jeffHAMLIN

Ni Hao (A Gold Farmers Story)

2008-08-30T11:22:00.001-04:00

My Wife and Blogs

2008-08-07T23:30:00.001-04:00

LiveJournal Tags: Blogosphere,EverQuest,WoW,MORPG,WordPress,SWG,LOTRO,DDO,MO,TR,NFL,PDC2008,TECHED 2008,doghouse,understang a blog

I do have an awesome wife. She puts up with a lot of my "lets try this" or "wow..." and is very patient, until I come back realize "hmm...maybe I should have taken my time!"

DOGHOUSE CITY

This is where I currently reside. She makes a wonderful dinner - oh let me see, I WENT AND GRABBED TACOS from Taco Bell.....(I know, I was real tired and a tad hungry).

The irony is, I was supposed to be at a friends house for Dinner...and she KNEW!

Not totally understanding this logic...but I concede!

OH - and BTW, I did get a taste of that dinner....WHAT A TREAT!!!

So, when I started my first blog at my domain [qualify that, first - domain for BLOGS], she kind of ignored it. The blog was a WordPress one, and I had looked at a lot of engines before selecting it. I especially looked a friends site, who I considered to be an expert at this. WordPress also seemed to be the market leader, and the most flexible, so - I went with it. BUT - my domain host - underwent a year long upgrade and migration. I wasn't like those big corporations paying so many dollars for hosting, so when they migrated my database, the entire dataset- was lost.

I had found greener pastures, but lost some nice comments.

Besides - um, I forgot the ADMIN password to WordPress . Have this real bad problem with that, and have written several programs to store it...but since I make them encrypted...It becomes a vicious cycle! TOTALLY terrified now that work has 14-character logins!!!!!

So Janet (my wife) didn't say anything about all those domains I had "had" but the blog, well I knew this was going to be one something because - its more intimate, you share more personal information, and she is quite afraid of people who may take advantage of that.

LOL - Me saying her name will get me deeper into that perpetual doghouse, but - it's ok for GOOGLE to list the same information and more, not via "Jeff hamlin" but via reverse phone number lookup? - There is that logic again!!!!

BUT se will come around, and see the light - just before the next new earth-shattering event occurs - it will take time! To answer that question in your mind I know you have, I do not have a deathwish. I basically torture my boss (he's pretty cool) and my friend/colleague - (just as much - get her any chocolate - she will hate you for life...)

My attitude is, "they are either coming or not, so lets rock on!" (I don't mean be dumb but - you can't worry about what may be). We lived through KATRINA, so - bring it!

[Point of qualification: not "through" it - like those in the city suffering, in their own country - and so forth being treated like .....not getting into this now. We were comfortable, had escaped, no one died - and only lost the contents of our home and a car!!! Now that's being lucky!!]

The Critical Question

One day, she did say "I don't get it, why are you doing it, or anyone?"

I first asked, "is there any blog you have read, on a regular basis, like a pen pal?"

She loves Oprah, and has other news regulars, this is kind of a personalized version because you can find a writer you like "people love to express themselves", and you can establish a dialog/relationship. The evolution of reading the paper with breakfast...KINDLE and STARBUCKS (+)

I tried example after example. But, I could not find a good enough explanation.

Pondering...Until Recalled "LEEROY JENKINS" and Our Adventures

Among the world of bloggers I am like the n00b of n00b-dom. (I am rejecting the Urban Dictionary def, ...too n00bish for my taste!!)

To me, you need to become seasoned, practiced. I was always too busy, and of course...it um, there were other priorities like:

NFL & NCAA (Had to see my STEELAHS since I am from the BURGH)
EverQuest (Thank you VERY MUCH CHRIS)
Asherons Call
Star Wars Galaxies
Dungeon and Dragons Online
World Of Warcraft: - (Favorite HORDE Char - KAHLESS)
Lord of the Rings Online
Tabula Rasa
Matrix Online (THAT was a cool game!!)
Vanguard - (no comment)
Eve

Never did like Second Life. Use it for when there are virtual conferences.

