RIA can really suck

Rome Reborn is somebody's Flash wet dream. The content is spectacular (if you're into Roman history, as I am). But some lame brain has encapsulated all the content behind that one URL. I can't give you links to the interesting parts. I have to give you verbal instructions for navigating to different parts of the site. "Wave your mouse over the initial image until the Colosseum is mostly in view, then click, then...." In other words, it's like any desktop application -- which seems to be the idea behind rich internet applications -- "improve" the web until it sucks as much as Windows.

It's maddening, because the site contains tons of useful information -- but none of it is on the web. It's a black hole from which no information can escape.

If new RIA tools don't encourage authors to expose linkable resources, they're just going to continue to be irrelevant to the web.

Microsoft vs TestDriven.Net Express

A sad Microsoft drone named Jason is getting famous for the worst reasons. He's a program manager for MS Visual Studio and he's hassling a well meaning fellow named Jamie who wrote a unit testing plugin for VS 2005.

Jamie wrote the plugin using VS 2005 Express, the "free" version, and got enough traction that MS made him an MVP. But then Jason noticed that the plugin supports VS Express. Bad Jamie -- no plugins allowed for Express.

Jamie has published the fatuous correspondence Jason directed his way. They took away his MVP, and MS lawyers are sending cease and desist letters.

Um, the guy is developing free software enhancing the value of all the VS products? Did I mention that part?

Great coverage from The Register.

Hyperbolism of the Month

...goes to (the envelope please)... Elliotte Rusty Harold!:

Java’s exception handling is the single best error handling and reporting mechanism ever built into a programming language.

I personally don't think you're going to beat the Common Lisp condition system. You can emulate Java-style exception handling, but it's so much richer to be able to restart in the context where the error occurred, without unwinding the stack.

What is Lisa Simpson Doing to that Poor Man?

Once someone has pointed out that interpretation of the London 2012 Olympics logo, it's forever ruined, isn't it? Sorry. (via DPF).