Plan "B"

I haven't quite mustered the courage to see Fahrenheit 911 yet. Actually, it's more a matter of time. I don't go to the movies much anyway. I did manage to rent Bowling for Columbine some time ago, and even though I'm a gun-owning Christian Republican, it was interesting. Michael Moore, although I don't agree with most of his views, does make me think. I think it's important to listen to the voices of people who violently disagree with you. It keeps your views honest. It's thinking like this that helps me understand the militant Muslims and their leaders. Notice I didn't say that I agree with them! Please don't call your local sheriff.

Not to toot my own horn, but I like to think that I can see both viewpoints of most situations provided that I'm equally informed. It's the lack of information or the inability to magically sense the information that usually skews my view.

I'm wondering if there will ever be an spokesperson for people who think like I do. I started coming up with a list of qualities for such a person, but I could only get as far as, "As friendly as Norm Abram".

I know that my spokesperson would be passionate about their feelings. And it wouldn't hurt to be handy with a biscuit cutter.

Bocce Ball pictures on their way. I've got a bunch of pictures in the camera now. Bocce, concert and more garden shots. I LOVE the garden!

So, I'm learning something about going to conferences. Never give them your real email address or phone number. My phone has gotten quite busy with cold calls. I don't imagine why everyone else at work spends 1/2 their day weeding through all the worthless emails each morning; not all of them having to do with Viagra or firmer, larger breasts.

Other than that, it was a pretty quiet weekend for a change. Kimba called about an hour before the concert started, saying that she was feeling under the weather. So, I went alone.

Interesting people in this town. I took a picture of the crowd that I'm going to call, "Can you spot the minority?" About 1000 White Anglo-Saxon Democrats who have all made their money in one way or another and are living at the top of their civilization. I was people-watching when they thought they were safe and in good company, and a couple of words came to mind:

Smug - I deserve this.

Hedonism - What makes me feel good, must be good.

Diva - Their translation: I'm famous and adored by my fans. My translation: look up Diva and you'll find, 'prima donna'. Look up prima donna and you'll find 'a temperamental, conceited person'.

O.K. off my soapbox and back to work. Sometimes, I'm just as guilty. Today's picture is a simple creature. Uncomplicated.

# posted by Johnny @ 6/28/2004 07:47:00 AM 0 comments links to this post

I can't wait! On July 1st, the 26 things web site will have a new list. This was one of the more interesting things I had ever done during a trip to Disneyland.

Shamelessly 'borrowed' from a friend's blog without proper credit. Do this:

1. Grab the nearest book.
   
2. Open the book to page 23.
   
3. Find the fifth sentence.
   
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
   

Mine turned out thusly. 1. Nearest book = a signed copy of "The XML Handbook" (Second Edition) by Charles Goldfarb, ex-IBMer who I saw stone drunk at a conference some years ago. O.K. just to cover my butt, he may not have been stone drunk, but it helps to think that he isn't always like that. I put him in the pigeon-hole of "Interesting".

Kept mummbling something about a man, a plan and a canal. Then, signed, "Good luck with Noriega Panama? - Charles Goldfarb".

5th sentence: "Later chapters will provide that opportunity."

Not sure what this means to me in the larger scheme of things, but try the experiment for yourself. Perhaps in the aggregate, a pattern will emerge.

You have no chance to survive. Make your time. Here's the current lesson I'm learning wrt the 'null' layout manager. Each component needs the following:

private static final JLabel lblNotes = new JLabel("Notes:");
private static final int x = 100; // the component width
private static final int y = 20; // the component height
private static final int xo = x+10; // the x offset
private static final int yo = y+5; // the y offset
...
lblNotes.setToolTipText("Notes");
lblNotes.setHorizontalAlignment(JLabel.RIGHT);
lblNotes.setBounds((int)lblDescription.getBounds().getX(), (int)lblDescription.getBounds().getY()+yo, x, y);
topPanel.add(lblNotes);

Actually, I'm starting to prefer it to any other cookie cutter Layout Manager I've experienced - even Springs! I get control over what size the average field will be, and they don't grow and shrink when the window resizes. I also get to place the items relative to some anchor in constilations. The anchor can either be the topPanel or another component.

Anywho, thought I'd share my insight with the world - or three people who may read this. Nifty, eh?