Sorry for that dalliance

Some others....

I work with someone who is like the "conservatoire of seedlings" of plants - knows everything (I MEAN EVERYTHING) about a specific class of plants

Another who gives like all her spare time to helping to find real homes for homeless cats. Each day, weekends, even if we work like we are now - she still does the cat thang......meanwhile - I am either programming or playing MMORPG's!!! /SIGH

But - Janet fell in love with EverQuest (and eventually World of Warcraft). Back then we used something similar to a BBS (Bulletin Board System/FORUMS) to chat with people when offline. They were free (with adds) or a guild (a clan of people) might pay for one).

Now during the game, we would have may take screenshots of what was occurring during "ADVENTURES". I - being a little more crazy then than I am now, would write these stories about our adventures....OUT ON THE INTERNET forums!

Today - YOUTUBE is famous for "LEEEROY JENKINS" - and that is still very funny. Well, we had our variations of "LEEEROY JENKINS" almost every-time we went and partied in some new area, and it was fun to write about.

Some person, who - you may sit and explain - every single step to, slowly and carefully - and they say "I understand" and 10 seconds later you are DEAD.

So, it was OK for me to publish on the net then, with an email address that could easily be reverse looked up. Anyone could read - what was the motivation? To capture a moment in time - it was fun.

NOW, it is even more-so - important as part of extending your career growth.

Contacts - etc. Before, when I needed access to "Jeffrey Richter" I had to go to TechEd, or PDC 2008. While I would LOVE to go there - I know it will not be supported so I don't ask.

But, I still have access to people just as good and even more, because all of them have blogs.

People making the product, we can have DIRECT input on what we need in the final design because they listen. She will get those examples - LOL - but I thought the EverQuest and - "LEEEROY JENKINS" was a nice reminder of what we used to to, and she might relate to it.

We shall see.

The Hypocrisy of the Bush, McCain Foreign Policy and their attack on Obama

2008-05-17T13:45:00.008-04:00

During his trip to the Middle East Trip, President Bush address the Israeli Knesset on the 60th Anniversary of Israel. During that speech, President Bush made some extremely inappropriate remarks relative to the leading Democratic Candidate for President, Barack Obama.

What is Appeasement?

On the Chris Matthews show, an example of how bad the rhetoric is trying to overwhelm us with the truth duing this example of idiocy after President Bush's comments:

I have many issues with the President's statement. This posting focuses on the fact that McCain and President Bush are attacking Obama for his foreign policy to meet with Iran, while President Bush's own Sec. of Defense Gates has been advocating the same position as Senator Obama. In addition, I want to clarify the Sen. Obama foreign policy vs the rhetoric.

Don't even get me started on the inaccurate comparison of talking with people to what Neville Chamberlain did, otherwise - let me see, by President Bush's definition - all of these President's are appeasers

President Nixon going to China
President Reagan for meeting with Khadafi
President Clinton meeting with the Syrian dictator Hafez al-Assad.

Sec. of Defense Gates Comment

"We need to figure out a way to develop some leverage . . . and then sit down
and talk with them," Gates said. "If there is going to be a discussion, then
they need something, too. We can't go to a discussion and be completely the
demander, with them not feeling that they need anything from us."

Sec. of State Rice have been advocating that the United States speak with Syria and Iran on Iraq and terrorism issues in the Middle East.!!

The following excerpt from the President and Secretary of State press release further suppports nogotiations with Syria and possible Iran: President Bush and Secretary of State Rice Discuss the Middle East Crisis

