Tao Student - A Personal Site for Gary Ardito

There is a very interesting viral communication moving through Facebook.. and no, you do not need a vaccination.  The idea is you provide 25 random thoughts about yourself.. tag a bunch of others to do the same and so and so on…..

Here is what I put together for my 25 random things…
1 I am a voracious reader. I have about 8 bookcases overflowing with books. From the classics to current fiction to technical books. My next house must have a library.

2 I have been studying Chinese Martial Arts and Taoist Philosophy for over 17 years. I consider myself a Taoist and try to live my life by Taoist ideals and principals.

3 I love to cook but, unfortunately, do not often have the time.

4 I have two extraordinary boys - Michael (9) and Christopher (7) - and I spend as much time as possible with them.

5 My ex-wife, Nicole, is one of my best friends and there is nobody I trust more with raising my children.

6 I spent 8 years working as an independent consultant, mostly for business startups, before I took a job with a .com that was going to make me rich and famous…..then the bubble burst.

7 I currently work for Novell - a software infrastructure company. I run the Data Center services area.

8 I love to eat any eastern food - Japanese (Sushi), Chinese, Indian, Thai, etc.

9 I actively believe in and use natural health care options like Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy, etc.

10 I love sports - Baseball (Pro and College), Football (pro and College), College Basketball, Tennis, Swimming….

11 I think Golf is a good walk spoiled and it is a reach calling it a sport…

12 I believe Mark Twain, Tom Robbins, Neil Gaiman, Pat Conroy and Jimmy
Buffett are the most gifted storytellers I have had the pleasure of reading.

13 I love music of all types. My Ipod currently has a total of 3245 songs. Of those 330 are by Jimmy Buffett - not a surprise here…. I am truly a Parott Head!, 52 are Blues, 742 are Country, 248 are Rap/Hip Hop, 420 are Rock, 50 are Classical, 30 are Alternative, 535 are Pop, 40 are Jazz, 95 are spoken word, and the remainder are undefined or soundtracks

14 I regret not playing an instrument and being more involved with music as a kid. I am encouraging my kids to play instruments and make music part of their lives.

15 I live in Asheville, NC but I travel extensively for work and pleasure. I am gone most weeks Monday - Thursday and spend at least a weekend a month in Albany, NY with my kids.

16 I really need to be close to a natural energy center - either the beach or the mountains. Something to keep me connected.

17 The only significant medical issue I have had in the last 20 years is surgery on my shoulder. I am thankful for this.

18 Guilty Pleasures: Home design and construction tv shows (HGTV, DIY), investigative tv shows (NCIS, CSI, The Mentalist, 11th Hour).. oh, and I DVR Inside the Actor’s studio whenever it is on.

19 I enjoy very good aged Rum.

20 I lived in England for almost 2 years. Love the country.. hate the food. This is where I first came to like Indian food.

21 I have traveled extensively in the Caribbean and South/Central America. I think this area is one of the most beautiful on the planet.

22 I think Miami is the greatest city on earth for so many reasons and would welcome the chance to move back there someday.

23 I think listening is a lost art along with letter writing and, in some cases, willingness to work hard and sacrifice for what is important to you.

24 I count myself amongst the technophiles. I own the latest of most gadget types.. multiple computers, etc.

25 I think the Tao of Pooh should be required reading….

I dislike the idea of resolutions.  I dislike even more the idea of New Year Resolutions.   I understand the idea of starting fresh and leaving bad habits behind.. believe me I love the idea of leaving bad habits behind but why do we need a forced calendar date to do this?

I was once told that any change you decide to make that does not start at that instant will never happen…. that is tomorrow never comes.

My expectations for 2009 are ones that I have for myself all the time….

1. Improve myself  physically, emotionally, and spiritually
2. Become a better father, son, brother and friend
3. Learn something new and apply what I have learned to do what I already do better, easier or smarter
4. Perfect the oh so hard to obtain work-life balance
5. Make a difference in the lives of those around me.. however small

With all these expectations in mind, I will race into 2009 with fearless enthusiasm and optimism.  I am excited by the possibilities and remain optimistic that the challenges we carry over from 2008 and whatever new challenges 2009 presents shall be mere bumps in the road to a fantastic year.

