i can barely move my arms so I only made the application more event driven. The controls no longer piggy back off the form itself.

Major progess on both projects.

The woodwork has made great progress. My dad did what he does best, supervise. Actually he did help out and tell me about some tools I wasn't aware of. All the wood has been cut to length. Chicago land area had some awesome weather today and I exploited it. I'm a member of the pasty white sunburnt club with a farmer's tan.

What needs to be done is just the honey comb and wire runs.

Project Liquid Fortitude is making some awesome headway. The program has made some strides that suprised me. On the trip to my parents house, the google suggest effect works now. The primary screen also has some additional functionality on it. It loads, pulls data from the database (oh, did I mention I have a database, ... i do ... it makes me feel special). The primary screen also links into the search screen now. I did a ton of refactoring, renaming, and polishing. I can honestly say I'm getting rather happy with the progress.

note the lack of buildings. nature overload.

Get dell laptop updated with .net 2.0
Get "Captain Tester" application up and running on it (I'm not letting my new laptop get blown up too)Update: Needed to install SqlServer Express on it then the DB ... I was lazy, just verified that it wouldn't kill the sacrificial lamb and plugged it into my macbook pro.
Do a try test run to verify the relay board is firing properly
It fires but only one run. After any other run, the relay board appear to reset. It seems to happen after I close the comport. This seems messed up but if I have to not close the comport, I'll cry a bit inside, but not much. Just seems a bit ass backwards. So I brought the relay board with me and will do some testing to see if I can do it without closing the comport on dispose.
4. Do a live test
5. Repeat and enjoy the contents of what was delievered
6. Get pouring screen to work on primary application
Get "suggest" look ahead working
8. Get floor built
9. Write 3 coding articles for Coding 4 Fun

Nice to have's before Maker's faire:

• Get a-synced pouring working
• Get progress bar working and event driven
• Create an interface for Relay boards so if I want to switch to Phidget Relays, it will be just saying "Use this com port"

I know there is more I'm forgetting too.

Keyboard tweak did what I needed for the remapping. sweet

1. Get dell laptop updated with .net 2.0
2. Get "Captain Tester" application up and running on it (I'm not letting my new laptop get blown up too)
3. Do a try test run to verify the relay board is firing properly
4. Do a live test
5. Repeat and enjoy the contents of what was delievered
6. Get pouring screen to work on primary application
7. Get "suggest" look ahead working
8. Get floor built
9. Write 3 coding articles for Coding 4 Fun

Nice to have's before Maker's faire:

• Get a-synced pouring working
• Get progress bar working and event driven
• Create an interface for Relay boards

I know there is more I'm forgetting too.

Only thing left for one of the projects is to build out the floor structure which should be done this Friday / Saturday when I make one of my rare appearances at my parent's house.

heck yeah.

So I do the coding4fun blogs and I come across a rather large sum of neat stuff but this is one of the cooler things.

NetPing and what looks to be maybe a bit more powerful version in .net 1.1 at his site.

Ok, where i'm at?

project blinky has 1/4 of the LEDs QA'ed now. This was far more of a pain in the ass that I ever could have thought. I think I had to replace atleast 1/4 of the LEDs off them. Thank god for the extra I bought way back when I build my dance floor. I still need to do the wood work but that is getting done this weekend when I stop by my parent's house since they have a table saw and a miter saw.

Project liquid fortitude? I got a ton of the graphic work done that Ian did for me and transformed them into something I can do programmatically. Now I just need to write the user controls for them. I also got all the major wiring done, all that is left are the peices to connect the junctions. When will this be done you ask? Soon as I figure out a cool looking way to mount everything.

I'm bringing my laptop to work tomorrow to help get some work done during lunch.

Ok, I'm tired now so i'm going to watch the simpsons and go to sleep.

From Thinkgeek

Yup, Mike, that is what I think of you. And I want my TPS report on my desk by 10am.

So I got it working and it is nice. Has the single thing I want the most, remapping the left keys. What is cooler is it can control the key backlights. What isn't cool is I think it may be a tad too CPU / RAM greedy. That may just be my imagination however.

What isn't cool is it isn't .Net so I couldn't reflect it. That would have been sweet.

Amnesty to convert yahoo widgets to gadgets and then use this as the source converter.

Ok, so I've gotten the right click thing down (2 fingers on the trackpad and then click) and the delete key (function key-delete(aka what is actually backspace)).

What I still want / need is a way to remap the window key (apple-key) and the alt-key. Why? Because on the apple keyboard, they are switched. I'm use to the key next to my spacebar being the alt key. Not my window key. When I go back to my desktops, they have it correct. I tried the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator(MSKLC) but with no luck since they won't let you remap the alt key and the window key doesn't even show up.

