thoughts to blog

So there’s a large debate about the Xbox Live Marketplace and the recently released GRAW Chapter 2 Content Download.

Currently it’s priced at 1200 Microsoft Points (roughly $15).

People are whining that it costs too much… blah blah blah. Penny Arcade actually figured it to be $20 if you have < 500 points in your account… (purchase points in increments of 500 roughly).

1. Stop whining.


2. If you think it’s too expensive, don’t fucking buy it.


3. Stop whining.

You know… it costs money to develop these add-ons. Think of it this way. You wan’t a Ferrari, it costs $450,000.00, are you whining directly to Ferrari cause their cars cost too much? I don’t think so.

I’m done ranting!

This video sums up my childhood…once again.

Things are going really well for us at Project RIDE-ME…

So far, we’ve been up for 20 some days and we’ve seen a LOT of feedback and user contribution!

We’ve added 3 core developers and have a slew of new features coming soon:

• Better exception management


• Mongrel support


• Add-in support


• Tons of bug fixes!


• Snippet Management


• Better Rake support

the list goes on and on and on…

Soon enough we’ll have SVN integration and Debugging! Nothing will stop us! mwuahahahaha

So there you have it, the premiere Windows Ruby on Rails IDE! RIDE-ME

I’ve been casually paying attention to the super big soccer event that’s happening right now… and this clip just blew my mind.

Sweet shot!

So, as you’ve seen, I was in Boston, MA at TechEd 2006.

I had a really good time… and I want to describe something that I thought about the entire time I was there.

I’m young. I don’t have any commitments (really)… and it’s an opportune time for me to make any kind of logistical moves that affect my life. I went with an open mind about seeing if I liked a busier city… as a potential place to go in the future. Naturally, I made a list of PROS/CONS about the city of Boston.

Don’t worry, I’m not leaving any time soon!!

Pros:

• The city is old and beautiful


• The city is HOPPING with people ALL the time


• The food is plentiful and great!


• There’s an ocean and boats!


• There are TONS of beautiful women!


• The accent is cool.

Cons:

• Driving is atrocious.


• The roads are everywhere. You’d be better following a Polluck painting than a map of Boston.


• There are lots of bugs and homeless people.


• There are lots of tourists.


• The city is old and beautiful. (I repeated this because if someone were to visit… it’d be tough if they drove or if they rented a car to get around and see the beautiful city. Very frustrating)

So all in all… I have to say that I don’t think I’m going to make that kind of move right now… we’ll see what the future has in store for me. Until then, I’ll keep hitting up the clubs here and kicking ass in Kickball!

So I promise this is the last post on the keynote…

Here are the video sections (streaming, requires Windows Media Player):

100k

300k

So we walked 8 miles or so around Boston… saw all the coolest shit ever.

• Paul Revere’s grave and the church where he did his famous signal


• Stood on the spot where the Boston Massacre happened.


• Saw the USS Constitution

Had some really good food so far as well… I’m loving it.

Plus I’m a celebrity… so you know! :)

Imagine a keynote speech, with 15,000 people in a large conference center.

Now imagine 4, theatre sized screens broadcasting the keynote live to the rest of the audience (who couldn’t see the speakers).

Mix this with a Chloe from 24 (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and a whacky developer (myself) on stage.

And what do you get?

Jake’s face (and ass) in larger than life digital greatness.

(Pictures further down the post)

Here’s the story:

So we were sitting there during the keynote (in between the Microsoft “4” episodes (24 parody)) in the 5th row from the front. “Chloe” was rambling and asking for people in the crowd, who are developers, to speak up. Then she requested the help of 2 developers. Justin, being his normal instigating self, decided that it would be fun for Jake to go up on stage. I wasn’t exactly fighting the entire time…

She slides over to stage right and notices the twinkle in my eye…. Yeah that’s right. She calls me up on stage! Talk about exposure!

So I went up on stage… following closely behind her, as she is VERY attractive. Two other goons (developers) followed. As far as I was concerned, it was just her and I on stage. Cue Jake the goofball.

She had us form a circle and hold each other’s hands. Yeah, I held her hand. Of course my back was the ONLY back to the audience… so I asked her, “Is this my Good side?” (seriously, I did)… she responded with a “yes”. She then straightened us out explaining that “Your good side is quite the distraction”. I about melted. I quickly asked her if I was supposed to read off of the tele prompter, to which she replied “NO, those are my lines.” (Classic Pablo Francisco quote). I also put my arm around her… it was great. We made a great match! ;-)

Her attention was primarily focused on me… which was great! I even got my own hug from her out of the deal. Holding her hand twice made me nervous. It was great.

