At least, today I was able to find a real interest in LinkedIn.
A fellow committer is working for a french company who submitted a proposal to a big state-owned french company (one of those gigantic mammoth which is supposed to spend our taxes wisely. Hmmm. _Supposed_ ...)
They lost the deal, as it was attributed to another company. Were they more expensive, or with less technical merit ? Not at all. Another company got the deal, because the guy who selected them was previously working for this company before being hired by the State owned company. How strange ...
How did they discovered this fact ? The poor guy had is CV on LinkedIn !
mercredi, mars 11, 2009
lundi, mars 09, 2009
Spam surge...
I have no idea why suddenly the number of spams I receive has increased so drastically those last months ...
Back in december, I received around 3000 spams a month (a good ratio of 100 spam a day). It has almost doubled since then !
Don't worry, I'm not annoyed a single minute, as all the spams are quietly stored and destroyed every 30 days by Google. I decided to adopt this strategy 2 years ago, as I realized that running my own spam killer on my various computers was a lost of time : all my mails are now redirected to Gmail, and back into Thunderbird on my current computer. It has two advantages : I barely receive 2 spams a day, and I can still get my mails when I'm not in front of my computer. Not to mention the nice addition Google did last mont with Gmail Offline mode. I'm just a little bit concern about my privacy, but anyway, if it's confidential, I use snail...
From time to time, I check the number of spams I have in my spam box, and this is where I took those numbers from. I don't even check for false negative, I simply don't have time for that.
So either this crisis didn't hit the spammers, or they are so desesperate they have doubled the number of spams they sent. Otherwise, it's still about pills, loan, lottery, and of course nigerian scam... Nothing new under the sun !
Back in december, I received around 3000 spams a month (a good ratio of 100 spam a day). It has almost doubled since then !
Don't worry, I'm not annoyed a single minute, as all the spams are quietly stored and destroyed every 30 days by Google. I decided to adopt this strategy 2 years ago, as I realized that running my own spam killer on my various computers was a lost of time : all my mails are now redirected to Gmail, and back into Thunderbird on my current computer. It has two advantages : I barely receive 2 spams a day, and I can still get my mails when I'm not in front of my computer. Not to mention the nice addition Google did last mont with Gmail Offline mode. I'm just a little bit concern about my privacy, but anyway, if it's confidential, I use snail...
From time to time, I check the number of spams I have in my spam box, and this is where I took those numbers from. I don't even check for false negative, I simply don't have time for that.
So either this crisis didn't hit the spammers, or they are so desesperate they have doubled the number of spams they sent. Otherwise, it's still about pills, loan, lottery, and of course nigerian scam... Nothing new under the sun !
mardi, février 24, 2009
Wasted 40 € today...
I went to see a "doctor" this afternoon. In France, you have to spend many years in university in order to become a doctor. Fine.
So my throat hurts, since last week. I thought it was time to stop aspirin and check if I needed some more powerfull medecine (basically, check it was viral or bacterian). So I picked a doctor close to my current client. Bad move...
I should have quit his office as soon as I discovered he was an adept of those sugar pills: an homeopath ! What a joke... When introduced into his office, he first asked me if there was nothing wrong with him using a pendulum. What the hell ??? Then came the investigation (around 2 minutes) : "this is viral" (how the fuck does he know ? ).
And now, the best part : he picked a random number of 'medecines' on his board, and used his pendulum to select the ones I have to take.
40 €. No kidding. Back to ancient age, hands over your body, fuming parfumes, split on your right, and you are cured, and he is a bit richer.
And we PAY for such a piece of doctor ???
"It's a flue. Take your medicine, you'll be cured in one week. Do nothing, it will last 7 days".
So my throat hurts, since last week. I thought it was time to stop aspirin and check if I needed some more powerfull medecine (basically, check it was viral or bacterian). So I picked a doctor close to my current client. Bad move...
I should have quit his office as soon as I discovered he was an adept of those sugar pills: an homeopath ! What a joke... When introduced into his office, he first asked me if there was nothing wrong with him using a pendulum. What the hell ??? Then came the investigation (around 2 minutes) : "this is viral" (how the fuck does he know ? ).
