environmentastic! scheduled maintenance

Posted by User ImageA. Caleb Hartley on November 20th, 2008 filed in blog, host
Comment now »

I just got a message from my host (Hostgator) that they are going to be upgrading the server that environmentastic! is hosted on in a few days.  The letter is copied below, but in a nutshell it says that environmentastic! might show a generic “Under Maintenance” page for no more than 45 minutes on Nov. 24th, at about 11pm eastern time (that’s 10pm central, 9pm mountain, 8pm pacific, and 4am GMT the next morning - everybody else will need to figure out the times for themselves).

I just want to give you all a heads up if you happen to notice that env! is down for a bit, this is probably why.  Hostgator has been head and shoulders above my last host in keeping me informed as well as in general reliability.  I can’t recommend them highly enough!

Here’s the email I received:

***

Dear HostGator Client,

We will be performing scheduled maintenance on your server on November 24th @ 10:00 PM CST. During this time we will be upgrading our Apache web server to version 2.2.10 (from 1.3.4x). We will also be upgrading the operating system from CentOS 4.7 to CentOS 5.2.

This upgrade will allow us to provide you with a higher level of performance and security. During the upgrade we will also be installing a new set of mod_security rules which will add to the overall protection our clients websites. We will also be upgrading our firewall software which help deflect distributed denial of service attacks and ensure that your sites are kept functioning at optimal levels.

The server will stay online during this time however while the Apache service is recompiled your websites and your client websites will be unavailable for an estimated 30-45 minutes. During this time an unbranded, generic “Under Maintenance” page will be displayed instead of your normal content.

We have more information located on our forums here:

http://forums.hostgator.com/reseller-apache-2-migration-schedule-t41308.html?p=148175

Please do not reply to this e-mail. If you require assistance or further clarification please contact us via forums, live chat or a support ticket.

Thank you,

HostGator Support

***

Boring, I know, but I’m just happy to have received any notice at all that maintenance was going to be performed and that my site my be down temporarily because of it.  Moving to Hostgator = the best hosting choice I’ve ever made!

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

If you have a website, what host do you use? Are you happy with them? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments!

Rate this:
3.5


Zoo you know much about animals?

Posted by User ImageA. Caleb Hartley on November 10th, 2008 filed in Zoo
7 Comments »

How much do you know about zoos?  Do you know that most zoos are deeply involved in conservation studies that try to stem the tide of extinctions that are happening faster and faster these days?  Did you know that they engage in educational outreach about animals and the environment and how loss of habitat and pollution and climate change affect different species?  Answer the questions below to join the conversation about zoos, and maybe I’ll see you at the Columbus Zoo one of these days!

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

How often do you go the the zoo? Where is your favorite zoo? Why? Feed the comments with your opinions and answers!

Rate this:
3.5


environmentastic!’s 100th Post!

Posted by User ImageA. Caleb Hartley on November 4th, 2008 filed in blog, vote
3 Comments »

A great milestone for environmentastic!, and a great way to celebrate it, as far as I am concerned:

Need some help deciding who is greenest?  Check out this blog post: http://newsinitiative.org/story/2008/08/28/green_voters_guide_to_the

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

VOTE VOTE VOTE! Who do you think will win the presidential race? Does it matter? What are the most pressing environmental issues? Vote your opinions in the comments!

Rate this:
3.5


Simple Ways Wednesdays - Episode 12

Posted by User ImageA. Caleb Hartley on October 29th, 2008 filed in Simple Ways, gift
2 Comments »

Many apologies for my long absence from blogging - nearly a month!  Raconteur Theatre, the theatre company that my wife and I (and several friends) started has officially dropped from eight board members to only four, and with the current show (Ibsen’s Ghosts) having just ended, we are now moving into rehearsals and planning for our December show: Columbus, Ohio playwright Sarah Tobin’s Mom & Pop!

This post is coming a little late on Wednesday, (and is two or three weeks late since my last “Simple Ways Wednesdays” post).  I think you’ll be excited for a few weeks, though, because Simple Ways Wednesdays is starting a series-within-a-series…  for the next several weeks, Simple Ways Wednesdays will be helping you with meaningful holiday gift planning:

Make your own Holiday Gifts with Natural Ingredients!

The first recipe you get is: Avacado/Almond Neck Moisturizer

Ingredients:
1 Teaspoon Dried Chamomile (click link to buy it online - use the search field at the top right of the screen)
1 1/8 cup water
3 Tablespoons Avocado Oil (click link to buy it online - use the search field at the top right of the screen)
3 Tablespoons Almond Oil (click link to buy it online - use the search field at the top right of the screen)
2 Teaspoons Jojoba Oil (click link to buy it online - use the search field at the top right of the screen)
1 ounce beeswax beads (click link to buy it online - use the search field at the top right of the screen)
2 teaspoons glycerin
20 drops Organic Lemon Essential Oil (click link to buy it online)
2 large ceramic cups
Strainer
Double-boiler
Sterilized 6-oz glass or ceramic jar with tight-fitting lid

Directions:
1: Boil the water
2: Place the chamomile in a large, ceramic cup
3: Pour the water into the cup with the chamomile and let steep for 15 minutes
4: Strain the liquid into another cup
5: In the top of the double boiler (set over simmering water), warm the jojoba, avocado, and almond oils
6: Add the beeswax beads and stir until melted
7: Remove from heat, and stir in 2 tablespoons of the chamomile liquid drop by drop until the mixture thickens and cools
8: Mix in the glycerin and lemon essential oil thoroughly
9: Spoon the mixture into the sterilized glass or ceramic jar
10: Store in a cool, dark place

This recipe will make, for only a few dollars, what you might pay $15-$25 (or more!) at a beauty shop.  Additionally, you know exactly what is going into a recipe that you are making yourself.  Can’t beat that!

This mixture should be massaged into the neck from the neckline all the way to the chin.  The oils will keep skin soft and supple.

Get cracking on this recipe… only a handful of weeks until it is gift-giving time!

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

Ever used this kind of moisturizer? Ever made your own beauty products before?  Tell us what you think of it in the comments section!

Rate this:
3.5


I’m Back!

Posted by User ImageA. Caleb Hartley on October 13th, 2008 filed in theatre
6 Comments »

Quick apologies to my loyal readers who have undoubtedly noticed that I have not posted in nearly two weeks…

Raconteur Theatre Company opened it’s production of Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen (Translation by Lanford Wilson) on this past Thursday.  Sine I am the Technical Director for this show, I was required to be at the Tech and Dress Rehearsals for all of last week.  This caused me to miss Simple Ways Wednesdays last week!

By the way, if you anywhere near the Columbus, Ohio area, you should come to see the show - tickets are $12 online or $10-15 at the door.  See you there!

That’s all for now, but I will be back posting again now that the show has opened and life has slowed down again just slightly…

Thanks for reading, everyone - I should tell you all more often how much I appreciate each and every one of you!

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

Are you a theatre-goer? Leave a comment about your favorite show or your favorite theatre company! And sign up for Raconteur Theatre’s mailing list!

Rate this:
3.5