Woot.

The latest version of Wine, the Windows (not-an-) Emulator, runs Office 97. I can edit Word documents using Linux, no Windows needed!

Dr. Ivan Getting, a physicist and electrical engineer who invented the global positioning system, has died at the age of 91. He also contributed to the development of fire control radar.

Every time I wardrive, I thank Dr. Getting for his wonderful invention. 🙂

I got one of the new twenty dollar bills yesterday at the local hardware store.

“Wow, its a work of art,” I said sarcastically to the cashier.

She laughed. “Yeah, and already there is some kid sitting at his computer, trying to copy it.”

So true.

I spent some of yesterday rewiring our house’s telephone wiring. I have a cool setup which allows me a “virtual” phone line, using the phone company’s Distinctive Ring feature. When my home office number rings, it hits a computerized box first, which decides based on the ring whether to ring the home phone or the office phone.

To cut to the chase, now I’m all set up for heavy voice-over-IP use at the home. I may even add extensions in the house as time goes on.

If you call the house and unusual things happen, chances are I’m building a Frankenstien of a phone system. 🙂

I took an earlier flight home and arrived last night after 10 PM. Hallie still had fever last night and wound up needing attention almost all the night. She did seem better today, however.

We managed to get up enough strength to head over to the N.C. State Fair for a few hours. It was a mob scene. Absolutely crazy with the number of people there. Kelly and I had only set foot inside the gates when we had the urge to turn around and head back home.

Luckily, things got better. We found our way to the “folk festival” tent, near the Scott Building, and stepped inside to listen and watch the entertainment. It was an oasis of calm in the midst of a sea of pushing and shoving. Had we not had Hallie so off-schedule already, we would have stuck around longer.

Weekends are NOT the time for locals to see the fair. If we go again, we will be certain to go on a weeknight.

I’ve heard it said that you can go anywhere if you’ve got a white lab coat and a clipboard. I believe it.

The same can be said about a laser pointer. A laser pointer automatically makes you a seasoned presenter. You know. Gives you an air of authority.

(I was going to write “frickin’ laser” in there, but thankfully did not.)

I am in Pensacola to attend this mini trade show, having been tasked with being a seminar speaker. I was told of this opportunity merely one week before I arrived.

It didn’t matter that I’d never been a seminar speaker before. It didn’t matter that I didn’t have any materials to use. Somehow I was the best person for the job.

I spent the next few days wracking my brain, trying to put together a cohesive talk. At the eleventh hour, I switched to a canned presentation the company had: the talk I developed did not last long enough, expecially for paying customers.

At the appointed time, I walked into the room and began to set up my laptop. There were four or five people seated and patiently waiting. I made some jokes as we waited for the time to begin, trying to look as cool-headed as possible. Finally, I gave the cue for the announcer to introduce me and I was on.

I began by introducing myself and my background, mentioning how I talk to business users ever day. I then tried something I had gambled would help fill up the time and make the talk more meaningful: I solicited the audience for their “war stories.” In the seminars I’d attended in the past, the audience input made the problems seem more real. The interaction also helped me relate to the other people dealing with my same issues. In short, it brought me together. Luckily, there were quite a few incidents the audience shared, though there weren’t any “hot-doggers” who I could count on to act as second-banana for me. Still, it was enough to get started.

I then proceeded to lead them through the slides, leaping off at various points to provide them real-world examples. I walked from behind the podium, too, moving all around the room to make them keep up with me. I even sat on the front table at one point so it didn’t seem like a barrier between us.

Judging by the response I got from my audience, they liked what I had to say. No one fell asleep, a minor miracle considering it was right before lunch. Some chimed in with very thoughtful questions, showing I’d put some new knowledge into their heads.

I felt like a teacher for a moment. And I liked the thought. I tried to picture myself doing this for a living.

Afterward, I had a few of my “students” come by the booth and visit. Five of them were interested in the product, and at least two seemed ready to buy. Not a bad day’s work for a guy who was once so shy his primary means of talking was mumbling.

I’m being prodded into doing it again today, which I am on the fence about. I’m protective of yesterday’s performance, and still a little nervous about doing it again. Will I have as good results? Better? Worse? Or am I just worrying too much?

I suppose I should just do what I did yesterday and just not about it. Yesterday was easy: since the expectations were low, I just did my best and hoped for the best. I’ve got to get it into my head that the outcome can be just as good, anytime I want it to be, not just when I’m setting my sights low.

Damn. I’m almost feeling grown-up.