Biggs' Zone

A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

Biggs On: The New Year

By

On January 13, 2011

In Biggs On, General Cogitation

So we have bid farewell to 2010 as we start the second decade in the new millennium. The year has started out exceptionally busy but there is a potential slowdown in the future. I hope to get back to some of my projects, including The MMO Times. I hope everyone is still subscribed.

I like to apply an adage often given to March to describe 2010; it came in like a lamb and went out like a lion. I know my memory isn’t the best but if I recall the first quarter of 2010 was relatively calm. There were some challenging projects as spring ended and summer began; and as the summer progressed the new projects were very interesting and, to be completely honest, they were fun. I added new technology, new languages and new accolades to my repertoire.

Then the fall came, and that is when things became extremely busy. I cannot remember the last time I had so much going on. There were several weeks when I was putting in quite a bit of overtime. There were times when development and business would clash, tempers and stress would increase and sleep would decrease. When winter arrived, tragedy struck. Grief and sorrow consumed the month of December and 2010 ended with pain in our hearts.

So 2011 begins the healing process and dwindling remorse as we all have to pick up the pieces of our shattered hearts and find a way to cope with loss. I have high hopes for 2011, despite its grim beginning, as I look forward to God’s greatest gift; Life.

Bidding Everyone …

By

On December 21, 2010

In General Cogitation

(Beware! The following message does not contain any politically correct statements …. if that offends you … good, that’s what I was going for!)


Ode to Joe

By

On December 16, 2010

In General Cogitation

*Click* *Flash*
Birthdays and Anniversaries

*Click* *Flash*
Graduations and Weddings

*Click* *Flash*
Parties, Holidays, and Family Gatherings

It didn’t matter what the occasion was, he was always there to capture the moment. It was rare to find him in the picture because he was usually the person behind the camera taking it.

I will never forget the man I knew for only 5 years, the worst 5 years of his tragically short life, but the most unforgettable of mine. He was diagnosed with cancer the first time I met him but he never let anyone know that it bothered him.

He and I became close quickly; we shared a similar passion for our industry. We would often chat in the background about the latest technology from gadgets to programming languages while the rest of the family spoke on other topics.

We shared similar quirks and similar affinities. If it wasn’t computers and programming that made us alike, it was the uncanny similarities in idiosyncrasies.

After having known him, even if it was a brief 5 years, I am now committing to try to be even half the father, husband, and extraordinary man that he was. I will miss him terribly, as if he were my own blood relative.

So, at the next family event, if I notice heavenly camera clicks and flashes, I know who it is, taking pictures.

Joe.

In Memory of Ron Santo

By

On December 4, 2010

In General Cogitation

Ron Santo

A great tragedy befell the Chicago Cubs and Cubs fans everywhere. Former third baseman, and WGN Radio voice of the Cubs, Ron Santo, passed away. I am stricken with great sorrow and loss. I feel like I have lost a good friend, though I did not know him personally. Today, in tribute of this great man I will tell a story of my favorite memory of Ron Santo.

It was at the Cubs Convention, an event he enjoyed so much because he got to meet the fans. Ron Santo had a booth in one of the halls for the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation. A rumor began circulating that he was going to appear at his booth to sign autographs. A line began forming even though there had been no confirmation that he was going to show up. Apparently it really was a rumor, and an autograph session had not been scheduled, however, the rumor actually made it all the way to Ron Santo himself and he decided he would show up anyway. He walked through the hall to his booth with huge applause. I expressed to him how much I enjoyed This Ole Cub and he said that meant a lot to him, he was very proud of that movie. The most amusing part of the this brief encounter with a great man was when he autographed the prosthetic leg of the gentleman in the booth next to JDRF. A booth that represented prosthesis for disabled Americans and Americans dealing with diabetes.

While we will miss you greatly here on Earth, I find some comfort, and humor, of the image of you and Harry, sharing a Bud, rooting on the Cubbies from your own cloud-shapped sofa in the sky.

Yes, baseball has lost an icon and the Chicago Cubs have lost their biggest fan. It is a tragedy among tragedies that he was never inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown but he will be forever enshrined in the Hall of Fame in our hearts.

R.I.P. Ron Santo
1940-2010

Biggs On: Pre-Cataclysm World Event

By

On November 20, 2010

In Biggs On, World of Warcraft

So the World of Warcraft Pre-Cataclysm World Event has been going on for a few weeks now. The first phase involved random earthquakes shaking old world Azeroth. Phase 2 brought random rifts in various parts of Kalimdor, Eastern Kingdoms, Northrend and Outlands that brought forth angry elementals; killing 10 of them would close the rift (and grant you a Feat of Stength achievement if you closed one of each kind of rift). Then Phase 3 started; the elementals are now attacking four of the major cities: Stormwind, Ironforge, Orgrimmar, and Thunderbluff. The events require that you put up fortifications, elite elementals are everywhere, the weather has turned to torrential rain, buildings are on fire … it is complete pandemonium! It is epic!

In my personal opinion, this is far better then the world event for Lich King. Yes, the zombies were fitting and the occasionally scourge attack on Orgrimmar and Stormwind Harbor were pretty cool but I think Blizzard definitely kicked it up a notch with this world event.

There is one more phase before December 7th and we will see Deathwing and he will randomly kill us all while changing the landscape, and the face, of Azeroth forever.

I can’t wait!

Life [Updated]

By

On November 18, 2010

In General Cogitation

I am overdue for some life updates. It has been very busy the past several weeks. I have been assigned to a client with two other consultants for a few months to complete a pretty high profile project. The deadlines have been very tight and there is a lot of work to do. We are nearly complete and it has been rewarding in that it has been an opportunity for me to learn some new skills that will make me more valuable to my firm.

If you have been following along on any of my blog posts you know that the biggest news for me as of late is LASIK. I still do not regret going through it despite the intimidating surgery. I am weeks behind in sending out my usual MMO Times e-mail and my excuse is my job. The client I am working at is a bank and the project(s) I have been working on entails quite a bit of money so the pressure for perfection is fierce. As Christmas approaches I imagine things will calm down slightly and perhaps I can get in a few MMO Times e-mails as well as some more Biggs On posts.

The most exciting item on the docket, arriving in a couple weeks, is the 3rd expansion to World of Warcraft titled Cataclysm; both of us are very eager for its arrival.

I wish I had more to talk about and you would think that given how long I have been absent that there would be more to share. So, with that said, I think I will sign off for the time being but check back for a few more topics in the “Biggs On” category which may include iPhone 4, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, iPad Revisited, and JQuery.

Cheers.

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