What's the best blog software? Host?

[JackRiddler]

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So I'm considering starting a new blog, and having it be on a new domain I'm planning, possibly on a different host than I've used until now. I'd rather avoid blogspot.

Any of you who know this stuff, your answers are appreciated:

1) What's the best software package or script or whatever it is for running a blog off your own site? I mean with the usual features one now expects, customized look, keyword indexing, front page leads to more after the jump, comments enabled/disabled, you can back it up and reconstruct it easily after attack, robust and secure and bug-free, etc. etc.

If it's cheap or free, that's kind of necessary given my continuing money situation.

2) What's a good, reliable, courageous host? I mean the kind of host who...
- would host a Wikileaks mirror?
- would respond to a subpoena request at least as well as Twitter did (surprisingly!)
- allows free speech without any goddamn limits (except on pictures of rape and incitements to murder someone specific)
- isn't playing along in the savage copyright war
- isn't too obviously connected to spooks

Etc., you get the idea. So probably outside the US.

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[Luther Blissett]

As for the blog, I'd say wordpress. It's quickly becoming one of the best CMSs in the biz and, while it is a little more involved than Drupal or Joomla, it's worth it.

As for hosting, I don't know. I use mediatemple and it's great. I do believe they'd fill most of your needs.

[JackRiddler]

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By the way, my hopes for an ideal host are a matter of principle. Like, what should we support? I can't imagine doing anything illegal or even that controversial, but of course no one expects the Spanish Inquisition.

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[Searcher08]

For something really straightforward to set up, I would go with WordPress too. It is changing how websites are getting developed from Dreamweaver crafted to a Modular "building blocks" approach.

The new Drupal7 is a pretty industrial strength in terms of its memory requirements - my host are not keen on allowing it

I would just make sure you register your domain AND host outside the probably in Sweden or Iceland for maximum security.
These folks are supposed to be good...
http://this.is/

[justdrew]

you might want to just do it on tumblr

[Searcher08]

you might want to just do it on tumblr

Or StumbleUpon (sez Mr 6000 shares and rising... )

[82_28]

Or we could get the show on the road as far as having personal RI blogs. I would pay Jeff for the opportunity to be known as a part of this place in a blog type setting.

Seriously.

[82_28]

Perhaps a trial start with 10 members writing blogs with a kind of gawker/metacritic format and backend. Not saying I would even be one, but something to think about.

[justdrew]

Or we could get the show on the road as far as having personal RI blogs. I would pay Jeff for the opportunity to be known as a part of this place in a blog type setting.

Seriously.

fyi - it's a work in progress. probably be ready soon.

[82_28]

Can I hear a FUCK YEAH?!?!

Holla.

[Wombaticus Rex]

Backup your database religiously, no matter where you go. In my experience, most hosting companies with a reputation for being cool will quietly drop you when actual heat is involved 10 times out of 9. Sites like my Hump Jones clown act have been moved around a lot, well into the double digits.

One hosting company I do recommend, on the Idealism tip, is Slicehost, but that's because they don't give a fuck about shit and expect you to do all your own tech support and server maintenance. If I didn't have a good friend willing and able to talk directly to Apaches in their native tongue, I'd be TSOL on Skilluminati Research, which has been booted from pretty much every host that's been mentioned here so far.

[Searcher08]

Backup your database religiously, no matter where you go.

WERD.

Before you start, do a back up and restore of your test data posts, so you know you back up process works.
Put reminders on your calender for each week for six weeks until it's a habit. NEVER rely on a hosting company for you back ups - for example my host, who trumpeted WE BACK UP DAILY had a database server crash. Turns out the only back-up they did was for php pages and images. All the Drupal, Wordpress, MediaWiki, vTigerCRM, phpSurvey databases? Toast!

[DoYouEverWonder]

Word Press is better then Google Blogger. More features and flexibility and better stats.

[justdrew]

hey, here's something worth checking out...
it's the right price...

http://www.yuku.com/

oooh... their forums can have search tags! very cool

http://nuku.yuku.com/forums/66/Public-Forum

[nathan28]

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By the way, my hopes for an ideal host are a matter of principle. Like, what should we support? I can't imagine doing anything illegal or even that controversial, but of course no one expects the Spanish Inquisition.

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You could DIY it. A personal server could be cheap, hardware-wise, b/c it's really just a glorified hard drive plugged into a modem. This has been the route that music-sharing has gone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seedbox (what, you think non-direct P2P died with Napster?)

You'd need an institutional/business connection, though, and that shouldn't cost a whole lot but it could. You'd need to spend time managing the thing and learning how to do that, too.