About 3 hours ago I came home from the VB.Net study group, feeling pretty good about myself.  Paul Lockwood rehashed his security presentation from the C# group - still good a second time around.  We had more questions this time, but that was most likely due to several people coming in late.  Those that came in late missed the sweet buffer overrun demo.  Too bad for them.  Makes me wish I could take a look at the SQL Slammer virus to see exactly how they did whatever it was they did.  Whoever “they” are.

After Paul's security demo, I gave my whirlwind tour of the .Net Compact Framework.  While I felt like I rushed it and got sidetracked easily, Paul complimented me by telling me that if he didn't know that I knew absolutely nothing, he would have thought me very knowledgeable on the subject.  Thanks Paul!  I'm giving another presentation in two weeks, a follow-up to this one.  I didn't get to spend any time on the database access side of things, and the SQL Server CE's implementation of replication through IIS fascinates me.  I know just enough to tell someone in intelligent terms that I know absolutely nothing!  Paul's right!

We went to Chili's for food, booze (they were out of Killians, so I was forced to drink Miller Lite.  Those bastards!), and some talking afterwards.  There was surprisingly little talk of politics, considering the mostly Democratic makeup of the group.  Maybe the presentations inspired them because I heard conversations about SQL Server and techie gadgets and stuff.  I think you can learn as much at the boozy “meetings” after the real meetings as you do at the real meetings.  Good group and it keeps getting stronger.

For those interested, the upcoming topics (beyond my SQL Server CE presentation) might include topics such as code generation, RSS and Aggregators, SharePoint Products and Technologies, the utilities from SysInternals, and more.  Aside from the code generation, I could give each of those other presentations.

I've decided I like speaking in front of people.  I'll see how I do at the bigger (hopefully) Mobility User Group inaugural meeting.  That's on Nov 15th, people!!  I'm extending the talk I gave today (well, yesterday) and turning it into a demo of a single product.  The key word there is product.  I've gotten so little done, it's appalling.  Someone should yell at me.

Well, it's 1:30 and I should go to bed.  Got a Mobility Roadshow to go to tomorrow!  See you there!

 -- Matt Ranlett