I Know What I Did Last Summer

This summer was spent re-writing the content of our company's web and brochures, along with design changes. If nothing else, I've come to appreciate the depth and volume of product that we have.

I like web design. Really, I do. I like playing around with the different visual concepts to accomodate how real people read web pages (scanning, visual cues, etc.). What I hate is the amount of time trying out a number of different concepts to see what I (and others) are happy with. What a pain. Then there's the content itself. I like writing. Really, I do. However, once I'm on my tenth version of a document and have received feedback from 8 different people, and therefore have to circulate again, the joy of writing goes. Oh well.

I love design. I hate design. It's a mad world.

A Memory and an Obituary (Bryce Keays)

I was sorry to catch this in the news recently. Mr. Bryce Keays, the father of a friend of mine from years ago (Fraser Keays), has passed away. I remember Mr. Keays used to drive me to and from hockey because my dad worked so many evenings. One of the most vivid memories of Mr. Keays is one of smell. He usually had a pipe going. The aroma was sweet and mysterious. I can say that I enjoyed all the members of the Keays family.

Here's the obituary.

KEAYS, Bryce Fraser - 85, Moncton, N.B., passed away on Friday, June 10, 2005. Born in Matapedia, Que., he was a son of the late William and Lillian (Fraser) Keays. Bryce moved to Newcastle as a youth and graduated from Harkins High and University of New Brunswick (1942, B.Sc., Eng.) Bryce enjoyed his years of service with the CNR Atlantic Region from 1943-1985. He was a member of St. John's United Church and was a former church elder as well as a former member of the Board of Trustees of which he served faithfully for many years. He was a member of Albion Lodge No. 5 G.R.N.S., New Glasgow, the Moncton Gyro Club, the Greater Moncton Probus Club and the New Brunswick Association of Professional Engineers. Bryce will be fondly remembered by his wife of 49 years, Adell (Williams); children, Debra (Les Keays-White); Fraser (Claudia), Halifax; Sharon (Randy Wade); Bryce Jr. (Patricia), Moncton; grandchildren, Jennifer, Bryce, Cameron, Laura, MacKenzie, Daniel, Grace, John, Ryan, and Adell; brother, Dr. James F. Keays, Newcastle, Miramichi, N.B.; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Dr. Claude F. Keays; grandson, David Harris Keays (1990). No visitation by personal request. Funeral service in St. John's United Church, Alma Street, Moncton, on Wednesday, June 15, at 2 p.m., Rev. Aaron Billard officiating. Reception in the church hall following the service. Interment in Fair Haven Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. John's United Church or S.I.D.S. Research (Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths) would be appreciated.


To see a picture of Sharon and Debra Keays go here

Swimming!

It's swimming season again. Here is a list of the Markham Swimming Pools.

Progress 4GL Programmers in Toronto!

The company I work for, Strategic Information Technology, is looking for Progress 4GL programmers who currently live in the Toronto area. If you have financial software experience and can handle the type of pressure that is associated with moving people's money, give us a call. For specific job postings see: Banking Positions at SIT

Banking Software

I am now vp of marketing for this banking software company. Big challenges. Big risk. Exactly what I want.

Progress Software (NASDAQ: PRGS) Passes a Billion Dollars in Valuation

In an email exchange with Joe Alsop, many years ago, I commented that someday Progress Software would have a billion dollar market capitalization. Well, it's been a struggle, but this day has arrived. Congratulations to Progress on a job well done.

Blogger Connection Refused or java.net.ConnectException

I received the error message above, when posting to my (often ignored) blog. I phoned my ISP and as soon as I mentioned Blogger - they assumed I had installed something on the server.

The real problem was passive versus active ftp. My ISP did not support passive ftp. This is a problem for Blogger.

Once I showed my ISP that I could duplicate the problem with WS-FTP (by going into the Advanced tab and checking the Passive Transfers setting) they were able to troubleshoot it correctly. With the Passive Transfers checked, I could see that WS-FTP was able to log in to the ftp server, but then would time-out trying to do a list of the files. This is typical, if passive ftp is not working correctly (because it logs into port 21 - but then does everything else on another port)

I commend my ISP (canaca.com) for not shirking responsibility for this.

The Apple Product Cycle

For your inner nerd-child.

The Apple Product Cycle: