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Posting on 01 April
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Date: 1 April, 2008 - 09:11

... just isn't worth it.

I have - on occasion - said something interesting, insightful, and even a bit provocative in this space. I had a post all lined up to go today.. and then I realized the date. I realized that at least two of my four readers don't know what I'm talking about most of the time, so I'm mostly writing for an audience of two... and since it's April Fools' Day at least one of those people wouldn't believe me anyway.


For example, when Gmail was announced on 01 April 2004, I didn't believe it. It was just so far out there and didn't make sense. Six weeks later, I was clamouring for an invite and managed to snag one through a friend of a friend of a friend who took mercy on my pitiful self.

So anyway, I - like my horribly unquotable friend Jimmy Gardner - am just waiting for 02 April to get here. Enjoy your jokes for today... some of them have been entertaining, but I'll wait to catch the news and read up until tomorrow.

Engineers vs Managers
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Date: 29 February, 2008 - 00:26

A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realizes he is lost. He reduces altitude and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised my friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man below says, "Yes, you are in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees N. latitude, and between 58 and 60 degrees W. longitude."

"You must be an engineer!" says the balloonist.

"I am," replied the man. "How did you know?"

"Well," says the balloonist, "Everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is, I am still lost."

The man below says, "You must be a manager!"

"I am" replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

The Software Development A-Team
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Date: 17 January, 2008 - 08:49

With all due respect to Fred Brooks and his seminal work - The Mythical Man Month - I think there's one area that could use another example. He puts forth the idea of the Surgical Team which pulls together a set of skills and abilities into a cohesive group that can be effective without intruding on one anothers' roles and talents...

To look at it another way, you might think of the A-Team.

First, every team needs a Hannibal Smith. He's the man with the Vision on what the team is going to do and how they're going to get there. He's the planner, the tactician, and the guy who keeps everyone else moving. He protects their interests and has a strong history of doing so, so they all trust him.