In the ajaxCFC library, the CFJSON project is used to serialize data sent back from ColdFusion Components. One of the settings is the format in which the serialization should be returned: query or array. Unfortunately, Rob’s Javascript interface to the component didn’t allow you to specify this. So with the help of a colleague, the queryFormat property was added to ajaxCFC.

Here’s an example call:

$.AjaxCFC({
	url:'com/company/common/ajax/ajax.cfc',
	bean: 'Facility',
	factory:'application.beanFactory',
	method: 'getFacilities',
	queryFormat: 'array',
	data: { 'orderby':orderByField },
	useDefaultErrorHandler: false,
	success: function(results) {
		$("#facilitySelectContainer").html(results);
	},
	error: function(results) {
		Ext.MessageBox.alert('Error Notification', 'There was an error while loading the facilities. Please try again.')
	}
});

Download ajaxCFC update with queryFormat

As the birth of my second daughter is looming, I’ve been considering something lately: What does becoming a father do to a man who has devoted his life to technological pursuits?

In short, it highlights how neutral technology is. It can be used for malicious purposes, but at the same time can be used to protect.

As a self-described technologist, I recall many fond times of staying up until 3 a.m. learning the latest programming languages, design patterns, and software projects. My ability to learn and absorb technical issues and apply them to business problems has always been a source of pride for me.

Lately, though, I’ve been finding that my thoughts about technology are starting to wander into previously unknown territory. It all started one day when I realized that in the technology-driven culture of youth today, that it is inevitable that the day will come when my daughter will know more about some technologies than I will. Whether it be through conscious study or the latest tech fad of which Dad is totally clueless, she’ll have a store of knowledge that surpasses mine and I have to be prepared for that.

Many people I have talked to over the years see “Technology” as something inherently evil because their exposure to it is limited and they only see media coverage that shows how it can be misused. I can’t blame them. You’ll never see a story on ABC news about how involved parents were able to protect their children. It’s not newsworthy.

Most of us have watched shows, or at least heard of, how Internet predators have ingenious ways of getting to young kids. Today, the tools are fairly rudimentary: IM clients, MySpace pages, web cams, and text messages. Monitoring these activities might be daunting for some parents, but is laughably simple for someone with my technical savvy.

However I can’t stop thinking about what will be available in 12 years when my daughters are becoming young women, start making forays into broader social circles, and explore new things. I find myself sitting on the couch while my daughter dances to a catchy Bunny Town song thinking of inventive ways that I can ensure her safety without becoming an overbearing parent that unduly invades her privacy.

Thankfully, others in technical fields share my concerns and find interesting and effective ways to help combat threats to children (see how Google is helping).

There are a lot of angry, misguided, immature, and simply disturbed people in the world with easy access to a computer. By keeping my finger on the pulse of technology, I will ensure that I can always find ways to battle those who wish to abuse it to the harm of my children.

I’ve always had eclectic tastes in music, which has led to derision from my family and friends over my custom-made CD’s that I play in my car. On a single CD, I can have pop, rock, R&B, rap, jazz and country: whatever tickled my fancy at the time.

While reading the Wikipedia entry for the Beastie Boys the other day, I stumbled across a reference to Mike D’s country album named Country Mike’s Greatest Hits. I was intrigued because the Beasties have been one of my favorite groups over the years (yes I still have the original Licensed To Ill CD that I bought in 1986), so I did some Googling and found that someone had actually made the album available for download.

Obviously, I downloaded it and I have to say I like it. I was expecting a really campy set of songs, and while there is a lot of tongue-in-cheek lyrics, Mike D did a good job producing the songs. I’ve found that good artists simply put out good music, even if they are just screwing around.

In particular, I like the song, “Country Delight”. Have already listened to it about 30 times.