The working of a corrupted mind

The casualties of sports

2009-01-27T18:06:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know i play in a regular garage hockey league on saturday nights ( this is the reason why i'm usually online working at 2am, we get off the ice at midnight ).

Well this week, i was the unfortunate one to get injured. I took a weird fall that had me going backwards neck first into the boards. I was lucky it's nothing major, just a kink, but for the past three days or so, i've been walking around like someone straped a cross between my shoulder blades and to the back of my head. I've been moving my head by turning my shoulders.

Everyone knows that there are risks in playing sports, but it's always unfortunate when someone gets hurt. I'm just glad it's nothing major.

Sick Kids, Overtime, and the toll it takes on someone

2009-01-19T12:21:00.001-08:00

Well, i am officially starting to feel the exhaustion set in from several weeks of pretty intense overtime, and for the last couple of days, both my kids are sick.

As someone in IT, the last couple weeks of a project are usually pretty hectic, chaotic, and rushing to get stuff in. So you end up doing overtime ( if you care about the project/product), it's only a question of when/how much.

As a parent, you know that when kids get sick ( especially young ones ) that you lack sleep, because they are awake crying during the night, and you can't help but go to them, and do what you can. When the problem is congestion and respitory, you can pretty much just hold them up against you to help them breathe.

well i am currently living a double helping of both, major crunch time at work, and two sick kids. It's finally taking it's toll. I can simply feel the fatigue taking over. The light at the end of the tunnel for me, is that the kids are starting to feel better, and the project is going pretty good, still some kinks, but we are getting there.

more to come.

Blast From the Past

2009-01-15T20:20:00.000-08:00

OK, i just had an episode of "deja vu". I am working remotely on a machine that is running a headless Linux installation. I was forced to execute a few "batch" jobs ( also known as hacking your way through the back door of an application ). I just spent the last hour writing java code from vi, compiling command line, and running command line. Oh the days when this was how we worked.

I know most people these days, couldn't imagine writing code without an IDE, most wouldn't even know how to compile recursively through the directories, and manually set the classpath. It's a lost art and skill.

enough reminiscing, and back to work. it's crunch time.

Teaching

2009-01-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been called to give a few lunch and learn sessions where I work. Teaching newer developers isn't something completely new to me, I've mentored co-op students several times over the last 9 or 10 years. But actually taking a specific topic and explain to a group of individuals, is quite new to me.

It can be quite a daunting task to give a presentation of a topic to a bunch of people who know nothing ( or relatively nothing ) about a topic and be responsible for how they perceive and learn a topic. I find myself taking a few steps back to make sure i am completely neutral, and factual, just to make sure that i am explaining facts ( and giving opinion) and not just giving opinions.

I've always enjoyed sharing knowledge, it does two things, one it helps others do the same, which benefited me in my early days ( having people take the time to teach me ), and it forces me to actually understand what i am talking about. Now don't get me wrong, you can understand without having to explain stuff. But in my case, i tend to understand better when i try to explain something to someone else.

For a long time, teaching was something i was HORRIBLY ( and i do mean horribly ) bad at. Ask anyone that worked with me the first couple years of my career. i had that typical "If i understand it, why can't you understand it mentality". After having done 3 separate session since the beginning of 2009 and 1 or 2 late 2008, i got some feedback from the attendees, and the feedback has been pretty positive. I guess as i have matured in my career, i have learned some different skills passively.

anyways, this was one of my goals anyways, to help my team learn some new skills, i guess i am taking advantage to improve on my teaching skills.

Python

2009-01-09T18:11:00.000-08:00

Well, as is my habit, i force myself to learn a new technology. Sometimes this is programming, sometime this is a software, sometimes this is just a theory. This time, i decided i would take a look at the hype that is Python and Django. I have a former colleague that used to be a java programmer for me, and switched to python and Django. It sounded cool, so i started taking a look.

this is my opinion so far, it's pretty good. Flexible enough to do pretty much anything, structured so i'm not completely thrown for a loop and the syntax is easy enough to learn.

I'm still trying to get a good understanding about packaging, and deployments, but i think it is a good language to learn.

Holidays

2008-12-28T03:56:00.000-08:00

Well Christmas has come and gone for yet another year. I hope everyone did/received whatever they hope, be it family time, presents, a break from the daily grind.

For me this year, the holidays were both good and at the same time bad. Before you go off thinking, this guy is off his rocker again, let me explain. It was a good holiday season, because i got to spend it with my family, my wife and two sons. Everyone was relatively healthy ( ear infection, and minor cold for my kids, but hey they go to daycare, this is pretty good ), but at the same time, these holidays felt like something was missing, and i came to realize, it isn't something, it's someone. My Dad.

