Stuff I Do

I am a noob when it comes to any kind of full web programming, so I am learning by using ASP.net to create pages. Everything is going well and I am getting data returned from the database and have it bound to a GridView. The problem I was running into was that I wanted to print an error message to the user if the search string they entered returned zero rows. I needed a way to read the DataSet and goto the error if it was empty. Took a little bit to figure out but here is what I came up with, real programmers feel to show a more effective way if you have one.

If dbDataSet.Tables.Count > 0 And dbDataSet.Tables(0).Rows.Count > 0 Then
   ' your data here
Else
   ' error message here
End If

I have been putting this off for a while now and finally just scheduled my next Microsoft exam for Monday morning. The last one I took was in November of 2004 and I need to update my MCSE. I hate taking these Microsoft certification exams, but I am not willing to just watch my MCSE designation melt away. What makes it difficult is that I just find the exams tedious and a drain on my time to study for them.

Honestly, I don’t put a whole lot of weight in the certification other than it is a necessity on a resume. I have known IT guys that have gotten lazy and not kept up with their certs and then when the Michigan economy took a big dump they were left out. Either their current employer was doing cut backs and the deciding factor on whether you kept a job or not was if you were certified, then out of a job new employers use the certification as a way to weed out resumes. No cert on the resume, into the trash can it goes. I am not looking for other work, and I think my job is pretty stable, so needing to keep my resume tight is not real high on my list. My current employer really sees no value in the certs and so no real incentive there either. The amount of time I have used to study for this exam could have been used to learn something useful instead.

The only reason I am taking this test is the fear of the job market. If something bad were to happen, I would much rather have all my certs in order and current then struggle to come up with the $125 to take one when I am out of a job. Probably not the best reason for taking one of the exams, but at least it is enough motivation to make me do it.

Apple and their followers like to say how superior Apple is to everything out there. Then maybe they should be able figure out how not to tick off its users and do what most software does when you install a new version, remember your settings. I am a Windows user and would not install iTunes if it was not for my iPod and that is all I need it for I don’t want it as my default media player. Yet every time Apple releases a new version, which seems to be every couple of days, I have to delete the icons out of the quicklaunch bar, shortcuts off the desktop and reset my preferred media player settings after iTunes and Quicktime forms a coup and over takes my computer settings. Hey Apple, show you are better and stop screwing with my settings every time I have to install an update. Morons.