You will notice a few changes on my blog, for one I sat down and at 3am optimized it for blazing fast speed. The reason? I actually get people to read this thing and it was loading slowly. So I tweaked and tweaked until I got the 49 database queries that create this page to execute in under 0.2 seconds. Speed doesn’t only come from code - it comes from the platform and while lots of bloggers are moving to media temple (mt) I have had problems with them and threw my money into Mosso.

Mosso is backed by RackSpace, and from what I can tell their infrastructure is second to none. The support and service is by far, and I mean BY FAR the best in the industry. Case in point - I just chatted with a support person using their on-line support with no wait, and no problems. If I picked up the phone right now it would be the same story.

So there you have it, hopefully the site is super quick and you have some great minds at work to make sure it stays that way. Let me know if you experience any latency please.

Some quick photos from the opening of Lille Boutique. More on this post soon.

Browse photos of the opening - click on the big image above.

I have stumbled onto a small niche market that seems to really need my services… and it all started from Sarah’s beautiful Lille Boutique. Although the store isn’t open yet, the web site is underway and the fully interactive web-based e-commerce store powered by Xsilva Light Speed is ready to rock the on-line world of Lingerie. The CSS customizations that I have done on the store (and I am only 50% complete) really look sharp and I am using the whole bag of tricks. I guess Xsilva liked it and what I did with their code because they have started to tell a few others.

So if you have Xsilva Light Speed Web Store and need some help, let me know. I am going to post up some of my favorite CSS sites (and of course the ones I have done) along with the current Xsilva sites I am working on to cssden.com - a new cool WP blog to track and hopefully bring in some more customizations - because I honestly love doing them.

More soon….

For the past several weeks I have been working like a dog getting bandbuzz.com’s sister site up (musiclog.com), posting massive updates to a great client site that I am working on with a talented team of developers, posting updates to BandBuzz.com and EventSpace.com and the usual client work to make sure everyone is happy.

In all that work, I forgot about my blog, and for you few avid readers I apologize. Tonight (at 1:20am) I am posting a new design and a new schedule to my Google Calendar that hopefully will help me work on what I am supposed to be working on, barring any problems with technology that seem to destroy all possible planning.

I will be posting more Portland reasons, updates on the house but most importantly a new venture - this time not my own.

My fiancee´Sarah has started what I think might be the best business we will have - Lille Boutique. Located in Portland on Lower East Burnside this Lingerie, Antique and Accessories store aims to please. She has already received a ton of press and she isn’t even open yet. I have been helping her do the remodel and build-out, display set up and all around moving of things. I have also whipped up a great CSS design for her web site www.lilleboutique.com, soon it will feature a great real-time e-commerce store front (once all the inventory has arrived). Please check it out and support her store - sign up for her newsletter and if you are in Portland, pay her a visit.

That’s all for now. More soon. Promise.

Up for just a few minutes on CNN.com (story link) was this strange photo. At first glance it looks fine, a break up of protesters at a Brazil rally to show their hate of President Bush. But look closely. One of the cops on the left has his fingers pointed like a gun, and he is serious about it. The other, tackling officer, has SCAM written on his armband.