Eliot Pearson - Why should you care!

My new addiction: COD MW2

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:52:58 +0000

This game is sick. It exceeded all of my expectations. I haven't finished the single player campaign yet. I have been playing a lot of multiplayer. I play on XBox Live and my gamertag is The0neAnd0nlyeMan. The O's are zero. Send me an invite and get owned!:)

Working holiday...Isn't that an oxymoron?

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:42:23 +0000

I heard someone say they knew someone on a working holiday. I thought wow, that is an oxymoron. Truthfully it is, but also it's a very clever idea employed by some countries. A cut and paste from wikipedia is below.

It allows young people to experience living in a foreign country, without undergoing the usual costly expenses of finding work sponsorship in advance, or going on expensive university exchange programmes.

When I read this, I thought...hmm you let young people come into your country and spend sometime there. They spend money which helps the economy. The like it and go through the official channels to stay. Which is a plus, you now have a non-citizen acting a citizen. If they don't like they leave. If they act up it you deport them. Hmm, this is sounding like a real win for the country using this program.

Travel Accommodation: Westin Virginia Beach

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:14:52 +0000

I haven't been to the beach in years. So I decided to grab the family and head there. The destination this trip was Virginia Beach. The trip was pretty nice. I remember reading an article about more Americas will be traveling domestically instead of traveling aboard in the current economy. I believe to this be fact.

I decided to travel during the week. I was pretty shocked to see a lot of people were at the beach on a Monday through Wednesday. I remember going to a pretty empty beach in the past. Again, this was not the case this time. It was nice seeing so many people enjoy themselves.

I stayed at the Westin. It's about ten minutes away from the boardwalk. The rooms were pleasant and the pool was clean. I didn't get a chance to check out the gym, but from a glance it seemed well equipped. If you are in the area and looking for a place to stay, check it out. I truly enjoyed my stay. If you do stay there, please share your thoughts about this hotel. I would love to here about them.

The hotel was great but my funniest experience during the trip was not at the hotel. There was this guy boogie boarding. He asked a few people to move down the beach so he would not injure anyone while riding the waves. I thought, hey...thanks for warning and I moved. Well, two other guys didn't get the memo. They happen to jump into the wave the boarder was ridding. All I heard was, “Get out of the way!” I turned and saw him kick one of a guys in the face. I thought ouch! Some people have to learn lessons the hard way.

60% of New Companies are Skipping Windows 7?

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:34:00 +0000

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/six-in-10-companies-plan-to-skip-windows-7-1743931.html

I wonder if these numbers are similar in the US. Personally I find this alarming. I am not sure if the amount of additional maintainance is greater for newer versions of Microsoft. I waited to use Vista and bug surprise, I liked it. Well, I will put it this way... I haven't had an major issues with Vista (unlike 98, 2000, and XP). I acquired my copy through a new laptop purchase and no fuss so far. If I buy a new laptop or desktop soon, I am going to use Windows 7 if it's on there.

I guess we all will be stuck with XP for a little bit longer. In a few years I can stay I used XP for a decade. You don't get to say that much these days.

What Women Want - Part 1

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:29:51 +0000

I have asked myself this question many times. I have arrived at one answer; I don't know. That is the truth. Sadly, every man must except and understand this. However, there is hope. Hopefully these suggestions will help eliminate the lack of understanding of what she really wants.

I think the best thing a guy can do is listen. A woman will tell you her desires if you listen. Nothing in life is easy, and this is why women unknowingly torture men. The details are hidden in the massive amounts of information you receive from a woman. I think most men have tuned a woman out: a wife, girlfriend, mother, or sister. All guys have done it. Speaking from a personal experience, I don't understand the complexity of the conversation and give up. I just sit there wide eyed and clueless. Don't do this, because if a woman knows you're just sitting there, you are going to pay for it. Jennifer Lopez said, "My love don't cost a thing." She is right, love is free, but you still have to earn it.

Asking can help uncover some hidden gems. Please don't take this literally and flat out ask a woman, "What do you want?" You have to be creative to keep a woman's affection. Ask follow up questions about what she is talking about. You are not only listening, you are engaging her in conversation. This should score you big points in effort. Effort is golden. You maybe failing misreably at listening by offering bad advice, but questions will help you understand the root of her needs.

Suprisingly, many women will help you if you ask. Talking to a woman's friends or relatives can gain you powerful allies when you mess up. Trust me all men will mess up. I am thankful if a week goes by and I don't have a 'doh' moment. I was shocked to find out that women want to help each other out. Don't be a victim of pride and arrogance, seek advice.

You are going to have to guess when it comes to figuring out what she wants. Make it an educated one. Do your homework. Think about your favorite hobby and ask yourself, are you putting the same effort into your love interest? If not, maybe you should give it a try. Don't be paralyzed to make a decision. Doing nothing is worse than something horrible.

I have only begun to discuss this topic. Stay tuned for the next part in this series. Please feel free to share your own tips.

New Content Has Been Added To The Book

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:29:42 +0000

Please take a look and leave some feedback!!!

Scaling From Day One

A Problem You Can Duplicate is Easy To Fix

Read The Comments

A Tester is an Ally and not an Enemy

Open Source Props: Espeak

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:34:48 +0000

This is a great package. It really helps me proof read my work. I found it's easier listening to my grammatical mistakes instead of trying to find them reading out loud.

http://espeak.sourceforge.net/

The New Book Has A Site

Fri, 22 May 2009 22:37:24 +0000

I have setup a wordpress site for the book I am writing. I will say I am impressed with WordPress. My initial feeling is I may discontinue the development of my blogging software. More on that in the future.

http://thebook.eliotpearson.com

Should You Really Be Optimizing Right Now?

Mon, 11 May 2009 03:01:06 +0000

C# is the language that is keeping the lights on right now. I had a conversation with a fellow programmer about refactoring and optimizing code. C# is compiled by a very refined compiler. I am hugely generalizing the process here, but the compiler can determine your intent and provide output based on that. This means you could write a method ten different ways and still produce the same output from the compiler. What does this mean? Let's say I originally wrote a method and was happy, then I learn about generics. I rewrite the method to use generics. Rinse and repeat and eight times later, the compiler still produces the same output. Maybe my code is more readible after the ten refactors, or maybe not.

I wanted to illustrate the unecessary effort we sometimes fall victim to. A more wholestic approach would be this. Compose a solution to a problem, run your solution under some sort of load test, and analyze the results. Your analysis should show the inefficiencies. Then you target those areas for improvement.

A Tester is an Ally and not an Enemy

Sat, 09 May 2009 12:10:08 +0000

Testers make your job easier so don't give them a hard time. You would think most developers realize this, but most don't. I have seen countless times where developers believe a tester is out to get them. I know some are thinking how does a tester help me. I write code and a tester will try to break that code. Let me let you in on something, you want a tester to find your bugs before it goes into production. Dealing with production bugs are stressful. Personally I like when something is found in a test cycle. That is one less issue to pop up when I am focused on some other project. Trust me, this will happen.

I am Writing a Book

Sat, 09 May 2009 11:56:05 +0000

I have found a gap in the content currently available. I didn't see any books or guides on how to become a competent programmer in general. There are tons of specialized books for C#, Java, PL/SQL, and etc. I see and use common skills every day that every developer must use. I want to shed some light on these skills and hopefully help with the learning curve of becoming competent. I hope this will become a grass root effort. I would love to hear your stories about development.

Read The Comments

Tue, 05 May 2009 00:04:44 +0000

There comes a time in a developers' life where we have seen bad code. This happens relatively fast in your development. You pick up a new language, write some code, and comeback to it in a few months. You will be horrified at what you produced. Next time don't beat yourself up about it. You are a better developer for recognizing your previous lack of skill. Because of this, you have improved.

Next you have a situation where a developer can become jagged when it comes to documentation. You pickup a nightmare... tons of code and horrible documentation. You read the comments and look at the code and think, “This doesn't do that!” Even though it seems like a waste of time to read it, you are learning valuable lessons.

Don't be this guy. Working with this guy is horrible. It's even worse working after this guy. You and your coworkers come up with new words for the amount of pain this guy created. You want to be famous not infamous as a programmer.

After reading you know some of the deficiencies of the system. You gain valuable insights of some of the potential problems you will encounter. If you find that a developers' comments are vague or inaccurate, you may want to check that area first when encountering problems.

I have a story to share. I was sitting in a code review recently. Someone asked me a question about a line of code, and I logically analyzed it right then and there. After I confirmed my code was correct, I gave a 30 sec blurb on why it was correct... and then I read the comment right above the line of code. I could have saved myself a minute by reading the comment first. I really blame the other person for not reading the comment first. Just kidding, but seriously if he read the comment it would have saved us both time.

My Page Rank Increased. I Must Be Doing Something Right

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:14:18 +0000

I have been reading a lot of information about SEO. I have tried a few of the techniques, and some are working. Sadly, I am not sure what worked. Below is a screenshot of my recent success. Page Rank 3...nice!

Trying To Make Sense Of Same Store Sales

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:25:40 +0000

I am not an Economist, and I don't think I ever will be. However, I try to become more informed about my environment. Over the past few months I heard the term same store sales. I took a little time to try to understand the truth behind this term. First I started at Wikipedia.

Same-store sales is a business term which refers to the revenue generated by a retail chain's existing outlets over a certain period of time (often a fiscal quarter or a particular shopping season), compared to an identical period in the past, usually in the previous year. By comparing sales data from existing outlets (that is, by excluding new outlets), the comparison is like-to-like, and avoids comparing data that are fundamentally incomparable.

Okay, I think I got it. Check out my fancy table below. These are the revenue result for a fictions company. Let's call it Indy Clothing.

	2007	2008	2009
Store A	$200	$250	-
Store B	$100	$150	$150
Store C	-	$100	$300

From how I understand it, the SSS for 2007 - 2008 is $100. The calculation would be Store A + B from 2008 – Store A + B from 2007. That is (250 150) – (200 100).

Using the same formula, the SSS 2008 – 2009 is -$50. The math is (250 150 100) – (0 150 300). Maybe I should have said this first but Store C did not exist in 2007, and Store A was closed in 2009.

I am not sure if some people would calculate SSS of 2008 – 2009 as $200 because Store A didn't exist in 2009.

Technorati tag:
Investment

Half Life 2 Mini-Series: A Welcomed New Type Content

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:59:58 +0000

This is a bit old, but I was pleasantly surprised reading this article. I felt connected to the content immediately. I would take the time to watch the content. If advertisements were properly targeted, I would watch that too.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/13/half-life-2-mini-series-blows-minds-on-a-dime/

Technorati tag:
Half Life 2

Spring Is Back! What Are You Going To Do About It?

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:22:54 +0000

Just like a friend you haven't seen for a while, Spring popped up again. I have always been happy when it returned. I never really planned much for it. I am trying to get some ideas around this. What are some of the fun things you did in Spring?

Technorati tag:
Spring

C#: The Truth About Readonly Fields

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 12:21:22 +0000

I recently seen this surface in some code I've been working on. I had to really think about this one to remember what it was. I knew it was similar to the const keyword but didn't remember the difference. I don't like being stumped so I looked it up. MSDN had the following to say about readonly:

Note,The readonly keyword is different from the const keyword. A const field can only be initialized at the declaration of the field. A readonly field can be initialized either at the declaration or in a constructor. Therefore, readonly fields can have different values depending on the constructor used. Also, while a const field is a compile-time constant, the readonly field can be used for runtime constants as in the following example:
public static readonly uint l1 = (uint) DateTime.Now.Ticks;

So readonly fields can be variable based on the constructor. Also, readonly is a runtime constant and const is a compile time constant. I am not sure which is faster. That is a topic for another discussion. Below I have pasted an example of readonly in action.

using System; namespace ReadOnlyExample { class ReadOnlyExample { public readonly int importantValue; public ReadOnlyExample(int a, int b) { importantValue = a * b; } public ReadOnlyExample(int a, int b, int c) { importantValue = a + b + c; } } class Program { static void Main(string[] args) { ReadOnlyExample example = new ReadOnlyExample(5, 4); ReadOnlyExample example2 = new ReadOnlyExample(1, 2, 3); //example.importantValue = 4; // The compiler will not accept this statement. Console.WriteLine("Important value is {0}", example.importantValue); Console.WriteLine("Important value is {0}", example2.importantValue); Console.Read(); } } }

The output:

Important value is 20
Important value is 6

Important value is variable based on the constructor. I can think of a few instances where this is useful. Hopefully it maybe useful to you one day.

I Added A New Wiki

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:24:05 +0000

For this wiki, I am using PHPWiki. So far it's very easy to use. I will have to customize the look and feel. I wonder if anyone had any ideas about the look and feel. If so, let me know.

Funny Quotes and My Two Cents

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:24:27 +0000

Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils ... - Louis Hector Berlioz

I thought to myself, ha... this is so true.

Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

I really needed to read that. I think anybody could use this one if you are too stressed. It's very easy to sweat the small stuff.

The average woman would rather have beauty than brains, because the average man can see better than he can think.

I wonder if this is even real. This seems plausible. Hey ladies, if this is true, please let me know. I would really like to know.

I picked up these quotes from coolfunnyquotes.com. Check it out if you get a chance.

Technorati tag:
Funny

Solar Panel Cost Crosses the $1 Per Watt Threshold

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:36:37 +0000

Popular mechanic had a great article on recently development in the area of silicone solar panels.