"Q Many strategists say that we'll never get to the bottom of this crisis unless the U.S. engages directly with Syria and Iran. Why not talk to them
directly about this, and have a back-and-forth conversation?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, that's an interesting question. I've been reading
about that, that people have been posing that question. We have been in touch with Syria. Colin Powell sent a message to Syria in person. Dick Armitage traveled to Syria. Bill Burns traveled to Syria. We've got a consulate office in Syria. Syria knows what we think. The problem isn't us telling Syria what's on our mind, which is to stop harboring terror and to help the Iraqi democracy evolve. They know exactly what our position is. The problem is, is that their response hasn't been very positive. As a matter of fact, it hasn't been positive
at all.
And in terms of Iran, we made it clear to the Iranians that if they would
honor previous obligations and verifiably stop enrichment of nuclear materials,
we would sit at a table. And so there's a way forward for both countries. The
choice is theirs. Now, I appreciate people focusing on Syria and Iran, and we
should, because Syria and Iran sponsor and promote Hezbollah activities -- all
aimed at creating chaos, all aimed at using terror to stop the advance of
democracies.
Our objective, our policy is to give voice to people through democratic
reform. And that's why we strongly support the Siniora government. That's why
I've articulated a two state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, two
democracies living side-by-side in peace. That's why Condi went to see President
Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Territories, to assure him that we're
committed to a democracy. That's why we're making sacrifices in Iraq -- to build
democracy."

Another of President Bush's Azis of Evil States, lead by Kim Jong Il - who he has met with - another example of his hypocritical position of attacking Obama but doing the exact same thing in Foreign Policy - is he an appeaser? President Bush: Talk to Kim Jong Il

President Bush failure to fix Iran before it became what is is now! I don't like Cowboy diplomacy, or the idea that since I have a gun I can use it attitude when solving our Foreign Affairs problems. It is needed at times, but not always.

"Rice's comments add a new level of complexity to an issue that has generated debate among foreign policy experts: Did the Bush administration forgo a chance to pursue a dialogue with Iran shortly after the fall of Baghdad, when U.S. power seemed at its height?

The Iranian document, conveyed to Washington via the Swiss Embassy, listed a series of Iranian aims for potential talks, such as ending sanctions, full access to peaceful nuclear technology and a recognition of its "legitimate security interests," according to a copy that has circulated in Washington and was verified by Iranian and U.S. officials."

Senator McCain's Hypocrisy

Rubin Accuses McCain of Hypocrisy

Obama Foreign Policy Clarification

Obama's Foreign Policy as stated by him during the campaign in March in a summary is as follows:

"Sen. Barack Obama said Friday he would return the country to the more
"traditional" foreign policy efforts of past presidents, such as George H.W.
Bush, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.

"The truth is that my foreign policy is actually a return to the traditional bipartisan realistic policy of George Bush's father, of John F. Kennedy, of, in some ways, Ronald Reagan, and it is George Bush that's been naive and it's people like John McCain and, unfortunately, some Democrats that have facilitated him acting in these naive ways that have caused us so much damage in our reputation around the world," he said."

Barack Obama article (Renewing American Leadership) in the magazine Foreign Affairs, an excerpt supporting the above campaign statement - but this was written a year ago:

"We must also consider using military force in circumstances beyond
self-defense in order to provide for the common security that underpins global
stability -- to support friends, participate in stability and reconstruction
operations, or confront mass atrocities. But when we do use force in situations
other than self-defense, we should make every effort to garner the clear support
and participation of others -- as President George H. W. Bush did when we led
the effort to oust Saddam Hussein from Kuwait in 1991. The consequences of
forgetting that lesson in the context of the current conflict in Iraq have been
grave."

Summary
I respect Zbigniew Brzezinski, even though I have disdain for the President he served under. In his book, Second Chance, he has rated the Foreign Policy initiatives of the last three administrations, I think the results from this article with its excerpt are interesting (Audio):

"Washington has squandered its first chance at global leadership, says Brzezinski, who was national security adviser under President Jimmy Carter.

