Weather Underground's latest feature presses the boundary

Google Maps has been around for a while but I'm repeatedly amazed by the addition of features by both Google and third parties via the public API. I recently uncovered a new feature from the venerable meteorological site Weather Underground called the WunderMap. WunderMap is a customized weather layer atop the already familiar Google maps engine. However unlike standard radar, the WunderMap displays real time data which includes current storm activity and trajectory.

Sometimes changing jobs can bring unexpected changes

Three months ago I found myself at a new job, a new company and in capacity different from what I was used to. The former startup company that I worked for faced hard economic times and as a result I found myself on the job market in December. Looking for a job is a scary proposition especially when you're not currently employed. You brace yourself for the worst and hope for the best. After a mere two weeks I had three interested companies and one solid offer to digest before the holidays.

In a nutshell the offer that I eventually accepted was a bit of a departure for me personally and professionally. It was presented with an opportunity to grow into a position and to become the lead technical guy on a day to day basis. This role required me to be the "go to" person for more junior level developers, a position of leadership which while new to me in my career is something I've become comfortable through other life experiences.

It stands to reason that there are more than a few characteristics that contribute to a good developer. Obviously you must have the desire to constantly learn and evolve, but you must also be willing to apply brand new technologies. You must also have a certain amount of faith that you'll be able to make any sort of solution work in the end. Many times we find ourselves beating our heads against a wall while trying to solve a problem, but it is only through persistence that we find success.

Thankfully there are resources that help developers better utilize the tools that Microsoft has given us. One such tool is called patterns and practices and though it's been around for years I've only recently, that is over the past three years, delved into the lessons contained within.

Over the years I've experimented with many types of photo galleries through various dynamic content packages. Recently I made the decision to move most of my public photos to Flickr because of limited file storage space on my web server. Though I've always shared my pictures freely I never intended, or thought, of the social networking aspects of doing this. Turns out two of my photos have gained the attention of several organizations over the past few months.

Shortly after my trip to Nashville I was contacted by an admin at Now Public, a social news site. Turns out they were interested a shot I'd take on Johnny Cash's Country Music Hall of Fame display. The admin wanted to add my photo to a story on the site about Cash's home burning down. I gladly gave permission and even signed up for the site in return.

A few weeks ago I had another inquiry about the Nashville pictures this time in regard to the photo of the Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson. A representative from Schmap suggested my photo for an upcoming release of their online tourist guide. Again I gladly gave permission and a few weeks later received a second email informing me that my photo was chosen.

I admit it's pretty cool to see your photos on another site, especially when they are kind enough to ask permission first. Typically I release my photos under Creative Commons so technically they need not ask. However I respect them for extending the courtesy and I am more than happy to plug their services for whatever it's worth. At any rate it's cool that a few quick tourist snapshots have created some buzz. I never thought that would be the case.

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