SOA modeling tools compete with business analysts?

Red Hats JBoss adds SOA modeling - CBRonline.com

But in the long run, the goal of all these service modeling efforts is to apply the same rigors that have accompanied enterprise software development to web services. The idea is that services shouldn’t be exposed just because they are there. Ultimately, service modeling may face competition from BPM users such as business analysts and process owners, as they perceive service modeling as a way to steal their thunder.

Web OS again

Here is another WebOS, or Virtual Computer, not unlike Goowy called G.ho.st.

Here’s an article that makes the point that such webtops are too constrictive, aiming to replace the user’s dependency on an ad hoc local assembly of applications to a similar online structure that does not integrate with the rest of the web.

She makes the point that AJAX based start pages are probably more helpful.

HPC research silos going extinct

Get ready for a lot fewer arguments over chip design among scientists who are not electrical engineers.

High-Performance Computing: High-Performance Happy

Traditionally, the high-performance computing systems used to conduct research at universities have amounted to silos of technology scattered across the campus and falling under the purview of the researchers themselves. But a growing number of universities are now taking over the management of those systems and creating central HPC environments

SMB IT staffs: gone in ten years?

This is another study released recently that forebodes the severe depletion and retooling of the local SMB IT department as the result of SaaS and outsourcing.

Most SMBs will be virtual by 2020 | The Register

Garvey said this brave new world of virtual businesses will present challenges at both ends of the connection. While software companies must adapt to annuity-based revenue models, IT staff in SMBs will find their roles changing dramatically – if they still have jobs, they will be more consultative and advisory.

“If I was an IT director, I’d want my staff focused on delivering value to the business, not patching servers,” he noted. “For example, with the hosting provider now doing security, the security team’s job is as custodians, not fire-fighters.”

Agile Planning article

In particular, an interesting plug of Agile Estimating and Planning by Mike Cohn.

Software is never done… Or is it?

This is a cautionary tale about how Agile planning can work wonders on projects where you’re required to herd cats.   But that this requires you to be able to slip deadlines or scope (they’re cats, after all). 

Antipatterns for fun and profit

Here, you can find the anitpattern repository catalog.
Enjoy.  For extra special credit, see if you recognize CargoCult.
I knew you could.