Experiences... | A Ray Linder Blog

To pause one and start another…

Ray Linder — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:59:13 GMT

This Friday, I’ll may have to stop a project due to limited funding. This web project is for a client who ran into a budget freeze (assumed) and haven’t been able to financially support the project until further notice. But that’s ok, most of the project is completed and they’ll have a very nice website with a web-based intranet all built in ASP.NET MVC 2 Preview 2.

So, until funds start flowing, I’ve decided to start a new rebuild of Glacsy.com. Yes, another rebuild. But this time, it’ll be built in pure ASP.NET MVC 2 also. Along with that, it’ll be the first and only website built in ASP.NET MVC 2. I’ll be including various jQuery plugins, exercising DataAnnotations, and dumping as much features and eye candy as possible (but not too much). I’m doing this to truly test the extensibility of ASP.NET MVC 2 and prove that it-can-be-done-in-MVC-two!!!

Glacsy.com will keep the current layout & design, but the under pins will be powered by ASP.NET MVC 2. Glacsy.com will be a webfarm of 6 tightly integrated websites. So, let the excitement begin… ;P

Trying to stay strong…

Ray Linder — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:18:56 GMT

I woke up crying this morning. It’s the pain again, the very same pain I’ve tried running from, hiding away, or simply ignore. I don’t know what he looks like now, just only memories of when he was three, my son. Thoughts of giving up clouds my days, this morning too. I’d like to share ideas with him, teach him the glories of life, starting with fishing. I don’t drink this off or get high to ease the pain, I hold on and try to get through, I am his father, I have to be strong for him. But I can’t ignore it or it’ll drive me mad, go insane, create more pain. No one knows what fathers go through, what they do, how they feel, being without their kids. It’s no different than the mothers, the one everyone compassions for, the laws. I don’t make enough money to help support him and I don’t pay child support yet. I just want the same as a lot of other people, equal custody, and nothing more. I don’t want to keep him just for myself, he needs his mother’s love too. I just want some time with him.

I love my son so much, I want to tell him so he knows I’ve not given up on him. That I’ve not abandon him, that I’m there trying, and trying, everyday. I just hope that those days I get to be with him, the ones I’ve been dreaming about, come sooner…

Life can be a prison too…

Ray Linder — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:24:40 GMT

I’ve decided to start writing series of my stories and moments of my life with my son - the times I get to cherish the most. I’m writing these not to prove any point, not to confess to any situation or moment, but to simply, tell a story, to tell the moments. I’ll start at the earliest point I can remember, in my own perspective. I will be as honest as possible and try not to leave out any details.

To begin the story, my name is Ray Linder. I live in a beautiful place called Cornfields, AZ next to a mountain ridge and in front a seasonal wash/river with a lot of trees. I have a son, Ray Linder Jr. known as “Lil Ray” who is 8 years old who lives in California with his mother. He is the only child I have. The last time I’ve seen him was when he was just a baby at 3 years old in Vallejo, CA. During that time years ago, I had a bit of an anger problem and would easily get upset. I rarely drank and had never got drunk during those times, but the anger came from not being able to handle many issues of life and lack of experience of dealing with people in general. I consider myself to be a good man, and a good and honest person. But sometimes had found myself finding things to get upset. My son’s mother and I got along occasionally, but not as often. We had more arguments than I can remember – some my fault and some hers. I wasn’t confident enough to get a job, which more people considered me too damn lazy to go out and find one. Jobs seemed to be scarce, but expectations was still upon me to find a job. No, I didn’t always just sit around the apartment doing nothing everyday. Guess I wasn’t as skilled, experienced, or educated enough.

It was the night, the last time I would see him, the night I was kicked out of the apartment, California, her life, and my son’s life. It was the Spring of 2004, the last I would see my son. I moved to Tucson, AZ and stayed with friends who were kind enough to help me and rebuild my confidence. It was a new beginning, but also a new end. It wasn’t peaches and cream, it was hard, touch, and stressful work. Through that time, I would stop at the grocery store, buy a phone card, and call my son. No luck. She would answer and argue. There have been times I would be able to hear him on the phone, talk to him, and listen to his baby talk. Moments I’ll always remember and cherish.

I will admit that I didn’t stay in contact with him as I should have. I’ve even tried to put him out of my mind to avoid any drama with his mother, but then I would have dreams about him and wake up wondering where he was – really not a pleasant feeling. I can’t see how any son-less, selfish fathers can forget about their sons. I know, I’ve tried and it’s just more pain. I’m glad and proud that I never took up drinking, drugs, pills, or any other common “pain reliever” and I thank God for that. But I did bury myself in my computer, in my work, but not enough to drive me crazy or leave out people around me that cared about me. I do spare time for them.

