You could try the RailsInstaller (http://www.railsinstaller.org/en) project from Luis Lavena. I went from essentially zero webdev experience to completing Michael Hartl's Rails Tutorial to building modest production applications in Rails on my Windows 7 PC at work with RailsInstaller as my starting point. It hasn't been problem-free, but I've been able to get great support through the RailsInstaller Google group.

Full disclosure, though, I also have a Mac for personal use and I've definitely found Rails development and deployment to be much easier on a linux-like platform than a Windows one.

Michael Hartl had suggested to me that while it can be done on Windows, I'd probably be more efficient with his tutorial if I get a Mac.

Honestly it shouldn't make too much of a difference. I've never used rails on Windows myself, but I've heard it works alright. If you're really worried, I'd install a Linux VM on your computer and work from there.

No mention of Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time"?

I also remember a short story about a guy who builds his house using a tesseract as the model. More inside than outside--- until it collapsed! :)

I'm gone the 28th-30th, unfortunately, so I'd vote for anything before or after that (January 3rd would be ideal.)

Either way, though, welcome to Chicago, Patrick!

We're looking for short-term remote Rails help implementing faceted search using solr/lucene or websolr.

Though several startups are addressing this area, I like the timeline approach taken by Eternos (http://beta.eternos.com)

[Disclaimer: I've blogged enthusiastically about them in the past and we've discussed a possible advisory role.]

At Molex, we've been pitched recently by Invention Machine to adopt their SAAS service "Goldfire". They claim that Goldfire makes it easier for companies to incorporate TRIZ principles in their new product development processes. So far, most of my colleagues who've heard the pitch are quite skeptical. This article covered most of their objections: it's a gimmick, it hasn't been objectively proven to yield innovative ideas, we don't need expensive software to use these techniques, etc.

Genlighten is looking for a Front-end UI/UX Designer / Rails Developer. Details are at http://bit.ly/dshmNY. Preferred location would be Chicago or Logan, Utah, but remote may also work. Thanks!

My wife and I have been co-founders of our nights/weekends startup from day one. She runs customer support (phone and e-mail) and is the prototype "seller" in our online marketplace. I handle product development, marketing, finances and some front-end design.

We spend most evenings laptop-to-laptop in "Genlighten World Headquarters" (our daughter's old bedroom.) Last night we worked the booth together at a startup demo event. It was tremendous fun and particularly exhilirating to be doing it as a couple.

Our CTO lives in another part of the US, and so far (~2 years) we haven't experienced any obvious problems with the couple + third founder arrangement.

Bottom line: it works for us.

Yeah, I've checked the posterous video for new views (alas, none so far). But mostly I'm working on improving the existing app, dealing with a recent influx of users, and filling out applications to other programs with later deadlines.

I'm looking for a part-time front-end UI/design person with RoR skills to help out our bootstrapped nights/weekends genealogy startup. I could meet your income needs (paying by the task) and still leave you time for the other suggestions you've gotten here. My e-mail's dean (at) genlighten.com.