Rog42

Word to the wise

I have taken longer to get somewhere

Amanzi plays her violin

10 years - 1 Decade - a celebration of Life!!

I want one

Thinking of Podcasting

Amanzi's 12th

Can Blogging Kill You?

So much to Blog

Biggest Loser Weigh In - Wk 10

Remember to update your Windows Mobile Daylight Savings Time (DST) settings!!!!

Egg on my waistcoat

Weigh-in Wk 8 & 9

Embarking on the Long Road to TechEd08

Up the Mighty Swan

Preparing for Perth

The Value of Things

The Waistcoats of Rog42

Heroes Happen Launch - Adelaide

Wide Awake Developers: Steve Jobs Made Me Miss My Flight

Photo Album: Mobile photos

Photo Album: Amanzi 12th Birthday

Blog list: Blog list

Book List: Book List

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:45:42 GMT

Attempting boxercise, doing all the exercises yourself, without the normal breaks where partners swap gloves, in 30+ deg heat after 40 hours of travel and only 5 of sleep, is possibly not the smartest thing to do….

Still, I survived :)

Today has been relatively quiet. Started off dealing with email, and work until about 10am (6pm Aus time) then late exercise session, followed by a swim, breakfast, and then more planning work.

The afternoon saw us head out to the shops and up a mountain for a brisk walk, then back to the flat to complete my planning tasks before the Aussie work day began.

Tomorrow, hopefully I’ll be able to spend a little more time away from the computer.

But until then, toodle-oo

R42

Technorati Tags: Travel,Marbella,Planning

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:49:34 GMT

Not with as much discomfort, however. Whether sailing, hitchhiking, or bussing, time taken to travel just doesn't seem as brutal as when flying internationally.

I flew to Paris, leaving Sydney at 2pm on Saturday, arriving almost exactly 24 hours later, after two gruelling economy class flights.

Then I spent a frustrating two hours at Charles de Gaulle International Airport, with surly officious and pedantic officials, the most confusing queuing system I've seen the world over, and a last minute gate change. This last meant another security check.

With the two long haul flights down, I only had another 2 short hops to go to get to Malaga (final destination Marbella) These flights were with Swissair, that (besides the gate change) were exemplary wrt to punctuality and leaving exactly on time.

Once in Malaga, it was but an hour by car to Marbella. But now, I'm falling asleep at my keyboard - so I'll head to bed.

R42

Technorati Tags: #IC08,Marbella,Visiting Mum,Flights

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:05:01 GMT

We're nearing the end of the second term of Amanzi's first year in High school. For her this is great, because although she's been playing her violin for almost 4 years now, only in high school has she had the opportunity to play in a band or ensemble.

All of her sisters played instruments that where included in the Primary school bands here. (Trumpet, Flute etc)

Well, here she is then:

First: "My Girl"

Then "Pirates of the Caribbean"

Aint she sweet

R42

Technorati Tags: Amanzi,School Concert,Strings Ensemble,Violin

Mon, 19 May 2008 14:18:30 GMT

An amazing thought, all the things that can happen in 10 years. Charis, so vibrant and full of life, was just 2 months old then. Now she's a trumpet and piano playing, gymnastic, comedienne of the family.

I'd been ill, chronically ill, for some 2 and a half years. But on the 19th May 1998, the disease (and my large intestine) was removed for good in a marathon 6 hour operation.

I got my life back. My family got their husband, father, son back.

It's thanks to the Internet, and the website, brainchild of a special friend, Shaz, that I had the courage to go for the operation. You can read my story here.

Since that time we've moved to from the UK to Australia, I've rekindled my interest in boating, sailing, diving, and water-skiing. I've been a national and regional consultant for global IT companies. In short, I'm as well as the next person.

So I'm celebrating a good decade!

If there is anything holding you back from living life to the full: disease, relationships, confidence; make the sacrifice and enjoy every hour of every day - you don't know just how many you have.

R42

Technorati Tags: Health,Ulcerative Colitis,Disease,Life,Healing,Family

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:36:35 GMT

http://is.gd/6Mc

Nuff said

R42

Technorati Tags: Nintendo Wii,Fitness

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:57:03 GMT

The idea is a resource for local (Aussie) Worship teams by local Worship teams. The general theme is to discuss the use of technology in enabling worship - from microphones and foldback monitors to computers and projectors.

But also to include topics which all Worship teams have to deal with.

It'll be called Worship Wednesday and be featured on a new podcasting channel I'm creating call Channel 42.

Twitter/Facebook/Email me your thoughts.

