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Well, it has been a while since I did a new look for our homepage, so here it is.  What do ya think?  This is a theme instead of the usual totally custom method I do, but I like it.  It is a very magazine type of look, but it gets a lot more content on the front page, and uses the sidebars better.  So it should drive a little more traffic, and be easier to use for those that do show up.

Well, I finally broke down and got a laptop. It has been a while since I had one, or felt I needed one. But here I am typing this on my shiny new laptop.

While I am extremely pro-Linux, and getting more so as I deal with Vista and the stupidity that is Microsoft’s latest OS (I can’t wait for Windows 7, anything is an improvement). Enough about Vista, be looking for that in a few days, as I have to deal with it, and pretend I have the intelligence of a basic moss covered rock in order to use it. I digress…

I didn’t end up getting a Mac for a couple of reasons. First is the price, it is more expensive for less machine, which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but I do understand it as they are pretty sexy. But I will admit as I type here on this backlit keyboard, this Dell is pretty sexy as well.

I have had some terrible support experiences with Apples over the last few years. You have to drag your computer to an Apple store, after you make an appointment, then you have to wait to get it back, which could be weeks. I don’t have the time for that crappy service. If I could tolerate that level of incompetence, then I wouldn’t have much of a case for the purchase of a computer in the first place.

Instead, Dell gives me next business day on site, with even accidental damage covered. Apple doesn’t even begin to offer that kind of service, regardless of their completely misleading commercials.

Then there is the issue of having to run Windows in a virtual machine for a lot of the software, and having to re-purchase the Adobe suite which is like $1800, instead of being able to use the fair-use clause and use the same copy for both my desktop and laptop.

So, what would the point of paying more for way crappy service, having to double up on software, new learning curve, and then running the other OS in a virtual machine. So, here I sit, hating Vista, but loving the machine, especially for the price. Thanks Dell, and oh, Apple, take note, either improve your warranty service, or just don’t bother going after the larger business market outside of the creative arenas.

Well, it has been about a year since I officially stopped working on PHPX.  And last week someone came forward and asked to take over the project.  It has been a very interesting thought process on this since it is a lot more complex than I originally thought it would be.

First, there is the problem moving trademarks and copyrights.  PHPX is a trademark, PHPX is also a 501(c) non-profit dedicated to the distribution of free and quality software in order to better facilitate communication between communities of people in a virtual environment.  Sounds all official doesn’t it?  Well, sadly, it is.

I want to give over PHPX for someone that cares about it to develop it, but I am not really sure how to disentangle myself from all the legal stuff that goes along with it.  Perhaps I should just fork it and let them take over that.

What do you think?

For those of you that didn’t know, I am officially looking for a job.  Yes, I have left Caris.  I wasn’t there too long, sadly, but I suppose it was time to move along.  I learned a few things, have some more experience, and paid the bills, what more do you need from a job?

So, although it is the worst time of year in a horrible economy to be looking, I am looking for a job.  The typical, Application Development Manager or Project Manager position, really not further east than Irving with a few exceptions.

And to Caris, well not the company, but the people there, to my friends, I will miss working with you, it was fun and great building PathConnect together and watching it grow and make the customers’ day.  I will remeber the experiences and enjoy looking back.  Good luck in all that you do in the future.

Per the usual, just posting that the PHPX License has changed very slightly due to some recent lack of understanding of basic OSS principles.  Just clearing up the area about warranties.  Yes, Rebel and GMORG, I am aware this has been in production for almost a decade without issue, however, everyday is new and brings new things.

As usual, the current license applies to all new downloads, changes, forks, etc.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

I have had several emails lately asking what CMS/Portal system we are using on this website. To answer that question it is PHPX . It is a system I started about 8 years ago and have been working ever since, with a few rather sizable breaks in there. It powers the entire website including the blog, gallery, wine list, etc… There is nothing on this website that PHPX doesnt generate. Hope that clears up the confusion, and answers the questions. PHPX is free to all for download and installation, so if you have a website that you want to have a lot of functionality on but do not want to actually have to spend much time managing it, feel free to give PHPX a try!

Ok it is offical, we suck at this. We never update this site, mainly because we are just too busy. I am back in school going for my BS, and Jessica is really wrapped up at work, which she loves.

Other than just the status quo, there is nothing going on. PHPX is a little more active these days, not really sure why, I have been slow releasing versions, but it seems to be picking up over there…

PHPSiteAdmin has successfully been installed.