CompassBill is Live!

If you have wondered why I have not posted recently (and I know you haven't), I have been busy working on CompassBill, an online billing application. We finally pushed it live earlier this morning. If you are interested in an online billing application, feel free to sign up and take it for a test drive. If you do, please let us know what you think.

Its Stick your Hand into a Hornet's Nest Month at the AV Club!

Apparently the AV Club decided to rile up its followers by taking on sacred cows of the community left and right this month. Between a rebuke of Ghostbusters and a takedown of Children of Men, they really started a furor over there. It almost seems like a cheap ploy to get more comments. What's next, a post saying The Wire and Arrested Development were highly overrated, or someone expressing their thoughts about a Wes Anderson film? Will someone write about a musician that someone else doesn't like? Or maybe a writer will make a post in defense of Dane Cook, and a dissent against Patton Oswalt. If so, make some popcorn and settle down. It will be like wrestling, only with less spandex and more browser refreshing.

Bears vs. 49...Eh Screw It, a Video Instead

Instead of talking about the latest turd left by the Bears at Old Candlestick, I'll leave you with this video that shows how much better 2012 probably would have been if presented as a comedy.

Ugh, the latest Bears game

I apologize for the outdated piece of internet fluff above, but watching the nastiness that is the 2009 Bears defense can do that to you. Apparently losing Tommie Harris is the difference between mere mediocrity and outright incompetence. Amazing how quickly this defense went from being dangerous to other teams to be a laughingstock of the league. Apparently the Bears did need more than just a quarterback to compete.

Maybe they'll do better this Thursday against the Flying Singletarys. Because the Bears always play well in San Francisco.*

*No, they don't. See Jauron, Dick (2003) and Wannstedt, Dave (1995) for more information.

Guest Blogger Erin Speaks Up About Alice, Julie & Julia, and...uh...Brad Pitt I guess

This post is by "guest blogger" (i.e; little sister) Erin. Not Andrew. So don't hold him accountable for any opinions expressed.

Today I went to the movies with mom and Andrew. This is a big undertaking because I don't usually go to the movies, what with me being an internets addict and all. However, I was convinced, one could almost say tricked, into leaving the house and went to a showing of the new movie Julie & Julia. Before I get to my thoughts on the movie (lol! I's bloggin about a movie 'bout bloggin!) I saw the poster for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

Looking at it, and hearing vaguely about the premise from a friend, I have already come to the conclusion that I've seen this somewhere before...but where? Maybe this will be a little less dark, but where on earth have I heard the premise of Alice returning to a Wonderland that has been corrupted by the Red Queen?


Oh wait. This is where.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_McGee

Just sayin'.

(Bet some of you thought I was talking about the Resident Evil movie, amirite? Well that also kind of applies)

Anyway. On to Julie & Julia. Despite not really wanting to see the movie, as I am not a cooker, nor am I huge Amy Adams fan (I don't DISLIKE neither, I'm more or less apathetic to either) but I was pleasantly surprised with it. I was worried it would be a repeat of the snoozefest the Hours which also not only featured Meryl Streep but also had the cutting between the two parallel storylines...and was happy to find that this movie was actually INTERESTING.

I don't recall much about the internets world of 2002. I was barely in high school and all my endeavors on the internet consisted of playing games on the cartoon network website and obsessing over fake pets on neopets. However, if I would have known how easy it was to start a succsessful blog, I probably would have been all over that. Thanks Web 2.0 for crapping all over the potential market I could have reeled in with my zoo blog. (Note to self; post "cute animal pictures" blog)

Long story short, once again I had ideas to blog about but now, 4 hours later I've kind of forgotten all of them. If I remembered them, then this blog would have been like a thousand times better.

In other news, is it just me or does Inglorious Basterds look like a REALLY bitchin movie?

Bon Appetit!

Favre Says No to Vikings, Local Bears Fan is Ambivalent

It appears that Brett Favre might actually be retired for real this time. Instead of coming back as the immediate "savior", he will stay in the muggy climes of Mississippi and await his imminent induction into the Hall of Fame. It appears that the Bears will be the only team to make an offseason splash at QB in the NFC North.

Ten, or even five, years ago, I would have been celebrating at the thought of Favre retiring instead of playing for a Bears rival. At that point in his career he was the King of Bears Killers, and it was damn frustrating watch him tear the Bears up during the Wannstedt and Jauron years. Although I would have missed seeing the Bears turn the table on him, I wouldn't have been too broken up about his retirement.

But now, however, I am merely glad all of the "will he or won't he" crap might be over. The Lovie Smith era has been good for the Bears in their historical rivalry with the Cheesheads. The Bears were 6-2 against the Favre Packers, losing only the 2nd game between the teams in 2004 and a meaningless game at the end of the 2006 season. In most of the victories the Bears tore apart Favre, giving some comfort to this Bears fan.

Would he have been just as bad against the Bears had he signed with the Vikings? Possibly, consideirng how inconsistent he was in New York. The Bears defense these days isn't as solid as it was during the 2004-2007 run, but Favre is also older. It would have been interesting, although not as interesting as his first trip back to Lambeau. I'm sure the FOX and ESPN execs are broken up over losing that matchup. I guess they'll have to live with Aaron Rodgers vs. Tavaris Jackson instead.

Movies to Work To

When I am working, I usually like listening to something. Often I just open iTunes and play music, which works in most cases. Sometimes, however, I like to turn on the TV.

When I have the TV on while working, I follow a few basic ground rules. I rarely watch TV shows, unless it is a DVD with a play all option. The best for this purpose tend to be shows set in a workplace, such as The West Wing and Newsradio. I won't work during a TV show that I have never seen, as it is far too distracting. I rarely watch sports while working, which usually isn't an issue considering I rarely watch sports except for football.

