Disqus - Latest Comments for blogan

Re: Hosting WordPress Yourself Part 1 – Setting Up a Secure Virtual Server

Brent Logan — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 18:37:49 -0000

Thank you! Your detailed instructions helped me set up my 14-year-old blog on Digital Ocean. Now I'm off to finish the optimizations. :-)

Re: 5 Basic Steps for Building Forts and Treehouses

Brent Logan — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 12:15:55 -0000

No article on building forts is complete without mentioning blanket forts.

Re: Little Pork Chop coming back

Brent Logan — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 00:50:57 -0000

Thanks for developing Little Pork Chop. I'd love to be able to use it. Check me out at https://twitter.com/blogan. Thanks!

Re: 3 Key Tips On How to Make Your Website User-Friendly

Brent Logan — Sun, 17 Jul 2016 11:26:13 -0000

One thing I find unfriendly about a lot of websites are all the subscription links. For example, a full-screen subscription form that asks me to subscribe before I've seen *anything* from the site is particularly egregious. Those "exit intent" pop ups aren't much better. Yes, I'm leaving the website. If I wanted to subscribe, the fixed subscription bar at the top, the subscription form in the sidebar, and the subscription form in the footer should be sufficient for me.

Re: 32 Must-Have (And Free) WordPress Plugins

Brent Logan — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 21:17:20 -0000

This is a great list of plugins -- well done! I have a couple of other suggestions. I have found that Autoptimize does a better minification job on my site than W3TC. Both plugins work well on the same site; just turn off minification on W3TC and let Autoptimize do it instead.

I've started using WP Featherlight for my lightbox needs. It's very small and light plus it includes swipe capabilities on a touch device.

Re: Does this ring a bell?

Brent Logan — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 11:04:18 -0000

Here's one: It Gets Better: Apple Employees. https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Re: Excuses, excuses: How to rationalize any bike splurge

Brent Logan — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 21:44:00 -0000

Closely related to the generic "penny saved" rationale is "my bike eliminates an expense." Whether it's fitness center monthly payments or my favorite, car payment, insurance, and gasoline, this can justify a lot of bike-related spending. :-)

Re: The Right Tools for the Job

Brent Logan — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 04:35:32 -0000

Haha! It's nice to know I don't write my footnotes for nothing. :-D

Hearts sounds like fun, but I prefer the face-to-face variety as opposed to virtual. We need to plan a visit one of these days so we can inspect your architectural and remodeling prowess. :-)

Re: A Geek's Day

Brent Logan — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 16:02:10 -0000

Yeah, in retrospect I'm not sure learning the Apple news live was any better than reading a summary later. I was following both The Verge and Apple's official "live blog." Apple's was clearly prepared in advance and just timed (though significantly later than The Verge's) to the event.

I guess most interesting to me was Apple's complete indifference to those who haven't already bought into their ecosystem. They had live video of the event, but you could only watch it only on Apple hardware and software. The live blog had embedded videos, but they wouldn't play on my Windows 8 computer running Chrome. Oh well...

I guess I'd have to admit I was more interested in the Intel event. That I was able to watch live. :-)

Re: Labor Day Kayaking

Brent Logan — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 18:10:55 -0000

There are all sorts of ways to get out to the water. Kayaks are fun because they are so light and personal. You don't need any facilities to get them in the water. Ideally, just a path and a pair of wheels to balance the kayak on to roll it to the water.

You don't need to be a swimmer, just not someone who panics in the water. We always wear a lifevest on the water. Some upper body strength is also good for getting back in the kayak should you ever tip (we never have, but you should plan on the eventuality).

Re: Jamison's First Day of School 2014

Brent Logan — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 18:03:25 -0000

Thanks! Jamison enjoyed his first day. We're looking forward to a great year. :-)

Re: Orchids

Brent Logan — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 18:02:20 -0000

Thanks! I moved the orchids into a room where we just cleaned the carpets so it was empty. I tried shots with backlight, sidelight, and no direct light. I think I ended up including one of each in the gallery above.

Orchids are a great subject because they tend to cantilever over nothing, making for fun compositions.

