Eddie Welker's Blog

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2008-11-20T00:00:00-06:00

XML for Data: XSL style sheets: push or pull?

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2008-11-19T00:00:00-06:00

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2008-11-16T00:00:00-06:00

erik’s weblog » Blog Archive » Instance private, class private, package and friends

Links for 2008-11-13 [del.icio.us]

2008-11-14T00:00:00-06:00

Linking Social Networks on the Web with FOAF

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2008-11-13T00:00:00-06:00

Your Camera Doesn't Matter

Links for 2008-11-11 [del.icio.us]

2008-11-12T00:00:00-06:00

Streets of Bethesda [Flickr]

2008-11-11T00:52:22-06:00

eddie.welker posted a photo:

Cosi [Flickr]

2008-11-11T00:52:11-06:00

eddie.welker posted a photo:

I was trying to think of this place's name for a week or two until Raluca reminded me.

Baltimore [Flickr]

2008-11-11T00:52:01-06:00

eddie.welker posted a photo:

Tree [Flickr]

2008-11-11T00:51:43-06:00

eddie.welker posted a photo:

City Cafe [Flickr]

2008-11-11T00:51:13-06:00

eddie.welker posted a photo:

Ahh, delicious Chicken Pesto.

Links for 2008-11-10 [del.icio.us]

2008-11-11T00:00:00-06:00

Moving

2008-09-01T22:49:29Z

Back from vacation, back to work, back to orchestra. Additionally, this site will probably be down while I move to a different server. Ciao Joyent/Textdrive, it was just time to move on!

Moved

2008-09-01T22:52:01Z

On second thought, I am going to try to move everything to eddiewelker.com (on the new host) and then when I am done, mirror over edwardwelker.com. We’ll see if I can manage that.

Django 1.0

2008-09-04T01:08:48Z

Sweet, Django 1.0 has been released.

Funny thing about bugs…

2008-09-19T12:42:29Z

They just keep popping up.

I just scrolled down my own blog, and saw a post titled “Down to three bugs.” Funny enough, three months later, we’re still trying to push the website out. (Wow, those were some really big bugs!!! Haha, jk…) In fact, I’ve been pressing for the last 2 days, trying to expedite a few last-minute bugs so that QA testing could begin (for about the 18th time, now in snapshot 21). Kinda odd, when QA finds bugs in round 20 that they didn’t find in round 10… despite no code changes in the meantime…

But I’m not going to complain. Programming is still a lot of fun when you’re actually doing it. It ends up being almost therapeutic when you’ve got other stuff going on that you’re trying to ignore. Not only that, but there’s always room to improve. A co-worker came to my desk yesterday and schooled me on how to write code. When you’re young, you’re stupid. He had lots of experience, and was… well, right… most of the time. I was boxed into a corner at some points, but also made a few bad decisions. The good thing is that I always learn from my mistakes, and next time will be much better.

I remember writing 3.5 websites before I really got common code working the way I wanted. It was similar to the way I learned how to write CSS. Excerpting common code so that I would only edit once, vs. editing 6 files just to make one update. It was easy when I was using CSS, SSI’s, or PHP includes to simply import exactly what I needed, but I find it is far more difficult when using XSLT’s. Why? Because in XSLT you need to know not only the structure, but the context. That’s what makes it difficult… writing context dependent generic code is difficult.

[Of course, dirty secret (I know you're skimming at this point, not really reading) is that I'm almost on only my 2 year anniversary (Sept. 20) of doing programming/development work. So my progress is still quite good.]

Alright, I admit that this post was far more stream-of-conciousness than actual post, but it was good for me. It wasn’t intended to be a “I haven’t written in a month, here’s what I’ve been doing” post, but more a “I’m busy, I’ll be back soon, but I don’t know when” type post. So on that note…

[I think it's Siouxsie that's making me intentionally ambiguous. ]

Ta ta!

-e

[this post is like an email I never wrote to anyone...]

Snapshot of right now

2008-10-08T04:39:48Z

Oct. 8, 2009 - 12:32am

Right now I’m…

Sitting on my bed reading the Fannie Farmer Cookbook (my favorite) on how to bake a 9.25lb ham. Page 201. Remembering how I tell everyone they can’t take it into the kitchen, because I don’t want it getting dirty.

Thinking about how I need a roasting pan, which I should have grabbed when I was in Laurel, picking up my new camera lens from UPS. Thinking about how I waited 45 minutes for it, when I probably should have had it re-delivered. Also thinking that the roasting pan may be too large for my oven here.

