After months of hesitating, I've given in to twitter. So much is happening, I can't possibly keep it all in until I can sit down with the computer next - text blogging is the way forward!
In other news - Easter weekend is upon us. Whats poppin' this weekend?
tonight : watched sunshine
tomorrow: doing wedding stuff
saturday: boat race in the afternoon - evening - out, somewhere (probably guanabara)
sunday: play by ear!
monday: chillax and catch up on some good old java for certification exam.
Oh - and need to post on india - trust me, that's coming up soon!
Friday, April 6, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!
On the stag do boys email chain this afternoon, John was kind enough to draft up a eulogy for me...
' Yes I will indeed do you proud with the eugoogley, we'll even put portrait picture of you doing "magnum" on top of the casket. Anyways it can go something like:
If there is anything that this horrible tragedy can teach us, it's that a good looking certified systems architect is a precious, precious commodity. Just because Neil had a chiselled nose and stunningly thick mane of chest
hair, it doesn't mean that he too can't not die in a freak drunken hair waxing accident, involving strippers.
Neil used to say people would come up to him all the time and say he was really, really, really ridiculously good looking and say he should be a model, or he looked just like a model or he should be man who trys to model, but I always had to laugh cause despite apparently being really, really, really ridiculously good looking (according to himself), Neil was actually a certified systems architect.
Neil was also a very, very, very deep person, he was pretty sure there was more too life than being really, really, really ridiculously good looking and he fully planned on finding out what that is, that is just after he
learned how to turn left which sadly up till and including his last days he still had not mastered. Despite not reaching these lofty goals with his life, I hope you found closure in death buddy! (fake sniffle)
I guess what im trying to say is now the rest of us all have a chance with the girls since the rest of us cannot compare to someone who is really, really, really ridiculously good looking. Because before I felt like damn "this guys really hurting us" and it hurt.
Up until his untimely demise I used to say Damn that Neil Samtani, he's so hot right now!
Dammit he's still really, really, really ridiculously good looking as a corpse, (I break out into a flood of fake tears and get helped away from the altar).
The end. '
Btw - completely off topic, but deserves a rant right now: Nandos, new menu, higher price, no change in the quality. Am I going to keep going? Yes. Am I happy about it? Hell no.
' Yes I will indeed do you proud with the eugoogley, we'll even put portrait picture of you doing "magnum" on top of the casket. Anyways it can go something like:
If there is anything that this horrible tragedy can teach us, it's that a good looking certified systems architect is a precious, precious commodity. Just because Neil had a chiselled nose and stunningly thick mane of chest
hair, it doesn't mean that he too can't not die in a freak drunken hair waxing accident, involving strippers.
Neil used to say people would come up to him all the time and say he was really, really, really ridiculously good looking and say he should be a model, or he looked just like a model or he should be man who trys to model, but I always had to laugh cause despite apparently being really, really, really ridiculously good looking (according to himself), Neil was actually a certified systems architect.
Neil was also a very, very, very deep person, he was pretty sure there was more too life than being really, really, really ridiculously good looking and he fully planned on finding out what that is, that is just after he
learned how to turn left which sadly up till and including his last days he still had not mastered. Despite not reaching these lofty goals with his life, I hope you found closure in death buddy! (fake sniffle)
I guess what im trying to say is now the rest of us all have a chance with the girls since the rest of us cannot compare to someone who is really, really, really ridiculously good looking. Because before I felt like damn "this guys really hurting us" and it hurt.
Up until his untimely demise I used to say Damn that Neil Samtani, he's so hot right now!
Dammit he's still really, really, really ridiculously good looking as a corpse, (I break out into a flood of fake tears and get helped away from the altar).
The end. '
Btw - completely off topic, but deserves a rant right now: Nandos, new menu, higher price, no change in the quality. Am I going to keep going? Yes. Am I happy about it? Hell no.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Playing Magical Table Tennis with an Apple
So - ventured out of the wharf and met Deeps for dinner this evening - she's off to India tomorrow (I'll be joining her next week!). Ping Pong - terrific restaurant, great dim sum...cocktails are pretty good too & it's all relatively inexpensive.
