End of the year!

So the end of the year went out with a bang! December has been one hell of a ride for me. Let me first start off with my birthday; December 4th.

Eric and I went to Fantasy Ranch on Tuesday, I know Tuesday is the 5th, but Eric and I had to work on the 4th. We get in, the lady at the front is like, "ID's and $5.00", I get my wallet it out and hand it to her. She goes, "Oh, Happy Birthday! I'm going to put you on the VIP list and let the girls know." So we walk to our own personal booth. Girls come and are all surrounding me and Eric. This one girl, Diana, stayed with me the whole time. We stayed till 2 AM when they closed. At the end of the day we had spent about $150 on alcohol alone. It just seems whenever me and my brother Eric go out, it's always better than if we take the whole crew with us.

As I posted earlier I was in the hospital on December 27th, yeah that sucked.

On December 29th Saddam Hussein was hung for crimes against humanity. I was actually at Joe's Crab Shack when I noticed it on CNN. It was "Hussein to be executed @ 10 PM EST." It was 8:57 PM CST, So I started doing the countdown. About 3 seconds after 9 PM hit, the lights started moving and changing colors and then the YMCA song came on really loud. All the servers, waiters and hostesses started doing the YMCA. I'm just thinking, that would fucking suck die knowing that all over the United States the people @ Joe's Crab Shack are doing the YMCA.

So now today is the 30th. My parents just bought a house, they got the keys today. So I've been conned into helping them move some how. So no sleeping late for me today. I have to get up about 8 AM to help unload this big ass 26 foot U-Haul they rented.

Oh, almost forgot, Alyssa, Eric, Jon, few other people and Me are going to this bad ass strip club in Dallas called The Clubhouse, it's owned by a band member of Pantera. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

+AllenG

Doctors Visit

So, I get woken up out of the dead of sleep to my woman complaining about it's hot in our room. So I'm like turn on the small fan, since the ceiling fan was already on. Not even thirty minutes later, I get woken up again. Same thing, so I open the window. Granted I'm sleeping next to the window. About 6 hours later, I wake up to being completely congested and unable to breathe out of my nose. I get up and move around, take a shower, get ready for work. At this point I'm feeling pretty good, not as congested. I get to work at 5:00 PM, everything was peachy. About 10:30 PM I start feeling very weird, I tell Eric that I want to leave because this just didn't feel right, he drove home. On the way I remember hearing weird things and seeing some odd lights. Eric said I kept saying a lot of really random things. We arrive at my house, he helps me to my room. I get into bed, shortly after I'm awakened by my Dad and Eric picking me up out of bed. They put me into the car and take me to the hospital. I do not remember the drive to the hospital at all.

I get helped out of the car at the ER. I go in and they sit me down. Then out of no where, I see what looked like Richard Petty walking from the examining rooms. Next thing I know the lady is calling me back to do the initial check up. My Dad helps me to the small examination room. They sit me down and attach this clip on my left index finger for my heart rate. Do the arm band for my blood pressure and then take my temperature. The little machine is going nuts, I'm thinking, I'm dying or something. She's like, your heart rate is 150 to 160, your blood pressure is above normal and your temperature is 103°F. So, that didn't help at all. They put me in some other little cubby hole.

The lights in the hospital are blinding, I had my dad turn the lights off in my room. So the Doctor comes in and he's all asking me weird ass questions like, "Have you done any drugs like, cocaine or speed in the past month?" He asked me about 5 times and I told him the same thing, "I don't do that shit.". So I had to do a urine test, x-ray of my lungs, EKG, flu swab and blood work. The flu swab sucks, they stick this huge q-tip up each of your nostrils. The thing that I hated the most was the damn IV they put in me to blood work and run fluids in me. This guy was like, "Alright which arm?", I say, "The left one." He pokes me in the left arm right in the inner-joint. "Oh, sorry I missed. Let me try again here." So he does another one in the forearm, "Oh, I'm so so sorry, I'm trying to get it." He sticks the whole damn needle in my arm, and then pulls it out all the way in less than a second. I was like, "What are you an RN or what?" He tells me he's a Paramedic. I'm sitting here thinking to myself, "I sure hope this guy doesn't have to save me one day, I'll die while he's trying to find a vein." He goes and gets an RN to do it, she does it in one try. After all that happend, I had to lay in a hospital room for 3 hours while they pumped 2 IV bags and one anti-biotics bag into my system. It totally sucked. The doctor said I didn't have the flu or any other diseases and that my white blood cell count was at it's peek. He said I may have an upper-respiratory infection.