Most often when I have the TV on, it is to play a movie. Whether in real time on cable, on the DVR, or on a DVD, movies are the best fit for work-watching. I always watch a movie that I have seen before, especially if I have seen it multiple times. Trying to work while a movie I want to see is on is impossible, as I will either fail to get the work done or completely miss the movie.

Some movies work better than others in getting me to work. The three Lord of the Rings films are a good fit, although I don't own a copy of them, so I only use them when at my parents' house. Movies such as Glory and Gettysburg also tend to work. However, I've found the two best films to use are Pirates of Silicon Valley and WarGames. I guess it is because both movies deal with computers, and the former deals specifically with successfully starting a business. Considering how productive I've been while watching Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy hack into WOPR, I probably should buy it on DVD. Of course, it might then lose its magic.

On Mark Buehrle's Perfect Game

I must say that I don't spend as much time following sports as did a few years ago. I suppose its because I have other things that occupy my time, such as working or watching movies. It also could be because of the morass that sports has become. Between off-field violence, criminal prosecutions, and the whole steroids mess, I suppose I decided to tune out*.

I've always wanted to witness a sports moment somewhat like the one at the end of the first episode of Sports Night. In that episode, co-anchor Casey, pissed off at his rough divorce, seems to be completely disillusioned with sports. Just as his anger, only tangentially related to sports, someone breaks in and tells him to tune into a runner in the process of breaking the fastest mile record. It reaffirms his belief that sports can be damn entertaining and even inspiring, even if it also can be very disappointing.

As cliche as that ending may have been, I must admit that I had a similar experience today. As I sat working on some web developing work, I was not in a good mood. Not so much in response to the work I was doing, but at certain political events and the chickenshits that cause them **. I was this close to starting a diatribe on that subject, a post that would neither assuage my frustration at the situation or do a damn thing to change it.

When my brother turned the TV on, I wasn't too appreciative of it. Had I known why, i probably wouldn't have been so angry. Unaware of what was going on on the South Side of Chicago at the time, I thought he was just going to watch some show on the DVR. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but my state of mind at that time considered it a very annoying thing to do.

Shortly after he turned the channel to Comcast SportsNet, DeWayne Wise made one of the greatest catches I had ever seen. Despite the fact that it probably saved a home run, I thought the crowd was overly exhuberant at the time. Even if he hadn't caught the ball, the Rays would still need four runs to even tie the game. The atmosphere almost seemed like a playoff game, which should have tipped me off to what was happening.

After the second out, I finally became aware of the fact that Buerhle was one out away from a perfect game. I had never seen a no-hitter as it happened, let alone a perfect game, so I immediately became transfixed on what had been just five minutes earlier a typical July game. I wasn't thinking about the crap happening in Washington, or on any of the other minute details. The only thing I was worried about at that moment was if the Sox could get just one last out.

The pessimistic side in me said he would blow it, that players from the White Sox just don't accomplish these feats. I fully expected that the count would go from 2-1 to 4-1, completely ruining the perfect game. Of course the optimistic side in me said otherwise, believing that the improbable would happen. After all, it happened in back to back Bears games in 2001, and it happened in 2005 for the White Sox. Why couldn't it happen here?

I have experienced so few times where I have been truly and unequivocally happy. Most times I wonder if I am actually happy, or if I am constructing an artificial happiness because I should be happy. When Bartlett grounded to Ramirez, who then threw it to Fields for the out, I had one of those rare moments of joy. I had witnessed history, even if was just sports history. It was the first perfect game for a White Sox pitcher since 1922, and only the seventeenth regular season perfect game in MLB history.

Those few moments had added some fun to what was otherwise a fairly mediocre day. It may be the last time I will ever see a pitcher complete one of the biggest feats in his sport, but I don't care. It cut through all of the Michael Vicks, the Barry Bonds, and the Harry Reids of the world and showed that sometimes sports (and life) can be surprising in a good way.

Thank you, Mark Buehrle and DeWayne Wise. Now please don't be discovered to be serial puppy kickers.

*Except for the Bears. I still gotta watch the Bears screw up games.

**See Reid, Harry in the Encyclopedia of Pathetic Senate Leadership for more information.

The Late Adopter

In my perfect world, I would be a courageous person, willing to brave new trends and products well before the rest of the general public. I would be one of those elusive "early adopters", the people who start word of mouth excitement or dread for a new entry to the marketplace. My friends, family, and co-workers would value my opinion on this new product, and always seek out my opinion before diving into something.

However, once I shift back to reality I realize I am much more likely to be on the opposite side of the life cycle of a product or trend. This isn't always bad, as it can lead you to not suffer too much embarrassment. However, it often leaves me sitting on board just as everybody is getting off, and I suffer by not getting the maximum value I could have received by adopting earlier.

A big example of this are the various internet phenomenons. I was very late to the game with MySpace, only joining about the time that Facebook became the go-to place. Instead of jumping over to Facebook at that time, I instead waited until this month to join the "fun". I apologize to any Facebook shareholders I may have damaged by using their product, thereby rendering it likely to become eclipsed.

I have many excuses for not getting involved in these sites sooner, none of them really valid. Mainly, it was a combination of obstinance, laziness, and apathy. After all, I was still calling blogs "weblogs" well after the shorter term became the norm. For a long while, the term blog just seemed too much of a vapid marketing buzzword, something created by a dead-eyed MBA. At the time it was not a good sound to my ears, being on the same level as baby-mama and adding "zz"s in the middle of words*.

Unlike the latter examples, which I only tolerate these days, I've come to use blog as the standard term. Weblog sounds far too technical, like something out of Star Trek. Also, it seemed kind of insane to keep calling it a weblog when the site I was hosting my blog on was called Blogger. Its actually a decent word that expresses specifically what it is. Its certainly better than crap like "marketecture" and "innovation teams".

COMING JULY 2013: I explain my love for words and phrases like "Marketecture" and "innovation teams".

