thoughts to blog

Rails Routes

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:08:35 -0600

WARNING: Geek Post

In the Rails world, you have these things called resource routes…

http://api.rubyonrails.org/classes/ActionController/Resources.html

You can define how the url gets translated into which controller and action, based on REST principles, thin controllers, and fat data models.

Image, if you will, you see this in your routes file:

This already describes a lot about your application:

There will be a /users path
You will have a User model
The user has a shopping cart, many favorites, a profile, and friends. Each with their own matching model.

Granted, I could have done this too:

But like I said, it describes a lot about the application your building…

Arguably enough to be able to generate: controllers, actions, views, models, and basic functional tests… The only thing it doesn’t describe is the fields you’re collecting about each object.

So my question becomes: If Rails is all about RESTful resources, why don’t we focus on simple generation of an application based on the routes.rb file. Since the HTTP Verb and the Resource URL are important and the routes.rb describes those two, why not start there?

Conversationlist

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:39:00 -0600

So I briefly talked about Twitter lists a few days ago… and already there are some interesting things happening with them:

Listorious.com - the first obvious implementation after someone gives you data is a directory that is taggable and searchable.
Of course the huge thing is discovery… I created a DFW list that has 14 people following it and has over 135 people on it.
Conversationlist - this one popped up this morning reading @jonsteinberg’s tweet. It’s a tool that keeps track of who you talk about, the people that influence you. It constantly updates with people who you interact with on Twitter. Interesting!

In starting to think about this, there are immediate limitations that come up: it’s just a list of people. But when you break out of that mind block, you’ll see some more interesting ways to interact with this. News organizations and higher profile people are creating a “Must See” ecosystem of people. An example is Tim O’Reilly’s Government 2.0 list: http://twitter.com/timoreilly/gov20

At any rate, enough about Twitter lists…

By the way, my wife, Becca, finally joined Twitter: @BeccaKGood

Everyone knows that Bacon is pretty much the best food on...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:00:39 -0600

Bacon Grease

Bacon Grease Fractal

Everyone knows that Bacon is pretty much the best food on Earth… in fact, it’s so cool, that even the grease it leaves behind creates fractals.

(note: in case you forgot about my last “beautiful food post)

Twitter Lists

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:55:21 -0600

Recently, Twitter released Lists… a capability that people have been asking for, for a while.

For example, I created a list of all the cool DFW people I follow:

http://twitter.com/gooberdlx/dallas-fort-worth

You can then follow that list.. or follow other people’s lists.

This begs for 2 questions:

How will this change Follow Friday? I could easily see some Follow Friday list generator applications…
How long is it before spammers find a unique way to take advantage of this tool.

Either way there is an opportunity for some more utilities and data goodies here :)

Still undetermined for me…

When you follow a list, does it send notification to everyone on the list? What about if new people are added to that list? What does following a list really mean?

We Are All Connected

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:01:14 -0500

We Are All Connected

LEGO Time Lapse Build (Tower Crane #7905)

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:52:04 -0500

LEGO Time Lapse Build (Tower Crane #7905)

LEGO Tower Crane (7905-1)

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:49:00 -0500

LEGO Tower Crane (7905-1)

Barnes & Noble Nook (eReader)

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:17:02 -0500

Barnes & Noble Nook (eReader):

You will be in my possession…

Kiva Update

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:45:48 -0500

This is insane! In just a little over a month, we’re already getting our funds back from the micro loans we furnished on Kiva…

Exciting!

Eufemia Bartolo Portalatino in Peru (Activity: Poultry)
You Loaned: $75.00
Newly Repaid: $25.01
Total Repaid So Far: $25.01 (33.35% of your loan)
Repayment Status: Paying back on time
View loan profile at:
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=131905&_te=ru

Taiwo Odetunde in Nigeria (Activity: Timber Sales)
You Loaned: $50.00
Newly Repaid: $6.25
Total Repaid So Far: $6.25 (12.50% of your loan)
Repayment Status: Paying back on time
View loan profile at:
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=133846&_te=ru

Yoramu Yamanya in Uganda (Activity: Health)
You Loaned: $25.00
Newly Repaid: $2.08
Total Repaid So Far: $2.08 (8.32% of your loan)
Repayment Status: Paying back on time
View loan profile at:
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=135798&_te=ru

Benkelema Group in Mali (Activity: Retail)
You Loaned: $25.00
Newly Repaid: $6.25
Total Repaid So Far: $6.25 (25.00% of your loan)
Repayment Status: Paying back on time
View loan profile at:
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=135809&_te=ru

Nyoka Cosi in Sudan (Activity: Charcoal Sales)
You Loaned: $25.00
Newly Repaid: $2.41
Total Repaid So Far: $2.41 (9.64% of your loan)
Repayment Status: Paying back on time
View loan profile at:
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=136550&_te=ru

I seriously recommend that people try this out…

fuckyeah4chan: WIN.

