It's The Weekly Skid yo!! - your taste of what's hot at http://www.skuff.tv this week!!
We head to Thredbo for the Rip Curl Freeride Pro ski and snowboard event, over to New Zealand where 15 year old Canadian Sebastien Toutant took out both the Open and Juniors at the Big Air comp at Wanaka, and we head to the surf in Bali for the Billabong Pro Junior. Enjoy.

Looking for problem-solving programming generalists. I have access to seed capital and business contacts for the right concepts.

I have several ideas of my own in the mobile, Web services and security space that I believe are funding-worthy. I would also be interested in hearing yours.

Let's pick a product idea that is the best fit for our collective skills, and I'll get us some money to develop it.

You must have one of the following:
--> understanding of PHP development frameworks, rapid prototyping and scalability
--> OR, strong knowledge of wireless networking on Windows, including ARP tables, router security and network administration
--> OR, experience modifying and administering Jabber and IRC-based chat services
--> OR, experience interfacing databases and Web services with an SMS aggregator (like Mblox or Open Market)
--> OR, some killer ideas of your own

You should also have
--> good communication skills
--> the ability to follow through on projects and ideas

COMPENSATION:
--> After an initial discussion, if we like each other, we will scope out what it will take to reach a proof of concept on whatever we agree is the right project
--> Depending on the work involved, we will agree on a rate for you and equity split and put it all on paper

I am looking for a partner who can share a vision and work towards a common goal. I am more than happy splitting the pie with people who make things happen.

Drop me a line and let's talk. You should interview me as much as I interview you!

LOS ANGELES AREA ONLY!! We must be able to meet each-other in person and meet with potential business partners and financial benefactors together.

Mahalo.com, Inc. is a new human-powered social search service backed by Sequoia Capital (the world's #1 venture firm), Newscorp, CBS, Elon Musk (Paypal founder), Mark Cuban and others. This kind of opportunity is **extremely rare** in LA: these high-profile rewards are usually found only in Silicon Valley.

Responsibilities:
* Creation of a massively scalable, high-performance platform for the next generation of web search.

Qualifications:
* Experience with large-scale, complex distributed Linux/Unix applications, cluster management systems.
* PHP 5.x, MySQL 5.x, memcache 1.2.x
* HTTP, HTTPS, Unicast and Multicast socket programming
* Unix shell scripting
* Applicants with C, Java, and Objective-C experience preferred
* Bonus: Hadoop / HBase, Lucene, Nutch, Spread

Pluses:
* Hadoop / Hbase
* Experience working with Lucene, Map/Reduce and Bigtable
* Front-end skills: HTML/DHTML/CSS/Javascript/Ajax
* MySQL sysadmin skills: replication and tuning

You are a HANDS ON implementor, a get-it-done kind of developer. The right person is a self starter with the "general get it factor". You work well with a team of like-minded engineers, and have a genuine desire for excellence.

Well rounded candidates such as release engineers with a background in both large corporate environments and small startups have an edge.

Please send a RESUME.

No Recruiters! No off-shore job shops!

Mahalo.com, Inc. is a new human-powered social search service backed by Sequoia Capital (the world's #1 venture firm), Newscorp, CBS, Elon Musk (Paypal founder), Mark Cuban and others. This kind of opportunity is **extremely rare** in LA: these high-profile rewards are usually found only in Silicon Valley.

We're looking for a developer who is able to create Flash widgets -- but who is also able to fill the rest of their time as a PHP application programmer.

You will:
• Participate in overall architecture design
• Implement various Flash-based design elements for the main Mahalo service
• Perform detailed class-level and data model design
• Perform coding and implementation in both front-end and back-end of the application
• Provide production support

Qualifications:
• Solid understanding of Flash and ActionScript 3
• Knowledge in database schema design
• Logical and analytical with good problem solving skills
• Strong command of PHP preferably PHP5
• Familiar with general Internet technologies including HTML, XML, Javascript, HTTP, CSS, cookie etc
• Knowledge and experience in Apache, MySQL, Linux
• Knowledge and experience in other languages including Perl, Java, C++
• Knowledge in system design and scalability issues is highly desirable
• Eligible to work in the United States

You are a HANDS ON implementor, a get-it-done kind of developer. The right person is a self starter with the "general get it factor". You work well with a team of like-minded engineers, and have a genuine desire for excellence. If you are a passionate and hardworking, and are a 'startup person', then please forward your resume/CV. Mahalo offers great benefits, free catered lunches and stock options.

No recruiters! No offshore job-shops!

We have a great opportunity for senior software engineers in our Los Angeles, CA office. If you want to work in a fun, fast-paced and creatively challenging environment, this is the place for you. The ideal candidate will need to be able to manage their time wisely as they solve programming challenges with smart and efficient solutions. Applicants must be able to work effectively and efficiently to meet deadlines in a self-directed manner. Full-time and contract candidates (both on-site and part-time remote) will be be considered.


