I just upgraded to the latest version of Blogsphere, and tried w.bloggar again, and it started working! I don’t know why the test database wouldn’t work, but I’m sure glad that this one works!

The City of Detroit is having a cool festival that’s starting today. Sled dogs, ice skating, a toboggan slide, roasting marshmallows, ice sculptures, and all kinds of winter-like fun…right in the middle of the city! The Pride is planning on checking it out tomorrow. I’ll give a detailed report…maybe with pictures (now that I’m using the latest Blogsphere template).

Get some more information by clicking on: http://www.motownwinterblast.com/

This stuff gives me goosebumps!

For those of you heading to Lotusphere, you’ll probably get a firsthand look at the IBM Workplace Designer. Andrew Pollack got a chance to see the future, but was not allowed to discuss it…until NOW! Go and look into the crystal ball here, courtesy of Andrew Pollack .

According to Slashdot, Google, MSN Search, MSN Spaces, Yahoo!, Six Apart, LiveJournal, Flickr, Blogger, and many others are trying to stop comment spam in blogs by all agreeing to use a special attribute in links.

I hope that BlogSphere adds the new attribute soon.

Take a look at these links for more information: http://it.slashdot.org/it/05/01/19/0516246.shtml?tid=111&tid=217 http://www.google.com/googleblog/2005/01/preventing-comment-spam.html http://blogs.msdn.com/msnsearch/archive/2005/01/18/nofollow_tags.aspx http://www.ysearchblog.com/archives/000069.html http://www.movabletype.org/news/2005/01/movable_type_nofollow_p.shtml http://www.sixapart.com/log/2005/01/support_for_nof.shtml

Thanks to Rocky Oliver , Andrew Pollack , and the rest of the CULT crew will be at Lotusphere 2005 once again with the ONLY T-SHIRT YOU WILL EVER NEED! This year’s theme is Zen and the Art of Collaboration. Get more information about the story of the CULT from http://www.cultshirt.com. When you see them, tell them that The Lion King says “Hi!”

I set JavaVerbose=1 on my server and then tried to use w.bloggar to access my test blog. Here are the results:

