I also have a large pile of books that I’ve read and probably won’t read again. If you are interested in any of them, can we trade for something you’ve read and probably won’t read again. Here is my list:

7th Son: Descent
The 4-Hour Work Week
The Rise of the Creative Class
Now, Discover Your Strengths
Beyond The Call of Duty
Just a Geek
Linchpin
The Dip
The Power of Charm
Trust Agents
Blue Kingdoms Shades & Spectors
Pirates of the Blue Kingdoms
Rework
Twittfaced
Notes from a small island
The why of Work
The Narrow Road
Killing Giants
Eat People

I’m interested in any political thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, comics and graphic novels, and business books. I could even go for something in photography that isn’t camera specific. Thanks.

1. The best snow on earth
2. The best natural wonders on earth
3. The most Dinosaur bones on earth
4. The most ice cream on earth
5. The best biking and hiking trails on earth
6. The most burger joins on earth

and… the most SEO experts on earth.

Yes, it’s an SEOmoz paradise. If you don’t #MozCation here, you will have missed the opportunity of a lifetime.

People want to spend more time with their Families during the Holidays. Me too. I think unplugging on a consistent basis is a good thing. Nothing scientific, just makes sense. I live and work in a technology world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of the next coolest thing. I really need to get out.

It’s my time now, so I’ll curl up with a good book on my Kindle, and fall asleep listening to Bach on Pandora. Isn’t technology great? I need to get out more.

I started listening to a new podcast today, well new for me, called This Developers Life. And aparently I started listening at a great time. The podcast is hosted by Rob Conery and Scott Hanselman. The podcast is a discussion on things technical and not so technical. Great idea, been wanting to do something like this for a while.

Last weeks show Scott made a comment how developers who can’t keep up with fast changing technologies, give up and go into management. At first I thought what big balls this guy has to make a statement like that. He was basically saying that if you can’t keep up you’re a loser, and the only thing left for you is management.

The rest of the day was spent reflecting on my career, the choices I’ve made, and the direction I am heading. I also wondered if I had made that choice; give up trying and default to management.

The movie title No Country for Old Men popped into my head at one point. I some times feel like that. What to do with old developers. I remembered back to my days during Y2K, and the number of Cobol programmers brought out of moth balls to help remediate code written 30 years ago. For a short while they felt useful again. It must have been exciting to be back in the game.

I digress. Back to Scotts comments, Rob’s thoughts, and a follow up interview with a listener named Mark Freedman. I’ve read Marks blog off and on, and his story is about a technology Manager trying to get back into development, and the struggles he is facing. It’s a great read, and I appreciate his openness.

Honestly, I’ve tried to spend more time in management, and less time coding. It wasn’t that I couldn’t, or wouldn’t, keep up with the fast pace of changing development technologies. My choice, I thought, was for the need to share my experience, mentor other developers, and work on the big picture of projects. I have also used the “I can’t keep up” excuse several times, as a way to express my displeasure of development. I think I was really just copping out.

So how do Old Developers get a Country? Well, just because I’m older, and not as fast, doesn’t mean I need to shelve my development efforts. Scott and Mark both talk about going solo, forging ahead on your own, and filling multiple roles; developer, manager, entrepreneure. I’ve freelanced for some time, and I know the grass isn’t greener on that side either. That path has it’s own unique issues. But the trade off was I get to code, get to manage, and get to innovate. The best of all worlds. I think that could be a great Country for Old Developers, like me.

I’m amazed how much one podcast has affected me. Great job Rob and Scott (and Mark too). I love it when someone makes me think about my own situation, and causes true change. Working on my career plan, which I haven’t updated or added to in a long time.

(Image from Firstshowing.net)