Asjouré thinks this is cute, I have to agree...

Sending a PajamaGram^SM gift is like sending a mini-vacation. She'll receive the softest, most luxurious pajamas, along with a personalized card, lavender bath tea, and a "Do Not Disturb" sign, all wrapped in a beautiful keepsake hatbox.

[ Pajamas from PajamaGram.com - You get all of this with every PajamaGram gift! ]

But no international delivery. :-(

I'm sure one of the most frustrating things for terrorists and other enemies of the state is reconnaissance. Driving around in your unmarked van, trying to take pictures of bridges and buildings, pulled over by the authorities for questioning... Now they can plan attacks from the privacy of their own lairs:

The most powerful technology A9.com invented for Yellow Pages is “Block View,” which brings the Yellow Pages to life by showing a street view of millions of businesses and their surroundings. Using trucks equipped with digital cameras, global positioning system (GPS) receivers, and proprietary software and hardware, A9.com drove tens of thousands of miles capturing images and matching them with businesses and the way they look from the street.

[ A9.com > Company > Yellow Pages on A9.com ]

Odd, DC isn't one of the cities they chose... Also odd Jeff Bezos remains a free man...

The small shop that I work for is large enough to need automation, but not large enough to need the sorts of automation that I've researched so far. SUS was very welcome, it replaced the SMS server that we were trying to use, but took way to much time to implement, and the hoping that people would visit Windows Update on a regular basis. SUS now allows me to know that systems have been updated when I need them to be (and it successfully did that with XP SP2 just this week). However it only does windows updates. I think I'm about to be pleased:

Available now as a public beta, WUS was recently evaluated by Mandy Andress of Network World's Lab Alliance (see link below) who pronounced it "a definite improvement over Software Update Services, the product it replaces," as well as "a credible alternative to existing patch management products such as BigFix and PatchLink for cost-conscious, Windows-only shops." This last means that, while very good, WUS is not as feature rich as many of the third-party commercial products available to you.

[ What's inside Windows Update Service ]

Isn't it great that there are journalists who take time time to report this sort of thing... ;)

Good tips here, I think:

Hiring is all about probabilities. When we evaluate a candidate, we are basically just trying to predict whether that candidate will be a success in the position being filled. We're trying to know the future, but we have no prophets and no Oracle.

[ Hazards of Hiring (The Business of Software) ]

Microsoft is just a wealth of knowledge, eh?

Yes, this is where I work. Yes we are in need once again:

We are currently searching for a producer/project manager to work with our current and future clients to complete their Web projects. The ideal candidate will have experience in both project management and the Internet. Strong organizational skills and writing ability are required.

[ Employment Opportunities ]

And, since I know that many project managers read my site, I figured I'd link it up.

...perhaps. At least this looks very interesting. I keep meaning to read it in depth, but never seem to have the time. Perhaps if I blog about it I'll get around to it...

Consistently delivering high-quality technology solutions on time and on budget is challenging for any business. The Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) provides people and process guidance—the proven practices of Microsoft—to help teams and organizations become more successful in delivering business-driven technology solutions to their customers. MSF is a deliberate and disciplined approach to technology projects based on a defined set of principles, models, disciplines, concepts, guidelines, and proven practices from Microsoft.

[ Visual Studio: Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) ]

Hey, buddy! Canada here! We were all really excited when we heard aboot all you Democrats moving up here after the Christian Conservatives took over your country.

[ Welcome to Canada, Eh? ]

Props to Mikah.

Don't know why this was so hard to find. Gruska even had the correct name, I think. But this is, apparently, the only decent freeware program to report hard drive usage in a manner conducive to freeing up some space.

Every hard disk is too small if you just wait long enough. TreeSize tells you where precious space has gone to. TreeSize can be started from the context menu of a folder or drive and shows you the size of this folder, including its subfolders.

[ JAM Software - Windows Freeware ]

NPR had an interesting story about Mormons and Native Americans which is apparently part of a series:

Worlds of Difference uses radio documentary features to explore the impact of global change on local cultures worldwide. Individual pieces air on public radio news magazine shows; they will be compiled and rebroadcast in thematic hour-long specials in the spring and summer of 2005. The goal of the project is to stimulate public discussion on questions of diversity, tradition, identity, connectedness, continuity and change.

[ Worlds of Difference ]

Unfortunately a bunch of the stories seem to have disappeared from their original postings, but a bunch are still available. All rather touching, all rather interesting.

If you have been on the fence about the GameCube, this should make you jump the fence:

In Resident Evil 4 players are reacquainted with Leon S. Kennedy, Raccoon City Police Department's idealistic rookie cop from Resident Evil 2. It has been six years since the destruction of Raccoon City and in that time, the U.S. government has been able to destroy the nefarious Umbrella Corporation. Fast forward to 2004 and players rejoin Leon, who is now a U.S. agent with a top-secret mission. He has been tasked to look into the abduction of the President's daughter and his investigation has led him to a mysterious location in Europe. As Leon encounters unimaginable horrors, he must find out who or what is behind everything.

