JamesBranam's Blog

Web and Facebook Peeves

Hi all,

Once again I feel the need to vent. And this happens to be the place I vent, so here goes...

• I hate it when people send me huge email attachments. The other day I received two emails from my brother, each with several photos attached. Attachments totaled more than 7 MB for one email. I have a fast Internet connection, so I was able to receive them in a matter of seconds. However, he sent the email to several of my relative, a few of whom do not have fast connections. This could tie up their email server for a very long time. And maybe their provider might even decline to deliver the email. Everybody should know better by now. It's OK to send photographs and such, but scale them down a bit. Lots of free programs do this for you. Web etiquette goes a long way.
• Why do people create Facebook accounts for their pets or babies? I have nothing at all against Facebook; I think it's a good thing. But I don't want to adf you dog as a friend and hear that he is too lazy to bark at the mailman, etc. This is not funny. And it's not original. And if your child wants to have a Facebook account, that's fine too. However, it's not interesting to read status updates for that child that were written by the parent.
• If you want to add me as a friend, know who I am first. If I don't know you personally, or work in the same company, please don't ask me to add you. I won't. I realize that it's cool to have thousands of friends. However, I value quality over quantity.
• When making status updates, please keep it clean. You don't know who will be reading your posts. If you want to be vulgar, then I'll remove you as a friend. It's my choice.
• Stop sending me invitations for various things. I always decline them. You apparently haven't figured this out yet, because you keep sending them. I like Facebook for contact with people and to see what they are doing. I don't want to find out which celebrity most resembles me.
• I could think of few more, and maybe I will. I'll do a part 2 of this if I do.

--James

Posted at 02:00PM May 06, 2009 by branajam in Personal  | 

Communist Propaganda

Hi all,

One of my hobbies is collecting old Communist propaganda from the former Czechoslovakia. As most of you know by now, I worked in Air Force intelligence during the Cold War. My job was to listen to Czech and Slovak pilots, tank drivers, artillery crews, etc. It was a really exciting job, believe me.

If you were to enter our writers' office here at Sun, you'd see pictures like the one above. Here is the translation:

"No American agent will pass through our village."

Let's see, how many villages have I pass though? lol.

If you want to see more pics, just got to http://metrotango.org.

Cheers!

Posted at 09:00AM May 01, 2009 by branajam in Personal  | 

May Holidays

Hi all,

Once great thing about working in the Czech Republic is the number of public holidays we get. The month of May is great because we get both the 1st and 8th off. This year they fall on o Friday, so this means two extended weekends in a row.

Next year, however, the 1st and 8th fall on a Saturday I believe. Oh well.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 09:00AM Apr 30, 2009 by branajam in Personal  | 

Blogging on a Sunday

Hi all,

Just sitting in front of my computer today. Blogging seemed like a good idea, except I haven't got any ideas. Who would've thought that, eh?

I suppose I have a lot to think about and be grateful for. I'm glad that IBM didn't buy Sun Microsystem. I don't yet know what to think about Oracle buying Sun. Things will become more clear as time progresses.

I can't help but think about my Sun colleagues who were let go these past few months as part of RIFs (reductions in force). I really miss working with them, and I hope that they are doing well.

Cheers!

-James

Posted at 09:00AM Apr 26, 2009 by branajam in Personal  |  Comments[2]

What Lies Ahead

Hi all,

It's Saturday, and it's been a huge week for Sun Microsystems. You've certainly read the news, so I don't have to repeat anything here. A lot of questions are yet to be answered. Let's hope that everything turns out for the best for everyone and everything involved.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 09:00AM Apr 25, 2009 by branajam in Personal  | 

Like Father Like Son

Just a little fun with Paint Shop Pro.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 06:01PM Apr 19, 2009 by branajam in Personal  |  Comments[1]

It Doesn't Get More Personal Than This

Hi all,

I've mentioned in previous blog entries that I've had some big events in my personal life. If you look at the photograph, you can see one of these events. My son was born in March. There were some problems after his birth, but things are looking up now. I'd to thank my friends, family, and colleagues for all the support they gave me during this time. It helped us through.

I think I'll start my son out with Python or PHP applications, then move on to other languages. What do you think?

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 09:00AM Apr 11, 2009 by branajam in Personal  |  Comments[3]

Busy Vacation

Hi all,

I'm on vacation this week, and I have to say that I've never been busier. Lots of personal stuff to take care of, errands to run, things to buy. It has been very stressful to say the least.

I'll be back at work on Monday, and I'll be just as busy. I've got a couple of tutorials to write for NetBeans 6.7 Beta.

See you soon!

--James

Posted at 08:53PM Mar 31, 2009 by branajam in Personal  | 

Still on Vacation

Hi all,

Once more week of vacation to go. Then it's back to work writing documentation for NetBeans 6.7.

And I'll be blogging more often once I get back.

See you soon

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 09:16PM Mar 30, 2009 by branajam in Personal  |  Comments[1]

BG Withdrawal

Hi all,

A week ago (last Friday), the last episode of Battlestar Galactica aired. At first I thought, "big deal, series end." Then this Friday it hit me: no Battlestar Galactica episode. Then the headache started, accompanied by cold sweats and bodily aches: Battlestar Galactica withdrawal symptoms. Frak!

