June 24, 2010
Well, I almost made it to 10 months without posting. But, I failed. That's okay though. Been pretty busy. Programming on a system for Atomix. Finishing up my classes. Learning SVN, working in PHP and mysql as always. MySQL is pretty decent. We have a table with 3.5 million records and it looks up 10 records by the game id in 0.0004 seconds. So it's pretty quick even with a large record set.
Main reason to post is because I wanted to add this "rules for life" that I have seen before. I like it and enjoy reading it from time to time. I wanted to add it to my website so I could always find it, and so it's not on my desktop anymore. It's about time!
Oh, by the way. I think Google Wave was a bust. I think it's mainly because that you could not interact with traditional email. I wonder if things will pick up speed once you can email to and from using gmail. Oh, and a desktop application like Pidgin/Skype to interface with google wave. When we're at home we can log into the desktop application to chat and send waves. Then when we're on the run we can use a browser. That would probably be nice.
August 25, 2009
Ah, there seems to be a trend here. Last time I wrote that May went by quickly and that I didn't even post. And now July went by quickly. I almost even missed August! Crazy. Quite a lot has been going on. Been working many hours on my pond and water garden magazine website. It is certainly coming along, but there is still a long ways to go. Have definately figured out the basics of C++ again. Yay.
The redesign was successful. Now we are working on a consumer section, finding many old articles from prior issues of the magazine. Then later this winter I want to redesign my retail website. Lots to do lots to do. Oh yea, and of course it might be cool to redesign this website as well, since I know a lot about php, ajax, javascript. I could make some nifty features. Oh well, some day.
P.S. I did get into the Google Wave developer preview, but I have not had time to work on anything. It is neat, but I think it's going to need some serious improvements in order to be the super great email replacement that I envisioned.
June 14, 2009
I was about to comment that May went by quickly! Seems I didn't even write anything for that month. Then, I went to check the date for this post and I realized the date is already June 14th! Insane. So, here we are almost half way through 2009. Have you completed any of your 2009 resolutions? Better get cookin'. I have completed some of mine. I wanted to learn C++ programming again and I have done that.
I have been spending a lot of time working on my parent's magazine website over at Pond Trade Magazine and I think it is coming along nicely. I am currently in the middle of a complete redesign of the site. Well, complete redesign of the html and css part of it. I am still using the php/database functionality. I just have been working on improving the SEO and google friendly aspects of the site. One major example of where I am fixing things, is the main topic tag I used to surround with <p class="title"> tags!! I realized it's much more important to surround the main title with <h1> tags. Simple little truth that never dawned on me as I was designing the old site.
I would like to do an overhaul of this personal website at some point. Oh, have you heard about the new Google Wave?! I'm very excited. Maybe when it comes out, I will integrate it with the redesign of this website. It should be absolutely awesome. I think it will replace most if not all email, instant messaging, and web forums. I'm excited.
April 30, 2009
So. The game is coming along nicely! It is such a big project. It has come a long ways since my last post, however. I am getting ready to figure out a domain name to register in order to host my game. Perhaps I will host it at mud.dustingraham.com? Hm. I will definately post a link once I determine where it will be hosted. Like I said in the last post, I think this time I will take it all the way to the game play stage. If you have any thoughts, ideas, or questions feel free to drop a message on the contact page. Thanks.
April 19, 2009
Just had an inspiration to start working on my "game" again. I've been programming my "game" since I was like 15 and it's transitioned through four different languages. The latest iteration is C#. I really hope to get this off the ground this time. I've had to restart from scratch for various different reasons. But, it's going to essentially be a M.U.D. Or, as I like to call it, a text-based massivly multi-player online role playing game. I think it's one of my lifetime passions to complete. I just feel like this time I will actually get it to the play stage. Well, off to code.
March 24, 2009
Just thought I would throw a quick blurb up. I have been spending many hours and days programming in C# lately. Not much web development. Have a Java class comming up soon at National University. Installed the latest version of the Java SDK with the NetBeans IDE. I laughed when I opened the NetBeans IDE because it reminds me so much of the microsoft Visual IDE's (C#, C++, etc)! Java's way of saying "Thankyou Microsoft." I suppose.
January 19, 2009
Yes. I have played Spore!! Pretty fun and crazy game. Here are a pair of screen shots of my creature! Fun game. Amusing.
December 17, 2008
Had an awesome weekend at Calico. I think the pictures speak for themself. Definately a trip I would like to repeat. I have been reminded why I love riding my quad so much! It is such a rush, and it never gets old.
December 6, 2008
Got another email forward that I thought was worth sharing. It's called Priceless. And, I definately think it is worth taking a few minutes to read. Enjoy.
November 21, 2008
Where does life go so fast? Days then weeks then months. They just fly by. Hope you are loving the journey. I know I've had my ups and downs. Keep your head high and keep on truckin'. Feel free to contact me on the contact page! Yes, I lived on Middlebrook Sq. I'm not sure who asked that. But, someone asked back in April and I hadn't been watching for comments so I missed that. Anyways, there's a new interesting feature in Google that I think applies for WikiSearch. You can basically comment on and rate pages in the search engine. Interesting, I wonder what people will say. Have a great day! And, Smile. You never know who's watching.
P.S. I added another set of pictures from climbing. They turned out really nicely.
-Dustin
September 8, 2008
Received this in an email. Loved it, so decided to post it.
LIFE!
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a
well. The animal cried piteously for hours as
the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the
well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and
help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began
to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the
donkey realized what was happening and cried
horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he
quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally
looked down the well. He was astonished at what
he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his
back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel
dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it
off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey
stepped up over the edge of the well and
happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds
of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well
is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of
our troubles is a steppingstone.. We can get out
of the deepest wells just by not stopping,
never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up
.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less
NOW ............
Enough of that crap . . . The donkey later came back,
and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him.
The gash from the bite got infected and
the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.
MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:
When you do something wrong, and try to cover
your ass, it always comes back to bite you.
You have two choices...smile and close this
page, or pass this along to someone else to
spread the fun.
-Dustin
I love rock climbing, camping, and everything outdoors. I enjoy movies, but dislike watching T.V. I can enjoy beautiful summer afternoons, and dark rainy days.
I like to go to the local coffee shop. I have a membership at Solid Rock Gym, which I love to go to. I like getting outdoors. There is a beautiful hiking trail nearby that I go to occasionally. I don't get to the beach enough, but I love it.
I like to cook for myself, friends and family. I try to keep it healthy, but I'll enjoy the occasional fast food fix. I make some awesome chicken fajitas. Obviously I love rock climbing, and I also like listening to music. Country, alternative rock.
Currently, I mostly read a few news feeds on Google Reader: business, tech, jokes, etc. One of my fav. books is probably Steven Covey's 7 Habits. Also like the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series.
I love music. I think Evanescence is my favorite band, but I love country, techno, pop rock, things like Celine Dion, Enya, Puddle of Mud, Nickelback, Filter, Avril Lavigne and all that.
I have a Black Lab mix. She's really cute, about 18 months right now. I love her, and I love dogs. Would like to have another dog or two eventually.
