pb30

Untidy beds may keep us healthy - BBC

Sat, 15 May 2010 11:08:46 -0500

Failing to make your bed in the morning may actually help keep you healthy, scientists believe. Research suggests that while an unmade bed may look scruffy it is also unappealing to house dust mites thought to cause asthma and other allergies.

Dunning–Kruger Effect

Sat, 15 May 2010 10:36:48 -0500

Dunning–Kruger Effect:

The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which “people reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices but their incompetence robs them of the metacognitive ability to realize it.” The unskilled therefore suffer from illusory superiority, rating their own ability as above average, much higher than in actuality; by contrast, the highly skilled underrate their abilities, suffering from illusory inferiority.

“In the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”

Bertrand Russel

How to convert email addresses into name, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation

Sat, 15 May 2010 10:01:46 -0500

How to convert email addresses into name, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation :

Save your email list as a CSV file (just comma separate those email addresses). Upload this file to your facebook account as if you wanted to add them as friends. Voila, facebook will give you all the profiles of all those users (in my test, about 80% of my email lists have facebook profiles). Now, click through each profile, and because of the new default facebook settings, which makes all information public, about 95% of the user info is available for you to harvest.

Install Wordpress in SVN using svn:externals

Sun, 02 May 2010 10:35:00 -0500

Note: This post requires working knowledge of SVN

Goals

Keep a complete Wordpress install in your SVN
Have the Wordpress core files checked out from their SVN
Have as many plugins as possible checked out from their SVN
Still provide versioning of your custom themes/plugins

Other Methods

Copying/exporting the Wordpress files into your SVN
- Upgrading requires manually copying all the files over again
Checkout a copy of Wordpress
- Directory will be a working copy of their SVN, any changes you make can’t be versioned in your SVN

Benefits

Easy updates, change one line and run a command to download all the changes from a new version
Allows you to keep your own themes or plugins in your SVN
Easy to copy the same Wordpress install on multiple computers
If you need to hack core Wordpress/plugin files, any new changes from new versions will be merged, or provide you with an opportunity to resolve any conflicts.
- Note that changes to these files cannot be committed to your SVN, however this should encourage you to not hack core files

Setup Directories

Create a new directory for the blog in SVN
- svn mkdir http://svn.example.com/projects/wpblog -m "Creating blog directory"
Make directory on server
- mkdir blog
- cd blog
Checkout directory from SVN
- svn co http://svn.example.com/projects/wpblog .

Get Wordpress

Add svn:externals entry for the core of Wordpress
- svn pe svn:externals .
- Add the line:
  - core http://core.svn.wordpress.org/tags/2.9.2/
  - Replace 2.9.2 with the latest version/tag from here
- Commit new externals property
  - svn ci -m "Add externals for Wordpress"
Download the latest version of Wordpress by running svn up

Setup `wp-content`

Since we want to keep our theme, plugins, and uploads under SVN, we need to make a new wp-content directory outside of core. Export the current directory from core by running:

svn export core/wp-content wp-content
- This will copy over all the files except the .svn directories used by the Wordpress repository
Then add the directory and commit it to SVN
- svn add wp-content
- svn ci wp-content/ -m "Add wp-content"

`wp-config.php`

Next step is to copy our wp-config.php outside of the core directory

cp core/wp-config-sample.php wp-config.php
Add and commit the file to SVN before we make any changes
- svn add wp-config.php
- svn ci wp-config.php -m "Add default wp-config.php"
Edit the file as usual with proper database settings or other options
Add the following lines above the require_once(ABSPATH . 'wp-settings.php'); line:
- define('WP_CONTENT_DIR', realpath(ABSPATH.'../wp-content/'));
- define('WP_CONTENT_URL', 'http://www.example.com/blog/wp-content');
- define('WP_HOME', 'http://www.example.com/blog');
Commit the changes: svn ci wp-config.php -m "Add database and wp-content settings"

`.htaccess`

Create an .htaccess file in the blog directory with the following:

# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    # Base is the URL path of the home directory
    RewriteBase /blog/
    RewriteRule ^$ core/index.php [L]
    # Skip real files and directories
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
    # Otherwise send it to WordPress
    RewriteRule .* core/index.php [L]
</IfModule>
# END WordPress

To prevent Wordpress from overwriting this file, change its permissions by running chmod u-w .htaccess

Then add and commit it to SVN

svn add .htacess
svn ci .htaccess -m "Add .htaccess"

Setup Wordpress

Go to http://www.example.com/blog/ and walk through the standard Wordpress install process.

