The source code of the ASP.NET AJAX server libraries is now available for download. Check out the bits, licensing info, etc. and get waist deep in source code goodness.

Beta 2 of Expression Blend is now available for download. Blend is a very cool tool for creating WPF applications that nicely combines designer tools with some dev capability.

If you are doing Smart Client/WinForms dev, you owe it to yourself to get this book. If you aren't doing Smart Client/WinForms dev, maybe this book will help change your mind!

Good all the goodness at the Official ASP.NET AJAX website.

It's really probably more so that I am just getting old, since I am sure every generation of "scifi" readers has experienced the same thing. Here is yet another article that reminds me of all kinds of different scifi books I have read. I've gotten this feeling quite a bit the past month or so as I have read some amazing "coming breakthrough" type articles. Amazing and somewhat scary times to be sure. Or does every generation feel that way as they get older and the stuff they read kids and young adults starts to become the world they live in????

Mike Harsh posts a nice collection of resources on WPF/E. Get a jump start on this great new web dev technology.

Ryan Stewart posts a nice recap of ScottGu's talk about the next wave of stuff coming in 2007 for web development (IIS7, WPF/e, etc.). If you are like me and would rather have printed articles than videos (like to read on the coach instead of stare at a video on my laptop) then this will save you some video time.

The WPF SDK team posted a nice set of links to get you started making WPF animations. It's easy and it's fun!

The Jan CTP of Orcas is now available as a regular install and as a VPC (sweatness). C# 3.0 support, ClickOnce enhancements, some hooks into Vista tracing are just a few of the highlights.

Well, I finally took the plunge this Christmas and got the kids and myself a new XBOX 360. Outfitted it with an extra controller, rechargeable batteries, and a slew of games. And let me just say - WOW.

I have never been much of a gamer, but certainly have been since getting the 360. My kids (11,9,and 5) absolutely love Viva Pinata - a great game for kids and I have found it strangely addicting as well.

Call of Duty 3 has been incredibly fun on XBOX Live (SpartyGuy is my gamer tag for those of you looking for an easy kill). I have yet to even play the actual game, instead spending my CoD3 time battling it out on the virtual battelfields. War is my favorite game type and have gotten to the point where I can hold my own for the most part.

I recently picked up Rainbow Six: Vegas and have been blown away by that one as well. I tried the XBOX Live experience for all of five minutes and liked it, though I died three times in rapid succession. By the single player game has been very fun and kept me invovled as I try to get better at it. It plays differently than CoD3 since Rainbow is very confined being mostly indoors requiring a different fighting style than the more open CoD3. My reflexes arent fast enough for the close quarter fighting in Rainbow right now to do well online. I can be a bit more effective at the longer ranges of CoD3.

Very fun stuff...