June 2005 - Posts - Ruari (Chuck's) Mind
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Ruari (Chuck's) Mind

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June 2005 - Posts

  • Who said Visual Studio 2005 can't make coffee

    Well now I've seen it all. If you Yosi Taguri then it can. Man I wish I was there, now this is having fun with technology. check out Yosi's blog. And he has a video of his actions, only I need a translator to understand what his saying.

  • UShaka

    Wow what a place, we even did lunch on the phantom ship.
    Must admit it does feel weird being watched (by sharks) as you eat, just does not feel natural, hmmmm.
    So that's what happens if you don't pay the bill?

    Posted Jun 19 2005, 07:52 PM by ruari with 2 comment(s)
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  • Work & Play Hard

    One of the real cool things about working in the team I’m in is that they take their work very seriously.
    I'm still the 'Newbie' in the team, and I find the energy that emanates from the team really inspirational.
    This is going to be an amazing adventure....
    Now after a serious full day workshop, when most people just want to go crash with exhaustion we were soo fired up that we headed off to wreck some go-carts.
    (Point of note: Danny is the one to beat, woweee what a blast!!! and the competition was tight.)

    Posted Jun 14 2005, 09:38 PM by ruari with no comments
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  • Planning planning

    It's that time of year for me.
    I go made with the plans for the next year, we run from July to July here.
    It's rather challenging to get it all right and then to stick to it.
    I'm a bold one, and have many far reaching visions which I need to deliver on.
    Also, I'm looking seriously at is my involvement with the IT communities in South Africa.
    (This should be easy considering that I ran sadeveloper CT for over 2 and half years)
    Yet it seams different. There are different people running the communities and I have to have their visions and interest at heart.
    It was a lot easier when I just called the shots, now I need to find champions that are willing to run with their inner passions and drive excitement.

    So if anyone is leading / or a member of a South African User Group / Community and wants me to think about their ideas going forward, please feel free to let me know.
    If there are areas where I can help, also drop me a line.

    Posted Jun 13 2005, 08:55 PM by ruari with 1 comment(s)
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  • Burning Midnight oil - again.

    Why do I go this? get caught up in what I'm doing and before I know it, it's time for breakfast.
    This time I'm planning for next year, next 5 years in fact, hey I got told to think BIG. I didn't realise that thinking BIG would keep me up all night.

    I suppose that's why when I created the sadeveloper Wine lable I called it : “Le Midnight oil”. I think I might have a bottle left...
    (ok the pic just does not give it credit, but then it was taken on a 800k pixel camera (before I got the big Canon).

  • Inside Microsoft (The birth)

    3 months, has it been 3 months? Seems like it was just yesterday I was having my interviews with Microsoft.

    The process flashed by, although the wait between interviews (as short as they were) just seemed to drag (same kind of feeling, when as a child you wait for Xmas day or for your exam results, a mixture of anticipation and smidgen of fear).

     

    But fear not, the process was smooth and went very well indeed. One thing I can say is Microsoft staff sure know how to interview, not once did I feel intimidated; in fact the whole process was rather relaxing. (That’s one course I must attend.)

     

    1st day on the job, hehe (sorry I have to chuckle, they caught me a right royal) “Sit and do nothing” I thought. Hey that’s been my experience at most places I’ve joined over the many years I’ve been working. You arrive the first day on the job and you sit around while everyone does stuff, you know the feeling, army hurry up and wait.
    I even packed a book.

     

    Well was I caught off guard. Firstly quick intro (Although we mostly all knew each other by then anyway – sadeveloper Rocks). Then HR got hold of me, Access cards, package, legal stuff all sorted. By the time they were done my loan notebook (Ok my fancy new one had not arrived yet, hey that made me feel better, otherwise it would have been too perfect and I would have been forced to pinch myself) was configured and on my Desk. MY DESK, I have my own desk all shiny and ready for me. (Mind you, you should see it now, They even started finding out about my cookie baking)

     

    Info overload follows, WOW what a learning curve, and just before my brain went onto melt down, the day was over. Book didn’t get out of the bag.

     

    I have to admit, of all the companies I’ve dealt with, this one sure is organized, very well organized.

    The pace of operation has not slowed since.

