Wednesday, August 09, 2023

Assign data elements to Analytics variables using Adobe Tags Rules.

Been working on this for half the day.  Finally sorted it out.  If you are using Adobe Tags, formerly Launch, and want to add your Adobe events, eVars and Props using the GUI pulling directly from your adobeClientDatalayer, you use Global Variables in the Adobe Analtyics Extension for page  level variables.  

For other variables, not set every page load, you create rules.  You don't need an event or condition, just an action.  Click the 'Add' button at the bottom to define the action.


Create Rule, setting the Action to capture Adobe Variable

Configure the action for the rule, setting the eVar or Prop to a data element defined previously


From the Adobe documentation:

Set variables in rules

Variables set in rules are ideal in cases where you don’t want variables set on every page. You define the criteria in the rule. See Rules in the Adobe Experience Platform tags documentation.

  1. Log in to Adobe Experience Platform Data Collection using your AdobeID credentials.
  2. Click the desired tag property.
  3. Click the Rules tab, then click on the desired rule (or create one).
  4. Click the Add button under Actions.
  5. Set the Extension drop-down list to Adobe Analytics, and the Action Type to Set Variables.
  6. Click the Data element icon to the right of the desired Analytics variable. Your organization’s solution design document dictates what Analytics variable to use.
  7. Select the desired data element in the modal window. Click Select.
  8. The data element name is added to the text field surrounded by % signs. For example, if you named your data element “Page name”, you would see the string %Page name% when assigning a data element to a variable.

 

Note - setting the variable in the rule does not send the beacon sending the data to Adobe.  You still need to create a final rules to trigger the becaon, one for page load (s.t()) and one for event (s.tl()).  That's beyond the scope of this post.

Saturday, May 27, 2023

What makes good motorcycle gear?

 

What makes good gear?


Helmet - Full face, FITS your head, DOT certified. Snell is good too, but those are more expensive. Not optional.

83MPH into the pavement. Walked away.



Jacket - thicker cordura (1050 on the impact points), or leather (fold it in half on the sleeve - is it at least 2mm / 3/16th of an inch thick folded?) ECE certified armor in the elbows, shoulders, FITS and is comfortable. Not optional.

Gloves - solid leather that FIT and have retention - even just the pull string on work gloves is better than elastic. Not optional.

Over the ankle leather boots or solid leather high-tops, tied securely. Not pull on cowboy or engineer boots. Impact armor on the ankle bone if you get moto specific boots.

Pants - Jeans do work, but plan on eventually getting cordura or leather riding pants. Again, thicker is better, as long as it's comfortable, FITS and has ECE armor on the impact points.

Full cordura amored gear.  83MPH into the pavement. Walked away.

 

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

5 Tips for driving with cruise control

Cruise control is a helpful feature that can make long drives more comfortable and less tiring. However, it's important to use it safely to avoid accidents. Here are some tips for driving safely while using cruise control:

  1. Check the road conditions: Before you engage cruise control, make sure the road conditions are safe. If the road is wet or slippery, it's best to avoid using cruise control as it can increase the risk of losing control of your vehicle.

  2. Keep a safe distance: Maintain a safe following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Cruise control maintains a constant speed, but it doesn't react to changes in traffic conditions or unexpected obstacles. Therefore, it's important to be alert and ready to take control of the vehicle if necessary.

  3. Use cruise control on highways or open roads: Cruise control is most useful on highways or open roads with minimal traffic and no stop-and-go traffic. Avoid using it in heavy traffic or city driving.

  4. Monitor your speed: Keep an eye on your speedometer and adjust your speed as needed. If you need to slow down, disengage the cruise control and apply the brakes.

  5. Use cruise control only when you are fully alert: Avoid using cruise control when you are feeling drowsy or fatigued. Cruise control can make it easy to lose focus, and it's important to be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times.

By following these tips, you can safely use cruise control and enjoy a more comfortable and relaxed driving experience.

 

Namaskar!

- Will 

Monday, April 10, 2023

Spring Thunderstorm In 4K with GoPro Media Mod Mic

When is the best time to set up your audio recorder device? Before the event.
When is the second best time to set up your audio recorder device? As the event starts.
When is the worst time to find out you do not own a 32gb or smaller MicroSD card? While setting up your audio recording device.

 
Guess the first thunderstorm of the Spring will be in GoPro Mono...
 

 Fortunately, we have the GoPro Media mod with a pretty solid (mono) microphone.  Anyway - enjoy the thunderstorm rolling in, and for best effect, watch it on YouTube.  While you're there, give the video a 'like', drop a comment and subscribe to the channel!

Namaskar!

- Will

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Can a .223 (5.56 NATO) 'Split a human in half'?

 

 5.56 Match Ammo  by  mr.smashy,
CC BY-NC 2.0


There's been a lot of noise on Twitter recently about a 'firearms expert' witness providing sworn testimony in California noting that the .223 / 5.56 NATO round fired by the modern sporting rifle, the AR-15, can 'split a human in half'.  While a lurid tale, it's not true or accurate. 

The notion that a .223 rifle round can split a human body in half is a myth. It is not possible for a single bullet, regardless of the caliber or type, to physically split a human body in half. While a high-powered rifle round such as .223 can cause significant damage to the body and even result in death, it does not have the capability to split the body into two separate pieces.

