Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-31

By pcurd

• 4pm wake up sounds so good until you realise I only have 8 hours until bed time. Poop. #
• 'Stupid Base 10 math, that's what you get for having extra fingers' brilliant writing in Mass Effect. #
• RT @carocat: @pcurd RT @carocat: Games testing. So very true! http://bit.ly/60IzII <- This brings back memories #
• Erk. Too busy to read tweets today so lost 4 hours worth. Repeat anything groundbreaking please! #
• RT @NathanFillion: It has always been my understanding that the H in Jesus H Christ was for Huevos Rancheros. < @giraffetweet it's true! #
• RT @fringley: Full of cold Like I have time to be ill. <- I'm fighting one off and have no time for death either. 800% rda Vitamin C FTW #
• This weekend's server migration has been delayed until Valentines day – this is why IT people are so often single #
• $AAPL stock price going UP @dtsn #
• $499>!?! WTF wow #
• $AAPL Just took off! http://www.google.co.uk/finance?q=NASDAQ:AAPL @dtsn #
• What the balls? @game_offers is protected? @Gamedigital what's up with that? #
• Stomach this is unfair, you are still gurgling and clearly unhappy and bad things will happen if I feed you but now you crave cheeseburger. #
• Looking forward to #ddd8 pre conference drinks tonight – not sure what to do about food though… #
• It's cold enough for snow in RG2 but no sign so far. This is good, I've had enough snow days on this project thank you very much. #
• Managed to loose another glove tonight. Roll on summer! I like going out in a t shirt! #
• Awake (mostly) for #DDD8. 7am on a Saturday is for sleeping, what was I thinking! #
• Now heading to #DDD8. If I'm not there in 20 minutes… Just wait longer. #
• I made it safely to #DDD8 and am queuing for coffee. Mmm coffee. #
• RT @Plip: #ddd8 overslept :-/ <- #epic #fail #
• The hordes at #DDD8 http://twitpic.com/10gozj #
• In @RichardHopton's TDD session with @emmaguy and @chris_alexander http://twitpic.com/10gw1q #
• As you may expect, Jon Skeet's talk is looking to be busy #DDD8 Hardly suprising but still impressive. #
• In @garyshort's Not Everything is an Object session. Functional 101 for me #
• Now in @blowdart's last DDD presentation. #DDD8 Last MVP talk too. #
• RT @pcurd DeveloperDeveloperDeveloper 8 – DDD8 http://bit.ly/a27wfc #
• With the #DDD8 crowd! (@ Pizza Express) http://4sq.com/9HtAmx #
• RT @NathanFillion: Summer Glau!! <- yes! #
• Amazing day at #DDD8 and geek dinner. Great to see so many new faces! Epic thanks to @zimakki for being a legend and everyone for greatness. #

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DeveloperDeveloperDeveloper 8 – DDD8

By pcurd

The latest event in the DeveloperDeveloperDeveloper family, DeveloperDeveloperDeveloper 8 happened at the Thames Valley Park Microsoft site on Saturday 30th of January and I was amongst the 340 or so lucky ticket holders.

This year one of my friends, Rob Ashton (@RobAshton) was speaking along with some old favourites including Simon Sabin (@Simon_Sabin), Richard Hopton (@RichardHopton), Ben Hall (@Ben_Hall) and Barry Dorrans (@blowdart). I was also pleased to see Jon Skeet (@jonskeet) presenting as I had never before had a chance to see him live.

The turnout seems impressive which is to be expected considering the length of the waiting list – over 200 people within 15 minutes of the event “selling out”. At lunch, as always, seating was at a premium and even the grok talks, organised by Zi Makki (@ZiMakki), were full.

As DDD8 was the last community event Barry Dorrans was likely to present at for a while (due to his recent appointment to Microsoft), I think it is only fitting how popular the event has been. Even Barry’s book (Beginning ASP.NET Security) sold out. I was fortunate to get a signed copy which I will be sure to keep in my collection.

Jon Skeet was also kind enough to sign a copy of his latest book (C# in Depth) which I impulsed purchased.

The sessions I attended were:

Test Driven Development to save time, money and your sanity by Richard Hopton

Richard has a clear and simple approach to explaining TDD and although most of the content wasn’t new to me, his techniques and clarifications certainly made my own approaches seem more sensible. His session showed an introduction to the whys and hows of TDD and his code demo was efficient and explanatory, showing TDD and writing tests in an understandable way.

Multi-Tenant ASP.NET MVC Projects by Rob Ashton

Rob did an excellent job handling the room and although a lot of his content could be considered seriously technical, he explained it with ease and clarity. His to the point code demos conveyed the subject matter and complimented his slides and explanations exceptionally. His dry sense of humour came through and the controversial topic met with many questions that he handled with grace and technical accuracy.