I'm sure I'll be OK, but it might take a while.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 10:34PM Mar 28, 2009 by branajam in Personal  |  Comments[1]

Big Things Ahead

Hi all

Lots of big things are on the way. NetBeans 6.7 is being actively developed (Milestone 3 is the next release), Sun is getting more and more into Cloud Computing (you might see some of this soon), the NetBeans Governance Board election winners will be announced on Monday, and, on a personal note, my son is coming very soon (I have the feeling that he's coming tomorrow).

The baby's due date is March 12, but doctors seem to think that he's now overdue. I plan to attend the birth, and I'm really looking forward to seeing the face that has been hiding in my wife's belly for nine months. I'll let you know when it happens.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 02:30PM Mar 07, 2009 by branajam in Personal  | 

Addicted to BG

Hi all,

I hate to admit it. It has never happened to me before. I have become addicted to a television series: Battlestar Galactica. And I'm not even a scifi nut.

My colleagues and I have been having deep discussions about the series, and they are just as good as the series. I've read numerous reviews, and some of them state that Battlestar Galactica is the best show on television.

I don't know about that. I don't watch enough television to give an accurate answer.

Battlestar Galactica, however, has it all. The best part is the way characters are portrayed, faults and all. I remember the original series when I was a kid. Horrible. My little brothers were really into it, several toys (including the battlestar itself) littered the floor of our house. This show was a joke compared to the new version, which is so good that I have now become addicted. One great thing about all of this is that there is an end to it all. The final episode will air in March. So, there must be some kind of climax (unlike Lost, where they keep making up stuff along the way).

A good show should not be judged on the number of seasons aired, but rather on the quality of its beginning, content, and end.

I realize that I am probably preaching the the choir. Oh well.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 09:00AM Jan 31, 2009 by branajam in Personal  | 

Go Cardinals

Hi all,

Superbowl XLIII is this weekend, and I'll be up watching it just like every year. This year's teams are the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals.

Go Cardinals!

But why is this Indianapolis Colts fan putting his support behind the Cards?

The Cardinals have never been in a Superbowl. As a matter of fact, the last time they were in a championship game was in 1946. That's one helluva drought. Pittsburgh seems to make it every other year (or two) or so. I want to see history made again. Barack Obama winning the U.S. presidency proved that anyone can become president. The Arizona Cardinals winning the Superbowl would prove that any team can win it. Also, after John McCain's big loss in the election. Somebody needs to show the world that a team from Arizona can win the big game.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 02:31PM Jan 29, 2009 by branajam in Personal  | 

Midwest Snowstorm

Hi all,

Parts of the U.S. were hit by a huge storm, with lots of snow and ice. My brother took this photograph this morning while he was digging out before heading out on a call.

My brother lives in Indianapolis. My parents in Southern Indiana were also hit by a storm, but with more ice. Very dangerous conditions, indeed.

Let's hope everyone is and stays safe.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 04:59PM Jan 28, 2009 by branajam in Personal  | 

The Cold (Colt) Facts

Hi all,

It is very cold outside. As you can see from the above screen capture, it's -11 degrees Celsius (12 degrees Fahrenheit). In some parts of the country, it got down to -25 C (-13 F). THis cold snap will be with us for a few more days too.

And to make matters worse, my team (Indianapolis Colts) lost in the first round of the playoffs to the San Diego Chargers. I stayed up all night for the game (it started at 2 a.m. local time, and finished about 5:30).

A very disappointing start to the new year.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 02:32PM Jan 06, 2009 by branajam in Personal  | 

Happy 2009

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and successful new year.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 01:35PM Jan 01, 2009 by branajam in Personal  | 

Finally Watching Bowl Games

Hi all,

I've been living in Europe for a total 24 years, and for the first time, I get to watch live college football bowl games on TV. I know that a lot of you out there are wondering what the big deal is about, but having been in Europe most of my life, I still miss a few things from my home country, American football being one of them. The past few years, I've been able to follow my favorite NFL team, the Indianapolis Colts, online thanks to NFL Gamepass, which is something like Sunday Ticket. It's expensive, but very worth it. And recently, a colleague at work told me about NASN (North American Sports Network). I was a little skeptical at first, but then I called my cable TV provider and ordered it. Now my eyes are glued to the TV, watching college bowl games and basketball.

My wife has given up and has reluctantly relinquished the remote control to me. On December 31, I finally get to watch my alma mater, Oregon State, in a bowl game for the first time (vs. Pittsburgh). Wow.

Life over here is getting better all the time.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 04:45PM Dec 28, 2008 by branajam in Personal  | 

Second Christmas Day

Hi all,

The long awaited Second Christmas Day has Arrived. Most of Europe celebrates December 26th as Christmas too (it's called Boxing Day in the UK and Canada). In a lot of places, the dya is also called St. Stephen's Day ot the Feast of St. Stephen. Remember the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas?" Well, first of all, it's about Wenceslas I, a Czech king (1205-1253). Secondly, the lyrics go:

Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen

Just a little Christmas trivia there.