    What I have been involved with, within the last 3 months would probably make a novel, so I won’t go down there. What I will do, is post about my experiences and leanings in this fascinating company going forward. (Ok I will do some catching up of my past experiences as well, but that’s for another blog)

    Posted Jun 08 2005, 11:16 PM by ruari with 3 comment(s)
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  • Quiet Weekend?

    Now most people know I'm up in Johannesburg, my family is still in Cape Town, and will only be joining me on the 25th June.
    That would make 4 months apart, how does one cope, very expensive Tel bill (Children talk forever when given the phone hehe), and friends.

    Lots of people say to me that they don't like to go out, don't like to get together, WHY I ask? If it was not for the friends I made being involved in the communities and the MVP program I really would have had a long quite lonely wait for my family to move up.

    Take this weekend for example:
    Last night a few fellow friends from work popped over and we had a fondue evening, well rather a fondue night. (Took a while to get going, but when it did, it took a while to stop).
    Ooooo and I almost forgot, Karen Young had a surprise in stall for us last night. Wow we were speechless, then we were all talking at once. But I’ve said to much already, you will have to wait until 8th July to find out more. ;-)

    And tonight some friends from sadeveloper and saarchitect are popping over to braai some meat and play pool. (A lot of popping in JHB I’ve noticed)
    No time to get lonely, now I just gotta find some sleep in a tin to keep up. hehe.

    Word of advice, make friends where ever you go, treat people with respect, and have as much human interaction as you can. After all, humans aren’t all that bad once you get to know them, and you can only do this in person.

  • Notebook Review Dell Latitude D810

    Can I gloat.....
    I got my new Notebook the other day. A Dell latitude D810. just been getting things setup, and putting it through it's paces.
    Yip I did write a quick review for everyone’s benefit.

    http://dotnet.org.za/ruari/articles/21530.aspx

    Posted Jun 03 2005, 10:34 PM by ruari with 1 comment(s)
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  • sadeveloper rocks (honey I'm home)

    So what if it's 1am, I just have this urge to blog.
    A short while ago I posted the following post to sadeveloper, “What is sadeveloper really?” (http://www.sadeveloper.net/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=59361).

    Now I am up at this hour due to a visitor, we were discussing this topic up until now and could keep going until we were both late for work.
    So what was the conclusion? hehe you will have to wait for that and in the mean time go to the post above and think hard and post your reply, heck get yourself a visitor and debate it until you run out of coffee.

    But in my mind I have come to a point where I had to kick myself (You know, lead by example type stuff), There in the post I posted a 2 Parted challenge
    (brief version here - see post for full details)
    Part 1. What would your sadeveloper be to you.
    Part 2. What would you like to do to achieve this and what are you doing to achieve this?

    Then I had a long think (during our discussion) and realized that when I moved to Microsoft I gave up my seat as an sadev lead (which is right for sadev). But I noticed that I was NOT following my own advice to members when as a lead I said. “Sadeveloper is what you make, it's the members community, so go out and make your community great”

    So on that note.. I am an sadeveloper member, and sadeveloper for me is about making fellow developers great and together influencing the ICT market so that developers can have their day, and South Africa WILL become recognized as world leaders in development! (This is the short version hehe)

    What am I going to do about it. Everything I possibly can, 1st thing that comes out is (and this was pointed out to me) I have a wealth of experience in growing people and helping people to grow themselves and others under trying times.
    AND WHY AM I NOT SPEADING THIS WEALTH (Again I kick myself, one of my sayings I use - Knowledge is like water, only spreads life if it flows, otherwise it stagnates and becomes poison and outdated).
    So if there is an interest I will be willing to share this knowledge with anyone who is ready to receive it, how? Well that we can work on, either through articles (although I'm a slow writer), or though workshops and mentorship’s. You let me know!!!

    Or do I just have a large ego, let me know too, Those who have dealt with me, now’s the opportunity to influence my life yet again. All I can say is, if it was not for sadeveloper, saarchitect and it’s members I would have had a most miserable time relocating to JHB, but sadeveloper and saarchitect members have made a most stressful event bearable.
    You are making a difference, a difference in my life and I’d like to return the favour.

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