Listening to George Crumb’s Ancient Voices of Children. Wishing it drowned out more of “The Shield,” the program my roommates are watching/listening to. Thinking how much I like Ancient Voices of Children, despite how weird some of the sounds are.

Finished taking a few play photos with the new lens. Posted them to flickr. Wondering if every good lens makes it this easy, which should I purchase next? Thinking I made a good choice to start.

Wondering if I will have any clean sock pairs left for me to wear to work tomorrow.

Resisting falling asleep, so I can formally get ready for sleep instead.

October Horror Movies

2008-10-16T05:02:30Z

My roommates and I have decided to try to watch a horror/thriller every night of October. Unfortunately, the Red Sox and a few other distractions have prevented watching one every night, but here’s what we’ve got so far:

Nightwatch - Not a fan of this movie. I thought that the scary parts were kinda cheap, and that the plot of the movie was gross (really gross) for the sake of being gross. That gets under my skin faster than just about anything. Plus, what’s the point of a movie where the number of possible suspects is 2? As Rick points out, one of the biggest hit/miss parts of Scream was that there were 15 possible suspects. That’s much more interesting. This was Alissa’s pick.
Sisters - A psychological horror movie about two Siamese twins that were separated after a number of years and the emotional result of that operation. Very spooky, in a thought-required way. This movie was my pick.
Dressed to Kill - Continuing on the Brian De Palma theme… I’m a sucker for Michael Caine. So I really enjoyed his performance. The rest of the movie had a really constant quality to it that wasn’t quite eerie, but was close. Unfortunately, I fell asleep during part of the film (not long…) but I liked it anyway. This was Rick’s choice.

And upon consultation with them (I had to ask just to be certain) that was it. They watched Cape Fear without me (I’ve seen it before), but even still… 4 movies in 16 days isn’t good enough.

Other movies that I remember are on our combined list:

Alien
The Shining
Feast*
Carrie*
Hellraiser I & II
Repulsion* (one of the scariest I’ve ever seen, and one of my favs)

* I’ve seen (and loved)

Review of “Object-Oriented JavaScript”

2008-10-26T03:54:44Z

I recently read Object-Oriented JavaScript, by Stoyan Stefanov. In reviewing it, I found it was one of the most interesting books I’ve read in a while, for some good reasons and a few more curious reasons.

Object-Oriented JavaScript was authored by Mr. Stefanov, who is a developer at Yahoo. It features an impressive number of reviewers (twelve), among them Douglas Crockford, the author of JavaScript: The Good Parts, and Ross Harmes, author of JavaScript Design Patterns, both of whom are Stefanov’s Yahoo co-workers. In a reasonable 330 pages, it features eight chapters on JavaScript’s History, Basic Syntax/Features, Functions, Objects, Prototypes, Inheritance, the DOM, and Patterns/Best Practices.

Readers with little to no JavaScript knowledge will be able to read this book, but I’m uncertain how much they’ll be able to glean from the meaty inner chapters (functions, objects, prototypes, and inheritance). Readers with moderate JavaScript understanding should be able to learn a great deal from this book. At the very least, advanced readers should be reminded of some of the language’s quirkier parts, as well as benefiting from an organized chapter on inheritance techniques.

It is tricky placing Object-Oriented JavaScript in context of the corpus of JavaScript literature. This book includes more than a little introductory material (chapters 1-2), while the core chapters (3-6) are way beyond an introduction. Only after those chapters (which I will discuss in a second) is the reader introduced briefly to the DOM and XHR before a chapter on design patterns and best practices. At a minimum, every chapter is useful and full of hints that are difficult to grep from run-of-the-mill JavaScript books. The book steers clear of the murky world of browser differences unless they’re pertinent to the topic of Object-Oriented JavaScript, which seems perfectly acceptable.

Back to those middle chapters, they are sheer gold. I am going force myself to make time to re-read this book, if not those chapters alone. They present, in a clear and organized fashion, many difficult aspects of the language, including closures, prototype, and 12 different methods for inheritance. In comparison, I believe Harmes’ book isn’t as well organized, and Crockford’s book isn’t as clear. Stefanov doesn’t break much new ground here, but the clarity describing these techniques is quite valuable regardless.

Object-Oriented JavaScript appears occasionally try to be something to everyone. This is kind of disappointing, since I would have loved to have seen any additional discussion or insight the author could have offered in the core chapters. There are tons of introductory JavaScript books, so I don’t know what a book titled Object-Oriented JavaScript gains by including more introduction. This shouldn’t detract from the book’s overall value. All of the chapters are well written and useful. However as a reader gains a better understanding of JavaScript, the introductory chapters will become far less useful, while the other chapters will remain an excellent reference.