Couple of days ago went to watch the Illusionist - this movie just helps to confirm my opinion of Edward Norton as one of the finest actors of our time. He rarely puts a foot wrong - and even if he does sometimes choose the wrong project (Italian Job?!), he does a fine job regardless. The story in the illusionist wasn't as clever as other reviews make it out to be. It's smart, but not overly intelligent - and doesn't try to be too smart. A couple of things I really enjoyed about the movie - Jessica Biel (hot!), Vienna (atmospheric and believable), the cinematography (video would often appear to be reeled from an old movie).
The best thing about the movie was something that frustrated me while watching it - you know how you're watching a magic trick, and you say - that's fake. I know that's fake, but I don't know how the hell this guy is doing it. The movie maintained that feeling at times. You know this man is mortal and can only perform illusions, so you can't help but wrack your brains trying to figure out how on earth he can be doing those tricks! At the end you can't find out - but that just adds to the mystique of the film. A genuinely clever movie, superbly well acted and shot. It's set the bar pretty high for when I do get round to watching The Prestige!
Ok - getting out of review mode and returning to matters Apple. Lloydie is a convert (hurrah!), as is Dips - my Apple army is growing....before long we shall take the country, and then...the world!
Have a read of how Apple is selling its products - the way Apple on 5th Ave is outselling pretty much everyone is terrific reading! here
btw: rule-connect-java vs java steps in an activity - for purposes of performance measurements! great stuff, thanks PDN.
Couple of days ago went to watch the Illusionist - this movie just helps to confirm my opinion of Edward Norton as one of the finest actors of our time. He rarely puts a foot wrong - and even if he does sometimes choose the wrong project (Italian Job?!), he does a fine job regardless. The story in the illusionist wasn't as clever as other reviews make it out to be. It's smart, but not overly intelligent - and doesn't try to be too smart. A couple of things I really enjoyed about the movie - Jessica Biel (hot!), Vienna (atmospheric and believable), the cinematography (video would often appear to be reeled from an old movie).
The best thing about the movie was something that frustrated me while watching it - you know how you're watching a magic trick, and you say - that's fake. I know that's fake, but I don't know how the hell this guy is doing it. The movie maintained that feeling at times. You know this man is mortal and can only perform illusions, so you can't help but wrack your brains trying to figure out how on earth he can be doing those tricks! At the end you can't find out - but that just adds to the mystique of the film. A genuinely clever movie, superbly well acted and shot. It's set the bar pretty high for when I do get round to watching The Prestige!
Ok - getting out of review mode and returning to matters Apple. Lloydie is a convert (hurrah!), as is Dips - my Apple army is growing....before long we shall take the country, and then...the world!
Have a read of how Apple is selling its products - the way Apple on 5th Ave is outselling pretty much everyone is terrific reading! here
btw: rule-connect-java vs java steps in an activity - for purposes of performance measurements! great stuff, thanks PDN.
The Magic Man
Ricky Bobby: From now on, it's Magic Man and El Diablo.
Cal Naughton, Jr.: What does El Diablo mean?
Ricky Bobby: It's like Spanish for like a fighting chicken.
John mentioned that it'd be worth documenting a night out that could possibly not be worth remembering, but for the sake of it we'd better have some record that the following did actually take place. The story you are about to read is true, and happened in the not too distant past. More than likely involving you, the dear reader.
Imagine, if you will, a small bar/club in London. It's dark outside. Through the condensation on the glass windows you can see a mass of young people. The beat is repetitive and contagious. We step inside....
The beats belong to the party RnB playing on the clubs sound system. We're approached by a lady who appears to work there.
'Do you guys have guestlist?' she enquired.
'We're invited' answers Dips. (by the way, the words are totally being made up while i write this).
