Apparently kids today are enjoying Japanese Culture:

Japanese comics, called manga, take up more and more space on American bookshelves, and they've infused new life into the publishing industry. Japanese animation, anime, is on more and more movie and TV screens. Neal Conan and guests discuss the growing influence of Japanese culture in America.

[ NPR : Manga, Anime and Japanese Culture in America ]

Oh, wait, I knew that...

The first speaker's book Wrong About Japan : A Father's Journey with His Son isn't quite out in paperback. And Viz published many manga and the magazine Shonen Jump, which I almost picked up for Iman, perhaps when she's a bit older.

On one hand it's cool when a company realizes that their fans want to build fan sites, and work with them to make sure it's acceptable to their lawyers, and the fans can still have fun with it. On the other hand it's not cool when some marketing guy just doesn't get it. Case in point: "Resident Evil 4" by Capcom.

I went looking for wallpapers, as I always do, to add to my collection (which gets rotated on my PC at work and home about every 15 minutes) because I'm a big geek. The Resident Evil 4 site had no such downloadables, but did have a "build a fansite" contest, which I figured might have something close. Instead I found a wizard that build this. It's not a fan site, it's a wizard to build mini-marketing sites. What fun is that? And if it appeals to anyone, it would be young kids, who shouldn't be playing this game anyway.

I have completed the upgrade, and it appears to be successful. And, although the dasBlog homepage is in a sad state of confusion, the dasBlog wiki appears to be back up for the mean time:

DasBlog is an ASP.NET weblogging application. It runs on Microsoft .Net 1.1 and is developed in C#. DasBlog, an evolution of the BlogX weblog engine, adds lots of additional features like Trackback, Pingback, Mail notifications, full Blogger/MovableType API support, Comment API support, fully customizable Radio-style templates, Mail-To-Weblog/POP3 with attachment and embedded picture support, web-based DHTML editing, web-based OPML editor, web-based configuration editing, and other goodies to the BlogX codebase. And it's free without restrictions.

[ DasBlog.HomePage ]

My guess is that newtelligence just doesn't have the time to keep up with this, but Omar Shahine does. What I don't get is why newtelligence doesn't have the time to redirect dasblog.net to the wiki site.

Since I've hacked the code, I have to spend a good deal of time merging the changes in, and this usually means that I have a good grasp of all the changes. There were large sections, however, that I didn't review since I knew I had no code in those parts. I believe that a large part of this version is tightening of code. Some anti-comment spam features have been added. Pingback and trackbacks have been touched, and there are comments that lead me to believe that they now work. Comments can now be shut off on an entry by entry basis. Draft entries can be saved, which is welcome by me, sometimes I want to save to make sure nothing gets lost, but I know that I'm not quite ready to go live with an entry. The login has been reworked, it's just a link to a login page, with just a note that it was done for "many reasons". I did have to hack that work, the "Sign in" link wasn't inside a div like the login box was before, and it wasn't lining up correctly. Admin functions have been tightened up, and now referrals are intelligently parsed, splitting out search engines, and just displaying keywords, and all referring stats can be accessed, not just todays.

All in all I'm pleased, if you like to hack .net code, and you are looking for blogging software for a home page, I would recommend dasBlog. (Though I do run .Text on geekprime.com, I'm frustrated with the delay on Community Server :: Blog and the migration tools for .Text .95)

And jumped over to SourceForge:

dasBlog Community Edition is an ASP.NET weblogging application. It runs on ASP.NET 1.1 and is developed in C#. dasBlog, an evolution of the BlogX weblog engine, adds lots of additional features like Trackback, Pingback, Mail notifications, full Blogger/M

[ SourceForge.net: Project Info - newtelligence dasBlog Community Edition ]

Not having worked on these open source projects, I'm not sure what the difference is between SourceForge and GotDotNet, but I do know that SourceForge has always seemed quicker. From what I read previously on the GotDotNet forums for dasBlog this release should have quite a few fixes in it. I guess I'll be WinMerging some code this weekend.

Why can't I get this out of my head?

Correct me if I am wrong, but are you asking for a challenge?

[ Coming Soon! The biggest name is Web Advertising!! ]

Speaking of games that I'm eagerly awaiting, not one but two Wario Ware games are headed our way. I truly enjoyed Wario Ware Inc.:Mega Microgame$, and somewhat enjoyed WarioWare Inc: Mega Party Game$. The party game had much repeated from the GBA game, and it's not so much fun to play the party game when I'm totally familliar with the mini games but the unsuspecting victims who agree to play the party game are not.

Not content to sit on innovation, Wario has two more games headed our way: “Wario Ware: Touched!” and “Wario Ware: Twisted!” Touched is coming out for the DS and involves dozens of new games that use the stylus or microphone. I'm expecting super innovation here. Twisted is for the GBA and contains some sort of mini-gyro or something that can tell what direction the GBA is facing, and thus if you are twisting it. It uses this innovation to drive many of it's dozens of new mini-games. Certainly good things can be expected from both titles.

GameFly has Starcraft: Ghost listed in “upcoming titles” including box art and a rating of M.

Blizzard Entertainment's StarCraft franchise comes to next gen consoles with the innovative StarCraft: Ghost. But instead of managing tactical units, in Starcraft: Ghost, you will control a futuristic, "Ghost" super-warrior.

[ Gamefly ]

I'm not getting my hopes up, Blizzard has been dragging their feet on this one. I think the entire gaming community is hoping that Blizzard is doing this to get the game “right”. Blizzard has a lot of story behind the Starcraft universe, and the ghost unit is one of the more exciting human military units from the strategy game, there is no reason that this game shouldn't be perfect. I'm still willing to give Blizzard the benefit of the doubt, but actual box art and a rating is a good sign.

Update: on a closer look it appears that the “M” rating is only on the box, and their database says “rating pending” (RP). Plus the GameCube version has different box art, different box rating, is listed as RP and releases TBD, and is being published directly by Blizzard instead of Vivendi like the PS2 version. All adding up to more waiting...

Another site that looks darn interesting. Where will I find the time to read so much?

Selecting and implementing a content management system (CMS) will be one of the largest IT projects tackled by many organisations. With costs running into the millions of dollars, it is vital that the right CMS package be selected.

[ How to evaluate a content management system ]

I'll just leave it here on my page, and that will encourage me to go back and read it, right?

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.