A database is a database is a database. Well no, not really. And just as there are hundreds of control panels, there are also many, many different interfaces and means of accessing a MySQL database via web hosts. Some are almost completely automated and at the click of a few tick boxes a database will be created and all the details spewed forth. Others are so hidden and so difficult to use, it is no wonder that the web host clients turn to Install4Free for help. The allocation of databases within web hosting is a strange thing indeed too. Some free accounts offer unlimited amounts and yet some paying hosts not only restrict their clients to one database per account, but then also go onto charge exhorbitant amounts if a client chooses to opt for another. One I came across only this week charged £25 for each and every database over their one provided with the account. Additionally, quite a few web hosts do not provide access to phpmyadmin, other than to provide a door to the admin interface but locking out all of the important bits - like assigning users and allowing the ability to change passwords. Likewise, some will gladly ...

There's been many before and no doubt lots more to come, and each and every time there are hundreds if not thousands of posts telling us all about it. Everybody wants to get in and be the first, get a Digg, be a hit on their chosen social network, find ultimate glory in the magnificent scoop. It's just a new version of WordPress. But judging by all the hype and talk, anyone would think the Messiah has just ridden back into town! So, have I joined in this time? No. I just want to make a few notes to myself about my first impression of this major version change. I am using the Beta RC1 variation and already had several problems [which obviously come with the territory when using betas - yes I do know!]: 1. Unable to upload images due to some kind of crunching error. Seems it is not uncommon either, so not going to spend any length of time trying to resolve it. I have always used FTP anyway. 2. A few posts have gone astray when adding custom fields and new categories. One actually disappeared right off the radar and only a duplicate copy seconds before kept me smiling on ...

I had this thought many moons ago, that one day I would live in Scotland. I would say I had this 'dream' but that sounds kind of corny doesn't it? But I am being more honest if I admit, yes I did actually dream of living there. Not only once either, but many times this be! And I have never placed a foot in this big old city known as Edinburgh, that is, not until last weekend. And now I know for sure, I am moving to Scotland to live. I will give myself 12 months at the most and no matter what the circumstances in my life, I am off. I have heard many people say to me that Scotland is a beautiful country and they would love to live there, but I know [I think they probably do too] that they never will. It is just talk and nothing more. But me, well I am not dreaming of something that will never happen. I am sure to the bone. In fact in my mind, I am already there...

So, here's something I never thought I would say in my own lifetime. I am using a Microsoft product on a daily basis and not only do I cope with it, but truth be told, I actually love it!. It goes against everything I have ever felt about Microsoft really, and yet here I am, getting paid every month to develop something known as a virtual learning environment [VLE], using a product from Microsoft called Sharepoint 2007 or more specifically, MOSS2007 [Microsoft Office Sharepoint Server 2007]. So, not only do I use it each and every day at work, but I am also installing testing versions of it here at home and on my laptop and I find myself reading Microsoft blogs more and more every day. It's scary to be honest and yet it is all true! Stay tuned - there is a whole lot more to come...

Had an interesting turn of events recently, something that has never happened to me before at any rate. Woke up one morning last week to find the number plates on my car had been stolen. Nothing else done to the car - luckily it has a fairly good security system - but finding the plates missing pissed me off completely! Amazingly, the police classed this as a priority issue and were here within an hour, so I had my crime log number and reference number within a couple of hours too. Good work on the part of the police, but is that it? Is this little episode in my life over? No, not by a long shot it seems. So far it has cost me only £13.00 to replace the plates after a visit to my local MOT car parts establishment. [It still blows me away that I could actually purchase new number plates so easily on a Sunday morning, but that's life in the UK for you.] However, the police warned me that I could [make that should] expect some nasty surprises in the mail within a few weeks and maybe even some knockings on the door as ...