I'm back from training, and I have seen the light. Jerry asked the other day, “Has anyone else used Sharepoint Services yet?” and was looking for some feedback, and I think I've got the skinny.

SharePoint is not just one thing, and it's not even the same thing all of the time. Currently SharePoint is 2 things:

1. Windows SharePoint Services 2.0 (WSS)
2. SharePoint Portal Server 2.0 (SPS)

And they are both a bit different than v1.0, which was very different than Team SharePoint YadaYada or whatever it was called before that. WSS 1.0 stored it's bits in file shares and in Exchange, and SPS 1.0 used SQL Server. SPS 2.0 still uses SQL server, but now so does WSS, although WSS can use MSDE instead. Therefore WSS is licensed along side of Windows 2003, and with a MSDE implantation doesn't cost anything above the server OS.

What is WSS? It's more than a place to put documents, it's a place to put documents, event details, lists of stuff, conversations, surveys, etc. as well as a web GUI that lets you access all of these bits. And it's all integrated into Office 2003. You can schedule a meeting in Outlook, and create a “workspace” for that meeting in WSS. This allows you to store documents for review, and revision as well as other collaboration information all in one place, totally dedicated to your meeting. You can pull in users from ActiveDirectory and give each their own “MySite” for storing and sharing documents, thoughts, conversations, etc. You can customize the site with your own templates, or using an SDK make custom widgety things that WSS calls “Web Parts”. In a nutshell it is “Intranet in a box” and mostly free. Add on a SQL license and you can use free text searching.

But then, you may ask, what the heck is SharePoint Portal? SPS allows you to much easier create WSS sites, much easier integrate with AD, search across all of these sites, and aggregate data from across sites into sites setup for aggregation purposes. It rounds out the solution making it the only Intranet that many companies might need. In addition you can use other MS servers like Project Server that integrate right into WSS and create a site for each project on the server.

Or, you can boot up VisualStudio.NET and use the WSS services without using their GUI, or use part of their GUI and create your own Web Parts, and get 1/2 of your solution done up front (if your solution involves collaboration and communication).

The type of game makes a difference as well. "Doom 3," "Half-Life 2," and "Halo 2" are three of the most anticipated upcoming games among Western audiences. Don't expect them to do well in Japan, however. In fact, they will have two strikes against them even before they land on the docks. All three games are, in addition to being violent, played from the first-person perspective. Such first-person perspective shooters (FPS) are big in the West, but have never really caught on in Japan. And few violent games sell well there, either.

[ MSNBC - Video games that get lost in translation ]

Apparently the problem with quality consoles selling is due to their sphere of influence. GameCube seems to have only “Japanese” games and XBox has only “American” games. PlayStation provides both and therefore seems to be more popular. Of course consumers apparently don't mind crappier design, crappier price, crappier controls (multitap in specific), and crappier performance.

Here's hoping GameCubeNext and neXtBox both kill PS3 at the register... (Oh did I get off topic?)

For roughly eight years I've been doing work related to a game known as Zelda, but I never imagined that an opportunity for me to talk to all of you about this experience would ever come.

[ Nintendo ]

ACT II & Nintendo have teamed up for the ultimate gaming and snacking experience. Just look for specially marked ACT II Microwave Popcorn cartons and pop a bag to see if you're an Instant Winner of a Grand Prize Family Gaming Pack, which includes: a Panasonic 50" Widescreen LCD Rear Projection HDTV, a Nintendo GameCube™ System, including 4 Wavebird™ Wireless Controllers & 10 games, plus every newly released Nintendo GameCube game for an entire year* and a year's supply of ACT II Microwave Popcorn. It's just one more way ACT II Microwave Popcorn helps you and your family Get Ahead Of The Game.

[ ACT II ]

Time passes, the pages turn...and a new chapter unfolds in an unfamiliar land! Get ready for a two-dimensional role-playing adventure for the ages as Mario returns to paper form in pursuit of a threat unlike any he's ever faced.

[ Paper Mario 2 ]

I thought that Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga was going to be a nice sequel (of types) to Paper Mario, and I think I was a bit disappointed. You'll notice that it still sits on the side of my site as a game I'm playing, and that's mostly due to the fact that I'm just shy of completing the game. I'm stuck at a mega boss battle that may not even be my last battle, and the timing of defense is all important in this battle (even though it really hadn't been up to this point). Paper Mario 2, however, could be the gem I am looking for.

In this highly anticipated sequel to Metroid Prime, become the bounty hunter behind the visor once more and travel to a planet torn into light and darkness. Hunted by a mysterious entity and a warring race called the Ing, Samus Aran must explore the light and dark worlds of this doomed planet to discover secrets and augment her suit's weapons and abilities.

[ Metroid Prime 2: Echos ]

With quality games like this, why do people buy anything but a GameCube as their first console?

quickSub is a Javascript function that adds intelligence to the feed button on your web page. Just roll your mouse over the example above, and you'll be instantly greeted by one-click subscription links to the most popular aggregators.

[ quickSub ]

Now used on davidkearns.com where the Radio's “coffeecup” URL used to be.

In a dying village on Sylvarant, legend has it that a Chosen One will one day appear from amongst the people and the land will be reborn. Enter a world of beautiful cel-shaded graphics and high-quality Anime cut scenes by renowned artist Kosuke Fujishima.

[ Namco - Tales of Symphonia ]

Outstanding Anime cut scenes that are styled just like the cel shaded graphics. I forget which game it was, I think one of the Final Fantasy games, where all of the cut scenes were in a completely different style than the play, especially the characters that you played. It drove me crazy. This however looks outstanding on both parts, and seems to be epic in proportion. Here's hoping for a difficult month-long RPG experience.

The Cherry Cocktail is a tempting concoction of premium milk chocolate, freshly roasted peanuts and a creamy cherry center. The whole maraschino cherry creme center is buried in a mixture of ground peanuts and milk chocolate making the bar look like a textured mound of chocolate.

[ Idaho Candy Products ]

Truth be told, I've never had one, but they look so good that I must find these somewhere and try one.

Shrek 2 Trailer Great footage -- straight from the publisher!

[ Games : Audio/Video ]

And it does look like it could be fun to play. Recently the Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom impressed me as an above quality game based on a license, and this could be another one. Perhaps one day I won't be able to prejudge these games as all crap.

"He sidled up against us. The next thing I know he's banging away at the car and it's rocking like hell."

[ CNN.com - Rhino gets amorous with car ]

Renault, Rhino, I guess they sound a bit similar.

Props to Big G.

$g(Earth Day) is a time to celebrate gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress. Earth Day is a time to unite around new actions. Earth Day and every day is a time to act to protect our planet.

[ Earth Day - US Government Portal ]

Here is your chance, if you live near San Jose or Southern California. NCsoft will be in Fry's Electronics on April 27th to celebrate their new products Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle and City of Heroes.

[ Lineage II : The Chaotic Chronicle ]

And in a seemingly unrelated story, perfectutensil.com's new site delays launch 6-8 months.