attitude

Do you think it matters a great deal when a developer is proud of what he creates? I do. Imagine, if you will, two developers who build exactly the same app (exactly the same code). They have exactly the same environment, manager, support structure, pay, home life, etc. etc. They are both exactly at the same level of competence and both understand the application to exactly the same depth. One truly believes that he wrote a compelling product. That it was well architected and is a very high quality reflection on his own abilities. The other thinks it is crap. He thinks the architecture is overcomplicated or too simple. He thinks the code is garbage. Now give these guys a year or two to support the app. I would imagine that the "happy" developer will be supporting a shiny, tip-top application whereas the "unhappy" developer will have an app with bugs introduced over that year. I even think he will understand less and less about it. I think attitude is a self-fulfilling prophesy.

I imagine that this applies to most other professions as well.

a short story

I haven't posted in a million years. I have been pretty busy. This short story to LB earlier pretty much sums up what has been going on with me lately:

A SHORT STORY


By Dan Norton


Once upon a time I left Blackstone and drove all over Nashville looking at dumpy, crack-town condos and far away houses. On the way home I stopped at Green Hills mall and watched Star Wars again. Despite the fact that I hate theatres and I will not have much reason to step in one again after Star Wars goes to DVD. I think watching Star Wars in a theatre is one of the most pure forms of enjoyment for me. Now I am going to go downtown and look at overpriced, "metrosexuals 'r us", ultra-modern lofts. Joy.



THE END


Appendix A: The lofts were just as I described them. They were $200K - $400K for 700 sq/ft apartments!!!

Parking for guests? Well, glad you asked because the answer is, "No. But they can park across the street. Hardly anyone has been mugged there today."

The big compelling reason to live in them was, "Hey! You're WALKING distance from the Tin Roof!"

To which I thought, "I couldn't imagine ANYTHING better than that ... except running my nether regions through a meat grinder."

Twin Towers II

Twin Towers model at MSNBC (David Shuster)

I casually clicked on this news article. When I saw the towers my heart leapt. When I read:

... for a brief moment today, we saw why so many people feel it is so important that newer, safer, stronger Twin Towers be built at Ground Zero.

I nearly got a shiver.

I have been semi-following the recent events surrounding the redevelopment of Ground Zero. From what I understand, construction was about to begin a few weeks ago when Governor Pataki brought the whole thing to a grinding halt and issued an order to "redesign". Whoa! At the time I figured that meant it would take longer then my natural lifetime to have anything there but two big holes in the ground. But right now, this very moment, I feel excitement that one day I will go back to NY and see two huge towers dominating the southern skyline of the city.

I am not a New Yorker. I have no real dog in this hunt. But I am an American who was, and still is, deeply touched by the events of September 11, 2001. A few weeks after the attack I watched Mayor Giuliani make a plea that he had enough volunteers, enough food and enough blood. What he really needed were tourists. A few weeks after that, I emptied out my bank account and got on a plane. I saw the twisted metal and the holes in the ground. I walked all around it. That's my only trip to New York thus far. However, I sympathize with New Yorkers that believe the only reasonable plan is to erect two new Twin Towers. Anything else is less. It is cowardice. It is letting those @#$@%# win. It is unacceptable. I agree wholeheartedly with Donald Trump who says about the Freedom Tower:

The last thing we need in New York is a skeleton representing the World Trade Center. I think it's not an appropriate design.

I didn't like the design of the Freedom Tower, but I figured that was the speech of someone who lives hundreds of miles away from New York. I thought, if New Yorker's (for the most part) like it than so be it. It's their city, after all. But if there is a wellspring of New Yorkers who support rebuilding the Twin Towers, I salute you, I stand by you, I THANK you and I will prove it by coming there and spending more money ... well, I'll do that anyway, but you know what I mean.

New Twin Towers would be a tribute to the victims. It is the ultimate example of American resiliency. It is also the second biggest insult to the bastards that toppled the first ones. Of course, forcing them to live in a treacherous mountain region and survive on a diet of their own cooked feces while hunting them like wild animals and killing them is the ultimate insult, but we're already working on that one.