R42

Technorati Tags: Worship,Music,Instrument,Technology,Australia

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:48:20 GMT

If you don't subscribe to my Feedburner http://feeds.feedburner.com/rog42 you should. But if you don't, you'll have missed the photos from Amanzi's 12th birthday.

You can, however, check them out on my flickr site - yes you guessed it: http://flickr.com/photos/rog42

Also up on the site are photos of Charis' 10th Birthday last month.

Enjoy

R42

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:13:00 GMT

And I don't mean by violence from your significant other, or a random stalker...

Read what the New York Times has to say....

In Web World of 24/7 Stress, Writers Blog Till They Drop - New York Times

Thanks to Catherine Eibner for this link.

R42

Technorati Tags: Blogging,Stress,24/7,New York Times

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:27:47 GMT

... so little time.

First I must comment on a change I've made to clarify and simplify things for readers of my blogs.

Many of you, faithful readers, know that I run two blogs:

http://blogs.msdn.com/rog42 which covers all of my work entries.

http://blog.rog42.net which until today has covered everything about my life, my family, personal opinions, photo's. As this blog has had a greater and longer readership, I've posted work related entries to this blog as well.

This has led to a couple of challenges:

For those subscribing to both of my blogs, they've received duplicate entries.
For new subscribers it's been confusing as to which is the best blog to read.

So I've made a decision and put in place a plan to simplify this for all my readers. It works like so:

If you read either of my blogs in a web browser, you need to navigate to either of the addresses above. However, the MSDN blog will only have work related entries, and the Spaces blog will only contain personal entries.

If you subscribe using an RSS reader (the best way to automatically receive blogs) you can choose one of three options:

To get a single, merged feed of work, personal, and my Flickr photos, subscribe to http://feeds.feedburner.com/Rog42
To get just work related entries, subscribe to http://blogs.msdn.com/rog42/rss.xml
To get just personal entries, subscribe to http://rog42.spaces.live.com/feed.rss

So no more duplicate entries, no more technical mumbo-jumbo for mum, and just one link to get the full Life and Times of Rog42.

This will be the last entry appearing in both blogs.

Note: The merged feed will contain duplicate entries of the last month or so. These should disappear as time progresses (or you hit delete :)

R42

Technorati Tags: Rog42,merged feeds,subscribe,channel 42

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:46:10 GMT

Easter struck! Good and solid! Not just me either - I did actually manage to lose 200g (w00t) but others either flattened out or put on up to a couple of kilos.

So I'm still in 3rd, and only 3.86kgs from winning the comp. But with 2 weeks to go I'm gonna have to increase my weight-loss by a factor of 10.

R42

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:33:14 GMT

Update using MSI or CAB (this updates PDA or Smartphone running WM5 or WM6). For more information on the update: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949168

(If you’re unsure – MSI is the easier update option. Just have your phone connected to your laptop over ActiveSync before running it)

Thanks to my good friend and Technical Account Manager, Lyndon Higgins for this reminder.

R42

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:07:50 GMT

We'll we're in Brisbane, and as usual, the DPE team hit the ground running. This evening we went to Kabuki for a Teppanyaki dinner with the local Heroes Community Influencers.

It was a great evening catching up with everyone, and watching the skill of our Teppanyaki (a.k.a Samurai) chef as he performed amazing feats with deadly cutlery.

Unfortunately my initial catching skills were offset by the loud bang of a cleaver against a hotplate, and yes, I got egg over my waistcoat.

Looking forward to tomorrow's event. I love Brisbane, have fond memories of the Convention Centre (TechEd circa '02 & '03) and hey; already have egg on my face.

R42

Technorati Tags: Heroes Community Launch,Teppanyaki,Brisbane

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:35:44 GMT

Didn't get to blog about our weight-loss challenge last week, mainly because few made it to the weigh-in on Monday. But pretty much everyone was there this morning, and I'm still losing. That's despite a hectic travel schedule, ruining any chance of getting to my regular fitness training sessions, and the Easter week-end.

So last week I lost 1.3 kgs and this week 0.8. All up, I'm down 6.3kgs from my start at 108.6 to a current 102.3. Still not as fast as I'd like, but a nice downward trend. Expect to see that curve steepen (probably not quickly enough to win the comp) after the Canberra Heroes Launch event.

As a group we've lost a total of 46.6kgs, almost a whole person. Viewing that as tubs of butter is a visceral reminder of why we're doing this :)

Also, with most people's plateau over the Easter week-end, I've moved from 5th, last week 4th, to 3rd position. I'm just 4.7kgs behind the leader. Which, although difficult for sure, is not unattainable. I'm only 3.1kgs away from the money....