My dad died in July of 2007, so you'll say why this year more than last, we'll the only thing that makes any sense, and it is probably accurate because my wife suggested it, is that last Christmas with the expectation of my second son, and him coming 1 month early, i didn't have time to miss him. Where as this year, things were quite, and i had time to notice his absence.

Well I guess this post is just to some stuff sorted in my head, i didn't actually have a plan for it, and the only thing that makes sense, is that i miss him, and didn't realize how much i would.

Merry Christmas Dad, you are forever in our thoughts.

The big change

2008-10-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

Well, it's now official, so i guess i can talk about it. Some people have been asking me about this for a couple of days, but since i was not allowed to announce it, i have to "avoid" answering.

What is the big change you ask? Well, as of October 1st, my employer spun off the R & D group into a separate private company. There were many factors ( I am told ) why this is a good move. Most of them, are very theoretical, but the main one is that this new company, being private is able to get better subsidies from the Canadian government in the form of R & D tax credits.

What does this mean? Well "officially" me and my team no longer work for the same employer, in reality, we are doing the same thing as before, just costing less to the company.

What else does this mean in the long run, is that it may be an opportunity for me, the day to day managing of this new company is the responsibility of me and one other person. I'm here for the technical stuff, and my partner in crime is responsible for business planning and analysis ( our respective skill sets ). However, i hope that we can learn from each other to both be more cross-functional.

This opportunity is a chance to move my career to the next level, and bring my highly skilled colleagues with me.

Apple picking

2008-09-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

I just spent my sunday morning apple picking with the family. The weather co-operated mostly, it wasn't raining, but it had during the night, and it was misty outside.

This post isn't about so much the apples, as it is about the experience. We went to a nice place in Mont St-Gregoire, called verger Leo Boutin. Now i don't know any of the particulars, but this is a quiet orchard. We were the only ones there when we got there. there were a few people that showed up as we were leaving, but it was quiet.

My main question, is why are some orchards more "busy" than others. We were driving back home, and drove by an orchard called Denis Charbonneau, and it was packed. To the point of have parking attendants. What could make that place better than another. Their prices are higher, and it is the same region, therefor the apples are at the very least, similar. What could be different? if anyone knows please enlighten me.

as for my preference, and where i will be going back next year, it's verger Leo boutin again. They are extremely nice, good with kids ( as we brought Zachary and Xavier along. ) The cider is good, the apples taste great. This is a place i would recommend for anyone.

Linux Desktop

2008-09-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

I haven't been blogging much lately, as I have been rather busy with work.

But I have a few minutes tonight, and throught it time to write up about one subject that comes up often with some of my friends ( well at the least the IT ones ).

I've been a linux user for quite some time ( going back to early 2005 ) as my primary desktop OS, and i've been pushing and converting people to linux at every opportunity. But one of the things that i always have trouble with, is the lack of, for a better word, shine and polish.

Recently, with one of the Ubuntu ( the flavor of linux I run ) updates, I enabled the advanced desktop effects. They are fantastic. The effects on Ubuntu are managed by Compiz Fusion, in itself this has never been an issue. My problem is why did it take so long for this to be enabled to the masses. But my gripe is not just with desktop effects, but in the overall Look and Feel of applications on Linux.

One of the reasons that I decided to write this up now, is that i've come across a few people on the net who have started screaming a little louder about linux. One of these is Bryan Lunduke, one of the Hosts of The Linux Action Show ( http://www.lunduke.com ) http://www.lunduke.com/?p=223

He's right, take a look at some of the applications running on Linux.....they look exactly like they what they are, developed by developers with no concern for UI.

this is slowly improving, thanks to companies like Canonical, and others, but it's a long road ahead.

anyways enough for tonight, see you next time.

Solisterra.ca reborn

2008-09-03T18:32:00.000-07:00

I've recently undertaken the re-design of my uncle's website. This is a webiste for cottage rentals. They aren't "run of the mill" cottages, they are eco friendly, solar powered, located on a prime piece of land.

anyways, the site was poorly designed in my opinion. The usuability was horrible, even the people who had a hand in designing the site, couldn't find what they were looking for most of the time.

here is the new URL: http://www.solisterra.ca

By no means is the site complete, but it is starting out. Please don't hesitate to pass along your comments.

Allergies

2008-08-31T17:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, i am really having a bad end of summer experience. For the first time ever, I am suffering from seasonal allergies.

This is not a pleasant way to spend time, sneezing, irritated eyes, runny nose, congestion. How do people live with this. I'm taking claritin for the symptoms, and claritin eye drops for the eyes. But even they don't solve the issues.

if anyone has any suggestions, i'm all ears ( they are about the only part not being affected by the allergies. )

Spring In-Depth, In Context

2008-07-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

Here is another great contribution to Open Source and especially for the Spring community. My good friend David Winterfeldt ( creator and operator of http://www.springbyexample.org ) and published his book, which is a work in progress, to his site ( http://www.springindepth.com/). The first couple of chapters are done, and have some great reference stuff in there. The following chapters are still in progress, but already contain some really good stuff. He's got examples of AOP, WebFlow among some of the more advanced topics.

