merchant to ensure that American Express Cards will be accepted in the future.

While I like the idea of encouraging merchants to accept AmEx, I’m really curious how they “ensure” it. My guess is they send around a couple of hired goons to make sure the merchant agreement gets signed, but I could be wrong.

What I really like, though, is that one of the options is “Merchant insisted on a minimum/maximum purchase amount”. It’s been a while since I’ve run into this, but I find it to be terribly obnoxious when I do (and it’s against every merchant agreement out there). My old method for dealing with those business was to buy enough to satisfy the minimum and then return whatever it was I didn’t want. That way, I only spent as much as I’d originally intended, and their stupid policy ended up costing them extra. Yes, I’m that spiteful.

Here I am, attempting pretending to get some work done, when a video ad at the bottom of my MSN “Windows Live” Messenger window distracts me. It’s one of those creepy fake webcam ads for a dating site, and they always find some way to bother me. This one, apparently, hadn’t been designed for smaller windows, because this is what I saw:

…Sinward!

Time Warner pushed new software onto my DVR this morning. This is what wound up in their comment form:

Please consider the following: when you force your customers to “upgrade” the software on their leased equipment, the new software should, at the very least, offer the same features as the previous software. I would suggest that Time Warner allow its developers to use a box running Aptiv’s Passport Echo software. Perhaps then, they might understand how customers actually use a DVR.

The Navigator software offers no discernible way to limit a series recording to certain days of the week. This was very simple to accomplish using Passport Echo, and indeed is at the very core of how many people use their DVR. Similarly, having the ability to set retention options (ie keep forever or delete as needed) at a series level is crucial. I have no desire to babysit my DVR every day to make sure it has enough space to record what is important to me.

At this point, Time Warner’s DVR “service” is nothing more than an obnoxious, unstable VCR that carries an outrageous monthly fee. Actually, it’s a lot less useful than that; at least a modern VCR know what days of the week are.

Oh, and it’s a lot less easy to use than a VCR, too. In fact, it’s so frustrating that it only took 2 hours with the software to convince me to purchase a TiVo and ultimately drop DVR service from my account. From my talks with others subjected to the “upgrade”, my experiences and feelings are far from unique. TiVo’s shareholders should thank you.

Thank you for ending years of happy, trouble-free DVR service, and allowing me to see the light.

- Mike Peschka

Last night, I dreamed that I had a fight with Rosie O’Donnell and called her an anti-semite.

Maybe I shouldn’t have coffee before bed.

I know I can be a bit picky at times, but this doesn’t really strike me as something I want to buy used:

I’ve posted the Barco for sale on Cragslist. With any luck, I’ll soon have a few extra square feet in my bedroom.

We’re just a few days into the year, and I’ve already had what will surely be my greatest stroke of genius. The product of my brilliance? Single-Serving Whipped Cream Packets. Or, more likely, whipped topping packets. Why has no one thought of this before? It would be perfect on everything!