01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded JavaAgent]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of JavaAgent]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing JavaAgent]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded org.apache.xmlrpc.XmlRpcServer]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpcServer]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpcServer]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Initializing org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpcServer]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Running static initializer for org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpcServer]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded net.codestore.domino.xmlrpc.blogger.BlogSphereBloggerAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of net/codestore/domino/xmlrpc/blogger/BlogSphereBloggerAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded net.codestore.domino.xmlrpc.blogger.BaseBloggerAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of net/codestore/domino/xmlrpc/blogger/BaseBloggerAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded org.apache.oro.text.regex.MalformedPatternException]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of org/apache/oro/text/regex/MalformedPatternException]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing net/codestore/domino/xmlrpc/blogger/BaseBloggerAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing net/codestore/domino/xmlrpc/blogger/BlogSphereBloggerAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Initializing net/codestore/domino/xmlrpc/blogger/BaseBloggerAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Running static initializer for net/codestore/domino/xmlrpc/blogger/BaseBloggerAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Initializing net/codestore/domino/xmlrpc/blogger/BlogSphereBloggerAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded com.swapcode.util.StringUtils]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of com/swapcode/util/StringUtils]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing com/swapcode/util/StringUtils]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded net.codestore.domino.xmlrpc.metaweblog.BaseMetaWeblogAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of net/codestore/domino/xmlrpc/metaweblog/BaseMetaWeblogAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing net/codestore/domino/xmlrpc/metaweblog/BaseMetaWeblogAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Initializing net/codestore/domino/xmlrpc/metaweblog/BaseMetaWeblogAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Running static initializer for net/codestore/domino/xmlrpc/metaweblog/BaseMetaWeblogAPI]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded org.apache.xmlrpc.XmlRpcHandler]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpcHandler]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded org.apache.xmlrpc.AuthenticatedXmlRpcHandler]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of org/apache/xmlrpc/AuthenticatedXmlRpcHandler]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded org.apache.xmlrpc.Invoker]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of org/apache/xmlrpc/Invoker]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpcHandler]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded org.apache.xmlrpc.XmlRpcException]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpcException]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing org/apache/xmlrpc/Invoker]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded org.apache.xmlrpc.XmlRpc]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpc]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpc]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Initializing org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpc]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Running static initializer for org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpc]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded uk.co.wilson.xml.MinML]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of uk/co/wilson/xml/MinML]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded uk.org.xml.sax.Parser]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of uk/org/xml/sax/Parser]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded uk.org.xml.sax.DocumentHandler]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of uk/org/xml/sax/DocumentHandler]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing uk/org/xml/sax/Parser]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing uk/org/xml/sax/DocumentHandler]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded uk.co.wilson.xml.MinML$MinMLBuffer]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of uk/co/wilson/xml/MinML$MinMLBuffer]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing uk/co/wilson/xml/MinML]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Initializing uk/co/wilson/xml/MinML]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Running static initializer for uk/co/wilson/xml/MinML]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded org.apache.xmlrpc.Formatter]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of org/apache/xmlrpc/Formatter]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing org/apache/xmlrpc/Formatter]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded org.apache.xmlrpc.XmlRpcServer$Worker]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpcServer$Worker]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded org.apache.xmlrpc.XmlRpc$XmlWriter]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpc$XmlWriter]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpcServer$Worker]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded uk.co.wilson.xml.MinML$1]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of uk/co/wilson/xml/MinML$1]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing uk/co/wilson/xml/MinML$1]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing uk/co/wilson/xml/MinML$MinMLBuffer]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loaded org.apache.xmlrpc.XmlRpc$Value]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Loading superclasses of org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpc$Value]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpc$Value]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Signaling in VM: java/lang/reflect/InvocationTargetException, message: ]
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: at org.apache.xmlrpc.Invoker.execute(XmlRpcServer.java)
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: at org.apache.xmlrpc.XmlRpcServer$Worker.executeInternal(XmlRpcServer.java)
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: at org.apache.xmlrpc.XmlRpcServer$Worker.execute(XmlRpcServer.java)
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: at org.apache.xmlrpc.XmlRpcServer.execute(XmlRpcServer.java)
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: at org.apache.xmlrpc.XmlRpcServer.execute(XmlRpcServer.java)
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: at JavaAgent.NotesMain(JavaAgent.java:92)
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: at lotus.domino.AgentBase.runNotes(Unknown Source)
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: at lotus.domino.NotesThread.run(NotesThread.java:215)
01/18/2005 02:19:05 PM HTTP JVM: [Preparing org/apache/xmlrpc/XmlRpc$XmlWriter]

Any ideas?

I verified the username and password used. I’m still getting the following error when I try to connect via w.bloggar:

I’m still not sure how this all works. Do I need to make that username/password combo in the Domino Directory also?

I’m testing the new Blogsphere template to see how the Blogger API works for me, but I just can’t get it to work. It keeps telling me that my username and password are incorrect. I know that others have used it successfully so far. What gives?

Right around 9:12AM on January 8th, 2005, the power supply to the machine that’s hosting this site died. I just placed a new power supply in the machine, and voila…Bilyk’s Pride is back!

I missed you all!

In mid-December, I was in a fender-bender with an older gentleman in a parking lot. The accident put a small hole in his bumper. Well, he’s calling me now at work saying that I owe him $500 (his deductible) or he’ll sue me for it.

What makes this so bad is that in Michigan, we have what I thought was “no-fault” insurance. In truth, it isn’t. As it turns out, there is something called “Mini-tort”. Under no-fault, a driver can only be sued under certain circumstances, such as:

• If he or she causes an accident in which someone is killed or seriously injured, or
• If he or she in involved in an accident in Michigan with a non-resident who is an occupant of a motor vehicle not registered in Michigan, or
• If he or she is involved in an accident in another state where lawsuits are permitted.

The limited property damage liability, or “mini-tort”, provision of the no-fault law creates another situation in which you can sue or be sued. If you are 50% or more at fault in an accident, and damages to the other driver’s car are not completely covered by his or her insurance, you may be sued and my have to pay up to $500 in damages. This also means that you may sue the other driver for damages to your car which are not covered by your insurance if the other driver is 50% or more at fault.

Insurance companies usually offer this coverage as an optional coverage which you may purchase for an extra cost. They don’t like to tell you about it because it costs them more than they make on it. For example, it would have only cost $7.00 more to have that coverage on my policy. As you can tell, this means I didn’t have the coverage.

I don’t know what I’m going to do. When it rains, it pours…