Agenda of the crazy Boris

"If Microsoft ever does applications for Linux it means I've won."
-Linus Torvalds

University
General Gist of Assessments

This semester has been interesting in that I am really lucky in moving jobs at the time I did, as I don't think I would have passed my Advanced Programming class without the move. The extra time allowed me to smash out my Programming 3 (Java) assignment.

An assignment in Software Engineering was a challenge but fairly interesting, had bugger all energy to do it after a 15 hour crunch of Java assignment. Fairly poorly taught subject this year unfortunately but luckily our class did alright in teaching ourself at filling in the blanks to complete the assessment.

WWW Technologies 2 was very fun and has improved my skills in web programming by a good amount. I'll be applying my knowledge to teaching a few mates on a project we have running.

The Awesome Future

The future academically is looking fairly bright, there's so much to learn and I think I have finally hit the stage of learning where I don't want to just know the surface material. University is fantastic to get a grasp of concepts for the most of the time but wow, take a look on the net and the knowledge base is just insane.

A big thanks to Adam Sharp for getting me onto an awesome application created by Linus Torvalds (creator of Linux) called git. I have not started using it but am really excited to get involved with some projects using it. I think development will go crazy being able to work collaboratively in such an easy manner will make a world of difference.

Work (IBM)

The new team is fantastic and I am loving the work there, looking forward to putting a fair amount more hours into the team once my University commitments are all done and dusted.

Projects

Fitness
This project has gone off the charts in terms of ideas and concepts, I am really looking forward to putting a few days of development into it over the summer break. The possibilities are endless but the use that people will get out of it will be rewarding.

Drivers Licence

I know it's fair amazing, I actually managed to get my licence. Thought it was about time. Absolutely love it, just jump in the car and go whenever wherever. Makes me appreciate working hard and saving for my car.

Really looking forward to the next 2 years, I'll be focusing on my knowledge base in programming and management. Trying to get more out of less time in terms of development and trying to build a skill-set that I can teach to others.

I think that's all for now, I'll probably start posting more when I get my Mac Book Pro as I'll be on the go and working more effectively.

Work work

Been a little while since I have posted, thought I would smash out a blog post.

IBM - I've Been Moved

I am in the phase of being moved from IBM Customer Service Center to the University site, this is going to make my life a lot easier.

The experience that I am getting up at this location is absolutely awesome.

I am getting understanding of what type of work I could be involved in for a career.

The future holds limitless possibilities.

Luke J. Stephens Projects

Fitness

I am recording all my fitness data and its potentially getting to a stage where I need to properly get a working prototype for others to use, so I'll be posting about that at some stage.

I am also developing a few sites for friends which are underway, check them out at http://home.lukestephens.com if your interested.

I have a few other projects on the go that I'll talk about towards the end of the year when there's something solid to talk about.

Academic University

Wow, looks at that interesting physiologic thing going on here. (Posted Academic last).

It's getting full on, I'll put it that way but the top side is because it's so full on that means there is a lot of content to learn so I am trying to take in as much as I can.

Next month will be a ripper, more study than work hopefully.

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." - Mahatma Gandhi

Topics: Adelaide, Music, Projects, Jo...

The Random Life of Boris

Topics: Adelaide, Music, Projects, Jobs (IBM)

Adelaide is a beautiful city, I love it! Traveled via bus with a few friends (Lisa, Tarni & Tor) had an interesting time. Stayed at a hostel known as YHA in Adelaide Central, you can check them out at http://yha.com.au/ the staff are humorous and happy. One of the best things about staying in a youth hostel was meeting amazing people from all around the world. Our group got to get along with a few blokes and lady from the UK and America. Played pool, went to the beach (swam in about 5 degrees) UK blokes did not seem to mind ha ha crazy!

The night life was pretty damn cool, went clubbing and came across some girls that showed us the town. One of the girls advised us not to go down one of the streets (great advise as there was blood on the sidewalk the next day from a punch up U assume). The interesting thing I found about the night life was there was not a pack of westies like you would see in Ballarat, the packs in 'Radeliade' are police officers. Never felt so safe clubbing. The clubs surround the cop station as well so to me that made allot of sense.