*The Exception that proves the rule: Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor: It's Crazzapy!-Bill McNeal (Phil Hartman), Newsradio

I've Got Chester A. Arthritis, or Historical Fact vs. Historical Fiction

Earlier today, as I was busy with other things, I had the TV on in the background. Playing on it was the movie They Died With Their Boots On, a very fictionalized account of George Armstrong Custer's ill-fated military career. I won't go into details about the many historical inaccuracies, except to say that the movie made Custer into a selfless sacrificial lamb, instead of an arrogant incompetent too quick to rush into a bad situation.

Being interested in both history and movies has led me to several instances where the two have collided, with very mixed results. Some have tended to get the overall ideas mostly right, while fudging much of the details (i.e. Glory). Others have still missed details, while very accurately mimicking the style of the written, if not spoken, words of an era (Gods and Generals)*. Others still forget historical accuracy entirely to stick close to a graphic novel (300 and Watchmen**). In the end, don't expect to be well versed in what really happened if you get your history from a movie ***.

Other than documentaries (which should be as accurate as possible), it is understandable that not every single fact is correct. Movies have their own structure, their own way of conveying information. Transferring a true story from historical accounts to a film version is little different than transferring a fictional book. Certain conceits will have to be made to make the film watchable, and a certain creative license should be expected. Obviously the important facts should not be ignored (for instance, who won what battle in a movie), but it is ok to composite characters and streamline certain events, especially if failing to do so could make the movie interminably long. Just as long as there are no Tyrannosaurs in F-14s flying over Cemetery Ridge during Pickett's Charge.****

*This picture also was a very accurate rendition of early 20th century Lost Cause romanticism, which mucked up a much better film about our nation's biggest tragedy. No, I am not bitter that The Last Full Measure won't ever be made. Not at all.
**Nixon was elected to only four terms before being killed by John Hinckley, and Dr. Manhattan was more of an aquamarine than full blue.
***Except for Highlander. That stuff is a real-time documentary, I swear.
****Unless this is alt-history. Then it is totally awesome.

The Long Drive to October

Now that the All-Star break is over with, its time for the better half of the baseball season to begin. I must admit that I have only been marginally paying attention to the MLB this year, and can't name more than two of the division leaders*. All I know is the Cubs are underperforming, and that the White Sox are consistently inconsistent. Of course, that tends to be the case every year, so what do I know?

A quick check of the standings reveals that the division and wild card races have yet to heat up. I suppose it is good news that not a single division leader has a larger lead than 6.5 games. However, none of the leads are less than 2 games either. Sure, one series (or two) can make a difference, but it doesn't appear to be a barnburner yet in any division. Maybe it will be in a week or so, I hope so.

Now that we are on the way to the trade deadline, and the subsequent end of the season two months later, It is time for me to start paying more attention. I'll likely add a daily check of the standings, paying closer attention to the status of the Chicago teams and a couple of other rooting interests (Milwaukee and Texas for now). I'd like to see the D-Rays or Blue Jays get their act together, but it looks like another annoying battle of the Northeastern Behemoths.

I know this probably doesn't make me a true "devotee" to baseball, but I don't really care. It makes a great thing to follow before football really heats up in late October and November. I figure by the end of this month baseball will resume its secondary role as Bears camp starts up. By then, it will just be time to see when the Cubs choke. My guess is they won't be making the playoffs.***

*For the record, I could have named the Red Sox and the Cardinals, who were leaders as of the day of this post.**

**This included in case the Red Sox and Cardinals eventually lose their leads.

***Look into your heart, Cubs fans. You know it to be true.

Arrested Development: A Belated Endorsement

Several of my favorite TV shows, such as King of the Hill, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Newsradio live as full of a life as a show could expect. A few, such as The West Wing and Futurama still had a few stories left to tell. Others seem to be perpetual, The Simpsons being the best example of this. A select few were cancelled before their time, the most prominent on this list being the deranged sitcom Arrested Development.

Unlike Futurama, which Fox buried in the 6:00 graveyard for a large portion of its run, or Sportsnight, which was not a good fit on ABC, Arrested Development was given a chance. It received a surprise renewal for a third season, and Fox did try to sell the show. Of course, they never really could find a way to sell it to a broader audience. Doing the old Fox schedule shuffle at the end of the series' run didn't help either.

To be fair to Fox, it was a pretty hard show to sell. The show was rather eccentric, and quite likely wouldn't have grown outside of its cult audience in the best of circumstances. It was quite possibly the worst show ever to try to sell by word of mouth. I remember trying to convince a couple of my friends to check to show out, and I failed miserably. If you hadn't ever seen the show, it was hard to convince yourself to check it out.

I didn't see the pilot episode until I watched the first season DVDs, but I remember watching some of the early episodes. By the end of the first episode that I watched I was hooked. I can't exactly describe why I love the show, it was just something that I looked forward to watching every week. All I know is I can't look at magic, Segways, frozen bananas, or McMansions the same way again.

I know this endorsement is skimpy on the why, but as I said this show is hard to sell. It isn't for everyone, but those that will enjoy will enjoy it thoroughly. Borrow, rent, or even buy the DVDs outright.

After all, there's money in the banana stand. (wink)

Pixar vs. Dreamworks: Am I A Fanboy?

I don't tend to get bogged down in stubborn fanboyism. I'm a fan of both Star Trek and Star Wars. I'm not a comic book reader, so I can't really get involved in any of the multitude of fanboy battles in that realm. In the course of my work, I often use a MacBook Pro to remote desktop in to a Windows XP computer, so I can't say I'm a partisan on any side of that conflict. Other than understandable sports team preferences (Go Bears/Boo Packers), I just don't get entrenched in myopic opinions.

The one possible exception to the rule is the "battle" between Pixar and Dreamworks films. I say possible because I do like some of the Dreamworks films. I really enjoyed Kung-Fu Panda, and although I find them overrated, I can't say I dislike the first two entries of the Shrek Franchise. Many of the movies I've seen from them have been competently made, although nowhere near the quality Pixar usually acheives.

