A long over due post.

     So it has been a good long while since I posted a new blog so I figured it was time.  I've been on vacation and I've been doing all the things I normally put off until I have time to do them.  So what is new since we last spoke, well I graduated with my two degrees and I'm still at my new job in IT.  Additionally, I'm back in school studying web technologies.  I have to say so far I'm not a fan of HTML or CSS sheets.  So I'm just putting my head down and pressing on.  Its not that I can't do it just that its not as interesting as programming.  Though I do feel a sense of accomplishment when I get the web pages built correctly.
    
     So vacation, I've mostly caught up on things but I did make two new programs.  Nothing special just some things to use with remote desktop or vnc.  The first is DriveTime.  What it does is adds a small set of two boxes to the system tray that simulates the drive lights on the front of the computer.  Sometime when remotely connecting to a computer to install a program you can't tell if its frozen or if its just taking a long time to install.  With this program you can see when the computer writes to or reads from the hard drive.  The second program I wrote shows basic information about the computer.  I this named InfoCPU and it shows a graphical representation of available physical memory and virtual memory as well as user name, computer name, domain name, IP address, max physical memory, max virtual memory, available physical and virtual memory, tells if the computer is on a network and also has the option to show drive read and writes.  So far the only work on Vista and Windows 7. Something in the close on DriveTime keeps it from working correctly in XP.  Also, if I remove the read write code from InfoCPU then it will run on the XP platform.  I didn't discover I had broken InfoCPU till after I'd added that code.  Anyway, both have Microsoft install packages written for them so they can be removed via add / remove programs on the control panel.

     Anyway, it wasn't awe inspiring but it is a new blog.  Until next time....-
    

Play, School and Getting Geeky

Well this is the second attempt at this blog. The first went up in flames and I lost all the work I'd done in HTML to impress you with. So I'll take another stab at it. So Lets begin.
Work is work though I do get paid to do what I love. Things are hectic now as we got this major project thrust into our laps thursday and friday so we are having to make due keeping everything running and trying to accomplish this task as well. Still I'd rather do this than anything I've ever done for a job.
Tonight I watched Game of Thrones on Blueray. It was very good and followed the book for the most part. I've read all but "A Dance With Dragons". You can see more about the author and series below.





School is still running me to death. I'm fresh off of spring break and if anything I'm further behind on my capstone. I'm giving it the old team effort though. Worked on homework today for a good long stretch. Still more to do tomorrow and then I get to start all over again.
So that's about it for now. I'll close with some links to some things I've been checking out lately.

Links:

Rasberry Pi Linux $35 computer with 1080p graphics




Yoda Desk Defender

Work, School and the Dreams We Dream

So where to begin.  Well let's start with work news.  Those who know me know that I've worked for my company for the last 17 years as a shop floor union employee.  Recently, I've been working in the Quality Department.  I've been working on the Quality Action Team (QAT) since last November.  Its rewarding but hectic work.  Well starting Monday I cross the line to work as a nonexempt nonunion office worker.  I'm nervous about this change.  A little over two weeks ago, I was offered the Support Assistant job with IT that I had applied for in November of last year just before I moved to QAT.  I formally accepted the position and effective Monday I get to get paid doing what I love to do.  They will actually pay me to play with computers.  In 2009 I started working towards these two degrees with the hopes that when I finished I would land a job either programming or in user support.  Monday is the realization of that dream.  That said I'm still nervous.
     School seems to be coming right a long, I'm on the cusp of spring break.  I'm fairly caught up for now.  I'm going to use the break to get in some major programming on my capstone project.  This week I'm working on my 2 activities for my user support and software evaluations class.  Additionally, I'm working on my final draft of my written analysis for my system support project.  To my surprise my rough draft was well received and only needs minor tweeking.  Once those few tasks are completed my spring break begins.  So tonight I'm working on one of the three things I need.
     Other school news, all my graduation petitions have been approved. I ordered my cap and gown last night for my May 11th graduation.  Just these four classes to go and I'm still a bit nervous trying to make sure I meet all my deadlines and still have time to relax a little.  I'm still dating Sandra and I'm content.  I don't like to go into details for fear I'll jinx it.  Let's just say we get along and have a lot of fun together. 
     So this isn't the longest post but I hadn't written in a while and I wanted you guys to know I hadn't collapsed under the strain of school and work.  I will leave you with the following:

                         Be the change you seek in the world!

