When I installed WordPress over a year ago I really liked the fact that the sitemap plug in was capable of dynamically creating a sitemap when a request was made; and I set it as a goal to implement that on my web site.

Well, yesterday that goal was realized.

I wrote a simple PHP script that takes some meta information and creates a sitemap, either uncompressed or compressed based on what is requested.  I used a rewrite rule in my .htaccess file to allow search engines to continue to request the familiar sitemap.xml and/or sitemap.xml.gz file.

Now I don’t have to worry about creating and deploying a sitemap file when I change a file; I only have to make sure that the meta information is updated when I add or remove pages.  Plus, I incorporated the concept of dynamic pages, so that the sitemap can accurately report fresh content.

At the moment I haven’t decided if I’m going to “publish” this code or not.  It’s likely I will once I clean it up and actually test it more completely.  Like I said, it isn’t rocket science – it just takes a little knowledge of what a sitemap is, and you can get everything you need from sitemaps.org; a little ability in PHP, and a basic understanding of how to write a re-write rule for Apache.

Related posts:

1. Rants and Raves I’ve started to write more posts, and for the moment I’ve scheduled them out for the next month one per day at noon to keep...
2. Linux – Desktop Search A while ago I published a post on Desktop Search on Linux (specifically Ubuntu).  I was far from happy with my conclusions and I felt...
3. CompactCMS Review CompactCMS is an extremely light weight and fast Content Management Solution (CMS).  Actually it might be a bit of a stretch to call it a...
4. Internet Explorer 8 Microsoft released Internet Explorer 8 quite a while ago, and I’m not sure they fully realized how many web pages it would break. Sure, they...
5. Dynamic DNS Most broadband users have an IP address that is issued by their provider via DHCP or PPP (PPPoE technically); that address, generally, will not change...
6. Defragmenting There are many people out there that say that *nix and Mac file systems don’t fragment — only Windows does. They’re dead wrong. [I know...
7. Web Site Version Control I’m not sure this is something that occurs to everyone, but I use SVN to version control my web pages. Essentially I treat my web...
8. Ubuntu – RAID Creation I think learning how to use mdadm (/sbin/mdadm) is a good idea, but in Ubuntu Desktop you can use Disk Utility (/usr/bin/palimpsest) to create most...
9. Maybe…  Maybe, just maybe I’ve found a clue why BitTorrent can’t make any money — and here’s a good example from a web page on their...
10. PHP as a general scripting language Invariable working smart involves automation, and automation will almost always involve scripting repetitive tasks. Under *nix operating systems you could write a shell script, though...

Wikipedia rose from the ashes of failue much like a phoenix… and currently operates one of the largest (if not the largest) repositories of human knowledge.

Wikipedia is freely accessed by anyone with an Internet connection (provided their provider does not block such access), and is currently funded completely through donations.

While I applaud the dreams of Wikipedia’s founder Jimmy Wales to keep the site free of advertising, my feeling is that advertising might well be a better way to sustain the site.

My concept is that those who do not wish to see advertisement donate, and are free from advertisements as long as they have “credits”… when they run out of credits then they like those who choose not to donate see advertisements.

Since Wikipedia is one of the heaviest traveled sites on the internet, advertisers will likely pay top dollar, and there’s likely no need to work through an advertising network…

Related posts:

1. Wikipedia Wikipedia is an incredible place to find information; if you’ve never used it, you should try it out. That said, you should always question the...
2. Advertising I have added side-bar and banner advertisements to my BLOG in order to offset the hosting costs.  The advertisements are supplied through Google AdSense, and...
3. Give in the present for the future… Help Wikipedia grow — read the appeal from Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia’s founder, for US tax deductible donations to help grow Wikipedia and keep it free for...
4. Microsoft Office 2010 The ides of June (that was Monday the 15th) Microsoft announced the newest version of their Office suite — Microsoft Office 2010… yawn. As part...
5. iAd Monday’s announcement by Apple of the iPhone 4 included their announcement of a mobile advertising network – iAd. Google, of course, had recently closed it’s...
6. Auction Bidding I’m not a huge fan of eBay (and certainly not a fan of PayPal); I consider them just another big company that does what they...
7. Rising from the dead… OK, so my BLOG wasn’t exactly dead — I’ve had way too many things that have been requiring my attention here of late to spend...
8. Internet Explorer 8 Microsoft released Internet Explorer 8 quite a while ago, and I’m not sure they fully realized how many web pages it would break. Sure, they...
9. Windows Live Microsoft introduced it’s next generation online services quit some time ago under the name Windows Live through the URL live.com. It’s intended as far more...
10. AT&T U-Verse I signed up for AT&T U-Verse service about two months ago — I’ve already made a post on that, but I decide to go ahead...

That said, you should always question the accuracy of any information you get off the internet (really you should question the accuracy of any information you get period).

When you read something on the internet, it’s best to confirm the accuracy of that information by visiting a web site that should be authoritative one it.

For instance, if you’re gathering medical related information, check out the medical web sites provided by major medical schools and clinics; and the government.  Compare what’s there with what you’re reading on another site, and don’t take anything as being factual if you can’t corroborate it.

I’m not trying to diminish the value of Wikipedia, I’m just pointing out that all the information there probably isn’t correct; and you should double check anything before using it.