Whilst out and about we went to a few live gigs including Rhys Crimmin, The Little Stevies & random people at a pub. Interesting, 'The Little Stevies' were very interesting! I have bought there album and love it, great stuff. Very meaningful for a young band, will be following them for a few years to come. On the topic of music I have an acoustic guitar I am attempting to lean and an electric that my mate Danny has lent me. I am swaying more towards the acoustic, still learning the harmonica as well but will need allot more time to get stuck into it.

One of the reasons for not being able to get stuck into projects/music is because I have practically two jobs now. I am working up at the IBM University Site and down at the call center on the corner of Geelong Road and University Drive. Both jobs are interesting, I can see allot of potential in both sectors but customer service gets to you after being in the same role for too long ;-)

The new role involves more UNIX based systems like Solaris and AIX which are crazy for backups, so its interesting. May lead towards an IT Architect role in the future, either way its giving me a feel for the infer-structures  that are out there.

Well looks like my personal site is taking ages to actually get it to where I want it, ell well. It'll get there in due time. Just need to finish off the fitness module which I have been working on for a while now. At University I am studying pretty much programming for all subjects so that'll be full on and will help my personal projects along allot.

Until next time guys, take care!

Hope

Another young person has been taken from this world, I have no doubt many will miss Rhys. I did not know this bloke that well, over the past couple of weeks I encountered him at swimming and spoke with him briefly. I was lucky enough to work with him and over the past year and a half, I found him to be a really nice bloke with values and ethics. It's sad to see that many young people are dying this way. It's a bit angering as well, in the sense that if the person that caused his death had values and ethics as strong as Rhys'.

I have a few mates in Geelong and hearing about the issues there is horrifying, having bouncers in the local Mc Donald's to break up fights in the queue. A couple punching on in the street and people walking around them because of fear that both will turn on them if they help. Seriously what in the hell is this world coming to, the Australian spirit is to help our fellow mates and strangers. Now we have to think twice.

Australia is in a state in society where nurses in public hospitals have to reject helping people for their own safety. Police are in a state where they are stretched to fight domestic issues. Welfare another realm, I was at a Men's conference talking about 'mateship' and WW1/WW2. One of the speakers noted the suicide rate after a breakup was astronomically high as opposed to other situations. How do we deal with these issues as a society. I can tell you now I bet politics will have no affect at all. We need something more real.

There is no band-aid solution that will resolve these issues in society. An infer-structure so strong and well defined by its people and not politicians is what will prevail in the future I believe fueled with values. At what cost I don't know, financial costs should not be a factor but life should be the only concern. 

A dream of mine is for a community to build a dynamic infrastructure that builds upon its past experience rather than turf that valuable effort and resource. I had a lecture today on IT Architects which is an area I would like to learn to help apply towards this lifelong goal. Don't get me wrong this type of infrastructure is made by hundreds of people with values and ethics to make it a reality, its not a one man show at all. 

So maybe one day I'll make a tiny difference in the world towards this dream, any change that will help others is one defiantly worth the effort.

That's right, I exist again! Hello World!

That's right, I exist again!

     Many people in my life recently have commented lately that I am smiling a lot! I have had comments from people that I don't really have much to do with and they say I have changed, I am not afraid to say "Hello" anymore. This enlightens me and I feel pretty bloody awesome about it especially because they are third party people, I have a sense of being again. I have my individuality and decision making back, confidence!

Sacrifice

   I would be willing to give up part of my individuality to be with someone else and "sacrifice" things in life, but only if the person I am with would do the same for me. This although is conditional, if that were to happen it would be to in a way that gives each other a sense of being. That way each day is a new page in life where anything can be possible, thats a relationship I would love. 

New Relationship?

I don't want a relationship at this stage in my life because I just got my personality back and I want to keep that personality. When I am lucky enough to find that special someone and keep my personality, that's not too much to ask? Maybe they have found me and its a matter of time for me to heal before I can enter a new relationship. Only time will tell, the future is the most important thing in life! It could be a fairly long time so I don't want that person to hold onto hope for the future, but to know that the future is full of limitless possibilities. I won't disclose who I am on about so don't ask, its just an insight to my thoughts which I know can be helpful.