'Yeh - they're with us' says some guy, approaching the group.
Now, I'm trying to remember where we had been prior to heading to this club. We had been drinking. I'm fairly certain it was in a pub in Camden. Mornington Crescent. The Crescent (Great place). We had watched the football. It's all coming back to me....
'Wow, this place is great' Jait says 'I'll get some beers!'
Jait shortly returns with some beer. Was it Leffe? It was quite strong. Alberto, John and myself find some chairs and kick back - there are a -lot- of asian people here. The mood is distinctly chilled - unlike the asian nights of yore. We're starving and need to get out, there're too many people there, the queue to the bar is too long, and word is there's a KFC around the corner. Jait is busying himself dancing with Dips and Sharan - Alberto, John and myself make a swift exit.
After exploring Holborn fairly thoroughly, we fail to find an open KFC. We head east towards liverpool street. another FKFC closed for the night. What's the next best thing? a schnitzel take away. What's a schnitzel I asked - Let's try it, Alberto replied. We've been gone for over an hour....
Return to the bar after getting slightly lost - to find Jait has moved - he's now dancing up against the window, running around (was he saying 'Let's go running?' as he had been through most of the Foo Fighters concert??) and generally being merry.
Now - this is a typical asian gig - there are x people in the club, and there's usually a token white guy (TWG) around. The one in this club is wearing a tuxedo. Hang on - is that Yiannis from our MSc in Bath!? YES - it is! what the devil!? We end up catching up and killing time. It seemed he had been wearing that tuxedo for the past few days, having gone for his companies christmas ball and owing to all the parties, not managed to get home since.
Next thing you know it's time to go home (how time flies when you're dancing to bhangra and RnB). We wait outside, but after all that dancing (????) we need a seat. hm - well - there's a stack of them hiding behind the bar. Let's go get some!
Then, there's some guy running (very slowly) after another guy half his size. The guy manages to run away, with the big guy shouting explitives at him...
'Language!!!' shouts dips
'***** ********** * ****** $£@$!$%@$%@$!!!!' shouts the big guy, going up to dips
in the following mellee we find a few of us getting tangled up - somehow a midget has come into the mix - what next? a bearded lady and the lobster girl?
'I'm going to get my shooter. I'm going to get my shooter. I've got a wife and kids - I'm a mature responsible adult. I'm going to get my shooter' the midget exclaims, flailing his arms wildy trying to draw attention to himself....
Sharan sits there bemused...
'For ****s sake - you're 27! act your age!' she shouts (to us - not the midget, who could not have been over 13 and a half)
everything comes to an abrupt halt. damn - we're old.
'Um. Ah. yeh - best be on my way - and i'll take the midget with me....' says the big guy, picking up the midget and resting him on his shoulder.
'John???? Jait???????' No sooner is that done than we find an old friend, Kishan, coming out of the club. 'What are you guys doing here???' We haven't seen Kishan for years - since leaving Cardiff - so after a quick catch up, we're back in the taxi - heading home.....
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the true story of the night that Dips took us to an asian gig*.
* all plot lines are based on 1% nonfictional events. the people and places in this story have been created for purposes of this story and are not based on real people. If you feel that the characters do, in fact, exist at this time and dimension, you can bite my shiny metal ass.
Cal Naughton, Jr.: What does El Diablo mean?
Ricky Bobby: It's like Spanish for like a fighting chicken.
John mentioned that it'd be worth documenting a night out that could possibly not be worth remembering, but for the sake of it we'd better have some record that the following did actually take place. The story you are about to read is true, and happened in the not too distant past. More than likely involving you, the dear reader.
Imagine, if you will, a small bar/club in London. It's dark outside. Through the condensation on the glass windows you can see a mass of young people. The beat is repetitive and contagious. We step inside....
The beats belong to the party RnB playing on the clubs sound system. We're approached by a lady who appears to work there.
'Do you guys have guestlist?' she enquired.