Still, I admit a very strong bias towards Pixar. I tend to give Pixar films more slack when they are released, even though I don't believe they need it. I certainly was much more excited before Up than Monsters vs. Aliens. Despite having nothing to do with the movie (except for buying tickets to see them), I pay close attention to the box office receipts, and enjoy seeing the Pixar film beat the Dreamworks, which it tends to do when a green ogre is not involved.

Upon further reflection, maybe I'm no so much a fanboy as a person who prefers Pixar's style. Its obvious that Dreamworks isn't trying to be Pixar, but instead has established its own niche. I wish that Dreamworks would learn some lessons from Pixar, but can't argue that the Dreamworks animation hasn't been profitable. Of course, Pixar has also been profitable, while also developing a reputation for quality. So in conclusion PIXAR ROCKS and DREAMWORKS SUCKS!

Enjoying the Little Things

As I sit here typing my twelfth entry for the Month of Writing, the sun has disappeared over the horizon, the remnants of its light slowly going away for the night. The weather is rather pleasant, pleasant enough I can sit out on my parent's deck with my laptop. I listen to the birds and insects of the neighborhood, as a cat sleeps nearby. Nothing much is going on, but I can't complain.

Far too often, I am like Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back. As Yoda might say, I am too often looking towards the future, rather than what I am doing in the present. Sure, I am not training to be a Jedi Knight, so craving a little adventure is acceptable. However, it is still a good lesson to keep in mind.

My generation is one defined by an intense desire for instant gratification. Seeing as we grew up on microwaved foods, can purchase and download music directly to our iPods, and can order everything from pizzas to pianos with a few clicks of some buttons, it isn't hard to see why. Even worse for me, I am probably more impatient than most.

It certainly doesn't help my efforts at self-improvement, or in trying to start a business. Both endeavors require patience and time for things to succeed. I get far too easily discouraged when things don't go right immediately, and this often tends to lead to failure. It isn't something I can really hope to eradicate from my being, only improve upon and deal with as I continue through life.

Taking the time to stop and enjoy some of the little things in life certainly helps. It can help you become more patient, and also put things into better perspective. Sure, the big events of your life are memorable, but the bulk of your life is made up by the little things. It may be a cliche, but it is still very true.

Coming Tomorrow*: I bitch about the little things, such as all the damn mosquito bites from typing blog posts outside at dusk.

* Not Really

Improve Thyself

The desire for self-improvement is a cornerstone of human civilization. Most religions are built around some form of it. Benjamin Franklin was obsessed with it, even if he wasn't exactly the most adherent to the maxims of Poor Richard. Rows of books in book stores are devoted to the subject, most with "can't fail" plans. And ever the perennial optimist, I strive to improve myself.

Unfortunately, I can't say that I am successful in my self-improvement. Whether it is being more fearless, improving my health, or improving my work ethic, I just can't seem to quite get there. Sure, I have a success here and there, but far too often I give it up, only to try again later. I suppose there is some value in continuing to try, but sometimes I'm not sure.

Some of these efforts are merely to make me a wiser and more worldly person. In this I tend to have most of my success, as I have certainly succeded in reading much more over the past few years than I had in the past. I've also caught up on many films I had wanted to watch, and I am richer for the experience. Over the past several months I have read several histories and biographies, and gathered a deeper knowledge of the subjects at hand. Although I haven't achieved as much as I would have liked, I still feel I have benefitted greatly.

But other efforts are crucial if I am to continue to have a rich life well into the future. Anyone who knows me knows I am very overweight. Although its never too late to change, I will likely suffer serious medical issues if I don't start making some changes. It is an unfortunate weakness of mine, and the most crucical self improvement I need to make.

I'd like to say that i've finally turned a corner, and that this time I will truly commit myself to turning it around. However, that would be self-delusional, and I could do without the deception. I suppose I will make the necessary changes because they are needed, but at this moment I can't be sure. I'll just need to take it one day at a time.

Stay Tuned...

How dare that Commercial Isn't Targeted Towards Me

I recognize I am different from most people. Although sometimes I can tend to mistakenly view myself as representational, I understand that many of my likes and dislikes don't quite mesh with those around me. I also understand that the vast majority of commercials don't really target me.

However, that understanding didn't come about overnight. Before I went to college, I rarely thought about the target audience of commercials. Once I started marketing classes, however, I became better attuned to the ideas of targeted marketing. Instead of viewing commercials as being out of touch, I realized that more likely the commercials were just targeting someone else, and I was just an innocent bystander.

I must admit that some ads certainly are targeted to me, or at least to people who are somewhat like me. A good example of these select ads are the "I'm a Mac/I'm a PC ads", although Master Hobo Chronicler John Hodgman could probably sell adult diapers if he wished it to be so. I suppose certain restaurant ads get me as well, with the exception of that horrible pit known as Applebees. Ads for Movies and television shows that I am already looking forward to can sometimes generate additional interest, so I suppose i am in the target audience for those commercials. But other than that, I can't say most ads are targeted towards me.

Of course sometimes I question whether or not ads are targeted properly. For example, I understand showing ads for old people scooters and medical alert bracelets on The History Channel. The target age of that channel is about 69, so it makes sense. What doesn't make sense, however, is when the same commercials are aired during an episode of Venture Brothers. I suppose some old people might accidentally get stuck on Cartoon Network, but those that do are asleep or not your typical senior citizen. I'm guessing those are value added throw-ins for companies who buy ads during Larry King Live and the latest drama being shown on TNT.

Anyway, the days of massive ad buys with broad audiences are gone, or at least limited to things such as the Super Bowl. In this era of cable networks, internet fueled sub-niches of geekery and obsession, and readily available microbrews and diverse foodshops, every target audience has gotten smaller. I suppose someday it might be possible to have target audiences of one. And on that day, advertising may finally really get to me.

