Code WTF
Why use VBscript with ASP.NET? If that were not bad enough, check out the variable types. I like how the developer (I use the term very loosely) mixes Hungarian notation with Pascal Case. Also, this mess executes in the Page_Load event and is duplicated on all pages.
My favorite part is how the page communicates with the data store directly. Fat clients are here to stay. Design patterns, n-tier architectural patterns, and strong-typed languages are for losers! BTW, WordPress still cannot correctly render code snippets. Lame.
Dim UserName As String
Dim oConn As SqlConnection
Dim oCmd1 As SqlCommand
Dim oCmd2 As SqlCommand
Dim oCmd3 As SqlCommand
Dim aConfig As ConfigurationSettings
Dim strConn As String
Dim strSQL As String
Dim LastActivity As string
Dim MemberID As String = ""
Dim Inactive as BooleanPrivate Sub Page_Load()
Dim dr As SqlDataReaderMemberID = Request.Cookies("Site")("MEMBERID")
strConn = ConfigurationManager.AppSettings("ConnectionString")
oConn = New SqlConnection(strConn)
Inactive = FalseoConn.Open()
If trim(MemberID & "") <> "" Then
strSQL = "sp_Member @MODE='GETLASTACTIVITY',@MemberID=" & MemberID
oCmd1 = New SqlCommand(strSQL, oConn)
dr = oCmd1.ExecuteReader()
While dr.Read()
LastActivity = dr("LastActivity")
End While
dr.Close()
Inactive = DateDiff("n",LastActivity,Now()) > 30
End If
End Sub
Iron Man 2 Trailer
Marvel has released the official trailer for the upcoming Iron Man sequel. Although I am no fan of Robert Downey, I did like the first installment. Terrance Howard was horrible in the first one and am glad that he is sitting this one out (kicked to the curb over $$$ issues).
If you have not seen the trailer, check it out. I hope the movie is better than the mediocre trailer; else I am going to sit this one out and wait for the movie to be released on DVD. Let me know what you think of the trailer. It looks like a $1.00 Redbox rental to me.
Free Mouse Clicker
Earlier this evening, I was up to more antics and needed a way to automate mouse clicks. I thought about writing a quick utility; instead, I decided to search the vast web for a simple solution. I am sure there are utilities out there that will automate the mouse, right?
Well, I found many web macro (automation) solutions, but most had more functionality than I needed and cost up to several hundred dollars. I just need a simple mouse clicker, hook a brotha up! Check it out, save yourself a few keystrokes and hit up Nonags.
Chokehold Choked
Well, Operation Chokehold came and went with apparently zero impact on the AT&T data network. Some users reported slower downloads than usual during the scheduled hour of protest, but many discount the claims to "business as usual" crappy AT&T service.
Also, I just read that Dan Lyons, aka Fake Steve Jobs, is claiming that Operation Chokehold was just a joke. WTF? You promote a protest and then you want to back out and say it was just a joke? Did the FCC or law enforcement kick your ass? Lame.
Whatever! Lyons got his 15-seconds of fame, bailed on the protest, and AT&T continues to provide shitty service. Break it up people, there is nothing to see here! One more note, if you are an AT&T subscriber ... use the shit out of your data plan! You are paying for it!
Rock Band 2 for Sale
I have a brand new, factory sealed copy of Rock Band 2 Special Edition for Xbox 360, which I must sell. I listed it on Craigslist a couple times, but all inquiries have been from trolls that want to trade or low ball the sale price!
I paid $180.00 plus the "Bend Over" taxes a few months ago and now, the game sells for less than 1/2 the original purchase price. Damn! If you live in CA and are looking for a new copy of Rock Band 2 SE for Xbox 360, let me know. $80.00 via PayPal to verified address ONLY!
Format Change
Yup! It is definitely time to change the format of the blog. I think I am going to ride out the year and start fresh in 2010. Now that I think about it, most of the personal, substanceless, short posts are a result of attempting (pressure) to publish fresh content each day.
I am not a news paper or other periodical, so I can drop the need to publish fresh content each day. The rants are not going away, because it is one of the core elements of the blog but the other filler crap is out. Keep the suggestions coming, thanks!
Operation Chokehold
AT&T's grand scheme to change their data plans has pissed off the masses. If you are tired of the bullshit, join Operation Chokehold and biatch slap AT&T by overwhelming their data network (hope it works). Damn, now I wish I had an iPhone just so I can participate.
