RIP William Styron 

We'll miss you, and thanks for all the fish.

Trying eyeOS 

I heard about eyeOS in the comments to Richard McManus's post on Parakey yesterday. Here's how it's described at eyeOS.org:

"eyeOS is an Open Source Web Desktop Environment, commonly known as Web Operating System (Web OS) or Web Office. eyeOS is Open Source Software, and can be downloaded or used through the official eyeOS server. The basic System comes with some office and PIM applications..."

So, I tried it out. If you want to take a look at the installation on my server, go to amyloo.com/eyeOS and make an account. I was more interested in the mini server that runs on your desktop. I grabbed that too, and it works for me, but I can't show you. It has an Apache server and PHP built in, but darned if I ever have been able to figure out how to make my router do port forwarding.

Actually I probably could if I wanted to plow through it but I start reading about all that gobblitygook and it always seems like way too much trouble. I think I'm not interested in anything that happens where I live, in a lot of different ways.

Checking up on Backfence.com 

Looks like the Chicago area stable of sites is growing -- Evanston and Skokie now. Arlington Heights coming. I tried to submit a form suggesting Naperville and got a Cold Fusion error, very familiar sight to me. I'm a little surprised they're using CF. Wouldn't have been my choice for something that needs to scale, but it has its good points.

Speaking of choices 

Mike Vizard mentioned on the last Gillmor Gang that Ziff-Davis is looking for a new CMS, and is in the middle of weighing bids. He couldn't talk about which apps are under consideration but I hope he will be able to talk about the process, and the pros and cons of specific systems, when it's all over. They're moving from Vignette (and others, I think he said). Some open source platforms are under consideration. I wonder if Expression Engine is on the table.

I'd also be curious to learn about how they'll go about integrating the print magazine content, especially if they opt for an open source CMS. If they come up with a smart production process and a simple way to port into Quark (or InDesign or whatever), without a lot of custom XML that only works for their stuff, it almost seems like the customizations could become an external product. No question there's a need for it.

They could start with a manual. Did you know that's how SPSS got started? It was a howto book.

A Do Bee all day long 

The things that get blurted in comment chat.

Oh boy 

Can't wait for the Rocketboom commenter culture clash to start today. How do you think the little boobwatcher boys are going to like the hand-blown glass installation at the botanical gardens? Shelley Powers photographed this when it was in St. Louis. (Sorry, I can't find where she's tucked away those pictures now.)

Later: Nope, I was wrong. They kept it to themselves today.

Still later: Here are Shelley's photos. Stunning. Watch it fullscreen. Thanks for the pointer, Peggy.