PostBadge tag to show // FeedBurner FeedFlare. // ------------------------- // FeedBurner account and feed required. // Sign up at http://feedburner.com //================================================ class module_feedflare { function init(){ global $gregarious; $gregarious->add_settings ( array ( 'feedburner_url' => '' ) ); $gregarious->add_page ( 'FeedFlare', 'modules/feed-flare/icn_Flare.png', 'page_feedflare();', 'feedFlare' ); } function postbadge_tags(){ return array ( array ( 'tag' => '%FLARE%', 'replacewith' => 'feed_flare("",false)' ), ); } function update_info(){ return 100; } } //------------------------------------------ // TEMPlATE TAGS //------------------------------------------ function feed_flare($settings = '', $echo = true){ global $wp_query; $post = $wp_query->post; $sets = array('postID' => $post->ID, 'before' => '', 'after' => 'Gregarious FeedFlare', 'force' => 0 ); grab_sets($settings, $sets); if ( !$sets['force'] && hideOnID($sets['postID']) ){ return ''; } if( !$path = _get_feedburner_url() ) return ''; if( substr( $path, -1 ) == '/' ){ $path = substr( $path, 0, strlen( $path ) -1 ); } $path = str_replace ( 'feedburner.com/', 'feedburner.com/~s/', $path ); $path .= '?i='.get_permalink($sets['postID']); $result = $sets['before'] . "" . $sets['after']; if($echo) echo $result; else return $result; } function _get_feedburner_url(){ $feedurl = greg_get_option( 'feedburner_url' ); if ( $feedurl ){ return attribute_escape($feedurl); } else { $feedburner_settings = get_option('feedburner_settings'); if( is_array($feedburner_settings) && ($feedurl = $feedburner_settings['feedburner_url']) ) { return attribute_escape($feedurl); } else { return false; } } } //------------------------------------------ // OPTIONS PAGE //------------------------------------------ function page_feedflare(){ $feedurl = _get_feedburner_url(); ?> Category Archive for ‘Life’ at spencerb.net

Archive for the 'Life' Category

The Cost of Security (in Computing)

Published on March 13, 2009 in Life and Technology. 4 Comments

Simply: Time.

This is the problem with Vista. Too many security measures that become annoying. This is the problem with antivirus and firewall programs. Right now, I’m trying out COMODO firewall and while I like having the security benefits, every time I install a program it pops up a hundred messages (slight exaggeration). Vista does the same thing, hitting the “continue” box as the rest of the screen darkens.

For years I have despised antivirus programs (I’m looking at you Norton) because they hog so many resources and slow down computers.

Am I asking too much? Isn’t there a way to achieve all this, quietly in the background?

While, I can’t recommend COMODO yet, I am a huge fan of Avast! Antivirus. I can’t attest whether it is the most efficient program, but it runs well and works. Downloading torrents, it finds trojans hidden in files without me prompting.

I’m curious though, what is the best solution? Is there an all in one way to achieve all of this? (And don’t say switch to Mac.)

Characterizing Risk

Published on March 11, 2009 in Life. 2 Comments

I just wanted to pass this link a long to a BBC article about the relationship between life choices and health risks. I thought it was interesting.

Link

Reflections on TF2

Published on March 9, 2009 in Games, Life and Technology. 2 Comments

Any given day that I decide to play TF2, I am probably play more than I should have in a week. You can ask anyone from the Middlebrook days when I forced everyone to install Team Fortress Classic (TFC). There is something so addictive and entertaining about the game that I cannot put my figure on.

For instance, I should apologize to tschwab for texting him yesterday after I felt particularly victorious in a round of cp_gravelpit, my new favorite map.

A few things to note about gravelpit: 1) play on a big server 2) your team needs some coordination to succeed. These factors are explained quite simply by the lay out of the map. It is a triangle of three capture points. You spawn with easy access to two of those points. Therefore, you have to be coordinated to cap and keep all 3, while you also need enough people to cover the large map.

Yesterday, I had an amazing round as engineer. 7 dominations in one life…as engineer. (All gloating intended.) It was strange how honestly great I felt about being so successful. So strange to think that a video game inspired such strong emotions. All I did was click a few buttons and a few keys for about an hour.

I’m not sure the point of this post, but to reflect a little. Oh yeah, play gravel pit cap A + B, then build a sentry gun in the hallway to C. If you have 2+ engineers, you can be super-aggressive and build into the hallway. Seriously, it was a lot of fun.

So Effing Nice Out

Published on March 7, 2009 in Life and Weather. 3 Comments

Yesterday was so unbelievably beautiful I had to stop, pinch myself, and figure out whether I was dreaming. Could it really be? Could the end of winter be in sight?

