We all need them. We all use them. We all realize the power - but with the exception of Ben - we all run into road blocks and frustration when we try and put something together. What are they? Regular Expressions. Take a look at the cool RegEx testing tool where you can easily test your regular expressions.

I love the day of big Apple keynotes given by Steve Jobs. While rummaging around for a disk utility last week - I found my copy of the Macworld 1999 keynote where the Blue and White G3s and multi-flavored iMacs were announced. I had a smile - I eventually owned both and thought they were the best thing ever! Anyway - my friend Ken asked me if I still got as excited as I used to - and the answer is definitely yes. I love everything about the keynotes…but I especially enjoy the post keynote reactions from the people I know. People get so excited - there is even a Keynote bingo!

My predictions:

I will keep my fingers crossed that the new announcement(s) will increase the value of the stock
Ken will be underwhelmed regardless of the announcements and let me know what the x should have had ;). (This would be true even if Apple released the coolest thing ever - he would find some “fault”.
Ben will be the most likely to compulsively buy the most expensive x. He will justify it somehow and I will be excited to hear about his experience … [more]

Someone that I worked with for eight years came to town this past weekend for a meeting and I was fortunate enough to meet up with him on Saturday. It was quite interesting to me that I felt as though he never left - we just picked up where we left off. (Except for the fact we were both working different places and happy working) A big thanks to Ben for a nice Saturday, his chauffeur services, the dinner at Lawry’s, and the wonderful picture I have hanging in my office! Rock on!

After working with Ben for almost eight years he had decided to move on. I wanted to wish Ben all the luck in the world. We had a great time working together for many years…as he put up with my on again off again relationship with Mac OS X Server and I put up with his “not as funny as he thought” videos and comics We also had a good time playing Carmageddon 2, Diablo, Diablo II and Quake 3 Arena. We did do some great work in between all the games and great music (I got him out of the “ambient” music mode and opened the door to electronica, DJs, etc). We did do a kick ass job of putting together a really sweet Mac OS X/Mac OS X Server server set up using Apache, MySQL, PHP, WebObjects complete with failover. Best of luck and thanks for the good times.