Still anyone's game. Need to work on my final 3 wk strategy: Dysentry, amputation, any other ideas???

R42

Technorati Tags: Biggest Loser,Weightloss,Teamwork

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:36:40 GMT

For the last number of years, I've had a couple of points of input into TechEd in Australia. Primarily in the Mobility Track, and in the Microsoft Technology Showcase.

2 years ago, inspired by a similar session at our internal training conference, "TechReady" I worked with Rick Anderson to introduce our first (global) external Windows Mobile Smackdown event. My good friend Johann Kruse, of UC fame, has blogged about this years version as well:

Johann's Unified Communications : Windows Mobility Smackdown at TechReady 6

You can check out the Channel 8 video of this session at TechReady here: http://channel8.msdn.com/Posts/3768/

We held our first Smackdown at the Technology Showcase in the Exhibitors Hall in '06, and were blown away by the passion, the excitement, and success of the session.

So much so, that much like our internal TechReady conference, at TechEd07 at the Gold Coast, we integrated our Smackdown as a Track Session. We themed it as Pirates (Curse of the Blakberry Pearl), filled the room, and delivered what became the most highly rated event at the conference.

Again, huge energy, lots of swag, but most of all, dynamic demonstrations (PowerPoint strictly disavowed) of real Mobile technologies of today and the near future.

So as we begin this year's TechEd planning, we're looking to grow this popular session. I won't mention how we're theming it just yet, but we have some great ideas about increasing the energy, the scope, the passion, and hopefully, the value of the demonstrations of our Mobile technology. It will definitely be the session to attend, whether you're a developer, a consultant, an architect, a systems engineer, a designer, an IT manager, or just a consumer of mobile communications (like all of us).

After all, considering the recent Mix08, Nokia, and Apple announcements; not to mention the new devices from SonyEricsson & HTC; there's lots of scope.

I can promise that we won't have hard Frisbees this year. I've been made to promise I won't eat any competitor hardware...

"I Love it when a plan comes together!"

R42

Technorati Tags: TechEd2008ANZ,mobility,smackdown

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:58:46 GMT

Once all the demos were delivered, we were treated to an evening out on the Swan River.

As you can see, we were treated like kings, cruising downstream with the magnetic views of Perth in the background.

We reached the apex of the cruise at about sunset. Watching a host of Kite surfers do their stuff.

This was a spectacular way to spend my first evening in Perth!

R42

Technorati Tags: Swan River,Evening Cruise,Heroes Happen 2008,Perth

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:53:01 GMT

I got into Perth this afternoon, and after a bite to eat, headed straight to the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. What a great location.

Of course, the sound, vision, technical, and events crews were still in the process of "bumping in" and I wondered over to the Auditorium, where the Keynote, and my 3 demos will be delivered to our customers.

The stage is huuuuuuuge, and from behind the "demo surround", can look a little on the daunting side:

Of course, there isn't an insignificant amount of technology to manage and present either. This is my view of all of the computers we need for the demonstrations:

On the table are four of the five computers I need, and in the background (above) are plasma screens which show what's on screen behind us. This is pretty important in helping, very quickly to identify whether we've switched to the correct computer or presentation.

Also we have a visual fold-back monitor showing "Time to go." It's currently switched off in this photo, and sits between the left and middle plasma screens.

Note: That screen itself adds to the pressure...

Behind the speakers is the main presentation screen, as well as dynamic side creative projections.

By the way, that's David Bryan, an old Consulting Manager colleague from my HP days. We managed the Microsoft and Networking Consulting Teams together back in '04. David now works for the National Australia Bank, and is seen here commenting on their adoption of our new technologies.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, it is easy to look at the sheer scale and size of the event, and be daunted. But that would be to forget Presentation Rule #1 (Thanks Craig Bailey for your recent post on this): The demonstration isn't about how I feel! It's about the value of what I'm presenting, to the audience. The presentation is about the content, and the audience. Meeting their needs, helping them see value.

Once looked at through these lenses, everything falls back into perspective. All that technology, the size of the audience, all immaterial to whether I can demonstrate clearly enough for he Audience to see value.

R42

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:48:43 GMT

As a long time consultant and architect, I've often been in discussion which went along the line of:

"Let's give the scoping (read: envisioning, designing, planning & I know these are all different artefacts) to our prospective client for free."

My usual response is that giving away something that has real value sets a dangerous precedent at best: From now on the client will expect this behaviour; and, is counter-productive at worst. Certainly when architecting a complex information system, senior decision makers need to be part of the process to arbitrate conflict, and own consensus. If this value adding activity is not charged for, chances are the very people you need in the workshop won't see the value in it.