Cinco de Mayo (I hate the french almost as much as I hate hippies)

Angelica gave us a loverly history lesson on the true meaning of Cinco de Mayo.

I don't know. I'm sort of torn on this one. On one hand, good job for beating up the french. I'd certainly raise my margarita glass to toast you on that one. On the other hand, you beat up the french. Why is that noteworthy? It's like celebrating sleeping late. Is it because the war against the frogs began on 5 May and ended on the same day, thus making it the fifth or sixth quickest ass-whoopin' they received ... that year?

I certainly agree with Pennington's thoughts on the nazi's, so this is not an endorcement of the folks in the picture. However, I don't like frogs. If I ever, for some unholy reason, have to step foot on french soil I promise to wipe my shoes off in public before departing. Anyway, this is my favorite picture of paris:



btw, that picture comes from a pretty funny site.

Water

I ate sort-of a big dinner, and I ate it kind-of late. That's not the best combination in the world. After that I felt really, really thirsty. I think I drank at least 12 glasses of water in the past hour and a half. My mouth is telling me that I could drink more. I am now laying in bed exhausted. I can't sleep because I am full of water. If I move from side to side real fast I can hear it sloshing around. When I press on my belly it's so full it doesn't mush in. I think a fish could swim around in there all night and live. This is miserable.

Can't Help it Star Wars Ramblings

So ... I was looking at this:

http://msnbc.com/modules/starwars/map

and realized how unafraid Lucas is to kill off almost ALL of his important characters.

There are 33 squares on the map. Two of them represent organizations: Droid Army and Clone Army. While both of these incur thousands of fatalities, I will exclude them from this calculation. One of them has two people: Lars family. Two more are duplicates: Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader and Senator Palpatine / The Emperor (imho, "The Emperor" just sounds cooler than "Emperor Palpatine", so kudos to these guys). Get rid of the duplicates and that leaves us with 30 "people".

Of those 30 there two for which, by the end of Episode VI, we do not know the fate: Lama Su and Jar Jar (maybe he gets offed in EpIII, but I doubt it). While Padme does not die on screen (I assume), Leia tells us she is dead. Also, we can assume that Bail Organa was on Alderaan when it blew in Episode IV, though the makers of this site neglected that point. There are 9 characters that we know survive all the way to the end credits of Episode VI. That leaves 19 characters on this map that get whacked on screen. There are a few that die in Episode III ... I hope I am not spoiling it for you if you don't know that. I am making the assumption that none of these people, er "retire" before Episode IV.

These aren't 'red shirts' either. Darth Vader, Obi-Wan, Yoda and Palpatine are, pretty much, the four most central characters of the whole deal. All dead. Besides these guys, the most powerful Jedi (Qui-gon, Mace)? Dead. Most beloved baddies (Boba Fett, Jabba)? Dead. Now ... how 'bout this one that I haven't thought about until now. 'Empire' is generally accepted as a fan favorite and the most dark of the OT (original trilogy). Besides a bunch of bumbling Imperial officers, that's the ONLY movie where a key character doesn't die. Interesting.

If you are reading this, you know I think about Star Wars constantly and could blog about it until my fingers fall off, but I haven't because, "Who want's to hear that?" I thought this one was worthy because the thought was spawned by LB's hypothesis on another popular saga. I don't want to agree that either Hermione or Ron will die by the end of the last Harry Potter book, but ... oh man, I concede. It really could happen.

btw. If you are after some GREAT SW meat to tide you over until the big day, read all of this:

http://darthside.blogspot.com

I just read this snippet. That's GREAT!!!

I meditated in the carbon freezing chamber as Skywalker approached. Out of the steam strode Qui-gon Jinn, shimmering and insubstantial. "Anakin," he called. "The time has come to test him."

"He is only a boy."

"He is stronger than you think," Qui-gon pronounced, and vanished.

So...chalk one up for Qui-gon. The boy is strong. Stronger than I could have imagined.

... or how 'bout this one. RIOT!!!

"I've been waiting for this for a long time," he went on. "Gettin' a chance to talk, just you and me. You wanna know why?"

