Hello, World

So I recently started looking into doing some basic home automation tasks, mostly as an excuse to get to play with new toys and learn new languages and programming techniques.  It struck me that as I work my way through some problems, it might be helpful to document my process a little.  This way,

1. I can look it up later if I forget something, and
2. I might show up in a random Google search for help a dozen years from now.  

Incidentally, if that's how you found me, and the year is 2024 and humanity has been subjugated by the machines, well I'm sorry, but chances are my information is way too old to be relevant to you, so you should just hop back in your flying car and move along.  Give your robot overlords my best.

Anyone else, welcome, and hopefully you see something here that interests you.