Author: Kelly Adams

This author has written 702 articles

Darn news feeds…

Half of the "stuff" on my site seemed to break all in one weekend. And it wasn't even my fault!

I'm referring to the newsfeeds I have here. Two of them died- my Google news (top of the page) and Slashdot (formerly lower left of the main page).

Google news normally sits at the top of the main page. The headlines are "scraped" from their site ever couple of hours (supposedly). Well, the RSS service I was using stopped being updated late last week. I think I've may have figured out why: based on some testing I did with some scripts I found for doing this, it looks like Google is blocking attempts to read the site with tools that don't identify themselves as certain "standard" browser types. I hacked a workaround using php-CURL (which lets me change the client agent (browser) identification header sent when my server connects to Google. Unfortunately, its not quite working properly yet. Hopefully later this week- for now, those links at the top of the page are dead.

Slashdot...it seems my server has been "banned" (check this page out, and look for "My RSS reader tells me I was banned!" for details)for accessing their site "too often" or something. I have two web pages that used to do hourly refreshes. Barring something freaky, this shouldn't generate more than two queries an hour...but maybe Slashdot has gotten more picky lately. Also, maybe someone has spoofed my server's IP- I sent a message to Slashdot to see if they can give me some clues why my server has been banned. For now, I've turned my Slashdot feeds off.

Oh, and I have all the parts for rebuilding my server here (see my previous article), but between having to work this weekend, sick cats, and the problems mentioned here I didn't end up with any time to spare).

Continue ReadingDarn news feeds…

Have you ever tried…

...to medicate seven sick cats? Two of which, in addition to needing antibiotics, also need forced fluids and feeding? Well, it kind of works like this...

  • get medicine ready
  • get towels ready
  • get firstaid kit ready
  • search for cat #1
  • find cat hiding under bed
  • try to grab cat from under bed
  • watch cat suddenly develop jet assist and VTOL capabilities
  • apply first aid kit to various wounds from cat's escape
  • find cat hiding under sofa
  • grab cat and drag to appropriate medicating location
  • apply medication
  • find applied medication in left nostril, ear, or under nearby furniture
  • apply medication again
  • remove teeth and claws from sensitive body parts while not releasing cat
  • reposition cat from its location on head to appropriate medicating location
  • force fluids into cat's mouth
  • clean fluids from arm, chair, floor: note that cat's mouth is still dry
  • successfully force fluid into cat's mouth
  • use first aid kit on various claw marks on head, arms, and face while holding on to cat
  • reposition cat from its location on back to appropriate medicating location
  • force "palatable nutrient paste" into cat's mouth
  • remove "palatable nutrient paste" from eye, elbow, and wall: note that cat has not eaten any food
  • successfully force paste into cat's mouth
  • attempt to clean cat
  • conclude that cleaning cat is not worth any further scars
  • release cat and apply first aid kit to various wounds
  • search for cat #2...
Yes, being a pet owner is rewarding....

Continue ReadingHave you ever tried…

Sick cats, sick me…

The little cat Irene brought home seems to have been a feline version of Typhoid Mary. She came complete with some sort of upper respiratory tract infection that has spread through our other cats.

I can hear you saying "but don't you keep new cats in isolation?" And the answer would be "uhm, yeah, sort of, well, for a few minutes, maybe." I think there was an element of "the kitten is cute: she should meet the other cats" mixed with "it sure would be nice to get past this awkward stage where our house is totally disrupted" feelings. Anyway, she was only in isolation for about 24 hours. And she was sick within 48. Here we are a week later, and half the cats in the house are under the weather.

Rommel, of course, is the worst hit. I say "of course" because I am a firm believer in Murphy. If you are about to go on a long car drive, that's the day your car will break down. If you have nearly maxed out your credit cards, thats just when you'll lose your job. And, if a cat is going to get really sick, its naturally going to be the cat that is the worst possible patient.

Continued

Continue ReadingSick cats, sick me…

It should have been buried…

If you have a strong stomach, you may want to follow this link

Are you back? Did you survive? That was my third or fourth website, and was my “main” web presence for several years. I cancelled my Geocities “Professional” account some months ago, and just sort of assumed that the website itself would go away. Instead, they seem to have reverted it back into the “free” (I.E.: advertising besmirched) Geocities service. (more…)

Continue ReadingIt should have been buried…

Computerholics Anonymous, here I come…

Hello, my name is Kelly, and I'm addicted to technology.

It all started innocently enough. Like a lot of youngsters, I had to try it out. Just once...it wasn't like it was going to be a regular thing. That first Apple II was pure bliss...but it was the beginning of a never-ending spiral into some microchip-besotted hell.

What the heck am I rambling about? Well...

Continue ReadingComputerholics Anonymous, here I come…

Protecting the world from Terrorist phone standards…

Oh my goodness. You have to hand it to some politicians. Here we are, in the second week of the Iraq war, which will probably result in thousands of dead and tens of thousands injured.

And what is the big, important policy statement being pushed for by Republican Congressman Darrell Issa? Is it a drive for a swift end to the war? Focus on other terrorist-harbouring nations? Nope...its the selection of a digital phone standard to be used when rebuilding Iraq.

Continue ReadingProtecting the world from Terrorist phone standards…

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