In my mind, the three best JavaScript books are Flanagan’s JavaScript The Definitive Guide, Crockford’s JavaScript: The Good Parts, and Harmes’ and [Dustin] Diaz’s Pro JavaScript Design Patterns. Object-Oriented JavaScript doesn’t belong in that company for the reasons mentioned above. However, I would easily give it fourth place, and recommend it as a clear description of JavaScript’s harder parts.

Next-to-last Horror Movies

2008-10-30T04:58:51Z

Latest installment…

The Blob - Pure 60’s cheese (well, technically 1958, but close enough). Not scary, more silly than anything else. I was amazed that at one point, there was 24 minutes of no blobbing. Instead, we were shown a nearly 30 year old McQueen pretending to be a high schooler. At least I can say I’ve seen it once.
Hellbound: Hellraiser II - I had heard (multiple times) that this lived up to, if not surpassed, the original. I didn’t quite think that was true. [spoiler] I didn’t like Pinhead reverting to a human and dying. A hero has an air of invincibility, and a super-villain (from hell no less) should be the same. The plot set him up against the true villain of this movie, and Pinhead lost. What a shame. That said, it was immensely psychological, and quite a captivating movie (we were all watching with baited breath throughout). I thought it was terrific, just not as good as the first.
Dead Alive - What can you say about a movie like that? Tons of gore and grossness, with only a hint of a plot. It is indeed a “classic.” Did I like it? Ehh, it was ok… but I can appreciate it, especially viewed through the eyes of others.

Horror Movies, Final installment

2008-11-11T16:51:46Z

The final installment… a little late.

Amityville Horror - (The OLD one, not the new one.) I’d watched this before, but it was so much better than I remember it. In fact, I felt it was the scariest movie that I ended up watching. The scene at the beginning where the priest goes into the house was totally blood chilling.
House of 1000 Corpses - I waited for years to see this movie, only to end up kinda disappointed. I figured Rob Zombie had to know what he was doing with a horror movie, but the plot was so off-the-wall that I couldn’t believe anything, resulting in my rather ambivalent feeling towards it. Too many characters killing too many other characters. The creepy clown was the only interesting/memorable character.
The Devil’s Rejects - I also waited a number of years to see this movie, but was prevented under the reasoning that I had to see House of 1000 Corpses first. With that finally out of the way, I was now allowed, but I was wary… especially after the last film. For the Devil’s Rejects, Rob Zombie took the large number of characters and un-realistic plot from the first movie, and turned it on it’s head… keeping the cast numbers low and keeping the entire movie realistic. Zombie made the 3 bad guys out to be quasi-good guys, and the cop into a revenge obsessed bad guy. The result was a really good character study of some truly bizarre people. This movie wasn’t particularly scary, but it was quite good.
Carrie - One of the best scary movies ever… my favorite part is at the end where Carrie’s hand… well, you know.
The Exorcist - I LOVE this movie. I saved this pick until Halloween night. I love Max von Sydow, the early scenes in the desert, Father Damien, the fact that the movie is based on something that happened in a part of Maryland I frequent, that the movie’s steps are right down the street from where I used to work in Georgetown. My favorite.

More October Horror Movies

2008-11-11T16:52:08Z

Continuing the reviews of my house’s October horror movie film-fest:

28 Days Later - Rick told me that this was among the most realistic zombie movies ever made. While it had a realistic look and feel, I had a problem with the unrealistic (and porous) plot line. Of the 4 or so main characters, the supporting father and daughter roles were sympathetic, but I cared nothing for the main male and female leads. That would be fine, if I didn’t also have to care about the weak plot (and yes, I know we’re talking about a zombie movie, but still!). I didn’t dislike the movie, but it wasn’t my favorite.
Hellraiser - I’ve been excited about watching this ever since I first heard the (rejected) soundtrack by Coil. It was well worth it. The movie’s imagery was pure 80’s (a compliment) and quite realistic, compared to the only-special-effects imagery I’m used to after watching modern movies. I won’t soon forget the rats nailed to the walls. Hoping I can sneak Hellraiser II in before Halloween.
The Shining - I’m sure I don’t need to mention how this movie helps to define the horror genre. It’s spooky, creepy, and maintains the feeling that things are about to descend into total chaos for so long that you’re exhausted by the end. My only problem is that the Simpson’s parody is so good that’s all I could think of at times. Teriffic movie.
Feast - Ok, I didn’t get all the way through this last night, but I’ve seen it (a few times) before. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and is a quintessential example of a trashy, gorey, funny horror movie. You’d think the end woud be a let-down after how front-heavy the action is, but you’d be wrong.