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:17:32 -0500

fuckyeah4chan:

WIN.

Earth and Jupiter from Mars… in one frame… (source)

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:26:03 -0500

Earth and Jupiter from Mars… in one frame… (source)

Justice / Lenny Kravitz “Let Love Rule” on Vimeo...

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:11:49 -0500

Justice / Lenny Kravitz “Let Love Rule” on Vimeo (via Vimeo)

TEDxSMU

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:51:06 -0500

Today I witnessed, quite possibly, the best group gathering I have ever been to in my life (unless you count my wedding as one).

TEDxSMU

TED is a “conference” that focuses on inspiring people with other people’s stories… sharing information and motivation that propels people to innovate and start something. “Ideas worth spreading”

TEDxSMU is part of the TEDx campaign where it brings smaller scale versions of TED to other cities and countries…

Why would I say that it’s quite possibly the best group gathering I’ve ever been to? Let me describe to you the people I sat down and had actual conversations with:

William Kamkwamba… as in the Boy Who Harnessed the Wind that you’ve all been seeing on TV, listening to his story about how he saved his village with a windmill made from a few spare parts. I spent a few minutes engaging William and asking questions about how this whirl wind (::groan::) of international media attention has affected him. You could easily tell he was overwhelmed, but starting to get used to it.

Turk Pipkin… Created a non-profit organization and filmed how he has helped villages in Kenya build schools and provide sustainable resources to help feed communities and keep fresh, running water flowing. All while documenting this with film. Fascinating work.

Ira Greenberg…Talked with Ira for a few minutes about his artwork involving generative graphics and audio. His installation is entirely dynamic (both audio and visual) and generates based on interactions with the environment. Definitely my cup of tea.

Arthur Benjamin… The Mathemagician, who can calculate the square of a 5 digit number within minutes in his head. He taught the entire audience the quick and easy way to square any 2 digit number. I’ll have to show you sometime.

Lewis Warren… is a 13 year old piano prodigy. Started playing the piano at 3, composing pieces by 5, and has since toured the world with his gift.

and my personal favorite

Anousheh Ansari… The first woman in the private sector to travel to space. Absolutely thrilling as her family is also the sponsor of the $10 MM X Prize… Yeah, literally, the X Prize. I had a chat with her and her husband about space, the future of private funded space exploration, and other technology related topics. She’s incredibly approachable and she’s been to space. Need I say more?

Indescribable how I feel right now…

a long way gone

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:23:37 -0500

I finished A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah today while at the ENT…

I’m still trying to process the book, as it is one of those that you read and it moves your neurons. It’s also one of those books that makes you want to travel to foreign countries (or strike up something similar here) and rescue children in bad situations.

It’s a fast read… only a few hundred pages and is incredibly interesting. It’s a memoir about Ishmael’s life growing up as a child soldier in Sierra Leone. Very detailed and very personal. Loved it.

A conversation with Andy

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:57:37 -0500

me: wouldn't it be nice
andy: you betcha
me: we should do something about it
andy: i know
andy: what are we talking about?
me: no idea, i thought you knew
andy: oh i know, i was seeing if you knew
andy: but now we're on the same path
andy: lets do this!
me: I do know, I thougth I'd test you to see if you knew
me: ok
me: sounds good
me: meet you there
andy: yup

A friend just opened up her online clothing boutique… Kind...

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:21:02 -0500

A friend just opened up her online clothing boutique… Kind Boutique…

She sells eco-friendly clothes (you know, Al Gore approved wear)… made from magic beans and corn husks… No really, her stuff is fantastic and she has a good eye for fashion.

Star Wars Uncut

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:44:11 -0500

Star Wars Uncut:

Absolutely genius! Chop up a film into 15 second clips and have the web re-create those clips… Put them together…

Crowd sourced filming… Love it.

Richard Dawkins on Colbert It’s always good to see bright...

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:07:16 -0500

Richard Dawkins on Colbert

It’s always good to see bright scientists in modern media situations. Btw, you should buy his new book: The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution

"See, that’s the difference between your Dark Lord and you. I tweet about my ex & gain 400+..."

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:42:41 -0500

“See, that’s the difference between your Dark Lord and you. I tweet about my ex & gain 400+ female followers. You just get your car keyed.”

- @darthvader

lazy dogs (via GooberDLX)

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:45:46 -0500

lazy dogs (via GooberDLX)