Presentations

Speaker Training full

Colin Angus Mackay — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:01:41 GMT

As I mentioned in the Scottish Developers July Newsletter Microsoft are running speaker training sessions to help community speakers get started or improve their skills with regard to technical presentations. I just got an email earlier today to say that all the places are full already. Microsoft will be running another session at some point, so if you missed this opportunity there will be another sometime in the coming months.

In the meantime if you want to get your feet wet and have a go at speaking for a short 5-10 minutes session we always welcome new speakers at Scottish Developers. Just drop me an email to colin@scottishdevelopers.com. We also have an open mic night from time-to-time so drop me an email if you'd be interested in that.

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Speaking at SQL Bits III

Colin Angus Mackay — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:05:24 GMT

I've just had the email through to let me know that my session has been selected for SQL Bits III on the 13th of September. I'll be talking on the subject of Spatial Queries in SQL Server 2008, an evolving talk I've done a couple of times before. It will be updated once again for SQL Bits III.

Here's the abstract: It is reckoned that 80-90% of data has a spatial component to it. But what do we do with it now? At best, we constrain it to postcodes. Well, that would be great if we were delivering letters, but the majority of us aren’t. In this session we look at Spatial Queries in SQL Server to see how it works and what can be done with it.

Technorati Tags: SQL server,SQLBits,SQLBits III,Spatial Queries

VBUG Manchester - Spatial Queries

Colin Angus Mackay — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:08:47 GMT

Just a reminder to anyone that is interested that I'm speaking tomorrow (Thursday July 24th) Evening at VBUG in Manchester on the topic of SQL Server 2008 Spatial Queries, slide decks are available on my website.

Technorati Tags: VBUG,Manchester,Spatial Queries,SQL Server 2008,SQL Server,SQL,spatial,slide deck

SQL Bits III Session Voting and Delegate Registration open

Colin Angus Mackay — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:28:30 GMT

SQL Bits are going for a slightly different take on the registration process this time. You vote for the sessions you want to see at the same time as signing up for the conference. This is quite interesting because it means that you are signing up as a delegate without actually knowing what the final agenda will be. It's quite exciting really!

If you want to vote on the sessions you want to see and sign up for the conference then you can head on over to the SQL Bits website and sign up. Remember to vote for my session while you are there: "Where's my data? An introduction to Spatial Queries in SQL Server 2008"

Technorati Tags: SQLBits,SQLBits III,SQL Server,conference,community

LINQ to XML event summary

Colin Angus Mackay — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:14:18 GMT

The LINQ to XML talk was earlier today. We had a slightly smaller turn out than expected and I'm wondering if it was the weather (it was warm), people went on holiday (it is June - but then why sign up?) or if it was the string quartet in the lobby that people shied away from.

Yes, you read that right! Tonight our event was accompanied by a string quartet playing Pachelbel, Bach and pieces from many other composers. But it wasn't for our event, one of the neighbouring events in the university had the entertainment laid on. And if you've never heard a string quartet playing up close and live before then boy are these guys LOUD!

Anyway, for those that turned up we had a fun night and we issued prizes of a copy of JetBrains Resharper and a copy of Daniel Moth's famous book (something to do with Mobile Development).

If you want to learn more about LINQ to XML then you might want to read my series of posts on the subject, it is still in it early stages at the moment but more posts will added shortly.

The presentation was a new style for me. I had but two slides in total. An introduction slide and an overview of LINQ slide. For the remainder of the two hours I staying in Visual Studio. I'm hoping that was more effective that sitting in slides the whole time, or bouncing back and forwards between slides and code.

Technorati Tags: Scottish Developers,LINQ,LINQ to XML,XML,JetBrains

Event: LINQ to XML - Everything but the kitchen sinq

Colin Angus Mackay — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:10:18 GMT

I'll be speaking at the Scottish Developers event in Glasgow on the 10th June 2008 at the Continuing Professional Development Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University.

