Austin City Limits Music Festival lineup announced!

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It’s that time of year. Time to start thinking about the ACL Festival that hits Austin in September. We have attended each year for the good, the bad and the experience. We’ve had great time at the festival. The first two years were my favorites because it was relatively unknown and not yet over crowded. And we’ve had a few bad times. Last year was one of the worst just because of the dry heat and the dust bowl created from everyone walking around.

Forgetting all that the ACL committee has released the band lineup for 2006. Check it out here http://www.aclfestival.com/lineup.aspx. I have to say I’m VERY excited. I’m a big Van Morrison van. I haven’t had the chance to see him live. And considering his age, I’m glad I’ll get the chance. Plus there is Tom Petty, Willie Nelson, Matisyahu to name a few. WOW!

On the radio this morning during my 1 hour trek up MoPac this morning I found it disappointing that so many people are upset over the new lineup. Seems many were anticipating bigger headliners. There was one comment I remember, “There are no headliners under 40”. Well I say good. Maybe less people, especially the younger crowd will show up to the festival. One of my biggest pet peeves over the years is the number of 20-something standing around talking on their cell phones or to each other while the rest of us are trying to enjoy the show. This is just F*CKING annoying and rude.

So bring on the over 40 headliners festival!

Adaptive Path and Access U 2006 conferences…Thanks to all

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Just spent the previous week in DC for work. It was really nice there. Stayed at the Mansion on O again. Wow, what a place.

Return to Austin this week and only spent two days in the office. Was out of the office to attend two conferences over the next three days.

First on Wednesday attended Designing & Building with AJAX hosted by Adaptive Path. This was a very good conference. The best of the speakers was Bill Scott from Yahoo. His team manages to new YUI library. Also, James Craig from Frog Design offered some thoughts on AJAX and Accessibility. This was somewhat of a segue into the next event.

At the happy hour also hosted by Adaptive Path at 219W I was able to meet Jesses James Garrett from Adaptive Path, James Craig from Frog Design. Also met Glenda Sims (www.glendathegood.com). Glenda is a quite brilliant person. She told me all about her museum ideas. She works at UT in the Accessibility area. I also met Bill Woodland. I’m not sure what Bill does. But he is Mr. charming and has a way of talking to people that invites them in for the conversation.

My Thursday and Friday spent at the Access U 2006 hosted by Knowbility. What a fantastic time. I learned so much from these great speakers. I also learned that I know virtually nothing about building accessible web site. Of the many speaker I would like to thank Derek Featherstone for coming all the way to Austin again since his last trip for SXSW. Since I’m interested in JavaScript and the newer AJAX concepts he presented many good ideas on keeping your sites lean and clean and to consider that just because you can add some cool wiz-bang feature with AJAX, should you. Also Randy Horwitz and Rhodes Gibson who presented two very detailed classes on Accessible forms and tables. Again, I felt so humbled walking out of these three classes. Just when you get the feeling you know what you are doing as far as HTML development goes. Can’t remember the last time I felt like such a newbie.

Thanks to everyone from Knowbility to hosting this great event.

Save your documents…often!

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Both Monday and today there have been reported issues with rolling power outages. Have not personally been bitten by this but I’ve had some friends reported who have lost code and/or documents.

Part of the issue is the burden of the power companies trying to keep up with the demand of the early 100-degree temperatures we’ve had this week. It’s hot in Texas again! But all this should be expected. We are known for out 3-digit numbers.

So, why the blackout? Who knows? If might be the power companies letting things slip so they can all hold hands and justify the damn high prices we are all being charged. Bastards!

Speaking of, I had to get gas this morning on my way to work. Years ago when I was in my 20s I only put in $5-10 per trip to the station. This was because I had to keep my pocket money available for other things. In my world today I generally just fill up my take when I get below a quarter tank. Well this morning I paid $2.91 a gallon. And yes I do still run premium. So totaled this was close to $40! Damn I’m not sure how much more I can drive to the office. Though we are moving soon. Though not soon enough.

Merry Christmas

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Well Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Sondra and I just returned from the local emergency room. She was treated for a dog bite. The two dogs, Jazzy and Kelly, got in a little argument this afternoon. Sondra stepped in to break them up and got her arm bitten. No sure which dog actually did this everything happen so fast. We first had to take Kelly to the vet. She has a puncture on the top of her neck. Thanks to the folks here in South Austin who opened the after-hours vet station so we could get Kelly treated.

After we returned Sondra wanted to go to the emergency room so off we went. Nice folks too. Feel sorry they had to work but glad there are they’re to help us.

So now the dogs are being nice to each other sniffing each other’s behind in the normal dog ways. Sondra is working on a puzzle book she received for a present and I’m documenting all this.

Good times eh?

P-

Well. Now it feels like Christmas

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Here in Texas we are accustomed to 50-70F temperatures in December. I even remember one Christmas the temp was in the high 80s. So far this December has kicked off with some mild to even down right cold temps. As of the hour I’m writing this the temp is around 22F. Wow. No that is cold for Texas even Central Texas here in Austin. We all left work early. I was home by the normal time when I’m pulling out of the office packing lot. We’ve been watching the Weather channel (well switching off to the Food Network for some shows) and setting up the holiday tree and decorations. Guess this cold weather puts us all in the mood for the holidays.

Of course this is Texas but this weekend I’m sure the temp will be back up in the high 70s.