It was so nice out yesterday, I was embarrassed to be wearing a coat.

There are several things I’ll miss about winter, mostly missed opportunities to ski and skate. But I have confidence that next winter will arrive without any problems. That being said, I am sooo excited about having warm weather again. I need to start running and biking, the gym just isn’t doing it for me.

Also, the arrival of Spring means the arrival of spring quarter. Graduation is coming up and although the job market is a little scary, I can’t believe 4 years has already elapsed.

Mother Nature Delivers Early April Fools Joke

Published on March 4, 2009 in Life. 0 Comments

Thesis Update v .01 –> .02 (patch)

Published on February 27, 2009 in Economics, Life, Northwestern and School. 1 Comment

If you need the full version, buy me a beer and send 10 Euro cents over paypal.

I’m pretty sure, I have posted about this before. If you think that I haven’t see Line 1. If you have some inkling, then get this patch:

I’m an economics major, who happens to be graduating this year. I have decided to write a Senior Honors thesis. That basically means I’m doing a legit research project and will write a big paper about it.

I have chosen to conduct research in the area of transportation economics. I’ve worked in transportation for several years and find the economic aspect of it interesting. Specifically, I’m going to analyze gasoline price elasticity of demand and the elasticity of demand for vehicle miles traveled (VMT). This will mean I’m going to run regressions with the left hand variable being Quantity of Gasoline consumed and Vehicle Miles Traveled.

If you’ve had a statistics course, you should be following along okay so far. If you’re interested in doing econometric research download the program STATA and start inputting some of your own data.

I’m gathering data now and will post some of the results as I get them. The end goal being, of course, to impress you with my mediocre econometric knowledge.

Happy Birthday Dan!

Published on February 25, 2009 in Life. 1 Comment

@Up for Grabs

<3, spencerbLife

Customer Service Shoutouts

Published on February 11, 2009 in Business, Illinois and Life. 1 Comment

Great customer service deserves recognition. For that reason, I want to give shoutouts to three companies that have given me amazing service in the past couple of days.

First of all, Newegg. This is no surprise for those of you who have bought computer parts or accessories from this site. Newegg has some of the best customer service I have seen from an online company. I have spent thousands of dollars there over the years and would prefer there over all other technology B&M stores.

Let me give you a few examples of Newegg’s fantastic customer service. Yesterday, I bought something from them, a small order less than $75. They shipped it out the same day and since one of their warehouses is in IL, it is being delivered today. That’s right, next day shipping because of their expediency. They are great for RMAs. In fact, they have never hassled me and with a kind request via their online help chat, will often upgrade the shipping for free.

Second, Logitech. Logitech makes a lot of solid products that I fully advocate. Including my G15 Keyboard and Z-5500 speakers. A few months ago, I would have included my G7 Cordless Laser mouse, but I started having problems with that after more than 2 years of ownership. A simple email to Logitech and they are now shipping a replacement product out via UPS. An inconvenient factor after two years, but an incredibly simple solution.

Lastly for today, Steep and Cheap. They feature deals on outdoor products at closeout prices. Anything you could imagine in REI store, may appear on the site. The great thing is that although closeout deals usually come with restrictions on returns, Steep and Cheap stands by all of their products. I have RMA’d several things without a problem. Recently, I sent back a pair of sunglasses that broke. I was forgetful and did not do this for a few months. They still accepted the return after a bit less than two years of ownership. That is what I call customer service.

Since, I mentioned REI, their prices are a bit higher, but if you are a member, returning anything without a receipt after almost any time period has never been a problem for me.

Sadness

Published on January 30, 2009 in Life. Closed

I have a friend who has had two people in their life pass away this week. I’ve only experienced the death of one close family member in my lifetime. I was younger and it really impacted me. It is hard to describe the feeling of missing someone who is completely gone.

Missing my friends and people I enjoy spending time with is hard, but is nothing like missing the presence of a person who has died.

It is really easy to forget about these things because we don’t like to think about them. But being reminded of them lets us know how valuable and important life is.

Math and Coughing

Published on January 29, 2009 in Economics and Life. 1 Comment

Right now I have this disgusting cough that reminds me of when Dan had whooping cough. Hopefully, I’ll be better soon. Sleep + Tea + Bond Movies has helped so far.

I am taking a tough econometrics course that is burning my soul. Hopefully, god-willing I will get through the first midterm next Wednesday.

Seriously, for some reason every 2 years I decide to take an impossible math-based course. I do not envy you engineers out there.

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