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Articles by Bob Thomson
Record turnout for tournament
The opening Rye LTC grass court tournament took place on Sunday, May 25 in brilliant sunshine. The courts were in immaculate condition and thanks go to the club’s groundsman, Adam Stunt, for preparing them to such a high standard. It was good to see so many members at the event. There was a record turnout of 46 players, both members and guests, who were organised into four groups.
30 Years of IT - Lessons Learned - 1, 2001: A Luxembourg Odyssey
Downturn the first and a contracting near death experience Disclaimer: Of course, this is my experience, and my lesson based on it, it won't be for everyone. Read, digest, discuss, have a think, and go your own way, which is of course, the only way for you. 2001 was not a good year for obvious reasons we all know, it was also not a good year for getting work for me. I finished a contract at the end of April, and did not start another one until the end of August, 4 months later.
Reform and Job Specs
I think the Reform party in the UK have hired the same person who writes #devops job adverts to write their manifesto, cough, sorry, 'contract' 🙄 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv22qdq7znno I mean, think about it and the average giant list of skills so many IT job ads ask for in their unicorn hunting expeditions: ✅ Hopeless wish list of things that they'll never get. 🦄 ✅ Indicative of an organisation that doesn't really know what they want, so just throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks.
30 Years of IT - Lessons Learned - 3, 1998-2000
Disclaimer: Of course, this is my experience, and my lesson based on it, it won't be for everyone. Read, digest, discuss, have a think, and go your own way, which is of course, the only way for you. A big transnational period for me this, not just in work, but in my starting on a relationship which has lasted to this day, and I became a step-dad in the process too.
Me, Well Read? Not Really...
Do you think reading these posts that I am a well read person? They say writers should read a lot and it sounds like good advice. Though it's always interesting to me how many musicians say they don't listen to many other folks' music when they are writing, so that they are fresh in their own creativity and not unduly influenced by others'.
Why Are You Churning Out All This Writing Now???
I always enjoyed writing at school and English was one of my best subjects, yet I went into STEM, originally studying for BSc Chemistry, because I liked science and found that easier than Physics (Maths a bugbear, as it is for many, turned out that was a factor in my not going down the Chemistry route also, instead I accumulated enough Credits for a BSc General Science, sort of portfolio degree).
Halt and Catch Fire
Mad Men, but about the early 80s PC to early 90s web era. That's the elevator pitch. Mad Men, like the even more lauded Sopranos, I only ever saw a few episodes of the first series of. I don't know why, but like so many novels I've started and put down, they just never grabbed, nor kept hold of my interest. Like many other novels though, HCF did.
30 Years of IT - Lessons Learned: 1, 1994
My first IT job was as an 'Analyst Programmer', as developers were called then. No web apps. All CLI and CURSES terminal apps. An Ingres Application by Forms (ABF) Form in a Terminal Emulator At that time there wasn't the specialisation and siloed roles there are now.
Paul deRance,
My late da', almost always had two jobs: Pro musician, and retail. His father had an interesting life, which I will save for another time, but suffice as to say my father inherited his family drapers shop on Maryhill Road, Glasgow that was 'ROBERT THOMSON & SON' and then, of course, just 'ROBERT THOMSON'. It never got to be, '& SON' with me, because, although he at one point opened a second, smaller shop in Yoker, that one got broken into so many times it was a lost cause, and the Maryhill one?
The Real Skills Shortage in IT
So how does this focus on the hard skills of technical aspects over soft skills, and a lack of pragmatism contribute to poor results for workers, management and orgs?
Driven to Distraction by Distractions
Comedy is a funny thing eh? People say it's a way for us to question things and have fun, but to me, like a lot of things humans do, it's a distraction from the human condition and that. You know, all that big stuff we want to avoid thinking about. Like, are humans and animals alone in the universe? What are we meant to do with our lives? Why do people like to watch videos of other people reacting to watching videos? All that scary stuff. So we just love distractions eh?
Reader's View: There’s a long history of non-citizens voting
I am writing in response to the fair and succinct news story published in the Jan. 26 News Tribune, “ DFL expands precinct caucus participation to felons, people in US illegally .” The piece ended with a comment from Minnesota GOP Chairman David Hann, who, with Minnesota GOP Deputy Chair Donna Bergstrom of Duluth, condemned a decision by the Minnesota DFL to grant non-citizen Minnesota residents full party participation. Hann said: "Citizenship comes with certain rights and privileges.
Reader's View: Democrats thwarting free speech on COVID-19
Democrats use the word "misinformation" to dismiss contrary opinion as bogus while simultaneously attempting to elevate their own opinion as fact. I refer to a letter in this newspaper a few weeks back. I have never seen such hysteria over a less-than-300-word letter proofread by the newspaper’s editorial chief. It reminded me of an old phrase used by men in the U S.
Teaching About Invasive Species
Teaching About Invasive Species is designed as a tool kit. Whether working inside or outside schools, youth educators will find in Green Teacher’s new book the innovative perspectives, program ideas, games and activities that they need to engage young people from 6-19 years of age in this challenging topic. Invasive species, if unchecked, will continue to have significant negative impacts on our environment and on our economy. Fortunately, the spread of many invasives can be checked.
The Degrowth Paradigm
The degrowth movement is a relatively new contender in the economic and political debates that swirl around humanity's future. Degrowthers believe we need a more modest and sane alternative to the constant pressures of expansion that are destroying the ecological basis of our existence. Author and essayist Richard Swift explores the degrowth alternative, in theory and in practice. **This episode originally aired December 13, 2013. "Growth has become an element of faith.
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