This past week I had the opportunity to experience many of Asheville’s restaurants for breakfast and dinner. I had family in town who enjoy eating out and eat out we did.  The one bit of context I would add is that, due to health issues of one of my guests, we were not able to stay for dessert or casually linger but other than that, we had very good experiences.

The list  (duplicates included)

Breakfast

1. Rise ‘n Shine Cafe
2. Over Easy
3. Early Girl
4. Denny’s (Only thing open on Christmas Day)
5. Moose Cafe
6. Early Girl

Dinner

1. Early Girl
2. Mayfel’s
3. Bouchon
4. Vincenzo’s
5. Grove Park Inn
6. Black Forest Inn
7. Marcos Italian

Some impressions

Rise ‘n Shine Cafe -   640 Merrimon Avenue

This was a great neighborhood breakfast place.  They are in N. Asheville a bit in shopping center shared with Circle on the Square, Urban Burrito and The Hop (Ice Cream).   Because they are out of downtown, parking is easy in the large lot.  They promote the use of organic ingredients and I believe it.  Highly recommended if you are looking for standard breakfast fare in N. Asheville.

Early Girl -   8 Wall St

Early Girl is perhaps my favorite restaurant in all of Asheville.  Early Girl has a diverse, creative menu all day.  You can order breakfast all day and their preparation and ingredients are outstanding.  From the warm banana bread, to the sweet potato scramble, to the warm biscuits, it is all good.

Over Easy Cafe -   32 Broadway St

Over Easy is a breakfast only cafe in the heart of downtown Asheville.   A small place off Broadway, Over Easy has a loud, diner atmosphere with GREAT food and service.  Their home fry bowls, eggs, sausage, and smoothies are wonderful.  This place is highly recommended if you are in downtown for breakfast anytime before 2pm or so.

The Moose Cafe -   570 Brevard Rd

This was my first time at the Moose Cafe.  I had heard good things about it and was looking forward to the visit.  The Moose Cafe is a bit out of downtown so parking is easy.  The Moose Cafe is right next to a Farmers Market so their ingredients are about as local as you can get.  This meal was awesome.  The Moose Cafe experience is truly southern and wonderful.  When we sat down, we were immediately given a batch of hot biscuits and homemade apple butter.   My meal was equally good.. eggs, potatoes, ham and a Moosecake ( large pancake).  All of it was outstanding.

Mayfel’s - 22 College St

Mayfel’s is a Louisiana bistro serving local, wholesome ingredients.  This restaurant has great atmosphere and even better food.  I could come back here for the Gumbo and Jambalaya every day.  As Jimmy Buffet says, “I will play for Gumbo…”.  Love this food.  My guests had seafood etouffee and loved it.  On an earlier occasion, I took my 8 year old son Michael to Mayfel’s and he loved the triple cheese grilled cheese sandwich and the chocolate cake dessert.

Bouchon - 62 North Lexington Avenue

Bouchon is truly a french bistro.  It is situated in a long, narrow pad that makes for a more intimate atmosphere.  The bar is well stocked and extremely inviting for whatever you like.  The wine list is deep with French wines ( as you would guess).  The food was rich in the French tradition and good. 

Vincenzo’s Italian - 10 N Market St

Vincenzo’s is a northern Italian restaurant in downtown Asheville.  Vincenzo’s was a good restaurant with an upscale feel. The food was excellent as was the service. They were open on Christmas Eve and provided a very good menu.

Grove Park Inn,  Sunset Terrace - 290 Macon Ave

It is impossible to talk about the Sunset Terrace restaurant without first commenting on the Grove Park Inn as a whole.   The Grove Park Inn is a magnificent structure with a huge lobby atrium area when you first enter.  The main lobby is a site with very tall ceilings and awe inspiring fireplaces.   The view is spectacular.   The Sunset Terrace restaurant is a traditional chophouse with a Steak and Seafood focus.  We were there on Christmas Night so there were a few extra items on the menu as well.  The service was very good as was the food.  I had a NY Strip while others at my table had Prime Rib  and Salmon.  The side dishes were served family style and we had Asparagus and Mashed Potatoes…both were excellent.  We were seated with a few minutes left before final Sunset and the view was breathtaking.

