I’ve decided that I will end the last few hours of 2008 watching HD-DVD movies on my Xbox 360 HD-DVD add-on in order to symbolically close out the year celebrating the failed technology of 2008.

While I’m doing that, I’ll have my 30GB Zune that locked up today along with everyone else’s due to that clock device bug sitting on top of the stack of HD-DVD movies I got as part of one of the last ditch offers to get the format jump started by the studios.

God speed, you failed tech of 2008! 2009 failed tech, here we come!

It’s a surreal day when Los Vegas, Nevada is dealing with 40 degree weather, while the temperatures here in northeast Ohio hit 67°F today. Even now, at 12:30am, it’s 53°F.

It’s madness!

I was having a conversation with a client today about how the end of the year was coming up way to fast, when I made the usual year-end joke about how it takes me a month to get over writing the wrong year on my checks.

It struck me right after I said it how I couldn’t remember the last time I wrote a check, thanks to the rise of debit cards over the last few years. In fact, I generally am shocked when I find actual paper money in my pocket, due to how often I use plastic.

Although it happened years ago, it’s still funny to me how the far-flung “future” of 2008 didn’t involve flying cars or trips to the moon, but did see the end of paper money and metal coins for most transactions by the average person I know.

I had an opportunity to participate in a bold little experiment created by the Geek Squad team this year, in which they asked for volunteers to man an online holiday tech support channel to provide free support for all that new technology received as gifts this year.

Eighteen agents volunteered, including computer support agents such as myself, along with Geek Squad home theater and car audio experts as well.

I participated across all three days, answering as many questions as I could. It was a humbling experience to see just how many people came to us for help and a great feeling when we could make their holiday a little less stressful. It was a strong reminder that even though it’s a job, there’s some real good that you can do when you’re helping someone make their life a little better through technology.

I look forward to the next holiday support event!

Thanks, ngmoco:) … you’ve taken another $9.99 from me thanks to your release of Rolando for the iPhone on the Apple App Store today!