Re: Fall is Still Coming

Brent Logan — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 04:16:50 -0000

Thanks! I probably knew the name of your company many years ago, but if so, I had forgotten (until your better half reminded me on Facebook earlier today).

Re: Lunchtime Diversion, Part I

Brent Logan — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 01:01:41 -0000

Thanks, Troy!

Re: Oneonta Gorge, Plus

Brent Logan — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 16:32:47 -0000

Thanks, Sherwin!

Oneonta Gorge is a beautiful spot, though not the safest hike. Leave you doggies and small kids at home. The log jam changes every year, and is massive. There is no way to avoid it, as it spans the width of the canyon. The adventurous can simplify the return trip by jumping into a pool. (I wasn't that adventurous.) Closer to the falls, the canyon narrows, and virtually forces a wade through about a 5 foot (1.5 m) deep pool. Although the water is chilly, it wasn't achingly cold, like the Pacific can be. Bringing a dry bag will decrease the risk to your camera, wallet, etc., but isn't necessary. I just emptied my pockets and held my wallet and phone over my head.

The beautiful falls and pool at the end are your reward for the hike.

Based on our recent trip, I would advise going on a weekday if the weather is warm. Parking, and the canyon itself, were crowded on a warm, northwest weekend day. If the weather isn't warm, I'm not sure I'd want to do the wade...

Update. The girls went this last Monday. The weather's still awesome, and the crowds, impressive. Guess this location is as unknown as it used to be...

Re: Solve If You Are Genius

Brent Logan — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 21:31:55 -0000

Yet another pattern. I'm not thrilled how each row is not self-contained, but instead relies on the next. That makes the 8 in the first row maybe arbitrary, and definitely useless. It does sidestep (or maybe just ignore) the skipped 4. That might be a strength instead of a fault.

Thanks for dropping by!

Re: Solve If You Are Genius

Brent Logan — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 16:05:35 -0000

Patac, glad you found me, and glad I made your day. Fight the good fight! :-D

Re: Solve If You Are Genius

Brent Logan — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 05:03:35 -0000

normdeploom (love that name!), I think this is the same pattern many have posted, but you've rearranged it slightly. Instead of saying 8 X 7 = 56 you say 56 / 8 = 7.

What is different is how you interpret this pattern. For you, the important point seems to be that the number on the right decreases by one for each row. Thus the final row should be 9 / 3 = 3, with ? = 3 being your final (corrected) answer. Right?

If so, you got the same answer as Jon, and for pretty much the same reason.

Thanks for dropping by!

Re: The Sound of Summer

Brent Logan — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 05:18:06 -0000

Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of The Beach Boys is a compilation of 30 songs. Reading the titles, it doesn't look like the Beach Boys were inspired by sprinklers. Too bad... ;-)

Re: View from the Back of the Bus

Brent Logan — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:39:46 -0000

Thanks! I love capturing moments so I can go back and relive them. It's surprising how often I'll go back and find something here to share with someone.

The clouds were beautiful, though a little rough inside.

Re: View from the Back of the Bus

Brent Logan — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 05:02:52 -0000

Yeah, I love my phone for taking pictures. I captures a much wider dynamic range than my point and shoot. I just wish it had the same wide angle lens and the ability to attach a polarizing filter. I *do* like that my phone is small enough that I have it with me all the time.

Re: Mendocino Weekend

Brent Logan — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 16:34:39 -0000

Yeah, it was a good time. We were amazed that, even with how many were involved, we we able to keep it a secret. Don certainly pulled a few strings. And with their lives of services, my parents are certainly deserving of the honor.

Re: Offset Wires

Brent Logan — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 13:00:05 -0000

You're probably right -- engineering changes in the field.

Thanks for the compliment. Poles are cool. :-)

Re: Solve If You Are Genius

Brent Logan — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 18:49:14 -0000

Ronnie, that's a great idea, but it doesn't work out. There is no integer base n where 5<sub>10</sub> = 20<sub>n</sub>.

Re: Solve If You Are Genius

Brent Logan — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 20:12:01 -0000

jess2248, doing a quick run through the names, I'd guess we're not all guys. There are some gals in the group. :-)

And yes, math is fun. Math is a language and a tool to understand how the world works, in so many ways. And even though I like math, it can still make my head hurt. ;-)