Generally I spend Monday evenings recapping the adventures we've all had over the weekend. Unfortunately, the last weekend was spent brutally ill in bed with the flu. Read Johns comment on the last post, that contains more than enough content to keep anyone busy - after you're doing that, if you haven't watched the video in the last post, check that out too!
I'll make sure to post something meaningful tomorrow....it's been too long & trust me - I have a great one in mind!
Neil
Monday, February 26, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Web 2.0 is us/ing us
Yes, there has been an absence of new posts this last week - i apologise!
I've been ill....ugh....
anyway, rather than post anything unique or original, I thought i'd reference this brilliant video clip from the university of kansas faculty:
it demonstrates perfectly the social and ethnographic impact of the web - the growth of web 2.0 usage and how we, as bloggers , bleaders, photographers, amateur videographers (etc) have as much a role to play in the future of the web as larger corporations do.
I've been ill....ugh....
anyway, rather than post anything unique or original, I thought i'd reference this brilliant video clip from the university of kansas faculty:
it demonstrates perfectly the social and ethnographic impact of the web - the growth of web 2.0 usage and how we, as bloggers , bleaders, photographers, amateur videographers (etc) have as much a role to play in the future of the web as larger corporations do.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Yuh!
They say you know you've made it in the blogging game when you're on the People Over Process links....
Click here...
Click here...
Thursday, February 15, 2007
French Storm Buckingham Palace
BREAKING NEWS
After centuries of foreign attacks, foreigners have finally taken over Buckingham Palace. The country is in a severe state of alert, while security is trying to control the situation
Read more...
After centuries of foreign attacks, foreigners have finally taken over Buckingham Palace. The country is in a severe state of alert, while security is trying to control the situation
Read more...
Shake And Bake!!
Quick update on the past weekend (for the record)
Friday: Jait came down from brumham, went out with all the usual crowd (Bunty, John, Jait, Dips, Sharan, Lems, Sims, Deeps) as well as Johns cousin, Chian (who happens to be pretty cool - we got to find a way of bringer her down to London for more than a couple of days at a time!).
Saturday: Jait, Dips, Bunty and myself were planning to go to the video game exhibition in the science museum, which didn't happen - we ended up pooling buying 3 planes instead, and throwing them at kids by the exit (unintentionally I must add - them planes were meant to make return flights back to you. kinda like a boomerang plane - now that idea aint worth a velvet painting of a whale and a dolphin getting it on). Seemed the only way we could get the planes to return were by the kids throwing the planes back. The planes are still lying around somewhere....
We ended up in London Bridge - where every bar appeared to be shut - before venturing down to Bank, where again every bar seemed to be closed. Ended up back in Canary Wharf (Good ol' cheap whetherspoons), where we had a few drinks while waiting for John. Got back home, put on some Taledega Nights (what is this shake and bake?! it doesn't even make any sense!?), and knocking out after the pretty tiring night before.
Sunday: Green Street - Eastham - London, home of asians and west ham football hooligans, living in harmony. Deeps and myself ventured a visit down there to have a look at wedding gear. All good fun, particularly as we got some gulab jamus (indian fried cakes in syrup...mmmmmmm....artery blocking....)
Pretty busy huh?
Friday: Jait came down from brumham, went out with all the usual crowd (Bunty, John, Jait, Dips, Sharan, Lems, Sims, Deeps) as well as Johns cousin, Chian (who happens to be pretty cool - we got to find a way of bringer her down to London for more than a couple of days at a time!).
Saturday: Jait, Dips, Bunty and myself were planning to go to the video game exhibition in the science museum, which didn't happen - we ended up pooling buying 3 planes instead, and throwing them at kids by the exit (unintentionally I must add - them planes were meant to make return flights back to you. kinda like a boomerang plane - now that idea aint worth a velvet painting of a whale and a dolphin getting it on). Seemed the only way we could get the planes to return were by the kids throwing the planes back. The planes are still lying around somewhere....
