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I wrote this Perl script to automate an annoying monthly chore I used to have to do manually - saving my websites' raw statistics logs, which otherwise get deleted after 30 days.

My web host is DreamHost, so it might work best if you're also using DreamHost. But, this script might work with other web hosts, perhaps with some modifications.

Instructions are in the source code.

Web-viewable copies of the two source code files:

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Perl Script: Make Dated and Timed Folder

Sunday, February 9th, 2014 14:05:15 GMT

Another simple Perl script which works in at least Lucid Puppy 5.2.8, and probably other Puppy Linuxes:

This script simply makes a folder with a name like "2014_2_8 13,14,37 pm". Optionally, the script can add a prefix and/or suffix to the folder name. You can provide a prefix and/or suffix in the source code, or have the script ask you for them when it runs.

This script would probably work in other operating systems if you take out the stuff dealing with the RXVT console program and the Rox-Filer file manager.

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Perl Script: Apollia's Drag and Drop Pondizer v1.0

Sunday, February 9th, 2014 17:03:40 GMT

This script is related to the old zip backup scripts I made. It's basically a drag-and-drop zip archive-making script, with some other features.

Definitely works in Lucid Puppy Linux 5.2.8, and probably other Puppy Linuxes, but would probably have to be modified to work in other operating systems. I'm guessing it would be toughest to get it working in Windows, since it relies on Linux shell commands.

What does "pondize" mean? Well, on my computer, I like to give many of my folders picturesque, aesthetically pleasing names which aren't always obviously connected to those folders' actual purposes.

The "Pond" folder is where I like to keep many of my newly-minted backups. So, anything that goes in the Pond, I say it's been "pondized".

This script can either make zip files out of things that are dragged and dropped onto it, or put copies of those things into a dated/timed folder.

And, similar to the original zip backup script, you can put a list in the source code of all the items you want zipped or copied to a dated/timed folder. That list is used when you run the script without dragging/dropping items onto it.

One problem with this script is, I haven't figured out how to make it handle files/folders whose names contain double quotes ("). Fortunately, I have hardly any files/folders like that. However, If you really need to handle such items, you can put them in a folder without double quotes in the name, and then drag/drop that folder onto the script.

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Repaired Perl Script: Apollia's Website Statistics Saver v1.1

Thursday, February 20th, 2014 04:43:27 GMT

The original version of this script wasn't working properly because it mistakenly put read-only permissions on a file that needed to be overwritten from time to time - the file containing the date/time the statistics were last zipped.

Here's the repaired new version:

My web host is DreamHost, so it might work best if you're also using DreamHost. But, this script might work with other web hosts, perhaps with some modifications.

Instructions are in the source code.

Web-viewable copies of the two source code files:

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Roku Remote Controller Script version 4, written in Bash

Thursday, March 13th, 2014 08:30:16 GMT

A few days ago, I ran across a useful Roku* remote controller script written in Bash by someone named "JM", also known as "Fubaya".

Posted July 7, 2011 to the A More Common Hades blog:

Thank you very much to "JM"/"Fubaya" for creating such useful scripts and such a useful blog!

I didn't originally intend to put so much effort into it, but, over the past few days, I ended up making a very modified version of that script, plus a few little companion scripts.

It's really neat having so much instantaneous control of my Roku XS via my computer keyboard. Or just by double-clicking scripts on my computer.

Lots more info is in the source code.

Edit, 3/15/2014, 5:39 AM. OK, I finally finished the version 4 update I was unable to finish before due to being too tired, too headachy, and/or too focused on other things.

I added a new F4 hotkey which sends "Enter" to the Roku, to quickly submit text input forms or search forms without you having to do any additional navigation or typing.

And, related to that, a new typeable command, "ss" or "submitstring" or "submitsearch", which not only inserts whatever string of text you want, but also immediately submits the input, so you won't even have to use the F4 hotkey.

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Perl Scripts: Make "Welcome to Disk!" Text File and Make Contents Note Text File

Tuesday, April 1st, 2014 23:44:44 GMT

A couple small new Perl scripts. They definitely work in Lucid Puppy Linux 5.2.8.

