Have time to do the things I want

I've been working on the auction site all day. I'm really happy with the progress though I need a diversion... this is it. LOL

I registered a domain name last year called "StumpSeason." It was intended to be a source of information about the local election cycles here in SOKY. With the number of presidential candidates approaching 500 and the Kentucky Governors race heating up... I'm thinking it's time that I start expressing my opinions on these races.

I know... I can get into hot water "politically" since I work for both democrat and republican politicians... but hey, I'm entitled to my opinions right? (RIGHT!)

The only problem is, I'm not real happy with the new blogger interface and would prefer to have finished my own. The other problem is, I got so much going on business wise, I don't know that I can afford the time. The other problem is, (I know, that's three), I made an earth shattering decision to completely abandon my programming methods for a more current "language" so I have abandon all of the time I've already invested in my blog programming.

Okay... but that doesn't mean I can't try right? LOL.

I won't be starting it until April or May. Bottom line... by then, I will have laid a foundation and positioned myself to have time to do the things I want. Kung Fu, physical fitness, language, reading, and politics are what I enjoy spending my time on. Oh... and as of yesterday... it looks like I will be enrolling in flight school and finally get to legally sit in the pilots seat.

There... diversion over... back to work for me.

What a predicament: learning new languages

I've been developing Microsoft Active Server Page (ASP) website since 1998 and have written some sweet scripts that make my job easier as well as provide my clients with the tools that make their websites great. Without getting overly technical, I find myself at a point where I have to abandon all that I know and "upgrade" to the new way of scripting web based applications. It's called ASP.NET and changing to this method is like learning to speak a new language, but worse than that, I have to unlearn my native language for the most part. (At least that's how it feels.)

There are a number of reasons I'm facing the change now. An important motivation is the fact that Microsoft (MS) is phasing out the language I'm used to and most server software will also be abandoning the language so over the next few years all my scripts will break. That's enough incentive eh? But also I've found myself wanting to develop more and more user friendly interfaces with the new "Ajax" tools. These tools allow site visitors and members the ability to interact with the website much easier than in the past. (Sorry, that's as non-technical as I can put it.)

I just finished an ASP auction application and have most of the site manager done in old ASP... now I have to start all over and re-write everything in the new language? Phooey! But hey, at least I'm not starting from scratch. I have a good foundation from which to build and I can use the process of re-coding the existing applications as a fast track to learning the new language.

I guess its the timing that causes the predicament too. It would appear that I will also be learning Spanish in the next couple of months out of necessity. Fortunately I won't have to unlearn English. Carrie and I have found a kind of language boot camp in Mexico where I think we will go to cut the learning curve from months to weeks. That's a whole different blog. But I will take a new laptop with me and be learning the new programming language at the same time.

Adios Amigos and ...

Microsoft | Active Server Pages | ASP.NET | Ajax | ASP auction | VBScript | Spanish | language | Mexico | programming language | David Francis | Soky.net | Bowling Green | KY | southcentral | webmaster | web development | gui

Super Bowl "due to security reasons, no pre-game partying"

Oh... this is going to leave a mark!

Tailgating Banned at Dolphin Stadium for Super Bowl Sunday
Friday , January 26, 2007

MIAMI — Die-hard Super Bowl fans have to face the big game this year without one of football's favorite pastimes: Tailgating.

The revered pre-game ritual has been banned within a one-mile radius of Dolphin Stadium on Sunday before the Indianapolis Colts square off with the Chicago Bears reported Miami's CBS 4 News.

"There is no tailgating allowed in the Dolphin Stadium parking lots," Sue Jaquez, a member of the Super Bowl XLI Host Committee, confirmed to CBS 4 News. "And there is no tailgating anywhere within a one-mile radius of the stadium … and there are no RVs allowed."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,247167,00.html

State of the Union; Reading between the lines?

I didn't watch the recent State of the Union address by President Bush on purpose. I haven't read the pre-analysis nor have I even seen the post speech discussions on TV or in print. I've ignored it for a number of reasons but mostly because I didn't want to see our great president do a song and dance for the new congress. I didn't want to see the clips of the new speaker roller her eyes nor the snips of Hilary Clinton scowling as I've seen before. No, I expected that Bush would make some concessions in the name of unity and getting the job done.

Yes, I'm a Bush supporter.

Then... I read the front page of Yahoo News and I see this.

Behind Bush's Words? What did Bush omit? Let me guess, Bush said all the right things and the words presented in the speech didn't offer any canon fodder so we have to read between the lines and try to figure out (make up) what he was really saying? So typical; so predictable; so sad.

I don't have time to read the mainstream media reports, nor to watch the liberal broadcast media make up... eh... I mean offer carefully selected expert analysis. I think I'll sit this one out.