'We're invited' answers Dips. (by the way, the words are totally being made up while i write this).
'Yeh - they're with us' says some guy, approaching the group.
Now, I'm trying to remember where we had been prior to heading to this club. We had been drinking. I'm fairly certain it was in a pub in Camden. Mornington Crescent. The Crescent (Great place). We had watched the football. It's all coming back to me....
'Wow, this place is great' Jait says 'I'll get some beers!'
Jait shortly returns with some beer. Was it Leffe? It was quite strong. Alberto, John and myself find some chairs and kick back - there are a -lot- of asian people here. The mood is distinctly chilled - unlike the asian nights of yore. We're starving and need to get out, there're too many people there, the queue to the bar is too long, and word is there's a KFC around the corner. Jait is busying himself dancing with Dips and Sharan - Alberto, John and myself make a swift exit.
After exploring Holborn fairly thoroughly, we fail to find an open KFC. We head east towards liverpool street. another FKFC closed for the night. What's the next best thing? a schnitzel take away. What's a schnitzel I asked - Let's try it, Alberto replied. We've been gone for over an hour....
Return to the bar after getting slightly lost - to find Jait has moved - he's now dancing up against the window, running around (was he saying 'Let's go running?' as he had been through most of the Foo Fighters concert??) and generally being merry.
Now - this is a typical asian gig - there are x people in the club, and there's usually a token white guy (TWG) around. The one in this club is wearing a tuxedo. Hang on - is that Yiannis from our MSc in Bath!? YES - it is! what the devil!? We end up catching up and killing time. It seemed he had been wearing that tuxedo for the past few days, having gone for his companies christmas ball and owing to all the parties, not managed to get home since.
Next thing you know it's time to go home (how time flies when you're dancing to bhangra and RnB). We wait outside, but after all that dancing (????) we need a seat. hm - well - there's a stack of them hiding behind the bar. Let's go get some!
Then, there's some guy running (very slowly) after another guy half his size. The guy manages to run away, with the big guy shouting explitives at him...
'Language!!!' shouts dips
'***** ********** * ****** $£@$!$%@$%@$!!!!' shouts the big guy, going up to dips
in the following mellee we find a few of us getting tangled up - somehow a midget has come into the mix - what next? a bearded lady and the lobster girl?
'I'm going to get my shooter. I'm going to get my shooter. I've got a wife and kids - I'm a mature responsible adult. I'm going to get my shooter' the midget exclaims, flailing his arms wildy trying to draw attention to himself....
Sharan sits there bemused...
'For ****s sake - you're 27! act your age!' she shouts (to us - not the midget, who could not have been over 13 and a half)
everything comes to an abrupt halt. damn - we're old.
'Um. Ah. yeh - best be on my way - and i'll take the midget with me....' says the big guy, picking up the midget and resting him on his shoulder.
'John???? Jait???????' No sooner is that done than we find an old friend, Kishan, coming out of the club. 'What are you guys doing here???' We haven't seen Kishan for years - since leaving Cardiff - so after a quick catch up, we're back in the taxi - heading home.....
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the true story of the night that Dips took us to an asian gig*.
* all plot lines are based on 1% nonfictional events. the people and places in this story have been created for purposes of this story and are not based on real people. If you feel that the characters do, in fact, exist at this time and dimension, you can bite my shiny metal ass.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Minus one flatmate (Oct 2004 - Mar 2007)
So Bunty (Lalit) has moved out...
It is shocking - he moved in roughly 2 1/2 years ago (October 2004). It was a good run, and he was a great last flatmate before I get the 'eternal flatmate' - Deepti.
Good thing he just moved down the road, otherwise I would get really emotional!
So - in other news - my health is improving. At least it feels that way...the weekend was spent complaining about this damn flu thats been going around. I still blame that turkey I had 3 weeks ago for all this - all the worker bees have been dropping like flies & although this could partly be my fault for coming in to work while still ill (I blame the machismo corporate culture around canary wharf for that!) it seems like this could be the pandemic avian flu at work. How much of a let down would it be if this was the big, bad bird flu that caused this?
