C# vs. VB

Well, C# seems to have won.

sigh...

I should have just learned this from the beginning.

Mix06 Hack

Not the fanciest hack, but I noticed that if you enter a reservation ID of '1' in the Venetian Hotel in-room internet access login screen (VHIRIALS) you are identified as a test account. I've been able to avoid the daily $14.95 internet access fee this way. Since I've been here for 5 days now, it's not too bad a savings. Isn't internet access supposed to be free? No? Well, consider it a Vegas comp then.

Future Web

I've spent the past few days at Mix06 and I have to say that I've been pretty impressed. With any new technology roll out (particularly those backed by Microsoft) its somewhat fashionable to find reasons to discount its signifigance. However, I have nothing but good things to say about Microsofts Atlas (a framework for AJAX) and emerging development tools like Expression (which is certain to be a Dreamweaver/Fireworks/Photoshop/GoLive killer)

The real value of this technology will be realized if I can find ways to blur the line between desktop app and web site. My focus continues to be Web to Print, and technologies like what I've seen should allow for some amazing growth in this area.

Another realization is the need to become a project manager almost exclusively, and to help the rest of my team build the applications as quickly and effectively as possible. It's my hope that this will alleviate a lot of the stress I've been feeling as of late. Its really hard to code when the phone rings every 5 seconds, or someone is knocking on my office door, or I need to fly to a sales meeting.

4 Directions of Betterment: v1

Im growing increasingly intrigued with a simple concept of 4 directions. The concept involves both the awareness of and the intentional furthering of 4 areas of growth. I choose 4 because it seems to cover all the bases, and because I like the connotation of 4 winds or 4 cardinal directions. Plus its easy to remember.

The four directions are self, soul, community and physical. There may be some overlap, but thats cool, because they are all directions on the same plane (existence?)

Self: knowledge of the id and ones own personal and immediate concerns and security. Its ok to think of ones self interest; who doesn't think of ones own concerns? This area involves such areas of concentration as career advancement, increasing ones exposure to culture and literature, and identifying what defines you as who you are outside of the herd. Are those qualities good characteristics? What can improve?

Community: what are you doing to better the world for others? We each have an unknown number of years. When its all said and done, what legacy will you have left behind other than a landfill of discarded rubbish and an atmosphere of auto exhaust fumes? What are you doing right now to help those around you? Do your coworkers look forward to your presence at the office? Do you help those less fortunate than you? Do you give more than you take?

Soul: are you doing what you know you should be doing? are you listening to your heart? are you questioning yourself, these directions, and the emotional currents that flow within? what can be done to improve upon the ineffable intangible ebb and flow of your soul? are you moving in a positive or negative direction?

Physical: ones health and physical environment. are you going to the gym? are your workouts improving? is the house in order? are you in order?