LG came out with a breathalyzer phone today (via Engadget)

DonXML posted the Dating Design Patterns Book

A new FAQ on the next generations of the Microsoft Certifications has been posted. I had better get off my ass and get my MCAD (Microsoft Certified Application Developer) before it changes and then go for the new one. I think they are fun.

Currently I am a Microsoft Certified Professional in "Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET" so that means I can use this:

(This is probably the only time i've ever used it) I am about ready to go for my "Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework" but I just need to find the time to sit down and do a bunch of practice tests before I write the exam the practice exams really help you find your weaknesses.

I thought I would post this link to the Microsoft support article on Internet Explorer only giving you the option to save pictures as Bitmap since I have seen it happen to a couple of people as well as myself. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810978

Well I started off the poker tournament well last Saturday. I managed to buy a couple pots when no one would bet. We had a pretty tough table, one guy was hard core bragging about getting 2nd in the last tournament but then he looked bad when he was the first one out.

Next out at our table was my buddy Will, he was fairly pot committed on a bluff and couldn't lay down his hand. He had almost caught his opponent with his bluff.

Next out was me. I made a stupid mistake. The dealer was shuffling the cards and showing us the bottom 2 cards, so when an A-7 suited came up to me I figured I had the nuts after everyone but me and another guy folded. I pushed all in and he called it. He shows his cards A-J offsuit. All I could really hope for were the hearts or a 7 and the flop came up rainbow and all I could hope for now was a 7! The turn comes and no 7, then what do you know, the river comes up Ace! I called it right that the odds of a King or a Jack coming up were slim but unfortunately for me he had the higher kicker and I was out of the tournament.

I was probably 10-12 out in a 30 person tournament but I was tired of playing passive since the 2 guys beside me were chip leaders at our table and bullying me out of pots.

After that I went to the bar with Will and we both had a shot of whiskey to help swallow the loss. After we were done we went back and watched for awhile. Catherine was at the final table and pushing everyone around with her massive chip lead and tight play. In the end no one could coax her out of any chips and she ended up winning the tourney. I was really proud of her she has really good patience at the poker table and would never go all in with a freakin' A-7 of hearts!

We won our game tonight 9-2. I think we are going to get moved up a division because even though we have had some close games we still blow teams out of the water.

I heard the best line by a sportscaster that i've heard in awhile. He announced a top shelf Alexander Daigle goal with the line "..and Daigle puts it top shelf where he used to keep his talent".

Ouch.

This is pretty much the same score as I got in grade 8, only further proving the point you don't learn anything as you get older hehe.

You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 7/10 correct!

Yahoo Search API C# Code:

YahooSearchConsole.zip (3.84 KB)

static void Main(string[] args)
{
            //Create a New Web Request to the API
            WebRequest restRequest;
            restRequest = WebRequest.Create("http://api.search.yahoo.com/WebSearchService/V1/webSearch?query=steven+rockarts&appid=MY_ID");
            restRequest.Method = "GET";

            //Submit synchronous HTTP restRequestuest to Web server
            WebResponse rsp = restRequest.GetResponse();

            //WebResponse provides stream-based access
            Stream str = rsp.GetResponseStream();
            StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(str);
            Console.WriteLine(reader.ReadToEnd());

            reader.Close();
            rsp.Close();
            Console.ReadLine();
}

Yahoo Search API VB.NET Code:

YahooSearchConsoleVB.zip (2.95 KB)

Sub Main()

'Create a New Web Request to the API
Dim restRequest As WebRequest
restRequest = WebRequest.Create("http://api.search.yahoo.com/WebSearchService/V1/webSearch?query=steven+rockarts&appid=MY_ID")
restRequest.Method = "GET"

'Submit synchronous HTTP restRequestuest to Web server
Dim rsp As WebResponse = restRequest.GetResponse

'WebResponse provides stream-based access
Dim str As Stream = rsp.GetResponseStream
Dim reader As New StreamReader(str)
Console.WriteLine(reader.ReadToEnd())

reader.Close()
rsp.Close()

Console.ReadLine()

End Sub

I haven't posted anything worth reading in the last little while because I have been a little lazy. So here is what I did this past week. 

Last week I quit my job because I got a new one. I think I spent the whole weekend filling out forms, or maybe it just seemed like it.

Tuesday night I went to the local .NET user group meeting. Dickson Wong presented on Visual Studio Tools for Office. It was a pretty interesting presentation because the content was a cool idea.

Download the slides and demo code from here:

http://edmonton.dotnetwizards.org/files/ProgrammingVSTO.ppt

http://edmonton.dotnetwizards.org/files/VSTODemo.zip

Our user group is probably going to enter the user group competition this year. But in order to be on the team you have to present an idea based on this year's theme "imagine a world where technology enables us to live healthier lives".

According to the document "a higher score will be given to the solution that improves developer's lives." Somehow I don't think a presentation where I say "get out from behind the computer and go for a run" is going to be very effective. Or maybe it will be if I come up with an application that forces developers to develop and run at the same time.

Wednesday night I read a book on Poker to prepare for the upcoming poker tournament next week. Check-Raise, Check-Raise.

Tonight I have a hockey game. Hopefully it will be more of a challenge than the last 17-2 game. I feel good today and have been watching nothing but hockey for the last week so I should have a good game.

Just now I tried to download a free eBook from Adobe and well see for yourself: http://ebookstore.adobe.com/store/default.asp

Well it has since been fixed but it was hacked by someone from Turkey.