Host change
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Sunday, November 6, 2022.
I'm switching hosts so there will be various DNS changes and some downtime today.
Why Microsoft is Likely Doomed Based on one Email Folder
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Thursday, August 5, 2021.
When you get a piece of spam in Outlook you move it to Junk or block the sender. And then, even if that junk mail is marked as read, the Junk folder has a BOLD MESSAGE COUNT. It's the only folder that does this. I cannot do any other work while I have a bold message count and so I have to switch to the Junk folder and delete the message to get rid of it.
Regular email: read, file, done.
Junk email: recognize as spam, click block sender, confirm that I really want to block the sender, switch to Junk folder, mark as read, delete.
Something is really wrong with this workflow. It's a lens through which you can view the ultimate demise of the company. Sure, Office isn't going away soon and Azure is growing like crazy and SQL Server runs on Linux. But somewhere in Redmond 5,000 people designed a Junk email folder that is the MOST IMPORTANT folder in Outlook. The rest were presumably too busy making Windows Update worse to stop this.
My Google experience is that I really don't get much spam. The spam that I do get is hidden from me unless I actually need to rifle through it for some reason. On the occasion I actually get legitimate junk I just flag it as such and never have to touch it or it's ilk again.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Why Microsoft is Likely Doomed Based on one Email Folder #etc #outlook #microsoft The Junk folder in Microsoft Outlook is a lens through which you can view the ultimate demise of the company. )
Bay Snaps
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Photos of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz in the San Francisco Bay.
The photograph titled "Bay Snaps" captures a majestic view of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, shrouded in a blanket of ethereal fog. The imposing architectural marvel stretches diagonally across the frame, its massive steel beams painting a vibrant streak of red against the muted grays of the misty sky. The fog clings to the upper sections of the bridge, obscuring its towering form and adding a sense of mystery and grandeur. Below, the calm waters of the bay mirror the muted tones of the cloudy atmosphere, while the rugged coastline provides a sturdy foundation in the background, grounding the scene with its textured rocks.
The composition adopts a dramatic angle, positioning the viewer beneath the bridge, which enhances the sense of scale and amplifies its grandeur. This perspective leads the eye along the bridge’s span, creating a dynamic tension between the man-made and natural elements. The use of color is striking, with the vivid red of the bridge standing out starkly against the monochrome fog, creating a powerful focal point. The technical execution is impressive, capturing the subtle nuances of the fog and the strong lines of the bridge with clarity. However, some may find the heavy use of negative space in the upper part slightly overwhelming, perhaps wishing for more detail in the sky or surroundings. Nonetheless, the overall mood and drama conveyed through the interplay of light, color, and perspective make this photograph a captivating snapshot of architectural magnificence.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Bay Snaps #photo #ggb #alcatraz Pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz )
Stars over Lake Tahoe
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, February 19, 2022.
4K timelapse of stars and the Milky Way over Lake Tahoe, California.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Stars over Lake Tahoe #timelapse #video #4k #laketahoe #california 4K timelapse of stars and the Milky Way over Lake Tahoe, California. )
Email Alerts for new Referers in Google Analytics using Apps Script
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Monday, February 13, 2023.
It's useful to know when you have a new website referrer. Google Analytics is plagued with spam referral and you want to filter this out of reporting as quickly as possible to stop it from skewing your data. It's also helpful to be able to respond quickly to new referral traffic - maybe leave a comment or promote the new link on social media.
The script below will send you a daily email with links to any new referrers (this is GA3, there is a GA4 version later in this post).
Start a new apps script project in Google Drive and paste in the code. At the top enter the view ID that you want to monitor and the email address that should receive reports.
Choose Advanced Google Services from the Resources menu and switch on the Google Analytics API. Then click the Google API Console link and enable the Google Analytics API there as well.
Finally pick Current project's triggers from the Edit menu and trigger the main function daily at a convenient time.
This script saves known referrers in script properties. For a site with lots of traffic this may run out of space in which case you might need to switch this out and write known referrers to a sheet instead.
For Google Analytics 4 properties use the version of the script below. The setup process is the same, but you need the Google Analytics Data API instead of the Google Analytics API.
More Google Apps Script Projects
- Get an email when your security camera sees something new (Apps Script + Cloud Vision)
- Get an email if your site stops being mobile friendly (no longer available)
- Export Google Fit Daily Steps, Weight and Distance to a Google Sheet
- Animation of a year of Global Cloud Cover
- Control LIFX WiFi light bulbs from Google Apps Script
- Adding AI to Todoist with Google Apps Script and OpenAI
- How to backup Google Photos to Google Drive automatically after July 2019 with Apps Script
- Using the Todoist API to set a due date on the Alexa integration to-do list (with Apps Script)
- Automate Google PageSpeed Insights and Core Web Vitals Logging with Apps Script
- Using the Azure Monitor REST API from Google Apps Script
- Monitor page index status with Google Sheets, Apps Script and the Google Search Console API
(Published to the Fediverse as: Email Alerts for new Referers in Google Analytics using Apps Script #code #googleanalytics #appsscript #gas #ga4 Apps script that will email you any new referral traffic from Google Analytics. Useful for responding to new links and referrer spam. GA3 and GA4 versions. )
Reading and Writing Office 365 Excel from a Console app using the Microsoft.Graph C# Client API
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Sunday, September 18, 2022.
