Bruce's Blog

We've been in Florida since about midnight yesterday after having the wrong size plane show up, then having a "unscheduled maintenance opportunity", and then about 30 minutes of de-icing.  Not to mention Budget rent-a-car completely messing up our...

Well the last "missing piece" of our vacation arrived today - the passes to view the planned Space Shuttle launch on February 7th. I was worried that there were only 3 days left for them to come UPS, but they made it today!  I know Shuttle launches are...

Admittedly when I first heard they wanted the Cub Scouts to do a "craft" at the Planetarium event on Astronomy I was a little disappointed.  A paper-mache planet, glue some stars on a chart, something with popsicle sticks? But what they ended up with...

So I assume this happens to many people, every so often - you need to retire a fire extinguisher as it is past its "last good date" (sometimes by almost a year).  So you collect the one(s) that is being put out to pasture and get replacement(s). Now...

So I've wanted to try out a "non-DRM" music purchase on Amazon to see how it works.  I have purchased several iTunes albums and singles that are forever lost in iTunes-limbo because I did not de-authorize and re-authorize computers (or burn them to CD)...

I've had a long-term discussion/debate with a few people about the market reality of a full-time profession for computer help in the home.  Sure there are Geek Squads and FireDogs now associated with big-box stores, but will there be room for a "profession" for...

I've been taking spare time every few days to keep learning about the LEGO robotics.  I figured since we'd talked a lot about the recent LEGO Sumo Building Competition (and maybe doing something similar locally - more on that soon). The basic ideas were: Start...

I have to get 7 cub scouts started tonight on creating a mousetrap car. This is in addition to the pinewood derby car they are already working on, and some are working on LEGO robotics creations as well. I've Googled it, bought some supplies (but still don't have the...

New 2008 Goal #5: Get better at foosball I really got shamed in the annual tournament this week and need to bring my game up a notch - goal is a top 8 finish next year. #6: Stay involved with the .NET User Group This has been a really great resource for developers in...

So what do I want to publicly set at goals for 2008? The first two are holdovers from 2007 - (#1) being more physically active personally and with the family (bikes, basketball, hikes, etc.) and (#2) finish my Microsoft certification MCPD/Web. New Goal (#3): Learn a...

I've been reading and listening to other people's review of last year, and setting goals for the next year.  I'm not typically a "resolution setter" but I do remember last January having the typical thoughts flow through my head.  Here's a brief rundown of...

A friend (who shall remain nameless) sent a link to an article after we had several discussions this season about Christmas and Santa (yes we both have kids).  If you still believe (or find the whole discussion about the issue(s) tedious) then come back...

Sure, plan a trip to Florida and watch the record cold weather creep in. Current Temps: Pensacola - balmy 24 degrees (12 wind chill) Destin - 26 / 14 Jacksonville - 26 /15 Surely further south will be nice .... Clearwater - 32 / 21 Kennedy Space Center - 36 / 26 Waaay...