I have just been seeing some of the unkind comments made regarding the young lady who showed herself to be so clever and knowledgeable on the TV quiz show "University Challenge".
Why are people so afraid of learning, that they have to attack those who have made efforts to do so? I would much rather meet, or read about, those who have put knowledge to use for the benefit of society - the scientists and engineers whose efforts have shaped much of the world around us. Not for me, speaking personally, the pop stars and media 'celebrities' who seem to seek only fame and fortune.
But then, I would say that, as I have been a teacher of science and continue to take an interest in promoting science.
"Regard Man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasure, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom." Baha'i Writings
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Work and personal development
OK, it was not censorship that stopped me letting a posted comment get added to the blog. It was sleep! I added a comment of my own to the site, but forgot to click the 'publish' button on the comment that was waiting.
I seem to be involved with so many things at the moment, that access to the computer for my own personal activities is left to late at night, and the occasional weekend. I do use a computer at work, but I would never put it to my own personal use. I am being paid to work, and taking time during work for my own activities is just like stealing.
My employer does allow time for personal development, and even allocates time for the staff to undertake charity activities, but that does not include time to use personal email or social networking sites.
At the moment, at work, I am developing a training program for staff involved in automated testing> At home I am spending time setting up a family archive, going through family history - not just records of births and marriages, but also old photographs, and even trying to convert/rescue some old audio recordings made on a reel-to-reel tape recorder. Wonder what digital recording format to use? No question with the written material of course - the paper records and old photos have survived intact for over 100 years.
I seem to be involved with so many things at the moment, that access to the computer for my own personal activities is left to late at night, and the occasional weekend. I do use a computer at work, but I would never put it to my own personal use. I am being paid to work, and taking time during work for my own activities is just like stealing.
My employer does allow time for personal development, and even allocates time for the staff to undertake charity activities, but that does not include time to use personal email or social networking sites.
At the moment, at work, I am developing a training program for staff involved in automated testing> At home I am spending time setting up a family archive, going through family history - not just records of births and marriages, but also old photographs, and even trying to convert/rescue some old audio recordings made on a reel-to-reel tape recorder. Wonder what digital recording format to use? No question with the written material of course - the paper records and old photos have survived intact for over 100 years.
Friday, 6 February 2009
Freedom of speech or moderation
A comment added to my previous post wondered why my blog is moderated, and if my "cult" requires it?
It is so sad when you meet someone without the courage to give their own name, and who seems unable to operate the 'cut and paste' as they could not spell the name Baha'i correctly. There is a world of difference between cults, and those great world-shaping, revealed religions. I hope sometime that 'anonymous' discovers the truth.
As for freedom of speech and moderation, well the Baha'i Faith teaches us "moderation in all things" but that is not the real reason for moderating posts to this blog. I have sadly been inundated with spam advertising, some indecent and I therefore took the decision, reluctantly to moderate the posts. You are all quite welcome to post comments - and I promise to read all of them. But can I make a plea that you add your name?
I realise that even being able to post my thoughts about, and quotations from, the Baha'i Faith is much more than my fellow believers in other countries can do, and that handling spam is a minor irritation compared to the imprisonment and torture being suffered by Baha'is elsewhere.
It is so sad when you meet someone without the courage to give their own name, and who seems unable to operate the 'cut and paste' as they could not spell the name Baha'i correctly. There is a world of difference between cults, and those great world-shaping, revealed religions. I hope sometime that 'anonymous' discovers the truth.
As for freedom of speech and moderation, well the Baha'i Faith teaches us "moderation in all things" but that is not the real reason for moderating posts to this blog. I have sadly been inundated with spam advertising, some indecent and I therefore took the decision, reluctantly to moderate the posts. You are all quite welcome to post comments - and I promise to read all of them. But can I make a plea that you add your name?
I realise that even being able to post my thoughts about, and quotations from, the Baha'i Faith is much more than my fellow believers in other countries can do, and that handling spam is a minor irritation compared to the imprisonment and torture being suffered by Baha'is elsewhere.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Economics of greed?
Well we have seen the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, where the leaders of nations and businesses met to look at the shape of the economic climate, and a lack of agreement as to exactly what to do to solve the problems.
This week has seen a report about the way we as a nation bring up our children in Britain, and it too paints a gloomy picture - but it also suggests some actions we can take.
