Duffbert's Random Musings

09/03/2010

Marie Scott and I now have a REAL BOOK! IBM Lotus Sametime 8 Essentials: A User's Guide is posted up on Packt Publishing's site!

Category Sametime IBM/Lotus
Well, it's been a long nine months (yeah, it feels like a baby!)... But Marie Scott and I today found that our book is now posted on Packt's site and is available for pre-order:

IBM Lotus Sametime 8 Essentials: A User's Guide

A picture named M2

I can't begin to say how thrilled Marie and I are to be so close to bringing this to completion. We're finishing up the tech edit reviews right now, and then Packt will be able to get it out there into print.

Thanks to EVERYONE in this community who has helped us along the way. It truly was a community effort. No, that does NOT mean we're sharing our advance/royalties with you... just our heartfelt appreciation. :)

Now, feel free to go out and place your order. :)

Posted by Thomas Admin Duff At 5:33 AM Location Portland, Oregon | Permalink | Comments (1) |

08/30/2010

Book Review - HTML5: Up and Running by Mark Pilgrim

Category Book Review Mark Pilgrim HTML5: Up and Running

As part of my education on HTML5, I ended up with a review copy of Mark Pilgrim's book HTML5: Up and Running. Like many O'Reilly books I own, this will be one of the books I end up going back to repeatedly while I get "up and running." Pilgrim includes a balanced blend of context and code, which means I learn not only *what* to do, but *why* I'm doing it and how it ended up that way.

Contents:
How Did We Get Here?; Detecting HTML5 Features; What Does It All Mean?; Let's Call It a Draw(ing Surface); Video on the Web; You Are Here (And So Is Everyone Else); The Past, Present, and Future of Local Storage for Web Applications; Let's Take This Offline; A Form of Madness; "Distributed", "Extensibility," and Other Fancy Words; Appendix - The All-in-One Almost-Alphabetical Guide to Detecting Everything; Index

As mentioned above, I appreciated the look behind the curtain when it came to finding out why certain standards and features had gotten there. The "How Did We Get Here?" chapter does an excellent job in dispelling any notions that HTML standards were methodically and rationally established and adhered to by all participants. Once you know that, it's easier to understand why some features appear to be compromises and/or might be supported better by one browser over another. As he goes through each main feature set, he provides plenty of code to show how it's used, as well as a handy chart that references each main browser and what version it started to support the feature (assuming it *is* supported). Based on that, it's pretty easy to figure out if the feature you want to use will be supported by your intended target audience(s). He also includes interesting sidebars under the catch phrase "Ask Professor Markup" that seem to pose the questions you'd ask if you had the author right there in front of you. Wrap all this up in a writing style that doesn't take himself too seriously, and you end up with an entertaining read that conveys a lot of information in a short 200 pages.

One really cool tool he points out is the Modernizr JavaScript library for detecting whether an HTML5 feature is supported in a user's browser. Rather than try and write your own detection functions, you can just call the appropriate routine and see if it returns true. So if you want to know if the browser supports the Canvas in HTML5, you can just say "if (Modernizr.canvas) " and that's it. Clean and to the point. Learning about that was almost worth the price of admission. :)

At some point I'll likely end up with some 400 page book that covers every little parameter of HTML5 in detail. Until then, HTML5: Up and Running is going to get dog-eared and post-it-noted while I get myself going. Great job, Mr. Pilgrim!

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Publisher
Payment: Free

Posted by Thomas Admin Duff At 5:52 PM Location Portland, Oregon | Permalink | Comments (2) |

08/29/2010

Book Review - Follow The Money by Ross Cavins

Category Book Review Ross Cavins Follow The Money

I had the pleasure of receiving a review copy of Follow The Money by Ross Cavins recently. This ended up being one of those gems that I'd never find on my own, but am very glad I ended up reading. Cavins has a great sense of plot and dialog, and he did something that I'm not used to seeing in a book. Rather than have a single novel or a collection of unrelated short stories, he compiled a collection of short stories that all tie together with a common thread... money. Specifically, three million dollars that ends up moving from character to character in various ways, none of which were normal or expected.