A solar power milestone was reached on Tuesday when First Solar Inc brought its manufacturing costs for solar panels down to $1 per watt. But a study from the University of California and Lawrence Berkeley National Labs suggests that this might be the bottom for a price-point—if solar power is ever going to scale up to become competitive with other forms of energy. Here are the new challenges facing the solar industry and some suggestions to make a brighter future.

I posted this article on Reddit and I received some very thoughtful feedback.

ModernRonin

Even if the solar cell market were to grow at 56 percent a year for the next 10 years—slightly higher than the rapid growth of the past year—photovoltaics would still only account for about 2.5 percent of global electricity, LBNL researcher Cyrus Wadia says. "First Solar is great, as long as we're talking megawatts or gigawatts," he says. "But as soon as they have to start rolling out terawatts, that's where I believe they will reach some limitations."

Gigawatts of solar would be a plenty good start. Let's all buy these $1/watt solar panels, and we'll figure out how to scale it up to terrawatts in the intervening ten years.

Seriously, this the best objection they can muster? "Um, well, it's crazy-cheap, and the company has proven they can mass-produce gigawatts worth. But, they might have some problems in about ten years... if technology doesn't advance at all, or anything." Teh laymeZ0ring.

Ferrofluid

Are we supposed to believe anything that PM says, the magazine of choice of big oil lobbyists.

epearson

That's a good point. I am trying to talk to some of the members of this study. I want to know if this is real or not.

anonymoustroll

Even at $100/share, First Solar is overpriced.

As goes the housing market, so goes solar until something really, really weird happens with oil.

Releasing a "study" that claims that solar "won't scale" is the easiest way to chop what's remaining of First Solar off at the knees in a difficult housing market (their main customer will be state subsidized solar energy farms who will buy panels en mass at the slightest hint of a tax shelter). Scaling problems are a collection grid problem, not a panel problem.

I am really interested in solar. I think we need to invest in this technology; not in just the U.S., but the world. What are your thoughts on this?

Traffic Building Tips That Worked So Far

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:25:53 +0000

I have been doing a lot research about the topic of traffic building. Truthfully, the topic fascinates me. I wanted more people to read what I produce. I thought I could accomplish this through building traffic. Here are four tips and the results that I have tried.

Post articles on social networking sites
I have posted on Digg, Reddit, DZone, DotNetKicks. This year over 80% of my traffic has come from these sites. I would say this definitely works. However, I am not converting this audience. There isn't a lot of clicking on ads, and no one is leaving feedback. I appreciate the visit, but I would love the feedback; even if the feedback is negative. If you think my writing sucks and you tell me, good! I will work harder not to suck as much next time. Reader conversion is a numbers game, if you want to find more readers you have to put yourself out there.

Leave feedback on blogs similar to yours
I have done this for popular and not so popular blogs, and I have seen very little traffic. I will say this, you will probably convert better with this audience. Any person that will take the time to read an article, then read the feedback, and then click on the link to your site is probably interested in what you are producing. He/she went through a lot of effort to get there, and will likely come back in the future.

Create a full RSS feed
I have seen a lot of feeds that tease you with the first line or two of the article. I believe this is done to ensure you get to the landing page. Most sites are ad supported. Website owners need you get to the page to get paid. I think this is why you see these teaser feeds. I use FeedBurner to deal with the ad problem; maybe you should too.

I provide complete articles in my feed. I also show every article I have ever written. I did this to allow someone to catch up on what I write in one place. I don't update my blog everyday. It maybe weeks before one of my readers check out my last post minus two. Sorry, I couldn't resist. I had to sneak a little programming in.

Create links on Wikipedia

Wikipedia is heavily regulated. Some people would call it moderated, but I say regulated. Believe it or not, this is true (well, to me at least). You may say hey, I have this great link for this page and would like to share it. You can post it but you probably should suggest it in the talk page first. Self posting is considered soapboxing and is not smiled on in the Wikipedia community. How do I know this? I learned this the hard way. That is another story for another time.

Think I am off my rocker or do you have additional tips, please leave me some feedback. I would love to hear from you.

Yahoo Answers: A Question About Ant

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:26:46 +0000

I haven't compile Java code for a while. When I did, I used ant a lot. Using it felt so much better than make. I had battles with make in college. Here is the question and my answer. Enjoy!

How to compile the ant files in command line?
what are the steps to be followed for compiling the ant in command line?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker (My Answer)
I am a little confused by your question, but I don't think you can compile ant files. Ant will compile files for you from the command line. You would go to the directory that contains your source code and type 'ant.' Ant will look for the build.xml and execute the appropriate target. You can check out the Wikipedia page for more details about Ant. I hope that helps.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_Ant

It's great that Yahoo has a place for people to ask questions big and small. I would suggest you check it out. In addition, I love to help. If you have any question about Java, PHP, C#, Agile, Waterfall, ask me. I maybe able to help you out. You can email all question to me at this address.

Searching For Exact Phrases

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:37:51 +0000

I have recently played with Google's AdWords keyword tool. You can type in a keyword or phrase and see the approximate search volume. If you add quotation marks. For example, let's say you hoped over to Google and searched for Why Using Statements Are So Useful. This time search for “Why Using Statements Are So Useful”. You are getting different results. The second search is asking Google for pages the have the exact phrase you are looking for. I find this feature useful when I am looking for very specific information.

I wonder what percentage of this volume is for exact phrase searches. This is a question I really would like answered. If I had to guess, and I know I am totally wrong, I would say 8 – 15%. Do you know?

Random SPAM: Sexy Horny Webcam Part 2

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 03:53:00 +0000

Part 1,2

Well, I am in a sharing mood again. Here is the what was sent from horny sexy webcam a few hours later.

[9:19:40 AM] sexy horny webcam says: :D
[9:19:40 AM] sexy horny webcam says: I HAVE BEEN TRIED ALL THE WEBSITE AND I THINK http://[I refuse to push traffic there, sorry] IS BEST!!!
[9:19:40 AM] sexy horny webcam says: i love talking about sex on http://[I refuse to push traffic there, sorry] you can do a lot of stuff that you can't do on skype

I totally think it's a dude sending this stuff. It's no way that a sexy woman would say, “I have been tried.” There is nothing sexy about that. Most women don't talk or type that way; especially the sexy ones.

If you have a similar story, leave some feedback. I would love to hear about it.

Technorati tag:
Funny

Funny Picture: Firefighters

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:54:08 +0000

"Don't worry the fire isn't going anywhere!"

Original post came from 66fg.

Technorati Tags:
Funny, Humor

Facebook's Latest Terms Of Service

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:50:28 +0000

I saw this link and remembered accepting this. I did read it, but didn't understand the full implications of accepting it. Here is a snippet of what was posted.

Facebook's terms of service (TOS) used to say that when you closed an account on their network, any rights they claimed to the original content you uploaded would expire. Not anymore. Now, anything you upload to Facebook can be used by Facebook in any way they deem fit, forever, no matter what you do later. Want to close your account? Good for you, but Facebook still has the right to do whatever it wants with your old content. They can even sublicense it if they want.

I guess it's easier to claim rights instead of acquiring them. I also guess this is binding because people are accepting the TOS. Very interesting indeed.

Technorati Tag:
Facebook

Random SPAM: Sexy Horny Webcam

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:32:55 +0000

Part 1,2

Below is dialog I copied and pasted from a recently conversation I had on Skype. I think it was a bot that contacted me, because I didn't received a reply. I just find this stuff funny and I love to share it.

[3:18:18 PM] sexy horny webcam says: do i know you?
[3:19:57 PM] Eliot Pearson says: probably not
[3:20:12 PM] Eliot Pearson says: i don't have a lot of friends with horny for a middle name

Actually, I don't have any friends with horny for any name. I know a few visitors will be pissed because there is no sexy horny webcam here, but thanks for the visit. If you are looking for that type of stuff, just signup for Skype. I am pretty sure you will receive all types of solicitations.

Technorati tag:
Funny

Why Using Statements Are So Useful

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:47:42 +0000

I have seen enough code to recognize a useful feature. C# has the using statement. Why is the using statement so useful? I will give you three reasons.

There is no need for finally blocks
Please take a look at the code example below. The using statement eliminates the need for a finally block. One of .NET selling points was that you write less code. With features like using statements, you do write less code.

The dispose method will always get called for the object in scope
You should always write resource tidy code. Implementing the IDisposable interface is a pretty standard way of doing this. The using statement will call the dispose method automatically.

You are leveraging the work of others
To reinforce the second point, any developer using IDisposable, is doing it for a reason. Don't be foolish and blindly ignore their work, use it.

Below is a coding example of using in action.

using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Linq; using System.Text; namespace UsingExample { public class MyClassA : IDisposable { public void doSomething() { throw new NotImplementedException(); } #region IDisposable Members public void Dispose() { Console.WriteLine("MyClassA: I am disposed!"); } #endregion } public class MyClassB : IDisposable { public void doSomething() { Console.WriteLine("I did something in B!"); } #region IDisposable Members public void Dispose() { Console.WriteLine("MyClassB: I am disposed!"); } #endregion } class Program { static void Main(string[] args) { // Creating two instances MyClassA myClassA = new MyClassA(); MyClassB myClassB = new MyClassB(); try { // Doing something in both objects myClassB.doSomething(); myClassA.doSomething(); } catch (NotImplementedException) { // Catching the exception throw from myClassA Console.WriteLine("Exception was throw"); } finally { // Finally, disposing myClassA // myClassB is not disposed myClassA.Dispose(); } // Note: myClassB is still not dispose. // This is a leak. You shouldn't do this. // Using multiple objects here. The dispose will be called for both. using (MyClassB myClassB1 = new MyClassB(), myClassB2 = new MyClassB()) { myClassB1.doSomething(); myClassB2.doSomething(); } // Wait for a key so the console window doesn't close. // This is not an issue if you run it from cmd. Console.ReadKey(); } } }

Here is the output.

I did something in B!
Exception was throw
MyClassA: I am disposed!
I did something in B!
I did something in B!
MyClassB: I am disposed!
MyClassB: I am disposed!

Some other useful articles:
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/tinguusingstatement.aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/yh598w02(VS.80).aspx
http://ryanfarley.com/blog/archive/2004/03/18/447.aspx

Technorati Tag:
c#

Real Questions, My Answers - Book 1

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:42:10 +0000

Google Answers left a void when it no longer accepted questions. It's nothing more than a relic now. Yahoo! filled this void with Yahoo! Answers. I have invested a little time and gave back some of the knowledge I have acquired. The answers were selected as the best for that question. Do you think you have better answers? If so, please leave some feedback.

Question 1 - Help required using java mail api?
hi, using java mail api how to hide the from address so that other people cannot send message to the person who send mail.
similar to yahoo. like if we are receiving any mails from yahoo admin. we cant send mails.
any body please help.
(not for sending spam mails)

My Reply
I believe you want to blind carbon copy (BCC) them.

newMessage.setRecipients(Message.Recip... Internet Address]
Source(s):
Check out the following url for a great example.

http://www.devarticles.com/c/a/Java/Java-Mail-API-Transforming-Mail-into-Data-Carriers/1/

Afterthoughts
I totally think the guy is going to spam someone. Did I think this as I answered the question...no! I am happy I was able to help. Also, there are great SPAM filters out there, use them.

Question 2 - Is it a big step for a guy to take down his internet dating profile?
I am now going out with this guy from a datin site. We have been on a couple of dates. He said he just wants to go out with me and has deleted his profile. I did the same. On his profile it said he was marriage minded. Does that mean then that he sees me as maybe his future wife?

My Reply
That seems plausible. It definitely sounds like he is looking to spend a lot time with you. I think the best thing for you to do is ask. If you ask, you will know. There is no guessing that way.:)

Afterthoughts
I think the writing is on the wall with this one. He is making it clear she is important to him. His actions are saying I am off the market. As far as marriage, again, the best thing to do is ask. Great relationships are based on communication. Hey, did I mention she should ask.:)

Question 3 - Generate 4 digit random number in JAVA?
What is the easiest way to generate a number with 4 and only 4 digits.

also as a side question, say I wanted a 4 digit random number always below 8848 , whats the best way for that? thanks

and another side question, what if i just wanted a 4 digit random number that did not include the digits 8 and 9

i know i can do it by generating each digit independently but I'm trying to avoid that

My Reply
Here is a code snippet. I hope that helps.

public class RandomNumber { public static void main(String[] args) { // Take a random number who's range will be // 0 - 1 and multiply it by 8847. This // will give you an double and then you // can cast it to an int. int value = (int)(Math.random() * 8847); System.out.println(value); } } Afterthoughts
I hope this was not someone's homework. I came to a realization after answering this. A person can get other people to do their homework with a few clicks on a keyboard and mouse nowadays. That is really scary. Think about this, what if one of these people were performing brain surgery on you. Yeah, very scary.

My Alexa Rating Is Not Zero Anymore

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:59:52 +0000

I am not doing as well as these guys, but I finally have a rating. Its 7,415,327. I know, wow, that is pretty high. If anyone has a higher rating, please share some of your tips on how you raised it.

Adobe Has It's Head In The Clouds With AIR

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:11:31 +0000

It has been at least a year since I have touched any Adobe products. This article reminded me of continued greatness of Adobe. Before Adobe purchased Macromedia, I used Dreamweaver, Firework and Flash everyday. I would buy the suite, but I cannot justify the price tag for the my amount of use. I wonder how much has changed since Studio MX. Can any of you CS4 users give me a few features available now that may convince me to get the suite?