Black Forest Inn -2155 Hendersonville Rd, Arden, NC

The Black Forest Inn is located just outside of Asheville but still only about 20 minutes from my house in N. Asheville.  They serve German and Italian dishes. The food was great, my guests ordered Veal Jaeger schnitzel it came with German potato salad, sauerkraut, red cabbage and German noodles everything was delicious. I ordered an Italian dish that was very good also. The servings were very substantial.

Marcos  - 946 Merrimon Avenue

Marcos is a great family Italian  & Pizzeria restaurant.  It is my favorite pizza in Asheville but I do not often get a chance to sit in their dining room and eat a full meal.  Their pizza and Stromboli are excellent - without peer in Asheville.  On this night,  however, me and my guests stayed in the dinning room and ordered some Italian entrees.   The menu is family Italian to the core.  Pastas, sauces and meatballs.  You can go with a Lasagna or a Chicken Parmesan if you like.  Me and my guests all went with the Pasta and Meatballs after enjoying a good antipasto. I would put the Marcos antipasto on peer with the one we had a Vincenzo’s.  The food was great.  The service was quick and attentive.

The U kept it close and the baby canes played with talent, poise and control.   This is something to build on and move forward into next year with Jacory Harris as a clear #1 quarterback (sorry Marve), a year of maturity and coaching for today’s group and another stellar recruiting class coming in this year.

My new year wishes for the Canes…

• A new offensive coordinator (Please.. Please..Please)
• Some new big uglies on the offensive line
• Some defensive back ballas to play with the young kids returning
• Some time catching the ball for our wide outs
• A 2009 recruiting class with the same passion of the 2008 class.

But mostly, I hope for continued growth and development while bringing in young men of character and good spirits… yea.. a few head crashers and guys living on the edge will be fine too..  In other words I want the next Ed Reed, Winslow, Warren Sapp, Rohan Marley,  and dare I say… Sean Taylor.

and a new OC… gott have this!

As life goes on, I become more and more aware of the importance of family and the strength I gain from being from being with people who are the pure embodiment of love without demands or requirements.  This can come from places you never expected -  a relative who has always been more at arms length or children who teach us things every day with their enthusiasm for the moment and seemingly unending compassion.

I am fortunate. I have always had family in my life that told me I can do anything - to reach as high as I desired - and if I fell short, well, no big deal - try again or go in a different direction.  It never mattered.  It never changed who I was and their unconditional love and support allowed me just to reach again.  I understand now how much freedom and calm that kind of support provides.  I think I took advantage of it in my (some would say misspent) youth.  Now, I just hope I can provide it to my children and others in my life.

I find it interesting that what we learn from others and the support we gain from others can cross n0n-traditional family boundaries.  I am divorced and if I played by “the rules”, my ex-wife would have little to do with my thoughts except for working out details of when I pick up and bring back the kids.  Not so fast, this woman (she knows who she is) has turned into one of the great friends of my life and I still get inspiration from how she leads her life and raises our kids.

So, for all my family out there, I am thinking about you…

• My Mother - a rock of support and endless encouragement
• My Father - Full of surprises, knowledge, and  yes, even inspiration
• My Children - An endless supply of happiness, reminders of how to live each day, and a source of incredible optimism for the future.  Love and joy personified
• My ExWife - Strength and compassion - Nobody has more of either and nobody has taught me more about both
• My ExInlaws - Karen, Dick, Rick and Melissa - A perfect model of what is means to be a close family.
• My Cousins - Comfortable times, easy conversations  and shared memories
• My Aunts/Uncles - More examples of family standing by each other in good times and difficult times.

It is easy to get caught up in the day to day and forget these things, these people but I work hard to come back to this whenever I can.

As old man winter seems to be visiting early and often so far this year, it is time to make sure my immune system is working at maximum capacity. To do this, I try to double the amount of Vegetables I am eating, eat a little more vitamin C (Citrus and Juice) and also start on the Chinese herbs for health.

Here are some of my favorite herbs or tonics:

Yin Chao - Chinese herb for immune support. Disperses Wind-Heat, clears Heat and Relieves toxins, diaphoretic Yin Chao is particularly effective during or prior to the early stages when fever, headache, cough and sore throat are present. There may be slight chills or no chills present with difficulty in sweating.

Traditional  Medicinals Tea - Immune System and other health support teas:  Organic teas that activate and stimulate immune cells.