I've be giving an introduction to the new XML classes in .NET 3.5, how they work and what can be done with them. After the break I'll then show how the new XML classes can be used in LINQ (Language INtegrated Query) in order to get data out in the way that you want.

If you want to know more about the event and to sign up please use this link: http://www.scottishdevelopers.com/modules/extcal/event.php?event=61

Technorati Tags: c#,linq,xml,linq to xml,scottish developers

Slide Deck from my session at NESDNUG

Colin Angus Mackay — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:10:30 GMT

The slide deck from the session on SQL Server 2008 Spatial Queries I did at the North East Scotland .NET User Group is available for downloading from my website.

As requested on the night here is the link to the February 2008 CTP of SQL Server 2008 (aka CTP6).

Technorati Tags: sql server 2008,spatial queries,ctp 6,february 2008 ctp,nesdnug,north-east scotland .net user group

Slide Deck now available

Colin Angus Mackay — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:42:13 GMT

The slide deck for the presentation I gave at the Scottish SQL Server User Group, "Where's My Data? An Introduction to spatial queries in SQL Server 2008", earlier this week is now available either from my website or from the SQL Server FAQ website.

Technorati Tags: SQL Server,SQL Server 2008,Katmai,Spatial queries,slide deck

Developer Day Scotland Session Voting Open

Colin Angus Mackay — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:16:25 GMT

The session voting for Developer Day Scotland has opened.

Please go and select the sessions that you want to see.

DDD6 Feedback

Colin Angus Mackay — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:10:26 GMT

Well, I've received the feedback from my session at DDD6 and here it is:

Overall: 3.73	Knowledge: 4.13
Presentation: 3.93	Content: 3.4

By the looks of it, the session was quite well received by most people. As you can see from the Histograms there are a small number of people who obviously really didn't like it, but you can't please everyone I suppose.

I also received some text comments to which I'd like to respond.

One person indicated that the panel re-enforced what he already thought about recruitment agents. I wonder if that Included Karl. I suppose he did spend some time apologising for the rotten apples in his industry. It is unfortunate that a few rotten apples can spoil the whole barrel. I've had my (un)fair share of dealings with rotten agents, but I've also dealt with some really good professional ones.

One person wanted more questions that were relevant to contractors. I actually did try to get a contractor on to the panel, but unfortunately it wasn't to be. Also, only 2 questions directly mentioned contracting or freelance employment, which actually represents 40% of the questions (There were only 5 questions in total). I'm sure that had there been 3 questions that dealt with contractors, there would have been a comment from others that it was too one sided in the other direction. Finally, remember the audience were given an opportunity to direct the questions by submitting questions. I did my best to choose a fair representation.

One person regarded Barry Dorrans as "the bastard boss (and proud of it)". However, as I recall, Barry did say that this was just his interview technique to ensure that the candidates could stand up to difficult clients. I know some people may not like that, but if that's the way the business operates then it is important to know if a person is likely to fold under pressure from a client. This also reminds me of a story I heard a while ago about interviewing potential police officers. One of the questions upset of of the candidates. The question was "What would you do if someone vomited on you?" However, it is a valid question. Police Officers are regularly vomited on and so the question helps the interviewer understand how the candidate will react in that situation.

One person thought the topics were too narrowly focused. From my point of view it was a difficult call. The subject area is quite large and I wanted to cover a variety of topics. If I had been too broad with each topic I'm sure I would have received complaints too as we would have had to spend more time on each topic. As Bart Simpson so succinctly put it "You're damned if you do! You're damned if you don't."

Finally, although someone did say they thought the session was "very good" they didn't find it interesting. I'm wondering if they submited any questions for the panelists? If they did, did we go off topic with it? (We actually asked every question that we received - although we did have some in reserve in case we ran out.) This session was highly geared to running in the direction that the audience (hopefully) wanted it to go in. So, I am obviously disappointed if someone attended and found it not to be interesting.

I also received some compliments, but I wanted to respond to some specific points that were raised.

Technorati Tags: ddd6,recruitment,panel,panelist,feedback