Enough Already! He's gone!

I think I've been fairly tolerant of the great media meltdown regarding Michael Jackson. I have not complained at all about the incessant coverage of his life, death, family, kids, house, estate, neverranch, cars, garage doors, front sidewalk, who he knew, what he knew, who knew him, how long his pinky finger was, etc... etc...

But Enough Already! You can't seem to flip through the TV channels without getting at least a few channels STILL talking about this stuff. I believe that Michael Jackson was an extraordinary artist and performer. I believe his works will be known forever and by generation after generation.

But come on! We survived the onslaught when he went to the hospital. We survived the 24/7 coverage of his memorial. We are now having to survive unending coverage of things that I don't really care about - at all!

Enough Already! He's gone! The King of Pop has died. Let's, please, let the coverage die as well. I'll be more than happy to simply listen to Michael on my media player today at work.

100 Million Dollars

Here you go - a fantastic representation of big financial numbers.

Computer Fail

My computer failed me. Not even 6 months old and it failed me. Working great until about 2 weeks ago - and fail it did. What frustrations.

I have a Dell Precision M6400 Mobile Workstation Laptop. It is big. It is heavy. 'Portable' is a pretty loose term here. The battery lasts less than 3 hours - if I'm lucky. If in hard use, and planned for more than 1.5 hours, I have to carry my power brick. And by 'brick' I mean 'BRICK'. The power supply alone weighs as much as my youngest daughter, or at least it feels that way. This is a Fantastic machine. It does everything I need. I do 3D mechanical modeling in Solidworks, 3D Architectural modeling in ArchiCAD, and it plays music. I have a port replicator / docking station that I have everything connected to, including my two monitors. They don't call it a 'Desktop Replacement' for nothing.

For the past 2 months or so, it hasn't left it's docking station more than a mere handful of times. During the school year, it's off and on - back and forth to school. When school starts up again, I'll haul the back-breaking monster and it's companion life-brick to and from school, every day - either walking or riding a bike.

But it failed me.

About two weeks ago, around 9pm, I noticed the machine was running really slowly. I check my task manager to find that the CPU usage is pegged-out at 100%. As I watch, it bounces between 80+ and 100% CPU Usage while the memory pull is sitting around 2gig (I have 4 gig). Assuming something was doing an update, I let it be and by 10pm, it was back to normal - just in time for me to head to bed. The next night, the slowdown started around 10pm - I didn't wait for it to finish. I went to bed. 2 days later, I notice the problem around 6pm, so I call Dell Support. He assists me in using msconfig to turn on and off services and after about 20 minutes on the phone, the computer is back to normal. He gives me additional advice for testing purposes. I make note that, with a thermometer, the temperature on the back of the machine, between it and the port replicator, it is 122 degrees F.

Jump past a number of other very frustrating slow-downs to 3 days ago. I called Dell support again, the slow-downs are becoming more frequent and lasting longer. Always pegging the CPU Usage up to 100%, thus inhbiting me from doing practically anything else. The support agent tells me this isn't too uncommon. Idiot. The thermometer is reading in the high 120's F now.

I called yesterday again - I had been working on it since 5:30pm when I got home from work - CPU usage always screaming at 80+, regularly hitting 100% and holding. From an IT standpoint, make note: I had Notepad open for taking notes on the call, I had the Task manager open to monitor the CPU's. While sitting doing nothing, talking to the support agent, the CPU usage drops to about 40% and bounces around between there and about 60%. BUT - when I move my mouse over the icons on my desktop (you know how they highlight as you mouse over them), the CPU peaks at 100% and holds for 20 seconds. Just for moving my mouse around - no clicking - just moving.

The agents response? Could be hardware, could be software. We reboot into safe mode and the CPU seems under control - down bouncing around 1% & 10% usage. Reboot in normal and the CPU goes nuts. The agent says I need to reformat. There is a software issue and tracking it would be a nightmare so I need to reformat, reload windows, and start from scratch. I note the temperature at 144F.

Oh goody.

So, I make a note of everything that needs to be backed up and start moving it all to my secondary drive, in preparations for formatting my C: Drive. I think I have it all and get everything copied over. Insert the Vista DVD and reboot to the CD. Follow the steps and half way through a non-stoppable process realize I'm only installing a second copy of windows - I didn't get it formatted. 1 hour later, I reboot again to the DVD, go through the format option and get it done. I got Windows back on and started installing software.

By now it was just before midnight (I got started at 5:30pm), I had Windows, security software and Internet. My wonderful, wonderful loving and caring and giving wife had been reading Deep Six by Clive Cussler to me the entire time and was clearly showing signs of wanting to go to bed. I decided to call it a night.

This morning I got another dozen or so programs installed before I had to leave for work. Tonight - I'll install another dozen or so progams that I need. When did I become so dependant on computers?

So - my wonderful laptop - my mean machine, my heavy, heavy wanna-be-portable laptop, my do anything I need workstation - it failed me. And now I'm working on getting it back up and running, less than 6 months since creation. Bummer.

Reverse Racism / Descrimination / Bias

If you follow the news, particularly msn, then you have seen the headlines on the latest ruling of the surpeme court on the firefighters in New Haven. Click here for the latest article.

