PHP and "toy coding"
whytheluckystiff and lindsey mentioned recently that they had a feeling that developing in PHP is like "toy coding". PHP has always seemed to me to be the premier rapid prototyping language for the web; there is enough structure there for anyone to quickly deploy a working model or mock-up, but enough flexibility to be able to crank out something without worrying too much about formalities.
That being said, being the premier rapid prototyping language is sort of like being the best silly putty around; it might do a fine job of constructing a miniature, or even a simple working model, but you'd never build the world's largest buildings with it. The right tool for the right job. (Footnote: apparently, tools aren't as important as location when it comes to construction...)
More XML-RPC play
Looks like gary has rolled the diary.getDates() patch into the live Advogato, and so my home page (written in PHP, see above about the tool for the job ;-) now has proper datestamps on each entry I'm displaying. Still haven't added caching, but now that timestamps are available, I can do a more intelligent job of it.
O'Reilly mania
I'm now the new owner of a ton of new (to me) O'Reilly books on Java and others in a recent blowout of older inventory by MicroCenter; I've seen the same titles selling cheaply at Barnes and Noble and Borders, but MC is selling them for $2.99 and $3.99 each. A quick check of the O'Reilly website tells me that they're coming out with new editions of most of them, which is why people are getting rid of the older editions. Works for me. :-)