Moving to MOSS 2007

Recently my company has undertaken a project with an aim of accomplishing 3 different objectives:

1. Redesign our corporate intranet.
2. Improve office collaboration, document management, and workflow.
3. Implement a new framework for application delivery.

The project began several months ago in an informal way but has recently built up steam and turned into a "real" project. Through a series of events which are beyond the scope of what I'm writing here we've ending up heading down the path to MOSS2007 (or Microsoft Office SharePoint Services for the uninitiated).

What amazes me about the product is the sheer size of it. The documentation alone is jaw dropping. I'm looking at an architecture and planning guide that weighs in at over 600 pages! And that's only part 1 of 2! It's incredible that you can spend years working in and with technology only to be infantilized once again with the latest release of big blob X from company Y every couple of years. Progress... you gotta love it.

Nevertheless, I will say that I do believe in the portal concept. The idea that we have to go to too many places to get the information that we need. The idea that when we go to all these places we often end up being bombarded by far more information than we can process. I'd like to change this, in my small way, by making this project succeed.

So it's off to MOSS we go, where this will stop, nobody knows!

Finally Back!

Well, after an unfortunately long hiatus, CasaVianna is back! I finally got the LAMP photo gallery up and running. Sure, it would have been cool to write it myself in Ruby but I just haven't had the time. Maybe V2. Until then, enjoy here.

Daily Dose of Imagery

I just found this site which belongs to Sam Javanrouh, an imaginative and talented photographer. Absolutely worth sharing. Now if only I could shoot like that!

Bandido's

Whoops, I've fallen a bit off my pace here. Ok, back to it. Friday saw a return of yours truly to Bandido's Mexican Restaurant (371 King St W) which is by far the best Mexican resto in all of Toronto. The quality of the mood is matched only by the excellent service provided by the owners, Joyce & Cesar Rios.

The dinner started off with the usual fresh, crispy nachos and salsas. These aren't your father's Tostidos, though, as the flavour simply pops with every bite. For dinner, the Bandido's-only crayfish enchiladas which ratchet the flavour up to intense levels. This "special" menu item has been going strong for the last year and doesn't appear to be disappearing (hopefully) anytime soon. The picante sauce is kept in check by a deep infusion of Mexican spices and cheese. The crayfish are generously stuffed into the enchilda and pair perfectly with the guacamole, pico de gallo, and rice that garnish the plate.

As always, Bandido's doesn't fail to impress. Having tried a few other Mexican places in the last while it climbs to a new level when viewed in comparison. If you haven't been, run there as fast as you can!