I sparsely kept in contact up until a year ago when then I called again hoping that I’d stick out the drama just so I can get any chance to speak to him again. Visits were out of the question and if I could visit, can it would have to be supervised – all purely by only her orders. I never seen the point in that. Well, at first everything was fine. I’d call, I would talk to him and hear him again. He wouldn’t really say anything, either too scared, too shy, or just didn’t really know who was on the phone. I would say a few words, something that would interest him, but nothing. I figured if I just called frequently, he’d open up a little. Didn’t work out as I continued to call once, twice, or 3 times a week, she would answer the phone and gradually started arguing until it all got to the point where there was no point in calling anymore, just more arguments - again.

So now, I’m trying again. I’m way too “unfortunate” for a lawyer, not crazy enough to just take him away myself, but to just hope. Hope that one day I’ll get to see him again.

I’m going to share my experiences every time I call him, talk to him, or hopefully – hang out with him, his grandpa, and his great grandpa fishing one day. Even if I just leave a message on the phone and no one picks up, I may just post that.

I know this will help me understand not only myself, but to understand my son, to remember, and to cherish the moments.

We need to SERIOUSLY start to appreciate “today”…

Ray Linder — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:48:33 GMT

After watching a YouTube clip that swung by me on TwitterFox about a comedian Louis C.K. talking about “Everything is Amazing, nobody’s happy”, it got me thinking about what I do for people and the web everyday. I build a site called Glacsy.com for about 14 hours a day (and paying $145/month for the server, gas to/from photoshoots, spend my time helping ad campaigns, etc), I don’t get paid for any of it, not a penny. But I enjoy doing it, building something people “could” appreciate and enjoy – for FREE. I’ve just learned that people have started taking everything “free” for granted. Like Twitter or YouTube or Facebook for example (and Models.Glacsy.com), these services doesn’t charge you to put your thoughts, photos, or videos online so you can show your friends and family.

Facebook amazes me the most though. Being able to talk to people you knew from high school is like the coolest thing – and people really take that for granted. It’s like your high school reunion online – everyday. I’ve always had a really hard time keeping in touch with my family, now it’s easier. Or Twitter for another example. I can post just about anything I want or let people know how I feel and other people can follow and read about – me. Twitter is like the movie called “A bug’s life” or “Ants”. It makes me “feel” important – in some sense.

I really think Louis is right, just be thankful that the things you see, hear, smell, and touch actually exists. Because you may just catch yourself saying - “Wouldn’t it be cool if ___?”.

Loving LINQ

Ray Linder — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:39:58 GMT

Not too long ago, I spared some time to discover the hype of LINQ, primarily, LINQ to SQL. I was amazed of how much faster I could get things done with much less code. In fact, I’ve converted much of Glacsy.com to using LINQ and have noticed a HUGE performance increase from the server. The websites load faster, an area in which we’ve been targeting and trying to improve since the new rebuild of the sites. I may post a few examples to include LINQ in the future.

Tags: LINQ

Note to Self: Package "Language Package" has failed to load properly - Visual Studio 2008

Ray Linder — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:47:02 GMT

Found solution 1: Reset skipped packages by running devenv /resetskippkgs

Found solution 2: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vssetup/thread/5dba2643-1fce-4004-bef6-11cfdf312d8c/

”Here's a solution found somewhere in the inet.

Visual Studio Menu -> Tools -> Import and Export Settings -> Reset all settings

BR, Oleg”

Tags: Note to Self, Visual Studio 2008

Getting Down to the Wire: Project - MissNavajoNation.org

Ray Linder — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:59:28 GMT

Today is Getting Down to the Wire or GDW day. It’s a day that marks when a project is near it’s end. For MissNavajoNation.org, it’s nowhere near it’s completion as I’ve made a few decisions for better usability. It’s due date is Feb 14, 2009 and may be a little more lengthy than expected for a full completed site. The design/layout is finally completed. So for the next few weeks, I will be hammering out code to finish the project.

Tags: Getting Down to the Wire, GDW

Britain is the new Anti-Christ

Ray Linder — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:00:06 GMT

After reading a rather alarming blog post, I realized that Britain is following the book of Revelations. If you visit http://government.zdnet.com/?p=4252&tag=rbxccnbzd1 and read below “Oh, and by the way, the Independent notes”, you’ll see yourself. Creating biometric identity cards is only the start. I’ve read that a company created a chip the size of a single cell that can hold 2 bytes of data. Now if Britain smartens up and creates a way to build cell-chips to be inserted into the human body and then becomes a new form of a “biometric identity card”, that will “paving the way to the world’s largest identity register”. Not only that, replace the current “paper & coin” currency to an electronic version, all you’ll need to do is scan your hand to buy bread.