Hopefully that will mean an end to the hermetic state caused by my illness. Based on the Diamond Geezer definition of a 'night out', any time I've ventured out after 6:00 pm would count as a night out (this does not include overtime at work or any training related to the triathlon!). I'm aiming for quality over quantity - as I've got too much happening concurrently. To measure this I'll maintain a Geezeresque count - the total for March stands at 1 - Digress, followed by dinner with Shirley, Sonal, Barkha and Deepti at Strada this Saturday eve. Verdict: would have been great if (a) we didn't get thrown out of area in digress (b) i could stomach some food with my head pounding and (c) the taxi not charging so much to get us back home.
I was meant to be at Paparazzi Cafe on Saturday night for Rohinis birthday dinner (happy birthday!!!!), but it would have infuriated me to be in one of my favourite restaurants in London and not being able to eat (or enjoy the company!) - the restaurant is due to close at the end of March, and I will do anything in my power to get there before then - any excuse for a night out really, so people - any suggestions??
It is shocking - he moved in roughly 2 1/2 years ago (October 2004). It was a good run, and he was a great last flatmate before I get the 'eternal flatmate' - Deepti.
Good thing he just moved down the road, otherwise I would get really emotional!
So - in other news - my health is improving. At least it feels that way...the weekend was spent complaining about this damn flu thats been going around. I still blame that turkey I had 3 weeks ago for all this - all the worker bees have been dropping like flies & although this could partly be my fault for coming in to work while still ill (I blame the machismo corporate culture around canary wharf for that!) it seems like this could be the pandemic avian flu at work. How much of a let down would it be if this was the big, bad bird flu that caused this?
Hopefully that will mean an end to the hermetic state caused by my illness. Based on the Diamond Geezer definition of a 'night out', any time I've ventured out after 6:00 pm would count as a night out (this does not include overtime at work or any training related to the triathlon!). I'm aiming for quality over quantity - as I've got too much happening concurrently. To measure this I'll maintain a Geezeresque count - the total for March stands at 1 - Digress, followed by dinner with Shirley, Sonal, Barkha and Deepti at Strada this Saturday eve. Verdict: would have been great if (a) we didn't get thrown out of area in digress (b) i could stomach some food with my head pounding and (c) the taxi not charging so much to get us back home.
I was meant to be at Paparazzi Cafe on Saturday night for Rohinis birthday dinner (happy birthday!!!!), but it would have infuriated me to be in one of my favourite restaurants in London and not being able to eat (or enjoy the company!) - the restaurant is due to close at the end of March, and I will do anything in my power to get there before then - any excuse for a night out really, so people - any suggestions??
Monday, February 26, 2007
Weekend of the flu.
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
I'll make sure to post something meaningful tomorrow....it's been too long & trust me - I have a great one in mind!
Neil
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'
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
OOTB? ROTFL!
I've been a big fan of Cote and Charles' DrunkAndRetired podcast for a while now - it helps to ease the 10 minute walk to work every morning. I came across this great post on enterprise software by Cote on his People Over Process blog.
To those who don't know, I work in the BPM sector for a company called Pegasystems - we specialise in providing business process managment solutions to our clients. Cotes post perfectly states the complexity we encounter on a daily basis - the fact that each organisation involved - each vendor - specifies that their product is middleware. From network infrastructure solutions (IBMs Websphere family) through to SAP and Pegas own PRPC, to some degree this all consitutes as middleware. Having to deal not only with middleware, but a miriad of different front and back end technologies is enough to keep any developer on his/her toes.
Cote mentions the 'customization tug of war'. Each client will want the software to perfectly align to their business processes. Each vendor wants the client to accept the software to be provided OOTB (out of the box). Where I fit in is to ensure the two align by configuring the application to meet business requirements.