Bottom line to me... we have brothers and sisters or are literally giving their lives to this country. They need our support... and they need tangible combat support in the form of reinforcements. We need to send more troops to the hot spots, clean out the evil that prevails and then get out of Dodge.

Apparently, our troops cannot get the job done with current resources (or political influences), so I say send them what they need. In my opinion they need comrades who will watch their back and offer cover while they clean up the remnants of Saddam's failed dictatorship and push back the opportunistic cowards who have come since.

Yes, I know that my opinion is not a popular one, but it is what it is. I am convinced that if we don't send tens of thousands more skilled warriors, we will either withdraw defeated or remain there indefinitely... or withdraw prematurely and be forced to return 10, 20 or 30 years from now to liberate the innocent again.

As far as the many accomplishments of this administration, one simply needs to read the facts, see the results and decide for themselves. I am comforted knowing that history will never forget the great achievements of this President and his staff. Unfortunately however, I have to endure all that accompanies a great statesman and that is the politics used to discredit or attempts to undermine his greatness.

To President Bush... damn the torpedoes an full steam ahead! Do what needs to be done. If they nominate "her," the GOP has no worries anyway. Rely on your own integrity, strength and honor and lets clean up this mess that fate has offered. You know what needs to be done, don't let politics cost another American life. Send 200,000 troops if needed, let's just get it done. Or... as was said on 9/11/01... "Let's Roll!"

Life goes on, quite well actually

Though the loss of my dog is a huge downer, I'm still enjoying an incredible week! SifuSam.com is done for the most part and I've been working on Representative Rob Wilkey's website a good bit. Will finish up on the Auction this morning and then ... hopefully... a successful meeting with my new bank.

Oh... I do have a planning session scheduled today with my PR guy... if his project works out, I may be able to get the fanshy shmanshy office downtown sooner than later.

Anyway, though I'm still sequestered in my office, I did get out last night for a change and it was great! I really need to get out more.

My dog died tonight

Well... I lost my beloved CC.  (chocolate chip) The best dog I ever owned... half breed offspring of our Champion Australian Cattle Dog (Shasta) who was accidentally bred with a brown retriever after she had retired to a home in the country.

We took our funny looking puppy home and loved her almost as much as she loved us. She was a hard working dog though I never had her trained. She had a play drive like none other and would have made a fantastic working dog.

Anyway, she gave up the ghost tonight. We believe the cancer we had removed almost 2 years ago had finally made its rounds and stole her life.

At 12 years old, she gave us lots of great years, wonderful memories and more loyalty and devotion anyone could expect from a dog.

Bye bye CC... I know everyone thinks me a hard cold man who is indifferent to animals... but you knew I cared and I am glad your suffering is over. I will miss my dog.

:(

What a football day!!

Carrie and I came to the office to watch the Bears beat the Saints and then we went home and watched the Colt's squeak out a win over the Patriots. What a great football day eh?

I'm really looking forward to the Super Bowl this year. Two great friends and HUGE fans of the bears and of course there is a big party planned. I can't wait. I know I should go to the pub to support it but I like the private party better. I hope my C-9 buddy can make it too.

As I mentioned earlier, it's been a great opening to 2007. I got a plant tour of "the factory" on Saturday and I'm more excited than I should be. I also finished some significant coding on the "CoreSite" and finished Sifu Sam's layout.

I mentioned on other blogs that I was not coming into the office this weekend and really hadn't planned to but since we don't get Fox at the house, Carrie suggested we come to the office and watch it. I set her up a nice comfortable chair in front of the TV next to my desk and we watched the Bears game as I worked a little. I did fix a significant issue with the CoreSite coding of the global configuration database.

I also mentioned on another blog that I was going to read a book on Sunday and I did. No, I didn't finish the whole book, but I got 1/3 into "Bag the Elephant, How to Win and Keep BIG Customers" by Steve Kaplan. So far it's a great book. As I read I equated things I've done in the past working with government and prime contractors as well as things I've neglected even for my "small" clients. It's really a wake up call in customer service and strategy.

As I step forward with the purchase of the factory as well as the continued development of Soky.net, and "the agency," I really needed this reminder of the importance of good organization, good planning, good process control and great customer relations. As I reach for my goals, I need to remain mindful of the things that make great businesses succeed.

I'm still holding off on the core coding for the multi blog, but the business administration and public relations aspect of my business(es) is definitely going to be a focus of the new business blog.

Speaking of which... look for a change in structure on the blog front. I will likely be changing Soky.biz as well as Soky.net over the next few weeks. I have a different direction I want to take those two domain names... the business, marketing and personal blogs will be located elsewhere.

That's my 1:00 am Monday morning ramble. I'm going to get some sleep and hit the ground running later. This is going to be an incredible week with 2 new websites for sure and possible 2 others since so much of the CoreSite is finished. The CoreSite is the engine that makes my websites work... now that the engine is done, the paint and body work is the easy part.

