web design archives

Stupid Train Run, Version 2.0 Launched

A few quick details on the launch of a new version of Stupid Train Run.

Posted: March 08, 2007Continue Reading

Big Daddy Update

Overnight more pages were added to the Google index. This site has jumped from 10 indexed pages up to 35. It seems like the pages with the most internal links are more likely to make it into the index at this point with the new Big Daddy rules.

Posted: June 16, 2006Continue Reading

Taking a Peek at Ruby

I'm taking a look a Ruby and Ruby on Rails, a framework. Turns out the language itself has been around for about a decade but Rails brought it’s popularity to the forefront in the last year or so. I've installed it and started giving it a look. I have a few ideas of how I’d like to use it floating around my head.

Posted: June 04, 2006Continue Reading

The Big Daddy Mess (updated)

After realizing that most of the pages from my site were dropped from Google, I come to find out that it’s not something that I necessarily did but a change in assumptions at Google. You need a lot more quality links (natural preferred of course) to get indexed these days. A PR 4 is now like what was a PR1. It's frustrating and I think the logic is kooky. A site could still be completely relevant and useful without a lot of backlinks – especially when you're talking about obscure topics or small local mom-and-pop type websites.

Posted: May 31, 2006Continue Reading

Redesigned-ish

After about a month of working with version 2, I've redesigned again to give the site a more polished look. V.2 just wasn't working for me. Using elements from both version 1 and 2, 1+2 really does equal v.3.

Posted: May 30, 2006Continue Reading

Huge Google Update Coming

A new Google update is on the way. It's actually a new datacenter more than just a regular update. At first only part of this website was indexed but now it seems the rest of my site has made it into the new index. Thank goodness.

Posted: January 28, 2006Continue Reading

It's Almost Here (updated)

The newest version of Movable Type is due to release today (pending any last minute chaos). I'm excited as it will have unlimited blogs and top-level default templates. It was interesting to be a part of the month-long beta testing session, even in a very small way. And with GoLive CS2 support for tags, I really should be able to get stuff done, once I find a few minutes.

Posted: August 25, 2005Continue Reading

Double Underscores instead of One - Beta testing Movable Type (updated)

I submitted a bug report to Movable Type/Six Apart for their category creation. If I put a "&" in the category name, it replaced that and the surrounding spaces with two underscores instead of one. That's different from how it used to behave.

Posted: August 01, 2005Continue Reading

At Last my PageRank has Come Along

After months of backlink and content work the PageRank for my web site has been lifted from a depressing 0 to a 4. Not all pages have been rank but it’s a great start. Hard work can pay off.

Posted: July 15, 2005Continue Reading

New Movable Type version in Beta and it looks good (updated)

The new Movable Type version has been posted for public Beta testing. It looks good and I think I will be adding comments and trackbacks once the release becomes official.

Posted: July 14, 2005Continue Reading

Underscores versus Dashes (updated)

In the search engine optimization world, dashes instead of understored are better for file naming and URL conventions. This allows the search engine to file the words separately instead of as one combined word. So I had to recreate all of my files and redirect the old files. The solution was fairly simple with some searching.

Posted: June 23, 2005Continue Reading

It's all about practice (and content).

I want to build an informational website but now have writers and designers block. I think I need to practice writing more - and designing for that matter.

Posted: June 15, 2005Continue Reading

Google Sitemaps, Friend or Foe? (updated)

Google has developed a sitemap protocol (XML) to help their spiders access the pages of a website easier. While there is a debate on the value and implications of the sitemaps, I implemented them to see how it all works out.

Posted: June 13, 2005Continue Reading

Designers' Block

The reinvention/rebranding of a website, especially a personal one, can be a larger project than realized. There is a lot of planning involved to maintain content, design the website and market it.

Posted: June 10, 2005Continue Reading

The Crash Saga Continues

I'm super busy with school but I'm trying to sneak in a few minutes here and there to rebuild my site - or at least the posts because I was...

Posted: February 23, 2005Continue Reading

about caradotcom

The personal website and blog of a 20-something web designer that works in a city by day and freelances by night (without a desk - long story). Continue reading