So I got a random email tonight, his words not mine, from a 21 year old Comp Sci student up in Wisconsin.

"I'm 21, a computer science major at a smaller private college in Wisconsin. I stumbled on your blog just by chance. I see that you're 31, a software developer, and (if I do say so myself) leading a pretty nice life.

I was just curious what kind of career path you took that led you to where you are today?"

Check out my full blog post to see my response.

Just archiving a link for me to read...

Last night I launched a new feature on SCCAForums.com. Our recently launched Mapping System uses Google Maps functionality to allow SCCAForums.com Registerd users to plot points on our map, allowing users to see who is located near them, or in other parts of the country. Check out the Maps page for more features! We're sure this new system will generate some questions and we've tried to answer a few of them here, we'll add to that list over the next few days. If you have further questions please post in our Questions and Suggestions forum. http://sccaforums.com/maps/...

It looks like I (Chris Hammond) am back with the Cincinnati Reds again! I still have some of the Chris Hammond rookie cards from when he started with the league, with the Reds. For more information on Chris Hammond the pitcher, check out...

The above topic covers two different thoughts.. I have the power. Chad complained this morning because his once obscure site has now been indexed by google. That's right, I have the power! The other reason for the post. This morning I got a new Microsoft Natural Keyboard (4000). When I arrived at work I took off my fleece jacket and reached for my mouse. I immediatly felt a large shock, and after about an hour of diagnosis I figured out that I managed to fry the mouse with that shock. Great, now I have to go buy a new...

I've been here in Lexington, Kentucky for the past 4 days. I was fortunate enough to meet two of the brightest minds in the industry! Also, I can't forget Chad Hobson (checkout that killer site, what mad skillz). Anyways, back to the brightest minds. I got to meet Shaun Walker, founder of DotNetNuke, and Scott Willhite, one of the Board members for DotNetNuke. I of course got them to sign my DotNetNuke book while they were...

Lost is back! Thank goodness for the Tivo! I didn't realize it was starting back up tonight, but Tivo saved the day. I was at our DotNetNuke meeting tonight during the time Lost was...

The first St. louis DotNetNuke User's Group Meeting will be held on December 8th, 2005. Be sure to check out DnNUG.com for more...

I decided today was the day to Upgrade Solo2.org. I'm upgrading the software to run on CommunityServer 2.0 Beta 1. Here's to hoping the beta is at least semi stable! I've got all of the posts up through 9am downloaded and imported into a DB, now I'm working on converting them into a good CS format so I can get the site up and running tonight. I'm converting from a DNN/Ubb.Classic website to run Solo2.org fully out of...

http://weblogs.asp.net/christoc/archive/2005/08/24/423620.aspx So here's how the story goes. Back in May I signed up to take the exam 70-315 (Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET), I signed up for a test date in July. I had never taken an MS exam, or even looked at a sample question, so I posted the following thread. http://weblogs.asp.net/christoc/archive/2005/06/28/416289.aspx While there were some good sugggestions, I ended up postponing my test date to 8/23 because work was extremely busy (still is) and I hadn't prepared for the test at all. Fast forward to 8/22 at 9pm. I leave the St. Louis Indigo Road show, and look down at my phone, I get a notification that I have an appt the following day, my C# test at 1pm. Oh crap, that's right, I completely forgot about it. I had intended to reschedule again because of the major projects at work, but it was now too late. I emailed my boss, told him I'd f'd up, was going to fail this test if I even went to take it, not knowing if I'd be able to even go due to the work load right now. I called the proctor for the test, he said I could come in anytime before 5pm, so I could make it to the 1:30pm meeting at a client site that had been scheduled at 11am that morning. I went from the client site, still, having not prepared, with no clue what I was about to get into. I got there at 3pm, and had 2 hours to take the test. 59 minutes later I was done. I thought, oh well, good practice at least, and I'd get to use the free retake of the test that MS had been offering when I signed up. I pressed done, and boom, "Congratulations you've passed!" Needless to say, I was a bit suprised, but stoked none the less. So, 1 test down, 2-4 more to go. Now, I think I'll definitely study for the test of...

I've got another blog to add to my list. My work blog. Nothing interesting there yet, but soon...

I'm using this thread to keep track of materials I'll use for preparing to take my certification test for MS test #70-315 “Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET“ http://www.whizlabs.com/articles/mcsd-70-315-article.html more...

I'm making another brief appearance at the St. Louis .Net User's Group meeting on Monday the 27th. I'll be giving a brief overview of dotnetnuke 3.1. Though, their web site appears to be down right...