It has been two long days. I moved this newsletter's web site to a new hosting service and then spent the next two days fighting with a problem installing and configuring the web site's SSL certificate. That certificate is required to handle credit card payments securely and also is necessary for the subscription management software that grants access to restricted areas of the web site to Plus Edition subscribers. After a few telephone calls to the new hosting service's technical support department, the problem is now resolved.
Plus Edition subscribers can read the current and two previous editions of the weekly newsletter online, as always. That is controlled by the subscription management software.
One final issue remains: the "blog" software that handles the daily Plus Edition articles as well as the comments and feedback on those articles by readers. That software could not be installed until after the subscription management software was installed which, in turn, could not be installed until after the SSL certificate was installed.
I hope to get the new blog software installed shortly, although probably not tonight. I'm going to bed after a couple of very long days. (yawn)
Is anyone else having trouble reading the Plus Edition? I am recognized by the software (sub date and all) but I can't get in to read the articles. I get a "Word Press" error message. Tried resetting my password, but it still didn't work. Any ideas?
Posted by: Ann Lamb | December 29, 2006 at 07:27 PM
Sorry. Out of the corner of my eye I just noticed the Special Notice to AOL and CompuServe Memebers. I followed directions and read the article. All is well.
Posted by: Ann Lamb | December 29, 2006 at 07:40 PM
---> Is anyone else having trouble reading the Plus Edition? I am recognized by the software (sub date and all) but I can't get in to read the articles. I get a "Word Press" error message.
OOOPS! You are right! I just changed that. Thanks for pointing that out.
This web site is undergoing a lot of changes right now. A few days ago it was moved to a new dedicated server in a new (to us) data center. A lot of new web site software is also being installed.
One of the major changes is an all-new blog for Plus Edition users only. It will run on Movable Type software, a more sophisticated product than the WordPress software being used previously. It will offer a number of new features for Plus Edition subscribers only. Some of the new features will be phased in gradually over coming months.
I apologize for the delay. The new Plus Edition subscribers’ blog should be available here within a few days. In the meantime, I did change the message that you see when you try to access the Plus Edition subscribers' blog.
You can still read the present Plus Edition newsletter and the two previous editions at any time by clicking on "Read the Plus Edition Newsletter (user name and password required)" in the menus to the right.
- Dick Eastman
Posted by: Dick Eastman | December 29, 2006 at 08:23 PM
Sorry, Dick, but things are still not working properly. For example, I have not received the last two issues and today received notice that I had not responded to the notice of renewal due. I did not respond because I did not receive a notice of renewal due. I have, however, re-subscribed.
In another vein: Keep up the good work; I really welcome receiving your newsletter!
Posted by: David A. Grosland | December 31, 2006 at 12:41 PM
Thank you for renewing!
Don't forget that the current Plus Edition newsletter AND the two previous editions are available to you right now. Simply click on "Read the Plus Edition Newsletter (user name and password required)" in the menus to the right of the screen that you are looking at right now.
Sadly, the problem of non-receipt of the renewal notices is VERY common, caused by spam filters used at your e-mail provider's mail servers. The subscription software used by this newsletter automatically sends renewal notices exactly 14 days before the subscription expires at one minute past midnight Eastern time. I can read the mail server's logs and see that EVERY renewal notice is sent and that most of them are accepted by the recipients' mail servers. However, many people never receive them because of spam filters.
AOL always blocks those e-mails and MyWay.com always blocks them as well. RoadRunner used to block them until customers started complaining to RoadRunner customer service. Now RoadRunner allows those e-mails through once again. I think Comcast is also blocking them but am not certain. Other companies may or may not block the renewal notices.
I also changed this site to a new hosting service this past week and the renewal notices are now being sent from a new mail server using a new I.P. address. Initial feedback indicates that perhaps this I.P. address is not being blocked by as many e-mail providers as the old one. I won't know for sure for a few weeks until I gain more experience and more feedback.
Thanks again.
- Dick Eastman
Posted by: Dick Eastman | December 31, 2006 at 01:00 PM
Is this move why the "RSS feed of all articles and podcasts" hasn't updated since 25 December? I see that the individual feeds for the four separate parts are up-to-date.
Posted by: Andrew Millard | January 03, 2007 at 03:19 PM
Not seeing a response for Andrew Millard's query of 03 January 07, I have the same question. Quoting Andrew, "Is this move why the "RSS feed of all articles and podcasts" hasn't updated since 25 December?"
Posted by: Richard White | January 08, 2007 at 03:20 PM
After too many hours of wrestling with Linux scripts, the "RSS feed of all articles and podcasts" is now working again.
Thanks for your patience.
- Dick Eastman
Posted by: Dick Eastman | January 12, 2007 at 06:58 PM
the "RSS feed of all articles and podcasts" is now working again.Yes, on January 12, but not since then, at least in my Google Reader. Please remedy this situation.
Posted by: S. A. Josovic | January 18, 2007 at 08:48 AM