What do your objects do?

I was thinking about how most of the system at work has objects that don't do anything (yes, this is the Anaemic Domain Model code smell).
Last week I broke up a control and refactored it into a Model-View-Presenter, as it allowed the right amount of code reuse for what I was trying to do. Also, I extracted some interfaces (including one for the presenter).
Today, I've been trying to explain this to a colleague. I think I missed the point about programming to interfaces rather than implementations, and also the colleague got rather confused about why he couldn't reuse the interface to do his different control. I think mentioning something about intent.
I need to remember that even when following established patterns I need think about what I'm coding.

When you work in a city

it's easy to forget that other people might be on your train for something other than work.

Seven Ages of Rock

On saturday, I saw the "Art Rock" episode of Seven Ages of Rock. Apart from the fact that some of it was progressive rock (which put me off entirely!), I wasn't that taken by it. Primarily, it seemed to praise Pink Floyd and David Bowie. Fair enough, I think Sid Barrett and the Bowster have some influence, but Bowie himself, on the program, admitted that he followed Barret very closely.
Then, at the end, after spending a sizeable chunk of the program on Floyd's Wall (the one they built during their shows), they bought on Genesis. Again, worthy of a mention, if only for Peter Gabrielle's  outstanding contribution to music, but really.
The other problem I have with the series is that it completely ignores Post-rock. Imagine a one-hour show charting stuff like Slint, Godspeed You Black Emperor, and Mogwai. Now that would be worth watching, rather than all the Dad-rock chart tunes that the shows have so far covered.

Bank Holiday

Well, that was a reasonably uneventful bank holiday weekend.
Highlights:

• Failed Chocolate Truffles (that instead made delicious chocolate mousse like dessert)
• Vegan Moussaka - perhaps not exactly a "light bite", but a filling meal, especially with home cooked bread.
  
• This is England - disturbing and slightly lightweight film about skinheads in the 1980s.
  
• Walk up to see Eastergate Bridge - the bridge itself was a bit disappointing, but the walk was really beautiful. Got really close to some swallows who didn't seem to mind us at all.

Some days...

Some days I can really focus and get lots done. Other days, like today, I find it really hard to focus, and I end up writing lots of blog posts and surfing lots.

Lunch

've got sushi for lunch. I made masses of it last night, so I've got 12 pieces. That should see me through 'til next week.

2 Screens

I've been given the use of an extra monitor at work - so now I have one 19" and one 17" monitor on my desk. I've been given a bigger desk too, but that's by the by.
I have to admit that, mostly, I still use the 19" for the majority of my work, and, as I'm doing web work at the moment, use the 17" as a preview screen.
Windows XP works flawlessly with more than one monitor, and there are a few utilities you can use to add a few niceties. Of these, I've been trying UltraMon out, and it rocks. As well as giving each monitor it's own task bar, it allows you to do things like have one background across both monitors (making a massive panorama), have separate screen savers, and a host of things I've not even tried. I wouldn't say it's essential, but it's definitely worth the tiny cost.
I really like having two monitors - it allows things like having two versions of code next to each other, VS2003 + VS2005 visible simultaneously, and generally a lot less swearing when trying to find the right window - with more of them visible, I can find the one I want more easily.
Despite this, I think that if I were to buy a second monitor at home I'd try and make sure it was exactly the same model as the one I've currently got (or buy two new ones of a different model). At the moment, the 17" at work is just showing colours differently to the 19" and, although with the different pixel size (they're both 1280x1024), it's not easy to switch back and forth quickly.
That aside, I'd definitely recommend - I really didn't think it would make as much difference as it does.

My Glasses Need Cleaning

I'm surprised I can see anything at all.

Oh rennet

From chris: http://www.vegsoc.org/news/2007/mars.html
Amy's very pissed off, as Minstrels are her comfort food.

Why Comments are Evil

 return false ;  // raise exception

Oh shit...

...I actually wrote the words "creative avenues" in an email I just sent.
I laughed at myself when I wrote it, but now I'm worried other people will think I meant it.
Oh shit.