Apr 26: New Blog Round-Up
I've spotted a few useful posts lately and a few friends have started blogging so I thought I'd draw people's attention to them.
Neil Chandler is a UKOUG regular as well as a central and well-loved member of the informal London Oracle drinking massive (well, that's what I'll say about him in public anyway
). He's an Oracle DBA and a contractor like myself so hopefully he can add a few interesting technical tales and gotchas as he encounters them. He's only just started blogging but hopefully if I draw attention to his blog, it will kick-start him past that critical start-up phase.
I'm researching SQL Plan Management for a client at the moment and whilst trawling the net for any useful resources, Maxym Kharchenko's Intermediate SQL kept cropping up. He has a number of posts about SPM that delve into the nuts and bolts and have proved really useful to me. It looks like there's other good stuff on there too.
But, with apologies to Neil and Maxym, I saved the best for last even thought it's absolutely nothing to do with Oracle. Over the past couple of years, I've been fortunate to work with some very smart, young and occasionally handsome people but that's more true of some than others
One that it's been a pleasure to meet but is going to be lost to me all too soon is Gustav Andersson who, as well as being a top-notch Java guy (confirmed by other Java guys) has stuffed my head full of Agile/Scrum nonsense and been a good boss in recent times. (There's a lesson in there for managers everywhere - old guys can work perfectly well with much younger managers as long as they respect them!) But there's more to Gustav than that - a lot more - and, in retrospect, I realise I shouldn't have been surprised that he's about to embark on a magnificent venture. He will be blogging about it at The Modern Nomad and as soon as I read the first couple of posts I was as jealous of him as usual. You'll see what I mean when you read it. It's personal and far from light but it's so refreshing to read something completely different and nothing to do with Oracle.
The posts are currently just slightly in the past while he plays catch-up and he was reluctant for too much early publicity. As usual, there's plenty for me to jealous of there - a better template, better grammar, more substantial thoughts expressed more clearly and all from a Swede teaching me to write English. Actually, damn that guy. I'm glad he's on his way so he can stop the rest of us looking bad
His blog is going to be great.
Good travels, man ...
#1 - Neil Chandler said:
2011-05-05 20:37 - (Reply)
Doug,
Thanks for the plug
I just wish I had more posts ready rather than simply working hard and taking holidays right after starting the blog! Hopefully there should be a few more to come shortly.
regards
Neil
#2 - Gustav Andersson said:
2011-05-09 11:56 - (Reply)
Wow, what can I say but reply with a deeply humbled 'thank you'.
I worked with Doug for some time before I realised what a giant he was in the IT world and it was then far too late to start sucking up. For those who haven't had the pleasure, working with Doug is great. He is sharp as a nail and passionate about his work, something quite rare.
Oh, and he drinks like a fish and knows all the good pubs! I recently accepted a lunch invitation and went hungry but not thirsty.
This is my last week and I will miss the private jokes over chat and all the other good memories. Thanks for showing a newbie java guy like me that Oracle does have a few good sides (har har) and best of luck with the rest of the crazy people I leave behind. Stay in touch and maybe we can join forces sometime to take over the world and fill it with cuddly toys. I will very much miss working with you.
Oh, and my greatest professional achievement was brainwashing Doug to the point that he was made the Agile Expert in the team he joined after mine.
#3 - Doug Burns said:
2011-05-09 12:06 - (Reply)
Well nearly all of this comment is true, of course, but I don't think regular readers will be fooled by this
Oh, and he drinks like a fish and knows all the good pubs! I recently accepted a lunch invitation and went hungry but not thirsty.
and definitely not by this
Oh, and my greatest professional achievement was brainwashing Doug to the point that he was made the Agile Expert in the team he joined after mine.
Are you trying to *ruin* me, man?!?!
Safe, fun and interesting travels ...


Tracked: Apr 29, 11:19