They gave me 3 prescriptions and I'm feeling 100% better than I was.

+AllenG

Last.fm Review

Last.fm is a social service that records what you listen to, and then presents you with an array of interesting things based upon your tastes — artists you might like, users with similar taste, personalized radio streams, charts, and much more.

When you create your account on Last.fm it will ask you to download the Last.fm software. If you have a player like Shock 3, you can skip this step since it has a built in plug-in. If you're using a player such as Winamp you must download this in order to obtain the correct plug-in.

The Last.fm software has a very easy step-by-step setup wizard that allows you to enter your Last.fm Username and Password. It will then search for supported media players already installed on your system. After that you can select which players you wish to use Scrobbler on.

How does it work?

When you play a song either 50% or 120 seconds without seeking, the song is entered into a submission queue. At the submission interval, usually 1 minute, the queue is then posted on your Last.fm profile.

Why should I use Last.fm?

Like I mentioned above, you get a lot of neat personal stats like, Weekly Top Artists, Overall Top Artists, Overall Top Tracks, similar artists you may like, people with similar taste even personalized radio streams. It also has community charts for Top artists and Top Tracks.

The service also provides an array of data feeds (RSS, XML, etc) for you to use on your personal blogs/websites (look on the bottom right of my page for an example).

You can also create customized graphical charts for your website.

If you have an iPod you can use a program named iSproggler (Win32) or iScrobbler (Mac) to scrobble tracks you play on your iPod.

The Last.fm social service is just amazing for music lovers. It has almost an endless amount functions that you can use to your advantage. I've been using Last.fm for 2 years now. Back then it was AudioScrobbler.com. Ever since the change to Last.fm the website has blown up to be bigger than any of the developers could have imagined. If I'm not mistaken I believe the website was originally a school project. Pays off to do your homework I suppose.

View pioneer's Last.fm profile.

+AllenG

InterfaceLIFT Wallpapers

I found this high-resolution widescreen wallpaper site about 30 minutes ago. It has over 1,000 wallpapers in various resolutions ranging from 2560x1600 to 1024x768. I went through about 400 of these wallpapers so far and every page I see two or three wallpapers that I absolutely love.

My favorite wallpaper so far is the macro view of the twenty dollar bill with Andrew Jackson. I've posted a few that I liked below, click the thumbnail to visit the actual website and download the resolution you want.






+AllenG

Jessica Alba

I've had these wallpapers for awhile now. I seem to always go back to them if I change it to something else. I hope you guys will enjoy them as much as me.

 

I'll post some different girls from time to time,

+AllenG

Needed some change

I've transfered the http://p-soft.org website over to my blog. This way people can leave comments and be better informed what's going on at different times. Doing it this way is alot more organized, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here (Atom). I'm not done with transferring all the items over, but it should be done in a few days.

If you're lost, click Products on the top right hand corner. If you need help click Support.

Let me know what you think about the change by leaving a comment.

+AllenG

Support Desk

Need Help?

Contact support by emailing support@getshock.net. Please wait 24 to 72 hours for a reply, we're very busy.

Only download my software from the following domains for your own saftey:

• http://p-soft.blogspot.com
• http://getshock.net

Downloads

These are links to files that applications on this website may require to work properly.

• Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0

  You will need this file for all applications with after their title.

• Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Runtimes SP6
  This file is needed for all applications created with Visual Basic 6.0.
  
• America Online 8.0 Plus

  This application is needed to use with Shock 3.
  Although it works with America Oline 4.0 thru 9.0; 8.0 Plus is the recommended version for Shock 3.

• Winamp
  

  This application is needed in order to use Winamp Remote.

Shock 3

Media player with Internet Stream capabilities such as SHOUTCast, it also includes a plug-in for AOL 4-9, Last.fm and much more!

• Download Shock 3
• Size 756.79 KB - Version: 3.0.17
• Download Skin Pack 1.0
• Change Log

System Requirements:

• Windows 98 or newer
• 233 Mhz or higher Processor
• 64 MB or more RAM

Software Requirements:

• Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0

+AllenG

Shock.p3

Warning: This version of Shock.p3 is outdated please use the new version Shock 3.

Shock.p3 is a Chat Command program and a media player for America Online versions 4.0 through 9.0.

• 
• Download Shock.p3
• Size 400 KB - Version: 1.2.310

System Requirements:

• Windows NT; Windows 2000; Windows ME; Windows XP; or newer
• 233 Mhz or higher Processor
• 64 MB or more RAM

Software Requirements:

• Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Runtimes SP6

+AllenG

eCapture

eCapture is a screen capture tool for Windows that allows you to save a screen shot in various file formats including jpeg, png, gif and bmp.

• 
• Download eCapture
• Size 105 KB - Version: 1.0.0

System Requirements:

• Windows 98 or newer
• 233 Mhz or higher Processor
• 64 MB or more RAM

Software Requirements:

• Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0

+AllenG

Audio File Renamer

Audio File Renamer simplifies the tedious operation of removing all those ignorant tags and underscores. You can also change the Case type of the file names, including, Proper case, Upper case and Lower case.

• 
• Download Audio File Renamer
• Size 79 KB - Version: 1.0.0

System Requirements:

• Windows 98 or newer
• 233 Mhz or higher Processor
• 64 MB or more RAM

Software Requirements:

• Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0

+AllenG

Winamp Remote (Obsolete?)

Winamp Remote allows you to program hot keys to control Nullsoft's Winamp software. Great for use when using a program or game that is in full screen mode. This only works with Winamp 2.x and Winamp 5.x.

• 
• Download Winamp Remote
• Size 302 KB - Version: 1.0.4

System Requirements:

• Windows NT; Windows 2000; Windows ME; Windows XP; or newer
• 233 Mhz or higher Processor
• 64 MB or more RAM

Software Requirements:

• Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Runtimes SP6

+AllenG

Working Sorta

Been @ work since 9:30 PM. It's been cake. I didn't have to come in, but since SPM Flow Control, Inc. has unlimited overtime; why not? We've tested about 50-60 pieces so far, we've already smashed 1st shift's measily 23 pieces in 8 hours and we still have 3 hours to go. I don't get why the 1st and 3rd shift don't get more done. On 1st shift they have 3 people who test and on 3rd they have 2. The 3rd shift is 12 hours, 1st is 8 hours. We have 2 people @ 12 hours and we can completely whoop their ass in production with both of their shifts combined.

I've been up since 9:00 AM. I had to take my brother Eric to his interview he did pretty damn well. Not even 6 hours after he had his interview they were calling him to come take his Drug test. My boss Morgan let put him on the same shift as me so that is a huge plus. I worked with Eric before at my other job, lots of good times there.



+AllenG

Happy Arctic Thursday!

So I wake up to this rain/sleet/snow and high winds. Bridges are Iced over, there are all sorts of wrecks on the News. They were quite entertaining to watch. I had to unfortunately drive to work @ 5 PM and come @ 5 AM in that weather.

Anyhow, Me, Jay and my brother Eric were messing around outside with my camera, here is what I took:




Update: You gotta love Texas weather, the next day it was 80 degrees.