Subject: Operation Chokehold
On Friday, December 18, at noon Pacific time, we will attempt to overwhelm the AT&T data network and bring it to its knees. The goal is to have every iPhone user (or as many as we can) turn on a data intensive app and run that app for one solid hour. Send the message to AT&T that we are sick of their substandard network and sick of their abusive comments. The idea is we’ll create a digital flash mob. We’re calling it in Operation Chokehold. Join us and speak truth to power!
Twitter-Like
I was going to publish a post about the Golden Boy and how he gave himself a "solid B+" for his efforts, lame! Instead, I just realized that wassupjose has become very much twitter-like with the short, personal, "what I am doing" posts.
I do not use over-hyped Twitter and certainly do not want this blog to follow their cheesy model. I need to mix it up, so if you have any ideas just leave a comment. So, immediately I am going to change up the format. WTF was I thinking?
Thirty-Eight
Thirty-eight is the number of OZ Galbi pieces served for two orders. I am over the damn flu and wanted to get my Korean BBQ on, so I headed over to our favorite grill off Bradshaw. I ordered two orders of OZ Galbi, one order of Pot Stickers, and two soft drinks. $80.00!
I think I received a couple more pieces this time, but cannot help feeling that $1.18 each is too expensive. The price is probably based on total weight, but averaged out per piece the price sucks. It is time to try Seoul Restaurant.
Hmm, I should mention that our waitress forgot to turn on the overhead fan and the smoke from the grill burned the crap out of my eyes. I had to wave her down and ask her to turn the fan on, because I felt like I was driving behind an oil burning beater.
Useless Error Messages
Time and time again, I encounter web sites that display useless error messages. Damn! Is it really that difficult to catch the exception and display a friendly error message? I guess the sites do not give a crap about user experience.
I visited the instructables.com site, executed a simple search, and was presented with the below. The error message is useless to "ALL" site visitors. I finally got past the lame search, but had to point out the lame behavior. Fail!
org.apache.solr.client.solrj.SolrServerException: Bad Gateway
Caused by:
Server side exception, status = 502: Bad Gateway
at org.apache.solr.client.solrj.impl.CommonsHttpSolrServer.request(CommonsHttpSolrServer.java:175)
at org.apache.solr.client.solrj.query.SolrQuery.process(SolrQuery.java:297)
at com.instructables.solr.SolrSearchServlet.doGet(SolrSearchServlet.java:494)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:115)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:92)
at com.caucho.server.dispatch.ServletFilterChain.doFilter(ServletFilterChain.java:106)
at com.caucho.filters.GzipFilter.doFilter(GzipFilter.java:208)
at com.instructables.filter.FilterWrapperFilter.doFilter(FilterWrapperFilter.java:47)
at com.caucho.server.dispatch.FilterFilterChain.doFilter(FilterFilterChain.java:70)
at com.instructables.filter.HibernateSessionRequestFilter.doFilter(HibernateSessionRequestFilter.java:48)
at com.caucho.server.dispatch.FilterFilterChain.doFilter(FilterFilterChain.java:70)
at com.instructables.filter.TemporaryProFilter.doFilter(TemporaryProFilter.java:77)
at com.caucho.server.dispatch.FilterFilterChain.doFilter(FilterFilterChain.java:70)
at com.instructables.filter.SecurityFilter.doFilter(SecurityFilter.java:140)
at com.caucho.server.dispatch.FilterFilterChain.doFilter(FilterFilterChain.java:70)
at com.instructables.filter.SetupFilter.doFilter(SetupFilter.java:68)
at com.caucho.server.dispatch.FilterFilterChain.doFilter(FilterFilterChain.java:70)
at com.caucho.server.webapp.WebAppFilterChain.doFilter(WebAppFilterChain.java:173)
at com.caucho.server.dispatch.ServletInvocation.service(ServletInvocation.java:229)
at com.caucho.server.http.HttpRequest.handleRequest(HttpRequest.java:274)
at com.caucho.server.port.TcpConnection.run(TcpConnection.java:514)
at com.caucho.util.ThreadPool.runTasks(ThreadPool.java:527)
at com.caucho.util.ThreadPool.run(ThreadPool.java:449)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:595)