HOG back at 100%

I’ve now got the header banner running, which was (I hope) the last thing to get working since the big move to a dedicated server. Please let me know via comments or email if you find something messed up so I can fix it.

Dedicated server

For those who don’t know what a dedicated server is, basically it is an entire computer (server) in a data center. The “box” only has one client on it, me. It is “dedicated” to my site. Previously HOG has been on “shared” hosting servers. Shared hosting is cheap, but can be very problematic as I’ve found out. Shared is good for starters, but when a site moves as much traffic as this one does shared hosting won’t work. Shared hosting is often hacked and slow, because there can be many hundreds or even thousands of web sites on one server.

What to expect

Now that HOG is on a dedicated server, we should expect a serious speed increase. Those times when it took several seconds to load the page, or when the site would hang, should be gone for the most part. The gallery should run and load faster.

Room to grow

There’s plenty of room to grow too. The storage capacity available now is 100x what I had before. Plenty of room and plenty of horsepower. HOG has upgraded from a Yugo to a Porsche SUV.

Back to our regularly scheduled blogram

Now that this is done I need a mental break. I’ve gotten hardly any sleep the last couple of days and my brain, back and body are toast. I’ll get back to my regular blogging when I’ve recharged my batteries and put some fresh ProV1’s in my bag.

I got to sleep at 2am last night. I found that there were problems with many files transferred and had to do many of them again unfortunately. I continued working on the gallery at 7am this morning. As of 8:41am the HOG Golf Photo Gallery is up and running. Let’s test it out:

I also deleted thousands of unnecessary files and tables in the database. The database alone was cleared of over 50,000 “temporary” tables or files. This should help the gallery run quicker, as should my new dedicated server.

Next and (hopefully) final fix, the rotating banner in the header.

The core of HOG’s server move is done. The template and all text/posts are good to go. Now for the big PITA, the gallery. I started transferring the files to the gallery about 15 hours ago and they’re still going…

Baby steps…

Oh man if you only knew how fried my brain is. I may have one brain cell left… HOG is back!

I don’t have time to write, I have more stuff to fix. But I’m glad to see the core of HOG is back online with the new server!

Today was a great day and I was playing Thanksgiving Point, a super tough Johnny Miller design.

On the 15th hole I’m at +5 but starting to hit some more solid shots.  I bend over to chip after my approach went over the green when an electric shock went through my body from my lower back clear to my fingers and toes.  After going all summer without throwing my back out, I’ve thrown it out a 2nd time in two weeks.  Not happy.

The big news lately is that Callaway won a post trial motion to halt Titleist’s making of Pro V1’s on January 1, 2009.  Dozens, if not hundreds of golf sites have covered this.

Don’t worry

Titleist says their ability to deliver Pro V1’s won’t be affected at all because they’ve changed the way they produce them so that none of the patents they’re alleged to have infringed upon are being utilized.  They also have said they’re rolling out a new version of the Pro V1 in the first quarter of 2009 which will also not utilize said patents.

“We strongly disagree with the judge’s ruling and will file an appeal and seek relief from the injunction.  However, it’s important to recognize that this ruling will not have any impact on our ability to supply our customers with Pro V1 golf balls because of the following actions which we have undertaken. In September 2008, we converted production of the existing Pro V1 models so that they are outside of the patents in question, and we have also developed and will be introducing new and improved Titleist Pro V1 products in the first quarter of 2009 that are also outside the scope of the patents in question.”

When the new Pro V1 comes out it will be interesting to see what noticeable differences, if any, there will be.

Seve Ballesteros is improving, which is a really good thing.  He’s slated to leave intensive care next week following three brain surgeries.

Great. All four days of the British Open will be aired on ESPN starting in 2010. First the Masters and now the British.  Isn’t anything sacred?   I have the same fears I’ve always had about ESPN doing golf.  I call it “ESPNification.”  I can’t wait to hear Chris Berman’s no-longer-funny sports names. I can hear it now…

Chris Berman: “Woop, woop. Mickelson just drained a putt. He’s one below par. Now let’s go to Roger Chocolate Malt-be.”

Stuart Scott: “Straight butta! Goosen is as cool as the other side of the pillow.”

Chris Berman: “Watch Tiger’s ball go rumblin’ bumblin’ stumblin’ deeep into the bottom of the cup.”

Stuart Scott: “Boo-yah! Tiger must be the bus driver cause he was takin’ Phil to school.”

Then Vijay Singh backs a wedge up…

Stuart Scott: “Yup yup. Call me big daddy when you back that thing up. Bubba Watson just hit a 342 yard drive. Wow! That as hardcore as the Wu-Tang Clan on steroids!”

I think I’m gonna be sick…

Note: All Scott and Berman quotes used here are REAL. Yes, even the stupid “one below par” quote… OMG. GAG ME.