On my family board, We are discussing this as well. My brother states: "This is racism directly caused by anti racism policy and law." How can it be that anti-racism policy/law is actually causing racism? Simple. When one is required to hire/promotte/accept/etc... any particular race, it is racism. When New Haven failed to promote those with the best test scores because they were worried about a lawsuit from another race - that is reverse racism.

My sister-in-law also mentioned that schools and colleges are required to accept a certain number of non-white applications. This is Reverse Racism.

The laws that were put in place, many years ago, to ensure equal rights to all races were essential in the development of our country and the breaking down of racist barriers. But now those laws work more towards ensuring racism then what new Haven wanted in the first place. I side with the white firefighters in this case because they were unjustly denied promotions when they 'earned' it by doing the best on the tests. However, I also side with New Haven out of pity. They were clearly in a no-win situation and it got ugly. Truth-be-told, I believe they would have promoted those that did well if it werent for the anti-racism laws that scared them with the prospect of facing a racism lawsuit.

Clearly, America (and the world) needs to become 'race-free'. We are all one people all working towards similar goals. It is no longer essential to enforce racism laws as it was so many years ago. Today, we need to see people for who they are, what they are, what they can do - not for what color or race they are.

With the death of Michael Jackson, his #1 hit Black and White comes to mind (watch it here on youtube.). Clearly - it doesn't matter if we are black or white or asian or russion, we just need to be all together one.

Camping with the Boy Scouts

I am the Assistant Scout Master for Troop 49. Last weekend, we went on a campout up to Aldous Lake, some 50 miles north of Rexburg. I felt I was very well prepped with my backpack (it is a 1.5 mile hike up and in). Just as I was leaving the house to go to the meeting site, the heavens opened and a torrential downpour insued. We were to meet at 4pm in the church parking lot and the rain started at 3:45pm. I waited 5 minutes in hopes it would calm, and it did a bit. So over to the parking lot to get everything ready. The rain continued as we got loaded up and headed out around 4:30pm.

After a 1.5 hour drive, we started the hike up. Slathered in bug spray and with my backpack on tight and comfortable, it turns out the hike was barely even started when we arrived. I could have hauled my pack another 5 or 10 miles - easy.

When we arrived at the campsite, it started to rain. The boys, as boys will be, didn't seem too interested in getting things setup or taken care of. In fact, 2 of the boys left their packs out in the rain. Not sure why they would do that. I got my gear under a temporary tarp and immediately got started on the fire - we had dinner to cook. It was one of the toughest fire starts I have ever done. We fought it for about 30 minutes before we really had it going well. Everything was damp, it was chilly. It was a challenge, but we got it up and going and we got our dinner cooked.

The rain stopped around 9:30 and we enjoyed a nice fireside program of scout skits and stories along with some scout/camp songs. I went tentless - just a tarp draped over a rope tied between two trees. The boys finally slowed down and I hit the sack at 11:45pm. I'm guessing I was out just after midnight. I was awakened at 5:30a to the sounds of one of the boys puking. He hacked and coughed and gagged. Then he spent 20 minutes analyzing what was in it. I never got back to sleep and finally got up around 7:20a.

Saturday, after breakfast of instant oatmeal mixed with filtered, boiled lake water, we hiked up to Hancock lake which is up near the continental divide, right next to the border of Idaho and Montana. The boys fished and played, some of the leaders fished as well. There was no fish to be had up there, and we headed back to camp around noonish.

After cleaning up camp, we headed down the mountain and we were home by 2:30pm. Not a bad campout for how it seemed it would start.


My camping points of wisdom to share:

#1 - Always bring a poncho, even if the weather says it is going to be good. They are really light. Carry them in an accesible place while hiking.
#2 - Bring plenty of bug spray.
#3 - I'll be happy to carry a tent next time.
#4 - Don't forget the Itch Eraser. I was fortunate not to get a single bite, but if I did - I'll want this stuff with me.
#5 - Bring a lightweight shovel.
#6 - Carry an easily-accessible hatchet with a good edge - you may need it on the hike. I'll be strapping mine to my leg on our next hike (in two months).
#7 - Carry more food then clothes. You can always wear the same clothes the next day, but you can't eat the same food the next day.
#8 - Boy scouts can be woefully unprepared, so be prepared to assist in things for them.
#9 - Bring a hat, and sunscreen.

We Are the World

In 1985, Michael Jackson worked with Lionel Richie to write a song to benefit Africa. The result is 'We Are the World'. This has always been a favroite song of mine, and now, in todays world, the video is easily watched on dozens of websites, including on YouTube.com.

Further research brings up the Wikipedia page that gives detailed information about the song, the writers, the singers, and all involved in the song. Read about it - it's a 'feel good' story and has some interesting trivia.

The King of Pop is Dead.

As a Billion and more people now know, Michael Jackson is dead. As a result of an apparent cardiac arrest yesterday, June 25th, 2009. Truly, a legend is gone, now no longer able to provide us with some of the very greatest music the world has ever known.