Crime Does Pay Apparently

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:21:38 +0000

I was fascinated by this story title, Flashmob of ATM crooks scores $9 million in 49 cities. First off, I don't have a clue what a Flashmob is. But a mob is a mob right. That is good old organized crime.

Instead of going to work, some people invent new ways to steal. I wonder if these people focused their energy on something positive like gas efficiency. I am pretty sure if you make gas more efficient you can make a lot more than nine mil. Plus, you won't be on the FBI's most wanted list and you could spend the money without fear of being caught. Hmm, just some food for thought.

Christina Milian, I Haven't Seen Her In A While

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:38:06 +0000

While surfing the web earlier today, this article caught my eye...literally. I am glad she is back. Hands down, her voice plays a lot on my ipod. She and Ja Rule created a non-skip song for me. The song Get Away is a classic. Check out a pic and the video below. I hope she will not disappear again.:)

Kids Are So Funny: David After The Dentist

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:12:26 +0000

I saw this and could not stop laughing. This kid is hilarious! Is this real life? LOL! Enjoy.

To Out Work Someone: Round 2

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:00:43 +0000

Round 1,2

I submitted this article a few weeks back to Reddit. Apparently I struck a cord. I find the comments of the post negative but enlightening. I did not come up with this concept. I just heard it, thought it made sense, and wanted to share. The person I heard it from was Gene Simmons of the band KISS. He has made millions and I think his words carry some weight. Below I have pasted the comments.

theHM

Hold up,

50 working weeks x 5 days a week = 150 working days

Woah, major maths fail. 50 x 5 = 250

26/250 x 100 = 10.4%. You could probably achieve a better increase in productivity just by slacking off at work less.

epearson

Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't check the math.

cazabam

I would write some form of rebuttal to this ludicrous notion, but instead I can just about manage a facepalm :/

First off, I didn't check my math. My bad, I acknowledged that. I rushed, made a mistake, and corrected it. Next, cazabam says, “I would write some form of rebuttal...” Why didn't you? Instead you decided to be negative, big surprise.

I ask this, why are some people so negative? I am not the greatest writer, I understand that. I just wanted feedback on an idea. That is why I posted it. But what did I get; negative jaded comments. Why? Because there is a trend out there. Let's be negative and humorous. Nice guys, real nice.

Oh yeah, this was the most humorous. TheHm says, “You could probably achieve a better increase in productivity just by slacking off at work less.” Now that is a ludicrous notion. You are slacking off for a reason. This is mainly do to a lack of motivation. You don't like your job, and you are not going to slack off less. Thanks for the feedback though, I really enjoyed it.

C# - String versus StringBuilder

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:04:54 +0000

This is a frequent topic in a lot of interviews I have been a part of recently. A person would have to explain why you should use a StringBuilder instead of a String. If you can't explain the difference, you probably need to beef up your C# knowledge. You are in luck today. I will show you why.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;

namespace StringvsStringBuilder
{
    class Program
    {
        // This is the number of characters to be added
        static int NUM_OF_CHARACTERS = 25000;

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            string data1 = "";

            // Remember when we started for the String
            DateTime data1Start = DateTime.UtcNow;

            // Add a one to the existing string x times
            for (int i = 0; i < NUM_OF_CHARACTERS; i++)
            {
                data1 += "1";
            }

            // Remember when we ended for the String
            DateTime data1End = DateTime.UtcNow;

            StringBuilder data2 = new StringBuilder();

            // Remember when we started for the StringBuilder
            DateTime data2Start = DateTime.UtcNow;

            // Append a 1 x times to the StringBuilder
            for (int i = 0; i < NUM_OF_CHARACTERS; i++)
            {
                data2.Append("1");
            }

            // Remember when we ended for the StringBuilder
            DateTime data2End = DateTime.UtcNow;

            // Creating nice objects for the console output
            TimeSpan timeSpan1 = new TimeSpan(data1End.Ticks - data1Start.Ticks);
            TimeSpan timeSpan2 = new TimeSpan(data2End.Ticks - data2Start.Ticks);

            Console.WriteLine("String appending took {0:N0} milliseconds", timeSpan1.TotalMilliseconds);
            Console.WriteLine("StringBuilder appending took {0:N0} milliseconds", timeSpan2.TotalMilliseconds);

            // Check to see if the string and the toString of the StringBuilder are equal
            if(data1.Equals(data2.ToString())) {
                Console.WriteLine("Yes, the two strings are equal.");
            }

            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }
}

The results on my system were:

String appending took 706 milliseconds

StringBuilder appending took 1 milliseconds

Yes, the two strings are equal.

Why should you use StringBuilder instead of String? If you are appending a lot of strings, StringBuilder is more efficient.

Technorati Tag:
c#

Switching To Subversion For Web Deployments

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 02:41:32 +0000

Back in the late 1990s there was the great application called Dreamweaver. It had FTP functionality built into the application. You setup a site, and off you go. Uploading web changes was a click away. Why is that important? Well, I don't use Dreamweaver anymore, but I am still using FTP (I am really using scp, but close enough). Times have changed but my arsenal has not. Sadly, I have been using CVS and then Subversion (SVN) for almost three years now. It didn't dawn on me, that I could leverage new tools versus old problems.

When I started this blog, I followed the same process I have used to create other websites. I did evolve some of my process. For example, I used the LAMP stack instead of plain odd HTML. My evolution stopped there. My epiphany to switch came from an article written by a guy by the name of Yongfook. It was called 10 Dirty Little Web Development Tricks. His first piece of advice was this:

1) SVN checkout as the production site
The n00b way of updating files on your web host would be to FTP in and drag and drop / delete stuff. Doing it like this will quickly get you into a mess with a large site with many files - there’s the potential to forget to upload certain files, accidentally overwriting things you shouldn’t etc. Some FTP apps have a “sync” button that tries to solve this, but I don’t trust them; you’re still overwriting files that you can never get back. That’s not a good policy to have with the valuable data on your production server.

Yeah, I wouldn't say I was a n00b, but I was sure acting like one. I started glazing over information, and stopped asking myself, how can this make my life easier. Because right now, using scp to copy a few files is a pain. This should help with that.

Looking To Trade In Proofreading

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:55:44 +0000

I know, this is a very weird title. However, I am willing to exchange services when it comes to proofreading. I am not that great at it, but this why I am doing it. I want to improve myself. If you exchange with me, you will have at least one an additional reader. Is anyone interested in this?

Digging In The Vault: Tracy Morgan

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:55:55 +0000

I came across these ESPN commercials Tracy Morgan was in. He is crazy. Just pay attention to what he is saying.

Why Does My Brain Get Lazy?

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:06:07 +0000

I proof read my work multiple times. I have tried a plethora of techniques. I still make a lot of mistakes when writing. I frequently leave out words and use the wrong conjugation. In an attempt to better myself, I searched for more tips. I found a nice list of tips. For now, I am going to focus on the two listed below.

Read it backwards to focus on the spelling of words.
Read it upside down to focus on typology.

Jel Anticon...Who?

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:44:22 +0000

This guy has a serious handle on a MPC. Check it out. I found this post through reddit.

Ten Things To Do If Your Girlfriend Or Wife Is Mad At You

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:38:08 +0000

1. Buy a new car. Women love cars. The more expensive the car, the better. Women also love self confidence. Nothing say self-confidence like expensive car.

2. Tell her how lucky she is to be with you. Again, more self confidence. Women love that stuff. You probably should say it real loud too. Yelling is an effective means of communication.

3. Find her favorite piece of jewelry and hide it. This is a skills building exercise. You are helping her in so many ways. While she searches the house frantically, she gets to look at everything you brought her. Nothing says love like gift and memories. She is also getting cardio because her heart rate is elevated because anxiety is getting the best of her. She will probably look in two to three hour clips for the missing jewelry. That is a lot of cardio. You can have fun and mix it up with this one. Next time mail it to her. Use 8th class if possible, it will take weeks to get back to her. Again, a lot of cardio.

4. When she is watching her favorite show, turn the radio up real loud. You are giving her more choices. What woman wouldn't want that.

5. Siphon her gas out of her car and take her cell phone. This is another skills building exercise. You are helping develop her survival skills. For example, she stalls out on the highway. Reflex response kicks in. She either makes it or not. That is a strong message. You are saying, I am dead serious about this relationship. Why do you take her cell phone? Good question. You are encouraging exercise for her to get the gas. Also you are encouraging her to meet new people because she cannot call anyone she knows, mainly you. You went through all the trouble of setting this up, why should you prevent it from running its course?

6. Remove all of the heels from her shoes. I am pretty sure wearing high heels are brutal. You can eliminate that problem for her. Also, you get to use tools. You're being a little selfish with this one, but that is okay. Try a hammer. You will not be disappointed.

7. Cancel all of her credit cards. Most couples get together relatively broke and build financial stability together. By canceling the cards, you are taking her on a trip down memory lane back to where it all started. Women love memories.

8. When she asks you a question, repeat the question. Do not answer the question. You will ruin the message. By repeating her, you are saying your words are so important I have to repeat them. Kids and parrots do it all the time. Mimicry is the greatest form of flattery, right?

9. Be helpful and offer to store away her off season clothes. Put the clothes in a tote or garment bag and use moths instead of moth balls. Most women love shop. You are giving her a reason to shop.

10. Tell her you have an incurable disease. Don't use an existing one. Make up a new one and put some effort into it. Your goal is to shocked away the anger. Dig deep, I know you have it in you. This is like the get of out jail free card in Monopoly. However, you can only use it once. Choose wisely my friend.

If you are going to listen to any of this advice, don't! If you do, you are asking to die. You have been warned.

Transparent Government, What a Novel Idea

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:38:08 +0000

The more accurate information you give a person, the better decisions that person can make. That is common sense. Why has government functioned counter to this? I don't know.

Government transparency is a 180 from what I have seen my whole life. This is extremely impactful. With transparency, response to a crisis like Katrina or the sub prime mortgage collapse can be proactive instead of reactive. I saw an article on NYTimes that explains what has been done so far to create this.

Funny Comics and the Power of Google

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:58:58 +0000

Over the past few days I have received a ton of traffic. I saw a lot of the referring traffic from images.google.com. I saw the keyword phrase of funny comics was being used. I went to images.google.com and searched for funny comics, and I was surprised. An image on my site was the ranked number two. I have included a picture below for when the results change, because I am sure they will.

I recently read an article about how to gain more readers by using Google Image Search. I find it extremely ironic that I haven't completely digested the article and somehow I must have applied the knowledge months ago.

I feel a little bumped that xkcd didn't get the nod but I did. I am like this Internet Information Pirate.

An Autosave Feature Would Be Nice

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:27:10 +0000

I foolishly wrote an article on the fly using my trusty friend FCKeditor. The thoughts were flowing, I was typing and whoops I happen to hit the reload button in FireFox. I can not get mad, it was my fault. I probably should be more proactive and start addressing problems like this before they happen. I allow myself to continue to be the victim. Has anyone else dealt with this crisis recently?

The Dilbert Goldmine

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:02:03 +0000

I just came across a ton of Dilbert content at YouTube. I love this show. I think we all have co-workers like this at one point in our career. Enjoy!

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

Requesting Feedback on Page View Feature

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:53:09 +0000

What am I talking about? You know. You come to a page and see, "this page has been visited 10,000 times." I am 50/50 on this feature. I feel like that is a 90s feature. However, I am not anti retro. BTW, the 90s are retro when it comes to website creation and development.

For this feature, I decided to ask my readers (yes, all ten of them).:-D Should I create this feature for my blog? Please don't be shy. The feedback link is right below. You see it. Yeah... I know you do. Thanks in advance!

The Long Tail and the Waterfall, Part 3

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:41:47 +0000

Part 1,2,3,4

I finally have some time to continue this series. Quick update, I did finish reading this book. It took me a bit, but I finished. In this part in the series I will provide the pros and cons as promised before. The fourth part, will be a summary of what I walked away from this book.

I see the pros and cons of the The Long Tail like this. All content has an audience, but this audience is limited. You have something to say and people are listening to you. The real question is how many people. The Long Tail miners have to pick up a lot of interest through many leads. The job of mining in the Long Tail seems more daunting than mining in the short tail. In other words, it's easier to find one thing that is popular than ten or 20 things combined that are more popular.

The pros and cons of the Waterfall are the following. Capturing requirements is brutal, but if done right, a great product will be the result for this effort. The idea to look at everything and get it right the first time is flawed. Mostly due to this, I walk into a room and see four walls. I have a good idea of how to decorate that room. If the far wall wasn't really a wall but a screen, I would have to rethink my whole design. This is what plagues the waterfall methodology. You are writing requirements on what appears to be reality. You try to hit a moving target. Some people would argue that multiple iterations through the waterfall would fix this problem. I disagree, you are still producing a product that is mostly right or what the customer wants. Again, this is just my two cents.

Finding the balance between enough interest (the Long Tail) and clear definition of what to build (the Waterfall), will fill your coffers with digital gold. Again, great examples of this are Netflix, Amazon, and iTunes. Tune in next time when I wrap this series up.

Children are a Security Risk

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:49:57 +0000

My son does a pretty good job of memorizing things. It is so entertaining to have him repeat our phone number or address. But today I was horrified. My son was trying to show off. He told his grandfather he knew the pin number of an account. I was overhearing the conversation, and didn't believe him. So I called him on it. He knew the first three numbers, and I thought oh crap! He must have overheard my wife and I talk about it. After the horror faded, I was relieved. I have too many number to remember now. I don't want to change any at this moment.

