This update is a week late because I was preoccupied with hitting our server with a wrench, and I didn't think it would make for an interesting entry:

2:04 AM: Backing up webpage.

2:14 AM: Editing PHP script.

2:16 AM: Error 500.

2:17 AM: Editing PHP script.

2:24 AM: Error 500.

2:25 AM: Editing PHP script.

2:49 AM: Error 500.

2:49 AM: Flipping off laptop.

2:49 AM: [server]$ rm * -r

2:50 AM: Placing burning petroleum-soaked rag into bottle of
neutral alcohol. Throwing.

And so on.

Our host underwent a server upgrade a short time ago, which obsoleted a few scripts, particularly the osCommerce store and the RSS feed. I patched osCommerce and it gives the impression of working, but I so heavily customized it back when squidandink.com first went live that I worry about what critical mod the patch might have broken that we won't discover until it's too late. The error caused by changing currencies is enough of a hint that I should temporarily disable the store because I'd prefer to err on the side of not losing our subscribers' money in some bug-generated void.

Since I don't feel like reinstalling osCommerce and all the customizations from scratch, I'm in need of an alternate solution. Fortunately, searching for "open source shopping cart" brought up Ubercart as the second hit. It comes pre-installed with most features we need, and installing new features is a matter of uploading a module and clicking "on" — no more need to hack PHP code! (though I probably will end up doing so, anyway) — so it sounds promising.

The store should be back up this week. Bookmark the non-functioning RSS feed and you'll know the store is working when the RSS feed successfully updates. If you're just dying to buy a subscription, email me and I'll send you the address of a Cayman Island account to which you can send a cheque.