If you are interested in Spring, or just in open source in general, take a look.

Joomla!

2008-07-17T17:34:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been looking into Joomla. My uncle currently has a website that somebody else built using Joomla. He has asked me to take over the site for him, since the guy who built it, isn't doing a very good job maintaining it. enough of the intro.

To gets things clear, this is my first attempt at using a CMS tool. I've read about them, seen what they can do, but never have i used one. I've heard about Drupal, Joomla, Lenya to name a few. But i have no comparison for anything, so my opinions are purely from a newbie's perspective.

First, Joomla seems pretty good. Installation is mostly point and click. You can configure some stuff once it's installed, but from what i have found, documentaion isn't spectacular. I've found articles about how to do certain things, that go into pretty good detail, but from what i have found the major thing lacking is a beginner's how-to....."Like ok I've installed Joomla, what do i do now?"

I've also come across the phenomon of every has rolled their own feature.....i'm looking for a Picture Gallery, but there doesn't seem to be anything simple, there appears to be tons.

anyways, i'll post more as i learn.

Dealing with biodegradeable material

2008-07-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

This week-end I've been trimming down, cutting down cording off the cutup wood.

The city i live in comes by to pickup branches to pass through a wood chipper for a few weeks each year, unfortunately those weeks are at the beginning of the summer ( April - May ) before most people have a chance to do any of their yard work.

You can take your stuff ( branches, leaves, etc ) to the city dump for free...but the problem is how do you get them there. I have about 6 bundles of branches and 1 full pine tree. how am i supposed to manage to take them to the city.... i could rent a truck and trailer, but that would cost more than i am willing to spend on "ecological" disposal of this stuff. I'm in luck to have a buddy that has a pickup that will give me a hand, but I'm thinking most people would just through this stuff out to the trash.

My question is, is it really that cost prohibitive to continue the "pick-up" service once a month throughout the whole summer?

Netbeans vs Eclipse

2008-07-09T10:53:00.001-07:00

This is more a technical post, so you non-technical people reading this, just skip over and ignore.

Now onto the post.

I've been an Eclipse user for quite some time, well that and IntelliJ IDEA from JetBrains. Recently ( after listening to a few podcasts, and reading some decent articles ) i have switched to Netbeans for my personal development. I still use Eclipse at work, since that is the standard, but have been realizing that i really like some of the stuff from netbeans. Sure i could still use Eclipse, but i have aways been a little bit of an IDE whore and tend to switch to what best fits my needs.

There are still a few things that i find myself looking for, but i had that feeling even with eclipse or IntelliJ.

I guess i just haven't found what i am looking for.

Ubuntu, WIFI and WPA2

2008-06-26T18:41:00.000-07:00

well i thought i should post this in case it might help someone else.

I am a big linux fan, i currently run Ubuntu Hardy Heron and like many, i have a wireless router for convenience. Well i've run into an issue with my WPA2 security encryption, when you restart your machine ( yes it does happen that i turn off my computer ) you need to reconfigure the WPA2 security configuration.

i've discovered the fix by searching through some of the forums, but am not entierely sure of the reason ( different forums have different reasons ). First the cause ( as best as i can describe it ). It would appear that the network service is started before the security ( WIFI encryption ) is fully loaded.

Now the solution in your rc.local file (/etc/rc.local ) add the following line

/etc/init.d/networking restart
exit 0

explanation: what this does is restart the network service ( with the already configured information, including WPA2 key ) once everything else is loaded.

now please, if anyone can correct, or complete any of the aspects of this post i would much appreciate it.

Return from the dead.

2008-06-26T18:34:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone,

it's been an eternity since i've been online to post, just lack of time with family, work and life itself.

Work--
My project is progressing pretty well, we are accomplishing some really awesome features in very short amounts of time using Scrum. this is my first real professional experience using Agile methodologies. I've used parts in previous projects, but never as a whole, or as structured as this. So far i'm impressed.

Family--
Well as most of you know, my second son was born in december of 2007. Unlike our oldest, this one was a very difficult baby. He is just now starting to sleep during the night. He used to be up every 2 hours or so. during the day, poor napping, and difficult eating patterns, have driven us mad. But i believe ( knock on wood ) that there might actually be light at the end of the tunnel.

i'll try and post more soon, and more frequent.

Welcome to my rebranded blog

2008-03-12T18:44:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Some of you may be asking why i changed blog name, well, I figured something a little more along my professional career was in order.

Stay tuned for more updates