Chi Kung - Circulates Energy and Regulates Stress.  Chi Kung” means “energy work” or “spirit work” involving energy meridian’s, muscle groups, body parts or particular types of energy circulation. The combination of herbs in this formula work on the blood as a tonic to aid in circulation while also acting on the spleen, stomach and liver energy.

Shou Wu - Rejuvenate and Purify Blood.  It is a famous rejuvenater and blood purifier, which is said to build vital energy, aid in concentration and prolong life. For centuries, this formula has been used to nourish the blood tonifying the liver and kidneys and benefiting the spleen. Noted for strengthening the lower physicial structure, it is helpful for pain in the lower back, waist and knees. Shou Wu Liqueur strengthens the sinews and bones and benefits the joints, clears the vision and inhibits premature graying of the hair and other symptoms of aging associated with deficient liver and kidneys.

Gan Mao Ling - Gan Mao Ling has been formulated to assist the body’s abilities to cope with the discomfort during the cold seasons, and maintain our body’s well-being.

In my 15 years studying the Chinese Martial Arts of Tai Chi and Ba Gau Zhang, I have been striving to move lightly, energetically, without physical force or tension.  Allowing the movements to just flow through you as you are a vessel instead of a roadblock for the universal energy that surronds us.. the Tao.   My sifu has taken me far down this path and while I still have very far to go, I am confident that my journey will continue to progress because of my Sifu and his teachings that stay with me wherever I go.

The concepts of formlessness, spontaneity and natural movement sound easy but when translated with martial intention, they take much training and practice to develop.

So.. I am diverse in my music tastes.. now here is my “Fired Up” playlist that I use to get my juices flowing..

• Runnin’ with the Devil    Van Halen
• How Bad Do You Want It    Tim McGraw
• You Shook Me All Night Long    AC/DC
• I will play for Gumbo - Jimmy Buffett
• Tear It Up    Yung Wun featuring DMX, Lil’ Flip & David Banner
• She’s Tight    Cheap Trick
• Shake That    Eminem
• Have a Nice Day    Bon Jovi
• Magic Carpet Ride    Steppenwolf
• What Do You Do For Money, Honey     AC/DC
• Closer    Nine Inch Nails
• Just a Cup   - Jimmy Buffett
• Enter Sandman    Metallica
• Back In Black    AC/DC
• She’s a Hottie    Toby Keith
• Tom Sawyer    Rush
• Highlander    Queen
• Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap    AC/DC
• Loud    Big & Rich
• All Summer Long    Kid Rock
• Crank Dat MIA wav
• Hells Bells    AC/DC
• Welcome to the Jungle    Guns N Roses
• Girls Girls Girls    Motley Crew

I usually think of myself as a very open minded guy.  I have a very broad set of likes and very few dislikes.  This carries over into my music.  I always tell people that I can listen and enjoy almost anything.  Today I decided to put it to he test and examine my iTunes library and see what is there.. here are the results.

Total of 3245 songs in my library.  Of those…

• 330 are by Jimmy Buffett - not a surprise here…. I am truly a Parott Head!
• 52 are Blues
• 742 are Country
• 248 are Rap/Hip Hop
• 420 are Rock
• 50 are Classical
• 30 are Alternative
• 535 are Pop
• 40 are Jazz
• 95 are spoken word
• and the remainder are undefined or soundtracks

I think I qualify as diverse.

Just when you think you are rolling along tackling lifes little challanges (which often seem like big challanges) and feeling pretty good about yourself, something comes along to knock you back and give you a moment to reset your perspective and priorities.

Just such a thing happened to me this week…

My oldest son, Michael - 9 years old, went to the hospital last Tuesday for stomach pains. It was diagnosed as an appendix problem and surgery was scheduled on Wednesday afternoon.  This was actually good news to me since of all the possible causes, an appendix issue is fairly low on the list of scary things.  One thing that you have to remember though is that to a 9 year old - all of this is very scary.  There is no such thing as minor surgery when you are 9.

The surgery took place on Wednesday and, sure enough, it was an inflamed appendix.  They removed it using a laparoscopy procedure that saved him the extra pain of a full cut through his abs.  His recovery was a bit longer than we expected and comforting him through all the pain he suffered in the 3 days after his surgery required more strength than I thought I had.  It is very difficult to watch your children go through pain knowing you can do nothing about it.