We ended up in London Bridge - where every bar appeared to be shut - before venturing down to Bank, where again every bar seemed to be closed. Ended up back in Canary Wharf (Good ol' cheap whetherspoons), where we had a few drinks while waiting for John. Got back home, put on some Taledega Nights (what is this shake and bake?! it doesn't even make any sense!?), and knocking out after the pretty tiring night before.
Sunday: Green Street - Eastham - London, home of asians and west ham football hooligans, living in harmony. Deeps and myself ventured a visit down there to have a look at wedding gear. All good fun, particularly as we got some gulab jamus (indian fried cakes in syrup...mmmmmmm....artery blocking....)
Pretty busy huh?
Welcome to the official 'Jait Is Not Gay' week
Greetings,
Better late than never - welcome to the start of the official 'Jait is not gay week'!
Rather than discussing Jaits sexual preference, which is his lifestyle choice and of no business of ours (although we have been informed that he is in fact straight) - this is a week where we can appreciate our good friend, someone who has been there for us for the past 8 (damn, has it been that long!?) years. Someone who's going to be completing the triathlon with me in August and a key player during the wedding - we're all sure he's going to be getting plenty of interest by all the aunties...
Aunty: 'My, you're so handsome. Would you like to meet my daughter?'
Jait: 'Um. that one? well, um, no that's alright'
Aunty: 'Oh, I understand. you have a girlfriend'
Jait:'Well, not at the moment'
Aunty:'Oh I see - you must be neils homosexual friend'
NO - aunties, uncles, cousins - jait is not gay!
Here's to you buddy!
Better late than never - welcome to the start of the official 'Jait is not gay week'!
Rather than discussing Jaits sexual preference, which is his lifestyle choice and of no business of ours (although we have been informed that he is in fact straight) - this is a week where we can appreciate our good friend, someone who has been there for us for the past 8 (damn, has it been that long!?) years. Someone who's going to be completing the triathlon with me in August and a key player during the wedding - we're all sure he's going to be getting plenty of interest by all the aunties...
Aunty: 'My, you're so handsome. Would you like to meet my daughter?'
Jait: 'Um. that one? well, um, no that's alright'
Aunty: 'Oh, I understand. you have a girlfriend'
Jait:'Well, not at the moment'
Aunty:'Oh I see - you must be neils homosexual friend'
NO - aunties, uncles, cousins - jait is not gay!
Here's to you buddy!
Thursday, February 8, 2007
(Not Just) Great Expectations
Expectation - to look for with reason or justification. Regardless of timescale, we all have expectations. I expect people to read this post tomorrow (albeit very few people!). I expect this post to continue existing, and over time a few more people will read this. I also expect that in a few years time I will look back at this post, and be delighted with my former naivety on making this post. I also have the expectation that I may be kicking myself because this post has somehow found its way to a million different websites (it's happened before - Google my name!).
Defining and establishing expectation can make all the difference in the workplace. Enterprise Architecture: Thought Leadership: Enterprise Architecture and turning failures into success... takes a good look into the importance of setting expectation in the work place. As a systems architect, one must always be working under the impression that the sales team have sold the client the world - they wouldn't be doing their job right if they were to under promise and over deliver. You're expected to deliver the world, with the intention that they'll then go ahead and take the periphery moon, sun and stars when their budget allows. The difference between success and failure can often lie in expectation, and from the moment a system architect walks into a client site, it's their onus to set the expectations on what is possible in the given timeframe.
'Start with projecting the worst-case scenario publicly, when you fully anticipate that you will be able to bring the system up earlier. It has to be all about 100% delivery. If you deliver 99% of what you promised, it will only lead people to sorely miss the remaining one percent. Keep in mind that there are a multitude of opportunities to disappoint folks (NOTE: I do this way too much at work) and it can be even harder to impress them.' (James McGovern)
Budhism teaches 'Mindfulness'; looking at the world as a series of moments, a finite number of instances that we live through. These can be grouped into a series of experiences, falling under the categories of preempted and unexpected. Those expectations that were preempted will come complete with a level of expectation - taken from your own past experiences of similar experiences, or those of others. The purpose of this viewpoint from a theological perspective is to remove context - allowing each moment to be handled with equanimity (thus reducing the karmic value of the action).
