Toolkit 3, VIN Decoding & Snow Kevin and I have been diving in full force to the new Toolkit (version 3). We have completely re-designed how we are doing things. Taking a much more OO approach with new Application, Applet, Panel, and Bulletin classes (and many other classes required therein). We've been going as fast as we can and moving all of the current functionality existing to operate under the new framework of Applications, and Applets. It's been fun work actually. Kevin seems to be excited, and others have mentioned he seems really into what's going on lately as well. My time is more limited, as I have Bikerpak stuff to do, Southland stuff to do, Helping Alex, Boats, meetings, Montreal got postponed, we've had parties (I've skipped some, and skipping more), trying to make it home for Christmas. It's rather hectic right now. What started the whole Toolkit 3 push, was I implemented the fax to email processing, where Toolkit will process the mailboxes, and store the fax attachments, and people will receive the bulletins, and you can re-assign a fax bulletin etc. etc. AJ finally saw the big picture of what I was doing when we talked about all the new movement happening.

VIN decoding. Long story short. Can't find XML Web services for Canadian motorcycle VIN decoding. ANYWHERE! Until AJ and I discovered we were stupid, and the IBC already has this service, and provides it for free with your Broker Portal access. (YAY). I received the entire specification, and had an account created. I took me today to get it all working.; Successfully decoded a valid VIN from a motorcycle via a single PHP class (using HTTP_Request from PEAR, and SimpleXMLElement ... which I didn't know existed in PHP5 core). It's aq pretty significant accomplishment in the grand scheme of where we are driving our development ... not just for Bikerpak. The only thing I am stopped on is the XML does not seem to provide the engine size, yet the Portal interface does provide it. I need to inquire as to how I can get that information. It was not shown in the spec document I was given.

I hate snow. The l&Y Xmas party was in Cannmore last weekend. It was a great time. Some young kids drunken drama was somewhat entertaining. McSquirty was in the middle of it ... poor kid ... people need to learn how to handle their alcohol. i've been pretty wasted, and we've all made an ass out of ourselves at some point. But even as drunk as I was that night, I was thinking ... fuck man ... those people are out of control drunk. :( Anyways ... the drive back the next day was interesting. Snow storm ... bad highways ... not for Rich driving in the new EVO ... super slick ... everyone else speed limit 70 KM/h, us ... 140 ... no problem!

We are now in the deep freeze, super blizzard and a foot of snow. I had no idea, as I had not even looked outside in over a day. Was coding a VINLink class remember? So out of smokes, I decided to make a trip, and even to go to Walmart at 2:00 AM (Walmart is open 24Hrs in Calgary). Yeah ... warm the car up ... can see the ground through the foot of snow ... takes 10 mins to back my car out of the parking lot behind my place ... driving down the alley ... CRUNCH! Fuck! Smacked the right front tire into something ... I just knew I fucked it up. Regardless I trooped on. Shopping at Walmart is super fun at 2-5 A.M. Mostly staff stocking shelves ... or drunk people form the bar getting "stuff". A few others with no life like me. Staff are always super friendly. I got some supplies for a few days, coffee, milk, pizzas, snacks, socks ... lots of socks (I needed socks .. the washing machine monster keeps eating mine) ... and smokes. I am now camped out at home ... car with a flat tire in a snow bank ... bitchy ... but at least the VIN decoding thing is way cool. I just canceled my attendance to Ryan's "Tight & Bright" party tomorrow (tonight). No way I can get my tire fixed tomorrow (today). Plus In this blizzard I just do not feel like it. Sorry guys :( Next year.  ¶ 3:05:00 AM 0 comments