Over the past couple of years, I've followed a number of blogs (ScottGu's, Coding Horror, others) I've worked with people who have voiced interesting opinions about people who write blogs. To these guys, they are people full of themselves. I hope I'm not one of those guys. I enjoy writing. Sometimes I don't care to include lots of details and I could never draw a picture in readers' minds like successful novelists. I hope this is not about my ego. I believe this is about enjoying writing. I hope you get some enjoyment out of reading what I have to write about.

I plan to write about a number of things from professional, to family, to hobbies. I may even delve into politics and current events, because there are some things there that get my blood boiling. Most likely, I'll also post some how-tos as well surrounding my hobbies. While there are a ton of these available on the internet, they always cover about 80% of what I need to do. My how-tos will fill in the remaining 20% for my own reference. Why not also make that available to others? Of course, posts of this nature will be extremely boring to those reading for the other topics, so I'll try to warn you.

I expect the theme of my blog will focus on balance. Balance between professional and family life. Balance in political rhetoric. Balance in technology discussions. Media stories, politicians and techno-rhetoric between Microsoft and Linux proponents tends to focus on the extreme ends of the argument. I believe reasonable people hover around the center. Solutions to problems do not make people at the fringes happy. There is no perfect solution to anything. A good solution is a compromise between the factors making up a problem.

I am a professional in the software industry. The majority of my work that pays the bills uses Microsoft technologies built on DNA and .NET. I have a passion, however, for open-source software and focus on Linux-based hobbies in my home life. My hobbies also include dabbling in Python, Ruby, and PHP. I am looking at how to increase use of these technologies as part of my bill paying work.

I have a low-budget MythTV system setup in my house and spend a lot of time playing with that. My children love it because they get lots of Backyardigans and Suite Life of Zack & Cody's to watch. My wife enjoys the music aspects of the system. I enjoy it, because it provides an excuse to tinker with computer hardware and software (not to mention watching old episodes of The X Files, Star Trek, Stargate and others). Before starting the project, I had no good excuse to spend money on my computer habit. The question was always, "why do you need another this or that?" The answer used to be "Because." Now I can answer the question with some justification.

Hope you enjoy reading.