YAY, it took a few days of solid work to get this blog back up and running but it is back! The reason it was down all ths time was due to an unforseen issue with Microsoft Jet databases (MDB files) and 64 bit operating systems. Apparently Windows Server 2008 x64 does not have 32bit jet database drivers that can be easily accessable and caused this blog to not work. Well I found a few workaround fixes and finally got this back up and running.

I was using TypePad for two weeks as a workaround and to see how it performed in general as well, but I was quite unhappy with it. Simply put, TypePad sucks. I couldn‘t easily create tables to ogranize my images, the image upload feature kind of sucks, it had so many random text formatting issues that took me more time to fix, than it took me to write the blog, and so forth.

But I am back thankfully, I missed having my blog up.

I am working on the next version of this website yet again, but taking a completely different approach to the design. Instead of using a custom built website like always, I am playing with the idea of using Windows Sharepoint Services to host the site instead. Microsoft has some great website templates designed already, it has blog features, photo gallery features and even the ability to contribute to the blog and galleries via a simple email which is a huge selling point for me. I have no ETA on this deployment as I still have a considerable amount of work ahead of me, but so far I am very happy with Windows Sharepoint Services.

Take a look at some of these photos I grabbed around 4:30am on 6/19/08. These were taken of storms that were to the north and to the east of Treasure Island. What helped make these storms so beautiful was the full moon that provided excellent lighting to give these storms just the right color. The first shot below was the best IMHO. You can find the complete set of photos in my galleries.

This really irritated me today. At least 12 hours of very preventable downtime, due to a very crappy domain transfer. I transferred registrars from Active Domains to My Domain. This transfer began over a week ago. Well the transfer supposedly completed 3 days ago and there was no downtime till that point (at least not [read more...]

I am not going to make this post very long as I have decided that I will not be keeping TypePad anymore. However I do want to say, WOW, incredible! Today‘s big storm that blew through Treasure Island kicked up the winds pretty good as well, with a peak gust of 45mph! Again, to emphasize [read more...]

For the third day in a row, Tampa International Apt has tied record high temps. Today TIA observed temps of 97 degrees, which ties the old record set in 1985. Yesterday was 98 degrees which tied with 1985 as well.

Below is a copy/paste from Treasure Island‘s e-mail bulletin: No bridge openings at Treasure Island drawbridge Service expected to be restored by Sunday, June 8 The Treasure Island Causeway Channel is temporarily closed to vessels that require a bridge opening to navigate the channel. This closure applies mainly to vessels taller than 20 feet. Friday’s [read more...]

Hey Everyone, still finding it quite suprizing to of recorded a 63mph wind gust with my home weather station yesterday! There is widespread damage in Treasure Island from yesterdays severe storm which produced up to nickel sized hail (0.88 inches), the 63mph gust I observed and exceptional lightning. Well today could bring more of the [read more...]

Extremely Severe Weather in Treasure Island!

UPDATE 1 - 11:06am 6/7/08 - Added 3D rendering screenshot, attached PDF file generated by the NWS with their own summary information and corrected random formatting issues with the post. UPDATE 2 - 5:00pm 6/7/08 - Added an additional damage report, see below. UPDATE 3 - 5:02pm 6/7/08 - Added record reports from Tampa International [read more...]

Jun 052008

Well folks, the migration to the new server has been completed. Sorry for the delay in getting my blog up and running but finding a good blog solution is difficult to say the least. My blog may have found a new home with TypePad, as I have found a work-around way of getting it somewhat [read more...]

Unfortunately the catastrophic failure I was hoping not to receive, has happened. I have reinstalled Windows Server 2008 a total of five times on my new server now and I may have finally gotten it stabilized. This will give me a total of only 5 days to test the server for stability before putting it [read more...]

© 2011 Sean Toner - WatchingtheSkies.com Contact us Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha
Highslide for Wordpress Plugin