Check out the Life of a Drama Princess blog.  Also don't forget about the Student Flash blog.

It is amazing how technology and blogs are keeping us updated on friends and family. They are dissolving the boundaries between us.  That is the theme of the Imagine Cup.  Register today and smash some more boundaries.

Today I was in a class watching Sam give a talk about Windows CE and I noticed something very disturbing.  Students didn't have a passion for what they were doing.  Sam asked what excites them and why they are in the class, but no one had an answer.  I realize not every class is exciting, but I think you have to treat it as an opportunity to learn and make the best out of any situation even if you don’t like the professor.  I get up every day hoping to change the world and let students and professors know the cool and exciting things they can do with Microsoft technology.  If you are not excited about being in class and learning new things then why go?

P.S.  No, I don’t have a job at Microsoft yet so stop asking. :-)

MSDN posted a three-part series discussing problem solving with J#:

• An Introduction to Design Concepts Using J#
• Solving Constraints with J#
• Delegates in Action with J#

Another problem was the Visual Gaming invitational since that was only done in VB.NET and C#, but that problem has been solved as well. Email me if you need the code.

Arcs of Fire is a Tablet PC game brought to you by 3 Leaf Development and Microsoft.  The first screenshots will be coming in a little and a beta will soon follow.  This might be better than doodling in OneNote.  I wouldn't even think about playing it in class, of course.

Check out this site to learn how to wish people in other countries a Merry Christmas.  For all of us geeks I wish you 4D65727279204368726973746D61732100. J

Just in time for the holidays is a new theme for Windows XP.  I like the Energy Blue Theme for Tablet PCs better.

Check out http://spaces.msn.com/ for a beta of MSN Spaces.  MSN Spaces is more than a blog.  It is a dynamic online scrapbook where you can share photo albums, personal music lists and more.  Do you think theSpoke will make it to two years old?  What do you think of MSN Spaces?  theSpoke has some cool features which might keep it around such as theSpoke API Starter Kit.

On Tuesday U2 will release their new CD called "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb."  How do you know if you should run out and purchase it?  You can listen to all the tracks at http://www.u2.com/stream/htdaab.html first.  Microsoft does something similar and you can try their software before you buy.

A sandbox can be a lot of fun, but sometimes the sand can get into your shoes and it is a pain to clean them out.  For all the fun and less mess check out http://sandbox.msn.com/.  You will find a preview of MSN Search, the cool Lookout email search tool, and several other fun things to try out.  The only thing you can't do is build a sandcastle.

The Supplemental UI Library for Visual J# (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=789dac0d-2ccf-4021-a943-a1c4802e1568&DisplayLang=en) and J# Browser Controls (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=56f93960-0198-4cd1-b58c-55579200682f&DisplayLang=en) have been updated.  I think J# is a language that doesn't get much respect.  C# this and VB.NET that.  Don't get me wrong I love those two languages (I'm a MVP for C#), but I think J# has a place in the world.  Maybe even the universe if they have .NET on other planets.  J# is especially useful for high schools.  Have you had your cup of J# today?

The Visual Gaming site is now live at http://www.project-hoshimi.com/.  What score can you get?

In the latest Executive E-Mail (http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/execmail/2004/10-27platformvalue-print.asp) Steve Ballmer talks about independent analyst reports showing the value of Windows.  This is focused on the business world so I would like to know if students are switching from Windows to Linux on your campus or not.  With MSDN Academic Alliance (http://msdn.microsoft.com/academic/) students taking at least one for credit class in a member department can get Windows XP Professional for little or no cost. 

The October 2004 Community Technical Preview (CTP) release of the Visual Studio 2005 Express Beta Products is now available for download (http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/).  C# Express now has Edit and Continue.  Check out http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnvs05/html/edit_continue.asp for information on EnC.

Start downloading and Express yourself!

A great site for those of us from a Computer Science or other engineering/science background is http://www.cookingforengineers.com/.  I think cooking is a skill that everyone should learn.  (Opening a box from the freezer and placing it in the microwave does not count in my book.)  Cooking helps unleash your creativity and being creative is what programming is all about.

What do you like to cook?

Need to get up to speed on ASP.NET?  Check out the ASP.NET Webcast Series at http://www.aspnetwebcasts.com.  For those in the United States and Canada there is even a special offer if you attend three live or on-demand webcasts.  Get your skills ready for Imagine Cup now.