And now, the best part : he picked a random number of 'medecines' on his board, and used his pendulum to select the ones I have to take.
40 €. No kidding. Back to ancient age, hands over your body, fuming parfumes, split on your right, and you are cured, and he is a bit richer.
And we PAY for such a piece of doctor ???
"It's a flue. Take your medicine, you'll be cured in one week. Do nothing, it will last 7 days".
samedi, février 07, 2009
How to waste 2 hours...
One of the biggest problem when you are using the Apache project you have participated to is that you have hard time trusting yourself.
Last thursday, I spent 2 hours debugging Apache Directory Server just because the program I'm working on (which is based on ADS) was failing. Obviously, it was an ADS bug ! What a damn idiot I was... Instead of blindly trust ADS, I should have focused on my current code ! (thanksfully, it only took me 2 hours to realize that).
What kind of lessons did I learnt from this bad experience ?
- first, just realize you are a client of your Apache project. How many times you replied to a user on the mailing list : "hey, you'd better have a real reason to think that there is a bug in the project instead of a bug in _your_ code...". Generally speaking, you are more likely to FU in your new code than in the project's code !
- second, resist to the idea to go knees deep into the project code just because you have a deep knowledge of the code base. Step back, ask your co-workers, and try to check the code you have just wrote.
- last, not least, improve the Apache project's error messages ! Really, it helps :)
Otherwise, it's a really good thing to use teh Apache project you are working on for some client : you have a better perception of what is good, what is bad and what is ugly. And you can improve the project in the process :)
Last thursday, I spent 2 hours debugging Apache Directory Server just because the program I'm working on (which is based on ADS) was failing. Obviously, it was an ADS bug ! What a damn idiot I was... Instead of blindly trust ADS, I should have focused on my current code ! (thanksfully, it only took me 2 hours to realize that).
What kind of lessons did I learnt from this bad experience ?
- first, just realize you are a client of your Apache project. How many times you replied to a user on the mailing list : "hey, you'd better have a real reason to think that there is a bug in the project instead of a bug in _your_ code...". Generally speaking, you are more likely to FU in your new code than in the project's code !
- second, resist to the idea to go knees deep into the project code just because you have a deep knowledge of the code base. Step back, ask your co-workers, and try to check the code you have just wrote.
- last, not least, improve the Apache project's error messages ! Really, it helps :)
Otherwise, it's a really good thing to use teh Apache project you are working on for some client : you have a better perception of what is good, what is bad and what is ugly. And you can improve the project in the process :)
samedi, janvier 31, 2009
Over-protection...
Today, Google is trying to protect me against malevolent sites when I do a search. All of them. Including my favorite sites :
- Apache
- playB^H^H^H^H^HNational Geographic,
...
In fact, any search on google gives me a warning (sorry, it's in french) :
Suggestions :
Pour plus d'informations sur la façon de vous protéger contre les logiciels nuisibles lorsque vous surfez, consultez le site StopBadware.org.
Si vous êtes le propriétaire de ce site, vous pouvez en demander l'examen à l'aide des Outils pour les webmasters. Pour plus d'informations sur le processus de révision, consultez le Centre d'aide des webmasters de Google.
It seems that Google is having some kind of issue. I'm not alone having this problem, as many of other peeps are having the same problem...
Goggle, wake up, I know it's 7 am at Montain View, but it's a mess out there ...
- Apache
- playB^H^H^H^H^HNational Geographic,
...
In fact, any search on google gives me a warning (sorry, it's in french) :
Avertissement- Attention, l'accès à ce site risque d'endommager votre ordinateur.
- Accédez à la page précédente et sélectionnez un autre résultat.
- Modifiez votre recherche pour trouver ce que vous cherchez.
Pour plus d'informations sur la façon de vous protéger contre les logiciels nuisibles lorsque vous surfez, consultez le site StopBadware.org.