Food for thought. If you have a kid, you have a repeat machine. Use it wisely for like the grocery list and not sensitive information like pin numbers and confidential items from work. Beware, you have been warned.

Common Sense: Don't Play with Electricity

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:05:32 +0000

This following story is based on real events. The names has been omitted to protect individuals from ridicule. Please enjoy this story. I have for sometime now.

Three teenage guys are sitting at a table in Science class. It was probably the worst table to sit at. Yes, that is the table in the back of the classroom. Trying to deal with the boredom of the lecture, one of the guys had a brilliant idea. Let's see if anyone is crazy enough to get electrocuted.

So the first guy says, “Hey, I bet you wouldn't stick that paper clip in the socket!” The second guy says, “Man, I am not doing that!” The third one, yes, the crazy one had a gleeful look in his eye. “Why, what do you think would happen?” said the third guy. The first guy says, “I am not sure, but I don't think you would do it.” The third guy immediately responded, “What?!? I would do it.” The second guy said, “I don't think that is a good idea.”

A few minutes later the third guy continued to push. Now guy number is staring at the paper clip. The first guy noticed and snacked the paper clip. “I was just joking. You will get electrocuted!” Crazy guy number three still pushed, “Give me the paper clip!” Guy number one gave him the paper clip and said, “Do NOT stick it in the socket. You will die!” Why did guy number one give him the paper clip? Who knows? Guy number two washed his hands of the situation “I see no evil,” he said and guy focus back on lecture. Guy number one watched in awe as guy number three straighted the paper clip.

The paper clip was straighted and insert into a text book. Guy number three attempted to jam the paper clip in the socket by pushing the book. Guy number one says, “What are you doing? Are you crazy?” Yes, guy number one he is crazy. Guy number three then asked a question, “You don't want me to do it, but what is going to happen?” Guy number one responded, “I don't know, but it's going to be bad.” Guy number three looked guy number one in the eye and said, “You don't know do you?” Guy number one felt foolish and remained quiet.

A minute or two pasted, there was a loud bang and sparks. All three guys jumped out of their seats. Guy number one glared at guy number three and said, “I did know what would happen...something bad!” In the end no one was hurt. Guy number three took a mandatory vacation from school for a few days.

In case you didn't get the message. Don't play with electricity and don't encourage it either.

Starting 2009 on a Funny Note

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:52:13 +0000

I am a regular reader of xkcd. I am digging in the time vault for this one. Hopefully you know who MacGyver is.

Watch House Online

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:36:33 +0000

Fox on Demand and Hulu have around three episodes available at any given time. I know some of you have Tivos or DVRs and are probably wondering, "Download...really?" I would go with Hulu because FOD needs to install a New Player. Enjoy!

EPBlog: To Do List for 2009

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:50:42 +0000

Here is the list of features I would love to add to my blog over the next year. I am going to review this list at the end of next year to see how much I accomplished. Don't worry, I am sure my excuses will be great. They always are. Here is the list:

Intelligent Tagging

I need to figure a way to properly tag my articles. I write about so many things and it's hard to categorize when I am writing. The old blog had this feature, but I am sure I didn't use it properly.

New User Interface

Change the layout. I feel like you should update your UI every one to two years. Also, I need more AJAX. I don't completely understand what is wrong with updating the whole page on every request. Just kidding!

Comment Indicator

Add how many comments have been submitted on the home page. Yes, this feature will be great if I had more comments, but I am working on that. Actually, if no one comments it has to mean I have said everything there needs to be said about that topic. Yep, no comments are good validation.

Multiple Weekly Articles

Write articles at least two times a week. That means I have to write 104 articles next year. Hopefully I will not procrastinate and have to do 50 in December.

That is it. It's a pretty short list. I stopped at four because it's my favorite number and the list seems attainable. Anyone wants to take any bets against me? I need the motivation.

America's Greatest Commodity: Its Children - Part 1

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:11:54 +0000

I recently had a very interesting conversation about education in America with a relative. We both attended school around the same time, and we now have kids in the school system. His major point about what schools are doing was very insightful. You have to read between the lines of what you are taught. That statement is completely true. Reading between the lines is a great skill an adult can possess.

A woman may never tell a man she is interested in him. Being able to read between the lines, can allow a man to find a love interest by read her body language or recognizing her change in tone when she speaks to him. Overall, this skill will help you in life as an adult.

Reading between the lines for a five, eight, or eleven year old is not that useful. You can teach a child about was credit is, and not explain the dangers associated with credit. This is the equivalent of what is taught to children in school. Only half of the knowledge is being shared. How many of you learned that credit is dangerous in school? If you did please share. Most who did learn this, were educated by friends or family. Some of us still don't fully understand the danger. Why is this happening? I am not sure, but the American economy is based on credit both good and bad. Maybe this has something to do with it. Hmm...

I am a Victim of S-Video

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:32:12 +0000

I have a few HDTVs in my house now. I have been stocking up on cables for them. I saw an S-Video connector and remembered it was less bulky than an RGB cable. I decided to pick up one a give it a try. Why did I do this? That is a good question. The answer is because i am an idiot. Just kidding! Well, I hope I am just kidding.

Getting back to the why. I have a big family and travel alot. I am a tad bit lazy when it comes to pictures. I take a lot but I am not happy about making picture CDs or DVDs. On a recent visit to my parent house, I noticed their DVD player and saw a S-Video port. I asked my Dad if he had a cable and he said no. I thought to myself, with my laptop and a S-Video cable, everyone doesn't have to crowd around the laptop for picture viewing. The game was on.

After my brillant idea I purchased a cable using A-ZON and waited. The cable came in yesterday. I hooked it up and ouch! The resolution was bad. Now, I may have a bum cable but probably not. I am pretty sure the resolution is decent, but I am use to high def. I will take the cable to my parents for my next visit, but I feel like I should be filling out a police report.

To Out Work Someone

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:03:51 +0000

Round 1,2

This is a very interesting concept. I was watching an episode of Family Jewels starring Gene Simmons of the band KISS. I don't remember his exact words, but it was close to this. Most people work five days a week. However, If you work all seven days you will out work a lot of people.

I know weekends are considered time off for most people, but if you worked two hours on Saturday and Sunday, you will be a force to reckon with. Here is the math to show this point.

50 working weeks x 5 days a week = 250 working days

I say 50 working weeks because most people get at least two weeks of vacation. Also, I want to illustrate how much a person is working. 250 (eight hour) days, that is about 70% of the year. Don't get me wrong. I am not complaining. But, maybe you can be more productive. Now, let's take a look at weekend work.

52 weeks in a year x 2 hours a day x 2 weekend days = 208 hours = 26 possible working days

Wow! 26/250 is a little over 10%. This means you if you work two hours a day on weekends, you are going to be 10% more productive than the average person. Did you ever wonder why some people are more productive. They're probably just out working you!

Weekend work? Some may think of it as a waste of time, but I look at it differently. I think of it as an investment. If I am more effective than my competition, that means more raises and more contracts. I am pretty sure anyone can find four hours during the weekend.

EPBlog: Added a few features

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:06:57 +0000

New to the site is the Friends of Mine and Search areas. Please drop some feedback if you are experiencing any issues.

I am giving away free stuff!

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 01:11:36 +0000

Now that I have your attention. I created an investment calculator and it's free. Why did I create one? That is a good question. There are probably tons of investment calculators freely available. This time I decide to recreate the wheel. Just kidding!!! All jokes aside, I wanted a learning experience for this. Also, I was pretty sure I could finish a calculator before finding a free one and learning how to properly use it. I think it cost me 30 minutes of my time.

So, what did I do? I create this calculator using Visual C# 2008 Express Edition. I use the professional edition at work. I wanted to test the merit of VC# 2008 EE. I really didn't know if the product was a watered down. t is nice to know VC# 2008 EE is not watered down. It felt really close to the professional edition. If you want to dabble with C#, check out Visual C# 2008 Express Edition. Oh yeah, I may have forgotten to mention this version does not cost any money.

I know, get to the good part already. The zip file contains a VC# 2008 solution with all the code for the calculator. The code is quick and dirty. There is no validation or error handling. Please no flame feedback for that. This is very agile development here. The agile developers out there will know what I mean by that statement. Below is a screenshot of the calculator. Enjoy.

Technorati Tag:
c#

Funny Ad About Gonorrhea

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:51:55 +0000

I know there is nothing funny about Gonorrhea. However, this ad is funny! I have a few questions about this ads.

What is so special about Maryland? These are for Maryland Gonorrhea Tests. Would an equivalent test in Nevada be okay? I have no reference with this one.
Is there a huge Gonorrhea problem I am not aware of in Maryland. 400 same day testing sites. Wow!
I see an 800 number provided. Is this to make the people who need the test feel better? "You want to get tested? We can help. Give us a call its free!" says the sales person.

If you are not sure about having gonorrhea, this ad may help. Enjoy!

EPBlog: Fixing issues

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:33:41 +0000

A buddy of mine brought a few bugs to my attention. Thanks Alex. I need to get a copy of FireFox 2 (FF2), the toggle ad feature is flaky on that browser. I have been doing most of my testing in FF3 and IE7. Also, my feedback feature needed a little work. Feedback was being saved. However, the email being sent after a submission was blowing up. I yanked that piece for the moment. It\'s nice being able to fix problems, instead of waiting for a fix. Do not get me wrong, I love open source. But, I feel my source is better.:)

A Hoody is Not a Coat!

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:45:02 +0000

Today's high in Baltimore: 27. Yes, that is a few degrees below freezing. A few days ago, I saw a kid waiting for a bus. He only had a hoody on. I started to think, did I do stupid things like that when I was his age...probably.

But wait, I may have been the unaware observer. He may not have a coat, but I doubt it. The two white wires coming from his hood indicated he was listening to something. I am thinking an iPod.

So, music cool, coat uncool? I don't get that logic. If you are young or old, please wear a coat and not a hoody when it is 20 or 30 degrees outside. This is why healthcare is so expensive. People don't take care of themselves. Just kidding!

Dreaming of a Debt Free Christmas

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:28:13 +0000

I know, the economy of the United States is recovering. Christmas is the biggest shopping season of the year. Americans will help the economy with increase spending during Christmas. It is great that people will chip in. But as an individual, you need to focus on responsible spending. I heard the following good advice, “Live within your means!” Credit is great, but don\'t get buried by it. Maxing out your limits should not be an option for you. Take this gift and not the debt this Christmas.

A Day of Off Equals a Catch Up Day

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:48:00 +0000

Today is my day off. I am going to do any work? Yes! It's funny, I don't consider this a vacation day. Every now and then I take time off to catch up. I just think this is a funny concept. Yesterday someone asked me if I was off tomorrow. I said, "kinda off." In the future, I will say I am catching up.

EPBlog: Toggle ads feature

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:00:47 +0000

Annoyed at Ads? Well, you can turn them off. I came across an article on collapsible div tags. Below is the function to make it happen.


function toggleDiv(divid){
    if(document.getElementById(divid).style.display == 'none'){
      document.getElementById(divid).style.display = 'block';
    }else{
      document.getElementById(divid).style.display = 'none';
    }
  }

In conclusion, just click on the Toggle Ad to hide the Ads. Enjoy!

You can provide me feedback!

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:52:52 +0000

I have added a 'give feedback' link to all of the articles. Please feel free to send feedback. I have integrated basic captcha in the feedback form. Again, send feedback!

EPBlog: Source code of the RSS feed

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:08:15 +0000

In less than 20 lines of code I was able to cook up an RSS feed. Below is the first look at what is under the hood of the software that runs this site. I will also say this: EPBlog is built on top of the Zend Framework. EPBlog is truly the house that Zend built.

public function rssAction()  
  {
		$db = Zend_Registry::get('db');			
	    	
		$table = new EPBlogArticles($db);
		
		$articles = $table->fetchAll(null,"article_id desc");
		
		$base_url = "http://epblog.eliotpearson.com";

		$feedArray = array(
                'title' => 'Eliot Pearson - Why should you care!',
                'link' => $base_url . '/article/rss',
                'description' => 'The best blog I ever made!',
                'language' => 'en-us',
                'charset' => 'utf-8',
                'pubDate' => '',
                'generator' => 'Zend Framework Zend_Feed',
                'entries' => array()
            );
            
      foreach ($articles as $row) {
            $feedArray['entries'][] = array(
                'title' => $row->article_title,
                'link' => $base_url . '/article/view/id/' . $row->article_id,
                'guid' => $base_url . '/article/view/id/' . $row->article_id,
                'description' => $row->article_body,
                'pubDate' => date("F Y",$row->article_date)
                );
            }
            
		$feed = Zend_Feed::importArray($feedArray, 'rss');

    $feed->send();
}

How do you factor numbers fast?

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:42:43 +0000

I want to talk Math in this entry. The number 30 is the product of three prime numbers: 2,3, and 5. I am wondering if there is a fast way to decompose 30 into 2,3, and 5. If you know, please tell me. I know, I could pop open a Math text book or two. But, I am a programmer and Math is not high on my list of things to learn.:)

Blackberry has my attention again!

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:30:31 +0000

I know Verizon will have the iPhone newest competition, the Storm (9530). I was waiting for someone to come up with a guide to jailbreaking the iPhone on T-Mobile. This may have happened, but I have been to busy to notice if it did. After seeing the storm, my iPhone interest may have peaked!

