Can you tell when I migrated this blog from my own server to Amazon S3?

Availability

Performance

100% availability and 25% faster response times.

I’ve used WordPress since I first started my blog, but recently started looking for alternatives. I found myself not needing many of the features provided by WordPress and not wanting to manage Apache, PHP, and MySQL through upgrades, patches, etc. Finally, inspired by the post No Server Required - Jekyll & Amazon S3, I set out to find something new. In my searching I stumbled onto Octopress.

I searched for a tool to help migrate my WordPress blog to Octopress and found a couple different options. I settled on a script from @elvvin that used an XML export from WordPress and created the appropriate Jekyll/Octopress format. With some tweaks I got it to convert my code snippets, images, and post categories. I had to make some minor Markdown fixes to certain posts snippets, but after an hour’s worth of work, everything was cleaned up and ready to go. My changes to @elvvin’s script are on GitHub at wordpress-octopress-migration.

As of this post, my blog is now hosted on Amazon S3.

New Pandora has launched, so it’s time for a #NewPandora bookmarklet. Here you go…

If you’re using Firefox, bookmark this link.

If you’re using Chrome, click the view source icon in the prettified code below, then copy and paste it into a new bookmark:

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javascript: function pandora() {
    window.open( 'http://pandora.com/',
                 '_blank',
                 'width=850,height=120,' +
                 'scrollbars=0,location=0,menubar=0,titlebar=0,toolbar=0'
    );
}
pandora();

Enjoy.

Hacking away on a project recently I decided to use the lesser-known HTTP status code 204 No Content. A 204 No Content indicates a successful request, but also that there’s no content to return. I’m using 204’s for responding to AJAX calls to server-side resources for which no content is needed to return. Technically I could use a 200 status code but I want to be as semantically correct as possible.

Using Grails for the project it was super simple to return 204 from my controller. Here’s how you do it:

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class ResourceController {

  def update = {

    // service.update params

    render status: 204

  }

}

That’s it.

Trailhead ISA from Two Beers Brewing Co. is dubbed an India Style Session Ale but classified an IPA. At 4.8% ABV it doesn’t fit into the strictest standards of a Session Ale but is close nonetheless. It is probably the lowest ABV IPA I’ve had, yet still supplies enough hop flavor and bitterness to be an American IPA rather than an English IPA.

Two Beers recently ventured into canning their beer and Trailhead ISA is one of three initial styles available in cans from them. Per their press release, Two Beers is the first Washington State craft brewery to introduce 12-ounce cans. Their wording begs the question: which Washington State craft brewery is canning but not in 12-ouncers?

Beer Facts

Name: Trailhead ISA

Style: India Style Session Ale/American IPA

Brewery: Two Beers Brewing Co.

Released: Year round

Availability: 12-ounce cans and draft

Description:

Toss this beer in a backpack and hit the trail to find freedom, escape, and a more simple life. As the sky above and good friends keep you company this generously dry-hopped ISA will complete the trinity of the good life. Pack it in. Pack it out. Cheers!

Hops: ?

Malts: ?

OG: ?

FG: ?

IBUs: ?

ABV: 4.8%

Tasting

Serving: 12-ounce can into a pint glass.

Appearance: Slight orange, straw color. Half-inch of frothy head. Lots of lacing leftover. Haze that to fade as it warms.

Aroma: Lots of piney hop aroma. Sweet malt comes through as it warms.

Mouthfeel: High carbonation, but not over-carbonated. Light mouthfeel.

Taste: Very bitter upfront, but dissipates quickly. Grainy malt flavor behind the hops. Very little lingering flavor after each sip.

Conclusion

I really, really like this beer. While the rest of the beer world is crazy about IPAs I tend to steer clear of them, finding myself drawn to more subtle lagers or complex stouts, Belgians, or sours. Having said that, I think Trailhead ISA is going to become a mainstay in my fridge. It is true to its name, it is a session ale. It is certainly a weak IPA by most standards but is very, very drinkable. On top of that, it comes in cans and I’m a sucker for a good beer in a can. Did I mentioned it’s very drinkable? I think I’ll have another.

Food pairings: BBQs, lighter fare.

Cellar-able: Nope.

Comparable beers: Johnny Utah Session IPA from Georgetown Brewing, IPA Junior from Red Rock. (Haven’t had either of these.)

Links

• No brewery link.
• Beeradvocate
• ratebeer