Install Plugins

Plugins can also be installed using the svn:externals method. Many of the common Wordpress plugins have a SVN repo at http://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/. As an example, lets install the All in One SEO Pack:

Find and click all-in-one-seo-pack in the list from the above link
You have two options, you can select trunk to always have the latest version of the plugin, or go under tags and click the latest version at the bottom. Copy the URL.
Navigate into the plugins folder in your custom wp-content
- cd wp-content/plugins/
Add the svn:externals entry for the plugin:
- svn pe svn:externals .
- Add the line: all-in-one-seo-pack http://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/all-in-one-seo-pack/tags/1.6.9/
Commit the new property and run update to download the plugin
- svn ci -m "Add all-in-one-seo-pack"
- svn up

Repeat the process for any other plugins

Updating Wordpress or Plugins

When a new version of Wordpress or a plugin is released, updating is very easy. If you used the trunk URL, running svn up will download all of the changes. If you used tag URL’s, svn up will download all the updates only after changing svn:externals to the latest version.

From the blog root: svn pe svn:externals .
Change the version number after tags to the latest release
Save and commit the property: svn ci -m "Update Wordpress to #.#.#"
Get the updates: svn up

Other Resources

‘svn:externals with WordPress’ from FreePress Blog

XAuth

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:58:03 -0500

StakeVentures has a good article on the new XAuth stardard/service

The problem that this aims to fix is really a UI one, not a security one. If you know the user already uses Google accounts and Meebo, there is no need to over clutter your user interface with login buttons to 40 different social networks.

The article includes some sample code for both parties, and a key criticism:

I find probably the biggest issue with XAuth is the choice of name. XAuth is not an authentication protocol. I would call it a discovery protocol. It has more in common with WebFinger (again in a complimentary way) than with authentication protocols like OpenID and OAuth.

I also think the choice of Extenders and Retrievers is confusing. I think using Provider and Client would be clearer. Lets not invent more terminology if it isn’t necessary.

HTML5 presentation

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:33:32 -0500

HTML5 presentation:

Demo of upcoming HTML5/CSS3 features written with HTML5. Best viewed in Chrome.

Snacksquare: A Foursquare Directory Of Deals And Venues

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:03:19 -0500

Snacksquare: A Foursquare Directory Of Deals And Venues:

Select a city and it shows you all the venues currently offering deals on a Google map, as well as by badge.

webdesktoplife: The perfect iPad stand - you probably have one...

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 11:46:46 -0500

webdesktoplife:

The perfect iPad stand - you probably have one already.

“Simplifying the interface of the terminal would not be accepted by most users because, as...

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:29:08 -0500

“Simplifying the interface of the terminal would not be accepted by most users because, as ethnographic studies show, they take pride on manipulating Bloomberg’s current “complex” interface. The pain inflicted by blatant UI flaws such as black background color and yellow and orange text is strangely transformed into the rewarding experience of feeling and looking like a hard-core professional.”

— UX Magazine: The Impossible Bloomberg Makeover (via Tanya Rabourn)

A great example of a case where listening to users will not produce the most usable design. We ran into the same phenomenon when I worked on Soundtrack Pro. In many cases we wanted to reinvent how particular audio editings tasks were done, but found editors resistant to anything other than the clunky old Pro Tools ways of doing things.