But all is well.. He came home from the hospital and is in great spirits.  We are back to planning our Thanksgiving vacation plans.

As I was with my son on Wednesday through today, I was following my work email on my iPhone.  I answered the important emails and postpned all meeting requests to next week.  One thing was sure, the issues and challanges at work that would have seemed so large.. were really very small.

I hope I can remember that as I ease back into my work life as my son eases back into his regular life as well.

University of Miami football has built a dynasty on speed, intensity, intimidation and strong fundamental football.  A true dynasty with 5 National Championships in 25 years (while playing for 4 others), the most players in the NFL, 14 straight years of at least 1 first round draft pick, and a commitment to play anybody anywhere.

The last few years have tarnished the image of The U in many people’s eyes.  I understand this.  We have been recovering from a very, very bad coaching choice that took literally set us back 4-5 years in terms of recruiting the right athletes and instilling the Miami way into the student athletes we had.

Is Cokerized a proper verb?  If not, we will let it slide for now because that is what happened to the program.  Larry Coker won a lot early with the kids recruited and coached by Butch Davis but once those guys movied into the NFL, he could never re-stock the talent nor could he instill the right ethic in the folks he did bring in.

I bring this up just to explain the sharp decline but as sharp as the decline was the renewal is happening equally swift.  Randy Shannon has taken the helm and is bringing in the right kids and instilling them with the Miami way of doing things.  His last two recruiting classes have been outstanding and 2009 looks equally bright.

Take a close look at the Miami roster today.. 13 Freshman on the 2-deep chart. Freshman quarterbacks (Starter and Backup).  These kids (along with a select group of Sophomores and upperclassmen) get IT.  They get Miami - the history, the mythos and the expectations and they are stepping up to the challenge,

I am looking forward to watching Marve, Harris, Forston, Spence, Arthur Brown, Allen Baily and the host of others who are bringing the dynasty back.

If you want to take shots at the U, you had better do it now because a new (or renew) day is coming.

Well, it should be obvious to anybody that looks at this blog that I have allowed the things I “have” to do to take over from the things I “need” to do to be happy and healthy.  Don’t get me wrong - I am happy.  I enjoy my job and who I work with on a daily basis.  Heck I even enjoy the craziness it takes to do my job..most of the time.

The crux of it is…sometimes i lose track of the balance.  I allow myself to get away from what keeps me whole, centered and grounded.  I become spiritually drained, physically fatigued, much less sharp mentally and emotionally impatient.  Now..i am not sure many others notice these changes but I do.  Ironically, by focusing almost exclusively on work - I do not do as good a job.

What to do…

First off, back to training.  It is time to re-focus my efforts on Tai Chi, Ba Gua, and Qi Gong.  This wil provide the mind-body-spirit connection I am lacking.  It is also time to re-start cardio - running - with Chi Running.

Secondly, re-engage creative pursuits outside of pure job demmands.  This means leveraing outlets like this blog and getting to the stack of books I have been neglecting because I am always too tird to pick up non-work related reading material.  This includes my Taoist studies as well as reading about mathematics, physics and emerging social norms in the flattened world.  Of course, the next Ann Rice, Christopher Moore or Tom Robbins novel will be in there too…

Third,  finish the planned move to Boston.  This will cut down my travel by 50% or so and will give me a much better chance to actually accomplish the first two goals on this list.  This is a bit complicated for personal and financial reasons but must be done and must be done this fall.

That is enough for now…

Well, the season is finally upon us.  I am more excited to see how things are going to turn out this year than I have been in a bunch of years.

Some questions…

1. How will Joe Torree make out in LA LA Land?
2. How will Joe Girardi make out with Torre’s Yankees?
3. Will Detroit stay healthy and break all the offensive records?
4. Will the Braves old but talented starting pitching and young hitters come through?
5. How will Santana do in the National League with the Mets?
6. Who will be the surprise team (e.g. Colorado Rockies) of 2008?

Enough questions.. some predictions

National League

• NL East        - Atlanta Braves
• NL Central  - Chicago Cubs
• NL West      - Los Angelas Dodgers

With my heart I have to pick the Braves to win out in then and head to the world series.  My sleeper pick is the Cubs who I think will have an outstanding year.

