Matt Zaske Online Blog
Capturing Your Internet-Connected Webcam Images
![Puppet bird with binoculars](/sites/default/files/2019-06/giphy%5B1%5D.gif)
- June 02, 2019
- 3 minutes
- automation, inspiration, php, tech
Over the years, we've had a few public Internet-connected cameras pointing at various places around campus. We've used them for publicity and other purposes since the mid-1990's, and starting in around 2010 would sometimes be called upon to create a sort of time-lapse video of activity from one of said cameras.
Read MoreRunning On Empty
![Running on Empty GIF](/sites/default/files/2019-05/giphy%5B1%5D.gif)
I have known this for many years, but I reaffirmed my assessment this past week.
I am a creative. I seriously enjoy making things.
Read MoreWindows Scheduled Tasks with Powershell
![Mechanical Mathematical Calculator](/sites/default/files/2019-05/3410901387_786f1ec846_o.jpg)
- May 20, 2019
- 5 minutes
- automation, inspiration, powershell, tech
As I struggled to find looked for inspiration for this week's post, I wound up looking within...oddly enough as I was reconfiguring my email out of office response (the below is what I had for my time at MMS):
MMS: Drinking From the Fire Hose
![Drinking from the fire hose](/sites/default/files/2019-05/firehose.jpg)
- May 13, 2019
- 7 minutes
- tech, automation, inspiration, security, powershell
I spent last week at MMSMOA, a conference I cannot recommend enough for anyone working in the Microsoft/Windows/Systems Management space. The main event, held at the Radisson Blu Mall of America, is a solid four-and-a-half days of deep technical material, networking, sharing, and more!
Read MoreHey, Let's Re-Encrypt!
![HTTP vs. HTTPS](/sites/default/files/2019-05/httpvshttps.png)
The time has come...to renew some Let's Encrypt SSL certificates! Doesn't seem like 90 days has passed since I originally wrote about trying out Let's Encrypt as a service to generate free, trusted SSL certificates with a limited lifespan (90 days versus the more commercially-focused 1-3 years).
Read MoreWhat's In Your Lunch Bag?
![Winnie the Pooh prepares to eat](/sites/default/files/2019-04/winniethepooh.jpg)
- April 22, 2019
- 5 minutes
- personal, lifestyle, inspiration
Many of those I work and associate closely with know that I'm pretty often a routine machine. I'll be writing more about the various things I've turned into simple routines, automatic processes, and so forth.
Read MorePerformance Can Matter
![Performance Measure](/sites/default/files/2019-04/performance.jpg)
- April 15, 2019
- 5 minutes
- tech, automation, inspiration
I've had this written down as a topic suggestion for some time, and to balance/counter my post a couple weeks ago regarding performance, there's absolutely another side to that coin.
Read MoreThoughts? I've had [more than] a few
![Herding Cats](/sites/default/files/2019-04/herding-cats-blog.jpg)
I survived!
Yup, three (very different) presentations in as many months. All a resounding success!
Read MoreDoes the Performance Matter?
![Does it matter?](/sites/default/files/2019-03/giphy%5B1%5D_2.gif)
- April 01, 2019
- 4 minutes
- powershell, tech, automation, mistakes, inspiration
Back around 2015 or so, I wrote a simple Powershell script which basically re-populates Active Directory (AD) group membership based on data procured from our central systems. Two primary AD groups in particular are synchronized to our print management system, PaperCut, which pre-provisions accounts and access so folks handling monetary transactions don't have to create accounts, etc.
Read MoreIt's Presentation Season!
![Wizardry](/sites/default/files/2019-03/giphy%5B1%5D_1.gif)
- March 25, 2019
- 4 minutes
- tech, inspiration, automation
As I mentioned a month ago, I've taken the opportunity to commit to more speaking/presentation engagements than ever before, in an attempt to better inspire folks and do more technical evangelism. It just happens to be that I have three things lined up in as many months!
Read MoreAuto-Transpose Data
![Geeks and Repetitive Tasks Graph](/sites/default/files/2019-03/automate.png)
- March 18, 2019
- 4 minutes
- tech, php, automation
Many years ago, an individual in our office retired and the position was not replaced. For several reasons, this was an appropriate decision: the landscape of IT and our localized service portfolio had, for lack of a better phrase, stabilized. Our team was more often innovating in ways involving or prioritizing partnerships over custom builds or infrastructure requirements. We were appropriately consuming centralized services made available as a commodity.
Read MoreI Own You, Drupal View!
![I Own You](/sites/default/files/2019-03/giphy%5B1%5D_0.gif)
As I tweeted about in victory a week ago, I managed to finally get my Drupal taxonomy term view(s) to do what I wanted:
Read MoreAuto-Generate OSD Computer Name
![Typos Happen](/sites/default/files/2019-03/giphy%5B1%5D.gif)
- March 04, 2019
- 5 minutes
- tech, powershell, automation
Last summer while re-designing and upgrading our primary task sequence for the "multi-user devices" in our fleet (computer labs, learning spaces, etc.), I decided to tackle what had become a bit of a perennial problem: device naming.
Read MoreWe Have Liftoff!
![Hovering Cat](/sites/default/files/2019-02/houston-we-have-lift-off-151840%5B1%5D.gif)
Liftoff.
Finally.
Aside from some style tweaks likely to come around, the underlying technical bits I've been ignoring or had on the list to address (looking at you, tag views) are now in place and working as I'd expect. There's a pesky bit I've ended up handling in a more manual sense, at least for the short term: content view by tags.
Read More"Just Reload It"
I needed to fix a library-level theme item. And since it's been a while since I last made a change like that (this was all before the original switch to the production Drupal instance), I couldn't remember if it involved uninstalling/reinstalling the theme...or simply clearing the cache.
So I chose the heavy-handed option. What could possibly go wrong, right?
WRONG.
Read MoreHey, Let's Encrypt!
As I'd mentioned in the past, one of the key reasons for changing up my personal hosting plan was to support Let's Encrypt, the free and open Certificate Authority. In 2019, there is absolutely no need for a regular old website or service to pay some exorbitant rate for an SSL certificate. The premium options (extended validation and such) are an entirely different arena--think banking and other services--but those are out of scope for everyday Joe.
Read MoreSpeak your mind caller, we're on the air!
Better late than never?
As of today, the new site is out of maintenance mode and fully live. Hallelujah!
I look at it and see all of its quirks and flaws...and things unfinished. And I let my "good" override my "perfect." For now.
Read MoreA Minor Delay
What a week it's been. Primarily holed up inside 24/7 as we reached record lows with windchill. Our lowest temp reached -33°F, and with the wind we had would've made it feel like closer to -55°F. Dangerously cold. "Historically" cold. Things (schools, businesses, etc.) wound up being more or less shut down from about Tuesday morning through Thursday afternoon. It's certainly the coldest I could remember for the better part of 25 years (it was the mid-1990's).
Read MoreThe Drupal Learning Curve
To embrace the cliché, "The best laid plans of mice and men..."
I was on track.
It was going to happen.
The new site was to be launched as expected.
But my perfectionist side jumped in and started nagging:
Read MoreIf you fix that one thing first...it'll be better.
That function needs some adjustment before you should go live.
Are you sure that style/block/node/view is the right one?
It's [Well Past] Transition Time
As the last full refresh of mzonline.com was fully thirteen years (!?!) ago, ca. 2006, one can say it was time for something new.
I'm super glad I had built the old site out with a tableless and (for its time) clean and well-structured design. While it's been a bit dated for several years, with the exception of the site itself not being terribly responsive (for mobile and alternate screen sizes) it's had a good run.
Read More