Alrighty now, I was originally looking forward to this weekend. It's the first weekend in a while that I didn't have anything planned. It was also about the 5th weekend of the year that I didn't have anything planned. It's been a very festive 2004. But, the town is having a summer concert series and San Jose is doing the same. This, plus the Friday concerts in Morgan Hill that we went to religiously last year - I'm preparing for 3 concerts a week. Woo Hoo!

Alright, I may not make all of them. In fact, I know I'm going to miss a few because I'll be in WP for at least part of the time. Oh, there's a - ummm - possible chance that I'll be coming back from WP bald. If I can muster the courage, I'm going to challenge Richard to a best 3 out of 5 beergammon tournament. I might chicken out though. What if I loose and it never grows back?

Or what if my scalp/skull is ugly? I've seen it before when I lived in Arizona, but it's been hidden by at least some hair for a couple of years now. Well, here goes nothing (almost).

Picture of the day...

Johnny loves his Mama.

Yuck! I was at the snack machine and I saw "Limited Edition Almond Joy". Alright, exactly how long do they expect us to keep them? Are we expected to barter them on eBay? Are they going to be like those Jar-Jar Binks Coke cans that are so valuable now (the same ones I took such pride in taking to the range and filling full of holes)? So, I popped in my dollar bill and pressed E8. There it was, but I didn't read the fine print. Pina Colada flavored!? Yuck, well maybe it won't be that bad. I unwrapped it and - YUCK! White chocolate!? I hate white chocolate. I eat it and - YUCK! It tastes like medicine. :-(

You get the feeling it's one of those "Ewww, I think this milk is bad - try it" things. I got back to my office and Launch must know it's the end of the month because all the music SUCKS - Yuck! Skip, skip, skip, skip...

The only thing that went right today is my Phelps Dodge finally got back to where it was when I bought it. So, I dumped it. Now, I bet it'll move up 30% tomorrow. Yuck!

I felt that I needed an appropriately "Yuck" picture for the day. How 'bout the skull of one of the dead things under the house?


...yummy.

# posted by Johnny @ 6/21/2004 02:12:00 PM 0 comments links to this post

So, I signed up for a credit card about a month ago. I haven't had one for about a year now, and it's been lovely and all, but I feel that I may need one some day for - ya' never know. Ya know? Anywho, I sent out the application and felt VERY wierd about putting my SSN on a piece of paper. My friend, Marsha, recently got her account numbers stolen and all her accounts were emptied . Anywho, yesterday I get this note in the post. "Thank you for requesting a yadda, yadda, yadda... Please send the following back to us so we can verify your address...

1. Telephone bill
2. Electric bill

Umm, oops. There's a downside to all this "simple living". I get no bills. I send/receive no phone calls. Even my driver's license and voter registration have my work address. So, I guess you can't disappear from Echelon and have a credit card at the same time. Oh well.

I think I want a credit card, and I'm certain that I want to maintain/improve my FICO score, but this is a big decision for me.

P.S. Today's my anniversary. On June 16th, 1996, I saw her for the first time standing outside Grace Church in San Luis Obispo. She was standing near a podium that was set up outside between the main entrance and the college group entrance. I had just parked my truck across the street and was walking toward the church. She was talking with a friend. I'm back to being simple now.

P.P.S. Foto del giorno - Subject: Survivor! Outsmart, Outwit, Outdrink
Gettin' Dizzy (Quicktime Movie)


Sara feeds Kim a bagel. I'm kinda glad I didn't get this far. :-)



Dave makes announcements while Jenny tries some liquid courage.



Da' Guys



Lyman suffering from the after effects of baseball bat spinning.



Ummm... Untitled


Our sweeties - Kristine and what's-his-name

# posted by Johnny @ 6/16/2004 09:13:00 AM 0 comments links to this post

Movie Review: Stepford Wifes

Evil genius plots to take over a town in Conneticut, and eventually the world, by turning everyone into Republicans.

Itenerary of the weekend:

Saturday:

I cheered on Diane & Erika on their 5K. Yes, I'm a supporter of athletics, and you know what that makes me.

Surprise birthday party for Janice (better you than me)
Dancing (Quicktime Video)
Blowing out the candles (Quicktime Video)

Went to see Stepford Wives, but I wanted to see Shreik II (and I STILL DO! waaaaaaaa!)

Sunday, see "Most full schedule" below.