Si vous êtes le propriétaire de ce site, vous pouvez en demander l'examen à l'aide des Outils pour les webmasters. Pour plus d'informations sur le processus de révision, consultez le Centre d'aide des webmasters de Google.
| Avertissement fourni par |  |
It seems that Google is having some kind of issue. I'm not alone having this problem, as many of other peeps are having the same problem...
Goggle, wake up, I know it's 7 am at Montain View, but it's a mess out there ...
vendredi, décembre 19, 2008
Continuum experiment
As I'm injecting all the Directory projects into Continuum, I try to get used with the GUI. There are many areas of improvement, to make the user's life easier.
Otherwise, it's pretty slick, and most important, IT DOES THE JOB !
Update :
Another big issue : if you create a project twice (sharing the same pom), you can't associate a specific configuration for each of those projects. For instance, if you set a project to use Java 5, and the other to use Java 6, then the last configuration will be applied to both projects. Damn bug !
JIRA, be ready :)
- The fact that you have to login to be able to configure your project is obvious. But the place the 'login' link has been put (ie, on the left part of the orange bar under the logo) plus the police size selected, makes it a bit un-user friendly. I would have preferred either a centered form, or at least, having it on the right part of the screen, bold and wide, as many of the similar applications.
- I don't see any reason why we should inject a scm tag in the pom.xml, as we _already_ set the pom's URL in continuum.
- When you add a new project into a group, you can't change the project's name, as it's extracted from the pom. You have to edit the project after it has been created. Time consuming...
- The very same for the configuration : you don't have any choice until the project has been created.
- You can't delete the mail notifications sent to notifications@XXXX. Too bad if you don't have such a mailing list !
- When you inject a project with modules, the default should be to _not_ add every module as a separate project (for X sake, this is why we use modules !)
- The left menu is a bit too heavy. I don't care to have the legends, it makes me think I can click on the icons...
- It would be very cool to be able to copy/paste a project : as I'm using it using different configurations (JDK versions, etc), it's a bit time consuming to repeat the project creation more than once...
- Adding a new mail notification is done by clicking on a 'submit' button... I was expecting an 'add' button instead :/
Otherwise, it's pretty slick, and most important, IT DOES THE JOB !
Update :
Another big issue : if you create a project twice (sharing the same pom), you can't associate a specific configuration for each of those projects. For instance, if you set a project to use Java 5, and the other to use Java 6, then the last configuration will be applied to both projects. Damn bug !
JIRA, be ready :)
samedi, décembre 13, 2008
Hilarious ...
Excerpt from this site :
"Our sophisticated proprietary automation and unparalleled client service delivers an enhanced execution that is virtually unmatched in our industry"
"One of the critical ingredients in creating the added value..."
"The firm uses a variety of futures, options, and other instruments to hedge its positions and limit its risks"
"...these highly prudent risk management policies protect the interests of clients as well."
"...the firm can customize client reports and deliver them electronically in whatever format best meets the needs of clients"
"...has one of the most sophisticated disaster recovery facilities found anywhere in the securities industry"
"...maintains a fully equipped and staffed facility located near LaGuardia Airport" (With a plane ready to fly away ?)
And, best of the best :
"The owner's name is on the door"
"Bernard Madoff has a personal interest in maintaining the unblemished record of value, fair-dealing, and high ethical standards that has always been the firm's hallmark".
"Our sophisticated proprietary automation and unparalleled client service delivers an enhanced execution that is virtually unmatched in our industry"
"One of the critical ingredients in creating the added value..."
"The firm uses a variety of futures, options, and other instruments to hedge its positions and limit its risks"
"...these highly prudent risk management policies protect the interests of clients as well."
"...the firm can customize client reports and deliver them electronically in whatever format best meets the needs of clients"
"...has one of the most sophisticated disaster recovery facilities found anywhere in the securities industry"
"...maintains a fully equipped and staffed facility located near LaGuardia Airport" (With a plane ready to fly away ?)
And, best of the best :
"The owner's name is on the door"
"Bernard Madoff has a personal interest in maintaining the unblemished record of value, fair-dealing, and high ethical standards that has always been the firm's hallmark".
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