Nobody Listens Anyway

August 18th, 2008 by Justin Ball

For the project we are working on for Teachers Without Borders we need a reliable asynchronous way to process tasks. There are a myriad of ways to do this and if you aren't careful you'll spend weeks second guessing yourself while investigate every possible option. Not that I would know that from experience.

We chose Starling and Workling as our solution. Starling is a message queue that uses memcache. It was built by the guys at Twitter and released as open source. I bet it scales.

Workling is a great plugin built by a couple of guys working on boomloop.com It makes using Starling a bit easier especially when it comes to consuming messages from the queue.

There are a few blog posts around that describe how to get stuff up and running. Other than that the documentation is a bit sparse. I have to believe that will change over time. I am throwing my own links and experience into the mix so I don't forget how to do this.

First get the gems you need to run starling:
sudo gem install starling
sudo gem install memcache-client

Get the working plugin
git clone http://github.com/purzelrakete/workling/tree/master/Changes

# Get starling and working going with:
#
# Fire up starling - this isn't in daemon mode. Add a -d for that.
# starling -P tmp/pids/starling.pid -q tmp/starling
#
# Next fire up the server
# script/server
#
# Get workling going
# script/workling_starling_client start

A few more resources
http://www.williambharding.com/blog/rails/starling-update-from-the-horses-mouth/
http://davedupre.com/2008/03/25/ruby-background-tasks-with-starling/

Tags:   asyncronous processing · Ruby On Rails · starling · workling

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August 17th, 2008 by Justin Ball

For 57 years the Ball family has held an annual reunion. This year was the last. Alfred William Ball was my great grandfather. This many years later the family has gotten so large that I don't really know/recognize anyone. For that very reason I was very careful who I dated in high school and I went out of state to find a wife.

I have always wondered about my ancestors. As far as I knew no one had any information about their lives. By total luck I talked with the one person at the reunion who just happened to mention that she found this website for the Weight Family. It has some information about where the Ball family came from. These types of discoveries are why I love the internet.

Tags:   Family · family history · family reunion

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August 17th, 2008 by Justin Ball

These days I only manage to ride motorcycles with my dad, brother and brother-in-law about once a year. This time we made our way to Stoddard Creek. Its about 60 miles north of my parents house. Very few people can find Idaho on a map which is fine with me. Because of that fact there are a lot of great places to ride within just a few hours. Most of the time we are alone in the mountains even on a Friday or Saturday. The solitude is nice, but there is that nasty possibility that you wreck and nobody finds your body until spring.

Most people don't like logging these days, but thanks go to the logging industry for this trip. All of the roads in the area are old logging roads. I doubt the Forest Service has the motivation or the money these days to build trails into remote locations.

Here's the photos:

Tags:   Family · motorcycle · outdoors

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August 14th, 2008 by Justin Ball

When I was in high school I drove a 73 Chevy Pickup. It was actually my grandmothers. It had a 350 V-8 and flushed gas like a toliet. I used to fill up the tank for $15. I always thought of it as old. I filled up my current truck the other day. It cost me $115. I realized that when I was in high school (90's) my truck was just under 20 years old. I now drive a 95 Ford F-150. It is now 13 years old. Granted it isn't as old as my truck from high school, but it is getting close. 1973 used to seem like so long ago. Hard to believe that 1993 all of a sudden seems like so long ago. At some point my truck got old.

Tags:   pickup · time

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August 14th, 2008 by Justin Ball

A few days ago I broke one of my bottom front teeth. Luckily it didn't hurt, but I figured I should get it fixed. That started a serious of events that led to one of the more painful experiences of my life. They started to fix my tooth but then I mentioned that I had considered whitening my teeth at some point. Since they need to match the color of the filling to the color of your teeth I chose to hold off until I could get my teeth whitened. They couldn't get me in for a while, but I made an appointment and they put me on a call list in case they had a cancellation.

They called this morning and I went in. First they cleaned my teeth. I had a couple of cavities as well. I hate having a numb face all day so I had them do the cavities without the drugs. It hurts a bit but is bearable. Then I had them whiten my teeth. That takes and hour and involves putting in a dental dam which is actually pretty miserable. After that they do 4 bleachings. The dentist told me that my teeth might be sensitive for a while. Sensitive does not describe the hours that follow.

I wouldn't have guessed that bleaching your teeth would be the same as suffering for all your sins in hell. Remember the part where I didn't have them use novacaine? That procedure was preferable to the pain that constantly throbs through your teeth for hours and hours. I finally got desperate and checked around the net and found a mouth was called Theradent. I figured it wouldn't hurt so I drove all over town and found some at Smiths. It wasn't cheap but I've found that when you are in pain you don't care what things cost. I've used it once so far and it makes a big difference - the pain doesn't go away but becomes bearable.