I found a very simple, but great example of this principle. At work we're giving away apples for free for an internal survey. We all know that apples, besides tasty and juicy, are good for you.

Note the bottom left of the picture. Not one, but two boxes of "Chocolate for Charity" totally empty. Yes, you could argue that chocolate tastes nicer (most probably would). Also this was for Charity (The old, "I'll take a hit for the team" motive).

But my point remains. People still paid $2 for each piece of chocolate, despite there being wonderful, juicy, sweet, healthy apples, for free!

If what you have for your clients adds value to them, and you need their buy-in, charge them for your service. By all means look at your funding model, discount if you must, but charge for your value.

Clients won't value your work without it.

R42

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:34:09 GMT

They've initiated laughter, conversation, and not a few questions. They're not a new trend (some would argue not a trend at all), on the contrary most of them are a good decade old. They're colourful, silly, and epitomise my philosophy to life:

"Life is too long to be monochrome!"
Roger Lawrence, 1994

They are of course, the Waistcoats of Rog42.

Of course they highlight instantly how observant people are. There are 10, not 1; and chosen with great care.

So here is the current line-up:


Celebration	Welcome to the Jungle!

Skydrive	Maritime

Classically Muted	Sports Animal

The Face of IT	Fish Life

Happy Frogs	Jolly Roger, mahn...

So there they are. Now which one to wear for the Perth Heroes Launch? Suggestions to me on Twitter or in Comments.

R42

Technorati Tags: Colour,Waistcoats,Fashion,Heroes Happen 2008

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:21:50 GMT

We're in Adelaide, and it's HOT, HOT, HOT!!! Not only with the launch, but also the weather. 11th consecutive day of +35 deg C temperatures. Walking outside is like peering into a furnace. The summer that Sydney missed.

Those of you following our exploits will know that I was down to deliver the Keynote Demo this morning. This is my first time, Sydney and Melbourne, being handled by Michael Leworthy.

So how did it go?

Well, I discovered just how much there was to get into the demos, in an amazingly short time. The time pressure is intense. All the whole, not only do you have to navigate through multiple technologies, but describe the features and benefits all the while. I'd not anticipated quite how hard it is to pronounce 2008 repetitively (Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008, SQL Server 2008).

I took over from Martin Gregory, our Director for Server and tools, and took the audience through 3 separate demos.

Spectacularly, my Silverlight demo failed and drew a laugh from the crowd. It turned out later that I just needed to open a new window and refresh the page. Ho hum.

Overall, I had a ball, and am really looking forward to our Perth launch next week.

Some photos (before others put their derogatory captions on them)

By the way, to answer my challenge on Twitter, this is the first waistcoat in my collection. The one made for my wedding.

What about Perth?

R42

Technorati Tags: Heroes Happen 2008,Wave Launch 2008,Adelaide,Keynote Demo,Windows Server 2008,Visual Studio 2008,SQL Server 2008

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:54:47 GMT

I caught this blog as commented on Guy Kawasaki's Truemors Site. Not only do I empathise, I too have been a participant in the current US "war against terror" as conducted through Airport Security (check out this blog), but I had to laugh.

Wide Awake Developers: Steve Jobs Made Me Miss My Flight

If Michael had only bought himself the lighter, more functional, Toshiba R500, he would've caught his flight.

R42

Technorati Tags: MacBook Air,Airport Security,Toshiba R500

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:50:16 GMT

Mobile photos

More Photos...

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:46:32 GMT

Amanzi 12th Birthday

IMG_7297

IMG_7298

IMG_7299

IMG_7300

IMG_7301

IMG_7302

IMG_7303

IMG_7304

IMG_7306

IMG_7308

More Photos...

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 10:35:12 GMT

Digital Natives
Tips for Parents (Digital Immigrants) of their Gen-C Kids (Digital Natives)
MrAndyPuppy
Andy's Rants
Coatsy's Blog
It's all about the Community

Shnaaaaa!!!

The Terrible Trio - 1st day of High School

Our Heroes Angels

McCoy (aka Bones)

So mature - Em at 18

Leaving home

160 Beers on Tap...

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:15:08 GMT

Richard Harris: Imperium
GREAT - probably not for everyone, and it got a bit slow in places. But this is a great book. Good for bringing to life those speeches of Cicero we did in Latin (that seemed so dead). I'm glad I read this book, based on arguably one of the greatest orator
Chip Conley: Peak
GREAT and TIMELY: Picked this up in the US when at TechReady6. Fantastic crystallisation of all I'm thinking about at the moment with WOW, Usergroups, empowerment, managing. Really recommend this read