When All Else Fails, Just Write

Well, here I am, eight days into the Month of Writing, and I have nothing to write about. Oh sure, I have ideas, but they are either not developed enough yet, or are better suited for another day. I suppose I should have prepared for this contigency, but no one has ever accused me of being that organized.

However, even without a specific idea, I still push forward, hoping to find something interesting from this exercise. The very fact that I continue this endeavor has some value, even if it is of little interest to anybody but myself. It allows me to take a deep look at how I structure my writing, and gives me a chance to better establish my writing voice. At the very least, it might convince me to be prepared with real topics in the future.

I suppose I could have just phoned it in with an countdown list or a miscellaneous musings post. However, I felt that those would betray the purpose of the Month of Writing, and really wouldn't count. Besides, many other sites on the internet do lists far better than I could, and I really don't want to become the next Larry King. I guess I could have done my next entry on the Presidents, but that is technically a large countdown list.

Instead, you will just have to live with my short post on writing about having nothing to write. I'm sure I'll look back on this post with embarrassment at the end of this month, confident that this is the nadir of my output. At least until I start with the gimmicky weddings and the cute moppets that appear out of nowhere. Oh wait, that's for Month of Writing, January 2010.

A New Era in PHP: 5.3 is released

Showing how on top of things I really am, PHP 5.3 was released, and I didn't bother to find out until a week after the fact. It appears to have several features which I will need to check out. Some of them sound nice, and appear to be long-awaited additions, but not coming from a programmer background before I delved into PHP, I'm not entirely sure of the purpose of some of the new features.

Although I consider myself an expert on PHP, and have the documentation to prove it, it wasn't an overnight accumulation of knowledge. When I started way back in 2000, I didn't know a control structure from a comment. Over the next few years I gained a fair amount of knowledge about syntax and the core functions. I learned the hard way why you should indent code, and I developed a modicum of understanding about how loops work. I was able to do very complicated things with very almost the basic level of PHP. Although the modules and scripts worked, they were rather difficult to smooth out bugs, were flagrantly repetitive, and I'm sure far from efficient.

Granted, I started out in the wild days of PHP 3. Sure, once PHP4 came out, I felt that things had greatly improved. Having no concept of what the hell exactly Object Oriented Programming was, the massive improvements from 4 to 5 were lost upon me, even though I began working on PHP 5 shortly after it was released. Despite a whole powerful part of PHP 5 being foreign to me, I felt pretty confident in my abilities by the summer of 2006.

The past three years have been a roller coaster of confidence in my abilities, and a sense of mastering my craft, followed by troughs of discouragement as I rediscover how little I really know about what I do for a living. This cycle of discouragement and achievement grows even larger when we put the larger context of MySQL, JavaScript, and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) into the equation. And even when the language behind it is well known to me, systems such as Drupal have also led me to feel like I am once again back in kindergarten.

Still, I am much more confident in my abilities as a PHP developer. I think I get the knack of MVC (Model-View-Controller), Singletons, and the other mainstays of OOP. Thanks to some extensive import scripts I've had to build recently, I feel a lot better about my MySQL skills. Need Ajax work? Bring. It. On. I'm confident I've wrapped my head around the logic of programming, so I am even confident I could take on another language if necessary.

However, I'm sure as I explore PHP 5.3, there will be things that just are beyond my comprehension at this moment. Not so much the technical aspect, but how exactly I can use the new features to my advantage. Far too often I am guilty of horrible inertia when a new toolbox full of things to work with are put in front of me. In short order, I start figuring out how to use certains things out of that toolbox, but it still is quite daunting at the beginning. I suppose it is better to have too many tools than not enough.

Immediacy and its Effect on this Blog

If the Internet has done one thing, it has sped up the relevancy cycle in regards to topics. Some things, suc as debates about favorite movies, political issues, and sports teams will always be relevant. Others, however, are deemed irrelevant after just days, or sometimes even hours.

One reason why I don't tend to get my thoughts about new movies up on this blog is my tendency to not immediately write them down. By the time I think about writing a review, it seems too irrelevant, especially if the next week of releases is already out. Sure, the movies can still be topics well after they have been released, but not really as reviews. I know it seems confusing, but there is a difference, a sort of immediacy that is lost with reviews made well after the fact.

That is one reason why I haven't posted reviews of some of the recent movies I've seen. Although I didn't get reviews up for the movies, I'm sure I'll write about Up (because its that good) and Transformers 2 (because its that bad). However, these thoughts will be in a different form than a review, which is a much more immediate type of post.

Although not related to movie reviews, one example of my thoughts on relevancy is a topic I considered for this post. I had thought of writing about fanboys. However, there are plenty of places people can read about this dreadful internet phenomenon. What more do I really have to add, other than to offer my tired opinion that they are pathetic and close-minded. Maybe a well thought out post on fanboys might have been relevant in 2002, but today it is tired and played out.

A Month of Writing: 31 Posts in 31 Days

Welcome one and all, to my latest experiment on my great blogpire. In order to find my writing voice, and just to see if I can stay committed to something, I am going to write one blog post a day during the month of July, the result being 31 total posts.

This experiment will have a few ground rules. First off, the one post a day is one post total, and not 1 each on the four blogs I (in theory) maintain. This limit is in place because I really haven't shown an ability to keep up with the one post a day goal before. Other more economically beneficial commitments must be kept, and I want to do the best job possible with these posts, so I need to keep the goal somewhat realistic.

Second, each post won't just be a link and a quick blurb. Each post will be at least three paragraphs long. I intend to keep the posts to the point and as entertaining as possible. I've gotten rather rusty in the writing game, being out of it for a while. By July 31, I hope my work will be an improvement over the earliest pieces.

Finally, each post will be on the appropriate blog. If it is political, historical, or another serious topic of that nature, it will go on August Prairie. If it is related to movies, sports, games, web development, or just general ruminations, it will go on Quo Vadimus. Travel stories will go on Prairie Traveler Guide, and Vermilion County related posts will go up on the Vermilion Expat. If you wish to see a list of the posted stories in a central location, I have a page here. Each blog will have a link to the 31 Days of Writing page.

