(Yes, the word "its" has no apostrophe when used in the possessive form, even though most people use one.)

Did you know that Oracle is working on a VS .NET add-in (now in Beta 2) for creating Oracle databases, tables, stored procedures, and ADO.NET objects?  Did you know they claim they will support CLR stored procedures in the database?  Did you know they have a .NET developer mail distribution list?  Did you know they keynoted at VSLive?  Did you know they they have an online Developer Center for .NET devs?

Don't you love it when software companies have to acknowledge the fact that competitors' products are out there, and the need for interoperability is a fact, not an issue?  Doesn't happen enough (and all major software companies are guilty).  Seeing this stuff from Oracle is really encouraging.  Wonder what others of you think...

NBC put on a terrific two-hour special last night with clips from, and interviews with stars and writers of, the original Saturday Night Live.  The special really went a long way toward showing what genius (and eccentricity) went into that show all the way back in the latter half of the 1970's.

If you were a kid growing up in New York at that time, as I was, there's no way you could watch this show and not feel huge nostalgia, and sadness.  The show was really an embodiment of a bygone era in New York: grit, grime, danger and an abundance of brilliant, creative people who could afford to live here even if they were under-employed.  The show hasn't been funny since the original cast left a quarter century ago.  And New York, while still the greatest city in the world, has seen a gradual and dangerously complete erosion of the sort of creative vitality it had back then.

More from my dad on Bone Lick Park BBQ, and other new West Village eateries....

I spent all day today at the New York Microsoft office at a regional gathering of Microsoft MVPs (Most Valuable Professionals).  I have been a Visual Basic MVP for about a year now, in addition to being an RD (Regional Director) for about 3 years.  RDs were invited as well, though I was the only one in attendance.

This was a great opportunity to meet other MVPs from the New York/New Jersey region as well as to meet MVP program execs from Redmond, TechNet event staff, and Bob Suess (pronounced "cease" and not like the guy who wrote "Cat in the Hat") who is the new Regional DPE Director for the entire East region.  DPE stands for Developer Platform Evangelism, and despite the similarity in title, the Regional DPE Director is not an RD.

All Microsoft people present, both Redmond-based and NY/NJ-based, told us what they did, what their goals were and then very patiently listened to our feedback and ideas.  Let me just say that it was refreshing to have Redmond people come out to "the field" and also very encouraging to see that someone in the field like Bob Suess was clearly excited about working with developer influencers and building community.  Those of us who have been working for years to build successful user groups appreciate the local support and the opportunity to meet people from headquarters without having to get on a plane and go straight across the country and three timezones to do so.

I really know of no other software company that works so closely with 3rd party experts and enthusiasts.  I'd like to hear from anybody who knows otherwise, because I have to assume that IBM, Oracle, Sun, and other firms must at least have some initiatives in this area, even if they're smaller and less organized.

A new neighborhood place opened recently (in the West Village) and it turns out to be one of the only legal, authentic BBQ places in Manhattan.  It's called Bone Lick Park BBQ and it's at 75 Greenwich Avenue, between Bank and 11th (just northwest of the intersection of 7th Avenue and 11th Street, for those of you who find Village geography confusing).  My wife and I have been there once (and really liked it, except for the cornbread) on the advice of my dad, Norman.  He and my mom have now gone back a second time and he emailed me this review:

"We had dinner [at Bone Lick] tonite.  Your mother had the back ribs and I had a combo of beef ribs and chopped pork.  I am enormously impressed with this food because of its authenticity.  I asked and was told that the smoker is right in the basement.  I don't know how the hell they get away with this.  Danny Meyer spent two years trying to get the city to allow a smoker at Blue Smoke.  The BBQ style is Tennessee, which means they rely on the rub for the flavor instead of smothering it in sauce.  You can taste the wood smoke in every bite.
 
Although I still insist that the collards are timid and I agree that the cornbread is insipid, we tried two different sides tonite and were extremely pleased with the limas and the okra.  Makes you forget about the collards. 
 
The beef ribs look like they came off an elephant.  There's about a half pound of meat attached to each one.  They serve two on the combo plate and I could only eat one.  No prob with doggy bags.
 
I asked for the Tabasco and the waiter brought the McIlhenny along with a squirt bottle of their home-made.  This is not the stuff that's already out on the table.  Be sure to ask for it.
 
Finally, we shared a slice of key lime pie.  Wow!  The last time we had anything this good was when we were in Islamorada decades ago. They use real key limes (tart and bitter).  There's nothing like this in NYC."

For a neighborhood joint, this place is really good.  Go sample the fare if you have a chance.