In his book, Brzezinski assesses the foreign policies of the three most recent U.S. presidents — the only three leaders who have led the country after the Cold War and Washington's Soviet rival imploded.
Brzezinski tells Robert Siegel that George H.W. Bush merits a B, while Bill Clinton receives a C and the current president, George W. Bush, an F.
There is still opportunity for America to regain its prestige, Brzezinki says, but he warns that the next 20 months will be crucial. If the U.S. war in Iraq worsens and if it expands to Iran, then Brzezinski warns the era of American global pre-eminence in the world will prove to be historically very short.
"Excerpt: 'Second Chance'

by Zbigniew Brzezinski
Each of the three presidents since America's victory in the Cold War has
been the world's most important player in the world's most important game, and
each has played in his own way. At this stage, suffice it to say that Global
Leader I [George H.W. Bush] was the most experienced and diplomatically skillful
but was not guided by any bold vision at a very unconventional historic moment.
Global Leader II [Bill Clinton] was the brightest and most futuristic, but he
lacked strategic consistency in the use of American power. Global Leader III
[George W. Bush] had strong gut instincts but no knowledge of global
complexities and a temperament prone to dogmatic formulations.
The box below summarizes the fundamental changes in the global environment
that occurred during the first decade and a half of America's unprecedented
global primacy. These events are the basis on which the performance of the first
three American global leaders will be appraised in the chapters that follow. The
list shows, in capsule form, both the opportunities that were within America's
reach and the steps leading to the increasingly complex crisis that superpower
America now confronts.
TEN MAJOR TURNING POINTS, 1990–2006
Key developments reshaping the world system.

1. The Soviet Union is forced out of Eastern Europe and disintegrates. The United
States is on top of the world.

2. The U.S. military victory in the first Gulf War is politically wasted. Middle Eastern peace is not pursued. Islamic hostility toward the United States begins to rise.

3. NATO and the European Union expand into Eastern Europe. The Atlantic community emerges as the predominant influence on the world scene.

4. Globalization is institutionalized with the creation of the World Trade Organization, the new role of the International Monetary Fund with its bailout fund, and the increased anticorruption agenda of the World Bank. "Singapore issues" become the foundation for the Doha Round of WTO negotiations.

5. The Asian financial crisis sets the foundation for a nascent East Asian regional
community, to be characterized either by Chinese dominance or by Sino-Japanese
competition. China's admission to the WTO encourages its ascent as a major
global economic player and a center of regional trade agreements with
politically more assertive and impatient poorer countries.

6. Two Chechen wars, the NATO conflict in Kosovo, and Vladimir Putin's election as president of Russia contribute to a rise in Russian authoritarianism and
nationalism. Russia exploits its gas and oil resources to become an assertive
energy superpower.

7. Facing a permissive attitude from the United States and others, India and Pakistan defy world public opinion to become nuclear powers. North Korea and Iran intensify their covert efforts to acquire nuclear capabilities in the face of inconsistent and inconsequential U.S. efforts to induce their self-restraint.

8. September 11, 2001, shocks the United States into a state of fear and the pursuit of unilateral policies. The United States declares war on terror.

9. The Atlantic community splits over the U.S. war in Iraq. The European Union fails to develop its own political identity or clout.

10. The post–1991 worldwide impression of U.S. global military omnipotence and Washington's illusions about the extent of America's power have been shattered by U.S. failures in postvictory Iraq. The United States acknowledges the need for cooperation with the European Union, China, Japan, and Russia regarding major issues of global security. The Middle East becomes the make-or-break test case of U.S. leadership.
"

Family Dinner

2008-05-07T18:48:00.003-04:00

Recently my Dad was sick, but it was not as serious as we all thought. My sister and I had come to town for the non-emergency emergency. So while in town, the greatest mom in the world took us out to one of our favorite spots (I am a junkie for King Crab Legs at Red Lobster) to celebrate Dad's good health, life and the family being together!!

Before we all parted, my sister Vickie and I promised to come back later this summer, that is something I look forward to dearly!

Davis, Moira, Stephanie and I at Race

2008-05-03T19:07:00.002-04:00

Richmond 400 Race

My first foray into the world of NASCAR racing, and boy was it exciting. Moira, Davis and I went to see our friend Stephanie who bought the tickets for this race. Steph and I - cheered for my namesake, Denny Hamlin - not sure who Moira was cheering for and Davis was wearing a Dale hat!

