I think my desktop's USB just died. Good thing my BlackJack phone comes with 2 batteries since my charger is at work.

May need to up the time schedule and get my new computer. NAB could have the release of new Macs, else I may build a screaming (yet quiet) PC. For me to get a Mac Pro, Apple will have to update the Mac Pro.

crap.

update:
after a reboot and usb port change, looks like it works again. POS, can't wait to replace you with a new computer.

On a side note, does anyone take 5 year old computers?

the trap is prepped and armed. it is like a ticking time bomb. operation rubber hail is a go.

So April 1st (best day EVER) falls on a Sunday. This sucks. But that leaves the weekend for prep work for Konkol and myself to prank our victim.

Pictures and video will follow this amazingness.

All i can say is a drill, a relay board, and rope is involved.

My only hope is I can get the programming for the relay board working. I think it is due to c#'s chars are 16 bits instead of the old school 8 bits. I'm going to try System.Encoding to do the convert.

So we had a little hickup at SpringCM which required me and konkol to be up way later than I think either of us wanted to be without beer. We got it working now. But it semi hurt progress yestarday and today.

I did get some work done today though. Ian Hall hooked me up with some awesome graphics. I really wish I could do that in Photoshop. I created a file naming scheme for the graphics so it will be easy to add them as needed.

Today also marked the day I got my relay boards. I wrote the ComPort wrapper without even having them here and it wasn't a suprise that it didn't work out of the gate. The current plan is to use their stock software to test out the wiring, then figure out the data scheme. They provide some VB6 code but my attempt to port it to c# isn't working.

Using their app, I found out already some interesting things. They have a 1-based index instead of a 0-based. Same goes with their banks. Also their baud rate is 115200, 8 data bits, 1 stop, and no parity. Not sure but I might have to update this since I just 'borrowed' my dance floor code.

So far there will be 2 helper apps with project 1 (I really need to come up with code names). First one is to insert data. Dave McNelis is writing that one. 2nd helper is to just test the relay code.

My Tablet PC for project 1. Thanks Microsoft and Coding 4 fun!

This is the first time I've used one

My part box for project 1

my couch / work area

I'd give the wiring for project 2 about 50% done.

The cooler part is on project 1. I got the database layer working and it returns data. Waiting for the rest of the parts and need to figure out an awesome way to mount this stuff. I have an idea. Ian helped out with a cool idea for the UI and I passed him a first attempt. Dave helped do the database itself since I dread writing SQL.

I'm not really happy with the easy of controls in WinForms actually. I find myself being restricted when it comes to the alpha channel. I guess maybe working on web apps for so long has tainted me.

for those who are running vista, I highly recommend Readyboost. It is built into Vista and Readyboost helps boot up your programs faster by exploiting your USB Memory sticks for extra RAM. How? Random access memory is faster than your HD, SO by doing some smart caching, it helps your programs load faster. I know I have more than a few programs this would help out with.

For lists of USB Drives that can be used for this can be found over here.

so I build 5 more of those pressure IO assemblies. Konkol is right there.

I also prepped 2 more bundles of wiring for project 2. Brings my prep up to 1/4 done until I get the break out boards for them.

I also grabbed a subscription to SVN Repository. This way I don't do anything stupid like delete out the Direct X code and have to recreate it like I did with the Dance Floor. Plus now I have version tracking.

Right now I figure I am averaging 4 to 5 hours a night on the side projects on top of my normal job. With that, i'm about ready to actually sleep for more than 5 hours. man I love the weekends.

For one of my projects which I can't say exactly what it is yet, but here is a size option control at a certain point in time. I still need to do more work on it and doodles to finalize UI.

I have 2 weeks to figure out how to deploy 1,000 super bouncy balls.

I have 2 weeks to code this.

I have 2 weeks and 2 other projects.

I have 2 weeks to find my victim and dump 1,000 super bouncy balls on them. Chris King is just too easy of a target which kind of makes him the perfect target.

So I have a package coming from Jameco but this is what I don't get with UPS.

Correct me if I'm wrong here but Rockford, IL is closer to Chicago, IL than Davenport, IA is. Why didn't my package go to Chicago or a packaging plant closer to Chicago. Seems weird.

http://svn1clicksetup.tigris.org/

So I bought what I think are the primary costs for my new project. I still need a few more parts but I can start cranking along now.

