Spent an interesting morning, re-crash coursing my way through a quick Linux install using Ubuntu's Wubi installer in order to help out a long distance friend who had some WordPress importing issues from Blogger. Took a little time to get WordPress going on Ubuntu (Linux) 9.04; had to also relearn how to do symlinks and permissions. Finally got it all working together and did a test export of my own blogger entries (converted to an XML file) and imported into WordPress.

The findings essentially proved my friend's hosting provider probably did not have WordPress installed or configured correctly. Next steps involve finding a more amiable WordPress supported host provider, if the current provider will not help.

Like I said: Interesting morning.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ME...and to another fun, roaring time around the Sun!

Celebrated (thus far) by continuing to finish up a lengthy curriculum project--will be done today, and I just got back from a 3 mile run. Who knows what the night will hold? Pizza would be nice.

Finished writing for the day. Tomorrow, home stretch in sight!

Long slog of a weekend, getting some work accomplished under the shadow of an early next week deadline. Nevada DUI Safety course is probably the most emotionally draining work I've done to date, mostly having to do with finding some appropriate DUI videos. American audiences are too fickle when it comes to the amount of honest, graphic visuals you can show them. European and Australian/New Zealand videos hold nothing back, allowing the full impact of a rolling vehicle to careen and tumble over innocent victims--al a cinema verite. Several videos I had to stop, to just begin crying. I realize though that getting this information out there is important. This curriculum will probably be the best course I've put together.

Writing over the Weekend

I really do not enjoy doing writing work while the weather is so nice outside--on a Saturday--but I did spend most of Friday biking and enjoying the day. The work must get done especially if I'd like to get paid.

Unexpectedly, while I sit writing chapters for a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) course, I have come upon some great research material on the Web. Especially enjoy reading some of the visual cues law enforcement know to look for while out on the road.

Often times, like I've read and experienced so many times before, successful writing often begins with creating a time, space, and setting to write. ...It's true, even on this lovely Saturday morning as the sun beams stream into the window.

Driver Safety Videos
A few years ago I began branching out into other forms of technical writing, really to help pay the bills and make ends meet. That's the life, breaks, and opportunities for having your own writing business. Luckily I now work pretty much full time producing driver safety course curriculum for a company out of California.

Anyway, the point of this blog entry is just a note about DUIs and the scary videos I'm having to wade through for a soon-to-be released curriculum for a Nevada DUI course. As a communicator, I understand the importance of the message, that it can be viewed/remembered, and hopefully appreciated. Everyone's threshold for graphic visuals is different. And DUI Public Service Announcement (PSA) presentations are I think the way to go. Mothers Against Drunk Driving PSAs are good sources I'll hopefully see about using.

A quick safety tip. American safety videos are baby food compared to European/Australian/New Zealand based videos. Of course--there are only so many ways to show the truth of a matter.