Looks like maybe Input Remapper may do what I want. How to uninstall the Apple Keyboard driver and then Remapper 1.0.0.3. But from their forums, looks like people are having a bit of a problem.

But since i'm stupid, might as well try.

I mapped out how to prevent me from miswiring the entire thing and make it quick disconnectable. I cripped on the part of the connectors and made 1 set of splitters. I still need to make another and god knows how many additional wires. I will say my hands hurt after doing about a hundred of these crimps. Some are on a part you're not allowed to know about yet.

I'm also going to color code everything so I don't blow up another laptop to black and white, like the eletrical replacement cord I will be using to power the entire thing. (there are actually more than one)

So I am about 90% sure my desktop is about to die. So what to do about it. I could just keep it off and run off my new macbook pro. That would work considering all I use it for now is e-mail and as a file server. One massive thing it lacks is file storage. I have about 500 gig on my desktop.

I don't know, there is just something about having a desktop that I think I'd like.

This isn't my week for hardware.

Ok, so I have vista installed and I feel rather ackward. It is like kissing a girl for the first time. I think this is more of a radical departure than an evolutionary move on their part. I look for stuff and it is named something different and worse, is in a different place.

What I really need is a way to mount ISOs.

Ok, so I got myself a macbook pro. 2.33 Core 2 Duo with 2 gigs of ram.

I installed bootcamp 1.2 and Vista while doing work.

Do the windows updates and BAM, infinitive reboot. apple ... no cookie for you. you get brussle sprouts.

Attempt 2 will happen when I get home tonight. If vista continues to reboot, my new laptop may need to go back to the store.

Ok, so I killed my laptop (i'm not willing to give this grief point up yet) BUT I did get a lot of work done. Dave McNelis helped on Saturday with a large sum of the tasks.

Project Liquid Fortitude

• Co2 tank was filled up
• Tweaks to the pressure IO devices were done
• Pressure tests
• Tester Application to do a small scale test
• Database data has been filled to C

Project Blinking Lights

• All 256 wires have been cut to length, stripped, crimped, soldered, LED'ed, and have the housing on them.
• USB Hub was bought.

Things left to do? A crap ton. I need to get a PC that can do development work up and going again. Figure I'm going to do that over lunch on Monday. I also need to check in the source code I salvaged from my T42. I also think I'm going to modify how I do the wiring to the relay board since breaking it down is too hard. I dislike the idea of having to always rewire it up if something needs to be moved. I'm going to get some male electrical disconnects to solve this. Anything hooked into the system will be forced to have a connect on it.

Then the UI for Project Liquid Fortitude ... I think Ian Hall and myself have made some awesome progress on it. Hopefully by this weekend I'll have a working prototype of the full application.

So overall, I must say I'm happy with where I'm at. I was semi freaking out with what seemed like a lack of progress just due to the sheer amount of work that had to be done. However, as a developer, I should have known it wasn't as bad as I mentally made it out to be. I was making tons of progress but until each block started to get finished up, it didn't seem like it. What was worse is most of the blocks are the base of other blocks in each of the projects.

Ok, so I killed my IBM T42. So I needed to get all that data off of the hard drive.

How does one do that ASAP? Easy, buy one an external hard drive that looks like it is small, but not too small. If you get one that is a hard drive and super small, you have a micro hard drive instead of a 2.5". After that, open the sucker up.

Now that you have the enclosure open, figure out what is keeping the unit to the USB to 2.5" HD connector. In the Maxtor Onetouch III case, it was 4 screws, aluminum tape, and foam. After you've removed that, you'll be able to remove the hard drive. Plug in the hard drive you've removed from your laptop and BAM, you turned a 120 gig portable hard drive into a 40 gig portable HD unit.

They do sell enclosures but I need data sooner rather than later.

See, right now I need that orb program so I can visually show how irked i am other than my constant gumbles.

I think I just killed my laptop on accident. I miswired my relay board and after plugging it in to my laptop, the laptop stopped working.

Words cannot express how angry and disappointed I am at myself right now. From now on all testing will be done on my super old Dell Inspiron. If that piece of crap dies, I don't care.

And twisting the knife just a bit further, I just lost 3 hours of code and it will take about 8 hours to get a new machine up. More so, what machine should I get. That laptop was the only machine I had that could handle the load I needed it to. Going to a store chances are won't give me a machine I want. Maybe a MacBook Pro? I do have 2 copies of Vista Ultimate just waiting to be unleashed. What is worse is my desktop is past End of life and needs to get replaced. that means I need to buy 2 high end systems back to back instead of my staggered new machine every 2 years (life span of 4 years per machine)

crap.

I got the relay mapping application done actually almost dead on to what I was planning to. All the code is pretty flexible and could be altered to be dynamic past the 12-up system I'm using.

I find it ironic that I'm at a bar waiting for friends to show up and I'm working on a project. I can't say what project it is but a few people know what it is and I just find this funny.

