The blog has moved to http://jessehouse.com/ ... Many google searches point here so I am leaving it operational, but there will be no new posts.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

scRUBYt

I needed to do some screen scrapping using Ruby, so after a few google searches I came across this post which looked very promising, after a quick scan through the comments scRUBYt looked even better.

stumbling block #1: well it did take me a bit to get it installed, turns out it is currently (0.3.4) hard-wired to use RubyInline 3.6.3, but I had RubyInLine 3.7.0 installed, this post gives the details to work around this issue, otherwise you will get an error something like Gem::Exception: can't activate RubyInline (= 3.6.3), already activated RubyInline-3.7.0].


stumbling block #2: trying the simple example for scrapping google here I got the following error -  can't convert Hash into String. So I tried commenting out some of the code, just limiting it to hit the submit button, the result - no error but no output either? after looking around on the scRUBYt forums turns out scRUBYt logging is not on by default, so turn it on... Scrubyt.logger = Scrubyt::Logger.new and run the code again [ERROR] No extractor defined, exiting... ok, so un-comment the code and run it again now that I have the logging on, same error, I am obviously doing something wrong? try a couple other code samples, more fun error messages - The error occurred while evaluating nil.example_type.

Well it turns out I was jumping ahead because I was calling this code from inside a Rake task. After moving the code into a regular ruby file and calling it using ruby instead of rake everything works just great! I did not look into why this code is failing from inside the rake task but I am guessing there is some conflict with the libraries? an exercise for another day...

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Buy.com and Google checkout doesn't work

Buy.com and Google checkout doesn't work - I don't think I'll be using either product going forward.

I select 3 items, each with free shipping, select check out, select Google Checkout and I am presented with shipping costs none of which says 'Free'

I've used Google checkout a few times before without issue and I've ordered from buy.com before without issue, but after wasting my time with 'false advertising' - no more

I guess I'll go order my stuff from Amazon instead.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Archipelago Studio Apartments Port Douglas Australia

Archipelago Studio Apartments Port Douglas Australia

72 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas, QLD 4877, Australia

http://www.archipelago.com.au/




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This place was great! Port Douglas is great!



Next to the door is an electric burner not as nice as cooking with gas but good enough to cook in, if you like 


Walk outside the apartments, turn to your left, yes! that is the ocean and the start of four mile beach just a few hundred yards from the apartments

Coral Tree Inn Cairns Australia

Coral Tree Inn Cairns Australia

166-172 Grafton St Cairns North, QLD 4870, Australia
http://www.coraltreeinn.com.au/



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This place is affordable and served its purpose for our two days in Cairns, nothing special 


Hotel George Williams YMCA, Brisbane Australia

Hotel George Williams YMCA, Brisbane Australia

325 George Street Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
http://www.hgw.com.au/


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it's a pretty small room but it served our purposes just fine

Medina Grand Harbourside Sydney Australia

Medina Grand Harbourside Sydney Australia

55 Shelley St, King Street Wharf, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.medina.com.au


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Great place to stay, we didn't get a harbour view but it was very pleasant, full kitchen, in room washer and dryer - it was not cheap but no accommodation in Sydney is?