I’m one of the lucky ones whose wife make him lunch .  Sometimes it’s ham, other times it’s leftovers. This time she was making egg salad. She needed to prepare some eggs so she set a bunch within a pot to boil. When she returned to check on them, … well the pictures should explain it:

The first camera shot of the egg.

A closer shot of the Inside out egg.

I wrote a post about 2 years ago as to why I became a scrooge / grinch. Not much has changed. Although I’m less offended when people spread Christmas Cheer. I mentioned before that I would hold my tongue, well now I shrug it aside like they just insulted my lawn… It’s my lawn, I couldn’t care less. In fact, I feel a little pity for them:

• having to stand in lines buying gifts that are
• often likely to get the response of  “Oh…. thanks…. it’s .. great.”
• stressing out when they are not sure what to get someone, but the they have to get the other(s) something
• because they know the other(s) got them something and feel they have to return the favour.
• as a few have to endure the last minute shopping because they waited until today (Christmas Eve) to shop.
• as a few of them are getting the latest in popular items that have caused wide spread chaos as parents fight to the death to get a $20 gift that the kid will have forget about in 2 months.

I do not miss that at all.

The only thing I’m a little peeved about still is how Christmas is viewed by Christians and non-Christians. Christians are upset that Jesus is being removed from anything related to Christmas and the non-Christians are upset that Jesus is still in Christmas. Granted there is a group that doesn’t care either way, but this is not about them. I get annoyed when I see Christians putting up a fight or protesting to have Jesus returned to Christmas. If someone wants to celebrate with Santa Claus, let them. It’s not our place to impose Jesus on anyone. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. As ambassadors, we are to abide by the rules of the foreign country we live in and at the same time, live as an example (and a good one at that) of who we really are. Throwing a hissy fit  because Santa is more popular than Jesus just shows you’re not being a good enough example of Jesus in the first place…. and the hissy fit adds to that.

Either I’m numbed by what goes on now, or things are not as bad as they used to be. Not with the whole X-mas fiasco. If things are not as bad now, then that’s a good thing. It’s just something I’ve seen before and I haven’t vented about for a while, even if that whole thing is now stale.

Anyway… if the traditional gift giving is for anyone, it’s children. I’m still on the fence as to how I want my children to experience Christmas. However, anyone who tries to make that decision for me can stuff it.

funk = function() { alert('original'); }

caller = funk;

funk = function() { alert('new'); }

// this will alert 'original'... Not 'new';
caller();

But what if I want to be able to override functions and have those such as “caller” mentioned above, to point to the new function. Such an example would be where the function could be overridden based on what modules are loaded and what are not. But the original function will always be referenced. There is a solution though. It takes a little bit more plus my code below. But it is possible now.

By using funcStorage.js, you can use this code for appending functions, or referencing functions by name instead of their location in memory. Essentially you can run the caller() function and have it execute whatever happens to be associated with that at the time, not what it was when it was originally assigned.

Lets attempt something that’s not just pseudo code. Our issue is we want to reload a custom made file directory. The easiest way is to do a window.location.reload(); call. Lets set that as our reloadFileList() = function() { window.location.reload(); }. But we want to use a fancy AJAX solution. In this case we want to just override the function as the AJAX solution is much better. We can’t just go reloadFileList = ajaxReload; because any function that already references reloadFileList will point to the original window.reload one.

Now let me be clear here:

// I do not mean this.
element.onclick = function() { reloadFileList(); }

// I DO mean this!
element.onclick = reloadFileList;

So the only way before was to go back to all the previous references used for reloadFileList and reassign it the new function. But now with the code I posted, you can do the following.

// You can specify what function the onclick uses
// before it's even created.
element.onclick = funcStorage.call('reloadFileList');

funcStorage.create('reloadFileList', function() { window.location.reload(); });

// Later on, or in another file...
funcStorage.create('reloadFileList', function() {
   fileList = getFileList_viaAJAX('url/here');
   for( k in fileList) {
      // perform actions
   }
});

So without redefining the element.onclick, it now uses the new Ajax style instead of the window.reload.

For me, the primary reason is for letting the site function even if the file didn’t download properly, I had a bug in one of my js files, or the user aborted while it was getting another file. I would like the site to still work, even if not completely as intended… essentially graceful degradation or a fault-tolerant system.

There’s more than just this, the class also allows for extending functions instead of just overriding them. If you use the extend method instead of the create, whatever is already defined as the function you want, it will get appended with the section argument.

// You don't need to initialize anything.
// Any call, create, or extend will create the necessary
// elements before they are used.
funcStorage.extend('reloadFileList', function() { // ajax style reload });

// now lets put tooltips with thumbnails on the various files...
funcStorage.extend('reloadFileList', function() {
   // the down side is you have to treat each extension as if
   // it's its own environment and doesn't have access to the variables
   // from the previous extensions.
   $(elements).each( function() {
      // assign a tooltip with picture inside.
   });
});

This will then run both functions sequentially. After doing the Ajax call, it will do the tooltip generation.

Hopefully someone else finds this useful.

Again, it’s: funcStorage.js

It’s funny in a non funny kind of way. I once thought of posting an entry of how my dreams are starting to fade away. Things that might have been attainable several years ago, are no longer because of time or responsibilities. While at the time, I was saddened to see them leave, they fade in comparison to my apprehension to my being a parent now (soon). The complications our child is going through and what my wife has to endure, all I’m concerned about now, is her well-being. It’s tough feeling so helpless when you’d give anything to help out.