Our First Interface...OMF

2008-02-08T18:02:00.017-05:00

My main work is Windows Programming in C/C++/C# and Visual Basic (the really fun stuff), but the interfaces for this enormous project are done in Java, ESQL, for the WebSphere MQ/WebSphere Business Integration Message Broker (WBIMB). NOTE: Still Learning the MQ and WBIMB software, so powerful but so far easy enough..

In the current design, there are some exceptions to this approach where SQR and Application Engine programs have been built conversion. The PeopleSoft Application Engine works in conjunction with Component Interfaces to perform the batch processing. Application Engine programs capture the relevant conditions and then pass the results to a Component Interface, which in turn triggers the Workflow PeopleCode.

Our team for this interface consisted of some working in NOVA (Northern Virginia) and NOLA (New Orleans).

Pam, Ray and I were writing the SQL for all the fields, Pam took lead on the PeopleSoft/IDP design resolution part (good having a designer on the team). Al was creating all the Java code and Richard was in NOLA putting it all together everyday.

My office late at night trying to finish code and needing JAVA!!!!

Was the first interface project for Pam and I, and to be honest, I was amazed that it completed on time.

Barbie Car

2008-01-29T09:29:00.000-05:00

As I drive in the Tuesday Morning Virginia traffic, stuck for over an hour on a short drive to work, a white and pink Mustang pulls in front of me.

I like Mustangs, they are a true sports car. The Shelby...well who can argue with that as the ultimate muscle car.

Anyway, this pink car, has "BARBIE" in pink in the rear window, and stickers all over. "Girl Raised on Grits from the South", and other Barbie related stuff.

I was totally surprised, it was unique and a very disheartening way to treat such a "muscle car".

Pam Gets the BABY!

2008-01-15T15:42:00.002-05:00

The DIMHRS (Defense Integrated Military Human Resources System Project started in NOLA (New Orleans) until Katrina/Rita interrupted.

After those storms, the project continued in NOLA, but is also located in NOVA (Northern Virginia). The NOVA Team still celebrates the holidays of the NOLA (some like myself lived there for quite some time), and one holiday people truly enjoy is Mardi Gras.

Basically - weeks of the most delicious cakes, known as King Cake!

But inside the King Cake is a little baby, and whoever "gets the baby" has to provide the next King Cake.

"When the cake was served, if a girl found the lucky token—in time the bean was replaced by a porcelain doll, which in turn gave way to a plastic "baby"—she was obligated to have the party the following week. The young man she designated to be her king was responsible for supplying the king cake. Accordingly, if a young man found the token, he would designate one of the girls to be his queen. However, in keeping with the prevailing custom of the reigning queen assuming the role of host, she'd still be expected to throw the next party."

My friend Pam, well she got the baby, have fun!!

for our Mardi Gras celebration,she almost ate it.

All Time Favorite Movies and Some I Really Dislike

2007-12-23T11:28:00.000-05:00

This is a listing of some of my favorite movies, no weighting can be inferred by the order of the listing simply my ability to recall :)

1.) Andromeda Strain
2.) Colossus: The Forbin Project
3.) 2001 A Space Odyssey
4.) Lord of the Rings Trilogy
5.) Alien, Aliens
6.) Demon Seed
7.) The Ten Commandments
8.) The Omega Man
9.) Cry Freedom (about Steve Biko)
10.) JAWS - scared me so much I stayed out of the ocean for a long time.
11.) Contact
12.) Omen I, Omen II - that music.....
13.) Remember the Titans
14.) The Color Purple
15.) Close Encounters of the Third Kind
16.) Manhunter - the 1st Hannibal Lector movie in 1986
17.) Brian's Song - nope, I will not admit anything about this.
18.) Any Given Sunday
19.) Necessary Roughness
20.) Lucas
21.) North Dallas Forty - being a Steeler fan, it was easy to hate these guys more.
22.) Soylent Green

Some movies I truly disliked are:
1.) Eragon - Destroyed the story
2.) Chronicles of Narnia - the evil witch was supposed to be beautiful?
3.) Wargames - Why like Demon Seed and hate Wargames? Demon Seed was more horror and evil computer, Wargames - well that was stupid.
4.) ET - go home you big rodent, j/k

Well, for now that is it...

Bonds, Schilling, HGH, Clemens, and Awards.

2007-12-22T18:55:00.001-05:00

I like what Curt Schilling said on his blog. I did not see it as an attack the way the media portrayed it, but moreso as a player expressing his feelings on an issue that is a part of his life.

Many of the people in the Mitchell Report are his friends.

America has been after Barry Bonds for quite a while. When Raphael Palmeiro testified, swore to Congress that he did NOT ever use any illegal drugs or performance enhancing drugs - but was latter found out to be a liar, it made headlines for a week and disappeared. The Federal Government never decided to prosecute him, I guess because there was no Federal Investigator involved, just the Congress of the USA.

I must keep that in mind, although I doubt I would ever be in such a situation.

But, to be fair and honest, I never thought about Roger Clemens and drugs. I just loved the guy. I never heard the so-called rumors regarding his ability to pitch, it wasn't like when Barry Bonds swelled up looking like Conan the Barbarian at 40!

But, I guess pitchers arms don't last that long as Roger Clemens arm did.
Personally, I do not think Roger should not give any awards back, nor Barry have any "asterisk" next to his records, at all.

We do not know who was and who was not using in the past, nor how much that possible use impacted the players performance.

It isn't like Pete Rose who made a conscious choice to gamble on baseball, especially when he was a manager of the team. Now, Pete should get in to the HOF for his performance on the field, but nothing afterwards.

I guess, what has irked me the most has been the difference in how people have reacted. Barry Bonds was not the most loved player. But, being from Pittsburgh, I recall when he played there and the fans in Pittsburgh did not make Mr. Bonds or Mr. Dave Parker feel welcome. It was strange, they loved Willie Stargell, but not Bonds/Parker, and I do not know why.

That was very early in Bonds career and I think it was one of the reasons he changed towards fans.

Fast-forward. So, America's response is to vilify Barry Bonds, destroy him, yet ignore Roger for basically the same "rumor" and now what seems to be a solid allegation is hypocritical.

/rant over

Steelers this Season

2007-12-22T17:34:00.000-05:00

I live in Virginia but I am a Pittsburgher. I was boon there, went to school there, met my wife and married her there - so the Steeltown is in my blood.

No matter where I go, one of the first things I do, is call DirectTV, and get my NFL Package Sunday Ticket :)

So here is my season ending rant.

New Coach

Tomlin

I like Mike Tomlin. Like everyone else, we are still getting to know the man but from what I see and the attitude he portrays it is one that goes along with the Steeltown image and that for the Steelers.

His ideas are also good for change and to maintain the tradition of a strong defense and running game.

Now, this season we started so strong - but I saw mental lapses against Arizona and Denver. I mean of all the games we should have expected an all out test and attack against our weaknesses would be the Arizona game.

Why? Simple, REVENGE. Sure, Whisenhunt (note, I liked Ken for the H.C. job personally - but am more than happy with Mr. Tomlin) is a new head coach, but he was passed over by the Rooney's for a coach out of no-where.

Since the relationship with him and Ben was not the best (I am going from broadcaster statements here, but there was an article in the Tribune Review on the matter), I am sure he also blames Ben to some degree for that.

So, why did Coach Tomlin not have his team prepared? Why did a team with a 2nd year QB, who cannot read defenses/and an over-the-hill backup beat us?

On the field, it looked like we would have beaten the Cardinals easily, but they whooped our ass mentally, so did the Broncos, and that lapse I lay at the Head Coach and his squad.

Coaching
Now, I am not done with the coaching. The loss to the Jaguars and the eeked out win over the Rams (nothing to brag about) showed me some serious flaws. The Dick Lebeau defense is done with the personnel we have.

