If A Blog Falls In the Blogosphere…

At one time people read this blog. It went dormant, it died, and it was stagnant. So, no one really knows it’s here. It would be better in some ways to produce short-form content like social media. Better maybe, but I get to choose.

Ah choice, ah freedom, I breathe it in and do not take it for granted.

So, one day will I publish a book of these posts? Maybe, but probably not. Will my kids stumble upon these moments, snapshots of what went on in my head? Maybe, but probably not.

Will these posts provide wisdom to a future generation? Will they make me rich and famous? Probably not.

What is the value of this digital log? Intermittent at best, it is a recording. That’s all no more no less.

Tips for Session Timeouts In .NET

Session timeouts are an important security feature for web applications, as they can help protect against session hijacking and other types of attacks. When implementing session timeouts in a .NET application there are a few best practices to keep in mind:

  1. Use a reasonable timeout value: The session timeout value should be set to a reasonable value that balances security concerns with user experience. A value of 20-30 minutes is often a good starting point, but you should adjust this based on your specific application and user needs.
  2. Notify the user before the session expires: It’s a good idea to give users a warning before their session is about to expire. This can be done by displaying a message on the page, or by using a pop-up or another notification method. This can help prevent users from losing their work if they are actively using the page when their session times out.
  3. Handle session timeouts gracefully: When a user’s session expires, you should handle it gracefully by redirecting them to a login page or other appropriate location. This should be done in a way that does not cause any errors or unexpected behavior for the user.
  4. Consider using a sliding expiration: A sliding expiration is a session timeout that is extended each time the user interacts with the application. This can help ensure that users do not lose their work due to inactivity, while still providing a reasonable level of security.
  5. Use HTTPS: When transmitting sensitive information, such as session tokens, it’s important to use HTTPS to encrypt the data and prevent it from being intercepted by attackers.

Overall, session timeouts are an important security feature for any web application and should be implemented carefully to ensure that they provide the necessary protection without unduly inconveniencing users. By following these best practices, you can help ensure that your .NET application provides a secure and user-friendly experience for all of its users.

My Own Worst Ememy

See below a poem by chatgpt…

I stand before a mirror, staring at my face A million thoughts inside my head, a million things to chase But as I look into my eyes, I see a glimpse of pain The kind that only comes from fighting with oneself in vain

I am my own worst enemy, I know this to be true I am the one who holds me back, the one who makes me blue I set the bar too high, then criticize myself for failing I push too hard, then wonder why I’m always ailing

I am my own worst enemy, I know this, without doubt, I am the one who fuels my fears, the one who breeds self-doubt I tell myself I’m not enough, that I’ll never reach my goals I sabotage my own success, then wonder why I’m in a hole

But I also know that I can change, I can break free. I can stop the negative self-talk, and be who I want to be I can be kinder to myself, and celebrate my wins. I can let go of the past, and start where I begin.

I am my own worst enemy, but I can be my own best friend I can lift myself up, and make the negativity end I can be my own champion, and rise above the rest I can be my own hero, and pass the ultimate test.

Perfect Is the Enemy of Good

Observations and Judgement

The one thing I have learned in my time here on earth is that people’s brains work differently. I am not discussing intelligence. Often we as a culture like we like to boil down people through judgments we make in work and life situations. We make an easy assessment like “smart” / “dumb” or “idiot” / “genius”. The truth is people have different intelligence quotients but day to day most of what we observe is not intelligence or lack thereof but differences in the way people’s brains process and work.

Brain Power

Some people can think quickly on their feet while some people require time to process. The processor does not possess less intelligence but their brain is examining many details and data points that need more time to process. I mention this because of how often we make a snap judgment about someone’s ability when we do not have enough data to make a judgment. These days our attention spans are so short, are we really gathering enough data to make an accurate assessment?

Process Improvement

I just mentioned we are busy, we have too many things on our plates and we have examined a situation or process that clearly needs automation and streamlining to result in the improvement of efficiencies. That part is easy, the actual time and work that is required is always the hard part. Our vision of the perfect solution may take 25 steps and require a lot of time, work, and maybe expense.

Smaller Bites

There is another solution perhaps, one that is still messy may still have manual elements and doesn’t fully automate. It costs less but takes more time daily and may require a hands-off approach to the process. It may mean giving the day-to-day work to another team member.

Fish or Cut Bait?

The problem is when you are the one who sees the whole board. You can see the 12 moves ahead and it is hard to hand off to another player who may only see the very next move. But, ultimately if they have time to manage the process you have to be ok with letting them fish.

Strategic Planning

I face situations like this personally and professionally every day. It’s hard but due to our limited bandwidth, crazy distractions, and just the craziness of life in general we will always be behind. The best we can do is prioritize projects strategically, empower and grow other team members, and save your bandwidth for the most important projects.

Your Best is Enough

Do your best, it’s the best you can do. It’s good enough.

Look and Feel Matters

It’s the year 2023. I may hate modern web design, more on that at a later time, but look and feel matter. If your software product is dated but your content is good you have still lost the battle. I know content is king, but looking the part is queen.

I get looped into software demos in many areas and sectors as an IT professional. This week I have been in several software demos. The first demo I attended had good functionality, but not a modern look. The second demo just looked like the modern web for better or worse. It was clean and thoughtful in its design and maybe the content and features are less expansive but the look and feel are a differentiator.

One day I will describe my problems with the modern web. But, an updated site is imperative, even if I just happen to not like your choices.

History Of The Web

In the beginning, all was dark and void,
But then came Tim, with a brilliant idea to employ,
He crafted a web, for all to enjoy,
A network of links, for knowledge to deploy.

The first website was born, a humble start,
But soon more followed, like a work of art,
People shared ideas, and knowledge did impart,
The web grew stronger, a force to take part.

The dot-com boom came, with businesses aplenty,
The web had grown, with wealth and fame aplenty,
But then came the burst, and many went empty,
The web remained, a tool for all, not just the wealthy.

Web 2.0 came, with social media in tow,
People connected, and their voice they did avow,
Sharing pictures, thoughts, and ideas, they did espouse,
The web had grown, a platform for the people, not just the elite house.

Now the web is a part of our daily lives,
We rely on it for information, for connections, for our strive,
It has changed the way we live, work and thrive,
The web, a tool for progress, for the future to arrive.