Kerner.net

MAX 2008

I had a great time at MAX this year. It was probably the best conference Adobe has put on in several years. Each year I make claims that I may not come back next year because of disappointment. After this year I have no plans to miss MAX next year (although I don't like it being in LA). Usually I have the experience of skipping sessions to hang out and network with people in the Community Lounge.

The main educational value coming from one or two sessions that blow me away. Sometimes it's hard to make a schedule for the conference. I always have a couple of can't miss sessions, but the others usually seem lackluster. This year was totally different. I only had four slots that didn't have a good fit for me. Most of the sessions had several presentations that interested me. I found it hard to pick between several good topics - an ideal situation in a conference. My big complaint is that a lot of the sessions were only offered once. The sessions are all supposed to be posted on Adobe TV so hopefully I'll be able to catch those I wasn't able to see at the event.

My favorite sessions:

• Anatomy of a Video Player
• Hands on with Flash Catalyst (Thermo)
• Using Flex and Adobe AIR to Automate Creative Suite 4 Workflows
• Creating Effects with Pixel Bender
• Programmatic Animations in After Effects with Expressions and Scripting
• Both Keynotes were also really good

If this pattern holds, MAX getting better every year, next year should be great. This year it had the same feel I remember from the Macromedia UCON days. Great job Adobe!

50,000 Shoes in 50 Days

Just took part in the 50,000 Shoes in 50 Days challenge. I would encourage you to do the same. It's pretty amazing that for $5 you can send two pairs of shoes to people who've never had shoes. It just takes a couple of minutes. You never really think about how important shoes are, because we wear them all the time, but over 300 million people around the world don’t have shoes. Walking around barefoot most places on the planet isn't safe like it is in your back yard. Having to walk around without shoes puts people into life-threatening situations.

It only takes 2 minutes to provide shoes for people who really need them. It costs about the same as a trip to Starbucks.
 

Coolest Birthday Gift Ever - Cheese Making Kit

My birthday was this weekend and Sarah got me what is probably the coolest birthday gift I've ever gotten. The gift being a cheese making kit makes me a pretty big dork. We've been on a kick of producing our own food whenever possible (going on three months of no bread buying). We joined a farm-share coop. Our milk comes from a local, natural dairy.

Sarah's knitting has been a big part of the joke that developed into this gift. I've for the most part been against her spinning yarn. I put up with the room dedicated to yarn. I put up with the supplies for dying stuff. Spinning was out of the question. The rule was no spinning unless we had the sheep and I could quit my job and make artisinal sheep's milk cheese. I'm wondering if there is a plot that involves a spinning wheel given that the cheese making kit includes supplies to make mozzarella, ricotta, an instructional DVD and a book of 75 cheese recipes. Several of the recipes use sheep's milk. Hmm.

I'm going to start with the quick, soft cheeses first, then try goat cheese. I'm hoping that if all goes well I can start a hard cheese or two after the first of the year. I think the crawl space under our living room is the perfect temperature/humidity to be a cheese cellar. If not there's the spare dorm fridge in the garage. On second thought the dorm fridge might be a better idea to start.

End of the Political Season

I've got to say that I'm glad for the end of the political season this year. Last night was the first election where I didn't have more than one television going in my living room. The main reason is that we only have one television, so I didn't have others to pull through the house like previous elections. Sarah and I each had our laptops as well. I'm a huge fan of the political process and I love elections. I worked on several campaigns in the past (two Bond senate campaigns, several Hulshof runs for the house, and Dole in 96). I'm glad the season is over because I'm tired of the division this year has put upon the country. I'm sick of people being called a hillbilly for being Republican and being heathens for being a Democrat.

As the presidential campaigns came to a close I've got to say I was incredibly impressed by Obama's positive approach, and dismayed that the Democratic party and most of the Republicans team took a negative route. On Saturday I went to an Obama speech and was impressed how when the crowd would boo McCain they were told "No need to boo, just vote." It's a shame this type of behavior couldn't exist in all political settings. While I was certainly leaning one way the attitudes and styles of campaigning presented a dramatic difference between the candidates that impacted my decision. I think the days of calling myself a Republican may be over, but I have difficulty calling myself a Democrat. My political views haven't changed that much over the years, but the Republican party certainly has changed. I used to joke that I was a Libertarian, which is partially true, but not very practical.

The biggest challenge that faces the Republican party are voters like me. I'm fiscally conservative and want balanced budgets. I'm also relatively socially liberal because I want to take care of the poor, have good schools, good roads and good healthcare. I think governmental action is most effective at a local level but that quality needs to be balanced across the nation. I'm incredibly protective of my civil liberties which is why the concept of a "free speech zone" makes me sick. I believe that as one of the richest nations in the world there are global problems that we should be working to solve (hunger, lack of clean water, curable disease). I want smaller government, less federal taxation, and a radical commitment to human rights.

I'm also religious, I work as a pastor. My faith doesn't just influence my decisions, my faith is the largest guide to my decisions. My faith is not a weapon to be used against those who disagree with me. Government is not about enforcing the faith values of one group on another. If people in the Church lived their beliefs, put their money and actions where they say their faith guides them governmental intervention wouldn't be required in so many cases. It's the reason we support Heifer every year. It's why organizations like Compassion are so important. It's why Advent Conspiracy is such a great idea. It's the reason congregations run food pantries and shelters and missions and adopt villages, neighborhoods, and schools.

I was incredibly impressed with both the speeches by McCain and Obama last night. I feel like both handled their respective role with dignity and class. I pray that as a nation we truly can come together and work effectively. Like it or not, Barack Obama is going to be president. It's time for us to put differences aside and restore respect and civility. I'm proud to be an American after this historic election.

Backyard Complete

Got the leaves in the back all cleaned up. I like being able to post from the phone. Going to make short posts here possible when Twitter is too limiting.

Backyard Project

This post is mainly for testing the iPhone typepad app, but this is the project before me. I'm hoping to get a considerable amount of the leaves picked up before it gets too dark to work and the polls start closing. Would have started earlier, but was still a bit groggy from this morning, but that's another story.

Hello TypePad

Just making a new post to TypePad. I've already updated my old site to redirect people here. In just a few days I'll swap the domain over and TypePad will officially be the home of kerner.net