Finding the Team with MVC

Our new MVC based stats engine was lacking some basic functionality. Pagination! Yes something so simple was missing. But not much longer.

Our app maintains over 150,000 racing stats ranging from 1955 to 2010 and covering some 5,000 races. So when it comes to finding a driver or an owner to update their bio or head-shot was, well painful. On the LAN it would take Firefox about three minutes to load. That's awful, pitiful, not unacceptable for any cutting-edge application. Why was it this way. Two reasons, short staffed and behind schedule.

That's the past, today is the now. With the help of Michael Ceranski's post on Phonebook Style Paging in ASP.NET MVC I was able to apply code necessary to make the app race. Now we're loading some 4,000 active drivers in just a split second, but now it's done via a typical 0-9 A-Z paging system.

My only changes from Michael were adding the numerical selections. It's quick, easy, and the perfect solution to my needs.

It's a team effort

I had the opportunity to coach my sons t-ball game today. Something I've done a few times in the past. The boys range in age from 4 - 6 some have older brothers who play so they have some knowledge while other are in their first season. It's an hour of fun, no stress sports. Just teaching the fundamentals of baseball, teamwork and self-confidence.

A fellow parent overheard another one of the players parents at the game and the discussion is something that has me at my boiling point. These parts have an older son, about 11 who's playing, a father who is pretty good and a 4 year old. The youngest was a walk-on. Wait, let me rephrase that. His mother walked up two weeks ago and told the coach that her son was to play on this team because no one else had room. She hasn't paid the fee for the association, wasn't put on the team and joined 4 weeks into the season.

OK so it's just t-ball, no huge deal. Except that this mother and her husband were overheard making derogatory comment about one of the other boys. This is complete and utterly unacceptable. The mother that overheard the comments did not feel comfortable repeating what was said. But she told me that she doesn't feel like keeping her child on the team.

What is one to do? The teams main coach is a good friend of this father. The mother and father are both highly competitive, they only cheer for their son, never for anyone else on the team. When I was told of this today I felt hurt, enraged and sad. Sad for this boy who's parents feel it's acceptable to talk about another child in a way that is completely absurb. And hurt that these parents feel it is fine to talk about another child who's learning not only how to play the great sport of baseball but also life skills.

Monday night practice is going to be interesting. Should I call and talk to the league president, should I call the coach or should I keep my mouth shut? I know for sure that I am going to continue to teach my children and these boys how to respect not only each other but anyone else they run into.

Just like my fraternity motto, Vir Quisque Vir, every man a man it's something that I live by day after day. And I want to make sure that I teach this to everyone I work with.

Full Force Vote

It doesn't really matter who I or anyone else voted for. But it does matter that we made the effort. To read up on the candidates, amendments and other items on the ballot. And that we took the time to stand in line. In my small precinct I stood outside in line for nearly 20 minutes. It was wet. No it was muddy, humid and late. Our small precinct a small Baptist Church can only hold about 20 people max at a time. That's 10 voting tables, three lines for check-in and one scanner. Plus we had about 30 in line outside. It was calm, everyone was patient and I know proud.

What was most interesting was the number of children who accompanied one or both parents. I myself had all three of my children there. My 3 year old asked what a vote was. We did our best to explain why we were filling in little ovals on a single sheet of paper. But he just doesn't understand. Our 6 year old however wasn't quite as talkative. We did our best to explain why we were voting, how so many people outside of the US do not get the chance to vote. Heck that most of the time some of those people don't get to eat, or don't get an education, or don't have the means to feed other members of their family.

And that is why it's so important we learn about our candidates, issues and take the time every two years to exercise our right to vote!

Trick o' Treat

Busy weekend, where has the time gone. It's nice to be able to give my son a special lunch for receiving good grades. Now he's only in Kindergarten but his first report card had all satisfactory marks. Got a few areas to improve on but for the first official card that's not bad. There's a place called Kidtroplis down in Sanford Florida. Gotta say it's no Chuck-e-Cheese but it did save us 30 minutes on our drive.

Also had a chance to change the oil in our 2007 Uplander. Got it jacked up and down on the stands. Now I gotta tell you it was pretty nasty. My wife ran over a deer carcass about a month ago. she was at least 3rd in line when it happened. There's not much ground clearance so she heard that thing raddle around for a while. Let's just say it was bad and it's still bad. There was still a strong stench of dead animal and a few places I saw reminants of hair. Not pleasant to say the least. So I quickly dropped the oil plug and filter. Got a new Fram filter and 4 quarts of Valvoline back in the engine.

Then off to Grand-Ma's house for Trick-o-Treating. Now where did I put my chocolate bar?

Next week it's new oil for the Silverado. T-Ball. Doctor visits, at least 3. A parent teacher conference. And somewhere in there a full weeks worth of work. Phew I'm tired already.

First IPA Pour

Just cracked the top off my first IPA brew. Got some nice bubbling and head on the beer. It looks very clean and smells hoppy. I think the brew directions said it would be hoppy and arrogant. it's true.

Taste isn't too bad. You do have to have a taste for stronger beers. I'll put a 6 pack on ice and enjoy.

This week I'll start an Australian lager, its a Coopers so it should be excellent.

Oh and I'll be bringing some beer to my friends at work to enjoy.

Brew Photos

Almost forgot here are some shots of the brew process. Sorry I don't have the first 5 weeks. These were the last steps before enjoying the IPA! Next weekend it's gonna be good.

Changing the Sparks

I've been busy this weekend showing my mechanical side. Ended up replacing the spark plugs in my 2005 Silverado 1500. Everything went extremely well, no cuts or brusies.

I checked and I have 92,000 miles and almost 2,400 hours. Not bad for almost all highway travel. The plugs were OEM AC Delco and were really clean. I haven't had any issues driving. But I'm getting close to that 100k mile mark and the truck is going to need some work.

The one thing I need to invest in is a universal joint. I had one plug that was almost impossible to reach. Thanks to my think arms I was able to get it out with a little extra elbow grease ;)

Next week if I have time...oil in both the truck and the van. Then it's brakes and rotors for both.

The Brew is On

It's been a few months, OK almost a year since I've produced a batch of home brew. No not Mr. Beer, real honest to goodness home brew.

I dusted off the bottles, fermentation bucket, brew pot and accessories and started a boil for my first IPA. The Mother-In-Law got me the IPA for my b-day and I am just now getting around to setting it up. Ah the smell of wort boiling is great. My wife hates it, stinks up the place. But I know, in a few weeks it'll be ready to bottle.

It's been about 5 weeks since I completed the fermentation and moved the beer to the glass carboy. The beer was extremely clean so I'm really looking forward to this batch. I also got my 6 year old to help me cleanse the bottles and fill a few bottles.

In two weeks I should have about 45 bottles ready to drink and share. I'll keep updating my blog with my brew events, questions and thoughts. Have a recipe you want to share? Or want to ask a question...let me know!

Motor Racing Network