Needless to say I am done with the teeth whitening thing. I would rather deal with off color teeth than be tortured like this again.

Tags:   pain · teeth whitening

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August 14th, 2008 by Justin Ball

Time can suck. Ten minutes worth of programming is nothing. It will pass so quickly that you get nothing done. Ten minutes at the dentist which is where I am this very second passes so slowly that you feel like you are spending a eternity in the seventh level of hell.

Tags:   timr

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August 7th, 2008 by Justin Ball

For anyone out there using Git here is a great .gitconfig file. It will help you get started with aliases etc.

Tags:   git

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August 6th, 2008 by Justin Ball

Tech jobs seem to be rare in Logan so I always love to see local companies succeed. AdventCreative has a tech position open and is looking for a couple of people to help out with consulting. If anyone is interested in any of these positions just visit AdventCreative's website or leave a note in the comments and I'll send along their email.

Here's the details:

Opening at AdventCreative
Hardcore Programmer // Urgently needed for our creative agency

Advent Creative is a group of 12 uber-creative designers, developers, videographers and marketers. We are young, innovative, and constantly striving to push the envelope. We have clients across the globe, from Marriott hotels in Hong Kong, to USAID projects in Sudan. Advent is growing faster than ever and wants only the best talent.

We are in urgent need for a superhuman (or at least very skilled) programmer for our team. This position would primarily involve working together with two other web developers to create killer websites and unreal custom apps.

REQUIREMENTS:
1. Java/C++/C# experience
2. HTML/CSS/Javascript
3. ColdFusion experience is ideal but not necessary -- as long as you are willing and excited to learn it
4. Database experience is a huge plus
5. Desire to build custom apps
6. Experience with Wii video games, or willingness to undergo rigorous training, for lunch break competitions
7. Desire to quit workin' for "the man" and grow with a company

PHP Consultant:
Essentially we need someone that knows linux and specifically is familiar with working on linux from a remote location through the various available services. Even better if they are familiar with CPanel which is what is being used to manage the linux webserver. What needs to be done is fix the newsletter app (php ready made app). I think there is something wrong with the database which is where we got stuck because I couldn't get access to look at it.

The a backup of the databases needs to be done and the new software Julie requested needs to be installed (I believe it's all PHP based). Really not terribly complex, we just need someone who has the time to sit down and figure things out and communicate with Julie to see if they can get all the credentials they need to make headway.

Consultant for System Integration and Crystal Reports
MWA is a integration problem between three different systems.

The first system interfaces with MWA billing and then calculates compensation on a point system for each of the anesthesiologists. This system is powered by an Oracle database and runs reports using Crystal Reports 8.5 and a custom Delphi application to generate PDF compensation reports. Our application is a ColdFusion 8 based application that needs to recieve these reports. I've discussed with Ryan Pulley at MWA how we might go about recieving these reports and there are a couple of ideas. If they send us PDF reports through a secure connection then somehow we are going to have to access or have access to a database table on their end which will help us translate who each of the PDF's belong too. The presents a problem cause either we maintain a syncronized table on our end or we someone need access to their database to run queries against it. The could be done either through a secure VPN connection or by implementing a server to host the MWA site inside their firewall.

The second system is a MAS 90 fincial reporting application which interfaces with the MWA system to recieve the compensation repots and then do further calcuations for taxes and that kind of stuff which then out puts pay stubs. MAS 90 uses and OEM version of crystal reports 8.5 (meaning it is customized by them) and may present some of it's own integration problems as a results. We will also need to research how to connect with the MAS 90 system to run those repots by anethesiologist from our system based on ColdFusion 8.

Tags:   jobs · logan · tech · utah

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July 28th, 2008 by Justin Ball

I decided to try out the latest edge Rails and I started getting this error:

!!! The bundled mysql.rb driver has been removed from Rails 2.2. Please install the mysql gem and try again: gem install mysql.
/!\ FAILSAFE /!\ Mon Jul 28 22:58:38 -0600 2008
Status: 500 Internal Server Error
dlopen(/Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql-2.7/lib/mysql.bundle, 9): Library not loaded: /usr/local/mysql/lib/mysql/libmysqlclient.15.dylib
Referenced from: /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql-2.7/lib/mysql.bundle
Reason: image not found - /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql-2.7/lib/mysql.bundle


At first I tried:

sudo gem install mysql


which of course didn't work because it never works. You have to tell the complier where to find stuff. Do this:


sudo gem install mysql -- --with-mysql-config=/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql_config


Tags:   gems · mysql · Ruby On Rails

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July 27th, 2008 by Justin Ball

I got up at 6:30 am this morning so that I could serve in what is know as a 'calling' in my church. I have done this for two years now.