Ray’s Quote

Ray Linder — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:41:32 GMT

“The things you least expect, you’ll always find…
The things you most expect, is hard to get…”

Getting back on the ball...

Ray Linder — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 09:52:50 GMT

Being out of commission (PC breakdowns, now fixed) and offline can really set you back - and a lot too. I've finally got most of everything setup and ready to go. Finished up on updates to NavajoNationMuseum.org, getting the Glacsy Models website project back in motion, getting ready for week 2 in training Department of Dine Education in ASP.NET 3.5, and trying to enjoy the holidays with Tionne in spare time.

Well, just an update on my behalf of Glacsy.com 4.0

Ray Linder — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 05:43:57 GMT

Today, I’ve finished up on the major parts of Glacsy Events and will be starting on the new site for Glacsy Models as soon as I get this last bug/issue completed (and what a little stubborn bug it is). I’ve completed the layout for the main site so far and completed the layout for Glacsy Events long ago as most of you may have already seen. Glacsy.com 4.0 will be targeting a much sleeker, cleaner, and simpler design both for the customers (you) and the developers (me). It will be a better experience (for you) and easier to maintain (for me).

Unlike last year’s official launch (what a disaster it was), this year’s launch will be a little earlier around late Oct/early Nov timeframe. Also, as a little tip, we’ve decided rather than waiting to launch everything all in a single day, we’d release separate section of the site as we near the final RTW (Release To Web). So this will be a lot of fun (at least for us it will be) and everyone can enjoy a better (and sooner) experience at Glacsy.com.

As a last note, can you please flood my email with feedback and requests (I’m not asking, I’m begging)? I already get enough, but I feel that it needs MORE!!! Simply send them to devteam@glacsy.com and I will be much happier. Thank you and have some fun at Glacsy.com!!!…

Tags: Glacsy.com 4.0, Glacsy, DevTeam

Well, I’m back…

Ray Linder — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:07:44 GMT

Well, I’ve been out from blogging for a while and thought I should start blogging again. A lot has happened since my last blog:

1. I got a new PC/Server
It has two(2) Dual-Core Intel Xeon CPUs, 8GB of ECC RAM, and five(5) Seagate 73GB SCSI 10,000RPM HDDs. I’m converting it into a workstation/gamer to run Windows XP x64 (Corporate Edition), Windows Server 2003 R2 x64, Tiny XP (stripped down version of Windows XP Professional for gaming), and Topologi-Linux (run Linux inside Windows). You can view more details of my computer specs.

2. Got a better car
It’s a 2003 Chevrolet Impala LS with a stock 3800 series V6 engine. She’s my little beauty…

3. A new Dell Inspiron 1521 laptop.
I bought it from Wal-mart (ALL SHAME ON ME, I KNOW). I just didn’t want to wait for shipping (takes FOREVER to ship to my house). If I would have bought a laptop directly from Dell, I would have got a much better laptop at a much lower price. I guess that’s what I get for “convenience”. I’ll be using it as a “communication hub” for all emails, IM/chatting, blogging (even for this post), research/browsing, RDPs, and a mobile way for developing .NET projects for Glacsy and clients. I’ll be including it in my Computer Specs soon also…

4. Started completely rebuilding Glacsy.com
I hate Glacsy.com right now with the UI, maintenance, and logistic issues. I even hate how I wrote the code… So, this time with “Glacsy.com 4.0”, I’m involving a lot more planning in layout/UI, infrastructure for both navigation, file structures, and databases/schemas. Even the code itself is cleaned up a TON and far better structured. for the customer, the new site will be a lot more pleasant, organized, and simplified. The only major change is the Glacsy Community will be the new Glacsy Events.

5. Got mad at a few business owners
Another day at the office. Sometimes you can be nice to them and sometimes you have to yell at them…

Computer Specs

Ray Linder — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:48:46 GMT

Many of my friends, co-workers, family, and others have their computer specs posted in their blogs. So, I decided to add my own and a few other current features. (Note: Computer Specs will be updated without notice.)

The Workstation/Gaming PC:
Updated: 12/20/08 @ 3:42 AM MST - Previous Update: 7/2/08 @ 3:47 PM MST

System Hardware Specs:
System CPU & Current Stats:
2x Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processors
CPU1: Dual-Core Intel Xeon @ 3.0GHz
CPU2: Dual-Core Intel Xeon @ 3.0GHz

System Memory:
8GB ECC DDR2 RAM = 8x 1024MB ECC DDR2 RAM

System Motherboard:
SuperMicro X6DH8-XG2
Intel Chipset
Motherboard (Note to self: Nice!!!)

