From Drop Box

I’m working with two of my old schoolmates to build and launch a couple startups before August. I’ve been on a hiatus from programming for awhile too, and now I’m starting to get back into it. Feelsgoodman.

While in Vegas for the first time, Strom Carlson, introduced me to Rands Vegas System.

This is a MUST READ four part article for anyone going to Vegas. And if you’ve been to Vegas, you’ll still get a kick out of it.

I’ve furthered my Asterisk knowledge far enough to install it for a client and think of a new business idea (coming soon). I also found out you can’t use Skype subscriptions with Digium’s SkypeForAsterisk channel driver. They only allow you to use pay-as-you-go minutes. What a retarded idea. Digium only gets binaries from Skype and then reports bugs, but I’m told it takes at least 6 months to patch any serious ones. This was a very costly mistake I learned. Digium’s support is absolutely awesome. You actually talk to a real person who is American and if that isn’t good enough, you can also speak with engineers who will help you. It’s just amazing.  Skype only has email support based out of India no fun.

I am attending a few more conferences these next few months: Geekend 2010 here in Savannah and Affiliate Summit 2011 in Las Vegas. I am excited about both. Opportunities abound!

I’ve been a bit busy to keep up with my beer making. The latest is a Belgian Witbier, which is DELICIOUS. I am planning on a pumpkin ale and an Oktoberfest lager this month/later this month.

Another startup is in the works with a friend regarding my love for WordPress, I’ll announce it shortly

MailChimp is still treating me great, btw. They also upped their plans. The free plan can now have 1000 emails and has the ability to send 6000 per month. Talk about awesome.

A few other toys I am and will be playing with: Chargify, Shopify, and Get Satisfaction.

I am always on the lookout for a good hosted shopping cart, so if anyone has suggestions, plz2comment.

I also got to attend Savannah’s annual Craft Brew Fest with a couple of friends. This was a great event to be at. We had the right idea to park downtown and take the ferry to the event, which was hosted at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.  Great selection of beers from all over the nation, I think with a running total of over 120 brews. Only downside is that most of the breweries were actually not there and just represented by local volunteers Here is a pic from the event right when they opened. An hour after this picture was taken, the place was crammed packed full of people.

So we booked some time for a conference room and here’s what it looks like. The lights were off so that’s why it was dark when I took the pics.

Here is a view out the window (there were plenty of windows, and being on the third floor is awesome. ok that pic wasn’t so great, right across the street is a new centerpiece and the City Market is just a hop away)

They have a refrigerator and coffee makers and almost like a little cafeteria for taking short breaks. I think they might need to stock the fridge with some RedBull.

They have some printers available from standard laser printers to high quality design printers, which I’m sure will be a god send for the SCAD kids. I can imagine this place being pretty busy soon with SCAD coming into session.

Overall they have a great start, I’d love to see it take off more, and I’d be even more interested in it if I wasn’t so far from downtown. They are just getting things in line but so far, the outcome has been great. Check them out at http://thincspace.com

I have a CH Products Flight Yoke (USB), works awesome. I have the driver CD. It’s basically brand new as well, I’ve used it maybe 5 times. Manufacturer link: http://www.chproducts.com/retail/y_fsyusb.html

I’m asking $75 for each (plus shipping to wherever you are). Email me at riscphree at gmail dot com.

Edit: Both of these sold on ebay.

Steeping the grains

Pouring the hops in

Primary fermenting

It has to sit in the primary fermenter for about 2-3 weeks, at which point I then bottle the beer and allow it to carbonate/ferment for another 2-3 weeks. Then we drink it!

The beer I am making is a Trappist type beer, if you’re unsure what that here, here is a wikipedia link: Trappist beer

Edit: Here’s a pic of all the equipment I received to begin with and ingredients, before brewing.

Here is a pic of all the bottles I bought. It takes about 55 12oz bottles for 5 gallons of beer. I ordered theee cases of 24 bottles (which is a total of 72 bottles).

I really wish I had this book in uni. It would have helped tons.

The main sections are:

• Memory
• Information Processing
• Creativity
• Math
• Decision Making
• Communication
• Clarity
• Mental Fitness

I’ve only read some of the memory section and I’m working on the information processing section right now. Not a small book (308 pages, with small typeset), it’s packed with awesome things you can do to speed up your time.

I would definitely suggest checking this book out if you’re in school (be it high school, uni, whatever), you want to speed up your thinking process, or just want to improve your memory.