January, 2005

I got a note from some folks in Tassie about the inaugural Hobart .NET User Group meeting held last week.

This is sooo cool!

I've updated my list of developer user groups across Australia, and here is the list in Alphabetical order.

• Adelaide .NET Users Group
• AUSDev
• Canberra .NET Users Group
• Gold Coast .NET Users Group
• Hobart .NET User Group
• Melbourne .NET Users Group
• Newcastle .NET Users Group
• Perth .NET User Group
• Queensland MSDN User Group
• Sydney .NET Users Group
• Sydney Deep .NET User Group
• Wollongong .NET Users Group

Now we need some Tassie bloggers to add to the list.

[ Currently Playing : The Loco-Motion [7" Mix] - Kylie Minogue - Ultimate Kylie Disc 1 (03:15) ]

It started as a wacky idea many many months ago and now Mitch Denny posts the details about the upcoming Code Camp Oz, to be held April 23 and 24 at  Charles Sturt University – Wagga Wagga Campus.

Great work Mitch, Greg, Chuck and Andrew.

Let the buzz begin!!!

[ Currently Playing : Monkey to Man - Elvis Costello; Imposters - Delivery Man (04:29) ]

I got a doozy of an email while I was on leave.

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Mail from: frankarr - an aussie microsoft blogger
Sender: Stephen Russell

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Hi Frank.

Been meaning to reply to your December MSDN newsletter since it came out, but I've been real busy this month.

Some questions for you:

- what connection do you have to MS? Your blog site does its best to hide any connection. I assume you're a senior MS developer?

- Re the Xmas present for VS 2003 upgrades: isn't this the same upgrade that was being sold for $58 when VS2003 came out? If so, how is this massive price increase a Xmas present, or upgrading for "less", as you claim?

- Glover was not talking about the "software development lift cycle", was he? That sounds like something for Opus or some other lift manufacturers, not .NET 2005 developers.

And before you dismiss this e-mail as rubbish, google me. No, I don't run a blog site -- I don't have the spare time in my life to waste it wanking my ego.

What I'm hoping for 2005 is that MS Australia will provide decent support to the people like me who support your clients. But the situation is getting worse and worse every day, not better.

And now we have bloggers supporting the MSDN channel. Heaven help us all ...

Steve.

I have sent a reply already, and I will post the answer soon.

[ Currently Playing : That's Amore - Dean Martin - Mob Hits: Music from and a Tribute to Great Mob Movies Disc 1 (03:10) ]

I'm working through all my emails that accumulated while I was on vacation.

I found a note from Gurkan Yeniceri who has a blog on MSN Spaces, asking that I add him to the Aussie .NET Blogger OPML.

Gurkan is in Canberra - a hotbed of local bloggers such as Mitch Denny, Darren Neimke, Geoff Appleby, Eddie De Bear, Peter Mackay and of course Mikal Still. Must be the water....

Welcome to our humble little list!

[ Currently Playing : The Good Book Song - New Main Street Singers - Mighty Wind: The Album (02:13) ]

Those wacky Australian podcaster from G'day World are at it again. This time they are auctioning off sponsorship of their upcoming podcasts on eBay. Is this history in the making?

Read about it on Cameron Reilly's blog

[ Currently Playing : Old Joe's Place - Folksmen - Mighty Wind: The Album (02:10) ]

So, Dave Glover has fired up his blog and is now online. He joined my team a year ago.

Now, I have everyone in my team blogging -  Andrew Coates, Jason McConnell, Dave Glover, Charles Sterling, Deeps, Michael Kleef and Jeff Alexander. I do hope they all have something interesting to say.

[ Currently Playing : Blow Up The Pokies (If Only) - The Whitlams - More Music Live From The Panel (03:29) ]

A new year, a new addition to the Aussie .NET Blogger OPML.

I am delighted to welcome Bruce McLeod to our little community. Bruce's tagline is "Attempting to solve your technical dilemmas", and knowing Bruce I reckon he does.

[ Currently Playing : The Sun and the Rain - Madness - Heavy Heavy Hits (03:31) ]