August 2004 - Posts - Ruari (Chuck's) Mind

When Geeks go for a Drink

Well the Patterns and practices sessions are over in Cape Town for now, what an amazing set of sessions, and yesterday the MVP's joined in, also we went for a boerie braai afterwards at Microsoft offices. Some of us even landed up going for a few drinks at the waterfront (Scary that we couldn't go for an hour without playing with our geeky toys) It wasn't long before a PDA was brandished and we were playing with mpeg videos ect.
More pics here

Posted Aug 29 2004, 09:58 AM by ruari with no comments

Filed under: General, SADeveloper

MVP's attend the Patterns & Practices Workshop

Sneak post, tomorrow’s Patterns & Practices Workshop is in for a surprise, we have organized for the Cape Town MVP's to be there to talk with the delegates in the breaks. But wait there is more, they have managed to organize some give away’s, and a boerie braai afterwards where members of the community can meet and chat with them. (Now that's what I like to see, a stronger bonding between the MVP's and the community) Rumor also has it that some Microsoft staff might also show face ;-)

Posted Aug 27 2004, 10:12 PM by ruari with no comments

Filed under: General, SADeveloper

SADEVELOPER ROCKS!!!

Sorry but I just had to shout that out: SADEVELOPER ROCKS!!. This month has thus far been a most tiring yet rewarding month, we have had the Patterns & Practices workshops every Saturday, and with storms, rugby and general Cape Town going on's, people have flocked to these events (we even had to move then to a larger venue) and now tonight we had our usual SADeveloper meeting, where I gave a talk on secure Web Services, and I got to say I am bowled over, the venue was soooo full that we had to scrounge for extra seats. The enthusiasm has left me almost speechless, but I still got a good hours talk in hehe

All I can say is (I hope there is no copyright on this) SA-(DEVELOPERS!! DEVELOPERS!! DEVELOPERS!!) you guys are the greatest and the development world is about to Rock!!!!

Posted Aug 27 2004, 10:02 PM by ruari with no comments

Filed under: Development, General, SADeveloper

Googlego

After a very late night last night I felt pretty down. But one of the dudes I work with has made my day by suggesting that I do the Google ego trip. type in your name and see how you fair on the google search engine.

(I now have a very swollen head Smiley Smiley )

Posted Aug 24 2004, 02:07 PM by ruari with no comments

Filed under: General

What Happened to father time?

Yip burning the midnight oil... again... I've been robbed; my days are a lot shorter of late!! Who stole the hours in my day, I find myself on several projects at once. I certainly don't lead a boring life, and what with the Patterns and Practices workshops this month, I've kinda neglected my poor blog and SADeveloper a bit :-( . Hold on dudes I'll be back soon!!!

Just for a little teaser, The MVP's in the Western Cape will be joining us for the Last of the sessions on the 28th August, (And for some inside trading we will be hosting a boerie and drink session afterwards at Microsoft's offices) I will extend an invite to the session delegates go join us for some chit chat with the MS dudes, looking forward to that.

Then next weekend it's off to Joburg for a strategy session, like I said, life is exciting, and as for the rest I'll try keep this blog up to date as and when I can. (hehe)

Oh yes I almost forgot the SADeveloper meeting on Friday the 27^th August, I got to do the talk on Secure Web Services , Yikes, more late nights coming up!!!

Posted Aug 24 2004, 12:36 AM by ruari with no comments

Filed under: General, SADeveloper

Wanna Move to USA (Dev Con)

When I see stuff like this I want to move to the US. I have been getting more and more involved in WebServices, and not too many people in RSA know much about this topic. If there are, I want to know, maybe we should pioneer setting up a similar thing here. (Or just move to the US)

Oh best I give you the link to what I'm fussing about, (A superb WS conference in the US, enjoy you lucky bunch) I found out about it on Rebecca Dias's blog http://blogs.msdn.com/rdias/archive/2004/08/15/214759.aspx, Go girl, lovely stuff, I wish I could be there, how about brining it to South Africa? hint hint)

Posted Aug 17 2004, 11:55 AM by ruari with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: Development, General

More seats at the Patterns and Practices workshops CT!

Due to the overwhelming request by people who were unable to attend the first session (due to the course being full), Microsoft has made more seats available for the remaining 3 sessions. Anyone interested can go to www.sadeveloper.net for the link to register. Wow the course is well worth it and it's free, Go CT SADevelopers go!!!

Posted Aug 11 2004, 09:54 PM by ruari with no comments

Filed under: Development, SADeveloper

Gentle reminder

Another week of mayhem, and one starts to get caught up in the rat race. Right in the middle of this cloud of smog, I get a little reminder of what really matters when my lovely wife drops an article on my lap. One paragraph catches my attention: I have to share it as it's in line with my beliefs:

“YOU CAN buy a person's time; you can buy his physical presence in a given place; you can even buy a measured number of his skilled muscular motions per hour. But you cannot buy enthusiasm. You cannot buy initiative. You cannot buy the devotion of hearts, minds and souls. You have to earn those things.”

Posted Aug 11 2004, 09:50 PM by ruari with 3 comment(s)

Filed under: General

System Error

We that build systems are only to well aware that sometimes things don't always work out as planned, especially when data and databases are involved. Ever been faced with a system suddenly behaving strangely? Or customers calling with weird data reflected on their statements. Only to find out that some bright new chappie in the db section did some database maintenance without knowing everything he should? Ye I'm sure we all experienced such a situation at some point. This is why I didn’t go into a flat panic when I received a summons from the JHB Police this morning. After making a few calls it became very apparent that there had been a system error, and I'm glad to say I'm not under any arrest at the moment. But it point's out to me yet again how important it is to have properly qualified people maintaining your systems. Just think evil systems and naive people could get innocent people locked away for long times, and that would be no joke.

Posted Aug 10 2004, 10:36 AM by ruari with 2 comment(s)

Filed under: General

Patterns & practices workshops start

Yeeha tomorrow is the first of 4 PnP workshops here in CT, I'm really looking forward to them, SADeveloper is manning the registrations and a few of the CT MVP's will be joining us to chat to the delegates, what a treat. I'll try post some pic's of the events for ye all.

Posted Aug 06 2004, 03:00 PM by ruari with no comments

Filed under: Development, SADeveloper

Ever have one of those days?

It's Friday, work is piling up, been a week of late nights, and the fact that I know there is a parcel waiting for me at home (probably the new geeky toy) is just too much. If I could fall asleep I would, and the last thing I want to do is look at code.

The choice is a simple one, pack it in and go home, but reality dictates that you stay and slog through at least one item in the “In” tray. Sigh.

Posted Aug 06 2004, 12:51 PM by ruari with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: General

MSN Web Messenger

Now this is good news, MSN Messenger goes web, Something we have been asking for, for some time. Good one Microsoft, now we can keep in touch with more developers than before. good old port 80.

Check it out at http://webmessenger.msn.com. well worth playing with.

Posted Aug 05 2004, 08:35 AM by ruari with 2 comment(s)

Microsoft Keyboard

Ok so I can't take it any more, I have to have a MS Keyboard. I ordered myself the MS Elite keyboard kit.

Posted Aug 04 2004, 08:55 AM by ruari with 7 comment(s)

Filed under: General

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