Guess what?

So, this is old news to some but I will be at the Baton Rouge affiliate for at least another week. In a previous post, I joked that it only takes a week to write good software. Of course that's not true, but I did make quite a bit of progress. So much so, that I've been asked to extend it for others to use. I think I can make the updates in another week or so -- and then maybe I'll feel like my job is done.

I've begun wondering: did I just spend the last year developing domain knowledge so that I can properly address what was a systems engineering problem all along? If so, then maybe I'll just pretend that I intended to do this investigative style, requirements analysis all along. It sounds like a reasonable enough rationalization of my year here. I'll go with that for now.

If any are interested, in the future I'll post about how simple/powerful/extensible Ruby, Rails and PostgreSQL are and a description of how any of this applies to building houses. Be forewarned, I'm an average embedded software guy, a decent engineer, but now I'm trying to tackle MVC, again. ugh.

We get around (in the news, that is)

The New Orleans Saints are 3-1 for the year. Last week, they beat Atlanta 23-3 in a highly anticipated game in the Superdome. To the credit of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, they highlighted the activities of the Atlanta Falcons, the Blank Family Foundation and running back Warrick Dunn and their contributions to Katrina relief in an article last Monday.

In November, I reported that the Blank Family Foundation and Warrick Dunn had contributed to our affiliate in support of hurricane-affected families. The article in the AJC reports that the Falcons have provided over $1.1 million in relief aid. Warrick has demonstrated time after time he believes in helping those in need. In this photo, he is shown with some of our women of Habitat.

The reporter came to Hidden Cove, the site of the Beat the Heat Week Blitz, and interviewed some of our residents. While the article isn't as gripping a tale as you would have if you sat down and listened to Nina, Mrs. Moore, Monique, Mrs. Helen, Della or Cheryl and heard their stories of the storm or the evacuation -- it is still good to hear that their hope has been restored. Lynn attended the interviews, and I'll report that she was moved and re-energized to hear their heartwarming stories of hope. Her hope helps me -- I think that's all any of us are looking for.

It's a matter of taste

This may be my most petty post yet.

So, I read today that Dustin Diamond (a.k.a. Screech) has a sex tape, which led me to discover that he also has a website designed to help him pay the property taxes on a house that he can't afford.

Over the past year, I've been even more aware of celebrities and their causes than I have in years past. To be completely truthful, I've been jealous of their access. In the past I may have been jealous of their access to award ceremonies, parties, sporting events or even money, but no longer. I do however still feel those pangs when I read that Angelina Jolie or George Clooney have access to the U.N. on behalf of those in Cambodia or Sudan. Or, when I read that Jon Bon Jovi or Harry Connick, Jr. have done a good deed by building houses.

Don't get me wrong -- good for them and what they've accomplished. Good for them for raising awareness. Because of them, others in our country are more aware of the opportunities to give and therefore help others.

Last year I decided that giving wasn't good enough for me, I wanted to do. I've been looking for more opportunities to do without much success. I'm tired and cranky, but reading about this latest celebrity development at least gives me a reason to temper my jealousy, and be grateful for those that do see a bigger world and their part in it. I'm jealous because I want to help and because of who they are, they will make a more significant contribution than I ever will.

Mr. Diamond, I don't know anything about you other than what I've read. I would encourage your publicist to get a story about you contributing to the community something other than a sex tape. If you are looking for a place to volunteer, contact me. I could help you meet some people that have actually lost their homes. And finally, if you want to talk about justice, please read this first.