Movin' them doggies on the Cattle Drive

It's where you come to learn Java, and just like the cattle drivers of the old west, you're expected to pull your weight along the way.

The Cattle Drive forum is where the drivers get together to complain, uh rather, discuss their assignments and encourage each other. Thanks to the enthusiastic initiative of Johannes de Jong, you can keep track of your progress on the drive with the Assignment Log. If you're tough enough to get through the nitpicking, you'll start collecting moose heads at the Cattle Drive Hall of Fame.

Gettin' them doggies...
We got 'round about a good dozen ranchers drivin' along the trail, most of 'em in rasslin' good ol' Java-4 Say and Servlets-4 assignments.

Fresh riders on the Drive...
Got a new Cattle Driver signed up on the assignment log, and this 'un a real bronco rider. A big welcome to our latest new rider: John Hembree. This rider's been purdy busy, we'll tell y'all why in just a bit...

Another moose on the wall for...
Yep, that's right, you make it through, you get yerself a nice little moose to hang on the wall. Well, OK, so it's a virtual moose on a virtual wall, but you can be right proud of 'em! Thanks to the efforts of Marilyn deQueiroz, you can now proudly admire your codin' accomplishments at the recently opened Cattle Drive Hall of Fame. Check it out, pardner, it's worth a wink.

Juliane Gross has been ridin' real steady and bagged her second moose on the OOP Trail of the drive. We know her secret to success: chocolate! Keep it wrapped up in yer saddle bag cowgirl, that's stuff is more valuable than a bag o' gold nuggets! Richard Hawkes is gettin' right comfy in the saddle, he bagged a moose on the Java Basics part of the Drive. Nice ridin' Richard!

Cattle Drivers gittin' all kinds of honors...
Wouldn't ya know it, a couple hard workin' Cattle Drivers went an' took a side trail and came back with a little extra dust and a purdey little cerrrrtificate to boot: Barry Gaunt and John Hembree got themselves a SCJP! Big congrats fellas.

Nitpicking is hard work too...
We know they're workin' reeeeeally hard, after all, we've seen what those assignments look like once the nitpickers have combed through 'em. Hats off to Marilyn deQueiroz, Pauline McNamara, and Jason Adam for their dedication and patience with the pesky vermin that always manage to make their way into those assignments.

Those gentlemen behind the bar...
Notice the fellas wipin' the bar and shinin' up the sarsparila glasses? Updating that assignment log is tough work too. We got us a another batch of bartenders. Big thanks to Dirk Schreckmann and Matthew Phillips and welcome to Michael Matola and Barry Gaunt. Mosey up and place yer orders.

Tips for the Trail...
You know the feeling, right? Yer bustin' yer head over that ol' favorite, Java-4 Say, an' you jest asks yerself, "So why the tootin' am I doing this to myself?!" Well hang in there cowpokes, there's life outside the Cattle Drive, we got proof, and all that hair you been pulling outta yer head will pay off one day. Yep, check out this real life testimonial - ain't no slick talkin' it's the truth!

Pauline McNamara