Well, the new year has come. We celebrated with a party at the weekend - hall packed with people and not a drop of booze anywhere. Fruit, rice, vegetable stew, bread, juices, tea and coffee, and cakes. Then music performed live by some talented young people.
That was the New Year party for members of the Baha'i Faith and their friends in Nottingham. New Year's day itself (March 21 in the Gregorian calendar) was a day for visiting the sick and elderly, hospitality and making new friends.
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
When a support team can make things worse
I have just had a bad experience with a support team. My query has taken over a week to resolve, and even then it was I who found the answer. Each time I sent in a question, it was answered by a different person. None of them answered the question I had asked. Instead they said it was a programming question and I should learn programming, or that the answer was in the FAQ that they kindly attached to their reply. (Needless to say, I had already read the FAQ and found that it was factually incorrect). They 'helpfully' offered suggestions covering questions on a completely different topic, or simply said that their support did not cover my question.
If as a computer programmer with decades of experience in user support I struggle with their help desk (no I am not going to shame the company), then I shudder to think what less experienced users are feeling. Is it any wonder that companies suffer high rates of "churn" when they put inexperienced staff on the support centre.
Business managers will come to realise that they need to have technically competent staff.
I just hope it is a long time before I have to call them again, and the staff have had a modicum of training in that time.
If as a computer programmer with decades of experience in user support I struggle with their help desk (no I am not going to shame the company), then I shudder to think what less experienced users are feeling. Is it any wonder that companies suffer high rates of "churn" when they put inexperienced staff on the support centre.
Business managers will come to realise that they need to have technically competent staff.
I just hope it is a long time before I have to call them again, and the staff have had a modicum of training in that time.
Sunday, 8 March 2009
sharing the load
(or, not everyone can be expert at everything)
I began my career in computing by learning FOCAL, and then BASIC, FORTRAN and COBOL. Later on it was pascal and Delphi, then C and Perl. Now I am brushing up my skills in Java (first looked at about 7 years ago) and particularly threads. One of the comments in the book I am reading struck me, and got me thinking about 'sharing the load'. It is not just applicable to a multi-processor computer or a collection of computers. We people need, I think, to make use of this idea also.
No one can be an expert in everything, and no one person can cope with all the demands modern life puts on us. We have to learn to share. Call on our support network. (What do you mean, you don't have one?) In these days of world encircling communications, you may get help from someone thousands of miles away, even someone you have not met.
Social networking websites are great for keeping in touch with friends, and the open source model of software development means we can share work with others.
"God loves those who work together in groups" - Baha'i Faith
I began my career in computing by learning FOCAL, and then BASIC, FORTRAN and COBOL. Later on it was pascal and Delphi, then C and Perl. Now I am brushing up my skills in Java (first looked at about 7 years ago) and particularly threads. One of the comments in the book I am reading struck me, and got me thinking about 'sharing the load'. It is not just applicable to a multi-processor computer or a collection of computers. We people need, I think, to make use of this idea also.
No one can be an expert in everything, and no one person can cope with all the demands modern life puts on us. We have to learn to share. Call on our support network. (What do you mean, you don't have one?) In these days of world encircling communications, you may get help from someone thousands of miles away, even someone you have not met.
Social networking websites are great for keeping in touch with friends, and the open source model of software development means we can share work with others.
"God loves those who work together in groups" - Baha'i Faith
Thursday, 26 February 2009
In praise of knowledge
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
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
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
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