Enterprise Library 4.1 Released

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.

The Blue Angels, Brian Terwilliger style

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.

Hold on for a Second-Gotta Grab a PSP Before my Flight

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.

Getting excited for ASU Football

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.

Date Opponent Home/Away Time
8/30/08 Northern Arizona Home 7:00 PM
9/6/08 Stanford Home 7:00 PM
9/13/08 UNLV Home 7:00 PM
9/20/08 Georgia Home 5:13 PM
10/4/08 California Away TBA
10/11/08 USC Away TBA
10/25/08 Oregon Home TBA
11/1/08 Oregon State Away 7:15 PM
11/8/08 Washington Away TBA
11/15/08 Washington State Home TBA
11/28/08 UCLA Home 7:30
12/6/08 UA Away TBA

GO DEVILS!

Podapalooza 2008 Posted on Student Pilot Cast

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.

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Xbox 360 Gets a Facelift

xboxLogo

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…

Video: Xbox 360 New Experience Trailer XboxFront

Happy Independence Day

What a great day to celebrate!  Here are a couple of pics from our 4th of July breakfast.  Just a little something my amazing wife, Crystal, cooked up.  We had a good discussion for what this day means while we ate.

These are the waffles we had…

…and the rest of the family before eating.

Enjoy your freedoms, everyone.  Do whatever you can to keep them.

My new flight video

As I mentioned in a previous post, I’m producing an aviation podcast at www.studentpilotcast.com.  I’ve just released a video for the video podcast feed.  It’s basically my first video episode, and is kinda cool, so I thought I would post it here as well. 

I realize there is a problem with the video when the prop is in the shot (I cover this in the video itself).  They’re getting better, though.  Stay tuned.


SPC Video #002-On My Own from Bill Williams on Vimeo.

Green Crude (Gas) Made From….Algae?

As a SCUBA diver, and former marine aquarium junkie, I know a fair share about algae…you know, the nasty green or brown tiny plants that grow on the glass of an aquarium, or that turn ponds and unkept pools green?  Well how about using this plant to create gas?  That’s what Sapphire Energy is trying to do.  They have issued a press release about their innovative research, and hopefully soon, a product.

I’m always very skeptical of “gasoline replacement” fads because, for the most part, they never seem to work.  Now, before you start screaming and carrying-on, take the tin-foil off of your head and join us in reality…it’s very unlikely that the government (and every government in the world) is covering up for the big bad oil companies as they murder, plunder alternative ideas, and kill off potential competition.  C’mon…you just can’t keep stuff like that a secret; too many prying eyes.  It just doesn’t make sense…so let’s not go there.

Now, being a skeptic (and I must add, a layman…as I am very far from an expert on fuel…just a concerned, but moderately eductated consumer), corn-based bio fuels has not excited me much for several reasons; trading dwindling agricultural land and water for gas production not being the least of them.  I have been waiting for something that just makes more sense…and is hopefully something a little more radical from a science perspective, but feasible from a market perspective.  If it turned out to be cleaner, cheaper to produce, and more renewable…all the better.  I also knew, from my economics training, that when gas prices got high enough (i.e. as global and local demand continued up and supply stayed the same or decreased a la rationing from OPEC, no more refinement capacity, and even possibly actual dwindling world supplies of crude) that it would become financially feasible to come up with alternatives.  Maybe we’ve finally reached that point.

As a budding airplane pilot (and avid auto driver…I’m American, after all :)), I would love more this and other efforts to produce real (hopefully cheaper in the end) alternatives to dino fuel.  But its not just so I pay less for Aviation Gas at the airport or 91 Octane at the Chevron down the street…everything gets cheaper to produce and sell if fuel prices decrease.  That said, I don’t think fuel prices are too far out of whack from inflation (I’d have to check the latest numbers), but still, cheaper is better.

Sapphire’s efforts seem promising to me.  First, algae grows like mad…and in water, even waste water.  It also grows pretty much anywhere there is water and sunlight and CO2 (i.e. pretty much anywhere).  Their process appears to produce something that very much approximates gasoline so it should run in existing cars, trucks, boats, planes, etc.  It can be moved and sold using today’s infrastructure for gasoline.  The big questions are, for me:  will it work?  will it be cheap, when it’s all said and done?  Only time will tell on these.

With Sapphire’s press release and some other sources, including this article from the LA Times (which indicates goals of having this completed and on the market in three years), though, I’m feeling some of my skepticism get ever so slightly weaker.  Hopefully for more than just a moment.  For now, I’m rooting for my gas to turn green in a few years.