What prompted me to accept this offer was that he mentioned that it had influences of Carl Hiaasen in it. If you know my reading tastes, you'll understand that I'll wait in line for anything by Hiaasen, Tim Dorsey, or any other crazed South Florida writer. While Follow The Money doesn't take place in Florida (but it does have the southern redneck vibe going on), it has the same character craziness, the same type of cons, and the same type of unexpected plot twists that I'm used to seeing by those authors. And once I finished each story and saw the money change hands, I was ready to start the next one to see how and where the money was going next.

Follow The Money was a pleasure to read. I hope that Cavins doesn't make this his only foray into writing, as I'd enjoy seeing more from him. They'd definitely be up there on my "to read" list.

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Author
Payment: Free

Posted by Thomas Admin Duff At 8:36 AM Location Portland, Oregon | Permalink | Comments (0) |

08/28/2010

Book Review - Valley Forge: George Washington and the Crucible of Victory by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen

Category Book Review Valley Forge: George Washington and the Crucible of Victory Newt Gingrich William R. Forstchen

Courtesy of the publishers, I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of Valley Forge: George Washington and the Crucible of Victory by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen. This is the follow-on to their collaboration on their book To Try Men's Souls, and again Gingrich and Forstchen put flesh on the ordinarily dry depictions of what went on during the Revolutionary War after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The authors go beyond events and dive into the characters, emotions, and physical hardships that comprised the day-to-day existence of those fighting for their lives and the newly found freedom of America.

The novel (based on historical fact) starts out at the Battle of Paoli on September 10, 1777. The American troops were defeated by the British, but it went beyond that. Rather than just claim victory and take prisoners, the bloodlust of the British troops led to a massacre using rifles, pistols, and bayonets. For those who escaped and fled, humiliation and anger fed their desire to regroup and avenge that loss. But before that could happen, Washington's troops had to regroup and spend the winter at Valley Forge, waiting for the spring when battles could begin again in earnest.

The harsh conditions usually depicted at Valley Forge don't begin to cover the reality. They arrived to find no supplies, no material, and no support promised by Congress. Tens of thousands of troops, literally clinging to life, had to endure freezing temperatures with little shelter and virtually no food. Slowly, Washington was able to start getting food from scavenging runs, as well as supplies to build cabins, but not before thousands either deserted or died of various diseases. And even if they survived the winter, there was no guarantee that they'd have the skills to battle and defeat the British in their depleted state. Washington gambled on the skills of Baron von Steuben to turn the ragtag band of soldiers into a disciplined fighting force capable of standing up to the Lobsterbacks regardless of the type of battle.

von Steuben had three months to accomplish what takes Prussian soldiers three years to achieve, and it all came down to the Battle of Monmouth on July 28, 1778. It was there that the Revolutionary and British forces met on an open field, with temperatures reaching over 100 degrees. For the first time, the American forces were able to face and defeat the British using the tactics taught to them by von Steuben. While Washington was hoping for a decisive win that would end the war right there, it didn't happen. The British were able to withdraw and get a significant number of troops over to New York, which was their plan all along. But Monmouth was the turning point, when it became clear that the tide had turned, and no longer would the British be the superior force and have the support of the people of the land.

Valley Forge is one of those books that stays with you for a long time, and makes you ponder what sacrifices have been made to give us the freedom we enjoy today. I think you have to be a little careful to not take this as absolute truth as to the motivations and personalities of each major character. For instance, Washington is portrayed as a troubled leader who is all-consumed with the agonies and hardships his forces are enduring, losing sleep night after night over his ability to provide for them. While that may well be a significant part of his personality, I'm a bit cynical as to him being as perfect and selfless as he's painted here. Given Gingrich's political leanings, I can understand where patriotism might cause one to portray Washington in a very favorable light. But even taking that into account, Valley Forge still does an excellent job in adding the real blood, sweat, and tears to events that were pivotal to the formation of our country. This was a very good read, and well worth the time spent.

