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Recent blog posts
Writing front matter using Python
I use `python-frontmatter` to read and parse the front matter in Markdown
files used on the main site. The front matter is used to set page or post
titles, along with categories and tags. The `python-frontmatter` library
provides ways to load a file and parse the front matter making it available as
a `dict`. However, there isn't a documented way to write1 the front matter
content to files if you'r
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Dynamic partitioning with Amazon Data Firehose using CloudFormation
Dynamically partitioning events on Amazon Data Firehouse is possible using the
`jq 1.6` engine or using a Lambda function for custom parsing. Using JQ
expressions through the console to partition events when configuring a
Firehouse stream is straight forward provided you know the JQ expression and
the source event schema. I found it difficult translating this configuration
into a CloudFormation te
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Using sqlite-diffable as a Python module
`sqlite-diffable` is a tool, built by Simon Willison, to load and dump SQLite
databases to JSON files. It's intended to be used through the CLI, however
since May I've been using this tool as a callable Python module to build my
main site after making changes to the code1. This has allowed me to combine
the build commands into one Python file. The changes aren't available in the
upstream code2 so
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Set environment variables
I usually forget the syntax of defining enviornment variables on different
platforms, so here's a note for future me to look up.1
## Bash/Zsh
export VARIABLE_NAME=ABC123
Using `export` will set the environment variable within the current session,
you can override the value by using `export` again on the same variable name.
To apply this environment variable to all sessions se
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Recent toots
The Ryan Air flying experience is the embodiment of what it's like to browse
an ad-infected webpage.
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So cats do try their best to communicate vocally.
Research shows that, "listeners were able to identify domestic cat meows from
two different contexts significantly better than chance, and that experienced
listeners were better judges than inexperienced ones." Taking samples from two
of three sibling cats showed that rising intonations were related to food and
falling intonations with the vet.
h
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It seems since the last week or so, the Albert Heijn app takes ages to load
the bonuskaart. Time to screenshot, print, laminate and attach the barcode to
my key-chain.
Back to old-school tech.
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@justincox Doesn't seem to be a lot to do currently, robots.txt can be used[1]
along with blocking user-agents. As discovered with Perplexity AI[2] it might
not be affective. On the other hand any sort of "Proof of Personhood" will
always end up blocking some users and allowing some bots through, it's
imperfect.
As far as I know there's no legal ground on what the LLM scrapers can and
can't do, b
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@justincox Seems the route 404media have taken and work for them I guess.
Subscribers also get a unique RSS URL they can use with their readers.
https://www.404media.co/why-404-media-needs-your-email-address/
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My T450 really needs a ThinkLight.
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e-Ink displays for bus details, don't mind if I do.
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Recent beer check-ins
Pesky P. is drinking an Ichnusa Non Filtrata by Ichnusa
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Pesky P. is drinking a Salted Maple Stout by Totem
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Pesky P. is drinking a Peach Ice Tea Table Sour by Vault City Brewing
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Pesky P. is drinking a Non De Jus! by 100 Watt Brewery
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Recent Anilist activity
Pesky completed Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia
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Pesky watched episode 10 - 12 of Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia.
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Pesky watched episode 9 of Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia.
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Pesky watched episode 8 of Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia.
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Pesky's home
Welcome! This website serves as the home base to all the content I publish, which includes posts I write, videos I upload and more. The content generally surrounds trips my wife and I go on, trains and technology.
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