Ramblings from a tired mad man

Well schools moving right along.  No major hiccups other than program and the database aren't on speaking terms yet.  That will soon be resolved.  Things are still hectic but my graduation petitions were approved so I'm set for graduation in May.  Well as soon as I go pay the business office and turn them  in at the registrars office.

Lots to do this week.  I'm disappointed in my new PT case for my Thunderbolt.  The other lasted me over a  year.  I bought this one 7 days ago and the clip snapped off it tonight.  I'll be returning that one to the store.  Works a never ending mad rush.  Things are so hectic and a little disorganized at the moment.  My position is new and they are still really deciding what it they want me to do.  I'm the only one on my shift doing that job and it seems each evening is different.  Mostly I try to resolve customer complaints or I track down parts that customers complain about that we are making to verify that we aren't making them bad also.  I like the job because it requires you to think on your feet.

I still haven't heard anything on the IT position.  I applied in November and I interviewed a few weeks back.  I feel like I nailed it but I've not heard anything as yet.  Everything I heard is positive but still nothing.  Additionally there is an Engineering job at work that they want a programmer for.  Since I'm getting a degree in programming and I've done what they are requesting I thought about applying for it as well.

So I haven't gotten Geeky in a blog or two so here's my offerings

Android Apps I've been playing with of late:  (Some will work on iPhone as well I'll note them)
Mindjet (awesome I've used it to map the interfaces and the project for my capstone)
HeyTell (Texting but with voice.  You send voice messages back and forth)  available on iPhone as well
Astro File Manager (I've used OI file manager forever but I like Astro it's very nice)
Blogger (it's what I'm using to write and post this.

Well that's all I can think up tonight.  I'll write more later in the week if I have time.

Mindjet map of my capstone as it stands now.

The wolf, overloading and generally just freaking out.

Where to begin, well it's been over a week since I shared my thoughts here.  I thought I'd sit down and power though everything that I've been working on.  So lets begin....

Everyone is watching the campaigns, everyone is so concerned about i'm a liberal, i'm a conservative.  Well as I stated on facebook this is where politicians want you.  By labeling you they put you in a group that you will defend and follow.  Meanwhile they have their grubby little paws in the cookie jar stealing all your cookies.  They like you peacefully oblivious.  It's obvious by the mass media bull crap that we are force fed on a daily basis.  Well it's time for a change, time to do something about it.  Don't just take things for granted, do your homework.  Be the wolf, not the sheep.  I will leave this part of this weeks message with a quote from Thorin of Wickedjester "It is not a question of who will let me, It is a question of who will stop me."  and "You laugh at me because I'm different but I laugh at you because you are all the same."

Well another week is almost in the books.  Am I stressing out? Yup very much.  I've been reviewing getting ready for my first java program for Advanced Java Programming and apparently i'm not happy with my progress in this.  I'm still struggling to get my routine down for this semester.  This week I'm swamped both at work and at home.  Sandra D. has been a bright spot in all this.  She's managed to keep me from freaking completely out.  That and my daily talks with Wayne who finished the same degrees last year.  So I'm riding the ragged edge a little not sleeping like I should mainly because I'm  freaking out over these projects.  Though I am less freaked this week than last week.  Hopefully next week I'll settle in and get some real work done.

Even with the craziness I've been happier and doing more than usual.  I blame Sandra for this, she has a knack for making me smile.  For me it's the looks she gives me when she thinks i'm not looking.   I think talking to her after work while we walk to the cars is probably my favorite and at the same time saddest part of my day.  Favorite because I get to talk to her and hang out.  Saddest because I have to leave and come home.  I know I went all sappy on you.  Well this is what's on my mind right now. 

Things I'm thinking about:
My programming project (more and more)
Sandra D. (of course)
Trying to remember what sleep feels like.

