A little fun on the shuttle today, via Twitter... Top 10 little known Microsoft facts: # 10: There is no building 7 , but Devs like to schedule meetings with new PMs there # 9: Xbox was originally "Microsoft Interactive Audio Video Multiformat Entertainment System 2000" ;) # 8: Microsoft...

A little humour today, just before Superbowl Sunday: this commercial from Volkswagen featuring a diminutive Darth Vader on a seemingly normal Saturday afternoon. I have seen our own son pull the same head fake at the end of the commercial when faced with a reaction to his use of The Force on our cat...

For all of those who are still braving the crowds to finish their holiday shopping, you're in good company, as you'll note at right. I'm off this week but working on a couple of belated posts. In the mean time, here are a few to hold you through the holiday weekend, including my favourite Apologies for...

Today I noted that Amazon unveiled the Kindle Application for iPhone (also available via http://tinyurl.com/ikindle ). Whither a version for Windows Mobile? None expected soon is my guess. Amazon is smart to follow the iPhone – although I'd guess that folks with a Windows Mobile device maybe more likely...

The Day Before Christmas (With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore or Henry Livingston)   'Twas the day before Christmas, when all down the street Not a single thing moved, no one made a peep; The snow had blanketed the entire neighbourhood, And we all knew that St. Nick soon would lighten the mood;...

With snow comes shoveled driveways.  And with that extra snow, you have to do something… So we built a near six foot tall snowman. [Added 5:30PM 12/20/08: as noted on Twitter , and an update for my friend Kent in sunny & warm SVC, we found that our snowman had been vandalized… some hoodlums...

It's been and will continue to be a busy week filled with reviews, planning and report, not to mention some real work with some of our best folks on product quality, customer service and satisfaction. So here's a quick post of what I've read over the last week. I love it when words that don't somehow...

Some days, the comics are just so right on the money. ( http://tinyurl.com/3qsahl ) Tags: Humour , Dilbert , customers , customer feedback . http://tinyurl.com/3rcl82

As noted in the Seattle PI, Microsoft holds annual employee meeting tomorrow... If you spot hundreds of buses headed to Safeco Field on Thursday morning, they'll be carrying some of the 23,000 Microsoft employees registered for the company's annual meeting. I will be attending in one piece, which after...

Happy Canada Day. And now a little something for my friends on the "time" team concall, here are a couple of additional links on Bill Gates today, including the latest news and a link to portions of the humourous "Bill's last day" video . See also the article in the New York Times by Steve Lohr ... ...

Tomorrow is Canada Day so a shout out to my friends north of the boarder as well as the many local Canucks we have on campus, at the Microsoft MCDC and MS Canada. Canada is so much more than Bob and Doug McKenzie (I'm shoring my age). And with a nod to the Office OFFline Web Comic and to please the kids...

My friend, J., sent me a funny mail today that I had to share... and with it, a return to Friday Links : "I don't know if you have looked lately, but "M3" has a whole bunch of different links around the Internet like: 2008 BMW M3 Coupe : obviously! M3 Companies : real estate developers M3 Adapter : Nintendo...

Guarded nearly as well as the passcode to the Microsoft home of the future , and the details of the Inquisition were released this week (not to be confused with The Spanish Inquisition of Monty Python fame )... here are The Top 10 Web Sites You've Never Heard Of courtesy of Chris Dannen and April Joyner...

It's the return of my Friday Link faourite, a humourous URL of the week for Friday viewing. But on a Saturday. ;) Fox Sports lists their 10 favourite Super Bowl commercials. .. "Super Bowl XLII will go down in history as a classic — for the nail-biting finish, for the enormity of the upset, for the history...

A quick note: Thanks to Toby for sending over a link to this video clip from BillG’s keynote last night, with a look to the future: his last day at the office. (Friends on my concall right now should enjoy this one. ;) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/#22538447 Microsoft chairman Bill Gates presents...

On www.stayathomeserver.com you can find a new series of videos that describe the new Windows Home Server product on MSN Soapbox... Intro: http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=965cfa66-0332-476f-8b12-e904a6ed3612 Home Sweet Server?: http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=601ae5ee-daed-488e-8fb7-904274cbdcef...

As I mentioned earlier about my listing on Facebook , the good folks there have fixed the "invalid characters" in my name. My thanks to Clive at Facebook for his help. Contrary to popular belief, "3" is not an invalid character, 'though I've had my share of issues with it. ;)

Yes, I am a Spinal Tap fan for many years. I've had the pleasure of seeing the band perform live in concert and (!) met them in person. Now here's their clip from Live Earth on MSN: http://entimg.msn.com/i/ExperienceData/p1-7/us/x.htm?sh=LiveEarth&ep=le_london&ch=56&ocid=T001MSN43A03001...

If you don't read http://blog.jonudell.net/ , you might consider adding it to your blogroll. Of interest is one of his latest posts on how Facebook wants to know how you’re connected to people , and how one seemingly logical choice is missing... "Like other social applications, Facebook wants...

I read this morning in the Washington Post that Vista Limits Choices (or so Alan Sipress and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum report), as well as in this related article in the Post on Vista from Michael Liedtke. "Internet search leader Google Inc. is trying to convince federal and state authorities that Microsoft...

Of interest, Sian Welby on TechWeb's "Friday ITch" ... view at your own risk, with this week offering the latest in taxidermy-meets-PC-modding, email bankruptcy and a look at a super-secret enterprise security centre.

Ever wonder what you get for the additional 30 cents? Gotta love Slate, and their article today " Sound to blow your mind " with a link to an in-depth audio analysis. "This week, Apple's iTunes Music Store began selling some songs in a new audio format that the company says has two advantages...

Thanks to LifeHacker for this link to CNET for ZDNet Korea's photo report on "PCs that barely resemble PCs." "The results are in for the PC Design Contest 2007, co-sponsored by Intel Korea and Samsung. The winning designs, announced last week, try to merge style, originality and practicality. Out...

From my friend, JuliAnn... many thanks. "This is why the Internet is the greatest media created in history. Take 60 seconds to do this... I guarantee you will show someone else...it's too funny not to. 1. go to www.google.com 2. click on "Maps" 3. click on "Get Directions" 4. type...

I ran into my local CompUSA to pick up some networking items for the holiday week, and who did I run into? None other than the jolly old elf himself, weaving up and down the video game aisles. I snapped this photo of Santa Claus picking up a few things for the good little boys and girls, shopping around...