A quick Photoshop session today after talking with David Allen produced this.  See my post on my Student Pilot Cast website for the background.  I’m still chuckling a little.

I was updating one of my Vista machine’s installed JRE a couple of days ago, and I noticed something interesting.  I’m sure this has been old news for a while, but it was the first time I had noticed it.  While running the installer from Sun Microsystems, I got what seems these days like the obligatory “toolbar” up-sell.   This time though, even though this is software from Sun, the up-sell was for the MSN/Live toolbar.  I thought this was an interesting combo, and took a quick screenshot of the installer (below).  Of course the next screen was an ad for Sun’s Open Office as a “good enough” alternative to Microsoft Office, so maybe the dogs and cats aren’t quite living together yet, but close.

I found this a couple of months ago…and of course it still reigns as my favorite tech unboxing video yet.  Enjoy.

Okay…so I usually don’t go all out for seasonal decorations…it’s just not my thing, but for some unknown reason, I decided to put a little effort into our pumpkin carving this year for Halloween.  I did a little research on the interwebs, and decided to “help” my kids do their pumpkins.  After seeing some success, I asked my wife to pick up a pumpkin for me, which she kindly did, and I proceeded to undertake the most difficult carving job of my young carving career; the mug of Sarah Palin.  I figured with the election being a short three days away or so, it was apropos.  I had been taught via the web that you can actually accomplish “shading” with pumkin carvings, which I didn’t realize was possible before three days ago. 

Well, it created quite the stir in the neighborhood.  Word spread of the unlikely masterpiece, and people started coming as if to the neighborhood pumpkin Mecca.  Lot’s of comments and ooh’s and ah’s.  Honestly, while I was working on it for the two hours that I spent, I really didn’t think it would turn out (and neither did my wife, Crystal).  Even when it was mostly done I thought it was a bust…but I put a little light in it and turned down the lights, and voilà!  I did some finishing touches to bring out the glasses a little more, and added shading to the hair, and I was done.  We put them out for all to enjoy who could make it by…and now I’m putting them out for you.

First, the kid’s pumpkins.

And, for the Palin.

All in good fun, I guess.

I know, sounds boring to most people, but for enterprise developers, this is cool stuff.  In case you care, and didn't know, the latest release of Enterprise Library has been released.

Microsoft patterns & practices is excited to announce the latest addition to
the p&p library of software architecture guidance:

Enterprise Library 4.1

October 2008 Release

– MSDN site: http://msdn.microsoft.com/entlib

– Community Forum: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=119312

– Community Extensions: http://codeplex.com/entlibcontrib

Enterprise Library is a collection of reusable software components (application blocks) designed to assist software developers with common enterprise development challenges (such as logging, validation, caching, exception handling, and many others). Application blocks are a type of guidance encapsulating Microsoft recommended development practices; they are provided as source code, tests plus documentation that can be used "as is," extended, or modified by developers to use on complex, enterprise-level line-of-business development projects.

I haven't had a chance to try it out yet, but wanted to pass it along.

Wow.  Brian Terwilliger, the director and producer of the great aviation documentary film One Six Right, has done it again.  This time in a very high quality web vignette about his history and his media ride with the Navy jet demonstration team, the Blue Angels.  I can’t say any more that you won’t get from seeing, so just watch “Flying Full Circle”.

Feel free to watch it here if you’re pressed for time, but if not, do yourself a favor and watch (or download) a higher quality version at Brian’s site.  Enjoy.

I know these have been around for a while…but I have never seen one, until this week.  I ended up in Las Vegas a few days ago on business, and ran into my first Sony Vending Machine in the airport.  I could not resist snapping a quick picture of it.  While music videos looped on the LCD display, a myriad Sony electronic gadgets and accessories attempt to lure you into parting with your money.  Look, I’m all for not having to talk to lame, pimple-faced teenager, uninformed store salesmen that you find in most electronic stores, but this takes half the fun out of shopping, or more accurately, returning, electronics.  Who are you supposed to yell at?  Additionally, this was in the Las Vegas airport, inside the terminal (i.e. the business side of the ever-so-vigilant TSA).  Even if you could drum up the gumption from deep inside yourself to come back and yell at the machine, you’d have to buy some sort of airplane ticket for the privilege.  I suppose there’s a phone number you can call if you have problems, but that’s not face to face yelling, so it’s not the same.

On the other hand, if you’ve just paid $5.00 to United/US Air/Delta/[Insert your dysfunctional airline here] for a $0.20 replica of a pair of headphones on your flight (along with $3.00 for a water and $7.00 for some crackers and cheese), you may be inclined to buy a pair of Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones from the vending machine (which they prefer to call a robotic storefront, but let’s be real) for $200.  This is worth it because you get a return of $100 over your next 20 flights by not having to buy the crappy earphones that they are selling every time, and the other $100 of value comes from not having to listen to any of the announcements from the cockpit or the flight attendants asking you if you want to buy a $3.00 water.  After all, these cancel noise, and that’s what you want.  Another thing…what do you think the chances are that they pre-charge the electronic devices that need batteries.  How disappointing to buy your new PSP for the 3 hour plane ride but you have no juice.  This just helps prove my theory above…it’s for the disembarking airline spit-outs, not those all fresh for their travel.  They expect your defenses are down AFTER the flight.

So, the next time you step off that plane all hot and bothered about just getting mugged by the airline, pull out the credit card (if you have any money left), and keep your eyes out for one of these Sony vending machines, and purchase your headphones/PSP/MP3 player/etc.  Trust me, you’ll feel better.  Or not.