• Most fun I had this weekend: Dancing the Chicken Dance
  
• Most embarrassing thing I did this weekend: Dancing the Chicken Dance
  
• Most messed up plan: I woke up nice and early on Saturday morning, and I was going to walk over to the high school where Diane and Erika were going to be in a 5K race (they're not in high school by the way, so don't get any wierd ideas). The plan was to have breakfast out and walk over to the track. I goofed around the house too long and ended up slamming a bowl of Cheerios and driving to the race.
  
• Most convenient schedule: The birthday party I thought I was going to miss is actually next weekend, so I could go to Janice's surprise party (see: Most embarrassing thing...)
  
• Most full schedule: Sunday morning - drove PU1&PU2 to the airport at 6:00 am, drove back home, shower/shave/shinola, then off to church. 3 loads of laundry**, clean up the cottage, work on at least one of the projects that I'm on - which ended up being a good thing. Usually, I'm too busy working to back up and get a "big picture" view of what I'm doing. Turns out that I was happily going down the wrong trail.
  

Go Diane!


Go Erika!






Best macro of the weekend


Cake


JP Makes time


Happy Camper


Unhappy Camper



** Open letter to the Town of Los Gatos. We need a launderomat that has washers & dryers. One launderomat has about 3 working dryers, so after my clothes are finished washing, I have to take them to the launderomat that has no hot water. I mean - c'mon! Is this Capitalism at work?

# posted by Johnny @ 6/15/2004 04:31:00 PM 0 comments links to this post

I was going to rant about Java LayoutManagers today, but there's a much more pressing issue that I feel I need to jot down. As with most people in the States today, we are remembering Ronald Reagan in our different ways. I remember him mostly because he was president when I was in high school, when I was old enough to vote, and when I joined the Army. His decisions affected me very deeply along with thousands of men and women in the armed services. Although we called him "Ronnie Ray-Gun" because of his "Star Wars" efforts, he was key in winning the cold war - without a single shot being fired. There's something to be said for that.

At the time, I didn't know the impact of the, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" speech. Imagine if Reagan had done what Bush Jr. is doing? War with Russia in the 1980's - yikes. If that doesn't make you think that Reagan was a good president for foreign policy, I don't know what will. Then again, what do I know. I don't know off the top of my head which president was in office when the U.S. trained Osama Bin Laden and his gang-o-thugs. I don't know the consequence of Iran/Contra.

Heck, there's lots about Reagan and his administration that I don't know. What I do know is that we was fond of jelly beans, had great hair and he loved his wife, Nancy very very much.

I just realized that most of my blog entries have to do with work. Most likely because I do my blog during the occasional lulls while I'm at work. Not to mention that I spend most waking moments at work. Anywho, last night (at home) I was finishing dinner and watching TiVo. I fell asleep and woke up a bit later. "Well", I decided, "That was nice, but I need to do the dishes, etc." I glanced at the clock radio, and it was 2:30 am. "Well", I re-decided, "guess I'll just worry about that later."

Well, it's 5:20 now. Time to go worry about my other project. I love my job - it's so flexible. I can work any 80 hour week I want. :-P

do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do do
Do the Hustle.

do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do do
Do the Hustle.



do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do
do do do do do do-do do do do
Do the Hustle.



What a cool song, eh

# posted by Johnny @ 6/09/2004 03:57:00 PM 0 comments links to this post

After several days of trying to get this thing done in LotusScript, I decided to see how hard it would be to use Java embedded in Notes. Zoinks! It was like falling over (relatively speaking). So, here's my question to the world. Why the heck is there no javadoc for lotus.domino.*;? Seems like there ought to be. I've been asking around, and people either don't know what javadoc is or aren't familiar with lotus.domino.*;

Sigh.

Other sighs are that I didn't buy KMRT at 30 or 40 or even 50. Same goes with AAPL.

More Cruise Pictures
Left to Right: Dennis, Pat, Shirley, Frank, Carole, Bill, Janet, Pete, Joan, Joe


The main deck around 3am.


Kim & Sara in Cabo


Cabo Morro (no, that's not really what it's called. It's just my Spanglish.

Occasionally, I tell people that I have the memory of a very small goldfish. Sometimes, I do. This weekend, I finally had some time to catch up on TiVo. I'd wanted to watch this documentary about memory loss. I got 1/2 way through it and realized that I had seen it during the week already.

Anywho, I went to the "Cruise Survivors" party on Saturday. It was fun, but I found out that there is video evidence of my line dancing antics! Yikes! What a time I had, though :-)

I...

