SparkBits 4.16.2008
Read more about: Relevant Buzz
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A lot of interesting and important news bites have passed my way lately. Figured with the new blog I’d also launch a new “SparkBits” series to keep you posted on things you need to know if you are blogging, running an internet business, are a work at home parent, or an entrepreneur.
Upgrade WordPress
Technorati announced earlier this week that they will discontinue indexing WordPress blogs running version 2.3.2 or earlier (via) due to security issues. We just upgraded to 2.5 on this site, and though I’m not in love with the new writing interface, overall it’s a huge step forward for WordPress and I think they are on an impressive track as they grow.
Beware Dot.Moms
Psychiatrists & Psychologists are calling for an update to the next Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to include Internet Addiction.
…Mind docs say the problem is growing, now possibly affecting up to 10 percent of Internet users. Recent studies are surprising, indicating the problem is worst not among game-obsessed teens, but rather among middle-aged women who stay at home, constantly on the computer as a way of connecting to the outside world.
The fact that I run a business on the internet excludes me from this group… at least I think it does. 
Free PR Leads
Peter Shankman (@Skydiver on Twitter) has a free service called Help A Reporter Out that matches up people seeking publicity with reporters, journalists & book authors seeking sources for their work. I signed up last week and immediately told all of the Sparkplugging authors to do the same. You should too, because I know of no other way for free PR leads to fall into your lap on a daily basis.
Wendy Piersall’s “Shady” Past
Stephen Hopson of Adversity University conducted a highly in depth and personal interview with me a few weeks ago and published Part 1 of it last night. If you’re at all interested in the ‘real’ story behind this site and the things I have overcome in my past to get here today, I spilled all with Stephen.
Sparkplugging Founder Wendy Piersall is dang passionate about helping people start & grow a business while maintaining life balance (somehow).
Dawud Miracle has one focus: to help you get it. The it? How your website, and blog, can change the way you do business. You can find out more at 
Teresa Morrow manages online book publicity and event promotion for authors, speakers and writers with her company 
I think I’m an Internet addict. It’s not that I want to be, but I have gotten the idea to create 10 websites from scratch, and did. It took me a month.
Now, I find out that I did it all wrong… instead of using Dreamweaver (which I like), I should have used WordPress.
Oh well, chalk it up to the learning curve. So now, I’m starting all over. Now I have to do 10 WordPress sites. I’m starting tonight, and this blog is an inspiration because it has a pagerank of 5 and is known all over the place. The content is good and seems to come from a bottomless well.
Hey Wendy,
Did I mention I like the new digs?
Anyway, if you don’t like the writing interface on 2.5 I found this by Judy on Persistent Illusion http://www.persistentillusion.com/blogblog/archive/2008/04/14/1298/done-done-done-done
Go to the bottom of the post for a link to the hack she wrote.
Haven’t tried it myself (still using 2.3.3) but this looks promising.
Joe’s last blog post..SOBCon 08, I’ll Be There
Ooo! thanks for the PR lead - I signed right up. I love giving interviews. The ones I’ve done in the past have all been on home education.
(bet you didn’t know that
)
Andrea_R’s last blog post..Take MU and BuddyPress for a spin
Also, I’m seeing double as I subbed to this new blog, but I’m still getting the old blog - with the same new content!
Wendy - It was nice to have a view into a little bit of your personal life.
On upgrading to WP 2.5 when I did I had a few problems mainly an intermittent internal server error which was not a simple fix. Cost me precious hours. Grrrr.
ourmonmouth’s last blog post..Online Sales to Grow 17 Percent in ‘08
Andrea - my feed URL hasn’t changed, I just went into FeedBurner and changed the source. So indeed you ARE subbed to the same blog twice!
Ourmommouth - don’t even get me started on the headaches involved with moving 6 blogs to a new domain and upgrading them at the same time. Was up till 6:00am yesterday morning troubleshooting! There was one plugin that caused havoc, even when deactivated. OMG it was hell.
Hey wendy,
I am an addict for sure. But i am working my way out to draw out all profits from my addiction. I am anyways quite impressed wit your blog. Will wait for response
Craze’s last blog post..Start Up Plan - Time your actions
I’ve always said I’m addicted to the Internet, but I actually proved myself wrong when I took a four month hiatus a while ago.
It was good to find out I could live without it.
Thanks for the link to Peter’s site.
PS: Hi Andrea!
Joanne’s last blog post..Grandparents And Adoption
Dang, i did not want to upgrade, but it seems i have to.
Thanxs for the tip on Technorati, i did not know this. Will have to get my guy to look into it. Yikes!
Maybe it will speed up my blog, as Alexa tells me it is very slow, avg 15 seconds to load. I just read this tonite on Alexa.
Missy.
Thanks for the heads-up on the DotMoms. I’ll keep a look out for ‘em.
farmnwife
farmnwife’s last blog post..Big Ol’ Pile of Shift Work
psst - *waves to Joanne*
Oh Wendy, you kick a$$. I always thought so, but now I know so. Thank you for letting us get to know you better.
I’m a very private person, but I had some challenges myself, including the abusive stalker boyfriend amongst other problems and issues. It’s a wonder we survive what we put ourselves through, but I think if we didn’t have these sometimes traumatic experiences we couldn’t grow into the people we were always meant to be.
So cheers, Wendy and take care. I am so glad things are going better for you, you’ve earned it.