"Pray tell, Captain."

"I know who you are!" he shouted.

Though my masque betrayed nothing I was startled. Did Luke know about me? I knew the liar Obi-wan would never have told him the truth...but could this smuggler know to tell him? How could that be possible?

"You can't hide it from me any more!" Solo continued. "Your cruelty reveals everything, Lord Vader."

"So, you know the truth..." I said, suddenly afflicted with a pain in the control circuitry of my left leg.

"Yeah, I know alright," spat Solo. "You're my father!"

It took me a moment to absorb that. Then I shook my head and smiled behind my masque. "No Solo," I pronounced darkly. "I killed your father."

Solo winced as if I had struck him. "That's not true," he muttered. "That's impossible."

This is the very best one. He-larious!!!

Dear House of Ozzel,

I regret to inform you that your son has been killed in the line of duty.

He was an incompetent, yammering boob and he will be missed by none. I have allowed the men to pillage his personal belongings, which is why we have enclosed nothing but the sole remaining item: a torn advertisements page from a magazine of midget pornography. May it shock and disturb you, and may you think of it always when you remember your dearly departed son, the ninny.

Know also that his limitations as a sub-par military professional caused the deaths of many of the Emperor's loyal soldiers, whose funeral expenses will appear on your next tax assessment.

Sincerely,
D. Vader

Only 9 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cmm pics

Oh yeah! I kick your ...

See more here

LB's Zingers Part I

Lara should be an author. She comes up with these zingers that make me laugh almost daily. I know that I have already started to forget some, so I have to write them down. Here's the best ones from the past couple of days. LB, can you think of any others that I liked?

In reference to adopting a dog, "They provide toys, food, crate, and vet care. You provide a face to lick."

Asking us to share a moment with her after a long day, "Can someone PLEASE meet me for a beer before bowling? Pretty please? With foam on top?"

On feeling a bit disheveled, "I combed my hair with a pork chop."


HA! These are priceless. Thanks.

Bright and Shiny

After watching Bubble Boy last night I decided to waste some time today looking at reviews. The movie struck me as one that tanked in the theatre. I don't know why I care enough to look. Here are some reviews from rottentomatoes.com:

I like these:

"Often terrible, yet strangely watchable."
-- Kim Morgan, OREGONIAN

"It's not good. It's a bizarre mix of cute and disgusting, innocent and evil. It's all wrong. So why was I laughing so much?"
-- Dave White, IFILM

"Bubble Boy's producers should never be allowed to SEE another film, let alone make one."
-- Tony Toscano, TALKING PICTURES (U.S.)

"Has a goofy and over-the-top way of making its point, but as long as you’re not stuck on it fitting a particular mould, it’s a fun - and meaningful - ride."
-- Brian Webster, APOLLO GUIDE


These I disagree with (--> is my comment):

--> Looks like somebody got offended. Poor wittle fella.
"Certainly the meanest-spirited film ever associated with the Disney hallmark."
-- Stephen Hunter, WASHINGTON POST

--> Well ... it wouldn't really be 'Bubble Boy' without the ... um ... BUBBLE!!! IDIOT!!!
"Someone like Tom Green or Carrot Top probably could have done a better job of reacting to Jimmy's issues and done it without a darn bubble in their way."
-- Ward Triplett III, KANSAS CITY STAR

--> Philip Martin is a Brianist.
"...the most anti-human movie to surface since Showgirls."
-- Philip Martin, ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Headlines - 5/3/2005

1. The editors of MSNBC.com would like to bring you the following grossly obvious, non-funny reports:
   • U.S. military report: Wars straining U.S. power
   • Africa worst place for mothers, children


2. Holy Cow! Ligers are real!
   • Liger, liger, burning bright


3. I've always thought the same thing
   • British geologist Dougal Dixon, in the book "The Future is Wild," creates a scenario millions of years from now in which humans become extinct and are replaced by an animal kingdom dominated by a giant land-based squid.

31 seconds too many

Official chip time was 2:00:30. So it's more like 13.1 = 2. I'm still happy with myself. My nipples are healing nicely. Thanks for asking, Corny.