These two are almost exactly the same script. First, they ask you to type in some text, then they create a text file which contains (and whose file name contains) the text you typed.

I like to put the created files at the root level of my various disks and TrueCrypt* volumes, just to make it easier to tell at a glance where I am and what is in there.

The "Welcome" script creates a text file with a name like "Welcome to Fluffyland!" (or whatever other disk name you typed), and the "Contents" script creates a text file with a name like "~Contents - My entire MIDI collection up to 2014".

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Simple Price Per Item Calculator v1, in JavaScript

Tuesday, April 15th, 2014 21:16:58 GMT

Software Release

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Perl Script: Apollia's Drag and Drop Pondizer v1.1

Tuesday, April 29th, 2014 04:04:56 GMT

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Perl Script: Apollia's TrueCrypt Volume Dismounter v1

Tuesday, April 29th, 2014 08:47:09 GMT

This script simply dismounts any TrueCrypt volume which is dragged and dropped onto it, or whose filepath is sent to this script as an argument.

Or, you can optionally put a list of filepaths of TrueCrypt volumes which should be dismounted when the script is run without drag and drop or without arguments.

You can configure the script to ignore dragged and dropped items and arguments. You can also configure this script to be incapable of running unless it is provided either dragged and dropped items, or filepaths as arguments.

This script definitely works with TrueCrypt 7.1 in Lucid Puppy Linux 5.2.8 version 004.

I don't know if it will all work properly with other Linuxes or other TrueCrypt versions. And the stuff involving the RXVT terminal program definitely won't, if your Linux doesn't have that.

So, please be very careful.

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Versions of Astroblahhh GLMP-GTK v1.0 and Astroblahhh PH-GTK v1.0 with quieter installers

Saturday, May 3rd, 2014 04:17:50 GMT

I finally got around to releasing versions of Astroblahhh GLMP-GTK and Astroblahhh PH-GTK which install more quietly, without asking tons of annoying questions.

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Official comment threads available for some blog posts

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014 04:47:52 GMT

I decided to make it a bit easier for people to post comments on my blog if they like.

My WordsPlatz blog software has no code to handle comments, and it would have probably been a big nuisance to add that.

Besides, a forum is much nicer for comments anyway.

So, I'm using the Eryss.Com Forum to host comment threads, and making them visible here on Astroblahhh.Com by adding an HTML iframe to the bottom of some posts, along with a link which you can click to load the comment thread in the iframe.

Guest posting is enabled in that section of the forum, so, you actually don't need to register to post. However, comments are moderated - and, just as I often have put off checking my email, I often avoid checking on my so far usually inactive forum - so, comments might be very slow to appear.

Even if a blog post doesn't have an official comment thread, you're still welcome to comment on it somewhere in the Eryss.Com Forum.

Here are the forum's rules in case you're curious, though you're welcome to post without reading them.

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Astroblahhh Basic MP3 Player version 1, in JavaScript

Monday, July 21st, 2014 07:10:10 GMT

Software Release

OK, I finally made a simple JavaScript music player which seems good enough to release. It doesn't use any streaming music service's API. (I might write more about that in another blog post.)

All it can do is play MP3s hosted on a web server, and it's still rather rough around the edges.

In a couple ways, it's not quite as nice as VGRemix.com's very nice (and similar) web player, because I didn't bother to create a loading progress bar, or show the song duration.

But, you can play/pause, stop, skip to anyplace in the song, and change the volume. And, you can go to the next or previous tracks, since there's a very basic queue.

I'd like to build something more complete, but, that's all I can afford to do for now.

But, thanks to this little project, I'm now convinced that, given time and freedom from having to worry about money, I could probably eventually create something even nicer than MOG's web player.

If you like my web player and would like me to expand it, donations or microdonations and purchases of goods (still none available yet) and services are welcome.

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Python Script: Apollia's Relative Scheduler v1.0

Monday, July 21st, 2014 21:17:57 GMT

Software Release

Here's a Python* script I first wrote back in March or April 2012.

As usual, it's only sure to work in Lucid Puppy Linux 5.2.8 version 004.

