As a developer, I have always wanted to do some development work on my laptop even when it isn’t connected to the internet. And while Expression Engine which runs in a php, mysql ennvironment could be installed on MacOSX apache as local development sandbox, I have always been hesitant to start mucking around in the cellar of my primary workstation for fear of screwing something up.

So, I was very pleased when recently I became aware of MAMP, an Apache, php, mysql, and phpmyadmin installer which creates what I will call a virtual server on my Mac. After a simple installation, I simply run MAMP, which fires up the server resources without compromising the existing Apache installation that is built into OSX. When I am done with it, I can simply drag the MAMP folder to trash and everything returns to normal on my machine.

And best of all it free! Of course Apache, php, mysql are all open source programs, but the MAMP installer and environment was created by Webeditions a software developer that makes a competing CMS product like Expression Engine. While I will likely continue to use Expression Engine, I do want to thank Webeditions for making MAMP available.

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I am really starting to use Sphere.com quite a bit. As a blog search engine it is quite adequate. But the beauty of Sphere is when I added the “Sphereit!” bookmarklet to my Safari Browser (Firefox is also supported). Whenever I wish to know what is being said about any particular website I am visiting, I simply click on the “Sphere It!” button , and I receive a list of blog postings on the web which may be related to the subject matter of the site I was visiting.

Too cool.

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I am kicking off a new website dedicated to Katahdin Web Design today. While it is still a work in progress, I have the basic framework in place, and I decided to submit the site to the search engines today. While I have been doing some web development and graphic design on a contract basis here in Maine for the past few years, it has been more of a sideline. Recently, I decided to pursue business opportunities in a full-time manner.

This section of the site is dedicated as my personal soapbox, and may contain my observations on such topics as:

• Marketing ideas
• Web Development and Graphic Design
• Anything relating to Macs (I am partial to the platform, but not a in-your-face zealot)
• Maine, and life here
• Any other random thoughts

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