Long Time No See

Like so many others, I've found no time for the individual blogging for the last year or so.

So, here's a quick rundown of what's happened in the last year+ since I put this blog on hiatus:

• Got Engaged
• Got Married
• Sold my house (moved into Jen's house)
• Went to St. Lucia for a honeymoon (awesome)
• My wife became pregnant
• Quit my job and started a new business
• Had a baby (Gabriel Stephen, cutest thing ever) - 1/31/08
• Jen's staying home with Gabe, so she resigned from her job

Soooo... needless to say things have been very busy at our house. After deciding to cram as many life changing events as possible into two years, I'm taking breaks where possible and enjoying fatherhood.

Hope any of the former readers of this blog who happen to see this are doing well. Most people I actually talk to anyway.

I may pop in occassionally on this, not sure yet, but I guess it's possible.

Weird Spam About 'Design Patterns'?

I got this spam in an email, which is no surprise, I get a lot of spam, the majority of which is caught by my email software. Anyway, I was looking through my spam folder this AM to make sure I didn't miss an email I expected to receive and saw this email... As a former programmer, there is some real technology stuff in here... But the language is really choppy.... The weird thing is this email doesn't link anywhere, doesn't contain any attachments, and doesn't seem to do anything. Maybe they are trying to determine if this is a real email address.... But it's really odd...

Head First book, you know Java's built-in pattern With Design Patterns, how patterns are design problems, and better you want to learn the up a creek without In a way that lets you put advantage Java's built-in pattern your time on...something In their native

be wrong (and what your brain works. Using his stunningly clever use of Command, put you to sleep! We think "secret language" advantage your brain works. Using

the "Trading Spaces" show. applications. You Head First Design Patterns or on the real relationship matter--why to use them,

about inheritance might that you can hold your and Adapter. With Head First Design Patterns, you'll avoid and experience of others, your boss told you

of patterns with others the embarrassment of thinking at speaking the language brain in a way that sticks.
is so often misunderstood, of Design Patterns so with

real OO design principles



"secret language" science, and learning theory, own with your co-worker alone. At any given moment, used in the Java API more complex.
about inheritance might

put you to sleep! We think



so that you can spend so you look to Design and experience of others, format designed for the way who've faced the better at solving software applications. You

same problems.



a design paddle pattern. look "in the wild". also want to learn Facade, Proxy, and Factory used in the Java API about inheritance might of the best practices In a way that makes you else. Something more with


between Decorator, Facade to do instead). You want Facade, Proxy, and Factory texts. If you've read a neurobiology, cognitive design problems, and better when he casually mentions Something more fun.
used in the Java API Java's built-in pattern Design Patterns, you'll avoid Best of all, in a way that won't , and how to exploit to do instead). You want

the latest research in to do instead). You want you don't want to look "in the wild". to use them (and when somewhere in the world his stunningly clever use of Command, so you look to Design you want to learn the sounds, how the Factory Patterns--the lessons Design Patterns, you'll avoid Best of all, in a way that won't challenging. Something real OO design principles Most importantly, better at solving software the patterns that a design paddle pattern. Design Patterns, you'll avoid the next time you're

them to work immediately. used in the Java API better at solving software

Singleton isn't as simple as it principles will help

(and impress cocktail party guests) the latest research in to know how they Most importantly, up a creek without between Decorator, Facade the same software

words, in real world

9/11

Scott at Transformatum asks the question, where were you five years ago today? Earlier today I thought about those poor people who lost their lives, and the change that had on our country, but until I saw Scott's post I hadn't thought much about were I was five years ago today. Here is my response on Scott's Blog:

I was at work, I thought it was going to be a big day (personally), I had recently been named as project manager to a very, very large account (at 25) and my new clients were on their way in town from LA and New York.

I was in the car about the time the first plane had hit (I assume) although I didn’t know this at the time, after parking I got on the shuttle from the parking lot to head to my building when another passenger mentioned something about it. I assumed, like everbody that it was a small plane. By the time I got to my desk, somebody said another plane had hit the WTC. I was a little shocked and huddle with one of my colleagues to watch on the internet.

My clients from LA arrived a few minutes later and we headed to the conference room. Even though we were all in shock, we talked a little bit about what had happened and then to my surprise they said they wanted to get started with the meetings. We found out a little while later that our client heading in from NY flight was re-routed and grounded. I also didn’t really learn about flight 93 and the pentagon until a short time later.

Unfortunately, we worked most of that day (and the three that followed) and other than watching news when I returned home each evening (pretty much late in the evening I should add), I never really had a chance to absorb what happened.

My clients are all very nice people who I usually got along with very well… But it always bothered me that we spent the better part of 10 - 12 hours on 9/11 - 9/13 working and paying no attention to the travesty going on in the world around us. They barely ever mentioned the attacks during breaks, barely regonized the change these attacks had on the world. The most often thing we discussed is how they would be able to return to LA (renting a car, etc…) because of the complications with travel.

Looking back on that day the thing that bothers me because I wasn’t able to reflect and mourn like the rest of the country did at that time.

Where were you on 9/11/01?

Don't Worry Mark, I'm Sure Your Arm Slot's Fine

And your shoulder should be okay too.... Can you start this Sunday?

















(by the way, I know this is a crappy use of the rubber stamp tool, I didn't want to spend a lot of time on it).

Mo' Money, Mo' Problems for China

China is realizing that what Biggie said is true: "Mo Money, Mo Problems". They are about to hit 1 Trillion dollars in US Cash (or equivalents) on hand... and they are having a hard time figuring out what to do without causing problems in their economy...

Without being an economist (only took 15 hrs in college, prolly close to a minor), and not really studying this situation, my comment is: "Gee maybe if you did want a free economy, instead of trying to finance ours, everyone would be better off". Something's gotta give, I sure they don't dump our cash and TBills on the world market, or were screwed.