David L's Blog

I came across this site called stripcreator ; where you can create your own comic strips. I love it, what a perfect way to express those weird thoughts that spring into my mind while I’m out and about pretending to be normal. Make sure you register...

Ok, so day two of my Redmond experience started out with a taxi ride to the office. Seattle drivers are painfully polite, and very tentative about performing specific driving actions such as merging in traffic. I kind of like their “I’m going to close...

I’m sitting through an Office 12 demo running on Windows Vista at the moment; and I can’t believe how insane the visualization capabilities have become. The UI is not only aesthetically compelling (which I think is important when you consider...

Hey, check this out: http://www.jeffsandquist.com/Channel9WasAtTheMoon.aspx Jeff reckons that if you send him a postcard (a real paper one, eCards don't count), he'll send you one back, and a Channel 9 guy ( my C9 guys name is Clarry )! So make...

Here’s something new and interesting (well, relatively to me); you can now download a Beta version of Acrylic ; it’s our newest product aimed at graphic illustrators and designers. I wonder if this will end up being integrated somehow into...

I love blogging. Not only is it a great way to share information and ideas, but it’s one of the best creative outlets available to those of us who are challenged by the fine arts. So I’ve been on a mission since I started blogging, to convert...

OK, so Microsoft are hosting a huge tech'stravaganza for all its technical people in Seattle called TechReady. Franky was kind enough to let me go over a few days earlier to get a real feel for what Microsoft's home based in Redmond is like. Along the...

Awesome! Just got an email from Daz, saying my new group on Project Distributor, David L's Crunk Code , has been created! The first piece of Crunk Code (it's Crunk cos' it would seem I was both crazy and drunk when I wrote it!) to be uploaded was the...

There has been too much confusion around the release of Visual Studio 2005; what with the changes to the MSDN subscription model and the pricing flux. So it’s nice to see some hard numbers (hard numbers are good to find :>)! http://www.microsoft...

Some time ago, I dispensed with the PowerPoint decks, and went for the truly invigorating experience of "live" demos. I personally prefer live demos because the audience gets a feel for how the solution is created, and more importantly, feel confident...

I've started back at the gym these last few months, what with the date of my wedding drawing closer (I'm hoping this is the last time I ever have to get "fit") and the Venice Beach style that has permeated our office. So in my attempt to avoid paying...

I've been running around the country side demo'ing Visual Studio Team System for the past 6 months, and every time I finish my demo, people say, "Wow your handsome Dave!"...well, not really, but they do ask where they can get a copy of the VPC. Shazam...

This August I'm off to Redmond for our internal technical readiness event called TechReady. As soon as I got my confirmation email, I buzzed Franky and asked him if I could get over to Seattle a few days early, to catch-up with a few folks from Microsoft...

Like most developers, I've grown quite wild over the years from a lack of formal instruction and code control. I name my variables any way I like, I unit test my code when the mood suits me, and I don't believe in methodologies; there for cone heads!...

Before joining Microsoft, I worked predominantly in the consulting space for organisations such as Dimension Data and EY . I never got along to User Groups, I had never been to Tech.Ed (this year will be my first year ever), and I thought the Scobleizer...

This is my first post using BlogJet. For those who enjoy the wildly entertaining posts I conjour up every so often; you may have detected a pattern to my posting. It’s known as Offlineitis, and occurs when I travel around the country side, and don’t...

My good friend and Readify Senior Developer, Joe Sango , has just been published in Dr. Dobb's Journal . His article discusses how the VSTSEclipse project integrates Visual Studio Team System and Eclipse . The VSTSEclipse team has been a little quiet...

I regularly find myself on a blog trail adventure, and this morning was no exception! I started out by checking my NZ comrades blogs; Sean McBreen's , Darryl Burling's , and finally Nigel Parker's (I like your Magnum blog picture Nigel ;)) That...

I was having a chat with my fiancé today, telling her about a little idea I have for a sitcom. It is very much along the lines of The Office meets Dilbert. What it really is though is a form of career catharsis where by I can purge some of my darkest...

Check these random name generators out...I love generators :) http://www.playerappreciate.com/pimphandle.asp (Macktastic Lemphers Shmoove) http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mule/smurfgen.html (Drippy Smurf) http://pizza.sandwich.net/poke/pokemon...

The lucky winners from last weeks Victoria.NET BizTalk Development session draw were: Box Set of .NET Reference Books - Guy Derriman from Bryn Facial Hair Kit - Ben Walters from SDM Congratulations Guy and Ben, I hope your prizes award you much...

Last week I was lucky enough to share 5 days with Nevhan and Dennis as they completed their work experience placement through the ICT Excellence Fellowships program. Here are some of my thoughts about my work experience week: 1. Passion without...