CWD Ceases Operations

Effective 12/31/08, Carolina Web Development has ceased operations.

Due to a number of factors including a change in my career direction and lack of time to focus on the business, I have reached the decision to focus my energy elsewhere.

If anyone has questions regarding previous work done by CWD, please contact me at: mike dot rogan at gmail dot com

Thanks to everyone for your patronage throughout the past nine years!

Merry Christmas!

I hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas - however you spent it - and wish you all the best in 2009!

This was indeed a rough year for many but hopefully 2009 will bring better things!

One Laptop Per Child

Looking for a great holiday gift idea that can really make a difference?

Skip the typical barrage of clothes, jewelry, and gadgets and donate in a loved ones name to One Laptop per Child instead.

It's really easy using Amazon at amazon.com/xo and your gift will help children in the developing world unlock their full potential through education.

Google map of contributors

Baltimore Half Marathon : Completed

Well, I finally did it!

I completed my second half marathon last weekend in Baltimore. This time (unlike the first) everything went incredibly smooth and without injury!

It could not have been a better weekend...

I flew up to BWI after work on Friday, then grabbed the Light Rail to Camden Yards. Once there, I picked up my race materials and checked in to the hotel. I then got some shrimp pasta (for fuel) at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub @ the Inner Harbor and hung out there for a while before heading back to the hotel for some shut eye.

On Saturday, I headed back to the Inner Harbor for the start of the run. The 13.1 mile journey started at 9:45 sharp. The temperature was about 60 degrees at race start. As for the course itself, there were definitely several hills so I was very happy with my finishing time of 1:57:06 - under my goal of < 2 hours.

The people of Baltimore, regardless of the neighborhood we were running through, were very supportive in cheering all runners on. On a personal note, I haven't heard as many "Go Duke" cheers in quite a while (I was wearing my Duke running shirt). At any rate, the people of Baltimore were out in full force, providing everything from misting stations for cooling off to gummy bears for much needed fuel. It was great to see such a supportive crowd.

After the race, it was time to relax. I collected my finisher's medal and recharged with some fluids before checking out of the hotel. I then hung out back at the Inner Harbor for the afternoon where I had a great lunch (crab cakes) at Phillips. They were amazing. Then it was off to BWI for the short flight home to RDU (42 minutes on SWA).

It's amazing how much you can do in 24 hours!

NYT Op-Ed - China’s Rise Goes Beyond Gold Medals

This New York Times Op-Ed piece presents a good viewpoint.

After studying China in-depth at Duke and then visiting the country for several weeks, it is clear to me that the relationship between China and the rest of the world will dominate geopolitical relationships in the foreseeable future.

China’s Rise Goes Beyond Gold Medals

US News: Duke University 8th-best college in US

Go Duke!

As a recent grad alum, it's great to see Duke continuing to excel in national rankings...motivation to pay those pesky grad school loans!

wbt.com - US News: Duke University 8th-best college in US

For Olympics, Lenovo Steps Up to World Stage

Today's NY Times featured a great article on the rise of computer maker Lenovo.

Lenovo is doing some pretty amazing things (not the least of which is making the best laptops on the planet)!

For Olympics, Lenovo Steps Up to World Stage

Half Marathon - Second Attempt!

It's official...

I'm now a couple of weeks into a training program for my second half marathon!

My goal is to finish this time in less than 2 hours, and hopefully run injury-free (as opposed to Kiawah - my last attempt).

I'm shooting for a late summer run and hoping for good early morning weather!

Earth Hour 2008

Join others around the world by showing that you care about global warming.

How?

Participate in Earth Hour 2008 by turning off your lights for one hour on March 29 @ 8PM.

Learn more by watching the video below and sign up to show your support. Don't forget to tell a friend too!

Sign up for Earth Hour 2008

Chinese Food...or Not?

I originally heard about this a week or so ago on NPR.

Jennifer 8. Lee (yes, her middle name is 8 - a Chinese lucky number) recently wrote a book called The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food which describes the varying forms of Americanized Chinese food and how much they differ not only from one another but also from authentic Chinese food.

I can vouch for that! There is certainly no General Tso's Chicken to be found in Beijing or Shanghai!

Here's the story...

Newsweek : Lo Mein Street, U.S.A.

2008 Prius

Today I delivered big on one of my most important New Year's resolutions (to be more earth-friendly).

I picked up my brand new 2008 Toyota Prius in Spectra Blue Mica from Fred Anderson Toyota in Raleigh. Following about a month of extensive research and price negotiation with several dealers, today finally arrived!

While it has significantly less horsepower than my beloved Maxima, I think it's the right thing to do to satisfy my dual passion for the environment and technology, while also saving me some money at the pump.

Since my new commute involves primarily sitting in traffic the entire way, the Prius seems like a perfect fit!

Meosphere US Cities You've Visited

If you haven't ever checked out Meosphere, you really should. It's a place to list all the things you've done, places you've been, etc. and then get a snapshot of it all.

Here's a taste (major US cities visited)...

High Tech Rescue for Venice?

One of my colleagues shared the following story with me, which I missed on NPR Monday since I was trying out the traffic features of my new Navigon GPS.

It's definitely interesting to see how Venice is coping with the threat of rising sea levels. I haven't been to Venice but hope to get there soon and wouldn't want it to be submerged before I have the chance (or ever, for that matter)!

Check out or listen to the story below!

Venice Offers Lessons on Coping with Rising Seas @ NPR.com

2008 New Year's Resolutions

Here's my top 5 list (otherwise known as the 5 NY resolutions that I'm making public)...

1. Be more earth friendly.
2. Learn Mandarin Chinese.
3. Read more books.
4. Blog more often.
5. Run more and complete another half marathon

I wish everyone a healthy and prosperous 2008!

New Year's Resolution Run 5K

I started off 2008 with one of my resolutions being to run more in the new year.

So why not start off with a 5K on New Year's Day? I did just that and actually didn't did fairly well following a time when I hadn't been running regularly!

The finishing times have been posted and my official time clocks in at 25:36 for a pace of 8:15. Like I said, I'm looking forward to many more running events in 2008.

'Resolution Run' Helps People Keep Resolutions @ nbc17.com

Happy 2008

One of my New Year's resolutions for 2008 is to blog more often...so I'm starting on the first day of the year!

I hope everyone had a great New Year's Eve celebration and wish you all the best in 2008. It looks to be an exciting year at the Rogan house, now that the Duke MBA program is in the past.

2007 was a good (but crazy) year and I'm looking forward to what 2008 will bring!