If we can assume a reaction is based on
* the expectation for a reaction
* the process behind the action coming to fruition (the history before the action)
With equanimity we can react - not based on the degree of expectation or the historical events that led to the action - but with a degree of emotional stability and composure that can add value to whatever decision is being made. Considering that the majority of our waking hours are spent in the workplace, managed expectation coupled with equanimity could be the first steps towards making this town a better place....
Defining and establishing expectation can make all the difference in the workplace. Enterprise Architecture: Thought Leadership: Enterprise Architecture and turning failures into success... takes a good look into the importance of setting expectation in the work place. As a systems architect, one must always be working under the impression that the sales team have sold the client the world - they wouldn't be doing their job right if they were to under promise and over deliver. You're expected to deliver the world, with the intention that they'll then go ahead and take the periphery moon, sun and stars when their budget allows. The difference between success and failure can often lie in expectation, and from the moment a system architect walks into a client site, it's their onus to set the expectations on what is possible in the given timeframe.
'Start with projecting the worst-case scenario publicly, when you fully anticipate that you will be able to bring the system up earlier. It has to be all about 100% delivery. If you deliver 99% of what you promised, it will only lead people to sorely miss the remaining one percent. Keep in mind that there are a multitude of opportunities to disappoint folks (NOTE: I do this way too much at work) and it can be even harder to impress them.' (James McGovern)
Budhism teaches 'Mindfulness'; looking at the world as a series of moments, a finite number of instances that we live through. These can be grouped into a series of experiences, falling under the categories of preempted and unexpected. Those expectations that were preempted will come complete with a level of expectation - taken from your own past experiences of similar experiences, or those of others. The purpose of this viewpoint from a theological perspective is to remove context - allowing each moment to be handled with equanimity (thus reducing the karmic value of the action).
If we can assume a reaction is based on
* the expectation for a reaction
* the process behind the action coming to fruition (the history before the action)
With equanimity we can react - not based on the degree of expectation or the historical events that led to the action - but with a degree of emotional stability and composure that can add value to whatever decision is being made. Considering that the majority of our waking hours are spent in the workplace, managed expectation coupled with equanimity could be the first steps towards making this town a better place....
John, start a blog.
John,
I believe I speak on behalf of all of us when I say...
Start your blog. ACTUALLY start a wiki and a blog. I want a place we can log on to and start dicussing the bar. I want to start designing this bar by comittee - the first bar of its kind, where anyone can log on and post their comments, add their opinions, and add crude and offensive jokes - usually at the expensive of one of our friends, and more than likely by one of our friends.
Damn it - I want a project to provide some thought-leadership to. We've all got big plans for this bar man - those Pro Evo tournaments aren't going to throw themselves. The sooner we get the ball rolling, the more likely it is that we'll have a bar by the summer...
Dont those endless ramblings deserve a home?
I think they do....
Now. Step one - go to blogger and create yourself a blog. I've checked the following, and they're available:
* UntitledBarProject
* Bar-By-Committee
* JohnsBar
* JohnSmells
* (with all due respect) JaitIsGay
* (with all due respect) Jait-Is-Gay
* (with all due respect) JaitsGay
HAHA sorry got sidetracked....
The location has to be ShoHo:
'It's been about 10 years since the Bricklayers Arms (info) and the Blue Note (now Bluu - info) began to attract young scallywags away from the bars and clubs of Soho and Islington, and though the crowd has become slightly more mainstream, it is still a world away from the anodyne tosh that one encounters all too often in the West End.'
Damn that anodyne west end tosh....damn it to heck. no - damn it to heck and back - then damn it to heck again.