I still need 2 co2 regulators, a co2 tank, some air pumps, random electric parts, and something to mount everything to.

The more I think about it the more I still think I should write a proper database layer. damn it. Something tells me i just think it is harder than I think since any project I've ever done professionally has already had one done long before I got there.

I also need to write a comport wrapper for a relay board. I'm going to refactor a lot of the code from the dance floor's comport code to a generic wrapper. Then inherit onto the new relay board's way of doing things.

you can both type and press the buttons. stupid but yup, a keyboard on your screen.

So I was going to write a database layer until Dave found the "Import Data" for visual studio 2005.

Man, this is so sweet. I can write Stored Procedures and then just refresh and BAM, it is updated.

Still going to write some wrappers but still, not half bad.

I need someway to run on no sleep for the next 3 months. Get to it nasa.

I think maybe getting a Pantone Huey may be worth it. 72 dollars on Amazon.

I was reading over at Scott Hanselman's blog about his new specs for a computer with Jeff Atwood's help. I mentioned why not just get a new Mac Pro and Jeff pointed out something I didn't even pay attention to. The RAM he picked was faster. He brought up the lack of overclocking options but I could care less about that.

I'm pinging him to clear up some stuff but the computer that Atwood built is pretty sweet. Looks like I may not go Mac Pro after all.

Looks like Visual Studio finally made up with Vista.

Here is the direct download link to the VS SP1 update for Vista.

So I've been condo shopping and I found a really sweet place. But it was small, I mean REAL small.

My friend Adam Wolverton, my buyer's agent, is showing me around and I noticed this property. I could touch the walls if my arms are spread out

Recapping, $200,000 buys you a condo smaller than my current apartment in Chicago.

For the past week, I've been doing pixel slinging for UI perfection on FireFox 2, IE 6 and IE 7.

2 browsers work perfectly, the last acts weird. Fix that then a different one acts weird.

kill me please.

Looks like I have 2 monster projects coming up. Not allowed to really say much about either until they are shown off. I just finished up another too a few days ago.

Dave McNelis is going to be helping me out on both the programming end and the building end.

Something tells me pictures are still going to be posted however. If you can figure it out, I'll give you a cookie!

Servo City rocks. I got 3 direct drive Pan / Tilt systems. There was a small issue with the braces where they were too long and I called them up. Within 2 minutes I got new ones shipped to me.

Wow they rule. Seriously grade A service.

Also thanks to Trossen Robotics for recommending me and hooking me up with some servos. This is the place where I order my phidget stuff from. Something tells me I'm going to be blowing a lot more money on phidgets or relay systems shortly.

So here is what I was thinking about for PLC. Going to use some code formatting thanks to Jean-Claude Manoli, some effects thanks to scriptaculous, and some unzipping love from SharpZipLib.

Not sure if this will be XML or SQL database driven. I'm thinking XML since I'm lazy.

The entire purpose is so I can have a project, zip it up and upload it. From there, I can download the project, do a folder tree style view of it, OR just view all files. Also maybe allow for each folder level to insta-zip all files from that folder and children folders into a zip and download.

Each file can viewed and have the nice Visual Studio coat of paint on it and individually downloaded too.

Why? Cause I have a ton of mini-apps and full blown applications that I normally will download for a single line of code.

A lot of work for so little? Great isn't it?

Things I know i need to do still for the layout

• Navigation for breadcrumbing / getting back up to root
• Create a sample middle layer screen
• Ajax approach? If so how to do bookmarkings
• Create a working UI sample - not really that hard
• Folder tree?

Is there any 3rd party mouse software for Logitech mice? I'm not thrilled with Logitech's software when it comes to what I can map to what button.

