If you’ve visited this site at all within the last month or so, especially in the mornings (for some strange reason), you might have seen a screen giving you a “500 Internal Server Error”. I was seeing it regularly and this was incredibly frustrating to me. So with the redesign and all the new things that are and are about to be happening here, I also wanted to improve the hosting infrastructure. I use DreamHost for my hosting.

I use DreamHost because:

• They are green (they buy carbon credits for all their power usage/emissions).
• They have a kickass custom admin panel that is really easy to use. In my opinion, it’s so much better than cPanel.
• They have decent to good customer service. And anyone with any experience with hosting customer service would relish having a good experience.

But I have to say my sites not loading was really starting to get me down. I was starting to think I needed to move off of DreamHost, which I didn’t want to do for the reasons above. Plus, moving databases is a gigantic pain in the ass. So after an email message thread (I think by the end it was 30 messages long and was over a week of back and forth—I really didn’t want to move DBs) we figured out the problem.

The problem

My sites were using too much memory and thus going over my allotted amount and thus the error was produced. WordPress plugins tend to use a lot of memory, I learned. Especially, poorly written plugins. One in particular came to the mind of DreamHost, who wrote in their Terms of Service:

8. Customer agrees to not engage in activities pertaining to Black Hat SEO, Spamdexing, and so-called “Scraper sites.” These can all have a severely detrimental effect on server performance and are not permitted. Pursuant to this policy, the poorly-written WordPress plugin “All in One SEO Pack” is expressly prohibited on DreamHost shared hosting servers and may only be installed on DreamHost Private Servers (VPS).

I use the plugin “All in One SEO Pack”. This is part of the problem. The other part is the Lifestream plugin that I use. And another are the automatic database backup plugins I use. When they run they bog things down.

And after many, many, many emails, I found out how DreamHost sets the allowed amount of memory/cpu for each domain. With shared hosting you only get so much memory and cpu. That’s just a fact. I know it. However, I didn’t know that they separate those amounts by users, not by domains. (This information really isn’t going to be helpful unless you are familiar with DreamHost.) I had one main account and all my domains were feeding off one set amount/user account. However, with multiple users, they all get their own separate amount.

The solution

I made a unique user for each domain. If everyone has a unique user than they all get their own resources to pull off of. But I have gone a step further with Bailing Bucket. I don’t want their to be anymore issues so I have installed DreamHost Private Servers. DreamHost PS gives me control over the resources I require and should stop the site from ever experiencing another “500 Internal Server Error”. This comes with a cost, but I think it’s worth it. I have big dreams for this blog and I want to make sure I am setup right.

The request

It’s true that I have had my troubles with DreamHost, but really they’ve been great. They’ve taken my frustrations and worked with me through everything. If you are thinking about hosting your own blog (it’s definitely worth it), I’d reccomend them. In fact, I’ve created an offer I hope you can’t refuse. Plus, you’d help me offset the costs of this somewhat expensive hobby.

Sign up for a DreamHost account and use the promo code “BAILINGBUCKET” and you will get $50 (US) off your first year of hosting, plus 1 free domain name (ie: yourname.com).

Henry: They’re trying to kill us!
Indiana Jones: I know, Dad!
Henry: This is a new experience for me.
Indiana Jones: It happens to me all the time.

My love for Indiana Jones started at a young age. I used to walk around reciting that creepy dudes line from Temple of Doom when he tears out the heart. Maybe I was/am a creepy kid. Anyways, last night I re-watched Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade from my box-set of the trilogy (although the fourth will be coming out next May—I can’t wait). This post is completely sparked by my continuing interest in Indy and how I can possibly be an adventurer like him in my daily, suburban life. Is this possible? Of course. All I need is to be able to dress like him. That will do it.

One time, many years ago, my friend had a bull whip and knew how to use it. I held out a styrofoam plate for him and he cracked it in half with the whip. The second time he did it, he hit my hand. Luckily, it didn’t crack it too hard. Otherwise, it would have tore my hand up. It just hurt, instead. So, I don’t want a bull whip. It would be cool. But, it’s not for me. It hurts. And frankly, there’s just not a lot of whipping or swinging I need to be doing in my day-to-day journeys.

I can’t walk around with a torn open shirt. This is Canada. I would freeze to death. Pants are just pants. My head is way too big for a hat. But the bag! Ah, yes. The perfect accoutrement for the urban explorer. I started doing some research.

One of the lesser known but more useful items carried by Indiana Jones was his shoulder bag. It consisted of a WWII “MkVII” British Gas Mask Bag with the cotton webbing strap replaced by a leather strap and metal buckle. (Source)

This started an ongoing fascination with a shoulder/messenger bag. When you want to find something you want to buy but don’t really know where to look, I go to eBay. I looked at mock Indy-bags. But they were canvas and sort of ugly really. I need something a little more regal, yet rugged.

The other thing you need to know about me is that I have, as of lately, been acquiring a variety of different leathers. Now, you should also know, that I am not interested in supporting the killing exotic animals. I am a omnivore. But, I won’t be buying a mink coat any time soon. However, I know am in possession of a kangaroo scrotum, a crocodile/alligator (can’t remember which one, Sara?) toe and the other day I accidentally bought a crocodile skin belt from eBay. It was second hand. So, I don’t think it counts as supporting the previously mentioned exotic animal pelt industry.

Which leads me to the finale. I have been watching a variety of messenger bags on eBay. One of which is a fellow who buys hand-made camel leather messenger bags from a fellow in India and re-sells them here. It seems it must be a lucrative deal for everyone involved. The fellow in India has access to the North American market, the American guy sells cool bags and makes a bit of money and I get a cool camel-leather bag. Now, it is my uneducated opinion that, even though camels seem exotic, I have a feeling that they are not. Thus justifying my camel leather bag.

There are many types and styles made. But, when I saw this particular auction on eBay, I knew this one was for me because the description read as… This is the bag Dr. Jones would show up to a meeting with. I thought—so true. And so, with seconds remaining, I set won the auction. It’s regal, yet rugged. It’s what the professor-side of Indiana Jones would use. I am excited to get it.

If you are interested in buying a leather messenger bag and want something a bit different check out this guys store: Far Horizon Traders.

Now it’s just a matter of time before I find my first adventure.