content control dept representative Jason B, here to apologize for missing the opportunity to force feed you with mundane garbage pertaining to nothing you could ever want to know.

As you are all aware, fnord incorporated prides itself on providing you with irrelevant information, but this week has been a hellish one for us (read: me)

So here’s the poop on the matter:
I work for a small art business doing web updates. Monday evening, I single handedly took down a MySQL database and put said small business I work for into a tight spot. I was adding a system update allowing us to create a newsletter for users. During the installation, the software, with out any notification, overwrote a much needed DB currently in use. Naturally i flipped out and reached for my back ups…. which did not include the DB I needed. After the oh-shit’o'meter calmed down, i called up my boss and we started to do damage control. Called the web host who “doesnt make backs ups”. Began rebuilding the site from scratch.

This is when the bombshell really hit. All of their scheduling, time sheet data, ordering and monetary information was also included in that database…. rumbly stomach changes to vomitous feeling.

So basically, i have been doing damage control for the last week and have not had time to toss up any updates.

Bonuses:

1) I get to rewrite everything in PHP with out SQL. This is preferred for my style of management and updates.

2) The web host who does not make back ups? well, he is actually a reseller from what i can see. while discussing options with him, i found out that he does not actually host the servers. they are hosted in Florida somehwere, so he basically buys server space and time and resells it to other people. he is currently in contact with the actual server owners to talk with them about pulling one of the redundant back ups. I am confident we can get stuff up and running again, but need to get a reply to continue.

3) I know that my stress level can survive the catastrophe setting.

4) I am truly to blame, but am 10 steps ahead of previous admins, none of which ever did any backs ups. period.  What i am not responsible for is the utter reliance on one system for all functions of a business. not having a paper trail seems very foolish to me. a digital world does not mean a problem free world.. what would have happened if i were not the one to put the problem in motion ? i was going to say cause, but the problem existed before i did.

Drawbacks:

1) my company is running on a lot of guess work and a higher stress level right now. I wish i could have bypassed all of this…

2) I am working for free until i have this resolved.

3) this all happens while i am packing to move into a new apt this weekend.. or i should say, while i SHOULD have been packing.

4) there is no SQL Fairy who can come and grant me wishes.