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Publisher
Payment: Free

Posted by Thomas Admin Duff At 11:18 AM Location Portland, Oregon | Permalink | Comments (3) |

08/28/2010

Book Review - Awkward Family Photos by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack

Category Book Review Mike Bender Doug Chernack

'Fess up... you have those "family photos" that you hide from others, hoping nobody every finds them. At the time the images made sense or sounded like a good idea. But now? <shudder> Just hope your kids don't get hold of them and send them off trying to get you included in the book Awkward Family Photos by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack. If that happens, you might as well join the Witness Protection Program, because you'll start to think that wherever you go, someone will recognize you... and laugh (and we will!)

Bender and Chernack started a web site posting a few funny family photos. You know the ones... where all the members in the family are wearing the same outfit... you're posed in front of some "cool" backdrop... the person next to you just wet their pants. They thought that was about the extent of their fun, until a local radio station started playing up the site. It then got picked up by a few more, then a few more, and suddenly they were getting new submissions and emails from others who were *thrilled* they weren't the only ones with awkward family photos. The website took off, and led to this book.

They cover all the bases when it comes to topics: The Family Portrait, Mom and Dad, The Kids, Siblings, Grandma and Grandpa, The Relatives, Pets, Vacation, Birthdays, Graduation, Weddings, Holidays, and Strange - Not Awkward. If you're like me, you'll be smiling/laughing/cringing from the first page. Why did Dad think it was OK to pose in a Speedo? Why did you dress up your pot-bellied pig for a "family portrait"? And there's always the "this family looks like they're a little *too* close" pictures...

If you've followed the Awkward Family Photos website, you will have seen some of the pictures included here. Others you can only see in the book. But even if you run into the same pictures in the book, you'll probably get a bit more context or background as to what was going on with the picture at the time.

Awkward Family Photos is not some great or deep literary masterpiece. It's just a quick, fun ride looking at a slice of life that we've all experienced (and hope that no one else ever gets to see)...

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Library
Payment: Borrowed

Posted by Thomas Admin Duff At 9:06 AM Location Portland, Oregon | Permalink | Comments (1) |

08/27/2010

Product Review - Lift Audio Icon Series 6 mm Premium Earphones

Category Product Review Lift Audio Icon Series 6 mm Premium Earphones

As part of the Amazon Vine review program, I selected a pair of Lift Audio Icon Series 6 mm Premium Earphones for review. I had two purposes for this... I have an iPad now, and I thought a decent set of earphones would be nice. And second, with my kids around, I never HAVE any earphones that seem to stay in one place for very long. So why not kill two birds with one stone?

Fair warning says I'm not an audiophile of any sort. I don't listen to a lot of music, so most of my usage would be watching videos or not disturbing someone around me with sound. What I *did* want is something that was comfortable, stayed put in my ear, was loud enough to hear, and if it could drown out a bit of noise in the process, so much the better. And this item delivered well on all counts. My first chance to use them was on a flight back from a conference, and I happened to be in the fussy-baby part of the plane. I pulled out the headphones (really nice hard case they come in, too!) and stuffed the earphones in my ears. Even without any audio coming out, the babies sounded like they moved to the back of the plane. And once I fired up a movie, it was even better. No babies, no crying... just me and the movie.

Of course, I found out within 10 minutes that it's not good to be watching certain scenes of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo on the iPad when you're sitting in the aisle seat with people moving past you... Just sayin...

I don't know that I would rate these as a great deal at their $79 list price. They're nice, but they're not THAT nice. But at the Amazon price of $25, they are perfect for what I needed. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another pair if needed. But I'll be making sure I hide these, so another purchase will *not* be needed...

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Amazon Vine Review Program
Payment: Free

Posted by Thomas Admin Duff At 4:20 PM Location Portland, Oregon | Permalink | Comments (0) |

08/27/2010

Book Review - How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack: Defend Yourself When the Lawn Warriors Strike (And They Will) by Chuck Sambuchino

Category Book Review Chuck Sambuchino How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack: Defend Yourself When the Lawn Warriors Strike (And They Will)

Zombie attacks, zombie apocalypse, the undead... all material for a frightful novel, but the real threat is already here and present in our very neighborhoods and yards... the Garden Gnome. Be honest... you mean to tell me you've never looked at those creepy little bearded creatures and wondered what they're up to? We owe a debt of gratitude to Chuck Sambuchino for warning and preparing us for this crisis in his book How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack: Defend Yourself When the Lawn Warriors Strike (And They Will). With the combination of awareness and preparation, you can survive this nightmare that could be unleashed upon the unsuspecting any day now.