'Given a choice, I would work ONLY on projects that followed the Hollywood Model, where people come together with their respective skills and talents, and DO something. Make a web app. Create a book. Build a game. Develop and deliver learning experiences. The happiest moments of my work life were on projects where we pulled all-nighters because we wanted to, not because the corporate culture said we weren't a true team-player/trooper if we didn't.'
Don't ask employees to be passionate about the company! (Creating Passionate Users)
I believe I speak on behalf of all of us when I say...
Start your blog. ACTUALLY start a wiki and a blog. I want a place we can log on to and start dicussing the bar. I want to start designing this bar by comittee - the first bar of its kind, where anyone can log on and post their comments, add their opinions, and add crude and offensive jokes - usually at the expensive of one of our friends, and more than likely by one of our friends.
Damn it - I want a project to provide some thought-leadership to. We've all got big plans for this bar man - those Pro Evo tournaments aren't going to throw themselves. The sooner we get the ball rolling, the more likely it is that we'll have a bar by the summer...
Dont those endless ramblings deserve a home?
I think they do....
Now. Step one - go to blogger and create yourself a blog. I've checked the following, and they're available:
* UntitledBarProject
* Bar-By-Committee
* JohnsBar
* JohnSmells
* (with all due respect) JaitIsGay
* (with all due respect) Jait-Is-Gay
* (with all due respect) JaitsGay
HAHA sorry got sidetracked....
The location has to be ShoHo:
'It's been about 10 years since the Bricklayers Arms (info) and the Blue Note (now Bluu - info) began to attract young scallywags away from the bars and clubs of Soho and Islington, and though the crowd has become slightly more mainstream, it is still a world away from the anodyne tosh that one encounters all too often in the West End.'
Damn that anodyne west end tosh....damn it to heck. no - damn it to heck and back - then damn it to heck again.
'Given a choice, I would work ONLY on projects that followed the Hollywood Model, where people come together with their respective skills and talents, and DO something. Make a web app. Create a book. Build a game. Develop and deliver learning experiences. The happiest moments of my work life were on projects where we pulled all-nighters because we wanted to, not because the corporate culture said we weren't a true team-player/trooper if we didn't.'
Don't ask employees to be passionate about the company! (Creating Passionate Users)
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Monday, February 5, 2007
Cloudwatching
Yes these weekly posts just aren't right...
What happened to the up to the minute social commentary? What happened to the cutting wit and biting satire? The deep theological debate coupled with philisophical discourses? The bleeding edge technical discussions?
Has this blog become very dull lately? I certainly think so. It seems that lately the only thing worth reading on neilsamtani.com has been Johns comments, and even those have been drying up.
My goal this week is to change that - to hark back to a happier time - a time when you could read this site without fear of being bored to death with stories of my trips to Warwick. Without being forcefed video clips of dancing, or even happyslip singing 'You're Beautiful' (No matter the object of the singers desires, it's a James Blunt song goddammit). I plan to rewind this blog back to a time when we could leave our doors unlocked at night, when cokes costed 20p, and when 1 penny sweets costed 1 penny!
How do I plan on changing this? Well - to start with - I need more time!sculpting authoring designing developing a post that actually says something actually ends up taking over an hour. Even a post that doesn't say much (i.e. this one) takes half an hour of quality evening time. Quality evening time that should be spent watching 24, or reading other blogs, or playing Pro Evo. Bunty moves out in a month so I really should stop letting him beat me, and exact some revenge ;)
Here's a breakdown of the week: I'm sure I should have something to moan, rave, rant, grumble or complain about with all of this.