WhenIsGood

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:22:14 -0500

WhenIsGood:

An easy way to find out when everyone is free for your next meeting or event. Click the grid for all the times that are good for you - you get a link to email to your invitees. They see your proposed times and click on when they are free. You visit your results page and see when everyone can do.

Canon to begin acquisition of the ".canon" Top-Level Domain name

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:21:15 -0500

Canon to begin acquisition of the ".canon" Top-Level Domain name

Jenga Interview

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:20:00 -0500

Where I work, we do our best to weed out the unhappy and cynical employees before they even get hired. Coworkers who are constantly cynical and unhappy are absolutely terrible for morale, and we do whatever we can to avoid it both before and after hiring.

After each candidate goes through his/her well-rehearsed and pre-meditated interviews with HR and management, the entire engineering team (small company) comes into the room, closes the door, and starts a game of Jenga like it’s no big deal. Meanwhile, we strike up a casual conversation with the candidate and insist s/he play with us.

Without fail, the candidates true colors are almost immediately revealed. Candidate scoffs at the idea of playing a game in an interview? Obviously too uptight for our group and not capable of handling rapidly changing situations. Focusing on Jenga also takes the candidate’s mind off of all of the pre-meditated answers and pages of ‘interview tips’ articles that we’ve all read at one point or another. The trick is to treat the game of Jenga like it’s serious business so the candidate follows suit and forgets about the formalities of the interview and whatever persona s/he is trying to craft for the interviewers. If the person can discuss intense technical topics without breaking a sweat while playing Jenga, then s/he likely knows the subject matter pretty well.

Works every time. We end up with engineers who get along, think on their feet, are laid back, and known their stuff.

(via reddit)

The FCC Wants You to Test Your Broadband Speeds

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:40:23 -0600

The FCC Wants You to Test Your Broadband Speeds

The Pop-up Book of Phobias on Vimeo

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:23:52 -0600

The Pop-up Book of Phobias on Vimeo

Boba Fett. Playing Zelda music. In the subway. On an accordion....

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:00:26 -0600

Boba Fett. Playing Zelda music. In the subway. On an accordion. (via reddit)

Interesting talk about why games like FarmVille, Guitar Hero,...

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:32:50 -0600

Xbox 360 Games - E3 2010 - Guitar Hero 5

Interesting talk about why games like FarmVille, Guitar Hero, and Wii Fit are taking off. All of them are based in reality, which will be the next big phase in gaming. The last 10 minutes provide an interesting look at what life would be like if things like Foursquare or other achievement points were extended across our entire life.

Photo

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:01:53 -0600

(via Feel The Power! - Epic Win FTW)

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:01:03 -0600

(via Feel The Power! - Epic Win FTW)

George Carlin - Modern Man

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:00:52 -0600

George Carlin - Modern Man

Nerdery Lego luge course (via @kensykora)

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:45:41 -0600

Nerdery Lego luge course (via @kensykora)

pb30

Untidy beds may keep us healthy - BBC

Dunning–Kruger Effect

How to convert email addresses into name, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation

Install Wordpress in SVN using svn:externals

Goals

Other Methods

Benefits

Setup Directories

Get Wordpress

Setup wp-content

wp-config.php

.htaccess

Setup Wordpress

Install Plugins

Updating Wordpress or Plugins

Other Resources

XAuth

HTML5 presentation

Snacksquare: A Foursquare Directory Of Deals And Venues

webdesktoplife: The perfect iPad stand - you probably have one...

“Simplifying the interface of the terminal would not be accepted by most users because, as...

WhenIsGood

Canon to begin acquisition of the ".canon" Top-Level Domain name

Jenga Interview

The FCC Wants You to Test Your Broadband Speeds

The Pop-up Book of Phobias on Vimeo

Boba Fett. Playing Zelda music. In the subway. On an accordion....

Interesting talk about why games like FarmVille, Guitar Hero,...

Photo

(via Feel The Power! - Epic Win FTW)

George Carlin - Modern Man

Nerdery Lego luge course (via @kensykora)

Setup `wp-content`

`wp-config.php`

`.htaccess`