Testing is Cake

As I posted earlier in the week, I started my new job at SPM Flow Control, Inc.. They've made me a tester. Basically what I do is test the parts that the Valve Assembly has produced, so that they can be sold and shipped out to the oil and gas field. It's a very easy job. All we do is grab a cart, bring them around to the testing booth.

The testing booth is a 12x12 steel reinforced box with 2 doors. One door has a conveyor belt going through it, the other is door is the entrance. So we push the cart in through the door, wench the part up and place it on a steel stand. Hook up the bull plugs to each end of the part. Bull plugs are a circular piece of steel with a special hose connection on the end. This provides the water and air pressure for the testing.

We get everything in place and shut the door with this control box. Sit down at the computer and pumping controls. You type in the job information and serial numbers for the parts you're currently testing. Start the pumping and hit the Begin Test button on the program. The software is pretty old, but isn't buggy at all, so that's a good thing. You run up the pressure at the specified working pressure, let it sit for 1 minute. Some are 15 minutes if they're DNV. DNV is a status given to parts that go over sea's to the Middle East, Russia and the Orient. You can also view the parts while being tested with 2 video camera's setup inside the booth and if the part passes the computer will tell you.

Anyhow, the job is cake, I love it there. I'm going to try to get my brother Eric a job there soon. So we can get back to collecting that cabbage.

That's all for now,
-Allen

A few things

I've been graciously working on the update for Shock 3. The update will include:

• Custom Fade (Custom Media/Chatsends) using [f1]text[/f1], etc.
• Details load 5x faster while refreshing/adding sources
• Scrobbler has been updated
• Find now looks at paths and file names (p *, r* as well)
• Delete now goes to Recycle Bin
• Sharing of Themes
• Advanced AOL options (chatscan, etc.)

This list will grow in time. I plan on adding subclassed chatscan support, AIM 6.0 Now Playing Plug-In, Mail Controls, and more. If you have an idea, feel free to comment or email me at allen[at]p-soft[dot]org.

I also got a new job very recently. I start my training Monday (11/20/06). The companies name is SPM Flow Control, Inc. They manufacture pumps, pipes, values and many other things for the Oil & Gas Industry. One of my grandfather owns an Oil & Gas company and I have helped many times in the field. So I do have experiance with these parts first hand. Another one of my grand fathers has worked there for a good number of years already. He has had a great experience working with them. I just hope I have the same type of experiences he's had so far.

The benefits are very good. Though I have to wait 90 Days to obtain them, they are well worth the wait. I only have to work Monday through Thursday, 3:30 PM to 2:00 AM. So I will have the full weekend to do what I want, which is a great upside. They do however have a 3rd shift which is 12 hours a day. Your schedule would be Friday through Sunday, 3:00 AM to 3:00 PM. You would still obtain 40 hours even though you work 36.

I have also been fighting my former employer over many things including wrongful termination. Major corporations are full morons making half ass decisions. They would rather terminate you than get to the bottom of the bigger problem. Oh well, I will more than likely win. Right now, I'm waiting the outcome of an investigation lead by the Texas Work Force Commission. I will keep you guys informed as things develop.

That's it for now,
-Allen

AIM 6.0 Released!

You're probably saying, who cares? Right?

Well I'm really not the type of person who goes beyond AIM 5.5.3595 but ever since AIM 6.0 has been released, I've been using it. It runs smoothly, it isn't buggy like Triton was. It's got several new features that AIM has always been missing for instance:

• Offline Messages
• Plug-In SDK
• 1,000 Buddy Limit
• Grouped IM's
• IM Catcher
• IM Logging
• Address Book (Plaxo)

It also has features AIM has always had, like sharing pictures (drag-drop), video, voice, files and folders. AIM 6.0 has a lot of neat features that can become unnoticed. Like AIM can tell if one of your buddies has updated their profile. It will put a small orange-glowing "i" to the right of their name on the buddy list if it has been updated. Once you check it, it goes away. You can also tell what time/date your buddy has last updated their profile.