The effect of a bullet on the human body is dependent on several factors, including the velocity and mass of the bullet, the angle at which it enters the body, and the target's body composition and location. When a bullet penetrates the body, it can cause damage to bones, internal organs, and blood vessels, and in some cases, exit the body. However, it is extremely unlikely that a bullet would cause the body to physically split in half.

It is important to note that any type of firearms can be dangerous and should be used with caution and proper training.  If you choose to participate in the shooting sports, please get training on your specific firearm and remember the 4 rules of firearm safety.



Namaskar, and shoot safely,


Will

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

What are the advantages of the 5.7x28mm cartridge over other pistol cartridges?

 5.7 is enjoying a resurgence with the Ruger 5.7 and the Palmetto State Armory Rock 5.7 pistols beciming widely available in 2022.  But what is this hopped up .22 round getting so much attention?  


The 5.7x28mm cartridge is a relatively new cartridge that was designed for use in firearms such as the FN Five-Seven pistol. It offers a number of advantages over other pistol cartridges, including:

  1. Light weight: The 5.7x28mm cartridge is much lighter than other pistol cartridges, which makes it easier to carry and allows for a higher ammunition capacity. This can be particularly useful for military and law enforcement applications, where weight and ammunition capacity are important considerations.

  2. High velocity: The 5.7x28mm cartridge has a high velocity, which allows it to penetrate body armor more effectively than other pistol cartridges. This can make it a valuable tool for military and law enforcement personnel who may need to engage targets that are wearing body armor.

  3. Low recoil: The 5.7x28mm cartridge has a low recoil, which makes it easier to control and shoot accurately. This can be particularly useful for shooters who may have difficulty managing the recoil of larger cartridges, such as those used in rifles or larger handguns.

  4. Versatility: The 5.7x28mm cartridge is versatile and can be used in a variety of firearms, including handguns, rifles, and submachine guns. This makes it a valuable tool for a wide range of applications, from personal defense to military operations.

Overall, the 5.7x28mm cartridge offers a number of advantages over other pistol cartridges, including its light weight, high velocity, low recoil, and versatility. These features make it a valuable tool for a wide range of applications, from personal defense to military operation.

So there you have it - light weight, versatile, low recoil (easy to shoot) and solid penetration for defense work.

Be safe and always follow the 4 rules of safe gun handling!

Tuesday, January 03, 2023

Today I went to work

 Today, I went to the office.  Before that, I made a chart showing what didn’t happen with one part of our handset app.  Yes, I track what doesn’t happen just as well as what does happen.

Today, I would have liked to walk, but did not dress for the conditions. 40 and calm in the morning is not the same as 40 and windy in the afternoon. So what little exercise I got was inside the building. Perhaps to plan better tomorrow, or walk more staircases.

Today, I came home. 

Today, I passed another day.


How to use ChatGPT from OpenAI to automate your blogging

 Welcome back from your holiday vacations! Hopefully you had an excellent and refreshing time away. But now it's back to work, generating content for your blog, website, internal communication site etc.  Did you know you can use Artificial Intelligence to help you automate some of the writing process for your blog? Let's get started with ChatGPT, currently in open beta and free to use.


ChatGPT is a large language model trained by OpenAI that can be used to automate the process of writing blog posts. To use ChatGPT to write a blog post, you can simply start a conversation with the model and provide it with some information about the topic you want to write about. The model will then use its advanced natural language processing capabilities to generate a draft of your blog post.

Here's an example of how you might use ChatGPT to write a blog post:

  1.     Start a conversation with ChatGPT by typing in the chat box: "Hello ChatGPT, I'd like to write a blog post about coming up with good ideas for blog posts."
  2.     Provide ChatGPT with some information about the topic you want to write about. For example, you could say: "I want to write about ways to generate new ideas for blog posts, and how to focus on the blog's overall purpose and mission."
  3.     Ask ChatGPT to generate a draft of your blog post. You might say: "Can you please generate a draft of my blog post on coming up with good ideas for blog posts?"
  4.     ChatGPT will then use its advanced language processing capabilities to generate a draft of your blog post. You can review the draft and make any edits or additions that you think are necessary.


By using ChatGPT to automate the process of writing blog posts, you can save time and effort, and focus on other aspects of your blog. Plus, the model's advanced natural language processing capabilities can help you generate high-quality content that is engaging and informative for your readers.

Namaskar!

Will

Monday, January 02, 2023

Today, I Write

 Today, I write about what I did this day to make it memorable. Perhaps not world shaking, perhaps not even meaningful in the grand scheme of things.  But I write.

Today I did laundry, preparing for the return to work on Tuesday.

Today I played video games, learning more about how the game is designed, how patterns are used in communication. 

Today I watched football, allowing the flow of the game to feed my emotions, to feel something 

Today, I stay up too late again reading the Wheel Of Time books series.  I started reading the series in the mid 1990’s when it first came out and have never finished it.  I would like to complete all 14 books by the end of winter.

Today I began thinking of planning motorcycle trips, or firearms training sessions, or firearms competitions throughout the year. 

Today was a good day.


- Will