Beer tapping is barbaric!

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:55:33 +0000

I love this commercial. My favorite part is when Oscar De La Hoya says that beer tapping is barbaric. He punches people in the face for a living and beer tapping is barbaric, nice! Enjoy.

EPBlog: Messaging Speed Bumps

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:36:12 +0000

After adding more features, I noticed that a person can not provide me feedback about my site. Hmm...time to start working I thought. So I do! I have spent a lot of time over the weekend and I have a proof of concept. It includes basic captcha and SMS support. Now I need to integrate it into my site. Be on the look out for this feature, and please use it! Thanks.

My Birthday in Belize

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:46:09 +0000

This has been a very special birthday for me today. I always wanted to go Belize. I have spent the past week getting to know this wonderful place. The temperature is warm, the food is great, and the people are so nice. Below is a picture of me at the hotel I stayed in.

There was a lot of raining during my stay, but luckily it did not happen on my trip to San Pedro and Altun Ha. Below is a picture from Altun Ha. the Mayan civilization was unbelieveable. To stand in a place that was built hundreds of years ago is unreal. If you ever wanted to go to Belize, go! There is so much to see and do. Belize is beautiful!

EPBlog: New RSS Feed Added

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:07:02 +0000

If you wanted a feed for this site, it is now available. There is now an RSS link on the home page. Creating my own blog has allowed me to be extremely flexible. If I need something I just make it. However, I am avoiding reality a bit.There a tons of full featured blog software packages out there, and I am reduplicating the wheel. It is great that I have some time to work on my blog. There is a cost! If I really need a feature I have to make it myself. Hmm...Maybe I should look for some hired guns if I run into issues.

EPBlog: More changes

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:24:40 +0000

I saw a few 500 errors in my log. Whoops! Sorry about this. If you used the article navigation on the right, nothing worked. In addition, I have added an " Articles" link at the top. You can see all of the past articles from the old blog.

EPBlog: Is live and hosted!

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:38:19 +0000

I have built my blog from the ground up. I have setup all of the hosting. Check it out! <a href="http://epblog.eliotpearson.com/home">http://epblog.eliotpearson.com/home</a> And yes, the blog and the new blog have the same content.:)

EPBlog: from the ground up!

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:17:31 +0000

My new domain has not been setup yet. I have however been able to get my new blog up and running! <a href="http://www35.a2hosting.com/~epearson/epblog/public/home" target="_blank">http://www35.a2hosting.com/~epearson/epblog/public/home</a>

I am going to write my own blog software!

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:44:36 +0000

EggBlog has been good to me the past few years. It is really great software. I am going to make a blogging package using the Zend Framework. It is more of an exercise than a real need. I want to work this great framework available to PHP.

I still have the 8700g

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:32:15 +0000

No iPhone and no Curve. I guess I am waiting on a few things: T-Mobile's 3G network (limitedly available now) and someone to crack the new iPhone. Well, it is not like a don't have a ton of work to do until this happens.

BlackBerry 8700g is great, but maybe I should get a Curve?

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:33:39 +0000

I would love to run the new iPhone on T-Mobile's network. But Apple's exclusive contract with AT&T will not make that easy. I know some people that jailbreak there iPhone to allow this. I haven't heard if anyone has cracked the new iPhone yet, but it will happen. I also heard the iPhone cost more if you do not activate it. With all that, I have some thinking to do. The new iPhone has pretty much everything I need. The Curve is a little lacking but solid. Hmm...I wonder when Google will actually come out with a phone. I am sorry, I could not resist. I know Google is not creating a phone. Please, no flames on that one.

Fun stuff

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:24:05 +0000

Yes, I know writing is fun. However, I have been playing with a lot of cool stuff over the past few weeks instead of writing. Hopefully in the future, I can write some good articles about what I have discovered. Here is a list of some of the things I have been working on

Reflection in .NET
PHP
Ruby on Rails
Flex

Please free to tell me about any experience you have on the topics above. I am always the student and willing to learn from anyone.

Windows Vista is terrible... not so much.

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:22:01 +0000

I have tons of friends that have either migrated to Apple or Linux. I also know of a few that refuse to leave XP. I have been using Vista for six months now, and I only had one problem. And guess what... it was my fault. For home use, I think Vista is sensible. I am not running an enterprise network full of all types of quirky apps.:) So I understand people's apprehension about switching. Microsoft improved on one of its core applications. Anyone who knows me understands how critical I was of Microsoft in the past. This time, I am giving them the nod.

DB Tools: Vacuumdb

Sun, 25 May 2008 23:12:50 +0000

I run Postgres for a few applications I have. Why did I run Postgres when I seen a lot of open source projects use MySQLω I am not sure. However, the lack of visibility for Postgres did not deter me to explorer this great database management system (DBMS). Postgres is great, but like any other database, it must be maintained. The vacuumdb utility comes bundled, and it is great. With this tool you can gather statistics on the tables and empty the garabage in the database. Yes, databases have garbage. It can be created from how data is retrieve and cached to and from storage. If you run a postgres database, use this tools. It will keep your database clean and your queries optimized. Personally, I added a scheduled job (CRON job) to vacuum all my database everyday at 4 am.

Goodbye Palm, Hello BlackBerry

Wed, 14 May 2008 01:17:09 +0000

I was tired of carrying two devices all the time: my PDA (Palm T|X) and phone (Motorola Rzor). I decided to consolidate. Let me tell you...great decision. I have the 8700g, and I am debating on upgrading to the Curve. Unknown to me, the BlackBerry is a java based device. I am now checking out there APIs and development kit. I may have to cook up some apps for it. If you are thinking about getting a BlackBerry, stoping thinking and buy one. You will like, trust me.

The wireless web and what it brings

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:11:29 +0000

I have been cooking up some code over the last few weeks. During this time, I did a little thinking about mobile devices and the web. To me, the web and the mobile phone are still a huge frontier of potential. I am excited about the idea of creating application and services that are important to me; available at my fingertips. I ask my readers, are you excited about the wireless web tooω

Everything you should know about Kyte

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:14:14 +0000

Copy and pasted from the <a href="http://www.kyte.com/about" target="_blank">about </a>page: <h1 id="title">About Kyte</h1>  Kyte provides anyone - from consumers to major recording artists - with an easy way to instantly broadcast mobile and online video to multiple destinations, including social networks, blogs and other mobile phones. For content creators, publishers and mobile operators, Kyte provides new revenue opportunities and viral distribution channels through an engaging social communications experience.   I could go into detail about how much potential this service has, but I think the video will say it all. Check it out. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. <a href="http://www.kyte.com/platform/pg/overview_video" target="_blank">http://www.kyte.com/platform/pg/overview_video</a>

The Pen is Dry!!!

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:23:43 +0000

Now that you are reading this, I guess the title worked. I tried to come up with a creative way of saying, "I do not have a lot of time to write!" With work and side projects, I find myself falling asleep many of nights not blogging. Well, I feel a little better now.:)

Update your Blog

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:26:59 +0000

Please update your Blog, it is affected by a very dangerous vulnerability. I've already reported it to EggBlog staff and they released a patch. girex

PDT for Eclipse. . . It is a good thing!

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:43:19 +0000

You may ask what is PDT?  <a href="http://www.eclipse.org/pdt/" target="_blank">PDT</a> stands for PHP Development Tool.  This is a language plug-in for Eclipse.  I was really impressed when I found that you can work on a number of languages in Eclipse.  The idea of changing PHP code from the familiar environment of Eclipse was always a thought since I started working on PHP code a few years back. Recently, I had to look at some PHP code.  Again, I thought to myself, this would be great to edit the files in Eclipse.  I did a little research and found the PDT page.  I decided to give it a go.  I gave up using vi to manage PHP code a long time ago.  After seeing the syntax highlighting in action, I was sold.  I highly suggest you check it out.  Even more if you edit PHP on a regular basis.

AbiWord, the Word Killer

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:46:17 +0000

I know there is a ton of features in Microsoft's Word.  Most are probably not in <a href="http://www.abisource.com/" target="_blank">AbiWord</a>.  As far as all those feature in Word, I really do not use them often enough for them to be important to me.  I do need a word processor to do one thing.  That is grammar checking, because my usage is horrible. After installing AbiWord, I tried it out on a few documents.  I am really impressed.  It found my common problems.  Until Microsoft adds a real grammar checker, it has some real competition with the AbiWord.

The Java Script and CSS Expert?

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:00:43 +0000

Recently, I noticed people coming to me with Java Script and CSS problems.  I look at the problems and have a high percentage of success fixing them.  In a previous job I would do the same thing with the J-Man.  But now the tables have turned. However, I do not mind. The issues are really just problem solving exercises.  On any given day, I look at Java, C#, and PL/SQL code.  HTML and Java Script problems are always welcome to break up the heavy stuff. When I had to start developing cross browser code at a former job, I started to lose interest in Java Script development.  I have been working on a few web based Java projects that uses AJAX, and I started learning Java Script again. This time I have really enjoyed myself.  I don't have to do so MUCH in Java Script anymore.  I only use it for what it is good for.  That is light weight UI changes.  In the past I disliked it, but now it is another tool in my toolbox. So, if you are stumped with a Java Script or CSS problem, maybe I can help.  Send <a href="mailto:eliot@elandty.com?subject=Java%20Script%20and%20CSS%20Question">me</a> an email with your question.  I will get back to you ASAP.

Things I didn't know: GEICO

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:44:46 +0000

I always knew that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.geico.com/">GEICO</a> was an acronym, but I never knew what it stood for.  It stands for Government Employees Insurance Company.   The name does not fit the company anymore.  It probably does not matter to the general consumer. It is funny how a company can do this and still be viable in the market.  I guess a name really does not make a company.

YouTube Video Experience: Call of Duty 4

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:14:38 +0000

I created a play list and included it in an embedded player below. Enjoy! <object width="530" height="370"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/p/6CFD796C7446A816"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/p/6CFD796C7446A816" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="530" height="370"></embed></object>

I Love This Quote: Senator John McCain

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:26:05 +0000

Here is a quote from Senator McCain I grabbed from the transcript of a Face the Nation episode that aired on the January 6th.   We got to get Americans off the front line, have the Iraqis as part of this strategy take over more and more of the responsibilities and then I don't think Americans are concerned if we're there for 100 years or 1,000 years or 10,000 years. What they care about is the sacrifice of our most precious treasure, and that's American blood. So what I'm saying is, look, if Americans are there in a support role but they're not taking casualties, that's fine.   10,000 years...wow!  I know he did not mean it literally.  However, 100 years seem like a realistic time frame that he was suggesting.  If the deaths in Iraq are not American, America would be okay with this? Hmm...again...interesting.  I wonder if domestic issues like a failing health care system and homeland security will ever receive a support effort like the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.

What? Amazon is Selling DRM Free Music!

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:15:55 +0000

What is the world coming to?  The Warner Music Group (WMG) has reached an agreement with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon</a>.  Amazon can sell music from WMG's catalog without DRM.  It's called <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/MP3-Music-Download/b?ie=UTF8&node=163856011">Amazon MP3</a>.  The service is still in BETA, but I hope it stays around.  The only reason why I don't buy songs from iTunes is the whole DRM fiasco. I learned this from an Apple informational blog called Tuaw, and it has some good content. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tuaw.com/">Tuaw.com</a> is worth a visit.  The original article I read is available <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tuaw.com/2007/12/27/warner-music-group-ditches-drm-on-amazon-mp3-only/">here</a>.

A New Year - A New Look

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:03:51 +0000

I upgraded to the 4.0 version of Eggblog.  I modified the templates a bit (to add ads), but I stuck with the default look and feel.  Hopefully, the new look will drive me to update more.   The new <a href="http://www.fckeditor.net/" target="_blank">FCKeditor</a> included with version 4.0 is nice!

My Notes about Learning Spanish

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 16:13:33 +0000

I found this gem of a resource. The page provides ways for typing accents characters for Spanish. There are other languages on this site, but I just focused on Spanish because I am learning it. Yeah ... I put my Japanese learning on hold (a lot more Spanish around me ATM). Big Ups to PENN State for providing this guide. <a href="http://tlt.psu.edu/suggestions/international/bylanguage/spanish.html"> http://tlt.psu.edu/suggestions/international/bylanguage/spanish.html</a>

I am Back

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 22:59:25 +0000

I had a third knee surgery. I took sometime off to recover, but now I am back.

xkcd funny comics

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 17:38:56 +0000

I came across this site and wanted to share. Enjoy! <img src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/a-minus-minus.png" alt="" /> Visit <a target="_blank" href="http://xkcd.com">XKCD</a> for more comics.

Stupid Moments: Crocs and Basketball

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:15:45 +0000

A few weeks ago, at my nephew`s birthday party, I was playing basketball... in crocs. This was not a good idea. First, since I was running, my feet started to sweat. While playing I felt my feet slip inside of the crocs, but I ignored it. Lucky, I did not get hurt. The moment the strap popped, I felt a little sad. I pretty much <a href="http://www.elandty.com/wiki/index.php?title=Rock">rocked</a> them the whole summer, and have grown attached to them. I have since bought two more pair. Hopefully the cold weather of Baltimore will stay away for a few more weeks so I can enjoy them. I have posted a picture below of what happened to my trusty friends. Please examine: <img width="410" height="307" src="http://www.elandty.com/ep/images/abused_crocs_01.jpg" alt="" /> A. The fresh dust from the gym floor. B. The, "other end of the strap goes here hole." Yes, I tried to glue it. Then I realized, Eliot, you can get another pair. I know, real smart. C. The unattached strap. This is really annoying if it`s not attached; trust me. This was a stupid moment brought to me. I hoped you enjoyed it.

