Personal

It’s Alive!

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It's Alive
It's Alive!

That’s right! One Digital Life has risen from the dead. Well, ok, maybe it wasn’t dead but it was definitely in a deep coma.

I started this blog on May 28th, 2004. For many years I posted here fairly often. For a time, the site was actually relatively popular. But, as time went on, the posts slowed and my last post was on October 5th, 2011. The site lived on, unattended, until early 2016 when it was compromised by malware. I’ll probably never know how it was infected, but it was most likely an out-of-date version of WordPress or an unpatched plugin.

The infection came at a time when I was unable to even attempt to fix it, so I had to just quarantine the database and all the files, and walk away. It was heartbreaking.

I’ve thought about bringing the site back many times over the years. I had been using WordPress for so long, and built a lot of functionality in a very non-WordPress kind of way (by today’s standards), that it always felt like a daunting task to bring it back and modernize it. But, this past weekend I got a bug in my but and decided it was time!

So far it’s gone fairly smoothly. I dug everything out, cleaned up the malicious code, updated WordPress and plugins, and the site is up and running again! I’ve started fixing some of the broken functionality, and broken links, but it’s going to be a long haul to get it back into top shape. Don’t be surprised if you come across some broken links, missing images, etc.

I plan to continue clearing out the cobwebs over time. I’m not certain how much I’ll be adding to the site. It does feel nice to have a place to post again, so I would like to continue adding new content now and then. If you would like to be notified of new posts, I still provide an RSS feed that you can subscribe to. If you happen to be one of the few people out there who’s still subscribed to the old feed, you may want to refresh the subscription. I use to run it through FeedBurner, but I’m not sure if that even works anymore.

A truly sad day

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Steve Jobs 1955-2011
Steve Jobs 1955-2011

Steve Jobs passed away today. Although I didn’t know him personally, I still feel a sense of loss. Steve has been and always will be a personal hero of mine – a true inspiration. My heart goes out to his family.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors Meeting Regarding GGNRA Ban of Off-Leash Dog Walking

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As a followup to my post the other day concerning the potential loss of off-leash dog walking in parks and beaches maintained by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), I wanted to mention that there’s a San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting tomorrow night (3/10/2011). Item #2 on their agenda deals with the proposed GGNRA plan. I encourage all Bay Area dog-lovers to attend and show your support.

March 10th, 2011
Board of Supervisors Meeting (5:30pm)
San Francisco City Hall, Room #408
GGNRA item is second on the agenda (probably starting around 6:30pm)

You can find additional information on the Facebook calendar event.

Save Off-Leash Dog Walking in the San Francisco Bay Area

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Maggie Moo at Fort Funston

I moved to San Francisco in 2003, and I’ve always taken our dogs to Fort Funston – a wonderful off-leash beach about 20 minutes away from our house. The picture (above) is our dog, Maggie Moo, enjoying some time on the beach.

Although San Francisco is generally fairly dog friendly, there actually aren’t that many off-leash areas, especially close to the city, so we really treasure Fort Funston.

On January 14th, 2011, the National Park Service released a massive 2,400 page draft Dog Management Plan for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) for public review. Basically, this proposed plan aims to severely restrict dog walking and eliminate off-leash areas within the GGNRA, including Fort Funston, Ocean Beach, Crissy Field, the Marin Headlands, Muir Beach, Sweeney Ridge, Baker Beach, Mori Point, Lands End, and other locations that have welcomed dogs for decades.

As a dog lover, who only has a limited number of off-leash areas available, the prospect of this plan passing is extremely disturbing. Currently, dogs are only allowed in about 1% of the GGNRA, so it’s absolutely astounding to me that they’re looking to take most (or all) of these areas away from us.

The draft-plan was originally released for a 90 day public review and comment period, which has now been extended to May 29, 2011. I strongly encourage all dog owners to get involved and voice your concern over this proposition. Basically, speak now or forever hold your leash.

I’ve included links below for the draft plan, maps, and other helpful information. I also encourage everyone to show your support by attending one of the public rallys / meetings.

March 7th, 2011 (4:00pm – 8:00pm)
GGNRA Open House Meeting
Public Rally outside at 5:30pm
Lower Level, Fort Mason Center, Building D, San Francisco

March 9th, 2011 (4:00pm – 8:00pm)
GGNRA Open House Meeting
Cabrillo High School, Pacifica

March 10th, 2011 (5:30pm)
SF Animal Control and Welfare Commission Meeting
San Francisco City Hall, Room #408
GGNRA item is second on the agenda (probably starting around 6:30pm)
Facebook Event

April 11th, 2011 (1:00pm)
Board of Supervisors Land Use Hearing re GGNRA Dog Plan
San Francisco City Hall, Committee Room 263
Facebook Event

May 29th, 2011
Deadline for public comments regarding the GGNRA Dog Plan

GGNRA LINKS:

ADDITIONAL LINKS:

Apple “Switch” still Relevant

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My wife was in Phoenix recently visiting her parents. She sent me this email (she has a Macbook):

So I was printing out my boarding card… I plugged dad’s printer into my computer… and he said “oh, oh you will need a driver” and I replied “really???, well let me try.”

I checked my control panel, saw the printer, and printed, VOILA!… my dad looked slightly impressed and asked a few questions (wink, I think I won that round).

I absolutely loved reading this. It totally reminded me of those Apple “Switch” ads. Apple could start using those again, today, and they would still be relevant.

Oh ya, I have a Blog!

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Contrary to how it may appear, One Digital Life is not dead… it’s just been in a deep, deep coma.

You know how it goes… you get busy, priorities change, things slip through the cracks… and before you know it, it’s been a year and a half since you last blogged. Holy cow, has it really been that long?

I can’t possibly recap the last 18 months, so instead this is just a quick announcement that I will be posting regularly again. I just have a couple of backend upgrades to do first, as things have become a bit out of date.

Stay tuned…

My Wedding Ring

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My Wedding Ring by Diana Hall

When I blogged about getting engaged I showed a picture a Anne Marie’s engagement / wedding ring, so I thought it only fitting that I show mine now that I have it.

It’s hand made by a woman named, Diana Hall. The ring itself is silver, with a carbon fiber inlay. I like it because it’s a unique mix of old a new materials, which is not only very representational of my personality, it’s also analogous to the transition from single life to married life. I like it. It suites me.

Although it’s not very usual, I’m actually already wearing my ring, even though we haven’t figured out a date yet. It seemed kind of silly to wait.