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Sunday, October 28, 2007
Geek Girl Blogs
The Geek Girl Blogs site went live a couple of days ago. From the homepage:
Our aim has been to create a central repository that brings these women’s blogs together in one place, to create a wealth of knowledge that covers the amazing strength, agility & force that is Women in IT! We also hope that by sharing our experiences we can encourage & enlighten women thinking of a career in IT.
The aggregated posts can be read via the site at Girl Talk or by signing up to the RSS feed.
This blog of mine is just one of the blogs being included in the feed after Bronwen contacted me about a month ago. There is a form on the right hand side of the Girl Talk page which you can fill in to get your blog added too.
Labels: girl geeks
// posted by Jane @ 8:37 PM 
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Thursday, October 25, 2007
DDD6
DDD6 will be held at the Microsoft Campus on the 24th November, and it's full already although apparently they're still accepting waitlist registrations.
This will be my first DeveloperDeveloperDeveloper day, but if WebDD and SQLBits are anything to go by I'll learn lots and be inspired.
This will be my first DeveloperDeveloperDeveloper day, but if WebDD and SQLBits are anything to go by I'll learn lots and be inspired.
Labels: conference, DDD6, event
// posted by Jane @ 9:35 PM
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Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Catch up and badges
I've had a bit of a catch up today, firstly, a long overdue session updating Brighton Bloggers with newly submitted blogs. I've also organised a meetup to coincide with the Brighton Digital Festival.
Next up was a small change in the look of the Jane and Richard home page. It is now picking up the latest photo of my flickr feed using a flickr badge.
Finally a couple of additions to the Work page here at jane.dallaway.com to display my upcoming events via the upcoming badge, and my latest tweet via the twitter badge.
Next up was a small change in the look of the Jane and Richard home page. It is now picking up the latest photo of my flickr feed using a flickr badge.
Finally a couple of additions to the Work page here at jane.dallaway.com to display my upcoming events via the upcoming badge, and my latest tweet via the twitter badge.
Labels: Brighton Bloggers
// posted by Jane @ 10:24 PM
Comments:
Nokia 6110 Navigator and Route 66 satellite navigation
Whilst we were on our recent holiday, we took the opportunity to try out the built-in Route 66 navigation software.
The main observations are as follows:
- The battery life with the navigation system running is obviously impacted. In Liverpool the phone ran out of battery a mile away from our accomodation. We bought an in-car charger for the unit to prevent this from happening at other times.
- The software likes direct routes. Despite having selected fastest rather than shortest it sent us through the Snowdonia mountain park, (the road in the photo), with cattle grids and gates etc. Even when I told the unit that I was in a lorry it sent me the same way.
- It is very optimistic about how long a journey will take. Unlike google maps' directions which I've found to be pretty accurate, at 100% Route 66 seems to expect 60 miles per hour on all road types, including that mountain pass.
- In city navigation is excellent, getting in and out of cities and towns using the navigation system was really good, and really helpful.
- The postcode to longitude/latitude conversion is problematic at times - I don't think this is the software's problem but a complication with low population areas. Something to be wary of - next time I'll check the position of the landmark on the map against any other map or information availabile
In summary, I'll probably still print out google maps, and I'll still have a road atlas in the car, but I'll also let Route 66 guide me in and out of cities and towns.
Cross posted to Jane and Richard's yak and natter.
// posted by Jane @ 9:10 PM
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Monday, October 15, 2007
Mobile Google Reader
Since getting my Nokia 6110 Navigator, I've subscribed to vodafone's internet package. I use Google Reader as my rss reader, and am making use of the mobile version to keep on top of my feeds. This has changed the way I use google reader.
When I'm using a desktop or laptop I'll skim read an item, and open any interesting links in another tab and go and take a look at the linked content. I then get caught in a link opening hell and don't get through many of my original RSS items.
On the mobile I've found myself using the starring functionality to indicate that there is a link I'd like to follow later. This means that when I do get some time on a desktop/laptop I've got a subset of items to follow up on allowing me to concentrate on them rather than skimming through. I've also noticed that I am reading many of the items more thoroughly, probably because there is less "link opening" going on and so less distraction.
When I'm using a desktop or laptop I'll skim read an item, and open any interesting links in another tab and go and take a look at the linked content. I then get caught in a link opening hell and don't get through many of my original RSS items.
