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Sharepoint and the CIO

In the enterprises I work with Sharepoint is everywhere. Some IT departments view it as a problem - the viral distribution model spawned loads of independent workgroup environments that lack governance and raise risk related to lack of process and exposure. On the other hand some organizations recognize the value of a reasonably easy to use set of collaboration-centric tools, and they have created centralized organizations with robust support for a shared services model. I'm aware of a company that has determined that MOSS will be the platform for all of their content-based sites and has moved literally thousands of sites off various web server and portal platforms and on to MOSS. It gets more interesting that that, I'm working with companies that are looking at whether MOSS can provide a better front end to their ERP systems.

My more bleeding-edge E2.0 colleagues are likely to cringe at the notion of MOSS as a preferred platform, and it's my understanding that the Sharepoint folks got smacked around at the E2.0 confabulation in Boston back in June. For myself, I've become largely agnostic with regard to platforms in my old age. At the end of the day I'd rather see an enterprise adopt a less-than-stellar tool than none at all. And this gets to why I sense that Sharepoint is beginning to emerge as the E2.0 tool to beat.

A huge part of a CIOs life is managing risk. Another huge part is about optimizing and leveraging resources. A platform that performs adequately from a stable supplier with deep support strength will prevail over a totally rocking product from a boutique unless the enterprise in question has the appetite for maintaining custom code. So when Microsoft offers a collaboration platform that works with their server architecture, integrates with Office, can be managed with in-house talent...that's mighty compelling to the CIO. Never mind that there may be more effective, elegant or downright sexier products, MS is effective and lower-risk. Simple (and cruel) as that.

In the valley of trucks

Over the Hudson River

Inside the Mary Ellen

Heading from New London, CT to Orient Point, NY

Pulling up to the Mary Ellen

Thinking about reproduction and...E.B. White?

This morning I read an article concerning a commercial venture in pet cloning. This evening I saw a Twitter post by @monkchips about Plant Breeder's Rights. Then I remembered the following, written in January 1936 and reprinted in  E.B. White: Writings from The New Yorker 1927-1976, entitled  “Prohibited”:

The plant-patent business is taking right hold, apparently. We know a man who received a birthday present of a nice little azalea. Tied around the azalea’s stem, like a chastity belt was a metal tag from Bobbink & Atkins, reading “asexual reproduction of this plant is illegal under the Plant Patent Act.” It was Number 147. Our friend, a man of loose personal habits, ripped the tag off angrily, fed it to his dachshund puppy, and sent the plant to a friend in Connecticut with instructions to bed it down warmly next to an old buck hydrangea.

An appropriate response, if you ask me.

Iced 'Americano' from the Aeropress

This is Sulawesi, and it's without a doubt one of the best iced coffees I've ever had. First time out doing iced from the Aeropress and it came out great: low acidity, big body and a smooth sweetness. Don't know why I hadn't tried this before. Note the drip tray from my Saeco peeking out from the back.

Prepping the smoker

I'm making 3 racks of baby backs, a turkey breast and a sockeye salmon filet. Using pecan and hickory woods.

Night time by the pool

Very cool

I've been watching this window on East 42nd Street as a very public to do list has grown for a few weeks. Note the url on the door (click for a larger image). Very cool and intriguing on many levels. Have a look at wreckio.com and chashama.org for the backstory. Nice work!

Dessert table frenzy

We celebrate our independence as a nation

Happy independence day

Boom!