specimen

10 Nov, 2005

dns blacklists in validatetrackbacks

Posted by pwestbro 23:17 | Permalink Permalink | Comments Comments (1) | Trackback Trackbacks (1) | Computer

I have noticed that the validatetrackback plugin was doing "expensive" work when it wasn't really necessary to do this.  I have seen some trackbacks come from machines that are listed on real time dns blacklists.

Doing a dns check is a lot faster than downloading a html file and parsing through it, or even running the Bayesian filter.  So I added an option in the validatetrackbacks script to check the black lists before doing any expensive operations.

I have posted a copy of the plugin here, but my hope is to check it into the tree in the next few days.

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10 Nov, 2005

pLog is now LifeType

Posted by pwestbro 20:46 | Permalink Permalink | Comments Comments (0) | Trackback Trackbacks (0) | Computer, Blogging

pLog has been renamed LifeType.  At the same time, the team has redesigned the web site.  Apparently, Amazon holds the "plog" trademark in the US.

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10 Nov, 2005

Added timeout in validatetrackback plugin

Posted by pwestbro 19:15 | Permalink Permalink | Comments Comments (0) | Trackback Trackbacks (0) | Computer

I added a time out to the validatetrackback plugin for pLog.  Now this plugin will not leave a thread around if the server specified in the trackback leaves the connection open.  This has been checked into svn.

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10 Nov, 2005

Updated Post Trackback script

Posted by pwestbro 17:40 | Permalink Permalink | Comments Comments (0) | Trackback Trackbacks (0) | Computer

I updated the Post Trackbacks script.  Now it correctly handles titles that have quotation characters in them.  You can download the script from this page.

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10 Nov, 2005

Make disk image from folder

Posted by pwestbro 14:21 | Permalink Permalink | Comments Comments (0) | Trackback Trackbacks (0) | Computer

I was attempting to create a Automator action that would create a disk image from a folder.  After spending about 10 minutes trying to do this, I saw this hint that describes a easier way.  All you have to do is to drag the folder onto the Disk Utility application icon.

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10 Nov, 2005

Using Wi-Fi at Willy's

Posted by pwestbro 11:21 | Permalink Permalink | Comments Comments (0) | Trackback Trackbacks (0) | Computer

In a previous post, I mention that Armadillo Willy's has Wi-Fi Internet access.  I thought that it was pretty silly to mix computers and barbeque.  But here I am eating my chopped briscit, while using my laptop.

My wife is out of town for a couple of days, so I am home watching the kids.  The babysitter came over for a few hours, so I am taking this opportunity to check my work email.  Bit since I was pretty hungry, I didn't want to just go to Starbucks to use the network access there.

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