I just had to gush about NoSpamNX. It’s been my only spamproofing on lee.org for 6 months now and it’s worked exceptionally.
- I set wordpress to moderate unknown user comments
- I installed NoSpamNX
- I set the NoSpamNX Local Blacklist to block “http://” and “https://”
- I removed the URL field from my comment interface
- I put a note in my comment file telling users “Do not write “http://” in your comment, it will be blocked.”
I still have to moderate new user comments but this is easy and I want to watch my blog comments anyway. The amount of spam I have to review from the moderation cue is very low at 1-5 per week. On rare occasions, I enable the blocking of specific strings like “win free sex now” to stop some comment spam bots (I think I’ve done that 3 times in 6 months). NoSpamNX has been blocking 200-1,000 comment spams per day for a long while now.
Hurray and huzzah!
http://wordpress.org/plugins/nospamnx/
If you have several users on a Windows 7 computer, it is good to have several user accounts. But it is a bother switching between those accounts. You need to click Start | the tiny arrow next to the shutdown button | Switch user.
This program makes switching users a snap.
Fast User Switch
Whenever I talk to friends about all the terrific reasons they have to not go to Burning Man, I give the same kinds of responses. This article does a great job at capturing some of those responses. So read it and go with me next year! It’ll change your life!
55 Things I Learned At Burning Man
Funny thing, last month I went out drinking with Sean and Lara. One of their drinking buddies is Carter who built the original DNA Lounge sign! We got to commiserate over drinks about how many gyrations and how much time it actually takes to build a sign. Good times!
(via)
Just got back from 12 days on vacaion in Minnesota with Megan. Pictures and stories forthcoming.
Trying to get into an Occupational Therapy Master’s program. I’m applying to: San Jose State, Dominican University in San Rafael, Samuel Merritt in Oakland. I’ve been volunteering at a pediatric OT clinic in Sausalito and a non-public school for kids with autism. I’m studying for the GRE; I got an “Ok” score last time, but I’m shooting for “Great”.
Megan and I are planning to be married! There’s rings to make and a life to be planned!
I’m still teaching at the Crucible. In a few weeks I’m teaching Arduino, Electromagnetics, Flame Effects, and a new taster class “Atari Punk Console”!
After the school applications are done, I’ll try to organize teaching a Flame Effects class in Los Angeles with Michael Kearney. There’s also a flame effects book to write.
I’ve been hanging out with Sean Cusack, his gal Lara, Michael Kearney and some friends and building some fiery things. Crazily enough, more than 5 years ago, Lara had built one of the first really notable flame effects I saw, The High Striker! And now she wants to retool it!
At Ben and Lil’s wedding in August
Megan and me at Ben and Lil’s wedding photobooth!
I went to Richmond to volunteer for Occupational Therapy in early August. Due to a mix-up, my 2 hr (each way) commute which included a mile walk on a highway was for naught. :-(
Richmond is a dreary dreary place. I could not find a single structure that did not have endemic peeling paint, there was no ornamentation of any kind on any structure or person. At the Richmond BART station, a description on a prominent monument, the gleaming gateway to the city, touted Richmond’s heyday some 70 years ago and actively renounced all claims of current livability. I do not feel compelled to return.
Megan and I are back from the northlands of Minnesota feeling much refreshed! We’ll have pictures and stories soon!
Here is a hint… Our home for almost two weeks:
and click to view it in 3D wigglevision! 
If you like machine performance, Kal’s shows are always cool. Join me?
https://www.facebook.com/events/517752421649461/
Industrial ROBOTICS art PERFORMANCE in San Francisco
Friday, August, 23, 2011
8:00PM until Midnight
1043 Marin St.,
S.F., Ca. 94124
cross street Illinois St.
General Admission: $10 or what u can pay…
Students and Seniors: $7
Live Audience Experiments with Machines and Robots
WITH! Dj Big Daddy, tip him!
YOU VOLUNTARILY ASSUME THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH BY ATTENDING THIS PERFORMANCE!
Here is some discussion about my work: http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/16/artists-on-artists-chris-johanson-on-the-apocalyptic-machines-of-kal-spelletich/?_r=1
and;
http://www.kqed.org/arts/programs/spark/profile.jsp?essid=4525
I am writing to you from just north of St. Paul Minnesota! Megan and I will be spending the next 10 days or so on a private island on the Canadian border near International Falls, MN. Very good friends of Megan own this tiny island on Rainy Lake. We are looking forward to totally destressing and reconnecting with each other, ourselves and the universe! I think they have electricity, but no TV, no cellphones (not even 1G!), and the internet is over a phone line, Ha! So what will we do? Sleep, eat, read, play, swim, talk, look at the sunset, look at the sunrise, look at the sun high in the sky, listen to the loons, maybe catch a real thunderstorm, and maybe maybe maybe see the northern lights!
I’ll check my voicemail maybe sometimes. But don’t count on it. And email not at all!
To start things out, we are staying at a friend’s house. Tomorrow’s breakfast is promising!
My dad has had his 1951 Packard 250 Convertible with Ultramatic transmission since 1986. It was an amazing luxury car then and it has only gotten more spectacular as the years pass by.
As times change, he is selling the car. The last few years, it has mostly sat in a garage waiting for him to come up to New Jersey, something he doesn’t do as often as he used to. So, here it goes, back into the universe. You can find the most beautiful car in the world for sale on Hemmings
The Hemmings listing reads like so:
1951 Packard 250 Convertible
Location: Hackettstown, New Jersey 07840
Mileage: 36000
Trans: Auto
Condition: Excellent
Exterior: Packard Cream (yellow)
Interior: Red
Description: Original 1951 Packard 250 Convertible
Solid car, Excellent condition, Packard Cream (pale yellow) with Red interior, All Power, Ultramatic, Boot and Tonnheau Cover, Radials
Second owner (purchased and restored in 1986)
Voted Most Beautiful Car of 1951
Price: $32,000
Melissa took this little Vine.co video of Dad driving the car in August 2013
