A quick Ruby on Rails Paperclip tip here.

If you have setup your model fields avatar_file_name etc but cannot get the model to save. Make sure you have the entry:

:html=>{:multipart => true}

in your form declaration!

Moved beyond belief

Copyright Natalie Pinkham

Flicking through Five demand I came across Natalie Pinkhams documentary The Lost Orphan : Mirelas Story. Now I'm a 36 year old guy but I admit it had the tears streaming.
It lead to a startling realisation (or maybe an early mid-life crisis)... what is life? Calm down, I'm not going to go all philosophical and try to answer the question of the meaning of life (which we all know is 42!). But seriously stop for a second, watch the documentary and think. I sit typing this blog on an expensive PC, using 50mbps broadband in my comfy 3 bed semi with pictures scrolling through on one of Cupertinos finest devices. I've just spoken to a friend on one of my two smartphones and know where my next meal is coming from. My family and I are healthy apart from the usual colds. So what has that self-indulgent look at my life got to do with anything? Normally nothing but just watch the documentary again. Think how far the price of the 'mini-PC in your pocket' would go. It would probably pay the rent on one of the flats that Mirela lives in for a good few months. Feed and clothe all the children for even longer.Winter colds pale into insignificance in light of the physical and mental health issues these children suffer with after so many years in institutions where they were neglected and abused.
So what has this got to do with me and why am I blogging about something that is happening a 3 hour flight away? This is just it, these children are only three hours away. Some may say 'we have kids here in the UK that need help' and I would agree but the situation in Romania is dire, nobody can deny that and the UK has excellent care facilities and support, a lot more so than kicking kids out on the street to live in sewers.
So what can I do? I'm not rich, I can't say here have £500k and build the centre. But I must be able to help in some way. The charity involved Close To You Association is working with Natalie Pinkham to realise the new centre and provide lasting care for Mirela and 11 other children and young adults before they are lost completely in Romanias Adult care institutions. I would happily use work holiday to help in Romania or help raise awareness in the UK. If and how Close To You choose to use my time / skills or fundraising remains to be seen and as soon as I find out this blog will be the first to know. Until then please please do watch the documentary and if you can help get in touch with the charity.
Peace out people.

A random example of setting a table field to value of several CONCATenated fields from a separate table.



update comments set created_by = (select CONCAT(users.surname, ', ', users.forename, ' - ', users.email) from users where users.id=comments.user_id) where exists (select users.email from users where users.id=comments.user_id);

Well it's out with the old (BT and in with the new (Virgin cable). Old speeds :

Much much better :


Ping test looking good too:

2012 is all set to be an amazing year in EDI and First B2B.

Enhancements and extensions to the popular iPortal and Reverse Logistics tools alongside the ever popular TMVII document portal. We are also developing new tools aimed at streamlining your document path with the ability to analyse, audit, link and collate your documents all in one tool and to allow collaboration with your partners and customers in straight forward, easy to use products.
Keep an eye over at www.firstb2b.net/blog for more news, features, tips and useful information

I am a professional, well-seasoned web developer specialising in Ruby on Rails and PHP / js web applications. I state web applications rather than websites as the majority of my projects are business logic controlled and bespoke e-commerce solutions rather than static websites.

These tend to be beyond the 'three page and contact form' type sites!

I have created or been heavily involved in solutions for:

• EDI (Electronic Document Interchange) for companies such as Mars, Tesco, Morrisons and many more UK and international companies
• Fleet management (used by companies such as the NHS, Norfolk Line, Cadburys, LaFarge and many more in the UK, US and Australia)
• Curriculum Delivery Management System for UK schools
• Many other bespoke e-commerce and dynamic website projects for small and medium sized businesses

When not sat in front of a screen I can usually be found at the other end of the technical spectrum working on Steam locomotives or trying a new real ale (plenty in Sheffield!).