A quick update:  A config problem on my server prevented email from getting delivered via SlickThought.  I just noticed the error today, so if you were interested in taking advantage of the Free Pass Content, please submit your request again.  SORRY!!!

I posted earlier about the MSDN Developer Conference coming to Minneapolis on January 13th, 2009.  As part of trying to expose some of the cool new technologies, I am running a promotion to get a number of developers free passes to the event.  In particular, I am looking to get some “non-Microsoft” developers to the event so they can check out the cool things coming with things like Windows Azure, .NET 4.0, and more.

So how do you get one of these free passes?  Use the contact page on my blog and drop me a message with your name, contact info, developer technologies you currently use, and why you are interested in attending.  I’ll then determine the winners.

I wanted to offer folks that don’t usually go to Microsoft events a chance to hang out with their developer compatriots and check out some new technology. 

Now, if you are a Microsoft dev, don’t despair.  If you can get some of your non-Microsoft dev buddies to enter the contest and reference you as the person that got them to enter (make sure they include your email), you will be entered in a drawing to win a cool prize (Zune, XBOX games, books, something along those lines – I’m still working that part out).  If the person you got to enter the contest gets picked and attends the conference, you will get additional entries in the contest.

So pass the idea around and I’m looking forward to the registrations!

I know this has been going on for a while, but today was the first day I really noticed it.  Not sure why really, but I did.

I have a Gmail account.  Yes, I also have a Hotmail account.  It’s hard to get through life with only a couple of email addresses I have come to find out! ;-)  I digress.

I was reading an email today in Gmail, and over on the right side of the page is a list of Sponsored Links that mapped directly to the things we were talking about in the email.  I wasn’t interested – I am an advertisers worst nightmare since I almost never click a link or remember a TV spot.  But the idea that Google is reading my email to figure out what to advertise to me was just creepy.

The content and the adds were nothing important, but what if I was discussing personal things.  Sure, Google is taking all the necessary steps to protect my privacy, but that is now.  Phone calls used to be safe, but it is trivially for the government to get access to them now.  Google has buckled to other foreign governments (most notably China) that, to me anyway, seem to be contrary to Google’s much publicized corporate ethos.  So clearly capitulation can happen given the right set of circumstances and the right amount of money.  Google is by no means the only company that fits this bill, I am just using them as the an example.

There is a lot of hoopla over privacy in the context of privacy from the government (which is absolutely important in many areas) but I have always been surprised at how little people seem to care that there are a handful of companies that are collecting as much if not more personal information about you than the government does.  And in some cases, it is not even close.

The times we live in I guess.