But seriously folks, it's nice having December 24, 25, and 26 off as holidays.

I hope that you had (or are having) wonderful holidays.

See you tomorrow.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 05:49PM Dec 26, 2008 by branajam in Personal  | 

Throw, Toss, or Hurl

Hi all,

Today is the first of the two Christmas Days celebrated in Europe. The First is known (translated) as the First Christmas Day, and the second is known affectionately as the Second Christmas Day (Boxing Day in the UK). The Czechs have their traditional name for today (First Christmas Day). They call is "Boží hod." For those of you out there who don't speak Czech, I'll translate it for you. It means any one of the following,

• God's Throw
• God's Toss
• God's Hurl

And now a little analysis:

We need to break this down in different ways. Most of us live in societies with many religions, and for some of us, the mentioning of God's name is taboo, so I'll refrain from this. However, when the above is broken down, we basically get:

Which God threw what?

For American Football fans, the answer is obvious. It is certainly no coincidence that "God's Toss" and College Football Bowl Season both occur at the end of December. Makes you think doesn't it?

Christians may argue that something else was "thrown," a baby if you will. Who caught it? Catchers' mitts weren't around back then, and I'll wager that God has one hell of a fastball.

And this is where the translation starts to mean a lot. I'd try to catch a toss maybe, but I might decide to run if God were to hurl something at me.

And then there's the object in the phrase. Tossing a ball is a lot different than tossing one's cookies. I might think about catching the ball. Catching someone's thrown cookies is another story.

I guess I'd better stop while I'm ahead/behind (however you wish to see it). Believe me, no offense was intended. In any case, I wish you happy holidays, wherever you are, and of whatever faith you are. If I go any further, I'll start sounding like John Lennon. Oh well, here goes: Let's start to realize that we're all in this together. Then is won't matter what God throws at us. We'll be ready to catch it.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 01:04PM Dec 25, 2008 by branajam in Personal  |  Comments[2]

Nice Little Application

Hi all,

This weekend, NFL teams play their last game of the season. A few playoff positions have been filled, but some are still wide open. While looking into this, I came across a neat little application in which you can create your own playoff scenario.

Here's the URL: NFL Playoff Scenario.

Be sure to check this out if you're a fan of American football.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 05:36PM Dec 23, 2008 by branajam in Personal  | 

Squeak, Squeak

Hi again,

The title of the blog entry is a direct reference to the fact that my team, the Indianapolis Colts, squeaked by the Jacksonville Jaguars for another win last night.

The Jaguars always play the Colts tough, and last night was no exception. The Jags led most of the game until the Colts tied them in the fourth quarter at 24-24. An interception returned for a touchdown gave the Colts the lead 31-14 with just over two minutes left. The Jags drove the length of the field before their quarterback was sacked on the last play of the game.

It was a great game.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 04:56PM Dec 19, 2008 by branajam in Personal  | 

Cheap Gas in Europe

Hi all,

During the past year, we've heard a lot about how the gas prices in the U.S have skyrocketed and come back down again. In Europe, gas has always been very expensive, much more expensive than in the U.S. In the past, I've paid as much as $8 for a gallon in Europe (converted to dollars and gallons).

The above photograph was taken today, December 15, 2008. You can see in the photo that the price of regular unleaded (the top one) is 23.30 Czech crowns per liter. After converting to dollars using today's exchange rate (19.33 crowns to 1 dollar) and converting to gallons (multiplying by 3.785), the price is $4.56 per gallon. I have never seen gas so inexpensive in Europe.

It is still much more expensive than in the U.S., and I'm certain it will continue to be. But this price makes filling up a little easier on the wallet.

Cheers! --James

Posted at 01:07PM Dec 15, 2008 by branajam in Personal  |  Comments[3]

First Snow of the Season

Hi all,

I worked from home today, and I got a nice little surprise this morning when I looked out the window: the first snow of the season. I always like the first snowfall of the winter. It's new, and you're not tired of it yet, and it usually melts before it turns black from all the car exhaust.

It's supposed to snow all weekend here.

In the next few days, I'll be highlighting 6.5 versions of tutorials that were just published with the release of NetBeans 6.5.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 06:34PM Nov 21, 2008 by branajam in Personal  |  Comments[3]

Colts Win A Squeaker

Hi all,

A nice end to a great weekend: The Indianapolis Colts beat the Houston Texans 33-27. It was a close game, and on more than one occasion, I was certain that the Colts would lose.

I suppose that I should have more faith in my team.

See you tomorrow. Cheers!

--James

Posted at 11:13PM Nov 16, 2008 by branajam in Personal  |  Comments[1]

Satisfaction

Hi all,

Victory is sweet, and this past weekend I got to experience it twice.

The Indianapolis Colts beat the always very tough Pittsburgh Steelers 24-20.

And the Oregon State Beavers stomped all over the UCLA Bruins.

The Colts still have a long road ahead of them to the playoffs. And it looks like the Beavers are bowlbound once again this year.

Cheers!

--James

Posted at 07:19PM Nov 10, 2008 by branajam in Personal  |