C# 4 by Jon Skeet

I had been told that Jon was an excellent speaker and his reputation is well deserved, I enjoyed the level of detail and appreciated the amount of code – showing the changes rather than explaining the changes not only made them make more sense but also showed how and why you’d use the new features.

Not Everything is an Object by Gary Short (@garyshort)

I have never studied any kind of Functional Programming so was looking forward to hearing about it from Gary who has always been an excellent speaker when I have seen him before and I was not disappointed. As well as a good introduction to the fundamentals of Functional Programming, Gary launched into a humorous and informative history of programming language development. I know I’ll take at least something out of his comparison of inanimate objects and classes.

A Developer’s Guide to Encryption by Barry Dorrans

Knowing this was going to be Barry’s last talk at a DDD for the forseeable future, and last community event before “jumping the fence”, it was bound to be an entertaining talk and it was. Several of the organisers had arranged some.. interuptions themed around Barry’s departure. After several videos from people like Liam Westley (@westleyl) and Phil Winstanley (@plip) (including Barry’s poor book being burned to keep Phil’s hands warm) a video from Barry’s past showed up – The Crystal Maze. I’ll let you guess how that went down! The presentation was excellent (between videos) and as always Barry’s technical content was great. Of course, Barry’s book (Beginning ASP.NET Security) will fill the gaps!

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-24

By pcurd

• RT @CAMURPHY: RT @robinem: @dylanbeattie Awesome screening process! http://bit.ly/86UR6i <- Brilliant! #
• Basshunter is so much better in the original Swedish. Also, "LOL <(^^,)>" is the best title of an album ever. #
• RT @Plip: Pop your DDD ideas here : http://wiki.developerdeveloperdeveloper.com/Ideas-to-make-DDD-even-better.ashx please RT #
• I'm using WinDBG for crash dump debugging. I'm being a REAL MAN today.. woo! #
• to install SQL Server Mangement Studio 2008 I need to be running XP SP3 (OK, fine), Powershell 2.0 and Windows Installer 4.5.. still going.. #
• I've just had my first banana in years. Feel slightly queasy which is worrying. #
• I think my geek circle is complete. I now follow @BillGates, @wilw and @cyborgturkey. With some @NathanFillion on the side. #
• Snow at work is snowing. #uksnow RG40 3/10 not settling fortunately. #
• Tonight I am mostly wearing a suit – this is not because I am lazy and didn't want to change but because it looks good. Ok? Good. #
• Just realised I'm wearing the leaky headphones with the good bass not the no leaky headphones with great bass. This explains the staring. #
• Pre @giraffetweet drinks (@ Starbucks – Butter Market w/ @robashton) http://4sq.com/88DRu5 #
• Loads of people here! (@ Giraffe Reading w/ @amykate) http://4sq.com/5OfoyL #
• #rdgtweetup spoke to @amykate @saqibs @Outdoorwanderer @ach1000 @fringley @Tom_Lord @bakerleuk @daveluckett @CllrDaisyBenson and many more! #
• RT @Tom_Lord: http://twitpic.com/z4ee4 – @jamesbmarshall at #rdgtweetup <- I bet the photographer was /amazing/ #
• To my twitter friends – I am going to be an honourary uncle! I think that means I qualify for receiving presents, yes? #
• Wow, some sort of spyware is rampant across the office today – usually get one infection a month – had 4 this morning! #
• Weird, I can't get twitter on my client but I can on the web – API issues? #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-17

By pcurd

• Not snowing in RG2 0/10 #uksnow #
• I'm at Starbucks – Butter Market (6 Butter Market, Reading). http://4sq.com/88DRu5 #
• RT @timmorgan: I just ate £200 worth of food with @PCurd and @RobAshton <- and @itsajo ! #
• RT @RobAshton: A very nice evening out with @PCurd, @timmorgan and @itsajo – can definitely recommend Thai 9's all you can eat! <- here here #
• #rdg #traffic From the A33 (J11 M4) to Langley Common Road, Arborfield there is a solid tailback Reading bound. That's 4.4 miles! Avoid! #
• Gah no burger van. My hunger pangs are sticking like duct tape! #
• mm my newest report returns a 666KB file… may have to add some padding to that.. #
• Power back on in #RG40 #rdg ! #
• RT @TechCrunch: Google Defends Against Large Scale Chinese Cyber Attack: May Cease Chinese Operations http://tcrn.ch/5FjR3f <- must read! #
• Google pulling out of China is massive news. Impossible to put in words. For a corporate to push for social change overseas is momentus. #
• Snow in RG2 about 1/10 #uksnow #
• This week is crazy busy. I'm planning to spend the weekend in and Friday night working so maybe tonight is crazy night? No, I'm working #
• I'm not overly pleased with my vps host at the moment, my website is down. Again. #
• RT @Plip: DDD8 geek dinner signup http://bit.ly/5hIbSw <- geek noms! #
• Lots of awesome people going to the #DDD8 geek dinner – almost more exciting than the event #
• A bit late (work! pah!) but registered for #DDD8. #
• Seriously considering paying for my car insurance up front – £100 interest is freaky scary. #
• RT @chrisbrownsell: Dragon Age: Origins may be worth playing just for Claudia Black alone. <- here here! #
• F YEAH! I'm registered for #DDD8 AWESOME. I love @plip! #
• GAH! An 8:30 start time?! ON A SATURDAY! ARGK! #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-10