MediaWiki is Solid

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 03:25:53 +0000

<a href="http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki" target="_blank">MediaWiki</a> is the same application <a href="http://www.wikipedia.org/" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> runs on. I have been using for a week, and realize it is very user friendly. I really like adding links. It's as simple as: <code> [ http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki ] </code> I have made a few updates to Wikipedia before, but I never knew how to really use it. I am now learning it because I use it.

Woo hoo! Feasible Impossibilities has Linked Me

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 03:16:54 +0000

A fellow blogger by the name of Robert M. Hall has added me to his list of Useful Resources and Links. I am in the links section under Flex on his blog. Rob, thanks for adding me and keep up the good work. BTW, his site has a ton of information about the Adobe suite. I guess I have to add more Flex content now.

I didn't like wikipedia so I created my own

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 23:04:44 +0000

I could never find the information I needed on <a target="_"blank"" href="http://ww.wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a>. So, I decided to come up with a real source...my source. I will add relevant information, not like the upcoming presidential election, the federate reserve interest rate, or Lindsay Lohan. I am just kidding, the topics listed above are relevant and news worthy. I just heard smack talk is the best way to create buzz. Check out <a href="http://www.elandty.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page">Eliot Pearson's Wiki</a>.

My Nephew is My Filter

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 21:39:05 +0000

This weekend I was in the car with my nephew. He asked me if I seen an accident that happened on the X Games; I told him no. I did not think much of it. A few minutes later he received a call on his cell phone. Yes, he has a cell phone and is only twelve. Apparently that is the norm for him and most of his friends. I guess his friend asked him about what he did over the past few days. Excitedly my nephew responded with, "Did you watch the X Games?" I heard it twice and now I was interested. My nephew began to explain what happened and how to find it. "Oh, you didn't see it. Just go to YouTube and search for X Games fall." Right there I realized his preteen world and mine were totally different. When I was his age, if you were not watching it, you did not see it. Unless you taped it, but I do not think I would have taped the X Games. The news may have covered it, but I did not watch the news at twelve. Today, my nephew is at the bleeding edge of information gathering, and he is only twelve. After we got back to my house, my nephew went to my laptop. I was pretty sure he was going to show me the video, and he did. I saw every step. He was able to filter though tons of content provided on YouTube in a few clicks. I was truly impressed. Note to T: Thanks for the inspiration to write this article. Also, thank you for showing me your skills and the video. Your uncle,
Eliot

Not a Regular Day Today

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:32:36 +0000

There are times in life when your stable environment is not so stable. I go to work, do my job, talk with my co-workers, and go home. But today was different. This afternoon I see a few people looking out the window. I am curious about what is happening. As I approach the window, I see paramedics, fireman, policemen and boats. I thought to myself, I did not see anyone in the water. Then a horrible realization occurred to me, just because I do not see anyone does not mean no one is in there. A few minutes pasted and more activity started to happen on the pier where the emergency workers were. A person was pulled from the water. All I could see were legs from that distance. I then saw a paramedic start CPR. After that, much of the rest of the day seemed less important. You do not realize how precious life is until you are faced with situations like this. Also, it is very easy to forget how fragile life is. A person going for a swim on a summer afternoon ended tragically. That really put things in prospective.

Dealing with Overload

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 12:51:10 +0000

This is my plan for dealing with an overloaded schedule. I am exceeding expectation at my job, increasing my fitness level, and not having my family look for me to do, "more stuff." I could say I have everything covered, but I do not feel that way. I started this blog to share my ideas, and I found myself writing articles and proofreading a lot. Proofreading is not fun for me. If I did not catch the problem when I wrote it, it is really hard for me to catch it the second or third time. In the future, I will probably write less articles and series. I have a few pending series I was working on, and I apologize for that. I will go about it a little differently from now on. For one, I will write the series first and then post. Well, thanks for reading.

Stupid and Lucky

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:33:58 +0000

I play poker online. I am not one of the greatest poker players alive (nor do I pretend to be). I generally have fun playing, but sometime it is challenging playing the following types of players: unpredictable players and those with a lack of respect for money. Identifying these types at the table can make you life a lot easier while you play. This is not about those players but their approach to the game.

I was in a 45 player Sit-and-Go (SNG) with a fairly large stack. I was in late position and had AJ suited (pretty sure it was diamonds). I raised it three times the big blind (standard raise). A person from the big blind re-raised me. At this point I figured with my luck, the re-raiser probably has an AK or AQ. I figured, not many people re-raise would medium or big pocket pairs. 77, 88 or 99 would invoke a call and TT or better would be an all-in at that point. Oh yeah, I did not mention the fact that this was a turbo SNG. Most people play big hands fast in these tourneys and push hard pre-flop.

The person did not have much left after the re-raise; giving me a clue not a huge hand, but probably better than mine. Putting the person all-in or folding were my only to options. If I call and miss, the person can easily out play me after the flop. If I do hit, the person would probably fold. I have seen signs of good play throughout the tourney from this player. Having the opportunity to build my stack and eliminate a skilled player made my choice easier.

Now here is the stupid part. If I am going against AK or AQ, I am only going to win about 30% of the time. Clearly, I do not have the best of it, but guess what I did. I put him all-in. What happened with the hand? The person had AK, called, and I caught a J on the flop and sent the better hand packing.

Aggression and luck knocked that person out of the tournament, not skill (at least I think so). Anybody can get lucky. The problem is I see this behavior constantly at the levels I play. I understood the other person's pain at that moment, but I felt my only real option was to push. I did push and got lucky. I will walk away with something from that lesson.

Poker and going to the gym have been eating up my free time. I am working on a few articles if I have any readers that are concern.

Can Flex Replace AJAX+HTML? � Part 1

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:18:06 +0000

I believe the answer is yes. The reality is a lot of people on the web that have the Adobe Flash player. If someone does not, it’s not too difficult to get it.

Flex Builder 2 will aid in development of Flex applications that will run on the Flash player. I have yet to play with Flex Builder 2, but I have seen demos and heard the buzz about it. I am pretty confident it’s solid. This means the creation of Rich Media user interfaces and interactions are simple and do not contain a lot of overhead to develop, build, deploy, and maintain.

AJAX is JavaScript and HTML is well, HTML. Flex is XML and ActionScript, and Action Script is based off of JavaScript. This means if you know HTML and JavaScript, you have a solid foundation to start learning ActionScript.

In the next part of this series, I will develop a basic AJAX+HTML User Interface and then I will replace it will Flex. The code will be included in the article too. Until next time, see you later.

Music Review: Songs about Jane

Fri, 25 May 2007 23:09:52 +0000

Maroon 5 has created a classic even though it was released in 2002. If you do not have this album, you should get it. I really like the songs, "This Love," and "The Sun". This is one of the few albums I can listen to from start to finish. There are not a lot of filler tracks on this album. Pop or alternative music is not my first listening choice. So, a recommendation from me is really good. If you would like to try before you buy the songs, Amazon and iTunes allow you to listen to 30 seconds of the song.

Leaving MySpace for FaceBook

Thu, 24 May 2007 06:24:26 +0000

It is official, I am leaving MySpace. I will try to convert as many of my friends as possible. This is not because I do not like MySpace. I feel that FaceBook is a better tool for staying in touch with people.

Being a Good Role Model

Wed, 16 May 2007 11:05:32 +0000

I have a six year old son. Since he was born, I was able to cut down on the amount of profanity that spewed from my mouth. My biggest fear is having a filth mouth for a son. This is why I stopped. Education is extremely important for children, but I think many people tend to overlook the affect of a good role model. Anyone that a child comes in contact with can be a role model; good or bad. I have a neighbor named John. He is hilarious and curses a lot. John has promised to cut down on the profanity, and this is good, because little ears are listening. Now John, is a role model for my son, why? Because he is an adult and all kids validate actions off of adults. One day my son heard John cursing and asked me, “Daddy, how come Mr. John is saying bad words?” I told him, “Mr. John is an adult and that is how some adults express themselves.” Eliot then countered with, “is he angry; he sounds angry.” I told him, “maybe just a little.” Still prodding Eliot continued, “Do you get angry when you get old?” I totally coped out by saying, “you will have to get old to find out.”

My Priorities

Mon, 14 May 2007 03:21:09 +0000

As a kid, I remember hearing the phrase, “You need to get you priorities in order.” I would never take the topic seriously as a child. Now that I am older, I do order my priorities. My current list is: 1. Family
2. Work
3. Entertainment (Poker, PS3 and WoW)
4. Writing As you can see, I do not have a lot of time to write. I could move writing to three, but entertainment is so important to me. I could make writing number one, but I do not think my family or job would like that too much. How are your priorities ordered, and they similar to mine?

Quote of the Day: Stars and the moon

Fri, 04 May 2007 11:21:58 +0000

This morning my son, who is almost six as he puts it, said something I had to share. Children have a way of understanding a complex situation, and coming up with a reason that is so funny and not what you would initially expect. "Daddy," my son called me; I answered him, "Yes." He then blasted, "the stars and moon aren`t really in the sky." He continued, "They are in space," and he is completely right. This is where the unexpected funny explanation comes in. "The stars and moon are trying to fool us." I chuckled and thought, wow, I never would have thought that now that I am an adult. When I was five, this would seem perfectly logical. Kids are so funny and interesting.

Not a lot of Time to Write

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 10:46:14 +0000

I have been doing a lot of working and not writing. More articles are coming soon.

Who is Number One, Not Me?

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 14:41:35 +0000

It is nice to see results from Google searches point to my site. I did a search for, "Eliot Pearson's Blog," and a link to my site was the first result. I searched for, "Eliot Pearson," and my site was number three. Just out of curiosity, I did a search for, "Eliot Pearson," on Yahoo, and my page was number seven. There is an Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development: Tufts University, which is number one on both Google and Yahoo. I know Google ranks pages by relevance and I am not sure about Yahoo. I wonder if I will ever be the number one result with these engines. We will see.

The Best Soda I Ever Had

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 23:14:53 +0000

I was extremely thirsty on my way home a few days ago. I was tired and crashed as soon as I got home. When I woke up, it was about three hours after my initial thirst. I grabbed a soda from the fridge and took a sip. One word came to mind, wow! I started to think, is this soda really that good? I reasoned my taste was severely impaired by thirst. While I was enjoying this soda, I began to wonder. If my brain chemistry is being altered, can that be analyzed? What types of research study this phenomenon and where is the visibility? I have not seen or heard of any. Why is this important? I think understanding increases of satisfaction of taste is really important. People with chronic problems with lack of appetite can benefit from this. Research in the U.S. primarily focuses on the other end of the spectrum (obesity). It feels like only half the problem is being solved.

Don Imus: Slander versus Slang

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 05:18:34 +0000

I have been watching the news channels recently. I want to throw in my two cents about this topic. I understand why Don Imus was fired. A few individuals in the media are trying to say Imus was fired for making an outrageous comment. No, Imus was a liability and always has been. I have listened to Imus before and decided not to listen to him. The words Bitch and Ho are slang. Yes, this slang can hurt someone. Personally, I do not call women that, but this is my choice. Here is the problem, Don Imus dropped some slang about a specific group of people that was not true. That is defamation of character and the very definition of slander. Now, I am not siding with rappers that frequently use this slang in a similar manner. Freedom of speech grants a person the right to say anything; this includes slang. On the other hand, there are laws to make defamation of character punishable. Again, this is why Imus was fired. The companies he worked for are liable for anything he says, and the companies did not want to have to deal with this fact in the future. I have seen a few articles stating rappers should be fired as well, because they are habitually doing the same thing Imus has done. First of all, this is a totally different situation. Find me an artist that slanders an individual in their music. I do not think you will find too many cases. Why, quality control for one. The music you here on the radio and CDs from the major record labels are heavily filtered. It is people’s job to make sure there is nothing defaming in the music. When it comes to talk radio, I am not sure this is the case. In summary, I have a few points. I understand why Don Imus was fired. Rappers use slang, but do not to slander. When they do, the individuals suffer the consequences like Don Imus. When someone is using slang you are not comfortable with, you do not have to listen to them. You can not slander people without facing the consequences, and the larger the audience the steeper the consequences. Again, this is my two cents. Thank you for reading.

Articles Coming Soon

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 11:23:07 +0000

I am working on a few articles. Hopefully I can get these out soon. After reading the articles, the titles may surprise you.

