RANDOM RAMBLINGS from my life experiences...
RANDOM RAMBLINGS:::

RAMBLING 1:
After 2 and half years of ASP.NET, I'm ready for something a little different. Luckily, it appears that our corporate standard is pushing towards the Smart Client model for apps. That'll be a nice change for me.

RAMBLING2:
I've randomly seen the acronym AJAX floating around the web. I had no idea what it was, and I've been too busy to care to find out. Then someone pointed out yesterday that it's the stuff that we've been doing for over 3 years now. Woohoo! Passing good ol' XML around with XMLHTTP and Javascript. Yippie! But suddenly someone wrapped an acronym around it, and it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Who knew? But I'm sure it's not that simple. I'm sure it must involve some techniques and standards integrating .NET.
Posted 27 July 2005 10:58 AM by eking1013 | 3 comment(s)
This just ticks me off...
I weep for the future, and the uncertainty that it holds.......

Way to go, IBM. You REALLY SUCK.

Thanks,

Me.
Posted 29 June 2005 11:08 AM by eking1013 | 10 comment(s)
Finally back at work.........
After a week and a half of being out, I am finally back at work. It was VERY hard coming back. I was enjoying the family time imensely. I was also able to get some projects going around the house during my time off. I've been re-landscaping the front yard, uprooting some plants and bushes I didn't like, and I got Katelyn's swingset up. It's been fun and rewarding. I've decided that next I'm gonna repaint the front porch and replace the mailbox.

I guess I should go write some code or something..........
Posted 29 June 2005 09:59 AM by eking1013 | no comments
WHAT A FATHER'S DAY!!!

Brody Christopher King arrived yesterday at 5:09p.m.

20 inches long

6lbs, 15 oz.

You can see some pics of our new arrival here.

Posted 19 June 2005 08:26 AM by eking1013 | 41 comment(s)
Pass the collection plate around....
I've started the fund. It's the "Eric needs a new Sax" fund. It's funny how everyone places different values on things. Well, what I mean is, in order to start the "Sax fund", I sold my autographed Peyton Manning jersey. I'll be putting any money I make from paying gigs into the fund as well. It might take me a while to save up the kind of dough I'll need. Right now I've got my heart set on a professional Yamaha horn. (The Yamaha 82Z "Custom Z" to be exact.) Mainly because I've been playing on Yamaha Saxes since the 6th grade. AND if it's good enough for Phil Woods, it's good enough for me.

Something I find interesting is that Yamaha has done something different with the new 82Z. They are offering an unlaquered model. What does that mean? Well, basically, the horn lacks the protective coat that gives it that "brand new sax" shine. Check this out. Here are some pics posted by a guy who has been playing on his unlaquered Z for just over a year now:

Side Pic1
Side Pic 2
Pic 3

So why would someone want to take their horn and make go from this(PIC), to this(PIC)???

Well, because it's cool, of course!! Yeah, I know. That's all a matter of opinion. But in the least, it's kind of neat. There are plenty of folks out there who argue that the unlaquered horn produces a deeper, darker tone. Having never played one, I can't tell ya. But what I do think is cool, is to have the feel and mechanics of a brand new horn with the looks of a 45 year old horn. I can dig it.

-Eric.
Posted 13 June 2005 08:53 AM by eking1013 | no comments
Just won this on eBay......
I LOVE eBay. It's the "World's Flea Market". I had been watching this mouthpiece last week, patiently waiting to snatch it at the last second. Well.....last 6 seconds. :)

Beechler Bellite 7 Alto Sax Mouthpiece

I understand that Dave Koz uses a customized Bellite 7. I really dig his sound, so I'm anxious to see what kind of sound I get with it on my Yamaha Alto.
Posted 13 June 2005 08:11 AM by eking1013 | no comments
Don't post around much, anymore....
It's been a busy life around here. No complaints on my part. The next King child is a little big, so they've moved the due date up to around the last of the month. But in reality, at this point it's anyone's guess as to when he'll decide to show up. We're still deciding on names for the boy. We like Luke, Brody, and a couple of others.

I've been trying to play my horn whenever I can get a chance to gig somewhere. Next week, one of the groups I play with is playing at Riverbend. I'm excited because that should be for a decent size crowd, and it's a paying gig. Those are always nice. The big headliners this year are Kid Rock and Boyz II Men.

We held a ministry fair at Church this past weekend. I printed up about 60 flyers for the technology ministries, and worked our booth. I think I only handed out about 5 flyers. People seem to be afraid of technology. My brother has pretty much been the "it" guy for the church web site now for a few years, and it's not easy finding anyone to help out that has the skills. I'm sure it might be a little different if we were had some incredibly huge number of members. I'll be heading up the Photography ministry. Not because I have any passion for photography, or anything. It's mostly because I'm capable and willing serve. It's not about pictures, so much as coordinating people to take the pictures as well as communication and administration. Kind of like what I did with the .NET user group. Just making sure that "things get done".
Posted 09 June 2005 02:29 PM by eking1013 | 1 comment(s)
Filed under:
Volunteering
I responded to an email a couple of weeks ago asking for volunteers to help out at the "International Day of Prayer" event at the local convention center. I went yesterday evening and ushered the event. I had a great time, and think that it was a real blessing for everyone.

-Eric.
Posted 16 May 2005 09:07 AM by eking1013 | no comments
Band Geek Heaven............tonight!
Well tonight my wife, brother, and I are headed with some friends to see a "one night only" movie produced by Drum Corps International (DCI). This is going to ROCK! They allowed fans to vote for the top 12 Drum Corps shows of all time through their web site. Then they took those shows, digitally remastered them, and turned it into one full length movie that is showing tonight at theaters across the US.

If you're an old school band geek, you'll want to check this out.

-Eric.
Posted 21 April 2005 08:08 AM by eking1013 | 1 comment(s)
Thank You Sarbanes Oxley..........NOT!
I was here at work until midnight last night working on the phone with an IGS (IBM Global Services) person, watching them upgrade an app for us.

Remember the good ol' days when you could just schedule a production upgrade with your users, and then make it happen? Now we are caught up in SO much red tape that it isn't even funny. You have to get a gazillion sign-offs and the Pope's blessing before you can migrate anything to production. AND THEN you aren't allowed to migrate it yourself. OH NO.........that would be too risky. Even though this is a dedicated server and it's the ONLY app running on it! In fact, I don't have JACK SQUAT for rights or privlidges to the production box. So we have to schedule a time with one of the IGS guys to perform the upgrade. So I connect to his shared desktop, then watch as he uses terminal services, connects to the server, and then proceeds to double click on setup.exe and then click 'Next' a few times. Whew! What rocket science this is.......

The reason we were here so late is because the process was goofed up somehow the first time around this was supposed to happen at 8:00. Apparently somewhere in the update process, the server is required to reboot. That freaked him out. Even in their own little IGS side of the world, even they aren't supposed to reboot a production server without going through lots of channels and red tape. So the install got hosed up when he apparently tried to circumvent parts of the process. So I drove back down to work around 9:30 to get involved and help things along. Anyway, after pulling some teeth we were able to get everything smoothed out.

I'm very sleepy today.....................
Posted 21 April 2005 08:02 AM by eking1013 | 2 comment(s)
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