Teams know how to beat it. Throw in 3 seconds or less, and with our highly aggressive safeties you get some real nice play action for deep damage (I am reminded of Randy Moss walking into the end-zone two times in a row).

Lebeau

I realize that the Rooney's did not want Lebeau to go, but lets face it, Tomlin came on the radar for the turn around he did on that Vikings defense. Not the same scheme as our blitzburgh approach, but I think we either need to blend the schemes (which will leverage some of our existing personnel), eliminate it (stupid solution), or continue with the same only get better starting personnel and depth. I mean, look, once Aaron Smith went out, we basically could not stop the run because our front-office did not get any depth at the position.

I think blending the defensive schemes and getting better personnel are the solutions.

Arians

My buddy Chris, I almost said the 'H' word - well he really DISLIKES this coach. Chris is one of the smartest people I know and he has some pretty valid reasons for it, but I cannot argue with Arians results.

He has improved Ben Roethlisberger's production, and without the Bus we had the number one rushing game. But, in my gut, I did not think he knew how to use the running game - until the RAMS game, when Willie Parker was injured and he returned to "up the gut" smash mouth football.

All these sports experts say the Steelers are done because the defenses will no longer respect the play-action without Parker since we have no deep threat, but if Arians goes into his little playbook and does what - I think it was Whisenhunt - did with Kordell, Antwaan and Hines - et al, he can use them to slow those blitzes on Ben.

We have no Kordell or Antwaan, but Santonio and the other receiver corps have shown they are more than capable replacements for that kind of once-in-a-while trick.

If we do get Veron Haynes, well all the better.

Shut Up Anthony Smith
How many Steeler fans had the same reaction as I when they saw that clip of loud-mouth before the Patriots game? Up until then I had some hope "don't wake the sleeping dragon", but no, big-mouth has to go and open his yap, and more than that he cannot back any of it up.

Tom Brady made sure he learned that lesson, time and time again.

Offensive Line
Everyone knows the real strength of a team is in it's line. Currently, ours cannot pass-block, they are designed for run blocking. While Ben is having a stellar year, he also is getting sacked a lot.

Now, is that the lines fault alone? No!

You can see how long Ben holds onto that ball sometimes, in fact a lot, looking and looking instead of dumping it to his checkdowns.

Ben may be a big guy, but for some reason he strikes me as a fragile guy. He slides head first a lot, and looks bad doing it.

I know he isn't as fragile as I am indicating, but he needs to remember that the season rides on him, and grow up to some degree. There is nothing wrong having fun out there, that is what he is supposed to be doing, but when you look at Tom Brady in a huddle - you know who is in charge, or Peyton or Donovan. Ben is a guy still having fun and taking a lot of risks, and believing he can throw the ball anywhere (why his interceptions are higher than they should be but not real bad), and the reason his sacks are so high is because he wants to go deep in this new offense all the time.

Audio Book Review: The Belgariad Series

2007-12-22T16:30:00.000-05:00

I pretty much only read Technical Books now, and casual reading is done via iPod. I have done this for many years, and I have a large collection. My favorite genre is Science Fiction/Fantasy.

The Belgariad, is a 5 book series by David Eddings. The books are narrated by Cameron Beierle.

The first book, "Pawn of the Prophecy" starts with a 20-minute prologue, which at first made me feel like I was back in Sunday school. I started to worry, that this was a mistake. But, after the prologue the reader changed the way in which they were telling the story and it became quite engaging.

It is the story about a little boy named Garion, his Aunt Pol and many, many other people. I will not spoil the story any further, except to say it has Sorcerers, Gods, Witches, Necromancers, goblins, knights, viking-esque people, dryads, and many, many more.

Narrator
For audio books, the narrator can make or break the story. Like in the Harry Potter series, that narrator (Jim Dale) brought the books to life and so does Cameron Beierle.

After the "dreadful" prologue of "Pawn of Prophecy", where Mr. Beierle actually makes you understand the history of how the world came into being - using 'Thee' and 'thou' - type language, it is quite a change once the book begins.