Movies I want to see:
Underworld
Red Tails

Music:
I listened to Dean Martin's "That's amore" earlier it's still stuck in my head.
Howlin For You by Black Keys
Outside by Staind
Crazy Train by Ozzy (nuff said)

Web Sites:
Wicked Jester  www.wickedjester.com
Order of the Stick  www.giantitp.com

Till next time I put fingers to keyboard and my mind to this madness, be safe.

Fourteen weeks to go and thars life in them thar hills.....

School News:
Well it has been a week since the last post so here we are again another late night.  Am I still freaking out about the projects? Oh yea! So far I've turned in my initial proposal on the user support project.  I finally decided to do an online gaming company for the game I'm writing for my programming Capstone.  So far I've decided that I'm still treading water but just barely.  I'm working on Chapter ones assignments in user support, reviewing chapters 1 through 4 in java and trying to get my written proposal together for the programming Capstone.  On the Java mainly I'm working through all the end of chapter programs.  Its boring but a good review.  So there are fourteen weeks of school left and i know your bored to tears by now I know.

Personal News:
Well good news, I'm on the dating scene again just when i thought it would never happen for me again. I asked her out and to my surprise she said yes.   Its nice to feel like I'm not a cast off anymore.  I don't want to say much about it for fear I might jinx it.  I know my plate is very full with school and work and now I've added more.  I think its worth it though.  I know I smile and laugh a lot more.  So yea that's life in them that hills. . . .

So since everything has been everyday things I thought I'd shake it up a bit so here's a new section for the blog.

All Things Geek:
Did you know that your digital camera can see infered signals? Turn on the camera phone point the TV remote at your camera and press a button you'll see the infered pulse.  Some are a light blue some red.  A good way to see if the batteries in the remote need changing.

Did you know you can hook the motherboards from 8 playstation3's together and make a super computer? You can. The PS3 uses a cell type processor that seems perfect for this.  There quite a few articles on Google about it.  Apparently it works very nice.

Upcoming. . .
More updates on school, personal news and all things geek.  Well we'll see. Until next time.

The beginning of the end.

Well it"s official the Spring 2012 semester is underway.  With a little effort, hard work and luck I will graduate in May.  It has been a long journey but I believe this semester will feel like the last three years rolled into one.  This semester is ambitious.  I will again be pushing the envelope in Java programming, learning about user support as it applies to help desk services, and finishing my two final projects.

My programming project will be an old school Mud. For those unfamiliar with what a mud is look up Dragonrealms or Aetolia online to get an idea.  I'm still writing up the proposal so I haven't worked out all the particulars with it.  The plan is to run the actual game from a C++ program which pulls the game data from an access database.  Then create a game masters interface for creature, npc, item and room creation in visual basic.  This seems very ambitious to me and may have to be scaled back some.  For now I have fifteen weeks to make this all come together.

My user support project will be to set up the servers, firewalls, routers, find an ISP, set up all the background support that my programming project Mud would require.  From remote connections to ecommerce for the site.  Again a pretty ambitious project.

I am a little nervous but looking forward to the challenges ahead.  This post has been all about school but this won't always be the case.  This is just what's foremost on my mind today.  With that I will close for now.

A slow start . . .

Well I set this up as most do with grand plans of how this blog would be different cutting edge and be my outlet, nae my canvas, to share my thoughts and ideas with the world.  So its at least been 2 months since the first blog.  As its 2012, lets begin a new. Today was a good, albeit, a busy day.  As I'm new to blogging bear with me while I find my way through all that is blogging.  I'm unsure what or where this is going but I wanted to put something in writing. 

Things I'm thinking about or into now: Reading George R.R. Martins "Dance with Dragons", Playing "Skyrim, Need for Speed The Run, Borderlands, Demon Soul", Listening to "Volbeat, Red, Five Finger Death Punch, RA, Shaman's Harvest", Watching "Burn Notice, Grimm, Sons of Guns, Sherlock, Dr. Who, Blue Mountain State, Last Man Standing, Whitney", Programming "Working on my Capstone which is a MultiUser Dungeon using Visual Basic, C++, and Access"

Well I think I've written enough for now.  Next time maybe I'll have the Database connected to the C++ or Vis Basic.