Technology

Software Engineering 577

Nothing will cut short blogging time like school.

About 2 weeks ago, it came to a point where I realized that htere was a chance that I could actually fail this class if I didn’t get my shit together.

Ever since then I’ve been on punshment, no going out to play, no watching TV, no doing work at work. Only school, only the gentle arms of Software Cost Estimation Models.

How Sexy.

Observations
1) The other masters students are amost exclusively Indian. Can you say Tandori Chicken.
2) TA’s are the one’s who really teach and grade the classes. Cross them at your peril.
3) Politics still works.
4) Networking is the key to success.

The Flash Blog by Lee Brimelow is changing my Flash game. His tutorials reveal many of the hidden nuances of Actionscript, that would have the uninitiated scratching their heads and giving up.
See, I’m one of those people that will tinker with something for hours and hours until I figure it out. But sometimes when it comes to Flash, I’ll be happy SwaggerJacking from whomever has the information I need. The Object higherarchy has always confused me, to the point that I would just give up and do a site in HTML (what a drag). Hey give me a break, there are only so many hours in the day to tinker with this stuff.
Once again I digress, back to the topic (my A.D.D. kicking in). The Flash Blog has video tutorials of very advanced user interface design subjects such as creating a 3D carousel effect and developing a Scrollable Thumbnail Panel. Basically lots of things that I would of never figured out on my own (not never but, eh).
Flash has evolved into a very robust web based user interface design tool. I’m tempted to introduce a flash based application at work but my bosses might balk at the idea.
My going back to school has reinvigorated my interest in writing code. After 10 years of writing software, it all starts to look the same. Now I get a chance to get to learn the fundamentals of what I‚Äôve been doing, and get a degree when I finish, yessss. This can’t be just an academic adventure my technical skills will also take a step forward, now begone while I sit and ponder.

It has come to my attention that my blog can’t be seen by people using internet explorer on windows machines.
It is obviously a plan by the man to hold me down.
I’ve seen this before
I know his plan; hmmm maybe it’s HER plan. I have to be prepared!!
Anyway, I have to go over the CSS layout of this page with a fine touthed comb and make sure it can be seen on internet explorer.
I guess I’m a victim of my own internet elitism. I don’t use ie if possible, the only time I open it up is when some rude website insists that do (roll’s eyes). I primarily use Firefox when I use windows or Mac machines.
Oh, the trials and tribulations of the internet elite (with slight delusions of grandeur).

This weekend was all about the blog I went down my list and tried to take care of as many as possible

• move archives to separate page
• write a full “about” page
• add 5 most recent comments widget
• add links to 5-10 of my personal favorite posts
• add a link to flickr pictures and get the flickr pictures widget to work
• add statcounter (bitten from eclectism)
• abstract out the sidebar so its standard across all the templates
• work on header v2 which will have links to the offshoot pages

The items I didn’t get to will happen over time. I’m just glad I got my blog to a point where I’m not disguested to look at it. Now I can just worry about posting my thoughts and updating my flickr photos.
Oh one more thing Google Analytics is the shit. I have never seen a more comprehensive set of weblog statistics in my life. Now I have a better idea of how to increase traffic to techwhore.com, hmmm maybe some interesting content would be nice.

You know January style, first month of the year, you hear a whole lot of “This year I’m gonna. . . ” , or “2006 is the year for blah blah blah”, or “No one is going to stop me from [insert bullshit here] ”
I’ll just jot down my “Things To Do: for Techwhore.com”

• move archives to separate page
• write a full “about” page
• add 5 most recent comments widget
• add links to 5-10 of my personal favorite posts
• add a link to flickr pictures and get the flickr pictures widget to work
• add statcounter (bitten from eclectism)
• abstract out the sidebar so its standard across all the templates
• work on header v2 which will have links to the offshoot pages

It should be easy since I’m not leaving the house for the whole year. Apart from things to do for my weblog, I have a whole host of things to get done in my personal life, wanna hear it, of coarse you do thats why your reading my welog. Ok stop begging here it is

• Finish applications to grad school by monday (write those damn recomendations)
• Enroll in silkscreening class at LACC
• Pucker my lips up to kiss Dr. Chapels black ass (Kenpo Teacher)
• pay down debt
• save money
• get tatted BIG STYLEEEEEEEEEE, I need a sleeve

Test Day,
Computer Style,
Instant Results. . . . .
Verbal: 560
Quantative: 630
Terrible, not good enouph to get into the U.S.C. Graduate Computer Science Program, I’m about 120 points off on the quantative section.
I told myself I was studying but I guess sleeping with the study guide under my pillow doesn’t count.
The test itself was fun, I was born with a genetic defect, I acutally like standardized tests, can I have barbeque sauce with that?

Perched On A Lily Pad

Gaspar Noe’s movie Irreversible really affected my mind. I’ve had flashbacks of the scenes. I feel like I’ve seen something that I was not supposed to see. Like I’ve seen the evil that is reserved for the dogs of war.
I knew such brutality existed but to see it is a little different. The perplexing thing is that I made my eyes stay open to watch to whole thing. So vile yet intruiguing. He made his point.

A Critique of Dreamweaver MX
Dreamweaver is essentially good product for a WYSIWYG html design tool. The new interface is one that takes some getting used to but once you do it, photoshop’s floating pallets system seems a little old. The html editor is decent and it understands php which is a plus.
The one thing that really takes away from Dreamweaver’s usability is the preview rendering engine. Basically the design view. The design view completely breaks down if you heavily use css, or Dhtml. That makes the design view just about useless for me.
They should take the lead from TopStyle a css editor. They just put I.E. directly into their application and from it from within. Therefor the preview matches what you will see. Dreamweaver could even have a design view and a realtime preview mode.
Why do I bitch and complain, because it costs $400 stand alone ($200 for the entire studio if your a student). For that price I deserve a excellent design tool and an orgasm. I only got one of the two.