We had plenty to be worried about. Major surgery on a newborn’s neck. It affected the jugular vein. It could have been stressful for us, but we felt at peace. Knowing the chain of events from when Pam was found to be pregnant, to the surgery, it gave us peace and confidence that this wouldn’t be the end.

Events of late wouldn’t worry us now.

Just test and build our patience.

From a pure combat point of view, this doesn’t make sense… Yes i know, sex sells. But if giving women fully clothed armor keeps the kiddies away, I’m all for it. But that’s not the focus of why I posted.

Exceptions? When a game takes place in an age where there is little armor coverage such as Conan. I have no idea about the game, but at least Arnold sported only a rag about his twig and berries. It would be believable then that a women in armor would be dressed similarly.

But mainly, if as a male, I am dressed in heavy armor and you can’t even see my face let alone any skin, then why would a female have heavy Boots, a heavy armor thong and bikini, and gloves? … more importantly, offer the same protection rating as the full on heavy armor guy?

Again, the sex sells thing?… it’s not a good enough excuse. Not as long as the rational part of my brain exists. And since I gave WoW up a long time ago, I still have a rational brain cell somewhere.

History: I set it up, primarily, because I was getting too much spam and the one good anti-spam provider was inconsistently online. I then spent a good 1 month recreating the type of service I got there, but with much more reliability. I called it “Hermes” after the Greek god. “Messenger of the gods” seemed quite appropriate for this email system. Anyway, there were issues here and there, nothing I couldn’t fix. It has served me well and while I did still get a lot of spam, all of it went to the junk folder and not once did i get a piece of spam in my inbox. It was very effective at what it did.

And then it came time to move Hermes.

Side story: For those who noticed, I haven’t posted in almost a year. That was partially because I tried moving my website over to another server for a while now. I just couldn’t get the mail thing sorted out and until I switched over and retired Hermes, I was hesitant (or maybe it was procrastination) to post anything.

The setup was pretty specific and it started to become more than what it was worth to move it. I don’t have the time to maintain it anymore like I used to. I have about a gazillion ideas I want to get finished, many personal projects, spent time with friends and family… and well Hermes got the raw end of the deal. I figired it was time to hang up the gloves and convert to something with a little less maintenance.

It is time for a moment of silence on my part as I remember the times with Hermes. (Yes I’m aware it sounds like herpes.)

I don’t celebrate it traditionally anymore. What’s more, is anyone approaching me with that annoying Christmas Cheer gets me fired up. I hold my tongue though and don’t impose my views on others, but I won’t hesitate to explain when they ask why. I find it hilarious though when I tell someone I don’t shop and get anyone gifts. It’s like I told them I kill kittens.

I’m not into the whole consumer mentality thing. Except for the marketers, who really told us we have to get someone something at such a specific date. If we are really celebrating Jesus’ birth, why do I get gifts? Shouldn’t He be getting gifts? Not that December 25th is His real birthday anyway.

Santa and Frosty are too creepy. Some magical snowman, uh, … doing what he does. I’ve seen Jack Frost. While a horrible C rated horror, he’s a cold blooded killer (pun intended). And Santa? Some fat man changing his names and spying on little kids all the time… Granted naughty had a different meaning back in the day. Plus, we all know where toys come from now. It’s marked on the toy somewhere, “Made In China.” Santa’s wooden toys just are not as appealing anymore, unless you’re out of firewood.

What’s worse than any of that, though, are the gift cards. It’s worse than money. It’s money you can only spend in a specific store. It’s like a Discover card. Gift Cards, and money for that matter, only prove that you don’t know the recipient enough to get them a thoughtful gift.

The only thing I enjoy about Christmas is the time off work and the feasts with family. All the rest of it,… Read the title.

Much has changed since those times and I have picked up a much more positive attitude. It’s been so long that I’ve been like this now that only during times of true, painful stress will my negative side come out. But I’ve begun to notice that the phrase “I can’t” is once again entering my vocabulary. It seems in a different way this time.

As a Christian, I notice my failings a lot and it’s always when I try and truck it alone. But it’s not always my personal walk that I notice this. Since January of 2007, I have worked on a game called iKonquest. It’s gone through many stages but it has not caught on to the public. Reason being was for, in my view, my greatest failing. I don’t sell. I can’t sell. I won’t sell. This also includes marketing.

As the project itself has begun to grow, my eyes were opened to see that I could no longer do this as a one man show. Even if I were to finish the code. Nobody would play it, primarily because they won’t know it exists. Now that I have a few volunteers on board, things will get exciting. This will definitely be a great learning experience. One that I’m now ready to take on.

While “I can’t do this” is somewhat accurate, a more appropriate phrase would be: “I can’t do this alone.”

I’m not thinking at a 100% either as I’ve been downing NeoCitran and Halls Centers as much as possible. It appears that while I may be very resistant to everything else: the flu, fevers, etc; My Achilles’ heel is soar throats and colds. If you’re within 100 km of me with a cold, guaranteed, I’ll catch it if I haven’t had it already.

As for the title of this post, that’s what I sound like half the time.