Robert McLaws: FunWithCoding.NET

I've been working on a new utility today, and it required me to interact with a WindowsForms CheckedListBox control. It took me about 20 minutes to figure this out, but if you delete a SelectedItem from the source list, you MUST change the SelectedIndex before you delete the item and rebind. Otherwise you'll through an IndexOutOfRange exception with a non-existent stack trace.

I think VS2005 Beta 2 shaping up to be released very soon (Within the next week or two). I seem to remember MS saying that you wouldn't see it before TechEd 2005, but I think they may be trying to make up for slip dates by at least having a downloadable version available by the time the techies hit the tarmac. Many of the VS guys have been relatively quiet, and the builds I've seen are starting to take on the characteristics of a final package.

Congratulations to all the new MVPs out there. Welcome to the team.

I came across this article about a group of illegal alien high school students from right here in Phoenix who beat MIT in a robot contest. They're amazing people, and the story is very well-written too. Please take a moment to donate to their scholarship fund... they definitely deserve it. Thanks to Chris Sells for the link.

I just received an e-mail that as of 5:20pm, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 has gone RTM. It is available now to beta testers at http://windowsbeta.microsoft.com,  and should be on Microsoft.com and MSDN "shortly".

As some of you might have already known, my company hosts it's servers at ServerBeach. They're a great hoster, and have treated us very well. They were recently bought out by a European hosting company called Peer1, and have since constructed a new datacenter. Last week, our servers were moved to the new facility, and over the past week, InterscapeUSA.com, LonghornBlogs.com and other sites have been experiencing intermittent outtages. I confirmed on Thursday that the hard drive on our webserver is failing (most likely damaged in transit), which is the reason for the current outtage.

I'm with Wally, Paul, and Jeff. I'm definitely not joining the ranks of the Old Guard anytime soon. PS, I've been programming on some form of BASIC since the Apple IIc. Sure, VB.NET was tough to get over. Objects? Event-driven programming? But I got over it. Like thousands of other people did. And I still learn new things every day. Something tells me half of these people are just pissed off that Microsoft didn't listen to them, and now they wanna pout about it.

My roommate has a bathroom book called "The Rules: A Man's Guide to Life." by Esquire Magazine. I was sitting reading it the other day (use your imagination.... actually, please don't) and I came across Rule 390, which made me think of Chris Sells. I will give you just a second to snicker at that while I type the rule.