Please keep checking back every day. I hope to have the next story up by 5:00 (although tomorrow's post won't be up until later in the evening). And don't hesitate to offer feedback, as comments will be open for business on every post.

One down, 30 to go. Let it begin!

Michael Jackson Dead

Sorry Iran, and pretty much everything else. Every news outlet now has its "big story" for the next week. Expect as much overblown puffery about this as when St. Gipper of the Jelly Beans died.

That being said, Mr. Jackson truly an excellent singer, if incredibly eccentric. Its too bad that he died at such a young age. May he rest in peace.

A Quick Update on Many Things

Over the past few months there have been several things of interest (at least to me) that I had hoped to write about on this here blog. However, for no good reason at all, I never got around to it. Despite the fact that the relevancy of some of these thoughts has long since passed, I still thought I would share them with all of you non-existent readers.

On Movies: The first four months of this year continued my third year of prolific movie watching in the theaters. Like the previous two years, I spent most of the time at the theater in January and February watching the "prestige" films that finally made their way to the theaters here in Central Illinois. By March, however, those films were no longer being shown, and it was mostly slim pickings until the beginning of the summer season.

For the 2008 movies, my favorites were Rachel Getting Married, Slumdog Millionaire, and Revolutionary Road. As for the 2009 films, I found most of the ones I've watched so far to be fairly forgettable, if still somewhat enjoyable. I thought Watchmen was pretty good, although I do agree some parts could have been done better. I found I Love You, Man to be funny, and I am still not sure what to make of Observe and Report. My favorite (by far) was Adventureland.

So far the summer movie season is only one weekend old, so I can't say I have a big grasp on how it will go. However, I hope it ends up better than X-Men Origins: Wolverine. While not an entirely unenjoyable film, it could have been better.

On the Jay Cutler Trade:
Maybe it won't work out. Maybe Jay Cutler will be just another disappointing chapter in a book the size of War & Peace. Right now, I really don't care, because the Bears appear to have a real quarterback.

The move showed a surprising amount of gambling by Jerry Angelo. Up until the trade actually happened, the general mood of this Bears fan was that the trade seemed intriguing, but was really nothing more than a desperate fantasy. After all, the Bears don't make blockbuster trades, do they? It was a shock when I found out that they had pulled the trigger on the trade. Thus the era of the Neckbeard ended in Chicago, hopefully to replaced by a much better era of quarterbacking.

On the Bulls-Celtics
What an exciting series. I cannot believe how much different this team looked during the playoff series than it did in the middle of the regular season. Its too bad the Bulls couldn't close it out with a victory in game 7, but they did certainly show some promise for next season.

On Baseball
It's time once again for the Cubs march to futility, volume 101. Maybe they will end the futility this year, but I wouldn't hold my breath. I'm sure they'll find a way to blow it. As for the White Sox, maybe they'll stay in the playoff race. However, I foresee them adding to their oh so long title drought. As for the World Series, I predict Boston over Los Angeles. I'm so sorry* for you Red Sox and Dodger fans.

*Not Really

The Good and the Bad: Pixar vs. Dancing Commando Gerbils

While watching the trailers prior to Disney's Earth*, I was witness to the dual nature of the company. After the trailer for the latest Pixar film, a trailer for a piece of excrement known as G-Force was shown. I don't want to give this movie the publicity by linking to it**, but I did want to mention how horrible it looked.

I can't understand why a company that has made (or at least presented) some of the greatest pieces of animation to grace the screen also has to make crappy films with crappy CG about crappy Gerbil Strike Forces. It isn't the first time either. Name every Disney Classic, and there is a good chance some mediocre sequel has oozed out of Disney straight to DVD.

I know that kids will watch any piece of dreck put in front of them, but that doesn't mean it should happen. I also recognize that the profits from these piles of garbage can help Disney take risks on new things that are actually innovative and creative. However, that doesn't make it any better. And yes, I know this is Jerry Bruckheimer film, Disney is just distributing it. To be involved with this is to be guilty. You can be assured I'll be there for Up, but will pass on Mission: Gerbil. I recommend for your sanity, and for the intelligence of your kid, that you do so as well.

*An Excellent Film, even if it was mostly re-used footage from Discovery's Planet Earth
**I'm sure Disney is really hurt that all two of my readers won't be exposed to a link to their film.

On Death and Celebrity

I can't say that I was a fan of Natasha Richardson. In fact, I'm pretty certain I didn't really know who she was, most likely confusing her with Natasha Henstridge. However, I find myself thinking about her death.

I think its just the randomness of her death. It wasn't like she was rocketing down a tree-lined slope way above her skill level. She died from a seemingly innocuous bump on the head on a frigging bunny slope. One minute she was conscious and joking around, just hours later she was unconscious. The randomness of it makes me think far too much about it, and become unnecessarily worried that I might just trip outside my apartment and die.

Obviously its not something that is likely to happen, and the randomness is just something you have to accept. But it still makes me nervous.

The two most recent celebrity deaths I've thought as much about were Heath Ledger and Tim Russert. Ledger's death wasn't a random incident (unless an overdose is considered random), but the fact that a seemingly healthy person not much older than myself died at what seemed the peak of his life hit far too close to home. Russert seemed like such a nice guy, and certainly loved what he did. The fact he couldn't see the result of the 2008 election (in this life at least) just seemed unfair. In addition, he was pretty close to the age of my dad, and made me think about the mortality of both my parents and myself.

I suppose that there might not be any real meaning to why we pay so much attention to the deaths of celebrities. It might just be part of our society's over obsession with famous people. However, I do believe that it also can be a way for people to ruminate on one of the few things that unifies all humans, without having to deal with the nearness of a loved-one dieing.