The Future is full of limitless possibilities

Yesterday I came to a conclusion that really changed my perception of any of the skills I am working on in my life. It happens a song sums this up good "he was born to shimmer, he was born to shine" - Shawn Mullins 

Basically I am thinking: Your perception of what tomorrow can be with your knowledge is the building blocks of hope for today! I have lots of hope and actually believe in myself. I want to shimmer and I want to shine! 

I actually believe in myself, its weird I used to think I could do things. Now I know in my heart that I have the potential to build my dreams into reality, I am starting to love life because of this!

Bring on life's challenges!

*Just a disclaimer If you decide to take this blog the wrong way, I implore you not to as its not about you its a blog about me. 

Many things in life will catch your eye, but few things will catch your heart, Pursue those

Introduction

Long time no blog, well the past month has been a life changing one thats for sure or is it changing back to what it was? I won't go into the juicy details, I don't have the ability to change the past. I'd love to be in the past but the future is what matters the most in the world.

University

University is going awesome, I love hanging around with Adam Sharp check out his blog here, I feel I can relate allot to his personality at least thats the personality I aspire to. Its also great to have few old friends on the block (Matty/Rhooky). Of course spending time with new people is always a pleasure. I hope to get to know a few more people at University. Michael is another bloke who is in with Matty and Rhooky, his personality is fantastic and drive for the ICT learning is inspiring!

International Business Machine

Work is going really good in terms of achievements and success, I really want to move up in IBM and helps the cogs of this massive machine run efficient. The team I am on at the moment is awesome no doubt about that but what the future will hold I am not sure.

Personal Conundrums 

Is sad to see another team member move on in life but he has a saying "Many things in life will catch your eye, but few things will catch your heart, Pursue those". 

Now this is the part where I am stuck. I have lost a person that had my heart. The person that catches my heart next will be very special indeed, meaning I don't think its going to happen anytime soon. So the world is my oyster and I have some cooking to do aka I am going to focus on making this world a better place. I have some ideas of how to do this and I am going to pursue them!

First on the agenda for me is to pursue my knowledge in IT whilst enjoying a balanced life (swimming, cycling, living), I really would love to organize myself allot more so I can see what projects I have and how to get more done in less time so that I don't spend stupid amounts of time on computers and more living. Speaking of which this is coming from me who has been on the PC for 6 hours developing and leaning a new application language so thats my queue to take a break for the day!

Windows 7 Blog

Introduction
Here is a response to an article I read on Microsoft Windows 7.

Windows 7 Beta 1
I have loaded Windows 7 onto my fathers workstation and my laptop.

Laptop:
Running noticeably faster than Windows Vista and equivalent to Windows XP if not faster which is one hell of an improvement.
The affects graphics wise and functionality is improved nothing feels like
it has been reduced from XP or Vista's functionality and the response
of these features is great! All drivers were found on install and the
Windows 7 Update feature works allot more in my favor of not annoying
me and letting me customize easily how I am notified of new updates.

Desktop:
I got my father to do an upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7, all was
well for a little while now he is getting a blue screen of death
(BSOAD) a fair bit, done some research appears to be drivers issues or
Anti-Virus programs incompatible with Windows 7. That's fine there not
generic programs they are meant to be built accustomed to the operating
system so there are some workarounds on the net so all should be fine.
I think its to be expected to having BSOAD's at this point in
development as its the testing phase for Microsoft. I'd rather have
these problems now than on release day!

Thoughts:
The reason the performance is so good in Windows 7 I believe is that the
account team is not in control of the programmers deadlines!
Windows
Vista was only released due to the account team, the engineers knew it
was not ready and said so in some news reports but yet it was still
released and all the bugs fixed after release.

This time feels different, the team have released a public Beta of an
operating system, has that ever been done in Microsoft's books before?

Having this OS out to so many people for free is one hell of a testing
tool, any issues that people have and sent that annoying error report
will actually be looked at and updates made readily available and
implemented before release. I like that, that means I dont have to wait
for 1 year for a service pack to fix bugs that should have been fixed
in testing phase.

Well done to Microsoft I say, Windows 7 is the best OS to date that I
have used for sure and it won't be the last as every OS update/upgrade
is building on the strengths of the past operating systems. I do hope
the Open Source community give Microsoft a run for there money at some
stage as they have the community power to develop faster than Microsoft
but have not quite got how to harness that power yet. When the day
comes competition will be very interesting.