NJ Tech Drinks Take 2 / Camp Camp?

So, the first NJ Tech Drinks was a great time. Met some great people, saw some familiar faces. Going to do it again, August 13 at the Old Bay bar in New Brunswick (despite their site's violating music). 8:00pm, be there or be square. (that means YOU Redmond kids.)

I've been thinking about doing a LITERAL Code Camp the last weekend of September (26th-28th). At a KOA with tents and a fire and s'mores. Interested? I figure we can do chalk talks, play some sports

(nerd sports), and best of all hang out. I am putting the concrete details together this week, more to come soon. Mid-east coast it looks like. If you're interested in coming and/or speaking please let me know. 

If you didn't catch it on Twitter this was my first interview!!!  It's on Tavis Hudson's site Tech Career Tips. It was a huge compliment to be asked. 

The Coding Ballerina

  Every child has a dream. I remember when he was little my childhood friend Sarah's little brother wanted to be a fire dog. Sometimes it is nice to reflect on these things as adults. However, our modern programmer has taken to fashion himself after one of his favorite childhood heroes: the Ninja. He wants to be quick, skilled, and silent. He wants to get things done without making a stir, be completely agile, and he wants to be incredibly awesome doing it. To illustrate the "Coding Ninja" craze here are a few links:

http://www.azillionmonkeys.com/qed/ninja.html

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001163.html

http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/eng/1247057156.html

http://www.43things.com/person/coreb

http://jsninja.com/

What's the big deal? Who wouldn't want to be a ninja? Well, for one, I don't. I mean, their clothes look like a really tight burka (no offense to those who enjoy wearing a burka, it's just kinda warm out right now). I want my code to be beautiful, graceful, and sleek. On top of all this playing Ninja is totally a boy game. I mean, COME ON. So, I'm taking this one back for the ladies. You guys can have your ninja thing, because we'd rather be ballerinas. 

Dynamic, perfectly composed, and beautiful. Just like our code. 

That's all I have to say about that. On with some announcements. I have been invited to speak at the Boston Thoughtbot sponsored  event Developer Day. I'm really looking forward to it and I hope if you're in the area you will come. It looks like a great event and it's relatively inexpensive.

MVC for Web Forms post is coming within the next few days. 

ROCK!!

Girl Developer the News Episode 2

Twitter Docs Leaked

Microspotting

Microturfing

The most recent "MVC for Web Devs" post.

Rock Out Like a Girl Developer

I don't know about you but I can't work without good music.

I love Pandora because I feel I get a real variety and I think whatever algorithm they use totally works because I'm always dancing in my chair. I don't know if you have been paying attention (I haven't) but apparently they have been involved in litigation recently over their service. Apparently  Copyright Royalty Board (which is apparently a board incharge of copyright royalties?). I got a nice email from the owner oif Pandora this week apoligizing for the inconvenience and stating that my listening was now limited to 40 hours a month. I could get more, however, if I opted to pay their service of $.99/month. I thought the email sent the message that they really care about their customers.

Before we get started though, you HAVE to check this song made by a guy named Dale Chase. It's called Coder Girl and it's amazing.

So, without further ado, here is what I listen to when I am coding like a mad woman. I figured I'd share with you in case you wanted to join me.

Sara Jo Radio   These are my favorite artists playing some of my favorite songs. Listen at your own risk, Hanson really rules.

Summer 09 Mix I made this station and seeded it with all the awesome tunes I've been rocking out to this summer.

Donated Station A guy named Chris sent me this awesome station he made, it's called "Kanye West"  but it's mostly awesome old school rap. Love it.

Ska Throwbacks Nothing says high school like some Less Then Jake or Save Ferris. I bop at my desk a little harder to these guys.

Rainy Day Radio  More slow jams for when you're just in one of those rainy day moods.

Mellow Radio Some great 70s beats from Cat Stevens, Hall and Oats, Cher and more of my favorites.

Caitlyn Radio  I got together with an old friend lately, and I threw this station full of the songs we used to love together. Hint: I seeded it initially with Trick Daddy

If you listen let me know what you think, if you have good ones of your own I'd love to hear them.

SVN Support Group

It's gotten so bad I have to share. 

Have you been there? The endless circle of "clean up this folder", "wait, you can't clean up this folder, it is locked by this folder... clean that up" "you can't clean this up, this file is locking it" "this file is no where to be freaking found, go clean that up"... you go down to the root and it can't be cleaned and it's an endless cycle until you move the files that you changed somewhere safe, then you delete the local repository and check out again.... then paste the files you changed and then check them in no problem. A week later it happens all over again. 

Has this happened to you 2437823467234 times? Please join my support group. Or do I just have bad SVN Ju-Ju.

Have you used Git? Is it 100% better? I will switch, but no argument has been convincing enough. Though, with all the trouble I've run into it would make a lot of sense.