Side Note, when I finished the series....I was so sad I immediately started it again, and this time I thoroughly enjoyed the prologue that I dreaded in the first book. So, keep that in mind, because each book has a prologue - and they do get to be quite interesting and important.

I like a narrator that gives each character a unique personality that the author is trying to develop. Unlike the narrator, Karl Fehr - (some famous actor, who is a horrible narrator), I could barely tell when the scene changed, and was always going back to find out "HUH? when did that happen?" because he has a "running down hill reading style." Mr. Fehr destroyed any enjoyment for The Kingdom of the Elves of the Reaches - simply because of his narration.

But, I put Mr. Beierle in the same class as Mr. Dale as narrator. I have not laughed so much in an audiobook as I did in this Series. I would be driving to work, and bust out laughing on I66 from some scene - and boy did the ride go so much faster. I could picture Garion as a child with his Aunt Pol grabbing his ears so vividly because of the way Mr. Beierle narrated the scene.

Series
Here is the complete 5 book series for "The Belgariad" in reading order:

Pawn of Prophecy
Queen of Sorcery
Magician's Gambit
Castle of Wizardry
Enchanters End Game

David Eddings paints a wonderful world, that is a mixture of many other worlds. Some of the "Sword of Shannara", a bit of Middle Earth and of course adding in Gods.
What is so fun about this is the people he creates and you get to know them intimately. Cameron Beierle makes the work all the more fun and enjoyable, I really hated getting to the end. It was not like the Harry Potter series, when it ended - I was ok with that, but this, well I wanted the world to go on and on, even with the losses.

But, I am referencing more than just the Belgariad here. There is a second series, which follows right after this one - The Malloreon. There is some debate as to which is better, I liked this even more.

I hope you like the books, I am currently trying to find the other books/series by David Eddings in audio format. I know they exist because you can get them via torrent, but have not found where they can be purchased nor if they are done by the same narrator.

The other books are:

Belgarath the Sorcerer
Polgara the Sorceress

The Elenium

The Diamond Throne
The Ruby Knight
The Sapphire Rose

The Tamuli

Domes of Fire
The Shining Ones
The Hidden City

Eragon, Eldest...my Theories on the next Steps

2007-12-22T14:50:00.001-05:00

OK. We now know that Christopher Paolini will release the 3rd book in the Inheritance Series on September 23, 2008 - but in the RandomHouse announcement they indicated that a 4th book will be included in the Series.

“I plotted out the Inheritance series as a trilogy nine years ago, when I was fifteen. At that time, I never imagined I’d write all three books, much less that they would be published” said Paolini. “When I finally delved into Book Three, it soon became obvious that the remainder of the story was far too big to fit in one volume. Having spent so long thinking about the series as a trilogy, it was difficult for me to realize that, in order to be true to my characters and to address all of the plot points and unanswered questions Eragon and Eldest raised, I needed to split the end of the series into two books.”

I have listened to Eragon/Eldest twice and throughly enjoyed it each time. If you go onto the forums there is a lot of speculation as to Eragon's love interest - will it be Arya (most of the girls seem to think or hope so), or Nasuada? Some postulate a new rider, a female - which is an idea I kind of like.

Will he kill Murtagh? I think he will. But, I think Murtagh will hurt him again, and not sure how. But it will make him stronger, and darker.

More to come....

My image of Saphira going after Shruikan in the 3rd and 4th Eragon books...

boss, family? (oh no).....

2007-11-20T18:39:00.001-05:00

A good friend, but my boss. We are called the 'Hamlin Brothers'.
Better stop now!

coding buddy

2007-11-20T17:06:00.000-05:00

Pam and the cow she loves (I cannot wait to rip it's scrawny neck off).
Currently doing IDP Design work (she hates) instead of cool coding (which is what she loves).

work...

2007-11-20T16:15:00.000-05:00

The office, with the computer books and Starbucks!!! Do we need anything else?

Well, more powerful computers, faster internet connections, more RAM...