Tuesday: Brasil v Portugal (Emirates)
Wednesday: Jainism classes
Thursday: TBA
Friday: Jait in town
Saturday: GameOn exhibition
Sunday: Rest before it all starts again
'You got to live on the bleeding edge - and do you know what happens when you live on the edge? you bleed - but that's okay - because you're on the edge'
(Charles - on describing the tech superstar John Udell - DrunkAndRetired.com)
(okay - couldnt resist it - here's a video clip of my sisters trip down to london this last weekend - met up with Alberto in Camden, then went for dinner with Deeps' family)
What happened to the up to the minute social commentary? What happened to the cutting wit and biting satire? The deep theological debate coupled with philisophical discourses? The bleeding edge technical discussions?
Has this blog become very dull lately? I certainly think so. It seems that lately the only thing worth reading on neilsamtani.com has been Johns comments, and even those have been drying up.
My goal this week is to change that - to hark back to a happier time - a time when you could read this site without fear of being bored to death with stories of my trips to Warwick. Without being forcefed video clips of dancing, or even happyslip singing 'You're Beautiful' (No matter the object of the singers desires, it's a James Blunt song goddammit). I plan to rewind this blog back to a time when we could leave our doors unlocked at night, when cokes costed 20p, and when 1 penny sweets costed 1 penny!
How do I plan on changing this? Well - to start with - I need more time!
Here's a breakdown of the week: I'm sure I should have something to moan, rave, rant, grumble or complain about with all of this.
Tuesday: Brasil v Portugal (Emirates)
Wednesday: Jainism classes
Thursday: TBA
Friday: Jait in town
Saturday: GameOn exhibition
Sunday: Rest before it all starts again
'You got to live on the bleeding edge - and do you know what happens when you live on the edge? you bleed - but that's okay - because you're on the edge'
(Charles - on describing the tech superstar John Udell - DrunkAndRetired.com)
(okay - couldnt resist it - here's a video clip of my sisters trip down to london this last weekend - met up with Alberto in Camden, then went for dinner with Deeps' family)
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Warwick 07
Had a fantastic time - took Shirley, Monik, Barkha and Deeps to Warwick to visit Sonal & attended the One World Week. It was a great reunion, as Bunty, Vicky, Karan and Shabana were there too. Although Sonal was f a r too busy to hang out with the likes of us ;) One World Week allows the multicultural societies in the U. of Warwick to represent their country/region/dance style/quirk through the medium of funk - each dance showcased an exceptional level of talent. It's kind of scary to think these guys must be pretty bright as well as great dancers!
Thanks to Bunty for the vid.
Random fact - Karishma, Ravi Daswanis cousin, is also in this dance - she's in the centre of the circle towards the end!
Thanks to Bunty for the vid.
Random fact - Karishma, Ravi Daswanis cousin, is also in this dance - she's in the centre of the circle towards the end!
So good it deserved its own post:
John said...
Since it been long time since I have added my 10 pence worth thought I should comment on something or anything and I thought your blogs are looking lonely with no comments. Anyways it is nearing the end of another week and the first month of 2007 has already passed, so just friendly monthly reminder that you have a wedding to go to this year and I’m thinking that it might be a good idea for you turn up (for the first time ever!) on time.
Anyways what was I thinking about at work today……………..
Oh yeah Wile. E Coyote what a hero, a champion for us the regular people if you will. I feel his pain, you know poor guy he has a goal and you know he tries his best and fails. As if failing isn’t enough punishment for the poor guy, life doesn’t just give him the proverbial kick in the teeth it pretty much goes medieval on him i.e. makes him fall off cliffs, drops anvils on his head, incinerates him, runs him over etc. well you get the point.
Warner Bros cartoons are portraying a very bad image here because you know we are always told “try your best” at school and by our parents, well no one tries harder than old Wile. E Coyote. Some of his plans are pure genius, which would be lauded even at a mensa board meeting. Yet, stupid Road Runner always gets away despite being very annoying and obviously intellectually challenged. I mean what does this all mean?? running around very fast like a headless chicken will get you far in life??? What kind of f$%ked up message is this.!!!!