I needed a console app that reads some inputs from an online Excel workbook, does some processing and then writes back the results to a different worksheet. Because I enjoy pain I decided to use the thinly documented new Microsoft.Graph client library. The sample code below assumes that you have a work or education Office 365 subscription.
Paste the code into a new console project and then follow the instructions at the top to add the necessary NuGet packages. You'll also need to register an application at https://portal.azure.com/. You want a Native application and you'll need the Application ID and the redirect URL (just make up some non-routable URL for this). Under Required Permissions for the app you should add read and write files delegated permissions for the Microsoft Graph API.
Hope this saves you a few hours. Comment below if you need a more detailed explanation for any of the above.
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- Monitor page index status with Google Sheets, Apps Script and the Google Search Console API
(Published to the Fediverse as: Reading and Writing Office 365 Excel from a Console app using the Microsoft.Graph C# Client API #code #microsoft #excel #graph #office365 How to read and write data to an Office 365 Excel workbook using the Microsoft.Graph client library from a C# console application. )
Point Reyes Deer
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
A deer on a treacherous cliff-top path at Point Reyes.
The photograph titled "Point Reyes Deer" captures a breathtaking scene of nature's majesty and subtlety. The image is painted with the vast blues of the ocean, stretching seemingly infinitely under the clear sky, engendering a deep sense of calm and infinite possibility. To the left, the rugged cliffs stand resolutely, their earthy tones contrasting with the vibrant blue of the sea, marked by sheer edges and weathered surfaces that tell endless tales of time and tide. A lush carpet of green and purple foliage rolls over the hill in the foreground, lending life and texture to the landscape. Amidst this scene, almost hidden, a solitary deer stands on the cliff's edge, its gentle presence a reminder of the harmonious coexistence of life with its environment.
The composition of this photo employs both leading lines and the rule of thirds to draw the viewer's eye naturally across the frame. The cliffs rise diagonally, guiding attention towards the deer, which is subtly positioned to catch the light and subtly poised against the vast ocean. This compositional choice adds depth, inviting a contemplation of scale between the small, delicate deer and the expansive view. The balance of color and light is aesthetically pleasing, with the contrasting textures of rock, foliage, and sea. However, the deer is somewhat hidden, and a closer crop or different angle might have highlighted its presence more prominently. This subtle approach can be seen as both a strength in maintaining the scene's natural flow and a limitation for viewers seeking a more pronounced focal point. Overall, the photograph beautifully encapsulates a moment of serene wilderness.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Point Reyes Deer #photo #deer Photo of a deer on a cliff-top path at Point Reyes. )
Point Reyes Lighthouse
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
View of the Pacific from the lighthouse at Point Reyes National Seashore.
This photograph presents the serene expanse of the ocean viewed from the historic Point Reyes Lighthouse. From a high vantage point, the weathered roof of the lighthouse peeks in from the lower left corner, its red and white paint chipping away, whispering tales of countless storms it has weathered. Beyond the lighthouse lies the vast, tranquil ocean, the surface shimmering under the broad, open sky. The horizon stretches endlessly, meeting the sky in a delicate, misty embrace. The overall atmosphere is one of solitude and infinite space, invoking both awe and reflection.
The composition of this photograph adheres to the minimalistic style, focusing on the meeting line of sky and sea. The horizon is placed slightly below the center, allowing the sky to dominate the frame and convey a sense of vastness. The lighthouse roof serves as an anchor point, adding a touch of asymmetry and texture against the smooth, seemingly infinite ocean. The photo benefits from high contrast and lighting, with the sunlight creating a shimmering effect across the water surface, enhancing the sense of depth and distance. What I appreciate most is the composition's ability to evoke tranquility and solitude. However, the photograph might have benefited from a slight increase in details on the lighthouse roof, as the textures play a crucial role in grounding the image.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Point Reyes Lighthouse #photo #pointreyes #lighthouse Photo of the Pacific from the Point Reyes Lighthouse at Point Reyes National Seashore, California. )
Summer Solstice 2017
By Robert Ellison.
Summer starts now (or Winter for the Southern Hemisphere). Rendered in Catfood Earth.
(Previously, Previously, Previously, Previously)
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Spherical Sunset
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, February 19, 2022.
An experimental spherical timelapse of a sunset looking west over the Pacific from West Portal, San Francisco.
In your browser use w, a, s, d to tilt and pan. Best viewed in a VR headset.
Shot on the Richo Theta S, post processed with Lightroom, LRTimelapse and FFmpeg.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Spherical Sunset #timelapse #westportal #360 #spherical #video 360 degree immersive spherical timelapse shot from West Portal, San Francisco of sunset over the Pacific. )