Command Line Tools: Getting More Bang out of Bash
Being a Good Role Model
The Best Soda I Ever Had

Podcasts you should check out

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 02:33:32 +0000

I listen to alot of music on my `POD`. I recently started listening to Podcasts and I discovered alot on iTunes. Some are free and some not. Some are good and some are bad; well you get the point. Anyway, I will enlighten you with a few of my favorites. First up is Weezy and the Swish. This cast is recorded by two hilarious women; Louise Palanker and Laura Swisher. They interview other comics and talk about the comedy biz and life experiences. Guys, if you want to hear what real women talk about and how they think, listen to the Podcast. Weezy and the Swish
Podcast Link In my attempt to better myself, I decided to try to learn Japanese (the keyword being try). This cast offers lessons of various skill to help you learn. I am focusing on the beginner lessons and picking up a few phrases. There is a subscription option for the lesson notes. I do not want to study Japanese that bad, but the subscription is reasonable. My favorite person from the cast is Yoshi San. He is really funny. Listen to it and you will see what I mean. Japanese Pod 101
Podcast Link

Really busy lately

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:04:51 +0000

I am about to head to work. Since I am not rich or famous I have to go. My job is fun though; I am a programmer. I just wanted to let my readers know (as if I really had any) that I apologize for being M.I.A. I am working on about four articles and just can not seem to finish any. See ya, Eliot

Music Review: The Dutchess

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:27:04 +0000

This is a solid album. It was worth the $7 I paid for it ($10 if you count shipping). I can actually listen to the whole album. My favorite songs are Glamorous and London Bridge. I am a fan of the Black Eyed Peas and I decided to check out Fergie’s solo album. I don’t know how many copies of the Dutchess sold, but it’s probably a lot. Overall, I would suggest you pick up a copy if you haven’t already. I included an Amazon link incase you want to order it online.

Flex2ant: The Poor Man's Version of Flex Builder 2

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:54:09 +0000

Actually, this is not a competing product with Flex Builder 2 (FB2). Flex2ant is an addon that will allow you to compile mxml and ActionScript files through Ant in Eclipse. Flex2ant is also open source. You may ask why I am using this. There are two reasons.

First, I do not want to become dependent on FB2. I have no doubt that Adobe has made a wonderful product. For me if FB2 does too much for me, I probably will not learn Flex.

The second reason is FB2 cost close to $500 for a single license. Yes, I probably can afford that but I am a Flex novice. I am not sure I want to do heavy development in Flex. There is a trial version for 30 days. That is not enough time for me to evaluate Flex as a whole, and having the IDE to stop working is not an option I look forward to.

Flex2ant has allowed me to switch from using vi for my Flex development. It is nice being in an environment I am use to. I understand FB2 is great for creating layouts visually. Since I do not completely understand the components, FB2 is overkill. I am not saying I will not use FB2 in the future, I am just saying I want to learn Flex first. Getting FB2 is a little premature for me right now.

If you are interested in Flex2ant, you can check out: http://www.flex2ant.org

Delivering Adobe Flex

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 23:37:07 +0000

At first I had an ambitious plan to auto-magically update a visitor�s Flash player. After coming back to reality, I came up with a sensible solution.

On my Flex based gallery I added two links.

The first link takes a user to a page the checks to see what version of the Flash player is installed. I provide a link to update the player for any other version then nine. Automatic updating the player became an issue for Opera and Konqueror.

The second link points to the original HTML based gallery. I believe providing this will allow any user with a browser to see the gallery.

Flex is still new and I am not sure how many people updated to the latest Flash player. My solution is not perfect but hopefully I give my users enough options to see the gallery. I will take a look at the Flash Detection Kit to see if I can create a more elegant solution.

Which Version of Flash Do You Need?

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 21:35:11 +0000

This is a good question. I found I need version 9 for the Flex code I recently worked on. While trying to figure out how to detect the version currently installed, I came across this page.

I modified code to check for version 9 specifically here.

Why I am doing? I recently converted an HTML base photo gallery to Flash. After I placed the new gallery on my website, some of my users could not see the gallery. I am close to adding the version checking to the new gallery.

Announcement: Gallery Updated

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 03:15:30 +0000

I decided to hack out a solution to my PHP problem from my last post. I would like to announce that the new gallery is Flash base. It was written in Flex v2. Please check it out. http://www.elandty.com/tp/gallery.php

Cardinal Sin: Development != Production

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 03:45:01 +0000

Yes, that is you should never code on a development server that is different than your production server. Here is what I did. My hosting company is running PHP version 4.3. I setup a local server that has similar, but not the same applications. This was my downfall. I did a search for available PHP packages, and guess what I saw. That is right, PHP 5. I threw caution to the wind and installed it. After the installation, I started cooking up code using the new features. When I was done, I copied the files to my hosting company and it does not work. Hopefully my hosting company can bail me out of this problem. We will see. I have been dedicating a lot of my time to coding and not writing. I was hoping this would be a release announcement, but bad practice did me in. Over the past few weeks I have been cooking up Flex v2 code.

Command Line Tools: Using GNU Screen

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 02:09:50 +0000

What is screen? GNU Screen is a free terminal multiplexer. Now, we can move
on to the good stuff.

I have been doing a lot of work for this website on a laptop. My laptop has
a small viewable screen; 14.1 inches to be exact. I am not complaining about
my lack of screen size, but I do recognize the importance of what is on my screen
at a given time.

An application that cuts down on the clutter on my screen is screen. Sorry,
I was trying to be funny there. Here are a few uses of screen that may change
the way you use your shell accounts.

The most important command is this:

which screen

If you see something like the following, you are in business:

/usr/bin/screen

If you do not see any results, you can visit the GNU page for screen.
The directions on this page will get you to download, compile, and install the
source code on to your Unix-like machine. This is where it can get really complicated
really fast. If you are using a Linux Distribution (i.e. Gentoo, Redhat, or
Ubuntu), there is probably a screen package available for you to install. I
will not tell you how to install screen in this article, but I will say it is
probably not hard. If you have any questions about a specific distribution installation,
I can point you in the right direction. Since that is out of the way, let`s
get into using screen.

First to use screen, we need to start it. This is simple. Type the following.

screen

I know, super tough huh? Now that we have screen running, we can start using
some of screen`s feature. Next, we can create a new screen window.

control+a c

This means press and hold the "control" button and then press "a".
Release both "control" and "a". Then you press the "c"
button. Typing this maybe a little weird for you, but after a while you will
get use to it. You may say wow, it did not do anything. Actually it did do something.
You now have two shells, if you do not believe me, type:

Now that you have something on your screen; use the next window command.

control+a n

Now you should see a prompt again. Try the next window command a few times.
You are logged in once, but you can work independently on two difference tasks.
If you use Putty to connect to a Unix-like system you can save yourself an extra
login with using screen. Just as you can go to the next window, you can go to
the previous one also. The previous window command is:

control+a p

Screen is useful for running tasks that will take a long period of time to
finish. You may want to log out and still have your task run. Screen handles
these two problems with ease. To log out and still have screen running you have
to detach the screen process. You can detach and reattach to a screen process
with the following commands:

screen -d

screen -r

You can list your screen sessions with:

screen -ls

I decided to write up this small tutorial because I recently showed someone
screen and he liked it. I thought maybe I should share it with more people.
This is only the surface of screen's capabilities. Another useful command
is:

man screen

This will show you screen's manual; giving you all of the commands to use screen
to it's full capability. Until next time, see you later.

Announcement: Ty's gallery has been updated

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 22:20:26 +0000

I have been working on my wife's searchable image gallery. I have not been able to write much because of this, but I do not write much anyway. Here is the link if you would like to check it out. Ty's Gallery

Digg is giving me a louder voice

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:53:53 +0000

Well, that really is not true. Digg is giving more people access to my site and articles. I have a Digg user profile that you can check out. On Digg, I am both a content contributor and reviewer. I really like Digg, because of the vast amount of content on the site. Digg is like Wikipedia but for news articles. I believe Digg is a great example of long tail distribution. Digg is a content aggregator and probably makes money through advertisement (an Ad on every page). Digg is great and you should check it out. My User Profile http://digg.com/users/eliotpearson/news/dugg

Captcha is working

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:03:56 +0000

While researching which modules were required for Captcha, I found my hosting provider had all the required modules installed: PHP and GD Library. I examined the error log and notice problems with saving session information. After opening a support ticket, the staff at Fatcow fixed my problem. Since I figured that problem out, I came accross a new one. I realized that eventhough I enabled captcha support for my site, there were still pages on the Internet that had copies of the non-captcha enable pages. I did a search in Google`s Cache and sure enough I found some of the offenders. Now, I have to get Google to reindex my site. Off I go to get that done.

I have to get Captcha working

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 15:25:02 +0000

You may ask what that is. Captcha stands for completely automated public turing test to tell computers and humans apart. Why is it useful, for me, it will block the bots for from posting bogus comments on my site. I receive comments promoting adult entertainment, medicine, and so much more. I do not mind a person providing a link to there site with a comment, but a random comment with tons of links is just unacceptable. This is the purpose of Captcha and I disabled the functionality due to it not rendering when I first setup my site. I am thinking my hosting provider does not have a component Captcha needs. Hopefully I can get my provider to install it; we will see it that happens. Off I go to solve another problem.

Box Set Review: Naruto Uncut Boxed Set, Volume 1

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 15:13:21 +0000

This is a great Anime series. The set of episodes introduces the main characters of the series: Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi. The episodes in this set contain action and comedy. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are students in training to become ninja. I first saw this series on Cartoon Network. I like it but I could never see any of the newer episodes. I was either sleep at the time or forgot it was on. I would recommend picking up the set or renting it if you can. I did not see it at my local Blockbuster, but it was a few weeks ago when I purchased my set. This is a popular series and the `block` my have a few of the sets in stock. I also included an Amazon link if you want to purchase it online.

I wonder what Eggblog can really do, Part 3

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 21:10:33 +0000

I had to make some more changes to Eggblog. First, I do not have any photos and may not for a while. This change was simple.

$eggblog_photos = "4"; // Number of recent photos to show in the 
  side bar, "0" for off

I changed to:

$eggblog_photos = "0"; // Number of recent photos to show in the 
  side bar, "0" for off

Magically this removed the link for photos also. My next change was to remove the time of day from the blog entries. Everytime I looked at my blog, I realized that I do not update my site that often. I felt a little bad about this and I can not have that. So, I identified the sections that had the following code. <li class="date">$date, $time</li> I changed to: <li class="date">$date </li> Yes, this is a hack. I did this for a reason. First, the Eggblog code is well designed and solid. I did not really want to start screwing up my site by removing code without really thinking about it. Also, I have not setup a test environment. So, when I make a change, I am pretty sure the change will work. I did not post the name of the files that I changed for a reason. I believe if you are thinking about changing Eggblog, you should not blindly change the code without knowing what you are changing. There are a few ways to deal with it. 1. Search the code base and find out how it works
2. Use the documentation on the Eggblog site to guide you in your changes
3. Ask me, and yes I do not mind letting you know how little I know Well, I hope this will be helpful to someone. In addition, I added Google ads. I will save the details about that for another article.

Movie Review: Azumi

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 16:35:56 +0000

First, I would like to say wow! Azumi was brutal. The movie was adapted from manga (Japanese comics). The story was based on the history of 17th century Japan. After watching this movie, I understand why assassins were created during this time. I knew about assassins but never knew why people engineered them. I do not want to spoil the movie but it makes a good transition from comic to movie. I see a lot of similarities to the Kill Bill series as far as blood and action. Not many comics are able to achieve this. History until now has been a little narrow. Most of our history details only the powerful, influential, and wealthy. Now since so much information can be stored digitally, a person in the future can find out about the everyday people of today. Thoughts are powerful and transcend time and insight into thoughts gives wisdom. I think the more thoughts the better. That is why I like movies like this. Azumi is an ordinary girl that becomes extraordinary. I would suggest checking it out. Here is a summary of what happened in the 17th century; if you are interested. I also saw the movie available at Amazon.

Happy Holidays to all

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 16:26:45 +0000

A little late but it`s the thought that counts. Since my last post, I have been running like a mad man. I just wanted to wish everyone happy holidays. I forgot to call my mom on Christmas (sorry mom) and I still feel bad.

The Long Tail and the Waterfall, Part 2

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:31:46 +0000

Part 1,2,3,4

I am in the process of reading Chris Anderson's book, The Long Tail. The content of the book contains information about successful companies and services such as: Amazon, NetFlix, iTunes and Rhapsody. A common theme to their success is using a long tail distribution model. Some people say it is selling more of less. I think the book offers an interesting perspective about the present and future. Looking at The Long Tail, I feel like a prospector during the 19th century gold rush in the United States. A new model for delivering goods is here and a great deal of opportunity exists for it. I would recommend reading this book; it has substance.

The new buzz around the programming world is web services. Web services in a nut shell are solutions to problems big and small delivered through the web. I like to think of a gas station to help illustrate the concept. Both full and self service gas stations exist throughout the world. The station is the supplier, you are the customer, and providing the gas is the service. Just make everything in the process virtual and you have a web service. I know, that may not be the best web based example, but it illustrates the idea clearly.

Focusing on the gas service, an interesting idea emerges. The gas service is interchangeable and evolvable. This fact can make it the glue of the 21st century. How so? I will have to save that thought for the future. I also apologize for deviating from my original plan to discuss pros and cons of the Waterfall method in detail. I just felt inspired to write this instead.

Proofreading Made Easy

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:10:25 +0000

I think I have heard the best advice about proof reading. A woman by the name of Grammar Girl has shown me the light. She suggested using a screen reader to proof your work. Now that makes too much sense, because the computer will read what is there. When I read, my brain has a habit of reading what I intended to say and I miss alot of errors. I took the idea and applied it to my site, and I found some errors (also corrected them). Okay, someone may ask how do I know Grammar Girl. Well, I do not know her. I came across her podcast at iTunes. The title of her series is called, "Grammar Girl`s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing." It helped me and could help you too.