American League

• AL East        - New York Yankees
• AL Central  - Detroit Tigers
• AL West      - LA Angels

The AL East was tough.  The Red Sox look incredible again and I think Manny will have an unbelievable year but I think the Yankees young pitching will come through and the rest of the team has something to prove in the first year of the post-Joe Torre era.  I love what the Rays (no more Devil)  have done but they still have a ways to go in this tough division.

At the end of the day, I am picking the Tigers to win the AL and win the world series….

Lets see how I do..

Hello All…

I find myself back in Salt Lake City at Novell’s annual user conference Brainshare.   I have been here since Saturday in various business meetings but the actual event kicked off today.  I  thought it was a great start.  Ron’s opening remarks clarifying our strategic direction using a set of conversations with a friend metaphor was great.  A new and interesting way to cover material that is consistent and direct.   Ron is always a rock star at these events so I expect no less…

But the real gem of the day, in my humble opinion, was our CTO - Dr. Jeff Jaffe.  His presentation, both content and delivery, was the best I have ever seen from a Novell CTO.  It provided the right level of Vision for our future, technical foundation and relevancy to what we are doing NOW.  I was blown away.  I am very excited to participate in the Fossa efforts moving forward and feel like Novell is truely uniquely positioned to deliver on many strengths.

After the keynotes, I was in meetings all day in the Salt Palace and the Marriott before retiring to my hotel room to focus on a client proposal and SOW and other ongoing activities.

More to come tomorrow…

I am heading off to California tomorrow to attend the latest IIW. I am very excited as I have been following the Internet Identity efforts from a far for quite a while.. acting as a voyeur on the mailing lists and getting updates from Dale Olds (colleague at Novell) as often as I can.

I have spent the better part of the last 7 years with Novell working on corporate Identity and security problems. I am excited to talk to folks at the conference about how these the Internet Identity projects and ideas can make a difference in the enterprise space.

More to come….

Tragic.  The Cane family mourns today and our hearts go out to Sean’s family especially his little girl who may never know what a special guy her father was.  Lets hope his memory survives for her.

I came across this video today on the Mountain Xpress web site. This is the weekly alternative newspaper in Asheville. All we typically hear is the negative. Our education system is failing. Kids spend all their time watching videos. and on and on.

Watching the video, The Mouse That Roared, will give you renewed confidence in future leaders. Kyle Thomas is a 10-year-old with a clear head and straightforward approach to problem solving.

I have seen professionals with multiple degrees not as comfortable in front of a formal (or informal) audience as this kid is.

Great to see….

For anybody associated with the University of Miami football program over the last 20 years, today is a sad day. Today is the last Miami football game to be played at the stadium. After this game, and one more high school football championship game, the city is recommending the stadium be demolished. No matter what happens, the U has decided to take their football games out to Dolphin Stadium starting next year.

I realize that all traditions must come to an end eventually and the facilities at Dolphin Stadium (gotta work on that name) are first rate. The improved facilities may even help recruiting in the long run but the memories and flashbacks are hard to let go of right now.

ESPN has listed its favorite Orange Bowl moments which include a few superbowls and some other, non Miami, college matchups but I cannot forget a few moments.

National Champions - I witnessed two national championship teams born at the Orange Bowl with Miami wins over Oklahoma (’89) and Nebraska (’91). Miami won another one in ‘87 but I did not witness it personally.

The Swagger - The U has never had the resources that many other big-time college football programs have. We are a small, private, city school (4000 undergrads) and measured against huge state schools like Florida, Ohio State, Penn State, etc. What the U has lacked in facilities, we have more than made up for in swagger and attitude. The same is true of the Orange Bowl, which has been a piece of junk for a decade, but it was home to the most impressive home field advantage in college football history ( see the streak). From the smoke coming out of the tunnel to the 4 fingers held up starting the fourth quarter, we OWNED visiting teams at the Orange Bowl for a decade.

The Streak - From 1985 to 1994 the U put together an record 58-game home winning streak. I saw many of these games and the atmosphere was electric - nobody was coming into our house and taking anything from us.

The Players - There is a reason the U is called the only Division 1 school in the NFL. The number and quality of U alumni playing and dominating in the NFL is beyond astounding. Here are a couple of facts. 13 straight years of having at least 2 first round draft picks - a few years as many as 4.   As of today, there are 56 Miami Alumni on NFL rosters and the U has had 47 NFL first round draft picks since 1984.

