Mat's Blog

Comment Screening

Just in case anyone is curious why I screen comments, I received 155 spam comments last night. Deleting them is a pain, but it's better than searching through all of my blog entries trying to find them.

Posted on February 26, 2010 at 12:31 pm. 0 comments. Tags: admin website spam comments

New Blog Update

I've been working on my new blog software for a few months now. I don't intend on adjusting the outward appearance of my blog in any appreciable way, so when I move from the old software to the new software, it should look the same. Rather, all of the changes I'm making are all on the back end of things.

I've been working to objectify my PHP code. Right now, my blog spans over 20 disparate files. There are a few files that are common to them all (similar to classes), but they're mostly for the more complex features. The problem I've been having is reconciling similar functionality and standardizing my coding practices. For instance, I recently spotted a bug in my site redirect script. Were my program stored in a few central classes, I would only have to modify a few portions of the code. However, because everything was apart, I had to modify 15-20 different files correcting the bug. Of course, even with classes, I may have to modify a fair amount of items. For instance, adding, editing and deleting information has a similar procedure with a different query string. With 4 different information classes with an add, edit and delete method in each, that's 12 instances of the exact same code. Making a method for the redundant code makes the code more succinct AND makes it easier to modify down the line.

Currently, I have information classes: my blog entries, comments, image info and image folders. I also have a class for database use, a utilities class, a user authentication class and an HTML class. So far, I've written most of the database and information classes. I need to fine tune and correct any logic errors and try to synchronize common class types. I've also finished writing my utility classes, as they were taken from the old utilities I used before.

The authentication and HTML classes will take a fair amount of time, but most of the logic and styles for each have already been written. I'll just need to slice them up and edit them to function correctly in a modular fashion.

If I were to give a percentage of completion, I'd say that I'm somewhere around 60%. I've completed a lot of the logic grunt work and I have a little left. Afterward, it will be about testing the applications to insure proper working order.

Posted on February 22, 2010 at 12:26 pm. 0 comments. Tags: website admin blog images programming php mysql database

Bags, Part II

I've chosen a pair of bags to purchase. The first a Kata DR-465 backpack. It's different from most camera backpacks insofar as it doesn't look like a camera backpack (and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb).

It's also differentiated further from other camera backpacks in that it's more accessible on the go. Many camera backpacks have a single large compartment and the rear of the pack is simple a cover. The zipper will extend all the way to the bottom on both sides so that the cover opens like a flap. This flap works best when the bag is lying down on the ground so that you can get to all the equipment from above. The Kata bag has pockets that are meant for swinging the bag around while it's still on the shoulders.

This sort of bag should be exactly what I need for taking my camera with me when I ride my bike around.

The other bag I've chosen is the Jansport Elefunk messenger bag. I wanted to a messenger bag to replace both of my other shoulder bags. One is a regular bag that I got for free at a bar back in college. My second bag is a cheapie laptop bag that is OK for carting a couple things with me, but easily becomes overfilled and isn't the most comfortable.

Posted on February 18, 2010 at 07:18 am. 0 comments. Tags: bags camera

A Bag

I've been on the prowl for a new bag for my camera crap. I've been unsuccessful in being able to carry my camera gear around while riding my bike. I can take it easily enough in the car, but I want to be able to ride out into the woods and stop at some of the more interesting scenic areas.

My current camera bag is a large rectangle with padded dividers that I can place where I want with velcro. This bag is good for packing a body, a selection of lenses, a flash and a few other doodads with relative ease. The problem is that it's bulky. It's OK for carrying to and from my vehicle to single destination, if I plan on setting the bag down or not going into it.

However, it is dreadful when I plan on being entirely mobile. While walking around, the flap makes on-the-go switching a pain in the butt. When I try to cinch the bag close to my body, the awkward shape of the bag makes it stick out from my body.

I have a plethora of other bags, but none of them have a particularly elegant mix of ease of access and capacity large enough to store my camera. I have a couple shoulder bags (1 laptop and 1 plain) that are fine for grabbing stuff while walking around, but have little space for a camera. I have a pair of backpacks. 1 is only just large enough to hold my camera, but is a bit thin and uncomfortable. The other is much larger and more comfortable. Neither gives me easy, quick access.

I've also decided NOT to get a camera bag. Most are too compartmentalized for my taste, making them difficult to use for other purposes. Moreover, they're ugly. They stick out like a sore thumb most of the time, making them easy targets for thieves or making people leery of me. I want something that blends in.

So, I was looking around at sling backpacks. I assume that they would be roomy, have ergonomics that would suit walking around and bike riding and would give me the ability to swing the bag around and pull a camera out. The problem is that the sling backpack selection is VERY low. There are a few out there, but of what I see, few are large enough or sturdy enough. Some look like they might work, but stick out like a sore thumb (typically with camo print).

So, I'm currently looking at messenger bags. A few messenger bags look attractive, but I'll take a look at REI tonight before I make a choice of which bag to eventually purchase. I know that it would not have the compartments like a typical camera bag, so I'll have to improvise how to carry my gear around without it whacking into each other. I'm thinking a combination of makeshift lens pouches (socks!) and foam should be enough. I'm hesitant to purchase lens and camera covers for now.

Posted on February 16, 2010 at 03:53 pm. 0 comments. Tags: bags camera

Gear Lust

I have been looking around at gear that I'd like to get for my camera. read more...

Posted on February 11, 2010 at 09:51 am. 0 comments. Tags: camera equipment

New Photos

I took some photos of downtown Chicago and its people a few days ago. I posted them in the downtown Chicago gallery. Previews after the break. read more...

Posted on February 08, 2010 at 12:36 am. 0 comments. Tags: Photos downtown Chicago

Unfortunate Circumstances

A friend of mine recently died from cancer and I've been having a hard time concentrating on anything at home.

Posted on February 06, 2010 at 07:31 pm. 0 comments. Tags:

MySQL objects

I was working on my blog objects organization paper this morning and I suddenly came to the realization that I was passing MySQL objects from the database class to the other classes in the program. I've been working rather hard to keep my classes as separate from each other as possible, so this came as a shock when I realized that I had been working completely counter to my goal.

So, I think I'll work on taking MySQL objects and transferring the data from the arrays that are returned and placing the data into a newly instantiated object. When I return a collection of items, I'll transfer them into an array of instantiated objects. Though, I need to insure that the data maintains its integrity. I wouldn't worry about Java doing such a thing, but PHP doesn't seem nearly as reliable...

Posted on January 20, 2010 at 08:09 am. 0 comments. Tags: php mysql objects

Nikkor 300mm f/4.5 IF ED

This is a photo I took of my Nikkor 300mm F/4.5 IF ED lens attached to my Rebel XT and mounted to a tripod.

read more...