FAQ’s About Solarum

1. Why did you create this site?
2. No really, like what’s the point?
3. Why are there sometimes gaps between postings?
4. Most if not all other websites and blogs I see are covered with advertisements, popups, popunders, banner ads and whatnot. I don't see any here, why not?
5. Sometimes, when checking out the Advisories section, I'll click on one of the pages and instead of the list of advisories I will get the following error: "Simple Feed List: The supplied feed could not be fetched and/or parsed". What the heck does that mean?
6. Do you have any deep dark secrets that you feel like you should reveal to your readers here on the FAQ page?

1. Why did you create this site?

   I have always enjoyed helping people, so I decided to create this site in order to share knowledge with those who can benefit from it. I have been working with computers for more than 20 years, and doing it professionally for more than 10. I have worked in small shops, multi million dollar data centers, hospitals, ISPs, and everywhere in between. In my travels, I have collected lots of information that I want to share with everyone in the hopes that someone out there can find an answer to some question they have, or guidance to help make whatever they are doing safer and more enjoyable.

   I have always been told that I have a talent for “interpreting” tech type stuff, and boiling it down to where folk that aren’t so technically inclined can understand, translating for the regular user. I wanted to do that here too, I want to put info here that we all can use. I truly believe that the only way to really help win the war that all Internet users are having with the spammers, virus writers, script kiddies, spyware merchants, etc., is to educate the victims. It is only when those that get targeted get some education so they can defend themselves, that we can shut all of these awful people down. I am working hard to share the knowledge and experience that I have gained in more than twenty years of working with computers, fighting the good fight, and helping people. Won’t you join me?

2. No really, like what’s the point?

   OK. Let me be blunt, I am very tired and fed up with good people out there getting ripped off. Whether it’s by disreputable repair shops, phony phishing scams, getting socked by spammers, or whatever it might be. The only way to truly help people protect themselves and grow as users and people, is to educate them, help and support them, and encourage them. I am starting this site so I can bring technology to anyone and everyone, and present it with the heart of a teacher as Dave Ramsey says. It is my purpose in life to help people, and this is one way I am trying to live my purpose. The best way for all of us to learn and grow is to share information. We all have areas where we excel, and by communicating and sharing information with each other, we can all learn more, get better and grow.

3. Why are there sometimes gaps between postings?

   First off, I live by a philosophy of quality over quantity. This means that I would rather post fewer articles but make them as great as I am able, instead of posting a whole bunch of fluff that doesn't really say anything. Most of the posts and pages that I publish are more along the lines of articles and take some time to research, put together, and then write once all that is done. In short, I try my best to post good stuff, and that takes some time! 🙂

   On another note, this would also be life getting in the way of what I am trying to do here. I still have to earn a living, although anyone that wants to fund my working on this site full time, feel free to drop me a line! 🙂 Sometimes business gets in the way, I might have lots and lots of things to do with customers or jobs going on. Also, I write more than techie stuff, and sometimes I am working to get something else written under a deadline. This site is a priority for me, but sometimes even it can slip. Hang in there, if I do let some time slip by between posts, rest assured that I’ll be back!

4. Most if not all other websites and blogs I see are covered with advertisements, popups, popunders, banner ads and whatnot. I don't see any here, why not?

   Good question and one that has a couple of answers. At one time I played around with Google Adwords and their banner ads and stuff, it was kinda fun but I didn't like it cluttering up the place and the revenue wasn't going anywhere so I took them down. I run this site and the associated server out of my own pocket, and I do that because I don't want to be (or even look like I am) beholden to anyone. How could I give honest reviews about product A when product B and it's company are a sponsor??? See what I mean? That being said, occasionally I will put up a banner ad or I will make a post extolling the virtues of a particular product. I try to make note of it within the post just to remind people, but I don't make any money off of reviews and such. I don't sell reviews or take kickbacks. If I like something enough, I want to tell people about it. If someone wants to send me their product to review, I'll be glad to do it and in a timely manner, but I can't automatically make it a good review, whatever it is has to warrant that good review. I am here looking out for my readers, and I don't want to put up bogus information.

5. Sometimes, when checking out the Advisories section, I'll click on one of the pages and instead of the list of advisories I will get the following error: "Simple Feed List: The supplied feed could not be fetched and/or parsed". What the heck does that mean?

   Well, that means that the software that gets, parses and displays the feed of advisories was not able to get the feed or that it got the feed but was not able to parse (think of it like read) the feed and therefore couldn't display it. When I have seen this message before, it almost always means that there is a problem on the other end, and all we can do is wait until they get it straightened out. I haven't yet seen this be a problem on our end, especially if other feeds are working. If none of the feeds are working then I probably broke something and if you would be so kind, head on over to the Contact page and drop me a line letting me know about it just in case I don't know already. Thanks!

6. Do you have any deep dark secrets that you feel like you should reveal to your readers here on the FAQ page?

   Yes, yes I do. Since my readers come to this page and see my work, I must confess. I ... I have a problem, an addiction you see. I am addicted to commas, there! I said it! I use them way too much in my writing. It's something that probably developed in my early teen years writing papers for school. I think that is where I fell in love with commas, which over time has turned into a dangerous addiction, and sometimes, it gets so bad, I almost become commatose. There, now you know, all of you know! Until next time, ...