Miami earned the moniker Quarterback U during the run of great quarterbacks that included Jim Kelly, Bernie Kosar, Vinnie Testeverde, Craig Erikson, Sean Walsh, Gino Torreta, and Ken Dorsey but there other positions you have to give to the U also. Check this out.

Linebacker U : Ray Lewis, Jonathan Vilma, Dan Morgan, Jon Beason, Michael Barrow, Jesse Armstead, Darrin Smith,

Wide Receivers : Michael Irvin (Hall of Fame), Santonio Moss

Defensive Line: Warren Sapp, Jerome Brown, Vince Wilfork, Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland,

Running Back : Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Willis Mcgahee, Najeh Davenport, Edgerrin James

Defensive Backs : Sean Taylor, Ed Reed, Antrel Rolle, Phillip Buchanon, Brandon Meriweather

Tight Ends : Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey, Kellen Winslow, Jr, Greg Olsen, Kevin Everett

and so many more…

The Big Games - There were so many big games, even ignoring the national championship games but two stand out in my mind. First is the ‘89 Notre Dame game dubbed Catholics vs. Convicts II by the smug, holier than thou golden domers. This was Dennis Erickson’s first year as Miami head coach but the domers could let go of their hatred for Jimmy Johnson with many of them still wearing “We STILL hate Jimmy” t-shirts. Well, ND came out with Tony Rice trying to run an option and throw the ball. Miami killed him that day. I had never seem the Orange Bowl rock so hard as when Bernard Clark picked off a Rice pass and took it back. Wow.. what a moment and what a game!

The next memory for me is something totally different, I think it was again in ‘91 when Jack Pardee, Davie Klingler and the University of Houston came to town. They were putting up unbelievable offensive numbers that year and came into Miami undefeated for a prime-time Thursday night game. The games was going to be hard enough for Houston - The U, on prime-time, in the Orangle Bowl - but the Houston coach, Pardee, did the unthinkable. He added fuel to U’s simmering fire by going on sports talk radio in Miami a couple of days before the game and saying that he felt his offense was unstoppable. Accepting the challenge, Miami sacked Klingler about 8 or 9 times and did not allow a point until a field goal in the fourth quarter. Miami won 40-10 with Klinger’s lone coming with :03 left in the 4th quarter. It was an amazing site to witness and I was there.

At the end of the day, I know the U will develop a new tradition at Dolphin Stadium (somebody please deal with that name) and perhaps even run off a new, history changing winning streak. The swagger will follow us from the Orange Bowl, after all the U has been more about the players and the play makers than a stadium or other facility.

It has been said before and will be said again…It is a ‘Cane thing, which others just cannot understand!

I have commented here about each of these separately but the more I think about the direction different technologies are taking the more I love the combination of these.

Social networking sites are evolving, looking to embed themselves in the fabric or our daily lives (probably changing the fabric along the way).  This includes expanding to different devices and methods or user interaction.  Twitter can take messages from my cell phone as an obvious example.

On the flip side, who is more interested and involved in connecting people to people and companies and content than Google? You would be hard pressed to argue anybody.   There is a convergence happening here that we are just glimpsing and I, for one, am excited.  I wonder how we will look at these communities in 5 years.  How will we interact with each other, on these different contexts.

I see Android developing with components that allow direct interaction with the OpenSocial APIs.   Application developers will develop robust applications to allow interaction with one or, more likely, a host of sites.  I will interact with other people directly at sites like Classmates, LinkedIn, flickr,  SecondLife and/or Facebook via any device I choose at the same time using the same applications.

This has promise….

One of the senior architects in my practice passed this article on to me and I find it interesting for a couple of reasons although probably not what the author intended.

First of all, I take umbrage with the use of the Gphone . This is such a media hype tip off. There is not such thing, yet, as a Gphone. The term is a media creation because they want a direct comparison to Apple’s iPhone and that is not possible.

The best part of this article has nothing to do with Apple, Google, or even mobile phones. The best part of this article is the, albeit fairly shallow, debate on the security merits of open source vs proprietary software. This is something we do encounter every day and need to be able to articulate the right messaging.

At Novell, I know we have had discussions about getting into the embedded market with some different companies but I believe we have passed so far. I do think the Open Handheld Alliance would be a good place for us to re-engage. I did not see any other Linux distros as part of the alliance.