Job Description

* Take ownership of major features and components of our back-end system
* Work closely with game designers, game programmers and QA to deliver industry-leading enterprise gaming solutions
* Architect, design and implement major features and components from user stories
* Drive major design decisions of software architecture and functionality
* Stay up-to-date with new technologies and architectures
* Help drive effective process, design, and coding standards for software development.
* Perform code and design reviews
* Work closely with QA and other organizations in the company to educate staff and evaluate feature requirements and functionality
* Mentor peers and contribute to team learning

Requirements

* Several years of experience developing software, preferably in an agile environment
* BS in engineering, preferably Computer Science. Masters Degree a plus
* Solid object-oriented design and implementation skills
* Experience with n-tier and service-oriented architectures
* Expert-level knowledge of the Java programming language, including versions 5 and 6
* Experience with multiple programming languages a plus
* Deep understanding of Java concurrency
* Knowledge of relational database concepts and practices
* Experience working with enterprise technologies, including web services, message-oriented middleware, security, and web development
* Familiarity with various forms of testing practices, including regression, acceptance, functional, and load testing
* Comfortable with both Linux and Windows development environments
* Experience with agile project management and development methodologies
* Excellent written and oral communication skills
* Positive, team-oriented attitude
* Team leadership/management skills a plus
* Has a strong interest in, and knowledge of the game industry
* Must be legally authorized or able to obtain legal authorization to work in the US

If you are a top-notch enterprise software engineer who wants the opportunity to innovate with a creative and talented team and have a positive, "can do" attitude, we want to hear from you!

To apply, please send résumé and cover letter to programming@riotgames.com. This posting can also be found on our web site at: http://www.riotgames.com/car_programming.php#senior_java_engineer

Riot Games Inc., founded in 2006, is a venture funded video game development company headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Our team is comprised of talented developers with a wealth of game development experience on many successful titles such as Ultima Online, Dungeon Siege, Jak & Dexter, Heroes of Might & Magic, Neverwinter Nights 2, Sly Cooper, Total Annihilation and many more.

The company is diligently working on our first title, which is a uniquely fun and competitive battle arena multiplayer experience set in a beautifully stylized and imaginative world.

As avid gamers, we believe that the games that are the most fun are those that provide worthwhile challenges that test and reward player skill, not just time spent playing. We also fundamentally believe that the best games are those with strong online communities, and we are committed to establishing deep relationships with our players to continue to enhance the game experience that they enjoy.

Web Development / Project Manager 818 888 7784 x 15
Leading Facilities Management Technology firm looking for Web Programmer/ Architect with C#, XML, XSL, MS SQL Server and .NET ASP.NET programming experience. Web/ Graphical Design Experiance is desireable. Must have excellent communication and organizational skills and learn existing graphical room scheduling application and work with a programming team to modify the application to match a Facilities Management Lease/ Rental workflow. Any experience working with AutoCAD and or CAFM software with Move or Work Order management or is desirable. In House /Full time position in Woodland Hills- no outsource please.

Help Desk/Technical Support/ Customer Service Representative wanted for high volume software company. Excellent written and communication skills a must. Prior experience in software support necessary. Understanding of modern internet applications. Java, Cobol helpful. Basic hardware troubleshooting necessary. Excellent benefit package including health & dental. Casual family environment.

Maybe the AARP can help Michael Jackson ease some of his financial woes…
I’m talkin early bird buffet(including tea and/or coffee) specials in his new Las Vegas home…woop!
The King Of Pop/Medicare turns fifty today.  
Click HERE to take a look back at his brilliant video catalog. 

When Lil Wayne failed to appear in Arizona court this week for the preliminaries in his federal drug/weapons case(s), his rep.s blamed an undisclosed medical procedure (read: root canal).  I don’t think there’s much more to the story than that, but I have read a few rumors hat he may be in a rehab facility.
 Again, completely rumors, but if they are true, this is brilliant strategy on Weezy’s part.  I can tell you (second hand) that it’s a lot easier to beat a drug related case if you drag out the preliminaries and have them handled by a third party while you are detained in a rehab facility…It’s also far easier to beat a drug case post rehab.  Jus sayin.
 That’s one to grow with…er…I guess the best advice would be not to sip the syrup in the first place…whatevs, dude. 

Software Engineer Contractor

The primary responsibility of a web application developer is coding, testing, and deploying internal and external web-based applications. Other responsibilities include operational support for existing web-based applications, custom operational reporting, and enhancing existing applications. The selected candidate must have a strong knowledge of PHP, as well as the fundamentals of developing data-driven, web-based applications. Reporting application development is a plus
Job Requirements:

* Knowledge of PHP 4 and PHP 5
* 3+ years PHP development experience
* A minimum of 3 years of development experience with relational databases
* 3+ years experience MySQL preferred
* A minimum of 3 years with the following: SQL DML (Oracle and MySQL), XML, XSLT, CSS, HTML, DHTML, XHTML, JavaScript
* Solid problem solving and troubleshooting skills
* Firm understanding of OOP programming techniques (classes, inheritance, variable scope, singletons, factories, structs)
* Experience with various PHP frameworks (symfony, cakePHP) and libraries (PEAR)
* Experience with templating PHP (Smarty, Savant, or other) and MVC application design
* Experience with MySQL
* Ability to work well within a dynamic team environment
* Excellent problem-solving and organizational skills
* Comfort collaborating with multiple stakeholders and functional disciplines
* Ability to multi-task

Preferred skills:

* OOP development
* Symfony PHP Framework
* Flash Integration (via AMFPHP, XML, etc*)
* WebDAV
* Subversion and Tortoise SVN
* SOAP
* Perl
* Marketing experience a plus


Major Duties and Responsibilities:

* Design and implement applications for Web distribution
* Work with web developers, and project managers to develop the back-end components of web-based applications
* Create reliable, well-tuned SQL statements for access to normalized cross-application databases
* Adhere to common web design standards and intuitive information architecture
* Ensure the security of web-based applications and the integrity of the consumer's personal data
* Define internal and external specifications for applications
* Create and/or review assigned deliverable specifications
* Provide application development input and leadership
* Responsible for technical documentation, coding accuracy, software configuration, version control, code reviews, and performance evaluations

Education Required:

* Bachelor*s degree in Computer Science or equivalent job experience