I guess I can relate cause the weekends are like the part when Wile. E Coyote comes up with his plan all happy and stuff thinking this is my time, I am finally going to get that motherbleeping roadrunner this can’t possibly fail. Then Monday morning is like when he puts his plan into action and yet again fails miserably and again realises he’s been outsmarted and out manoeuvred by a nitwit yet again and he’s been hit by the swift anvil to the head routine for the umpteenth time much like the way Monday morning depression hits you. The rest of the week is much like the rest of the cartoon, more attempts rebuffed by further Anvils to head but each time it hurts less due to the fact that you’ve failed so many times that you expect it.
Is it not time to send out a better message? If this is not rectified soon I am going to America to sue Warner Bros for lost earnings due to the low self esteem I developed from watching this cartoon and thinking that the more you try the more you fail and success will never come my way.
I’m starting a “free Wile. E Coyote from his eternal torture now” demonstration march.
But this could be a some kind sub-conscious government plot to keep us all in line from the time we were children to suck the creativity out of us and make us all work finance, banking or some other boring s£$t that they need done to run the government the way they want it. I sense a script for yet another conspiracy theory TV show in the making here.
Oh dear I remember a simpler/happier time when I didn’t analyse children’s cartoons into the excuses for why I am in the predicament I am in, working credit control. Take me back to Fun Factory already.
In the eternal words of the great Homer Simpson: 'Trying is the first step to failure'
Since it been long time since I have added my 10 pence worth thought I should comment on something or anything and I thought your blogs are looking lonely with no comments. Anyways it is nearing the end of another week and the first month of 2007 has already passed, so just friendly monthly reminder that you have a wedding to go to this year and I’m thinking that it might be a good idea for you turn up (for the first time ever!) on time.
Anyways what was I thinking about at work today……………..
Oh yeah Wile. E Coyote what a hero, a champion for us the regular people if you will. I feel his pain, you know poor guy he has a goal and you know he tries his best and fails. As if failing isn’t enough punishment for the poor guy, life doesn’t just give him the proverbial kick in the teeth it pretty much goes medieval on him i.e. makes him fall off cliffs, drops anvils on his head, incinerates him, runs him over etc. well you get the point.
Warner Bros cartoons are portraying a very bad image here because you know we are always told “try your best” at school and by our parents, well no one tries harder than old Wile. E Coyote. Some of his plans are pure genius, which would be lauded even at a mensa board meeting. Yet, stupid Road Runner always gets away despite being very annoying and obviously intellectually challenged. I mean what does this all mean?? running around very fast like a headless chicken will get you far in life??? What kind of f$%ked up message is this.!!!!
I guess I can relate cause the weekends are like the part when Wile. E Coyote comes up with his plan all happy and stuff thinking this is my time, I am finally going to get that motherbleeping roadrunner this can’t possibly fail. Then Monday morning is like when he puts his plan into action and yet again fails miserably and again realises he’s been outsmarted and out manoeuvred by a nitwit yet again and he’s been hit by the swift anvil to the head routine for the umpteenth time much like the way Monday morning depression hits you. The rest of the week is much like the rest of the cartoon, more attempts rebuffed by further Anvils to head but each time it hurts less due to the fact that you’ve failed so many times that you expect it.
Is it not time to send out a better message? If this is not rectified soon I am going to America to sue Warner Bros for lost earnings due to the low self esteem I developed from watching this cartoon and thinking that the more you try the more you fail and success will never come my way.
I’m starting a “free Wile. E Coyote from his eternal torture now” demonstration march.
But this could be a some kind sub-conscious government plot to keep us all in line from the time we were children to suck the creativity out of us and make us all work finance, banking or some other boring s£$t that they need done to run the government the way they want it. I sense a script for yet another conspiracy theory TV show in the making here.
Oh dear I remember a simpler/happier time when I didn’t analyse children’s cartoons into the excuses for why I am in the predicament I am in, working credit control. Take me back to Fun Factory already.
In the eternal words of the great Homer Simpson: 'Trying is the first step to failure'
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