Movableing On
I’ve been a user and believer in Movable Type for almost two years now, it’s been a wonderful product that has let me, and many others, make our own homes on the web. We’ve all been patiently waiting for Version 3, the ‘professional’ version, of MT that has been a long time promised. Part of that promise was that MT 3 would be available in a free version.
Movable Type 3 was released today and what should have been a cause for great excitement in the blogging world has left many people angry and confused. The free version of Movable Type is there, but it’s not what any of us were expecting. You are now only allowed one, and only one, author and that author can run at the maximum 3 blogs. There’s no new features of any great worth, and the one that Six Apart, the makers of Movable Type, are promoting is merely a commentors white list. Unlike Typepad there is no photo functionality and no lists in version 3, regardless of whether you choose the paid or free version.
I currently run 5 blogs off my install and if Rae, Marita, Trish and Jen are to keep their blogs I would have to purchase a Movable Type 3.0 Personal Edition Volume License I and that will set me back a fee of USD$119. And that’s too much for me.
Six Apart have to make a living; no one can deny them that but the prices for licenses and their licensing agreements will not be affordable for most of the people who have used MT in the past. I can’t believe that a company so savy in it’s product developement could make sucha a monumental business bludner and blow away every bit of good will it had built up in one stupid blow. It’s rather telling that they have removed the word ‘personal’ from their description of Movable Type as a ‘Personal Publishing System’. The price seems especially high when you take a look at several competitors, such as WordPress, Textpattern or even Melbourne’s own Mambo Open Source – all of which are available for free.
I know I don’t have to upgrade but over time the feature list of MT 2.6x will shrink in comparison to what others have to offer, vulnerabilities will be exposed and development of plug ins will focus on the later versions, leaving us with an underpowered, outdated and feeble application.
Movable Type has made it’s move, unfortunately I think many people, myself included, will simply watch it go.
Happiness
Today we are happy.
Why?
Because we get to sleep in our own bed after a week.
Why?
Because mum won’t be in it.
Why?
‘Cause she’s gone home.
Why?
‘Cause Dad will be home in a day or so.
Why?
‘Cause he’s amazing and has made a rapid recovery that belies his age.
And that’s why we are happy.
Charity
A blog entry today got me thinking.
Whenever you’re accosted as you wander the street by charity workers they always seem to have an English accent. Regardless if it’s Greenpeace or selling raffle tickets outside the footy, they all seem to be back packers from the UK.
So my question is this? Are the streets of London over run by Australian tourists asking if the good citizens of that noble city could spare a couple of minutes?
Sorry, Wrong Number
A misdelivered SMS.
“Am on this phone now. Ony my way to uni…I’ll just deal with the test.”
Belle Of The Ball
After the mad rush of the last couple of days it was great to switch off and head off to Veronica and Steve’s wedding.
I know the bride is always the belle of the ball but for me it was my lovely gal.
Crisis? What Crisis?
So, the big stress about my 82 year old dad and his quadruple bypass yesterday and for what?
Mum and I went to see him this morning, and save a plumbing store worth of pipes and tubes coming off him, he looked as good as he did the day before the operation. Mum said “Oh, you look good Ted.” to which he replied “I hope I do, because I feel bloody awful.” and then as he drifted in and out of a doze “the only thing wrong with me is that I want to sleep all the time.”.
Good News
The surgeon rang. All is well. Ended up being a quadruple bypass (Dad will be happy, he doesn’t like to do things by halves, or thirds). He seemed to cope perfectly with the surgery and now it’s the critical 24-48 hours but the surgeon said she was very confident that all should progress well.
Mum’s over the moon, we’re all relieved.
Thanks to everyone who has commented or e-mailed, it really made a tense time a lot easier.
I’m Glad I’m Sick
Thank god I am sick today. Mum is staying with us ’cause Dad had his angiogram this morning so I was home when she called to see how it went. He has to have a triple bypass within the next couple of days. As you can appreciate mum was a little upset when she got off the phone, I think she was thankful to have someone here with her.
The doc said Dad’s heart is strong so there’s no problem with the procedure, even though he’s 82, and that all should go well. We’ve rung all my sisters and are now trying to get things organised for an extended stay as both mum and dad thought they’d be off home tomorrow. We’re lucky that a nurse taking Dad’s pulse last week prior to a check up noticed an irregularity and followed up on it. One person doing her job has made such a difference to our family.
Funny thing is it’s Heart Week this week and I’ve been ignoring the healthy choice options at work. Time to re-evaluate me thinks.
UPDATE
Operation is tomorrow morning, 8:00 am.
Well This Isn’t Fun
Ugh.
Viruses ain’t fun – put that on a bumper sticker and I’d buy one. A whole day and night spent shivering and burning up at the same time, interspersed with wonderful nausea and shaking uncontrollably. The Dr is fairly sure I’m not gonna die (and that’s a relief) and has told me stay in bed tomorrow, the way I’m feeling now I’ll be taking his advice, especially after going to work today against my better judgement.
In other medical matters my Dad’s in hospital down here at the moment. He’s having an angiogram. Of course he’s worried and concerned, that there’s no allowance for a cup of tea on tomorrow’s lunch menue. Go Dad.
