I am doing a split trip this week to speak at a conference in Boston. Austin to DC; DC to Boston; Boston to DC and DC to Austin. I dont mind breaking my week between multiple cities, as much as it takes focus off the issues at hand. But the trip to Boston via Dulles Airport was awful. Dulles International is going thru’ some constructions and the flight was out of G terminal, all the way over in West Virginia (atleast thats what it seemed like). The security personnel adds to the misery as well. I know many of you share similar sentiments. I like smaller airports as they dont seem as bad as these large ones - ATL, IAD etc. all have security personnel who think they are GODS gift to mankind and dont mind to exude that opinion every second.
I do however, am fortunate to get some decent co-passengers in the last few trips. Today I travelled with a Jewish kid whose Dad is an Astronomy Prof in Harvard and was checking out UVA, W&M and other VA schools for his Undergrad. Good kid with an open mind. We talked about the Ottoman empire, Romans, Shiksa, Parents, SMS, Chicks, G W Bush, Football, Red Sox, Witches, Israel, Moses and Evolution. And his name was Sam
To end on a positive note, I am glad to be able to watch my first Monday Night Football this season. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are both tied at 7, as I pen this…

I am moving from my current role as a Collaborative Portal consultant to that of an Enterprise Intergration Solutions Architect with focus on SOA/Webservices and emphasis on security modeling. This means more travel to multiple customers and more long nights reading specifications, I am excited for the opportunity. Here is a little blurb from the email I sent my current group, as I am transitioning into the new role -

In life travels we often take several journeys leading upto our final destination[s]. Often times we have to get off a train to board another one. The kinship and camaraderie built with the co-passengers during the ride is not lost, as much as there is an absence. As we continue to grow within our professional and personal careers we often face similar situations.
But in a world of pervasive connectivity (snail mail/email/sametime/SMS/cellphones/blogs) we never feel the absence, as the person who left to board the other train is only a phone call/email or ping away.
I will continue to enjoy working with you, and cant wait for the renewed collaboration as I move on to my new role as an EIS Architect within the Asset & Integration Technology (part of SWG Technical Strategy group).
There are no need for good-byes, but only good lucks and wishes..

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu, Hakuna Matata, Vazhga Valamudan

Make:Blog has a neat link to making a DNA model by knitting. You can find the actual content here.
Another good read on IBM Developerworks on Metaprogramming. Metaprogramming is one of the cores to the D R Y principle. The article is well written, in that even a newbie can understand what metaprogramming is and how to get started.

Here is a neat write up on Ruby Queue and Linux Clustering ..to create my fav pic [North America @ Nite]

I am always amazed at the simplicity of the dynamic languages to do the job at hand. I am really enthused to finish my piece on “My escapades with mod_py”, which I started a while back. Will post a link back here on my blog, once I finish writing.

I had to pick up a new book by Bruce Tate - titled Beyond Java. Normaly I peruse them by going to Borders and B&N (I am cheap), but I had to get this one. I finished half of it on the plane ride to DC.
I believe that language is just a tool to create something useful for an user (at the end they are all users). 5 years ago it was C for me, now its Java/C#/Python/Ruby. Tomorrow it might be Acorn (like OAK only better ).
Whether your job is tied to the J2EE/Java scene or the .Net scene, you need to atleast peruse this book. Reading it hasnt been a news-flash for me, as I am aware of whats been transpiring in the Java world and what other options are out there for “baby sitting database apps”. But it was good concise read of different lines of thinking presented in a cogent manner.
As a consultant I need to know what to use from my toolbag and what to add to my tools, to best serve my customers. I will stop coding the day I loose sight of that. Until then…

Today was the Ride for Roses. Its an annual ride sponsored by Lance Armstrong Foundation to honor and support cancer research and awareness. I have heard a lot about the race, but I got to experience it first hand. As I mentioned earlier, I hadnt registered, so I didnt ride.
I got up around 7am this morning. The weather was much cooler than normal - about 50F with winds. I rode my bike to the expo center which is where the ride starts. As I heard the National Anthem, I sped up to be in time at the entrace to see Lance and the gang ride off. I just made it in time. Here is what I captured, with the press and broadcast crew pulling in the front of Lance’s group..

What followed this was truly moving. If you ever have been moved by a sermon in a church, or a prayer chant in a temple - then you know what I experienced this morning.
I saw a sea (about 6500+) of cyclists ride. They were men, women, boys, girls, some babies(in the tow), old, young, fat, skinny, dressed like a pro-cyclist, dressed like they just got out of bed, survivors, supporters, people with one arm, people with prosthetics and a family of 5 in a tandem. I saw people riding for their mom, dad, aunt, grandpa, grandma, friend and themselves. Some rode with a team to support a cause of their own, some to honor the fallen and some to honor themselves. Here are some I helped (they had some bike issues) - notice the signs on the bike and their backs..


As they all rode towards the sunrise, I peddled my way back home witha new resolution….

Here is a post by Steve V (from IONA) and the ensuing dialogue around if CORBA was successful or not. For those of us who were mere bystanders in that issue and might have been too busy working at customer sites implementing a SMTP messaging environment or Portal, it also gives an insight into some of the history and its relationship with WS-*

via Ted I found out about a Blog I should add to my reading list. This definitely sounds like a good dimension addition to the geeky nature of my reading list.

I have always been a believer in stitching loosely coupled components using an easy to use dynamic script/language to deliver what the user or enterprise needs. At times I can get more done in less time using a language like Python or PERL rather than Java.
I have been noticing all the publicity and press on Ruby, lately and the momentum behind Ruby on Rails.
Courtesy of Yahoo research, the leading trend in Ruby Web Apps -

I am adding to my ever growing list to experiment with Ruby on Rails - by porting a sample Struts App I wrote onto this framework.
I am seeing that this movement has gotten support and leadership from some industry heavyweights like JDD, Andy and Dave. I am recommending some of my fellow geeks to attend the Ruby on Rails session to be held in Reston VA.
You can also read a lot on Ruby on our Developerworks, as well.

I wanted to do a ride for my Mom’s Lupus and was contemplating on the Ride for Roses, that Lance does every year. But it was too late for us to register, so instead I registered last week for the Outlaw100 ride. This ride happened this weekend on the Saturday. My entire family was there to cheer me on for the first official Lupus ride for my Mom - as this is just the begining.

It was my first long ride on the saddle in over 6 years. I used to ride the Valley Forge Trail from Valley Forge, PA to Philly PA. That was about 13+miles, mostly flat.
This one on Saturday was in the rolling country around Round Rock, TX. The hills were gradual and painful, nothing like Le Mont Ventoux, but felt like that. I did complete 25.3mi in 2:03hrs with about 5mts chitchatting at the watering hole.
The overall experience was exhilirating and liberating. I wouldnt have been able to keep pace and climb those hills without the cause - FOR MY MOM’S LUPUS.
My family was waiting at the finish line and made few new friends of their own as well.
I am looking forward to volunteering and cheering the riders next weekend for the Rides for Roses.