I wish the story wouldn’t have ended… that I would have gotten to talk to her or got a picture with her or… ahem, gone out with her tonight… but alas, it ended as quickly as it started.

One of the best experiences of my life. I’m a celebrity.

Here are some of the photos. They were taken by Wes

(Click on the images for larger versions)

Well guys, I’m out here in Boston at TechEd 2006.

From the looks of the place while I was on the plane… I might not ever come back!

It’s gorgeous.

We’ll see…

It’s one thing to work at a great company doing the job you love (software development).

But when you spend an entire day implementing and testing a sweet feature… and it works, you get a HUGE sense of accomplishment.

This one in particular will save hours for the client. I took a stab at it on Monday and pairing it with my crab-ass attitude, I failed miserably. Took another crack at it and hit it right on the head!

That’s one of the things I like about what I do… yeah people have solved some of the same problems before, but there’s still a lot of creativity left for you to provide your own custom solution. There’s a lot of pride in that.

Plus you run into super complex problems that no one else has solved… imagine that for a second. Love it.

There are only a few other things I’d like to do as a career other than software development: AI research, archaeology, Air Force test pilot, and super secret field operative for a super secret organization.

My girl JaG is on 25peeps.com.

CLICK this link and give her some blog love.

There you go hot stuff.

Don’t read this if you’re looking to work in pr0n : contact me via email if that’s the case ;)

Read this if you’re sick of not being able to develop Ruby on Rails applications on Windows

RIDE-ME (or Rails IDE - Minus Eclipse) is your answer!

Features:

• Complete Generation Engine (Project, Scaffolding, Models, Controllers, Mailers, Migrations, etc.)


• File System Based approach. No need to have messy workspace files or extra RIDE-ME specifics junking up your directory.


• Familiar Visual Studio style Tabbed document editor.


• Syntax highlighting for Ruby Files, Views, Layouts, JavaScript?, SQL, CSS, and HTML.


• Options for user Defined Color Schemes, Ruby/Rails Integration, and WEBrick Settings.


• WEBrick server integration.


• Helper tag shortcuts to avoid all that typing.


• Project statitistics.


• Integrated Unit, and Functional testing support.


• Find and Replace.

Download RIDE-ME RC1 Now!

Thanks to Mike (read: blameMike) for spending all of his time working on this project while I pretended to be a developer.

Go check out the blog while you’re at it

Setting: I’m at the bar… with some friends, who are all talking amongst themselves. The bartender comes up and asks me for a drink.

Jake - Yeah.. I’ll have a Jack and Coke please.

Bartender - Sure thing… that’ll be $3.75

(Jake hands over the cash)

Jake (looking down at the glass) - Looks like it’s just you and me tonight buddy.

Jack Daniels - fizzz

Jake - Yeah I know, it’s a lonely weekend… (takes sip) but let’s see where this takes me. (gulps the rest of the whiskey and coke)

Bartender - Another?

Jake - Sure… what the hell. Make it two.

(Jake chugs one down)

Jake (whipes whiskey from his chin) - Let’s get crazy Jack. You and me. Whaddya say?

Jack Daniels - Go over there and talk to that red-head.

Jake (blinks) - What the fuck? (looks around and leans in close to the whiskey)

Jack Daniels - “Whip it out, they will come”

Jake (laughs) - Yeah OOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKKKK Time for another whiskey.

(Jake raps on the bar, the whiskey is poured)

An hour later

(Jake is busting a move on teh dance floor, barely holding himself up)

Jake - See Keya, this is how us white Iowa boys get down!

(Grabs his ankle and proceeds to thrust his leg towards his chest back and forth to MC Hammer)

Jake - I DOn’t knowwwwas what oyur’ talkin about , I”m not as think as you rdunk I am.

Jake - So budddyy JACk, Whaddya say we head down to the [Vu][2] and getsssssssss us asome bresastses.

(Jake falls over on the floor and is escorted out by the bouncer)

(Jake whips out his Zack Morris cell phone)

(Types out “I Love wHiskEYYY@@!!!” and sends it to all the females in his phone)

NOTE This is NOT how I spend my weekends :) Well… at least NOW-a-days.

Adult Swim on Cartoon Network is probably one of my favorite block of TV programming that I will make time to watch. Great shows like Family Guy, Futurama, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and a new show called Robot Chicken. Simplistic in its design, but hilarious beyond anything you’ve ever seen before. The show uses mostly classic toys and animates them with crazy stories. Watch these few clips from season 2, then go out and pick up the first season on DVD.

Vader calls the Emperor after Episode IV

Morning Wood

Donkey Kong

Looney Tunes 8 Mile

Look more up on YOUTUBE.com Peace.