I recently received an unexpected award: in October I was named a Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) for Windows Security. This was apparently in recognition for my work in the Broadband Reports Security Forum, where I've been hanging out since spring 2001.

Awardees get some Microsoft swag (certificate, lapel pin, backback, etc.), a bit of software, but no money :-) I'm told that the MVP-only technical gatherings are excellent.

I did nothing to lobby or ask for this, but I'm happy to accept. Even though I have a long-time UNIX background, I've been a Win32 developer for more than 10 years and really enjoy the platform.

I suspect I'm one of the few Microsoft MVPs with "unix" in his email address <grin>