November 2003 Entries

Now, it would not hurt all you developers to take a look at some of the articles in this issue of the New York Times Magazine - Design 2003. It is full of some great insight into design and inspiration - and everybody needs that in their world!  (You can easily sign up for free online access if you don't have it already.)

Without Adam Sandler's ode to turkey running through my head I don't think this would be fun! I have a love/hate relationship with cooking...I enjoy it and am pretty good at some of it, but there is some of it that I just burn!  So, I am cooking turkey tomorrow - just a little, not even a whole turkey and I am already sweating it. Hoping not to kill anyone or give them some foodborne illness! I did find this site that runs through the whole deal in a very matter of fact, rules oriented kind of way that all the devs in the world can understand (if you aren;t just going to mom's).  Thought I'd pass it along if anyone else is in the same 'big brown shoe'!

And Rob and Scott on the ASP.NET Exposed tour!  I just got word from Chris in Denver that their stop of the tour (12/2/03) has had to expand past 500 seats and they have added an additional stop in Colorado Springs with 300 seats!  Wow! Glad to see all the interest in ASP.NET and I can't recommend enough that you should check out the stop nearest you!

Doug Seven will be speaking at the .NET Developer's Association in Redmond.  I am sure it will be a great talk from Doug - as we only expect the best from him - ASP.NET Security: Preventing Malicious Input.  I know they will have some books to give away and it looks like an XBox too! More details...

Well, it finally happened - snow. Yes, I have been sitting in my office glancing up and seeing the snow swirl around the parking lot. It isn't sticking, but we have reached that point in the weather reports where you get the 'feels like' temperature that you just don't want to hear.  Right now it is apparently 27 F and 'feels like' 12 F in Indianapolis.  Just thought I'd share. 

I am crying from laughing so hard! The descriptions add so much to something so well, you'll see...

http://www.candyboots.com/wwcards.html

One of my favorite bands will be playing their last show - ever! December 6th in Atlanta at Eddie's Attic. If you are there - go!  I am thinking about making it there...we'll see.  I hope Josh will continue his solo work and visit Indy again soon.

First, props to my fellow - Glenbard West alumnus - Sean Hayes. He got to play the fun character of Mr. Humberfloob and the voice of the fish! 

Got to go see the movie tonight at a special preview. It is a fun portrayal of the Dr. Seuss classic that we all know and love.  The adult humor infused by Mike Myers makes it a great family friendly film - in other words you won't go crazy if you have to take your kids to see it!  The effects are pretty cool at points - when the box spills out into the house is the highlight on that. 

I say go and enjoy and try not to let all the commercials referencing the movie ruin it for you.

Go Eddie and the boys! Some Pearl Jam news that really does relate to technology.  They will need some serious e-commerce capabilities if they continue to do this themselves...more in the NYTimes.

A couple of my author friends - Steve Smith will be in Memphis talking about Whidbey and Jason Beres will be at the University of Georgia - all tomorrow night!  If you are anywhere in the vacinity, both are worth the trip. 

So, yesterday we got a new car and it came with XM Radio.  I was skeptical and thought it could never sway me from my local favorite.  But then I met Fred!  Fred is catagorized as “classic alternative.” Now, that made me feel old but he won me over quickly...any station that plays the Pixies (my all time fav), Violent Femmes, Simple Minds, Dead Milkmen, U2, New Order, Ministry, XTC, The Buzzcocks, R.E.M., Love & Rockets, The Damned, Bauhaus, The Ramones, Jesus & Mary Chain, Joy Division, X, Social Distortion, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop, The Replacements, Erasure and more - is fine by me!  It didn't take long and I was in love...

There are a bunch of other channels that I am going to check out...but, I have a feeling that Fred is going to be my real true love.  Maybe satellite radio wasn't such a crazy idea! Or maybe some local stations will get a good idea.

I don't think that Tony Blair should be the barometer of rock and in this case he definitly should not! I heard a piece of this album last night and I only listened with sick fascination.  But, you can decide for yourself...it is coming to a radio station near you!

I love my dogs so you have to indulge me.  We rescued a special case - Chandler - last spring and I just sent in his success story to the rescue organization that nursed him back to health - GRRACE.  He is a great dog and if you are looking for a new pet I suggest checking out your local rescue groups, Humane Society or PetFinder.com to find the perfect pet! Thanks everyone at GRRACE!

An interesting read...

http://www.mediapost.com/dtls_dsp_news.cfm?newsID=225303

A health tip when you are choosing your brew...

http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/76/90285.htm

We all know that is a true statement for a lot of reasons. Today's reason is brownies!  To be specific Fairytale Brownies.  Thanks for the thank-you Scott and everyone at AZDNUG. Enjoy the books and thanks for making me a hero around the office. 

If for some strange reason you are a developer and don't belong to your local user group - join! Check out INETA for a group near you.

Many of my friends and members of INETA are authors, so I thought I'd point this out in case you were wondering or questioning your publisher as to why your book is or isn't part of this program.  There has been much talk and media regarding the Look Inside the Book program on Amazon.  Here is an interesting bit of info...NONE of Jeff Bezos' biographies or books are available to look inside as of today...maybe they wanted the attention or maybe they will change that real soon! 

Read here for more info.

I was just sending some books to Nashville for Jason to give away on Thursday night. To get to our mailroom, you have to walk by the Brady offices.  We are all jealous around here! Who wouldn't want a job where you are suppose to play video games.  We know they all have to do a lot of the same stuff we do but still - they have a comfy couch and game counsels everywhere. And right now they are the at the top of their game.  Maybe one of our books will make it there some day.

On a coffee note: Don't try the gingerbread latte!

First of all, thanks Jeff.

I have to start out by saying it took a lot of soul searching to decide if I wanted/needed a blog. Need would of course be a strong word for the relationship between me and a blog.  I finally gave in after lots of discussion around the office but, I wanted to blog somewhere other than our sites.  Basically, that is totally selfish because I want to be able to post my movie and music reviews just like the rest of you!

I hope that I can provide some insight into the .NET community along the way without the code! I am looking forward to many posts to come and I will spare you all the story of my trip to the dentist today and the new light tool that they use to find cavities you would never know about otherwise.