1000 buffalo stampede

Today, I had the very enjoyable experience of being the invited speaker at the Diablo Valley Chapter of the NAPM / ISM luncheon (National Association of Purchasing Managers / Institute of Supply Management). I delivered what turned out to be a very interactive discussion around topics and challenges in software licensing.

My past presentations have been at my employer’s – walking my customers and project managers through key topics in software. The presentation has a few handouts, and generally runs about 45 minutes to an hour-and-a-half, depending on the audience. I’ve gotten very good response on it. This was the first time I was presenting to an external audience, and to procurement professionals at that.

Needless to say, I was very pleased that it went so well. It was a small group, and post-lunch – mine was a top sirloin, cooked dead-on medium – I, well, I spoke. They asked some very sharp, difficult questions about the process of licensing and maintaining software. It ran about 40 minutes – after which, it’s tough to claim I don’t like to hear the sound of my own voice, eh?

In all seriousness, it was a great time. I was quite honored and flattered to have been asked to speak to a group of peers, and found it very rewarding.

I was honored to attend the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Bay Area’s annual “Hats Off” fundraiser again this past Saturday. They held it at the Oakland Rotunda Building, same as last year – great location. They did not have a scotch bar this year, but they did put two adorable six-week old Golden Retriever puppies up at the live auction.

Lemme tell you, those puppies resulted in some fairly intense bidding.

I’d say the event was a success. I put in fewer bids in the silent auction, focusing on some art work, and after raising a bit, walked away with a framed photo of Half Dome for one of my living room walls. Yes, I properly overpaid for the photo (the point is to raise money).

The keynote speach, by the organization’s CEO and his Big Brother was very moving. Yes, the CEO of BBBS of the Bay Area was a “little” when he was, er, little.

It was an enjoyable, high-class evening, and I was honored to be invited.

Don’t you just hate it when some broke, elitist jackass walks into your backyard and talks trash?

The jackass (of the week, perhaps) is Chris Chinn, some kind of indie game … person (oooooohh… can I get an autograph?). Chris apparently wandered into my FLGS (Friendly Local Game Store – like the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, but less mobile) where he commented that he might get the upcoming $100 Ptolus on eBay rather than pay full price. He then apparently got into some exchange on how after the Fall (of d20), his sort of indie games won’t need middle-man pushers like my FLGS giving him the “hard sell”.

First … man, what?

Now, you may wonder how I know this. Well, it’s because Mr. Chinn ran home and blogged it on RPGTalk, the self proclaimed “new type of web community for role-playing games”. This lovely site is a public posting, where Mr. Chinn felt free to talk all kinds of smack. Of course, you need to register to comment back. And registration at RPGTalk, that “new type of web community for role-playing games”, is by invite only.

Classy. That’s some new community, fellas. Still, I won’t judge the group by one member. I will note, though, that he chose to post it to a comments-restricted site instead of his own blogger-based blog. I guess it’s easier to talk trash when you can ensure only your friends can talk back. Classy continue reading…

I remain quietly, happily addicted to the iTunes Music Store and my trusty little fat-drive iPod. Out of random scribblings, my latest music acquisitions:

• “Make Me Smile” – Chicago
• “Suddenly I see” – KT Tunstall
• “Crazy” – Gnarls Barkley
• “I’m So Gone” – Jackie Greene
• “Killer Queen” – Queen
• “Dani California” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Rob Thomas – iTunes Originals album

Out of random commentary, “Crazy” is the KFOG Music Director’s bet for the song of the summer, the Rob Thomas iTunes collection is pretty bitchin’, and Chicago … well, what can you say about rock with a horn section except … rock on!

Rock on, people!

The Mayor of San Francisco’s called for a probe into the SF witness protection program following yesterday’s slaying of a key witness in a murder case.

Personally, I don’t agree that a probe is required.

I mean, isn’t it common sense that if one is in the witness protection program – resulting from observing a murder in one’s neighborhood – that one should not return to said neighborhood … to have a car repaired? Apparently not.

Look, I’m certainly not in favor of killing pretty much anyone, and the murderers should absolutely be found and tried (for both the first murder, and killing a witness).

But, really, when a witness ignores instructions and repeated warnings from the program as well as common sense and returns to the scene of the original crime where he’s going to be recognized, what’s to be done? Is it the fault of the program? At what point does personal responsibility come into the picture?

Oh, right – it’s America. No one’s responsible for themselves. My bad.