MS Hire me! I hate Vista too

http://valleywag.com/386189/microsoft-hire-mark-hamburg-hates-windows

Migrating from acegi to spring security

So I migrated my current project from acegi 1.0.5 to spring security 2.0.0-RC1. Here are my notes incase anyone might find this useful. Pom.xml changes: org.springframework.security spring-security-core ${spring.security.version} spring-aop org.springframework spring-dao org.springframework spring-jdbc org.springframework spring-remoting org.springframework spring-support org.springframework org.springframework spring org.springframework.security spring-security-taglibs ${spring.security.version} org.springframework.security spring-security-acl ${spring.security.version} And I defined a variable in our root pom 2.0.0-RC1 The new jars also change all the package name from 'org.acegisecurity' to 'org.springframework.security' I just did a find and replace in idea and that seemed to work fine. Static variable have also changed their prefix from 'AGEGI_' to 'SPRING_SECURITY_'. I did another replace in path with IDEA to do this as well. Taglibs. Tag libs have changed a little too. You should replace <%@ taglib uri="http://acegisecurity.org/authz" prefix="authz" %> with <%@ taglib uri="http://www.springframework.org/security/tags" prefix="authz" %> The authentication tag also works differently. I had to replace things like with ${user.fullName} After all this everything seems to be working perfectly. Next step is to refactor our security configuration to the newer model.

SRV Shuffle

Some times you just have to sit back and listen.

Where is my facebook chat?!?!

So facebook has announced their new chat feature (http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=12811122130). It does not seem to be enabled in any of the Canadian networks so far. Any one here in Canada have chat yet?

My First YouTube Video!

Copying files from you iTouch to your Mac

So the first thing that gave me trouble on my new MacBook was getting all the files off my iTouch. It turns out that the iTouch can not be used as a harddrive like my last iPod. I how ever found a free way around this!

1. Download the demo of iPhone drive.
2. You'll notice that you can only see the first 20 songs on your iTouch in the demo, but never fear you can view all files on the harddrive!
3. Select view files and copy iPod_Control/Music to your harddrive.
4. All the mp3 will have funky names (AARD.mp3 etc) so import them to iTunes to have them all nicely named and placed in proper folders.

Installing an app under OSX

This switch is more than a simple OS switch it is a paradigm switch. I had trouble figuring out how to install firefox.

1. Download the DMG file.
2. Click on the file (This does some werid mount thingy)
3. Open finder and drag firefox to applications
4. Enjoy!

Switching to Mac

So today I finally ditched my Dell XPS 1210 and got a sexy little black MacBook. I'll post what troubles me as a switch.

The reason I decided to switch is simple. My dell is a overheating down clocking POS.

Now we're jamming

So I currently have two problems with my guitar playing.

1. I'm not Jimi Hendrix or SRV
2. I always want a new guitar (Currently a 50's reissue strat with a lefty neck)

I'm by no means a good guitarist. The horrible this is I am pretty passionate about playing guitar.

This all started 10 years ago. I was in high school and a mediocre athlete. I did the standard sports for a Canadian kid: Hockey, Basketball, cross-country running. Luckily I was actually a decent goalie. Then sadly that summer I broke my leg in a BMX biking accident.
Now when your a guy who use to always have something to do being immobile for 4-6 months is horrible. That is the point in my life I picked up a guitar for the first time.
My Dad had an old guitar my mother got him at Sears. With in a month or so I got good enough to play along at any camp-fire. Over the next year or so I took lessons from a family friend. Jammed with some high school bands and had a great time. Then it all stopped.
In an effort to improve my playing even more I got professional lessons. One thing I didn't know at that time was that would suck every last little bit of fun out of playing for me. After 3 formal lessons I was so annoyed and aggravated I never picked up my guitar again for more than 3 hours a month.
Like a Shakespearian story this all ending up coming full circle early last year. My musical tastes once again shifted. I was listening to way less R&B and Rap and more classic rock and rock. Then I was finally insp
ired to pick up my guitar again by one album "Inside wants out" by John Mayer.
John is still amazing surprising all critics are staring a blues band called the "The John Mayer Trio". Now, not only am I inspired but my new favourite artist releases an album that perfectly matches my favourite type of music.

Wait... how did we get here?

When I started writing this mess I was sure I had a point and now it escapes me. I guess all I can say is:

• You'll find inspiration where/when you least expect it.
  
• Aspire to be as good as your idols but respect that everything comes with time and practice.
  
• Plug in turn it up and just let your heart and soul speak.

Blogging for New Years

So it has been nearly a year since I started this blog on blogger and I have not even have the energy to post more then 10 times. I'm hopping that in the coming year I can change that.

No no I am not making a New Year's resolution to blog more! Back in 2003 I make a resolution to not make resolutions and I'm still sticking to my guns.

I am hoping to crank out a few posts on what my current passions are:

• Software development
  
• User experience
  
• Getting a new Job at MS or Google
• Playing guitar

Well here is to hoping someone somewhere finds at least on of these interesting.

Picture of the day

A picture is worth a million words