Knowing .NET

My latest SD Times column is on Microsoft’s Smart Client strategy. Funny story: when I wrote this, the acronym “Ajax” hadn’t yet been invented…

The DevX Office portal has opened and, waddya’ know?, I’ve got an article about using XML to transfer data to/from Office applications.

MSNBC has an interactive Flash app that provides bracketed competition for comedies. My Final Four was “Austin Powers“ vs. “Something About Mary“ and “Spinal Tap“ vs. “Dr. Strangelove,“ with “Something About Mary“ going up against “Strangelove“ for the crown.

Fun, but how did “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” not make the tournament?

Last night was the first really clear evening in a week. As a matter of fact, it was downright gorgeous — Mauna Loa was dusted with snow, a few low cumulus clouds gave the horizon some character, the setting sun really lit up Hualalai. And, I saw Mercury for the first time in my life! At 7:20, there was only one “star” visible in the low, still dusky, West. I’d been hoping to see Mercury this past week, when the potential was said to be excellent, but I thought it might have already moved back too close to the sun.

By now you’ve heard that Microsoft is buying Groove Networks and Ray Ozzie is slated to become a Microsoft CTO. Not the CTO, though. He’ll be one of three “Chief” officers, along with David Vaskevitch (CTO, Business Platform) and Craig Mundie (CTO, Advanced Strategies & Policy). As such, he’ll report direct to Bill Gates (not to Ballmer? Huh. But that’s what they say.)

I missed the premiere of the Episode III trailer last night, largely due to the fact that I refuse to watch the OC. However, our fellow netizens have provided a torrent for your downloading pleasure. …. Odds are this film will be just as disappointing, but no matter. The dark side is powerful and I shall succumb to its treachery on May 19. via [The Daily Nugget]

God, it’s horrible. We all know we’re going to be disappointed. But… Vader!

In a new study, cognitive scientists show that humans can usually track just four mental variables when trying to solve a problem…. Link  via [Boing Boing]

I would definitely suspect that programmers are better than average at tracking variables but I wonder if we have a gift for this (the ability to track five or six or seven), or are just good at swapping to and from our four registers?