Hey Gary how you doin'?

>> I see your still at it tearing frameworks apart <s>.
I'll never stop tearing them apart ... they are too much fun <s>.

>> What happened with Codebook?
Once I went to Flash (a truly wonderful experience) I let the version of Codebook I was maintaining go to the faithful at Ed Leafe's Codebook Forum and basically stopped using it. After that I was busy building COM Codebook with the gang over at Flash. Once Flash was bought out by GoAmerica and many of us got layed off (long story made short there) I started looking for the old version of Codebook again. I downloaded the existing Codebook code from Ed's site and realized I no longer ... um ... how can I say this ... use it with assurance. I knew Kevin was a solid developer (from a past relationship ... that ended badly by the way ;-) (my fault)) and had maintained a strong influence over his version of the code ... now called Mere Mortals. I obtained a copy and had a couple of ah, ha's when I realized how he expanded it to included distributed computing (COM objects) realized how long it would take me to whip the old Codebook into shape and as a result ... gave ol' Kev a well earned cash infusion.

>> (your post implies you're using MM nowadays) ?
Yep ... very solid framework ... and with strong developers using it ... it just gets stronger everyday.


>> Last I heard, you were at Flash. Did you not "GoAmerica" too?
Oh yea funny story there ... once I was hired on at Flash I remained in Norfolk, VA for two years just to make sure Flash was gonna be stable. When I felt it was I picked the family up and moved them to WV ... a risk as I knew this was not an exactly economically booming area of the country. TWO MONTHS after the move, Flash was absorbed into GoAmerica ... Christ ... just my luck. Now, without going into too many details the programmers at Flash were paid EXCEEDINGLY well when compared to other programmers. When we were Flash and billing out at $1600/day getting paid extremely well is not a problem ... the math works out ... hopefully to a profit at the end of the year. However, once all of those high paid programmers (previously each one a little profit center unto itself at Flash) entered the corporate environment those high salaries turned into an alarmingly large expense on GOAM's income statement. When things started to go more sour than they already were (9/11 and the subsequent business slump) something had to alleviate the expense pressure ... they started letting Flasher's go ... along with many of their own as well ... as a matter of fact ... the bleeding still continues. As of now Alan G. (CIO) and David B. (CEO) are gone ... that should tell you everything you need to know right there. It's all for the best however. Now I work in paradise.


>> Since when has SAVI been in Florida?
Since March 4, 2002. I now work for a company called Claims Verification Inc. with my new title "Director of Software Development" ... ooooohhh .... read "Programmer" :-). I am using MM 7.0 with SQL 2000 to completely rewrite all of their internal applications. The environment at GOAM was typical corporate America ... much unlike Flash ... now CVI and their excellent folks down here have replaced what I lost at Flash ... a friendly and fun work environment. I simply can't tolerate corporate politics and the backstabbing that goes along with it.

Also, don't get the idea that it was an innocent poor little CT that got layed off either. In that environment I became what I hate most ... lazy, uncaring, indifferent, depressed and frequently drunk ... to get away from the misery of that life. Afterall, I gave up my fledgling little company of one for what? ... being another cog in the wheel in another freakin' company lost in corporate America ... bleck. So, when I got that layoff call and found out I got severance ... I cheered ... whoohoo ... and started looking for work again ... luckily enough it ended up being in So. Florida ... another whooohooo.

>> Great to see you up here!
Thanks ... it's wonderful to be back.

>> Your favourite "Limey" <bg>
You know it ... I can't wait to quaff a pint in the local pub ... I'll even let you beat me at darts <bg>.

PS. Sorry to hear of your loss over there ... the Queen Mother was a grand old Lady.