[ Amazon.com: Computer & Video Games: Resident Evil 4 ]

The reviews are in, and this one is a hit. I've just finished chapter one, and I must say I'm quite pleased. My only complaints so far is that Leon can't seem to run, perhaps I just haven't found the run button, but I think they've done that on purpose; and some time switching in and out of cinematic mode is a bit clunky. Otherwise I feel they've kept everything that has made the Resident Evil series a hit in this version, and threw away all of the crap that drove me crazy. If you want to get into the series, but you're worried about not following the events of the past, this is a great place to jump in. Very little in this game relies on knowledge of the past games (as far as I can tell) and they bring you up to speed on the important parts.

Capcom's site for the game is crap, and the have no wallpapers to download, which is stupid. This game is M for mature, and rightfully so. So what are you waiting for, go buy a GameCube if you don't have one and a copy of ResidentEvil 4 and get to playing a masterpiece. And, Dari, I've already acquired the rifle with sniper scope.

The good news? My favorite manga was made into a movie, and now is being released in the US:

The year is 2131. A non-nuclear war has left the earth barren. Deunan Knute roams the badlands, one of the many soldiers who, with lines of communication cut, continue to fight, unaware that the war has ended. Deunan is never one to take things lying down: a highly trained soldier with police and SWAT experience, she is prepared for nearly anything -- but not for the heavily armed helicopter that assaults her without warning. Before she realizes what's going on, Deunan is losing consciousness: her last thought is hazy realization that she's been hit by a tranquilizer. Not only that, but one of the perpetrators is her old love Briareos. He has arrived with the beautiful Hitomi to intercept Deunan and take her back with the to the enigmatic utopia, Olympus.

[ Appleseed ]

The bad news? Limited release. Apparently there is no perceived market for Anime in the DC area. New York, Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Hawai'i, and Philadelphia are all represented, but nothing anywhere near DC. Obviously the distributors have never been to Annandale or near the Merrifield Theater, I'm sure this thing could run a week or two and do a good deal of business. *sigh* I guess I'll have to keep my eye out for the DVD release.

How freaking deranged do you have to be to make a conclusion like this?

SpongeBob - who appears on the children's cable channel Nickelodeon - is seen as an icon for adult gay men in the US, apparently because he regularly holds hands with his sidekick Patrick.

[ US right attacks SpongeBob video ]

Holding hands makes you gay? And SpongeBob's apparent gayness is communicated best through this video remake? As a way to turn children gay? I think we're all aware that Spider-man will make you gay, but SpongeBob, please. Checking the site of the organization who has released the video, WAFF, I note that the ADL is also involved. Perhaps they are trying to turn my children Jewish as well...

The organization that is promoting the video has a different take:

WAFF spokesman Mark Barondeso told the newspaper that anyone who thought the video promoted homosexuality "needs to visit their doctor and get their medication increased".

The head of Focus on the Family, Dr. Dobson, claims that SpongeBob isn't turning America's youth gay, but instead representing the gays of America who we should be beating down (my words). Of course if he ever watched the SpongeBob program, he'd know that A: SpongeBob digs Sandy and B: he's impervious to gay bashing. Though I'm sure that Dr. Dobson doesn't want America's youth accepting the diversity of the heathens (read Jews) either, but it's easier to blame the gays...

Your phone has a camera on it, now what? You could take stupid pictures and share them with the world:

This is a public moblog dedicated to the man himself....Spongebob Squarepants (other Spongebob characters can also be posted). If you have a pic of him and wish to post it, email it to Spongebob.daniel[at]tamw.com

[ SpongeBlog SquarePants ]

I found this via Laura Foy's and Mogan Webb's Moblog. Apparently a few of the G4TV hosts like to share.

Oh, and Hello Kitty too...

Wow, lots changing in my blogroll these days.

Recently removed JoyStiq or whatever it was called, thanks for the tip Bull, but 19 out of 20 posts seemed to be straight off of slashdot's game feed (which I already read).

Recently added many game links. Video Fenky had a few, I've added the ones that looked good and had RSS feeds, hopefully some good stuff in there. Also added T-Dub and Thug AKA Tina Wood and Laura Foy, they are co-hosts of G4TV.com on the swell G4TechTV (née G4TV, and I've heard could revert as well).

I wonder if there are any good blogs or news sites that focus on coffee...

Some love the bandwagon:

Google has come up with a solution and I think every blog should start to pay attention to it. It has to do with an extra attribute. Anyway here's the athoratative link: google blog

[ Stopping Comment Spam ]

Others are irritated by the brute force nature of this move:

I'm not happy about the breach of protocol, but not as mad as I was when I thought that they were introducing a brand new attribute...

[ KooshMoose ]

Everyone seems to think it's a good idea. I've added it to my “filters” so all links should be rewritten to include this googletastic best practice. Now if I only had the motivation to hack it into .Text as well. Meh, I'll just wait for Community Server :: Blog.