Channel 9

Channel 9 is on MSDN and not from Outer Space, to begin with. See comments from Dave Winer, Slashdot, and Channel 9 co-conspirator Robert Scoble.

As a Microsoft.com product manager, I ought to be saying something about how Channel 9 doesn’t look like the corporate site. But I think that’s a strength. It’s pretty clear that these are real people inside the company communicating with the customer, not “the voice of the company.” Which is, I think, rather the point of blogging in general.

Mixed blessings from Wilco

Tom Harpel at Tandoku points to the new Wilco album, A Ghost is Born, available via QuickTime 6 stream at WilcoWorld. Quoth Tom: “Jim O’Rourke is a genius, Jeff Tweedy, a god.”

Alas, a god in rehab. Rolling Stone says that he checked into a clinic to kick his addiction to prescription painkillers, which he was taking to treat migraines. The album release will be delayed two weeks but the group is still planning to tour. Good luck, Jeff.

And in final Tweedy note, I found a free promotional EP at a local store the other day in honor of the expanded reissues of all the Uncle Tupelo back catalog. And when I say “EP,” I mean 45. That’s right, vinyl. Now I just have to see if I can find that funny little ring adapter to fit the really big hole in the middle of the record…

In-laws in-town

Lisa’s folks arrived last night from New Jersey, somewhat stiff but otherwise no worse the wear for their six hour flight. The dogs had not forgotten them from Christmas and were in such a transport of ecstasy to see them again that it was very hard to get them to go to bed.

It’s quiet this morning, but I know that won’t last. I don’t know what Lisa has planned for her folks today, but it probably has something to do with gardening…

In other family news, my father appears to be making a good recovery, and my aunt has successfully made it through her second knee replacement surgery. I think I still have a sister in seminary, but as she hasn’t blogged in over a month it’s hard to tell. sideways smiley