ADMIN, people, ADMIN!!!

When you’re building a web application, no matter the size, you should always include an admin section where you can search for users, companies, or whatever entities the application supports. And you should be able to click on your search results and bounce around to the various related objects.

For instance, if you have Companies and each company has many Users, you should be able to search for companies and/or users…when you view a company, its users should be listed, and when you’re viewing a User, you should be able to see its company name and click on the company name in order to see the company’s details. Simple linking back-and-forth between entities!
I’m shocked, saddened and disappointed at how many web apps don’t have these simple features. The developers always end up running SQL queries to find/fix problems instead of using their own app. Make your life easier…build a robust admin area into your web app.

Preparing for the Mocknology

No, I’m not talking about Mocking as in test-driven development stuff…I’m talking about the technology that is available cheaply *right this minute* that will enable your kids to record anything you say and then digitally remix it and upload it for scrutiny on the intarwebz. I think somebody could make a fortune offering jamming devices specifically marketed for parents.

Living under a rock, musically speaking.

The wife was hosting a club event in Second Life this evening (“Demented and sad, but social.”) and the DJ played a tune that really caught my attention.  It was “This Boy’s In Love” by The Presets.  Well, this set off a bit of YouTube spelunking that turned up a bunch of their videos, and some related bands/music that I’d never heard of but am thoroughly enjoying.

Sometimes I run into a covey of bands huddled in plain site and I feel like I’ve been living under a rock.  I seriously need to update the ol’ music collection.  Some of these bands I’m finding have been around for quite a while.

Some things I’ve found tonight…

“With Every Heartbeat” by Robyn – Her vocals remind me of Kate Bush, and that’s just awesome.

“My Delirium” by Ladyhawke – A fellow aspie.  Lots of Joan Jett in her voice and style (on this track, at least…I’m still finding other tracks).

“Work On You” by MSTRKRFT – I really dig the robot sound.  These guys remind me of Solvent.  Excellent video.

I recommend pretty much everything I’ve seen/heard so far on ModularPeople’s channel on tha youtubez.

Will a recession/depression help or hurt MMO games and worlds?

I’ve been wondering what effects the economic shitstorm downturn will have on massively-multiplayer online games and communities.  Will people be more inclined to reduce the amount of money they pay to participate?  Will we see a rise in free-to-play MMOs here in the US?  (Free-to-play is heeeeeuuuuge in Asia, apparently.)

What I don’t foresee happening is people spending more time and money on MMOs due to the economic crisis…not this time, anyway.  I don’t think our society has yet tipped over to a condition where online life is preferable to “real” life.  For one, the graphics just aren’t up to snuff. 

Perhaps 20 to 25 years from now, when we’ve dug ourselves into yet another financial pit and we have realistic holographic projections instead of monitors, some folks will choose to spend the majority of their waking hours in a virtual world where they’re beautiful and wealthy.  Of course, their full-time job will probably be farming Warcraft gold for some megaconglomerate, but it might be preferable to real-world alternatives.

Blogging health info: Probably not a good idea.

I don’t know if they’re doing anything like this yet, but I imagine insurance companies are wise to the whole blogging thing and will start using advanced search algorithms to determine whether or not you or members of your family have pre-existing health conditions.

I’m a big advocate of anonymity when it comes to tha interwebz, anyway, but knowing what I do about how health insurance companies can be total fuckbags I must strongly recommend to the few people who will ever read my blog that you be more diligent when posting health info about yourself or anybody you know.

AJ’s advice:  Don’t blog using your real name or location.   Don’t post details about health conditions or medications.  Don’t mention family histories of illness or disease.  Don’t use your primary email address as your blog contact address.  The tougher it is to connect a real life physical person to the text on the screen, the better.  The fewer details that you reveal, the better.

I’m sure that with enough digging, a reasonably crafty person could determine my identity by reading my various blog posts and digging through other resources on the web.  However, that’s not really the objective of my obfuscating efforts.  I just don’t want some automated system to be able to put all those pieces together.