It is not surprising to me, as I have long believed that we have collectively abandoned a moral and ethical basis for much of our national life. Politicians and business leaders have over the years put much emphasis on 'ownership', what we possess being seen as an indication of our status. This has led to the massive levels of debt being taken on by many people, who now that times are getting hard are unable to pay back - with such damaging consequences for all concerned.
It seems self-evident to me, that we should first live to a moral code, and teach it to our children. As long as we deny this, we shall never get out of the mess we are in.
"Be generous in prosperity and thankful in adversity" - Baha'i Writings
This week has seen a report about the way we as a nation bring up our children in Britain, and it too paints a gloomy picture - but it also suggests some actions we can take.
It is not surprising to me, as I have long believed that we have collectively abandoned a moral and ethical basis for much of our national life. Politicians and business leaders have over the years put much emphasis on 'ownership', what we possess being seen as an indication of our status. This has led to the massive levels of debt being taken on by many people, who now that times are getting hard are unable to pay back - with such damaging consequences for all concerned.
It seems self-evident to me, that we should first live to a moral code, and teach it to our children. As long as we deny this, we shall never get out of the mess we are in.
"Be generous in prosperity and thankful in adversity" - Baha'i Writings
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
program development and documentation
Had an interesting discussion with one of my colleagues the other day. He said that the team he is working in has adopted a 'sprint' approach. I thought that was good, until he went on to say that he had no time to document the work that was being done. That is not at all good, and goes against one of the main principles - "Done means done". In my view, if work is not documented, then it is not completed. It becomes impossible to maintain, and hard for someone else to deal with when the originator goes on holiday (or is ill).
It is something I will bring up at the monthly staff discussion group next week.
It is something I will bring up at the monthly staff discussion group next week.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
testing and Agile
One of the problems regarding how to test in an agile development team is the area of system integration and I include performance testing as well. It is all well and good getting the designers to write tests for their pieces of work, but who can write the tests that cover those units being integrated into a working whole?
The plan we have come up with, and one that seems to work reasonably well is to have the integration testing done "one sprint behind" the development work. Of course, it is mostly automated scripts so that regression testing can be performed easily.
The difficulty of writing tests whilst the code is being developed can best be seen when trying to test user interfaces. It is quite possible that the position of buttons, selection lists and text areas changes whilst the program is being worked on, so writing tests that check for the operation of those items is best left until the work is done.
The plan we have come up with, and one that seems to work reasonably well is to have the integration testing done "one sprint behind" the development work. Of course, it is mostly automated scripts so that regression testing can be performed easily.
The difficulty of writing tests whilst the code is being developed can best be seen when trying to test user interfaces. It is quite possible that the position of buttons, selection lists and text areas changes whilst the program is being worked on, so writing tests that check for the operation of those items is best left until the work is done.
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
review of the year
Every TV and radio program at the moment, as well as each of the newspapers, is doing a review of the year, so naturally I have been thinking of the year just ending, and what I might expect in 2009.
It has been an eventful year and the media have made new celebrities (Olympic sportsmen), and villains (Bankers, mostly). I do not subscribe to this cult of the celebrity stuff myself. If there is any role model that I follow it is teachings of those whom I consider truly great - the Founders of the religions. I try to live simply, without being a show-off. I try to be kind and helpful to those around me, and take responsibility for my actions.
For me, I have noticed an increase in receptiveness to the message of the Baha'i Faith in all the people that I have met. Poor health has at times limited what I am able to do and I need to take more care over my diet and get more exercise.
"Bring thyself to account each day, lest death, unheralded shall come upon thee." Baha'i Writings
It has been an eventful year and the media have made new celebrities (Olympic sportsmen), and villains (Bankers, mostly). I do not subscribe to this cult of the celebrity stuff myself. If there is any role model that I follow it is teachings of those whom I consider truly great - the Founders of the religions. I try to live simply, without being a show-off. I try to be kind and helpful to those around me, and take responsibility for my actions.
For me, I have noticed an increase in receptiveness to the message of the Baha'i Faith in all the people that I have met. Poor health has at times limited what I am able to do and I need to take more care over my diet and get more exercise.
"Bring thyself to account each day, lest death, unheralded shall come upon thee." Baha'i Writings
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