• Wikipedia

Related posts:

1. Wikipedia Funding I’m a big fan of Wikipedia– that should be clear from my previous posts on Wikipedia and my frequent use of Wikipedia as a reference...
2. Browser Spelling Check If you use Firefox you’re set, build of that have included a spell check add in for quite sometime; however, if you use Internet Explorer...
3. All the news fit to print… Hmm… maybe that should be all the bs that can be gotten away with! When you read news articles or when people relay to you...
4. STOP • THINK • CLICK I’ve mentioned the Internet Crime Complain Centerbefore, but the US Government also sponsors OnGuard Online with the slogan STOP • THINK • CLICK While most...
5. Comparison of Canadian and American health care systems There are a number of comparisons between the Canadian and US health care systems; and like with any complex issue you can make the comparison...
6. Joomla Review Joomla is one of the most popular open source Content Management Systems (CMSs) around. The core of Joomla is open source and free to use;...
7. Just Host As I posted a couple weeks ago I’d gone ahead and moved some of my domains over to JustHost.com. Mainly I was looking for an...
8. HDX Media Player I ran across this site while reading on the web.  The HDX 1000 and HDX 900 look like they could be interesting devices to hookup...
9. Can You Hear Me Now? And who else can hear me or can see my cellular phone records? Verizon Wireless informed the Obama transition team, the US Secret Service, and...
10. Trust In Government Hits Near-Historic Low A Pew Poll released yesterday shows “Americans’ trust in government and its institutions has plummeted to a near-historic low…” Americans’ trust in government and its...

When you read news articles or when people relay to you “facts” be sure and do your homework; read accounts of the same events on multiple un-related sources.  In fact it’s often good to get a perspective from an international source.

Take a look at any of the facts, figures, and claims — try and verify those against an authoritative source.

If the information reported is important to you; check to see if any of the “facts” it’s based on, or claims it makes are updated over time.

Most journalists report the news impartially from their perspective; but it is from their perspective.  Many journalists and news organization like to sensationalize the news or majorly spin it to suit their agenda.

Question everything.

Related posts:

1. Wikipedia Wikipedia is an incredible place to find information; if you’ve never used it, you should try it out. That said, you should always question the...
2. GSM Hacked Computer security researchers have reported that GSM phones (the cellular protocol used by most of the world — roughly 80% of all cell phones) can...
3. Dynamic Sitemap About two years ago I wrote a program that created a sitemap from a local copy of my web pages (I also wrote an automation...
4. A Political Message Political commentary is a little out of place for my BLOG, and the most important message for this post is CHECK and DOUBLE-CHECK everything everyone...
5. Report Fraud Each and every time you encounter someone trying to defraud you make sure you report it. Phishing scams, money scams, premium SMS message, suspicious phone calls,...
6. Smart Phones If you’re looking for a smart phone, you’ve got lots of great choices now. Whether you’re interested in an Android based phone, a Windows Mobile...
7. Free EMail… Right LOL Most of you probably think that the free email provider you’re using makes money by showing you those annoying advertisements when you access...
8. Disclosing Personal Information I find more and more companies attempt to get as much personal information on me as they can. I also find more and more companies...
9. 7-Zip I’ve written about 7-Zip before; but since we’re on the verge of a significant improvement I felt it was time to highlight it again. 7-Zip...
10. Identity Theft Identity theft is a real problem, and credit bureaus make it all to easy for individuals who get a little bit of information about you...

And the reason they call it Cashback is because they pay you a small amount as a ”rebate” when you purchase some items through the service.

Check it out; obviously the engine with the lowest price (overall) wins.

Live Cashback

Related posts:

1. Microsoft Live Essentials With Windows 7 Microsoft has removed email, instant messaging, address book, calendaring,  and movie maker from the Windows install.  If you run the Windows 7 Upgrade...
2. Windows Live Mail Part of the Microsoft Live Essential software suite available either from Live.com (see link below) or through the Microsoft Update is Live Mail; a simple,...
3. Ubuntu – Desktop Search Microsoft has really shown the power of desktop search in Vista and Windows 7; their newest Desktop Search Engine works, and works well… so in...
4. Windows Live Microsoft introduced it’s next generation online services quit some time ago under the name Windows Live through the URL live.com. It’s intended as far more...
5. Windows Live Mail Failings and Features Since I’ve given Windows Live Mail a “recommendation” I do want to be clear about about some of the specifics. First, when you move a...
6. Windows Live Writer Part of the Microsoft Live Essential software suite available either from Live.com (see link below) or through the Microsoft Update is Live Writer; a simple...
7. OS-X – Desktop Search I’m posting this mainly to illustrate that not Microsoft alone get’s the importance of desktop search — Apple’s Spotlight provides much the same level of...
8. Desktop Search Let me start by saying that Windows Desktop Search is a great addition to Windows; and while it might have taken four major releases to...
9. Windows – Desktop Search Most people realize how valuable Internet search engines are; but not everyone has figured out how valuable desktop (and server) search engines can be. Even...
10. Linux – Desktop Search A while ago I published a post on Desktop Search on Linux (specifically Ubuntu).  I was far from happy with my conclusions and I felt...