dustinfluke.com

So I haven’t been too great about updating the website or my flickr photos for some time now.

But I think that is all about to change. I got a new job.

While I loved working at Washburn for almost five full years, things seem to move pretty slow in academics. I found this both a blessing and a curse as my professional career had time to mature and grow, yet, my mind told me to "go go go" with new technology. While I’ve fought this battle in my head plenty of times I think I’ve finally found a good balance. A couple of weeks ago I accepted a position with the World Company. Most local folks commonly refer to the World Company as the Lawrence Journal World, as that is their most public identity. I’m going to be working in World Online. This is the shop that brought django to the masses. I’ve specifically been hired to support, train, and "whatever else" on the commercial version of django, Ellington CMS. My first day is tomorrow (well, technically it’s today since I’m writing so late) and I couldn’t be more excited. Ever since at Washburn it was decided not to move forward with the WebCT 6 upgrade, I felt a little let down, but more importantly, felt like I got the wind knocked out of me personally. After a summer long study of various course management systems, and all the time put into data analysis I was ready to move forward; and then WebCT decides to extend support, so everything was dropped. After that, it took a lot of work to think of something new that was close enough to what was old. I was left with horribly outdated documentation that we didn’t focus on due to the planned upgrade, and no action to move forward with an upgrade. So, I decided to do some video based training, and at the same time thought I might apply for one of those jobs open at World Online.

I’m entering into a new world, one I haven’t been exposed to in quite some time. I think it’s called product development. I think it’s called creativity, flexibility, and open mindedness. I think it’s called action, and not committee formations. For that, I’m excited. I’d imagine as I learn more and more django, visitors will see a slow transformation of this website to a django joint. Who knows. I do know it’s late enough and I should get some shut eye.

So, nothing big. Things are still busy, but I was oddly excited when I went to get some gas.
Yes, that’s right! There’s a one to the left of that decimal point. There’s a ninety-seven on the right, but there’s still a one to the left.

I’ve discovered recently the benefis of roasting larger batches of coffee using a heat gun, a bread maker, fan and some engineering. While I’m not close yet to perfecting everything, I’m getting amazing results. Now I’m afraid my popcorn popper will get lonely and dusty. I’ll have an update with some video soon. I roasted about 10 cups total in 5 batches tonight for Chirstmas presents and have a fresh 5lb bag ready to go for more roasting practice. I’m excited to say the least.

This Chirstmas break we’re doing some renovation and room swapping at the home so don’t hold me to getting much updated in way of coffee roasting for a while. Chances are, I’ll get something before the weekend.

I’ve also started a home roasters group at Ma.gnolia
There’s a link to it in the side bar. If you have any home roasting related links, please post them. I’m hoping in time, it will become the first spot to check for articles and help. So far I’m the only member, so we’ll see how it turns out.

Merry Christmas!

Life is crazy busy. In the meantime, I’m coming up with a break from school for the holidays. Coupled with this, and the week off work Washburn gets after Christmas break I’m hammering out some of the final touches of dustinfluke.com so I can get things posting regularly. I miss my website, but life is crazy busy. ’till then.

So I’m almost empty in my car’s gas tank and I visit the Kwik Shop adjacent to Washburn’s north east corner of campus (not that it makes much of a difference). As I was filling the tank up at a reasonable $2.15 / gal. I noticed these instructions to the right of the keypad, apparently according to the directions is where payment choice is made. After glancing at them for a moment I thought to myself, “Is it really that obvious that you’re supposed to put gasoline in your car?” I decided it was, but for whoever is out there using a pump for the first time, don’t forget to squeeze the trigger on the pump handle after inserting the nozzle into the fuel intake of your vehicle so you may place fuel into the vehicle prior to follwing step number four.

Well – Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day Ladies an’ Gentleman. I really be havin’ nothin’ t’ add t’ me swabbieal website other than we had a great time this last four days while I be off work, an’ celebrated Laura`s an’ Matt`s birthday. As a surprise, I tookst off Monday t’ treat Laura into some bunkin’ in time fer th’ lass’ birthday. Other than that, work on th’ new design be still under way (as ‘t always be eh?) Th’ artwork be takin’ a lot more time on accoun’ o’ I think I be too picky, or I can ideeualize what I want t’ do but then fail on accoun’ o’ I dasn’t konw quite how t’ make ‘t happen in Photoshop.
This tides I start school again. I be re-takin’ C++. Unfortunately, thar`s a new edition o’ th’ text, so on top o’ takin’ th’ course again, I be havin’ t’ get a new book. In any event, I be more excited than ereto conquer me previous failin’ attempts at C++ so I can move on t’ Java, an’ eventually python an’ rails etc. `Tis probably a bit aftwards, but I`d really like t’ get that piece o’ paper that be takin’ me about 10 voyages t’ get.
I suppose I had more than I thought t’ write about. `Till next time!

Every day on my way to and from work, I pass this strange looking lot, where for the past week, has had this old man reading a book. I drove by at 8:00 am, and he’s reading a book. At 11:30 today, he’s reading the same book. I’m just wondering what book it is, and whether or not this is all this guy is going to do for the next two weeks.

Well, it certainly has been a long time since my last post. I suppose it’s because I’m too busy to put much time into the site right now, but all that should change soon. I got Macromedia Studio 8 last night. I’ve installed it, but I haven’t launched it yet. I was too tired :( Imagine that. The whole last week was spend making wheel chair ramps for my mother in law who is staying with us. Couple that with work and school work and I’ve been really busy.

All that said, I plan on posting a Dreamweaver 8 review in the next few days. Who knows, I might even redesign the site before I do it. :)