Geoff's Blog
MySQL: log in to remote host from command line
For reference:
To log into a remote host using the MySQL command line, use:
./mysql db_name --user=username --password=password
--host=remote_host
NB: this assumes you are in the same directory as the mysql executable is located.
Firefox 4 - fixing a few niggles
Firefox 4 was released a couple of weeks ago, and I've been using it as my primary browser since then. On the whole I have been impressed - it is fast, and the layout has been improved. It also contains a bunch of new features which I will probably never use but commend, such as the "Firefox button" and the (slightly odd) "tab groups" functionality.
However, at the same time there have been some somewhat arbitrary decisions made by the developers, about which I am not so keen. These include turning off the "save and quit" option when closing the browser with multiple tabs open, setting WebGL off by default, and removing the RSS feed icon from the address bar.
Cross-domain form POST using PHP
So here's the problem: you have an event registration form on your site, and within that form is a checkbox saying "add me to your mailing list". If this checkbox is selected, the user must automatically be added to your client's e-mail newsletter list which is run by Mail Chimp.
The problem here is that the form needs to be submitted both to your own site (so that the user is registered for the event) and also to the third party - Mail Chimp ... simultaneously.
Countdown timer using Blender 3D
A couple of times this year I have needed a countdown timer to lead into the start of a live event. The theory is that having the countdown running builds audience anticipation ...
I initially looked in the usual places like iStock, but the available material is too short - the timer needs to run for about 15 minutes. This eventually led me to create my own using Blender 3D, which I am making available here for free.