System Harddisk Drives:
5x Seagate Cheetah 73GB 10,000RPM SCSI Hot-Swap HDDs
- 73GB [C:] System (Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition)
- 73GB [D:] Programs Files
- 73GB [E:] Projects (Local)
- 73GB [G:] Gaming Files
- 73GB [H:] Projects (Network)

1x Seagate Barracuda 320GB 7,200RPM HDD
- 200GB [F:] Storage

System Video Card:
1x VisionTek ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 w/ 2GB GDDR5 RAM (the sweetest damn thing on the planet right now)
2x 1900x1600 Resolution @ 60 MHz

System Sound Card:
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 24-bit (Enabled)

System DVD & CD-RW Drives:
16x Lite-On DVD-RW Drive
16x Lite-On DVD Drive

System Monitor:
2x Dell 24” 2407WFP-HC LCD Monitors (in Dual-Screen Mode)

Other Specs:
3x Redundant 500Watts Power Supplies (1,500 Watts Total)
1x 480W Power Supply (just to power the video card)
2x APC Backup Power/Surge Protection Unit
6x Case High-Powered Silent Fans
Logitech 2.1 Speakers

This is my beautiful monster – What do you have?

System Pics:
(Update (3/17/2009): Messy desk and now cleaned computer, may update pics soon)

Primary Dell 24”	Secondary Dell 24”
15” Dell Inspiron 1521 (need to get a better one)	MERC Stealth Back-lit Keyboard and there is a Logitech M-BZ105A Laser mouse next to it
“My Beautiful Monster”	2x Rear High-Velocity Server fans & 3 Redundant Power Supplies
Side view of “My Beautiful Monster”	Inside “My Beautiful Monster” You can see the two Duel-Core Intel Xeons, the ATI 4870 X2 vid card, and more fans here
A night-vision of the VisionTek ATI 4870 X2	And the actual ATI 4870 X2 also with two soundcards (and there’s a big reason for those both installed)
View of the plastic air-flow shield (or whatever you call it to cool off a server CPU and memory)	And here ALL eight(8) 1GB ECC DDR2 RAM sticks with the two Intel Xeons
I love the fans, there’s total of six(6) High-Velocity fans in the case (4 internal & 2 external(rear) fans)	This is one of the five(5) Hot-Swap (means you can pull this out WHILE the system is running) Hard-drives. There are six drives - five SCSI 10k RPM 73GB HDDs and one SATA 320GB 7.2k RPM HDD. All drives are by Seagate.
And the front view of the system…

System Software Specs:
Currently Installed Operating Systems:
1. Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition

Currently Installed Major Software:
Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise Edition + OneNote 2007
Visual Studio 2008 Team Edition for Software Developers
.NET Framework 2.0, 3.0, & 3.5
Microsoft SQL 2008 Server Enterprise Edition
Adobe Creative Suite 4 (CS4) – Master Collection Edition
And a LOT more...

Current Installed Games: (Yes, I'm a gamer too…)
Computer Games: (Sorted by Most Favorite)
Left 4 Dead
Half-Life: Natural Selection
Need for Speed: Undercover
Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath
Microsoft's Flight Simulator X
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
World In Conflict
Company of Heros
Half-Life 2 & “The Orange Box”

The “Communications Hub & Portable Work Machine”/Laptop PC:
Updated: 7/2/08 @ 3:47 PM MDT

Dell Inspiron 1521 – More specs coming soon…

Note to Self: When Adobe Acrobat 8.0+ Fails to Open...

Ray Linder — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:44:13 GMT

Thanks to Jackie Johnson, I was able to fix my issue with Adobe Acrobat closing. I had checked the FLEXnet Licensing Service and tried to start it. It kept giving an "Error 2: The system cannot find the file specified." error. Google gave me Jackie Johnson and problem fixed.

I had made some changes to my registry and disabled few software using a third-party registry editor/manager and had forgot about what I did. So, a not to self is - don't disable software in the registry... Below is a copy of the post:

Jackie Johnson - 6:53am Apr 14, 08 PST (#266 of 268)
Edited: 14-Apr-2008 at 06:53am

SOLVED!

the problem was the FLEXnet service that wasn't up and running. why?

ran services.msc, looked for flexnet and noticed that the process path had a minus (-) in front of it, e.g.:

-"C:\Programs..."

(strange is it?)

all i did was running regedit and looking for the string: -"C:\
found one, removed the minus, closed regedit.

ran again services.msc and started the flexnet service.
NO MORE 10SEC CRASHES!

tell if it worked for you too!

Tags: Note to Self

Note to Self: Time flies by? It's true...

Ray Linder — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:34:56 GMT

It's Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008 @ 1:29AM and I'm 28 years old. I've just finished watching a friend's bootlegged movie called "Awake". After the movie, I realized that yesterday was just Monday and Tuesday came and gone like a blink-of-an-eye.

Reminder: Start enjoying your life - Everyday...

Tags: Note to Self