With software positions moving out of the country, it is very important to never underestimate the importance of business knowledge - the 'MBA programmer' may keep business related development jobs in the country, but going forward the emphasis should lie on the programmer - changing context to the programmer with an MBA. A floating workforce, with the maleability to rapidly adapt to different verticals is my vision.
Hm - where's my London Business School brochure gone again?
To those who don't know, I work in the BPM sector for a company called Pegasystems - we specialise in providing business process managment solutions to our clients. Cotes post perfectly states the complexity we encounter on a daily basis - the fact that each organisation involved - each vendor - specifies that their product is middleware. From network infrastructure solutions (IBMs Websphere family) through to SAP and Pegas own PRPC, to some degree this all consitutes as middleware. Having to deal not only with middleware, but a miriad of different front and back end technologies is enough to keep any developer on his/her toes.
Cote mentions the 'customization tug of war'. Each client will want the software to perfectly align to their business processes. Each vendor wants the client to accept the software to be provided OOTB (out of the box). Where I fit in is to ensure the two align by configuring the application to meet business requirements.
With software positions moving out of the country, it is very important to never underestimate the importance of business knowledge - the 'MBA programmer' may keep business related development jobs in the country, but going forward the emphasis should lie on the programmer - changing context to the programmer with an MBA. A floating workforce, with the maleability to rapidly adapt to different verticals is my vision.
Hm - where's my London Business School brochure gone again?
Monday, January 29, 2007
“I know, I know. I should be happy with my 12″ PowerBook. But I can dream, can’t I?”
So - you all remember my post proclaiming my undying love to all things apple? I think I may have come across someone who could relate:
I wonder if she'll be free to sing at my wedding? ;)
I wonder if she'll be free to sing at my wedding? ;)
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Not surprising in the slightest...
Why would it not surprise me if the net lost its neutrality? Ten years ago, I would never have been able to imagine an internet that was not equally available to all - all areas of the internet, limited only by your baud rate. Allowing certain organiations to pay our ISPs to get a faster connection to us would have seemed ridiculous.
Network Neutrality — or "Net Neutrality" for short — is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet.
Net Neutrality ensures that all users can access the content or run the applications and devices of their choice. With Net Neutrality, the network's only job is to move data — not choose which data to privilege with higher quality service.
Net Neutrality prevents the companies that control the wires from discriminating against content based on its source or ownership.
Net Neutrality is the reason why the Internet has driven economic innovation, democratic participation, and free speech online. It's why the Internet has become an unrivaled environment for open communications, civic involvement and free speech.
(from SaveTheInternet.com)
Have a read of this article on net neutrality. The very concept is chilling - and gives us an idea of the level of freedom we enjoy on the internet at the moment. Regardless of whether you're looking for the Microsoft site or a quick update on my life at neilsamtani.com - there's a level playing field. Give giant corporations the ability to 'control' the internet, and we're heading on a slippery slope to the end of the current era of 'our internet' to a stark vision of the 'corporate internet'.
Network Neutrality — or "Net Neutrality" for short — is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet.
Net Neutrality ensures that all users can access the content or run the applications and devices of their choice. With Net Neutrality, the network's only job is to move data — not choose which data to privilege with higher quality service.
Net Neutrality prevents the companies that control the wires from discriminating against content based on its source or ownership.
Net Neutrality is the reason why the Internet has driven economic innovation, democratic participation, and free speech online. It's why the Internet has become an unrivaled environment for open communications, civic involvement and free speech.
(from SaveTheInternet.com)
Have a read of this article on net neutrality. The very concept is chilling - and gives us an idea of the level of freedom we enjoy on the internet at the moment. Regardless of whether you're looking for the Microsoft site or a quick update on my life at neilsamtani.com - there's a level playing field. Give giant corporations the ability to 'control' the internet, and we're heading on a slippery slope to the end of the current era of 'our internet' to a stark vision of the 'corporate internet'.
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