Let the Games Begin

Today is the start of one of the greatest 4 day spans of American sports. Yes, my friends, it is the start of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take these days off, so I can't enjoy it as much as I would like. However, I still can enjoy the evening games, and keep up with the scores from work.

My brackets are set, and I apologize to the teams I picked. You will likely be going home sooner than you would like.

So if you can, sit back, enjoy some cold beverages and salty snacks, and get ready for the madness.

R.I.P., Ron Silver

Some more sad news today, as Ron Silver has died of esophageal cancer. Although prolific in both movies and TV, to me he will always be Bruno Gianelli. It was always a treat whenever he appeared on The West Wing, and somehow made the profession of Mark Penn and Dick Morris look somewhat noble. He will be missed.

Here is a small clip of one of my favorite scenes involving Ron Silver.

NOOOOOO!!!!

Unfortunate news out of Chicago.

I honestly never considered some company would have the balls to enact a name change to a landmark like that. This isn't some non-descript tower sitting off of State Street, its the Sears Tower, a symbol of Chicago and Illinois.

Don't expect to see the tower called by anything other than the Sears Tower on this august blog.

How Dare you Don't Like that Movie I Like

For many mediums of entertainment, I'm not one to get defensive. Don't like South Park or Arrested Development? There's no accounting for taste. Not fond of the movie scores of John Williams. Well, I can understand that. You found War & Peace to be too long? Yeah, I can see that.

Only when it comes to movies to I tend to get defensive, especially if it is a movie I really like. It isn't that I can't rationally grasp the idea that somebody doesn't see the movie the way I see it, because I certainly can. Its more of a emotional response that is built from a deep sense of insecurity about my personal tastes.

Although movies such as Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, and Stranger than Fiction* elicit this response from me, the three biggest movies that cause me to become overly defensive are Episodes I-III of Star Wars.

Yeah, I'm an apologist for lil' Ani's big Adventure. Big deal, you wanna fight about it? Its so bad I tense up and get snippy when watching any episode of South Park that defames The Phantom Menace, or that episode of The Simpsons where they break into a Lucas-like director's compound to pontificate on the value of a good story. I know its childish, and I get crap for it from my friends and siblings. But the fact remains that I still like the films.

I think its a desire to see these Star Wars films as my Star Wars, considering I wasn't born until a year after The Empire Strikes Back came out. I also think it is because people went overboard in their criticism (much of the problems with Episodes I-III are also present in the earlier films), and were unrealistic in their expectations. Most of all, I think The Phantom Menace, Jar-Jar and camel farts excepted, is a very solid film. **

As I get older, I do think I've mellowed somewhat on this issue. I mostly keep my mouth shut when I hear or see criticisms of the prequels, and I can certainly agree that maybe Lucas could have used some people who weren't afraid to challenge him on some of his decisions***. Besides, I think we all can agree that The Clone Wars movie was a forgettable piece of mediocrity.


* Pixar films can be included here as well, but I am sure that anybody who doesn't like Pixar are either Dreamworks plants or soul-less automatons (or both).
** Most of my defensiveness is about Episode I. I've come down a bit on Episode II (especially Natalie Portman's performance and some of the effects), and Episode III is well liked enough that I don't feel the need to defend it.
*** Like damnit, George, Jar-Jar? Really?

Announcing a New Blog

No, not the one I promised in a previous post. My sister has blog titled "Sooner or Later Everybody goes to the Zoo", a blog about her life as an intern at the St. Louis Zoo. She's already been hard at work over there, so I hope you go check it out.

Deep Space Nine

Looking back through my archives, I realized that I haven't written about Star Trek: Deep Space Nine one of my favorite TV shows of all time. Although I only finished watching the entire series in 2008, I've been a fan since I started regularly watching the show towards the end of season 5 (1996-1997).

I appreciate Star Trek, especially some of the better episodes and the even numbered old school movies (II, IV, and VI). However, it was well before my time, and not very well syndicated in Central Illinois during my formative years. Star Trek: The Next Generation was the choice of my friends, and was a show I enjoyed as well (even if season 1 was ridiculously goofy). * However, ever since I watched the first few episodes my dad had taped, I was hooked.

Although the show certainly has its fans, and it did attract a modest following, it was nowhere near as successful as TNG. Part of this may have been it being located on a space station instead of a starship. It also was a much darker show than the hyper optimistic TNG, a tone that didn't fit quite so well in the internet boom heydays of the Clinton years.

Had Deep Space Nine premiered in 2004 instead of 1994, it probably would have gained a much larger audience, as many of its topics are even timlier in the post 9/11 world. Episodes such as "Homefront" and "Paradise Lost" dealt with overzealous "patriots" willing to sacrifice freedoms for elusive security. Other episodes dealt with racism, religion, torture, genetic engineering and even trans-sexualism (although in an easily explainable way involving Trill).

Yet as serious as many of the episodes where, the show also had its lighthearted moments. I anticipated every episode where Quark, Rom, or any of the other Ferengi played an integral part. Throw Odo into the mix, and you usually have one heck of an adventure. Despite the obvious difficulties, the time travel epsiodes were usually my favorite, whether it was the more serious "Past Tense" or the humorous retelling of the Roswell story in "Little Green Men", the writers knew how to do time travel right.

Although I have many favorite episodes, the best one by far has to be "Far Beyond the Stars". In this day and age, the episode still resonates, as Benny Russell would have been considered just as reckless writing about a black President as he was writing about a black space station captain. Although you should check out all 7 seasons, this is a must see.

Like everything, the show wasn't perfect. I groaned every time Worf and/or Jadzia went out on a mission with the Klingons, and the episodes with the lounge singer were mixed at best (although the Ocean's 11 type story was surprisingly entertaining). However, it was far more hit then miss.

With the reboot of the Star Trek Franchise this summer, maybe more people will take the time to become acquainted with this show. Those that do take a trip out to the station by the Wormhole (or the Temple of the Prophets) will find something interesting.

*Yes, I'm aware of the other two TV shows. Please don't remind me.