Only 3 weeks into 2007 and it's going great

Okay, fair enough! I've neglected both my personal and professional blogs for a while. In my own defense I've been exceptionally busy and I was kind of hoping to finish my own "super blog" program I was writing before getting back into blog mode. Well, customers come first as I always say!

What's going on with me?

Well... Kung Fu is great!!! Though I pulled a muscle in my neck (of all places) and only went to 'forms' class this week. Sifu Sam's website is done, I just have to build the database's and slice the design.

Soky.net had a staff meeting this week and the weather module is done. My Director of Public Relations (Tim Hunt) is freaking out he's so excited! We are also working on a brand new company to introduce in February or March. It will likely be located down-town if we can work out a good lease.

My LOI on the "factory" has been accepted and I have until March 1st to get that squared away as well. I am not talking about that too much until it's complete.

The Auction took a minor hit but nothing we can't overcome quickly. I have a solution though we have to have a pow-wow first. I was supposed to meet with the auction folks this week but got swamped.

I did loose a major source of income this month as expected... a significant amount to say the least. With it, I lost my health benefits too so we are kind of scrambling to figure out the best choice. I'm thinking the group policy at the factory will do.

I haven't heard from my Air Force assignment in a while. (I know, I don't talk about that too much on purpose.) I'm not sure what's going on there and will write them next week. It's possible that it will provide some health coverage for me and Carrie, but my boys are a different story. I'll have to crunch the numbers to see if tri-care is the best solution. Fact is, they both joined the military so I am obligated to provide their benefits until they graduate. It's a deal we have had since they could say the words air and force.

Carried Away Vacations has been kind of put on the back burner but we did have a great booking in December that could lead to many more $$$$ goooood ones.

Oh... O had a birthday this week too. Yep, I turned 42 and I feel younger than ever. Well, except for that strained muscle in my neck of course. I knew this year was going to be exceptional but I had no idea it would kick off so good.

To all my readers at the Yahoo site, here and my personal site....... thank you!! Your continued support is wonderful and I do enjoy sharing. I have such great plans for our community here in Bowling Green and the fact is, I haven't even hinted at the scope of these 'other' plans. My plans could go in a hundred directions depending on the success of the ones mentioned above, but my dreams remain! And yes, they remain private... for now. Carrie and I were talking about the $180 million Powerball jackpot and had we won, we would have still implement the business(es) I've been dreaming of. It's going to be great fun, wonderful for Bowling Green and yes... make a lot of money too.

Well... that's my 1:00 AM update. I guess I should get some sleep.

Below is what I posted on my homepage (www.davidfrancis.org). I will be out of touch for the next three days so leave a message and I'll call you back.

 

Too much going on! Turning off the phones and locking the doors.
Friday 19 Jan, 2007

SUNDAY Snow Hi: 35°F Lo: 30°F Pop: 60%

Soky.net will be closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday due to prior engagements. We are deploying two major websites on Friday, reviewing a business on Saturday and Sunday is slated to be a snow day!! Oh, I don't care if it snows or not, I'm taking Sat afternoon and all day Sunday off for a change. I'll be cuddled up with my wife reading a book.

Y'all have a great weekend and check out Soky.net on Monday for links to the new websites.

Please see http://360.yahoo.com/sokywebmaster  for current info.

Social networking

I read an article a while back where it explained that phenomenon known as "MySpace" was created by a couple of young men as an easy way of communicating with their friends. As a web developer myself, I have countless sheets of paper filled with ideas that would help me and my friends communicate better and with more control.

I have a profile on MySpace, actually I have several profiles on MySpace. I take care of one for a customer and created some for various other companies. It's been a way of promoting the companies, getting involved in the local community and seeing what others are doing. Through the process of creating, customizing and monitoring these accounts, I've also discovered a number of flaws, some performance issues and hundreds of ways I would do things differently.

I've been on the Internet for a long time!!! Even before MS Windows, before web browsers, before e-mail was a word that people would recognize. (That's an entirely different blog subject though.) My point is that I have watch the evolutionary process first hand, enjoyed many new applications and design my own based on those lessons.

Between client requirements, military service, family life, and other small businesses I own, I've been doing exactly what the MySpace cowboys did for years. Creating useful tools that allow me to communicate better with clients, friends and associates. With the final touches being put on a master site, I've been looking more closely at the features that make MySpace so popular. You know what? I can do this!! And I can do this better than they did.

So here goes... will do it for fun... and who knows, maybe I'll got one of those $1.6 billion paydays. Sure, the outdoors auction, travel website, community portal and other business interests will have priority, but it is odd how a man can find time to do things "just for fun" whilst doing his job.