I’m starting up a “professional” blog on my company’s website.  I thought it might be a good use of my time to share some of the things I learn on a more technical level from time to time.  I’m going to try to get better at writing on both of these guys.  So, we’ll see what happens. 

If you’re interested: http://logicspeak.com/Blogs/tabid/188/BlogID/7/Default.aspx

…my wife, even more. I just don’t know how she does it.  So, I think, in my mind (not out loud), that I might like some gadget.  But, I never actually get one.  So, what does she do to follow up the iPod?  She gets me a new Blackberry Curve 8310, with all the bells and whistles (GPS, expandable memory slot, camera, etc.) for my birthday.  I had to open it early, since she was worried about AT&T sending me something about the device change.  Here’s what it looks like:

Apparently, there is a red version, but I’m completely happy with this color – titanium.  Anyways, if you guys have any apps or tips for this thing, let me know.  I’ve already updated it with the google stuff, so I can get on GooleTalk while I’m in the car (yea, that’s a great idea).

Woo hoo!  2008!  What the heck happened to 2007?  Oh well.  I hope you all had a good New Year’s Eve and here’s to the future!

…my wife.  There’s a number of reasons why, but the most recent is that she knows me, and knows what I want, even when I don’t tell her.  So, recently, I’ve been passively looking at MP3/Video players, with the intention of getting something, since my old Dell DJ is a few years old/falling apart/hard to use/etc.  Plus, I really liked the iPod nano I got for her last year.  So, what does she get me for Christmas, the device I’ve dubbed the AntiPod (since it’s black, and not the normal iPod white):

Now, that’s not my music selection there, but you get the idea. It’ll also play videos, which I tested out last night.  It works like a champ.  So, those of you out there with your own iPod, shoot me some suggestions on accessories.  I’m planning on getting a cover for it (since I hate scratches in anything), but I’d gladly take any advice.  All I have to say is that I’m a lucky man, and a grateful one.  Thanks dear!  For everything!

Now, the ubergeek part of this post.  I’m loving Linq, and the new improvements in C# that come along with the .NET 3.5 framework.  I’m sure the other developers out there can relate to this, but I usually code something thinking “Well, that’s how it should work, so I’m good”, knowing that it’s not true.  I might get it 75% right, and after a few trips to Google/Microsoft.com/etc., I’ll get it figured out.  Well, I just coded something using Linq, thinking that very thought, and what do you know…it actually DID work like I thought it would.  It’s really the first time that I’ve experienced a language/technology doing exactly what I thought it would without having to understand the “guts” of what’s going on.  Anyways, I just had to share.

I hope all is well with you and yours.  And to add to the holiday merriment, enjoy this little ditty sent to me by my father-in-law:

• I got elfed

May this season bring you many viewings of A Christmas Story (watching it now), It’s a Wonderful Life, the ever popular National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and one of my new favorites Elf.

…an immortal existed.  Someone who had ridden the waves of time, and somehow never crashed.  That’s the premise of an interesting movie I just have seen – The Man From Earth (which had it’s producer’s encouraging it’s download, which makes it even cooler). 

The story, and the actual cinematics themselves, are fairly simple.  A professor is “retiring”, and his friend surprize him with a going away party.  During the conversation, he reveals that he’s actually a man who has lived over 140,000 years, while not aging a day.  The whole movie is basically this guy’s living room, and the conversation that ensues.  One of the neat features of this movie is that his fellow teachers each represent differing fields (which in turn represent different voices in history/mankind).  There is a biologist, a historian, a psychiatrist, a “modern man” with his trophy wife, a religious literalist, and the open-minded girlfriend. 

One of the interesting things about the movie is the idea that a person who had lived that long wouldn’t stand out.  He wouldn’t be a collector of “relics”.  In most other “immortal” stories (Highlander, for one), it seems that the main character has collected items through the years.  In this movie, there is a reference to a tool that might have been used by early man.  The main character, “John”, makes the point that this tool, to him, would have been no different than a simple pen or pair of scissors to us.  If we were to live that long, would we still have that old pen? 

Another interesting part of this movie is it’s simplicity.  I believe that the entire film was shot in a week, and there are no special effects.  The movie’s “meat” is all dialog.  After watching, I thought this movie would transition well into the theatre. 

Now, there are some controversial bits to the movie, mostly surrounding some of the more religious implications in the movie.  While I may not agree with the sentiment in those moments, it is still an interesting discussion to have. 

All in all, I was surprized at how much the movie made me think.  It’s rare, these days espeically, that a movie leaves you with more questions to ask and more discussions to have.  Usually, they’re just a “good ride”.  Now, those movies have their place, and I enjoy them as much as anyone, but it’s nice to find a movie that’s simple, yet so complex. 

Anyways, if you haven’t, you should check it out.  It’s definately worth the time spent.

Until next time…

I found this artice on Gizmodo (from Digg), and I had to share it.

• Imperial Stormtroopers Arrest Santa, Emperor to Take Over

Merry Christmas!

Wow, it looks like the shakeup in college football coaching jobs isn’t limited to college football.

• Petrino reportedly phones in resignation to Falcons

How crazy is that?  I mean, I know the Falcons are stinkin’ it up this year, but I thought he’d at least last another season.  This one went down the crapper right from the beginning, which wasn’t his fault at all.  The interesting thing is that the resignation is effective pretty much immediately.  He’s not going to finish out the rest of the season.

Oh well, we’ll see what happens. 

Ok, does anyone else find it hard to get into the Christmas spirit, when you’re driving down the road in December, and you’re rolling down the windows since it’s so warm?  I’m just wondering.

I’m sure it’ll cool off as the month progresses, but we’re looking at breaking record highs for this time of year.  Craziness, I tell ya.

That was the headline of the AJC, that I thought was pretty clever.  So, Paul Johnson is to be our new head coach.  There’s an interesting article online, from the AJC, about the timeline between Gailey’s dismissal and Johnson’s announced hire.

• Jackets interviewed eight for job

So far, I think it’ll be a good thing.  He’s got a pretty impressive record, and he comes from a college where academics are as (if not more) important (and difficult) as they are at Tech.  Time will tell.  We’re about to enter some “rebuilding years”, but I hope it doesn’t take too long to “right the ship” (to use another nautical aphorism).  I think Gailey never really understood how to coach a college team.  I think his skill is with the pros, and it just doesn’t translate well (look at Spurrier for the opposite effect).  Anyways, that’s all I have for now.