My Year in 2008 Movie-Going

Last year, I had intended to do a year-end review of movies for 2007. As it way my first year in which I had both the income and proximity to a theater, I watched almost one movie a week. It was a wonderful year to watch movies, with many great movies. However, I never got the post written, and my thoughts were left in the dark.

At the end of 2008, I again intended to share my thoughts on the year of movies. However, this presented a problem, as many of the year-end movies didn't appear in my area until the end of January, when they all came into the theater at once. Therefore, I had to delay my post due to going to the theater 3 or 4 nights a week. By this past Tuesday, I had finally watched Gran Torino, ending my year of 2008 movies.

Overall, I can't say 2008 was as good as 2007, especially when comparing the Oscar Bait movies of the years. Three of my favorite movies from 2008 (Ironman, The Dark Knight, and Wall-E) came out during the summer, and one (In Bruges) debuted about a year ago. Although I enjoyed movies like Rachel's Getting Married, Gran Torino, and Slumdog Millionaire, none of them entered my list of favorites like Juno, There Will Be Blood or Walk Hard did in 2007.

Still, there were some very good things about the films of 2008. Dreamworks finally made an animated movie worth a damn (Kung Fu Panda). Pineapple Thunder, Tropic Thunder and Forgetting Sarah Marshall made me laugh. Pixar showed us that it is possible to make a love story about two robots heart-warming, and also showed that it was possible to top Ratatouille in terms of ambition. Even a movie that looked like it would be a disaster (W) turned out to be a very competent surprise.

So where will 2009 take us? The first big movie of this year is coming out March 6, when we get to see if the fears of nerds everywhere will be realized when Watchmen comes out. Later in the year, new entries from Pixar, Harry Potter, and Star Trek come out, all movies that could be great, or be disappointing. I'm sure there will be more movies to get excited about, but for right now those are the four movies I am anticipating.

Until next time, enjoy the popcorn, and I hope to see you at the movies.

A Note on Quo Vadimus

I'll have my 2008 movie wrap-up post later this week, but tonight, a quick note on the future of this blog.

No, the blog isn't going away, but it will be getting a new name (although the url will probably stay the same). Quo Vadimus will be getting a new mission, one which I have yet to completely determine. I will have more on that later.

Until then, you can still come here for my infrequent and semi-coherent rants about movies, TV, and sports. And after that, I hope you'll frequent both the new blog and the new and (hopefully) improved Quo Vadimus.

Until next time,

Your Friendly Neighborhood Blogger

The 2008 NFL Wrap up

To all readers who aren't football fans: I apologize for the 4th straight football post. Rest assured this is the last one that will done, at least until the Bears screw up the draft.

Well, how about the end of that Super Bowl, eh? Too bad the rest of the game was unremarkable.

I apologize for not giving my Championship or Super Bowl picks, but as you can see the simple rule with my picks is go against me, unless Pittsburgh and Baltimore are involved. Until the Super Bowl I picked both teams correctly, and certainly would have picked Pittsburgh had I known they were going up against the Cardinals.

Although they were a model of mediocrity during the regular season, I must congratulate the Arizona Cardinals for joining the real NFL. Now their fledgling group of fans can move from ridiculous irrelevance to painful memories. The Eagles , Bills, and Browns fans welcome you. Detroit and Houston, you're next.

And to Pittsburgh, I congratulate you. You now have one for your left hand as well. Also, considering you have to live with the Pirates, I'm not sure another title isn't deserved.

And so, another season wraps up, and the lights for meaningful games are out until next September. A sports hungry nation turns its eyes towards college basketball, just in time for the run to the tournament. And later this month, four of the sweetest words in the English language ("Pitchers and Catchers Report") will usher in the beginnings of another summer in the sun. For those in Cleveland and on the north side of Chicago, Dallas San Francisco, and yes even you in Kansas City and Pittsburgh, can be forgiven for having hope.

At least until after Opening Day...

NFL Playoffs: Wildcard Fever

1-3.

Yeah, that one has gotta hurt. With the same intuition that I exhibited in my preseason super bowl pick of the Cowboys (hah) and the Browns (urgh), I appear to have doomed the seasons of the fair Colts, Vikings, and Falcons.

In my defense, had I actually spent time researching the matchups and actually doing work on the picks, I probably could have gone 2-2.

Anyhoo, with as much foresight and skill exhibited in my previous week, here are my divisional round picks.

NFC
New York over Philadelphia
I have to go with the Defending champions on this one. The Eagles showed they could win on the road at the Vikings, but it was Tavaris Johnson after all. The Super Bowl road in the NFC will go through the Meadowlands.

Carolina over Arizona
You lousy redbirds picked a fine time to actually show up. Where were you against Minnesota, when the Conundrums of the Midway needed you to bolster their playoff hopes? So you beat Matt Ryan, eh? The Bears almost did that as well, if Robbie Gould could have kicked a squib kick, or the defense could have kept the reciever in bounds. Oh well, enough bitching. The Boringest Show on Turf continues on to face the New York Giants.

AFC
Baltimore over Tennessee
Of my picks, this is probably my least confident one (which means it will probably be the lone one to pay off). Tennessee looks vulnerable, one of those unpleasant #1 seeds that always seem to get picked off in the divisional round. Granted, one of those teams (2006 Bears) made it all the way to the Super Bowl, but they almost blew it against Seattle. However, the very fact they look so vulnerable has me second-guessing myself in this crazy NFL world.

Pittsburgh over San Diego
My confidence level for this game is about 50% lower is Rothlisberger isn't starting in Pittsburgh. Still, even without him, I can't see the Chargers making it to a second straight AFC championship. However, the prospect of an 8-8 team making the Super Bowl is an intriguing thought. Its like the mediocrity of the 2008 NFL season has come alive, and is tangibly trying to prove its title as most mediocre season ever.

NFL 2009! Catch the Fever. Or Don't.