How I used VBA to filter spam, Part 2

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 01:29:50 +0000

I was finally able to finish this. Below I have included the code that will filter a great deal of SPAM from my Inbox in MS Outlook 2003. I modified the existing VBAProject.OTM project to create a module name FolderFilter. Here are the directions to enable RegEx in VBA directly from Mark Carter`s site.

In the code editor, select menu item Tools > References.
Check item Microsoft VBScript Regular Expressions.

The code:


` Making pattern global
Dim pattern As String

` Initialization code is here
Sub init()
    pattern = "src=""cid:"
    Debug.Print "Looking for `" & pattern & "`"
    
End Sub


` Filtering of matched spam happens here
Sub filterSpam()
    FolderFilter.init
    
    `Setting up Inbox variable
    Dim filterFolder As Outlook.MAPIFolder
    Set filterFolder = ThisOutlookSession.Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox)
    
    `Setting up Junk Mail variable
    Dim destFolder As Outlook.MAPIFolder
    Set destFolder = ThisOutlookSession.Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderJunk)
    
    Debug.Print "Moving matches to " & destFolder.Name

    Dim o As Object
    Dim mail As mailItem
    Dim items As items
    
    ` Grabbing items from the folder to filter
    Set items = filterFolder.items
    
    ` Simple infinite loop
    Do While True
        Set mail = items.GetNext
        
        ` When there are no more items we exit the loop and jump to Go label
        If mail Is Nothing Then
            GoTo Go
        End If
        
        ` Moves the mail to the destFolder if it matches the pattern
        If findMatch(pattern, mail.HTMLBody) = 1 Then
            Set o = mail.Move(destFolder)
            Debug.Print "Removing message `" & mail.Subject & "`"
        End If
        
    Loop
Go:
    
    Debug.Print "Finished Filtering"

End Sub

`Code from http://www.markcarter.me.uk/computing/vba/regex.html
`gave me insight on how to use RegExp
Function findMatch(pattern As String, content As String)
    Dim re As RegExp
    Set re = New RegExp
    
    ` Setting the return to 0 initially
    findMatch = 0
    
    re.pattern = pattern
    re.Global = False
    re.IgnoreCase = True
    re.Multiline = True
    
    Dim matches As MatchCollection
    Set matches = re.Execute(content)
    
    Dim match As match
    For Each match In matches
        `Setting the return to 1
        findMatch = 1
        GoTo Done
    Next
    
Done:

End Function

This code will move any mail that contains the pattern "src="cid:" to the junk folder. Enjoy! I hope it can help someone out other than me.

Busy This Week

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 11:49:01 +0000

I am busy over the next few days. I really need to add more entries to my blog and clean up some of the code I want to post. Hopefully I can do that soon.

My Language Puzzle

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:07:55 +0000

I can read and write many different programming languages. I know Assembly, Java, C, C++, Perl, SQL, PHP, JSP, Visual Basic, JavaScript, HTML, and XML. Most people do not consider HTML and XML as programming languages, which is true, these are markup languages. Markup languages still require a certain thought process to understand how it is rendered. Here is the puzzling part, I only know one spoken language. I believe I have shown the ability to learn different languages already. I just do not know why I did not do it yet. I feel a little silly about this reality, and I am in the process of changing this. Now I wonder, how many other programmers are like me? If you are like me, please let me know. One puzzle solved but another puzzle reveals itself. I have a new spoken language in my scope; it is Japanese. Why Japanese you may ask? I love technology and most new technology is there first. The United States imports huge quantities of items from Japan. If I know Japanese, I will have a better understanding of what some of these items can do when it gets to the United States. I will routinely give updates about my status. If you are interested in learning Japanese, I found these great sites so far. Japancast.net
JapanesePod101.com

Thoughts on Grammar

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 12:05:49 +0000

Since starting my blog, I have realized how awful my grammar is. In addition, my spelling is not that great either, but with practice, these skills should improve. In my quest to be a better person, I would like to become a more fundamental and accurate writer. I do not like to write per se, but I do like to share ideas. I think writing is one of the best ways to share. If anyone would like to guide me in my endeavor, your help is greatly appreciated. Helping me identify my incorrect usage, I think will help most. Thank you.

Is Internet Poker Dead?

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 15:36:43 +0000

In the United States this maybe the case. In 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was signed into law. This law does not make it illegal to play poker online, but makes it illegal for financial institution to exchange money with poker sites. Certain poker sites on the Internet were a safe affordable haven for amateur and semi-professional players. Personally, I had great experiences at PokerStars, PartyPoker, and FullTiltPoker. When playing on these sites I felt safe. I could focus on my game and not the environment. I think poker on the internet is a victim of the greater good. Since there is a potential for minors and people addicted to gambling to play on these site, removing these options is the solution. Examining the situation topically, this solution seems to fix the problem, but the reality is it does not. Somewhere right now, a person under the age of 21 is playing poker for money. Also, in a casino, a person with a gambling addiction is losing something he/she can not afford to lose. I guess my question is what did the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act really gain us?

Bill O'Reilly Surprised Me

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 14:59:08 +0000

I was reading the following article at GamePolictics.com. I will admit this is not the first time this has happened. On his radio show the Radio Factor, Mr. O`Reilly set his sights on the early adopters of the PS3 and the multitude of iPod owners. He concluded:

Basically what you have is a large portion of the population, mostly younger people under the age of 45, who don`t deal with reality - ever. So they don`t know what day it is; they don`t know temperature it is; they don`t know what their neighbor looks like. They don.t know anything. because they are constantly diverted by a machine.

He later continued to rip on PS3 owners and iPod owners. I feel a little offended about his opinion, because I do fit the classification of what he described, but the blanket statement he made is not correct. I do know my neighbors and what they look like. On a given day, I may not know the temperature or the exact date; that is what the weather websites and personal hand held devices are for. Currently, there is a massive amount of information flooding your senses. Too much information if you ask me. If you do not have a way of filtering this information, you will become consumed. For my generation, we have adapted to this. Nowadays, a person is constantly on the move and creating a pseudo reality while playing games or listening to music is our way of dealing with it. Comments like this has allowed me to observe a disconnect between the previous generations and my generation (born in the late `70s and early `80s). I feel hostility towards me and my contemporaries and I wonder why. Believe or not, some of my generation appreciates what the previous generation has done for us. The next comment by Mr. O.Reilly was interesting:

American society is changing for the worse because of the machines. In the past to flee the real world people usually chose drugs or alcohol. now you don.t have to do that, Now all you have to do is have enough money to buy a machine

Call me what you want but I would rather adults and kids play video games instead of using drugs and alcohol. I know, Mr. O.Reilly was discussing how people try to escape and wasn.t encouraging abuse of drugs and alcohol. The reality of the situation is people need escapes; most call this a vacation. But, what should the people who can not afford a vacation do, not escape? Have you seen the price of going to college? How much debt does the average person have? I believe if you honestly answer these questions, you can realize the gravity of the situation. I am not saying Bill O.Reilly is wrong, I actually admire that fact he expresses his opinion. You can speak your mind; that is the great thing about America. I will say this, if you are in a more mature generation then mine, please remember you were my age too.

Hey, I am introverted!

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 13:51:44 +0000

I am introverted. Some people also refer to this as being a loner. If you are like me, you may want to check introv.org. There are some very interesting discussions there. After reading that site, I feel a lot better about being introverted. Recent scientific finding suggest introversion is not a psychological disorder. I never believed this because I do not have any problems functioning day to day.

The Public Has Spoken

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 13:50:38 +0000

I believe there was a clear message from the election in 2006. Americans are concerned about our country. I always felt this was the case, but some events deceived me. Violence, crime and poverty run rampant in some areas in the United States. I believe people did not know how to help instead of not caring to help with these problems. I will not get into the how and why about the Iraq war. I will however say this. People are loosing their lives in Iraq, both American and Iraqi. The total lost of life is estimated around 50,000 now. I believe this was a turning point in the elections and history. America does care and hopefully the world will see this too.

Bad Habits Push Change

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 13:49:56 +0000

I have a bad habit named World of Warcraft. To cope with this habit and I am going to install both Windows and Linux on my Laptop. I currently use both, but never on the same system. Vista is on the horizon and I need to put some time into the Windows.

Palm Reading is a Stream, Part 1

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 00:22:05 +0000

Palm Inc. and I have history. No, we did not see each other in high school. College maybe, but that is another story. I am now on my fourth generation of Palm-like devices. I currently sport a Palm T|X and do not get the kind of use I would like out of it. For those of you who do not know me, I love to tinker with devices. I made a hobby of taking items apart and putting them back together. When I was younger, my parents only had to replace a few VCRs (sorry mom). Since I am an adult now, I love to try to interface with devices. Okay, what does this have to do with the Palm you may ask? Be patient grasshopper it is coming. I can synchronize with my Palm in both Windows and Linux. I can only access my Palm through a stream. It would be great if I could dynamically access my Palm. Why do I want this? The Palm is a data source just like a hard drive or MP3 player. I cannot access a specific area on the palm without reading all of the information that is stored before it. I know, I grossly simplified how the palm works, but this is the general behavior. Imagine if you have an 80 GB MP3 player and only your favorite song is on there. Let say the MP3 player decided to store the song on the 79th GB, and would read all the information before your song every time you wanted to listen to your song. That would not be fun because you have to wait to listen to your song. This is how the Palm works. Devices like the Palm have device drivers. Device drivers communicate with the computer and the device. The Palm device driver sees the Palm as a character device; also known as a stream device. Why do I rant? Well, because the digital camera got it right. Most cameras provide block device drivers. A block device allows you to access information just like a hard drive. In the next part of this series, I will discuss why I think Palm should create or allow creation of block device drivers for their devices.

The Long Tail and the Waterfall, Part 1

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 17:41:05 +0000

Part 1,2,3,4

Sounds like a great title for a book, and I call dibs. These are two seemingly unrelated topics but when combined, I see a huge unexplored frontier. The Long Tail is the what and the Waterfall is the how.

The Long Tail has been coined by a man named Chris Anderson. The reader digest version of this theory is The Long Tail is a distribution curve. It's also known as a heavy curve. A heavy curve can be describe as a heavy frequency followed by low frequency, and this frequency eventually tails off. What makes a long tail special is the sum of the low frequencies can out number the sum of the high frequencies. It can be realized through basic statistics. Please check out Wikipedia for more information. Companies such as Amazon and Netflix have figure out how to mine this frontier for low frequency gold.

The Waterfall model is the iterative process of the life cycle of an application. Computer applications are solutions to problems big and small. I believe The Long Tail and the Waterfall, will have unbelievable results and most people will not even know it. In the next part of this series I will discuss the pros and cons of each these ideas. I also know, the waterfall model does come under fire from time to time. You have to read the next part to find out what I think.

I have visitors from Italy

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 16:43:51 +0000

I was checking my logs and wow; a few requests from an Italian IP address. I knew the Internet connected the world, but I never thought about the connections it really makes. It could be a bot that is part of some network trying to infect computers, but I would like to think otherwise. To my Italian visitors, please send me an email. I would like to hear about how you found me. I also extend the invitation to all my visitors. If you have time, please let me know. Thanks, Eliot

I wonder what Eggblog can really do, Part 2

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 04:19:46 +0000

This is a very small update. I was able to disable the captcha feature and change some colors. I looked through the code and documentation.  My php-fu is a little rusty.  From what I saw, the application is well structured. For the next part, I will get into the nuts and bolts of Eggblog.

Advertures in creating home.html and robots.txt

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:48:02 +0000

I have so many things to do with this site. I think I will document the process of creating these files, and why they are important. I do not have a time table for this.

How I used VBA to filter spam, Part 1

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:31:46 +0000

Your first question probably is either why did you do this, or what the heck is VBA? Both are goods questions and I will answer neither. I am just kidding. VBA is an acronym for Visual Basic for Applications.  <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_Basic_for_Applications">Wikipedia</a> has a solid overview about it. It is part of the <a target="_blank" href="http://office.microsoft.com/">Microsoft Office Suite</a>. I have the suite and use Outlook to check my email. One day I started to receive spam and like a normal user I made a rule to block it but that did not work. The evil genius who created this spam did his or her homework. My email tool could not filter it properly. Here comes the why and how I used VBA. First, I looked at the contents of the message and found a pattern. Eureka, I can now fight this spam, but alas, Outlook’s rules do not filter on regular expressions (or patterns). What shall I do, I asked myself.  The next step was to <a href="http://www.google.com/" target="_blank">Google</a>, using regular expressions in Outlook.  I found some options, but most seemed like overkill for what I wanted to accomplish. Then, I remembered, VBA can solve my spam problems.  let me try it. In the next part of this series, I will go into detail on how I successfully squashed the spam. I also will post the code for my solution.

Quest for the Sacred...Gallery!?!

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:00:24 +0000

I want to create a photo gallery for my wife. She makes jewelry and would like a ‘web presence.’ Uh, whatever that means (just kidding Ty). I appreciate any suggestions. I have seen <a target="_blank" href="http://gallery.menalto.com">Gallery</a>, but I do not know where to start. I guess every journey has a beginning and this is it. Away I go!

I wonder what Eggblog can really do, Part 1

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 23:18:14 +0000

Until yesterday, I really want to use <a href="http://www.slashcode.com" target="_blank">Slashcode</a> for my site. After about a week of waiting for a module, I decided to try Eggblog. So over the next week, I will try to break, I mean see what <a href="http://www.eggblog.net" target="_blank">Eggblog</a> can do. I will post the results of my study.