Seriously (or not, as the content may suggest), this is a tongue-in-cheek parody of zombie survival books, using garden gnomes as the menace facing us. It's a fun read, and Sambuchino does a good job with treating the subject with pseudo-serious concern without going overboard. The pictures that are scattered throughout are perfect, as they depict the "innocent" gnome hiding axes and knives, posing in positions that do seem to add a sinister intent to those chubby little cheeks. I learned that Miracle-Gro is one of the best weapons, as it creates chlorine which can be deadly to those only a foot off the ground. Bolting down the opening to your chimney would be a good idea too, as those suckers will look for *any* opening to exploit. All I can say is they better not attack here, as hockey sticks are considered one of the best defenses for hand-to-gnome combat, and we have a number of them...

This book isn't going to scare or frighten you like the thought of trying to escape from the undead. It's a quick read, and will put a smile on your face (and will probably make a dent in the profitability of the garden gnome market.) Just sit back, have fun, and accept the fact that you'll never trust one of those cute little statues again. :)

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Amazon Vine Review Program
Payment: Free

Posted by Thomas Admin Duff At 3:20 PM Location Portland, Oregon | Permalink | Comments (0) |

08/23/2010

Book Review - Being Geek: The Software Developer's Career Handbook by Michael Lopp

Category Book Review Michael Lopp Being Geek: The Software Developer's Career Handbook

I had the pleasure of reviewing the manuscript of Being Geek: The Software Developer's Career Handbook by Michael Lopp when it was still in the development stage. To put it simply, I was really impressed. I'm not a regular reader of Rands In Repose, so I hadn't seen most of the material before. It didn't take long before I saw the value in what he wrote, and started thinking of names of people who needed to read this when it was published.

Contents:
Section 1 - A Career Playbook: How To Win; A List of Three; The Itch; The Sanity Check; The Nerves; The Button; The Business
Section 2 - Deconstructing Management: The Culture Chart; Managing Managers; The Issue with the Doof; The Leaper; The Enemy; The Impossible; Knee Jerks; A Deep Breath; Gaming the System; Managing Werewolves; BAB; Your People; Wanted; The Toxic Paradox; The Pond
Section 3 - Your Daily Toolkit: The Nerd Handbook; The Taste of the Day; The Trickle List; The Crisis and the Creative; The Foamy Rules for Rabid Tools; Up to Nothing; How to Not Throw Up; Out Loud; Bits, Features, and Truth; The Reveal
Section 4 - Your Next Gig: The Screw-Me Scenario; No Surprises; A Deliberate Career; The Curse of the Silicon Valley; A Disclosure; Mind the Gap; The Exodus; Bad News About Your Bright Future; Hurry; The Rules of Back Alley Bridge
Index

The author sets out to help the technologist, one who wonders why the world of people doesn’t run with the same rules and precision as computers, navigate through the real world of how life works in an organization. Rather than approach the subject with a slick methodology meant to be understood by business people, he cuts to the core of the topics using language and stories that any geek would understand. And that’s the value here… the techie will say “YES! I struggle/deal with that exact same problem” as the author has been there, done that, and thinks the same way they do. It’s written in a no-nonsense, no-bs style which is just what most techies want.

It seems like too many books on managing and surviving in a corporate environment assume a certain type of personality that is closer to the average office worker than the hard-core technologist. Or books that *do* focus on organizational skills for technology workers seem to take a process approach or methodology, thinking that a set of rules to follow will work all the time. The author here assumes that the real world is messy, nothing fits into neat boxes, and the techno-geek is a different animal. As such, his advice is much more realistic than most other books that attempt to cover this topic in some way, shape, or form.

This is targeted squarely at the person for whom technology is a passion, not just a job that is 9 to 5. These people are comfortable with other geeks or on their own digging into a problem, but they don’t easily or readily grasp the intricacies and realities of social interaction or corporate politics and gamesmanship. They need someone to explain what’s going on, why things work that way, and how they can figure out the rules so they have some shot at surviving long enough to do what they love to do… build things.

