And Then There Was Alastair

Chinese Language Issue

Alastair — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:02:56 +0000

Chinese Language Issue
Originally uploaded by clarkalastair

I’m glad I still have (geeky) friends in China that I can call on to translate things for me. Often it’s not possible to copy the text of a dialog box in order to plug it into Google translate. Enter the Windows 7 Snipping tool, an email attachment and a reply later I know what something says.

In this case I was registering for a Chinese social media website and I hadn’t selected something properly on the signup form.

BT Application Question 1

Alastair — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:17:21 +0000

Question 1: Helpful – We work as one team for customer success

Describe a time where you helped a customer or colleague achieve a technical objective? A customer could be someone you have done work for in a job or at university for example.

1. What was the situation?
2. What did you do?
3. Why did you decide to help?
4. What obstacles did you encounter and how did you overcome them?
5. What was the outcome?
6. What feedback did you receive?

Please keep your answer within 350 words.

A client for a company I worked for had a server in the main office, and some users/computers at a remote site VPNing into the main office. The performance was unbearably slow when logging in, resolving computer names, and opening small documents. The question was whether performance could be improved without needing to spend money to license Terminal services.

In order to not have to directly control the clients computer during office hours, and thusly remove their ability to work, and to keep our costs low, I setup a test environment so that I could understand the conditions and test solutions. This involved using an external internet connection, and vpning into our own company server.

I decided to help because the client wasn’t happy with their current setup and client satisfaction is important for building loyalty and a good reputation. It was also a good opportunity for me to develop my own knowledge and experience, especially given that VPN is a useful and commonly available technology.

I had issues with verifying that changes I made to the etc/HOSTS file were actually in effect. I googled it and the tools I was using were designed to ignore hosts. Static name ip addressing vastly increased speed of login. Default gateway was local router so the internet browsing was fast. Outlook however was picking up domain of local network, not the domain over the VPN link. Researching VPN found that what I was trying to do was split tunnelling and a security risk, therefore not a good idea.

The client was advised of the risks involved with split tunnelling and given the option to try it, but were strongly advised against it and shown a Microsoft article explaining the common usage of VPN was for short periods only (not full days) and suggested that they used terminal services.

Feedback was that they understood, were happy with the approach we were taking and that they felt we were competent.

My Bedroom Ceiling

Alastair — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:35:59 +0000

My Bedroom Ceiling
Originally uploaded by clarkalastair

One of the first things I did after meeting Miao online (and her showing me some of her artwork) was using my rather new at the time Magicolor 2300dl colour laser printer to print out some of her rather nice artwork.

I blue-tacked it to my university bedroom’s ceiling (coincidentally China doesn’t have blue-tack or equiv) so that I could wake up to seeing her artwork. I did this because I liked her, and wanted to impress her. She was adequately impressed, and here we are engaged to be married.

Since then I’ve quite liked the idea of having photos and pictures on my wall that have meaning for me in my life and my life together with Miao. My bedroom wall in my family home is covered with them (yes I’m living with my parents at the moment -> I have recently come home from China and still haven’t got a paying job). Some of them sometimes fall off, and I think this is a good chance for change.

I have many of my photos from China printed and laminated (maybe a little OCD) and they prove a good reminder for happy times and quite life affirming. Lots of people smiling and the interesting places I’ve been.

There we go, just another thing that makes me – me. Who says we all have to be the same?

Photo courtesy of my iPhone 3gs camera.

Chinese Meal – British Version

Alastair — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:08:57 +0000

British Version Chinese Meal
Originally uploaded by clarkalastair

How I missed thee ohh Chinese Meal found in that elusive of all dishes -> “The Tesco Ready Meal”. Egg Friend Rice with peas, sweet and sour chicken, et al. It’s nice to have Chinese food the way I remember

However I’ll aways like the £4 Whole Duck (with pancakes, sauce and chives) you could get from a small shop near our home in Dalian. We mainly ate them with the pancakes Miao’s mother made, it was great albeit fatty.

Unique Door Bell

Alastair — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:49:17 +0000

Unique Door Bell
Originally uploaded by clarkalastair

I like people who customise their doors in unique ways, so heres one I enjoyed. The heart shaped plaque says “A Lovely Lady And A Grumpy Old Man Live Here”. Maybe I should have one that says “A Grumpy Young Man Lives Here” outside my room door.

“Caeathro” House Name

Alastair — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:54:05 +0000

"Caeathro" House Name
Originally uploaded by clarkalastair

I saw this on the walks that I enjoy to have and thought my sister would enjoy the fact that someone had called their house something “Classic” in the sense of Ancient Greece. It turns out that it’s a Welsh town near Caernarfon. But anyway, I thought it was a nice idea.

Blogging

Alastair — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:11:17 +0000

In an effort to keep my blogging up, I’m going through some of my photos and writing about why I took them, or something they say about who I am, and just some of my own ideas of life, the universe and everything. Maybe it’s egotistical, maybe not.

Having been a paid up member of flickr for nearly 18 months now, it’s hard to avoid peoples’ “1 photo a day for 365 days” type projects. (Read more here: http://content.photojojo.com/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/ ) In the same vain, I thought that it’d be good to make a blog entry every day. So here I am pre-producing a whole bunch of them. I’m writing this one on the 3rd of June for example. So what I’m saying might not exactly be in real time with what’s going on in my life, however it’s still genuine and fresh when I’m writing it.

Wearing PJs Outside

Alastair — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 08:01:03 +0000

Wearing PJs Outside
Originally uploaded by clarkalastair

I can’t say that I’m the king of style by any stretch of the imagination. Most of the time I’d I’m probably middling presentable, unless I’m trying to making an impression, at which point either my kilt or my suit and waist coat comes out, and things like haircuts and careful shaving happens.

However barring the untidy hair, and fuzz that sits on my chin (both of which are easily fixed and done when necessary – like being employed in a full time job for example) I wouldn’t go out in my PJs. So it strikes me as a bit strange when shops like Tesco have to put up signs forbidding it. Even stranger when I actually see people walking around outside in their Pjs, as in the picture here, though I’m sure she isn’t the worst offender (if you can call it an offence).

Is it just the ideas of society changing, where this is ok? Or is it nice for people to be well presented when they go outside? I guess it’s up to you to decide. People’ll do as they wish, and I’ll continue to aspire to look smart (ish).

Diversity of Things and People

Alastair — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:16:06 +0000

Ship Door Knob
Originally uploaded by clarkalastair

I have to say I’m a fan of people being themselves and being different. I enjoyed seeing this little brass ship. If I was a postman, it’d make the round more interesting if people customized there doors further than they normally do.

Leopard Skin Bin Numbers

Alastair — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:10:53 +0000

Leopard Spot Bin Numbers
Originally uploaded by clarkalastair

Another random shot from being out and about. Thought this was quite a special and unique idea. Didn’t know you could get number stickers in Leopard Skin.