By pcurd

• Being up at 7:30 must have some purpose but understanding it is beyond me. Last week I was going to bed at this time.. Morning, I guess. #
• I'm taking a lunch break. First one in months – about the 5 ever I think. #
• Anyone know of a place that sells weird power supplies like used by shuttles and media pc's – 100x150x85 230W? #
• I'm beginning to realise that my awesomely designed core libraries are untestable. poop. #
• My mother says it's #uksnow 7/10 TQ1 #
• RG2 5/10 #uksnow it's pretty but also settling. #
• MD has told us all to stay at home (although most people don't have email devices so some will turn up) http://twitpic.com/wvxxh #
• Tweetphoto is down. Snow? #
• I got a Star Trek Online beta key from @NowGamer_Dan. Click here to find out how you can too. http://twurl.nl/zvtzku #
• I feel so dirty. I had to code some PHP to make my photoblog work the way I wanted. http://photos.pcurd.co.uk #
• Kebab shop on Shinfield Road (Best Kebab) are still open! Best comment from guy 'we're still open, it's still early!' #rdg #
• Boss has declared work a no go site. However my workstation seems to have crashed. Time to crank up the old one and hope it's turned on! #
• New Photoblog: The beginning of the end http://photos.pcurd.co.uk/index.php/2010/01/07/the-beginning-of-the-end/ #
• New Photoblog: Proper snow! http://photos.pcurd.co.uk/index.php/2010/01/08/proper-snow/ #
• New Photoblog: Snow Man.. Penguin.. Thing http://photos.pcurd.co.uk/index.php/2010/01/08/snow-man-penguin-thing/ #
• I'm at Starbucks Riverside w/ @amykate. http://4sq.com/4pfntF #
• New Photoblog: Too cool for cats! http://photos.pcurd.co.uk/index.php/2010/01/09/too-cool-for-cats/ #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-03

By pcurd

• Coffee and Dragon Age for 10 minutes whilst I wait for mother. Lovely #
• At @giraffetweet in Exeter – it's tiny and cute! Very busy! #
• Am going to see Avatar in 3D at 8 but I'm falling asleep – even after Starbucks! Bloody holidays! #
• #Avatar was good – story wasn't awful and the cgi is excellent. The 3D version is great so I strongly recommend seeing it! #
• I started taking #Berocca yesterday and actually do feel a bit better today, possibly the placebo effect but still. It's good! #
• Mother's fridge freezer has packed in – no engineer until Wednesday. Just loaded 4 black sacks of defrosted food. Now itemising for claim. #
• 12 Days. 12 free downloads from iTunes. Today's free download: Lesbian Vampire Killers http://www.itunes12daysofchristmas.co.uk/ #
• My new trousers are 4% Spandex. #win? #
• Happy New Years Eve! Including 4% spandex! http://twitpic.com/w2ov6 #
• Happy New Year! 2009 wasn't bad for me (I am a minority I know) but I have great hope for changes in 2010. Hear's to it **raises glass** #
• RT @majornelson: If you are outside celebrating tonight, remember to look up for a rare "Blue Moon" http://bit.ly/7g68UL #
• #10yearsago I was underage and couldn't drink. I was at home and was underexcited. Oh, how my life hasn't changed much #
• #project365 I put my first image up on my Tumblr – will take advice on the best place to put it http://pcurd.tumblr.com/post/311474566/ #
• Just finished pointing my website and email over to new host. Dns may take some time.. Expect weirdness! Please report problems! #
• I need some decent photoblog software. YAPB on WordPress does do photos by email. Any suggestions? Asp or php is fine. Mysql avail. Thanks! #
• Damn the auto correct – YAPB !doesn't! do photos by email. Must have that feature! #

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