All it does is, it asks you for the time you woke up, then generates a schedule for you with many events relative to the time you put in (and some fixed-time events, if you like). The schedule is an HTML file viewable in a web browser. The script also sets up cron to display reminders.

(Warning: this script will wipe out any existing cron events you've set up.)

It's definitely not my best work, and Python is definitely not my favorite language, but, it gets the job done.

Why did I write such a thing at all? Because my sleep issues are so severe that ordinary scheduler software (which typically only lets you put in events happening at fixed times) is largely useless to me.

I suspect I probably have Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder, or something similar - a physical problem which messes up my circadian rhythms. I will actually be posting more about that quite soon.

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Procrastinating about checking my email

Tuesday, August 5th, 2014 18:54:06 GMT

To anyone it might concern - I've been avoiding checking a lot of my email, for a variety of reasons. It's partly because it's such a nuisance to check a lot of it. I store my Thunderbird profile on an external hard drive that I usually don't have turned on.

And, I have my Thunderbird email client inside a Windows XP VirtualBox, since I still haven't migrated to a native Linux email client.

And, to my knowledge, I usually get hardly any mail from anyone. And, my email is typically full of spam, and I still don't have adequate spam filters. (Except with my Gmail, but I'm trying to reduce my dependence on Gmail, so, I don't want to share that address publicly.)

So, the bottom line is, checking most of my email addresses is generally a very unrewarding nuisance. On top of that, I'm also shy, as well as quite busy lately, so I'm sure I'm avoiding my email partly for those reasons too.

Sorry if anyone is awaiting replies!

Posts to my forums are actually a much better way to reach me than most of my email addresses, because of the lack of spam. So, things posted there are far more likely to be seen by me sooner than any email. (Even though I don't check the forums every day.)

Another option is my Tumblr - though I haven't been using Tumblr much lately, and that's probably not going to change soon, since I have too much to do.

You can send me public or private messages via my forums or Tumblr. My forums and my Tumblr are moderated (and I'm the only moderator), so, messages won't be posted immediately or automatically, and, if you include a note in your message that says you don't want your message to appear publicly, I won't publish your message.

Happily, on my forums, there are almost never any spambot posts or spambot registrations, ever since 2013 when I changed some settings to make it harder for spambots to register or post.

(Except last month there were some spambot registrations when I made the mistake of replacing the anti-spam verification question with an easy math question. Spambots can do math, it seems.)

Just thought I should post this to explain to anyone why they might not have gotten a reply.

I'm not even aware of anyone who has sent me any non-spam mail (or I probably would have replied by now), but, it's very possible that important things got lost in the floods of spam I get.

I really need to figure out a better way of dealing with my email and filtering out spam. Suggestions and other comments are welcome!

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Bash Script: Open Relative Folder on Current Disk (Landmark Template)

Wednesday, August 27th, 2014 04:15:04 GMT

It works in both Lucid Puppy Linux 5.2.8 version 004, and Lighthouse 64 Puppy Linux 6.02 Beta 2.

This script makes it so you can easily open a folder on the same disk as the script, even if the disk containing that folder and this script gets mounted at a different than usual mountpoint.

I call these shortcuts "landmarks" (partly inspired by Second Life). I keep most of them in a "Landmarks" folder at the root level of many of my disks.

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Firefox Add-On: Use Page Title as Saved File Name, Change Unusual Chars to Dashes, and Add Current Date and Time v1.4 ApMod v3.0

Friday, September 12th, 2014 23:25:08 GMT

Software Release

I finally updated the old "Use Page Title As File Name + Change Unusual Chars To Dashes" Firefox add-on, since I found it didn't work in Firefox 32.

The new version is:

Like the previous version, I didn't write it from scratch. Both versions are modified versions of File Title 1.4. The original File Title 1.4 is by Pavel Cvrcek.

I also updated the Firefox Add-Ons page for the first time since December 2011.

I didn't update most of the text on it, nor even add any new add-ons except the above, but, there's a new Tips for Making Firefox Add-Ons section.

Addition, 9:37 PM EDT: Just added a General Tips section too.