• Line Danced
  
• Ballroom/Swing Danced
  
• Ate fish I couldn't pronounce - and some I could but wouldn't normally order if there was steak on the menu
  
• Ate frog legs (4 of 'em) - Michele almost got me to eat a snail, but I chickened out at the last minute
  
• Ate so many vegetables that I thought my body was going to go into shock
  
• Hung out with people - lots of people - oodles of people - I was a social creature
  
• Danced at the disco until 3am - almost every night!!!
  
• Bought lots of champagne for lots of wonderful dance partners - thanks everyone :-)
  
• Rediscovered my lighter side - and laughed out loud **
  

But, now it's back to work. I've got a long way to go and a short time to get there. (we're gonna do what they say can't be done)

** I'm usually the one making others laugh. It was nice to laugh for a change.

oops, almost forgot the picture of the day...

My Dance Partners, from left to right...
Sara, Me, Kim, DJ Greg, Tanya & Gayle (below)

# posted by Johnny @ 6/07/2004 02:15:00 PM 0 comments links to this post

I was getting sloppy today at work. There's a bunch of stuff on my whiteboard that I need, but I need to map out some more stuff on my whiteboard, so instead of taking the time to copy it all down in notepad or anything. I decided to just take a picture of the whiteboard - for copying later. Just as I was about to focus, who walks in but my manager! Yikes! I'm not a corporate spy - really! "Noone warns the wicked", he warned as he shook his finger at me. I tried to explain what I was doing - I think he bought it, but I don't think he was happy about my attitude toward cameras in the building. I'll try harder I guess.

P.S. picture d'jour is the castle during the fireworks show last weekend.



If you look closely at the bottom of the picture, you'll see a bunch of blue/grey rectangles. Can you guess what they are? Yup, the audience was illuminated with them.

Caught another rat last night. This one was waiting for me in the rat-zapper. I'd only caught two rats with it now. Interestingly though, the rat was about 6 inches or so long, but the trap had moved a good 5 feet from where I planted it. Probably the opossum again. It would be interesting to know if the rat got caught before or after the opossum tried to get the food that remained until this morning. He He He - using rats I trap as "chum" for catching opossums :-)


Anywho, here's your photo for the day...


It's the ceiling and walls from the elevator ("is this room actually stretching, or is it your imagination?!") of the Haunted Mansion. The total shot is just under 180 degrees. See the gargoles making a border around the black edge? I thought that was kinda cool. I hope to have a better fisheye with my next camera. Currently, I'm eyeing the Cannon EOS-1Ds (Flash Site). With 11.1 Megapixels, standard Cannon EF mount and 3 shots per second, you can hardly go wrong. Oh, and it has exposures up to 30 seconds. Woo Hoo! I'd be in nerdvana.

Today. Hmmm, well a day like most others I guess. Wake up, go to work, grab a donut, chat with some coworkers about why the current project is likely too difficult to make it worth our while. Then, it's off to meetings, putting out fires, chatting some more. Stare at the screen for a bit before realizing that you didn't get as much done as you wanted.
I'm not wasting time by writing in blogs. I'm waiting for divine intervention.

Google Search: More, more, more

Whew! Got back from Disneyland last night. Spent about 2 hours sitting in traffic on 152 between hwy5 and hwy101. Don't know of any good shortcuts yet. Anywho, I've fallen very behind in getting pictures up on jcolino.fotopages.com, so I'll have to find time soon or I may never catch up.

Trip report:
Motel: Tropicana on So. Harbor Blvd. Very nice updating took place about a year ago. The room was clean and freshly painted. Not a bad deal for $50 a night. Really close to the park too.

Park:
Remarkably clean throughout. The night crew really put their elbows into it. The day crew was a little laxed and the cast members weren't as friendly as they were on the cruise, but still pretty good.

Tower Of Terror!
Wooo Hoooo! Went on it 4 times. The longest wait was about 1/2 an hour. Yes, 1/2 an hour wait on Memorial Day weekend!!! Couldn't get over it. I guess everyone decided that Disneyland would be packed, so didn't come. The ride is a bit shorter than the one in Orlando, but the technology is 5 year newer.

Of Note:
I was picked to be one of 10 people on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" - and decided that I'm not really that smart. Never got into the hot seat. Aladdin show: The show stopped due to sound difficulties, so while we were waiting - I started "the wave". It was fun.

I'm starting to take movies of the rides with my fisheye lens. O.K. They might look dumb, or the might look cool. History will decide.

Splash Mountain

California Screamin'