Author Archives: Jesse Zylstra

About Jesse Zylstra

Hey! My name is Jesse Zylstra, and I am the administrator of this website. I used to write about free software and programs, online web applications, and new technology -- especially open-source. Now I just write udder nonsense. I also play pipe organ, which I'm told is a fun and interesting fact about me. In the past, I studied network administration. Now I've been trying to pursue a real fake bachelors degree for the last, oh, 10 years or so.

Next steps: How Spambots use email

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Jesse Zylstra

Our most recent bit of research is looking at how spambots use the email addresses that we register. We want to find out if spambots attend the email addresses they register at and if they are using real persons email … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Stuff, Spam Research, Web Services, Application, and Design | Comments Off on Next steps: How Spambots use email

How to discern convincing spam from real comments

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Jesse Zylstra

SPAM is becoming more and more convincing. After years of dealing with it, it never occurred to me that to new site owners it can be very difficult to tell convincing spam from real messages. Computers are becoming better at … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Stuff, Spam Research, Web Services, Application, and Design | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Spam Research: Experiment Continued on SMF Forum

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Jesse Zylstra

A continuation of the Spambot Experiment with an SMF forum, read about the first experiment here: https://zylblog.com/2011/12/spambot-experiment/ The forums were completely wiped out on the 24th of December (all registered members were deleted, all posts removed, etc). A few options … Continue reading →

Posted in Spam Research, Web Services, Application, and Design | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Spam Research: Experiment Continued on SMF Forum

Digital or Acoustic Piano?

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Jesse Zylstra

Whenever I visit Costco, the first place I go is right to the keyboards. Its funny because I never actually like any of them, I play the same song on each one (a very cheesy love song). As of yet, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Digital or Acoustic Piano?

Spambot Experiment

Posted on December 24, 2011 by Jesse Zylstra

On August 28, 2011, I started a spambot experiment on my website. One inaccuracy that I want to clear up before I begin posting the results: About a month or so into the experiment, I changed the difficulty of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Stuff, Programs and Software, Spam Research, Web Services, Application, and Design | 1 Comment

Best support answer ever

Posted on December 24, 2011 by Jesse Zylstra

Take a read on Google Chrome support, read the question, and the “Best Answer”. http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chrome/thread?tid=73c3a0e0c96cdbfd Edit: This answer has since changed. A copy of the original “best answer” can be seen here, quite funny: http://i.imgur.com/7cWDe.jpg

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Best support answer ever

Type in: “Let it Snow” on Google Search, and it will do just that.

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Jesse Zylstra

Type: “Let it Snow” (w/out quotations) into Google, and it will do just that. (Also try: “Do a barrel roll”) (These may not work in Internet Explorer or outdated browsers)

Posted in Personal Blog | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Type in: “Let it Snow” on Google Search, and it will do just that.

Did you know? If you Middle-Click a FireFox tab, it will close.

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Jesse Zylstra
Posted in Computer Stuff, Programs and Software | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Did you know? If you Middle-Click a FireFox tab, it will close.

The old domain, Zylblog.info, will no longer be active

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Jesse Zylstra

Zylblog.info is set to expire in just a few days. The primary domain will now be the new domain, Zylblog.com

Posted in Website Updates | 2 Comments

Robert Hope-Jones, a shrot story about his death.

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Jesse Zylstra

The inventor of the theater organ, Robert Hope-Jones, had an interesting death. Being an inventor, he was quite clever and innovative. On September 13, 1914, he decided to commit suicide due to frustration with the Wurlitzer company who was now … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Robert Hope-Jones, a shrot story about his death.