Searching for a Google Reader replacement - Part II

I'd been using Feedly for a long time but haven't really been happy with it for a number of reasons.

I came across another alternative reader I hadn't tried before: BazQux Reader

It's not a free option, but they do have a 30 day free trial. If you like it you can purchase a subscription.

It is FAST, and has features like

• being able to subscribe to public Twitter, Instagram and Facebook feeds!
• fetch the full text for a feed
• and ties in with other services like Evernote

Paired with Feedme for Android, and it's what I've been missing for a long time!

uTorrent: Run batch programs after torrent finishes

We will use a batch file to run the previously mentioned programs all at once

1. Open Notepad to create a new batch file

2. Enter this text:

:: Run when uTorrent finishes downloading item

@echo "Notify via pushbullet"
python "pushbullet_torrent_download.py" "%3 => %2"

@echo "Downloading subtitle"
start subliminal download -l en "%1"

@echo "Removing file from uTorrent"
python "remover.py"


3. Save batch file

4. In uTorrent, under Advanced > Run Program, enter
"[PATH TO BATCH FILE]" "%D" "%F" "%N"

uTorrent Remove After Torrent Finish with Python

1. Download Remover.py

2. Enable Web UI

Preferences > Advanced > Web UI > check Enable Web UI.

3. Disable Web Token Auth

Preferences > Advanced > webui.token.auth *false.

4. Set authentication to use: admin / admin.

5. In uTorrent preferences, enter c:\pythonw.exe remover.py in run this program after a torrent finishes


** See how to run in a batch with other programs

uTorrent download subtitles with python after torrent finishes

1. Install Subliminal

2. In uTorrent preferences, enter subliminal download -l en "%D" in run this program after a torrent finishes


** See how to run in a batch with other programs

uTorrent download notification in PushBullet + python

1. Create API key on PushBullet site under account settings

2. Install pushbullet.py

3. Create a file called push.py with the following:


import sys
from pushbullet import Pushbullet

api_key = "API_KEY"
pb = Pushbullet(api_key)
pb.push_note("Downloaded", sys.argv[1])


4. In uTorrent preferences, enter "push.py" %N in run this program after a torrent finishes


** See how to run in a batch with other programs

PotPlayer: MUCH better alternative to VLC/MP-HC

I used to use VLC and Media Player Home Cinema (MP-HC) as external players for Kodi/XBMC.

Both of those have their short-comings:

MP-HC: When playing videos at a faster speed, subtitles get out of sync. And sometimes the audio as well, depending on the file.

VLC: Gives me gray screens when playing at a faster speed or fast forwarding on >= 720p files. I tried a bunch of solutions but nothing worked.


Enter PotPlayer. Works fantastically, without the above listed issues!

Hard drive stress test (setting up new computer)

Full test: Western Digital Lifeguard Tools

1. Run an extended test
2. Write zeros
3. Run another extended test

Do a quick format

Run a surface test: Macroit Disk Scanner


** Tests can take several hours depending on size of drive

uTorrent WebUI causing high CPU usage

After upgrading to the latest version of utorrent (3.4.5), I noticed a big spike in CPU usage and unresponsive desktop GUI when uTorrent AutoLabeller (uAL) was on.

When I turned it off, the desktop client became responsive again when I closed uTorrent Autolabeller, and the CPU usage went down as well.

After fiddling around for a bit, I realized this only really becomes an issue if the uAL is monitoring uTorrent to stop/remove completed torrents.
Changing that setting to "N" fixed the issue.


* In order to remove torrents automatically, I have it set to run a script after the torrent finishes.
uTorrent > Options > Preferences > Advanced > Run after torrent finishes.
This causes a high CPU usage as it accesses the same WebUI url but it's for a brief period in time till the script finishes running.

The issue seems to be with WebUI.