My Life

Its been a while since i posted something on my site. So i’m going to make a list and cover each one in as much detail as I can.

1. My Job
2. Potential new project
3. Pneumonia
4. Projects

Ok, My job is interesting I have to deal with some intresting problems and not so cool things. I have been working my butt off doing things at my job that isn’t Code Releated and I have to say I’m starting to miss coding a lot.  Its been so long since the last time I have to code anything I have started to forget some of the simple things that I knew like the back of my hand. Other then missing coding, I have been doing a lot of stuff with Wireless Networks at work and Phone Systems I’m starting to get envoled with.

I might have the chance to work with AGIS,Inc and there LifeRing Application. Due to NDA’s and Confinidentuality agreements I can’t say much other then I have the chance to build a web interface for anyliss for it and the GOV. So thats all i can into for detail.

I came down with pneumonia this pass weekend and have been laid up on the couch since friday night. Which sucks because I hate not working when I know I can. I thought it was kinda odd, since this past friday we start bowling in a league under the name “The 4 Horse Men”.

I’m also working on a windows mobile application for tracking employees from there mobile device. I have been playing with trackme which is a applicaiton that basically does what I want with a little more. Except its a massive eater of battery on my HTC Titan Phone and the User can close the application. So Idea behind the one I’m writing runs a service in the background and stores 5 positions in a xml file then makes a data connection and pushes them to a database server then disconnects the phone from the data connection. This would make it a little more efficent on battery power. I’m working on a web interface for it that uses google maps to display and analize the data points.

So thats where I’m at this Point. I’m looking for more programming projects. Due to the Fact I miss it to much. My brain doesn’t feel like its getting much use doing IT work with any Programming for it to do. Nap time to so I can go to work tomorrow.

Ok, let me be frank, I’m not much of a windows user anymore like I was pre-2005. I attend to use Unix or Linux for all my needs. My new job has required me to brush off my windows skills and rehone them. All I have to say is after dealing with Windows Server 2008 and Exchange 2007. Microsoft why the Hell can’t you leave layouts and way programs work? Exchange 2007 and Server 2008 panels and settings are so confusing by them making it what they call simple. I have to say windows 2003 and exchange 2003 were perfect in the layout and access policy. PLEASE Microsoft stop changing the server UI and compents of the UI for Server Applications. It feels like I’m speaking english and your speaking some screwed up language. I spend more time searching for shit then anything else.

End of my Rant! improvements to software is good as long as the user doesn’t feel like they have to learn something totally new.

Well for the past week I have been at my new job work my tail off. For starters on the phone fixing a Exchange server with microsoft to fix a domain rename and get exchange to like it. Also this week, I worked on a Cisco System Router and ASA 5505.  I have to say the Cisco ASA’s rock I couldn’t believe how easy it was to setup and deploy. The company I work does a lot of high WIFI networking and i have to its interesting. I have to say so far its been interesting. It will be interesting to see what next week will bring to the table. We do a lot with phone systems using VOIP so it will be interesting to see when I get into the phone stuff, but I’m hoping that i just stay in the networking part with a main focus in the security aspect of things to be honest.  I also got the chance to learn on the spot how to terminate fiber multimode.

Also my buddy jeremy has introduced me to a lot of new music of the past couple of months and I have to say his latest find is awesome. The band is call the Old Crow Medicine Show below is a video clip of it. Its a got a turn of the century sound to them.

Old Crow Medicine Show — Wagon Wheel

Well i have been busy studying for the umpire exam for slow pitch softball. What brings this on you ask? Well because of my cousin matt I have been playing softball all summer long. I’m a ok player but I think I would be a better manager or umpire. So I was talking to one of the umpires about how to be coming a umpire. So Neal told me to talk to Donnie who is the Chief Umpire for our league. At the last game we add Donnie gave me the rule book and told me where to go on the USSSA website to get the exam and casebook. I didn’t realize how much it was to umpiring to make sure that you stay fair to everyone. I personally believe the casebook is better study guide then the dam book. So I hope soon I’ll be a official USSSA umpire for slow pitch softball.

ok, to give you update on why my site has been down. The following is from the email by the Man!

It seems as if the server, as expected, had a problem booting after
some upgrades.  — Dave

So now email is working and the Site is back with Upgrades. Coming soon a python script for tracking system status and graphing them using google charts api.

For the past couple of months I have given up on PHP and moved to Django to learn Python for Web. Which at first I was like hrm another framework! Just what i need in my life another dang framework for my clients to want sites done in. I have to say at first I was a little shaky at becuase I didn’t know python and had never programmed in python in my life. I knew with python you could do neat things like make the google logo automatically from friends that worked at google at the time. I have to say if your tight on deadlines take a look at django I was amazed how fast I could develop a complete site in. In the 4 months that i have been using it seriously in, I have built a complete CMS with Forum, Gallery, SMS and NOC(Network Operations Center).

I do have to say one thing, Its not easy to get up and running on a shared hosting enviroment. You will need shell access, able to install python apps and packages. I recommend if you can run it under mod_python instead of fastcgi or wsgi. Mod_python makes it easier to get up runing in a snap.

This project is currently only in none 1.0 releases, I recommend working on the trunk if you don’t mind reworking things time to time due to fixes or better ways to do things. Like currently I’m having to rewrite my gallery due to changes in fields and storing uploaded files.

If you sick of the same old php or RoR(Ruby on Rails) I say give Django a Shot.