Done with Dish Network

We are about to lose all of our programming for the 3rd time, do to the latest crop of problems with the unbelievably unreliable Dish DVR VIP 722 tuner. More on that later....

When I went on their site to send them an email about this issue, I get this when I submit the form. Note to Dish developers. Turn off full error logging on your production web application servers, and learn how to write non-browser-specific code!:

Update - just want to make it clear that everything below is stuff Dish Network's server returned when I tried to submit the form. They should have production web servers configured so that they return a friendly message like "The site is experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again later or call...." Stuff like this just makes them look bad and gives out information about their systems that only of use to their own programmers or hackers.

Server Error in '/' Application.

---

Validation of viewstate MAC failed. If this application is hosted by a Web Farm or cluster, ensure that configuration specifies the same validationKey and validation algorithm. AutoGenerate cannot be used in a cluster.

Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code.

Exception Details: System.Web.HttpException: Validation of viewstate MAC failed. If this application is hosted by a Web Farm or cluster, ensure that configuration specifies the same validationKey and validation algorithm. AutoGenerate cannot be used in a cluster.

Source Error:

The source code that generated this unhandled exception can only be shown when compiled in debug mode. To enable this, please follow one of the below steps, then request the URL: 1. Add a "Debug=true" directive at the top of the file that generated the error. Example: <%@ Page Language="C#" Debug="true" %> or: 2) Add the following section to the configuration file of your application: Note that this second technique will cause all files within a given application to be compiled in debug mode. The first technique will cause only that particular file to be compiled in debug mode. Important: Running applications in debug mode does incur a memory/performance overhead. You should make sure that an application has debugging disabled before deploying into production scenario.

Stack Trace:

[HttpException (0x80004005): Unable to validate data.] System.Web.Configuration.MachineKeySection.GetDecodedData(Byte[] buf, Byte[] modifier, Int32 start, Int32 length, Int32& dataLength) +289 System.Web.UI.ObjectStateFormatter.Deserialize(String inputString) +140 [ViewStateException: Invalid viewstate. Client IP: 72.228.13.65 Port: 17491 User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; en-US; rv:1.9.1.8) Gecko/20100202 Firefox/3.5.8 ViewState: /wEPDwUJMzc0ODIwNzEyZBgBBR5fX0NvbnRyb2xzUmVxdWlyZVBvc3RCYWNrS2V5X18WAgUIYnRuQ2xlYXIFCWJ0blN1Ym1pdMh7YQeUdO/1MdevcDplchWyoGJi Referer: http://www.dishnetwork.com/customerService/contactus/email/default.aspx Path: /customerService/contactus/email/default.aspx] [HttpException (0x80004005): Validation of viewstate MAC failed. If this application is hosted by a Web Farm or cluster, ensure that configuration specifies the same validationKey and validation algorithm. AutoGenerate cannot be used in a cluster.] System.Web.UI.ViewStateException.ThrowError(Exception inner, String persistedState, String errorPageMessage, Boolean macValidationError) +106 System.Web.UI.ViewStateException.ThrowMacValidationError(Exception inner, String persistedState) +14 System.Web.UI.ObjectStateFormatter.Deserialize(String inputString) +242 System.Web.UI.ObjectStateFormatter.System.Web.UI.IStateFormatter.Deserialize(String serializedState) +4 System.Web.UI.Util.DeserializeWithAssert(IStateFormatter formatter, String serializedState) +37 System.Web.UI.HiddenFieldPageStatePersister.Load() +207 System.Web.UI.Page.LoadPageStateFromPersistenceMedium() +105 System.Web.UI.Page.LoadAllState() +43 System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint) +6785 System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint) +242 System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest() +80 System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestWithNoAssert(HttpContext context) +21 System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context) +49 ASP.customerservice_contactus_email_default_aspx.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context) +4 System.Web.CallHandlerExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute() +181 System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously) +75

---

Version Information: Microsoft .NET Framework Version:2.0.50727.3603; ASP.NET Version:2.0.50727.3053

Blogging About Blogs

Time for another addition of Blogging About Blogs.

From Why Grow? And Other Wisdom from 37Signals, a review of the up and coming book Rework, on Tim Ferris' blog.

It's a good article that touches on one of my pet peeves from surviving the boom times of the 90s in IT - the idea that all companies have to continually grow to be successful. There's a right-size for any business. Beyond that, disaster awaits.

My Cliff's Notes/Reader's Digest/condensed milk/espresso summation of the article about the book:

• What’s wrong with finding the right size and staying there?
• Small is not just a stepping-stone. Small is a great destination in itself.
• Have you ever noticed that while small businesses wish they were bigger, big businesses dream about being more agile and flexible?
• The easiest, most straightforward way to create a great product or service is to make something you want to use.
• You can buy the same guitar, effects pedals, and amplifier that Eddie Van Halen uses. But when you play that rig, it’s still going to sound like you. Likewise, Eddie could plug into a crappy Strat/Pignose setup at a pawn shop, and you’d still be able to recognize that it’s Eddie Van Halen playing.
• Many amateur golfers think they need expensive clubs. But it’s the swing that matters, not the club. Give Tiger Woods a set of cheap clubs and he’ll still destroy you. (note: no Tiger Woods jokes inserted - ok, that really was an accident. ~ DMR)
  
• Use whatever you’ve got already or can afford cheaply. Then go. It’s not the gear that matters. It’s playing what you’ve got as well as you can.

Productivity Procrastination

I was reading this article: How Software Engineers and Designers Can Increase Their Focus and I loved this:

"... Playing around with productivity apps is just another way to procrastinate. You become more productive by getting into the habit of doing actual work regularly, not by constantly thinking about how you can get more work done."

That's a tip I could really take to heart. I've failed at almost every attempt to use any kind of organizer. Remember non-digital organizers? Actual physical binders with note pads and calendar pages? Now I've been trying to coordinate my iPhone calendar/Google calendar, Ta Da lists, Toodledo... you get the idea.

Then I saw this next tidbit. I'm sure it's true. 100%. Very useful advice. Yup. That would be great.

"There’s a really simple tip almost everybody can use to increase productivity tremendously. Not only is the tip free, it might even make you a bit of money. *And* it’ll make you smarter. It’s really easy, there’s only one step involved: Sell your TVs."

If only I had the willpower!

365 Day Declutter Challenge update

Plodding along. Sometimes I'll forget for a couple days, but I make up for it. Other times I cheat and count something that was previously purged en masse (see ** below), so I don't have to go searching (running out of things just in my office!).

I'm doing another challenge - exercise related. I'll save that one for a bit, 'cause it's going to take a while, and if I should wimp out, I'll simply never mention it again. :~]

Details:

013: Drawer divider/insert/office supply tray thingy
014: Book: "Working for the Man"
015: 2 Miniature pens - green and pink ink!
016: Coffee mug - green bar computer paper design with humorous computer idioms
017: Lake Tahoe playing cards - never used
018: Extra zippered nylon case for glucose meter
019: Book: "What Are You Optimistic About"
020: This Old House magazine (painting tips - never consulted; 2 houses painted.)
021: Sticky Pad - iPod dash holder. Never held an iPod to the dash.
022: Battery Rack - never hung it anywhere, and have a larger one.
023: Several file folders **

Schmap liked my snap

Schmap.com used my picture from our last trip to Boston. Well, that was my 15 seconds of fame.