Anyone that knows me knows that I don't get up at 6:30. Sometimes I stay up and work until 6:30, but I don't get up at that time. That is unless God wants me to. Thus, on the 'day of rest' I drag my butt out of bed way to early in the morning so that I can go and do something else I never do - take notes by hand. I have used a computer for so many years now that I can type like mad, but I can barely use a pen. My signature is just a bunch of loopy lines and no one and I mean no one can read what I write. However, I take notes because that is my religious duty.

Truthfully, I don't mind it so much. I get to associate with people who are far more righteous than me. I keep thinking some of that spirituality will wear off on my, but it doesn't really so I have decided on a new course of action.

The latest trend is outsourcing. It started with programming. Get guys in India or various other countries to do your work for pennies on the dollar and stop paying these expensive local boys. It will work just like it did in manufacturing. (I'm not bitter). I heard that you can outsource a personal assistant. Heck, if you are willing to travel heart surgery in a foreign land is like a luxury vacation - except for that one part where they cut you open, but then again maybe that makes your journey more like an Indian Jones movie. Hopefully, they use something more sterile than their bare hands.

I would really like to spend my Sunday mornings in bed. After all, I am a very lazy person. However, I really need the spiritual benefits. Call them credits in heaven.

In this United States land of box stores, outlets, big cars, and urban sprawl we get what we want. I am simply unwilling to accept that I can't have it all so starting today I will be outsourcing all my religion. Call my effort modern day indulgences advanced. Instead of just buying away sin I will be having various kind hearted souls in foreign lands deal with my volunteer work, salvation and other spiritual matters. I even plan on offering this service to others so that they may reap eternal rewards while sleeping in, reading the paper or just enjoying a Sunday afternoon in the park.

Package pricing is as follows:

Pretty Good: $49.95/month
All activities will be performed by a novice spiritual outsourcing agent. They are just in training but no less righteous. They might have a few sins to work out, but what do you expect when you purchase salvation on the cheap?

10 minutes of scripture reading a day.
5 minutes repenting of your choice of wrong deeds.
2 minute prayers twice a day.
1 Sermon per year (optional) in case you need to speak in church or just for impressing friends when it comes to your new level of spirituality.

Note: This package is not guaranteed to get you into heaven, but at least it will keep your parents off your back.

Righteous: $69.95/month
All spiritual matters will be handle by one of our intermediate advisers. This package might get you into heaven, but you will still be required to put in a little effort.

15 minutes of scripture reading a day.
10 minutes repenting.
5 minute prayers twice a day.
2 sermons + spiritual quotes + emergency scripture/spiritual thought via SMS in case you really need to impress someone.
Monthly attendance at church.

Angelic: $99.95/month
One of our experience, mostly sin-free intermediate advisers will handle the majority of your spiritual needs. We're pretty sure this one will get you into heaven.

20 minutes of scripture reading a day.
15 minutes repenting of specific sins you send in (no adultery or murder accepted please. You'll need one of our advanced options to cover those).
10 minutes of prayer twice a day with moments of spiritual thought scattered through the afternoon.
3 sermons + daily spiritual quotes (who's looking righteous now?) + unlimited emergency scripture/spiritual thought via SMS to your phone or to another of your designation (really impress your girlfriend's dad!)
Weekly church attendance.

Saintly: $199.99/month
This package comes with our unconditional money back guarantee. You will get into heaven*. This package is handle by a team of our advanced advisers. These individuals will have engaged in various religious ceremonies and have been certified as 'meek' and 'humble'.

1 hour of daily scripture reading.
30 minutes of desperate repenting of specific sins you send in (again no adultery or murder please).
20 minutes of prayer three times daily with continued spiritual thought.
4 sermons + daily spiritual quotes + unlimited emergency scripture/spiritual thought via SMS + emails containing uplifting message automatically sent to family and friends.
Weekly church attendance.
10 hours of weekly volunteer work + dedicated 1-800 number for anyone relying upon your newfound spiritual greatness.

Call today or tomorrow or something. Operators will be standing by as soon as I can figure out how to setup a call center overseas and get people to speak with an American accent.

*Please note that money back guarantee is only valid for individual procuring the plan. Proof of non-ascension into heaven or casting into hell must be provided by the individual for all money back claims.

Tags:   outsourcing · religion

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