While at work yesterday, I noticed the headline 'Michael Jackson Rushed to the Hospital'. I followed the story, keeping with TMZ.com, who first broke the story. TMZ first reported his death, just before I had to go into a company meeting at 4:30pm MST.

The death of Michael Jackson will be akin to the Challenger Disaster, The Death of JFK, and the Fall of the Berlin Wall. You will always know where you were and what you were doing when it happened.

Michael Jackson, in life, was able to take down gargantous audiences in concert. In death, Michael Jackson was nearly able to take down the Internet.

I love the music of Michael Jackson. As for the guy himself? He went a bit off the deep end. I believe the fame and fortune got the best of him and it's a shame. No matter what your personal opinion of the man, you can not deny the power of his music.

So I say - Rest In Peace Michael. Be free of the prying eyes of the public. Finally, be free.

Local Business Report - Update

I went back to Cherry Glass & Aluminum in Idaho Falls yesterday to get a piece of metal for our project (additional reveals are forthcoming). When I showed up, Bart wasn't in (out on a jobsite), but his co-owner/sister was there. She was more than willing to help me with what I was looking for and was helpful in getting the piece hemmed as I needed it. The service shown by Cherry Glass and Aluminum has been outstanding, all around.

The price of the metal that I purchased is another story. Much, much higher than I was expecting, but I chose not to fight that battle at that time. We'll see how things go next time I stop in there.

Local Business Report

I'm working on a project at home. I'm looking for some corner trim and despite plenty of thought, I can't decide what is the best way to do what I need to do. (I'll post about the project when it is complete.) So I searched for some aluminum this morning and found a company here in Idaho Falls called 'Cherry Glass and Aluminum'. I called and the lady said they probably have some stuff in and to come in and look at it.

At lunch today, I went over there and met Bart. He is a co-owner of Cherry Glass and Aluminum and he was the nicest, kindest, most helpful person I think I may have ever met. He gladly listened to my dilemma and made suggestions. We went through a number of ideas as we focused in on the best solution.

In the end, he let me walk out with a couple of pieces of aluminum to try it out, free-of charge. Fantastic. I was amazed that there are still businesses who care, and want to help. I'll be back to Bart, with an order and to cover the cost of materials and time that he already lent me.

Create a database in Visual Basic 2008 Express

One of the biggest things I had to learn was setting up the database. There are LOTS of resources on the web with regard to Visual Basic and how to create databases. But I had great difficulty figuring it out for myself. I now present to you - the result of my searching, trial and effort, and results.

After creating a project, Go to the Solution Explorer. Right-Click on the project name (Bold title above everything else) choose 'Add' then 'New Item'. Choose 'Service-based database' and give it a name (db works, or mydb or something like that). Then click on 'Add'. It will work on it - be patient. It will then bring up the 'Data Source Configuration Wizard' asking you to 'Choose your Database Objects'. Skip this step for now by clicking on 'Cancel'. I learned that I need to setup my database before I create my datasets. This will save steps later. In your solution explorer, you will now see your new database as 'name.mdf'. This is where the information will be stored.

Now to define a Visual Basic database. Click on 'View' 'Database Explorer'. You should see your db file under 'Data Connections'. Click the plus sign next to the database name, then click the plus sign next to Tables. You should note the icon change from a red 'x' to a black plug-in on your database. This means you are now connected to the database. Right-Click on 'Tables' and choose 'Add New Table'. You now define the name of each column and what type of value that column will be and if you will allow that column to be empty on any given row.

Name the column 'CatID' (for Category ID). The Data Type should be 'int' and the Allow Nulls value should be cleared. The second row (which is defining a second column) can be named 'CatName', the type is 'nvarchar(30)' and the Allow nulls should be cleared. By clearing the checkbox under 'Allow Nulls', you are telling the table that some value MUST be in that column for EVERY row. Make one more column named 'CatDesc', with a type of nvarchar(250) and select the 'Allow Nulls' checkbox. This allows the category to have no description, which is ok. Lastly, setup an autoincrement and Primary Key. To do this, first, right click on the StoreID grey block to the left. Chose 'Set Primary Key'. You'll use that later. To setup auto increment, go to the 'Column Properties' and click the plus sign next to 'Identity Specification'. Double click the '(Is Identity) value of 'no' to change it to 'yes'. This will define each row of this table (as you add them) as a new identity with a unique ID number. Essential for later use.

That's it - the table is defined. Now to save it, go to the properties and change the '(Name)' field to 'CatTable'. Close the table definition by clicking the 'x' in the top right corner. Visual Basic will ask you if you want to save changes to 'Table1'. Even though that's not the name you entered, it's talking about the same table. Click 'Yes'. Notice that the new table is listed under your database name.

Now add some data to the new table by right-clicking on the new table name and choose 'Show Table Data'. You will be presented with the column Headings you created. You can't change the ID field because you set it to auto increment. But enter data into each of the other fields, Name and Desc. Note that the Name is required, the Description is not. Tab past the last field and you will enter the next line. Enter a few rows of data. Close the Table data to save.

There you go. The database is created, the columns are defined, and you entered some new information. That wasn't so hard. Now to use that information, to view it, edit it and update/save it - that's a whole 'nother story.