Archive for category General

Replacing Text in a MySQL Table

Posted by clifgriffin in General on October 20th, 2008

After exporting/importing my WordPress tables today I found that many of my posts contained a weird character strewn about. That character was the character ‘Â’.

A number of ideas how to remove this came to mind…I could try to find the problem in the original SQL, but I have had additional comments since the import so that option was effectively off the table.

A quick Google search led me to this helpful page.  In short, I had to run the following:

UPDATE wp_posts 
SET post_content = REPLACE(post_content, 'Â', '');

And that’s it. Be very careful as MySQL doesn’t give you good ways to rollback mistakes.

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Where is the Facebook Status RSS feed on the new Facebook?

Posted by clifgriffin in General on October 8th, 2008

Every iteration of Facebook seems to make finding the status RSS feed harder, yet it does still exist.

Here it is. Right here.

Here it is. Right here.

Step-by-step instructions:

  1. Click here.
  2. Click “My Status” as pictured below.
  3. Your done.

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Poetry

Posted by clifgriffin in General on November 28th, 2007

I am not usually inspired to write poetry. In fact, until today I can’t say that I have ever been inspired to write poetry. However, today, I was inspired to write poetry. The setting was Southwest flight 407 from Raleigh to Kansas City. I do not confess to know anything about poetry. I have probably broken many rules, but isn’t really the point.

Flying
As I stare across the glass divide into the vast expanse
I see horizon fade into horizon—the seam of two worlds uniquely visible
And into this intangible frontier men slip
Past the guards—the laws of nature, we creep
And find ourselves resting on impossibility
Soaring on pretense, defying our normal condition
And for a moment our senses taste what is not ours
We taste but cannot swallow
It is not ours, it belongs to God
And as I stare I notice for the first time
The walls around me are my life support
Protecting me from the thin and toxic air
The deadly, harsh temperature
This realm I so admire is also trying to kill me.
And so I must return.
This is not my home, I am a visitor

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Less Frequently Quoted Verses from Proverbs

Posted by clifgriffin in General on November 13th, 2007

Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress;
let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
- Proverbs 31:6 – 7

Welcome to the first in a potentially long running and controversial series I’m calling “Less Frequently Quoted Verses From Proverbs”.

Why, you may ask, would I do this? Am I trying to destroy your faith? Am I trying to mock the Bible? Am I questioning the infallible, inspired word of God?

No.

But, Proverbs, like Ecclesiasties, Psalms, and Song of Solomon must be treated differently than most other books of the Bible. Why? Because they are written for a different purpose.

Proverbs is advice and principles written in the form of proverbs.  Proverbs, by definition, are intended to be easily memorizable and easily recalled.  They are not all inclusive. They are not applicable in every situation.

Since people insist on using Proverbs to instruct people doctrinally, I am going to use other verses from Proverbs to show why this isn’t always a good idea.

Now, you tell me: Is Proverbs 31:6 – 7 the best possible idea for those who are poor and miserable?

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