Maxsons.org Updated

Right.  I’ve updated my website and imported all the old data.  I’ve still got to work on the formatting, etc… but I think this will stay like this for the next little bit.  Hopefully this new location will help me get back into blogging.

There are probably old links that are broken.  Try searching for them.

SSL Warnings– Need some Help

SSL

Is anyone else getting ssl mixed content warnings on the site?  I’ve been getting them off and on; however, I can’t figure out what it is.  Everything on the page looks to be delivered via https.  Anyone (Bill, Alan) have any ideas?

[Update 2012-12-26 08:13:29] Here’s two posts that will need updating once I get this problem fixed:
SSL and Maxsons.org
Website Changes

[Update 2012-12-26 08:29:33] Something (my guess = disquis) was loading a resource from facebook (http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js) via http.  Stupid facebook…why wouldn’t they send that via https??  Anyway, I think I’ve disabled the login via facebook from disquis so this shouldn’t happen any more.

[Update 2012-12-26 08:33:21] Well, the error is gone but you can still login via facebook.  ARG….

[Update 2012-12-26 19:48:53] I spent most of today working on the website.  I think I’ve got everything sorted out with the mixed content messages.

Image from jeff_golden via flickr 

Articles

Update Screen

Since I’ve migrated the blog, you may notice some articles change order and menu items not work.  I’m working on updating these things.  If you can’t find what you are looking for, use the Search function (at the top right of the page or here).

[Update 2012-12-27 08:04:20] All the problems should be fixed; however, I’ve decided to use this page for a generic “I’ve made changes” page.  There were some things I couldn’t redirect.  For example, some code from way way way back in the day when I used phpNuke.  I’ve sent those things here…You’ll have to search if you came from a link like that.  Leave me a comment, if you would like, and I can work on fixing specific one off things…

Image from Jack Zalium via flickr

Website Changes

1List icon (400x300)

As you can tell, I’ve made some changes to the website.  More will come over the Christmas break.

Here’s my current TODO List:

  1. https enable the thing — Done as of 21 Dec.  You can use https://www.maxsons.org to view the site now.  However, until I update all our flickr image links to use https you may get warnings about insecure content.
  2. get comments back — done.  But comments don’t work if you use https.  This is a problem with disquis.
  3. Update flickr images to use https — Done 22 Dec
  4. disquis via https — done
  5. Force https through redirect — Done.  Only the https version of the site will work now.
  6. Verify rss feed — Done as of 21 Dec.  RSS should still work
  7. update the look/feel a bit

[Update 21 Dec 2012 08:48] Crossed off completed items

[Uodate 21 Dec 2012 08:54] Added image.  From studioamanga via flickr

[Update 22 Dec 06:55] Crossed more items off

[Update 2012-12-25 03:49:01] To see why I did this (and how) have a look at my blog post on SSL.

[Update 2012-12-26 08:12:01I’m getting mixed content warnings.  I can’t see what’s wrong…can anyone help? Fixed

Website Updated

Lady Liberty at Sunset, New York, NY

As you can probably tell, I’ve made some changes to the website.  It looks different.  Comments are also different.  I have a few bugs to work out yet (and I might change the colors) but it is going to stay.  If you see anything broken or have problems, leave me a comment and let me know.

Image from grufnik via flickr

Trip to the US

In this post, I mentioned that we were going to the US (actually, the US Embassy in Belgrade) because my passport had been washed. We decided to try and take the train to Belgrade. (In Serbian, it would be something like Путовали смо до Београда воѕом). That probably isn’t right, but it is close.

05072008(027)

We hopped the local train here in Чачак and traveled to Пожега (about 45 min or so). We weren’t real sure where we would get off, but we knew we had to change trains. We asked the conductor (well, we tried). He got the idea and told us. When we got off, I saw him looking at the schedule and he told us a time. We didn’t really understand but didn’t know how to get a better answer. We decided we would wait and see what happened.

05072008(017)

Well, a train came along and Београд was announced so we got on and sat down. The conductor came along and looked at our tickets. He told us we needed to pay more (I understood that) but made like I didn’t understand. I thought he just wanted to get more money from us. Eventually, he found someone who spoke english that confirmed what I thought he was saying so we paid him more динари (dinars).

The guy we met turned out to be from Italy. He, his brother, and I talked most of the way to Београд. Every little bit, the train would stop and let another train pass. We had to stop and wait at a few stations. Overall, the trip was much nicer than the bus because we could get up and walk around…however, it took about twice as long. Here is a picture we took while the train was stopped waiting:

Mountains

We went to Belgrade early to see some friends. They introduced us to some of their friends, and we had a wonderful time.

While we were there, we had a chance to meet some Brothers and Sisters and worship with them. It was so amazing. We heard a sermon on Matthew 6:25-34. I found that message passage convicting to me (I say passage because I didn’t understand much of the sermon). Later that day, a few people got together for prayer. There, we heard Isaiah 61 read. That was purely God because I had read that same passage that morning and was convicted by it. God is awesome!

Monday (понедељак I think I spelled it right) we went to the Embassy. There was a line; however, we walked up to the door, showed the guy our US passports, explained what we needed, and went right in. They showed us where to go, we told a lady what we needed, and she said sit and wait. We waited < 10 minutes and were called up to a window. We told the lady what we needed, she took our money, and said they would call us in 10 days (or sooner if it was done). In the end, the whole thing took < 30 min. We didn’t get to do much while we were there. The embassy looked nothing like I thought it would inside (probably post 9/11 security measures changed everything).

For more pictures, you can look in our flickr photostream or the set with pictures of this trip to Belgrade.

Comment Moderation

I’m sorry to have to do this; however, I have been getting TONS of comment spam (even with the capcha turned on…I guess I need a better one).  Before I changed to only allowing registered users to post, I turned on comment moderation.  So, before your comment will show up, I’ll have to say ok.  Sorry for the extra step.

If you have a better idea (or know of a better way to do a capcha) let me know. 

You can comment

Ok, I found and downloaded a comment module for Joomla.  You should be able to leave comments now.  Over the next few weeks, I'll be redoing all the old comments people left.

 Well, I spoke too soon.  The component didn't work.  I'll keep testing it over the next month or so and see if I can get it working.

Ok, comments are up and they appear to work.  Let me know if you have any problems.