I also appreciate that he tries to cover the entire scope of a person’s stay with a company or organization. From being hired to leaving for the next gig, from trying to relate to management to standing in front of a group making an important presentation, this book gives you three to six pages on various topics, easily digested when you need to get a reality check in a given situation.

I’ve seen too many people who were technically brilliant, but that you didn’t want to let out of a locked room because you knew they’d get eaten alive in the real world. Being Geek gives them a fighting chance to adapt if they care to do so.

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Publisher
Payment: Free

Posted by Thomas Admin Duff At 6:59 PM Location Portland, Oregon | Permalink | Comments (0) |

08/23/2010

Webcast coming up this Wednesday... Sametime: A User’s Perspective - August 25th

Category IBM/Lotus Sametime
Chris Miller, as part of the Consultant In Your Pocket series, is letting Marie Scott and I loose on the public again. This time, we'll be talking about Sametime from the user's viewpoint, how it works, and some tips and tricks you may not have known. The webcast is coming up, so head over to the site to register...

Sametime: A User’s Perspective - August 25th
Tom Duff and Marie Scott are back for the launch of their upcoming book of the same topic from Packt Publishing:
This session shows you exactly how you can effectively collaborate with your colleagues and teammates both in your organization and outside your organization by using the features of Sametime. It's practical, down-to-earth, and most of all, fun!

You will be able to attend this session on August 25, 2010 at 10am CDT. Registration is now open!!

Visit our sponsor Plantronics. Explore how they can help your Unified Communication direction.

Image:Sametime: A User’s Perspective - August 25th

Posted by Thomas Admin Duff At 4:37 PM Location Portland, Oregon | Permalink | Comments (0) |

08/22/2010

Book Review - Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Category Book Review Janet Evanovich Sizzling Sixteen

I think I'm getting to the end of the trail with my enjoyment of the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. The latest installment, Sizzling Sixteen, hit me the same way that Finger Lickin' Fifteen did. It covers the same ground we've covered in the last fifteen installments, nothing really new happens, and the characters don't have the spark that used to make each new Plum novel a joy to read. Unless Evanovich takes Plum in a whole new direction (I understand she's moved to a new publisher), I'll probably end up putting this series on my "to read when I run out of other material" list.

The main storyline here is that Vinnie, the guy who runs the bail bond service that Stephanie works for, goes missing. Turns out he's over his head with a local loan shark for betting losses, *and* he's been cooking the books to try and get his way out of it. If Stephanie, Connie, and Lula can't find Vinnie or come up with a million dollars to pay off his loan, then Vinnie goes on a one-way trip to visit the fishes. If it weren't for the fact that it would also mean that the three of them would be out of a job, they might actually find that a preferable outcome. What follows are the typical plans and operations that go haywire in ways that only Stephanie can have happen. Add in the normal relationship tension between her, Morelli, and Ranger, and you pretty much have the entire story.

I know this is a huge moneymaker for her and the publisher, so I doubt that ending the series is in the works (although it'd probably be best). But this really needs an injection of something... new characters, new job, something... It's getting stale, and it's sad to see the Plum novels slide like this.

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Library
Payment: Borrowed

Posted by Thomas Admin Duff At 9:10 AM Location Portland, Oregon | Permalink | Comments (1) |

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09/03/2010

Marie Scott and I now have a REAL BOOK! IBM Lotus Sametime 8 Essentials: A User's Guide is posted up on Packt Publishing's site!

08/30/2010

Book Review - HTML5: Up and Running by Mark Pilgrim

08/29/2010

Book Review - Follow The Money by Ross Cavins

08/28/2010

Book Review - Valley Forge: George Washington and the Crucible of Victory by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen

08/28/2010

Book Review - Awkward Family Photos by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack

08/27/2010

Product Review - Lift Audio Icon Series 6 mm Premium Earphones

08/27/2010

Book Review - How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack: Defend Yourself When the Lawn Warriors Strike (And They Will) by Chuck Sambuchino

08/23/2010

Book Review - Being Geek: The Software Developer's Career Handbook by Michael Lopp

08/23/2010

Webcast coming up this Wednesday... Sametime: A User’s Perspective - August 25th

08/22/2010

Book Review - Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

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