• Visual Studio 2005 / SQL Server Express- if you have to ask, you need help, lots of help.
• Reflector - When in doubt, see how they pulled it off. Chances are a few of the add-in's too.
• Resharper - This is one of thos add-in's I think that take a while to get use to but man, once you use it, there is no going back. I don't even use all the features, just a few. Those few improve my speed and reduce the amount of compiles I have to do by a lot. Also helps improve your code by telling you what can be made Static or isn't in use anymore.
• Subversion - I've screwed up and wanted to revert changes. This way I know what changed, when, and how. Why Subversion? It is our source control application at work and it is free.
• TortoiseSVN - Cause command line prompts can only go so far.
• RSS Bandit - Got to monitor my feeds. Why not google reader? Because it doesn't suit me. I tried it, but didn't flow my fancy. Not 100% happy with Bandit but you know ...
• UltraMon - Because dual monitors without this application is painful. All about Alt-~ to have the program switch monitors. I wonder however if it is Vista Compliant.
• VMware Server - I use this at work and I love it. When doing something a bit risky, I just use a VM so I don't blow out my computer. No matter what I know I'll need a VM of XP.
• Textpad - When notepad just won't cut it (yes I still use notepad for 90% of quick dirty editing)
• Trillian - Cause Gaim lost me after one of their releases after it started to be a bit to crash happy. That and I have too many instant messaging accounts I have to be on all at the same time.
• Office - I got a copy of 2007 so I'm going to use it

If I do actually go Mac Pro - just because I'll be in Windows 95% of the time doesn't mean I shouldn't be prepped for the other 5%.

• Parallels Desktop For Mac - I can run the bootcamped version of XP / Vista while in OS X
• Adium - Because it is better than Gaim / Trillian from what I heard. And free
• Cyber Duck - FTP / SFTP software

This I need to worry about with Vista

• No Cisco VPN client yet. I need this for work. While I could do a VM XP image or just use my laptop ... still.
• Visual Studio 2005 isn't offically supported yet under Vista.
• SQL Server 2005 has the same issue.

CNN just ran an article about outcry regarding the Pizza Hut Book-It program. Ok, this is a bit crazy. I remember Book-It growing up and I have to say I think it helped. I'm fairly sure that my brother wouldn't be able to read if it wasn't for this program.

Yes, kids are becoming fattys. Ok, so why not make your kid go outside and play? Have computer / game / TV Hours that are only when they are suppose to use the devices.

Kids LOVE pizza (normal kids do atleast), so why not bank on that and say if you read 5 books you get a free small pizza from a crappy pizza joint? The ones who suffer are the parents cause they too need to buy it. Plus who the hell gets fat off of getting 1 small pizza? It took my old roommate freshman year in college the entire year to finally get fat but he was eating a large pizza and 3 bowls of easy mac for dinner every other night. Just because he went for the gold and got the extra credit points for the Freshman

For a kid to "gorge" themselves on pizza, they'd have to read lets say 5 books before they get to go, THEN they have to keep up that rate EVERY week to get pizza, a small personal pan pizza mind you. So school is lets say 40 weeks. A child would have to read 200 books. I don't even think I've read 200 books my entire life.

I wish the school systems would have forced me to write essays more and read more books. But hey, I'm an engineer, I have a valid excuse to not write properly.

P.S. possible better arguements against the Book-It program are:

• is it instills an early mental connection to the Pizza Hut chain.
• it creates a link between food and reading. Everytime I read I want more food.
• pizza hut pizza sucks.

May have found my new keyboard, the Microsoft Wireless Desktop 8000. The 7000 costs 130 about so figure the 8000 may be in the same ballpark.

The ironic thing is I don't care about the mouse. Just the keyboard. Though my Logitech mouse isn't as cool as I want. The wheel by the thumb is annoying and isn't as flexible as I want. I wonder if there is 3rd party software out there to remap the functionality.

I got one program done for Coding 4 Fun but I can't talk about it very much. It involves phidgets, windows media player, and punching.

One thing I found weird with the Media Player API was if I'm in full screen mode, I can't change the movie without being forced out of full screen mode.

On the western front, otherwise known as SpringCM, I've been doing some neat User Interface stuff with XHTML Strict, JavaScript, our new tool kit we got, and 'borrowing' ideas from other applications. Personally I've never seen another website do what I did so it made me happy. Also doing some neat slight of hand tricks to create a UI that can be rebranded and icons that magically self adapt to the new color schema. Also I've realized how much I love doing DOM transversing.