With that being said, I have the relay conflict logic completed. Not bad after 3 beers in me. I need to now do the sql logic which shouldn't be terribly hard.

... freaking sweet.

I'd take a screen shot but then you'd figure pretty quickly from the admin screen what the system does. Come mid may full source will be released and build instructions. Until then, deal with me being cryptic. It will be like bungie with Halo 3 taunting me.

So I got an ambient orb and I really haven't had a chance to use it for what I wanted to.

It was suppose to be used for build status at work but I when i wrote the application, I just didn't have the time to get it to work. Today was the day I figured out why.

My baud rate was wrong. It should be 19200, i had it set to 115200.

freaking sweeeeet. I'll end up doing an article for coding 4 fun on this shortly too.

Maybe create a "Clint's angry level meter" that will work like adjusting the volume in Windows.

150 hours between the two projects already ... aawww yeah.

offically half way done with the soldering of the break out boards. need to get the admin system working though on the other project.

I also need to shake this sore throat. I blame Chicago's bipolar weather. One day we have 80 degrees, next day it is sleeting.

I got myself a new monitor. A Samsung 226BW 22" WideScreen LCD Display 1000:1(DC 3000:1), 2ms, DVI.

cost 285 after rebate. not bad for a monitor with quick response.

I think I will have to make some compromises on the admin system for this release on Project Liquid Fortitude. I want it to be programmatically prefect but ease of use.

I think to save time I'll have a generic function to do the save but just shove everything directly in. Sucks but least it will get done. Not that I got it done tonight.

6/16 wire bundles have the break out boards done now too. Attempting to get 2 done per day along with 2 Guitar Hero 2 songs done.

I think bungie has a personal issue against me. The beta comes out May 16th and I'll be leaving for California that day.

DAMN YOU YOU TO HELL. I NEED YOU TO LIVE. YOU KNOW THAT.

Fine, I'll just bring my 360 with me.

Project Liquid Fortitude
Started to enter data into Project Liquid Fortitude. Also got I believe majority of the stored procedures are done. I know i'll need do do a bit more work when it comes to working with the valve mappings.
Manifolds plus stopper assemblies

RFID sensor (yes, it is a phidget reader)

2 Valves (out of 12) plus the pressure sensor

project blink
Got all the crimping and splicing done. Now just need to solder up the break out boards (14 left), put on the box, and final testing of the LEDs. Finally they need to be bundled and then build out a mounting system.

Ok, created a nice little scaled prototype of the hardware layout that I think will work. I fudged it slightly but this will work for 1 side.

I also finished up building the manifold and the pressure IO system last night.

And I beat the first set on medium in guitar hero ii.

I have all the wire bundles stripped and spliced for the project blink. Still need to crimp and solder them SOBs up though.

Thinking I'll work on creating a viable hardware layout for project liquid fortitude. This is because doing all the stripping and snipping for the wiring had rendered my right hand pretty much useless. OR I could just play some guitar hero II for my 360.

On the upside yestarday I did do a test for the deployment system I was planning on for the liquid project. It worked flawlessly. Constant output pressure even with the inside changing shape.

Could build the two manifolds tonight too. That is something I can post pictures of.

After the April Fools Day gag, what else have I been up to? I've been working on the two other projects semi ignoring everything except work and these projects. Not the best idea but I think I'm no longer afraid of missing the deadline so I think I'm going to relax a bit and have fun either Friday or Saturday before I go insane from pulling 14 hour work days.

Well, here is a quick status update:
Project Liquid Fortitude
Relay code works now 100%. It isn't a full API implementation of the Control Anything spec, but it gets what need to get done accomplished.

The context input application works now too. Which means some poor sucker (aka me) will have to input mass quantities of items in. One problem is how to get 2 people adding stuff in at the same time. could just have both pointed at the same DB with auth.

Then I think this weekend I'll actually do some tests. I got mass quantities of different substances in for testing mix abilities. I don't think that will be ready however for this test. This I believe will be more of a water based test.

On the UI front, I've made some awesome headway with the help of Ian Hall. After a few chats, I think we came up with a UI that a two year old could understand. Which considering the mental state someone may be in while using this project that is a good thing. Ian really helped me out with making this look utterly amazing in both the icons and layout.

Project Blinks:
Then god make the wiring stop. I finally got all the wire cut. only 2 more bundles need to be stripped and spliced. 7 bundles need to be soldered and crimped. 15 need to have the breakout board attached. After that, need to create bundles. Then they are done ... finally.

So here is my MSDN Coding 4 Fun article for Operation Rubber Hail. The application drops 1,000 super bouncy balls using a Control Anything Relay board. Man I love these things. Andy Konkol helped out with the building also.

Dave Dahl getting attacked by 1,000 bouncy balls.

And the test on myself