It’s August, and that means we’re in the month of the first ASU game of the 2008-2009 college football season.  In Arizona, it doesn’t really feel like football yet because it’s still so hot…but I know it’s coming, and I’m starting to get excited.  The group of people that I have season tickets with has grown once again…so I think we have a group of 12 or so, now…so it keeps getting better and better.

This is a huge season for ASU, too.  It’s the sophomore season for (not so new anymore) head coach Dennis Erickson, and after a phenomenal debut season last year for him, expectations are high.  Add to that a couple of returning players who were injured last year as well as a maturing team that didn’t loose too much talent, and we have a recipe for a great season.

While every game is important, and because the PAC 10 is so competitive and is structured in such a way that everyone plays everyone (unlike, say, the SEC or the Big 12) it’s even more so, there are a couple of games that stand out.  First, of course, is USC.  Once again, USC is expected to win the PAC 10…but hopefully Dennis and friends will have something to say about that.  But if we head outside of the conference, there’s an equally big game with top ranked Georgia.  I’m already having flashbacks to Nebraska and 19-0, but I’ll try not to get ahead of myself.

In any case, we’re in for an exciting year, and I personally can’t wait for it to get started at the end of this month.  Here is the Sun Devil 2008 schedule.

GO DEVILS!

I’ve just released part 1 of the 2008 edition of Podapalooza on my aviation podcast, which was recorded in Oshkosh at EAA Airventure.  Podapalooza is the gathering of aviation podcasters in Oshkosh each year.  As well as being released on the feed for my Student Pilot Cast and several other aviation podcast feeds, this year it was broadcast live on EAA Radio as well as on the Internet.  Part 2 is following soon.

Participating in this year's event was, in the order they were sitting, Uncontrolled Airspace, The Student Pilot Cast, The Finer Points, Airspeed, and the Pilotcast (along with CFI cast).  Remoted in via skype was Will and Dave of the Pilot's Flight Pod Log.  Notably missing this year were new pilot, Greg, from the Student Pilot Journal and student pilot Jerry from VA Student Pilot.  I'm probably forgetting others as well, so forgive me.

I also want to note that Airventure Today (the daily Airventure newspaper) did an article on the Podapalooza, so check that out if want to.

I really enjoyed participating this year, and felt honored to be on the stage with so many talented people.  It's a great community of people in aviation.  I had a great time in Oshkosh in general, and was able, with the help of my friend Kent from the Pilotcast, to experience two approaches into OSH.  That was incredible.  The show itself is overwhelmingly large and covers everything in aviation, from the smallest of the ultralights to the largest plane I’ve ever seen (the Boeing Dreamlifter), and everything in between.  I’m including a few pics from the event.

An AeroShell T6 lines up for takeoff at the daily airshow

The old tower is set to be torn down soon.

Duggy the DC-3.

And for the largest, here is the Boeing DreamLifter, which is used to carry parts of the new 787 DreamLiner halfway across the world.

As E3 continues, we got some updates yesterday from Microsoft on the future of the Xbox 360.  It turns out the with the Fall release, a lot of changes are coming.  First, for the first time in history (according to the release), a major consumer device will get a complete makeover for free through the power of software.  Essentially, every Xbox 360 that’s out in the wild right now will get a free upgrade this fall that will essentially change the experience without having to buy a new console.  This is the beauty of software. 

Over the last several years, Microsoft has released new versions of the console, integrating new hardware such as larger disk drives and HDMI connectivity, all the while, the underlying platform has stayed the same.  This fall, Microsoft will release a free software update that is in some ways akin to releasing a new console…but nobody will have to purchase anything new.  The update is not just glitz and frosting, either, as far as I can tell right now.  One of the things that will change is the culmination of an exclusive partnership just announced at E3 between Xbox and Netflix, wherein if you are an Xbox Live subscriber (who isn’t…I’ll get to that in a second) and a Netflix subscriber, you will have an online queue in Netflix that you can add movies and TV shows to.  Then, from a TV connected to an Xbox 360, you can choose to watch these movies, and they will begin to stream…starting in as little as 30 seconds.  This isn’t a new idea…I know.  Heck, even Microsoft has been enabling this scenario through Media Center for years, but this partnership and integrated experience, along with a lot of new content available through the Live Marketplace, is a giant step toward true Living Room Integration (LRI) and Home Theater Integration (HTI).  Alright…I just made those terms up…but it works, right?

So…first a quick note about Xbox Live.  Also announced at E3 was that Xbox Live Membership has doubled both of the last two years.  Last year from 3 Million to 6 Million, and this year again to 12 Million.  It's becoming sort of the de facto TV/gaming-based community…and even now encompasses PC gamers (released last year).  I think with the momentum behind Live, great things are to come.  Now, back to this upgrade.

Also, as part of the upgrade, the whole 360 interface will change from the innovative, but aging crisscross interface to something more carousel-like.  This type of interface is something that Microsoft has been working on for years an years…I remember seeing prototypes of carousel interfaces aimed at Windows (way before Vista) over 5 or 6 years ago.  It looks like an incarnation of that has made it to the Xbox in what looks to be a pretty effective and cool looking UI.

Microsoft is calling this the “New Xbox Experience”, and you can read about what has been announced so far here.  But the highlights are:

• Tons of new games, including some sequels to established or up-and coming franchises, including
  • Rock Band 2
  • Guitar Hero World Tour
  • Gears of War 2
  • Fable II
  • Resident Evil 5
  • A new Scene It
  • etc.
• A new “interactive game show” system through Xbox Live produced by the makers of “Deal or No Deal”
• Live Parties
• Create customized avatars (a la the Nintendo Wii, but better looking)
• Tons of new media content (TV shows and Movies) through both Netflix and the Live Marketplace
• Of course, the new User Interface

Here is a video showing a trailer for the update…