On the mobile I've found myself using the starring functionality to indicate that there is a link I'd like to follow later. This means that when I do get some time on a desktop/laptop I've got a subset of items to follow up on allowing me to concentrate on them rather than skimming through. I've also noticed that I am reading many of the items more thoroughly, probably because there is less "link opening" going on and so less distraction.
// posted by Jane @ 6:39 PM
Comments:
Saturday, October 13, 2007
SQLBits Podcast
The interview that Jim and I recorded with Craig Murphy is now up on his site.
The photo I took of Craig was truly awful and so didn't make it into the public domain. Sorry Craig!
The photo I took of Craig was truly awful and so didn't make it into the public domain. Sorry Craig!
Labels: conference, event, interview, SQL, SQLServer, SQLServer2005
// posted by Jane @ 11:14 PM
Comments:
Friday, October 12, 2007
Belbin Team Roles
We had a team away day yesterday, and in preparation I completed a Belbin self-perception inventory. We got the results yesterday and here's what my preferred roles are:
My least preferred roles are:
The main surprise is Co-ordinator being in the least preferred roles as it is a role that I tend to do quite often - even yesterday in our break out sessions, I was the one "chairing", ensuring everyone got a chance to make their point, kept things focusses etc. Maybe the key here is preferred - I do this role when no-one else does, and I like to think I do it reasonably well. Having read the completer-finisher characteristics I would say that over the years I have definitely become one of these, I am pedantic and picky and like to ensure everything is done to a high quality. My anxiety must be in a constant state of flux as the Specialist is an anxious role whilst the Implementer is a low anxiety role.
The last time I filled in one of these was about 10 years ago, during a course, and it would be really interesting to see how things have changed. I'll have to dig around at home and see if I can find it.
- Implementer - Implementers are aware of external obligations and are disciplined, conscientious and have a good self-image. They tend to be tough-minded and practical, trusting and tolerant, respecting established traditions. They are characterised by low anxiety and tend to work for the team in a practical, realistic way. Implementers figure prominently in positions of responsibility in larger organisations. They tend to do the jobs that others do not want to do and do them well: for example, disciplining employees.
- Specialist - The specialist provides knowledge and technical skills which are in rare supply within the team. They are often highly introverted and anxious and tend to be self-starting, dedicated and committed.
- Completer-Finisher - The completer finisher dots the i’s and crosses the t’s. He or she gives attention to detail, aims to complete and to do so thoroughly. They make steady effort and are consistent in their work. They are not so interested in the glamour of spectacular success.
My least preferred roles are:
- Plant - The plant is a specialist idea maker characterised by high IQ and introversion while also being dominant and original. The plant tends to take radical approaches to team functioning and problems. Plants are more concerned with major issues than with details.
- Resource Investigator - The resource investigator is the executive who is never in his room, and if he is, he is on the telephone. The resource investigator is someone who explores opportunities and develops contacts. Resource investigators are good negotiators who probe others for information and support and pick up other’s ideas and develop them. They are characterised by sociability and enthusiasm and are good at liaison work and exploring resources outside the group.
- Co-ordinator - The co-ordinator is a person-oriented leader. This person is trusting, accepting, dominant and is committed to team goals and objectives. The co-ordinator is a positive thinker who approves of goal attainment, struggle and effort in others. The co-ordinator is someone tolerant enough always to listen to others, but strong enough to reject their advice.
The main surprise is Co-ordinator being in the least preferred roles as it is a role that I tend to do quite often - even yesterday in our break out sessions, I was the one "chairing", ensuring everyone got a chance to make their point, kept things focusses etc. Maybe the key here is preferred - I do this role when no-one else does, and I like to think I do it reasonably well. Having read the completer-finisher characteristics I would say that over the years I have definitely become one of these, I am pedantic and picky and like to ensure everything is done to a high quality. My anxiety must be in a constant state of flux as the Specialist is an anxious role whilst the Implementer is a low anxiety role.
The last time I filled in one of these was about 10 years ago, during a course, and it would be really interesting to see how things have changed. I'll have to dig around at home and see if I can find it.
// posted by Jane @ 1:18 PM
Comments:
Monday, October 08, 2007
SQLBits conference
On Saturday I attended the SQLBits conference held at Microsoft Campus in Reading. It was another free conference aimed at SQL Server developers and DBAs and consisting of 4 streams of 5 1-hour-long presentations. I teamed up with Jim, friend and former boss, and headed off to Reading ready for a day of learning.
SQL Server is probably my top skill, I've been working with it since version 7, and have designed databases, developed them, tested them and supported them. So, this conference really had my name written all over it. And it didn't disappoint.
