Mega geek web browsing
July 26th, 2009
Very tempted to buy a Google Android development board, to realise one of my geek dreams:
“Creating my own mobile phone”
Pretty sure it would be illegal to use it in Australia though…
New Project
July 26th, 2009
So after years of looking for a place to use technology in development, I think I’ve found a very broad area to start looking. I am investigating possibilities around disability and the new generation controllers from video games to do weird and wonderful things. The idea being to make something that is innovative, useful, easy to use and cheap. Still no idea what it will do, but I think I’ll do some research on my India/Nepal trip in January.
The project is going to be a number of years before it is even in a real prototype, but that gives the technology I am using time to become cheap enough for use in development..
Hats on hold
July 26th, 2009
It’s now over a week since I’ve worn a hat I think. It’s funny when you do something like wear a hat almost every day for over a year, it becomes part of you. Interestingly though I am pretty sure it became part of a defence/mask I don’t really need. I think I’ll still wear one sometimes but I am happy for now without.
You will always have the poor with you..
July 16th, 2009
Tonight, in light of some big dollar decisions I am making at work I started reflecting back on who it is our work benefits outside of ourself and trying to work out if we should spend $$$ on systems. I was drawn, as I often am back to my times in India.
I looked back through the images rapid fire, and I was reminded of asking the same questions in India around computer systems in Nagaland, and in the other hospitals I worked at. Is money better spent on basic services, rather then IT?
I never came to any really good answer, except that IT enables those helping to do so more effectively.
Anyway it was in reflecting back, that I remembered the passage in the Bible where Jesus says, “You will always have the poor with you, but not always me.” I have always found that statement haunting, and today I found it more haunting. I realised that burnt into my retina are images I will never forget, and in my memory bank are memories I should never forget. No matter how far from extreme poverty I go, I will always have the poor with me for the memories of them are a part of me.
I guess though the second part is where I have made some internal justification to myself around lifestyle. I figure I won’t always have my friends, and the joys of Australia with me and so I often indulge on the idea that I am only here for a while, before I return to the field. I guess I need to work out sometime if I am still going back, and in what capacity. The job I have now kind of gets in the way of that side of work, and is too comfortable and easy to stay in long past when I should perhaps go.
But enough of that. I saw Harry Potter today, it had the most deliciously awkward and amusing romance, and also had a decent simplified plot from the book and was good fun..
Work
May 29th, 2009
I am not a good systems admin. (I’d only ever administrated a few servers)
I am not a knowledgeable desktop support person. (I’d barely done any support outside my family before I started)
I am not an expert in database administrator. (I barely knew SQL before I started)
I am not so many of the kinds of things one should be to work properly as one of two “IT guys” in a small to medium NGO.
What is interesting is that I am at least a competent computer systems engineer, programmer, and have some people skills. These are not the commonly looked for skills in a IT Manager for an NGO. In fact looking back at the job description, almost none of the requirements for the job were big strengths of mine.
It’s funny though, the time at which I came to my current employer has been pretty much perfect for my skills set. An organisation in need of complete review of how technology is used, and in need of lots of glue to be coded and some healing of “IT” and the rest of the organisation relationships.
I after more then a year am loving my job, and finding it challenging. Occasionally I crave bigger budgets, and more support but I also love the freedom of being a largely one person show. I am working hard on both professional development and my day job. I do occasionally pity my boss, as I am somewhat unmanageable because I largely do things my way, and sometimes exceed my um organisational position in various activities. (Hi Ash)
I really enjoy most of my work relationships. As in any place there are people whom I have some difficulty in relating too, but I have learnt to have love for them all. Sometimes due to being under resourced and a sometimes limited patience I do fail to provide the quality of support that people would like. I find it troubling when I do, particularly when it is someone who I have difficulties with.
This year work has become a little more social for me which has been really nice. I have made one close friendship at work, which is vastly approaching being one of my closest friendships. I even had dinner at her house a few weeks ago, which was really nice. I got to know her partner in a better context and I really like him too. Tonight a bunch of us went out to the movies, and it was good fun.
Anyway that’s almost enough of a work rant. Really just wanted to say, I am working lots but despite stress I am really enjoying it.
I will close though with a quote from my job application. It is so applicable to my organisation that I can’t resist quoting it.
The Chai break is a critical time for networking, getting to know people, and finding underlying IT problems.
Life goes better with Jazz
May 15th, 2009
I have rediscovered Jazz lately. It all started with a basement independent record store in the city and a Bill Frisell CD. Now I have another few albums, including a John Coltrane which I am listening too right now, and is making the world a less stressful place…I also went to a gig this week, which was very good. I need to see more music.
Wine and Word Melbourne Edition
April 30th, 2009
After over a year in Melbourne, I finally got around to organising a Wine and Word in Melbourne. Wine and Word is all about just sharing bits of the Bible we like, and sharing some food and wine. I developed it whilst living in Sydney and it worked really well in my Hornsby community.
Fewer people came tonight then I was expecting, but due to the extra casual mode of invitation it was to be expected. I had to wait 40 minutes before anyone arrived, and that was a bit unfun. Thankfully though I knew five people were coming, and those five did end up coming. Anyway once they arrived everything worked. It was so nice, around my gas heater in my living room.
Interesting the six of us all admitted to barely reading the Bible but still all found bits we liked, and shared stories around them. It is quite funny how good the Bible actually is. Six random (or close to) passages were chosen by different people, and there were linkages through them all. I really loved remembering why the Bible is my sacred text, and what that means. It is so beautiful, better then Harry Potter, or even Lord of the Rings.
I love rediscovering things that are old, and really enjoying them.
Responsibility
April 21st, 2009
Sometimes I really feel the burden of responsibility. I take the lead on projects which change how 40 people work and how tens of thousands of people relate with my organisation. When I make sub-optimal decisions and mistakes people end up having to deal with frustration and extra work. However when I do things right little things work a little better.
My stress levels are rather high at the moment, as I am working on some big decisions. I am pretty sure which option is right, but I’ve realised the need to have the process right. This is harder when you have an option you are pretty sure is right.
This brings up the issue of consultation. I am turning into a fairly good sales person, but I don’t know if I am always selling the right thing.
I wish I had some staff so I had time to do things better….
Stupid GFC!
Post Church Part II
April 19th, 2009
So I went to church today, and even went to the pre-church on what is church looking for in a new minister.
I think I’ve been reminded of something I knew. God works in spite of church structures.
Most of the things that I love about church happen in the in-between spaces. The service doesn’t really matter that much, it is that “people of God” manage to come together despite all the issues in doing so. It is the support we can give each other, and the welcome we can give to the stranger. It is so many things, due to the different gifts of so many other people who go.
I love the people, and feel that God is there somewhere in the midst of it all. So it is that I will continue to go to my church and consider membership.