The Offline messages are what really made me switch. It's nice to send a message to someone that may get on while you're at work or sleeping. You cannot send these messages to Mobile phones. But you can send them to any person using any AIM version, so it's not limited to just AIM 6.0 users, which is a very high plus.

The only down side that I personally choose is that it's skinned. There is no option to remove the skinning. I do not like skinned programs, unless it's a media player. Though it does not effect performance noticeably, I suppose there is nothing wrong with it.

So in conclusion I recommend using AIM 6.0. If you're still skeptical you can always install it without disrupting your older AIM installation to try it out.

I encourage that you download AIM Ad Hack by Cuban-Aftermath Software. It will download and install AIM 6.0 for you, while removing many annoying features AIM installs. For instance: Buddy List Ad, AOL ToolBar, AOL Browser, ViewPoint, Plaxo and much more. The installer allows you to check and uncheck what you want to do so you have full control over the process. You will not notice that AIM Ad Hack is installed. The only place where it has "AIM Ad Hack" is in the Help -> About menu.

Download AIM 6.0:
AIM Ad Hack (recommended)
AIM Official Website

Thanks for reading,

-Allen

Free AOL?

Free AOL but why?

Well AOL is losing money big time so they believe it would be better to just give it away. Of course, people who still use dialup (hah) will have to pay to keep their internet connection via AOL.

However people who have broadband can use the full AOL service for free. The goal here is to let the advertisments pay for themselves like Yahoo or Google.

Now you can use AOL with Shock 3 for free!

Resources:
Create a Free AOL Account
Get Shock 3

later,
-Allen

Update:
You will have to verify your account with a credit card to enter chat rooms. This does not require any payment, it's purely to verify who you are.

Bad news

What's wrong?

My Great grand father was buried today. The other family is going nuts because he didn't leave a will, so. I wish they'd all be like my immediate family. The man just passed away, you doing that doesn't really reflect on your person too well.

He was a great man, he lived 'till the ripe age of 82. He will be missed by many.

May you rest in a better place, Jake Commander.

Working with the Color structure.

I've submitted a snippet dealing with the System.Drawing.Color structure. Basically it converts a Color structure to a Hex value (#000000) and vice versa. The link to the snippet is given below. If this snippet has helped you please comment.

Link: Convert the Color structure to HTML and vice versa

Later,
Allen

WWW doesn't mean World Wide Web...

WWW is now Work Work Work

Working sucks, but that's life. I really need a vacation soon. I'd like to just sit back and work on Shock 3.

Speaking of Shock, I've got a few updates:

• Styles and Customs are now import/exportable
• Custom Editor is near compleation
• FMODEx wrapper is 60% completed

Shock 3 is seriously near initial completion. The Shock Updater will be enabled pretty soon for people who already have a pre-existing beta version. I'm just kind of nervous because I know how high people think of Shock already. I want to continue that quaility and catch people off guard with the unexpected. I think I will accomplish that with this program. I'm gonna get a few hours of sleep that I can before I goto work @ 4 PM.

Simple XML.Serialization

I use XML.Serialization in Shock 3 for settings. I do this for many reasons, including: Ability to backup settings, load existing settings, use custom types in my settings, and much more.

I've posted a snippet named Simple XML Serialized Settings at byteMyCode.com for everyone to see how easy it is to create your own XML based settings.

If you have any questions feel free to comment,
-Allen

I've started a blog...

What's this blog thing about anyway?

This blog will be on subjects from my life, win/web programming, music, movies, or whatever is on our mind.

I'll also be posting some code samples in various languages including .NET 2.0, PHP, XHTML, CSS and more.

Please visit http://p-soft.org for a list of our free software.

If you would like to contact me please do so at allen[at]p-soft[dot]org.