I started off with Transactions and Exception Handling, presented by Eric Allsopp which was an in-depth exploration of the locking mechanics within SQL Server, isolation levels as well as exception handling and the advantages of the SQL Server 2005 BEGIN TRY... BEGIN CATCH syntax over the old @@ERROR syntax. Eric obviously knew his stuff, but I have to admit that following a highly technical (in fact, the most technical session I attended) presentation at 9:30 on a Saturday morning was a bit of a struggle.
Next up we headed to the SQL Server 2008 Beyond Relational presentation by Keith Burns and found out about some the cool new features to be presented in SQL Server 2008 - the most interesting being spatial - using both geography and geometry aspects to allow for manipulation of location based data. A great presentation giving a glance into the new version - not that I've got to grips with SQL Server 2005 yet...
The final presentation of the morning was Simon Sabin with 77 SQL Server Myths (although we only got through about 16 or so). This was a really useful session, challenging some of the beliefs I've held over the years (mainly that were true at one point, but weren't any longer) and making me re-evaluate some of the queries I write.
During lunch there were a couple of talks from sponsors, and some Grok talks going on. I managed to attend neither but did do an interview about the day so far with Craig Murphy.
After lunch we headed to Dave McMahon's talk Daves Top 10 SQL Keywords which was truly excellent. He went through his 10 favourite keywords, and explained, giving examples, why they were in the list, with a final countdown in true Top of the Pops style.
We missed the final session altogether as the 2 sessions we'd identified as being useful had either changed, or after discussion turned out to be not what we expected, so we headed off home. A great day, and really refreshing to have a SQL based day like this. Thanks SQLBits.
SQL Server is probably my top skill, I've been working with it since version 7, and have designed databases, developed them, tested them and supported them. So, this conference really had my name written all over it. And it didn't disappoint.
I started off with Transactions and Exception Handling, presented by Eric Allsopp which was an in-depth exploration of the locking mechanics within SQL Server, isolation levels as well as exception handling and the advantages of the SQL Server 2005 BEGIN TRY... BEGIN CATCH syntax over the old @@ERROR syntax. Eric obviously knew his stuff, but I have to admit that following a highly technical (in fact, the most technical session I attended) presentation at 9:30 on a Saturday morning was a bit of a struggle.
Next up we headed to the SQL Server 2008 Beyond Relational presentation by Keith Burns and found out about some the cool new features to be presented in SQL Server 2008 - the most interesting being spatial - using both geography and geometry aspects to allow for manipulation of location based data. A great presentation giving a glance into the new version - not that I've got to grips with SQL Server 2005 yet...
The final presentation of the morning was Simon Sabin with 77 SQL Server Myths (although we only got through about 16 or so). This was a really useful session, challenging some of the beliefs I've held over the years (mainly that were true at one point, but weren't any longer) and making me re-evaluate some of the queries I write.
During lunch there were a couple of talks from sponsors, and some Grok talks going on. I managed to attend neither but did do an interview about the day so far with Craig Murphy.
After lunch we headed to Dave McMahon's talk Daves Top 10 SQL Keywords which was truly excellent. He went through his 10 favourite keywords, and explained, giving examples, why they were in the list, with a final countdown in true Top of the Pops style.
We missed the final session altogether as the 2 sessions we'd identified as being useful had either changed, or after discussion turned out to be not what we expected, so we headed off home. A great day, and really refreshing to have a SQL based day like this. Thanks SQLBits.
Labels: conference, event, SQL, SQLServer, SQLServer2005
// posted by Jane @ 7:05 PM
Comments:
Conference Schwag bags
I was at the SQLBits conference on Saturday (of which more later) and I started thinking about what makes an ideal conference schwag bag for me:
If you're giving me schwag to spread your name around, then for me, pens, notebooks, post-its and other office based stationery are the items that are likely to make it into the office, and so be seen by my friends and colleagues whilst if you're giving me schwag so that I remember you, and think of you as a thoughtful company, then bottles of water, or biscuits, or fruit are more likely to hit the mark.
- at least one pen
- a notebook
- a bottle of water
If you're giving me schwag to spread your name around, then for me, pens, notebooks, post-its and other office based stationery are the items that are likely to make it into the office, and so be seen by my friends and colleagues whilst if you're giving me schwag so that I remember you, and think of you as a thoughtful company, then bottles of water, or biscuits, or fruit are more likely to hit the mark.
Labels: conference, event, schwag
// posted by Jane @ 8:58 AM
Comments:
